#my nerd flag is flying HIGH in this

[ofmermaidstories]

SUMMARY: The call to be a Pro Hero has never been a question—not for Katsuki Bakugou, explosive and guarded, nor for Izuku Midoriya, protective and determined, and certainly not for Shouto Todoroki, who’s family legacy hangs over him like a shadow. Years after the War that upended Hero Society, these three men have helped rebuild a path to Pro Heroism for the next generation, tentatively heralding a new era of hope. But there’s danger lurking in this rebuilt world, danger that has the power to rekindle old fears and usher in new resentments, and as the trio branch out to find and end these threats, they each encounter a new challenge along the way—colliding with someone unexpected, and falling in love.

(A Pro Hero x Reader Trilogy; in which falling in love is a random chance all at once chaotic and exhilarating and incredible, for each of the Big Three)

The premise is simple: three heroes, three fics, and three different lives to live. Named for the Katy Perry song, The One That Got Away, the In Another Life trilogy was originally intended to be a series of five stand-alone fics that evolved, fairly quickly, into what we have today: three interconnected stories that let our Reader-inserts move throughout the My Hero Academia world, and eventually find where—and who with—they belong.

Started in 2020 when the manga was still on-going, the fics have diverged from the canon Horikoshi’s given us both in small and large ways. Despite where they separate (and where the fics have to stay faithful to their own canon, now), it’s always been my hope that they read like the love letters they are—to My Hero, to the boys, and to x reader fic at large.

i’m running to your side—flying my white flag

1. surrender (whenever you’re ready) [Explicit] — ao3

93k+

Bakugou Katsuki x Reader

COMPLETED ✔️

SUMMARY: You first meet Ground Zero when he's thrown, unceremoniously, through the glass window of your florist shop.

(In which Bakugou cannot stand flowers but finds himself coming back, anyway)

i’ve been reading books of old—the legends and the myths

2. something (just like this) [Explicit] — ao3

203k+

Izuku Midoriya x Reader

COMPLETED ✔️

SUMMARY: It probably says a lot about you that your first thought on meeting Deku, international Symbol of Peace, isn't something like "Oh, wow," or, "Oh he's so nice," but is instead the un-Plus Ultra thought of, "I definitely would've bullied him, in high school."

At least until those muscles came in.

(In which Midoriya is an absolute nerd for the release of his own hero-inspired comic book series—and the artist responsible for it)

all your flaws and scars are mine

3. still (falling for you) [Explicit] — ao3

TDB

Shouto Todoroki x Reader

WIP 🕙

SUMMARY: The first time you and Shouto cross paths, he nearly drowns you.

(In which Todoroki meets a jeweller by the sea, and learns the difference between the value of the lessons he's been given—and the precious things he chooses to keep)

🚧 UNDER CONSTRUCTION 🚧

i am actively adding to and editing this section, still. if you think something is missing, or you have something you’d like included, please let me know!!! i am going through all the posts and links i do have, manually, so i may still miss something and would love a gentle reminder. 🌷

🚧 🏗️ 🧱🔨🔧🪛 🚧

[ASK/DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] do u think bakugou ever gets so angry his mouth misses [Readers] when they’re making out?

Katsuki’s home for once, sleeping off the last few days in the darkness of his room, cocooned.

[ASK/DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] what type of jewellery would Bakugou gift [Reader], if any at all?

The first gift Katsuki gives you after Christmas is a pocket knife.

[ASK/DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] merms, what are bakugou and weeds up to this christmas? :)

Katsuki wakes up before his alarm, before the sun rises—the city spread out beyond his bedroom windows like a carpet of stars.

[ASK/DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] i miss weeds and katsuki so much 😭😭

It will be proper twilight, when they leave together; Weed's hand in the crook of his arm.

[ASK/DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] how are weeds and katsuki?

It’s a Wednesday, a normal day, and they are figuring it out.

[ASK/DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] petition for you to write [Reader sending] bakugou horny tweets

light it up like an ELECTRIC STRIKE ⚡️: please please PLEASE Kacchan has blocked me and muted the groupchat PLEASE, I need him to see this, please just send him this ONE THING, PLEASE!!!!!

[ASK/DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] would [it] be important to bakugou for [his parents and weeds] to meet?

Masaru will just scratch the side of his nose under his glasses and think about a younger Mitsuki, who literally would not take no for an answer from him—and a younger Katsuki, who had the same laser-focus when it came to the things he wanted in his life.

[ASK/DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] i am asking for royal au + florist au for [weeds/bakugou]

In his armour still, his forest-green cape, Ser Bakugou is dressed for war—solid and imposing as he stands on your threshold.

[ASK/DRABBLE 📖] [SJLT] what does [Reader] post [to instagram]? + [SWYR] things weeds would post

The one consistent has been art, good, bad and middling.

[ASK/DRABBLE 📖] [IAL] it’s so cute that SWYR’s reader is a fan of SJLT’s comic

Kacchan has never asked for anything from Izuku—beyond that he doesn’t look down on him (beyond that Izuku live).

[DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] katsuki keeps a pot of strawberries for you in his kitchen;

When they finally fruit he’s disgruntled.

[DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] katsuki’s quieter than usual

So you wait. You let him have his silence, and you fill the space around it with your own presence.

[DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] he tells me he’s gentle when he wants to be—

The bed dipping under Katsuki’s weight wakes you.

[DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] you and bakugou walk home in the rain

“Y’re meant to go home, dipshit,” he says, disapproving

[DRABBLE 📖] [SJLT] bad touch (you and me)

Minoru’s skeleton nearly fists itself out of his asshole when a voice behind him says, “That was a kindness you just did, for Midoriya.”

[ASK ❔] [SWYR] if you were to write surrender today, do you think anything would change?

[ASK ❔] [SWYR] what would have been the moment bakugou knew he had it bad for surrender's reader?

[ASK ❔] [SWYR] what do weeds and bakugou fight about? and how do they apologise?

[ASK ❔] [SWYR] do you think bakugou ever feels like weeds would be better off without him? :(

[ASK ❔] [SWYR] have you ever written/imagined Kirishima’s POV [throughout the fic]?

[ASK ❔] [SWYR] how does bakugou and haru’s relationship progress?

[ASK ❔] [SWYR] idk if you meant her to come off in this way, but [Reader] strikes me as [lonely]

[ASK ❔] [SWYR] i’m literally going to throw up from excitement if you actually make a bakuweeds oneshot collection

[ASK ❔] [SWYR] i am vibrating in my boots with excitement about the [SWYR] one-shot series!

[ASK ❔] [SJLT] did you have any inspiration for the kimono Reader is wearing in SJLT?

[ASK ❔] [SJLT] looking forward to our [gala] wear

[ASK ❔] [SJLT] could we have visuals of Reader’s outfits during the gala?

[ASK ❔] [IAL] double dates

[ASK ❔] [IAL] what city/prefecture does [the series] take place in?

[ASK ❔] [IAL] how [would] the Y/Ns react to fanfic about their heroes?

[PODFIC 🎙️] [SWYR] surrender (whenever you’re ready) — narrated by Chthonianqueen

[PLAYLIST 🎧] [SWYR] surrender (whenever you’re ready) [plays on spotify]

[PLAYLIST 🎧] [SWYR] and i’d give up forever to touch you: a suggested-songs playlist [plays on spotify]

[PLAYLIST 🎧] [SJLT] something (just like this) [plays on spotify]

[PLAYLIST 🎧] [SJLT] like lightning: a suggested-songs playlist [plays on spotify]

[ART ✏️] [IAL] bakugou & weeds, deku and & scribbles & bakugou/weeds, deku/scribbles, monoma/reader — by @groshia

[ART ✏️] [SJLT] you get to witness, in real time, as [Deku] leaps from the now open door — by @getstarried

[ART ✏️] [SJLT] izuku, just izuku. just as he is — by @handlethegbread

[ART ✏️] [SWYR] when you’re bakugou katsuki, — by @okeydokiescribbles

[ART ✏️] [SWYR] haru + the flower shop signs

[MOODBOARD 🖼️] [SJLT] the moodboard trend inspired me to make this little thing

[MOODBOARD 🖼️] [SJLT] SJLT is my all-time favourite fanfic,

[MOODBOARD 🖼️] [SJLT] this is just […] a collection of things that reminded me of this story

[BINDING 📚] surrender & the widening sky — @ladybirdk

[BINDING 📚] surrender (whenever you’re ready) — @/captain-liar

[PODCAST 🎙️] Canonically Incorrect, episode 75, season 2: Surrender (Whenever You’re Ready) — 10 December, 2022

[ spotify | apple ]

[PERMISSION STATEMENT:] You are more than welcome to print out any of the fics and bind yourself a copy for personal use, or otherwise record a [non-AI] reading of them, or translate into another language—as long as my ao3 username, OfMermaids, is credited somewhere as having written it. 🥹📚 I also love, love seeing and hearing about the work that goes into the pieces you create for yourselves, so if you’re comfortable with it, I’d love to see a picture of (or get a link to!) your efforts!!

final note:

This series is the result of several years worth of love and work, and most importantly, encouragement from the people who have come along and read the stories in it. Whether this is your first time discovering the trilogy, or you’re otherwise revisiting the boys, this is a note to say thank-you for being here. Thank-you for reading, and for being apart of something that has been so much fun to create. Fandom and fanfiction has always been about sharing the excitement with other people—so thank-you for letting me share mine with you. 🌷📖

[brotherwtf]

Gale "I love you" Cleven

John "I know" Egan

clegan star wars au anyone?

I want John basically just the same as Han Solo, and Gale like a mix between Leia and Luke (diplomat who's trying to learn the ways of the force)

something something they get thrown together and John is insufferable in trying to get Gale to fall in love with him, Gale initially doesn't fall for it until a rough mission or smth and Gale finally allows John to kiss him

frozen in Carbonite? hell yeah imagine the angst

reunited when Gale comes to rescue John from being frozen in carbonite? "who are you?" "someone you love" GOD nerd flag is flying high rn

lmk y'all's hcs for star wars clegan! I'm obsessing over it rn I can't get them off my mind

[knewknow]

Red Rising / Golden Son / Morning Star

I've been working on this series by Pierce Brown since the beginning of fall 2024. To say I was skeptical going into reading would be an understatement. My 40-year-old nerdy bachelor of a stepbrother recommended this to me. He is not much of a reader, so when he told me this was his favorite series of all time I was intrigued and leary. As a self-described sci-fi nerd, I was shocked that I didn't hear about it during the YA dystopian craze of the 2010s. After a roller coaster of emotions and plenty of fake-outs, I can safely say that I loved this as much as I loved the Hunger Games!

Red Rising 3.5/5 - Opening to Darrow a hell diver of lykos and devoted husband, I almost DNFed it. The first couple of chapters were tough to chew through. My initial gut reaction was that this is a book written by a man for men. The constant 'I love my wife more than life itself' narrative never captured my interest. Luckily my sneaking suspicion came true and the wife, EO, quickly dies and the real plot begins.

Lied to by the society, kept under the surface of Mars for centuries, reds toiled away mining helium 3 for a caste system society that has terraformed the whole solar system. Darrow with nothing left to lose is selected to get carved (transformed into another color) as he'll infiltrate one of the most elite schools of the highest caste, The Golds.

The rest of the novel takes place at the academy. Everyone is sorted into houses based on the traits of the Roman gods. Darrow landing in House Mars now must partake in a Hunger Games-esque brutal game of capture the flag. Friendships, alliances, deaths, and of course a love interest are all around! Darrow learns of his enemy firsthand, all the while teaching them the importance of trust and loyalty.

Golden Son 4/5 -This is undoubtedly my favorite of the three in the first trilogy set in this world. Just as everything is looking up for Darrow his protector and guarantor drops his contract, putting his life in major danger. Struggling with identity and loyalty of those closest to him, Darrow is mired down by the lies he keeps. Set amongst the stars on battleships, this book focuses on capturing Mars for the rebellion while still keeping the golds around him in the dark. Returning favorites such as Sevro, Mustang, and newly added Ragnar keep him going. Fraying relationships with Roque and his newfound ally the Jakal test Darrow until the very end.

"I love these characters I hate this cliffhanger, lucky for me I can start the next book right now!"

Morning Star 4/5 - Satisfying conclusion. Well written. I will be pretending that this is how it ends and that they all live happily ever until the end of time.

WARNING MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH

Morning Star took me the longest to read out of the three. I was flying through it up until chapter 30 when my favorite character died. (NOOOOOOOOOO)! Utterly heartbroken and a sobbing mess I did have to put this book away for almost a month before I could get back into it. Working through previously established trust issues, and learning when to forgive, Darrow's redemption arch is well thought out. Almost as well thought out as some of the twists the author sets up. He likes to feign deaths, and he likes to actually kill off his characters.

In conclusion, Pierce Brown's Red Rising trilogy took me on an unforgettable journey filled with thrilling twists, emotional highs and lows, and richly layered characters. From the gritty depths of Mars to the dazzling expanse of space, the series masterfully combined the intensity of a dystopian struggle with the complexity of human relationships. While the beginning of Red Rising tested my patience, the explosive plot and evolving characters quickly hooked me. Golden Son solidified my love for this world with its political intrigue, epic battles, and deepening relationships, leaving me reeling from its devastating cliffhanger. Finally, Morning Star provided a deeply satisfying, albeit heart-wrenching, conclusion. Even with its gut-punching losses and surprising twists, it highlighted themes of trust, redemption, and resilience in a way that left me both heartbroken and fulfilled. I’m so glad I gave this series a chance.

Although I may wait a couple of years before picking up Iron Gold / Dark Age / Light Bringer

[kissmethroughthebone]

A good win for me!

Had an impromptu date with a white nerd I met at a comedy club. A tech baller who was happy to talk to the fly young honey sitting alone (me) and next thing you know, we had a nice date at a high end restaurant.

A lot of green flags; at first. Passing me his seared halibut when I mentioned liking his more, gave me room to talk. Bare minimum but still signs of a solid person.

Until on the ride back to my general area, he put his hand on my upper thigh.

I smiled and moved it nicely, (I am not too mad at men who try, although I should be,) and we drove the rest of the way relatively quiet; I still gave him a hug and said we should talk again soon!

A very clear sign of interest, right?

Let's just say a week later, I called him (noticed he didn't text much after that night, and was bored and figured I could use some mid-week plans,) and we were talking! And it was well, untilllllll....

He said that he didn't contact me again on purpose. That I "didn't give him any green flags" (red flag) and how I "rejected him" (red flag) by "moving his hand, which showed I wasn't interested" (like five red flags in that sentence alone) and how he was gonna have me "show how interested I truly was, and wait for me to contact HIM".

All of it screamed horny, insecure, idiotic, slow, pathetic, cowardly, and...... lame.

Like.... so instead of being self-aware that you went too far on a first meeting, being apologetic and shooting a quick text or a call to even check interest levels with me, and offering to make plans again soon, you.....

Got very insecure about your sexual harassment, immediately rewrote history as if I am some villainous woman who absolutely embarrassed you by not being into nonconsensual touching and showed a lack of interest, (there was a very much present interest, just not a sexual one, which he devalued and wrote off as disinterest,) and then wanted me to.... work for your attention again, as if I had something to prove to you?

Not to mention another element where he also hid that he was in my city during this phone call, then tried to pretend he wasn't hiding anything.

He got aggressive real fast. Not like he was gonna off me, more of an overly defensive way, as if I was some heated debate partner and not a curious woman who was simply raising an eyebrow at his..... behavior.

What an odd way to show interest to a woman; scouring around her city, (hell, more like being 4 blocks away from me despite living 6 cities away,) while avoiding messaging her on purpose over your own fear and insecurities of not getting a text back if he tried....

Geez, and *that* is what he calls a green flag?

Easiest time I've ever had sending someone a message cancelling plans. I practiced not being hostile, and just having an air of "what if".

Like "I found what you did above to be very cowardly, perverted and unimpressive, which was very different from the man I met, who I found to be quite handsome, polite, and a man that takes initiative. I wish you were the person I thought you were, but that is alright. Thank you, and have a wonderful evening regardless."

I like to think that might get in his head more than "fuck you, big gummed ass nigga, also I zoned out when you ranted about Space Troopers" and "go get some hobbies" ever would.

A milestone for me! I tend to write off men and give them chances. Either since I think "This red flag can't hurt me as long as I collect and acknowledge it, right?", or "I can stick around and he can grow as a person."

Or a dastardly "I can stick around and keep milking this dude" (and even if I had succeeded, I'd sacrifice my mental health by not opening this throat chakra, and setting a tangent that disrespect can be afforded through nice dinners and gifts.... and he is not wealthy enough for that. Ideally, no one ever should be. Even in those dynamics, somehow I always fell for one aspect of them and could not cope with the other, and then it was hard to leave, either due to safety and security reliant on them, or greed, or.... affection.)

Anywho, I deserve a treat to celebrate. God bless!

[thechickenthatdid]

bibliography

Video games:

First off I am a nerd, to be frank with you. I watch anime and play video games, it’s just that I do not look like one. One of my first ever video games that I like to play was called team fortress 2. To be honest this game was a starter game for most people who play team vs team games. At the time this game had fundamental characteristics you needed for a team vs team game. There is 9 classes with their unique weapons and passives. Scout, solider, pyro, demo-man, engineer, heavy, medic, sniper, and spy. The classes never had a personal name given to them, only a generic name. Some of these classes are simple, such as sniper who had a sniper or pyro who had a flamethrower, but there were also unique classes such as spy and engineer. Spy could turn invisible, turn into other characters on the enemy team to blend in, disrupt engineer gadgets, and he could insta-kill with a back stab. Engineer on the other hand had the ability to create three machines that would support the team: a turret with 3 levels of upgrading, a health and ammo replenisher and a teleporter. To me spies and engineer were revolutionary in the game since they had unique abilities and play styles. Addionatlley, team fortress 2 had multiple game modes and even custom game modes. The most common mode played is capture the briefcase (capture the flag), push the cart, capture the point, and robots vs human. The first three are simple but robot’s vs humans is something much different. In that game mode you and three other players try to defend against waves of robots who are trying to destroy your base. Robots in this mode could be simple, they could be robot versions of the classes such as scout or spy, but then there were custom robots. Some of these are a underwater mind with legs, a big tank carrying a nuke, flying robot heads, and giant versions of the classes as robots. I loved this game so much; it was something that I wished every gamer could experience once. To me it was like the founding father of Team vs Team games, since every game after this was based on the classes in team fortress 2. Mostly focusing on the idea of having a person who can create robots, a medic person with a healing stream and a scout who can run fast. To be honest though I was trash, and I cried a lot of cause of that game. People in games were always mean and tended to bully those who were called squeakers. Squeakers were people who haven’t hit puberty yet and had a very high voice. Even though there were mean people on the game, the community of team fortress 2 was nice. People there explained how to play the game, how to abuse game mechanics, and just win. The fondest memory I have of this game was in a special game mode called zombies which is only open for Halloween, but there is also a customed game mode as well. I remember the people in the game cracking jokes and laughing our asses off while we were being chased by zombies. Saying stuff like you got to be quicker than that, or why would you do this to me fatherrr, even though it was probably a 16 year old telling that to a 13 year old. I love the game and the community it truly is the founding father of team vs team games.

Anime:

The History of Anime: The Beginnings - Learn more at Japan Centric

Anime in its simplest definition is a Japanese cartoon which is hand drawn. Anime has been around for longer then most people believe it to be. The first popular anime that was created was Astro boy in the 1960s but were some Anime’s even before that time. Earliest anime ever recorded was a 50-frame roll of film that was named Katsudō Shashin. This anime is about 10 seconds long and it shows a Japanese boy writing kanji on a bored and tipping this hat to the point of view. Its interesting to think about how anime has gone from a 10 second film to now a modern age, where Anime movies are being made almost every 4 months. The comparison of anime movies and Katsudo Shashin just shows the differences in the skills of animating and of course the technological advance. Just like any other genre of things, there is a top three in anime. These three were given the name Big Three for their popularity around the world and the amount of profit they gained. Big three also known as some of the best Animes are One piece, Naruto, and Bleach. I personally have watched all three of these Anime’s and read the manga of bleach. One piece is the anime that is still going on to this date, being THE longest running anime in history. Naruto is a anime that almost most people start with and bleach is nothing too special. Currently, Bleach has been catching popularity recently because of a ark. Arks are like the season in Anime, each Ark focuses on a certain problem in the story and it shows character on character development. Bleach is in a thousand year blood war, which is ark that is seen to be one of the best ones in bleach. Besides the Big Three there are thousands of other Anime in the world. Each one with different genre and plot. There are some Anime’s with unique plots where the main character is a freaking vending machine, or other Anime’s where they focus on suicide and focus on the trauma to create weapons to protect others.

Fishing:

Fishing to me is where I connect with nature. I mostly fish for salmon specifically sockeye salmon, but I sometimes catch flounders and halibut. There are about three types of ways that I use for catching salmon. One of these ways is by casting at shore with a jig. Jig is a type of lure where you put bait, this case a herring, on a line and drag it in the water. This for me is my most trusted way in catching salmon. My Jig consist of cutting the heads off the herring and connected it to a plastic holder which allows the herring to circle around in the water. This circular motion attracts salmon nearby because the herring sliver scales shine in the water allowing salmon to see the sliver shine. Connected to the plastic holder, I have about eight inches of extra line with two hooks at the end. Salmon love herring, which is why most people use herring as bait, but there are two other ways to catch salmon. The other way is called fly fishing, this is usually used near the shore or in a river. Fly fishers tend to be lures that some way mimic a smaller fish or bugs. These lures can be composed of metal, plastic, string, bright colors and of course a hook at the very end. I personally do not like using these types of lures because I have bad luck with them. Lastly, the last way of fishing for salmon only works if you have some sort of boat. This type of fishing is called Trolling and one of my least favorited ways of fishing for salmon. In this case of fishing, you basically throw a jig into the water and then slowly move your boat forward. This to me is just a lazy way of fishing because you get no action of casting. Even though I do not like this type of fish, trolling is the easiest way of catching salmon since all you do is throw a lure and let it move. In Washington state laws you are only allowed to catch two salmon per day and must mark it down on a paper. This stops over fishing and allows the scientist to keep track of the salmon population

Crabs

Crabbing is a family tradition that I do at least two times a year. Recently I have not done crabbing because of the population. The two types of carbs that I tend to catch were Dungeness and red rock crabs. To me these are the best crabs to eat in Washington, Dungeness crabs have a sweet kind of meat while rock crabs have a thick meaty claw. There are two most common legal ways to catch these crabs either by hand or with a pot. Catching crabs by hand is most uncommonly used because the meaty crabs live deep in the water, but at low tide you can sometimes catch a legal-size rock crab. Pots or crates as some people call them, are traps that you throw into the water with a buoy attached to them. These pots are a iron cage with four one way in opening. Sometimes the entrances are doors and other times the entrance is at a angle so that you can get out. In the middle of these pots is the bait, which attracts the carb to go inside. Since these are crabs, the bait as I have seen can potentially consist of cat food, dog food, fish, pork, and my favorite other crabs which are rotten. After about an hour or two has gone by, you would start to pull up your pots. My favorite part of this is opening the cage and trying to grab the crabs out to measure them. The legal size in Washinton is 6.5 inches, but this is hard to measure when the crabs are trying to pinch you. Technique is everything and the technique to hold crabs is by holding it from behind. You must make sure you have a firm grasp on the crab because they will try to get out of your hold.

Clams

Razor clams are unique looking clams, but very tasty one. Buried deep in the sands of beaches, razor clams stay deep there until the ocean comes back. Once the ocean comes back after low tide, they peak their heads out of the sand to feed on the microorganisms in the water. To capture or gather these clams you must first wat for low tide and buy either a shovel or a clam gun. Clam guns are fire hydrant shape tools that you push into the sand and then cover a hole to create suction. To identify where the clams are you look in the sand and see if there is a small meteor crater. If you do see one, right below it in the sand is where the clam sits and waits. Razor clams can sense danger through vibrations in the sand so once you start digging you must keep going. Sometimes you must dig with your hands in the sand, but you much face your head toward the ocean while digging with your hands. If by any chance you dig any other way, you risk cutting your hand on the shell of the razor clams. That is why they got the name razor clams because the ends of the shell are like razor blades. The limit for Razor clams is 15 for each person for that day, but it is unlikely that you will go again for another limit.

Filipino culture:

Everywhere in the world you will find culture. You can go to all the countries in the world or the different communities in that country and you would still find some sort of culture. For me, I am Filipino and Japanese, but I know and celebrate more my Filipino culture. First off just like every culture Filipino culture is family based but family is term is given to everyone. For instance, let’s say I meet a friends family, instead of calling them Mr. or Mrs. I must call them either Tita/auntie or Tito/uncle. Even friends who are also close would be considered family by default. The term family is thrown so much that sometimes you do not even know who is related by food or by a relationship. To us though that is not a negative thing or idea, family is very important to us and will always have the backs of your family members regardless of bonded by blood or loyalty. Another majorly made about Filipino culture is that we love to party. I will not like parties can got anywhere between 7-12 hours which in retrospect is only half a day but trust me it is exhausting. These parties can be anything and I mean anything to a truing of sixteen (like a quinceañera), engagement, any major sport, church, birthday, wedding you get the idea of course. One personal thing that all kids at a party can understand is wanting to go home and parents say in a minute. I don’t know how this came up but it is just in the culture when your family or someone says we are leaving in a minute, that really mean 3 or 4 hours. You can ask any Filipino if this is true and they will agree with me. Food is also a main part of how we represent our culture. Since the Philippines has been invaded many times from different countries cultures are mixed into the Filipino culture. Even so we still have iconic foods, which to me are Chicken adobo, Pancite, lumpia, leche flan, and of course Halo Halo. I will only explain three of the five given because I believe you should experience the food to understand it. Lets start with Chicken adobo, this is a simple dish which the main part is of course chicken. Basic but most important ingredients is soy sauce, bay leaf and whole peppercorn balls. You basically just boil it with some other ingredients, which depends on which part of the Philippines you are at. To me this is the staple of Filipino culture regarding food because of how known and easy it is to make. The second food, leche flan, is a very soft dessert which is made up of sugar, egg yolk, evaporated milk and condensed milk. If you ever had a poached egg the softness and delicateness of the egg is like leche flan. But the sweetness you receive from each bite is something you just must taste. Lastly, there is Halo Halo. Halo Halo is a dessert that comes with beans, crushed ice, evaporated milk, taro/ube ice cream, sometimes leche flan, strips of coconut and jellies. All of this would then be mixed into one ice like smoothie. To me this is the best thing to have on a hot day in the summer because its like a popsicle but 20 times better but also 20 times as much sugar.

Japanese culture:

Japanese culture for me is something I do not know as well as my Filipino side, but I know that the culture comes from hunting and gathering. I am the only kid from the Japanese side of the family who knows the age-old secret of my family hunting and gathering. I have said this previously that I have been taught how to fish, how to get clam and crabs, but I was also taught how to hunt for mushrooms. This is a tradition that I have recently been taught. You need specific conditions for mushrooms to bloom and more importantly for it to be safe to gather. Washington is the best place for mushroom picking and my family realized this when they first moved here. Each family member has a certain place to find mushrooms, personally I have not found my own, so I must use my uncle’s place. The mushrooms that we pick is oyster, lobster and Matsutake. Oyster and matsutake mushrooms look very similar to mushrooms that will cause irritation or death, so my uncle has taught me to distinguish them. It’s been a pain because mushroom picking process sucks if it is not a warm day. That’s why I said earlier that Washington is good conditions for mushroom growing because it is, but you would still like to have a nice day for mushroom picking. One where you don’t bombard by hail or rain and not thrown off a Hill.

[nerfpuncher]

@coffeeandbatboys

Did we like just become best friends? Lol

Thank you so much! Like really. Iv always been quite different from most that walk the farming and ranching way of life. But iv always been a firm believer in letting that nerd flag fly lol

I rode and rodeoed on a big blue roan gelding with 4 white socks that I called Rex when I was in high-school lol.

Iv never been shy of letting my fandoms intertwine.

My main saddle gelding is named Stark and his paperd name is King Of The North

My main hunting dog is Tilly.

My current dream is a big draft gelding to name Wrecker 🤣

HAPPY MAY THE 4TH Y'ALL!!

I'd like to tell yall a story.

As well all know, 3 years ago today The Bad Batch premiered. We were in the thick of Tritcale Harvest (like we are now lol). I was too excited to wait till I got home to watch. So I propped my phone up on the tractor steering colum, used my head phones, and watched the pilot while driving tractor. It was wonderful.

At the same time, my big red mare was over due to foal by two weeks. She could release the hostage at any time. I had checked on her at 4am when I left for the field, she showed no signs of foaling.

A surprise bout of rain at 10am shut us down that day. So I went home and drove out to check her just in case.

This is what I found

He was dry, standing and nursing. I'm guessing she had him not long after I had checked in the morning.

A perfect clone of his mother right down to the star on his head. After a few days, when he mother would nicker, he would too.

So of course he had to be named Echo❤️

In the same way I have loved this show over the past 3 years and watched the fandom grow, I watched Echo grow as well.

He is curious and kind. First to meet you at the gate when called. He is playful by nature, stealing hats, gloves, or anything else left unattended.

He is a fast learner with more try than any other horse iv started (and iv started a lot of colts)

Anyway

A few days ago, I once again left my house at 4am, propped my phone up on the tractor steering colum, and watched the series final the same way i did when it first aired. It was so bitter sweet.

Then as if it was meant to be, a suprise bout of rain hit at 10am, and shut us down again.

I figures I only had one choice.

A few days shy of his 3rd birthday, I put the first ride on my ARC trooper in training. I felt how he moves under saddle for the first time.

He is a horse that very few ranchers get to ride in their lifetime. He is brave in the face of the unknown. Calm in the chaos. Everything I want in a cow horse and then some. I can only imagine him 5 years down for road

My how he has grown into his name

Why did I feel the need to write all this?

While our favorite show has ended, Echo here will live another 25 years with me if I'm lucky.

And every time I swing my leg over him, I'll think of this wonderful fandom iv come to be apart of. Of the artists and writers who put their hearts and souls into their work for us to enjoy. I'll think of the amazing people I got the privilege to know and call friends. ❤️

I'll think of all the Echo posts. Funny and angsty alike.

So while the show my have come to a bitter sweet end.

I'll have my sweet Echo to remind me of why I fell in love with the show and fandom in the first place ❤️

[fancyschmancyprancynancy]

12, 19, and 21!

Ahhh, I’m so sorry I’m only getting to this now!

12. What’s the most interesting school gossip you’ve heard? I’m not sure if it counts, but after I graduated high school, I learned that one of my classmates had been selling weed out of her locker for a while. This is mostly interesting because my graduating class was less than 50 people and you would expect me to notice something like that lmao.

19. What’s your favorite teacher you’ve ever had? My current academic advisor/English professor, Dr. Mouser. She’s phenomenal, and I’m very lucky to have met her. Also Dr. Toliver, who taught me poetry a couple semesters ago. English professors are good folks, y’all should definitely have conversations with them if you ever get the chance.

21. What’s a conspiracy you believe in? It’s kind of cliche as far as conspiracies go, but I’m pretty convinced the CIA had at least something to do with the Kennedy assassination. Do I have a specific theory? Nah, not really. But I’m fairly sure they were involved, even if only marginally.

[bump1nthen1ght]

may i request a drabble of a reader (any gender or lack therof that you please) with a goblin partner, maybe with a meet cute in a research/academic setting? Thank you so much :)

Of course Anon! We need more goblin stuff in the world. I also loooved doing stuff in an academic setting, as y'all can tell my inner nerd came out in some parts of this piece. Hope you enjoy!

Gender Neutral!Reader x Nonbinary! Goblin: Meet cute

You have a complicated relationship with your University’s library.

On one hand, you love it. It’s big, close to your apartment, and astoundingly beautiful. The architecture feels like it's ripped straight from the 20th century, with vaulted ceilings, dark wood and stained glass windows. The dustiness and history is perfect for setting the studying mood, the library never getting too rowdy even during its most crowded time.

On the other hand, it’s so fucking old that nothing is done efficiently. The bookshelves are all stretched up to the ceiling with no regards to the non-flying species students and the categorical system is ancient enough that there are no computer versions of anything. If you’re looking for a book you just pray it's been properly shelved, low to the ground, with big obvious letters. Otherwise you have to flag down the librarian or one of her many assistants.

Today is one of those days where your complex feelings come to a head. Yeah, the atmosphere has certainly stirred you to read those archived experimental reviews you’ve been procrastinating. And yes, you have no idea where to find it because the First Last Name in the paper starts with an X and you’ve got NO clue where it is. You’ve been wandering 20 minutes; spending 15 minutes trying to convince yourself you don’t need help and another five trying to find an assistant to guide you.

You finally come upon a step ladder, ridden by a small figure around 10 feet above you.

“Excuse me!” You whisper-scream. The assistants' large, green ears perk up, and one swivels back to better hear you. “Do you perchance know where I could find articles by a Dr. Xander?”

The assistant’s tail fidgets back and forth, ears turning back before they finally lean back and look down at you. Even from so far up, their yellow eyes seem to glow in the shadowed ceiling.

“Sorry, what was that?” The goblin assistant whisper-screams back.

“Um, Dr. Xander-” You say at your normal tone, promptly shushed by someone another bookshelf over. You huff and go back to whispering. “A Dr. Xander? It’s a scientific article but I couldn’t find the X section-”

“What?” The assistant says again, now speaking normally, craning their back and pointing their ear downward.

“Dr. Xander-” Another shush. Jeez, why can they speak normally but not you? “Dr. Xanders article about in the most recent Science?”

The assistant leans down further, mouth opening for another “What?” When the step ladder begins to shudder and shake. Your brain goes into bullet time, seeing the assistants flailing arms trying to regain their grip in slow motion as you grab the bottom of the step ladder to steady it. But the momentum forward only makes the goblin’s feet slip off the sides, throwing them backward and falling down.

Your heels scuff against the carpet as you propel back as well, arms thrown out in your own attempt to balance yourself. The goblin screeches at a high pitch and you yelp, realizing how fast and far they are coming at you. But as if possessed by a cheerleader, You outstretch your arms, bracing your stomach and clenching you legs.

The colors are all a blur, but you somehow keep your eyes open, only coming back into focus when looking down.

The goblin breathes heavily in your arms, bright yellow eyes wide with slitted pupils. A dark green blush paints their cheeks, your arms having scooped them down in a bridal position, faces a romantic distance away from each other.

You feel your own face get hot with embarrassment and adrenaline, still shocked you were able to catch them at all.

“Uhm, you can let me down now.” They whisper.

You bumble through a “Oh yeah, of course”, bareky making sensible words as you let them down. Blood pumping so hard you can practically feel it in your veins.

The assistant straightens out their vest, brushing their hair back into it’s combed style and taking a deep breath. If not for their thrashing tail, you wouldn't have thought the fall barely phased them.

“Thank you very much for..catching me. I imagine that would’ve been quite the injury if you had not.”

“Oh yeah! No problem, no problem.” You mutter, fiddling with the hem of your T-shirt. Their eyes are so bright, their demeanor so smart, it only adds to your flustered state. “Happy to help.”

“Indeed, it is most appreciated.” They tuck a loose strand of hair behind their ear. “Now that I’m down here, what can I help you with?” Utterly shocked by their resounding professionalism, you stammer out the Last Name your looking for. “Ah, that should be in the fourth stack back there, on the 5th shelf. I’ll lead you to it, the lights are busted in that section so it can be a bit difficult to navigate.”

“Oh, thats alright. I don’t want to be a bother-”

They hold out their palm, just the slightest bit indignant.

“I insist.” Their pleated shoes click as they shuffle past you. You pull up the strap of your backpack, trying to brush back your own hair to seem as put together as they are.

The two of you scurry past several larger than life bookshelves, taking several sharp turns in a random order. You become thankful on the assistant insiting they help; you definitely would’ve gotten lost.

“May I ask what your researching? If it is not too invasive a question.”

“Yeah, of course! I’m actually interning in Dr. Close’s lab right now, working with hummingbirds.” The assistant takes another sharp turn, leaving to follow their tail as a waypoint. “This paper has some interesting data, so I’m trying to see if it can inform my future research. I’m trying to dive more into torpor.”

“Fascinating.” They murmur, finally stopping at a bookshelf, gazing upwards towards a higher shelf. “And what got you interested in it?”

Your lips curl up in a smile, that giddiness when talking about your field.

“Well, hummingbirds already have a crazy metabolism, so the fact they can just slow it and their heart rate down is fascinating. I mean, their eggs are barely bigger than a pea yet they burn through so much nectar and use it so efficiently, all while hasically dropping into a coma for part of they year. It’s just- how did they even evolve to do that? Its such brilliant machinery-” You realize your rambling, the assistant’s big yellow eyes looking intrntly at your gesticulations, paused in their search for a book. “Sorry, I bet it seems silly, getting worked up over such a tiny thing.”

But the assistant just smiles, wirey and relaxed. Their ears flicker in amusement and you can feel your nerves ease.

“Don’t be. All pursuit of knowledge is admirable. Those who look down upon the little things often are ignorant of what the big things even mean. Plus-” they turn back to the books, standing up on their toes to reach for your article. “-you eloquate so expressively, it’s hard to not get excited as well.”

Your face groes hot, twirling a baby strand of hair.

“Thank you. You s-speak rather eloquently too.”

“I read a lot.” They lean up again, jumping just a centimeter off the ground, but their fingertips barely graze the end of the book. Their cheeks flush that embarrassed green again, but they don’t look to you for help.

“I can get that.” They nod, brushing their hair back again in what must be their nervous habit. The book is farther back on the shelf, making you perch on the balls of your feet, but you are able to grab the cover with little issue.

(The bottom of your shirt rises as you do, exposing a small bit of your stomach. You don’t notice, but the assistant does, forcing their gaze away as they feel their ears grow hot.)

The scientific journal has a bright picture of a bird on the front, the name of the article you're searching for flashing as you flip through the pages.

“This is perfect, thank you so much!”

“It was no problem, dearie, all in a day's work. Here, I can escort you to the main stacks, this back area is like a dungeon.”

You nod, still thumbing through the journal. There are some interesting articles in here, maybe you’ll find more interesting data to look at.

Once you reach the lighter part of the library you tuck the journal into your side bag and try to match pace with the assistant.

“I can’t thank you enough for the help. I seriously would have never found it without you.”

“It is no problem, if anything I’m repaying you for catching me.”

You rub the back of your neck, eyes darting upward to avoid contact. You’d been trying to push that to the back of your mind, forcing yourself not feel awkward about it. “O-oh that was nothing. I was just at the right place at the right time. Honestly, I’m usually pretty clums-”

With a squeal and dose of irony, the tip of your shoe catches on a raised patch of carpet. You arms flail outward as you try to catch yourself, but instead a small hand pulls you back by the wrist, grip leveraged by their tail now wrapped around one of your legs. You stumble backwards, but a hand lies on your lower back, steadying your posture.

“Yeah, that’s more like me.” You half joke, slimy embarrassment running down your spine.

Behind you the assistant chuckles. Their tail unwraps from your leg, leaving goosebumps in its wake. You turn towards the exit, trying to leave some dignity intact, although you can see yourself screaming about this in the car.

“Thanks again. You’ve been a huge help, in more ways than one.” You brush some imaginary dust off your shirt, trying to seem cool, calm, and collected.

“It’s no issue. Could I get your name?”

“Oh! Y-yes, it’s ____.”

“Pleasure to meet you, ____. I’m Revike.” They step back, adjusting their suspenders. “And I hope to see you again.”

“Me too. Though helpfully I won’t need so much help next time.”

“Like I said, it’s no issue.” They give you a tiny smirk. “I’m a librarian after all, its my job to look after priceless works.”

You’re sure you look like a cartoon character, eyes bulging out as Revike leaves you with a wink, trying not to giggle like a middle schooler.

Welp, seems like you’ll be going to the library more often.

[wyked-ao3]

i love the opening line @fromthenortheast

I'll reshare the opening paragraph of my wip TPKODR

Pirate king and Captain of the ship Death's Redemption, Daimhín Heorot was looking out across the dark reddish wood that made his ships deck, at the small fleet they were approaching. The Jolly Rogers flag with crimson blood stained on it from the last fight they had been in a few days prior, flying high in the sky warning of their imminent arrival. Eric hadn't gotten to cleaning the flags yet as he had other repairs to get to first.

TPKODR tag list although I'm fairly certain you have all seen it a few times

@thatuselesshuman @gioiaalbanoart @lychhiker-writes @goth-automaton

@thecomfywriter @evilwriter37 @saebasanart @the-golden-comet

@mauannacreates @kind-lion @alinacapellabooks @kuebiko-writing

@kaeru483 @differentnighttale @theink-stainedfolk @unstableunicornsofasgard

@mysticstarlightduck @demon-sneeze @an-indecisive-nerd @smellyrottentrees

@honeybewrites @pheonix358

first line tag!

a huge HUGE THANK YOU to @dreambigdreamz for tagging me in this game! now i have read your fic that has made me screech in happiness at 3 am, it is time to share my current first line:

From the fic Endeleas, that has an intro wip for more info.

Lupe has been always sure that she was never a ruthless creature, it was just she herself enjoy seeing the many people pray and cry with the choir to their god, as if they will listen to them.

Tagging for the game:

@thescribblednovel, @48lexr, @bioniclechronicles, @rachelwilkinson + open tag!

And since this is also a reveal in the first draft:

@wyked-ao3 ^u^

[outlying-hyppocrate]

☆☆☆

hello.

crispin / hansel / seth(aniel) / whatever the fuck you want he/him; & others if you so wish it genderfluid transsexual man asexual & homoflexible @fukounaboy is my beloved boyfriend!! be nice to hym. fluent in english & french; learning japanese, latin, & spanish; relearning finnish do whatever you want forever.

☆☆☆

interests.

artists - stomach book, will wood (& the tapeworms), malice mizer, flavor foley, system of a down, crosa rosa, jibral, nuit incolore, luke black, machinery of the human heart, drive45, kikuo(hana), femtanyl, mitski, lemon demon, ghost and pals, the living tombstone, slipknot, måneskin, joker out, käärijä, stromae, yeule, buč kesidi, artan lili, dram books - the metamorphosis, a hunger-artist, in the penal colony, the picture of dorian gray, dracula, the perks of being a wallflower, an abundance of katherines, the fault in our stars, will grayson will grayson, the heartstopper series hobbies - playing the piano & the ukulele, weightlifting, drawing, writing, cosplaying, listening to music, studying various topics through wikipedia games - roblox (especially flicker); genshin impact; flesh, blood, & concrete; pokémon shield; pokémon violet; doki doki literature club; the sims 4; mariokart wii; mariokart 8; animal crossing: new horizons; it paints me; wayfarer movies - the fly, edward scissorhands, 1971 willard, the first two deadpool movies, demon slayer: mugen train, the fault in our stars, fanfik, interview with the vampire shows - ouran high school host club, squid game, the good place, total drama, physical: 100, watamote, trollhunters, 3below, bee & puppycat: lazy in space, heartstopper, our flag means death youtubers - eleanor neale, contrapoints, frankie fey, the click, film cooper, etymology nerd, human1011, drama kween, ito can't sleep, juno moth, david achu, vlad ncl, of herbs & altars miscellaneous - franz kafka, marquis de sade, sadomasochism, research on paraphilias, bjds, visual novels, pokémon

☆☆☆

blogs.

backup - @viscera-in-the-micr0wave letters to boyfriend - @tiredofthissearching music - @sadeanmusicbox outfit of the day - @crispinesque school art - @hungerkuenstler treebury upon avon - @flowerboy-viscera url hoarding - @chorechartstarperformer writing - @anomalie--rougeatre currently purposeless blog - @hermetia-illucens-in-garlic lovecore [archived] - @unreciprocated

+ more to come!!

☆☆☆

links & usernames.

discord - vivisectionniste instagram - kuolevatorakka letterboxd - fleshling pinterest - visceralty roblox - viscera_inamicr0wave spotify [artist] - crispin de sade spotify [listener] - ♱ youtube - sirheartwormvivisection

☆☆☆

if you are reading this, i love you very much. you deserve all of the pleasantries in the world. please take care of yourself. i want you to do things that make you happy while you've still the time.

☆☆☆

[soulvomit]

In a way, for a long time, being really visibly nerdy kept me kinda safe? In a way?

There wasn’t really the image of “the sexy nerd” yet even though the big social scenes for nerds, were incredibly sexualized spaces. In fact there were normie men who just thought I was some buttoned-up career girl and only guys that liked that, were interested anyway, and they usually ran screaming when they found out it was just me LARPing The Professional by day, and I was really actually a Hot Mess.

But for the most part, anyone who actually wanted to hang out with me, usually really did want to hang out with me. I did not project “available” vibes. That actually worked both for and against me, and I wasn’t quite high enough up the ladder of sexual market value for the persistent creepers. I was a really, really specific taste and usually it was incredibly spergy men that liked me. (Women didn’t like me romantically at all.) 

And somehow it was possible in the 90s to be seen as a weird girl and still not quite be seen as naive and vulnerable. Weird girls could be streetsmart. Weird girls were usually smarter than you, and not taking your shit. At some point, the Weird Girl image was given a lobotomy. Just like all kinds of Weird Person imagery for some reason has been castrated, lobotomized, and de-agentified. 

I did not even BEGIN to encounter the level of “wow fuck how do you live like this” of normie life until I tried to move among normies. 

And now nerds, because most people in nerd culture now *are* normies.

I ONLY had a good time, socially, when I let my freak flag fly.

It’s when I started to move among normies and people who were normie-aspirational that I encountered anywhere near the degree of lying, two-facedness, or transactional people-using that I’ve encountered in normie culture.

But all the same:

It’s like I was in nerd culture, and wasn’t. My nerd friends were part of things I wasn’t part of, wasn’t invited to, and wasn’t likely to attend on my own. It may be that people were going by themselves to those things, because they were trying to get laid, I don’t know. But the degree to which I feel cut out of geek culture because I don’t do Ren Faire, I don’t do SCA, I don’t do cons, my interests in geekdom are really really narrow and consist maybe of a couple of obsessive fandoms and my own worldbuilding/writing. And if I did All The Nerdy Things, I wouldn’t have time to actually do the things that made me a nerd in the first place.

And I feel like nerds actually place more social demand on me than any other group of people. I have to follow my nerd friends from crowded, expensive thing to crowded, expensive thing just to hang out with them, and they’re often booked a year into the future.  

Literally, the only nerdy social thing I at all have ever had the bandwidth to do, is tabletop gaming. 

My ideal social life consists of going on long drives or hikes, and having deep conversations. In general, fireside chats.

[thelovers-thedreamers-and-me]

Okay but enquiring minds want to know. What disasters (multiple) do you keep eluding to that have plagued this trip home? (I finally checked my snapchat, like a nerd, so I know about the wind stealing your clothes but it sounds like there has been more)

okay so first of, hemmily, you cannot casually say "the wind stealing your clothes" on tumblr like it's nothing

but here is a list of shit that happened in 48 hours

my foot, which i thought was better from an injury i have no idea how i got, started spontaneously hurting again, just in time for me to go through airports. (it is still stiff a bit)

i went to do my laundry on thursday night, and my dryer decided to not do its one job. so i had all the clothes i actually wear hanging around my apartment all friday, most of which got dry, but my jeans were still soggy. no worry, says i, i shall just ask my mom if i can wash my clothes at her place when i get there

so i stay up all night even though i slept about four hours the previous night, get on my 6 AM flight, and go. they take my foot soothing cream at customs because it is 18 ml too big for a plane.

i realize that i did not get anything to eat or drink and do not have change for the vending machine. that's fine, say i, i will just grab something at my layover at airport number 2, i will have an hour.

when our flight arrives at airport number 2, we are stuck on the tarmac for a hot 45 minutes because there is nobody free to get us off the plane. so i don't get food, and i don't get a drink, and i gotta run-hobble across the airport because the moving sidewalk going in the direction i need to go isn't working. (the other moving sidewalk is working fine. of course) but that's alright! i can sleep on the plane, get off, mom will feed me. i have a minor panic attack because my aunt sent me a facebook message the previous night about how a flight was cancelled because It Fucken Wimdy, but i only got the notification just then and assumed it was about my flight. i check, it's not, mine is on time.

so far.

the woman sitting next to me on flight number 2 is named patricia. she has a son name dylan, and she is very excited to see him for thanksgiving, and she is also very excited to be sitting next to a Real Live Newfoundlander. (ma'am you are on a flight to newfoundland the fuck do you expect) she is very excited to talk about what newfoundland is like, and how she is being screeched in, and what tourist stuff should she do, and what restaurants should she go to. ("well idk if i have any recommendations, i have not been home in years." "oh, okay, well we were going to the keg" "okay i have one recommendation, don't go to the keg") i do not manage to sleep on this flight. i have not eaten or had a drink. i am flagging

so i am sitting there chatting with patricia about what all the patches on my jacket mean (nothing) with the little plane monitor on the seatback and i notice huh, this plane is turning! wow, it's turning a lot! and i watch as we turn completely around. uh oh.

for reference this is what the ocean looks like from the air. whitecaps everywhere, and this was pretty far out ne have enough fuel to fly around for about 40 minutes, but if it does not get less fucken wimdy, we will have to go back to halifax since if anything, it is fucken wimdier at the other two airports in newfoundland we could land at. so we just all sit there for 40 minutes, my mom and sister waiting in the car at the airport with no idea what is going on, while i go over who i know in halifax (one group of people i have met in person who i know are currently no longer in halifax since they flew back home the previous night, one old high school friend that i think still lives there but i haven't spoken to in literal years, and one tumblr friend that has seen my horrible blog and is unlikely to want to waste thanksgiving weekend time on me.)

for reference this is what the ocean looks like from the air. whitecaps everywhere, and this was pretty far out into the open sea. (i got better photos with patricia's phone because she was both excited to see the ocean and very opinionated about how they should have known when we took off it would be too windy to land and done something about it. what did you want them to do, patricia.)

45 minutes later, we manage to make the bumpiest landing i have ever experienced, and wait and wait and wait for them to manage to set up the little bridge. i get off the plane, say goodbye to patricia, fill out my wee questionnaire, and go to pick up my bags

there is an airport employee passing out little pieces of paper telling us that we cannot get our luggage now, since it is too fucken wimdy for them to open the luggage door of the plane

i have never heard of this happening

in my luggage is all of my clothes, much of which are getting mustier and mustier as time progresses, every jacket i brought for any other weather besides jean jacket, and my sister's birthday present

so i fill out the little form, and go to finally see my family, who take me to go buy underwear and socks to tide me over until i get my luggage (late enough that when we do eventually have thanksgiving dinner i am still wearing an alice cooper t-shirt i have stolen from my mom that is older than i am)

i also was leaning on mom's dishwasher for literally 5 minutes before it spontaneously sprung a leak

somewhere in this journey, i have completely smashed the cap of my wee shampoo bottle, so that was all over my toiletry/testosterone bag, which has rubbed some of the lettering off the T prescription so i'm very excited for that to become an issue on the trip home

as well as my realization that my plane tickets are actually a different name than both my name that i go by and the name on my id because mom forgot that i was not legally named bobbie when she ordered them

tonight is the first night i've been back that i've been even thinking about bed before 2 AM

i'm having a very good time but good lord that first

[wyked-ao3]

The most recent revamp of chapter one of my wip TPKODR

Posting first paragraph

Pirate king and captain of the ship Death's Redemption, Daimhín Heorot was looking out across the dark reddish wood that made his ships deck at the small fleet they were approaching. The Jolly Rogers flag with crimson blood stained on it from the last fight they had been in a few days prior, flying high in the sky warning of their imminent arrival. Eric hadn't gotten to cleaning the flags yet. Daimhín turned back to Galen, his second in command and quartermaster of the ship. He said, “they are skittish.” Watching as the crew of officers aboard the other ships start to panic. They were still a little ways out but the larger ship had little chance of escaping them.

Tagging my tag list +@tragedycoded & @jev-urisk

@thatuselesshuman @gioiaalbanoart @lychhiker-writes @goth-automaton @thecomfywriter

@evilwriter37 @saebasanart @the-golden-comet @mauannacreates @kind-lion

@alinacapellabooks @kuebiko-writing @kaeru483 @differentnighttale @theink-stainedfolk

@unstableunicornsofasgard @mysticstarlightduck @demon-sneeze @an-indecisive-nerd @smellyrottentrees

@honeybewrites @pheonix358

First Line tag!

Thanks @fractured-shield! I'm breaking out a story I don't quite know what to do with for this one :)

Rules: Post the first line of one of your WIPS.

What a terrible evening it is. The rain clings to my window, drops sliding down the panes like tears. Thunder roars in the distance, unleashing its displeasure onto some unfortunate tree. I sulk under my furs, fingers clutching the hem of my blanket. 

Tagging @mudkissedgirl, @lychhiker-writes, @wyked-ao3, @katenewmanwrites, @the-inkwell-variable and open tag!

[dp-marvel94]

Face to Face- Chapter 32

Summary: When Danny went through the ghost catcher, he expected to be cured of the ghostliness that had haunted him since the accident, not to wake up on the lab floor with his parents saying he’d been overshadowed but everything’s back to normal now. But why does Danny Fenton cry himself to sleep to then dream of flying? Why does Phantom, the ghost who was supposedly possessing Danny remember a life that wasn’t his? Most of all, why do both the human and the ghost feel that something vital is missing, in their very soul? Or: Trying to cure himself of his powers one month after the accident, Danny accidentally splits himself but neither his ghost nor his human half know that that is what they did

First -> Last -> Next

Word Count: 6,098

Also on AO3 and Fanfiction.net

Note:What is this?! Another Face to Face update. I'm still struggling through my first phic phight story and hoping some comments on this will encourage me. Thanks for reading as always!

Phantom stayed still for a long moment, looking out over the Ghost Zone. He took a deep breath and  watched the floating rocks, the swirling clouds, and the purple doors. He braced himself and slowly floated to his feet. He needed to head out there. Tentatively, he reached out with his mind and plucked at the line. Like Fenton said, it was there, the link between him and his other half. And….a moment later, he received a tug in kind. His confidence grew. Yes, he could do this. He could find his way home.

With that, the ghost flew. He carefully followed the line, over islands and past doors. He slipped between rocks and paused, looking upward to what looked like a river suspended in mid-air and flowing downward. Phantom’s eyes widened in awe at the sight but he kept going. All the while, he looked around with keen attention. It wouldn’t do, to be attacked by another ghost again. Luckily, he didn’t see or sense anything large or notable. Instead, his brow wrinkled as he flew past a small group of what looked like globs of ectoplasm with eyes. One of the little ghosts (at least he thought they were ghosts) looked at Danny. It blinked slowly before letting out a chirp and darting away with the others. 

Phantom watched for a moment as the small creatures flew away. Then He sloped downward, below a tree covered island. He gaped at the sight. Trees?! There were actually trees here, even though there didn’t appear to be any sun, moon, or stars. So...wait...where did the light come from? And were those the ghosts of dead trees or-

The ghost shook his head, clearing the questions about his surroundings from his mind. It really was incredible being here, even if the circumstances were...not so great. He might just have to come back, after everything was sorted...assuming that things could be fixed with Mom. The boy bit his lip. He couldn’t worry about that, not right now. 

“Focus, Phantom.” He chided himself. He had to follow the line, get back to the real world.

The ghost boy’s brow then furrowed, eyes falling on something in the distance. A rectangular shape. White, standing out in stark contrast against the green atmosphere. And…. he tugged the line again….the way home was in that direction.

Less than five minutes later, the object became clear in his view. “It’s...Casper High?” Phantom muttered.

There in front of him was a black and white version of the school, complete with the American flag and the name plastered above the door in big letters. It was strange, bizarre. Why would there be a version of his high school in the ghost zone? And….he frowned, feeling his tether. Why did the path he was following back to Fenton lead him here? Phantom furrowed his brow. He hadn’t come this way before; he would have remembered seeing this weird building. But…. yep, the line was leading him here and...he could feel he was really close.

The ghost straightened, bracing himself. Cautiously but with forced confidence, he floated up to the doors and slowly pushed them open to find…. an empty hallway, identical to the front hall at Casper, even if it was in monochrome.

“Hello?” He called quietly as he crossed the threshold.

No reply came as Phantom continued onward. His core pulsed nervously at the silence of the eerily familiar space. It was strange, seeing it so empty and quiet. And it was fittingly haunting for a ghostly double of his school. But why was this here? Why did it look like Casper High? And why was it in black and white?

The ghost boy swallowed, pushing the questions away and floating down the hallways. He looked side to side, watching for any movement. His ghost sense hadn’t gone off, but being in an enclosed space was making him anxious. But at the same time….he was so close to….something. Something that would lead him home. But what?

Suddenly, the doors he’d come through slammed shut, earning a gasp from Phantom. “Who’s...who’s there?”

Something flickered at the edge of his vision. Head jerking to the side, he turned to find...nothing. The boy frowned, opening his mouth to call out. Then there was a bang behind him. Startled, Phantom wiped back around to find locker doors banging open and closed on their own.

“I don’t want any trouble.” The ghost boy started, voice wavering with fear.

Again, something flickered beside him. There was a staticy laugh. Phantom turned again and…. His heart would have skipped a beat, if it was in his chest. There was a monochrome teenager, a buff looking guy with slicked back hair and a leather jacket. He reminded Ghost Danny uncanningly of Dash. The figure opened his mouth, static exiting. Then he pushed the ghost boy. 

Phantom stumbled, letting out a surprised cry as his back hit something solid. He turned, looking up at a scowling girl in a poodle shirt. She turned up her nose, pushing the ghost boy away. “Wait! Stop!” His eyes widened as he fell forward again, this time hitting another jock. “I don’t wanna fight!” The other teen, in a letterman, grabbed Phantom’s arm and shoved him to the floor.

The ghost boy hit the ground with a start, the impact knocking the air from his only semi-illusionary lungs. He rolled onto his back, paling at what was around him. A crowd of black-and-white teenagers, all wearing retro clothing, maybe from the fifties? They towered over him, scowling and jeering down at him. 

“Stop! Please!” Phantom covered his ears, wincing in pain at the sound. It was static, hundreds of voices speaking over each other. And they were laughing, mocking. It was years of insults. Freak, coward, geek, nerd, weak, worthless, dead, wrong, unnatural, monster. 

The ghost boy curled in on himself. “Please! I’m lost...I’m sorry I…” 

Don’t belong here...Don’t belong. Invader. 

“I don’t….” 

Trespasser. Invader. Leave! Leave, freak! 

“I… I know I’m not supposed to be here. I’m lost..I…” 

Leave! Dead! Go! The voices hissed. Don’t belong, monster! 

“Please! Stop!” Phantom begged.

The words pressed down on him and his chest heaved with panic. He whimpered as the volume rose, growing into a roar. Phantom bit back a cry as he pressed his hands to his ears, like he could block out the noise, keep out the words. He wanted to move, like the voices were demanding but he couldn’t, too frozen in fear. Instead he sobbed. “I just wanna go home.”

“Enough!” A single voice shouted. There was a whirl, a sound like gall forces winds. And then silence.  “You can’t just barge into someone’s lair!”

“I...I..I’m sorry.” Phantom fixed his head down, whole body shaking. “I just...I got lost and was trying to get home but I ended up here ‘cause-” His words cut off as his ghost sense billowed out of his mouth and he coughed.

The ghost boy paled, looking cross eyed at the mist. He slowly looked up, eyes falling on the speaker. Like the other teens, he was monochrome but looked like a stereotypical nerd, with coke bottle glasses, a bowler haircut, a polo, and a bowtie. He fit the same fifties aesthetic yet somehow...there was something different about him compared to the other. He was more vivid, more solid than the others, almost like…. 

“Are you gonna say anything buster?” The crowd around them was still and silent even as the nerd floated half a foot closer, his fists balled.

“Yeah..Umm...Sorry, I..” Phantom stuttered. His eyes then widened as his ghost sense billowed out of his mouth again. That had only happened once this singular figure showed up, not before and not by the others. The others that had stopped when the nerd told them too. “You’re a ghost.” Ghost Danny whispered, meeting the glasses-covered eyes.

The other ghost scowled. “You don’t say.”

Phantom averted his eyes again, blushing. “No...sorry...I..I mean..you’re not...you’re not like…whatever these are.” The ghost boy motioned to the crowd around them, shivering. “You’re an actual ghost.” He whispered the last part, before glancing up, at the other, now confused looking ghost. 

The other ghost’s brow furrowed behind his glasses. He raised his hand, making Phantom flinch. But instead of swinging his arm to punch or lighting his fist with ectoenergy like Ghost Danny expected, the nerd snapped his fingers and commanded. “Leave us.” 

With that, the teenagers around the ghost boy seemed to flicker, their outlines wavering. Without any movement, the crowd disappeared, leaving Phantom and the other ghost alone. The nerd lowered his arm, his fist relaxing.

That did little to comfort Phantom. His pulse pounded in his head as he wrung his hands. “So...okay...we’re alone now. And...you said this was your lair? I...uh...don’t know what that means but...I can leave...I can leave now since those guys didn’t seem to want me here-”

“Sorry about that.” The quiet words interrupted the ramble. 

“What?” Phantom blinked, looking up at the other ghost.

The nerd didn’t look angry anymore but instead almost….bashful, holding his hand out. “My shadows got out of hand. They aren’t supposed to be that cruel.”

The ghost boy just gapped, looking between the offered hand and the other ghost’s face. His mind raced, wondering what was going on. What was with the sudden change in attitude? He bit his lip. The other ghost wasn’t attacking him or...using those not-ghosts (he called them shadows?) to attack him. Maybe that apology was authentic. 

Phantom took a deep breath and chose to be brave. Tentatively, he took the offered hand and allowed the other ghost to pull him up.

Then there was silence. The ghost Danny shifted nervously in the air as he studied the other ghost. And the other ghost studied him, his expression curious yet vaguely sad.

Phantom finally coughed, pointing back the way he came. “I’ll just...I’ll leave now. Sorry again for barraging in. And uh…bye.” Slowly, he floated backward, keeping one eye on the other ghost.

“Wait.” The nerd reached forward. “You’re new, aren’t ya?” The ghost boy stopped, turning more fully towards the other ghost as he continued. “You haven’t been a ghost for a long time.”

Phantom’s eyes widened, his mouth opening and closing. “Um..uhh...yeah… I haven’t been...like this very long.” He swallowed. “How did you...how did you know?”

The other ghost’s expression softened. “You’re still trying to breath.” At the words, Phantom reflectively stopped, holding his breath with wide eyes. “It’s alright. That’s a tough habit to break.” The other ghost held out of hand, as if to shake. “I’m Sidney Pointdexter, by the way.”

The other ghost blinked at the hand. After a long pause, he grasped it. “I’m Danny….Danny Phantom.”

“Phantom.” The nerd nodded. “So you already picked a name.”

“Yeah?” So apparently, that was a thing? Phantom rubbed the back of his neck. “You can call me Danny though.” 

“Danny.” The other ghost half-smile. “You can call me Sidney then.” Sidney’s expression then turned more serious. “Obviously you didn’t know but... if you want to go inside someone’s lair, you need to announce yourself and ask permission to enter.”

“Oh, okay. Sorry” Phantom blushed. “I’ll...I’ll do that next time.”

“Good.” Sidney crossed his arms. “You’re lucky you barged in on me, mister. If it’d been Skulker, he would have skinned you.”

The ghost boy swallowed, suddenly anxious. His eyes bulged. “Really?!”

The other ghost nodded. “That hunter can be very possessive and mean.” Sidney then scowled. “But I’d never do that. I’m not a bully.” The other ghost then shook his head. “Anyway...why did you come here?”

Phantom’s core pulsed awkwardly at the question. “I..uh…” It wasn’t said with any anger or accusation, but innocently curious. But still, the ghost boy struggled to explain why he’d come inside. The line connecting him to his other self had led here but...how could he explain that? He swallowed. “This looks like my school, Casper High.”

Sidney blinked, eyes widening. “You went to Casper?” The corner of his lip turned up.

“Yeah.” The ghost boy bit his lip, not knowing what to say. Instead, he turned towards the door and pointed. “Yeah...thanks for the advice but...I should go so…”

“You don’t have to yet.” The other ghost’s eyes were slightly pleading. “Why don’t you rest for a bit? And I get you something to eat and drink? You look like you need it.”

Phantom blinked. “Ghosts eat?”

Sidney frowned, slightly alarmed. “Yes? Come on.” He grabbed the other boy’s arm. “That’s it. I’m making you some tea and a sandwich. I think I still have some cookies too.”

The ghost boy didn’t resist, instead gawking as the other ghost pulled him down the hallway and towards the cafeteria. His mind sputtered, trying to overcome the emotional whiplash. Seconds later, the pair floated in the cafeteria’s kitchen. Sidney grabbed a tea kettle off the stove, filled it with what looked like water from the sink, and placed it on the burner. Then he opened the fridge and pulled out what looked like slices of cheese and luncheon meat.

Phantom just stared in disbelief. Sidney turned back towards him. “I have some tiger fruit too. I grow it in the courtyard. Do you want to try some?” He held up a round, stripped fruit, the orange and black standing out in bright contrast to the monochrome environment.

The ghost boy wrinkled his nose. “What is it?”

Sidney looked down at the fruit. “It kind of tastes like an apple. It’s native to the Infinite Realms though. I don’t think it has a Material World counterpart.” He smiled. “It’s really delicious.”

“Alright?” Phantom shook his head. There was a lot of information there. Then he shrugged. “Sure.”

The other ghost nodded, quickly preparing a plate and two cups of tea. He turned back to ghost Danny. “Let’s sit in the cafeteria.”

Without question, Phantom followed. Nervously tapping his hand on his leg, he sat down and took the steaming cup offered to him. The ghost blinked, studying the liquid. It actually felt warm in his hands. He moved the cup, closing watching the liquid sloshing in the cup like water. It did actually look like tea. Tentatively, Phantom looked up, glancing at the other ghost who was sitting across from him. Sidney was blowing his own cup before taking a small sip. 

It was only then that where he was and what he was doing actually hit the boy. He was sitting in a ghostly version of his school cafeteria, with the ghost of a teenage boy who died in the fifties, based on his appearance. Phantom looked down at his plate again. And there was weird, slightly glowing ghost-food in front of him. 

Sidney’s words drew his attention. “Go ahead. Try the tea. It’s not poison” The nerd half smiled at Danny with a nod. 

Phantom looked down at his cup again, doubtfully. His stomach flopped as he considered. He was wary of trying the beverage. What actually was it? It couldn’t be actually tea, like his sister liked to drink. Could it hurt him? Weren’t there myths or something about how if you eat something in the land of the dead you can’t leave? Or was that fairies? Or...wait...did that only apply to humans? He wasn’t exactly human right now; he was a ghost. And this was food meant for ghosts. And….

“It won’t hurt you. And it’s good. I promise you’ll love it.” The other ghost encouraged patiently.

Phantom picked up the cup, again noticing the comforting warmth. It was still softly billowing steam. And it smelled so good, sweet and citrusy. Tentatively, he blew on the cup to cool it. He really did want to try it. Ignoring his doubts, ghost Danny finally took a small sip.

Phantom blinked rapidly, taking another sip. “I can taste this.” He muttered numbly before taking another sip of the fresh, lemony liquid. 

Excitement grew at the realization. He then looked down at his sandwich. Putting the cup down, he took a small bit. The savory taste of bread, cheese, ham. He took a larger bit. “I can taste this!”

“Of course you can.” Across from him, Sidney said in disbelief.

Phantom looked up, talking through his full mouth. “No I...I haven’t eaten in weeks.” He swallowed. “I mean...I tried but I couldn’t taste anything so I gave up.”

“Gave… up?” The other ghost blinked.

“Yeah. But-” Phantom stuffed a cookie in his mouth, groaning in pleasure at the taste. “But how?”

“How?” Sidney held out his hands. “It’s just lair made food.”

“Lair made?”

“Yeah, as in the lair made it?” The other ghost’s mouth fell open at the lack of recognition. “The lair basically took free ectoplasm and shaped it into food that we can eat.”

Phantom dropped the sandwich. “Ectoplasm?”

“Yes. Everything here is made of ectoplasm, even us.” Sidney answered like it was obvious. “Why wouldn’t the food be?”

At that, the ghost boy looked down at the meal with new realization. “That makes sense.”

The ghostly nerd nodded. “Yes. How don’t you know that? And why couldn’t you taste anything earlier?” His brow furrowed in deep confusion. “You said you tried food. But….you didn’t know that ghosts can eat….or need to eat?”

Phantom picked up the sandwich again, taking a few more bits to finish it. His mind whirled. “We need to eat? But we’re dead so….” He took another cookie, smiling at the taste.

Sidney gapped. “Of course we need to eat! Haven’t you been hungry?”

“Hungry?” Phantom put a hand over his stomach. No, he hadn’t been hungry in that way but...he moved his hand over his core. He’d gotten tired from overusing his powers and...he’d felt the Zone calling to him, like...like he needed to go to it for nourishment. “I have been.” He whispered. 

“But you hadn’t realized?” The nerd face palmed. “No wonder you look so sickly.”

The other ghost looked up, mouth falling open. “What?”

“You’re barely glowing. And you’re so pale. They’re no color in your skin.”

Phantom pointed. “You’re likely in black and white?!”

Sidney raised a brow, motioning down his body. “This is an intentional aesthetic.” His image wavered briefly, before the other ghost was in full color. His skin was a pale green and his eyes a glowing silver. 

“Oh.” The ghost boy muttered.

“Yes.” The other boy nodded, motioning to the plate. “Go ahead and finish. You’re lookin’ better already.”

Phantom didn’t need to be told twice. He finished the sandwich and the cookies.

Sidney crossed his arms. “I don’t understand how you didn’t realize. You should have at least been passively absorbing ectoplasm through your skin.” So apparently, that was something else ghosts could do. 

The ghost boy shrugged, taking a bite of the fruit. He paused, staring down at it. “This is really good.”

The other ghost smiled. “Isn’t it? I can give you some seeds. The bushes grow very well in lairs, if you want to plant some.” He tapped his chin. “Is your lair near here? You were trying to get back there, right? You did say that you were lost earlier.”

“I did say I was lost.” Phantom said, swallowing a bit of his tiger fruit. He then bit his lip nervously. “But...I’m not trying to get back to my….lair? I don’t have one of those, I don’t think…..Not that I’m that clear on what exactly a lair is.”

Sidney again furrowed his brow, looking bewildered. “This is a lair.” He motioned around them.

“No, I get that.” Phantom sighed. “But...what is this? Why does it look like a high school? Where did that food come from? And those people...you called them, shadows? What are those?” The other ghost was still looking at him in confusion as an idea suddenly hit the ghost Danny. “Wait...is this like your house? Like you live here. Or...err...I guess that’s not the right word. Afterlive?” His speech quickened. “If it is, I’m so sorry for barging into your house. I get why you’d be mad about that but I swear I didn’t mean-”

“Danny.” The other ghost said pointedly, making Phantom’s mouth snap shut. “It’s fine. I understand. Just…” Sidney pinched the bridge of his nose. “Let me explain?”

Phantom nodded, blushing in embarrassment.

“A lair is like a ghost’s house but...It’s more personalized. It might reflect somewhere from your life or a place you’ve always wanted to see. It’s different for every ghost but based on your subconscious desires and your obsession.”

“Alright.” The ghost boy glanced around. “So this is your school from when you were alive. But still...who were those people that...attacked me?”

“Those weren’t people. They were shadows. They’re part of the lair.”

“So you do control them.”

“Somewhat?” Sidney waved his hand in a so-so motion. “As I said, your subconscious is what molds the lair.” He balled his fists. “So those shadows are reflections of people, bullies, I knew when I was alive.”

Phantom bit his lip, nervous at the anger in the statement. And he wondered. Obviously the shadows were something of a security system. But there must be more as well. There was the anger that the other ghost had shown twice now when talking about bullies. And what was that he said about obsessions having a role?

“Alright, okay.” Ghost Danny bit his lip. “But...what about your obsession? How does that-”

“Don’t.” Sidney suddenly snapped, his eyes flashing. “Never, ever ask another ghost about their obsession.”

Phantom shrunk in on himself, his shoulders falling. “Sorry.”

The other ghost’s expression softened. “You didn’t know. It’s okay. But...that’s personal to me. I don’t like to think about it, much less talk about it to someone I just met. So...don’t ask unless someone brings it up first, okay? Other ghosts aren’t as nice as me. If you asked Ember, she would fry you.”

“Okay.” The ghost boy paled, nodding furiously. 

Sidney also nodded, taking a sip of his tea. Phantom finished his fruit, while his mind struggled to process all he’d learned. About how ghosts had to eat and about ghostly food. About lairs and shadows and not asking about obsessions. It was a lot, and there were so many more questions he could ask. But he had no idea what to ask now. 

And again, the reality hit Phantom. He was sitting in a ghost’s lair, having a genial conversation like he was just a new neighbor. Not one half of a human-ghost hybrid who was trying to get back to his other half in the real world. With that, there was a small push in the back of Phantom’s mind. Yes, right. He needed to get back to following his tether to Fenton. But again...why had the line led him here?

The ghost boy put down the core of his tiger fruit once he’d finished. That got Sidney’s attention. “You’re done. Do you want anything else to eat?”

“No, thank you.” Phantom shook his head. “Actually...I need to go home.”

“Back to your lair?” Sidney questioned.

“No, I don’t have one of those.”

“Oh that’s right.” The other ghost said, frowning. “So where are you going?”

Ghost Danny bit his lip, considering. “The...the human world or...err...I think you called it the Material Realm?”

Sidney blinked, a strange mixture of shock, confusion, and worry on his face. “What? Why?”

Phantom sighed, rubbing his head. How to explain this. Guess he’d have to start at the beginning...and keep it simple. “That’s where I’ve been ever since I…..you know…” He motioned up and down his body. “About a month and a half.”

The other ghost’s mouth fell open, his eyes bulging. “You’ve been...In the living realm?”

“Yep.” Ghost Danny nodded.

“In the living realm?” Sidney put his hands on his head. “The material realm? Really, the living realm? And….” His voice pitched up in disbelief. “For a month and a half? Since you died? Wait...you’ve only been dead for a month and a half? And...that’s where you were...the whole time...but...how? And…” He waved his arms. “No wonder you look so starved!”

“Starved?” Phantom muttered, even as the other ghost continued.

“And how did you even form in the material realm?” Sidney exclaimed. “That just doesn’t happen, ever! And then how did you get here? Portals are so rare!”

“Sidney!” Ghost Danny interrupted, causing the other ghost’s mouth to snap shut. Knowing he’d gotten his host's attention, he continued. “So...long story short. My parents are ghosts hunters and researchers. They’re scientists who made a portal to...this place. They call it the Ghost Zone. And well...I went inside their portal, turned it on, and...umm...it..well...it killed me.” Phantom looked down, his core clenching at the words and the pitying look on the other ghost’s face. 

“But...I walked out of the portal. I’m still here...even if I’m different now.” He paused for a moment, considering the words. He’d said as much to Mom earlier. And he believed them. But…

“I did...I did try to act like nothing was different for a month after that accident, like I hadn’t changed. But….it’s really obvious now. Mom and Dad know what happened and…” He shivered, recent memories hitting him. “Mom and I had a fight. I wanted to talk to her about...some very hurtful stuff she’d said but….” 

Phantom bit his lip. “It went bad. We were both yelling and Mom got really upset and said...she said…” The words sputtered to a stop as what Mom had said repeated in his head. He was supposed to be normal, human, alive. He wasn’t supposed to be a ghost.  He swallowed. “I started crying….and…” Mom’s shocked and distressed face flashed in his mind, her desperate expression as she reached towards him. “I ran away. I didn’t even think. I just flew through the portal ‘cause I just couldn’t be in the same room as her. I just had to get away but…” He put his head in his hands. 

“Now I’m lost somewhere in the Ghost Zone and Mom is probably freaking out. Dad and Jazz too if she told them.” Phantom then shivered, looking up. “I need to get back to them.” He balled his fists in determination. “I need to get back to my parents, my sister, my friends, and my hum-” 

Phantom snapped his mouth shut on the last word as doubt suddenly flickered through him. Human half, he was going to say. But...he hadn’t mentioned that little fact at all. And the idea of explaining was daunting. His insides squirmed. What would a real, actual proper ghost think of that, of him? Both human and a ghost, living and dead, at the same time. Or...half of each, somewhere in the middle. Or maybe even neither, something else entirely. He didn’t know and he was suddenly terrified to find out.

So instead, ghost Danny kept his mouth shut as he slowly looked up. He blushed. “I can’t believe I told you all that.” His shoulders fell. “I must sound so pathetic.”

“No, of course not.” Sidney said kindly. He was studying Phantom curiously, yet also oddly sad. He raised a brow, looking like he still wanted to ask about the other’s near slip up. But he didn’t. Maybe he sensed it was personal, maybe he thought Phantom would refuse to answer if asked. Either way,  Sidney didn’t press. Instead, after a long pause he finally said. “But I know why you came here now.”

Phantom blinked in surprise. “What?”

“You’re looking for a portal to the living world.” The other ghost stood. “I might have something to help you. Follow me.”

Ghost Danny’s eyes widened at the statement but he obeyed without question. He floated out of his seat and took his place behind Sidney as he flew out of the cafeteria. The pair hovered down a familiar hallway. Soon enough, they stopped in front of a rusty looking locker numbered 724. Phantom looked at the door curiously. 

Across from him, Sidney asked. “Did another ghost tell you about my portal?”

Ghost Danny turned to face the other ghost, brow furrowing. “Your portal?” He shook his head. “No one told me.” He blushed. “You’re actually the first ghost I’ve ever talked to.”

The other ghost frowned. “Then how did you know this was here?”

“I didn’t.” Phantom glanced at the door again, reaching out with his mind. He tugged on the tether connecting him to Fenton and the line grew taunt. His eyes widened. There, behind the door, he sensed...something. “But...I sensed something. It...the line...it was leading me here.”

“Line?” Sidney asked.

The ghost boy glanced back at his host, eyes widening. “Yeah..I’m...uh..I’m” He bit his lip nervously. “I’m….connected to someone in the material world...like mentally.”

The other ghost raised a brow, clearly wanting to know more.

Phantom coughed, changing the subject. “So...uh...how does this work? How do I get through?”

Sidney frowned but answered the question anyway as he opened the locker door. “The mirror is the portal. It leads to the real Casper High.”

Ghost Danny blinked, studying the mirror. “That? But it’s so small and… where’s the swirling green light?” His brow furrowed as he remembered his parents’ portal.

The ghostly nerd shook his head. “It’s not always active. It’s only open for a few minutes during the witching hour of the full moon...and on the equinoxes and solstices. But” He raised a finger seriously. “There is a full moon tonight.”

Phantom raised a brow, wondering how exactly the other ghost knew that. But he didn’t ask. Instead, he looked at the mirror again. Was it really through there, his way home? Closing his eyes, the ghost boy reached out with his mind once again. Yep, yes. He was sensing something. Fenton...Fenton was through there but…. He glanced back down the hallway, towards the way he’d come. Theoretically, he could try to find his parents’ portal or he could stay here and go through when the portal opened in a little over 12 hours….and leave his loved ones worrying for longer.

Then there was a gentle tug on the line. Something tickled in the back of his mind. The corner of Phantom’s lip turned up. He could feel Fenton’s keen interest on him. Oh yeah, he could tell or show Fenton what was happening and ask him to tell their family and friends that he was okay.

Finally, Phantom sighed. “I guess I’m waiting then.”

Sidney nodded. Then his expression turned more serious. “Make sure you’re sure you want to do this, though.”

The other ghost blinked. “Of course, I want to do this. Why wouldn’t I?”

The nerd bit his lip. “Well...I should tell you not to go through the portal. You could get trapped on the other side and ghosts that get trapped in the material realm...they starve. They get weak and desperate and angry.” He shivered. “It’s a horrible way to exist but…” He looked up. “If you think you need to do this, I’ll help you.” His eyes flickered to the floor. “If I had another chance to talk to my parents, I’d take it.”

“Your...parents?” Phantom asked quietly.

Sidney wrapped his arms around himself. “They moved away from Amity Park after I….you know.” His voice quieted. “By the time I found this portal, it was too late. They’d already moved.” He shivered. “I know it would have hurt them to see me like this but...I still wish I could have. I should have told them how much I loved them, how sorry I was that all this happened.” 

That sobered Phantom. For a long moment, he stared at the other ghost and it really hit him. This was a dead teenager, a dead kid who’d had family and friends. Hopes, dreams, memories. A life...just like him.  “We’re not...we’re not that different.” Ghost Danny muttered.

Sidney finally looked up. “No, I don’t think that we are. So…” The other ghost shifted nervously in the air. “I don’t know what all happened with your mom but….talk to her.” His voice pitched up, hopeful yet sad. Not demanding but a kind suggestion from someone with experience...and regrets. “Try to make things right with her if you can. Don’t give up yet.”

Phantom swallowed, considering. He didn’t really know what to think of the other ghost’s advice. Earlier, right after the fight, he might have been angry at the suggestion. He’d tried to make things right and had failed; it wasn’t his responsibility to try again if there was no fixing things but...Mom’s face flashed in his mind again. Her guilt, her desperation as he darted through the portal. And it was simple. She was his mom and he loved her, damnit. He couldn’t just turn that off, couldn’t stop wanting her to love and accept him. He couldn’t stop hoping that she would.

“Alright.” Ghost Danny wrung his hands. “I’ll...keep that in mind.” The way he saw it, another conversation was inevitable. Knowing his sister and dad, they would insist on talking about everything as a family. But he had a choice about how he would approach that conversation. Maybe he could approach it with the hope that things would get better, even if he’d be wary to trust again.

With that, Phantom pushed the thought away, focusing on the ghost in front of him, “Thank you for the advice. And for telling me stuff. I’ve learned a lot.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Man, I knew I didn’t know much but...I don’t seem actually to know anything at all.”

Sidney nodded. “No sweat, pal.” He half-smiled. “This is the most exciting day I’ve had in years. We can hang out ‘til the portal opens and I can answer more questions.” 

“That would be awesome.” Phantom finally smiled. “You’re actually a really cool dude, Sidney.”

The other ghost beamed and ghost Danny was happy he’d managed to wander into this ghost’s lair. He’d be in big...err...bigger trouble if he hadn’t. He’d learned a ton about ghosts, gotten a much needed meal, and would be home in a few...hours. His thoughts trailed off at the end as he felt an excited mental nudge.

In the lair, Sidney physically nudged him. “Danny?” He questioned, pointing towards the mirror. His voice turned sad. “Is that what you looked like when you were alive?”

“When I was….alive?” Phantom turned and his eyes widened, taking in his reflection. In the mirror, he had black hair, blue eyes, and was wearing a white and red t-shirt.

Phantom! There was an excited exclamation in his head. At the same time, his reflection’s eyes widened.

“That’s not my reflection.” The ghost’s mouth stretched into a grin. He placed both hands on the mirror. “I’m here! I’m right here! I can see you.”

Across the mirror, Fenton smiled. You’re okay. The words were mouthed through the mirror and communicated in the ghost’s head.

“Yeah! I’m fine. I’m-” Phantom cut himself off as Fenton placed his own hands on the mirror, directly opposite his other half’s. Instantly, a warmth coursed into the ghost boy. His eyes widened as a wave of green passed over the mirror. “It’s open.” He muttered, sounding awed. 

Phantom didn’t quite understand how but the portal was opened. And he needed to be on the other side of it, now. With little effort, he pressed his fingers out of the mirror. He curled them around the back of Fenton’s hand as if he and his other self were holding hands.

Fenton grinned and he pulled.

Behind Phantom, Sidney called. “What are you-”

Without resistance, Phantom slipped through the mirror and right into his other self’s arms.

[butmakeitgayblog]

I honestly didn’t think about idiots when I suggested posting to ao3. Don’t do it if it’s even a hassle for you! People are dumb. Two grown women? How terrible! I definitely get it!

Nah nah it's ok, I'll put it up there because I'm sureit is easier to get updated through subs than constantly having to check my blog, I was just giving fair warning incase it disappears, that'll be why. People get so puritanical over the silliest shit it's insane. Plus, here there will still be bonus stuff that I simply cannot put on ao3 😌 Let's just say when they start texting privately, Lexa's lil nerd flag is gonna fly high

[hinerdsitscat]

So Let's Talk About Star Wars: Into the Dark

I yelled a bit about The Light of the Jedi so now I guess it’s time to unleash all of my thoughts about the next book in the High Republic series.

I liked Into the Dark more than I liked LotJ, partially because I just really like Claudia Gray’s writing (writer of the most iconic scene in the new canon novels, in which Leia shows up to a party in her most Obviously Sinister outfit after the big public scandal about Vader being her father in Bloodline), but also because Charles Soule had to put a lot of energy into introducing the entire High Republic universe over the course of the first book, whereas CG could just get down to business. I also think the slightly pared-down number of characters and plotlines in ItD helped a lot: I spent a lot of LotJ not knowing which characters I should get invested in, because the first third of the book kept introducing characters and then immediately killing them off.

So let’s talk characters because DAMN they are delightful:

Reath Silas, You Fucking Nerd

No, really, the number of times I yelled “oh my god Reath you FUCKING NERD” out loud while reading this book was well into the double digits.

This precious city boy who just wants to read a book and be left alone, to the extent that they unofficially gave him his own desk in the Archives. Bless.

Also, just the sheer innocence of this child thinking that all the adults around him have everything figured out

But also: “I understand prosthetic arms are more advanced than prosthetic legs. More comfortable too.” and then CUTS OFF SOMEONE’S ARM (I had to edit this post like a week after the fact because I can’t believe I forgot about this scene)

The absolute lack of danger sense on this child, I stg... Meeting the scary genocidal plants? "OH MY GOD YOU'RE SENTIENT PLANTS CAN I ASK A FEW QUESTIONS?" Face to face with a Nihil soldier holding a blaster? "I REALLY WANT TO TALK PHILOSOPHY WITH YOU!" Having Cohmac dump a Massively Worrying Bit Of Heresy in his lap? "OH HELL YES, WE'RE GONNA TALK PHILOSOPHY, BEST DAY EVER!"

Speaking of Cohmac...

Cohmac Vitus, A Parade's Worth of Red Flags

Hoo boy...

This guy is the walking embodiment of Every Problem That Is Going To Bite The Jedi Order In The Ass When Anakin Skywalker Comes Along: trauma, repressed emotions, questions that Jedi dogma can't sufficiently answer, got an unexpected Padawan but can barely take care of himself... like, the only thing he's missing is a forbidden romance (Avar and Elzar seem to have that plotline covered, I think/hope...)

None of that is a criticism, by the way: I'm 100% over here with popcorn screaming "YES, FUCK THIS GUY UP"

Everything's going to hell and people are about to attack one another? FLOAT IN MIDAIR BECAUSE WHO'S GONNA MESS WITH THE GUY WHO CAN FUCKING FLY

Orla Jareni, Heading Off to the Jedi Order's Version of Hampshire College

Her plotline felt very much like something from SWTOR, but that might just be because I started playing the Jedi Consular storyline, like, yesterday?

I really liked her flashback plotline because, like with Cohmac, this was another example of "I really wish the Order had addressed this issue before Anakin came along..." Namely, that she spent the flashback mission trying to ignore her instincts in favor of what she was told, and it naturally led to a catastrophe. I got a lot of shades of "I keep having dreams about my mother dying! Eh, it's probably nothing..." so anyway, I spent a lot of Orla's plotline silently yelling.

Also THANK YOU CLAUDIA GRAY for this amazing new addition to canon: "Orla had recently declared herself a Wayseeker--a Jedi who would operate independently of the dictates of the Jedi Council. Some Jedi, from time to time, found themselves drawn to a period of solitary action, whether that meant meditation on a mountaintop, helping revolutionaries on a tyrant-ruled world, or even, in one legendary instance, becoming a minor singing sensation on Alderaan." I HAVE ABOUT HALF A DOZEN FIC IDEAS NOW, MOSTLY AROUND OBI-WAN BECOMING A TEEN HEARTTHROB POP IDOL.

Dez Rydan, the Cool Kid?

This guy gave me serious Ganner Rhysode vibes and so I was not in any way surprised when he got the absolute shit kicked out of him, because he basically had Doom written all over him. I was, however, surprised that he survived?

The Barash Vow was really interesting, and I was actually relieved that the Jedi Order had something close to rehabilitation, even if it was just "meditate a lot."

Leox Gyasi, aka "Master Yoda on (Medicinal) Spice"

There's a canonically asexual character in the GFFA!!!

Which would make him...

...wait for it...

...

...

...an ACE PILOT

(ducks)

Anyway, Leox is played by Tim Rozon-as-Doc-Holliday-in-Wynonna-Earp and you cannot take that mental casting away from me.

Affie Hollow, You Sweet Summer Child

Yeah, that about sums it up, though I love that she really did think she could change her Bird Mafia Mom.

I also really hope that this isn't the last we'll see of her.

She suffers through Reath's explanation of what Jedi are and then asks what is quickly becoming The Question of the High Republic series: "So do Jedi have sex or not?"

Geode: Stone Groot

I just want to say how ELATED I am that there was NO EXPLANATION for what Geode's deal was other than: he's a Vintian, from Vint rock person. That's it.