#nora bowman

[badmovieihave]

Bad movie I have In Old California 1942

[lexalovesbooks]

five books with aroace main characters you say....please share 👀

You are super in luck anon because almost as soon as i posted that I started compiling a list of all the ace/aro-spec books I could remember reading, these are all across a big variety of genres and age categories but all the mcs fall somewhere on the aro-ace spectrum (and personal faves are bolded)

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire: I think most people here know this one. A world where children sometimes disappear through magical doorways to other worlds, and sometimes return. When this happens, they usually are desperate to find a way back. Nancy is one of these children, looking for a way back to an underworld of living statues that has become her home while also trying to find a murderer at the boarding school full of other children looking for their own doorways back to their worlds. Asexual mc

Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman: Rumi, a teenager whose younger sister recently died, moves to Hawaii to spend a few months with her aunt, where she tries to piece together who she is without her sister and rediscover her love of songwriting, something she and her sister always did together. Aro-ace questioning mc

Forward March by Skye Quinlan: Harper, a student at a prestigious high school whose father is running for president, deals with school, marching band, and a presidential campaign all while trying to figure out if she really likes the girl and fellow bandmate who recently was catfished by someone pretending to be Harper. Ace lesbian mc

All Systems Red by Martha Wells: This one is pretty popular too, idc. Murderbot is a self-named human-bot construct (think cyborg, but manufactured specifically for security purposes) who hacked its own governer module to gain free will, and then used that free will to continue doing its job while watching thousands of hours worth of space soap operas. Unfortunately, its existence of efficiently half-assing keeping humans safe is disrupted by a group of clients who end up in hot water, all while being unexpectedly concerned with its state of freedom and the status of its personhood. Aro-ace agender mc

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger: Elatsoe, also known as Ellie, is a young Lipan Apache girl who has a dream where her cousin tells her the name of his killer—the morning before she wakes up to the news of his death. She and her parents travel to the town he lived and died in and work to comfort his grieving family while searching for evidence that will prove the killer, a well-liked community figure, is guilty. Also features faeries, ghosts, and other paranormal and mythical creatures. Asexual mc

The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic: ANOTHER very well-known tumblr book! Whatever, not gonna try to explain the plot, these are the lacrosse murder books you’ve heard of them and if you haven’t you can look up a summary. Mc is word-of-god demisexual but also it’s so evident in canon even without being explicitly stated that I personally don't even think you need the disclaimer

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson: In a world where dead spirits regularly rise from deceased bodies to devour and possess the living, Artemisia is a nun-in-training who will one day cleanse the bodies of the recently deceased so that their souls can move on to the afterlife. Then, she releases an ancient and dangerous spirit from a relic to protect her convent from attack. The spirit possesses her body and gives her extraordinary power—but the spirit isn't necessarily on her side, and it's unclear if the connection formed between the two of them can safely be severed. Asexual mc (not explicit bc it's fantasy, but I think it's pretty obvious even without the exact word used)

Firebreak by Nicole Kornher-Stace: In a dystopian world torn apart by two rival corporations, Mallory is one of many people who find refuge in a virtual reality game that allows you to enter battle, earn real-life credits for sorely-needed necessities like water, and interact with virtual, computer-created versions of the league of supersoldiers that protect her home city from attack. Mallory has had a parasocial obsession with one of these supersoldiers—22—for years, until one day she gets caught in an attack that results in her meeting the flesh-and-blood version of the celebrity/superpowered protector. As she spends more time with 22 and his paired operative, she begins to see just how deep the corruption of the company that controls her city runs—and also begins to wonder what she can do to help the city and everyone who lives in it. Aro-ace mc

Those are all the ones I feel like writing out full summaries for, but some other books that I really like with aroace mcs are The Diviners by Libba Bray (ace lesbian mc in second book), The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (word-of-god aroace mc), The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang (word-of-god aroace secondary character), and The Last Sun by K.D. Edwards (word-of-god demisexual gay mc, ace secondary character). The one thing I haven't really read any of is books with aroallo main characters :( If anyone has recs for those, please feel free to share!

[kwebtv]

Season 1 Episode 6

Miami Undercover - Miss Venus - Syndication - February 27, 1961

Crime Drama

Running Time: 30 minutes

Written by P. K. Palmer

Produced by Aubrey Schenck

Directed by Howard W. Koch

Stars:

Lee Bowman as Jeff Thompson

Rocky Graziano as Rocky

Joan Tabor as Miss Venus

Theo Marcuse as Warman (as Theodore Marcuse)

Carolyn Hughes as Grace (as Larolyn Hughes)

Georgine Darcy as Velda (as Georgine D'Arcy)

Count Billy Varga as Muscles

John Day as Johnny

Tom Greenway as Calder

Nora Evans as Stephanie

Hugh Lawrence as Lt. O'Malley

Lonie Blackman as Dusty

[silly-little-bagelbox]

Neil bowman is an endo and you can’t tell me otherwise

really crappy rant below v

(please forgive me for how shitty it’s explained. I’ve never had an easy time explaining literally anything. Also, plz don’t attack me for this theory or anything like that. It’s mainly for fun.)

So, I recently found a spiritual system formation (Possessgenic) where a system formed due to the body and host being possessed by another creature. (https://pluralpedia.org/w/Possessgenic)

Neil Bowman is a character in All Saints Street possessed by a character called “The Demon King” ever since sometime around childhood, and has had the Demon King take over his body multiple times in a similar fashion to switching. The Demon King is a demon as his name implies which has strong ties to spirituality as Possessgenic is a spiritual system formation; which, only furthers the idea that Neil is being possessed by something otherworldly.

Accompany this with amnesia from switches, a scene shown in what seems to be headspace, and them acknowledging each other’s existence as they speak in everyday life. Neil and The Demon King seem like 2 headmates in a silly little system.

Headmate 1 (Neil Bowman) v

Headmate 2 (Demon King) v

Rant sponsored by Nora /hj

[the-book-queen]

Hide your wallets, it’s that time again! #TBQsBookDeals

Your Thursday thread of #romancedeals is ready, FREE to $2.99. Happy shopping! 📚❤

    FREE ✦ Mr. Mayfair by Louise Bay

1st POV. Starts as fake dating for her ex's wedding.

Contemporary Romance (MF) | https://amzn.to/3WNDY4T 

FREE ✦ Pivot by Anna Pulley

Paula dreams of becoming a costume designer, Nita is a divorced journalist.

KU Title

Contemporary Romance (FF) | https://amzn.to/3X3Auei 

$0.99 ✦ Bride of a Scottish Warrior by Adrienne Basso

Newly knighted, he needs a dowry and a wife. She's a widow with no plans to wed again, and in fact is looking to join a convent.

Historical Romance (MF) | https://amzn.to/3Qcwkyt 

$1.99 ✦ The Footmen's Club Box Set by Valerie Bowman

3 books involving a group of noblemen who bet who can last longest while pretending to be servants at a country house party.

Historical Romance (MF) | https://amzn.to/3jVe5BG 

$2.99 ✦ Hidden Star by Nora Roberts

Amnesia ahead! She has no idea why her bag is filled with cash, a gun, and a large diamond. She seeks out the help of a PI.

Contemporary Romance (MF) | https://amzn.to/3i8IU5j 

 Putting these lists together takes time. If you appreciate this content, please consider buying me a Ko-Fi. http://ko-fi.com/danielletbq 

[maculategiraffe]

I love that you regard your nephew with the same unabashed pride and joy that Nora Bowman regards her kids with. Identical vibes. Just "this human being whom I have just met is unparalleled and if anyone disagrees with me they're wrong and I'll prove it."

omg. it's true. he IS unparalleled

[secondhandjokess]

Nora Bowman (aka Sole Survivor aka Mother of Coursers) from @maculategiraffe‘s Fallout 4 epic How Life Goes On.   

[livingasaghost]

what is grief?

wandavision (2021) / a man called ove by fredrik backman / "endless night" from the lion king / "without you" from rent / "no one is alone" from into the woods / into the still blue by veronica rossi / the haunting of hill house (2018) / andrew garfield / queen of shadows by sarah j maas / the king's men by nora sakavic / "supermarket flowers" by ed sheeran / jojo rabbit (2019) / harry potter and the order of the phoenix by j.k. r*wling / fleabag (2016-2019) / summer bird blue by akemi dawn bowman / "marjorie" by taylor swift / the dark interval: letters on loss, grief, and transformation by rainer maria rilke / the song rising by samantha shannon / little women (2019) / a grief observed by c.s. lewis / "empty chairs at empty tables" from les miserables / "it's quiet uptown" from hamilton / dead poets society (1989) / a little life by hanya yanagihara / "hallelujah" by haim / "nana" by the 1975 / tweet by @creativechi1 / moulin rouge (2001) / personal text / a million junes by emily henry / "good grief" by hayley williams / "secrets from a girl (who's seen it all)" by lorde / monstress vol 5: warchild by marjorie liu / hawkeye (2021) / "good grief" by bastille / red, white, and royal blue by casey mcquiston / “i’ll be seeing you” by billie holiday / the haunting of bly manor (2020) / "everybody lost somebody" by bleachers / "chinese satellite" by phoebe bridgers / "joanne" by lady gaga / clockwork prince by cassandra clare / avengers: endgame (2019) / moana (2016)

[anteater-not-aardvark]

a-spec books: contemporary

Here are some book recommendations for contemporary books with a-spec main characters

Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann

The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic

Technically, You Started It by Lana Wood Johnson

Rick by Alex Gino

Loveless by Alice Oseman

[emmrichs]

Ace Week 2020 → Asexual Spectrum Characters in Literature

— Georgia Warr, Loveless by Alice Oseman — Raphael Santiago, The Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare — Neil Josten, All for the Game by Nora Sakavic — Nancy Whitman, Wayward Children by Seanan McGuire — Rumi Seto, Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman — Kamai Nuala, Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland

[asexual-library]

Fiction Books With Asexual/Aromantic Rep

The Bone People by Keri Hulme (Adult, Asexual Rep)

Perfect Rhythm by Jae (Adult, Asexual Rep)

Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann (YA, Asexual Rep)

If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann (YA, Asexual Rep, Aromantic Rep)

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman (YA, Demisexual Rep)

Loveless by Alice Oseman (YA Asexual Rep, Aromantic Rep)

Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijikamp (YA, Asexual Rep)

Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman (YA, Asexual Rep, Aromantic Rep)

This Song is (Not) For You by Laura Nowlin (YA, Asexual Rep)

Brief Chronicle of Another Stupid Heartbreak by Adi Alsaid (YA, Asexual Rep, Aromantic Rep)

All Out: The No-longer-secret Stories of Queer Teens Throughout the Ages anthology (YA, Asexual Rep)

Jughead by Chip Zdarsky and Erica Henderson (YA, Asexual Rep)

Belly Up by Eva Darrows (YA, Demisexual Rep, Grey-Ace Rep)

Rick by Alex Gino (Middle Grade, Asexual Rep)

How To Be a Normal Person by T. J. Klune (Adult, Asexual Rep)

The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic (YA, Demisexual Rep)

Upside Down by N. R. Walker (YA, Asexual Rep)

Hazel’s Theory of Evolution by Lisa Jenn Bigelow (Middle Grade, Asexual Rep)

Six Angry Girls by Adrienne Kisner (YA, Asexual Rep)

(will keep updating)

[mythoughtsxxblog]

A Toxic Mess of Entertainment - Secret Life of the American Teenager

Quarantine Update: I've started rewatching this mess of a show for the 100th time (its so infuriating, I can never not rewatch it 💀). And I've decided to rate the characters on this show because they're just all so......interesting.

Ricky Underwood: A precious angel. His character development was fucking amazing. He deserved the absolute world and was the best parent to his child. Despite his tragic childhood and his lifestyle choices/inner struggles, he really turned his life around for his son and honestly became my favorite character on this show. His relationship with John was the cutest and I absolutely adored him and Amy (when she wasn't being annoying/immature).

Amy Juergens: Oh Amy.....so damn annoying, but likable at times. Honestly after rewatching this show so many times I've come to the conclusion that she may have had postpartum depression. She had the signs and seemed to resent her own child at times. I will say though, she had her good moments. Like when she actually acted like an adult and not a little kid. Also her cute moments with Ricky. And honestly, Shailene playing her made me dislike the character less lol

Ben Boykewich: Where the hell do I start with this piece of shit. He was slightly decent the first season, but my God wtf happened...I mean he is honestly creepy as hell. So obsessive, compulsive, and manipulative. I don't understand how the hell Amy went back and forth with him when the better man, her baby daddy, was right there the whole time. Although he's a little bitch, the storyline with Adrian and their baby killed me. It hurt me the first time I watched it and every other time I've seen it. Other than that though, he can fall in a sewer.

Adrian Lee: When I watched the show as a young teenager, I couldn't stand her, but being older now, I grew to like her. I loved her growth throughout the series, but I'll admit she did have her shitty moments. She made dumb ass mistakes (sleeping with Ben, going back to Ricky all the damn time, etc.), but I'm happy she got her happy ending. After everything she went through, she deserved it. I also loved the way her friendship with Grace evolved.

Grace Bowman: God, this bitch was annoying as hell for a good 3 seasons. She had her good moments, but she was so insufferable. Especially when it came to Jack. The storyline where she thought her having sex killed her dad will forever be the dumbest yet funniest shit ever 💀

Jack Pappus: He was alright I guess. I'm very indifferent on him. He had good and bad moments. His obsession with Grace was extremely annoying.

Ashley Juergens: I had a love/hate relationship with Ashley. I loved when she'd drag Amy when she was acting dumb, but Ashley herself acted dumb at times. She was a know-it-all and that annoyed me because it lowkey reminded me of myself 💀 at times I forgot she was the younger sister cause she was more mature than Amy lol.

George Juergens: Though he has his obvious flaws, I freaking love him. He's hilarious and I honestly think we need a reboot of this show with him and Moose 💀 also I loved his father/daughter relationship with Ashley.

Anne Juergens: Molly Ringwald is an icon. I didn't care for the character, but I love her lol. "Everybody forgot my 16th birthday" ICONIC.

Betty Boykewich: A character that had me dying of laughter most of the time. She honestly gave the show the light hearted humor it needed. Jennifer Coolidge is a legend.

Leo Boykewich: One of the more likeable parents on this show. I loved when he'd tell off Ben for how dumb he was acting which was almost 24/7. I also loved his relationship with Ricky. He treated him like a second son and it was sweet to watch.

Henry and Alice: I absolutely love them. They were the perfect duo that offered comic relief.

Bunny: LOVE HER. I would have loved to work in a butcher shop with her lol.

Lauren and Madison: Annoying as hell and honestly were never true friends to Amy. They couldn't keep shit to themselves and honestly the show would have been just fine without them. They were irrelevant characters to me 🤷‍♀️

Tom Bowman: I really liked his character. He brought a different feel to the show. I love that he wasn't treated differently despite him having down syndrome. I also love when actors with down syndrome are given a chance to shine and the actor really shined.

Some Thoughts:

With how the show ended horribly, I'm happy knowing the producer came out and said that in the end Ricky and John follow Amy to NY and ultimately they get married. I still cannot believe I watched this show for 5 years and the finale happened the way it did. But knowing this little fact keeps me at peace lol

Despite my obvious hatred for Ben, I lowkey wish he and Adrian had worked out. Yes they were, at times, extremely toxic, but I thought they had great chemistry.

Nora was awesome. I wish her character had been around since the first season. Her dynamic with George was entertaining af

Even though I didn't really care for Jack, I loved his and Tom's friendship.

[berryqueerbear]

Aquarius ★ Aries ★ Cancer ★ Capricorn ★ Gemini ★ Leo Libra ★ Pisces ★ Sagittarius ★ Scorpio ★ Taurus ★ Virgo

So I went and downloaded 144 sims by other people for this challenge I’m doing. I then mixed them up using a random number generator to decide which Zodiac they would embody. I tried to keep them as close to the originals as possible, I didn’t touch any of their facial features. All I did was Berryify them to fit the story.

Here are the Pisces dads!

Left → Right Up ↓ Down

Amulet (River Fitch by @hula-zombie) Boysenberry (Finnegan Tolbert by @nekomomoiro) Leeloo (Leelo Fontaine by @missrubybird) Meditate (Nora O’ Carroll by @snottiesnot) Moonglow (Pauline Bowman by @aliennooboo) Periwinkle (Mandy Grubbs by @bekindtoyourself-darling) Pistachio (Komei Tellerman by @ice-creamforbreakfast) Reef (Rosemary Reef by @missrubybird) Teal (Nico Dubois by @bekindtoyourself-darling) Thimble (Frankie Button by @madgnomes) Thyme (Tim Harvey by @simmeronnie) Wiggles (Nanika Kaya by @ceomi)

[mountainmaven]

My Life in Books 2020

I was tagged by the incredible @the-forest-library - thank you!!

(Originated by AnnaBookBel)

Rules: Using only books you have read this year (2020), answer these prompts. Try not to repeat a book title.

In high school I was The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Robert Louis Stevenson)

People might be surprised by I Am the Storm (Karpov Kinrade)

I will never be Starfish (Akemi Dawn Bowman)

My life in lockdown was like American Cozy (Stephanie Pedersen)

My fantasy job is Warrior of the Wild (Tricia Levenseller)

At the end of a long day I need Dance Upon the Air (Nora Roberts)

I hate being The Lost Words (Robert Macfarlane)

Wish I had Mistress of Dragons (Margaret Weiss)

My family reunions are Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Ian Fleming)

At a party you’d find me with The Great Alone (Kristin Hannah)

I’ve never been to Jurassic Park (Michael Crichton)

A happy day includes The Wood (Chelsea Bobulski)

Motto I live by: Shatter the Sky (Rebecca Kim Wells)

On my bucket list is A Holiday by Gaslight (Mimi Matthews)

In my next life, I want to have Essential Zen Habits (Leo Babauta)

I tag @midwestinkdrinker @all-these-paperback-dreams @a-little-book-wormyand anyone else who would like to do this!

[booksociety]

hey!! can you recommend some books with protagonists that are pan or aro or demi? im looking to do some lgbtq + readings this month and im having trouble finding books with canon protagonists who are pan, aro or demi :(( thank you!

Hi! Here a few books with canon aro or demi representation 😊

Dread Nation (Dread Nation #1) by Justina Ireland (Marisa) [aroace secondary character gets POV chapters in book 2]

I Know Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman [aroace mc]

Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann [demi mc]

Loveless by Alice Oseman [aroace mc] *not yet released

Not Your Sidekick (Sidekick Squad #1) by C.B Lee (Mels) [one of the main characters is aroace and book 3 is from her POV]

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman (Lu, Cas, Megan, & Chelle) [demi mc]

The Foxhole Court (All for the Game #1) by Nora Sakavic (Marisa & Hazel) [demi mc]

- Alex

[maculategiraffe]

I was holding a baby recently and remembering the bit in Remnants where Nora notices Emily recoiling a bit from baby Javi, and wonders why Emily doesn't seem to like babies very much, and I realized they never really had that conversation, and I wrote a ficlet. might post it on ao3 later but here

also obligatory song link:

"Aren't you cold, baby?"

Emily turns her head to see her mother, bundled in a thick wool sweater, but hatless, her hair bright in the moonlight.

"No," she answers, smiling.

She's rarely cold, any more. Even in the dead of winter, the Commonwealth air doesn't chill her the way the dry, electrically clean air of the Institute did, and it doesn't choke her either, like the stale air of the various raiders' dens. The air out here is fresh and alive, it swirls around her, her own breath mingling with the breath of her brothers and sisters, and all of her mother's people, and the trees and grass of the land they live on, and the touch of it on her hands and face is like the touch of someone who loves her. She drinks it in, like the sight of the stars.

Her mother says, "Mind if I sit?"

Emily pats the woolen blanket beside herself, and her mother kneels down, a little creakily, and settles herself next to Emily, drawing her feet up under her.

"Can't sleep?" Emily asks.

"Mmm." Her mother holds out a hand, and Emily takes it, and her mother gives a little gasp, and says, "Oh, your hands are so warm."

Emily lifts her mother's chilly hand to her lips, presses it to her cheek, warming it against her own skin. They sit in comfortable silence for a bit, listening to the night's quiet, the singing of crickets, an occasional barred owl, with its distinctive call: Who cooks for you? is what her mother says they say, the owls.

"I was thinking," her mother says, finally. "About that poem you wrote, for the baby's birthday."

"Oh," says Emily, and feels a warmer flush come to her cheeks. "I-- you know. I know it's a strange present for a baby, but I wanted to give-- something. Something personal."

"It's so beautiful," says her mother, who, Emily suspects, is somewhat biased when it comes to the beauty of Emily's poetry. "And I-- you know, I thought-- I wasn't sure how you'd feel, about-- the baby. A baby. You-- I used to think you didn't like them. Babies."

"I didn't," says Emily.

Her mother nods, leaving space for Emily to say more, or not.

Emily looks at her mother's face, at its scars and creases, the imperfections of well-used human skin, of a woman who dives face first into everything. Into life, and all its damage and beauty. Her mother's face is one of the very few things Emily would rather look at than the clear night sky.

"I used to think--" she begins, and then hesitates. But experience has taught her that it's never a mistake to trust her mother with the truth.

She says, "I thought-- especially after Naveena was born-- I thought about how you'd had a baby, once. And I know you loved him so much."

"So much," says her mother softly.

Emily says, "And I used to think, I used to feel-- jealous, I guess. Because-- I never got to be-- that. Your baby."

"But you are my baby," says her mother, smiling, and Emily smiles back, and says, "But I never got to be so little. Even when you first found me, when I was so skinny, I was too big for you to pick me up."

"I gave you a bottle, though," says her mother, and Emily laughs a little, remembering the bottle's lip at her own parched lips, the unfamiliar liquid on her tongue, how she swallowed obediently, without knowing what she was drinking, her eyes on the scarred, shaved-headed, strangely gentle woman-- What's your name? No? I'm Nora-- and started to feel less sick.

She says, "You gave me everything."

"That's what mothers do," says her mother.

Emily says, "But I felt so guilty. And scared. Before I knew you were my mother."

"I wish you'd never had a minute without knowing you were mine," says her mother.

"But we all did," says Emily. "Even your--" She cuts herself off before saying real. She's real too. They all are. "Your baby. Shaun. Father."

Her mother's breath catches, and Emily squeezes her hand, says, "It wasn't your fault. You know that."

Then, after a little while, she says, "But I used to be-- yes, jealous. Of babies. Because I thought, they never had to wonder if they were loved, or if everything was going to be all right."

Her mother hums soft comprehension.

Emily says, "But now, now that there's a baby I love, I know that's not true. They wonder all the time. Like I said in the poem. Every moment is a question. And everything that happens, or doesn't happen, is an answer. They're piecing the world together, all the time. Just like me."

"And me," says her mother.

"And all of us." Emily kisses her mother's hand again. "And everything we can give them, it all means so much. As much as everything you've given me. I know now."

"I'm glad," says her mother.

The owl calls again, and Emily says, "You should go back inside. Get some sleep."

Her mother doesn't move, and Emily doesn't insist. If her mother were shivering, she would, but she's wrapped up warmly, and the night really isn't that cold. Emily tries to save her protectiveness for when it really matters. They all do, she thinks, for their human mother, and she does the same for them.

"Baby," her mother says, eventually. "Emily, you know-- I couldn't ever have had another baby. If Hancock hadn't been a ghoul, I would have-- I don't know. Done something, to keep myself from-- I couldn't have done it again. Gone through it again. Broken myself-- open-- like that."

She swallows. Emily listens.

"Father gave me Shaun," her mother says, "and I tried-- I was trying-- to be a good mom. Because he thought-- he knew-- I was his mom. So I had to be. The best I could. But it was like, it still felt a little-- sick. The way he was just-- a copy. Of my human son. It wasn't his fault, I knew that, how Father used him to-- trick me, and fuck with my head. And I was trying-- but--"

Emily listens. She remembers, how the little boy flung his arms around the woman's waist, how the woman said, Hey, Shaun. How she sounded tired. From the walk, Y4-15 thought, from the fight. Y4-15 could smell the sweat on her, and the faint coppery tang of dried blood.

Her mother says, "If it hadn't been for you-- Emily--"

Emily isn't afraid of her mother's tears. They fell on her the night she was named, like rain, and rain is another thing she'll never get used to, the miracle of it, falling through the same sky that opens to show her the stars, watering the crops, washing the sweat and dust and blood from her skin. There's so much sky, and all of it a gift.