#rae mckinney

[practically-an-x-man]

Ok ever since I sent out that "what your characters would say is their favorite thing about their partners vs. their actual favorite" ask to a few friends I've been wanting to do it for my own OCs/ships so here goes:

(long and somewhat sappy-romantic post ahead, you've been warned)

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Rae Would Say: Warren's eyes Her Actual Favorite: The moments when he shows his gentleness and kindness in subtle ways, like offering to help carry a stranger's groceries out to their car for them if he sees them struggling. He doesn't always believe he's a good person after what he's been through, but she loves to see how kindness still seems automatic to him despite that doubt.

Warren W. Would Say: The way Rae puts her hand on his back, right between his wings, when she comes up behind him His Actual Favorite: How unbelievably dedicated she is to protecting the things she loves - it can border on dangerous and that scares him, but he's also included in that list and it makes him feel valued and wanted.

____

Robin Would Say: How Peter can turn anything into a good time Her Actual Favorite: How much focus and attention he gives to her, especially when it comes to things like learning ASL or helping her through her TBI recovery. She knows slowing down isn't easy for him, but it means a lot that he's willing to take the time to learn and support her.

Peter M. Would Say: Robin's singing voice His Actual Favorite: Genuinely her singing voice, though really it runs deeper than just liking the way it sounds - it's tied to how they first met, he finds it calming and just hearing her sing can make him happy after a bad day, and it's even more special since it took a while for her to start singing again after her TBI

____

Madison Would Say: The way he always has her back Her Actual Favorite: The way he makes her feel at ease - it takes a lot for her to genuinely trust someone enough to let her guard down all the way, and she loves that she can relax around him.

Alex Would Say: The little fascination she has with his hands (she'll just reach for his hands and start kind of...fidgeting with them? He finds it wildly endearing) His Actual Favorite: The way she unconsciously leans into him even when she's asleep - like she knows it's him and trusts him even when she's not even awake

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Ophelia Would Say: The way she can joke with him Her Actual Favorite: The way he really understands and empathizes with what she's been through, even the dark patches of her life

Peter P. Would Say: Her intellect and quick wit His Actual Favorite: Similar to Ophelia's actual answer, the way she understands the dark parts of his life and helps him move past them

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Gia Would Say: Kate's laugh Her Actual Favorite: The way Kate doesn't judge her for her anxiety issues or illness flares, and the way she'll try to rearrange the plans to accommodate them so they don't have to cancel things entirely

Kate Would Say: When Gia gets a little flustered- it's just adorable! Her Actual Favorite: The way Gia's willing to expand her comfort zone for her... that's not easy for her and Kate knows it, and even more once she has the context for everything Gia went through before, so it means a lot that she's willing to expand those boundaries.

____

Jasper Would Say: How he's always there for them - even when they've had fights, he always shows up when they need them Their Actual Favorite: Same as above, but with the context that their dad got into an accident just a few days after Jasper and Kyle got into a big fight, and Kyle still showed up and drove them across three states so they could be there for their dad- he really does show up when it counts

Kyle Would Say: How they don't flinch at the bad times, they just take it all in stride His Actual Favorite: How unafraid they are to be themself - it takes a lot of guts to be openly alt and openly queer in Louisiana, especially while still being a part of female-dominated spaces like nursing and roller derby, and he respects the hell out of them for it

____

Kestrel Would Say: His eyes, they're that gorgeous hazel color that reminds them of autumn leaves Their Actual Favorite: His confidence, both out in the field and in their relationship. He's steady when Kestrel falters, and that's what they need sometimes.

Warren B. Would Say: Their adaptability and problem-solving His Actual Favorite: The place they've found amid his family - his family is everything to him, and so is Kestrel, and he's grateful to see them find a home with him.

____

Katherine Would Say: His chivalry, he's always such a gentleman Her Actual Favorite: She really does love his chivalry, he treats her with so much respect and she always feels incredibly loved and valued

Ahk Would Say: Her creativity His Actual Favorite: How open-minded she is - and not even about the magic itself, she's just always willing to learn more about the people around her, and she never has judgements about their experiences

____

Quinn Would Say: How he notices all the little details Their Actual Favorite: All the little things he does to support her, and how he genuinely enjoys doing those things for her - it's never a burden to him, he just wants her to be happy and will do anything he can to make that happen

Billy Would Say: The way she looks, he just thinks she's stunning His Actual Favorite: How they've always got each other's backs, he can always count on her to watch out for him, to have a backup plan ready if things go wrong, and to trust her when he's not sure who else to trust.

____

Eris Would Say: His body - they'd insist it's a purely physical, carnal attraction His Actual Favorite: How Rick seems to see her as more than just a weapon or an embodiment of chaos, he seems to genuinely value them as a person and see the depth that others - even Eris themself - tend to miss

Rick Would Say: Those quiet late-night moments where Eris allows himself to be soft His Actual Favorite: The little moments when Eris proves they care about him - tossing his favorite snacks into the grocery cart, stashing an extra mag in their armor pouch so he doesn't run out of ammo, the rare moment they openly show that affection in larger ways, etc.

____

Nikoletta Would Say: Abner's gentleness Her Actual Favorite: The way he always seems to notice when she needs attention or support, even when she's bad at noticing that for herself. He's good at pulling her away from her self-destructive and isolating spirals

Abner Would Say: *wouldn't actually be able to articulate any verbal thoughts, it's too on-the-spot and too personal His Actual Favorite: The way he never feels like a burden when it comes to her - he's able to speak his mind, he's able to express his wants and needs and have those things actually met instead of ignored, she remembers his routines, etc.

____

Jimmy Would Say: Lars' intelligence His Actual Favorite: The fact that no matter how much of a workhorse Lars can be, and no matter how much he might put up a show of being annoyed when Jimmy tries to coax him to take a break, he always does put a bookmark in his work if Jimmy asks. The theatrics are just for fun - he knows where Lars' priorities really lie.

Lars Would Say: Jimmy's genuine kindness and generosity His Actual Favorite: His intrinsic love for humanity and the people around him, no matter their background - not only surprising for a man of his background, but refreshing against a world of cynics.

____

Vivienne Would Say: How strong and competent he looks when he's working on the ship Its Actual Favorite: His pet names for her - she finds them endearing, for one, but it's also reassuring to have those little reminders of how he cares about her since she didn't get that affection or respect from her first husband

Wojchek Would Say: Her stories His Actual Favorite: How transparent it is - it wants something and it tells him without waiting for him to guess, she tells him she loves him all the time, she might enjoy playing with language but she's very clear about what she feels

____

Indigo Would Say: How well-spoken he is Her Actual Favorite: Just how much he cares about her - maybe that feels cheap, but for someone who's been on her own effectively from the beginning, there's something incredibly valuable about everything he's willing to do for her in both the big gestures and the little moments

Hux Would Say: How she's so unafraid to be herself His Actual Favorite: How she's always seen him as more than his past or his reputation; he can't change the past, but he's trying to be better, and her faith in him helps him fight for that.

____

Prometheus Would Say: His voice Their Actual Favorite: The way he always reaches for them. He's always got an arm around their shoulders, a hand on their knee when they're sitting down, an excuse to hold them when they take a break for the night... it's like he always wants to keep them close.

Corinthian Would Say: Their dedication to what they do His Actual Favorite: The fact that he's not exempt from their protectiveness if he were to harm the dreamers they defend - it seems a little backwards, but to him it helps keep things grounded, and it reminds him that they really see him for what he is and not just some romanticized image of him.

____

Might add Spider and Terra later on, but I don't have a firm grasp on their relationship dynamics just yet.

[negative-speedforce]

Here's a prompt for you: write a crossover between Erin and one of my X-Men/superhero OCs?

Little AU piece where Erin finds someone else rather than being sucked into the Brotherhood...

Might not be perfectly in character, I'm not 100% familiar with Rae.

When Rae opened the door, the last thing she expected to see was what looked to be a small dragon, dripping wet, standing on her front porch.

"I'm sorry." They shivered, blood oozing from a gaping gash in their wing. One of the thin, delicate bones in the scaly membrane of their wing was broken, and Rae wasn't sure how they had even survived in the air long enough to reach her. "They told me... you were safe. I didn't have anywhere else to go."

On second glance, what she thought was a dragon was actually a person, with vibrant, green-scaled skin, horns, wings- all the things one would expect a dragon to have. They were young, too- sixteen at the oldest, and likely a girl, but Rae couldn't quite tell with all the mutations.

"You're injured." Rae would normally say something far more elequent, but given that it was three in the morning and she had been roused from sleep less than five minutes ago, that would have to do.

"Please, no. No doctors."

Then, they fell. Crumpling to their knees, then collapsing onto the ground, the young mutant toppled into a heap of exhausted limbs on the porch. Rae sighed. Warren was gone, and so were the kids. She'd have to do this by herself. She could hopefully bring the kid down to Xavier in the morning, if she could coax them into it, but it was best not to scare them off already.

She'd seen this same wound on Warren before. Having a partner with wings made this easier- after all, the anatomy appeared to be the same, just minus the feathers. She didn't know who had shot the kid, but judging by the bruised flares of swollen purple in between their green scales, it had been part of a fight.

Rae picked up the kid, carrying them to the living room coffee table. She layed them out on their stomach, their wings flopping awkwardly down on either side of them. She took the broken one, laying it out on her lap, first aid kit on the table next to her- it'd come in too handy to justify putting back in the bathroom cabinet, after all.

The young mutant's wing was wrapped with bandages and treated with an antibacterial ointment. Thankfully, the bleeding had slowed enough that it didn't soak through the bandages, and the kid didn't show any other of the telltale signs of blood loss. They were likely just exhausted and injured.

The kid slept on that coffee table for nearly fourteen hours straight, despite Warren trying to wake them up on several occasions to ask who they were, and why they were there. When they finally awoke hours later, they were immediately greeted with a blanket and a mug of warm soup.

"Hi." The kid said shakily. The bruises under their scales had faded, giving Rae the impression that they had some kind of healing factor. "I'm sorry for passing out like that, it's... been a wild last twenty-four hours, to say the least."

"I can tell." Rae nodded. "What's your name?"

"Erin. Erin D'Amelio." The kid, Erin, wrapped their arms around themself. "I'm so sorry, again. I just didn't have anywhere else to go. They told me you were safe. You wouldn't let them find me."

"Is there someone after you?" Rae asked, worried for her family's safety.

"My parents." Erin explained. "Religious nutjobs, the both of them. I woke up looking like this yesterday, and my dad tried to kill me. They chased me to the county line in their truck, with guns and dogs, but I made it out. I learned how to fly."

Rae frowned. "Do you think they'll follow you here?"

"No, but... you know how it is. You find a runaway kid, you're supposed to give them back to their parents, right?" Erin took a sip of the soup. "I can't go back. They'll kill me. Fuck." A sudden look of realization crossed Erin's face. "I can't go back. I just realized that."

"I don't know what's going to happen right now." Rae put her hand on Erin's arm. The skin outside of their tee shirt sleeve was rough and scaly, almost sharp. "But I promise we'll find somewhere for you. Have you ever heard of Charles Xavier?"

[can-of-pringles]

OC Valentine's Challenge: Day Eight: Give Me Love

Today's the day to give a gift to my friend @practically-an-x-man ! I made a wallpaper of his oc, Rae Mckinney. I really hope you like it!

[woobie-wan]

“The UN Charter was drafted in 1945 by people who had learned the lessons that the aggression, isolationism and tariff barriers of the 20’s and 30’s had led the world into a conflagration. Article One makes it clear: threats of annexation are illegal. So are unilateral tariffs in breach of a trade agreement.” - Canadian Ambassador to the UN Bob Rae

Here is some good analysis of why Trump is like this:

"I’m going to get a little wonky and write about Donald Trump and negotiations. For those who don’t know, I’m an adjunct professor at Indiana University - Robert H. McKinney School of Law and I teach negotiations. Okay, here goes.

Trump, as most of us know, is the credited author of “The Art of the Deal,” a book that was actually ghost written by a man named Tony Schwartz, who was given access to Trump and wrote based upon his observations. If you’ve read The Art of the Deal, or if you’ve followed Trump lately, you’ll know, even if you didn’t know the label, that he sees all dealmaking as what we call “distributive bargaining.”

Distributive bargaining always has a winner and a loser. It happens when there is a fixed quantity of something and two sides are fighting over how it gets distributed. Think of it as a pie and you’re fighting over who gets how many pieces. In Trump’s world, the bargaining was for a building, or for construction work, or subcontractors. He perceives a successful bargain as one in which there is a winner and a loser, so if he pays less than the seller wants, he wins. The more he saves the more he wins.

The other type of bargaining is called integrative bargaining. In integrative bargaining the two sides don’t have a complete conflict of interest, and it is possible to reach mutually beneficial agreements. Think of it, not a single pie to be divided by two hungry people, but as a baker and a caterer negotiating over how many pies will be baked at what prices, and the nature of their ongoing relationship after this one gig is over.

The problem with Trump is that he sees only distributive bargaining in an international world that requires integrative bargaining. He can raise tariffs, but so can other countries. He can’t demand they not respond. There is no defined end to the negotiation and there is no simple winner and loser. There are always more pies to be baked. Further, negotiations aren’t binary. China’s choices aren’t (a) buy soybeans from US farmers, or (b) don’t buy soybeans. They can also (c) buy soybeans from Russia, or Argentina, or Brazil, or Canada, etc. That completely strips the distributive bargainer of his power to win or lose, to control the negotiation.

One of the risks of distributive bargaining is bad will. In a one-time distributive bargain, e.g. negotiating with the cabinet maker in your casino about whether you’re going to pay his whole bill or demand a discount, you don’t have to worry about your ongoing credibility or the next deal. If you do that to the cabinet maker, you can bet he won’t agree to do the cabinets in your next casino, and you’re going to have to find another cabinet maker.

There isn’t another Canada.

So when you approach international negotiation, in a world as complex as ours, with integrated economies and multiple buyers and sellers, you simply must approach them through integrative bargaining. If you attempt distributive bargaining, success is impossible. And we see that already.

Trump has raised tariffs on China. China responded, in addition to raising tariffs on US goods, by dropping all its soybean orders from the US and buying them from Russia. The effect is not only to cause tremendous harm to US farmers, but also to increase Russian revenue, making Russia less susceptible to sanctions and boycotts, increasing its economic and political power in the world, and reducing ours. Trump saw steel and aluminum and thought it would be an easy win, BECAUSE HE SAW ONLY STEEL AND ALUMINUM - HE SEES EVERY NEGOTIATION AS DISTRIBUTIVE. China saw it as integrative, and integrated Russia and its soybean purchase orders into a far more complex negotiation ecosystem.

Trump has the same weakness politically. For every winner there must be a loser. And that’s just not how politics works, not over the long run.

For people who study negotiations, this is incredibly basic stuff, negotiations 101, definitions you learn before you even start talking about styles and tactics. And here’s another huge problem for us.

Trump is utterly convinced that his experience in a closely held real estate company has prepared him to run a nation, and therefore he rejects the advice of people who spent entire careers studying the nuances of international negotiations and diplomacy. But the leaders on the other side of the table have not eschewed expertise, they have embraced it. And that means they look at Trump and, given his very limited tool chest and his blindly distributive understanding of negotiation, they know exactly what he is going to do and exactly how to respond to it.

From a professional negotiation point of view, Trump isn’t even bringing checkers to a chess match. He’s bringing a quarter that he insists of flipping for heads or tails, while everybody else is studying the chess board to decide whether it's better to open with Najdorf or Grünfeld.”. — David Honig

[selfless-desires]

let me assign you a nature aesthetic and also maybe psychoanalyse you in the process (snatching this from rae) if interested , I did it for these characters of mine : steve , leland , johnny & frank !

steve harrington : sun - oh, your emotions are contagious. you wear your heart on your sleeve, your feelings on your face, and your thoughts on your tongue - you may have been told to hold it sometimes, but you're not one to take that from people. your friends love you for your energy and passion. when you love something, people know it. when you hate something, they know it tenfold. being around you, as a loved one, is a bask in morning sunlight: warm, comforting, and a celestial hug. being around you, as a not-so-loved one? a sunburn, given your sharp tongue and hot words. remember that you can be a lot to handle for some people, especially those more reserved. sometimes, you need to pace yourself when throwing yourself into commitments and relationships. you're genuine, but it can be hard to adjust to. don't compromise yourself for that, though. be yourself, sun. leland (river) mckinney : sun - oh, your emotions are contagious. you wear your heart on your sleeve, your feelings on your face, and your thoughts on your tongue - you may have been told to hold it sometimes, but you're not one to take that from people. your friends love you for your energy and passion. when you love something, people know it. when you hate something, they know it tenfold. being around you, as a loved one, is a bask in morning sunlight: warm, comforting, and a celestial hug. being around you, as a not-so-loved one? a sunburn, given your sharp tongue and hot words. remember that you can be a lot to handle for some people, especially those more reserved. sometimes, you need to pace yourself when throwing yourself into commitments and relationships. you're genuine, but it can be hard to adjust to. don't compromise yourself for that, though. be yourself, sun. johnny slaughter : ocean - you're full of things - love, hope, despair. the good, the bad, and the ugly. you're full of emotion, and it can get too much. when you love, you love freely, like an ocean breeze stinging cheeks and kissing skin. when you hurt, it's a storm aching to burst out of you. when you feel, you feel with all the rage and tenderness of the ocean. being around you is electric; it's the charge of lightning before the rain and the salt in the sea air. it's full of energy. it's being washed over. it's breathtaking. but don't let it drag you under the riptide. keep your head up, stay afloat. i know it can get too much. i know, but you have to trust in your ability to tread water, okay? the tide will pull and you'll wash ashore again, i promise. frank morrison : cloud - this might be obvious, but you keep your head… in the clouds. you keep yourself lost in daydreams; is it because you like to dream big, or is it because it's an escape from what's real? you might find it hard to keep yourself anchored in reality because there's so much more you could be and do. you might not be the most contagiously optimistic person: i think you keep your dreams and hopes to yourself in fear of what others might think. there's still something about you others are drawn to. it might be good to let them in sometime. maybe it's hard, but i believe in you! you know your dreams? they're achievable. you can do it. if things aren't the way you wish they were, i'm sorry. don't let others tell you what you can and can't achieve. think big and keep your head high, dreamer. it's good to be grounded and realistic, but it's also good to let your emotions take the reins sometimes.

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

☀️ Young Adult Fiction Coming Out Summer 2023 ☀️

🌻 The first half of the year flew by, but there are still so many amazing YA books to read in the months ahead! Young adult fiction gives us a glimpse into a pivotal time in a character's life; a time of self-discovery, growth, and endless possibilities. Experience that sense of possibility yourself with these YA books coming out later this summer! 🌻

🌴 Stars, Hide Your Fires by Jessica Mary Best (July 11) 🌺 All the Yellow Suns by Malavika Kannan (July 11) 🍍 The King is Dead by Benjamin Dean (July 18) 🌸 Splintered Magic by L.L. McKinney (July 18) 🐚 What a Desi Girl Wants by Sabina Khan (July 18) 🫧 Firebird by Sunmi (July 18) ☀️ The Third Daughter by Adrienne Tooley (July 18) 🌊 The Valkyrie’s Shadow by Tiana Warner (July 25) 🦋 Rana Joon and the One and Only Now by Shideh Etaat (July 25) ⛱ Damned if You Do by Alex Brown (August 1) 🍦 The Bewitching Hour by Ashley Poston (August 1) 🍉 The Last Girls Standing by Jennifer Dugan (August 15) 🍹 Teach the Torches to Burn by Caleb Roehrig (August 22) 🐬 Unexpecting by Jen Bailey (August 22) 🌅 Cold Girls by Maxine Rae (August 22) 🕶 Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh by Rachael Lippincott (August 29)

[practically-an-x-man]

That's super cool!! Rae works as a translator and speaks a variety of different languages to benefit her career :D

And I love the mental image of Alden swearing in a dozen different languages' curse words when he gets hurt, that's hilarious XD

For the ask game, Rae + is a polyglot

Alden is, too! Over the course of his career he's picked up a ton of Portuguese, a fair bit of Spanish, and quite the litany of curses from the various languages his crews over the years have spoken. It's mesmerizing to watch what he says when he stubs his toe.

[gossipdrop]

Is It Wrong to Wear a Bra and Biker Shorts in Public? 🐣| Gossip Drop ...Yea Gossip

#GossipDrop Is It Wrong to Wear a Bra and Biker Shorts in Public? 🐣| Gossip Drop ...Yea Gossip #AddisonRae #BikerShorts #SportsBras #KUWTK #Snatched #Thirsty #Desperado #GymLife #FitnessOutfits #GymOutfits #KourtneyKardashian #PICS #PopCulture #TEA

(more…)

[practically-an-x-man]

Since I was just talking about this with a friend... here's the symbolism for my various OCs' names!

At least... here are the main OCs, though I usually apply symbolism to the antagonists, secondary characters, etc. as well (I can talk about them too, but that would make this post ridiculously long)

____

Rachel "Rae" Ayla McKinney: the name Rae is used as a shortened nickname from Rachel, but on its own means "protector" - fitting, with her protective personality and ability to create impenetrable energy shields! Middle name was chosen from her grandmother's first name; the same grandmother that she inherited her mutation from. Surname was not chosen with intentional deeper meaning, just chosen for a Scottish surname. Hero name, Aegis, is a reference to Athena's mythological shield.

Robin Eleanor Cassidy: first name is both a traditionally Irish name and links back to the music- and sound-based themes within her story. Middle name is also Irish in origin, and can be seen as a variation on the name Leonore, as in the opera Fidelio. Surname wasn't chosen with deeper symbolic meaning, just to connect her to the X-Men's Cassidy family as a whole. Hero name, Aria, is a reference to her sound-based mutation and operatic background.

Madison Sarah Douglas: first name has multiple derived forms, one of which means "strength in battle", and was also chosen with nicknames in mind to symbolize the stages of her life: she goes by Maddie until she's 15, then leaves that behind once she runs to the wilderness and begins going only by her full name, then begins to adopt the nickname "Mads" as she grows comfortable with Alex. Middle name was chosen from a list of popular names for the time, intended to be simple and unassuming like Madison's parents (her mother especially) expected her to be. Surname is can be translated from Gaidhlig to mean "black stream", a symbol towards her aquatic-based mutation. Hero name, Lionfish, is a reference to the physical traits her mutation grants her, and in the earlier stages of her story can be seen as foreshadowing towards the venomous fins and more lionfish-like traits she will later develop.

Ophelia Jo Octavius: first name stems from the Shakespearean Ophelia, intended both to connect her to her literary-focused mother and to foreshadow the tragedy she will experience throughout her life (and at one point, foreshadows her multiversal variant that genuinely goes mad and later dies to her own actions). Middle name is also literary, stemming from Little Women; however, her middle name is only Jo, not the full Josephine, meant to symbolism Ophelia standing apart from expectations. Surname is not chosen with deeper meaning, just to tie her into the canon Octavius family, but the alliteration of her first and last name is meant to be "superhero-like" and further connect her to her father. Hero name, Argonaut, represents both Jason's mythological Argo and a species of pelagic octopus.

Giovanna "Gia" Isabelle Pantazis: First name, in both its full and shortened forms, translates to "God is gracious", symbolizing Gia's faith and feeling that her surviving HYDRA was an act of God's will. Middle name also holds faith-based translations to further this symbolism. Surname is derived from the Greek blessing "live forever!", representing how having her life force bound to her clover makes her effectively immortal (at least in certain ways).

Jasper Nightingale Wilson: First name was chosen from a list of modern gender-neutral names, mainly meant to be a fitting, likely choice for a name a genderfluid teen would choose for themself in the 2010s. Middle name was chosen to honor Florence Nightingale, Jasper's personal hero and the person that inspired them to go into nursing. Surname can be derived in some ways from "desire", but was also chosen for an ongoing joke with their partner about having "two first names". Derby name, Gemstone, is meant as a connection to the name Jasper. [note: I will not be analyzing the symbolism of their deadname, and I didn't choose extensive symbolism for their deadname even if there's some to potentially be found. The only thing I chose to line up is that they chose their former derby name to be derivative of their first name, the same way Gemstone is derived from Jasper]

Indigo: Uses no surname until marriage - first because she didn't know her family, later as an act of rebellion for how "loaded" her family surnames would be. She chose her first name herself, for the deep blue color of her eyes, because being a foundling on the dog-eat-dog world of Corellia meant nobody bothered to choose a proper name for her (prior to choosing her name, her guardians would just summon her with "girl!" or "hey, you!"). Name was also chosen with a nickname in mind, both to provide variety and as a symbol of familiarity as she moves through the story.

Prometheus: Name as a nightmare was Nyx (from the Greek god of night), or the Fear of the Dark, for them being a primal nightmare of the dark. Name as a dream keeps the Greek mythological roots, but represents them claiming fire for the sake of the human dreamers they choose to protect, as well as representing the day-by-day injury they undergo in order to protect those same dreamers. The transition from Nyx to Prometheus also represents them becoming closer to their human dreamers - beginning as a primordial god, ending as a human hero.

Eris: Given name from Themyscira was Adamantia, meaning "untameable" or "unbreakable". After their bloodlust and sense for conflict became clear to the people around them, those on Themyscira began referring to them as Eris - believing they were an embodiment of conflict itself, a reincarnation of the Greek god Eris (similar to the Ares story in Wonder Woman)

Nikoletta Bordeaux: First name means "victorious" and is drawn from the Greek Nike. Surname is a region in France, but has no other translated or derived meaning (especially considering that Nikoletta's family stem from Louisiana Cajun French, not traditional French, and the further linguistic separation there). Altogether, her name symbolizes "a victory that means nothing", indicating the various façades she implements while in Belle Reve - holding a position that only grants her power while within the prison, and her abilities themselves being used as a symbol for death while actually having no tangible danger.

Azalea Jordan "AJ" Campbell: First name is a flower, connecting her to her mother Violet as well as representing her career as an assassin in disguise: azaleas are beautiful flowers, but are toxic to humans and animals. Middle name, as well as her nickname, are intentionally gender-neutral, meant to symbolize her ongoing disguises and anonymity as an assassin (since the names apply to any gender, there are fewer visual assumptions that can be made about her). Surname translates to "crooked mouth", representing and foreshadowing the reveal of her facial scars.

Quinn: Any surname or former name for her have not been revealed or even decided, and I don't intend to choose any - that stage of her life has been left long in the past, and she's intentionally placed a distinction between that life and her current identity. The name Quinn has various meanings: it can be derived from "wise", "beautiful", or "chief", but was also chosen in-universe as a reference to Harley Quinn. Her rooftop name, Aces, furthers the association with Harley Quinn, decks/suits of cards, and luck/gambling.

Kestrel: Name and character design as a whole are pulled from an American kestrel - solitary animals save for their lifelong mating bonds, known to be adaptable to a variety of habitats and nesting conditions, and extremely effective hunters despite their small size. Former name, Deborah "Debbie" Browning, was merely meant as a mundane and human identity for them to have held before they revealed themself as a changeling.

Katherine Alessia Johnson: Name is largely derived from the NASA astronomer Katherine Johnson, known for contributing valuable research and computations to the moon landing (the moon symbolism also being tied back to the moonlight-powered Tablet of Khonsu). Middle name Alessia means "defender" or "truthful", notable elements of Katherine's character as well as her connection to Bastet, the Egyptian god of domestic protectiveness.

James "Jimmy" Aaron Luciano: As a whole, name was just chosen on a whim based on what sounded right, and wasn't intended with particular deeper meaning aside from being a period-accurate name for an Italian-American New Yorker in the 1910s. However, there is symbolism to be found in that both his former partner Robert and current love interest Lars choose to refer to him as James rather than his nickname.

Vivienne Siversdatter Andenæs: First name means "life", representing her being saved from death by her transformation into a siren - the name was also chosen to be a classically beautiful and feminine name, both for a siren's ethereal beauty and as a subversion towards Vivienne being nonbinary (at least, that it would be nonbinary by modern standards). Middle name is a family surname from Norwegian naming conventions, preserving her father's name. Surname has no listed translation or meaning, but is also Norwegian in origin.

Souriya "Spider" Prakash-Cooper: First name is Lao in origin and means "sun" to symbolize his explosive energy and social "brightness", and was chosen by his parents to honor his maternal grandfather. Surname is his parents hyphenated last names - his mother Adhira Prakash and his father Darius Cooper. Prakash also means "sunlight" to double that earlier symbolism; and while the surname Cooper originally derives from barrel-making, the name was chosen more for the juxtaposition between his father's family in America and his mother's family across India and Laos. His nickname Spider comes from friends at his speed-climbing gym, who gave him the nickname for his long limbs and fast, eclectic climbing strategy.

[can-of-pringles]

Who would fall in love with Jasper? How about Rae?

Hmm good options. Um... for Jasper, I think a good match would be Dannie.

As for Rae, hm. Iriel?

[duggardata]

Info, Please:  Extended Families  (Part 2, Bateses + In–Laws)

The Bates Family

The Bates Family is headed by William Gilvin (“Gil”) Bates (b. 1965) + Kelly Jo (Callaham) Bates (b. 1966). Together, they have 19 Children—Zach, Michaela, etc.—and 14 Grandchildren.  Gil’s Parents are William (“Bill”) Gilvin Bates + Jane Bates, and he has 2 Siblings—Greg and Jennifer.  As for Kelly Jo...  Her Parents are Kenneth Hubbard Callaham, Sr. (1934–2003) + Betty Jo.  (Duggar Data isn’t too sure of Betty’s last name.  She has been remarried twice.)  Kelly has 5 Siblings—3 Biological (Kenneth (“Chip”), Melinda (“Kay”), and Kim), and 2 Adopted (Beth and Beka).

Paternal Grandparents   William (“Bill”) Gilvin Bates + Jane Bates

Maternal Grandparents   Kenneth Hubbard Callaham, Sr. + Betty Jo

Paternal Aunts / Uncles   Greg Bates, Jennifer Bates

Maternal Aunts / Uncles   Kenneth Hubbard (“Chip”) Callaham, Jr., Melinda Kay Mount, Kim Jones Batten, Beth Miller, Beka Miller

Parents   William Gilvin (“Gil”) Bates + Kelly Jo (Callaham) Bates

Children   19 Children  (Zach, Michaela, etc.)

Grandchildren   14 So Far   

Read on for the Bates In–Laws...

The Balka Family

Kelton’s Family includes his Father, Michael Balka (b. 1966), and his Siblings—Ariana, Grant, Carson, and Kiersten.  Kelton’s Mother is Kristy (Dotson) Balka (1970–2009); tragically, she died in childbirth with her Fifthborn.  Kelton’s Maternal Grandparents are Gerald (“Jerry”) Dotson, Jr. + Norma Dotson.  His Paternal Grandparents are Unknown.

Paternal Grandparents   [ Unknown ]

Maternal Grandparents   Gerald (“Jerry”) Dotson, Jr. + Norma Dotson

Parents   Michael Balka + Kristy (Dotson) Balka

Children   Kelton Edward, Ariana Kristine, Grant, Carson, Kiersten Joy

Grandchildren   1 So Far  (Willow Kristy Balka)  

The Keilen Family

Brandon’s Family consists of Parents Ronald + Jillene (“Jill”) (Pope) Keilen, and 9 Siblings (7 Older, 2 Younger)—Angela, Ronald, Alison, Craig, Rebecca, Brent, Cara, Christy Ann, and Amber.  His Paternal Grandparents are Francis J. Keilen (1925–2007) + Hildegard (“Hilda”) T. (Simon) Keilen (1930–2012).  His Maternal Grandparents are Darrell H. Pope (1930–2008) + Geraldine (“Jeri”) Joyce Pope (1926–2018).          

Paternal Grandparents   Francis J. Keilen + Hilda T. (Simon) Keilen

Maternal Grandparents   Darrell Pope + Geraldine (“Jeri”) Joyce Pope

Parents   Ronald Keilen + Jillene (Pope) Keilen

Children   Angela, Ronald, Jr., Alison, Craig, Rebecca, Brent, Cara, Brandon, Christy Ann, Amber

Grandchildren   [ Unknown ]  

The Paine Family

Chad Paine married Erin (Bates) Paine in 2013.  Like Erin, He comes from a big family.  His Parents, Dr. Charles Stephen Paine., Jr. (b. 1960) + Tammy Paine (b. 1964), had 10 Children—Tabitha, Charles III (“Chad”), Thomas, Nathan, Hannah, Abigail (“Abby”), Gabrielle (“Brielle”), Josiah, Daniel, and Johnny.  Their Paternal Grandparents include Charles Stephen Paine, Sr. + Grace Elizabeth (McKinney) Paine (1930–2013).  Their Maternal Grandparents are Unknown.  

Paternal Grandparents   Charles Stephen Paine, Sr. + Grace Elizabeth (McKinney) Paine

Maternal Grandparents   [ Unknown ]

Parents   Charles Stephen Paine, Jr. + Tammy Paine 

Children   Tabitha Robertson, Charles Stephen (“Chad”) Paine III, Thomas Hugh Paine, Nathan Paine, Hannah Charis Pelletier, Abigail Unruh, Gabrielle (“Brielle”) Hardy, Josiah Samuel Paine, Daniel Paine, Johnny Paine         

Grandchildren   8 So Far  (+1 On The Way)  

The Perkins / Owens Families

Whitney’s Family is a bit complicated.  She was born to Biological Parents J.C. + Lynn Perkins, and is their only child.  As a teenager, she was adopted by her friend’s parents (Johnny + Lydia Owens) for unknown reasons.  Via the Owens Family, Whitney has 11 Adoptive Siblings.  She has 0 Biological Siblings.  She reunited with her Biological Parents sometime after marrying Zach Bates—but again, the details are fuzzy.  Recent episodes of Bringing Up Bates suggested that Whitney may no longer be in contact with her Adoptive Parents...  Neither they, nor any of her Adoptive Siblings, seems to have attended her and Zach’s 2018 Vow Renewal.  (See Bringing Up Bates (1–3–19), “Ultrasounds, Wedding Vows, and A Bride To Be?”)  Nothing is known about Whitney’s Grandparents.

Grandparents   [ Unknown ]

Biological Parents   J.C. Perkins + Lynn Perkins

Adoptive Parents   Johnny Owens + Lydia Owens

Children (Perkins)   Whitney Eileen Bates

Children (Owens)   Whitney Eileen Bates + 11 Others

Grandchildren (Perkins)   3 So Far  (Bradley Gilvin Bates, Kaci Lynn Bates, Khloe Eileen Bates)

Grandchildren (Owens)   Zach + Whitney’s 3 + [ Unknown ]  

The Smith Family

Tori’s In–Laws include Bobby’s Parents, Robert (“Rob”) Ellis Smith, Jr. + Sheri (Renner) Smith, and 2 Younger Sisters (Catherine and Amanda).  That’s all we know about Bobby’s family...  His Grandparents are all Unknown, except that his Paternal Grandfather is presumably Robert Ellis Smith, Sr.

Paternal Grandparents   Robert Ellis Smith, Sr. + [ Unknown ]

Maternal Grandparents   [ Unknown ]

Parents   Robert Ellis Smith, Jr. + Sheri (Renner) Smith

Children   Robert (“Bobby”) Ellis Smith III, Catherine Smith, Amanda Smith

Grandchildren   2 So Far  (Robert Ellis [“Kade”] Smith IV, Kolter Smith)  

The Stewart Family

The Stewart Family includes Evan’s Parents—Paul Dennis Stewart (b. 1954) + Denese D. Stewart (b. 1955)—his Older Sisters (Maegan, Brittany, Ashley, and Kailyn), and his Younger Brother (Ethan).  His Grandparents are Unknown.

Paternal Grandparents   [ Unknown ]

Maternal Grandparents   [ Unknown ]

Parents   Paul Dennis Stewart + Denese D. Stewart

Children   Maegan Stewart, Brittany Randolph, Ashley Sparkman, Kailyn Stewart, Evan Stewart, Ethan Stewart   

Grandchildren   7 So Far  (inc. Layla Rae Stewart)  

The Webster Family

Alyssa’s In–Laws include John’s Parents, Congressman Daniel Alan Webster (b. 1949) + Sandra (“Sandy”) Eileen (Jordan) Webster (b. 1952), and 5 Siblings—3 Older Brothers (David, Brent, Jordan), 1 Older Sister (Elizabeth), and 1 Younger Sister (Victoria “Tori”).  John’s Paternal Grandparents were Dennis Ray Webster (1916–1984) + Mildred Rada (Schoolcraft) Webster (1918–2001) (See Also).  His Maternal Grandparents are Unknown.  

Paternal Grandparents   Dennis Ray Webster + Mildred Rada (Schoolcraft) Webster

Maternal Grandparents   [ Unknown ]

Parents   Daniel Alan Webster + Sandra Eileen (Jordan) Webster

Children   David Lee Webster, Brent Alan Webster, Jordan Webster, Elizabeth Miller, John Elliott Webster, Victoria (“Tori”) Susannah Webster   

Grandchildren   18 So Far

[bangtanitalianchannel]

[TRAD ITA] 190215 TWEET DI SERENA MCKINNEY*:

“Ho abbinato il mio vestito con i suoi capelli? Forse. 💚💚💚 #Taehyung @bts_bighit” (N/B: *Una violinista e moglie del compositore Ludwig Göransson, vincitore di tre Grammy quest’anno.)

Traduzione a cura di Bangtan Italian Channel Subs (©Rae) | Trans ©ArmyBase_Sweden

[practically-an-x-man]

ooh, this one looks fun! oc's are in the tags, if you don't specify then I'll just do whichever one I feel like lol

OC questions :) you can do several in one post. Just give the desired characters name for the answer

Reblog if you want your followers to ask you these questions! :D

🎵 ~ song for said oc

🍓 ~ favorite fruit

🏀 ~ sports they play (or would if they could)

🎤 ~ favorite hobbies

🍟 ~ favorite place to eat out

👖 ~ favorite clothes to wear

🎷 ~ instruments they play (or listen too)

🍿 ~ favorite snack

☀️ ~ favorite season

🎂 ~ birthday date

🧸 ~ favorite animal

🎁 ~ something they really want

☕️ ~ favorite drink

📚 ~ favorite school subject

🍩 ~ favorite sweet treat

🌼 ~ favorite flower

[rabbitfeet200]

Female Singers

Perfect:

Nearly Perfect:Fantasia,Tony Braxton,Kelly Clarkson,Jennifer Hudson,Leona Lewis,

Great:Romy Monteirio,Belina Davids,Carie Underwood, Amy Winehouse, Pink,Miley Cyrus, Tamar Braxton, Taylor Dayne,Andra Day,Arieanna Grande,Demi Lovato,Christina Aguilra,Faith Hill, Demitera mcKinney,Lauren Hill,

Good:Alesha Dixton,Lizzo,Billie Eilish,Fergie,Rita Ora,Rihanna,Shontelle, Mary J Blige, ,Adele,Alicia Keys,Keke Palmer,Deborah Cox,

Alright:Charlie XCX, Selena Gomez,Janet Jackson, Lorde,Jennifer Lopez, Brittany Spears (her fake voice),Carly Rae Jepsen,Kesha,Cheryl Cole, Madonna,Miranda Cosgrave,Bebe Rexa,Taylor Swift,Ellie Goulding, Katy Perry,Halsey,Skakira, Ella Mai,Victoria Justice,Ciara,Camilla Cabello,Avril Lavgine,Sia,

Needs Improvement:

Bad:

The Worst:

[practically-an-x-man]

Oooooooh honestly though this is PERFECT for Rae! Especially a slightly older Rae like you wrote her here, after she's spent some time with Warren and the X-Men in her life and is used to things like this! You wrote her so well!!! I especially like how she knew how to treat Erin's wing thanks to treating similar wounds with Warren, that was a really nice touch :D

And MAN I get more invested with Erin's story with everything I read about them!! They're quickly making their way onto my list of favorite characters, and not just because they're an X-Men OC. Thank you so much for writing this and sharing it with me, I love this so much!!

Here's a prompt for you: write a crossover between Erin and one of my X-Men/superhero OCs?

Little AU piece where Erin finds someone else rather than being sucked into the Brotherhood...

Might not be perfectly in character, I'm not 100% familiar with Rae.

When Rae opened the door, the last thing she expected to see was what looked to be a small dragon, dripping wet, standing on her front porch.

"I'm sorry." They shivered, blood oozing from a gaping gash in their wing. One of the thin, delicate bones in the scaly membrane of their wing was broken, and Rae wasn't sure how they had even survived in the air long enough to reach her. "They told me... you were safe. I didn't have anywhere else to go."

On second glance, what she thought was a dragon was actually a person, with vibrant, green-scaled skin, horns, wings- all the things one would expect a dragon to have. They were young, too- sixteen at the oldest, and likely a girl, but Rae couldn't quite tell with all the mutations.

"You're injured." Rae would normally say something far more elequent, but given that it was three in the morning and she had been roused from sleep less than five minutes ago, that would have to do.

"Please, no. No doctors."

Then, they fell. Crumpling to their knees, then collapsing onto the ground, the young mutant toppled into a heap of exhausted limbs on the porch. Rae sighed. Warren was gone, and so were the kids. She'd have to do this by herself. She could hopefully bring the kid down to Xavier in the morning, if she could coax them into it, but it was best not to scare them off already.

She'd seen this same wound on Warren before. Having a partner with wings made this easier- after all, the anatomy appeared to be the same, just minus the feathers. She didn't know who had shot the kid, but judging by the bruised flares of swollen purple in between their green scales, it had been part of a fight.

Rae picked up the kid, carrying them to the living room coffee table. She layed them out on their stomach, their wings flopping awkwardly down on either side of them. She took the broken one, laying it out on her lap, first aid kit on the table next to her- it'd come in too handy to justify putting back in the bathroom cabinet, after all.

The young mutant's wing was wrapped with bandages and treated with an antibacterial ointment. Thankfully, the bleeding had slowed enough that it didn't soak through the bandages, and the kid didn't show any other of the telltale signs of blood loss. They were likely just exhausted and injured.

The kid slept on that coffee table for nearly fourteen hours straight, despite Warren trying to wake them up on several occasions to ask who they were, and why they were there. When they finally awoke hours later, they were immediately greeted with a blanket and a mug of warm soup.

"Hi." The kid said shakily. The bruises under their scales had faded, giving Rae the impression that they had some kind of healing factor. "I'm sorry for passing out like that, it's... been a wild last twenty-four hours, to say the least."

"I can tell." Rae nodded. "What's your name?"

"Erin. Erin D'Amelio." The kid, Erin, wrapped their arms around themself. "I'm so sorry, again. I just didn't have anywhere else to go. They told me you were safe. You wouldn't let them find me."

"Is there someone after you?" Rae asked, worried for her family's safety.

"My parents." Erin explained. "Religious nutjobs, the both of them. I woke up looking like this yesterday, and my dad tried to kill me. They chased me to the county line in their truck, with guns and dogs, but I made it out. I learned how to fly."

Rae frowned. "Do you think they'll follow you here?"

"No, but... you know how it is. You find a runaway kid, you're supposed to give them back to their parents, right?" Erin took a sip of the soup. "I can't go back. They'll kill me. Fuck." A sudden look of realization crossed Erin's face. "I can't go back. I just realized that."

"I don't know what's going to happen right now." Rae put her hand on Erin's arm. The skin outside of their tee shirt sleeve was rough and scaly, almost sharp. "But I promise we'll find somewhere for you. Have you ever heard of Charles Xavier?"

[practically-an-x-man]

Turns out the new Angel figurine is great for pose reference... so here, take some new comic-style ArchAegis art :D