#shane torres

[picturethisshow]

#STL you do NOT want to miss this amazing ONE NIGHT ONLY lineup!! 

Come see the only live animated comedy show make it's #StLouis debut! Featuring comics & artists from Comedy Central, Big Mouth, Conan, Bojack Horseman, Late Night & more!!

Festival weekend passes are sold out, but you can still get individual tickets to the show at FlyoverComedyFest.com or right here:

[psychichomie]

"The Edge of Sleep" Is genuinely so compelling and I am blown away by the visuals and the PASSION that seems to pour out of it.

After what feels like such a slog of creations that hit streaming platforms, I am so excited to watch something made by people with true passion, and I am only harping so seriously on this because I KNOW Amazon and the other streaming platforms are rooting for it's failure because it's Markiplier's ip that's connected to it and they don't want a "Youtuber" breaking out into the "mainstream"

Which is completely bullshit, but that's besides the point.

If you like the ghoul boys, or the Walking Dead, or weird and wacky visuals akin to Willy's Wonderland,

YOU NEED TO WATCH THE EDGE OF SLEEP

[urmultideadfandomperson]

Maybe a lil celebration for reaching five hearts with Shane hehe

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

Camp Rock (2008)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐RATING⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

WILL 5.25 Dry Spaghetti Noodles 🍝

SABRINA  6.5  Dry Spaghetti Noodles 🍝

[high-quality-tiktoks]

I made myself watch it to film this👍🏻

[japrilsanatomy]

Grey’s Anatomy Poll: Day 21

[ad-astra-per-aspera-1389]

The font is horrendous, I know, but tell me I'm wrong

[tigger8900]

The Books I Didn't Review

I dropped the ball on book reviews in 2023. I'm not surprised. It was a rougher year than 2022, and I also dropped that particular ball then as well. It's hard for me to stay motivated, especially since when I get stressed out I simultaneously read more and want to write(including blogs) less. But this is a new year(I have realized, more than two weeks into it) and I can wipe this slate clean. Start with a book I'm very excited to review, and then...nothing! Empty pile!

So I'm going to do a very brief overview of some of the books I read in the last few months of 2023. Some stuff I read completely fell through the cracks, because it had to go back to the library and I just wasn't able to write up anything about it. Most of these are ones I'd tried to save though, because I was excited to make a record of them in the blog. So I'm disappointed in myself that I couldn't do as well as I'd hoped, but at the same time I recognize that I did as well as I could. Haven't ragequit my job. Still meeting the important bills. Am reading, and writing, and having weird-ass dreams about what if Beauty and the Beast were mutual beards. So it could be a lot worse. Let's see what happens when I give myself permission to start fresh.

Golden Boys, by Phil Stamper

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

Young adult gen fic. This is Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, but with less 00s-era weirdness. Brotherhood of the super gay boys, as I deemed it in a work e-mail. I didn't expect to like this one, but I actually found myself incredibly invested in these boys' lives. I especially appreciated how their friendships were centered above all else, even in the cases where romance was also taking place. I intend to read the sequel if I can find time, because y'all I have *got* to know where these boys go next.

The Darkness Outside Us, by Eliot Schrefer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Young adult science fiction. This is a love story, but not a traditional romance(even though it starts out looking like a straightforward enemies to lovers in space). High appeal to people who enjoy brainfucky sci-fi as well as gay romance, though if you come solely for the romance you're probably going to walk away disappointed, confused, and possibly vaguely traumatized. I'm so glad my coworker insisted I pick it up, because I never would have read this based on the cover.

Horse Barbie, by Geena Rocero

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Adult memoir. This is about a Filipino trans woman's experience in the pageant circuit in the Philippines as well as her time modeling in the US. I wasn't really into the performance-oriented segments, but I found it illuminating how she contrasted the US's legal acceptance(but social hostility) of trans identity with the Philippines' social acceptance(but legal hostility). Someone who's more into glamour/fashion might get more out of it than I did, but it's still a solid trans memoir even if you're not into that stuff.

Never Whistle at Night, edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

Adult short stories. This is an anthology of "dark fiction," horror-adjacent, centering North American indigenous voices. Almost all of the two dozen~ stories were good or great, hitting a diverse selection of tones and content. I loved too many of them to list favorites. The stories might not be the type to make you check under the bed, but come prepared to be unsettled and disturbed.

Citadel, by C. M. Alongi

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

Adult science fiction. Featuring a nonverbal autistic protagonist, who seems to have been researched very thoroughly, this is a story about uncovering the truth about what happened long ago. My main gripe is that it ends rather suddenly, leaving me feeling like there's meant to be a sequel, but as far as I can tell there's no plans for that. But the story it told was fantastic, I just wish I knew where some of the loose ends and teased bits were going. Probably has strong crossover appeal to an older YA audience.

Blackouts, by Justin Torres

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Adult general fiction. Won the national book award this past year. Three and a half stars for the novel, bumped up to four for the excellent use of blackout poetry on found text throughout. It's about an inter-generational friendship between two gay men, one of whom is on his deathbed and gifts the other a selectively blacked-out copy of Sex Variants, a real publication from the 40s, as well as a selection of other photographs and artifacts. This is all characters and no plot. Highly recommend reading this in the print edition, as the best parts seem like they won't translate to audio.

Out There Screaming, edited by Jordan Peele

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Adult short stories. Horror-adjacent "dark fiction"(to borrow a phrase from a previous book) centering Black voices working in a variety of formats and genres. Picked this up for the names included(Nnedi Okorafor, Tananarive Due, N.K. Jemisin, Rebecca Roanhorse, P. Djèlí Clark, Tochi Onyebuchi, and of course Jordan Peele himself), but was happy to enjoy some of the other stories as well. My favorite story by an anticipated author was Clark's Hide & Seek(though it had stiff competition), and my favorite story by a new-to-me author was Nicole D. Sconiers's A Bird Sings by the Etching Tree.

The Possibilities, by Yael Goldstein-Love

⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

Adult speculative fiction. A new mom struggles with contradictory memories of whether or not her child survived the birth. Then he disappears, as if he'd never been, and she has to go find him. I haven't read/seen Everything Everywhere All At Once, but people keep bringing it up when I describe this book to them, so it must be similar! Heavy content warning for baby-related trauma. This is not the book for you if you're going through an anxious time with a pregnancy or young child!

The Future, by Naomi Alderman

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

Adult speculative fiction. In the near-future, tech bro CEOs have a plan for the end of the world. In the lead-up and as the plan deploys, we follow a survivalist blogger and a cult survivor who muses about the end of the world seen through the lens of god's wrath. A surprisingly hopeful pre-apocalyptic(the event itself happens roughly 3/4 of the way through) novel, with some sapphic shenanigans in the background. Funny coincidence: I finished this and handed it to my mom at the same time as she tried to hand me The Power by the same author. 😂

Us, by Sara Soler, translated by Silvia Perea Labayen

⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

Adult graphic novel memoir. Originally published in Spain, this is the story of Sara Soler's experience when her partner comes out as a trans woman. I read this hoping for more insight to their particular experience, especially when Soler mentioned early on that she discovered she was demisexual, but ultimately it reads as more of a primer to trans issues in general. No hate for that, it's just not what I was expecting. While this is marketed to adults, I think there's cross-appeal to teens who are interested in the subject matter. There was nothing that struck me as particularly scandalous, mostly a lot of swearing.

[cadencewishes]

Day 26

Gift of a Friend

[elegancemultimuse]

Jonah noticed Shane almost instantly and recognized him. He knew better than to mention from where, and wasn't even going to speak to him. Jonah often found himself at Shane's place of employment in order to blow off some steam. His life was stressful and Jonah's love life was a bit stale right now. So Jonah went to the club as a way to have some human interaction that wasn't completely just on a screen. "Hey, how are you?" Jonah asked a bit awkwardly as he was sure that Shane knew who he was.

wanted connection:  Shane, a stripper, spots a club regular while he's out for groceries (M/M)

wanted fc suggestions [here]|| themes: smut 🔞

Shane had been looking forward to having an omelet this morning, only to discover, while he was heating up the skillet, that he had no eggs. Luckily, there was a little supermarket down the block from his apartment that he could walk to.. and so he did. He navigated past the cereals and coffees by muscle memory, approaching the dairy and eggs cases toward the back of the store. A dozen extra-large eggs were quickly in his hand. As he stepped back to let the display case door swing shut, he glanced to his left and smiled. "Hey.." he kept the greeting casual, not wanting to blow the guy's cover in case he wanted to stay under the radar.

[shanes-mother-cluckin-asks]

Magandang araw (good day), Shane! I'm V Dela Torre, the new farmer in Pelican Town. It's a pleasure to meet you!

I heard you like pepper poppers and chickens. It just happens that I have some pepper poppers with me! Here, take it as a friendly gift :D

As for the chickens, meet my babies! The brown hens are Bok-Bok and Tu-Tu and the blue hen is Konam! (Fun fact: Konam is the backward spelling of "manok" which means "chicken" in Filipino)

Salamat for the pepper poppers, V! Heh, I just so happen to know just a tad bit Tagalog from an old friend. I hope I’m saying it right.

Your chickens look really cozy in their coop. I also like the cute nicknames you have them. I’m sure you take good care of them.

[urmultideadfandomperson]

Discoveries

Fandom(s): Stardew Valley

Character(s): Vianne "V" Dela Torre, Harvey, Shane (only mentioned once), Delvin (currently Crisostomo)

Writing Style: Short Story

Pairing(s): Harvey X V (just a bit)

Genre(s): Adventure, Fluff, Mild Angst

Word Count: 5.2k words

Warning(s): Mentions of Blood, Wounds (cut, scraped off skin), Mentions of Abuse

Note: Okay. This is my first time writing a story that reveals a tad bit of lore of my farmer, V. She is confirmed to have an adopted son named Crisostomo, and here is the origin of how they met. May you enjoy the read!

(Read the AO3 version here!)

The golden sun was high in the skies when V was casually heading down to Cindersap Forest, her axe gently swaying on her side from left to right.

She has just received her axe from Clint, whom reinforced her weapon from copper to steel. This way, she can finally break down the logs around the valley. Robin needed those hardwood for her carpentry project, and the farmer was more than happy to help. She is the person who finds joy in helping others, after all.

She hums a soft tune as she walks down the path, thinking about the benefits and opportunities when there is enough hardwood. Not a lot of stumps and logs can be found in the valley, so it can be considered as somewhat lucky to get them.

She imagines it in her head: the near future would have more buildings, more equipment, more money... such beautiful fortunes from simple wood. It would bring a great reputation to her grandfather's legacy!

But these were not the only motives that drove her to collecting hardwood.

Recently, V has been sensing an aura around the place. It was strange yet inviting, a pleasant ambience that roams freely in the woodlands. If she told the residents about the phenomenon, perhaps she'd be described crazy.

It would only happen when she goes deeper in the woods of Cindersap Forest—the same area where V cuts down trees for wood. The aura was similar to a gentle blanket hanging on her shoulders. It would stay there until it eventually embraces her, gently dragging the farmer into the unknown.

It was an alluring spell, hypnotizing V to follow it toward its source. It was always the same place. She was led to an isolated log, sitting on the ground that seemed to block a path. It wanted—no, begged her to break the barrier in between.

But of course, she snaps out of the spell before the consequences occur. Who knows what delves deeper in that forest? No way would she fall into the dark side of what was leading towards danger.

However, V was braver now. She knew it was the perfect time to investigate, to unfold what was hidden within. If nobody was willing to explore the forest, then she will.

Because she was diving deep in her thoughts, V hadn't realized that the towering trees have covered the golden sunrays, the blue skies no longer in sight. The canopy blocked the atmosphere above, creating shadows that envelops her like a blank void.

"Well, would you look at that." V mutters under her breath. "I should've worn my glowstone ring."

Despite the difficulty of vision in the shaded areas, V needed to go forward. There was no point of turning back when her feet had led her in. She starts walking forward gingerly, eyes scanning for the isolated log on the ground. The forest was suddenly quiet. The birds' chirps fade, the wind's flow become silent. There was no noise aside from the crunching sound of grass beneath her leather boots.

As she walks, the aura appears out of nowhere as if it sensed that the farmer has arrived. It slowly slithered around her like a serpent who was carefully preparing to constrict her limbs. It made her feel a tinge of fear, but it sets her free before beginning to lead the way.

V only sighs at the earlier tension, running her fingers through her hair. "I swear this exploration will be the death of me." She grumbles.

It did not take long for V to find the log with the aura's guidance. Her feet take small steps, eyes locked on the log. Her heartbeat seemed to rise in her slow approach, though she simply assumes her senses were just going haywire. When she was close to the log, V swings out her axe, hands holding it tightly. The time has arrived to unseal the truth. She must be brave.

V swings it forward, beginning to chop the log. Then second, third, fourth...

And it completely breaks down at the fifth.

The aura goes in the path first, waiting for V to follow. "You know you can go first, di 'ba? Pupulutin ko lang muna 'to." She says to it in her native language. Still, the aura stays and V lets out a chuckle.

She starts collecting the hardwood, putting them along with the other bundles. Once done, she stands up and follows the aura that was eagerly leading the way.

The forest gradually lost more light, the shadows swallowing the farmer whole in its territory to the point she can hardly see anything. V has to admit, she felt a wave of anticipation washing over her in this moment of peril.

A few more steps. Then there was light.

It blinded V for a moment, eyes squeezing shut in instinct at the brightness that flashed in front of her. She slowly open them once again, her vision a blur. Fortunately, it did not take long for her sight to recover.

A gasp then followed. Her eyes widened at the scenery in front of her; a secret sanctuary that brought peace to the mind and soul. The place was still surrounded by large trees like before, but it was much easier to see now.

Everything about the place made the farmer relive her childhood as nostalgia washes over her senses. Her shocked expression softened, a beam curving on her lips. She thinks it was similar to those fairytale settings where leaves fall from the trees with fairy dust sparkling around. There were a couple of stumps as well. Perhaps she can collect more hardwood here.

In all of a sudden, something had hit the farmer. "Agh! Ano 'yun?!" She hollers, turning her head to see a green slime with eyes glowing red in aggression. It reminded V the moments when she was in the mines, monsters going towards her for an attack.

"Hm, so this place isn't as serene as I thought." She mutters, drawing out her sword. Her expression hardens, eyes consumed with irritation. "I should've known."

Slaying the slime was no issue for V. She has killed more mobs before and their bites were much worse compared to that anomaly. Her ears heard more squishing noises, her head turning in alarm. There were more slimes all around, and none of them seemed to welcome her in the secret forest.

But again, she just slays them all without an issue. The farmer pants in mild exhaustion, groaning at the small burns of the slimes. Although their hits hurt, she realized they were weaker than those in the mines. It was the first time V was thankful to learn combat.

A rustling sound from a bush was heard elsewhere, and the farmer immediately wields her sword as she looks around with alert senses. The noise came again, and it was from her right. Her feet carefully lead her to the source, teeth clenching behind closed lips. Amidst of danger, there was curiosity.

She reaches the bush. She clenches her sword while her free hand carefully reaches the shrub. She grabs the leaves, and pushes it away to reveal the anomaly.

V expected it to be another slime, a small fawn, or even a lost bear cub. But the reality of what was behind was beyond believable.

It was a human child.

Like a frightened hare, the child swiftly jumps out of the bush and runs off from the secret forest, causing V to drop her sword. Despite the shock, the farmer knew she had to chase him. "Wait!"

V turned on her heel and ran off, following the boy to attempt in grabbing his rags. But he keeps on dashing faster when V was nearing success. He runs to left, to right, another right, left... he was not stopping for a second. Even so, the farmer keeps on trying. The secret forest may be a beautiful sanctuary, but it was not the ideal place to live.

She noticed that the boy was running off mindlessly, his eyes shut tight in terror. Her eyes widened when there was a tree with dangling roots ahead of him. She shouts: "Watch out!!"

He received her warning, but it was too late to stop. He stumbled on the roots, causing him to fall down as a lowly hanging tree branch slashes painfully on the bridge of his nose. His left leg made contact with the rough bark of the roots, scraping off a big portion of skin. The farmer's breath hitches in shock, and the boy screams in excruciation from his wounds. Still, he stands up to keep on running. This time, he was stumbling and wobbling.

For a few seconds, V stood on her spot, hands covering her mouth in horror at the incident. The sight of blood on the bark caused a shiver go up her spine. She recovered quickly, though, and rushed to follow the wounded boy.

"Bata?" She calls him out, alternating from walking to running. "Kid, are you here? I won't hurt you!"

Not far away, sniffles and sobs echoed through the forest. In hearing it, V sprinted towards the place as fast as she could. She realized she was back in the secret forest, where the cries came from.

And there, leaning back against a tree, was the poor boy sobbing in agony as he tries to calm himself. The wounds were bleeding badly, small splotches of metallic blood landing on his rags and the grass. They appeared to be severe and will not be soothed with deep breaths. In spotting the farmer, his entire body tenses then freeze. His eyes went wide, consumed by terror and helplessness. He mutters inaudible words to himself, almost like a desperate prayer.

V only stares at the boy, her face bewildered. Even if it was true, she can hardly believe a child lived in the secret forest. She snaps out of it after, her expression softening. She is aware that she needs to do something aside from look.

"Hello," V greets softly, careful not to startle him further. "It's okay, little one. I won't hurt you." She walks slowly towards the boy, gently holding out her hand to show she meant no harm.

The boy tenses when the farmer was nearing him, but he seemed to have no plan in running off again. His leg could no longer cooperate due to the nasty wound. V keeps walking forward, her gaze gentle and genuine.

When she approached him, the farmer kneels down to match his height, her dark brown eyes observing his appearance. He had bronze skin that shone against the soft light, short-cropped hair as black as ebony, and wore old, dirty rags riddled with big and small holes.

Yet his eyes were the most extraordinary of his features, a glimmering gold akin to shining coins. Despite being a simple boy, he had beautiful eyes.

By his looks, the boy was roughly a preteen.

"You're very handsome," V compliments with an awed expression. She tilts her head to the side, curious eyes staring into his golden ones. "What's your name?"

The boy did not reply, eyes still wide at the sight of the farmer. V is completely understanding of his reaction, guessing he has not seen an adult for a long while. Maybe he is a shy kid. Even so, a smile only rests on her lips. "You don't have to say anything."

Her eyes avert from his face to the wounds, the smile faltering into a sympathetic frown. Already by how they look, agonizing was the first word that entered her head. Whether the kid liked it or not, it urgently needs treatment.

"These wounds look really painful, huh?" She asks. To her surprise, the boy nods. V chooses not to question it. "We need to get it to a doctor. But first, let's wrap it up to avoid infections, okay?"

Despite still being distrustful, the boy nods again. V begins approaching him, remaining gentle with her movements. She then takes out a roll of bandages, a bottle of betadine and a small pack of cotton balls, the perfect items needed to soothe the wounds temporarily. She begins treating the boy tenderly, occasionally apologizing whenever he winces.

In five minutes, the farmer finished patching up the kid. For now, he can stand and move around as long as he will not overexert his body. V puts back her items in her bag, attention going back to the boy afterwards. "Does it feel alright now? No pain, kid?"

He tries to stand up, it resulted in a success. He starts pacing in circles to test his leg, it did not sting for a bit. Once the boy is certain there are no aching, he nods. The farmer beams at this. "That's good. Are you ready to go to the doctor?"

Even if hesitant, the boy still nods his head. He seemed to understand that he needs a professional to tend his wounds. With that, V stands up from her place and leads the way out of the secret forest.

(The kid also timidly asks to get a piggyback ride after some time due to fatigue, but V was far from complaining about it.)

✧❁❁❁✧✿✿✿✧❁❁❁✧

"I have finished tending his wounds. I also gave the young boy a checkup. He'll be okay." Harvey says to V while his eyes scans his clipboard, reading the details he noted. "According to my examinations, he has been in the forests for quite some time now, roughly weeks."

"My goodness," the farmer gasps softly at the given information, her eyes filled with concern. She looks at the sleeping child on the bed before averting her attention back to the doctor. "That long? Is there anything else?"

Harvey nods. "I tried talking to him, but he chooses not to speak. He might have selective mutism," the doctor replies, pushing up his glasses on the bridge of his nose. "His body is surprisingly healthy as well. For a preteen to live in a dangerous area, he doesn't seem to have caught any illnesses."

The farmer only nods in response. Her arms were crossed on her chest, lips pursed in worry. Her eyebrows also furrowed, eyes looking downcast. She tries to open her mouth to speak, but then closes it.

Harvey noticed her behavior. He places his clipboard on a nearby desk, his hand now resting on one of V's shoulders. "Is there something on your mind, V?"

"Ah," she only says. There was a small tinge of pink dusting on her cheeks, though it was easy to miss. "I'm just... worried, Doc. I don't know who that kid was, and the fact he lived there still baffles me."

She pauses for a moment before continuing. "I just wished I knew he was there in the first place, you know? I know I'm not to blame, but..."

The doctor frowns in empathy. There were also times Harvey felt the same thing when he failed some of his patients, wishing he could have done something to prevent the tragedy. He sighs silently as flashbacks play in his mind.

"Sit down," he offered, gesturing to the vacant chair beside the boy's bed. V settles on the seat, fiddling on her fingers in a nervous manner. Harvey continues speaking: "I understand what you feel. As a doctor, wishful thinking is not uncommon. I have my own failures and regrets, just like you. But we must remember not to drown in them. We are only human, after all, and we are not responsible of everything that happens around us."

Harvey then takes V's hand, holding it reassuringly. The pads of his fingers caress the calluses on her palm. "If anything, you have done well in helping the boy. You knew how to treat his wounds, even if it was temporary. You took him to me because you knew he needed it. Even if you weren't able to help him before, you still made a job well done."

V smiles with gratitude at Harvey, a few tears beginning to well in her eyes. She holds his hand in return, giving it a gentle squeeze. He blushed at the gesture, then he smiles. "Thank you." She beams.

He chuckles, saying, "there is no need to thank me. I am only doing my job as your doctor."

"And as a friend," she adds.

Harvey laughs softly, flattered to hear such words from the farmer, and V laughs along with him. Their hands remained intertwined, finding comfort in each other's presence.

For the passing time, Harvey and V have a conversation together all about the myths and theories in the medical field. While they converse with interest, a small groan was heard. They turned their heads, witnessing the boy wake from his slumber.

"Hello again," V greets him with a gentle smile as soon as he opens his golden eyes. "How are you feeling, dear?"

The boy slowly sits up on his bed, stretching out his limbs. He does not answer the question immediately. Instead, he touches the bandages on his wounds with eyes consumed with wonder. Then he nods.

"It's good news that you're in a good condition." Harvey responds to his nod. He wears the earpieces of the stethoscope, sitting closer to the child.

"Just take deep breaths and relax, okay? I'm just going to listen your heartbeat." The doctor tells the boy, which he replies with a silent nod. He puts the chest-piece on the kid's chest, listening to his beating heart. After a minute, Harvey removes both the chest-piece and the earpieces.

He pats his head, giving him a satisfied smile. "You're a very good kid. Your heartbeat is normal, thus you're healthy."

"... thank you."

The adults' eyes widened when they heard the boy speak. His voice was small yet silvery, honestly shocking for a child like him. His eyes stare at them nervously, noticing the sudden silence when he spoke.

V quickly clears her throat, sensing the negative reaction from the kid. "Apologies. We were just... surprised. Anyway, may we ask you questions?"

When he nods at her, she starts thinking of something simple. "Hmm... what's your name?"

The child hesitates, answering her with silence. "... Delvin." He finally speaks after a few moments.

"Delvin," Harvey repeats, letting the name slide on his tongue. It sounds foreign to them, but it was definitely beautiful. "That's a wonderful name. Unique, I might say."

The expression on V's face shifts at his name, though she remains silent. They go back to asking Delvin questions, and they discover more answers from him.

The boy reveals that he is eleven years old and he has been living in the secret forest for three weeks. He also explains that he was able to befriend the slimes, hence catching no sickness. It sounded crazy, but Delvin insists all are true, adding he has a slime companion named Sammy the Gloo.

Harvey wrote down every word he said, as he said they were useful information about the child. After Delvin speaks, the doctor asks him something. "If it's alright to ask, how did you get there in the first place?"

When he heard this question, Delvin's eyes widened and his entire body freezes. He recovers after, though, but he remains to look uncertain on how to explain it.

V frowns at his reaction, understanding that he must have been through an awful situation. "You don't have to answer if it's too sensitive," she reassures, "what's important is that you're okay."

"... thank you, Miss V. B-But I can summarize." He says shy, and she gives him a nod of encouragement.

He sighs before talking about his backstory. The adults found out that he was raised in an orphanage since he does not know who or where his parents are. The old caretaker of the place was a kind woman, offering the orphans the necessities. When he turned six years old, the caretaker retired and another took over. However, she was hardly similar to the first caretaker.

The new caretaker was inconsiderate and strict, taking every single task with seriousness. As much as it was effective discipline, it unfortunately evolves into verbal abuse. Everyday, he and the other orphans would face the so-called discipline of their caretaker to the point they had enough. So when they were old enough, the kids decided to create an escape plan.

The escape plan succeeded, though not without a chase. Some children truly escaped, while others were caught and dragged back to the orphanage. Delvin was one of the orphans who managed to run away, yet he became separated from his friends as he ran heedlessly.

He just kept running and running and running and running and running and running and running and running and running and running—

The last thing he remembered is that he fainted from exhaustion, and the boy woke up in the middle of the secret forest. He found peace in the foreign environment, the only proof that Delvin realized their plan.

"...and that's what happened," Delvin finishes. On his face, there was a wistful smile. "I'm happy to escape, but sometimes I wish my friends are with me."

Harvey and V frowned at Delvin's story, a pang of sympathy in their chests. He was only eleven years old, yet he already encountered a lot since his toddler days. The thought of watching a child face the circumstances was both mesmerizing and pitiful. The room becomes silent, gloom spreading around the atmosphere.

The farmer clears her throat, breaking the silence. "I... I'm sorry for everything that has happened to you."

Delvin only shakes his head. "... it's not your fault, Miss V. Please don't be sad."

"He's right, V." Harvey nods in agreement, putting a hand on hers. "Anyway, you're a big inspiration, Delvin. We're glad we are able to help you."

The boy grins shyly, eyes averting elsewhere as his cheeks turn red in flattery. The adults simply chuckle.

"I have a suggestion, and I hope you will like it, kid." V speaks up again, catching the attention of the boys. They gaze at her with confusion, wondering what suggestion it would be.

She smiles at them before saying; "I want to adopt Delvin."

Delvin's face shifts drastically, eyes turning wide and shoulders tensing upwards. As for Harvey, he was also surprised but it then changes into agreement. "Yes," he responds, "I like that idea. The cities don't seem like a good place for him after that escape. It's better for Delvin to stay in Stardew Valley."

"Stardew Valley?" He repeats the name of the place, tilting his head to the side with an eyebrow raised. "That's the name of where you guys live?"

V nods at his question. "Yep. In such a small town, I think you'll fit in just fine, sweetie. Jas and Vincent will be delighted to have a new friend."

"And I will be more than happy to care for more patients," the doctor follows. "It's tiring work, but definitely rewarding."

Delvin thinks about it for a moment, debating whether he should agree to the idea of adoption or not. Glancing at the farmer, she seemed like a kind woman, especially after she tended his wounds and rushed him to Harvey. Some adults might just be uncaring and leave him be in the secret forest, he assumes. A while passed by, and Delvin has made his decision. "... okay. I think I'm good with that."

V gives him a warm smile, joyous that she is able to help and care. She comes near him and pats his head in a motherly manner, her callused hands making contact with his hair. A fuzzy feeling swims in the boy's chest, and he thought it was very pleasant.

She lets out a small giggle before playfully announcing. "From now on, Delvin will live in the farmhouse with me! And he shall be given a new name!"

She coughs before resuming. "Delvin in Irish means 'unlucky', I am not the happiest when it is named for a resilient child. Today, you shall be called... Crisostomo."

"Crisostomo?" Harvey and Delvin ask in unison.

"Yes. I know it's very new. I just heard it from somewhere and I instantly fell in love with it. Delvin's a handsome boy, and I'm positive it'll fit him," V elaborates, which the boys came to understanding.

"... it's okay," the shy kid only shrugs, yet a tint of red returns on his cheeks. "I don't have anything bad to say about it."

Harvey lets out a low hum, patting the boy's head like a father. A subtle smile rests on Delvin's lips now. "As long as you aren't against the new name, that's what matters the most."

"So, I'll pick you up tomorrow, buddy?" V questions as she stands up, stretching her legs. "Or rather, Cris?"

The boy released a tiny giggle, gradually becoming fond of his new name. He already feels a connection with these two adults. "Mhm," he replies.

The following day arrives, and Harvey discharges the boy from his clinic. As he walks to the farmhouse with his new caretaker, his golden eyes looks everywhere as interest takes over. It was indeed a small town, but its presence felt warm. It was a lovely spring with pollen drifting through the wind. Crisostomo never knew that he would see something like this after those long weeks in the forest.

He was intrigued by the sight of crops and fruit trees growing around. They were almost ripe now, and he guesses that V will have a bountiful harvest for the season.

"Well, this is your new home," V speaks up after the stroll, dark brown eyes gazing down at the kid with kindness. "Welcome to the farm, Crisostomo."

Crisostomo nods at her words, letting go of the farmer's hand as he explores his brand new home. There were a bunch of crops like parsnips and cauliflower, as well as animals such as chickens and cows. Even a dog lived in here; it must be the farmer's pet.

The fruit trees were tall, its leaves colored in a vibrant green. Some had fruit, some are yet to grow. His eyes spot oranges, and a memory flashes in his mind: they were the first fruit he ate in the orphanage, the sweet and tarty flavor juicing unto his tongue. Crisostomo remembers how he ate four oranges that time because he loved it so much. From the flashback, the boy has hardly noticed that he was just unmoving like a statue.

A soft laugh was heard behind him. "I see you want an orange, hm?" It was V, who was holding a fruit picker in her hands.

"U-Uhm... yes." He replies shyly.

"No worries, sweetie. I got this." She winks, using the fruit picker to collect a bunch of oranges. Once done, the farmer gives a fruit to the boy. "Eat up, kid. You're going to love these. Straight from the source!"

Crisostomo observes the fruit, rotating it to different sides with sharp eyes. He starts peeling off the skin, handing them to V. He takes a carpel of the fruit, tossing it into his waiting mouth. The familiar taste of the orange comes back all over him, and he swore he could have bursted in satisfaction.

Throughout the day, the boy sits on the porch as his "mother" works around the farm. He watches her cut down trees, harvest weath, remove boulders, and care for her animals. He honestly finds it alien that she does not force him to work unlike the caretaker in the suffocating orphanage. No matter the sweat, V still smiles and asks if he is alright. A small spark of gratitude ignites in his chest, inspiring him to help her someday when he has taken enough knowledge about her job.

A few hours later, dusk has approached as the setting sun creates a warm sky of red, orange and yellow. It reminded Crisostomo of autumn, the season he admired as a toddler. It brought back the memories of cooked food on the dinner table. Perhaps some things never change.

V invites Crisostomo into her house, which gives him a pang of realization that he had not entered it before. He marvelled at the interior and furniture of the house, mouth hanging open a bit. The boy can hardly believe that this house will now be his new home. It was not a big house, but it was surrounded with a warm and welcome feeling, a stark contrast to the ambience of the secret forest.

"Make yourself at home," V pats his head. "I'll be cooking in the kitchen."

Because of this, Crisostomo occupies himself by exploring the house. He memorizes every door in order to avoid getting lost, as well as engraving his footsteps in his mind. The more he looks around, the more he is intrigued. There was a picture frame hanged on the wall: it was V and a purple-haired man smiling together. Crisostomo was obviously curious, pondering whoever this man was. Is he...?

"Crisostomo!" V calls him from the dining room. "Dinner's ready!"

"C-Coming, Miss V!" He stammers, dashing to where the farmer waits. There, on the table, was a warm meal with a mouthwatering aroma. V sits on her chair, patiently waiting for her son.

"Sit there," she points at the seat across the table, opposite from V. "And eat whatever you like. This is now your home, after all."

The boy nods at her instruction, quietly heading to settle on his chair. In front of him was the food the farmer has cooked for them. Without a second to waste, Crisostomo dug in and begins to satisfy his empty stomach. V smiles in amusement, glad to see the kid loved her cooking.

An hour passed and it was finally time for bed. The farmer has given the boy a simple sleepwear, but its rich fabrics said otherwise. He laid down in his bed which was in a separate room from the farmer's. Crisostomo was still adjusting, and V was open-minded about his preference. As soon as the kid was snuggling with the sheets, V leaves him a motherly kiss on the forehead.

"Goodnight, sweetheart." She whispers.

"Goodnight, Miss V." He responds.

She turns off the lights, then she walks out of the room, the door closing behind him gently. Once she is gone, Crisostomo recalls the crazy occurrences that has happened, finding them all too good to be true. It felt too sudden, too strange. But here he is, laying down in a cozy bed in a welcoming home.

The soothing voice of V echoes in his mind, her kind words and thoughtful questions fixing his wounded heart. She was his mother now. His mother, a person who will love and care for him.

Crisostomo marvels at the reality of his life. Before, he was an abused boy who lived in the forests. Now, he is adopted by a wonderful woman who took him in a lovely home.

    He yawns and his eyes begin to flutter, closing them as exhaustion of the day took over his body. But his lips curve upwards, because there is no place he would rather be.

(Have some bonus art!! :DD)

[wrestler-smash-or-pass]

Weekly Wrapup 3/3/24 (late!)

This Week's Rankings:

Hangman Adam Page (Mustache) - 70.7% smash

Drilla Moloney - 70.7%

Kagetsu - 66.7%

Randy Orton - 62.3%

Alex Coughlin - 61.3%

Amir Jordan - 60.2%

Shane Haste - 59.0%

Rocky Romero - 58.4%

Tetsuya Naito - 54.1%

Tony Nese - 51.4%

Al Snow - 47.3%

Eve Torres - 47.1%

Julius Creed - 27.9%

Kevin Sullivan - 13.1%

Average smash rating this week: 53.6%

More stats under the cut, along with my observations, commentary, and some of my favorite tags...

Most total votes this week (most enthusiasm)

Hangman Adam Page - 529 votes

Alex Coughlin - 279

Drilla Moloney - 246

Rocky Romero - 245

Randy Orton - 236

And least total votes this week (least enthusiasm)

Kevin Sullivan - 153 votes

Amir Jordan - 166

Eve Torres - 174

Julius Creed - 201

Tony Nese - 218

The closest poll was Tony Nese, who won 112-106

Top Ten Overall

Kris Statlander - 91% smash

Athena - 90.2% smash

Hikaru Shida - 89.7% smash

Minoru Suzuki (Young Variant) - 88.7% smash

Swerve Strickland - 88.3% smash

Toni Storm - 88.1% smash

Hiroshi Tanahashi - 87.7% smash

Hangman Adam Page - 86.4% smash

Bianca Belair - 86.4% smash

Hikuleo - 86.0% smash

Bottom Ten Overall

Vince McMahon - 3.9% smash

Ric Flair - 4.6% smash

Kane (Corporate variant) - 10.1% smash

Miracle Violence Connection - 11.8% smash

Gene Munny - 12.4% smash

Spike Trivet - 12.% smash

Kevin Sullivan - 13.1% smash

Triple H (Terra Ryzing variant) - 18.6% smash

Eric Bischoff (NWO) - 20.0% smash

Charlie Dempsey - 22.1% smash

Top Women Overall

Kris Statlander - 91% smash

Athena - 90.2% smash

Hikaru Shida - 89.7% smash

Toni Storm - 88.1% smash

Bianca Belair - 86.4% smash

Bottom Women Overall

Eve Torres - 47.1% smash

Carmella - 47.8% smash

Nikkita Lyons - 48.2% smash

Julia Hart (Cheerleader Variant) - 49.8% smash

Kelly Kelly - 50.3% smash

Top Men Overall

Minoru Suzuki (Young Variant) - 88.7% smash

Swerve Strickland - 88.3% smash

Hiroshi Tanahashi - 87.7% smash

Hangman Adam Page - 86.4% smash

Hikuleo - 86.0% smash

Top Tag Teams

The Golden Lovers - 80.4% smash

Best Friends - 66.7% smash

Motor City Machine Guns - 65.5% smash

Roppongi Vice - 62.7% smash

Young Bucks - 43.8% smash

Mustachioed Hangman took the No. 2 spot for most total votes, with 529 votes cast. However, there was a 13.6 point drop in his smashability when the mustache is taken into account. He scored 86.4% smash for his previous poll, with 386 smash votes. With the mustache, he scored 70.7% smash, with 374 smash votes. I thought he'd do better, given how popular mustaches seem to be overall, but maybe the mustache fans are just a small, vocal minority.

Eve Torres had the misfortune of being the least smashable woman overall. She was the fourth woman to score less than 50%.

We can now add Rocky Romero to the rankings for Best Friends and Friends:

Kris Statlander - 91.0% smash

Orange Cassidy - 77.1% smash

Danhausen - 68.8% smash

Chuck Taylor - 66.2% smash

Trent Beretta - 61.3% smash

Rocky Romero - 58.4% smash

And for their tag teams, we have

Best Friends (Chuck and Trent): 66.7% smash

Roppongi Vice (Trent and Rocky): 62.7% smash

In other news, I'm starting to add Cagematch rankings to the results spreadsheet (reminder, that exists here: Google Docs). I plan to eventually make some silly charts involving those ratings, like smashability vs. Cagematch rating.

And now for some of my favorite tags and comment

@tetsuya-taito on Julius Creed: #he looks like he rubs the inner thigh and asks if you like that

@mancewarner on Julius Creed: #he does unfortunately look like hed call me a slur though so id hit it and ghost

@mancewarner on Shane Haste: #just watched an insiderz stream where he was chugging coke and burping extremely loudly into the microphone. that being said yes id smash

@sanguinaryrot on Kagetsu: #uhhhhh yeah I stand for the troops (transgender professional wrestlers)

@dykecassidy on Hangman with a Mustache: #everyone stop clicking smash i wanna be the only one please let me be alone with this hangman

@theunprettier on Drilla Moloney: #i wanna get tangled up in his body hair and die like a fish caught in ocean debris

Honorable mention to the MANY people who tagged the Hangman poll with some variation on "save a horse ride a cowboy"

[tacticalhimbo]

REMEMBERING PULSE NIGHTCLUB - COMMUNITY COALITION AGAINST ONEPULSE

The only prominent post going around about the Pulse Nightclub shooting in 2016 is my own, and is unfortunately cursed to the fate of receiving reblogs of an inaccurate version. So, 8 years later, I'm doing the right thing and making a new post to properly honor the victims and their families.

May these beautiful souls rest in peace, and may we never forget their names (not in picture order, afaik):

Stanley Almodovar III, 23

Amanda Alvear, 25

Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26

Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33

Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21

Martin Benitez Torres, 33

Antonio D Brown, 30

Darryl R Burt II, 29

Jonathan A Camuy Vega, 24

Angel L Candelario-Padro, 28

Simon A Carrillo Fernandez, 31

Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25

Luis D Conde, 39

Cory J Connell, 21

Tevin E Crosby, 25

Franky J Dejesus Velazquez, 50

Deonka D Drayton, 32

Mercedes M Flores, 26

Peter O Gonzalez-Cruz, 22

Juan R Guerrero, 22

Paul T Henry, 41

Frank Hernandez, 27

Miguel A Honorato, 30

Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40

Jason B Josaphat, 19

Eddie J Justice, 30

Anthony L Laureano Disla, 25

Christopher A Leinonen, 32

Brenda L Marquez McCool, 49

Jean C Mendez Perez, 35

Akyra Monet Murray, 18

Kimberly Morris, 37

Jean C Nieves Rodriguez, 27

Luis O Ocasio-Capo, 20

Geraldo A Ortiz-Jimenez, 25

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36

Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32

Enrique L Rios Jr, 25

Juan P Rivera Velazquez, 37

Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24

Christopher J Sanfeliz, 24

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35

Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25

Edward Sotomayor Jr, 34

Shane E Tomlinson, 33

Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25

Luis S Vielma, 22

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37

Jerald A Wright, 31

Will it gain the traction it needs? Probably not. But I'm not as... distant, about today, as I have been over the years. Because let's face it... This hits close to home for me. I said this in my original posting, too:

As someone who lives relatively near Orlando, I remember this day so vividly and I still feel a lot of pain for the victims even five years later.

I remember biting back tears in my living room because I wasn't out of the closet, and couldn't let my family know just how much this hurt me. I remember breaking down that night while scrolling the headlines, watching as the number of fatalities kept climbing. I remember staring at the button on Facebook asking me if I was safe.

And to this day, even with those involved and responsible gone... I still do not feel safe as a queer man in this state or in this country.

More importantly, though, it's important to highlight the community impacted by it, and the way onePULSE and its founder (Barbara Poma), the city of Orlando, and the State of Florida have exploited and continue to exploit the deaths of these individuals.

Information from here on out will be taken from the Community Coalition Agaisnt a Pulse Museum's official website, which can be found at the following link: [ LINK ]

The Community Coalition Against a Pulse Museum (CCAPM) is a group of surviving victims, family members of victims, activists, and scholars who have banded together to fight against the onePULSE Foundation's privatized memorial and museum complex. Our position is that money raised in the name of the mass shooting should go to the continued care of survivors. A public memorial park that does not seek to capitalize on the mass shooting in any way is the only option for a just memorial.

In addition, we seek justice for mass shooting victims by exposing the history and scope of unpermitted renovations and code violations at Pulse, which impaired the escape and rescue of shooting victims. We believe that Pulse owners Rosario Poma and Barbara Poma should be held accountable for these violations, rather than continuing to profit from a tragedy that was exacerbated by their illegal business decisions. We also want to see the City of Orlando held accountable for their continued failure to enforce the law and bring the business into compliance.

So what are the prominent issues?

WE ARE AGAINST COMMODIFYING MASS MURDER

The onePULSE Foundation has placed a gift shop feet away from where 49 people were murdered on the site of the interim memorial. We firmly renounce putting any price tag on the murder of our loved ones. The proposed museum is also slated to have a gift shop and a price of admission.

WE ARE AGAINST TURNING A PUBLIC TRAGEDY INTO PRIVATE PROFITS

Pulse nightclub owner, Barbara Poma, refused to sell the property to the City of Orlando for a public memorial. Instead, she created the onePULSE Foundation and has taken an executive salary in her self-made position as CEO. Perks have also included national recognition, celebrity, political connections, and undeserved accolades as an LGBTQ+ ally.

WE ARE AGAINST TURNING A MASS SHOOTING INTO A TOURIST ATTRACTION

The onePULSE Foundation has received a $10 MILLION tourism development tax grant from Orange County for the building of a museum. The tax application shows how the proposed memorial/museum complex has been intended to increase tourism during the off-season. The corporate Board of Trustees also reflects the local tourism industry.

WE SUPPORT INVESTING IN THE CONTINUED CARE OF SURVIVORS

Money raised in the name of the mass shooting at Pulse is going to multi-million dollar buildings rather than the continued care of the people who were directly affected. Available services and organizations have not provided adequate care to survivors and the onePULSE Foundation has not stepped in to fill any gaps; focusing instead on cultural and "educational" programs, while ignoring the ongoing needs of survivors.

WE CALL OUT A CHANGING MISSION

For years, the onePULSE Foundation raised funds for community grants for victims' families and survivors. In 2019, "community grants" were removed from the organization's mission. According to the released 2018 990s, only $1k was spent on community grants. People have donated money to the organization thinking that they were helping survivors.

WE ACKNOWLEDGE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

onePULSE Foundation CEO Barbara Poma is currently being sued by survivors and victims' families as part of a security negligence lawsuit. This lawsuit also alleges the illegal transfer of the Pulse nightclub property which was transferred via quit claim deed in the months after the shooting to two other LLCs owned by Barbara and Rosario Poma. Funds raised by the non-profit are being invested in the Pulse property that the Poma's still own.

As of 2024, this case is still pending, with the latest service list being posted on the docket as of June 11. The case number is publicly available (2018-CA-006102-O) and is searchable via the Orange County Clerk of Courts Record Search.

WE AFFIRM A PUBLIC MEMORIAL PARK IS STILL POSSIBLE

Public memorial parks have been the overwhelming response to mass shootings around the country, including Aurora, Columbine, Las Vegas, and Newtown. Most have been built by volunteers, with no executive salaries. The OnePULSE Foundation's proposed museum attraction seeks to unnecessarily turn the shooting into a spectacle and requires merchandising the tragedy. Mass murder is not for sale!

WE CONTINUE TO EXPOSE UNPERMITTED RENOVATIONS AND CODE VIOLATIONS

Public records affirm that Pulse Nightclub was a death trap due to its unpermitted renovations and code violations. Documents show that these issues affected the both the escape and rescue of Pulse survivors on June 12, 2016. We continue to collect, document, and uncover these issues since the City of Orlando has still not released all relevant records to the public.

Survivors of the incident, as well as their families and those who have faced similar tragedy, have also signed an open letter [ LINK ] calling attention to these issues, provided documented evidence of the above claims [ LINK ], and have also been running a petition since 2019 to call attention to the matter:

Of course, it is important to note that the individuals mentioned (Barbara Poma, the Orlando City Council, etc.) are not the only ones involved in making this state an unsafe place for its queer community.

As noted in my original posting as well, the unsafe nature of this state runs through its government. The fight for our rights, our recognition, and our safety still continues. Here are some facts from the original post (dated June 12, 2021):

In June 2021, the Governor of Florida vetoed an "item-lined budget bill" - that legally provides mental health, counseling, and compensation directly towards victims of the June 2016 Pulse nightclub Orlando shooting.

While they cannot be enforced, sodomy laws still exist in Florida to this day. Every year, we are still criminalized by a technicality.

In many places, same-sex domestic partnerships are still not granted. It is only viable in approximately nine counties, thirty cities, and one town.

It took until 2016 for same-sex couples to be granted the same parental rights during in vitro fertilization and surrogacy as opposite-sex couples. Before then, the non-biological mother and father was not the child's legal parent nor guardian.

The state's "hate crime law" only accounts for sexual orientation, and does not protect victims who were attacked for their gender identity.

Anti-discrimination laws for sexual orientation and gender identity are not state-wide nor equally applicable within each county/town.

On June 1, 2021, Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis signed a bill to exclude transgender women from participating in sports designated for female students. This bill passed because of a last-minute legislative "procedural maneuver". The HRC is currently establishing a campaign to try and stop the law from going into effect (called "nullification") on midnight July 1.

Gay-panic and Trans-panic are still viable legal defenses, resulting in these abhorrent hate crimes to be decreased from murder to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Conversion therapy against minors is not banned state-wide, and is still legal within many areas of the state. In fact, in some areas, a ban on the practice is deemed "unenforceable".

And that is just the tip of the iceberg, because if you've been active in your advocacy for the community (or at the very least, following me for a decent period of time)... Then you know just how unsafe Florida has become. You know how, even under the Biden administration, people like Governor Ron DeSantis have gone unchallenged in their writing and enforcement of vile legislation. You know how this legislation has begun creeping its way up to the top, to the federal level, and remained unchallenged the whole way up.

Here are some more "fun facts" about just how much we must fight against in the wake of this tragedy:

States like Florida have eliminated 80% of all trans adult care (SB 254), adults can be thrown in jail for using the bathroom of their gender identity (SB 1674), and trans people with correct gender markers on their drivers licenses can be charged with fraud (Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles memo).

The State of Florida has had several travel advisories issued against it by local LGBTQ+ organizations (e.g., Equality Florida) and national organizations (e.g., Human Rights Campaign).

Likewise, many social media laws targeting "adult content and pornography" (HB 3) include sneaky, vague language that will very much target the existence of queer folk using the internet in this state.

More states within the United States are explicitly passing anti-trans legislation than not, and moreso now than ever [ source; dated June 4th ].

The time for relying on those above us is over. We MUST kill the plague of individualism and build community. If we don't support one another, nobody will. No amount of pinkwashing, placation, or sanitation will change that.

We are here. We are queer. We will never forget, and we cannot allow ourselves to.

[operachristine]

Mean Girls Tour Gifts!

As I’m recovering from having all four of my wisdom teeth removed, here’s my audio and video masters from when I saw Mean Girls!!!

Natalie Shaw (Cady Heron), Maya Petropoulos (Regina George), Kristen Amanda Smith (Gretchen Wieners), MaryRose Brendel (Karen Smith), Victoria Mesa (u/s Janis Sarkisian), Ethan Jih-Cook (Damian Hubbard), Joseph Torres (Aaron Samuels), Shawn Mathews (Kevin Gnapoor), Kristen Seggio (Mrs. Heron/Ms. Norbury/Mrs. George), Justin Phillips (Principal Duvall), Justin O'Brien (Mr. Heron), Justin O'Brien (Coach Carr/Glen Coco/Math Moderator), Thalia Atallah (Dawn Schweitzer), Emily Ann Stys (s/w Lizzie Therman/Caroline Krafft), Ryan Vogt (s/w Lizzie Therman/Caroline Krafft), Lucas Hallauer (Tyler Kimble), Jonah Nash (Christian Wiggins), Mikey Corey Hassel (Shane Oman), Emily Ann Stys (s/w Sophie Kawachi), Ryan Vogt (s/w Sophie Kawachi), Mikaela Rada (Caitlyn Caussin), Brandon Moreno (Jason Weems), Tyler Jung (Marwan Jitla), Reagan Kennedy (Taylor Wedell), Emily Ann Stys (s/w Rachel Hamilton), Ryan Vogt (s/w Rachel Hamilton)

December 2, 2023; Second National Tour

Matinee

Notes: Victoria’s debut as Janis! Wonderful performances by the whole cast! Emily and Ryan were split-tracking Joi, Oshie & Victoria’s tracks!

Operachristinedaae’s Master

Audio Link

Natalie Shaw (Cady Heron), Maya Petropoulos (Regina George), Kristen Amanda Smith (Gretchen Wieners), MaryRose Brendel (Karen Smith), Victoria Mesa (u/s Janis Sarkisian), Ethan Jih-Cook (Damian Hubbard), Joseph Torres (Aaron Samuels), Shawn Mathews (Kevin Gnapoor), Kristen Seggio (Mrs. Heron/Ms. Norbury/Mrs. George), Justin Phillips (Principal Duvall), Justin O'Brien (Mr. Heron), Justin O'Brien (Coach Carr/Glen Coco/Math Moderator), Thalia Atallah (Dawn Schweitzer), Emily Ann Stys (s/w Lizzie Therman/Caroline Krafft), Ryan Vogt (s/w Lizzie Therman/Caroline Krafft), Lucas Hallauer (Tyler Kimble), Jonah Nash (Christian Wiggins), Mikey Corey Hassel (Shane Oman), Emily Ann Stys (s/w Sophie Kawachi), Ryan Vogt (s/w Sophie Kawachi), Mikaela Rada (Caitlyn Caussin), Brandon Moreno (Jason Weems), Tyler Jung (Marwan Jitla), Reagan Kennedy (Taylor Wedell), Emily Ann Stys (s/w Rachel Hamilton), Ryan Vogt (s/w Rachel Hamilton)

December 2, 2023; Second National Tour

Matinee

Notes: Victoria’s debut as Janis! Act 1 is unfocused and mainly washed out while Act 2 is better focused but ends during World Burn. Emily and Ryan were split-tracking Joi, Oshie & Victoria’s tracks.

Operachristinedaae’s Master

Video Link