#pear watches black panther

[phoenixxxlily]

Favorite Movies I Watched in 2022

A Time to Kill (1996, dir. Joel Schumacher)

"And until we can see each other as equals, justice is never going to be even-handed. It will remain nothing more than a reflection of our own prejudices."

Tick Tick Boom (2021, dir. Lin-Manuel Miranda)

"You just keep throwing them against the wall, hoping against hope that eventually something sticks."

The Lost City (2022, dir. Aaron and Adam Nee)

"Jungles eat people like us."

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022, dir. Sam Raimi)

"You break the rules and become a hero, I do it and become the enemy. That doesn't seem fair."

Best In Show (2000, dir. Christopher Guest)

"People say 'Oh, but he's so much older than you' and you know what, I'm the one having to push him away. We have so much in common, we both love soup and snow pears, we love the outdoors, and talking and not talking."

Waiting for Guffman (1997, dir. Christopher Guest)

"He can act and he can sing and he can dance. There's only one other person in the world who can do all that, and that's Barbra Streisand."

Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022, dir. Simon Curtis)

"Do I look like I'd turn down a villa in the South of France?"

Top Gun: Maverick (2022, dir. Joseph Kosinski)

"You told me not to think!"

Don't Worry Darling (2022, dir. Olivia Wilde)

"I believe in you. I don't believe in him. And I don't trust him and I don't trust this place, and I don't want to be here anymore."

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022, dir. Ryan Coogler)

"The world has taken too much from you to still be considered a child."

Enola Holmes 2 (2022, dir. Harry Bradbeer)

"Too many people make it their sole purpose in life to fit into the world around them. This is a mistake."

[alwaysupatnight]

I was tagged by @astarkey! 🥰

🎵 Last song I listened to: I think it was Same Mistakes by Emily Kinney

🍕 Ideal pizza topping: I like to put pepperoni, banana peppers, and black olives on mine.

☀️ Dream vacation: Going to see the cherry blossoms in Japan. Yellowstone Park to see some elk and bison. California. Someplace tropical like Hawaii or Bora Bora. Mostly Japan though.

🌎 Earth, wind or fire: Fire

📺 Cartoons I grew up with: I was a 90s kid so alllll the Nickelodeon cartoons for sure (whenever I was in the US). Rugrats, Ren & Stimpy, Doug, Ahh Real Monsters, Rocket Power... basically all of them. lol And of course the Disney stuff like Winnie the Pooh, Goof Troop, Talespin, Ducktales, Quack Pack... When I was a small child my grandparents actually recorded some stuff onto VHS for us so we could take it overseas. Some of those programs they recorded were Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ghostbusters, Muppet Babies, and Pee Wee’s Playhouse. I also watched tons of old cartoons like Tom & Jerry and The Pink Panther and Looney Tunes. I LOVED the original Power Rangers. And Pokemon. And even though I was technically already a teenager when it came out I also loved Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends. lol

🌲 Favorite scent: I’m currently *obsessed* with this Bath and Body Works hand soap called “Vanilla Snowflake” which has vanilla, coconut, and citrus scents and ugh I love it so much. But it’s no longer being sold except as a candle. 😭 I really want it in a lotion or body spray, but I’d take more of it in hand soap form too. lol For perfumes I love pear scents like Pear INC. by Juliette has a gun. I want to try all the pear scented perfumes. I also recently got samples of Flowerbomb by Viktor&Rolf and I really liked that one too. Also I love spraying Ouai Leave-In Conditioner into my hair because it smells amazing. The perfume version (North Bondi) unfortunately didn’t have the same effect on my skin though. :/

Tagging: @imaginedfables, @yossariandawn, @emilykinncy, @worthallyourgalleons, @lilmissuncreative,  @tiesthatbind1899, @sandalaris, @thespianreveur, and any of my followers who want to do this!

[pearwaldorf]

Black Panther. God. What a beautiful, important, joyous thing this movie is. Everybody should see it: not just little black and brown kids who need to be shown that they can be heroic and superheroes, but also racist white adults who need their minds opened with crowbars if necessary. This isn't the first good MCU movie, but it is the first one that we can honestly, truly call a masterpiece.

I know it's a little bit weird, but Wakanda reminds me a lot of Always Coming Home. Not just the way at first glance all you see is the herds and people taking care of them before BOOM, Wakanda city proper, but the interweaving of the high technology with indigenous/tribal motifs that still very much inform day to day life. T'Challa's coronation ceremony was a thing to behold, that beautiful rainbow of outfits towering into the sky. I love the way they took the tribal stuff from the comics and the cartoons and made it less hokey and obviously created by white dudes, especially with M'Baku and the Jabari. The women in this movie were a fucking delight and revelation. I don't do The Walking Dead, so this was the first time I'd seen Danai Gurira in anything. Holy shit that woman is a force of nature and I am in absolute awe. (That wig throwing scene is even better in context.) She brings strength to the role, but also a wonderfully wry sense of humor that makes her human. The conflict in her when she and Nakia argue about her place in overthrowing Killmonger is so good. And just, like everything about her devotion to Wakanda is beautiful. I expected the scene with her boyfriend? spouse? to end badly, but I'm really glad he, too, is bowled over by that devotion and surrenders. SHURI. I LOVE HER SO MUCH. She's such a teenager, and compounded with the supergenius I can imagine she was an incredible handful in early puberty. (I think Tony Stark would adore her, personally. She's too much like he was at that age for him not to.) I love her bond with her brother, how much she loves and cares for him, but will not hesitate to clown him because he's her brother. I want a whole Netflix series about her stint in Oakland. If it tells you anything about the quality of this movie, Lupita Nyong'o is not anywhere near the best thing about it, although I love her a lot. Nakia is such a bright, fierce spirit, and the strongest moral force in the movie. I think T'Challa would have come to the conclusion that Wakanda can't remain in isolation without her, but the way in which he figured that out would not necessarily be so humanitarian or compassionate. All the women in this movie have such a strong sense of agency and their own lives. Like, obviously T'Challa is part of it and they love and are devoted to him as prince then king, brother, son, or romantic interest, but he is not the thing their lives revolve around. Even Okoye, who probably goes with him everywhere, has a part of her own life where he does not figure in. I didn't realize how important that was to see until I did see it. tbh, I think Killmonger might have been the best part of this movie. He's such a compelling antagonist (I'm honestly not sure villain is an appropriate word for him until he's like "Okay we're going to destroy all this shit that's important to your culture and become arms exporters"), and drawn with such immense compassion. His experience reminds me a lot of accounts I've heard from Japanese-Americans who went to Japan after WWII. They didn't have anything in common with native Japanese people, not even language, but they didn't want to stay in a country that would lock them up just for being of Japanese ancestry. And that yearning of the diaspora child for the homeland, even though he'd never been there, that fucked me up. If anybody wants to write the AU where he decides to live and try for a redemption arc, I will read the fuck out of that. I thought it was brilliant the way they used the token white guy, assigning him the role that the token black dude usually gets in action films. The only way it would have been more perfect is if he'd made a heroic sacrifice for the cause, but alas. The second post-credits scene was absolutely perfect. I didn't expect to see Bucky at all, but I'm glad to see he's being taken care of and he has some peace and time to recover. If somebody wants to write me that fic, I will also read the fuck out of that.

[recommendedtoelle]

Movies

Drama

A Separation (2011)

The Wild Pear Tree (2018)

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)

✅ Lady Bird

Genre: Romance

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (2003)

Call Me by Your Name (2017)

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

Leave Her to Heaven (1945) | Film Noir, Thriller

Love Actually (2003) | Comedy

Emma (2020) | Comedy

Genre: Comedy

The Royal Tenenbaums (2002)

The Darjeeling Limited (2007) | Adventure

Rushmore (1998) | Romance

The French Dispatch (2021) | Romance

Bottle Rocket (1996) | Crime

Otherhood (2019)

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Welcome to Me (2014)

The Skeleton Twins (2014)

They Came Together (2014)

Wet Hot American Summer (2001)

Genre: Sci-Fi

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Genre: Animation

Isle of Dogs (2018) | Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) | Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Family

Genre: History

Radium Girls (2018)

Genre: Thriller

Disclosure (1994)

I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020)

Genre: Biography

Close Up (1990) | Crime

A Hidden Life (2019) | Romance, War

Genre: Fantasy

Life of Pi (2012) | Adventure

Genre: Action

The Life Aquatic (2004) | Adventure, Comedy, Romance

1917 (2019) | War

Ford v Ferrari (2019) | Biography, Sport

Trainspotting (1996)

Documentaries

Lucy Worsley | History

bell hooks Cultural Criticism and Transformation

The Social Dilemma

My Octopus Teacher

The Short Game

Icarus (Netflix)

Naomi Osaka

The Final Member

Action

American Psycho (2000) | Crime

The Gentlemen (2019) | Comedy, Crime

Horror

Tenet (2020) | Sci Fi, Thriller

✅ Midsommar (2019) | Mystery, Thriller

Iconic/Popular

The Breakfast Club (1985)

Home Alone (1990)

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

Titanic (1997)

Get Out (2017)

Interstellar (2014)

School of Rock (2003)

Jumanji (1995)

Bridesmaids (2011)

The Proposal (2009)

White Chicks (2004)

She’s the Man (2006)

Bring It On (2000)

Casper (1995)

Love and Basketball (2000)

Poetic Justice (1993)

Moonlight (2016)

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

Freaky Friday (2003)

Forest Gump (1994)

Jaws (1975)

The Karate Kid (1984)

Pretty Woman (1990)

Thelma & Louise (1991)

Groundhog Day (1993)

Cool Runnings (1993)

Romeo and Juliet (1996)

The Parent Trap (1998)

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Billy Elliot (2000)

The Ring (2002)

The Notebook (2004)

Mr and Mrs. Smith (2005)

Black Panther (2018)

The Shining (1980)

Gone Girl (2014)

The Social Network (2010)

Se7en (1995)

Shutter Island (2010)

Jurassic Park (1993)

Good Will Hunting (1997)

Dead Poets Society (1989)

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

The Princess Bride (1987)

Life of Pi (2012)

Scary Movie (2000)

Ghost (1990)

Annie (1982)

American Psycho (2000)

Black Swan (2010)

Apollo 13 (1995)

Dirty Dancing (1987)

A League of their Own (1992)

Carrie (1976)

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Final Destination (2000)

GoodFellas (1990)

Fight Club (1999)

The Sixth Sense (1999)

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

American Pie (1999)

Climbing

Reel Rock 15

Reel Rock 14

The High Road (Nina Williams)

To Watch (Pin Lim)

Pretty Strong

For the Love of Climbing podcast

[annemarieyeretzian]

Things I was grateful for in August 2021: Vox Machina Origins, a soft Trinket plush, Blue Enchantress dice from Die Hard Dice, Wikkid Polish in Triton, Manic Panic semi-permanent hair dye in Pretty Flamingo, a Mokuyobi valencia orange fruit sling, a soft pretzel and spicy cheese dip, peach and prickly pear agua fresca, a trip to Knott’s Berry Farm with my best friends Anthony, Katie, and Rose, a fun caricature (complete with flower crowns), Jujubar for breakfast with Katie, splitting several grilled cheeses and onion rings at Cheesewalla for lunch with Katie, (finally) watching Bo Burnham’s Inside, the Drive Like Jelly donut back at Donut Friend, and watching Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp,Captain Marvel, and Avengers: Endgame during Monday Marvel movie dates with my best friend Katie.

[milnyparlon]

Panthère de Cartier bangle watch, 18 mm, quartz movement. 18K yellow gold case, bezel set with 24 brilliant-cut diamonds totalling 0.42 carats, 18K yellow gold bracelet and panther head set with 493 brilliant-cut diamonds totalling 4.33 carats, pear-shaped emerald eyes, black lacquer motifs, black lacquer dial, gold-finish steel sword-shaped hands. 🖤 ✨ Contact @milnyparlon for personal shopping 🛍 . . 📸 @yusef.bendriss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #milnyparlon #cartier #cartierwatch #cartierwatches #cartierjewelry #cartierpanthere #cartierpantherewatch #cartierjewellery #cartierbangle #cartiergold #cartiergoldbangles #personalshopper #personalshopping #londonpersonalshopper #ukpersonalshopper #luxuryjewelry #luxurypersonalshopper #卡地亚 #卡地亚手表 #カルティエ #カルティエウォッチ (London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMFdwx_jWhm/?igshid=g7z0a26xxaa8

[cc-calling]

Life is Strange

I am starting this blog because at the center of my being - I am a writer.  After passionately jotting off emails to the President, the DNC, refuting ignorant Facebook idiots, uneducated Twitter comments by misguided dolts who don’t know the first thing about history and can not complete a thought without interspersing vulgarity, F-bombs and insulting racist blather, my closest friends suggested that perhaps my time would be better spent writing my own blog.

So, here we are. 

Born in 1956, I began to comprehend the world around me in 1960.  My first decade of awareness was filled with incredibly weird highs and lows.  We saw the rise of the Civil Rights movement led by a dynamic Reverend, Martin Luther King, culminating in the . We elected a young, dynamic President JFK, who picked a fight and didn’t blink as he played Chicken with the Soviet Union, standing toe-to-toe with Nikita Khrushchev, while declaring that the US would not allow soviet nuclear missiles to be installed 90 miles off our coast in communist Cuba.  And talk about a country divided - try living through the Vietnam War, with protests, Black Panthers, Kent State shootings and the introduction of LSD.  The decade ended with me in pajamas at midnight watching American Astronauts jumping around on the Moon!

The years in-between brought other shocking events; a new fear of terrorist attacks on Federal buildings, army bases, psychopathic shootings at schools and churches, airliners blown out of the sky and what still seems the most horrific heartbreak of my lifetime, 9-1-1.

I was 40 years old in September, 2001, and living in Silicon Valley California.  I begrudgingly woke at 6 a.m. and turned on the bedroom television as my hubby brought me a cup of coffee.  But then everyone remembers where they were...  

We watched, struggling to wrap our heads around just what the hell was going on as the second plane hit the second tower.  The scene switched to the Pentagon on fire.  My husband wept when the first tower fell.  Never having seen my husband emotionally devastated, I blinked harder at the TV trying to make it all disappear for the both of us.  My husband went to give blood and I waited for the Golden Gate Bridge to be blown up watching Zombies stumble around Manhattan, covered in gray dust, white orbs with an empty look of disbelief staring out from a strange ash strewn take off on “black face”.

For months, everywhere I went I sought out the elderly, 60+ people, stopped them and asked them if they remembered where they were when Pearl Harbor was attacked... every single one knew exactly.  When I asked which was worse - 911 or Pearl Harbor - every single thoughtful answer said Pear Harbor.  As bad as 911 was, they all gave voice to the fear they felt realizing that our Navy had been destroyed and suddenly the outcome of the war truly hung in the balance.

Fast forward to 2020.  I’m not sure any of us was prepared for what now feels like that 60′s decade crammed into 8 months.  Like the attack on 9-1-1, our generation had never experienced an assault of this nature.  We’ve all seen movies of “biological warfare” -  an enemy attacking us with a plague.  But to have it happen... 

Do you remember the early days?  President Trump doing the only thing there was to do in the beginning; block all entry to our shores from infected Chinese citizens, then Europe.  Political devotees of the left did what those who have the luxury of standing on the sidelines and criticizing those who have to make the hard calls. In January, Biden screamed “Xenophobe!” In February, Cuomo declared “Come on out in NY and have dinner - no worries!” and in late March,  Pelosi invited everyone to the cramped and overcrowded Chinatown New Year celebration, proclaiming “All is just fine, here in California! ”

Now, Biden, Cuomo, Pelosi and others on the left, are trying to re-write history!  It now seems it was their idea to do all the right things.... in the words of the poor, dimentia ridden and suffering Joe Biden, whose own family won’t step in to prevent his disgrace...... makes me want to say...“Come On, Man!... You all look like a bunch of Dog-Face Pony Soldiers!”

More later... the final night of the incredible RNC Convention is about to start.

[remnantlight]

Sayuri Yuzuka

[ COLORS ] red. BROWN. orange. yellow. green. BLUE. purple. PINK. black. white. teal. silver. GOLD. grey. lilac. metallic. matte. ROYAL BLUE. STRAWBERRY RED. charcoal grey. EMERALD. indigo. ruby. navy blue. crimson. CREAM. mint green. pear green.

[ ELEMENTS ] fire. ice. water. AIR. EARTH. rain. snow. WIND. moon. stars. SUN. HEAT. cold. steam. frost. lightning. SUNLIGHT. moonlight. DAWN. dusk. twilight. midnight. sunrise. SUNSET. dewdrops. fog.

[ BODY ] claws. long fingers. fangs. TEETH. wings. TAILS. lips. bare feet. freckles. bruises. canines. scars. scratches. wounds. burns. spikes. feathers. webs. eyes. hands. sweat. tears. cheekbones. feline. chubby. CURVY. SHORT. tall. normal height. muscular. slender. TRAINED.piercing. tattoos. STRONG. weak. struggling. athletic. LITHE.

[ WEAPONS ] fists. sword. dagger. spear. scythe. BOW AND ARROW. hammer. shield. poison. guns. axes. words. throwing axes. whips. KNIVES. THROWING KNIVES. pepper sprays. tasers. machine guns. slingshots. katanas. maces. staffs. wands. powers. magical items. magic. rocks. mud balls. rifles. canons.

[ MATERIALS ] GOLD. silver. platinum. titanium. diamonds. pearls. rubies. SAPPHIRES.emeralds. amethyst. metal. iron. rust. steel. glass. wood. porcelain. paper. wool. fur. LACE.LEATHER. SILK. velvet. denim. linen. COTTON. charcoal. clay. stone. asphalt. brick. marble. dust. glitter. blood. dirt. mud. smoke. ash. shadow. carbonate. rubber. synthetics.

[ NATURE ] grass. leaves. trees. bark. roses. daisies. tulips. lavender. petals.THORNS. seeds. hay. sand. rocks. stream. roots. FLOWERS. ocean. river. meadow. forest. desert. tundra. savanna. rain forest. caves. underwater. coral reef. beach. waves. space. CLOUDS. MOUNTAINS. woods. hills. highlands.

[ ANIMALS ] lions. tigers. wolves. black panther. eagles. OWLS. falcons. hawks. swans. snakes. TURTLES. ducks. bugs. spiders. SONGBIRDS. whales. dolphins. fish. sharks. horses. cats. deer. dogs. bunnies. praying mantises. crows. ravens. mice. jackals. lizards. werewolves. UNICORNS.PEGASUS. DRAGONS. foxes. PHOENIXES. peacocks.

[ FOODS/DRINKS ] SUGAR. salt. candy. bubblegum. wine. champagne. hard liquor. beer. coffee. tea. soda. SPICES. HERBS. APPLE. citrus. orange. lemon. CHERRY. STRAWBERRY. watermelon. VEGETABLES. GINGERBREAD. FRUITS. MEAT. FISH. PIES. DESSERTS. CHOCOLATE. CREAM. CARAMEL. BERRIES. nuts. CINNAMON. STEW. VENISON. pizza. ambrosia. BREAD.

[ HOBBIES ] MUSIC. ART. WATERCOLORS. GARDENING. smithing. sculpting. painting. sketching. fighting. fencing. riding. WRITING. composing. COOKING. sewing. TRAINING.DANCING. acting. SINGING. martial arts. SELF-DEFENSE. technology. SWIMMING.movies. theater. LIBRARIES. BOOKS. magazines. piano. violin. cello. guitar. lute. bass guitar. harmonica. harp. woodwinds. brass. trumpet. flute. drums. bells. playing cards. poker chips. chess. dice. EATING. climbing. running. hiking.

[ STYLE ] lingerie. ARMOR. cape. DRESS. suit. tunic. vest. SHIRT. BOOTS. HEELS. LEGGINGS. TROUSERS. jeans. skirt. shorts. jewelry. earrings. NECKLACE. BRACELET.RING. pendant. hat. crown. circlet. helmet. scarf. neck tie. brocade. cloaks. corsets. doublet. chest plate. gorget. BRACERS. belt. layers. bandana. sash. coat. jacket. hood. gloves. socks. masks. cowls. braces. SWEATERS. watches. glasses. sun glasses. visor. eye contacts. MAKEUP. implant. artificial parts. wearable tech. robes.

[ MISC ] balloons. bubbles. cityscape. LANDSCAPE. LIGHT. dark. CANDLES. war. PEACE.money. power. percussion. clocks. photos. mirrors. PETS. diary. fairy lights. madness. sanity. SADNESS. HAPPINESS. manipulations. faith. OPTIMISM. pessimism. LONELINESS. family. friends. chronic pain. assistants. somnambulism. co-workers. enemies. LOYALTY. smoking. drugs. drinking. KINDNESS. LOVE. hugs. time. QUESTIONS. kink.

[youcantkillamutant]

The Mystery of the Golden Fang: Part 4, The Discovery

Part 1: The Collision–––Part 2: The Enlightenment–––Part 3: The Exploration

Author: youcantkillamutant

Fandom: Marvel (Black Panther)

Pairing: Erik Stevens/Killmonger x Black!OC

Summary: A girl stumbles into another world. A baby disappears. A private investigator wonders if this will be the case he can’t solve.

Warnings: Mentions of blood and death, cursing

Words: 11.5K+

A/N: So…here’s another one of those AU’s that absolutely no one asked for! I only own my original characters of course, Marvel don’t sue me I’m broke.

Listening To: Ride by Lana Del Rey, Ridin’ by Lana Del Rey & A$AP Rocky, Nuit de baise II by YELLE, Barton Hollow by the Civil Wars, Bones by MSMR, Promises by India Arie and Godspeed by Frank Ocean

Part 4: The Discovery

—l—

Of all the languages the moon has mastered, magic is her favorite. Spells and enchantments slip from her lips like an endless waterfall and trickle down into every world she visits in her trips through the starry sky. Her power falls into the hands of the good hearted and strong willed, leaving them with a key to worlds otherwise unknown.

—l—

Earth Stream 328: October 20, 2040

5:06AM

Grooved rubber resting on the hard packed dirt. Golden pipes hugging the pitch black sides. Short handles cased in black, gleaming with reflective glass. A glittering silver grill beneath the engine. One piercing headlight, and the name Killmonger etched above the seat like a promise. This is the bike Harley had dreams about. Sleek like a silver bullet, so loud she could feel it reverberating in her bones, this bike is the first and only thing Harley had ever coveted.

Killmonger sat on the beast, sliding on black leather gloves and taping his foot on the dusty ground. Void black leather groaned beneath him as he shifted. Harley had finally emerged from the club, having spent the past few days preparing with Shuri. She hadn’t stepped foot into the Golden Fang, not without Ayana, and certainly not with the Golden Jags looking at her like that. They stared like she was already a lost cause, destined to be cannon fodder for Killmonger.

“Took you long enough.”

“I’m early.” The pair had agreed to leave at 5:30AM, but Killmonger had been waiting since 5. He wanted his daughter back. No matter how early he had to drag his ass out of bed.

“Whatever witch, let’s get going.” For Harley, it was too early for Killmonger’s shit. She’d tolerated his forked tongue for too long.

“Okay first off, watch your fucking tone Monger. Second, if you want my help you need to call my by my actual name. Not ‘witch’ or whatever else you come up with.”

“Fine.” Harley quirked her eyebrow. That was too easy. She needed more, and Killmonger knew it.

“Fine Harley.” Killmonger resisted the urge to savor the name as he said it. This witch was nothing more than a babysitter. She’d never be anything more to him. She shouldn’t be anything more.

“Great.” After a curt nod, Harley shoulder her bag and approached the bike. It was even more beautiful this close. She could smell the engine oil and longed to feel the bike purr. Killmonger pulled a smirk as she swung her leg over the bike seat and grabbed onto him, resting as little of her body as she could against his back. With a tap to his stomach to tell him she was situated, Killmonger really smiled as he started the bike with a roar.

The duo made it onto the open road in a cloud of dust, both of them reveling in the sound of the engine. There was something about riding west, the wind whipping around them, the sun beaming on their backs that made the both of them feel…whole. Not in a way that family or relationships bring, in the way that solitude could promise anything but loneliness. For a moment, Harley and Killmonger breathed as one. After all they both wanted the same thing. To find Ayana. And maybe a bit more. But for the first part, they drove west, past the mountain range and into the Cactacae Forest.

Juvian Sparrows survived on the liquid they could pull from the cactus and the few flowers the cacti bothered to grow. The cacti in this forest were known to bloom under the light of the moon, and anyone knew that a spirit touched by the moon could do amazing things.

The two barreled up the only road in the copse of towering cacti, saguaro’s on one side, and prickly pears blooming on the other. Killmonger took in the pointed orbs behind reflective shades, and Harley thought they reminded her of something, or someone. Monger rolled to a stop as the road fell to the overgrowth of a wildly growing barbary fig. A few small hedgehog cacti sat below it, small and plump with their bright white flowers.

“Look’s like we’ll have to walk the rest.”

“And where exactly is the rest wi––” Killmonger caught himself and shook the word out of his head. “Harley. Where is the rest Harley?”

“According to my research, about 5 miles in.” Harley’s research hadn’t been entirely scholarly. She remembered some of the legends of the Juvian Sparrow, and followed their trail. Apparently, the bird liked to rest on the highest spike of the largest golden barrel cactus in the forest.

“We’d better get going. We only have until noon.”

“Noon?” Harley only nodded, already having brushed past Killmonger to tread deeper into the forest. The time constraint was something she tried to ignore, Finding the sparrow would be hard enough, she didn’t need the added pressure of watching the clock. Besides, they had almost a week until the full moon. They’d be fine.

—l—

Earth Stream 947: October 21, 2040

1:23AM

Hazel had never met a witch. Especially not one so small. Bug was tiny. Teeny tiny if she was being descriptive. Point is, the baby girl didn’t look like any witch she’d ever seen on tv and movies. She was a kid. A kid that could apparently bring her through a faery ring into another world. Though that information didn’t matter much now, all Hazel needed to know was how to get back.

“You can send her through the faery ring first. She’ll be fine.” The Queen Mother said this so nonchalantly that Hazel almost believed her. The question tripped out of her mouth anyways.

“How will she know what to do? She’s an infant.”

“She did find her way into another world. Seems to me like she’s a natural.” Shuri said this with a grin and a shrug, tickling Bug with lightening fast fingers. She giggled so much Hazel thought she might shift her skin right in her arms. Ramonda sighed before answering with an annoyed sort of gravitas.

“She’s a witch. This will come naturally to her. It’ll be as easy as breathing.” Fixing her gaze on Hazel, her lips pulled tight. “You are the one who should be worried. Humans don’t usually make it out of faery rings whole.” That statement was enough to stutter Hazel’s thoughts.

“Um, what?”

“They usually lose their minds. Or their limbs. Or both.” A shrug from the Queen Mother.

“Oh. Great. And how exactly would I prevent that?”

“You’ll need a talisman from your home world and a blessing from a fae. Blood would be best, but I doubt you’ll be able to get that in time. The full moon is almost here.”

“Okay two impossible things to get to keep my sanity and a time constraint. Easy peasy.” N’Jadaka, Angel and Shuri recoiled from Hazel’s last words, something about it sitting uneasily in their ears. Human’s are so strange.

“Don’t you have a talisman already? What’s that black rectangle you carry in your pocket?”

“My phone?”

“That’s a phone in your world?” Shuri found herself feeling sorrier and sorrier for the human. In her world that tech was old they didn’t even call it tech.

“Okay you’ve got the talisman, does anybody know a faery?” N’Jadaka did his best to keep his annoyance at bay. The Queen Mother was only helpful when it suited her, and he needed all of the information up front if he wanted to get his life back. Humans are, in a word? Cumbersome. Not to mention the kid. Terra loved her sure, but she didn’t belong in this world. Neither of them did.

“I might know a guy who knows a guy. As long as you don’t mind a trip south.” Angel’s voice treaded lightly into the space between the group, unsure of her status. The Queen Mother wasn’t exactly what she was expecting; regal and enchanting for sure, but a little colder than she was hoping for. N’Jadaka might have been right about meeting your heroes.

“How far south?”

“You know where I’m from.” Angel shrugged as she answered N’Jadaka. They had started talking when she first made it to the Golden Fang and hadn’t really stopped since. The pair knew a lot about each other by now.

“Uh, I don’t.” Humans.

—l—

Earth Stream 245: October 21, 2040

7:16AM

“So, I just have to wait and see if she comes back on the next full moon?” Erik didn’t like the sound of that.

“From what I can gather, yeah.” Nakia’s voice crackled over the line, and though the words were no help the sound of her voice was a comfort. Erik was at the end of his rope, and this call transported him back in time.

When they were in university, Erik, Nakia and Okoye were a set. Most of the campus referred to them as the ‘Three Musketeers’ though Okoye curled her lip at the lack of ingenuity and Erik rejected the name for the sheer fact that the French were colonizers. Finals season had always been hard on Erik, quietly desperate to excel, and Nakia had always been the one to talk him down from 48 hour study sessions and coax him into sleep. Her voice took on that same tone now.

“Kia, I can’t just wait around.” He’d been waiting for nearly a month. Jules Fay had been waiting.

“I had a feeling you were going say that.” Nakia wondered if there would ever come a day when Erik would be patient. She supposed if there did she should get him to a doctor.

“So give me another option.”

“You said yourself that she’s a smart girl. I’m sure that no matter where she is, she’ll figure it out.”

“I made a promise––”

“You always do Erik.” Ever since he’d started as a PI, Erik made it a point to promise his clients a resolution. He always delivered, even if it wasn’t pretty.

“Nakia I have to do something.” This case was burning a hole in the pit of his stomach. The fact that the girl had gone to another dimension meant nothing to Erik. He still had a case to solve, and getting her back was his first priority. Answers would come after, but he needed her back here, in this world. Jules Fay needed her back too.

“Well go talk to the witch doctor again! He’s the one that came up with the theory in the first place.” Erik didn’t like the idea of going back, but it was all he had. Besides, Nakia was rarely wrong.

—l—

Earth Stream 947: October 15, 2040

5:14PM

Two days of traveling in the car had Terra and Bug growling at each other playfully while Hazel read all she could about Faeries. N’Jadaka, Angel and Hazel were the only “adults” on the journey. Shuri protested being left behind, especially when N’Jadaka brought Terra and Hazel refused to leave Bug alone, but the Queen Mother insisted.

“This will be a lean journey Shuri. They’re on a deadline after all.” No pressure or anything.

N’Jadaka spent most of the drive south staring between Angel and Hazel, marveling at their mere existence. The two were clearly similar, most would guess twins and they acted like it too. N’Jadaka would know, he’d met his fair share of vampire twins. Still, they weren’t just similar, in looks they were exactly the same. Even through Angel’s sweet soucouyant accent certain words the pair said were identical. From the pull of their jaw to the tenor that vibrated from their lips.

“N’Jadaka, are you done staring at us, or do you need another few minutes?” Angel question with a smirk, pearly fangs flashing in her laughter as Hazel whipped her head up in shock.

N’Jadaka for the most part wasn’t cowed. So he got caught staring at a beautiful vamp. He’s gotten caught doing worse. Still, he turned his attention to Hazel before Angel could get another rise out of him. He didn’t like the way she pulled every… emotion, laugh, smile, grimace, everything out of him with a turn of her lips. Pushing his black leather boot to kick Hazel’s paint and sticker covered sneakers he asked.

“Why are you reading that?” Hazel did her absolute best to ignore the fact that she was the knife cutting the UST between N’Jadaka and Angel, and answered with a finger pointed to the title. Fae, Fairies, and Earthen Magic.

“Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.” For all intents and purposes, Hazel knew nothing about the blessing she was supposed to get. She’d never even knew there was a difference between fairies and faeries. N’Jadaka let out a laugh at her reasoning.

“We’re all the Devil’s creatures. Haven’t you heard?” He smiled that extra wide grin that made his fangs gleam. Hazel repressed a shudder, knowing N’Jadaka was doing this to be annoying. He did the same thing to Shuri all of the time.

“Are you always this unhelpful or is this a special occasion?”

“I am when you’re reading books that old.”

“Shuri game it to me. She said it might help.” Hazel had a hard time believing that Shuri would do anything to lead her off track. The girl had been so kind to Hazel this whole time. She’d been the one to explain all of the tech shit, kimoyo beads being the most important.

“Sorry to say, Shuri might be wrong on this one. This book is older than my grandma, and she’s like twelve centuries old.” Angel said this with a small shrug, sliding the book out of Hazels hands, leaving her grasping.

“Well what exactly should I be doing because I am the only one at rick of losing an undisclosed amount of limbs or my sanity in this faery ring!”

Hazel had done her absolute best to stay calm. She really had, but her heart flinched every time Bug shifted into her jaguar fur, and she shuddered every time some vampire dropped their fangs on the street. None of this was normal, or her normal, and it was all starting to add up. Angel could see her counterpart beginning to crack and tossed the book at N’Jadaka, ignoring the grunt he released, to pull Hazel into her side.

“I’m not saying you can’t do research but this book is way too old. Faeries have changed, hell, all creatures have changed since this was written. Change, evolve, adapt. It’s what we do, It’s in our nature.

“So I’m just supposed to fly blind?”

“No, but we won’t let anything happen to you or the little shifter. You’re safe with us.” Hazel shook her head even as Angel extended her own kimoyo beads towards her. They didn’t get it. They didn’t understand that all of this was life and death for Hazel. Hell, she had a hard time understanding that herself. Angel let Hazel wallow for only a minute, knocking her with her shoulder.

“Hazel, do you trust yourself?”

“Well yeah.” Out of everyone here, she trusted herself the most. Sure she somehow got sucked into another world, but she’d been smart enough to keep herself alive up till now.

“Then trust me. I’m basically you.” Angel finished her declaration with a smile, and Hazel couldn’t help but bark a laugh. She wasn’t entirely wrong.

“Fine.” Angel clapped and took a peak out of the window.

“Good, and not a minute too soon. We’re here!”

—l—

Earth Stream 245: October 21, 2040

7:16AM

“You need to call her.”

“Oh hello Okoye, so great to see you, please come in.” Okoye rolled her eyes and placed a cup of hot coffee on Erik’s desk. His attempts at making coffee were shitty at best.

“Erik, you need more help.” He raised the cup in thanks before taking a sip. Black and burning hot, just how he liked it.

“I don’t. I have you.”

“This is more than I can handle. Erik. Call Nakia, ask her to come down for this.”

“I’m not going to pull her away from the work she ‘actually loves’. Besides I already called her. She gave me whack advice.”

“Oh will you get over yourself?! You two had that fight years ago and you’re still licking your wounds. both of you! “

“I’m not––” A knock interrupted what was sure to be another lie from Erik and Okoye was grateful.

Jules Fay waited at the door, hand poised to knock again. It fell to her side as Erik pulled her into his office, guiding her to a seat and offering her water or juice. Anything but his shitty coffee. She waved it all away.

“I came to see if you’ve found anything about Hazel?”

“I’m sorry Ms. Fay, I haven’t yet. most of my investigation has come up inconclusive but I still have a few more leads to follow.” He didn’t have a few more leads to follow, but he couldn’t tell Jules Fay his working theory either.  

“If it’s money, I don’t have much but I can––” Erik waved off her words, walking around his desk to kneel in front of her. On his knees, he was nearly eye to eye with the woman. He could see fear in her eyes, exhaustion, and worry. He wanted to make all of that go away. He promised to make all of that go away. He would make good on his promise. By the full moon, he would get Hazel back to her mother. Somehow.

“Ms. Fay, it’s nothing like that. I assure you I’m working to find Hazel, it’s just that her case is particularly different than the others I’ve investigated.” A silent nod from Jules had Erik speaking again, if only to fill the silence. “I made you a promise and I intend to keep it. I will find Hazel.”

“Of course he will, he’s assembled the best team in the country.” Nakia entered Erik’s office, the third person today to come in uninvited.

“Ms. Fay, Erik is the best at what he does. We’re going to find your daughter.” Jules Fay nodded with more confidence. Nakia had that effect on people. The woman who had assured her that Hazel would be found oozed a confidence she had never seen, and there was no choice but to believe her. Jules Fay was out the door before long, and Erik raised brow at Nakia.

“You always knew how to make an entrance.”

“And I haven’t missed a beat.” Nakia mirror his gaze, raising her brow in return. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

—l—

Earth Stream 328: October 25, 2040

5:06AM

They were decidedly not fine. Killmonger grew more impatient by the day and Harley was starting to lose hope. They hadn’t even seen a Juvian Sparrow, let alone caught one. Cacti bloomed and grew before them as they waited each day, coming earlier and earlier when Harley read that Juvian Sparrows are easiest to find in the dawn. The pair tried everything they could, approaching from different angles, splitting up, setting traps, and still no sparrow bones.

They were running out of time and they could feel it. Each night on their drive home the moon appeared fuller and fuller. If they were ever going to get Ayana back, they needed to find that sparrow today or else Harley would need another plan. Harley and Monger made it to the forest before the sun began painting the sky. Harley took a moment to send a prayer up to the falling moon and marveled at the stars winking above.

They trudged through the forest in silence for a while, doing their best to avoid the pricks of the cacti around them. Sometimes they weren’t so lucky. Harley hadn’t said anything, but Killmonger knew that this was the day. The Last day they’d be able to search for this Bast forsaken bird. If they didn’t find it, well Killmonger wasn’t quite sure he wanted to know what Harley had in mind. he had a feeling it would churn his stomach.

“Did you know Ayana’s mother well?” Harley’s voice pulled Monger out of his thoughts. It was softer than he expected from a witch, but then again, Harley was turning a lot of his preconceived notions on their head.

“Well enough.”

“Was she…a shifter?”

“I…I don’t know.” Harley’s question was cautious and Monger tried to remember more than her brown skin and his bedsheets. He couldn’t.

“So you didn’t know her well.” Monger rolled his eyes at Harley’s remark. Maybe she was right but he didn’t have to admit that. Not now at least.

“Look, I don’t know what she was, but she had power.”

“Like magic?”

“Like I don’t know what. Why do you care?”

“Because, kids take after their parents. We already know Ayana is a shifter but if her mother was a––” Harley stopped before the word witch could fall from her lips. Monger had done a good job of respecting her, he’d even seemed to thaw to her for a bit, but she didn’t want to push it. Not now at least.

“If her mother had power, then it stands to reason that Ayana has that same power. Add the magic that crackles through the town and our girl is a ticking magical time bomb.” Monger pushed down the warmth that bloomed around his heart at Harley’s indication that Ayana was ‘their girl’ and tried to process what exactly she was saying. If Ayana’s mother had turned out to be some kind of creature, then…well that could mean anything. The possibilities scared Monger the most.

“You do know that I didn’t send Ayana anywhere right?”

“I––You’re the only witch around my kid. What was I supposed to think?” Harley was happy to hear the hint of regret in Monger’s voice.

“That I love and cherish her just as much as you do and would never let anything happen to her!”

“Well I didn’t know that then!”

“Well you know it now. Don’t fucking forget it Monger.”

“I’m only letting that slide because your stupid fairytale is sitting on that goddamned cactus.”

“What?” Harley’s voice dropped to a whisper as her head whipped towards the center of the field. There on the largest barrel cactus in the forest was the Juvian Sparrow. The birds wings were black as the night, but seemed to be changing as the sun rose, red rising through its body as the sun glided into the sky. It cocked it’s head this way and that, and Harley held her breath. When it looked away, she released it. She turned to Monger and before Harley could blink, Killmonger was an elegant, golden beast.  

—l—

Earth Stream 245: October 25, 2040

10:14AM

Zuri had that feeling again. It was a tug at his gut, a reminder that there was more to come. That someone would be coming. A pinch between his eyes, that signaled him this would require more than a cursory conversation. This would need him to use his brain, encourage him to think and hypothesize. Excitement thrummed through him. He rarely had feelings like this.

Erik, Okoye and Nakia wandered into Badu’s Botany with hopes the shouldn’t have bothered to bring. Erik had warned them that the man was eccentric to say the least. The pair didn’t believe Erik, and why should they. The man was a scientist, a brilliant one at that. They had no reason to think of him otherwise. The wealth of potted plants was their first indication that what Erik said was true. The wind chimes at the door were the second. As they studied the shop, with its figurines and paper piles, the evidence only grew.

The detective was back. Energy shot through Zuri’s body as the bell ringed above the door. He knew the man was searching for someone, the girl that slept with beasts. From the looks of things, he hadn’t found her.

“Detective Stevens. a pleasure to see you again.” He nodded to Okoye and Nakia. “Ladies…”

“Ten years ago, you wrote a paper. A Study of Universal Convergence.”

“I did.”

“Have you found anything that proves your theory?

“Have you?”

“A girl is missing. If you know something, anything––”

“Dr. Badu.” Zuri still at the name. No one had called him doctor in a long time, but Nakia pressed on. “We’re looking for someone who we think…fell into another world. We need to get her back. as soon as possible.”

“Trust in the universe. The moon is her daughter, she’ll see the girl home.” Erik scoffed at the man. If he ‘trusted in the universe’ he’d still be seven years old, waiting for his father to breathe again.

“Forget it. I should have known this would be a waste of time.” Erik couldn’t believe he’d wasted precious time talking to this…ugqirha.

“Don’t worry detective. She will fall into the nest of her making soon enough.” Erik pushed out of the door so hard the chimes screamed his exit.

—l—

Earth Stream 947: October 25, 2040

12:49PM

The Isle, like plenty of other things in this world, is unlike anything Hazel has ever seen. Not technically an island, the large land mass was surrounded by water on three sides, so the name stuck. There was also the matter of the water that flowed through it. Rivers and streams parted the land like hair, slicing through the sandy brush and practically glowing blue. Hazel had only ever seen water that blue in pictures.

Two vampires, a human, a shifter, and a sleek golden jaguar tumbled out of the car and into a boat. Angel’s manager sputtered as she shut the door in his face with a placating wave.

“Rocko, I’ll be fine. If I’m not back in 3 days, call search and rescue, otherwise I don’t want to hear you on my line.” The boat sped off before we could hear his response.

“Where to Miss Haze?” Angel didn’t seem alarmed that the boat driver knew who she was. In fact, she grinned and patted him on the back. N’Jadaka watched their contact with an eagle eye.

“I need to see an old friend.” The driver nodded, and with that they were on their way.

The streams were like side streets, the rivers like highways. Hazel wondered at the houses that stood tall and covered the land mass they reseted on, making them look like they were floating structures instead of tiny islands cut to creation by the waters that ran through the Isle. N’Jadaka stared hard at the driver, wondering how he knew exactly what Angel wanted, before he shook himself out of his jealousy and turned his attention back to the situation at hand. They were pulling up to a bar, if you could call it that. There was no signage, nothing to signify that this wasn’t the shack of a murderer, but Angel hopped out with glee. She gave the driver a tip and a kiss on the cheek and gestured for the group to follow her.

The group pushed through the sorry excuse for a door, wooden slats stapled together and moving on a pair of rusted hinges. Inside it was hazy and red. Sunlight filtered through the holes in the walls, only covered by thin white sheets, and blood red couches littered the space around a small stage. More of a platform really. A duo on an electric piano and colorful soundboard crooned something in what sounded like French, and Hazel took in the scene. Vampires lounged on the couches, velvety and soft, a few humans were bleeding, but other than that, nothing nefarious was happening. Maybe she came at the right time.

“Well slap my cat and call me Lucifer! Forgive me if I’m mistaken, but you young lady, look awfully familiar.”

“Nix.” The man in question approached Angel with open arms and a grin that showed off his platinum fangs. As he got closer, Hazel could see that all of his teeth were platinum. Angel couldn’t keep the grin off of her face. Between touring and writing and producing and life, she’d missed her childhood friend. She’d missed home.

“Well if it isn’t Little Miss Hazie.” The two were a gathering of brown skin and strong arms as they hugged tightly.

Nixie.” He scrunched his nose at the nickname, pulling away from there hug as N’Jadaka tamped down the jealousy the bubbled up in his gut.

“Yeah yeah, you’re too cool for that nickname, owning your own blood club and shit.”

“Well shit, I thought for a second you were a ghost, but not with a mouth like that.” The pair erupted into laughter, and N’Jadaka let them laugh for a minute before clearing his throat. Something about Angel’s smile was different here. Her eyes closed a bit more, her nose scrunched tighter, her shoulders fell back in laughter. She looked more than relaxed. She looked happy. Happier than she had been in Metropolis.

“Right. Sorry guys.” Angel righted herself and Nix. “You got an office?” Nix shook his head.

“I’ve got a bar.”

“Close enough.” As the group approached the bar, Terra prowling close to N’Jadaka with Bug on her back, Angel and Nix spoke in animated tones. Hazel couldn’t understand a word they were saying, though she wasn’t quite sure they’d switched languages, it was more like they had fallen into a vernacular that she wasn’t quite familiar with. Something southern and black and french? Though she couldn’t even be sure France existed in this world.

“Now Haze, I’ve known you for a long time, and never once did you mention having a twin.” Nix busied himself with wiping the bartop, obsidian black flecked in gold, and pulling a few glasses down.  

“She’s not my twin, she is me.”

“Care to explain?” Before Angel could elaborate A tall stocky vampire, with milk white skin sauntered into the bar. Most of the patrons turned their backs on the guy, returning to the conversations with a fervor. A few stronger looking vampires pushed off from their place on the walls of the bar and stood tall. The man in question either didn’t notice the reaction or didn’t care as he sauntered up to the bar.

“Nix! Serving straight from the source now? Very nice touch.” Angel and N’Jadaka pushed Hazel behind them and bared their teeth at the stranger.

“Clive. These are my guests, you’d do well to treat them as such.”

“Well what about that little lamb?” The man shucked his chin to Bug, still sat on Terra’s back in her jaguar fur. “I’ve always loved veal.”

“Back off Clive. You can order something on the menu or you can go. Either one suits me.” Nix balled his fist on the granite bartop and Clive sneered a grin. He knocked on the granite, flashed his fangs at Hazel and sauntered out of the club.

Angel released a breath she didn’t know she was holding. She’d promised to protect Hazel, and she didn’t take her promises lightly. N’Jadaka could see that Angel was shaken, and took the lead no explaining things, still keeping Hazel behind him and beckoning Terra closer. Sure the human and shifter were annoying, but they’d grown on him. And he was almost rid of them, it would suck for something to happen before they completed their little ‘quest’.

“We need to find a faerie. Preferably a nice one.” Nix blew out a big breath at Angel’s request.

“Tall order kid. I’ll give you the info you want. For a price of course.” Though his words were serious his tone was teasing and Angel couldn’t fault his hustle. Keeping a blood club this nice in the Isle couldn’t be cheap.

“What do you want Nix?”

“You got any old tour merchandise?”

“Seriously?” Of all the things she expected, this was not it. She had plenty of that shit locked up in storage, it was an easy trade.

“You seem to forget just how popular you are little Haze. Vintage shit sells like crazy.” With a few dozen shirts, Nix could expand the club and improve the sound system all the while investing in a few local businesses he personally wanted to see flourish.

“I’ll have it sent to the location of your choice as soon as you give me what I want.” Angel wasn’t worried about the merch or the money, she knew Nix would use most of it for the good of the community. Under all of his tough, bar owner exterior, he was a nice vamp. She would know, she grew up with him.

“His name’s Roaen and he lives in The Sink.”

—l—

Earth Stream 328: October 25, 2040

6:19AM

Killmonger and the Juvian Sparrow danced. Monger leaping silently and landing on the tips of his paws and the sparrow, fluttering like its life depended on it. It did after all. Harley watched in awe of the pair. Each time the sparrow flew above the cacti, she could see the dark night sky under its wings, once she even thought she saw stars twinkling in the feathers. She was just about to give up, and try to find another when when the bird squawked. Monger had it between his teeth, fangs bared and pinching.

The Juvian Sparrow never made another sound, even as monger snapped its neck and set it on the gritty ground. As quickly as he had become a jaguar, Killmonger shifted back into his human form. Of course that meant he was standing naked in the morning sun, blood streaking his chin and golden fangs glinting beneath his lips. Harley pushed her focus onto the bird, ignoring the way his perfectly brown skin gleamed in the sunlight.

“Okay, so, there’s your bird.”

“Alright.” The pair stood there staring at each other. Harley waiting for Killmonger to shift, and Monger waiting for Harley to do something…magical. Then the pair spoke at the same time.

“Well aren’t you going to––”

“Can’t you just use magic to––” Harley gestured for Killmonger to finish.

“Can’t you just use magic to get the bones?”

“The spell won’t work if I use magic to procure the ingredients. I can’t upset the balance like that, not if I’m asking for something in return.”

Years ago, when she had first discovered magic and powers and spells, Harley attempted a prosperity spell. Or rather, she summoned a load of cash to use for a school field trip her parents told her they couldn’t afford. With a candle and a wish, the money appeared to her and she took it. She never blew out the candle or thanked the elements for bringing her the money, never once thought about where the money came from at all, but as she found, especially in magic, you can’t get something from nothing.

In the end the money ended up burning a hole in her pocket, literally. She buried it deep within in the earth, giving it back to the soil to do with it what it may. She didn’t go on the field trip, and she didn’t try another spell until she turned 18 and began her own grimoire.

“Everything about magic is reciprocal. I can’t upset that balance.” Monger looked dumbfounded.

“So magic has rules?” Harley waved her hand in the universal sign for ’50/50’ as she responded.

“More like follow the laws of nature and you’ll be fine.”

“Well it’s a good thing I shifted back. I have a feeling I’ll need opposable thumbs for this.” Harley rolled her eyes at the ridiculous statement but Monger didn’t miss the smile that curled on her lips. He liked it.

—l—

Earth Stream 245: October 26, 2040

2:57PM

The trio ended up at Oakies, seated at the bar and shooting the shit, just like old times. The bar was a classic jet black, polished to perfect and currently clear of any patrons. It might have been a little early for a drink, but after their visit to the witch doctor, they all needed a drink. The couple on stage wailed about dead men walking over a country guitar.

Won’t do me no good washin’ in the river. Can’t no preacher man save my soul.

They all had their drinks. None of them had changed their orders, though today, they all ordered an extra set of shots. Erik eyed the glasses slid on the table. A Pimm’s Cup for Nakia, whisky from the highest shelf for Erik, and for Okoye…To be honest Erik still had no idea what Okoye was drinking, but he stayed away from her glass either way. The one time he took a sip from her cup, he woke up the next morning with no recollection of the night before.

“So do you think he’s right?” Okoye didn’t know what to say about Zuri Badu. At the very least the man was an enigma and Okoye had been out of her depth with this case since Erik stepped foot on her campus. At this point, she was just along for the ride.

“About?”

“Letting the universe work itself out? It’s not like he said much more. The man wasn’t exactly a sparkling conversationalist.” Erik was still bitter about that part. He had hoped he would learn more about Badu’s working theory of converging universes, but the man had been just as ambiguous as before.

“That is an understatement.”

“So E, answer the question, what do you think?”

“I don’t know what to think Kia. The man speaks in riddles. Do I feel like he told us something useful? Maybe, but I’m not sober enough or drunk enough to decipher it.” With that, Erik slammed his shot back and waved for another. Zuri had plenty to say, but none of it made sense to Erik. He wasn’t nearly as poetic as he needed to be if he was going to solve this case by the full moon.

“Well I think he was telling us to prepare for her. ‘She will fall into the nest of her making’ and ‘The moon will see her home’? That’s not telling us to sit around and wait. It’s a promise. She’ll be back on the full moon, and we have to be ready for her. You have to be ready for her Erik.” Nakia had seen Erik at his worst, and this surpassed it. By a mile. Or two. She’d never seen him so broken up about a case.

“Okay. So I go back to the Golden Fang and I just wait? What about all of the people?” After three days, Erik had recommended that Jules Fay take her case to the police as well. Just to have it on file. He had no doubt that they would screw things up, and the Ortega precinct did not disappoint. They turned the alleyway into a media circus. People were always there, taking pictures right where ‘that girl disappeared’.  

“Try and get it cordoned off. Remember, we’re supposed to rid the location of any malicious beings.”

“Right.” Erik knew what he would have to do to get that alleyway cordoned off for the night of the full moon. Nakia knew he knew too. She also knew he’d drink about five more shots before acknowledging it.

“You should call the Chief.” Erik slammed back another shot. He’d already made up his mind to go visit him tomorrow.

—l—

Earth Stream 947: October 26, 2040

11:09PM

The Sink isn’t actually a sink, Hazel was relieved to find. According the Angel, the Sink was in the center of the island. Angel led the four of them out of Nix’s bar and waved her hand as a few boats whizzed by before one stopped for them. N’Jadaka handed the driver the money before Angel could even bother and she stuck out her tongue. She was the popstar and the one with a doppelgänger apparently. She could pay for a boat ride.

Angel told the driver where to go in her soucouyant tongue. To Hazel and N’Jadaka the words were a garbled birdsong, confusing but enchanting all the same. There was just something about the way the words rolled off her lips that kept their attention. Hazel would have thought that she was a siren if she didn’t know any better. Being in this world for nearly a month meant that she does know better.

This boat driver wasn’t as tactile as the other, but Hazel thinks its because N’Jadaka was staring the guy down. Still, they floated their way towards the center of the Isle, passing houses and shops and even a floating hospital. As they travelled on, the buildings grew sparse. Trees grew wider and wilder, enormous frogs bumped into the boat hard enough to rock it, dolphins puttered through the water and the world grew quiet. Verdant foliage obscured the ground, and eyes peeked through the underbrush. Not silent, Hazel could still hear the crickets chirping and the waves cresting, but everything was quiet. Calm.

The driver docked at the shore of a tiny house. It was built of stone, with a wooden door and a paneless window. A few pieces of the thatched roof scratched at the house as the quintet unloaded. Terra prowled a close perimeter and returned with a snuff. Whatever she had found, she didn’t like. Bug seemed to feel the same way as she squirmed in Hazel’s arms. Soon enough the baby was on the ground, shifting into her jaguar fur and being nipped up by Terra.

“Come on.” Angel had heard of the faeries in the Sink. She’d never met one, but there’s a first time for everything.

The group padded to the door slowly. Angel knocked, and they waited. And waited. The moon was high in the sky for a moment Hazel wondered if they all shared the same one. The door creaked open before she could think any more of it.

“Uh, woah.”

The little thatch cottage was not so little, and not nearly as quaint as the exterior alluded to. A vast room stretched before them. The room with its shiny cherry wood floors, divine golden mirrors, and creatures of all kinds, could not be real. It was at least three times as large as the cottage itself. There was just no way.

“Don’t sound so impressed Hazel, this is faery magic.” N’Jadaka whispered this to Hazel, but the point was moot. He was surrounded by beings with heightened abilities.

“You scorn the name of my people and yet you come to me with a request. Interesting introduction N’Jadaka Udaku.” Angel cringed. They already had an impossible ask, and N’Jadaka was not making things easier. Any other time, she admired his snark, but now it was killing them.

“I assume you’re Roaen.”

The man in question was draped in women. Hazel wasn’t even positive he was wearing clothes. All she could see was brown butter skin and animal print. He was lounging on a tiger fur, and the women around him all wore that same print. Roaen gave a nod to Angel’s statement, and Hazel was taken aback.

Aside from the fact that she’d never even seen a faery before, he wasn’t as small as Hazel expected. Faeries in her world had always been perceived as tiny, cute, bell like beings with adorably short tempers. This guy was…not tiny by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, he was built like a house. Young, but carrying himself with the weight of a thousand years. Not dissimilar from N’Jadaka, though Hazel was smart enough to keep that thought to herself.

“I am.”

Roaen stood, and the fur beneath him took shape, morphing into a tiger. The dress the girl was wearing did the same and she was left naked, peering up at the man with hazy eyes. Jagged grey wings unfurled from his back, the only ugly thing on the man, and he jerked his head to the side. A signal for the girl to leave.

“Is he?” Hazel nodded to Bug who was lounging on Terra’s back, but N’Jadaka shook his head. The man wasn’t a shifter, just a faery. Magic is a powerful tool. Angel stepped forward discreetly, pushing Hazel behind her.

“Dia dhuit ársa amháin.” Roaen’s brow raised at the use of his native tongue, as mangled as it was, and responded with a grin. He loved messing with the young ones.

“Well, well, well. Two vampires, a human, and a shifter walk into a bar. There’s got to be a punchline there somewhere.”

“I––” Angel stuttered for something to say. This was her turf after all. “Arsa ársa, táimid tar éis teacht ar do bheannacht.”

“I’ll give you whatever you want as long as you stop butchering my language with your soucouyant accent. Dia.” Roaen laughed, and continued before Angel could close her gaping mouth. “Y’all must be in some deep shit to need a blessing from me.”

N’Jadaka, Angel and Hazel all exchanged a look. A look that debated on telling this stranger the truth. A look that implored the others to be reasonable. A look that annoyed the faery standing before them.

“Would you like me to leave?”

“Oh no Mr. Faery––Roaen––Uh, sir.” After that, the words fell out of Hazel’s mouth like apples shaken from a tree. By the end, she was winded. “So, I need your blessing to stay sane.”

“Interesting indeed.” A pause. “I’ll do it, but you need to do something for me. Quid pro quo and all of that stuff.” Hazel nodded. “I need you to get me a stone from the bottom of the Middle Well.”

The Middle Well was dangerous. At least, that’s what Angel had always been told. The well itself was rumored to be gorgeous, tranquil, enchanting, but Angel had never met anyone who had seen it first hand. No creature ever wanted to bother with the place. It was steeped in bad energy. Even N’Jadaka knew the tales of the south. That the Middle Well was more than just a scenic view, that it was a passage. An access point for those in the afterlife. That was no place for Hazel. No place for a human at all.

“No. No way. She is not diving down there.” Angel knew the faery would ask for something, but she figured it would be money, or tour merch, not this. The Middle well has no bottom. No creature has ever made it out of that water alive, let alone returned with a stone.

“Angel, I’m sure it’s not––”

“Hazel, you don’t even know what you’re agreeing to. That well is on faery land. You don’t know what you’re risking.” The stories Angel’s mother told her as a child were more than that. They were second hand accounts, memories of friends who had dived in for fun and never returned. “It’s a suicide mission.”

“It’s true that the well was built on the land of my people, but the well itself was made by the hands of hers.” Roaen nodded to Hazel lazily. “Humans built that well, and as such, we magical creatures have a hard time pulling from that place. Her on the other hand, should be fine.” Angel and N’Jadaka knew faeries couldn’t lie, but Roaen only said that she should be fine. That is not enough of a guarantee. Not by a long shot.

“Should be––” N’Jadaka had done his best to hold his tongue, he really had, but things were spiraling.

“There has to be another way––” Angel couldn’t let this happen. She couldn’t let her alternate self die. They had to find another way out of this––

“I’ll do it.” Hazel had been silent through most of the argument, letting Angel take the reigns. She was just a human after all. Apparently, in this instance, that worked in her favor.

“Hazel you can’t––”

“Angel, do you trust yourself?”

“Of course.”

“Then trust me. I’m basically you.” Angel relented to Hazel’s weak smile and shrug, hating that her words worked against her. She’d just have to find a way to keep her alternate self alive. No pressure.

—l—

Earth Stream 328: October 26, 2040

8:18AM

“Alright, I’ll pluck it and you shuck it.” Monger would be damned if he had to do all of the work for this witch. In all honesty, he didn’t mind the hunt, the early morning rides, even the cacti, but he needed a resolution. This bird was the key to Ayana and he’d done more than his fair share.

“I don’t know how to do that!” Harley’s frustration oozed out of her words, though it wasn’t all directed towards Monger. This may be the first time she wished she knew how to debone a bird, but that didn’t make the feeling any less true. Up until now, Killmonger had done all of the work and it irked her to no end that she still needed help.

“You’re a witch, ain’t dismemberment in your blood?”

“Oh fuck off Monger.”

“You seriously don’t know?”

“No. I never had a teacher okay?” Oma and Shuri were the closest Harley had come to having any sort of mentors, and they were a 4 hour ride away.

“So how did you learn control?” Killmonger wasn’t stupid. Sure he blamed Ayana’s disappearance on Harley, but at this point even he knew that was bullshit. There were bigger things at play here and he’d seen Harley’s powers enough to know that she had a good grip on them. He’d watched her play with Ayana, pulling rabbits from behind rocks and making the sand shine as she blew it from her fingertips. Harley had control, and if she didn’t have a teacher, how did she get it?

“I had to teach myself for the most part. My siblings helped sometimes. Sort of.” Harley cringed at the memory of performing magic in front of her family. The required love that lasted until you moved out of the family house, or were kicked out. Whichever one came first.

“Well come over and I’ll teach you.”

—l—

Earth Stream 947: October 26, 2040

11:09PM

Hazel knew clicking her heels with a chorus of ‘there’s no place like home’ wouldn’t be the thing to get her back to her own life, but she didn’t expect diving for some stone would be the answer either. She supposed she shouldn’t have even tried to guess at this point. She was out of her depth, literally.

N’Jadaka made Roaen state the deal before they left. He’d mentioned to Hazel that even though Fae couldn’t lie, they still loved to omit things and play with promises. She was glad to see that N’Jadaka and Angel wouldn’t let that happen to her.

“The Middle Well was built by your kind. Or shall I say on your kind.” Roaen began his story as they trekked through the woods behind his home. The streams were small enough to hop over now and Hazel savored the crunch of the leaves as she jumped. Bug  and Terra were having a grand old time too.

“That does’t make sense.” Angel and N’Jadaka spoke in sync and Roaen rolled his eyes. He was surprised at how…dutifully they protected their human charge.

“The early humans, the ones here before vampires and shifters and phoenix’s, they had an idea about the afterlife. You see they studied the tides. The watched them give and take. They watched the waves roll out into the sun and they thought that that was the only way to Elysium. Through water, through the ocean.”

“When they found this land, laden with streams and rivers all rolling out into the ocean, they decided to craft a well. A funeral space basically. For centuries they burned the bodies of their dead, praying as the fire kissed them to ash. Then they came to the Middle Well, they sprinkled the ashes into the water and watched as the connecting streams and rivers pulled their loved ones away, away, and out to sea. Out to the sun, moon and stars.”

They made it. The Middle Well was not what Hazel expected. It didn’t look like a well at all, more like a pool. It was in the shape of a half moon, stones built up on the sides to guide the water. Four streams connected to the mouth of the well, pushing the water to ebb and flow.

“This doesn’t look deep enough to dive into.” Hazel had been swimming. Hell, she used to dive in high school and this pool was not nearly deep enough. She couldn’t exactly see the bottom of the pool, but there were only three stone steps leading into the pool. It couldn’t be deep enough.

“The last human I met here said promised it was plenty deep.”

“So you do this a lot to humans?” N’Jadaka couldn’t stand the faerie’s casual tone. If Hazel was about to dive to her death for some pebble, the guy could at least show some respect.

“This well may have been build by humans but it is on fae land. It’s deep enough.” Angel could see the tick in Roaen’s jaw. His annoyance was obvious and she wondered if her hid a monstrous face behind the pretty one they saw. For a moment, she wished she could see beyond his faery glamour. Just so she knew exactly what they were dealing with.

“Alright well, wish me luck.” Hazel had stripped down to her underwear while the vampires were studying Roaen. She padded to the stone steps and Bug did her best to follow her on four legs. She turned, pushing the cub back towards N’Jadaka and Angel. Terra came and grabbed her by the scruff. Then she sat at the top step with Bug, like they were already waiting for Hazel to return. Hazel didn’t bother looking at her promised protectors, knowing their worry wouldn’t help her now. Instead, she turned to Roaen.

“Just one stone?”

“Just one. Ádh mór.”

She waded into the pool slowly. Counting each stone step she took. After the third, the world dropped out from under her and she fell. N’Jadaka and Angel had to hold themselves back. They knew interference was against the rules. if the so much as touched that well, their whole deal could be nullified by Roaen.

Hazel drifted back to the surface of the clear water, doing her best to stay clam. She had no idea what she was doing, but she decided to tread towards the sides of the well, hoping to catch an errant stone from there. After about five minutes of scrambling with her hands, she made peace with the fact that there would be no shortcuts. Not on Faery land.

Three strokes brought her to the center of the pool. A deep, swimmers breath filled her lungs. Then, heart in her chest and eyes wide open, she dove. The water was cold, pricking at her skin as she pushed. Deeper and deeper she swam, knowing that in a while she’d be too deep to save herself. She hadn’t swam in a long time. She wasn’t nearly as strong as she used to be. Deeper and deeper still, and no stones. Not even moss, or frogs or kelp. Nothing lived down here.

Before she could turn back she heard something. A sigh, no, a scream. The sound rang through Hazel’s ears, clear as day. She swam deeper, towards the sound. Breathing was the least of her worries if someone was down there. A few strokes further and an image flashed across her eyes. A bloody chest, scaly tail, and a face like hers. Hazel pushed back, away from the image, but it was in her head. More started coming, more blood, more pain, more death. And it was all her, every different version of her as she died, crying and screaming and gurgling through their last moments.

Hazel felt paralyzed. She let the water pull her deeper as the visions flashed through her mind. She cried as she saw her death over and over and over. Hazel was trapped. Stuck in this well, a hostage to the universe’s plans for her alternate selves. Then her hand brushed something smooth. The feeling of something in this empty pool, anything was enough to shock Hazel out of her stupor. She grasped, and pulled a stone free. It came loose easily, and the visions stopped. No screaming or crying or blood.

She was free. Hazel kicked her way up, up, and up. Further and further as her vision faltered. Her heart was on overload, she wasn’t going to make it. She didn’t have enough breath in her body. She couldn’t have enough breathe in her body. It was humanly possible. Her vision blackened as she rev another push, and then she broke the surface. Sputtering, gasping, alive, Hazel made her way to the stone steps, rock in hand.

Roaen was there to pull her up, and he sat with her at the mouth of the well. He hovered his hand over her shivering body, and murmured something ancient. She followed his hand, and for a second she thought she saw claws. He continued, and she peered up at his face. It was hideous, half peeled and rotting. His blessing came at a cost to the both of them.

“There, you’re blessed.”

“That’s it?” Hazel could hardly believe it. She didn’t feel any different, but she wasn’t a faery either. Roaen nodded.

“Now, leave me. I’ll need some time to reconstruct my glamour.” Hazel nodded, noting how he never turned from her, keeping his back to everyone else. “Oh and one more thing,” He tossed the stone to Hazel. “Hold onto this. I have a feeling you might need it one day.”

—l—

Earth Stream 245: October 27, 2040

9:22AM

The Ortega precinct was just as quiet as Erik remembered. Kinsey and Roles were still at their desk through sour worms at each other, Coles was still color coding her reports, and Frig still sat in his sergeants chair taller than he should. The receptionist waved him in with a manicured nail and a bitten lip and Erik rolled his eyes. Every little thing reminding him exactly why he left the force.

He mocked a salute to Kinsey and Roles as he passed his and Okoye’s old desks, still empty. They weren’t bad cops, just goofy. Frig straightened even taller somehow nodding to Erik as he knocked on the Chief’s door. There was no nameplate glistening at the handle or glittering on the glass. Just shuttered bulletproof windows that vibrated when the Chief’s accented voice shouted ‘Enter.’

“Well if it ain’t my favorite detective. Stevens, how the hell are you boy?” Erik cringed like he always did when the chief called him ‘boy’, but exchanged pleasantries either way. After being ushered into a set before the Chief, Erik finally relaxed. This used to be his normal, bringing cases to the Chief’s office with Okoye and finding new angles, sitting before the Chief and groaning about the grind. Though it was comfortable, in the end, it wasn’t worth it, it wasn’t nearly enough for Erik or Okoye.

“Well then, what brings you by? I know you’re not here to rejoin the force.” The Chief stated this with a pained laugh, and Erik shrugged it off. He didn’t need to feel guilty for leaving.

“Chief Klaue. I need a favor.”

“What kind of favor?”

“Tomorrow night, I need you to cordon off the alley behind The Golden Fang.” Erik didn’t mention anything about full moons or alternate universes. He had a feeling The Chief would be less inclined to help if he though Erik had gone off of the deep end.

“That shitty club? Why?”

“I’m looking for someone.”

“Is that someone going to be in that club?” A breath and another question. “Stevens are you into anything illegal?”

“No Chief. This isn’t illegal.”

“Then why not go through the proper channels?” Erik rolled his eyes at the thought of getting a permit from City Hall. He’d been in his late eighties before the paperwork even went through.

“It’s for a case. A very time sensitive case.”

“A case that isn’t police business. Stevens I can’t just––” Klaue could, and Erik knew that. It’s why he was here in the first place. The Golden Fang was in his jurisdiction, and he only needed the alley blocked off for a night. He just needed it empty long enough for Hazel to…come back.

“I’ve never asked you for anything Chief. Not one damn time. Even when I was on the force. Trust me when I say I’ll never ask again, but I need you to do this. Officially.” Chief Klaue heaved a sigh. The damn boy was right. If this was the biggest thing his best detective could ask for, he’d better count his blessings.

“Fine. I hope you find who you’re looking for. And call me when you’re ready to rejoin the force Stevens. We miss you around here.”

—l—

Earth Stream 947: October 31, 2040

7:12PM

They pulled up to the Golden Fang as the sun was setting. The journey back had been…difficult to say the least. Bug started teething. Sure she had fangs as a jaguar, but her human teeth were pushing through now, and the girl was not happy. The car was filled with her pained cries as the supernatural creatures in the car stuffed their ears. Hazel did her best to placate the baby, eventually giving her her finger to naw on. It turned her cries into whimpers, and they were all grateful. The second they hit the blood club Hazel was behind the bar, filling a clean rag with ice cubes.

Finally. You’re back! I’ve been waiting ages! How did everything go?” Shuri paused. “Wait. What is wrong with her?”

“She’s teething Shuri.”

“Yikes.” She shuddered and turned to N’Jadaka. “So?”

“Well, we got the blessing.” Angel snorted at his tone. There wasn’t much ‘we’ about it, Hazel had done the heavy lifting, and she respected the human––her alternate self for that. N’Jadaka did too, though he’d be loathe to admit it.

“And just in time. Better hurry, the moon is almost up.”

The group made our way towards the back of the bar, standing at the door where Hazel first entered the Golden Fang. Bug had stopped crying, and she was chomping happily at the icy cloth in her mouth. Tear tracks dried on her face, but she looked more like she did when Hazel first found her.

“Okay, Queen Mother told me what to do, so…I’ve got this.” Shuri waved to Hazel and Bug. “I’ve got to put you two into a salt circle, so, uh…” Shuri pulled the pair into a hug, doing her best not to squeeze too tightly.

“Thanks for proving me right. Especially because I got to prove N’Jadaka wrong.” She winked and pranced back, making space for N’Jadaka and Angel. Terra barreled between them and pounced on Hazel. Tackling her and Bug into a hug. Hazel let the two play one last time as she turned to N’Jadaka and Angel.

“So, uh, thanks for not eating me the first time we met.” N’Jadaka’s mouth quirked in a smirk and he shrugged.

“You’re not really my type, but you’re a better human than I expected. Even if you are a little slow––” Angel cut off his teasing with a smack and pulled Hazel close.

“It was nice to meet you. Or well, me. You still have the stone right?” Hazel nodded reaching into her pocket to feel its smooth edges. “Good. That way, you can come back and visit.” Angel squeezed Hazel a little tighter, and stepped back, taking Terra and N’Jadaka with her.

“Okay. Moon’s almost up, We’ve got to move.”

Shuri positioned Hazel and Bug before the door. She drew a semi circle of salt around them, lighting four candles on the way. She spritzed them with moon water, and sent a prayer to Bast. Then, she turned to Hazel.

“You have your talisman right?”

“My phone? Yeah.” Hazel fished it out of her pocket and pressed the home button, still disappointed when the screen didn’t illuminate.

“Tragic.” Hazel rolled her eyes.

“Shuri.”

“Sorry, sorry. Okay, Hold your phone and think of your world. Only your world. When I open this door, I want you to step through, and let go of Bug.” Hazel’s eyes flashed to Shuri in alarm. She wasn’t just going to drop a baby.

“Trust me. She’ll make it back to her world and you’ll make it back to yours. This door opens the universe, so you have to stay focused on your world or you could end up somewhere else completely. Again.” Hazel nodded and gripped her phone. She gave Bug one last glance and a kiss on the forehead. She’d miss the little troublemaker. Then Shuri opened the doorway and it was filled with the moon.

—l—

Earth Stream 328: October 31, 2040

8:16PM

Jet at the north. Celtic salt at the south. Cypress root to the west. The bones of a Juvian Sparrow to the east. A scrying bowl full to the brim with a dark, witching potion. All connected with a chalk circle on the wooden floor of the Golden Fang. Oma suggested that she do the spell and scrying in the place she was most comfortable, and even though Monger looked about ready to blow a gasket from his place behind the bar, he allowed her to stay. He even closed out the bar for the night. She only saw the moon as the Jags stumbled out, it was full and brighter than she’d ever seen. Hopefully that was a good sign.

The spell was easy. She had all of the components. She’d spoken the words until they slipped from her lips in her sleep. She knew her magic wouldn’t fail her in this. The scrying was the hard part. She’d only done it a few times more since that first time with Oma, and the nerves licked at her calm like flames.

Surrounded by candles and crystals Harley knelt on the paneled wooden floor. The spell was done in minutes, opening up the space in the circle to…anything. Hopefully she’d be pulling Ayana through the crack she’d created and re-warding the place as soon as possible. Harley hated the idea of opening the Golden Fang up to anything. One never knew what waited in the veil between worlds.

She turned her attention to the scrying bowl, grabbing it with both hands and sitting it in her lap. This time, as she saw her reflection in the liquid, she did her best to hone in on Ayana’s energy. Monger watched as Harley stopped blinking. He’s pretty sure she stopped breathing, but she’d warned him not to interrupt her. Not for anything.

Harley started with the version of herself she’d seen wrapped up with Ayana’s aura. Pale yellow curled around fuchsia. Now that she knew what she was looking for, they weren’t hard to find. The girl, and her rockstar counterpart were both mingling with Ayana’s essence, but before Harley could coax her aura out to pull Ayana back, the baby fell. Only, she wasn’t falling to the ground. Ayana was tumbling through worlds.

Harley could see tens and hundreds and thousands of creatures like her. A mermaid in one. A succubus in another. A crane. A child. A snake. A knight. She was everything and one thing, but Killmonger appeared in them too. He was her equal, then opposite, her friend, then enemy. Everything and one thing.

Harley tried to focus. Tried to follow Ayana’s aura streaking through the universe. Tried to grab a hold of the girl she cared so deeply for, but somewhere between her queen self and shaman self, she lost her baby girl. Killmonger couldn’t watch any longer. Harley hadn’t breathed in nearly two minutes. He wanted Ayana back more than anyone could know, but he wouldn’t let Harley die searching for her.

Rounding the bar and breaking Harley’s chalk circle Monger reached a hand to her arm. Electricity crackled up to his shoulder as Monger’s fingers wrapped around Harley’s arm. Her inhale was so sharp her body rolled. Shoulders fell back, down her spine. Head lolled away from her scrying bowl, but her eyes, her eyes were still blank.

Monger slid his hand from her arm to her chin. Gentle fingers lifted her face to his. Eyes unfocused. His mouth curved around her name, just a whisper. A breath ghosting past her lips. And then, a pop.

“I told you she was a trouble maker.” Harley was lucid enough to see that Monger finally had his arms full again, and she grinned right before passing out.

—l—

Earth Stream 245: October 31, 2040

9:25PM

Hazel landed on the hard asphalt with a thump and a huff, the wind rushing out of her. She could see the moon, full and bright shining down on her from its place in the deep dark sky. She breathed in the crisp fall air, and her phone began to vibrate in her pocket. It wouldn’t stop actually, buzzing with a months worth of missed notifications. Hazel breathed out a sigh. She made it. Limbs and sanity intact. Just as she was about to cry in relief, someone cleared his throat.

“Hazel Fay?”

“Yes?”

“My name is Erik Stevens. I’m a detective. Your mother hired me to find you.”

“Oh.” A pause as she processed this, and then. “Oh shit.” Erik’s lips curled into a rueful grin.

“Can you tell me where you’ve been?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you the truth.” Hazel shook her head after responding. Hell, she could hardly believe what had happened.

“Try me.”

Here’s Killmonger’s bike inspo in case you were wondering!

Translations

ugqirha: witch doctor

—l—

Dia dhuit ársa amháin: Hello ancient one (Irish)

Arsa ársa, táimid tar éis teacht ar do bheannacht: Ancient one, we’ve come to you for a blessing (Irish)

Dia: God (Irish)

—l—

Ádh mór: Good luck (Irish)

A/N: So that’s that on that. Baby Ayana is home safe and sound! So is Hazel!

 Low-key why do I write about bars so much I don’t even go to bars????? And I never really have????? Anyways…..here we are! The end. Didya like it? Did y’all have fun on the journey? This was as much a writing exercise as it was a passion project for me. I wanted to see if I could (1) even write a mystery (2) incorporate magic in a vaguely realistic way (3) ONLY write four parts and (4) write everything ahead of time and release it weekly like a TV show, while still keeping people interested. I feel like I low-key did that lolllllllllllll

That being said I can’t wait to revisit this and turn it into some type of script because I def want to expand on these worlds and characters even more. Especially Detective Erik, even though he’s the most human, there’s something more I think he deserves that I couldn’t quite get my finger on just yet. 

I have an inkling of an idea for a future take, but that won’t happen for a while I think. Writing this was my break from writing my book, and even with life stuff not going perfectly, I’m finally feeling good about diving back into my book and my characters! I’m so close to being done so wish me luck! 

My faerie Roaen is Irish, so you see Angel speaking Irish in that one scene because I have a light obsession with Celtic mythology and Ireland in general. I love that place. Everything is so damn green. 

Finally, I want to thank absolutely EVERYONE for reading and liking and reblogging and sharing this story. It really means the world to me especially as a fairly new writer. (This is only my second fic lol) You guys lift my spirit every time you read and I truly am blessed to have y’all reading my story. 

The Mystery of the Golden Fang Mood Board

A Map Made in Heaven

Masterlist

Taglist: @princessstevens @muse-of-mbaku @k-michaelis@queenamaniii@thatrandomfangirl98@dreadedphilosphy@killmongurl @thelovelyliterary@elaindeereads @thedom223 @muse-of-mbaku@bidibidibombaclaat @panthergoddessbast @writingmarvellousimagines @someareblindtoitsbeauty @jozigrrl@iamrheaspeaks @purple-apricots @thadelightfulone@janelledarling @killmongersgurl

[mislavthehunter]

The Garrison, fall

Mislav always watched the trees in the morning as he sat on the steps of his cottage with a mug of tea and a warm breakfast. It had been years since he last cared about days or months, now the seasons was his calendar and the sun his only timekeeper. He hunted or went fishing during the day, went to the town for provisions and to sell meat and furs and pick up bounties for bandit hands after dark, and the trees told him which animals to hunt, when the salmon would start struggling up the river, and when to build provisions and move the stacks of firewood closer to his cabin.

The forest was painted in greens, golds and reds, the nights were cold but the days still gave enough heat that the frost had not yet settled. The villagers would be bringing in the last apples and pears by now and they would start hoarding their money, Mislav knew, no matter how much they would like pelts to keep their beds warm come winter. Mislav closed his jacket tightly around himself as a gust of wind tore through the fields, making the leaves spin and dance along the path like wildfire.

He eyed the stack of furs and the backpack he had prepared last night and decided to follow the wildfire, deciding it was as good a sign as any. He washed and put the cup and bowl and spoon into the little cupboard, locked the door and cut through the woods, west and north, taking the long route and making sure to check the road was empty before he crossed it. He had done everything he could to stay within the limits set for him by the villagers for so long that he could almost feel the chain he had willingly forged for himself tighten around his neck and drag him back to his territory. Mislav ignored it, grit his teeth, and pushed on.

The people who had reclaimed the sawmill, once Geralt had dealt with whatever horrors had besieged the place, did not mind Mislav. They had their own business going delivering materials for the Nilfgaardian garrison, and since they delivered wood and Mislav delivered pelts, they were not in any kind of competition but rather recognised that they were mutually increasing the chances that the Nilfgaardians would stay and keep spending their wages and gold on exotic luxuries and restoration projects. He nodded at them, they nodded back, and did not make any comment when Mislav filled his water skin from the well before going on his way, keeping to the road now that the terrain started turning into marshlands.

It was well into the afternoon when he heard the drill sergeant yell well-meant abuse at his soldiers, and as he turned the corner, the entirety of the garrison came into view.

They had done good work since Mislav last visited, perhaps three months ago. It had been during summer, and he had sold a good amount of simple strap sandals to the soldiers who were keen on having something to wear that would let their feet breathe while they were off duty. Much had changed. They had built a landing dock by the broken bridge, set up a dry dock for smaller ships and two boat houses and now they were working on a long ramp reaching out into the river. Out of sight, Mislav could hear that they were busy doing something up at the ruins of the keep as well. It seemed the Nilfgaardians were here to stay. No one in or around White Orchard complained about this as they had gotten used to the new regime. The keep was out of the way, useless to the villagers, and having a well paid, standing army close by kept the sales up and the nekkers, drowner and bandit population down. For Mislav, it meant getting paid properly. Paid so that he had money to put by.

The soldiers currently on guard duty had been here long enough to both recognize Mislav and to have lost the edge on that horribly keen attitude that was the trade-mark of all soldiers eager to prove their worth. He got nods and curious questions regarding what he had brought in this time, so he showed them the pelts and told them of the order put down by the quartermaster, then showed them the wolf and bear fangs he had gathered and spent a few evenings drilling holes in and fashioning leather strings to pull through each one. Soldiers liked such trinkets, they were small enough to not break uniform regulations, and they used them to get the attention of girls in the south when they were sent back to Nilfgaard on rotations. By the time he had gotten past the gate guards, he had already sold three, and the word was spreading.

The bear fangs were sold out by the time he reached the broken bridge, and the wolf ones soon after. The double sets of panther fangs went last, he had priced them beyond what he thought he would get for them, but the drill sergeant had happily dished out the thirty crowns he asked for both sets, humming happily before he went back to yelling at three young soldiers who had been set to the task of moving the sea to the east the use of buckets.

As he was not allowed into the keep itself, Mislav leaned on the railing and watched the three soldiers walk down to the water, fill the buckets, carry them a hundred paces along the bank to the east, empty the buckets, and then walk back to repeat the process. Mislav remained puzzled about the seemingly pointless activity until the drill sergeant asked them if they felt like showing up for duty drunk again. Mislav shook his head, felt like he should smile, and turned his back on them to let them work at their punishment in peace.

The other soldiers were either training, doing chores or building things, having seemingly grown tired of the hurry-up-and-wait approach of the regular army. It was almost growing into a second town with all the construction going on. For someone who lived a solitary life in the woods, the size and life in the garrison was overwhelming, so Mislav was perfectly content being left alone until the quartermaster came rushing down the stairs to pick up and pay for his order of otter skins before rushing back, trailing assistants and paperwork to the amusement of the soldiers.

The sun was low on the horizon when commander Peter Saar Gwynleve finally showed up, all pleasant smiles and firm handshakes. He, like his soldiers, had the appearance of a Nilfgaardian who had been in the North for a while. He still held onto his southern style, polished black and gold armour and neatly trimmed beard, but like his fellow soldiers he had adopted some aspects of what the city-dwellers liked to think of as terribly exciting northern wilderness.

“My sincere apologies,” Gwynleve said , apparently to the pelt by Mislav's side. “Paperwork, you know how it is.”

Mislav didn't, but nodded anyway. He figured it was much like checking snares, it was something that had to be done. He opened the straps on the burlap roll and got to his feet, lifting the big bear pelt so the commander could get a good look at it.

He had spent time on this one. The skin was soft as silk and the fur cleaned and brushed, as agreed, and he could tell by the glint in the commander's eyes that it was fulfilling a few dreams. A grand bear pelt was proving to be a symbol of status and virility in Nilfgaard as well as in the north, or wealth, depending on how the owner of the pelt chose to tell the tale of how he came to own it.

“Wonderful work, as always, Mislav,” Gwynleve said as he nodded to two soldiers who stepped forward and took the pelt from him, folded it up and carried it between them up into the garrison while Mislav was given a heavy pouch of coin in return. He wondered if he should have said something, thanked the commander perhaps, but it felt wrong to do so and he doubted he could say anything that sounded remotely acceptable, so he nodded, kept quiet and waited for Gwynleve to leave.

He did not.

“You know, it is rather late,” the commander said, probably aiming for casual but ended up with an accidental, but calculated strike at Mislav's maladjusted sense of danger, setting off all the warning bells at once.  “Why don't you stay the night? We are having mutton chops with potatoes cut up into little boats, I hear it is considered a delicacy up here in the north. As my guest?”

“Thanks for the offer, sir,” Mislav said, and shook his head, hardly hearing his own voice over the frantic beat of his own heart. “But I best head back. Much to do before winter.”

“I see,” Gwynleve said, and he sounded disappointed of all things. Disappointed and confused. “You will not get far before nightfall, however. Can I at least extend the hospitality of the garrison, if not the keep?”

“Not to worry, I'll be staying with a friend. I'll have no challenge making it to his place by nightfall,” Mislav said, feeling cold sweat trickle down his back and soak into his shirt as he stood and put his backpack on. Gwynleve was standing between him and the steps down to the main path going through the garrison along the shore. He would not look up, would not beg, so he stared at the golden sun on the black armour and just stood there, pathetic, like a leashed dog waiting for a kick to the ribs.

“Very well.”

Mislav did not actually physically recoil from the hand that was proffered in his direction, but it was a near thing. He hesitated just for a moment before he took it, firmly, shaking twice before letting go.

“Give my best to your friend,” Gwynleve said as he stepped to the side. “And please do return soon if you find the time, furs are much sought after during winter and the nights are cold in the keep.”

“I'll return in a month or so, sir,” Mislav managed, mumbled a goodbye, and hurried off.

Gwynleve watched the hunter walk out of the east gate at a measured, calm pace, and wondered which odd northerner custom or phrasing he had misjudged or misunderstood this time. Perhaps a man did not invite another man to share a meal as a guest here in the wilderness. In Nilfgaard it was considered basic manners to build personal relations with ones business partners over a meal, but in this particular case, he was having as much success as the three young soldiers who had been attempting to move the sea to the east for the last three hours. It was not like he could physically restrain the man and expect to keep his rather excellent business either, no matter how much Gwynleve would have liked to hear the tales of a true hunter from the north.

“He left, sir?” a soldier asked, heaving for breath as he hurried up to the platform. “Hells, I wanted to ask him to reserve a bear fang necklace for me.”

“Yes, Hethelwhyte,” Gwynleve said, taking some pleasure in seeing the man surprised that he knew his name. “Perhaps we can make a list. Place a proper order, like we do for everything else. Go see the quartermaster and have it arranged, first come, first served, you know the drill.”

“Strange he didn't want to stay for food, sir. All the other traders do.”

“Hunters are solitary creatures here in the north,” Gwynleve said, faking expertise with practised ease. “He has every right to refuse, and we shall be respectful of their customs. Now, go see to the list.”

The soldier nodded, saluted with Nilfgaardian efficiency and set off up the stairs to the keep. By the time his footsteps had died away, the gates closed behind the hunter and left Gwynleve with his thoughts.

[aryalaenkha-a]

AESTHETICS

BOLD any which apply to your muse!

Feel free to add to the list!

[ COLORS ] red. brown. orange. yellow. green. blue. purple. pink. black. white. teal. silver. gold. grey. lilac. metallic. matte. royal blue. strawberry red. charcoal grey. emerald. indigo. ruby. navy blue. crimson. cream. mint green. pear green.

[ ELEMENTS ] fire. ice. water. air. earth. rain. snow. wind. moon. stars. sun. heat. cold. steam. frost. lightning. sunlight. moonlight. dawn. dusk. twilight. midnight. sunrise. sunset. dewdrops. fog.

[ BODY ] claws. long fingers. fangs. teeth. wings. tails. lips. bare feet. freckles. bruises. canines. scars. scratches. wounds. burns. spikes. feathers. webs. eyes. hands. sweat. tears. cheekbones. feline. chubby. curvy. short. tall. normal height. muscular. slender. trained. piercing. tattoos. strong. weak. struggling. athletic.lithe.

[ WEAPONS ] fists. sword. dagger. spear. scythe. bow and arrow. hammer. shield. poison. guns. axes. words. throwing axes. whips. knives. throwing knives. pepper sprays. tasers. machine guns. slingshots. katanas. maces. staffs. wands. powers. magical items. magic. rocks. mud balls. rifles. canons. gunblades.

[ MATERIALS ] gold. silver. platinum. titanium. diamonds. pearls. rubies. sapphires. emeralds. amethyst. metal. iron. rust. steel. glass. wood. porcelain. paper. wool. fur. lace. leather. silk. velvet. denim. linen. cotton. charcoal. clay. stone. asphalt. brick. marble. dust. glitter. blood. dirt. mud. smoke. ash. shadow. carbonate. rubber. synthetics.

[ NATURE ] grass. leaves. trees. bark. roses. daisies. tulips. lavender. lily of the valley. petals. thorns. seeds. hay. sand. rocks. stream. roots. flowers. ocean. river. meadow. forest. desert. tundra. savannah. rain forest. caves. underwater. coral reef. beach. waves. space. clouds. mountains. woods. hills. highlands.

[ ANIMALS ] lions. tigers. wolves. black panther. eagles. owls. falcons. hawks. swans. snakes. turtles. ducks. bugs. spiders. butterflies. songbirds. whales. dolphins. fish. sharks. horses. cats. deer. dogs. bunnies. praying mantises. crows. ravens. mice. jackals. lizards. werewolves. unicorns. pegasus. dragons. foxes. phoenixes. peacocks.

[ FOODS/DRINKS ] sugar. salt. candy. bubblegum. wine. champagne. hardliquor. beer. water. coffee. tea. soda. spices. herbs. apple. citrus. orange. lemon. cherry. grappe. strawberry. watermelon. vegetables. gingerbread. fruits. meat. fish. pies. desserts. chocolate. cream. caramel. berries. nuts. cinnamon. stew. venison. pizza. ambrosia. bread.

[ HOBBIES ] music. art. watercolors. gardening. smithing. sculpting. painting. sketching. fighting. fencing. riding. writing. composing. cooking. sewing. training.dancing. acting. singing. martial arts. self-defense. technology. movies. theater. libraries. books. magazines. piano. violin. cello. guitar. lute. bass guitar. harmonica. harp. woodwinds. brass. trumpet. flute. drums. bells. playing cards. poker chips. chess. dice. riding. eating. climbing. running. hiking.

[ STYLE ] lingerie. armor. cape. dress. suit. tunic. vest. shirt. boots. heels. leggings. trousers. jeans. skirt. shorts. jewelry. earrings. necklace. bracelet. ring. pendant. hat. crown. circlet. helmet. scarf. neck tie. brocade. cloaks. corsets. doublet. chest plate. gorget. bracers. belt. layers. bandana. sash. coat. jacket. hood. gloves. socks. masks. cowls. braces. sweaters. watches. glasses. sun glasses. visor. eye contacts. makeup. implant. artificial parts. wearable tech. robes.

[ MISC ] balloons. bubbles. cityscape. landscape. light. dark. candles. war. peace. money. power. percussion. clocks. photos. mirrors. pets. diary. fairy lights. madness. sanity. sadness. happiness. manipulations. faith. optimism. pessimism. loneliness. family. friends. chronic pain. assistants. somnambulism. co-workers. enemies. loyalty. smoking. drugs. kindness. love. hugs. time. questions. kink.

Tagged by: Stolen Tagging : Anyone who wants to do it ^^

[abitterlifethroughcinema]

         #ABitterLifeThroughCinema’s WOKE! Film Reviews

     The Top Ten (+1) Best Movies of 2018 and where to find them!

                                                          by

                                           Lucas Avram Cavazos

+1…11. Overlord  Having its premiere at this year’s Sitges Int’l Film Fest, Overlord not only happened to be one of the fave films screened there this past festival, but this cinematic fantasy is an all-too-real and stark portrayal of a horror that actually occurred, and it deserves a nod from the Barcelona film critic family, so here it goes. Duly noted, I’d say. It starts with an insane aerial combat mission on the night of D-Day, one which goes awry and sees only a handful of paratroopers surviving the drop when enemy fire rains hell. They land in provincial France and the plot sets out to detail some of the inner workings of the Third Reich in reference to the insane, gruesome experiments done on captured Europeans and Jews. Those stories you’ve heard about turning these poor people into guinea pigs for super soldier intent using potent, injected serums…yeah, those? They’re true, if you believe the words of JJ Abrams. Are they as utterly brutal and horror/zombie film-like as displayed here? I sure as hell hope not. (now available On Demand and DVD)

10. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs There once was a film called O Brother Where Art Thou? While this is not its sequel, there is a sharp-witted vein to this film that could only be crafted and gifted to us by the Coen Brothers. What a hoot it is, even if it is a rather darkly-tinted hue of that hoot and humour. It is also one of their finest in years. Revolving around the singing cowpoke Buster Scruggs (Tim Blake Nelson) and five other tales brought to us with the commonly-threaded theme of death in often brutally funny ways, this film is a fine return to oddball form from two of the finest sibling directors of all time. Starring Liam Neeson, James Franco, Zoe Kazan, even Tyne Daly and so many in its vignettes, and that acting star power fuses this Western comedy into new territory for the brothers. Their previous works set in the west always seemed to be re-hashing works of years gone by but here, with their usage of almost comic-book-like details and witty banter make this much more enjoyable than their other historical works like O Bother and their remake of True Grit. Best western in absolute years! (available on Netflix or VOD)

9. Eighth Grade This poignant little film, which should have been wide-released everywhere the world over, is given fierce and bittersweet star power by Elsie Fisher, protagonist and student at the heart of this film. Comedian Bo Turnham has brought us the quintessential coming-of-tweenage story and along with Fisher, everyone in this film is so perfectly placed in their roles, especially Josh Hamilton as her dad, who deserves some nominations for this film but is unlikely to get any. Telling the story of 13-year old Kayla, we the audience get a sneak-peek into the minds and lives of today’s young adults. From her simple YouTube videos made to encourage other young kids to her obvious desire to fit in with older kids to her insecurity with boys, this film paints a stark reality that too many have lived through and this little indie film deserves aplomb from anywhere it can get it! (now available On Demand and DVD)

8. A Star is Born I skipped the critics’ screening of this film for the mere fact that I couldn’t bear to see if the acting and plot lines were another torrid take on a much-redone film. Even into the holiday season, I had not yet seen it and then when I did, I certainly took back any reservations. Bradley Cooper’s update of the film starring himself and Lady Gaga is just about as good as everyone said it was, and that was beyond refreshing to note post-viewing. In many ways, I feel that Cooper is likely revealing a few things about himself with the guise of “it’s a movie” being a nice cover; in some ways, he gives us what I believe are hints of his covert life, and it’s with Gaga’s turn as Ally that we really see him shine beyond the shtick of his character, country-rocker Jackson Maine. In a tad corny-tad, gripping way that takes hold the moment you see Gaga, let’s be frank and real, this film goes on to detail a Diet Coke version of the grim realities that often detail too many a tale of celebrity in Hollywood. Without revealing too many details of the film’s plot and denouement, we are looking at a necessary conversation about alcoholism, drug addiction and fame (plus a lack of ’NO’ men/women in many relationships) that needs to addressed for all ages. Well done, Mr. Cooper Goes to the Oscars. (At select screens, On Demand & DVD)

7. El Angel Incidentally, this may be the first time in a rather long time that I say something good about Argentinian men, so do take note. Telling the true story of fresh-faced boy killer Carlos Robledo Puch, played to Oscar-worthy perfection by newcomer Lorenzo Ferro, the masterful detail to which director Luis Ortega has crafted this arthouse meets dramedy-thriller is astounding and easily touches heights set by dePalma and even, dare I say it, Scorcese. We follow young Carlitos Puch, who is just nearing the edge of seventeen, as takes up with a rough and tough family of his devilishly attractive school chum Ramon, played by the spirited Chino Darin, son of Ricardo Darin. But as Carlitos comes to find out, his street crimes can easily be paved to real ones and his sadistic tendencies suddenly yet gradually paint a picture of someone who is in part desperate for attention and tacceptance and in part a fairly smart, well-to-do young adult. He parlays his sociopathy at pubescence into psychopathy with time, and this film will likely be, but should definitely not be, forgotten come awards and Best Of lists time.(available On Demand and DVD)

6. Black Panther As Oscar season comes to a head, it is worth talking about one of the most striking films that you’ll see for a while. Black Panther is that good, not only because of its genre but also because of its message: that seeking freedom through recreating systems of oppression will only extend the ill-treatment and broken nature we find ourselves in nowadays. Set in the fictional African nation of Wakanda, protagonist King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) brings us the first real black superhero from the Marvel universe. With a cast including Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker and Michael B Jordan, the acting is beyond impressive. What is even more amazing, however, is how the plot power-plays many elements of our world’s current political climate. (now available On Demand and DVD)

5. Chappaquiddick Another film which is nothing short of striking in its relevance to the current political situation in the USA. Senator Ted Kennedy was the only remaining Kennedy that I was familiar with throughout my adolescence and early adulthood. Jason Clarke as the Massachusetts senator is astounding, as is the cut of his jib and chin, although the accent was a tad weak, to be ever sincere. This is a complete revelation on the many details that were only gingerly touched upon during the course of the week following the death which this movie is detailing . As the facts are laid out in the film, it astounds me that the American people continued to vote and elect Kennedy for decades after. This is a study on arrogance, class and governmental ambiguity. And if that was the case with liberals in the Sixties, how much more so with conservatives in this digital age? My favourite film of last year’s BCN Film Festival. (now available On Demand and DVD)

4. Private Life Good Lawd this is such a heartwarming/breaking story with the finest elements of believable comedy and situational realism that define the art of the classic Gen X film from the 90s to now. May we never forget that it was Gen, and even those a few years before them, who gave us the digiverse-Netflix-instant oatmeal www.orld in which we live today and when I see a very NYC film like this one, it makes it a true reality check. Being the age that one should be married with kids, I watched Kathryn Hahn as Rachel absolutely slay the silver screen and am eager to see if she picks up any more accolades throughout the current awards season. Simple plot…she’s in her early 40s and her hubby Rich (played by Paul Giamatti) is entering his late 40s and they are fully entrenched within the confines of every single way to conceive a baby. Following the couple through their trials and tribulations really get pushed up an ante when sort-of relative Sadie (the lovely Kayli Carter) decides she will be the surrogate mum for them as things get a tad pear-shaped. This could easily be dubbed a dreamed, for in effect, it is; what needs to be known is that this is also a morality tale for a new age. The old-fashioned ethics of yesteryear just do not apply anymore, at least not in big cities, and the less is more factor easily makes this one of the finest films released within the last year. (available on Netflix)

3. BlacKKKlansman Without a doubt, this is the finest work in all too many years by Spike Lee, and he takes no prisoners in letting you know that the spilled essence of blaxploitation all over this celluloid is to egg you into knowing that this story is 100% true…and crazy. The mere fact that David Duke is literally cheerleading for the current President of the United States should scare us all and wake those who are not. Watching actor John David Washington portray Ron Stallworth, the real-life cop who slyly infiltrated the inner workings of the Klu Klux Klan 40 years ago. After signing up for the Colorado Spring PD, he realises the lack of trust in the 98% Anglo-Saxon workforce, as he’s thrown into monitoring the goings-on of any Black Panther student situations. Eventually, he takes up with a guy on the force that he can dig called Flip and played to skilled excellence by the oddest of lookers Adam Driver. Basically, the plot follows the twosome, as they tag team the aforementioned white supremacist movement, Ron being the voice and Flip being the wingman as they start an investigation on grand wizard bastard himself David Duke, played to troubling perfection by Topher Grace, evoking all of the calmness and utter sociopathic tendencies of a man reviled by most yet revered by still too many. And watching this taut film and how it rolls through such a daunting story with comedic aplomb and vicious realness gives you goosebumps. That said, as the film gets toward its ending, is when Lee gives you the goods when he flashes to scenes from the crazy Charlottesville, Virginia, riots, AntiFa protesting and subsequent death of Heather Heyer, may she rest in peace. God Save the World…and Amerikkka.

2. Fahrenheit 11/9  Premiering a few weeks ago here in Spain at very select cinema screens across the country, this is the first documentary in some time by Michael Moore that could play across an international landscape and should be required viewing on any critic’s or person’s list. The titular oddity refers to the day after we all woke up across the world in shock and awe that Donald J Trump had won the Presidency of the USA. Even if this is not Morre’s best film to date, it is undoubtedly the one that holds the viewers’ feet to the fire and calls for them to fight the nasty funk of this administration. But, it’s when he takes it back to his roots, to Flint, Michigan, and ends up involving all local and state politics, that we start to see the more sinister undertakings happening amongst conservative parties, ideals and societies. When you add in the fact of the Parkland High School shooting and the way Moore later fuses footage of Hitler and his minions and followers with a rally speech made by the current occupant of the White House, it becomes all too obvious that things are exactly as we think they are (A HOT MESS!) and we have very little recourse rather than claiming truth. (now available On Demand and DVD)

1. ROMA There are tender moments of realism that are permitted to happen with the rise of instant cinema on VOD and direct-to-home films, and it has been a pleasure to see that sites like Netflix and Amazon and Canal+ have truly added to the foray in which great celluloid can be brought to the masses. Case in point comes the finest piece of dramatic celluloid that graced the silver screen in the last year. Being a Mexican whose father is a naturalised citizen of the US and a mother who is Chicana from the US, like myself and my siblings, the sentimentality ran deep with this film. One of the differences I experienced was the fact that we were the only Mexican-American family in a stately US country club…and we had an entire childhood spent with loving housekeepers, which is what this film inherently is honouring and depicting, using the backdrop of Alfonso Cuarón’s take on growing up in 70s-upper middle class Mexico City in the neighbourhood of Roma. Depicting the life of the house assistant Cleo (first-time performer Yalitza Aparicio in a J.Hud moment, frankly) and the family of Sr. Antonio (Fernando Grediaga), a doctor in the Mexican capital, what Cuarón has called his most personal film to date, is also a B&W modern tale in the vein of Gone with the Wind, and the fact that he centres around a privileged Mexican family is poignant for several reasons: it not only takes a focus away from how Donald bloody Trump has painted Mexicans, in general, to the world, but it also highlights a very human element to how many classes of society function and live there in the frontier regions of North America and, more importantly, EVERYWHERE…easily put, this is a sweet, oft-times simple, oft-times brutal story on humanity. What binds so many critics together on this film’s merits is that fact that Alfonso Cuarón has crafted the past year’s most enigmatic movie, leaving us to make our own answers to what happens to Lady Cleo, her best mate Teresa, and this beautiful family. Absolutely and quietly stunning! (available on Netflix and selects screens across the country)

[gal-the-violet]

Characters Bolded: Galtara Ashe

BOLD any which apply to your character or their aesthetics. Remember to REPOST!

Feel free to add to the list!

Tagged by: My good friend @s-v-rasmussen

Tagging: The usual people I tag @marcy-lark  @bhaldstyr-ahtahrmsyn @cahli-tia @raeynnblackthorne @s-udarshana @johngallaf @sorya-marin @gararmstrong @witchfightrhythm @enkrypted-expressions @gunnarsvard

[ COLORS ] red. brown. orange. yellow. green. blue. purple. pink. black. white. teal. silver. gold. grey. lilac. metallic. matte. royal blue. strawberry red. charcoal grey. emerald. ruby. navy blue. crimson. cream. mint green. pear green. aubergine. indigo. turquoise.

[ ELEMENTS ] fire. ice. water. air. earth. rain. snow. wind. moon. stars. sun. heat. cold. steam. frost. lightning. sunlight. moonlight. dawn. dusk. twilight. midnight. sunrise. sunset. dewdrops. fog.

[ BODY ] claws. long fingers. fangs. teeth. wings. tails. lips. bare feet. freckles. bruises. canines. scars. scratches. wounds. burns. spikes. feathers. webs. eyes. hands. sweat. tears. cheekbones. feline. chubby. curvy. short. tall. normal height. muscular. slender. trained. piercing. tattoos. strong. weak. struggling. athletic. lithe.

[ WEAPONS ] fists. sword. dagger. spear. scythe. bow and arrow. hammer. shield. poison. guns. axes. words. throwing axes. whips. knives. throwing knives. pepper sprays. tasers. machine guns. slingshots. katanas. maces. staffs. wands. powers. magical items. magic. rocks. mud balls. rifles. cannons.

[ MATERIALS ] gold. silver. platinum. titanium. diamonds. pearls. rubies. opals. sapphires. emeralds. amethyst. metal. iron. rust. steel. glass. wood. porcelain. paper. wool. fur. lace. leather. silk. velvet. denim. linen. cotton. charcoal. clay. stone. asphalt. brick. marble. dust. glitter. blood. dirt. mud. smoke. ash. shadow. ink. carbonate. rubber. synthetics.

[ NATURE ] grass. leaves. trees. bark. roses. daisies. tulips. lavender. petals. thorns. seeds. hay. sand. rocks. stream. roots. flowers. ocean. river. meadow. forest. desert. tundra. savanna. rainforest. caves. underwater. coral reef. beach. waves. space. clouds. mountains.

[ ANIMALS ] lions. tigers. wolves. panther. eagles. owls. falcons. hawks. swans. snakes. turtles. ducks. bugs. spiders. scorpions. birds. whales. dolphins. fish. sharks. horses. cats. stag. dogs. bunnies. praying mantises. crows. ravens. mice. lizards. werewolves. unicorns. pegasus. dragons. foxes. peacocks. chocobos. dodos.

[ FOODS/DRINKS ] sugar. salt. candy. bubblegum. wine. champagne. hard liquor. beer. coffee. tea. spices. herbs. apple. citrus. orange. lemon. cherry. strawberry. watermelon. vegetables. gingerbread. meat. fish. pies. desserts. chocolate. cheese. cream. caramel. berries. nuts. cinnamon. burgers. burritos. pizza. ambrosia. cardamom.

[ HOBBIES ] music. art. watercolors. gardening. smithing. sculpting. painting. people-watching. sketching. fighting. fencing. riding. writing. composing. cooking. sewing. training. dancing. acting. singing. martial arts. self-defense. technology. board games. exploration. theater. libraries. books. piano. violin. cello. guitar. duduk. harmonica. harp. woodwinds. brass. trumpet. flute. drums. bells. playing cards. poker chips. chess. dice. eating. climbing. running. hiking.  anthropology. biology. arcanima.

[ STYLE ] lingerie. armor. cape. dress. suit. tunic. vest. shirt. boots. heels. leggings. trousers. jeans. skirt. jewelry. earrings. necklace. bracelet. ring. pendant. hat. crown. circlet. helmet. scarf. neck tie. brocade. cloaks. corsets. doublet. chest plate. gorget. bracers. belt. layers. sash. coat. jacket. hood. gloves. socks. masks. cowls. braces. watches. glasses. sun glasses. visor. makeup. implant. artificial parts. wearable tech. robes.

[ MISC ] balloons. bubbles. cityscape. landscape. ruins. light. dark. candles. war. peace. money. power. percussion. persuasion. clocks. photos. mirrors. pets. diary. fairy lights. recklessness. madness. sanity. sadness. happiness. manipulations. optimism. pessimism. loneliness. family. friends. chronic pain. empathy. assistants. somnambulism. co-workers. enemies. loyalty. smoking. drugs. kindness. love. hugs. time. questions.

[s-v-rasmussen]

Characters Bolded: Soren Rasmussen

BOLD any which apply to your character or their aesthetics. Remember to REPOST!

Feel free to add to the list!

Tagged by: No one!  I swiped it from @stride-the-aether !

Tagging: @galofeorzea @marcy-lark @sleepy-moon-spite @bhaldstyr-ahtahrmsyn @cahli-tia @raeynnblackthorne and uh whoever else wants to?

[ COLORS ] red. brown. orange. yellow. green. blue. purple. pink. black. white. teal. silver. gold. grey. lilac. metallic. matte. royal blue. strawberry red. charcoal grey. emerald. ruby. navy blue. crimson. cream. mint green. pear green. aubergine. indigo. turquoise.

[ ELEMENTS ] fire. ice. water. air. earth. rain. snow. wind. moon. stars. sun. heat. cold. steam. frost. lightning. sunlight. moonlight. dawn. dusk. twilight. midnight. sunrise. sunset. dewdrops. fog.

[ BODY ] claws. long fingers. fangs. teeth. wings. tails. lips. bare feet. freckles. bruises. canines. scars. scratches. wounds. burns. spikes. feathers. webs. eyes. hands. sweat. tears. cheekbones. feline. chubby. curvy. short. tall. normal height. muscular. slender. trained. piercing. tattoos. strong. weak. struggling. athletic. lithe.

[ WEAPONS ] fists. sword. dagger. spear. scythe. bow and arrow. hammer. shield. poison. guns. axes. words. throwing axes. whips. knives. throwing knives. pepper sprays. tasers. machine guns. slingshots. katanas. maces. staffs. wands. powers. magical items. magic. rocks. mud balls. rifles. cannons.

[ MATERIALS ] gold. silver. platinum. titanium. diamonds. pearls. rubies. opals. sapphires. emeralds. amethyst. metal. iron. rust. steel. glass. wood. porcelain. paper. wool. fur. lace. leather. silk. velvet. denim. linen. cotton. charcoal. clay. stone. asphalt. brick. marble. dust. glitter. blood. dirt. mud. smoke. ash. shadow. ink. carbonate. rubber. synthetics.

[ NATURE ] grass. leaves. trees. bark. roses. daisies. tulips. lavender. petals. thorns. seeds. hay. sand. rocks. stream. roots. flowers. ocean. river. meadow. forest. desert. tundra. savanna. rainforest. caves. underwater. coral reef. beach. waves. space. clouds. mountains.

[ ANIMALS ] lions. tigers. wolves. panther. eagles. owls. falcons. hawks. swans. snakes. turtles. ducks. bugs. spiders. scorpions. birds. whales. dolphins. fish. sharks. horses. cats. stag. dogs. bunnies. praying mantises. crows. ravens. mice. lizards. werewolves. unicorns. pegasus. dragons. foxes. peacocks. chocobos. dodos.

[ FOODS/DRINKS ] sugar. salt. candy. bubblegum. wine. champagne. hard liquor. beer. coffee. tea. spices. herbs. apple. citrus. orange. lemon. cherry. strawberry. watermelon. vegetables. gingerbread. meat. fish. pies. desserts. chocolate. cheese. cream. caramel. berries. nuts. cinnamon. burgers. burritos. pizza. ambrosia. cardamom.

[ HOBBIES ] music. art. watercolors. gardening. smithing. sculpting. painting. people-watching. sketching. fighting. fencing. riding. writing. composing. cooking. sewing. training. dancing. acting. singing. martial arts. self-defense. technology. board games. exploration. theater. libraries. books. piano. violin. cello. guitar. duduk. harmonica. harp. woodwinds. brass. trumpet. flute. drums. bells. playing cards. poker chips. chess. dice. eating. climbing. running. hiking.  anthropology. biology. arcanima.

[ STYLE ] lingerie. armor. cape. dress. suit. tunic. vest. shirt. boots. heels. leggings. trousers. jeans. skirt. jewelry. earrings. necklace. bracelet. ring. pendant. hat. crown. circlet. helmet. scarf. neck tie. brocade. cloaks. corsets. doublet. chest plate. gorget. bracers. belt. layers. sash. coat. jacket. hood. gloves. socks. masks. cowls. braces. watches. glasses. sun glasses. visor. makeup. implant. artificial parts. wearable tech. robes.

[ MISC ] balloons. bubbles. cityscape. landscape. ruins. light. dark. candles. war. peace. money. power. percussion. persuasion. clocks. photos. mirrors. pets. diary. fairy lights. recklessness. madness. sanity. sadness. happiness. manipulations. optimism. pessimism. loneliness. family. friends. chronic pain. empathy. assistants. somnambulism. co-workers. enemies. loyalty. smoking. drugs. kindness. love. hugs. time. questions.

[hasty-touch]

Behind the Character(s)

I was tagged by @mostdangerouspotato in this “About the Player” meme!

Name: Isaac

Gender: male

Star sign: Cancer (moon Aquarius, ascendant Virgo, which means I'm an eccentric, neurotic hermit. That much fits.)

Height: 5'5"

Age: Freshly 30!

Wallpaper: Boring solid black... My phone lockscreen is my dog's face, though.

House: Slytherin but also I'm a firm believer in the geosocial specificity of the Hogwarts Houses, so because I am not British, N/A.

First ever crush on teacher: My history of science professor in undergrad was the cutest creature, omg. Small and English and always in the brown-tweed-jacket-with-elbow-patches uniform except sometimes I think his wife must have been out of town because his color choices would suddenly be Very Off and his tie would stick out the bottom of his vest. 10/10 adorable.

Coolest Halloween costume: I'm one of those trans people who used Halloween as an excuse to dress normally. Some people continue to love Halloween but since I came out, I haven't really needed or wanted to wear costumes.

Favourite 90’s TV show: Magic School Bus and Bill Nye the Science Guy.

Last kiss: Payin' @sonderjack the Smooch Tax for cooking me some eggs.

Have you ever been stood up: Not that I can recall IRL. I am lucky!

Favourite pair of shoes: I own only one pair of shoes..............

Favourite fruit: I LOVE many fruits, especially lychee and Asian pear, but can't eat the real things because of my messed-up digestion. >_< Of the fruits I'm able to eat, blueberry's probably my favorite.

Favourite book: Choosing just one is difficult, as I'm sure it is for most people... I'm feeling a particular fondness for Northanger Abbey right now though.

Stupidest thing you’ve ever done: I dunno if it's the stupidest but trying to pull a partly-opened lid off a can with my bare hand was pretty stupid.

All time favourite shows: I watch a LOT of documentary miniseries but I don't know if they count. More entertainment-y, I recently enjoyed Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrel, and of course I love those series of The Great British Bake Off that got brought to PBS as The Great British Baking Show. "All time favorite", though? Hmm... Does Pride and Prejudice 1995 count!?

Last movie I saw in theaters: Black Panther!

[rayray150]

Get to know me!

Rules: Answer 20 questions; Tag 20 people

(I’m gonna break the rules by only tagging 14 people, so feel free to break the rules as well by not answering the questions if you don’t want to 🤷)

Tagged by: @trenchcoatdevilsworld

Name: Rachael (Rachie)

Zodiac Sign/Birthday: Taurus, May 14

Height: 5′5′’

Languages I speak:  English, Spanish is going to be added next school year too.

Nationality: American

Favorite Fruit: Grape, Pineapple, Oranges, Pears, peaches

Favorite Color: Blue or Red

Coffee, Tea, Hot Cocoa, Water, Pop: hot cocoa, water or Dr. Pepper

Favorite Show/Movie: … All of them..?

Show’s:  Voltron(depends on my mood), Once Upon A Time, Law and Order: SVU, Adventure time,Miraculous Lady bug,Fairy Tail, SAO,  there is so many more that I can’t think of omg

Movie’s: every single freaking Marvel movie,  Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, Suicide Squad, Spirit Stallion of the Cimarron, How to Train Your Dragon, Decendents, Transformers, Greatest Showman, Gladiator (and so many more I can’t think of)

Favourite Food enthnicity: Asian

Favorite Holiday: Halloween

Favorite People: My Dad, Baby sister, All the marvel cast,  Thomas Doherty, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Russel Crow, Johnny Depp (and some more)

Favourite Disney Princess: Cinderella, Mulan, Belle, Bucky Barnes(Marvel is apart of disney)

Books or E-books: Books

Hobbies: Drawing, writing, reading, eating, sleeping, Listening to music, roleplaying, watching movies, playing SSO, playing MC, playing Roblox, traveling, swimming, thinking, riding horses

Last Movie seen:  Captain America Winter Solider(tbh best movie I have watched from Marvel, ((I haven’t watched black panther yet so idk))

Favourite Animal: Horses, dragons, fish, dogs, cats, birds, all animals really lol

Show’s that always make me laugh: ummm Impractical Jokers, Ridiculousness, Drunk History, Adventure Time, and Markiplier(i know he isn’t on tv technically but I like to watch him on youtube)

Favorite Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Supernatual, sometimes comedy, sci-fi, western

_________________

So, that’s it. I don’t like it, but I’ll have to tag a few of you WOOO xD

@thatawkwardtinyperson(cause I like chewww)

@mslead(I like you chew :3)

@trashforbrits

@tuliptx

@capandbuck

@avery1234 

@mysticcdiamond

@cookies186

@wanna-see-my-lease

@redgillan

@caplansteverogers

@astridthefearless

@papi-chulo-bucky(cause I like chew)

@violentlybarnes