#no one calls themselves Piz

[hongjoongscafe]

But I Still Won

Drabble series

D.5 {serieslist}

Pairing: idol!seonghwa×photographer!reader(jihyun) (Jihyun is an imaginary person. I am not shipping anybody here. I just like this name.)

Genre: smut, fluff, angst.

Summary: she didn't expect to get fucked by

her idol... Well, it still happened.

Warnings: unprotected sex (Hongjoong will hit you with a rod if you don't have protected sex), cumming inside.

Note: poll for the next part is given at the end. Also, I changed this part a little bit. I'm sorry about that 😔

PIz, do vote.

Word count: 570

Masterpost

*DO NOT REPOST, PLS*

I need help, that’s what Jihyun thought, "Harder, please," Jihyun moaned when Seonghwa gave a hard thrust into her squelching pussy. "There!"

"So good. I love your pussy so much, fuck!" His deep moans made her leak like a faucet. "Such a little slut for me."

“Hmyeahhh,” she choked out.

“Fuck! I can never forget this pussy. So good,” he grabbed her hair and pulled her off the studio table.

Everything was scattered around– the pens, papers, his keys, his wallet– the table. His pants were thrown away and her skirt was hiked up, boobs hanging out of her blouse. They were in intense pleasure.

You might wonder how they ended up here, right? Well…

“So Jihyun, you have an option between Seonghwa and San. Pick one and you have to work with them. It's gonna be a documentary of their day-to-day life. So that means you need to spend a few days, day and night,” The head videographer informed.

The whole ATEEZ group was there in the meeting hall along with other staff members. Although they assigned the members themselves. But this time, to make the newbies comfortable, they gave them reliable options.

Jihyun was tensed. She knew that going with Seonghwa would be problematic. He was a horny man who couldn't think straight when around anyone with a pussy.

So without other thought, “I think I would like to work with San,” she awkwardly said.

Later on, after the meeting when Jihyun was about to leave, Seonghwa pulled her with him. His face was angry, his nose flaring, and the nerves in his eyes were popping out.

He shoved her into his studio, “why the hell are you so stupid!?” he exclaimed.

“What!?” she snapped.

“Why the fuck did you say San? I was right there,” he threw his arms up and smacked his thighs.

“I didn't want to work with you!”

“Well get used to it because now you work here… And you will work with me and I'll make sure of it.”

They both looked into each other's eyes intensely. Their chests heaving up and down from anger. And in the blink of an eye, she was splayed on the table.

“Fuck, that was awesome,” Seonghwa took a deep breath, still inside of her. He was laying on her while she was bent over the table. “I swear I can do anything to keep this thing with me,” he moved up and removed himself from her. The trail of cum leaked out of her.

Jihyun collected her blurred mind and took some tissues that were on the table at the far end and wiped her bottom. She tucked her boobs in and fixed her outfit. Everything was crashing down now. She wasn't supposed to be here like this with his cum inside her.

As she was about to leave, Seonghwa called her.

“Listen, I'll talk to the head and make you work with me. There is no way that I'll let that pussy go away from me,” his eyes seemed like they were dead. How could someone be so lust-eaten? She couldn't understand why he was like this.

She sighed and left. While walking back to her car, she reminisced about what Seonghwa said. “I swear I can do anything to keep this thing with me,” he thought of her as a thing. He just needed a good pussy and nothing else.

“What have I done!?”

.....

Sanaa’s note:

Hii, how are you all? Hope you are fine!💓

The behaviour of all the characters is visualized.

Taglist:

@veneziamadness @cheline @sansmilkbread @jayb17 @constantlydelulusional ; @jhmylove ; @nanibecute

*lemme know if you wanna be added to the permanent or specific taglist*

*original pictures are not mine, I just edited them*

Results of the previous poll:

Link to the new poll:

Have a nice day/night💓

[itstimetowatch]

Welcome Wagon

Season Three! At long last!

This better be better than Season Two.

And the first thing we see is a Take Back the Night banner, just in case anyone thought this season wasn’t going to be all about rape. *sigh* This may be hard to get through. At least the show takes the subject matter seriously.

Veronica’s Criminology professor is played by Patrick Fabian who is renowned for playing creeps and scumbags. Is it too soon to say that he’s the Hearst Rapist? Probably. Maybe he’s just the scumbag of the week.

Um, that TA is definitely the same actor who played Lucky last season, wearing a, frankly, terrible wig and some quintessentially 00’s facial scruff. Which, I mean, other than the unfortunate hair things going on is good overall since he was good as Lucky. The reuse of an actor is awfully blatant.

Okay, so fuck this Tim guy! Sexist shithead! Your smug ass wouldn’t be here to be smart mouthing Veronica without Elementary Education majors, fuckstick!

BURN, TIMOTHY, BURN!

Yeah, I don’t like the remixed opening them. Lame.

Sooooo… Wasn’t Hearst meant to be a fairly exclusive college? And yet nearly the entire cast of last season (that are still alive and in Neptune) got in? Veronica, Wallace, and Mac I get, but Logan has never been shown to be academically minded even in the slightest. Dick gets in because of family connections, fair enough, but Logan has no family left (aside from Trina and no one has ever considered her a positive association) and what he did have was accused of murder shortly before being mysteriously murdered himself. (Which, btw, is that going to be followed up on? I assume not since we, the audience, already know who done it.)

VINNIE!

Oh, Veronica and Keith, I’ve missed these two!

Sorry, Veronica, Keith’s right on this one. That is The Chrysler Building, as notable by the street number visible behind them, 405. As in 405 Lexington Avenue, the address of The Chrysler Building, whereas The Empire State Building is located at 350 5th Avenue. “Fun” facts.

BACKUP! And he’s in charge? Great call Keith!

What? Veronica, first of all, how can you put Backup’s business out there like that? Secondly, if Backup has a lady friend, I need to know all about her. You can’t just drop that sort of nugget and cut to the next scene like that. This is cruel.

Stosh? What kind of white nonsense is that name? Also, Piz is not a name that a person would choose to go by. I mean, be honest, a person that chooses to go by the name Piz is gonna get called “piss” and “puss” and all related derivations thereof. That is just not something someone would subject themselves to willingly.

And here we finally have the mystery of the week. (Also, Piz is Bash on GLOW, so apparently this guy has a thing for characters with stupid names.)

And, holy crap, Veronica is actually getting paid for one of these things? It’s about time. As noted in the past she has been out a lot of money on a fair few of these cases with little or no potential of return. I’m glad she’s turned this into an actual business deal.

Jason Beghe, yet another actor who has a history of playing scumbags. He can’t be Keith’s bail jumper since he literally just walked out of a prison… unless he jumped bail in Mexico or something.

Mac’s back! And as predicted, Beaver seems to have successfully passed on his sexual dysfunction. And her roommate is the opposite. I’m guessing the new name in the credits to be this free-spirited lady. Does she have a ridiculous name too? Mulva?

So the Take Back the Night crew wants to shut down the fraternities? Has this been shown to help the campus sexual assault problems at various universities? Serious question. Like I understand the line of reasoning, that frats engender and compound attitudes and behaviors associated with toxic masculinity but has shutting them down helped?

Ski mask and Union Jack Speedo is Little Dick, right? Seems like a thing he’d do… actually, he’d probably do it without the ski mask... or the speedo.

So Jason Beghe is a Fitzpatrick? He seems kind of a lot older than Liam. Also, Liam is out to get Kendall now? Why? Because she couldn’t get the life insurance for both Casablancas boys? Or is it that she didn’t want to share? And if Liam is after her, wouldn’t it stand to reason that Cormac, here, could be as well?

Okay, well… that makes a certain amount of sense, I guess.

So Cormac saying that Kendall knows who she can and can’t trust means that she can’t trust him, right? Keith is unknowingly delivering Kendall’s would-be murderer to her hiding spot.

Parker, okay, not a terrible name.

So this kid with the info on the thieves who supposedly a townie from Neptune? Has this crazy thick Boston accent. It’s really weird since most actors on American TV have this trained, generic, bland Midwestern accent and now a kid who’s supposedly from Southern California is very obviously from Southie.

So the fat blonde girl isn’t actually fat, so she’s the sophomore Veronica was talking to when interviewing the other victims.

“The Needs Hosed Down,” is perhaps the aptest description of Little Dick Casablancas.

Donald Fagen? As in the lead singer of Steely Dan? That reference was too old for this show when it was new, much less Tumblr.

Yeah, I’m not sure what to think of Cormac’s quiet calm. Could honestly be that he’s learned patience in prison, that doing something is not always better than doing nothing… or it could be that Keith is the only person who knows where Kendall is and doesn’t want him to risk the desert for all the reasons he said.

So is Veronica honestly interested in the mentoring program or was this just a ploy to get into the files? Because she seems rather flush with extra-curriculars already, what with needing to help her father keep them fed and having a social life and all. But if she’s not, what’s the connection between this scene and the conversation with the other victim?

So Logan only barely got into this school and he’s chronically ditching class? Why go to all the effort to get in if you have no plans on actually doing anything?

Oh, Piz is wearing Duncan’s sweater! Okay. I was confused, because he clearly wasn’t, like, upset that Veronica was talking to another dude or whatever, but it took me a minute to work out what that look was.

AH! The Southie kid and his bros were a false lead! Okay. Veronica was not interested in the mentorship program. That was a misdirect to get this dude to admit that he knew and had access to juvenile offenders and their records.

Too soon, Piz! You are not a high enough level friend to unlock her tragic backstory! You know beyond a certainty that she has a boyfriend so fucking chill, my dude! Not even a little bit, huh? Not even a tiny drop of chill, eh? You should go to the store and get some, then, friend-o, because this is just coming on way too strong.

Yep. Cormac’s trying to kill her.

Scratch that. Killed her.

And now Keith is stranded in the desert. And Dick “messed up bad”… like Hearst Rapist Bad?

And Parker is the next victim… so not Dick then. That would be way too obvious. Serial rapists don’t knock on doors and linger far too long in hallways leaving themselves to be easily identified by a plethora of witnesses.

Again with the cliffhangers. This does not need to become a thing again this season. It gets old.

So this was a much better opener than was Season Two’s but then that’s hardly surprising, given that “Normal is the Watchword” was just a huge mess. Obviously, it’s benefitted by the Hearst Rapist story having already been set up last season, but the reintroduction of it here would have been a perfectly good introduction even if it hadn’t. The standalone mystery was a little thin, but that’s not surprising considering the show has to introduce two new main characters in the form of Parker and Boring Boy #4 (because Piz is a stupid name), as well as the professor, his TA, and the Take Back the Night team, all of whom are almost certainly going to be important as the season rolls on.

I’m not sure how I feel about Dick being turned into an actual character with actual depth. Like, on the one hand, all of last season he basically existed to show us the audience how much worse he is than Logan to make Logan more palatable a match for Veronica, now the show wants us to actually care about him. It didn’t work when they rebooted Jackie’s character, not sure this is going to come out any better. On the other hand, if he’s going to stick around past the end of last season, then I guess they should at least do something to justify the screen time he’s taking up.

Weevil’s still in the credits despite him being arrested for… they didn’t say, but conspiracy to commit murder is what he’s guilty of. Though I don’t think they could make that stick without also arresting and convicting the actual killers, The Fitzpatricks. So I guess it was just an assault charge, in which case, he could be out in time to still be part of the story… so where is he?

[immacaria]

Love Wins

  I speedrun this so I could try to publish it today. I wrote this for your birthday, @vassar177, (In my timezone it’s still it, even though its 11 pm) and I hope you enjoy this. Once again, happy birthday and I hope that you enjoyed your day very much!

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  Jiang Cheng hummed in his sleep, deciding whether it was worth getting up or not, if it was worth facing the world once again after yesterday. He was feeling absolutely drained after all the fights and screams that filled his day, it was yet another horrible fight between his parents that pulled both him and his siblings into their turmoil without caring that they no longer were in their lives. His sister had tried to appease the fight, tried to do what she always did but this time it was too harsh, too sharp and angry for her to actually do something and Wei Wuxian never actually stepped into them, knowing that it would only worsen everything. So Jiang Cheng did it and pushed his siblings away from the front line. 

  He screamed and pointed fingers, let out what he actually thought about both of them, let out all the times when they dismissed him too quickly, when he only served as a pawn in their fights. Not only that, he pulled all the times were Jiang Yanli had to play mother for two children while being a child herself, all the times Wei Wuxian took the blame for things that were no one’s blame, all the times Jiang Fengmian was too quick to put him in a pedestal and Yu Ziyuan even more to pull him out of him. Told them, no, screamed at them how they let their own children grow up craving for something that they would never have, their approval, and how they had no right to keep pulling them into their fights now. 

  Jiang Cheng hadn’t realized he was crying until Jiang Yanli stepped in and pulled him away from their father, who he was grabbing by the lapels of his shirt and too hadn’t realized. His mother had fallen silent, watching him with wide, shocked eyes that later he knew would turn into something dangerous and aggressive. So he let her pull him away from them, from their old house and their parents, away from the fight and the thunderous expressions. All the way home, Wei Wuxian tried talking with him, distracting him from all the dark thoughts running on his mind, but he paid him no attention, focusing on burying the fight and the thoughts the deeper that he could. 

  “Oh, fucking shit.” He growled, throwing his blanket aside and getting up. Well, now all the thoughts were back and his sleep, completely gone. To worsen everything, today was Saturday, the only day that he and his boyfriend, Nie Mingjue, had all to themselves, and he was being a horrible company even to himself. He stepped into the shower and thought that maybe he could ask for Nie Mingjue to come only tomorrow or, better, next week, even if it seemed cowardly on his part. “Why is life so fucking hard?” 

  Sincerely, if he could just order a pizza and retreat back to bed to watch all the Studio Ghibli’s films that Neftlix could offer, he could call it a day happily. And, at the same time, the only thing he wanted was to bury himself into Nie Mingjue’s chest and never leave again while the man talked about his week and Nie Huaisang’s antics. As the water flow turned cold and shocked him awake, Jiang Cheng decided that fuck it, he wants both and he wants it now. 

  So, he texted Nie Mingjue and asked him to come over sooner if he can and ordered their favourite pizza, brushing his teeth quickly and sliding into comfortable clothes that consisted of a grey sweatpants he stole from Wuxian and a green jersey he stole from Nie Huaisang, who had stole it from Nie Mingjue. After a little cleaning around the apartment, he settled back into his bed, burying himself under his fluffy blanket and mindlessly scrolling through his social media. The pizza arrived quickly and he put it on the bedside table, seeing if Nie Mingjue had seen his message and reading that he was already on his way and bringing smoothies! 

  Gods, he loved his boyfriend so much! 

  The moment Nie Mingjue stepped into his living room, which wasn’t even five minutes after the pizza arrived, Jiang Cheng practically materialized in front of him, hugging his middle and burying his face on his chest. Nie Mingjue chuckled and the sound danced into Jiang Cheng’s ears and already made him relax a little bit more. They kept hugging for some time, just breathing into each other and letting all the stress of the week fall off their shoulders and disappear. Gods, he really did love his boyfriend. 

  “You know, you are the perfect height for me to rest my chin on your head.” Nie Mingjue whispered against his hair, stroking the middle of his back. 

  “Fucker.” Jiang Cheng chuckled, face happily buried and with no intention of moving. “The pizza is getting cold.” 

  “Who is the one holding me back?” He said, starting to move awkwardly and slowly. Jiang Cheng didn't do much to help him, too content to let him pull him. They got to his room sometime after and Nie Mingjue sat on his bed, dragging him with him under the covers while he started Nie Mingjue’s favorite Ghibli movie, Tonari no Totoro, and brought the pizza closer to them, snuggling under his arm. 

  The second movie had already started when Nie Mingjue quietly muttered against his head, chin still resting on the top of his head, the son of a bitch. 

  “Do you want to talk about it?” 

  “About what?” Jiang Cheng said, ignoring that maybe one of his siblings had snitched what happened yesterday to him. Wei Wuxian, probably. 

  “The fight you had with your parents.” He said, starting to massage the side of his forearm. 

  “It wasn’t really a fight.” He sighed, because they were past the phase where Jiang Cheng hid things from him. “Well, it was, but I mostly screamed at them and told them how horrible they fucking were.” He started, pausing the movie right when Howl sent the soldiers walking away from Sophie. 

  “You didn’t.” And there was laughter in his voice. “Oh, I wish I could have seen Madam Yu’s face.”

  “She was shocked and I think, for the first time in his life, Father actually noticed how much I took from Mother.” He tried to hold back a chuckle, sitting up to face him. “Shijie had to drag me away from him.” 

  “Fuck, I really wish I was there. I could have filmed everything for our enjoyment later.” He laughed, loud, thunderous and head thrown back. 

  “I don’t think Mother would have enjoyed you filming the whole fight.” Jiang Cheng crossed his legs, still trying to hold back a chuckle. But the thought of Nie Mingjue walking around the three of them, trying to get the best shots and saying ‘Yes, yes! More anger! More screams! Wonderful!’ was making his job very hard. 

  “I think it would have been a wonderful video. Your brother could even play it at our wedding under the name of ‘That one time that Uncle actually saw how awesome A-Cheng is’.” He moved his hands in an arch as he said the title of the video and Jiang Cheng felt the laughter choking on his throat as he stared wide eyed at his boyfriend. 

  “Wedding?” He whispered, trying to breathe. “You… You want to marry me?”

  “Well, yeah. Not now, maybe, even though I would be fully happy if we married now, but one day I want to marry you, Wanyin.” He shrugged, turning to look at him and, fuck, Jiang Cheng thought that maybe he was suffering a heart attack. “What? Is there piz--” He started, before he was attacked by Jiang Cheng suddenly jumping on him.

  “I love you so fucking much.” He muttered against his lips, arms around his neck. “You sappy.” 

  “Your sappy, and, with luck, forever.” He chuckled, moving his head to the side to let him hide his face there. 

  “You don’t need luck to stay with me, your idiot.” Jiang Cheng swatted at his chest, huffing a breath out before returning to his later spot, pressing the play. 

  “I love you too, my soul.” He kissed the top of his head, resting his cheek on it. “Even more because you’re the perfect height for me to rest my chin on your head.”

  Gods, he hated his boyfriend so much. 

  Actually, no, he didn’t.

[blind-rats]

For the fans, it’s never about the “happy endings”. People misunderstood that it seems to get a good storyline, either it has to be happy or dark. It’s not that simple. It’s not Happy Ending vs Dark Ending. It’s about good storytelling and characterization.

For years, fans cared more about the characters. When a writer only focused on the plot, and not the character, then they would usually sacrifice the progression, the development, the investment, the connection, and the fans who actually watched the show FOR the characters since the beginning. Good storytelling is when it elevates the character (good or bad) into something layered.

Season 1: 

Aaron was arrested for Lilly’s murder was a good thing; something that should be done. The baddie finally was captured, even got hit by a truck. 

Logan wanted to jump off the bridge was a cliffhanger; something that would keep the fans tuned in for the next season. 

Lianne took the money was IN character; she wasn’t a good mother and Veronica finally admitted that. For a whole season, V thought that by solving Lilly’s murder, her mom would return, but in the end, it didn’t matter. V accepted that. It sucks, but it was progress for Veronica that she finally let her go, although she lost the money. There was balance for these plots and these characters, that is why season 1 was the best.

Season 2: 

Keith missed the flight wasn’t about a happy ending -- it was a set up for the next season because he received a mysterious assignment from Kendall. Again, it kept the fans wanting more.

Season 3: 

Logan beat up Gory was a set up for the next season. Like I mentioned before, if the show wasn’t canceled, it would give Logan a darker path or a lighter path in his life. It was supposed to make the fans wanting more; what would happen to Logan? What would happen to him and Veronica? There was a lot of speculation at the time, but it wasn’t supposed to be the ending.

Keith lost the election, according to RT himself, because he helped Veronica. Which was IN character. He helped Veronica, and it ignited another rivalry between him and Jake Kane again. It was supposed to be another set up for the next season, and it wasn’t supposed to be the ending. 

The Movie:

There are so many retcons in this movie that fans noticed and many expressed their displeasure because the storytelling of the movie was a bit weak, BUT they are still IN characters. Yes, there are some changes, obviously you can’t have the same characters from a decade ago. Logan was matured, Wallace was matured, Mac was matured, Weevil was matured, even Piz was matured. 

Veronica was trying to find herself and decide what kind of person she wanted to be. At the end of the movie, she decided that she wanted to help people. And that is why many fans liked the movie because the character progressed into the next stage. The character didn’t stay stasis.

The movie had so many flaws, especially with cheesy dialogues, unimportant cameos, and frankly not so good plots. But when fans have waited for so long for the conclusion of the series, to have characters finally get their deserved/bittersweet endings, is a good thing.

The Books (The Thousand Dollar Tan Line and Mr. Kiss & Tell):

Maybe because the books were (co)written by Jennifer Graham, a woman, a fan, she knew about the characterization of the characters. Fans immediately noticed the differences between her writing and Rob’s writing; which parts were hers, which parts were RT’s. 

Nobody cared nor remember about the professor and the murderer/rapist, but everyone mostly remembered about Haley, Lianne, Aurora, Hunter, Petra, Jade, Norris, Grace, and even The Gutiérrez cousins.

Notice that all of the memorable characters in the books were absent from season 4 because RT didn’t write them in the books and he felt that he didn’t need to explain their absence.

Logan and Weevil had a good relationship, and they both were friendly with each other. That was progress and should be allowed to continue.

Logan and Veronica had stability and a good relationship even when there were some problems. Even when Leo (who was inserted by RT) was there. But it was pretty much good characterization for both of the characters. Something that was missing in season 4.

Season 4:

To those who said that the whole season was great except for the ending, didn’t pay any attention. From the very beginning, fans were being introduced to a lot of new characters that fans didn’t know nor care like it was some sort a new show. They have their own storylines, their own plots, even their own endings. It would be fine if this was a brand new show, but it wasn’t. It was a continuation of the previous installment. The new characters from the books were much more nuanced compare to the new characters in season 4.

The show focused more on the plots instead of the characterizations. They focused more on the special guest stars instead of the regular cast.

The characterization of Veronica was WAY OFF; so different and seems to be regressed to her former self when she was 17 years old. She was rude to everyone including Logan and Wallace. She didn’t know what was going on with Keith. She was nonchalant about filming others having sex. She was using drugs. She was drinking and shooting a gun. She was mocking Wallace and Logan for having stability. She was more interested in having a fling with Leo but she refused to break up with Logan.

Fans would accept Veronica’s regression if there was something happened to her. Why she behave like that? What was the reason? She was having a life she chosen from the movie and the books, and yet she wasn’t happy. Because of what? What kind of trauma that made her regressed? No reason at all? Because normal life is not something that a detective should have? And that’s when the characterization was down the drain. When a character doesn’t have a motivation to do what’s right or what’s wrong, their behavior is considered to be OOC. 

Matty, a new character, a white rich sociopath girl, wasn’t Veronica, and yet the fans were expected to treat and view her like she was Veronica. 

Marcia, the new chief of police was a wasted character. She wasn’t a foil for Veronica, wasn’t an enemy of anybody, and she spent her time in the precinct only.

The assassins from the Mexican cartel had too many plots and not enough characterization, and frankly, the fans didn’t care about them, especially when the writers sacrificed Wallace and Mac.

The death of Logan wasn’t just the only thing that was considered worse, but the fact that they immediately didn’t see the aftermath. They never showed the emotional impact and didn’t even give the characters and the fans to mourn the character. RT tends to leapfrog a plot, even in iZombie, and put exposition instead. 

The death of Logan was wasted, done by the most insignificant villain in the history of the show that didn’t even have a proper characterization and development. But the show promoted him like he was one of the best things ever happened.

Logan’s death wasn’t caused by a heroic moment or something dramatic. It was last minute and immediately swept under the carpet.

Veronica spent her last monologue talking about exposition. it was an ending. It wasn’t something that fans wanted to tune in, unlike the previous seasons, movie, and books.

So the whole notion that every season ended in a dark ending is partly untrue. Plot-wise, it should served their characters. It should elevated them into something better or something darker, but it was interesting nonetheless. Season 4 didn’t have that at all. All the characters were gone, finished. Veronica rode off to the sunset without any kind of satisfying ending, good or bad. Bad, mostly.

This is why Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul and Cobra Kai are praised because of the writings and characterization. We see the progression of the characters of Jimmy to Saul, who is not a good person, but still layered. We see the development of Johnny Lawrence; from a bully to an anti-hero. Or Hawk from a nerd into a bully himself. IT'S THE CHARACTERIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT accompanied by good storytelling. It’s not (just) about happy/sad ending.

It’s also not just about killing off the main character. There’s a reason why fans are still angry with the ending of How I Met Your Mother or LOST. So many people are pissed with the ending of Dexter and Game of Thrones. Don’t forget about The 100, Gilmore Girls, and Arrow. Not because of the dark endings of those shows, or the killing off the main characters. It was because they wasted so many years with the characterization and development just to get subverted endings that the writers seem to pat themselves on the back, ignoring any fans who had been there for the start.

And RT’s betrayal to the fans isn’t just about killing off the main character. It was the way he did it. He was using the fans to revive the show, using the fans’ money to revive it, knowing that he would kill off a popular character, knowing that he would piss loyal fans and the fandom, who had been very supportive with his works and projects, and yet still done it, just because he despised a character he created for so long. Even BBC News knew this trend and called him out. It was the way he exploited the fans that were considered to be a betrayal.

[naazaif327]

So I basically got called an idiot by multiple people with the last post I made about Veronica Mars (lmao), so I wanted to sort my thoughts out on the show more directly:

I think a lot of the problems people have with season 4 of Veronica Mars are problems that have absolutely been around since the original 3-season run. Stuff like minor storylines that went nowhere and got dropped, secondary characters like Mac and Wallace and Logan getting stuck in b-plots that aren’t meaningful to the narrative, issues with characters of colour, etc. Its all been there long before the most recent season, enough that I’d almost say its baked into the DNA of the show itself. I was always kind of okay with seondary characters not getting good/important storylines because for me the show was always, always about Veronica from start to finish, and I made peace with the fact that there was probably never gonna be a great Wallace or Mac story arc because they simply weren’t the lead. Its about Veronica, and I think the show falters the most whenever we leave her viewpoint. This has been true long before season 4 tbh, and anyone who thinks that these problems all of a sudden showed up in the last 8 episodes is kidding themselves.

The other part of this is of course the tragedy, specifically the tragic ending of fourth season finale. The ending wasn’t completely surprising to me when I binged the series because every prior season of the show has also ended with Veronica alone in one way or another: season 1 ends with Veronica dreaming of floating in warm sunlight with Lilly one last time, before Lilly vanishes and Veronica is left alone. In season 2, after her traumatic experience on the roof with Beaver, she waits at the airport for her father but he doesn’t make it, leaving her to go on vacation and deal with everything she’s been through alone. In season 3, after inadvertently causing Keith to lose the election, she votes for him and walks off alone into the pouring rain with an uncertain future. 

Alongside all of that, the whole season foreshadows disaster from the start (Keith’s illness, Neptune’s gentrification). Neptune gets gentrified and the poor get kicked out, but Veronica lives happily ever after in her expensive beach house with her reformed 09er husband, taking cases from rich, bored adulterers with nothing better to do? I don’t see any version of the show where it ends like that. Its the same thing with the movie, she was never going to spend the rest of her life being a lawyer helping rich companies escape lawsuits and living happily ever after with Piz. Its not who she (or the show) is.

I’ve vaguely talked before about how the end made sense to me because VM is a dark, almost nihilistic noir that is wrapped in a warm, sunny teen drama sugar coating. Of course not every noir has to end tragically, just like every horror movie doesn’t have to end with the protagonists dying horrifically, but Veronica Mars IS kind of a tragedy, at least to me. Its about a girl alone, against the world, unable to move on from the devastating events that made her who she is. 

I love Veronica, I care about her and I want her to be happy, but she is a character study in grief and trauma and rage. She’s Phillip Marlowe, the eternal bachelor; no matter how many times the world breaks her heart, she will keep going, keep fighting, keep chasing the storm, whether or not its healthy. When the memory of Lilly asks Veronica not to forget her, she replies, “I could never”. She can’t forget or move on, even if she wanted to. The very first line of the show is her saying “I’m never getting married”. She’s not saying that because she’s a rebellious teenager, she’s saying because she has years of experience and instinct that tells her that partnerships like that will end horribly, and she knows better. There’s an excellent article by Isabel Cole on Veronica Mars, and there’s one quote that exactly details the inherent tragedy of characters like Marlowe and Veronica: “[it is] the palpable sense that their cynicism exactly stems from their compassion, that their hardness is the scar tissue of a heart they can’t stop the world from breaking over and over.” 

Veronica knows that getting married to Logan won’t fix her issues (from the big ones like the corruption and gentrification of Neptune, to the internal ones like her personal trauma and unhealthy coping mechanisms), but she does it anyways, she wants to be proven wrong by the world. And yet she is correct, just like she was right about Troy’s drug smuggling, and her professor’s adultering, and a million other things in prior seasons. 

Just like the rest of the show, season 4 is very flawed in many ways, but I do think it reaffirms pretty much every aspect of the show, from the characters to the themes and narratives. This post was extremely rambly and messy, and I really recommend Isabel Cole’s amazing essay on the subject.

[vmheadquarters]

Welcome to…

We’re going to play a game of written hot potato! Dozens of your favorite authors will take turns telling this story. Each writer will craft a chapter (with no prior planning) and then “toss” the story to the next person to continue the tale. No one knows what will happen, so expect the unexpected! Follow the “vmhq presents” and “murder we wrote” tags for all the installments, or read the story as it develops on AO3. — Chapter Two of MURDER, WE WROTE is written by @nearfantastica​.

And stayed tuned next week for Ch.3 from @saoirsekonstantin​ -tag, you’re it!———————————————————————————————————– [CH1]

CHAPTER TWO by @nearfantastica​ a/k/a casket4mytears

“Of course he’s dead.  Murder mystery weekend?” Dick rolled his eyes.  “Look, we all know Ronnie’s gonna work her PI magic and solve this with ten minutes of searching Google.  Nerd.  Can we go back inside and drink now?”

“No Dick,” Logan gently chastised, as if explaining to his child yet again that he couldn’t grow up and be a Jedi.  “This isn’t part of the game.  He’s actually dead.”

Gia spun around, poking Luke in the chest.  “I did not sign up for actual dead bodies, Luke.  You told me this would be fun.”

A lump formed in Veronica’s throat as she stared at the lifeless form of Leo D’Amato.  Years ago, before Lilly’s murder, she’d considered following in father’s footsteps and pursuing a career in law enforcement.  She’d toyed with the idea anew last summer at her FBI internship, the possibilities a Rubik’s Cube spun deftly in her palms.  Moments like these reminded her why she’d veered towards practicing law instead.  

Bodies, especially those of people she knew, unsettled her.  The inertia of them, the inconsistency… she couldn’t reconcile it.  People breathe.  People move.  At Lilly’s funeral, she remembered whispering to her father that it wasn’t Lilly—that Lilly was never still.  That they should shut the casket, because Lilly would hate to be remembered as motionless.

“Veronica?”

She was coaxed back to the present by the sound of Logan’s voice, concerned and closer than she expected it.  He was crouched beside her, shining his light over the body.  Casting her own Maglite across the ice, she noticed something fluttering beneath the camping lantern.  Hmm…

“You okay?  I know that you and Leo… were friendly.”

Veronica huffed softly.  “We dated.  Briefly, until I cheated on him with you.  I’m fine, Logan.”  Glancing over at him, she smiled gratefully.  “Thank you for asking.”

Logan’s gloved hand reached for hers, offering a reassuring squeeze.  For a moment, she lost herself in the depths of his eyes, all fears of frostbite forgotten as her heart panged with regret.  Seven months, nine days and six hours, and no bookie in Vegas would touch the odds of her moving past Logan Echolls now. 

Focus, Veronica!

Gently extricating her hand from Logan’s, Veronica rose slowly to her feet, circling around the pool of blood towards the lantern.  She kept her eyes downcast, scanning for footprints, drag marks, anything of use, but saw nothing.  The blustery winds of the snowstorm were swiftly disposing of evidence for the killer.  Retrieving her phone from her jeans pocket, she began snapping photos of the fluttering object in situ—well aware the police would be furious she was touching it at all.

“Phone.  Good idea!” Casey enthused.  “We need the cops here now.”

“Casey, do you really think there’s reception on Death Island on a good day, let alone during a storm like this?” Carrie sneered.  “Do you see a cell phone tower anywhere?”

Casey bristled, adjusting the collar of his parka. “Technological advancements being what they are—“

“I have no bars and I’m just taking photos,” Veronica snapped, reaching down to retrieve the mystery object.

Now this might be useful…

“Hey, hey!  She’s hogging all of the clues!” Cole protested, tapping Kimmy on the arm.

Brushing a tear from her cheek, Kimmy shoved him aside.  “You idiot!  This isn’t a game anymore!  How many drinks did you have tonight?”

“ENOUGH,” Logan warned, silencing the chatter.  “Veronica, what is that?”

“It’s a folded sheet of paper,” she replied, tucking it in her pocket.  “It’s too wet out here.  If it has writing on it, I don’t want the snow to damage it.  We should read it inside the house.”

“No, what we should do is get the hell out of here, fast!”  Wallace shouted.  “I’ve seen my share of horror movies.  As the only person of color in this group, that means I’m the likeliest to end up with a knife, a bullet or a fish hook in my gut.”

Veronica frowned, stepping forward to console him.  “Wallace, it’s going to be okay—“

Wallace’s arms flew up in the air.  “For you, maybe!  You’re the Final Girl!  White girl, PI, your ex dead on the ice.  Come on now, Supafly.  Name a horror movie where a Black man lives to the end.  No, we need off this rock.  And until we’re off it, I go where you go.  You feel me?”

“Where else would you go?  I’m your plus one,” she soothed, wrapping an arm around his shoulder.  Lowering her voice, she whispered, “I need to check one thing and then we’re headed back to the house to figure a way out of here, okay?”

Wallace nodded anxiously, glancing sideways at Logan.  “Alright.  But we need to bounce.”

“No arguments here.”

Reluctantly, she circled Leo’s body and snapped photos from a variety of angles.  Fighting the urge to vomit, she reached inside his jacket pocket, retrieving his wallet and a set of car keys, but finding no other papers or items of note.  Satisfied she had everything useful, she headed back to the warmth of the mansion, eager to escape the sleet pelting her bare cheeks.  Logan and Wallace—ever helpful in a crisis--ushered the party guests along behind her.

As she trudged through the snow, Veronica considered her priorities:  contact authorities; secure evidence; keep everyone together.  Wallace was right:  they needed to get off the island or engage law enforcement as quickly as possible.  In the meantime, if a killer was on this island with them, safety would be found in numbers.  Cell service was a bust, but surely the sprawling home had a landline or other means of communication with the outside world.  No one wealthy enough to construct a home this beautiful would leave themselves without a means of calling in the cavalry.

“Why was that guy here?” Kimmy sniffled as Veronica opened the front door.  “Who even invited him?  He didn’t go to Neptune High, did he?”

“He went to a dance, once,” Carrie replied.  “I’m surprised you don’t remember it, Kimmy.  Meg invited him for Veronica.  Shouldn’t you have that memorized as part of your body snatching?”

“And I thought it was icy outside,” Wallace muttered quietly. 

“Just remember: you made me come to this party, Papa Bear.”

Kimmy tugged on Veronica’s sleeve, spinning her around.  “Wait, you were dating the dead guy?  Doesn’t that make you a suspect?”

“Dated, as in past tense.  It’s been years, and we only went out a few times,” Veronica replied dismissively, yanking her arm away.  “Leo and I were friends.  Besides, the state of the body… he was dead before Wallace and I arrived.”

“She’s dating that radio dweeb now… Pizzle,” Dick interjected, pouring out a martini.

Veronica stared at her boots, avoiding Logan’s gaze as Wallace mercifully jumped into the conversation.  “Also past tense.  They split up in the summer.  We haven’t seen him since we flew out to New York to visit him at Presbyterian, right V?”

“Mmm-hmm.”  Just keep staring at the tiles…

“Poor guy got hit by a bus, the last week of his summer internship.  He’s still in the hospital there, full body traction, head trauma,” Wallace continued.  “Guy wasn’t even conscious when we were there.”

“Damn.  I’m sorry to hear that,” Logan offered quietly.

“Says the guy who rearranged his ribs and face?” Wallace snapped.

Veronica laid a warning hand on his arm.  “Wallace… You promised.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.”  With a heavy sigh, Wallace stormed across the room to console a shuddering Alexis Link.

Veronica shot an apologetic look at Logan, who shrugged it off.  It’s fine, he mouthed.  It wasn’t—that much was clear from the crestfallen look that flickered across his features—but she would apologize in depth later.  Her relationship with Piz, and its demise, had nothing to do with Logan’s fists of fury.  Their ending was the product of a man who couldn’t see the hypocrisy in pursuing his internship and dreams, while holding her solely responsible for the long distance between them as she rightfully pursued hers.  She’d ended it while still in Quantico, moving on to Stanford without looking back.

Well, not at him, anyway, she amended silently. 

“You know, it’s funny,” Carrie Bishop mused aloud.  “I heard that Troy Vandegraff died in a car accident over the holidays.  Didn’t you date him in junior year?”

“I did, for a little while.  That’s a shame…”

Out of the corner of her eye, Veronica noticed Dick tugging Logan behind the bar, struggling to wrap his hand around his bicep.  How are Logan’s arms even bigger than I remember them?  Logan’s expression was one of bemusement, his feet firmly planted in place.

“Black Widow,” Dick muttered ominously.  “I’m not letting you end up on Dateline, dude.”

“I appreciate the concern, but I can take care of myself,” Logan insisted, moving to Veronica’s side.

Dick formed his index fingers into a cross, holding them up in Veronica’s direction.  “Fine.  Your funeral, and I’m so not sending flowers.”

Drawing a deep breath to steady herself (and to resist the urge to chuck the ornamental bowl beside her at Dick’s stupid head), Veronica smacked her palm on the table.  “As much fun as rehashing my love life has been, there’s a dead man on the pond and a killer loose on the island.  Priorities, people?”

Sweeping her Maglite over the group of partygoers, Veronica studied them all in turn:  Wallace, her best friend, consoling a crying Alexis to her right; Carrie and Susan, imbibing with tense expressions on the sofa; Casey and Kimmy, upset, but holding it together; a shocked Luke clinging to a distraught Gia; and Cole and Dick, both of whom seemed too intoxicated to fully appreciate what was happening.  And then there was Logan to her left, whose worried gaze was laser-focused on her.

“Okay, since cell phones are a bust, has anyone seen a landline?”

A lot of shaking heads, save one:  Susan Knight hesitated, her brow furrowing.  “Hmm… I might have seen one in the kitchen earlier?”

Carrie Bishop drained the frothy white concoction in her hand.  “I’ll go look with you.”

“Cole, you go too,” Veronica ordered.

Carrie huffed angrily and advanced towards Veronica.  “Of all the people in this group, the last I would expect sexist bullshit from—“

“Actually, I just want him out of my sight for five minutes and know you can take care of him.  Thanks for being a pal, Carrie.”

Cole’s protests were silenced by Carrie’s arm looping around his, dragging him down the long corridor towards what Veronica assumed was the kitchen.  Not that she and Wallace had gotten that far.  Damn it, they hadn’t even managed a drink before this had all gone to hell. 

Speaking of, Dick was still at the bar, making what were likely terrible, overly strong martinis in the dark. 

“Hey, bring back snacks!” Wallace called after them.  “Chips, Cheetos, a man’s not picky.”

Alexis pulled away from his embrace, tears streaming down her face.  “Are you serious right now?”

“It was a long trip and I’m hungry!” Wallace protested. 

Extracting Leo’s wallet from her pocket, Veronica flipped through the contents, finding little of interest.  Driver’s licence, debit card, credit cards, photos of his sister and his mother.  One item stood out:  a current private investigator’s licence for the state of California.  Huh.  If she did the math… he would have renewed it recently.  Last she’d heard, he was still working as a Deputy for Balboa County, although her information could be out of date.

Now, for the key find:  the mystery paper pinned beneath the camping lantern on the ice.  Veronica carefully unfolded it on the coffee table and shone her Maglite on it.  What she found left her reeling.

It was page three of a case file from Van Lowe Investigations—and according to the header, the lead investigator was none other than Leo D’Amato himself.  The text was smeared in several places from the snow, and being the third page, the notes were difficult to follow in places, but what Veronica could pick up…

“What’s that?” Casey asked.

“Motive for murder,” Veronica replied coolly, snapping photos of the page before carefully re-folding it. 

“So’s being your ex,” Casey remarked dryly, earning a glare from the petite blonde.  “What?  We’re all thinking it.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.  Troy and Piz had accidents.  Piz?  That was five months ago.  Hardly relevant to—“

The thud of hurried footsteps approaching drew the attention of the group.  Heads turned towards Susan, breathless and distraught, with Carrie and Cole in close pursuit.

“The phones are dead,” she panted.  “But not just dead.  They’re cut.”

Logan cast his flashlight in their direction.  “Cut?”

“The wire was cut,” Cole blurted out, visibly shaking.  “So we ran upstairs, because Carrie remembered a phone in her bedroom.  But that one was cut too.  We checked all the rooms upstairs, but every single phone was cut.  Slashed like buddy’s throat out there.”

“What did I tell you?” Wallace snapped.  “Veronica, we need to go.  A brother’s about to get filleted.”

“Oh hey, found you a Milky Way!” Cole added absently, tossing a chocolate bar in Wallace’s direction.

With an exasperated sigh, Wallace unwrapped the chocolate and waved it in Veronica’s direction.  “Look at this.  My last meal’s going to be the weakest chocolate bar there is.  Some Mars Magic, please?”

Veronica’s mouth fell open to speak, but she found herself cut off by Dick Casablancas, now wearing a tiny bow tie and carrying a tray full of martinis, as he circulated the room.

“No, no way.  If we’re dying, we’re having one last drink first!” Dick insisted.  “I made us chocolate martinis and we’re gonna down these bitches and say a big fuck you to murder, and then Veronica can order Logan around like her lapdog.”

“Dick,” Logan warned.

“What?  Like we all don’t know she’s still got your scrotum in her super purse next to Mr. Zappy or whatever she calls that thing?”  Dick handed martinis to an eager Gia and Luke with a flourish.  “As Class Party Boy Peter Bogart, my alcoholism means I call ‘em like I see them.  Wallace is the token, so he’s toast.  I’m the frat boy, so I’m done-zo.  Might as well die drunk and happy.”

“No one is going to die!” Veronica shouted.  “Not if we stick together and work fast.”

“I don’t recall voting you in charge, Veronica Mars,” Gia sneered, sipping her martini. “I say we drink first.”

As Dick continued to pass around martinis, Veronica nudged Logan in the arm.  “This is why I am not going to Neptune High’s reunion.”

“I’ll handle this.”  Moving into the centre of the room, Logan sighed. “Fine, let’s take a vote:  all in favor of drinking a martini before trying to call the police or leave the island?”

Gia, Luke, Dick, Cole, and Kimmy raised their hands.

“All in favor of leaving right now before anyone else ends up dead?”

Veronica, Logan, Wallace, Carrie, Susan, Alexis and Casey raised their hands.

“Majority says survival over booze.  Sorry Gia, Veronica’s in charge now,” he added wryly.

“Thank you.”  Tugging on her gloves, Veronica rolled her shoulders back.  “We have no landlines and no cell phone service.  Our best bet to call for help is also our way off the island:  the Irish Wake.  Even if the storm’s too bad to leave yet, we can try using the radio to call the coast guard for assistance.  I say we head for the caretaker’s cottage and get the captain’s help.”

“Okay, have fun doing that.  We’ll stay here and drink martinis,” Kimmy replied, sipping her drink.  “Ooh!  Is this Godiva liqueur, Dick?”

Dick clinked glasses with her, grinning.  “Hell yeah!”

“No, we are all going,” Veronica insisted.  “We need to stick together to stay safe.”

Gia’s leg raised in the air, dangling a knee-high leather boot with a blood-red sole and a three-inch heel.  “Do these Louboutins look like they were made for trudging around the grounds of this place?  I barely made it to the pond alive.”

“So change them,” Veronica snapped.

“I only brought my cute boots.”  As Luke began to shake his head, Gia pouted.  “You told me we were going to a party inside a beautiful house!  Why would I need hiking boots, Luke?  This is your fault.”

“Maybe the killer will take me next,” Luke mumbled.

“Or Gia,” Carrie muttered.

“No, it’s Logan next,” Dick insisted.  “Because of the Black Widow.”

Slinging her purse over her shoulder, Veronica rolled her eyes.  “Dick, shut up.  Gia, walk carefully.  Luke will help you.  Bring your martinis for all I care.”

As much as she wanted to abandon the group, grab Wallace and Logan and head off into the blinding snow as a trio, she’d learned years ago to keep everyone in her sight and trust nobody.  There would be no metaphorical backseat surprises tonight.  If she had to tie a rope around the waist of every 09’er here and drag them behind her through the drifts, she would. 

She and Wallace were innocent.  Everyone else was a suspect.

Even Logan?

Listening to the din of complaining rich kids, she stole a glance at her ex.  Even Logan.  Technically.  But I know he didn’t do this.

It was Logan who identified the location of the caretaker’s cottage as they stood on the front porch, a collective of shivering bodies whipped by icy shards from the west.  Visibility was near zero now, the wind cutting through the down filling of Veronica’s ski jacket, but Logan was able to just make out a small structure down a path that veered to the southwest of the property, lying between the dock and the mansion.

“That will be it,” he assured her.

“Lowly peasant I am, I’ll have to trust your expertise.”

“See the chimney, Veronica?  It’s a domicile, not a storage unit or barn.  Simple observation, not elitism.”

Veronica bit her tongue, pressing forward with Wallace at her side.  She was off her game, and their lives literally depended on her. Contact authorities, stick together, preserve the evidence.  Repeat mantra.  Her love life, or lack thereof, was a distraction.  Dick’s outburst—and Logan’s curiously sad expression ever since?  Also a distraction. 

“So, what was on the page?” Logan whispered.

His breath was hot on her ear and Veronica involuntarily shivered.  Body memory carried her to happier moments:  late-night conversations, their naked bodies entwined in tangled sheets.  The security of his muscular arms wrapped around her frame; her head pressed to his chest, counting the beats of his heart.  She bit the inside of her mouth, shocking herself back to the bitter cold of the present.

“Leo works—worked for Vinnie,” she began quietly.

Wallace edged closer and the trio picked up their pace, pulling away from the group.  “Worked for him?  He was a PI?”

“Apparently.”

“But he was friends with your dad.  Why wouldn’t he work for him?”

Veronica shrugged.  “Your guess is as good as mine, Wallace.  Dad probably turned him down, told him he could do better.  He’s always been a lone wolf.  Vinnie, on the other hand, would welcome the opportunity to recruit one of his own deputies for his OG business.”

“So the page was what, a case file?” Logan queried.

“A partial,” Veronica confirmed.  “The page was water-damaged, and I couldn’t find a name anywhere on it, but from what I could read, Leo had stumbled onto a cover-up of a crime, maybe a wrongful death?  It’s hard to tell with so much obscured.  If Leo had ammunition like that on someone here…”

Logan glanced back, taking stock of their present company. “Someone like Luke, who plans to run for Congress.  Or the Gants…”

“It’s a secret someone would kill for,” Veronica affirmed.

“But how did he get here?” Wallace asked.  “We had to give our names and a code word.  Did he come over with you?”

Logan shook his head.  “I came over with Dick, early this afternoon.  Same deal:  name and code word.  For Leo to cross, he would have needed an invite.”

“Maybe the captain knows something,” Veronica decided, veering down a narrow path towards the caretaker’s cottage. 

The cottage was more of a bungalow house, complete with a modest yard of its own.  It was nearly as large as Veronica’s childhood home, sprawling and framed with gardens edged in decorative stones.  Three steps led up to a porch of deep oak, where a heavy door without a window loomed as the entrance.  The curtains were all drawn, offering no view inside.

Without hesitation, Veronica jogged up the steps and pounded on the door.  “Hello?  Hello in there?  We have an emergency!”

No answer. 

Wallace approached, standing behind her.  “Knock again?”

“I might have my lock pick kit in my purse somewhere,” Veronica grumbled, shining her light inside.

Logan pounded on the door, calling out to the captain, to no avail.  “Yeah, I’m not getting a good feeling about this…”

Veronica’s stomach turned.  “Enter through the back door?”

“Title of your sex tape!” Dick called out, immediately clamping his hand over his mouth. 

Oh, he did NOT just go there!

Veronica’s hand closed around her Taser, pulling it from her purse.  “After all these years, Dick you still haven’t learned…”

No sooner had Logan and Wallace’s arms flown out to restrain her than the chilling sound of Gia Goodman’s screams rang out from the back of the cottage, startling a snowy owl into a frantic flight across the night sky.

[theavidindoorswoman]

On fandom and Veronica Mars

In the aftermath of the nonsense that is Veronica Mars Season 4, I’ve been thinking a lot about Fandom, my role in it, & how it became a part of my life. Veronica Mars is how I first discovered fandom. so it’s something that is really important to me and how I understand it. This will probably be unnecessarily long but bear with me, I have a lot of feelings.

I’ve always loved television, and watch much more television than a normal person should. I could wax poetic all day about why it’s the best medium for visual storytelling. Anyway, this is about Veronica Mars. Somewhere around 2009/2010, I was going through a really rough period post-college, in the midst of what professionals apparently call a major depressive episode.  My most used and least destructive coping mechanism? Making Netflix my BFF. I found myself doing A LOT of bingewatching. Veronica Mars was one of those shows that I always saw people recommending but never really thought would be a good fit for me; I was really over crime shows at that point and had no interest in watching a show about a private investigator, much less a teenaged one. Eventually, I gave in and found it on Netflix. I don’t even remember why really. But 64 episodes and 3 weeks later, I was ruined. 

I loved Veronica, I loved Wallace, I loved Keith, and eventually, I even loved Logan. To this day, Veronica & Wallace are still my favorite TV friendship, and Veronica & Keith are my favorite parent/child relationship. I also loved LoVe. This is the part where I shamefully admit that I initially shipped Veronica w/Duncan, yeah I know (I have a tendency to ship characters with the person that they think they are meant to be with). But from the moment that Veronica & Logan kissed in Weapons of Class Destruction, I was done for. As soon as I got over the shock, I was all in. Even though I’ve always rooted for various couples over the years, Whitley & Duane on A Different World, Will & Lisa on Fresh Prince, Buffy & Angel, Josh & Donna, etc. I never understood myself to be a shipper. I never even knew that shipping was a thing, which as someone who grew up spending the summer holidays watching soaps with my mom, is kind of absurd. Shout out to Days of Our Lives, Passions, and Y&R (Stefano DiMera is still the best soap villain of all time). 

But it wasn’t just about shipping. I knew that the show had been canceled, but when I got to that last episode, I was distraught. There had to be more, I thought. There’s no way that it just ended like that? Did Logan & Veronica ever get back together? What was the deal with Jake Kane? Would Piz’s death please become the next mystery? How was I just supposed to move on without the answers to these questions? How was I supposed to accept a world in which Veronica & Piz were still out there somewhere dating?

I’ve had many a beloved show canceled, in fact, I’m pretty sure that I’m a television jinx, but somehow this was different. I was genuinely distraught. I had been a longtime lurker and infrequent commenter on Television Without Pity (RIP), but hadn’t visited the site in ages. One of the first things I did was go on there and dig up the Veronica Mars sub-forum. I read old threads, saw people’s reactions to THAT KISS, read discussions and theories about potential future seasons.  I was DEEP into the rabbit hole. From TWOP it was on to youtube fan vids, and then on to the magical world of tumblr GIF compilations, and finally, it led to Fan Fiction and this entire world of incredibly talented writers who created wonderful stories just because they love this thing so much (thanks for fixing that season 3 ending a dozen times over).

I had never read a single piece of fan fiction in my life and I had no idea what this tumblr thing was, but suddenly I’d discovered this whole new part of the internet, a treasure trove of content that allowed me to keep visiting this universe that I loved, and keep hanging out with these characters that I loved. I realized that I wasn’t the only one who still mourned the loss of this show, that once I got past the freshness of my disappointment there were all these people out there who cared about the same things that I did. If Veronica & Co. could live on in this world, so could other beloved things.

Not too long after I “joined” this fandom news came about the movie Kickstarter. I didn’t think twice about donating, I drove almost 2 hours to the nearest theatre because I really wanted to see the movie on the big screen, I proudly wear kickstarter my t-shirt, I read the books, and like everyone else I wished and waited for more. And then finally, out of nowhere season 4 became a reality. I planned my study schedule around the release date, & freaked out when it got released early, shuffling things around, because finally, we were returning to Neptune. Anyway, we all know how that story ends.

Like many people, I was enraged. New waves of rage wash over me each time Rob or Kristen says something dismissive in an interview. The charaters feel like they’ve been replaced by bizzaro versions of themselves that look familiar but are at the same time unrecognizable, the relationships that made the show special have been cast by the wayside in favor of what exactly I’m not sure. It feels like a betrayal on so many levels. But I think that the hardest part for me is that I find myself ready to give up something that meant so much to me. Beyond the stories, beyond the characters, beyond LoVe, this show in many ways meant a lot more to me than so many of the others that I have loved. It introduced me to so many things that have since become a part of my life; it introduced me to fandom, and because of that, it changed the way that I watch television. It also came to me at a time when life felt really shit and gave me something that made me happy when not much else did. 

So even though it has become a thing which now holds a lot of pain, I’m hopeful that eventually, I’ll be able to find someplace for it in my life, where I can look back on it fondly and appreciate it for what it was, and what it gave me. Who knows when I’ll find that place, and if I’ll still be able to enjoy the other things that have now become crucial to my experience of the show, but I really hope so.

Also, Fuck Rob Thomas. Forever. Literally.

[traveltor-blog]

Уникальное место: Rhine Valley

Комментарии путешественников о Rhine Valley

Rhine Valley. The is located in southern Baden in the Black Forest region and is especially known for the delicious wines from the local steep slopes. In the west of the region lies the Rhine valley and in the east creeks meander through the hilly But not only that is typical of the region - gravel quarrying has created a number of dredging lakes, like this one in the photo, which turns the Ortenau into an idyllic summer paradise. With excellent water quality, they provide the welcome cooling on hot days and give picturesque sunset motifs. It is therefore not surprising that the climate and quality of life of the Ortenau are comparable with the conditions in Tuscany.•picture by / tag to be featured Beilstein an der Mosel — Байльштайн, Германия, 1-я часть, короткое видео (полное 📽️ будет чуть позже)Эхх, как бы мне сейчас хотелось всё бросить и очутиться в этом маленьком старинном городе Beilstein, пожить годик, другой 😇 ... Что скажите, мои подписчики 😎И немного истории, что это за городок Байльштайн.✧✧Крошечный городок Байльштайн считается самым романтичным на Мозеле. Этот городок виноделов 🍾 называют "Спящей Красавицей на Мозеле" из-за того, что время здесь как будто остановилось. Удивительным образом Байльштайн сохранил до наших дней свой очаровательный средневековый облик. Теперь весь город охраняется как памятник старины. Фахверковые дома, руины некогда неприступной имперской крепости Байльштайн (в настоящее время — Burg Metternich). Замок стоит на возвышении, а склон, спускающийся к воде, весь покрыт виноградниками.✧✧Площадь Байльштайна полтора квадратных километра, а населяют город всего 147 человек. Туристов же, посещающих Байльштайн, насчитывается сотни тысяч в год! Улицы похожи на опрятные коридоры, здесь чувствуется заботливая рука хозяйки, а площади — на уютные внутренние дворики, закрытые от посторонних взглядов. Особой любовью кинематографистов пользуется небольшая Монастырская лестница (Klostertreppe) со стоящими рядом живописными фахверковыми домами.💠💠Beilstein Germany 🇩🇪 is a tiny town sitting along the peaceful Moselle River (Mosel River in English). Beginning in France, the Moselle River enters Germany near Trier and meanders to Koblenz where it flows into the mighty Rhine River. While not nearly as popular as the Rhine Valley, the Moselle River Valley is a delightful place to visit as both sides of the river are dotted with castles, vineyards, and cute little villages.✧✧Beautiful photovideo capture by  would you like to go there?Follow for more pics like this ?✧✧ Hey Leute😃 ,Maja und ich sind gerade auf dem Weg zurück nach Hause von unserem kleinen Wandertrip. Mittlerweile waren wir zum dritten Mal auf dem Rheinsteig und es ist einfach nur wunderschön dort.Es wundert uns jedes Mal wie eine so tolle Gegend selbst bei den eigenen Landsleute so unbekannt sein kann. Es gibt hier mit das beste Wetter in Deutschland (angeblich die meiste Sonne + die wenigsten Regentage, da Mikroklima). Die Gegend mit den kleinen Hügeln und Bergen ist wunderschön: der Rhein schlängelt sich hier in ganz gemütlichen Kurven durch die Landschaft, alle paar Kilometer sieht man mittelalterliche Burgen und in den kleinen Dörfern servieren sie euch mit den besten Wein, total leckeres Essen und es scheint ein bisschen als wäre man in einem ganz anderen Land als Deutschland.Es ist günstig, kinder-und tierlieb, für die meisten von euch sehr nah dran und mittlerweile bin ich komplett überzeugt davon, dass man eben nicht um den halben Globus fliegen muss, um das Glück zu finden.Hendrik und ich haben beide schon so viel gesehen und das ist einfach jedes Mal mit der schönste Urlaub für uns. Im Ernst!Mich macht es jedes Mal richtig traurig, wenn ich von den Leuten hier in den Dörfern höre, dass nur noch so wenige Leute sich ins Rheintal verirren...dabei ist es sowas an einzigartig und gerade wenn man Lust auf eine Wanderung hat perfekt!😍Wir sind wieder die Strecke von Osterspai nach Rüdesheim gelaufen und haben jede Nacht in einer anderen kleinen Pension bzw. bei Winzern übernachtet.Es ist echt der Himmel auf Erden und ich kann euch so stark raten euch die Gegend mal anzuschauen. Es ist echt ein kleiner Geheimtipp und jeder, den wir hierher „geschickt“ haben war einfach nur mega erstaunt wie toll es hier in Deutschland auch sein kann!🤩 U-turn ➰ - The beautiful and very blue Rhine river at the Il Spir view point. It makes the craziest U shaped bend, making it look like the Horseshoe Bend in Arizona (it is just a bit smaller). The gorge was formed about 10 000 years ago, working its way through the rock between Flimserstein and Piz Grisch. It’s amazing what the force of nature can do!......... 🤩CHARMING HOME IN SCHERTZ🤩.✅4 Bedrooms✅2/1 Bathrooms ✅2 Stories ✅2,553 Sqft✅2-Car Garage.🔜🔜🔜COMING SOON!🔜🔜🔜.✨Open Floor Concept✨High Ceilings✨Formal Dining✨42" Espresso Kitchen Cabinets✨Granite Kitchen Countertops✨Subway Tile Backsplash✨Gas Appliances✨Bay Window in Master Bedroom✨Tub & Shower in Master Bathroom✨Dual Vanities in Master Bathroom✨Walk-in Master Closet✨Gameroom✨Covered Patio✨Irrigation System and Full Sod.AND MANY MORE FEATURES YOU’D LOVE!.📞Let’s go check it out, CALL ME NOW (210) 774-6353.📍RHINE VALLEY➡️Brand-new, single-family home community in Schertz, Texas➡️Situated off FM 1518 and Lower Sequin Road➡️Minutes from Loop 1604, Interstate 35, and Route FM 78➡️Sitting among the beautiful suburbs on the northeast side between San Antonio and New Braunfels.⚠️⚠️⚠️CONTACT ME NOW for more information or simply CLICK on the link/picture BELOW!⚠️⚠️⚠️.👩🏼‍💼Anahi Martinez exp Realty📲 (210) 774-6353📩 anahi.martinez.com✅License# 611117.Listing by: Dayton Schrader.https://myre.io/0JeMd56MvVVkq. Come here, you have to see this! After the view of the castles from the river, it was amazing to see the view of the river from the castles.• This particular castles shares its location with another, Castle Sterrenberg. The story goes that two brothers cheated their blind sister out of her third of the inheritance then split what was leftover between themselves. They then built separate castles due to their own squabbles. Eventually they made up and planned a hunting trip together where the earlier riser was supposed to shoot a wake up call arrow into the window of the other. As it turned out, both brothers woke early and both shot their arrows, killing the other. My theory is the sister got her revenge in the end. 🏰 Hallo ihr Lieben! Das gestrige ADAC Fahrtraining hier in Koblenz hat mir so unglaublich viel Spaß gemacht!.Zwar habe ich meinen Führerschein schon seit etwa 14 Jahren (und davor hatte ich sogar schon einen Führerschein für ein kleines Motorrad), dennoch habe ich bislang nur wenig Autofahrpraxis gesammelt. Hintergrund ist, dass ich in den letzten Jahren in Frankfurt gelebt habe und dass das Autofahren dort für mich - aufgrund der sehr guten Anbindung der öffentlichen Verkehrsmittel - keinen Sinn machte..Der Paul kam auf die Idee mir ein ADAC Sicherheitstraining zu schenken. Gestern habe ich den Gutschein eingelöst! ✌🏻💪🏻🚗.Zunächst ging es los mit vergleichsweise einfachen Übungen (Vollbremsungen bei normaler Wegbeschaffenheit und bei Regen), dann u.a. im Kreisfahren bis das Auto leicht aus der Kurve fliegt und am Ende dann die Krönung: eine Simulation, dass das Auto ins Schleudern gerät. Ich muss zugeben, ich war vor der letzten Übung schon etwas nervös! In solche Situationen gerät man mit dem Auto ja für gewöhnlich nicht. Aber es hat einfach super viel Spaß gemacht!.Ich fühle mich nun sehr viel sicherer beim Autofahren und habe viel gelernt. Mein Auto kann ich nun sehr viel besser einschätzen. Auch wenn ich die Geschichte zur Dieselaffäre wirklich nicht gutheißen kann: mein (mittlerweile recht alter) VW ist ein Top-Weggefährte, auf den ich mich verlassen kann. Einfach Top-Technik, die da verarbeitet wurde. Außerdem hab ich gelernt, dass ich gar nicht so eine schlechte Autofahrerin bin, wie ich es immer dachte. 😄.Und was ich noch gelernt habe: Sicherheit beim Autofahren ist immer das A und O! Und man unterschätzt Geschwindigkeiten sehr schnell. Es war wirklich überraschend zu sehen, was für einen riesigen Unterschied nur 10 km/h bei der Länge des Bremsweges machen können..Also: Safety first und lieber mal etwas langsamer fahren als zu schnell! 😉👍🏻.... Der Industriekran ist ein Laufkran auf einer Kranbahn der Firma Fries (1964). Unter dem Auslegearm befindet sich eine gestaffelt aufgehängte Führerkabine. Der Kran bildet ein modernes Pendant in Stahlbauweise zu dem nur unweit gelegenen, hölzernen »Alten Kran« – nach Ausgrabungen des Fundamentes auf das Jahr 1487 datiert – ein technikgeschichtlich interessantes Ensemble, das rund 300 Jahre „Krangeschichte“ verkörpert.In Reminiszenz an die ehemalige Existenz eines großen Verladehafens auf dem Gelände des heutigen Hafenparks hat man sich entschieden, den Kran als Industriedenkmal zu erhalten. Mit dem Umbau des ehemaligen Hafengeländes als Teil der Landesgartenschau hat sich die gesamte Höhenentwicklung der Fläche verändert. Der Hafenpark untergliedert sich in drei Ebenen. Die Ebene 1 verläuft als Promenade direkt am Wasser. Die Ebene 2 wurde von ihrem ursprünglichen Niveau um 1,2 m abgesenkt. Die Ebene 3 dafür ca. 1,6 m angehoben. Für die Absenkung der Ebene 2 wurde die ehemalige Hafenspundwand durchtrennt und entfernt, sowie das gesamte Gelände abgetragen. Dies machte auch die Versetzung des Krans notwendig.Dafür wurden zunächst neue Gleise auf die tieferliegende Fläche gebaut. Im November 2006 wurde der Stahlkran mit einem 100 t-Autokran an den Haken genommen und auf die neuen Gleise umgesetzt.Als Landmarke ist der Kran nun auch nachts zu sehen. Ein neues Beleuchtungskonzept setzt das Industriedenkmal gekonnt in Szene.Quelle : www.bingen.de From Mannheim to Cologne: when we found out that one of the most scenic train journeys of Europe is found in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, we knew we had to seize the opportunity and combine a conference in Mannheim with a trip down the Rhine. Starting in Mannheim we’re visiting Mainz, Koblenz and Cologne, taking the slow local trains for optimal scenic views. Mannheim in itself maybe isn’t the most spectacular, but its university building is impressive! 📸 .o.t.t.e___ Idée sortie du week-end : la fête médiévale à Kenzingen. Au programme cette année : marché médiévale, concerts, campements de chevaliers etc.Il faut dire qu'une fête médiévale est tout à fait justifiée dans une petite ville qui fête cette année son... 770ème anniversaire ! This castle is 1,000 years old. It was been abandoned for 200 years when the Huttle family bought the ruins and brought it back to life. I loved seeing smoke coming from the chimneys, hearing laughter echoing through the courtyard, and just feeling those ancient stone walls. What a special place. Europe Destination: Germany!Toured the city of Trier for ornate churches and Roman ruins. Hiked to the fairytale-like Eltz Castle in Cochem and discovered a cute breakfast practice of keeping hard boiled eggs warm with a small hat cover in Bullay and Oberwesel. Explored the UNESCO Heritage Rhine Valley region with ferry rides to Kaub (which included Pfalzgrafenstein Castle on an island in the middle of a river). Wandered around the extravagant Schwerin Palace and Gardens.Food highlights: kappes teerdisch (bratwurst with creamy sauerkraut mashed potatoes), classic flammkuchen, Sprite beer, and "Spaghetti" ice cream. The is located in southern Baden in the Black Forest region and is especially known for the delicious wines from the local steep slopes. In the west of the region lies the Rhine valley and in the east creeks meander through the hilly But not only that is typical of the region - gravel quarrying has created a number of dredging lakes, like this one in the photo, which turns the Ortenau into an idyllic summer paradise. With excellent water quality, they provide the welcome cooling on hot days and give picturesque sunset motifs. It is therefore not surprising that the climate and quality of life of the Ortenau are comparable with the conditions in Tuscany.•picture by / tag to be featured En mi camino hacia la riqueza inconmensurable, los signos del flujo futuro de dinero aparecen una y otra vez. Estimado departamento de marketing de , si desea firmar un contrato de patrocinio, póngase en contacto conmigo. En Alemania soy un marcador de tendencias influyente cuando se trata de ropa para bicicletas. No fue hasta esta primavera que una popular emisora de radio hizo famosa su mercancía enviándome una prenda de vestir. En mis futuros viajes también estaré encantado de , el lugar bien merecido en el mercado alemán. Con los saludos más codiciosos, su !. Read the full article

[animalistauntamedblog]

Cover photo: Endangered Steller Sea Lions VLADIMIR BURKANOV / NOAA

If the 6th Age of Mass Extinctions we have now entered as a result of our own activities, sees off the human race along with all the other species on the planet, our epitaph might read (should there be a handy alien around to carve it in stone) “They thought theirs were good ideas at the time ….”

In The Magnificent Seven, this was the answer Vin (Steve McQueen) memorably gave to Calvera (Eli Wallach) when the bandit was so puzzled why a man like Vin decided to take the job of protecting the lowly villagers from his pillaging gang: “It seemed to be a good idea at the time ….”

In that instance, things turned out well – mostly. But so many of humankind’s bright ideas that did seem good at the time, have in the longer term proved to be runaway nightmares.

Thanks to modern science and technology we can now design babies to our own requirements; engineer mosquitoes to make themselves extinct; make drones used by conservationists and poachers alike; construct slaughterhouse equipment that make it possible to slaughter 140 hens per minute; choose custom-made dogs in different patterns and colourways; and grow human organs in pigs. We can move mountains, and I mean literally. There is no end to our inventiveness.

Is there anything we can’t do?

For all our cleverness, when it comes to gazing into the crystal ball to foresee where our handiwork might be leading, our talent is zero. Our remarkable human ability to turn every bright idea into concrete reality is matched by our singular inability to predict where those bright ideas might take us. Perhaps we are just eternal optimists, blind to any possible downsides.

Whatever, that blindness has sadly brought us to a point where 26,500 endangered and critically endangered species of plant and animal find themselves on IUCN’s Red List, thanks entirely to us.

Endangered: the California Condor, the Great Frigate bird & the Whooping Crane

Take that once-bright idea very much in the environmental spotlight recently. That material without which life as we know it is unimaginable. Plastic. Invented 1907. I know, I couldn’t believe it either. So useful it’s insinuated its way into every nook and cranny of our lives: from swimsuits to spaceships; cars to clingfilm; windows to wipes; aircraft to astroturf.

Plastic certainly has always seemed not just like a good idea, but a brilliant one. This ultra-handy substance managed to sneak well passed its centenary before we woke up to precisely what we’d let loose on the planet. How were we to know?

Futurology – the science of anticipation

Enter the futurists, those whose task it is to gaze at that crystal ball for us and forecast what kind of world new developments are propelling us towards. More than two dozen of these horizon scanners have got together with environmental scientists – William Sutherland, professor of conservation biology at Cambridge University at the helm – to put their collective finger on which emerging trends are likely to make an impact on Nature and biodiversity in 2019. Perhaps it’s not so surprising that they are hedging their bets on the outcomes of the trends they’ve identified, conscious that any one of them that seems like a good idea right now, may have unintended, unwanted, or even unforeseeable repercussions.

Emerging Trend for 2019 No. 1

And heyho we’re back to plastic

Remember when yellow plastic ducks first started washing up on beaches across the globe?¹ The thought of these tiny bath ducks ‘escaping’ and navigating the vastness of the oceans seemed no more than an amusing story at the time. There were actually 28,000 of them out there, a whole container load, lost overboard in the North Pacific in 1992. “That flotilla of escaped plastic ducks joins millions of Lego pieces, sneakers, styrofoam insulation, plastic crates and a plethora of other items lost at sea.“  It’s reckoned that containers lost overboard every year number in the thousands, and many of them filled with items made of plastic. Items that never even get to be used. A single container can carry 5 million plastic shopping bags.

Add that to the colossal amount of plastic we humans continue to actually use and throw away, and we have one enormous problem. We use 300 million tons of plastic each year, and at least 100 million marine mammals, a truly horrifying figure, are killed each year from plastic pollution.

After all this time, we’ve finally woken up to the environmental devastation our love of plastic has wreaked, and the trend the futurists identify is: people coming up with solutions.

An obvious one is to re-use plastic trash to produce something else we need. An ingenious professor of engineering in India has come up with a highly original use of plastic waste: turning it into hard-wearing, long-lasting roads.

“To date, thousands of kilometers of highways in India have been paved using the process he invented.” 

Another approach is to make plastic plant-based and biodegradable, and NatureWorks based in Minnesota, is doing just that. Their eco plastic ‘Ingeo’ is already in use in everything from 3D printing, through building construction and landscaping, to food packaging. Here’s how they do it.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is proposing a more fundamental shift – an economy based on better design, manufacture and recycling. At present we run on a linear economy – buy something, use it, throw it away. Some of our plastic trash does get recycled, but each time it is recycled, it becomes less and less usable. The Foundation would like to see a circular no-waste economy where items such as cellphones are designed and made so that at the end of their useful life they can be easily broken down into their component parts (glass, plastic, metal) ready to be recycled into equally high quality goods.

“Yay!” we say. All these ideas are impressive, aren’t they? But our futurists are cautious, unwilling to come down off the fence on one side or the other. Because how can they be sure that years down the line, we will not be repeating that refrain, “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

As the futurists say,“From changes in recycling approaches, to the use of biological agents to degrade materials, to the manufacture of substitutes for conventional plastics from plants, [which as of now only makes up half a percent of all plastic produced] all alternatives will have ramifications of their own for food security, water use, ecosystem integrity and more. Not only that, but the promise they offer — whether it’s realized or not — could defuse other efforts to reduce rather than shift plastic consumption.”

NatureWorks though is in the early stages of a process to make biodegradable plastic straight from greenhouse gases without even using plants. Can this be anything but good?

If we can make drastic improvements in our plastic use, on an individual as well as corporate and international level, there may still remain sea turtles, whales, dolphins, sharks, sea birds et al, to thank us. They have precious little to thank us for right now.

No. 2  Sunscreen

In 1938 a Swiss chemistry student Franz Greiter got a touch of sunburn while climbing Mount Piz Buin in the Alps. So guess what he did – yes, he went home and invented the first sunscreen. And for decades since, sunscreen’s been protecting us from turning an uncomfortable shade of pink, as well as more serious health issues.

Then in 2016, sunscreen joined the ranks of those brainwaves that seemed so good at the time, but might actually have been a huge environmentally-costly mistake. In that year a scientific study was conducted to ascertain if oxybenzone, an active ingredient of the stuff, was damaging coral reefs. The researchers concluded that it was. And several islands and states in the world have already banned it.

Oh, if only there were something ‘greener’ we could use to block those harmful UV rays!

Well, there is. We can harvest it in small quantities straight from nature, from algae to be precise, and it goes by the appealing name of Shinorine. As of now scientists have proved they can synthesise it. The next step is to scale up production.

Once again, our futurists are reluctant to come down on one side or the other. Is Shinorine going to be good for the environment, or prove as harmful as oxybenzone? All they will tell us is, “Widespread adoption of shinorine without sufficient research could expose corals or other aquatic and marine organisms to a new substance with unknown impacts.”

They are undoubtedly right to err on the side of caution. If only we had been so wise before we unleashed all our agrochemicals, our agro-waste, and yes, our plastic, our fossil fuel gases, our nuclear power, and indeed a superabundance of ourselves on to suffering Nature.

No. 3  Making rain

Last week, “the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation said it was preparing to deploy two planes for cloud seeding between Tuesday and Friday, if conditions are suitable.”  Right now Bangkok is shrouded in a pall of smog, and Thailand’s Department of Royal Rainmaking hopes a downpour of the wet stuff will clear the air. (On the website there is a tab called “The King and the Royal Rain”)

Meanwhile in Tibet, China is poised to send up a battery of rockets to release silver-iodide particles in the clouds, with the aim of making it rain over 1.6 million square kilometres of land, a vast area almost the size of Mexico. In 2017, northern China suffered its worst drought on record, With their rockets they hope to ensure water security for their own people, especially farmers, downstream.

Cloud-seeding has been around since the 1940s, but nothing on this kind of scale has ever been attempted before. Unsurprisingly, this is worrying our futurists. They fear such a dramatic alteration to the weather will damage Tibet’s rare alpine steppe and meadow ecosystems, in turn threatening its rare endemic species.

Photos from Wild Animals on the Tibetan Plateau²

Tibet is already the one of the largest sources of freshwater in the world, in third place after the North and South Poles. 46% of the world’s population rely on water originating in that country. Tibet, the Roof of the World, high in the Himalayas, lies three miles above sea level, its water feeding 10 major rivers across 11 countries of South-East Asia.

There are no simple certainties about the Chinese plan. It could all go horribly wrong, and have who knows what consequences, not just on the Tibetan plateau, but across a vast expanse of the globe. It certainly has the perturbing potential to be yet another bright idea that seemed like a good idea at the time…

No. 4  Fishy oilseed crops

The possibilities of genetic engineering are endless. So advanced are we as a species, we now have the knowhow to redesign almost every living thing to our own requirements. So why not modify oil-producing crops to produce “the omega-3 fatty acids that are normally found in fish and prized for their health-promoting capabilities.” Fantastic, especially for vegetarians and vegans. And the wild fish populations.

But… Why does there always have to be a but! The modification will displace some of the plants’ natural oils. How will this affect the insects that feed on them? If one study showing caterpillars metamorphosing into butterflies with deformed wings is anything to go by, the answer is “badly”.

It’s a zero-sum game. Benefitting one side of the equation (us) automatically means disadvantaging the other. This is true of so many of our bright ideas from the past. Yet we still don’t seen to have grasped that disadvantaging other animals, the environment, Nature, in pursuit of our own ends is only a short-term fix that is certain to boomerang back on us. And time is running out.

Other trends the futurists identified

that will make themselves felt one way or another in the environment this year include:

microbial protein for livestock

deeper sea fishing

modification of plant microbiomes

the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s decision not to regulate the use of gene editing in plants

the development of salt-tolerant strains of rice

and China’s creation of a whole new river

Read more here

A couple of biggies they didn’t spot

a. The expanding market for whole-roasted cricket

Insect mass-rearing, though in its infancy is apparently a fast-growing industry. The unfortunate cricket can be fed on nothing but weeds and agricultural by-products, making it a source of protein far more sustainable than the animals we more usually associate with farming.

“Reared insects are increasingly seen as an environmentally friendly alternative to meat, even by the United Nations. The future food for a growing world population.” And a readily available source of protein for malnourished children.“Even very poor people would be able to rear crickets.”³

b. Biodiversity offsets

We’ve grown familiar with the idea of carbon offsets. If you need to take a flight somewhere, you can buy yourself enough carbon credit to offset your own portion of the plane’s emissions. Then the money is used in climate protection projects.

Biodiversity offsets work on a similar principle. Setting aside protected areas for Nature to compensate for and minimise the impact of large-scale industrial projects like new mines or dams, or at the other end of the scale, new housing. Recent research discovered 12,983 of these set-aside habitat projects across 73 countries occupying an area larger than Greece. “153,000 square kilometres is a big chunk of land.” And in spite of its being a relatively new idea, it’s catching on fast.

“This is the start of something major,” says researcher Dr Bull, “‘Biodiversity offsets – ‘No Net Loss’ policies, seeking to protect our natural environment, are being implemented very quickly.”

Could this be a promising step towards Half Earth for Nature?

One final trend the futurists have hope for – Insurance for Nature

The futurists picked up on a joint project involving the Mexican government, the Mexican tourist industry, The Nature Conservancy, and – of all things – the insurance industry. Between them they have set up a trust fund to protect the Mesoamerican Reef in the Caribbean. The fund can be called upon for restoration projects in the case of damage to the reef. In effect, the reef is insured.

The futurists think schemes like this have potential for the insurance industry to “play a role in protecting natural areas and helping damaged habitat recover from disasters.” The model could be replicated worldwide to preserve and restore Nature.

Are they right? Where will it all end? Can our clever innovations save the planet and us with it? Or will they just turn out to be more of our brainwaves that seemed like a good idea at the time? Any crystal ball gazers out there?

¹“Many of these toys inadvertently became part of a massive scientific study: beachcombers have been finding them ever since, helping oceanographers refine their models of ocean surface currents.” The Science Museum

² Clockwise – the Tibetan antelope, the pika, the Tibetan blue bear, the Tibetan wild ass, the snow leopard and the Tibetan wolf

³ This one is not for me as a vegan. But then, I’m fortunate enough not to have to live in poverty with malnourished children

Further reading Fixing the environment: when solutions become problems

Related posts

Futurology Offers More Hope than Fears for the Animals & the Planet

Hope for the Animals & the Planet?

There is Always Hope for the Animals & the Planet

Ten Fascinating Ways Technology is Saving Animals

How Drones Might Just Save Our Endangered Animals & the Planet

‘WILD’ Needs Us to Save Half for Nature

Sources

15 trends with big implications for conservation in 2019 | Ensia

Sunscreen: a history

        Predicting what’s in store for Nature in 2019 Cover photo: Endangered Steller Sea Lions VLADIMIR BURKANOV / NOAA

[yuna-dan]

Blame the kids (Interlude)

Yes, I know. But I did warned I wouldn’t be able to update as much. Sadly next chapter will proably take longer since I need to graduate and I fucking (pardon) failed maths and I need to passed because if i dont my parents are going to kill me and then I’ll kill myself. So I wont be that active since I seriously need to concentrate.

Also. Yes this chapter is important. Every five chapters there will be an interlude that’s kinda aside from the Logicality fic. 

So yeah. I hope you like this.

Summary: Logan was a dedicated teacher. Marion was a social worker with two kids. The kids were jerks.

Warning: Angsty. Cursing and mention of an intent of rape. NOTHING GRAPHIC. However if you feel uncomfortable skip that part.

Based on: Single! Dad with two kids and Teacher! Logic by @prinxietys (if me tagging you makes u uncomfortable make me know plssss)

Last Chapter here

Marion was smiling proudly for his new case; the little girl was hugging his new mama and the woman was kissing her head.

Someone tapped his shoulder and he looked over “Can I talk to you, Mo?”

Morality followed the man to his office after saying goodbye to the girl and her family, in there was a little kid who was sitting at the desk, moving his legs. He giggled.

“Alex, I've told you. Sit on a chair.” The kid rolled his eyes and jump off the desk, sitting on the floor. “Can you wait outside? Please I need to talk to–”

“Yeah, yeah.” He brushed him off and stormed out of the office.

“Look, Morality.” He grabbed some files from his desk, “I’m going to retire in less than a month and I wanted–”

“You want me to take the kid's case?” He finished for him, “Why, though? I don't have a problem but I'm curious.” He pursed his lips.

The older man pulled his white hair a little. “He's kind of a problematic kid and he'll probably will end up with a random social worker and I think that would be a lot for him to take and I also think you're good at your job.” He ended with a laugh.

“Sure. What's his name? I'll take him.”

“Alexander Sanderson.”

“Hi kiddo,” Alex was sitting outside the office with hugging his little legs. “I'm Marion Sanders but you can call me Morality. I'll be your new social worker and I'll help you find a forever home.” He tries to ruffle his hair but the kid flinched and Morality, who was kneeling beside him was slightly surprised.

“Yeah. Good luck with that.”

What the heck?

Marion was driving and the kid was in the backseat, looking outside the window.

“This is a tempora–”

“I know. I'm not new at this.”

“Okay, grumpy pants. You've got my number?”

“Mm-Mm.” He nodded.

"There are going to be other three kids in there, play nice kiddo. The dad is a mechanic and I’m almost sure the mom is a nurse, I don’t remember. I think they’re a nice family or at least they told me so. If you don’t like it there we can find another one.”

“Oh my god, yes I get it.” He snapped.

Morality laughed.

The only thing he hated about his job was paperwork. Why the heck do they have to make paperwork? Paperwork was a pain in the ass.

He was going through some of it when his phone rang, “PJern's castle, what's your hassle?”

“Morality?” the tiny voice of a kid informed Marion it was not the time for jokes.

“Yeah. What’s wrong sweetie? Is everything okay?”

“It’s Alex. I’m sorry to bother you or interrupt you, but uhm I think I’m in danger?”

“Okay, okay.” He has already outside the building. “What’s going on Alex?”

“So… Umm, all the kids went to the park but I couldn’t go because I’m punished, but I’m sure I didn’t do anything wrong…” he was stuttering, almost nervous, “And now Peter and Anna are fighting really loud and I think she’s leaving right now.”

Morality’s body freeze. He didn’t want to think on what could that mean. “Ok. Sweetie I need you to lock the door of your room…”

“We are not allowed to lock them.” The eight-years-old mumbled. “Something bad happened the last time.” He whispered, scared.

Morality pinched his nose, almost angry, “No. I need you to lock yourself in the room. Stay close to the phone. I’ll be there in five.”

The image of a forty-years-old man with no pants, blood on his fists trying to knock the door of a little kid is something he doesn’t want to see again.

Alex was terrified. He was holding a lamp as if it was a weapon and was shaking while silent tears rolled from his cheeks.

Morality had already called the police but he arrived first, and he was just outrage to see a man trying to take advantage of a kid like that... so he punched him.

“You know I can't tolerate that behavior,” Peter, his boss, said while they were in the hospital, “You should've wait for the police...”

Peter, also known as Pranks, was mad. He hated men who abused kids but he was a boss, and he needed to maintain an image, even if he hated.

Morality frowned but commented nothing. “I should freeze your license.” He said and Marion's breath caught on his throat, “but since you save a kid I will let this passed. Don't tease me though Marion.” He winked.

Morality sighed relief, “This is my life, thanks P.”

Pranks smiled and nodded, “Yeah, you owe me a lot, pie. Now go and check on your kid, he's probably scared.”

Alex was sipping his juice box, it's been two weeks since that horrible experience and he was still on the hospital.

“Hey kiddo,” Morality entered without knocking, “How you been holding?”

Alex just mumbled a 'mfine' and brought his legs to his chest and holding them there. Morality sat on the bed and Alex moved a little away from the man, making Marion a little sad.

“What’s going to happened to me? Where am I going?” His voice was harsh but the man managed to notice the fear on it.

“Remember that sometimes you stay in your last social worker house for a while?” He nodded, “You’ll stay in mine then your forever home will come next.” He added enthusiastically.

“Ok.”

Morality was driving towards his house keeping in mind that the eight-year-old might already arrived and cursing himself and his own forgetting mind. The reason?

Alexander didn’t have keys.

He arrived two hours later and he found the kid sitting in front of the door, doing homework over his legs.

“I’m so so sorry Alex, I forget that you didn’t have keys.”

Alex chuckled dismissively, “This wouldn’t be the first time I stay outside a house.”

“C’mon. Let’s start eating. I buy pizza to apologize and because you’re a piz-za of work…”

“Ughhh.”

Alex was taking out his homework when he noticed the rectangle form inside it.

“Fuck.”

He recognized it as the phone of Marion. “Shit, he's going to kill me.”

“Yeah, I noticed it.” Marion ruffled his hair while serving him the food.

“I'm sorry, I didn't realize it.” He whispered ashamed.

“It's fine baby,” the words felt easy on his tongue, “I don't mind it, it was a mistake.”

Alex smiled.

They worked easily. Almost as if they've always been living together.

Alex walk to the school to the house, he cleaned a little and prepare the table and wait for Marion while doing his homework.

Marion arrived, checked his homework and then prepared the food.

They work nicely. It was pretty.

“Why didn't you tell me you lost a year?” Morality was scolding him and Alex rolled his eyes annoyed.

“I already feel stupid, don't add it.” He snapped angrily.

“Hey, don’t call yourself that.” Marion said, but his voice was still mad. “Gosh, you need to tell me, I can help you Alex. You’re a kid.”

“You read my file, don’t you?” He raised up abruptly from the chair where he was sitting.

“We’re not done, young man.”

“I don’t care.” He yelled closing the door hard.

“Yeah, but I do.” He screamed back at the kid.

“You’re becoming a dad, bro.” Thomas snickered.

Morality just grumbled while looking up for courses that could be useful for Alex.

“I’ve got two good news for you, kiddo.” That was the first statement that Marion did when he entered his home.

“What?” He looked up from his homework.

“Summer is coming up, and I inscribe you to a course where you’ll get ahead. You’ll make up for the year you lost so when you enter school again you’ll be with the kids of your age!” Alex was raising an eyebrow confused.

“I-I…”

“And I think I found you a home! They want to try it! You’ll have a brother though, is that okay?”

Alex look shook and is he wanted to cry, “Yeah. It’s okay.”

“Good. Now, help me with the food. I’ll teach you how to prepare pasta.”

Few hours passed after that moment and Marion was about to check on his kid. He knocked on the door and opened it before he got an answered. “Hey, ‘Lex ten more minutes and lights out, okay?”

He was surprised when the little kid’s arm wrapped around his waist. Alex buried his head on his stomach.

“Thank you.” He whispered.

Marion gently ran his fingers through his hair. “It’s okay kiddo.”

Two months. Two months and Alex was doing greater than any house. Yeah, nightmares come and go sometimes, but Marion manage to help him.

Heck, even in school his grades improved. Marion sign him up for in course, where he could do his homework and improved his social skills.

“Why are there two teachers?” He had asked when Marion told him.

“No… It’s only one.”

“But you said them…” Morality could’ve ‘awwed’ but manage to keep a straight face.

“See, some people identified themselves with different pronouns. You’ll understand when you get older… or not. Either way I’ll support you.”

Alex was really confused but shrugged it off. “Fine. Thanks.”

“Bob's ambulance, you maul 'em we haul 'em.” He heard a snicker from the other side of the phone.

“Hello. Mr. Sanders?”

“Yeah, what’s up Mrs. What can I do for you?”

“Um, yeah. I called you a few months ago. I was considering fostering a kid, I believe his name was Alexander?” Her voice was soft and ashamed.

“Oh yeah. Alexander Sanderson, he’s excited about it.” He lied. Okay, yeah. Alex was kind of happy but he hasn’t comment anything.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think my family will be okay. I mean, we traveled a lot, and right now we finally manage to get a grip in our life I don’t think it would be fair for my son and Alex. We’ll be back but maybe in a year.”

Morality sighed, “Yeah. Okay.”

“You should adopt him.” Pranks said when he got in the house.

“What are you doing here?”

“Alex let me in. You need to adopt him. He’s stable. He’s okay. I came here to talk about what’s going to happened to him, now that his foster family, but he finds a family here! Marion!”

He shot a look at the kid sitting on the counter reading a book and his heart broke at the idea of separate of him.

“Maybe…”

“Kiddo! I’ve got pizza and a slightly bad news.”

“Why?!” Marion was slicing some apples for breakfast when the kid interrupted him.

“Why, what honey?” Marion turned himself to see the Alex’s eyes.

“Why do you fucking care?!”

“’Lex, you okay?” He gently let the knife over the table and went to the kitchen’s door and went

“Stop it!” Huge tears were rolling down his face and Morality was about to panic.

It's been a few hours since Marion dropped the bomb about wanting to be the legal guardian of Alexander and he didn’t even comment a thing.

“Is this about me wanting to adopt you, honey–?” Alex stomp his foot to the floor.

“Why do you want me?! Why do you care?!” Alex screams was frightening Marion. He has seen Alex shout in the night when he woke up from a bad dream but he had never seen the kid like this.

“Alex,” He reached to his head, trying to caress his hair but the youngster spat away his hand.

“My own parents didn’t care! They abandoned me like a fucking dog! Why do you even care!?” Or at least he understands that, since the crying didn’t let the kid speak correctly.

“Honey, don’t.” He kneeled in front of him and embrace the crying figure in a tight hug. “It’s okay sweetie.”

Alex, at the beginning, was trying to break free from the hug but Morality would just hold him tighter whenever he tried to get away. Until Alex melted in the hug and buried his head into the chest of his social worker.

“Stop caring so much…” He whispered.

Marion hold his head with his right hand and the other one hold his back, pressing their bodies together, “Can’t do that.”

Alex was in the bathroom cleaning his face. “I’m already late for school.”

Marion was outside it, waiting in front of the door, “I don’t think you can go.”

“Wha-?”

“You’re terribly sick.” Marion commented dramatically, throwing his hands in the air. “You are burning with feeveer. You caaan’t even walk from the sickness.”

“Are you feeling okay, Mo?”

“Not really. I think I’m infected with a weird virus…” Alex raised his eyebrow, “Maybe we should stay at HOME and rest.” He winked. “Let me call your director and Pranks. You go and put your jammies.”

Alex smiled, “’Kay”

They were laying on Marion’s bed. “I need you to talk to me.” He whispered gently while caressing his hair and removing it from his brown eyes.

“Why?”

“I want to help you, baby.” He kissed affectionately his forehead and Alex’s eyes watered again. “Even if you don’t want me to adopt you, I want to help you.” He keep caressing his head and with his thumbs removing the tears.

And Alex talked…

Im going to separate this into two because this will kept getting longer XDDD. I’m sorry. But I hope you all enjoy it! I really do! This was a hard chapter to write tbh. If you notice something worng or a warning i missed pleae let me know. Also I want to add that he was not... you know raped (I hate that word Im sorry). That, yes kids can curse. Yes his story be explained in the near future... hopefully. To that nice anon who send the lullaby Im going to used it :).

I appreciate all the feedback <3

Thanks for reading :)

[asongstress1422]

Lost in the Motion

Reylo fanfic : Modern Au : So You Think You Can Dance AU

Summary: Rigid Ballet Dancer ‘Kylo Ren’ takes a bet that he’s good enough to win ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’ For Rey, a modern dancer with no formal training, winning would mean her life changing for the better. As partners they can either strengthen each other’s weaknesses or crumble under the pressure.

Part 1  part 2   AO3

Chapter 3: Addicted to Love

When Rey had woken up that morning to head into the studio she had in no way considered that she would have been asked to jump off an office desk into Kylo’s arms.

Yet that was exactly what was being demanded of her.

“Rey you need to relax. This should look fluid and graceful, not like your scared he’s going to drop you at every turn. His job is to keep you up, your job is to make it look good,” Maz stood off to the side with her hands on her hips.

Standing on the ground, head in line with her navel, Kylo rolled his eyes, “I don’t see what the issue is, we’ve done lifts before.”

“Yeah, you lifting me , not me falling on you.” Rey glared down at him from her added height of the table.

“For fucks sake, just fall already,” Kylo growled exasperated.

“If you drop me,” she let her threat peter off as she eyed the ground and re-thought angering whatd in essence would be the only thing that would keep her from taking a long tumble.

“Why would I drop you?” he demanded, arms still raised to catch her. “I’m stuck with you for another four weeks. It’s not like I need to make things harder on myself by having to carry you more than I already do.”

“You’re such a dick weed,” she huffed under her breath.

“Yes. Now fall.”

What was her issue? With Kylo’s height her fall would be a foot, maybe two. She’d done more then that falling into bed some nights. And even if he missed her it wasn’t like the ground was all that far, the desk being two and a half feet tall.

Rey had almost psyched herself up enough to chance it but at the last second her body just refused to tip her over the edge. She might only be two feet higher than normal but that was still almost eight feet for her head to fall before it hit the ground. What if he didn’t catch her? Or what if she slipped and wasn’t able to correct in time. What if--

“Rey!” She blinked breaking out of her tunnel vision on the floor to lock eyes with Kylo. His brown eyes were so calm and sure. “Trust me, I’ve got you. Now, on three.”

Rey nodded, swallowing.

He kept his eyes on her, keeping her grounded in the now instead of worrying over all the possible outcomes. “One...two…”

With a squeal she fell forward, eyes wanting to close but Rey keeping them open just in case she needed to make any last second saves.

Not that there was a need. Kylo caught her neatly cradling her to his chest. She felt herself sag with relief in his hold.

“Very good,” Maz said dryly from her stool. “Now, if we can get you do to that with a bit more grace and a lot less the look of a toppling board, you might just make it through this round. The competition is ramping up, that means we’re going to need to as well. There are going to be a lot more throws and jumps and catches. You better prepare yourself for that.”

“This is just the first time I’ve done a trust fall from five feet in the air. I’ll do better in the future.” She glanced up at Kylo, who still held her in his arms, a slight frown on his face as he looked at her. “You can put me--”

“Have you lost weight?” he interrupted.

She blinked in surprise at the change of gears. Smiling awkwardly, she patted him on the chest, “you flatterer, you.”

“I’m not saying it to be flattering,” he articulated. “You need to remain at a near constant size so I can calculate how much force I need to manipulate you on the dance floor. If you’re too light I could end up throwing you too hard and hurting myself. Or you.” He hefted her in his arms, “you’re at least a pound lighter then you were last week.”

“Okay, I am not having this conversation in your arms,” she squirmed until he set her down.

“What have you been eating?” he questioned curtly.

“I don’t know, whatever they serve here in the cafeteria,” she said as she circled around him to climb back up on the desk.

“You actually eat the food here?” He looked disgusted.

“It’s free and it’s filling. That’s all I care about.” She stuck her hands on her hips standing above him, “I am done with this conversation. So, are we going to dance or what?”

He rolled his eyes but was there to catch her when she fell.

“Here.”

A green notebook was lowered into her line of focus as she crouched over her duffel, shoving things away.

Rey accepted the book, “what’s this?”

“A food journal. For you can keep track of what you eat so you can make sure you’re getting the proper nutrients.”

“Oh,” she said both oddly touched and slightly annoyed that he was still harping on the issue. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” He ran a hand through his hair, making minimal eye contact, “I was also wondering if you wanted to get dinner. With me. Tonight.”

She raised a brow as she hooked the strap of her bag over her shoulder and stood. “You wouldn’t be trying to fatten me up, would you?”

“No,” he said quickly. “I just thought it would be … nice.”

They had been in each other’s company nearly constantly over the last two weeks but this was the first time that he had made any overtures at wanting to spend time with her outside the confines of the dance floor. She was instantly suspicious.

“I’m not really up for going out--”

“We can get delivery,” he interjected. “Uh, Piz...za?”

She grinned at his not so subtle workaround. But he was making a sorta effort, and he was almost … charming in his concern for her well being. It was… nice.

“Sure, pizza works.” Her bank account could withstand the expense of a pizza, especially half a pizza, now that her room and board were covered for as long as she was in the competition. “Pineapple?”

He grimaced. “Heathen.”

She smiled beguiling, “half?”

He let out a long put upon sigh, “fine.”

“Great. Six good for you? I have a few things to do after practice.”

He nodded victoriously. “That will be fine.”

“It’s open,” Rey called out, not bothering to look up from her mountain of homework at the knock at her door.

“ Why is it open?”

Rey’s head shot up to see Kylo standing in her doorway. Dark jeans, a white t-shirt and a black leather jacket making him look like bad-boy incarnate.

Her eyes immediately swiveling to the digital clock on the nightstand. Where had the time gone? After a long shower and pulling on her most comfortable pair of pajamas she had buried herself into her textbooks and hadn't come up for air since. She had meant to dress up a bit, nothing flashy, but something that didn’t have Eeyore plastered all over it and both pants cuffs still intact.

“Rey,” he demanded, still hovering at the threshold, “why isn’t your door locked.”

“I just leave it unlocked when I’m here,” she answered as she stood, trying not to fidget as she went to usher him in. “You can come in, you know.”

“Do you know how many burglaries happen in LA alone?” he harped as she pulled him in, allowing her to step around him to close the door.

“I think something like sixteen thousand. But there’s a doorman out front, so it’s not like randoms can walk off the street. And I’m pretty sure none of the people here want my 4th edition textbooks.” He glared. She rolled her eyes and flipped the lock. “Happy?”

He huffed, neglecting to answer as he strode into the room.

“I brought beer,” he said holding up a six pack of something foreign along with the pizza. “If I’m doing a cheat day, I’m doing it right. You want one?”

Rey shook her head, following him back into the room, “I’m nineteen.”

“Oh, right,” he recalled as he popped off one of the caps with a fork she had left in the drying rack on small kitchenette counter. “Things are different in the states.”

“You’ve been out of the country?” she questioned as she brought down two plates from the cabinet refusing to feel awkward with him being so close when they had literally already been plastered all over each other for the last two weeks.

“Yeah,” he took a long pull from his bottle. “At six-- uh-- eighteen I moved to Russia for a few years.”

“How was that?” She immediately started to serve the pizza, a slice for herself and two for him, not realizing just how hungry she had gotten studying.

“Cold,” he said as he snagged the plate with the single slice bracing himself against the counter to eat.

She rolled her eyes but nonetheless took the double plate portion, ripping off paper towels for herself and handing one to Kylo.

“After three years you have to have something better then ‘cold’ to say about it,” she said around a mouth full of pizza as she and her plate plonked themselves on the floor so her back could rest against the bed.

He shrugged, picking off the pieces of pineapple. Rey held up her plate to him, hating to waste food, and he wordlessly transferred the undesired fruit onto it.

“I’m assuming you went there to study ballet,” she asked popping a few of the loose pineapple in her mouth and chewing. “How was that?”

“It was,” he got a far away look in his eyes as he absently wiped his fingers on his napkin before grabbing his beer. “It was hard. Only twelve boys-- men-- were allowed in the program at any given time. If you didn’t do well enough, you were cut. If you didn’t do as you were told, you were cut. If weren’t willing to sacrifice everything to be the best, you were cut. And there were always others that were willing to take your place.”

Rey tried to imagine herself in that environment and couldn’t. It sounded so ruthless. But, she guessed that did explain a lot about Kylo. His focused drive, his demand for perfection from her and their routine, his inability to takes breaks. It made him a fantastic dancer but Rey found herself wondering what little boy Kylo was like. If there was something besides dance that he had enjoyed before dance had taken over his life.

“What about you?” he asked, breaking her out of her thoughts of what he would look like if he smiled.

“What about me, what?”

“How does a no name with mediocre technical understanding of dance find herself in a reality dance competition.”

“I’m going to take that as the complement you undoubtedly meant it as,” she said standing. She was thrown by the cutting remark after they had been so civil but strived to keep her hurt hidden. “But to answer your question, she loses her job.”

He blinked. “What?”

“Two jobs, actually,” she said, nudging him out of the way of the sink so she could begin to wash her plate, keeping her eyes down and focused on her task, “and her apartment.

“The first one was at a corner store that I’d been at for almost two years. The owner was an elderly woman and decided to sell to her nephew who almost immediately started using it as a front for drugs. He wasn’t really good at it. The police busted him about three weeks in and the building was shut down. At the second one my ex-roommate, who I helped get the job she got me fired from, bad mouthed me to the boss about what went down at my first job.

“So, within about three days I was unemployed and homeless. I didn’t really have anything else to lose so I decided to spend almost fourteen hours standing in line to audition. And I got through.” She turned to him holding out her hand to take his plate, “you done?”

“I’m ... sorry,” he said.

She shrugged, intent on scrubbing the bit of coagulated cheese from his plate. “It is what it is.”

“No,” he caught her hand and turned her so she could look in his eyes at his sincerity. “Whatever you lack in technique you more then make up for in sheer presence and your tenacity for honing your craft. You have grown much more than I thought was possible in this competition and I am sorry for trying to belittle that. You dance beautifully.”

She was shocked speechless for a moment so the first things that came to her mind was something to ease the sudden emotional tension. “Now there’s a compliment.”

He huffed a chuckle glancing away and Rey breathed a sigh of relief as the air calmed.

“I do actually know what those are,” he said running a hand through his hair, “I’m just not used to giving them.” He looked back at her, his eyes serious once again, “I’m not used to having friends to give them to.”

Her breath caught again. “Is that what we are, friends?”

He hesitated, just like he did at the door, but this time he took that final step all on his own. “I would like to be.”  

She smiled, feeling a warm rush in her chest. “Okay.”

The next morning she tossed him a filled zip lock baggie.

He caught it deftly, barely glancing at it as he sipped his coffee. “What’s this?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve never seen cold, day-after, gym bag pizza before?”

He studied the squished slices, with a raised brow, “looks appetizing.”

She smiled and shrugged turning to put her stuff down. “You buy half, you eat half. The rules of communal eating.”

“Half?” he questioned.

“Yeah, half,” Rey said walking over to turn the baggy around to show the twenty taped to the plastic. “Must have been the baggy fairy, come to pay you back. ”

He squinted down at her, “you’re very odd.”

She grinned. “Yep.”

His head came down and his voice lowered as if sharing a secret with her. “You know you don’t have to pay me back, right?”

“I know. But I need to.” her eye’s were insistent as she held out the baggy again.

He sighed, knowing there would be no arguing with her over what she deemed her ‘half’ and tossed the pizza onto his gym bag in the corner.

“Rey, dear, I’m going to need you to be more sexy,” Maz said as they broke apart for a quick break.

“I can be more sexy,” Rey assured, breathing heavily as she sipped from her water bottle.

Kylo snorted from his own corner.

“What’s so funny,” Rey turned to mock glare at him across the room.

He gave her body a once over before locking eyes with her, a slight curl to his lips. “Eeyore.”

She flushed. He had paid her attire such little attention last night she’d thought he hadn't even noticed. “You know what, give me my pizza back.”

The curl turned into a full blown grin and Rey was almost knocked over backwards. “Nu-uh, you took the pineapple off. Its mine.”

“That’s it,” Rey growled once she could form words from her dry mouth. “We’re running this again. Right now.”

He stalked forward, eyes amused “Lets. I wanna see what you consider ‘more sexy.’”

“You’re going to need to point your toes or something or this isn’t going to work,” he growled frustrated as he tried to hold her up, reach behind him, and take off her shoe.

“This wouldn’t be so difficult if you weren't as tall,” she snipped, face flaming as she tried to balance on one foot with the other one tossed over his shoulder. “I feel like a monkey trying to climb a tree.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m use to having woman’s legs wrapped around me all the time.”

Her jaw fell open as he looked up at him. “Is that a joke?”

“Maybe,” he grinned. “Ah-ha, got it.” He presented her with her shoe allowing her leg to drop.

She accepted the shoe, hiking back to sit at the edge of the desk. “There has to be an easier way to do this. Maybe if I don’t wear the heels?”

“The shoes are an important element to the dance,” Maz intoned from her corner. “This is a man’s dream about his partner. Taking the red shoe off is them releasing their desire and then the dance begins. The shoe stays.”

“Fine,” Rey sighed, slipping the red pumps back on, looking at Kylo. “Ready for round seventeen?”

Rey stood in the shadows on stage watching the back of Kylo’s head and all of the sudden Maz’s final instructions clicked. “Turn the sexy up to ten.”

Rey was going to make this dream one nobody was going to forget.

Addicted to Love Dance

“You guys have grown tremendously as a couple this week. Your trust in each other, the effortlessness in which you dance. Kylo when you lifted her there, right after you took off her shoe, was breathtaking. You've always had the raw power but there, that gentleness when your eyes connected, that is what we’re looking for. That tempered strength. Truly beautiful to watch.

“And Rey, your elegance and grace, you were gorgeous up there this evening in that red dress. Together you made those tosses and jumps look elementary even though I know they are not. This is a very memorable dance. Congratulations.”

Rey didn’t think her smile could get any bigger but with Nigel’s next words it all came crashing down.

“Unfortunately, last week, America did not vote for your dance and you are in the bottom three. I look forward to your solo’s.”

[vmheadquarters]

VMHQ’s Holiday Fic Grab Bag - PROMPT LIST!!

Ho, Ho, Ho! Our list of Holiday Fic Prompts was delivered by reindeer mail this morning, and we’re ready to share them with all the Veronica Mars fanfic writers, GIFmakers, artists, and... well, anyone who wants to create something for them. 

Remember, post all of your offerings to the A03 collection by December 23rd. The collection will open for your reading and enjoyment (anonymously) on the morning of December 24th and then authors/creators will be revealed on January 1st!

So, without further ado, and in no particular order, THE LIST:

Logan and Veronica and a secret santa!

Logan and Veronica snowbound strangers who have to keep each other warm. Bonus points if they don’t like each other much at first and then find out how they are so much more than first impressions (and then hook up).

During An Echolls Family Christmas - Logan and Veronica and accidental kissing.

College AU. Logan and Veronica - Logan meets Keith for the first time during the holidays. There’s nervousness, making out, and Keith trying to accept his little girl isn’t so little anymore.

During S2, Logan is feeling down after watching the tapes of Lilly, and Veronica is feeling down with Wallace gone and everything sucking. They somehow meet and spend the Holidays together and things get better.

Logan and Veronica fall in love during a (crazy) Holiday party. This one can be AU.

Mac is tired of her family asking about her love life so she brings Dick to Christmas dinner as her pretend boyfriend.

LoVe and Holiday horror (As in Krampus and other Holiday horror movies, but no killer snowmen because come on). Just want to see if anyone can come up with something for this one.

Logan and Veronica meet at a Christmas party and hook up for the first time.

LoVe as an established couple (can include other pairings) and they spend the holidays with the parents. Can be AU if they are meeting the parents for the first time. Comedy if possible (as plenty of Holiday movies do - Ex. Meet the parents).

LoVe’s first Christmas together (after reuniting in the film), including the run up to the actual day.

Weevil is desperate to find a sold out doll for his daughter --the only item on Valentina’s Christmas list-- and he enlists Logan’s help to track down this important present. 

Lilly gives Logan to Veronica as a Christmas present.

LoVe during S3 - they don’t break up so they spend their first Holidays together!

Veronica is a waitress in a New York diner, trying to pay her way through law school. She has to work Christmas Eve - it’s just her and the cook and no customers until Logan walks in to spend a lonely, glum holiday. 

LoVe find themselves stranded in the airport and can't make it to their holiday celebrations. They find each other instead. Romance ensues :)

In An Echolls Family Christmas, Weevil calls Veronica when the money first goes missing, and she shows up to find all the boys in their underwear. “When did Logan get so ripped?”

It's the season of countless movies about saving Xmas! So what if the Vmars characters have to do the same? Can you combine the noir of Neptune with the silly Xmas shenanigans that are required to save the holiday? Maybe it can be a fantasy story (does SC needs help?) or based in reality (or ambiguous fantasy if you like). As many characters as can be involved from canon. And preferably with LoVe either as friends, or enemies to friends, or even as a couple.

AU or alternate ending of an Echoll's Family Christmas. Logan/Veronica

Veronica, Mac and Meg baking cookies for Christmas

Veronica and Logan's first kiss happens under the mistletoe. Someone else (Duncan, Lilly, or another person) tried to put it up to catch either Logan or Veronica, but it backfires when it gets Logan and Veronica together instead.

Snowbound Fab Four, pre-series, LoVe the Fab Four but maybe before everyone pairs off(?) can be happy and fluffy or with a dose of pining/angsty

Set during S2 “One Angry Veronica” - Logan feeling down about everything, stealing the sex tapes, etc. does something sweet and possibly(?) anonymous for Weevil’s Grandma (since he currently owns their house at that point). Maybe a little bit of BrOTP w/Logan & Weevil?

S2 Christmas Break - Veronica goes to Logan for comfort after discovering the truth about Meg’s pregnancy

S4 Imagined AU - Veronica never went to Stanford, but she did come back from the FBI internship with a new commitment to normalcy.  She’s still dating Piz, but the semester is nearing an end and she knows it’s not what she wants. It’s Christmas, and at Christmas you tell the truth. Eventually LoVe (maybe a little Love Actually inspired w/out the creepiness). Maybe Logan has someone else in his life at this point too(?)

Those 9 years, two Neptune survivors bump into each other unexpectedly at an airport in Aspen when their flights are delayed. Who are they? What happens? What do they talk about? (Not a LoVe pairing)

Ghost of Christmas’ past. You pick the ghost and who they visit. Also, the living don’t have to know they’re being watched, or you can have interactions between the living and the ghost.

Madison’s perspective of how the events unfolded in Aspen (can be her POV) would love a somewhat sympathetic/compassionate approach to a character that never received much dimension from the writers.

Logan and Veronica’s kid “Home Alone” during Christmas.

S3 AU, Logan, Veronica, Keith, and whoever else the writer wants (the whole gang or no one else) meet in Aspen. Can LoVe reconnect during the holidays? Or will things remain the same?

LoVe trying to find the perfect gift for each other in a mall or some big store because they forgot (don't know why, maybe they just got recently back together, perhaps this is a S3 AU :O) days (hours?) before Xmas. There's waaaay too many people, madness and fighting ensues :).

Logan and Veronica attend an office holiday party. Dialogue: “I told you we shouldn’t have brought the fruit cake.”

Logan, Veronica, Wallace, Mac, and Dick go tobogganing. Dialogue: “That is a really bad idea.”

Meg and baby Lilly both lived and they celebrate the baby’s first Christmas with Duncan. Veronica and Logan are involved in some capacity.

Work holiday party hookup, Logan/anyone.

Sophomore year of college. Logan moved out of the Neptune Grand into a new home and while unpacking he finds a Christmas present he got for Veronica, but they had broken up before he gave it to her. He finds her (either at Keith’s or he goes to Stanford) to give her the present now.

Logan and Veronica sing Christmas carols... in front of an audience... for a case.

AU Veronica investigates the case of Santa Claus and Logan tags along.

Either Logan or Veronica try to make some big Christmas dinner and absolutely everything goes wrong. They end up eating pizza/KFC/or something like that on a very messy kitchen floor and making out. The writer can decide if guests arrive and find them like that.

Logan and Veronica. It’s New Year’s Eve and person A got dumped. Person B tries to cheer up person A, and they end up kissing as the countdown reaches 0.

Logan and Veronica just broke up. Dick throws a big Christmas party. Wallace and Mac convince Veronica to go. Logan and Veronica meet there and reconcile.

Logan and Veronica are neighbors and they get into a fierce Christmas decorating contest --way over the top. Veronica eventually learns that Logan wasn’t interested in the competition, he just likes firing her up.

Pre-series New Year's Eve celebration with the fabulous four at the Kane House where they are having a party as well. Celeste makes Duncan and Lilly come inside, but doesn't allow Logan and Veronica who end up kissing each other at midnight.

Veronica and Logan discover how much Pony loves the Christmas tree, especially knocking off ornaments and knocking the whole thing over.

Angsty with a hopeful or happy ending. Veronica comes back from Stanford for Christmas after not seeing Logan for more than a year and goes to see him at the Neptune Grand. Dick's dialogue "He's in his room, but you're not going to like what you find." 

Logan and Veronica meet after high school away from Neptune. One or the other needs a pretend date to take home for the holidays either because of lies they told their family, or to compete with an ex's new relationship.

Logan and Veronica are dorm/class acquaintances at Stanford, who end up getting stuck in a snow storm while carpooling to a mutual friends holiday party in Tahoe.

Logan and Veronica are best friends that end up next to each other for the New Years kiss at midnight.

Veronica brings a special Christmas present to Logan at the office.

Logan and Veronica are work frenemies that get picked to be each other's secret Santa.

Remake of movie Love Actually - use all VM characters. Special request: Logan as the Prime Minister and V as his assistant.

Matching Reindeer Boxers – how did Duncan and Logan end up with them? What made each of them decide to wear them that night? What did they think about one another when they realized they’d both selected the same pair (esp. if the author decides Veronica gifted them and it reveals that they’re both being nostalgic and missing her this time of year)

Sibling closeness over the holidays - adult Veronica and Logan planning for or celebrating a holiday with Hunter. Or really anything where Hunter is included in family togetherness. 

"Let's import a Christmas tree from Canada."  

Logan and Veronica are hosting thanksgiving dinner. They have a LOT to be thankful for (a little surprise for their family and friends - they are expecting).

Accidentally matching holiday underwear! 

WeeVer! Set in college, at a point where her Dad doesn’t completely dislike Eli and she’s finally fed up with Logan and/or she loves Eli regardless of all the outside influences.

VMars and Logie Bear accidentally double-booked a train sleeper compartment on the day before Christmas Eve. Five minutes after meeting, they already piss each other off. But with a train this packed and no other way to get to their destination in time...what are they to do? (I have no clue; snark and shenanigans, I assume.)

A Christmas body swap!

Remake the movie Serendipity with Logan and Veronica. It may not be a movie about Christmas but it takes place around Christmas time.

New Year's Eve is always a disappointment. Keith knows this. Everybody knows this. So why not use the day to start working on his resolution for a healthy year? To make a long story short, Keith conscripts some victims to help him replace his pointless crop of lawn grass with kale. Some find it amusing, fewer find it hot, and others are just done.

"I got you for secret santa and I got you this really expensive but sentimental gift that you’ve always wanted, hoping you’ll never find out it’s from me and I’ve been in love with you since forever"

"You got me an amazing present and I didn’t get you anything because I didn’t know we were doing presents because you are just a close friend (and oh, this is supposed to be a declaration of love, well in that case, come to the bed, I’ve got great last minute gift idea)"

Veronica finds her old water bed in the attic while looking for Christmas decorations.

Van Clemmons has always kept himself out of the trenches in his little kingdom of learning and hormones...until he finds a camera in his stapler and Vincent Van Lowe in the waiting room, carrying a tray of Christmas cookies.  

A Christmas Carol (the Scrooge one,  not the singing kind (though that could be another prompt,  where a bunch of carollers show up at LoVe's door)

Logan and Veronica AU - “We went through a really bad break up a month ago, but I already bought you a Christmas gift. it’s too late to return it now and I know you’d really like it so I show up to your house on Christmas Eve and give you the present I bought for you and I swear I see tears in your eyes”

Logan and Veronica drew each other’s name out of the Santa Hat for secret Santa (with mutual friends or at work) and “I really had no clue what to get you, we don’t know each other too well so…” 

Logan and Veronica, “let’s dress up our dog as a reindeer” AU

Veronica and Logan both volunteer at the holiday charity and somehow they’ve managed to turn donations for the less fortunate into a competition to see who could get the most donations. AU 

Logan and Veronica, sworn enemies, are chosen to prepare the company Christmas Party.

LoVe family buying or decorating the Christmas tree or baking holiday treats or making snowmen.

Logan and Veronica - they broke up, but now they meet at a Christmas party.

Logan and Veronica meet in the E/R on Christmas Eve.

LoVe are co-workers, but they barely know each other. They both have to work through the holidays.

Veronica can’t travel to see her family on Christmas, so she invites Logan, her grumpy loner neighbor.

Veronica or Logan’s ex will be at the Christmas Party. They pose as each other’s fiance or significant other.

“You’ve had too much eggnog and rum and now you’re drunk and doing a strip tease for everyone at this Christmas party; it isn’t sexy in the slightest because you’re giggling and your sweater is caught over your head but I’m still falling in love with you” -Logan & Veronica AU

“I get caught with one of my friends under the mistletoe and you literally sprint from across the room to shove them out of the way and take their spot” AU Veronica and Logan

Logan and Veronica: “It’s hella snowing outside and the power went out in our apartment building. You come up to my door, asking for blankets because you’re freezing but I just pull you inside and oh wait when did we start cuddling?”

Logan & Veronica: “We’re co-workers who hate each other but you had too much to drink at the staff Christmas party and admitted your love for me - I don’t know how to act around you now”

"I was having a snowball fight outside and you were casually walking by and oh my god I’m so sorry I accidentally nailed you in the face" Veronica & Logan AU.  

On Christmas Eve, Logan and Veronica are stuck together because of blizzard, they have to share a bed.

LoVe- since the first time they met, every Christmas Eve, one letter appears on their skin, it’s the name of their soulmate (can complicate with two names written on their body, their nemesis and their soulmate)

At Christmas Eve, the heater broke and I’m freezing get over here" 

Right before Christmas break, Logan & Veronica: ‘We’re stuck in a log cabin overnight during a snowstorm because of some stupid school team building exercise and it’s freezing and I can’t sleep and you can hear me shivering in the next bed so you pick me up and dump in your bed and good grief you are hot in every sense of the word’

Logan and Veronica - ‘It’s Christmas, I’m visiting my family, you’re pretending to be my significant other so my mum gets off my case only she’s assuming we’re going to be sleeping in the same bed together’

Can be set during S3 or around the movie - Keith and Logan interact while Veronica watches (holiday of your choosing). Inspiration these B&W photos taken by Chris Lowell: 

Happy creating, and happy holidays!