#ryann does: art

[gunterfan1992]

Episode Review: “The Star”/“Jerry”

(Fionna & Cake, Eps. 7–8)

Airdate: September 22, 2023

Story by: Anthony Burch, Adam Muto, Hanna K. Nyström, Jack Pendarvis, Kate Tsang

Storyboarded by: Iggy Craig, Graham Falk, Jacob Winkler, & Sonja von Marensdorff

Directed by: Ryann Shannon (supervising), Hans Tseng (art)

It is hard to believe that we are already privy to the penultimate episodes of the Fionna & Cake miniseries. So far, this series has been hit after hit. So do "The Star" and "Jerry" live up to what has come before them? Read on for more...

The plot to "The Star" is deceptively simple: Fionna, Cake, and Simon are transported into a universe where Simon was killed by vampires, which led to Marceline being abducted the ice crown-wielding Vampire King (once again played by the wonderfully sonorous Billy Brown) and turned into his protege, known as "The Star." While the world has been almost entirely overrun by vampires, a Mad Max-esque version of Princess Bubblegum is still putting up a hell of a fight (Mad Max Bubblegum is aided in this task by Peppermint Butler-as-a-Tank, a human[?] version of Huntress Wizard, and a non-psychopathic version of Martin). Cake's shapeshifting impresses Mad Max Bubblegum, and so she decides to enlist Fionna, Cake, and Simon's help in defeating the Vampire King and his evil 'daughter.' Alas, as goes the best-laid plans of mice and men... The episode ends on a purposeful anti-climax: Fionna, recognizing that all is effectively lost, forcibly teleports herself, Cake, and Simon away from Vampire World while Mad Max Bubblegum and The Star struggle in the sky, with neither wanting to land a killing blow. The fate of Vampire World is thus left unresolved.

As a major fan of Stakes, I was delighted to be transported back into the world of vampires in "The Star." And this time, the show does a very solid job showing just how powerful and scary these monsters actually are (despite their Kermit the Frog-meets-Nosferatu appearance). And let us not forget Evil Marceline (oh, where to start)! I quite like that Ooo's Marceline is a heroic anti-anti-Christ, but even I found the titular antagonist of "The Star" to be a terrifying delight. It has been a good long while since Marceline has rightly pranked someone, and while I don't know if killing people or sucking souls count as pranks, it was nonetheless wonderful to see her ornery side return—only this time, turned up to 11. You can tell that Olivia Olson had a lot of fun recording her lines for this episode; her performance is energetic, her tone mocking. When I heard The Star taunt Mad Max Bubblegum and Co., it took me back to when I first heard Olson's voice acting in "Evicted!"

It was a clever move having The Star and Mad Max Bubblegum be sworn enemies, as it allowed the series to explore their dynamic as a couple without focusing on their past or present relationship. In the Vampire World, we learn that the two have never been in a relationship together. But despite this, still found themselves pulled toward one another in an almost preternatural way. Who knows… Just as the souls of Finn and Jake seem to be destined to always find one another, perhaps Marceline and Bubblegum are "soul mates" in a similarly metaphysical sense? Regardless, the hesitancy to kill one another that both characters show at the end of the episode speaks volumes as to how they feel about one another, even in a universe where they are sworn enemies. (Man, I really hope we get a Bubbline spin-off one of these days…)

Ah, I feel like I could talk about the Star for days, but there is more to consider, so let me move on to…

Airdate: September 22, 2023

Story by: Anthony Burch, Adam Muto, Hanna K. Nyström, Jack Pendarvis, Kate Tsang

Storyboarded by: Hanna K. Nyström, Anna Syvertsson, Jim Campbell, & Jackie Files

Directed by: Steve Wolfhard (supervising), Hans Tseng (art)

"Jerry" begins with Fionna, Cake, and Simon finding themselves in a dead and desolate world—humorously dubbed "Crapworld" by Cake—that we later learn was created by the Lich's wish in the season five premiere "Finn the Human." (As a mythological aside, when the Lich made his initial wish, it seems that Prismo did not simply wipe out all life in the Oooniverse; instead, he effectively created a copy of the Oooniverse within the Oooniverse. After killing off all life in this bubble dimension, Prismo then transported the Lich to his new wish-altered reality. Really, it is turtles all the way down…) While searching for the Crapworld ice crown, Simon tries to cheer up an increasingly despondent Fionna by telling him the story of how he and Betty met.

Eventually, our heroes run into Crapworld BMO, who upon learning that Prismo's remote is out of juice, attempts to recharge it with his robot heart. This does not go as planned (it actually results in Crapworld BMO spectacularly exploding, which is somehow both horrifying and funny), and Simon, Fionna, and Cake decide to track down Crapworld BMO's oft-mentioned friend "Jerry" and tell him that BMO has passed. Upon finding Jerry, however, the trio discover that he is actually the Lich… albeit a depressed Lich; it seems that after fulfilling his mission of ending all life, the Lich lost a sense of purpose. (I've been there, dude...) Simon sees this as an opportunity, and using the Crapworld ice crown and the Lich himself as a conduits, he manages to summon GOLB just as Scarab materializes to deliver divine punishment.

To be continued!

"Jerry" is a decidedly bleak episode that more than anything radiates the creative sensibilities of its supervising director, Steve Wolfhard. For those out of loop, Wolfhard was a storyboard artist on the original Adventure Time series, and he helped write some of the show's strongest outings (e.g., "Puhoy," "Lemonhope," "Escape from the Citadel," "Graybles 1000+"). Wolfhard has a unique approach to writing, often using humor/cuteness to paste over more existential horrors, and while he did not storyboard "Jerry," the episode nevertheless feels like the apogee of his "voice," brimming as it does with a darkness that is only lightly covered with a veneer of humor. Indeed, many of the episode's funniest moments (e.g., the scene in which BMO cheerfully, stupidly kills itself, the reveal that the Lich has depression) cannot be described as anything other than gallows humor. Wolfhard often joked in interviews that many of the episodes he pitched involved main characters dying. With "Jerry," he finally got his chance.

Ultimately, what prevents "Jerry" from becoming a bummer-fest is the way the episode is interspersed with flashbacks that tell the story of how Simon and Betty fell in love. Despite their being the emotional heart of the episode, I do not have much to say about these scenes other than they are sweet. They largely expand upon details that we already knew, but in doing so, they enliven those details, infusing them with a sense of affect that exposition or background detailing could never convey. There's a couple easter eggs thrown in for die-hard fans (e.g., several relics from the main series are name-dropped, we see when a photograph of Simon from "I Remember You" was taken), and its all tied-up nicely with a new HALF SHY song, "Everything in You." All in all, these scenes are the sweet, sweet eye bleach we need, given the tone of the episode's other half.

My biggest gripe with these episodes is that they both lean too far into Fionna's failures while somehow not leaning in far enough. The former issue is most noticeable in "The Star," the beginning of which sees Fionna follow up her candy genocide by making a series of increasingly bone-headed decisions, one of which leads to the direct death of a character (although, Mad Max Bubblegum was also quite bone-headed for letting Random New Girl put everyone in danger immediately after introducing them to her few crew members). Put simply, I feel the episode excessively plays up Fionna as a gullible girlfail, which seems a bit much. Paradoxically, in "Jerry," the show did not have Fionna properly, fully, believably consider the ramifications of the mistakes she had made; instead, the episode focuses much of its emotional energy on the story of Simon and Betty's relationship. Yes, Fionna does have a realistic breakdown in the middle of the episode, but almost immediately, the show decides to have Simon distract her with more of his own love story. None of this sinks the episodes, but it does make them less than perfect.

For some, the episodes' bleakness might also be a defect: indeed in both "The Star" and "Jerry," lots of characters die, and the fridge horror is off the charts. But while I have criticized the show for such cruelty in the past (e.g., my review of "Wizard City"), the bleakness in these episodes is not meaningless. Instead, it arguably serves to underscore that without Simon Petrikov existing and doing all that he has in the Ooo Prime universe, the world (any world) quickly goes to hell. (This is perhaps most noticeable in "The Star," given that the big twist of that universe is that Simon was killed by vampires, presumably before he placed the ice crown on his head, thus resulting in Marceline's capture and indoctrination by the Vampire King.) Even in his crazed "Ice King" state, Simon is something like a cosmic lynchpin holding together reality! Considering how much Simon/the Ice King is a woobie in the original series, it is nice to see Fionna & Cake accentuate just how important he actually is.

Final “The Star” Grade: A-

Final “Jerry” Grade: A-

[longlistshort]

Jenn Ryann Miller’s charming creations, seen above, are currently on view at Tempus Projects in the Kress Contemporary building in  Ybor City for her solo exhibition, Hobby House.

From the gallery-

Hobby House– where art meets self-indulgence, subversion meets humor, and creativity meets absurdity. With ceramics, sterling silver, a little photography and a lot of gemstones Hobby House presents objects that are meticulously crafted for no good reason other than looking fabulous. Hobby House contemplates the places and practices of art making with humor, irony, and a little wit.

Jenn Ryann Miller explores materiality and aesthetics through sculpture and painting. With a background in functional ceramics, her work subverts tradition and process through the experimentation with oblique materials and forms. Miller has been part of numerous solo and group exhibitions in Florida and the United States. Originally from Connecticut, she received a BFA from the University of Connecticut and MA from the University of South Florida. Miller currently teaches ceramics at the University of South Florida.

In another of the Tempus Projects gallery spaces is Justin Myers‘ exhibition, What Did We Use To Say, seen below, which uses collage along with a video and sound installation to explore the concept of memory.

From the gallery and artist-

What Did We Use To Say? Trying to remember things from the past from distorted and fragmented memories. Is that really how it happened? With intention, the mind has the ability to erase just as easily as it does create. The mind decides what stays and what gets purged for the new. Are you in control? Or is the subconscious doing as it pleases? In this work, I explore deconstruction, recomposition, and sampling, and their impact on memory and perception.

Justin Myers, a Tampa Native, is a member of music projects Justin Depth, Alien House, and Diamond Man. He also is the co-founder of Tampa-based record label, Image Research Records.

Justin studied printmaking at HCC in Ybor City and began experimenting with sculpture and installation-based works during his time there. Myers finds inspiration from discarded imagery, random thought, and spontaneous actions. Over the last 10 years, Myers has participated in numerous exhibitions at Tempus Projects, including the T-shirt shows, Mix Tape Show, Return to Sender, and an offsite window installation as part of a partnership with Downtown Tampa and more. In 2020, Myers partnered with his brother, Jeremy Myers on a virtual exhibit with Tempus Projects titled, “One Day of Perfect”. Justin has been involved with Tempus Projects since his music project Alien House made its debut performance in November of 2011.

Both of these exhibitions are on view until 12/14/23.

[teenagecrusadecollective]

"Can I call you, baby?"

[shyanshippingsociety]

Shyan Shipping Society - Big Bang 2022

hello everyone!

this summer we hosted our first ever big bang! it was such an amazing event with great fics and beautiful art and incredible betas and we’re so excited to bring you all of it, right here! here we go!

check out the challenge collection here!

The Grand Adventures of Suburbia Shane by idkspookystuff | E, 11K, complete

Not quite remembering where or when he fell asleep is not an irregular occurrence in the life of Ryan Bergara; an expert insomniac, who often lulls himself to sleep by worrying about various projects.

What is an irregularity is opening his eyes only to see an unfamiliar ceiling; feeling an unfairly soft mattress under his back, and, after stretching out, thunking Shane on the arm.

-

ryan wakes up in the body of a woman named ryanne: a high school principal, mother of 2, and the wife of one mr. shane madej.

Art by noviosfantasmas | Beta’d by artemis

Ghost inside your head by wednesday_ukiru | T, 13K, complete

The first time Shane saw the house was on a foggy morning. It was a dream come true - a perfect little space of his own.

He'd soon change his mind about that - and not only that. Trying to navigate the dark hallways of both his new house and his feelings isn't easy, especially when whatever is lurking inside his home knows all about what he fears and who he loves.

Art by send-god | Beta’d by roseszain

Redemption for Sins I Can't Mention by Impala_Chick | M, 9K, complete

At the Farnsworth House Inn, Shane lets something out. That something kidnaps Ryan and takes him to Hell.

Shane's going to get Ryan back if it's the last thing he does.

Art by boobgara | Beta’d by El

The Shape of Him Stamped Everywhere by MiraclesofPaul | E, 42K, complete

Prince Ryan of Nueva California grew up lonely. As the first publicly out royal in the American Union, he signs up for an arranged marriage and gets matched with Shane Madej. It seems impossible that they’ll even manage to be friends at first, but with time and effort (and the Shyan Love Campaign by PR genius Steven Lim), they find themselves growing closer every day.

Art by shanbergej | Beta’d by Zhalia

As Though There Were No Tomorrow by PlatinumPussycat208 | M, 14K, complete

During a routine Ghost Files shoot, Ryan and Shane bear witness to the literal end of the world. When Ryan wakes up cold, alone, and lost in a new world, he must use anything at his disposal to find Shane.

This is a Fallout 4 AU written for the SSS Big Bang 2022

Art by ouijaboy | Beta’d by artemis

Fate Bit by ouijaboy | M, 30K, complete

When Shane Madej goes on a spooky historical tour in an old mining town, he has no idea his worldview is about to be turned upside down. A vicious triple murder from 150 years ago hangs like a shadow over the area - and after a supernatural encounter, Shane takes it upon himself to find out exactly what happened, and crack the case.

Especially when ghosts are coming out of the woodwork to play. For better, or for worse.

Art by idkspookystuff 

Do You Believe (in Miracles) by Purrgara | E, 13K, in progress

Outside the hospital window the bright sunlight felt like ice on his skin. Funny, he thought when tragedy struck it was supposed to rain.

When omega widower Ryan Bergara, dealing with the death of his beloved alpha, the loss of his job and the bank threatening to foreclose on his house, finds out he’s pregnant he finally accepts he needs help. After joining a support group he meets the stoic, and private alpha Tinsley. Though he helps everyone else, the alpha gives very little about his own life. As the two get closer Ryan realizes there’s more to his quiet nature than what he originally thought.

Art by noviosfantasmas

thank you so much to everyone who participated! follow us if you wanna be the first to know when our next event is taking place, and consider joining us on discord!

[lesbian-of-nine]

STAR TREK OC CREW !!!

They all serve on the USS Calypso. Small-ish ship (~50 ppl). Mostly does cargo runs and small diplomatic second contact type stuff. Tight-knit crew. Has the nickname “The GSA” cuz the majority of the crew is queer lol.

*All art is not mine*

Senior Staff

Captain Veya Tel

-Betazoid -42 -Female | she/her -5’5 Originally was in sciences but worked her way up to captain. Is very close with the crew, especially the ensigns. Likes to visit the labs when she’s not needed on the bridge and ask what ppl are working on.

Commander Razki Sav

-Bajoran -36 -Trans Man | he/him -6’2 Older brother to literally everyone, which is kinda funny cuz he's actually a middle child. Loves music and runs the ship’s jazz band, he plays saxophone (something he picked up in the academy).

Lieutenant Commander Kalle Pas

-½ Trill ½ Human -32 -CMO -Nonbinary | they/them ey/em/eir -5’10 -Autistic The most laid back of the senior officers. Is a joined trill and likes to screw with people by speaking languages past hosts knew. Has some sensory issues so the lights in their office are always noticeably dimmer than the rest of sickbay.

Lieutenant Commander Sostren

-Vulcan -75 -Chief of Security -Male | he/him -6’0 A bit of a tightass at first but loosened up. Teaches meditation on the side and helps the counselor. Is aroace but adopted 2 kids, a 12 y/o girl and a 8 y/o boy.

Lieutenant Commander Jess Ryann

-Human -34 -Chief Engineer -Female | she/he/they -6’1 Strong butch lesbian of your DREAMS. Owns a lot of vintage tech in her quarters. Has a lot of scars from various engineering accidents and whatnot, refuses to get rid of them. Has an Andorian wife <3. Is besties with Razki.

Lieutenant Aidrien Rush

-Human -24 -Helmsman -Genderqueer | all pronouns -5’3 They’re very extroverted, usually gives the tour to new ensigns. Plays piano for the jazz band. Knows 3 languages (Federation Standard, Klingon, Spanish) fluently, and is learning 2 more (Latin and Vulcan).

THE LOWER DECKS !!

Ensign Akina Gray

-½ Caitian ½ human -23 -Engineering -Enby woman + autigender | she/they -Autistic -5’4 Is in the jeffries tubes half the time, she just likes it in there lol. Classic sapphic disaster and will just go akina.exe has stopped working over a pretty woman. Is really good at art and likes to paint in her free time. Can and will kill you if you touch their tail.

Ensign Tirzir Nan

-Trill -24 -Security -Male | he/they -ADHD -5’11 Was an initiate for the Symbiont Commission but was cut out of the program for being too young. Now is the Resident Coolguy of the Calypso lower decks. He owns a guitar but can only play like 3 chords.

Ensign Varo -½ Romulan ½ Vulcan -22 -Sciences (Astronomy) -Demiguy | he/it -Autistic -5’6 This man has not left his emo phase and refuses to do so. Total night owl and can be seen in the labs at 0200. Sometimes hangs out in Dr. Pas’s office when it gets too loud for him, they bond over being autistic and trans lol.

pls send asks abt them i love talking abt my ocs !!!

[ivyglow]

making my boyfriend jealous #prank 01 - Carter Hart | Philly

a/n: this idea sounded perfect in my head, but I don’t know if I’m satisfied with how it turned out; Hope you guys like it anyway. Don’t forget to let me know <3 It’s not proofread-ed so let me know if you find some mistake

btw, I wanted to say a huge thank you to @skarsgardswiftie​ for putting up with me talking about this idea and helping me out with some scenes. Love you, Val!!! <3 *muah*

Word count: 3.5k

Requested: yes

Prompt: 17. “wait a second..are you jealous?”  19. “I don’t love them. I love you” 

warnings: none

No one would believe if told that Nolan, the grumpy almost shy one, was best friends with y/n the smiley and loud girl. They met at a pharmacy, going for the last pain medicine box on the shelf and bumping hands, he was about to give up, but then she smiled and suggested buying it and give him one card since there were two inside. They spent some time talking in the line and when she found him once again in the same pharmacy she didn’t lose time following him and sliding to his DM. They got along pretty well and months after y/n saw herself in a bar full of hockey players to celebrate the victory of the team. 

That’s how she met Carter and more further ahead started dating him.

They were two distinct polos. 

Y/n loved to dance, Carter preferred to sit and sip at his drinks.

Y/n was a college student of Fine Arts, Carter was a hockey player.

Y/n had curly hair while Carter had the thinnest straight strands of hair.

Y/n was Colombian, Carter was Canadian. 

 Y/n had a YouTube channel and Carter, well Carter discovered that he liked it a lot more than he was supposed to. 

She did videos of hair care, study routine, and even some dance moves while cleaning the house. He was able to watch her, hear her, and almost feel her even if the timezone would not allow during trips. 

Their first kiss was in one of those videos, y/n was talking about some chapstick new flavor while Carter was watching some game on the TV sitting on the opposite sofa. 

“Well, I’m really suspect to talk about the peach one since I don’t like peaches” she comments while putting it on. “Carter, can you come here for one sec.” 

At that point, the boys were part of her routine so they were used to appearing in some videos sometimes, TK truly loved the attention, he would show out of the blue behind the camera or pretend the video was about his morning routine. Nolan would crack a laugh and Carter would roll his eyes telling his friend to give the camera back to y/n. Of course most of the time she would edit these parts, so it didn’t appear, but sometimes it was hilarious, and so she couldn’t help herself. The next day Travis would be the joke of the locker room -but he never stopped-. 

“What’s up?” he asked, sitting by her side on the living room floor. Travis and Nolan were out buying food, Hart and y/n being the only ones in the house. 

“Can you taste this chapstick flavor and see if you like it?” she applied one more time in her lips and smelled the tiny balm in her hands, making a face and giving it to him. 

Carter laughed and scooted closer to her taking her shin into his fingers and bringing her face close. She giggled not expecting him to taste directly from her lips, he was probably messing with her like they always did with each other. But when Carter closed the gap all she could do was hold his neck and dive into the feeling. 

After the episode, they would kiss every time no one was around. Dates and night in started to be a common thing and the rest is history.

It was a Saturday morning, Carter was sound asleep since he was going to have a game later in the afternoon and y/n was already in the kitchen preparing the usual breakfast they had for game days, except today she was reasonably early. 

“Hey there, my lovely pals” she greeted trying to speak as low as possible. “It’s a Saturday morning and I’m doing breakfast while editing some school stuff, Carter is sleeping and this video has everything to do with him” she grins while sipping from her favorite cup of coffee. “Travis was talking to me about some kind of conversation they had at the locker room and apparently Carter said he wasn’t a jealous person...well, it’s something between the boys but my amazing and devilish friend came up with the idea...he wants me to act a little weird and see if Carter really doesn’t feel jealousy at all. I decided it was better to film it so he wouldn’t be capable of denying it. He’s sleeping as I said before and I’ve distanced myself since yesterday, I don’t know if he already noticed it but yeah..let’s go” she turned around to start paying full attention to the preparation of breakfast. 

Y/n was halfway done when she faced the camera again.

“So we usually have the ‘breakfast-pre-game’ together whenever we can, but today I’m calling Trav and Nolan to join us…”

The next record was y/n pacing in the kitchen while sending some messages on her cellphone. When the duo was already there TK gave her a bear hug and murmured “let’s go for it, Hartsy girl”. She laughed and went to hug Nolan, who didn’t know about the prank. 

“Where’s Carter?” he asked.

“Sleeping, can you wake him up while I set the table, please?” 

Nolan noded going for the stairs and Travis started setting the table while y/n moved the camera to a better angle. When Carter and Nolan showed up he was still in his sleeping sweatpants and with his hair a total mess. 

“Morning” he mumbled to his friends going directly to his girl and wrapping his arms around her.

“Morning, sleepyhead” she teased.

“Why you didn’t wake me up?” his calm breath lingering on her neck almost made her forget about the plan. 

“I did, I just send Nolan to do it” y/n answered pretending to be confused with his question. On these days she was the one to wake him up and she did it with kisses, depending on the mood even some morning sex. 

Carter left one last kiss on her shoulder before they head to the table. 

“What’s up with the juice, babe?” Carter asks while sitting beside her. 

“Oh, Travis didn’t want chocolate milk so I made him orange juice…” here we go, she thought. 

“God, you’re so sassy, TK” Nolan rolled his eyes glancing at his friend.

“You see?! He comes to have breakfast at my house and wants to choose what to eat” the goalie goes along while TK just grins.

“It’s ok, Carter, he didn’t ask for it, I just wanted to make sure he is one hundred percent spoiled since it’s a game day...” she speaks and then pauses pretending she said the wrong thing. “Not only him, but you guys, of course…” 

Travis tried to suppress the giggle, that fucker! she was a great actress. 

The meal went along with TK always carrying the subject to y/n witch made Carter glance at him every once in a while. She would for sure zoom his face in the editing process.

…

“Hey, lovely pals, it’s afternoon now, Carter is already at the rink and I’m getting changed. I’m going with Travis jersey today and we’re expecting a big win so I have an excuse to film the boys leaving the locker room and get a good view of Carter’s reaction.” 

Y/n keeps the camera on her face while showing some makeup tricks and it was not long before Ryanne was knocking at her door. They met way before y/n started dating Carter, back when she was starting her friendship with Nolan, he was the one saying that the two would get along pretty well...and he wasn’t wrong. 

“Why are you wearing TK’s jersey?!” was the first thing she said when the door was open. 

“Hi, Rya, I’m doing pretty good, thank you for asking!” Y/n’s words packed with irony were responsible for both of their laughs. 

“I’m sorry, it’s just...very weird. Like I look at your face and my mind goes straight for a #79…” she jokes.

Y/n rolls her eyes slightly at her friend and let her enter “I’ll just grab my purse and we can go!”. 

Not even 10 minutes later they were already in a cab making the way to the arena. Y/n take advance of the time to explain to her friend everything while making sure she won’t let herself slip, such as sheer too loudly for Carter or forget about everything once he left the locker room with wet hair and rosy cheeks pursuing her body for a warm hug.

And that’s exactly what Ryanne does once the game starts and y/n is on her feet holding tight to her water bottle. The thing is, the Colombian girl was very competitive being raised in a home where the weekends were specially for soccer games and her father got her a jersey even before she was born. She was so used to diving deep into everything she did, especially if it was about cheering for a team. And well, living in Philadelphia and dating a hockey player made her role to cheer as loud as possible. It was her team and her boyfriend after all. 

The game went better than expected and thanks to Ryanne she was able to hold herself together. 

“So I bet this is the hardest part…” Ryanne stated holding y/n’s camera and prepared to film everything. “That’s why I’m praying for TK or even Nolan gets here first…” y/n sighed.

It was not long before the three boys come all together laughing and talking about something y/n predicted as the game. 

“Hey, babe” Carter greeted burying his head in the crook of her neck and breathing deeply. 

“Good game, Hart” she smiled hugging him back but shorter than the usual. And only when she went to hug the other two players he notices the different numbers printed on the jersey. His lips twitched and his brows furrowed, Ryanne tried to suppress a giggle before Claude finally leaving the locker room. 

“Nolan I hope deep down in my heart that you washed this hair with shampoo, please” she joked. 

“For your information, I always wash it with shampoo…” he shoves her lightly before hugging her by the shoulders. “He’s lying, y/n, last time I went to his house he was using soap to wash this damn birds nest.” Travis grabbed her hand bringing her closer to him.

“Hey! Great game, by the way, Trav! I loved that last pass!!!!” and that’s it, that’s precisely how she usually does with Carter, praising everything he does during the match time, always. Giving him advice and hyping him up. 

Carter chose to let it go while they started to make their way to a bar to celebrate as they did every possible time. 

At the bar, Carter kept his distance while y/n danced around with Ryanne and Travis,

He should be happy since his team won and he did an amazing job keeping every puck away from the net, but something was bothering him and he knew exactly what it was once his eyes found his girlfriend one more time that night. 

Something in the way she did not bother to stay close or even tells him how good he played was giving an uncomfortable vibe. Not that she should always do that, but habitually that’s what they up to, and the sex after too, so when y/n brush him off going for a cup of water in the kitchen he knows something is really wrong.

They just got home from the celebration, she was barefoot looking for a glass in the cabinet.

“Y/n what’s wrong?” he approached not knowing how to start that conversation. “What do you mean?” she asked, a confused look on her face. 

“I mean, why are you wearing another player jersey…??” 

“Oh...I just wanted to support the team in general, you know?!” she shrugged. “I need to go to sleep now. I’m exhausted, sorry. TK danced too much tonight…” she giggles, walking to their shared room and leaving Carter behind. Knowing damn well that she planted a jealousy seed in his mind. 

...

Two days and more distance later she was recording a video about her playlists in the bedroom when Carter got home from practice. 

“Hey, missed you” he muttered undoing his tie. 

“Hi, Carter” she grinned, not the big bright smile he’s used to when he got home, but at least it’s something considering she’s been almost ignoring his the last days “I’m filming a video” she explains. 

“Not gonna interrupt” he left a kiss on her forehead and went for the closet to change, coming back minutes later with his grey sweatpants and no shirt on. Y/n knew what he was trying to do and being as competitive as she is she choose to make a game out of it. 

“...and so there’s a lot of Post Malone’s songs, as you guys expected, and some Spanish as well because hell yeah I’m here for praising my own language…” she’s trying to focus on the camera in front of her when the bed dips, Carter is laying in the bed. 

Sometimes he used to do it, but usually, he would wear a shirt or something and try to be as invisible as possible, just wanting to be closer.

“You can keep going, I’m just gonna...watch” he whispers smiling and laying his head comfortably at the pillows. 

She rolled her eyes and went back to talking with the device when his hands found hers. The long and calloused fingers threading and holding to her strongly but still somehow soft. She felt his adoration look and could not keep her eyes from founding his and her lips from mirroring him and smiling.   

Carter was this contagious. 

Like some kind of speel.

It was hard to resist when he started being so soft and loving around her. 

And that’s exactly how he managed to lay her beside him and finally get the deep kiss he’s been seeking since three days ago. His hands found her waist bringing her closer and slotting one of his legs between hers. Y/n’s hands went to his soft hair and pushed it lightly, part of her wanting to separate their mouths, the other just expecting for what he did next: he moaned into her mouth. He melted every time she pushed his hair and she knew it. 

“Babe, please…” he spoke sinking his head in the crook of her neck, kissing that spot.

“Not today, Carter” she tried to resist, departing their bodies. 

He huffed but nodded his head. “Can I at least eat…” he started looking for her legs and she gasped interrupting his naughty question. “The camera is still on” she tried to pretend that this was the big deal, but in reality, she would not be able to hear his full question and deny it. “It’s not like you are on live, puff” he joked and she tried to stay serious. “Wait...are you on live?!” his eyes went wide and y/n didn’t resist the laugh. “I’m not on Live, calm down.” 

“Fine, but are you sure?! Are we ok?!” he asked sitting when she did the same. 

Y/n turned her head to the nightstand pretending to look for something while answering “yeah, we’re just fine” 

“So does that mean we can do something?! I just want your attention, love” and there he was all soft again.

“I’m just...not in the mood, Carter” she mumbled. “Not even for kisses?! Cuddles?!” She shook her head and he sighed. “Fine. Can I at least just be here watching you??” he asked this time not looking at her but drawing imaginary patterns in the mattress. She felt a pang on her heart but went for the answer she knew was going to make he thinks something was different “yeah, whatever”.  

And just like that, she kept trying to go on with the video while Carter was laying beside her and watching every move until he fell asleep. Still, he kept the adoration look, she knew it, she felt it. 

…

The Flyers were playing again and just like the last game y/n went wearing TK’s jersey. But only this time the game wasn’t so good as the last one. The team failed shamefully and even TK gave up from the prank for some time after leaving the locker room. This time the hug y/n gave him was well needed. Consequently, when she was comforting him, it was not part of the jealous-game anymore, but for Carter, it all seemed the same obviously. “You did great, Trav. Sometimes we just can’t control everything and that’s ok” he hugged her strongly before letting go. 

Hart just noded for his two buddies, Nolan and TK, before heading for the parking lot, not going for his usual hug or kiss after loss or victory. 

“You don’t want to hug me or anything?” she asked once they reached the parking lot.

He sighed. He looked tired. “I...I guess Travis needed the hug more than I did.” she furrows her brows. “Wait a second..are you jealous?” she asked and he shrugged before entering the car. 

“You’re ok?!” y/n asked as soon as she got inside the car. He nodded starting to drive in complete silence. She knew better than to give him his space after a loss, but usually, he wanted her around, he would not want to talk during a certain hour, but he definitely wanted to hug her or at least have her close.

This time it was different. 

And it kept being different during the whole ride home.

He was giving the silent treatment. 

She almost forgot to turn the camera on when they arrived home, but when she felt the tension she knew it was the moment he probably was going to snap. 

“Y/n…” he called already inside the apartment. “Can we talk…?” 

“Is it about the game?! Of course, we can talk…” she pretended not to be aware. Carter shook his head. “It’s...about a subject completely different.” He was undoing his tie while walking to sit beside her on the couch. Somehow it seemed like he was too nervous about it, so he just rose and started pacing in the middle of the living room.

“Oh, go ahead. What is it about?” 

He sighs.

The passe goes on.

“I’ve been noticing lately what your...friendship with Travis started to change...to develop…” she tried to open her mouth and comment, but he shook his head again. “Just...let me finish ok?!” his voice was not angry, it was calm...like he wasn’t that angry like he was just...hurt. And so he went on “And I love you… that’s why I just want to see you happy. So...if you’re not feeling the same anymore, if it’s something I did or said, or it’s nothing at all just you falling out of love with me...just...let me know. I do trust you with all my heart, and I know you would never cheat and I know you don’t want to hurt me too” he took a deep breath before starting again. “So...what I want to say is that if you’re starting to like Travis, tell me now, don’t bring it to me out of the blue-”

He’s so deep into his ranting that he did not notice she’s snickering with her two palms covering her face. When he did, he stops himself. “Oh- no, don’t cry, babe. It’s not your fault, feelings happen...and I’m not blaming you…” she was about to finally crack a laugh, but when she found his sad eyes she just couldn’t.

“What’s so funny?!” He’s clueless. 

“It’s not it, Carter...it’s just...you love me so much. This is a whole level of maturity and affection...I was not expecting. I thought you would be jealous and snap at me, get angry, I don’t know. I’m just in shock.” 

“I was not that angry because it’s not like we choose to fall in love you know?! We just do…” he says apparently deep into his thoughts. “But if I could choose I would go for you anyway.” there’s this small smile in the corner of his lips. 

“I’m so sorry I was so distant lately. But...I don’t love him. I love you” she whispers. “I’m really really sorry about this week.”

“so…?” 

“It was a prank, Travis idea, I got curious...I did not imagine it would get this far. I’m sorry I make you felt like I did not love you…” she hugs him and feels when his body relaxes into the embrace. He was relieved.

She stood up and went to the camera behind an ornament in the coffee table. 

“This is the moment you tell us how it felt. Take it easy on TK, he’s not the greatest actor, we could’ve come up with something better...” she joked sitting in front of her boyfriend. Carter chuckles admiring her face behind the camera. 

“Actually, I do love him, but as a friend” y/n adds before turning the lens a little and kissing his lips.

“That I can deal with.” 

[thebooksaidthat]

5 Contemporary Book Recommendations with WLW relationships!

As promised, this is my list of 5 book recs with FF centered relationships! They’re in no particular order and I hope it’ll motivate you to read some good queer works of art! 

1. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid Link to book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32620332-the-seven-husbands-of-evelyn-hugo

Synopsis: Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. When she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband, David, has left her, and her career has stagnated. Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career. Summoned to Evelyn’s Upper East Side apartment, Monique listens as Evelyn unfurls her story: from making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the late 80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way. As Evelyn’s life unfolds—revealing a ruthless ambition, an unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love—Monique begins to feel a very a real connection to the actress. But as Evelyn’s story catches up with the present, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways. --> I read this a few months ago and I remembered myself just putting my Kindle down onto the bed and looked into my imaginary camera man’s face thinking about the ending. I loved everything about this book, the friendship, the romance and the style of writing tied them up nicely. Also, apparently there’s going to be a TV series coming soon in the future so yes I’m 110% confident I’ll be crying with a bag of chips at the end too ;’) Seriously though, do yourself a favor and read this! 2. The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth Link to book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53066661-the-falling-in-love-montage

Synopsis: Saoirse doesn’t believe in love at first sight or happy endings. If they were real, her mother would still be able to remember her name and not in a care home with early onset dementia. A condition that Saoirse may one day turn out to have inherited. So she’s not looking for a relationship. She doesn’t see the point in igniting any romantic sparks if she’s bound to burn out. But after a chance encounter at an end-of-term house party, Saoirse is about to break her own rules. For a girl with one blue freckle, an irresistible sense of mischief, and a passion for rom-coms. Unbothered by Saoirse’s no-relationships rulebook, Ruby proposes a loophole: They don’t need true love to have one summer of fun, complete with every cliché, rom-com montage-worthy date they can dream up—and a binding agreement to end their romance come fall. It would be the perfect plan, if they weren’t forgetting one thing about the Falling in Love Montage: when it’s over, the characters actually fall in love… for real. --> The Falling in Love Montage is one of favorite FF books because I couldn’t not relate myself with the main character, Saoirse. I loved her humor throughout the book. She came off a little strong at first and it did seem like she was annoying but there’s a reason why she’s so sarcastic and cynical and I loved that the book wasn’t all 100% about the romance (although that is one of the best parts of it). I binged this within two days and I was fairly satisfied at the end and I can’t not recommend this enough for those who want to read a happy queer romance book! ALSO I LOVE THE COVER SO MUCH 3. The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum Link to book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36952571-the-weight-of-the-stars

Synopsis: Ryann Bird dreams of traveling across the stars. But a career in space isn’t an option for a girl who lives in a trailer park on the wrong side of town. So Ryann becomes her circumstances and settles for acting out and skipping school to hang out with her delinquent friends. One day she meets Alexandria: a furious loner who spurns Ryann’s offer of friendship. After a horrific accident leaves Alexandria with a broken arm, the two misfits are brought together despite themselves—and Ryann learns her secret: Alexandria’s mother is an astronaut who volunteered for a one-way trip to the edge of the solar system. Every night without fail, Alexandria waits to catch radio signals from her mother. And its up to Ryann to lift her onto the roof day after day until the silence between them grows into friendship, and eventually something more . . . In K. Ancrum’s signature poetic style, this slow-burn romance will have you savoring every page. --> The Weight of The Stars is mostly a quiet read, and when they say slow-burn, they really mean it. I loved this one a lot even thought it’s mostly a character-driven type of book. This is sort of an enemies-to-lovers type of book, though it went fairly quickly from enemies to friends. This book feels like something you should read slowly, just to savor it all and process everything on the pages.  4. Her Name in The Sky by Kelly Quindlen Link to book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20886492-her-name-in-the-sky

Synopsis: Hannah wants to spend her senior year of high school going to football games and Mardi Gras parties with her tight-knit group of friends. The last thing she wants is to fall in love with a girl--especially when that girl is her best friend, Baker. Hannah knows she should like Wally, the kind, earnest boy who asks her to prom. She should cheer on her friend Clay when he asks Baker to be his girlfriend. She should follow the rules of her conservative Louisiana community--the rules that have been ingrained in her since she was a child. But Hannah longs to be with Baker, who cooks macaroni and cheese with Hannah late at night, who believes in the magic of books as much as Hannah does, and who challenges Hannah to be the best version of herself. And Baker might want to be with Hannah, too--if both girls can embrace that world-shaking, yet wondrous, possibility.  --> Her Name in The Sky is a beautiful coming age story between two girls in a conservative town. I did find this one slightly harder to read because I usually stray away from books like these but I think it’s good to pick something up like this from time to time. Don’t be scared away though because this has a good and happy ending to it. 5. Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner Link to book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52915426-something-to-talk-about

Synopsis: A showrunner and her assistant give the world something to talk about when they accidentally fuel a ridiculous rumor in this debut romance. Hollywood powerhouse Jo is photographed making her assistant Emma laugh on the red carpet, and just like that, the tabloids declare them a couple. The so-called scandal couldn't come at a worse time--threatening Emma's promotion and Jo's new movie. As the gossip spreads, it starts to affect all areas of their lives. Paparazzi are following them outside the office, coworkers are treating them differently, and a "source" is feeding information to the media. But their only comment is "no comment". With the launch of Jo's film project fast approaching, the two women begin to spend even more time together, getting along famously. Emma seems to have a sixth sense for knowing what Jo needs. And Jo, known for being aloof and outwardly cold, opens up to Emma in a way neither of them expects. They begin to realize the rumor might not be so off base after all...but is acting on the spark between them worth fanning the gossip flames? --> Another queer rom-com heading your way with this final rec! This was a fun and cute read about the romance between Jo, who is a Chinese Hollywood star and her assistant, Emma. I read this in a book slump and I loved it, its sort of a fake-dating trope like book and I’ve never read something like this outside of fanfiction so it was an enjoyable experience all the way! Also, when the author described Jo at one of the red carpets with her dress with pockets, my mind automatically imagined Gemma Chan from Crazy Rich Asians as her.

[fyeahhozier]

The Irishman is deeper and darker than he's maybe been given credit for... but the geniality and swoon factor remain high.

Variety: Hozier Proves He’s a Career Artist in Gratifying Greek Show

At Hozier’s sold-out show at L.A.’s Greek Friday night, one of the first things you couldn’t help noticing on stage —because it’s still an anomaly — was that his eight-piece lineup was half-male, half-female. Knowing his penchant for socially conscious songs, his decrial of “the anthems of rape culture” in his lyrics, and a general female-friendliness to his appeal, it’s easy to figure this gender parity is a conscious one and think: That is soooo Hozier. Which it is … and so effective, too, like just about every choice he’s made so far in his short, charmed career. On the most practical level, if you can bring in that much female harmony while also getting ace players in the bargain, why wouldn’t you? But it also makes for a good visual emblem of some of the other dual energies Hozier is playing with in his music: darkness and enlightenment; romantic hero and cad; raw blues dude and slick pop hero. He’s got a lot more going on than just being an earnest do-gooder. (Although he does do good, earnestly.)

During Friday’s hour-and-three-quarters set, Hozier focused largely on material from this year’s sophomore album, “Wasteland, Baby!,” which sounded good enough on record but almost uniformly improved in the live experience. Sometimes the upgrade came from making full use of the multi-instrumentalists on hand. The first album’s “Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene” now had Hozier on guitar facing off against violinist Emily Kohavi, trading solos — and if it’s hard to hear an electric guitar/fiddle duel without automatically thinking “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” it was one of many welcome moments making use of the MVP skills of Kohavi, the newest addition to the band. Other times, the improvements on the album versions just had to do with Hozier allowing himself louder and gutsier guitar tones. He’s a bit like Prince, in that way — someone you’d happily listen to playing a very nasty-sounding six-string all night, although he has so many other stylistic fish to fry, which in this case means a still slightly greater emphasis on acoustic finger-picking.

For somebody who made his name on as forlorn but powerful an anthem as his 2014 breakout smash “Take Me to Church,” and who can milk that melodrama for all it’s worth, Hozier has a lot of other modes he can default to. He treads very lightly into the area of soul with songs like “Almost (Sweet Music),” the lyrics of which consist of either name-checking or alluding to some of the great jazz vocal classics of the 20th century, in an idiom that’s not so much jazzy itself as folk-R&B. You could almost cite it as the subtle kind of Memphis-swing thing Justin Timberlake should aspire to, if the tricky polyrhythm and oddly chopped up meters Hozier adds as wrinkles weren’t so un-replicable. Bringing up Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City” as the night’s sole cover also established that early ‘70s era and sound as an influences he’d like to make perfectly clear. At the other extreme, this son of a blues musician can hard back to those roots so well, in noisy numbers like “Moment’s Silence (Common Tongue)” and the brand new “Jack Boot Jump,” that he could give the Black Keys a run for their money.

“Jack Boot Jump,” which is scheduled to go on an EP of completely fresh material that Hozier said he plans to put out before Christmas, was possibly the highlight of the night, even though — or because — it stripped his excellent band down to just him and longtime drummer Rory Doyle. Having earlier played the current album’s “Nina Cried Power,” which is maybe more of a tribute to other historic protest songs than one of its own, Hozier gave a lengthy introduction to “Jack Boot” indicating that he’s aware of the traps that come with the territory. “I do have some reservations about the words ‘protest song’ and ‘protest music,’” he admitted. “But if you’re familiar with an artist called Woody Guthrie, he wrote the evergreen anthem ‘Tear the Fascists’ down. I was kind of looking into songs in that sort of tradition, that singing out, and I was worried that this is 2019; it’s a very unsubtle way to approach songwriting.” But, he added, “it was a funny few weeks, with 70 people shot in Hong Kong and arrests obviously in Moscow; Chile now at the moment also. And I was thinking, forget about subtle art — what is not subtle is this murder of protesters, and what is not subtle is the jack boot coming down in Orwell’s picture of the future: ‘If you want to imagine the future, imagine a jack boot stomping on a human face forever,’ that chilling quote from ‘1984.’ Anyway, I was just thinking, yeah, f— it, it’s not subtle, but let’s do it.” His electric guitar proceeded to be a machine that kills fascists, and also just slayed as maybe the most rock ‘n’ roll thing he’s written. (Evidence of the new song on the web is scant, or should be, anyway, since he begged the audience “in good faith” not to film it.)

If there’s a knock people have on Hozier, it tends to be the sincerity thing. He’s a nice guy who’s finishing first, which doesn’t necessarily help him become an indie-rock darling or Pitchfork favorite. (Predictably, “Wasteland, Baby!” got a 4.8 rating there — that’s out of 10, not 5.) At the Greek, there was an almost wholesome feeling that would’ve been an immediate turnoff to anyone who insists on having their rock rough, starting with his graciousness in repeatedly naming the band members and repeatedly thanking his opening act (Madison Ryann Ward, a fetchingly husky-voiced Oklahoman filling in on this part of the tour for a laryngitis-stricken Freya Ridings). That extended to a sense of uplift in many of the songs that doesn’t always match the themes of the material. But then, there was the impossible good cheer and attractiveness of the young players, to match Hozier’s own; this is a group where everyone looks as if they could be in Taylor Swift’s band or actually looks like Taylor Swift. The swoon factor in Hozier’s appeal is undeniably high, and it’s safe to say no one left Griffith Park less smitten.

But ladies (and gentlemen), do be aware that Hozier has some dark-side moments that can almost make Leonard Cohen look like Stephen Bishop. The only time he really overtly accentuated that in concert was in introducing and playing the new album’s “No Plan,” a love song that is also an amiable statement of atheism in which Hozier reminds his beloved that the universe is going to collapse upon itself someday. This may be rather like the gambit in which the ‘50s boy gets the girl to make out with him in a fallout shelter, but in any case, Hozier didn’t stint on the end-of-all-things aspect of it, even putting up on screen behind the band a statement from astrophysicist Dr. Katie Mack pointing out humankind’s and the galaxy’s ultimate fate. (“Honestly I never really imagined I’d end up being name-checked in a song for talking about how the universe is eventually going to fade out and die so this is all very exciting for me,” Mack tweeted in replay earlier in the year.) Suffice it to say that with that soulful a vintage ‘70s groove and that fuzz-tastic a guitar line, many babies will be conceived to the tune of “No Plan,” whether it foresees generational lines ending in a godless black hole or not.

Other Hozier songs reveal darker gets more estimable the more you dig into it. With its bird talk, “Shrike” sounds sweet enough, till you realize that a shrike is a kind of bird that impales its prey on thorns, which does add a rather bloody metaphoric undertone to what sounds like a reasonably pacifist breakup song. “Dinner & Diatribes,” meanwhile, is just deeply horny, not thorny. The most brooding song of the set, “Talk,” has verses where Hozier sings in lofty, literary terms about the romantic myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, only to reveal in the chorus that he’s talking to this woman in such high-minded terms because he just wants to charm her into the sack. As a piece of writing, it’s hilarious, establishing a devilish side of Hozier it’s good to hear. As a piece of performance, it’s just sexy.

But as enriching as it is to realize Hozier has a healthy sense of humor in his writing, bad-boy wit is never going to be what you’re going to come away from a Hozier album or show with. The main part of Friday’s concert ended, as expected, with “Take Me to Church,” his outraged take on abuse and homophobia in the scandalized Catholic church — which just happens to be easily taken as a lusty hymn to sexuality. Following that, the large band returned to a stage that had now been decked out in some kind of ivy, as Hozier talked about his love for the late Irish poet Seamus Heaney (whose last words he has tattooed on his arm) and, “since I’ve come this far,” went ahead and recited his poem “Mint,” sharing his hero’s affection for the plant and its “tenacity for life.”

Tenacity is likely to be a buzzword, too, for Hozier, given his leaps and gains as a writer-performer and seeming level head atop his tree-top shoulders. Taller still of voice, musical dexterity and good will — and still just 29 —  he’s somebody the swooners and even some cynics should feel good about settling in with for a very long Irish ride.

[poemsforpersephone]

The third and final book rec list for fans of The Last Sun!

The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen has really cool empathy powers which, although not the two way bond Brand and Rune share, does remind me of the emotion reading aspect in TLS. The m/m relationship in it is also super sweet. 

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee. This one I’m recommending because the protagonist is a snarky asshole just like Rune, and the writing style is so well done. It’s m/m and genuinely such a fun and quirky book. Also the cover art is gorgeous!

Silver in the wood by Emily Tesh. This is an LGBT novella where a wild man called Tobias lives in a place called “Greenhollow,” , where, and I quote, “Old secrets better left buried are dug up, and Tobias is forced to reckon with his troubled past—both the green magic of the woods, and the dark things that rest in its heart.” So im recommending this one simply because of the involvement of secrets and troubled pasts haha. 

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. The front cover of this one gives me The Hanged Man vibes like, all the way to the bone, which is initially what prompted me to rec it on this list. But also: “Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead bullshit.” Idk about the dirty magazines but the rest of it scREAMS Rune. and the main character is a lesbian!!! yay!! 

The Black Veins by Ashia Monet. “In a world where magic thrives in secret city corners, a group of magicians embark on a road trip—and it’s the "no-love-interest", found family adventure you’ve been searching for.” It’s like someone looked into my heart and picked out my deepest desire and then wrote it and gave it life. This book is super diverse and super awesome. 

The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave is a f/f take on Dracula basically. I’m recommending it because the main character and her sister go through a traumatic event similar to the loss of the sun court, when men come and burn their home to the ground along with their people and they’re captured and taken as slaves. It’s about family, friendship and survival, and it’s beautiful. 

The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco. An LGBT book where climate change deniers are the villains? ... you have my atttention. 

Prosper’s Demon by K.J. Parker. This is about a morally questionable exorcist!  It’s a satirical, interesting take on the topic of possession with a kick ass cover. 

The Wishing Heart by J.C Welker. An LGBT fantasy novel where our protag, Rebel, finds a jinni’s vessel and is thus thrust into a whole new world of trying to keep said jinni from everyone else and find a way to free her! The world building is awesome and so are the characters.

Tarnished are the Stars by Rosiee Thor. “A secret beats inside Anna Thatcher's chest: an illegal clockwork heart. Anna works cog by cog -- donning the moniker Technician -- to supply black market medical technology to the sick and injured, against the Commissioner's tyrannical laws.” i have the hardbook version of this and the cover??? is so?? beautiful.

The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum. TALKING OF PRETTY COVERS. “Ryann Bird dreams of traveling across the stars. But a career in space isn’t an option for a girl who lives in a trailer park on the wrong side of town. So Ryann becomes her circumstances and settles for acting out and skipping school to hang out with her delinquent friends.”

Predatory by Brooklyn Ray. WERELEOPARDS FRIENDS!!!! god damn wereleopards im?? so happy. m/m 

The Lost Coast by Amy Rose Capetta. FOUND FAMILY QUEER WITCHES. need i say more. 

Portraits of a Faerie Queen by Tay LaRoi. The fey run amok in this one! f/f with a gorgeous front cover.

Unbroken by Brooklyn Ray. step 1: rent haunted house. step 2: fall in love with witch-turned-demon who inhabits it. step 3: profit???

The High King’s Golden Tongue by Megan Derr. This one is lovely! Nice world building with an emphasis on languages and kingdoms, and a lovely m/m romance that builds from kind-of-enemies-but-not-really to lovers. the audiobook of this is great. 

Salt Magic, Skin Magic by Lee Welch. SORRY YOUR BOOK IS SET WHERE? MY HOMELAND? MY COUNTRY MY COUNTY MY HEART? we never get any attention imma go cry in the corner. its a historical fantasy m/m romance in YORKSHIRE gosh im here for it. And let me tell you... this is one fantastic book. I really, really enjoyed it.

Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner. fantasy, m/m, lotsa swords!

Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst. f/f fantasy with a princess who has fire magic in a kingdom where magic is forbidden! 

Freedom’s Fate by Jennie Taylor. SPAAAAAAACE i love books in space.

Pegasi and Prefects by Eleanor Beresford. “Charley's final year at Fernleigh Manor is complicated by a runaway pegasus, unwanted Games Captainship, a dangerous new rival and, most of all, falling head over heels in love with another girl. What is a reluctant Senior Prefect to do?” catch me while i swoon.

The Necromancers Dance by SJ Himes. m/m vampire/necromancer romance, urban magic and fantasy, very fun and smooth read, a little bit insta love but not totally. 

The Star Host by F.T. Lukens. “Ren grew up listening to his mother tell stories about the Star Hosts – a mythical group of people possessed by the power of the stars.” a m/m fantasy book set to a sci fi fantasy background.

Empty Vessels by Nicholas Williams. “Lucas Mahler babysits clones all day, but he's trapped under the legacy of his body-builder father and his genius girlfriend. When Lucas tries to rise above, he's murdered. Waking up in the body of a clone, Lucas embarks on a mystery full of blood, old friends and lost loves.” idk the whole clone thing in this just always reminds me of lord tower making all the different fake versions of people he knows lmao. 

BOOKS NOT YET OUT

So, the thing is. 2020 is very close friends, and some awesome books are even closer. These below are books I’ve not read yet, since they’re not out and I am a poor ARCless girl, but they’re books you definitely want to keep an eye on.

Witches of Ash and Ruin by E. Latimer. Bisexual OCD protagonist who is a witch D: its everything i could want. 

Wild Sky by Zaya Feli. LGBT fantasy with dragons! It sounds so, so fun.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust. “A captivating and utterly original fairy tale about a girl cursed to be poisonous to the touch, and who discovers what power might lie in such a curse...”

The Fascinators by Andrew Eliopulos. “The Raven Boys meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, about an openly gay high school senior in small-town Georgia.” m/m fantasy which looks super sweet.

Cemetery Boys by Auden Thomas. “Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him.” THIS SOUNDS SO COOL oh my god. Yes PLEASE. 

When We Were Magic by Sarah Gailey. “A sly, witchy dark comedy about four teens whose magic goes wildly awry.” Magic, darkness, comedy, what’s not to love for fans of the tarot sequence??

The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune. I absolutely love T.J.  Klune’s writing so I can’t wait to get my hands on this. m/m superheros!! friends!!! get excited!! I think anyone who likes how witty K.D. is will enjoy this writing style. 

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. YES ANOTHER ONE this looks so good too we are BLESSED. “A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.”

Fragile Remedy by Maria Ingrande Mora. “Sixteen-year-old Nate is a GEM—Genetically Engineered Medi-tissue created by the scientists of Gathos City as a cure for the elite from the fatal lung rot ravaging the population. As a child, he was smuggled out of the laboratory where he was held captive and into the Withers—a quarantined, lawless region.” The idea of the Withers kind of reminds me of the westlands.

The Fell of Dark by Caleb Roehrig. UHM im always here for lgbt vampires in young adult fantasy fiction. The author says that “this book is gay and filled with monsters” which also fits the last sun so i figured it belongs on the list lmao. 

Ruinsong by Julia Ember. “In a world where magic is sung, a powerful mage named Cadence is forced to use her power to torture her country’s disgraced nobility at her ruthless queen’s bidding.”

[thecursedhellblazer]

1ST  RULE   —   tag some muses you would like to know better. 2ND  RULE   —   BOLD the statements that are true for your muse.

muse.  John Constantine fc.  Matt Ryann occupation.   Occult detective, Exorcist, Demonologist, Magician, Conman age.  35-45 (verse dependant) sexuality.  pansexual, demiromantic pronouns.  he/him

APPEARANCE:

i  am  5'7"  or  taller.  

i  wear  glasses.

i  have  at  least  one  tattoo.

i  have  at  least  one  piercing. (( not currently, had a few in his punk years ))

i  have  blonde  hair.

i  have  brown  eyes. (( Matt’s eyes are brown, but I usually got for Constantine’s canon for those and he has blue eyes. They fit him better, tbh ))

i  have  short  hair.

my  abs  are  at  least  somewhat  defined.

i  have  or  have  had  braces.

PERSONALITY:

i  love  meeting  new  people.

people  tell  me  that  i’m  funny.

helping  others  with  their  problems  is  a  big  priority  for  me. (( Depends on whom the ‘others’ are, even if his job involves helping people by definition. His motivations aren’t always selfless, tho. Quite the contrary. ))

i  enjoy  physical  challenges.

i  enjoy  mental  challenges.

i’m  playfully  rude  with  people  i  know  well. 

i  started  saying  something  ironically  &  now  i  can’t  stop  saying  it.

there  is  something  i  would  change  about  my  personality.

ABILITY:

i can sing well.

i  can  play  an  instrument.

i  can  do  over  30  push–ups  without  stopping.

i’m  a  fast  runner.

i  can  draw  well.

i  have  a  good  memory.

i’m  good  at  doing  math  in  my  head.

i  can  hold  my  breath  underwater  for  over  a  minute.

i  have  beaten  at  least  2  people  in  arm  wrestling.

i  know  how  to  cook  at  least  3  meals  from  scratch. (( Depends on your definitions of ‘meals’. I headcanon that John is a pretty decent cook, tho! ))

i  know  how  to  throw  a  proper  punch.

HOBBIES:

i  enjoy  playing  sports.

i’m  on  a  sports  team  at  my  school  or  somewhere  else.

i’m  in  an  orchestra  or  choir  at  my  school  or  somewhere  else.

i  have  learned  a  new  song  in  the  past  week.

i  work  out  at  least  once  a  week.

i’ve  gone  for  runs  at  least  once  a  week.

i  have  drawn  something  in  the  past  month.

i  enjoy  writing.

i  do  or  have  done  martial  arts.

EXPERIENCES:

i  have  had  my  first  kiss.

i  have  had  alcohol.

i  have  scored  the  winning  goal  in  a  sports  game.

i  have  watched  an  entire  season  of  a  tv  show  in  one  sitting.

i  have  been  at  an  overnight  event.

i  have  been  in  a  taxi. (( His best friend is a taxi driver, I mean x’D ))

i  have  been  in  the  hospital  or  er  in  the  past  year.

i  have  beaten  a  video  game  in  one  day.

i  have  visited  another  country.

i  have  been  to  one  of  my  favorite  band’s  concerts.

RELATIONSHIPS:

i’m  in  a  relationship. (( verse dependant ))

i  have  a  crush  on  a  celebrity

i  have  a  crush  on  someone  i  know.

i  have  been  in  at  least  3  relationships.

i  have  never  been  in  a  relationship.

i  have  asked  someone  out  or admitted  my  feelings  to  them.

i  get  crushes  easily.

i  have  had  a  crush  on  someone  for  over  a  year.

i  have  been  in  a  relationship  for  at  least  a  year. (( most of his relationships have been on-off, so I don’t think any has ever lasted this long ))

i  have  had  feelings  for  a  friend.

MY LIFE:

i  have  at  least  one  person  i  consider  a  “ best  friend ”.

i  live  close  to  my  school.

my  parents  are  still  together.

i  have /  had at  least  one  sibling. (( Older sister, Cheryl, who is dead in most verses, and stillborn twin [the Golden Boy, alive in another parallel universe] ))

i  live  in  the  united  states. (( verse dependant, but in most verses he does ))

there  is  snow  right  now  where  i  live.

i  have  hung  out  with  a  friend  in  the  past  month.

i  have  a  smartphone.

i  have  at  least  15  cd’s.

i  share  my  room  with  someone. (( verse dependant ))

RANDOM SHIT:

i  have  break–danced.

i  know  a  person  named  jamie. (( most likely he did at some point ))

i  have  had  a  teacher  with  a  last  name  that’s  hard  to  pronounce.

i  have  dyed  my  hair.

i’m  listening  to  one  song  on  repeat  right  now.

i  have  punched  someone  in  the  past  week.

i  know  someone  who  has  gone  to  jail.

i  have  broken  a  bone.

i  have  eaten  a  waffle  today.

i  know  what  i  want  to  do  with  my  life.

i  speak  at  least  2  languages.

tagged: @ceolenaluthor (( Thank you! )) tagging: @obsessionsarenotforheroes (Jessica) @theprinceof-gothamcity​ @mythsxndlegends​ (Oliver) @perfectedingbadideas​ @rxsurrxcted​ @misfitxbeggars​ (Zatanna) @angelluxi​ @areswriites​ ( Lucifer and/or Eddie/Venom!) @xnonxnocerex​ (Ava) @exanxmo​ @corrosivequinn​ @dwarfstaralloy​ @gothamforce​ (Zed) - & whoever wants to steal this !

[mermaidmundane]

Ship Request

My name is Ryann I’m 5’7 and an average weight. I’m black, I have black hair and dark brown hair.

Personality: I am an introvert although most of the time it takes me a long time to make friends sometimes depending on the person I can click with them very fast. When I fall in love or have a crush it’s really hard. Extra Facts: I like art, singing, I play soccer and run track.

I SHIP YOU WITH

Hank McCoy

Hank was in sports when he was high school so he could coach you or help you practice. You play soccer and run track and he use to play football, so he'd be perfect at racing you or being a running buddy. One thing he does have a problem is with making friends. When he was first introduced to you he stumbled over his words to even say hello. With your ability to click with people he got over his nervousness a bit and started buddying with you too. Quite honestly your the arts to his sciences. Both of you have creativity.

And Cedric Diggory

You two met when he saw you practicing for track and had to stop and stare. He admires your altheticism. He would try to help you train but he's not too familiar with muggle sports. He thought you were absolutely beautiful and had to know your name. When he learned it, it was a atypical for a girl but that made you even more special to him a he would try ever bit to talk to you about your sports. He would try to make sense of it by comparison with quidditch. Your shy nature makes him believe your a Hufflepuff the most Noble house and for that instantly loves you.

Request by thino-thinspo

[gunterfan1992]

Episode Review: "Fionna Campbell"/"Simon Petrikov" (Fionna & Cake, Eps. 1-2)

If you had told me on the day that Adventure Time was canceled that almost a decade into the future, I would still be writing reviews about new episodes, I would have never believed you. And yet, today saw the release of not one, but two new episodes. (It seems that the fun really will never end!) What a world we live in!

----

When I first heard that Fionna and Cake would be the focus of the newest Adam Muto-produced Adventure Time spin-off, I was a touch apprehensive. It is not that I disliked the characters... I just worried that they might not be able to anchor ten 22-minute episodes. After all, the two were always something of a funny gimmick. Other than explaining if they were real, what more was there to say about them?

My tentative apprehension started to dissipate when I learned that the one, the only Simon Petrikov would play a major part in the miniseries. Simon was always a strong character, and there was much to his story that still needed to be teased out. His presence in the miniseries signaled one thing: Fionna and Cake would not just be a fluffy romp, but rather one of mythological significance! Needless to say, my interest was fully piqued, and I began to count down the days when the miniseries would debut.

And now that the first two episodes are out, I am happy to say that my tentative fears were likely misplaced. Indeed, if "Fionna Campbell" and "Simon Petrikov" are indicative of the overall quality of this miniseries, we're in for a good time!

So let's dig in!

Airdate: August 31, 2023

Story by: Anthony Burch, Adam Muto, Hanna K. Nyström, Jack Pendarvis, Kate Tsang

Storyboarded by: Hanna K. Nyström, Anna Syvertsson, Haewon Lee, Jacob Winkler

Directed by: Ryann Shannon (supervising), Hans Tseng (art)

The miniseries kicks off with "Fionna Campbell," which follows the story of Fionna the human... No, not that Fionna the Human. This Fionna does not live in a magic land, and it is only in her dreams that she's a swashbuckling hero. Instead, the Fionna we meet lives in a mundane world very much like our own. This Fionna seems to feel as if she fundamentally lacks any sense of purpose. Accompanying her throughout her non-adventures in this alternate reality is Fionna's (non-magical) cat, Cake. The main plot of the episode begins after Cat and Fionna have a strange dream, whereupon Cake begins to act erratically; it is almost like she desperately needs to be in contact with ice of all things. After a series of humorous set pieces in which Fionna repeatedly discusses the dullness of her reality with a variety of uncannily familiar characters, Cake goes bananas and makes a mad dash for an ice cream cart. As Fionna gives chase, Cake dives into the cart, which turns into a magic portal and teleports Cake to a different world...

Of the two episodes discussed in this review, "Fionna Campbell" was the least impactful. Do not misunderstand me: It was still a fun, charming episode, but it did little more than introduce us to our heroines and set up the plot of the miniseries. The issue with this is that it makes much of the episode, on a strictly narrative level, superfluous (for instance, were you to have Cake dart over to Fionna's ice dispenser and have it—rather than an ice cream cart—the overall story would still work just fine). But while much of this episode is technically "unnecessary," it nevertheless mines a lot of goodwill and humor by introducing us to gender-bent "real world" versions of beloved Adventure Time characters (e.g., "Queen" [Queen of Ooo], "Ellis P." [Lumpy Space Prince], "Gary Prince" [Prince Gumball]). Perhaps I am biased as a Marceline fan, but hands-down the best of the gender-bent bunch is Marshall Lee, played once again by the uber-talented and oh-so-witty Donald Glover. (That said, Pen Ward's oddball hobo-vet character, "Ellis P.," is a close second.)

Regardless of any narrative weirdness, I applaud Muto et al. for approaching this Fionna and Cake storyline from a different angle. It would have been very, very easy to simply drop us back into the genderbent world that we have already visited in the main series. This, honestly, is what I was expecting the series to do. Instead, the writers decided to introduce versions of Fionna and Cake that feel more like they are from our world. This makes them solid audience surrogates. Over the course of the episode, I came to see Fionna as a character in and of herself, not just as a female version of Finn. Likewise, Cake felt less like "feline Jake," and more like a goofy house cat (albeit one that has a case of the Zoomies from Hell). "Fionna Campbell," in a word, gives Fionna and Cake a chance to become their own people before throwing them into the wider world of Ooo.

Airdate: August 31, 2023

Story by: Anthony Burch, Adam Muto, Hanna K. Nyström, Jack Pendarvis, Kate Tsang

Storyboarded by: Iggy Craig, Graham Falk, Jim Campbell, Lucyola Langi

Directed by: Steve Wolfhard (supervising), Hans Tseng (art)

After the purposefully abrupt ending to "Fionna Campbell," we are suddenly thrown head first back into the familiar Land of Ooo with "Simon Petrikov."

This episode picks up several years after the main series. Simon is now living a, shall we say, "unorthodox life in a museum-like facility, where he is treated as a relic of the past. He has lost his sense of purpose and direction, and he struggles with loneliness and boredom. Simon, in a word, is depressed. It does not help matters that people keep asking him about "his" Fionna and Cake novels--novels that he repeatedly emphasizes Ice King wrote. Alas, it is no use, and so Simon goes to the tavern owned by Dirt Beer Guy (A+ cameo) to drink his sorrows away. It is here that he runs into a 20-something Finn in all his himbo glory. Finn sees that Simon isn't doing well and insists that he must go on an adventure to reclaim his joie de vivre. Simon reluctantly follows Finn into the most primordial corner of Ooo, where the two are nearly killed multiple times.

At the end of the episode, Simon returns to his museum-home feeling just as bad as he did before. After sneaking off into his closet, we learn that his depression has driven him to create a shrine to GOLB; using the demoniac power of Evil Choose Goose, he subsequently attempts to summon the deity, presumably to reconnect with Betty. But, just like the best laid plans of mice and men, Simon's scheme fails to summon any eldritch abominations, but it does open up the portal we saw at the end of "Fionna Campbell." And out from this portal pops Cake the Cat!

The episode immediately shifts to Prismo's time room, where we see an alarm on the wish-master's remote begin to blink ominously…

Wow, what an episode!

I appreciate the focus "Simon Petrikov" places on depression and the struggle against nihilism. Simon, after all, is a man thrust into a new world. Everything he used to strive for is gone. Even the madness that took his old world away from him is gone. This might sound like a good thing, but interestingly, it seems to have had a deleterious effect on Simon’s psyche: Previously, when Simon was metaphorically locked within the recesses of Ice King's mind, he had something to strive for: He could overcome the crown’s curse and regain his sanity. And then he did! Thus, Ice King ended and Simon was back. But alas, his arrival occurred at the literal end of the story. The big bad was gone. The goal had been reached. All that was left was the ride into the sunset. But Simon could not do that, because even though he regained his sanity, it ultimately cost him his love, Betty.

I won't lie: I found Simon's story to be deeply relatable. For those who don't know, I recently earned my PhD. It was a long, uphill battle, and after I earned that degree… I didn't know what to do. In truth, I still don't know what to do. I have been a student almost my entire life, and now the rest of that life lays out in front of me. I achieved what I originally wanted; it is time to figure out what I currently want. Honestly, it has been an occasionally gloomy time, and I won't lie, I have struggled quite a bit with depression these last few months just trying to figure everything out. In doing so, I have realized just how much of my life I have sunk into my degree. It has been a bit disheartening to realize that while I have a doctorate, but it cost me the entirety of my 20s to get it. So yes, while I did not lose the love of my life to an eldritch demon-god, I still empathize with Simon's listlessness and his existential angst. (As an aside, post-PhD depression is very a real thing, y'all!)

When you have gained what you thought you wanted and lost that which was really important, what do you do? Of course, it is easy to simply collapse in despair. This is capitulation to vulgar nihilism, and it is something that I have struggled with ("Why even bother doing anything..."). At the start of "Simon Petrikov," the titular character is very close to this collapse, too. Indeed, Simon starts off in a dark place, but paradoxically, this darkness holds the seeds that can grow into a life-changing journey. After all, when we are at our lowest, the only (productive) way to go is up. Put most simply, Finn was actually right: Simon needs an adventure to reignite within him that sense of drive and purpose. But the catch here is that that adventure needs to be meaningful to Simon. It needs to spark something unique within his soul. The bizarro arrival of Cake may thus be exactly what he needs. Cake is not just a mystery—she's a mystery that perhaps only Simon can solve, since it was Simon (or, at least a version of him) who dreamed her up in the first place!

Simon now has a purpose.

Purpose.

Once again, Adventure Time is reminding us of the importance of "purpose." Purpose, the show seems to be saying, is what gives meaning to our lives, what motivates us to overcome challenges, and what inspires us to contribute to society. Without purpose, we may feel lost, empty, or hopeless. What, then, is the show suggesting we do to gain this sense of purpose? It is hard to say, given that the miniseries isn't over, but my guess is that the show is emphasizing that while meaning can emerge from even the most chance of occurrences, it is not enough to just recognize these coincidences. Instead, we have to seize them, embrace them, and make them our own. We have to act on our purpose, and not let it slip away. At the end of "Simon Petrikov," Simon is put in this exact spot, and while he might show some reluctance to seize the moment, something tells me that he'll eventually act in a major way.

Am I on the right track? I guess we'll have to wait a few weeks to find out!

----

When news about the series first started to leak, I remember there was a lot of hubbub about its more "adult" tone. I was a bit apprehensive when I heard this; part of what I love about Adventure Time is that it is capable of being scary and profound without having to stoop to the shock value of cheap swears and bloody violence. After seeing these episodes, my worries have mostly been put to rest. After all, most of the "swearing" is pretty mild, and it seems to be used rather judiciously. (That said, I did a double take when Cake told Fionna to "Puke [the bad guy] up"—I thought she said another "-uck" word!) On top of all that, it was often just funny! Queenie shrieking "Jesus!" when Fionna ripped her pants off was comedy gold, as was Finn's line about "bust[ing Simon's] balls" back in the day. I'm a bit more ambivalent when it comes to the gorier elements (e.g., Finn killing that mudskipper in a bloody splatter), but that's largely because it feels a bit incongruous with the lighthearted Land of Ooo that we know. Adventure Time was often violent, this is true, but it was rarely gory. That said, the violence in these episodes is not over the top—this isn't Superjail! or anything—and I hope the show continues to maintain that nice balance. Right now, everything mostly feels "right."

All in all, these were solid episodes. In addition to all the positives that I outlined above, there were a variety of other things that made me smile. I'm quite happy that the show is returning to the multiverse lore, as I always felt that was a story thread that the show never explored to the fullest. The various cameos were also delightful (I had a lot of fun guessing who all the gender-bent normies were supposed to be representative of), and I loved the little post-Mushroom War Simon & Marcy moment. And of course, hearing Marceline say that someone is "pissed" is something that I didn't know I needed to hear!

I cannot wait to see what the series has in store for Simon, Fionna, and Cake.

Final "Fionna Campbell" Grade: B

Final "Simon Petrikov" Grade: A

[randomestfandoms-ocs]

OC Olympian Ask

Not tagged by but taken from  @themildestofwriters ​ -  

Rules: Bold those traits and aesthetics that apply to your character.

OC:  Ryann Hernández-Viamonte

APHRODITE    laughter-loving | sweet smiles | dressed in silk and satin | flower in their hair | thrives on attention | sees the world as a runway | unapologetically sexual | the sea washing their ankles | in love with love | stirrer of passion | cunning concealed by painted lips | secret daggers | doves | revolution in their kiss | delighting in the waves | flirtatious winks | strolling along the beach | staring wistfully from a balcony | this is how to be a heartbreaker | your girlfriend thinks they’re attractive | wants to be adored | gets turned on by danger.

APOLLO          glitz and glamour | art galleries | turning the volume up | being made of gold | neatly-organized music sheets | notebooks filled with poetry | bathing in the sunlight | the powerful urge to create | collecting vinyl records | beautiful cover of wonderwall | playing multiple instruments | tasting like sunshine | healing touch | speaking in prophecies | smile mingled wrath | shunning lies | sporting shades | hanging out at music festivals with their friends | sleeps naked | arrow to the heart | paint brushes | probably has a Tinder account.

ARES     armed for battle | wants to raise a dog with their significant other |  soft spot for children | gives piggyback rides | scarred body | blood on their hands and face | willing to fight the world for the ones they love | fights against injustice | warm hugs | well-worn combat boots | boxing gloves | bandages wrapped around bruised knuckles | fist raised in protest |  ignites revolutions | fear is a prison | more sensitive than what their tough shell will make you think | exhausted | damaged goods | force to be reckoned with | red roses | curses under their breath.

ARTEMIS      keen sense of a hunter | freckles like constellations on their skin | piercing eyes |   dishevelled braid | moonlight peeking through the shadows | the calm of the forest at night | lying on the grass and staring at the stars | mother doe and her fawn | protecting their kin | the moon shimmering on a still lake | quiver full of arrows resting against the bark of a tree | running with wolves | bonding while circled around a campfire | not being much of a people person | arrow hitting a target | popping egos | patience on 3% | touches heaven and returns howling.

ATHENA      discerning gaze | unreadable face | the patience of a lifelong teacher | quiet museums | owl perched on their finger | armour that intimidates | eye for architecture | plays the sims for the sole purpose of building houses | studied the blade while everyone else was busy getting laid | big fan of logic | loves brain teasers | go-getter | balls of wool displayed on shelves | ancient buildings | sweaters in neutrals and cool colors | hair done up | can kill you with their brain | heads to the library often to research | sharpened pencils | abs that can cut steel | stoic statues | pottery classes.

DEMETER     soil-covered hands | smile that can bloom flowers | skin loved by the sun | being the mom-friend | can lift you and your friends | flowers kept in the pockets of overalls | takes pride in their beautiful garden | speaks to their plants (elementals) | leaves rustling in the wind | stalks of wheat | picking fruit | greenhouses |  heart as strong as a mountain  | values simplicity | daisies dotted across a collarbone | curls crowned with flowers | folded pile of sweaters in warm hues | pulling out fresh-baked bread out of the oven and the smell wafting through the air.

DIONYSUS          drunk shitposter |  on their sixth glass of wine before you’ve even finished your second | seductive smirks | untamed curls | rich fabrics on dark skin | sleek-furred panthers | theater masks | stage productions | receiving a standing ovation  | rose caught between their teeth | being the baby of the bunch | wild parties that last from sundown to sunup | creeping vines |  inspiring loyalty | grand opera houses | masquerade balls | rolls of film | shattered chandeliers with broken glass scattered across the wine-spilled floor | pouring champagne into flutes | lives for the applause.

HEPHAESTUS      the calloused hands of someone who knows labor  | sweaty brow | flame burning in their eyes |  inventive mind | broad shoulders | steampunk goggles | nuts and bolts stored away in little boxes |  ashes | striking a match | blueprints for future projects | fixing up a busted up car and giving it cool upgrades |  wrestles with bitterness | work boots have seen better years | wrinkled plaid shirts | iron melted in blazing fire | huge jackets  | crafting masterpieces | greased-stained overalls | fascination with robotics |  pain is fuel | stack of weaponry  | even their muscles have muscles.

HERA          resting bitch face | dressed to the nines | cows grazing on a pasture | cool rain |  loving and hating fiercely  | hand clutching a string of pearls | large chandelier with glittering crystals | plays the sims for the sole purpose of killing off their sims | romance to realism | pictures of the sky while flying on a plane | files that under ���fuck it’  | downs glasses of wine as they relax with a scented bubble bath and netflix | like their selfie or you’re grounded |  knows 57 convenient ways to murder a man | dark eyes that penetrate your soul  | marble and gold.

HERMES          devil-may-care smile | ink-stained hands | always up-to-date on the latest technology | will steal your french fries | does it for the vine | shitposter | puts googly eyes on everything | meme hoarder | long drives on the highway  | ma and pop diners |  spontaneous road trips | folded maps | fingers dancing across the keyboard of a laptop | shooting hoops on the basketball court | chatting up strangers as you all journey to your own destinations | goes jogging in the morning |  mixes redbull with coffee  | menace on april fool’s | hoodies and sneakers.

POSEIDON         storm with skin  | colourful coral reefs | waves crashing against the shore | the sea casting its spell | stroking the soft fur of a cat | their heart pounding as their horse’s gentle trot speeds into a gallop | tousled locks | clothes smeared with paint | owns several sketchbooks yet always yearns for more |  leather jackets  | fondness for diy projects | handwriting that flows across the page | nimble fingers playing the strings of a violin | velvety singing voice that haunts your dreams |  mood as ever-changing as the sea | the roar of a motorcycle | compass with a spinning arrow.

ZEUS          thunder in their heart | running on coffee |  flash of lightning | natural charisma | eloquence  | badass in a nice suit | aficionado of history| force of nature | lenny face |  pretends they don’t have feelings but they do | nightmare-filled nights | proud arm around their lover’s waist  | high-rise buildings | planes soaring through a cloudless sky | technician on the piano| maintains order | strong handshake | juggling multiple events on their busy schedule with ease | most likely to be voted class president out of their peers | expensive watch.

[rufflehairhowell]

Do you have any blog recs?

 ok so i see loads of these around but no one actually says why you should follow them? so imma be extra and give you a quick run down of the following blogs 

if i forget you, message me n ill add you you can also spray me with cold water 

lets do this 

a month without uploa- oh wait wrong post

blogs !! in no particular order: 

@opaquehowell: i love emer a lot shes one of my best mutuals!! She does lovely moodboards and we have a lot of conspiracy theories ask her about dnp being lizards and or furries . Emer also sends me pics of dogs all the time maybe if you ask her nicely shell send u a doggo

@thephansplosionfan: Mac is my girlfriend so obvs gunna reck her. shes always in my asks with some stupid but adorable shit. She has such a pretty aesthetic which consists of slytherine and nature (basically dark green). Also has an obsession with Kate McKinnon and ruby rose. Love her a lot and she deserves the world

@softdnp: noah is my son i will protect him forever. If you want some quality gifs and good dnp posts in general follow this prince. Also another good blog for moodboards 

@princessdan: mo is a gooden, such a gooden.Very positive posts and is in a really cute relationship with @astronautdan 

speaking of, @astronautdan: soph is the bomb who makes really cute edits (esp URL edits) and has a really cute theme im lob 

@molliaphan: literally everyone on there is a gem (special shoutout to @deadnotsleepdeprived and @philledwithpuns), Seriously every blog on there is just goals 

@dantea: ryanne is a bean who needs to not eat ice cream on her bed (tut tut) but really shes has really cool posts and a cute aesthetic 

@dnjhwll: adelyn, oh adelyn, An actual angel with a blog too good for this world. Dnp posts with a hint of dodie, all you need in life really 

@satansglabellas: i follow zoe on instagram bc her videos are funny as hell, her tumblr posts are aesthetic as and on the whole is a gooden of a blog

@calmlester: i always see cat popping up in my feed and her art is so beautiful, esp the one of phil holding a cactus i wept

@phanniephil: sophia is an angel and is really lovely to chat to, and her theme is so calming and aesthetic

@succlester:  a dodie yellow theme will always win my heart, Lee is a soft flower who needs to be appreciated more. 10/10 posting as always 

@dantlers: a bean with a great theme, gray reblogs the best and cutest gifs ever. gray also makes gifs which is noice go check em out 

@phtl: monique is a blessing to us all, giffing the best and cutest moments of dnp. Another person with a theme im jealous of 

@prettydan: kelsey is the bestest can we please appreciate that her theme turns her asks into little poems?? (or at least i read them as little poems) 

@heckdan: sarah has THE CUTEST theme ever space is the best, she also gives us dem sweet n spicy dnp memes 

@philtrashblr: van is so sweet im lov her a lot, also her theme gives you a tiny cursor and that brings me so much joy her blog is a gooden

@omega-dan: Olly is the strongest lil boi i know, his writing is SO good and he deserves a lot of love and respect

@plantpot-phil: sarah is heckin rad with such a cool theme, she also does really cute doodles and she animates yo!! 

@energeticwarrior: nikki is my daughter i will protect her forever. Jer content is great like her :))))

thats all my heckie recs, again im very sorry if i left you out please PLEASE message me if we are mutuals and i forgot you im so so sorry if i did

also drop me an ask is you followed one of these blogs cuz of me it would be rad if ya did

[ecotone99]

[TH] All the Pretty, Shiny Things

The walk home was always nerve wrecking. I constantly told myself that it didn’t bother me, but in reality, the last street lamp on my route plucks my nerves. It flickers on and off, and occasionally burns out, leaving those behind it to cast shadows of demons frolicking on the pavement in the dark. Or maybe they’re trees. I never really stopped to stare hard enough to look.

But I pass it, and make it the half block more. My keys laced between my knuckles, tumbling through my front door until I am once again in the sanctuary of my own home, always panting from the near sprint the last few minutes of the trip.

I’ve never been a brave one.

I hear my brother call out “hello” from the kitchen, and I manage a “hey” back between gasps for air, and drop my keys onto our hall table. I go back to the door and lock the 4 locks and set the alarm, turning around to admire the hallway table. It’s one of my favorite pieces of furniture in our shared house. Tall and slender, the black oak table sits flush against our matte gray walls, adorned with pictures above it. On it. Next to it. Our house is definitely a pottery barn cutout; “settlement money” may as well be plastered on the front door next to the house number. But it’s ours. Bought by us after our parents’ untimely deaths.

I don’t know if we have ever been the same. Tragedy has a funny way of affecting people sometimes. Holden started taking every course he could find on self defense. Weapons. Martial arts. Me? I hid. From my self, from the world, from everything I didn’t consider safe or comforting.

Fight or flight. It’s either in you or it’s not. It is most certainly not in me.

I walk into the kitchen and he’s sitting at the massive, dark marble island, typing away furiously at his lap top with a headset on. I smile at him and mouth “whats for dinner?” And he looks at me and shakes his head. I sigh.

The fridge is threadbare, partially because he didn’t food shop, and partially because he eats nearly everything in the house. Dude is a human vacuum.

I order a pizza, mouthing “pay for pizza” while making the hand gestures to him and I ruffle his hair as I pass. He throws some paper at my face and gives me the finger followed immediately by his award winning grin and a thumbs up. I laugh, and walk out of the kitchen to the sound of his discussion. A shower sounds so good right now.

The second floor of our house has 4 bedrooms and one “extra” room, two of which are master suites on each end of the floor. That extra room is a panic room. Accessible from both master suites, its in the middle of the floor and set to the back. Essentially a metal box, fortified steal makes up the walls on all sides. It's armed with weapons we are both trained and certified to use; cameras, beds, bathroom with a small shower, outside line, it’s own power source- literally any and everything you would and could possibly want out of a panic room. It also has enough provisions to sustain us for a month should we need.

By the grace of god, We have not needed.

****************

I turn off my light and go to bed. My sheets whispering against my skin softly as they wrap me in their cool, white embrace. I always need it cold when I sleep. The night was pretty cool so instead of turning on the air conditioning, I opened my windows. The breeze rolled over me and lulled me to a sweet sleep.

****************

I could have sworn I was sleeping for 20 minutes, but my clock on my phone read 1:57, so I had been sleeping for almost 5 hours when I heard the first sudden crash. I could feel my heart creep into my throat and felt frozen. I reached to turn on my light, and was puzzled for a second.

“What the fuck?” I said out loud, to no one in particular. The switch slid back and forth with soft clicks, but it didn’t turn on.

Something was wrong. This wasn’t just Holden banging ‘round, drunk on a Friday night. I reached into my nightstand and tapped the secret compartment that slid down from the top to offer me the hand gun she kept hidden. I racked a round into the chamber, and pulled the sheets back. I just have to make it to the safe room. Thats our plan. We don’t fight, we go for safety and assess the situation from there. My eyes trained on my window, still open to the 6 inches I had left it, and I scanned my bedroom, my eyes darting to the darkest corners, my mind betraying me with flickers in the blackness. I moved one foot out of my bed at a time, careful to not make sudden movements, and once my feet hit the floor I began my slow craw to the hidden door in my closet. My body felt like molasses, almost as if I was restrained, my legs and arms nearly immobile as I moved. The sweat was beading off of me now, my skin electric. I could feel it dripping off the tip of my nose and down my chest on to my breasts, slowly beginning to soak through my shirt.

I heard the first cry. I froze.

Unlike anything I have ever heard before, and I was a flood rushing to the door in my closet. Throaty and growling, animalistic. And then another bang. I was at the door now, and I put my finger on the entry pad and felt the gush of air as it opened.

The second. And a bang. What the actual fuck is going on. My hands were shaking. Get in, get in, get in.

I poured myself into it, and typed in the code behind me to seal it for 48 hours, which wouldn’t activate until Holden put his own in. I heard another inhuman cry, and a bang. And I cursed at myself for not being braver.

Fuck, Holden.

I looked around the room quickly, and immediately knew he wasn’t in there. None of the surveillance equipment had been turned on, and all lights were still dimmed. Behind the door, I relaxed a bit knowing I was safe, and began to turn everything on while I pulled on more practical clothing. It takes 2 minutes and 38 seconds for the system to fully boot, which is a lifetime if you’re fighting for your life, or worried about someone who maybe fighting for theirs. We spared no expense, however, and by the time I got my pants over my hips and was lacing up my tactical steel toed boots, I had a full view of the entire house, including his bedroom.

My heart bled in my throat as I scanned the wall of monitors for signs of life. Holdens, and whoever else might be in there. I turned on the sound and listened. The hum of Holdens ceiling fan softly floated through the speakers, and there he was, in bed. Sound asleep.

I felt sick. I frantically searched the rest of the house in the screens, but not one movement, not one thing out of place. No activation of the alarm. No dark figure lurking between rooms. The infrared cameras doing exactly what they were supposed to. I ran my fingers through my hair and over my face and take a deep breath. What the fuck is going on?

This room has its' own power source. My light didn’t work. Those screams. My mind races as I try to figure out what it is that I should do, and I decide that going to get him, that it is the only option. It’s the only way.

I go over to his door and punch in the exit code, and feel a familiar rush of air as it opens; I am so quiet, church mice are envious. The floor feels like quick sand under my knees and palms, pulling me into its abyss with each advance. I can hear my heart beat.

I get to the side of his bed and rise up. I can feel my throat close up, and the pressure build behind my eyes as I gently pull the covers back from him, the sting of tears burning behind them.

“Holden,” I breathe, “Please, Wake up.” I feel his body shift below my hand.

“What, Ryann, what are you fucking doing right now?” His voice is full of sleep.

“Please, please, just come with me. please. I heard something. The lights are out. You need to come, just come please. Reaper protocol.” I’m pretty sure my eyes were more pleading than my voice. He looks at me and I can feel the tears burning their paths down my cheeks, lava down a grass path.

“Oh, Ry, honey, nothings here. I promise” his voice is calm, assured. He slides his hands through my hair, and for a second I close my eyes and its ok. I feel his fingers come to the back of my head, and then pulls the back of it hard. My neck snaps back like an 80’s bracelet, and my vision blurs.

“HOLDEN!” I thrash.

I for a second I think I’m in my childhood home, and then I realize I am strapped to a bed. The walls gray. The frame metal. The bars on the insanely high window close, and thick. The bottom opened about six inches. The sheets white. The room cool. Theres a man standing over me telling me to calm down, but everything is underwater.

He was never there, the man says. This is a dream, he says. Take a deep breath, he says. Please, we don’t want to medicate you, he says.

I begin to calm down. My arms and legs are both restrained and I cant move the hair out of my face, and it’s in my mouth and sticking to me and I need it to stop.

“Ryann, do you know where you are?” The man says. And I just look at him, Is he insane?

“No, I don’t fucking know where I am. Where is my brother?” Calm but then “HOLDEN?! HOLDEN?! LET ME GO, LET ME FUCKING GO!” I could feel myself struggle. Futile. But I tried.

“Ryann, you’re in Letchworth Psychiatric Institute.” He says, gently. “Your brother Holden, and your parents, were murdered 15 years ago. “ he paused. I could feel the sting of salt sliding down my face. There is no way.

“No. Just mom and dad. Just mom and dad…” I trailed, “Not Holden. We live together. He does private security. I work for an attorney. I take the bus because I don’t like to drive. We order pizza because he never remembers to go food shopping.” I shook my head “ Not Holden. Tell me where he is. TELL ME!” I couldn’t tell if I was begging or if I was demanding, or if I was guessing.

The man looked at me with such sympathy, I could taste it.

“Ryann” he said " They were killed the summer of 2005. You killed them by accident. Someone had broken into the house. You were camping in the living room. Ryann, you shot them all, including the intruder, with the rifle your father kept in the closet. You have been here since this happened. Your family came running down the stairs. You didn’t know. You thought they were all intruders…” his voice trailed off. “ I tell you this once a month.”

I just looked at him, the tears stopped.

“I want to see my brother. Please. Just… let me see my brother.” I was calm now. I swallowed hard, and the pity mixed with sympathy in his eyes didn’t change. That’s ok. I was brave now. I’d find him.

You can be brave. Be the bravest you’ve ever been.

submitted by /u/thedutchess914 [link] [comments] via Blogger https://ift.tt/2Yo5b2M

[jimdeco458]

-58°

Why is it so difficult these past 14 years, to reach the people with the authority to do something that might serve the public-good. I have tried to reach professors, scientists, governors, senators, reporters and weathermen without any success to speak of. I’m talking about Irma, Wilma and Andrew, hurricanes that is–to name a few. Call me 🐷 headed but I don’t know why the government and the scientific community isn’t doing something to mitigate or attenuate the force of these storms. Like they say, we all talk about the weather but we don’t do anything about it. The problem is that anyone who thinks he can change the weather is going to be viewed with a certain amount of suspicion. Well here I am.

The title of this blog is -58, i.e. the minus 58 meridian of the North Atlantic. This is arguably the region of one thousand square miles where a given hurricane eye would be spoiled as to weaken it’s strength. Five destroyer class ships, each covering a manageable 200 miles would pump 💧 from the thermocline to reduce the 💧 temperature and in so doing spoil the system that is producing the storm. I would like to think that many people could come up with other crazy schemes such as this. Would it work? Could it? What with the death and destruction that these storms bring, you would expect a greater effort to study remediation. Governments and universities spend a half a billion dollars a year on various unrelated  research. Could this hypothesis be simulated in a lab?

What do you think?

=============================================================

How did you become an illustrator? How did you start your blog?

I have always 💛 making comics, but I started to really feel inspired to become an illustrator through the support of close friends and family. My parents aren’t/weren’t very supportive growing up, and only after leaving my home was I able to really explore the field. I originally started the blog to archive my ideas and little doodles, and soon started to get a bit of a following!

How has Tumblr allowed you to explore your identity?

Through Tumblr, I was able to connect with people who expressed their gender and identity in a way I had never seen in person. I was able to 👀 myself and my identity more clearly, and felt more comfortable experimenting with labels and pronouns. I came out online before I came out in real life, and I think the boost I got from the community helped me build the courage to come out. My parents do not support my identity, and I have had a lot of difficulty in being kicked out of my home. But, with some folks I connected with through Tumblr and trans siblings in real life, I felt more supported and could start my life again from the ground up.

What has been your biggest accomplishment as an artist?

I’m not very far in my career as an artist, as I’m still pretty young and just starting out. But, I think getting into college to study art was a big step. My previous plan for my future was to be an engineer, which I would have hated. After I left home, I learned that I didn’t get accepted into the college I was planning on going to for many years. After many months, I was able to find a college with a good art program in my area. It was a big leap for me, because my parents never supported art careers for any of their kids. To be able to change my career path to something I really enjoy, and to go to college for it is an amazing feeling.

How can we continue to support trans artists?

Reblog their art! While likes are appreciated, reblogs spread their art across the platform, and help them gain some popularity and more opportunities. I also enjoy getting nice comments on my art through my asks and in the replies! If the artists have merchandise or do commissions, consider supporting them by taking part in them (or at least boost their posts about things that can help them make 💰).

With this being the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion, what does Pride mean to you?

The 💛 that I have seen in the LGBTQ+ community is unparalleled. In most spaces, I feel like my existence is mostly just tolerated or tokenized. It’s only been within the community that I not only feel like my identity is tolerated or noticed, but celebrated! I recently have been able to surround myself with members of the community, and I’ve never felt more respected and 💛 in my life. Pride keeps this community alive and thriving, and that means so much to me.

You have such great resileince, Elliot. You’re going to be a great illustrator and comic artist. We’re 🙌 for you. Tumblr, who are some other LGBTQIA+ artists we should know about? Use the #tumblrpride to share.

This interview has been condensed for clarity.

Photo Credit: Naima Green

Pictured/Pronouns: Van (he, they) Chino (he, him) Nina (she, her) Ryann (they/them)

Not pictured/pronouns: Mo (she, they)

Pride Spotlight: bklyn boihood

Hey Tumblr! During the entire month for Pride 2019, we’ll be highlighting some amazing groups and individuals who are creating dope spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community. First up @bklynboihood​, bklyn boihood is a collective that seeks to create spaces for queer and trans bois* of color in 🗽. Let’s jump right in.

Your mission is to create spaces for Black and brown queer and trans bois* to cultivate stories, dreams and creative work. Why are these spaces so important? Why aren’t we 👀 them more often?

Our mission is centered on black and queer bois*. At a time, there were very few spaces that celebrated boihood in all of the manifestations we witnessed on a day-to-day basis. As we continue to understand how lack of visual representation impacts mental health, we know it’s critical to 🙌 black and queer bois because mainstream media has failed to do so. Mainstream media is a part of a larger institution, and any institution as we know has deep ties to white supremacy. We don’t 👀 more dynamic platforms for black queer bois simply because white supremacy is a tool for eraser and that pervasive violence exists in all institutions.

Black and brown queer and trans folks created the LGBTQIA+ culture that we know today. That is #BlackExcellence365. Unfortunately we’re not 👀 the right representation. How can we change that?

Power must be shifted. Do you have black queer and trans bois within your organization? Are they decision makers? If you’re a funder, are you using your platform to funnel fiscal support to organizations that center queer and trans black bois? Representation comes at a cost, often emotional labor, that in which we do not have the capacity to hold. So, are you leveraging power to hold the multiple and complex identities in which you wish to include? Inclusivity is never enough. Liberation is beyond inclusion. In order for us to to be free we must dismantle and center those are most at risk of being erased.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. People forget that it was Black and brown queer homeless youths who started this movement. How can we continue to honor them?

Honor them with your platforms, honor them with your funding, honor them by including them in the decision-making regarding their own representation, honor them beyond mere symbolism and move in solidarity by dismantling systems that wish to keep them out.

Thank you bklyn boihood for all the work you do work for the community. Tumblr, how are you supporting organizations during Pride 2019? Use the #tumblrpride to share.

This interview has been condensed for clarity

Happy Pride 2019, Tumblr!

There are so many ways to 🙌 this beautiful month! Pride parades and festivals and marches will take place all over the U.S. to elevate our LGBTQIA+ selves, friends, and family. Your Tumblr dashboards deserve to feel just as commemorative, so all month long we’re going to be highlighting amazing LGBTQIA+ Tumblrs for you to follow.

As we 🙌, we also want to remember the serious event from which Pride has evolved. This month marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Stonewall Riots, a series of political protests that began at The Stonewall Inn in 🗽. Young Black and brown LGBTQIA+ people—particularly trans POC—were the first to stand up and protest against the police brutality and inhumane treatment of people within their community. They deserve to be remembered, respected, and honored.

And so, this year, our theme is “Educate. Advocate. 🙌.” We’re sharing resources and information about the LGBTQIA+ community to help educate those who are not as knowledgeable about the history of the community. We’re advocating for the community by providing links to helpful resources, small businesses owned by LGBTQIA+ folks, and non-profits to support. And, of course, we want you to 🙌 who you are. Through that, we’ll be spotlighting non-profit organizations, LGBTQIA+ artists on Tumblr, and more throughout the month right here on @action. There are so many wonderful LGBTQIA+ Tumblrs out there, and we want to continue to support and uplift them.

There’s also a little bit of fun added across the platform. 👀 the Tumblr “T” up at the top on the left on desktop web? Hover your 🐁 and 👀 it cycle through different LGBTQIA+ flag colors, including the traditional LGBTQ+ 🌈 flag, trans flag, non-binary flag, genderqueer flag, lesbian flag, POC LGBTQ+ flag and more. Using the app? Open up the sticker drawer and find some of those Pride flag in sticker form to use however you 👀 fit.

We want to know how and who you’re educating, advocating, and 🥂 this month. Is it you? Your parents? Your best friend? Is there a small business owner we should know about? Make a post about ‘em! Make sure to tag your post with #Tumblr Pride so the whole community can find it.

Stay safe and stay kind, Tumblr. ❤️

As the San Francisco rock scene grew in the 1960s, posters were commissioned by the concert promoter Bill Graham for shows at popular venues such as the Fillmore Auditorium. David Singer produced more posters for Graham than any other artist, designing 75 posters from 1969 to 1990.[1] Although he had an unusual background for a psychedelic poster artist—a childhood spent in rural Pennsylvania, a stint in the Navy, and marketing work for companies in the Financial District of San Francisco—he went on to take his place alongside giants of the genre such as Wes Wilson and Victor Moscoso.

Singer’s most formative influences came from his family, particularly his adoptive mother, Dorothy, who went to art school and hung her paintings around the 🏠. Another important influence was his great aunt Flossy, who kept scrapbooks that left a strong impression on Singer, who remembers flipping through pages of pictures arranged thematically, including double-page spreads of cats and dogs. Singer soon became a “magazine freak,” frantically cutting pictures from magazines and creating collages that he later referred to as “visual poems.”[2] After showing a portfolio containing his best collage work to Graham in 1969, he was immediately commissioned for a series of concert posters.

Although this poster for the Fillmore West’s closing week in 1971 was actually printed after the week of shows ended, it is considered one of Singer’s masterpieces. A strange scene appears in 🆒 blue and black in the center of the composition—a 🐈 dancing on a 💤 🐶 below a grainy photograph of Saturn, with a haunting pair of feline eyes in the background. ✋-lettered, curvilinear text appears above and below the central collage, providing details about the week, including the names of 17 different bands. At left and right, swirling, bird-like shapes appear, mirroring the curving forms in the elaborate bedspread design underneath the 🐶 and the white streak down the center of the slumbering canine’s face.

Although lacking the bright, intense colors and intertwining of text and image typically found in other psychedelic posters, Singer’s design is similarly liberated from the traditional restrictions of advertising and induces a reflective process. The viewer is encouraged to spend time deciphering the fluid, dynamic letters and comprehending the bizarre imagery. Although the poster evokes the hallucinatory experience that often accompanied psychedelic light shows and rock 🎶, the experience becomes part of a larger philosophical questioning about the universe and the nature of reality. The 🐈—a familiar, domestic creature—takes on a spiritual, cosmic dimension, arousing slight laughter but also becoming an enduring and poetic symbol of the ineffable.

Carey Gibbons is a Cataloguer in the Drawings, Prints & Graphic Design Department at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.

[1] “About David Singer,” accessed April 15, 2019, http://bit.ly/2ICUuBg.

[2] Ben Marks, “How a Small-Town Navy Vet Created Rock’s Most Iconic Surrealist Posters,” Collectors Weekly, March 28, 2019, http://bit.ly/2GwOEjH.

“I 👀 that addiction generally has 2 state of minds and neither is better than the other. I wanted to indicate the possibility of escaping this mind of maze. It may be a difficult path, but to face the problems and be in ✌️ with them is a good start.” Yagmur Altan (@yagmur-altan), artist

Hey Tumblr,

As we near the end of Mental Health Month, we’d like to share one last post. As you know, we’ve been sharing stories, resources, and facts over on @postitforward to help dissolve the stigma surrounding mental health struggles. Our last post for MHM is all about addiction. If you’re interested in reading it, check it out over here.

Wanna share your story, too? Use the tag #postitforward to share how you cope with addiction. You might just help someone who needs to hear it

“Living with anxiety isn’t just a psychological strain, it affects us physically too. The sense of being on edge all the time weighed on me and gave me the impression that things were never letting up or improving“— Adrian Smith (@adrian3d), artist

Hey Tumblr,

As you know, the month of May doubles as Mental Health Month. All month long, we’ve been sharing stories, resources, and facts over on @postitforward to help dissolve the stigma surrounding mental health struggles. One of our most recent posts for MHM is all about anxiety. If you’re interested in reading it, check it out over here.

Wanna share your story,  too? Use the tag #postitforward to share how you cope with anxiety. You might just help someone who needs to hear it.

The murals of Dimitris Taxis recall his experience in both comics and cinematography. 👀 more of his recent creations here.

Dear Cecilia Chung,

You have spent decades fighting for rights and protections for transgender people and people living with HIV/AIDS. You are an inspiration for younger generations of trans activists. You are tough as nails and a tireless advocate for marginalized communities. This 💌 is dedicated to you, Cecilia, in gratitude for all of your work.

As a young Asian American trans person, I struggled to find role models. So often in mainstream media, trans women and trans women of color, in particular, are portrayed as victims, jokes, or evil doers. I was hungry for positive representations of who trans people could be: leaders, survivors, unapologetically out and proud advocates.

I just wanted proof that Asian American trans people have been here. That we’ve been here the whole time. That we’ve been killing the game and shaping history. I’m grateful that, in you, I have found this magnificent representation.

After coming out as trans, you experienced job discrimination, violence, and homelessness. As an Asian immigrant trans woman with HIV, you have witnessed first-✋ how transphobia and HIV stigma keep people at the margins. You’ve taken these dehumanizing experiences and transformed them into fuel for human and civil rights work.

Keep reading

Endormie (😴) Samuel Melton Fisher, 1902

Pictured: Students protesting. Photography courtesy of the Asian American Federation

APAHM Spotlight: Asian American Federation

As part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we’re highlighting some amazing organizations that are positively impacting the community. Asian American Federation is a pan-Asian nonprofit leadership organization that represents and supports a network of 70 Asian American community service organizations in 🗽. They’re focusing on mental health needs in the Asian American community, as a whole, as it’s been affecting a lot of people in the community. We sat down with Deputy Director Joo Han.

The Asian/Pacific Islander community is not monolithic. What are some common misconceptions about this ethnic group?

The Asian American community comprises 16 ethnic groups (including the Arab community who are included in our research) — that speak over 36 Asian languages.

The model minority myth really obscures the diversity and need in the community. For example, Asians are the poorest racial group in 🗽, with 25 percent living in poverty (a rate that grew by 44 percent from 2000 to 2016). The majority, or 70 percent, are immigrants, with 70 percent also having limited English proficiency. If you disaggregate the data, you’ll also 👀 that some Asian groups, like Cambodian, Laotian, and Hmong, have higher status dropout rates (the percent of 16-24 year olds who aren’t enrolled in school and don’t have a high school diploma) than non-Hispanic Whites.

Mental Health is a journey that many of us go through. Unfortunately, many people of color do not have the accessibility for mental health/resources. How is the stigma towards mental health hurtful in the Asian/Pacific Islander community?

Deep cultural stigma is one of the greatest barriers to accessing mental health services in the Asian American community.

A study found that even though a higher percentage of Asian American high school and college students reported experiencing depressive symptoms compared to their White counterparts, Asian Americans are the least likely group to report, seek, and receive medical help for depressive symptoms due to cultural stigma. This stigma stems from the belief that mental healthcare is “only for crazy people” — or the seriously ill — and comes from honor/shame cultures that suppress negative experiences in order to “save face” or not be a burden to others.

Also, Asian Americans, who bear the additional burdens of the model minority myth and imposter syndrome, can further feel they are “weak” or “inadequate” when they struggle with stress, anxiety, depression, and so forth, which may deter them from reaching out for help.

How can we de-stigmatize mental health needs?

One of the best ways that we can de-stigmatize mental health needs is to develop and spread mental health literacy. Part of spreading mental health literacy also comes from sharing our own stories about how mental illness has touched our lives, whether personally or through a family member or friend, so that we can normalize mental healthcare as we would physical healthcare.

Pictured: AAF’s Executive Director Jo-Ann Yoo & 🗽 Council members. Photography courtesy of the Asian American Federation

How can people continue to support the Asian/Pacific Islander community?

🔌 into Asian-led, Asian-serving community-based organizations where you live. There is tremendous need for Asian Americans who can commit their time, expertise, and resources to serving the fastest-growing population in the U.S. And really commit—by volunteering to teach a class in something you’re skilled at, joining a board, or offering to hold a fundraiser. By serving the community, you’re actually investing in resources that will uplift you, your family, and the community as a whole.

Thank you for your time, Joo Han. We appreciate all your work with the Asian American Federation. Tumblr, how do you handle your mental health as a person of color? Use the hashtag #APAHM to share your story.

For nearly 30 years, GAPIMNY (formerly Gay Asian Pacific Islander Men of NY) has been creating events and programs, documenting queer and trans AAPI history, and advocating for rights and visibility.

Founded in 1990, GAPIMNY offered critical support and community to AAPIs experiencing racism and homophobia in the midst of an HIV/AIDS crisis.

In 1991, GAPIMNY, Asian Lesbians on the East Coast, and other groups protested the racist musical Miss Saigon on Broadway. GAPIMNY played a major role in educating white LGBTQ people about yellowface and racist stereotypes.

Miss Saigon protest photo credit: Bino Realuyo

Since then, GAPIMNY has organized many educational campaigns and actions like co-organizing the first queer contingent in 🗽 Chinatown’s Lunar New Year Parade and fighting for same-sex marriage and #BlackLivesMatter.

(vía Conmemoran Día Mundial de la Bicicleta)

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