#not even to mention [redacted] which i'm sure she would kill me for talking about lmao

[bookishjules]

rip forever to the incredible crack video lena and i made for the 100 that we spent weeks on in 2014/15 and never made it past editing because my family got a new computer and the file was lost to the ether. we still talk about you fondly <3

[wutheringmights]

I wanted to read one last book to close out the year, so I shopped through my bookshelf for a small little novel I could read in a few days and ended up pulling out my copy of The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger (CITR).

I never read CITR in high school. My AP teacher had the privilege of being able to assign us non-state standard readings and took full advantage of it. And in college, professors just assume you've already been forced to read it. But, nope. Not me.

I actually bought my copy many years ago from Goodwill when I lived in [redacted city], then proceeded to forget about it until now. I only mention this because my copy is apparently the UK edition and doesn't have so much as a synopsis on the back. So beyond knowing a little bit about the misinterpreted poem scene and that everyone HATES Holden Caulfield, I had no idea what this book was even about.

And... holy fuck.

This book is AMAZING.

At first, I just thought it was funny. I was enjoying how much of a shit head Holden is, and all the ways he is such a teenager. He's insightful, but draws some of the dumbest conclusions you have ever seen. He thinks he's so suave and cool, and it's so clear that everyone thinks he's a loser. He wants so badly to be thought well of by his peers while not respecting any of them. I love how Salinger writes his narration, how he branches off into little anecdotes about barely related topics.

But at some point, I just got so sad for him. I'm not sure where exactly it hit me, but at some point you can't help but see how tragic he is. He truly is in so much pain and has no idea how to process any of it. He's traumatized and has been failed by every adult in his life. No one is helping him.

But for a character that has such a reputation for being a manipulative man, he really does seem like a child who is scared to grow up. I was surprised to find out that the titular catcher in the rye monologue was about wanting to protect the innocence of other kids. With the way people discuss this kid, you would think he was conspiring to kill, well, John Lennon.

By the end of the story, when he's with Phoebe at the carousel and he's feeling happy for once in his life, I was crying (or as Holden would say, that killed me).

I then proceeded to spend the next twenty minutes staring at the ceiling, just trying to make sense of it all.

It's such a shame that this novel has been so thoroughly marred by its controversy. I tried to talk to my sister about it afterwards, and she just got really hung up about how she always thought Holden Caulfied was a "psycho" and "one-step away from being a school shooter."

Which, no? Did we even read the same book? Are we still talking about the same kid? He's a brat, but he's not out there to hurt anyone one.

I'm not sure how I would have felt about this book had I actually read it in high school. On one hand, I had a hefty respect for classics when I was a teen and would never dare claim that any one of them is terrible or stupid (except The Great Gatsby). But on the other, I think that a teacher that tried to teach this novel as Holden being a character who has profound thoughts and sees through the veneer of polite society (like apparently how it was taught to my brother)... I mean, I would have believed it but adult me certainly doesn't agree.

This book definitely lays a blueprint for Robert Cormier's entire catalogue, and I was obsessed with his books in junior high. So I probably would have inevitably liked CITR.

I'm glad I waited until now to read it. Teenage me wouldn't have understood everything in it. Older and (hopefully) wiser me does, and she will defend Holden Caulfield with her life.

[destiny-in-the-universe]

Cars 2 Rewrite

Gooood timezone, my lovelies!

This is your host, Cecil, speaking! Now- some of you have been asking about my Cars universe, especially when it comes to the second movie so I will explain! Though keep in mind - not everything's getting covered here due to a mix of spoilers, and well, I want to make this a long-term thing; gauge who might stick around pfft. I like receiving attention on my posts, so I know I'm not talking to a wall hahah but anyway; this is going to start off with the plot!

The characters are human, not cars.

Rewritten Plot

Following Lightning's wins in the Piston Cup series, things have greatly settled. Lightning McQueen is returning to his home in Radiator Springs - after having finished a race back in the LA Motor Speedway - and he's looking for a little TLC. Though it seems fate has other plans as his best friend and potential crush - I mean, companion, of course - somehow ropes him into accepting the World Grand Prix races across Europe. In an unexpected turn of events, Lightning and Mater found themself caught within a tangled game of lies. Now, they're playing spy... but things are about to get a whole lot harder. In ways they didn't see coming.

While this rewrite doesn't currently seem like much, this was a project created by me and my partner, so!

Read below the cut for further information!

Important Characters (Note: This will only include four characters and some are purposely being redacted in order to maintain the suspense)

Lightning McQueen

Lightning's role plays out a little differently within this piece, to say the least. The World Grand Prix seems like a dream come true, and he gets to spend it all with his team and his totally just a best friend, Mater. Now having a proper family, he feels as if he'll be able to do anything and win against Francesco Bernoulli, but this trip is going to be like no other. Following an incident witnessed by himself and Mater, Lightning is being thrown into the world of spies.

Benjamin "Tow" Mater

Mater is Lightning's best friend and confidante. Getting invited by Lightning to the World Grand Prix will certainly be an exciting adventure, and if sparks happen to fly between them - well, that's their own business, thank you very much! His eagerness is sure to make this a fun time, and he'll never leave his crush's - buddy - side no matter what! ... even if it means accidentally being thought to be a spy.

Finn McMissile

Finn McMissile... the best agent CHROME has ever seen. Being brought into a case about a dangerous camera which is not all it appears to be, but of course he and his trusted agent Shiftwell; not to mention the American spy's decision to help them in all of this. Though an unexpected case of mistaken identity leads to them bringing the wrong people into this... and really, what's the worst that could happen?

Holley Shiftwell

Holley's only supposed to be a techie. She's not a field agent by any means, but when she's paired with Finn McMissile during a mission - and now they've got the American with them but things aren't entirely as they seem. The weapon remains out there, and it might cost people their lives...

Changes within the Rewrite

Doc Hudson is alive during this! I couldn't bring myself to kill him and I thought his appearance in the World Grand Prix would make the storyline a lot more interesting

Lightning does willingly invite Mater to the competition. It felt so odd in the canon when he didn't and that just wasn't going to fly in this version

Lightning/Sally will not be part of the fic. I am deeply sorry if you enjoy this, but I took things a different route when the idea was first created

Spoilers? Lightning witnesses the death of the true American spy; of course, Mater is also a part of this

Lightning is more of an active participant because my partner and I said so. I can't explain more than this... but you will find out! Don't worry about a thing

Headcanons

Lightning has ADHD! He just does. I can see him getting the bout of zoomies at random hours and he's always forgetting something before leaving for a race

He's also trans. Thank you for coming to my TedTalk

Mater is autistic. He's so neurodivergent. It makes me stim to be honest

Doc fired Harv after the first movie. They would've clashed so hard if they'd been forced to work together

Lightning used to love spy movies when he was young and it's part of the reason he decides to get involved

Mater has experience with fighting. He's going to knock someone lights out, and that's all you're getting for now

Doc and Finn have something going on. Unofficially, lmao

Sally is a lesbian. There's another unrelated idea I made where she gets together with Holley

Doc definitely has (metaphorical) adoption papers for Lightning

Lightning has driven the Hornet, but always under Doc's supervison

Doc used to own livestock guardian dogs and now he doesn't have any pets, but I think he'll get another one soon because why not

More is going to come later! I have so much to share about this universe, but right now this is what you're getting pfft I hope you enjoy though!

[halucynator]

Hellllooo,

Omg I really needed more swiftie mutuals <3

Please rant about all things you like, i love rants, gosh we seem to have so many close interests, I am not a writer tho, but I do read, effectively making me a reader which doesn't sound as cool, now that I think about it.

My fav Taylor song at the moment is "Slut!". I cannot get that out of my head. I mean "got lovesick all over my bed", I die a little everytime I hear that.

Fav Olivia song at the moment is logical (kinda like you username aah). I still CANNOT get over "can't take a joke, can't get you off". Like please kill me already.

Fav Sabrina song at the moment is probably "because i liked a boy". (damn who hurt me?)

And fav conan song at the moment, "Lookalike"

Tell me yours?

Nyc.

xx

hiiii

omg thank you thank you thank youuuu <33

okay so i love a lot of things some of them are pretty questionable but I'm questionable literally ask anyone on the discord server so its fine. anywhoo, i love taylor, maisie, gracie, phoebe, alix page, lucy (dacus not myself I'm not THAT narcissistic), olivia hardy (from wasia project) julien, conan, liv, sab (and @loserdiaz but that's a known fact) and so many other people to the point that even i cant keep track. oh and i love laufey, mitski and lyn lapid just bc.

my current fav by wasia project is petals on the moon but ur so pretty especially live from the studio is so gooddd

anywayss, reading is really cool thats how i got into writing (which is the best thing ever ik /hj) i also really really like reading bc it makes me smart and it's super fun

which is your favourite book series?? mine is lockwood and co as if you couldn't already tell by the amount of times I've mentioned it i also really love agggtm series bc why wouldn't it its so good. I'm sure i love so many more book series but my memory sucks (it does not but I'm lazy so I'll use that as an excuse)

anywhooo, i love scream which is weird bc i watched the first one when i was 10 (i know, who let me do that???) and i... liked it? (I'm very questionable i know) but i also tend to rant about it as if its real life (like WHY DID THEY KILL OF *insert name of dead character* IM SO MAD) and not a movie so I'm a bit annoying sometimes but pls don't tell me that otherwise I'll start crying /j

hmm my favourite taylor song atm would be "is it over now?" or "now that we don't talk" bc at the moment i resonate so well with those songs (ikr my life sounds like a nightmare: it is but it isn't really? idk) at yes i totally agree with the "got lovesick all over my bed statement but" also "love thorns all over this rose" and omg "you're not saying you're in love with me, BUT !! YOURE !! GONNA !! DO !!" like who gave taylor the right to be such a mastermind (funny, right? no? okay.) like the entire song, heck the entire album is so GOOD. HER ENTIRE DISCOGRAPHY IS SO GOOD. (this is totally normal fan behaviour btw)

favourite liv song atm is probably lacy but i love all of the songs all the album (and yes logical is soooo good i mean i have to love it otherwise my url is meaningless) but my favourite lyric from the entire album is probably "we both drew blood but man THOSE CUTS were NEVER EQUAL!!" from the grudge (also one of my top 3) bc that hits DEEP. (bc the cuts were deep, i know I'm so funny /j)

favourite sab song atm is prolly cindy lou who / opposite (been there) / a nonsense christmas. i cheated but i simply cant choose one shes too good. also super funny bc cindy lou who and opposite are like sad vibes and then a nonsense christmas i want you to [redacted] and [redacted] me on the couch while we [redacted] presents (sorry i just think I'm so funny when I'm not but dont tell me that i wanna be a stand up comedian no I'm just kidding I'm not a failure. IM JOKING) (also regarding bc i liked a boy, I agree. who hurt you???)

anyways, my favourite conan song atm is prolly the best known option "heather" BUT i also like "the cut that always bleeds" the entire of kid krow tbh

okay i wrote a lot asdxcasdcvafd sorry

alsooo, you didnt ask this but my favourite gracie abrams song atm is "where do we go now?" and "cedar" (you arent mine) bc its such a heartbreaking song especially when you can relate to it. ooh and i also love camden, painkillers, rockland and long sleeves but they're all pretty depressing so if you don't like sad songs they're prolly not for you.

and THANK YOU for this ask this was so fun send me more sometimes <333

[notarobooot]

Venting because IM GONNA KILL SOMETHING

[Radi if you see this please no telling teachers or even mentioning it in front of them I'm serious there might be actual danger please]

OK so basically (idk how to vent so this might suck) there are multiple things but I'm gonna ignore the first 2 for now just know I was kinda genuinely traumatised by them and I already felt shitty (yes I'm gonna swear) at this point, when I was in a silly class group thingimabob and somehow the discussion got to the point where we were asking peoples pronouns and Normally that would be a good thing because ✨️respect✨️ and I like respecting other people exept this time they forcefully asked me... For context, when I came out to my mum as [redacted gender for safety reasons] she got really mad and worried because she heard some horror stories about detransitioners of that gender in my school and got all shouty in my face and like "grab me by the neck spitting on me" kind of angry and made me swear to never tell anyone until I'm 18 and I know that's reasonable but I WAS IN BLOODY YEAR 7 ITS BEEN ALMOST 4 YEARS DO YOU STILL NOT THINK I CANT BE SURE?!?!?!?!? And it kinda hurt but I knew I could never tell anyone, because if you're met my mum, she's SCARY and it was like the most threat she's ever threatened me and I'm honestly terrified. Anyway that's the context so now whenever since then I've been asked my pronouns I've just zoned out, had a panic attack, just deflected and changed the subject or ran away. This time I happened to choose the zoning out option, which is normally best when it involves teachers (which it did) because I get in least trouble. Anyway when I did this Time they kinda just started talking FOR me and said

"Well you've always been fine with she before"

AND NO I FUCKING HAVENT JUST CAN I FUCKING SAY ANYTHING- NO!! YOURE TEACHERS YOULL CALL MY DAMN MOTHER OR EMAIL HER AND THEN IM IN FUCKING DANGER IF I CANT EVEN TRUST FRIENDS WHY WOULD I BE ABLE TO TELL YOU?!?!

It just reminded me how trapped and boxed in I am and now I feel like SHIT CRAPS!!!!!

[Radi you were there you saw this happen just PLEASE don't mention this in public I trust you an odd amount right now and I'd have never posted this ever before so please don't let me down ans please even if you hate me never use this against me please]