#puzzle me this

[booksandwords]

Puzzle Me This by Eli Easton

Read time: 1 Days Rating: 4/5 Stars

The Quote: “Do you always talk this much when you’re falling asleep? You’re practically snoring between words.” “I talk in my sleep too. So it never ends really.” — Alex and Luke

Warnings: Suicide mention and depression. There is an unethical sexual relationship in Alex's past. He wasn't groomed but something is very, very wrong with it.

I actually appreciate many of the plot points in this. Mostly the important use of a counsellor and the use of the disability as the point of anxiety. It was a very natural stressor on the relationship to my eyes it's exploiting inbuilt ableism to a degree though in Lukes's case combines with a horrendous family story. I need to say that I think most humans have a degree of ableism built-in on some kind of base level. I can't judge it but I like that it takes something to get over it. BTW for those new to me, I'm epileptic, and my family did not take it well. It is invisible but it is still a disability, still impacts my day-to-day life, and it is still there. I honestly mean no offence to anyone with my comments.

Main characters Alex and Luke are both likeable enough. Alex feels quite young in his endless optimism playful nature and minimal history. His romantic history is designed to make a reader angry. Luke is what I call a dumb intelligent man, if you have ever been around that kind of man you'll know. They both have scars and compatible interests. Honestly, they are one of the better couples I've read about in a while when it comes to chemistry and compatibility. They have a great meeting and introduction too. One of them is "1 across – Two can play _ _ _ _ 10 down – Made it up _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 11 across – Axe to grind _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 20 down – Blue-eyed _____ _ _ _ _ _ 31 across – ___ as a button _ _ _ _ 32 down – Greeting _ _ _ _ _ [game designer woodsman blond cute hello]"

I saw at least one editing error. Though it wasn't just a name it feels like the whole sentence structure and language is wrong for the character it is supposed to be. I do recommend this, it is well written (even with the editing issue) and will ask the reader to think about their own prejudices. It just feels modern in the way it works through its issues and in the ending. It is HEA but that doesn't always feel like a given and I appreciate that.

Some comments and quotes. • What he was sitting in just didn’t seem to matter much to Luke’s body. Or his heart. — This is such a basic quote it feels like it should be obvious but that is part of the point of the book. It isn't always that clear so many of us have inbuilt ableism to contend with. (Luke)

• Alex was so happy he couldn’t sit still. He put on some music and danced his chair in the open spot in his living room, jerking the wheels back and forth like a DJ scrubbing a record, doing tight spins, and banging his head to the music. He was so freaking happy he felt ready to burst out of his skin. — This whole moment made me smile. It's just so freaking adorable. Alex is adorable. (Alex)

• “See, if I put a clue like that in one of my games, I’d be driven from the industry with whips and scourges.” “That’s because video gamers have no patience. Crossword puzzlers love to be stumped. And they like to learn ridiculous things that no one in their right mind would possibly know, just so they have something to say at cocktail parties.” Luke rolled his eyes. “Yeah, the anoa thing would make a hell of a pickup line.” “It would for female buffalos.” Luke laughed. “God, you’re as nerdy as I am.” Alex pretended to be offended. “Oh, hell no, California boy. I’ve got you beat there by a mile.” — (Luke and Alex)

• Seeing those hands at work so competently, Luke had to force himself not to think about what they’d feel like on his body. — Oh, that I get. Competency kink is something more authors need to write. (Luke)

• “It doesn’t suck,” Alex agreed. “Not too humid, thankfully. Though it might rain later.” “Stop! Don’t say rain. Do you have a musical preference for our totally sunny drive today?” — This just reminds me of a quote from The Night Shift about the Q word in the Emergency Room, ditto applies to retail. (Alex and Luke)

• Luke and Alex's sisters are used to effect. One playing the voice of reason and protective older sister. The other is a point of contrast and a safe harbour in a storm.

• “Before you left San Francisco, you told me how important it was to you to find a more meaningful relationship. That was part of why you moved back to Pennsylvania. And it sounds like you found what you were looking for.” Luke leaned forward, head in his hands. “Alex is so great. He’s the best person I’ve ever met. It’s so easy to be with him.” Gordon made a thoughtful noise. “When you talk about Alex, you light up in a way I’ve never seen in you before.” Luke knew that was true. Something deep inside of him just freaking loved Alex. — I need to say that I appreciate the use of a counsellor, Gordon, in sorting out the anxiety involved. It is such a modern and important take on romance. (Gordon and Luke)

• Con people were cool people. And probably horror con people were his people, though Luke was not gonna admit that out loud. — One of the plot points is The Philadelphia Horror Con. All the conversations and moments at the con are reasonable. Certainly enough to indicate Eli has been to them, been surrounded by them and enjoyed them. (Luke)

• I adore Marco. I just didn't expect him. A six-foot-one gay Japanese-American computer programmer.

• This is an August-December romance, with some decent time skips involved.

[crumb-crumblet-s-crumbington]

strange animal attempts to show affection for the first time ever

[zosanbrainrot]

Could you draw Sanji crying & sobbing? Love your drawings<3

why would anyone(me) make him cry so much stooopp

this was the first ask I saw when I first checked for requests, I enjoyed drawing these sm!! lmao

thank you! 💗💗💗

[thetoyboxs]

We get up to some fun down in the LU Discord Server (I am so inactive the gods were shocked I was there)

[gardentool]

[Another Itadori training session]

Nanami: You couldn’t use Black Flash fast enough. You just killed Y/N.

Y/N: Honey…

Nanami: I can’t hear you, Y/N. You’re dead.

Nanami, to Yuji: They bled out in your lap. How will you break the news to me? Let's see.

Yuji: We don't have to do this.

Nanami: Ah, Itadori, how are things going with Y/N, the love of my life? Wait, why are you here at this late hour? And whose blood is that?

Yuji: Okay, I get it.

Nanami: It's Y/N’s? This is devastating. I'm inconsolable. And…

[Nanami snaps his fingers]

Nanami: I’ve killed myself.

Yuji: Cool. I can see this is gonna be fun…

[outer-stars]

something something green light Gatsby parallels

was majorly inspired by this passage in the Great Gatsby (can't believe the Book of Bill has me revisiting this book for the first time since 2014), so this was the result.

The parallels between Gatsby and his 'green light' and early Ford & Bill's dynamic where Ford's also reaching for something unattainable ('forbidden' knowledge) and ends up hurting himself and others in the process...my muse. (At least in this universe Ford lives; bro made it out better than Gatsby)

[mikayare]

oooh I love drawing vashwood side profiles...

[wishfulsketching]

Date night inside the submarine

Ed doing a thousand piece puzzle of a clear sky while Oswald gets wine drunk out of boredom. Romantic!

[fan-a-tink]

Something about how loudly Edwin says Charles' name in this scene has been driving me insane and I think I've finally figured out why.

When Charles finds Edwin in hell, Edwin is rolled into a little ball of misery, covered in blood and quietly sobbing. It's probably a position he's developed over decades, making himself as small as possible, being as quiet as possible, trying to take up as little space as possible. He's almost pretending he doesn't exist in order to stretch out the moments before the spider finds him and the loop starts again.

And then Charles says his name and Edwin looks up and sees Charles, and it's like all of his defenses just vanish. He doesn't whisper Charles' name, he says it, loudly, as if he has completely forgotten where he is and that they need to be quiet. He gets up, unfurls his limbs, slowly standing up to his full height, taking up space again. Every instinct in his body should tell him to stay hidden and as invisible and silent as possible, but Charles has just smiled at him, and Edwin speaks again, asking "Is that you?" and letting out a shaky breath of relief.

He is completely vulnerable and exposed now, like Charles' arrival has made him completely forget that they are in hell and that he could be ripped apart by a spider doll demon at any moment. All the defences he has built up over literal decades just completely crumble as soon as he hears Charles' voice.

And then the spider comes and rips him away, and I don’t think it would have done (at least not yet), had Edwin not alerted it to his presence like that. I think that’s why this moment wouldn’t let go of me, because I always thought it shouldn’t be this easy for Edwin to abandon a survival tactic he has developed over decades of torture. But all it takes is Charles being there, and Edwin forgets everything else.

[carnivalcarriondiscarded]

im a simple guy! i think about puppy Barnaby. i promptly explode into bloody heart-shaped confetti

[newts-and-bones]

The goofs!

[lovely-v]

Me before completing the forest temple: okay I get that ocarina of time is fun and nostalgic for people but it’s a bit of a stretch to call it one of the greatest video games of all time

Me after completing the forest temple: By revealing that Link is not a Kokiri, but a Hylian, the game effectively strips him of his humble origins amongst a group of people that already fail to recognize him in his adult form. Thus, kokiri village instantly becomes a location that is no longer Link’s home in any sense, exacerbated by the fact that the game now loads up in the temple of time instead of Link’s bedroom— he is a stranger in the only place that has ever been familiar to him and he is depressingly reduced to his destiny alone. However, the subsequent introduction of the time travel mechanic, which allows the player to travel from the horrific apocalyptic future back to the idyllic past of Link’s childhood, gives new meaning to the idea of this “destiny”. In effect, Link is not a stock “chosen one”, but a protagonist who consciously decides to fight onwards. Link’s dual existence as a child who knows the grim future and as an adult who was powerless to stop disaster gives a sort of desperation to his character, because while it brings the player relief to revisit the Castle Town that is populated by cheerful villagers instead of lurking zombies, the story can only be progressed through the acknowledgement of reality — the decision to make those seven years pass again. Therefore, both the player and Link as a character must be proactive in their heroism and make the conscious choice to struggle onwards despite the darkness that permeates—

[shepscapades]

SHEP

DRAW MORE SLEEPY XISUMA

AND MY LIFE IS YOURS

(no pressure of <3)

ANYTHING FOR YOU ANONYMOUS

[mypuchiart]

Non-textured version under the cut

[birrdify]

what if 4 just went so coo coo crazy once that even mr puzzles would catch onto his weird ass behaviour<3

[tetras-stuff]

me: are you sick of me talking about solas?

my partner: solas this, solas that. if he's so great why can't he grow hair?

me: because he's old. ancient elves can't grow hair.

my partner: who told you that? solas? i bet he did. I bet he said "ooh look at me it's because I'm so ancient and wise" and then in veilguard there will be ancient elves with luscious long hair and it will be a really awkward conversation. what then, huh?