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[uyuforu]

Jungkook's Natal Chart: Virgo Mercury 8H, 7°

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Mercury is a planet that will represent our communication style, our voice, how we express ourselves, what we think about and talk about the most, how our minds work, etc.

Mercury in Virgo

JK's Mercury is in Virgo, which means he can be quite smart in general. Even if it’s a different kind of smart, he can just be smart even in his own way. Or you could feel like he is quite smart even academically. That means if JK has a strong interest in something, he will usually have less hard times to study it or learn it. Mercury being in his 8H with Virgo placement makes him want to know EVERYTHING about subjects he loves. Usually, those people can love animals and plants, but also nature. JK can love to organize and can need it when he works or studies, because he could work better this way. He can usually even like to organize everything in his life, because it can even help him to memorize things. So anything unpredictable or anything (or anyone) that is chaining in his habits and organization can be quite stressful for him. JK can be quite logical in general, or he could just act and speak in a very logical way, and he could come off as cold or detached sometimes. He is good at analyzing people as well, so he can usually read people well. He wants to be seen as smart and he always want to learn more because he wants to improve about his knowledge. Usually, those people love to each compliments about how smart they are. He also likes to correct people when they are wrong. Though he usually isn't good at taking criticism because he feels like he isn't good enough, and he should have known. We can often see that how JK can even often be his worst critic, always thinking he is never doing good enough. He often self criticizes and he can put some pressure on himself often. 

Mercury 8H

Mercury in the 8H here makes JK's mind more deep than what we can think. I see often people saying JK can't lie, though this placement suggest JK is actually very good at keeping secrets. I am not saying he is a liar, but he just knows what to say and what to not say. He is def smart, and he is smarter than what people give him credit for. JK may actually enjoys people not exactly knowing him, he may be quite secretive. Mercury in 8H are very focused people; they are quite quiet with people they don’t know. If there are things they don’t want to reveal or talk about, forget about it because you will never know, like ever. JK doesn't like change much. He is def cold and will actually never talk to someone he hates. He can also be quite shy and won't talk much if there is someone he doesn't know. But he is very nice and generous with the people he loves. No fake with him, he will say things directly and be blunt. If he argues, he can indeed be aggressive with his words and the way he says things. He is collected and calm, knows how to translate his emotions in a logical and understandable way. JK could have a hard time with writing his emotions, or just translating his emotions with words. He can feel it's hard to express those, but easy to feel. So Art can actually help JK a lot on this. JK may care a lot about what he has and possesses, and he may talk about it often. This can also be a placement that can seem materialistic, but it’s important to talk about those things for JK. He can be very good at negotiating, and He handles money pretty well. Jungkook doesn’t speak for nothing, he will only share his ideas and thoughts if he does have some. He won’t make conversations if he doesn’t want to. 

Mercury 7°

Mercury in 7°, a Libra degree, makes Jungkook very easy going, nice and very charming in the way he speaks. He speaks with a light voice a tone that is charming and melodious. He is someone very polite and hates rudeness, but also injustice. So, he will always try his best to speak in the fairest way and the nicest way possible. So even when someone is rude to him, he will try to “kill them with kindness”. He is the kind of person to love to listen to people. Also, he is very good with words, and how he uses those. He wants to make sure whatever he talks about will be pleasant for the other person, but that the way he speaks will not hurt a soul or not hurt anyone in this case. In the end, he is making sure that the conversation he has and how he talks will never cause an argument. 

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[insomniac4000]

George Clarke- 147

cute glasses, dork. George Clarke

George adjusted his go pro which was strapped to his chest as the Sidemen buzzed around him, each sorting out their gear for their latest video: a race across the UK. He’d been invited to join as a guest, he had been an increasing presence on the channel and he absolutely loved it. To his surprise—and slight horror—he’d been paired with Harry and Millie Harper, a rising YouTuber known for her travel vlogs and infectious laugh. Max who was his podcast co host had hinted multiple times George had a small things for her, something George had denied but always had blushed profusely. Chris had also stirred the pot asking both of them to a shoot and trying to convince his housemate to make a move.

Millie was smart, funny, and drop-dead gorgeous. George had been nursing a not-so-secret crush on her ever since they’d crossed paths at a creator event months ago. Now, they’d be spending the next two days in close quarters, and he was both thrilled and terrified.

“Alright, teams!” JJ’s voice boomed over the chaos. “We’ve got four groups. Each team has to make it from Land’s End to John o’ Groats, but no planes. You’ve got £500 and your charm to get there. First one to the finish wins!”

George glanced at Harry, who was grinning ear to ear. “Ready to crush this?” Harry asked, slapping George on the back.

“Sure,” George replied, trying to sound confident.

Millie approached, holding a map and grinning. “Guess we’ll see how far £500 gets us, eh?” she said, her hazel eyes sparkling.

“Hopefully far enough,” George said, trying not to trip over his words.

Leg One: The Plan

The trio piled into their starting car, an old, slightly battered fiesta rented for £50. Harry, a self confessed passenger princess immediately claimed the back seat, leaving George in the driving seat and Millie navigating in the passenger seat.

“Right,” Millie said, pulling out the map. “We need to figure out how to maximize this cash. Cheap petrol, cheap food, maybe hitch a ride if we can.”

George nodded, trying to focus on logistics and not the fact that her hair smelled like strawberries.

“You’re good at this planning stuff,” George said.

Millie smirked. “I have to be. My subscribers love it when I turn chaos into a masterpiece.”

Harry groaned from the back. “Boring! Let’s just drive until we run out of money and wing it!”

Millie laughed, rolling her eyes. “Classic Harry strategy. What do you think, George?”

“I think we should listen to you,” George said, earning a teasing grin from Millie.

Hours into their journey, the trio stopped at a roadside diner to refuel and grab a bite. As they sat at a booth, Millie pulled out her phone to snap a quick photo of their table.

“Smile, team!” she said, aiming the camera.

George threw up a peace sign while Harry stuffed a fry into his mouth mid-shot. Millie laughed, reviewing the picture.

“You’re such a goof,” she said to George, nudging him playfully.

“You’re one to talk,” George shot back, though his cheeks reddened.

“You’re surprisingly good at driving,” Millie said, glancing at George as he navigated through winding country roads.

“Thanks,” George said. “I try not to crash into trees. High bar, I know.”

Millie laughed, and George felt a swell of pride.

The next morning, after a brief overnight stop at a budget motel, it was Millie’s turn to drive. She tied her hair up in a messy bun and pulled out a pair of glasses from her bag, settling them on her nose before adjusting the rearview mirror.

George glanced over from the passenger seat and grinned. “Cute glasses, dork.”

Millie raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching into a smile. “Oh, so I’m a dork now?”

“You said it, not me,” George teased, though his heart raced as Millie giggled.

Harry, half-asleep in the back, muttered, “Can you two stop flirting for five seconds? Some of us are trying to nap.”

“We’re not flirting,” Millie and George said in unison, their voices a touch too defensive.

“Sure, sure,” Harry said, rolling his eyes. “Just get us to John o’ Groats without killing each other or me.”

As their funds dwindled, the team had to get creative. After running out of petrol near a small village in Scotland, they flagged down a local farmer who agreed to give them a lift in his truck.

Millie climbed into the passenger seat, leaving George and Harry to squeeze into the cramped truck bed.

“This is cozy,” George said, awkwardly pressed against Harry.

“Don’t get any ideas,” Harry quipped.

Millie turned in her seat, laughing as she snapped a quick photo of the two squished boys. “This is definitely making the highlight reel,” she said.

“You’re evil,” George called out, though he couldn’t help smiling.

After hours of creative travel, bartering, and begging for lifts, the trio finally arrived at John o’ Groats, exhausted but exhilarated. They stumbled out of their final ride—a rickety bus—and sprinted toward the finish line, where JJ, Josh and Vik

“Second place!” JJ announced as they crossed the line.

Harry threw his arms in the air. “I’ll take it!”

Millie grinned, high-fiving George. “Not bad, Clarkey. You’re not half bad at this teamwork thing.”

George flushed but grinned back. “Couldn’t have done it without you.”

As they posed for the group photo to commemorate the challenge, George couldn’t help but feel that, despite the exhaustion, this was one of the best weekends of his life.

After the cameras stopped rolling and everyone began to relax, George found himself sitting on a bench with Millie as the sun set over the rugged Scottish coastline.

“So,” Millie said, nudging him with her elbow, “cute glasses, huh?”

George chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. “What can I say? They suit you.”

Millie smiled, her cheeks tinged with pink. “Well, thanks, I guess. You’re not so bad yourself, Clarkeey.”

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world around them faded. George’s heart pounded, but before he could say anything, Harry’s voice shattered the moment.

“Oi, lovebirds! We’re heading to the pub. You coming or what?”

Millie stood, offering George a hand. “Come on, dork. Let’s celebrate.”

George took her hand, grinning as they walked back to the group, wondering if maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something more.

[i-guess-im-into-this-now]

The Apothecary Diaries

S1Ep2 First watch

Review with spoilers for episode 2 under the cut.

(Which is mostly me ripping into Jinshi.)

Jinshi. My man. I'm both exasperated and excited to see you try your plan to seduce Maomao.

I saw it in episode 1 when you easily maneuvered Maomao into exposing herself and confessing, so I knew you were somewhat crafty. Also, this being a palace intrigue story, I do expect some shady stuff. Even so, I was hoping you would be upfront and honest with Maomao. She was forthcoming with her background, skills, and why she stepped forward to help the sick infants (I'm of the opinion she may have additional secrets that she has not yet revealed, but even so), and yet Jinshi is planning on using dishonest methods to try and control her.

He's a handsome man in power, he's probably used to being able to influence women with seduction. However, I think this plan is likely to fail. Maomao nearly spontaneously combusted when someone joked about her becoming a courtesan, so I'm guessing his flirting will either fluster her in a way that doesn't seduce her or she will find it bafflingly or dishonest and do her best to ignore it. I'm here for anything, whatever goes down I know it's going to be entertaining.

I just met Maomao last episode and I already know seduction is the wrong method to use with her. He would find more success by appealing to her sense of responsibility, justice, or even just her curiosity. He's too smart. I predict that he'll figure this out sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, I hope this seduction plan backfires terribly for him. I want him to end up seducing himself and for Maomao to gain that power over him, where Jinshi hoped to take it from her. I want him to suffer in his desire for her, and eventually I want Maomao to return his affection, but not until he gets what he deserves for trying to manipulate her.

Oh! Okay, I didn't guess that. She's grossed out by him. Maybe I've read this all wrong. *Me rethinking everything. Trying to see earlier scenes in new shades* I'm not convinced she won't like him eventually, but if she is repulsed by men it would explain a few things....

Oh no! Or if she has sexual trauma! That would explain things as well. Ahhh! I hope not! This show won't go that dark will it? *Remembers human trafficking and infant death in the first episode*

At first glance the other ladies in waiting seem nice enough. They are fast to fill in gaps with their own assumptions and immediately gossip about it, so Maomao will want to watch that, but they at least seem compassionate.

Once again we are reminded of Maomaos self harm tendencies with her experiments on herself. In a flashback her father simply laughed and said "that's my little mad scientist." I wonder if she's ever had someone looking out for her that truly cared about her well being? She seems very self sufficient but Maomao deserves to have someone who makes her feel safe and cared for, especially since she's not protecting herself.

For fucks sake Jinshi! Once again he is setting up tests for Maomao without her even knowing she's being tested. In this case he had the food presented in ceramic bowls rather than the more useful silver to see if she would mention it. She did, once again proving her reliability and knowledge.

Princess Peach (I haven't learned this lady-in-waitings name yet but her hair piece looks like PPs crown so I'm going with that for now): If you had spoken up earlier and told someone you were literate, you would have received higher wages.

Maomao: I was kidnapped and brought here against my will. And taking into account that part of my earnings get sent back to the people who stole me, I wasn't exactly eager to.

PP: Basically, you would rather take less pay if it means not supplying the scoundrels who took you with extra drinking money?

This exchange is interesting to me and I think could be seen a couple of ways. On the one hand it could be seen that Maomao would rather suffer herself to ensure that her enemies also suffer than to allow herself to prosper if it means her enemies could also prosper. It could be seen as an act of malice at her own expense. Which... it is. But, that view doesn't account for Maomao's feelings about it which I'm guessing are more self-sacrificing. She would gladly forsake better pay because it's the right thing to do. Evil should not be allowed to prosper and it certainly won't do so with Maomao's help. She'd pick her own suffering every time to prevent injustice.

Goddammit Jinshi! Did he knowingly give Maomao food with an aphrodisiac in it?! What an asshole. He plays so dirty. Thank goodness Maomao is too skilled to fall for that, and now she's on to him.

And Maomao casually solves another mystery, with minimal evidence. She's way too good at this. It could become a problem if she solves an actual crime instead of the two accidental poisonings that she's done up to now. We know someone has tried to poison the concubine twice already so there is someone nafarious in the palace to watch out for. Depending on who it is, if Maomao exposes their crimes, they will probably come for her too.

Jinshi, you bastard! He knows his flirting isn't working, and she easily avoided being secretly dosed with an aphrodisiac, but ask her to make one herself? Well shit, he can get her to dose herself.

Okay so the emperor deliberately placed Jinshi in the back palace to test his concubine's loyalty, but I've got no time to dwell on that because HOLY SHIT! Does Jinshi have a degradation kink! I love that for him!

Meanwhile, Maomao's kink is apothecary ingredients. Lol! She's too funny!

Maomao. Just what am I supposed to believe here. You act disgusted by Jinshi's attempts at seduction but then you think stuff like this:

If he were to come on to someone, blushing and with those looks, it's over.

I'm sure it would be enough to captivate anyone. Male or female.

Moving forward we get this ominous exchange from the concubine and princess Peach:

PP: so the new girl is capable of making drugs.

Concubine: what a beneficial skill.

Does Maomao even realize what it means that she can identify poisons and make them? In a harem setting?! She'll be suspect #1 if anyone gets poisoned, especially considering she's a commoner of low position, meaning she's expendable. Plus, people will be trying to manipulate her into using her skills for their machinations (*cough* Jinshi *cough*). I feel like this story is in the calm before the storm.

There are so many dangers around Maomao and she's so completely alone. She's got her knowledge, skills, and wit but she is so outnumbered and outmatched. I hope she will find a powerful or useful ally.

Fucking Jinshi! This dude's out here stroking her hair, kissing her neck, and whispering in her ear?! Maomao has given no indication that she would welcome his advances, but of course he doesn't care about that. He's out to seduce her. Dick. Joke's on him though, he's going to pay for stealing that chocolate from her. If for no other reason than he'll be left wanting more. Hmmm. That's probably a metaphor.

Actually, now that I've said that, I think that might be right. Jinshi is trying to his best to distract Maomao while stealing the fruits of her labor. Both literally in this scene as well as more generally in all of their interactions. Jinshi has been delighted as Maomao has risen to every challenge and passed every test. Unlike other women in the palace, Maomao doesn't swoon with a sultry look, she resists that, even if she isn't completely immune. He's intrigued already. And he'll be wanting more. I can only hope Maomao keeps him at a distance for awhile. At least long enough for him to really get to know her, understand and learn to respect her.

Her response to Jinshi this time was notably different from before when he flirted with her. This time he didn't use his looks (she couldn't even see him), or any flirty comments. Instead he gently brushed her braid aside and kissed the back of her neck then whispered his appreciation to her. I am once again curious about her past. Did she have anyone in her life to offer her physical affection? Also, thanking her and acknowledging her hard won skills? Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's going to work on Maomao. So if Jinshi has a degradation kink then maybe Maomao has a praise kink. That should be fun for them.

But also, why did Jinshi want Maomao to make an aphrodisiac? Was it just for the concubines to use with the emperor?

Now that I've gotten to the end of the episode I've got to go back and ponder about the emperor sending Jinshi specifically to the back palace. Jinshi and his servant are chatting about an incident when a concubine invited Jinshi to her room and Jinshi describes the incident as

an indiscretion we cannot abide.

And I wonder who he means by "we." We as in the back palace? The empire? The harem hierarchy? The imperial family?

Then the servant states a little indignantly:

But to place you in the rear palace, and using your beauty as a means to test their true character...

Why so indignant on the behalf of the rear palace manger? He's got a high position. Power. Respect. By most metrics he's doing great and his placement in the rear palace should be seen as an honor. It would only be seen as an indignation if one were coming from an even higher position. And what's higher than the emperor's harem?

To which Jinshi laughs and responds:

Our emperor can be quite cunning. We all use whatever we're given.

What would be cunning about sending a handsome palace official to the harem to test their loyalty? Seems like a reasonable request. It's the emperor's perogative to appoint his officials as he sees fit. To use what he's been given. Is there some reason it is remarkable to send Jinshi specifically to the rear palace?

Then to what seems like a non sequitur (but isn't!) Jinshi starts talking, fondly, about how Maomao gave him a death glare.

I've never had anyone look at me so harshly in my life!

Really? Never? No one has ever glared at you? How novel... for a prince. I guessed that last episode with zero evidence just based on a twist I'd like to see, but I'm a lot more confident about it after this exchange.

It is also the link that explains how the conversation jumped from how unusual it is that the emperor sent Jinshi to the rear palace to his delightful experience of being glared at.

Jinshi being a prince also adds color to some of his behavior. His expectation that women will fall for his flirtations, his entitlement, sense of privilege, not to mention the deference he receives.

I'm so intrigued by this story. These characters are 💋🤌

If you liked this, you might like my review for episode 1.

Episode 1 review

Episode 3

[praetorqueenreyna]

Concession Strategy, Eris Week Day 1: Brotherhood/Family

Happy Eris Week everybody!! I worked on this fic for @erisweek2023 with the co-runners of the event, @secret-third-thing and @lucienforhighking. They'll be writing the second and third chapters of this fic to complete the story.

Read here on Ao3!!

Eris was tired. In a fit of paranoia, Beron had assigned him to review every missive and contract that had come through the Court in the past few months, claiming it was out of concern that someone in his cabinet was embezzling money from the treasury. To Eris, the excuse was weak. More likely that Beron wanted to watch his eldest son toil away on a menial task. He stubbornly sat at his desk for hours at a time, determined to finish his pointless assignment quickly so he could get back to his actual work.

A servant broke his concentration. She announced that the High Lord required his presence in the throne room immediately. With a sigh, Eris straightened his rumpled clothes and stood up, wincing at the sharp tingles that shot down his legs. He rubbed at his eyes as he made his way to the throne room, his feet taking him down the correct path on instinct. Beron was perched on his throne reading a letter. He looked annoyed, as usual.

“A delegation from Spring is on their way,” he announced without even glancing at his son.

“Hello Father, it’s good to see you too,” Eris drawled. A scathing glare from Beron informed him that his father was not in the mood for joviality. “Why?”

“They want to discuss the incident with the Laurellons.”

Eris bit back a groan. The Laurellon family had lived on the border between Autumn and Spring for as long as anyone could remember. Some centuries ago, a long-forgotten insult had divided the family into two feuding factions, one on either side of the border. Since then, they had ignored every communication from their respective High Lords. Both peace treaties and threats of violence had been returned with crude phrases scribbled all over the parchment. Beron and Tamlin had independently decided to ignore the bickering family. Avoiding them when crossing the border was easy, and they weren’t doing much harm to anyone other than each other.

That is, they hadn’t done much harm up until a week earlier. The Laurellons on the Autumn side had gotten hold of an ancient and dangerous fire spell. They had launched it across the border, where it had immediately set the forest ablaze. The fire had taken days to put out, and had scorched more than five acres of woodland on both sides of the border. Most of the damage had been in Spring, and so Beron hadn’t seen fit to respond in any way. It made Eris want to scream; that his father was so selfish and stupid and incapable of forming alliances with anybody. Of course Tamlin would have to send an envoy on his own accord; Beron would never lift a finger to help someone other than himself.

“When will they be here?” Eris asked just as a trumpet in the foyer announced their guests’ arrival. Apparently, Tamlin was hoping to catch Beron off guard. A smart move, frankly. Eris took his place standing just behind his father’s throne, hands clasped behind his back. He expected to see Andras, or one of the other uncouth soldiers that Tamlin sent to other courts to negotiate in his place. Instead, a familiar red-haired male strolled through the doors of the throne room.

Unexpected longing at seeing Lucien again punched him in the gut. The last time Eris had seen his youngest brother, he had been curled on the ground sobbing into the broken body of his lover. A part of Eris had wanted to comfort him. Another part felt a sick sense of satisfaction. Lucien had always been too soft, too sweet. It endeared him to Eris in a way that none of his other siblings had, but also filled him with rage. He needed to learn, to build that hard shell around himself, to become selfish and petty. It was what all the Vanserra children did. It was what Eris had done. Who was Lucien to defy his fate?

Eris had been sure that his lover’s gruesome death at the hands of their father would be a turning point for Lucien. He’d understand how the world worked, become like the rest of them. But he continued to refuse to play the Vanserra game. He had disappeared that very night, not even bothering to disarm the spells around the castle that would alert them to his absence. Three of his younger brothers had gone after him, intending to take him out. Only one had returned. He revealed that Lucien had gone to Spring, and that he was in Tamlin’s care now. The dark tendrils of anxiety that wove around what remained of his heart loosened ever so slightly. In Spring, a sensitive male like Lucien would be far safer than he would be at home.

The Lucien standing before him now was a far cry from the shattered fae that had left Autumn. He stood tall and proud, one hand casually perched on the sword at his waist. He had let his hair grow longer, and it cascaded across his shoulders and back in a crimson waterfall. He was clad head to toe in green, a symbol of his new allegiance. Eris recalled only just now that Lucien had recently been granted the title of emissary. The news had filtered in to him through his spies in the other courts. Beron had refused to acknowledge the existence of the son that had abandoned him.

A glance towards the throne revealed that Beron’s only reaction was to slightly lift his eyebrows. “Lucien,” he said evenly.

Lucien bowed, bending at the waist at the exact angle that indicated respect for a High Lord, but not deference as one of his subjects. So he had been learning. “High Lord Beron,” he greeted. “I am here on behalf of High Lord Tamlin to discuss how our courts might work together to restore the land damaged by the Laurellons and mitigate any future skirmishes.”

“Interesting that Tamlin didn’t think the situation important enough to come here in person, and chose to send you.” Beron’s lips curled into a grin, adding more insult to his condescension. It was extremely common for High Lords to send emissaries to negotiate for them. He wanted to degrade Lucien, as he had done for his entire life.

Lucien did not take the bait. “Tamlin is at the damaged border, working with the dryads to replenish magic to the trees that were destroyed. He regrets that he could not be here in person, but as his royal emissary he trusts me to handle such minor discussions for him.”

Something like pride swelled in Eris’s chest. Lucien kept his head up, maintaining eye contact with his father. Beron’s smirk had twisted into a grimace at the politely-worded disrespect. “Very well.”

Lucien began speaking, rattling off information about the extent of the damage on the Spring side and estimates of what had been burned on the Autumn side. He only occasionally referenced a small notebook for a particular number. He then began to outline a treaty that Tamlin had drawn up, but Beron cut him off with a lazy wave of his hand.

“You’ve given me a lot to think about. I will of course have to verify those numbers myself before our courts can discuss how to move forward. We will reconvene tomorrow evening. You may stay here during that time in our guest quarters. I trust you know the way.”

Lucien’s jaw tightened as he ground his teeth together. The delaying tactic was a favorite of Beron’s, to put his adversary off and force them to wait on him. Beron was trying to goad Lucien into lashing out.

“Tomorrow, then. Is that all, Lord Beron?”

“That is all.” With that, Beron dismissed his youngest child. He beckoned an advisor over and began talking to him in a low tone, as if nobody else were in the room. Lucien’s eyes flashed, and for a moment Eris was sure that he was going to shoot off one of those smart remarks that frequently got him in trouble. The rage passed, and Lucien simply turned on his heel and walked out.

That evening, Eris wandered across the castle’s grounds. He told himself that he was just enjoying the cool night air. So what if his stroll took him past the fountain that had always been Lucien’s favorite spot? His brother was there, sitting at the edge of the fountain, one knee propped up to support his chin resting on his hands. It was a position that Eris had found him in over and over, for centuries. Looking at him now, it was almost as if the past few months hadn’t happened. Like he had never left.

Lucien shifted slightly when Eris settled on the stone wall next to him. Just enough to keep them from touching. “You’ll have to do better tomorrow,” Eris said. “He’s testing you. Trying to undermine you. And if you fuck this up, you might as well quit, because he’ll never take you seriously as an emissary again.”

For a moment, Lucien was still. Finally he shifted, just enough that he could peer at Eris with one accusing eye. “What are you doing?”

Eris scoffed. “What do you think I’m doing? I’m helping you.”

In one fluid motion, Lucien leapt to his feet. He turned on Eris, snarling. “I don’t need your help. I never did. Why don’t you fuck off and leave me alone?” He stormed off inside, leaving Eris speechless for the first time in his life.

[mermaidsirennikita]

I've recently read a book where the point was to have an heir and the hero is becoming more and more obssesed with the heroine and won't admitted bc IM DOING THIS FOR THE SAKE OF HAVING AND HEIR AND NOTHING MORE lol, do yoi have more books like that to recommend?

I appreciated the reviews you do ☺️ more than usual people get waaaay to serious about a book and it gets tiring to read their thoughts after a while

Hi! Thank you lol, I think people need to read romance novels for fun and it's a little irritating for me when they get like... guilty? About liking what they like. I think romance novels can definitely be emotionally deep and compelling, but the main point is fun.

Soooo I think some breeding kink or breeding kink adjacent vibes will give you these vibes!

Historical:

The Duchess in His Bed by Lorraine Heath--In this one, the heroine is the one that propositions the hero to put a baby in her because she needs a baby in order to secure her safety right after her husband dies. She spends a good chunk of the book showing him the kind of life his baby will have because he was a bastard and is worried about the kid having a good home, etc. But once they do get to babymaking, it's like feeeelings.

Waking Up with the Duke by Lorraine Heath--This is the ideal book for this setup, except a) they're making an heir on behalf of her husband, who's impotent after a carriage accident and pressures the hero to get his wife pregnant b) the hero isn't TOTALLY detached, even though he puts on a good front, because he has carried a torch for the heroine. However, the babymaking process is when he REALLY starts falling and it's delicious and one of my favorite books of all time. AINSLEY!!!!

Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas--These two are married, and had feelings, but he left her the day after the wedding and they've been separated for like a decade. She wants a divorce so she can marry her lover, and he's like "fine"--if you give me an heir first. So it's really like... a reawakening via babymaking. I shall always remember the first sex scene when he like, bends her over a desk to KEEP IT PROFESH.

Lord of Darkness by Elizabeth Hoyt--This is the one where they got married because she was pregnant with another guy's baby and and the guy died before they could marry. Then she lost the baby and they separated without consummating the marriage. A few years later, she returns to town like "I want a baby, put it in me" and they start having sex... During which he gets FEELINGS.

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare--The hero is a super scarred duke whose fiancee leaves him right before the wedding, and the heroine is the seamstress who made the wedding dress and shows up on his doorstep wearing it all "PAY UP". He realizes he has a ready-made bride, and he just needs an heir, so... they've got a deal. Obvi, he begins falling for her as they start working on the baby.

The Duke I Tempted by Scarlet Peckham--This is another "duke marries local woman for an heir" book, with the twist that his secret is... He's sexually submissive and likes to be dominated and whipped during sex.

Contemporary(ish):

Lush Money by Angelina M. Lopez--This is the crazy one wherein the heroine is like, a billionaire, the hero is the prince of a tiny nation with a genius IQ. She wants a smart royal baby, so she offers to bail out his nation financially if he marries her and gets her pregnant. He actually hates her, but he's a man of his word, so he starts workin' on it. Workin' REAL hard.

Mafia Virgin by Mila Finelli--In this one, a mob boss and a mafia princess (who wants to be a doctor lmao) are forced to marry, and then the boss is blackmailed.... he has to get her pregnant within six months, or Something Bad Will Happen. However, it turns out that they both have a breeding kink, so they get SUPER into it and feelings start to develop. This is the one where he makes her kiss his balls and thank them for all the cum they're about to give her (she's about it).

Fantasy:

The Winter King by C.L. Wilson--The hero conquers the heroine's kingdom, and part of the treaty is her being forced to marry him and give him an heir within a year. VERY hot.

[meister-de-cachinnation]

-= MONSTER PROM FAN SONG =-

DISCLAIMER: The music and vocals for this video were generated by AI. I do put a significant amount of effort into the videos, mixing and tweaking in post-processing audio software once the tracks are generated, but I recognize that many people will still not like it. I make these videos purely for fun and a love of the fandom, and don't claim to be an artist of any sort. If you don't enjoy them, that is okay. But if you do, thanks for bopping along!

*FINAL REUPLOAD! I promise. The last upload had loads of equalization / volume / clipping issues because, surprise, I don't know what I'm doing. BUT! I learned a lot, and now this version is much more consistent and sounds a lot better. THANKS FOR ENJOYING!

==== LYRICS ====

Yo, yo, yo, listen up, gather 'round,

It's Monster Prom, it's going down!

From Spooky High to the spooky camp too,

Where hearts beat fast and dreams come true.

Amira's fiery, yeah she's got that spark,

Brian's chillin' like a zombie hiding in the dark,

Oz may be yellow, but his nerve never flinches,

Vicky's fun and dorky, she's a tapestry of stitches,

Damien's a demon, from the 8th circle of hell,

Liam sips on only ethically sourced blood cocktails.

Miranda's a royal with a murderous twist,

Polly parties hard, she just can't resist.

Monster Prom, it's a crazy time,

Stats and secrets, we gotta decide,

Will we find love or be rejected fools?

Either way, we're gonna break all the rules!

Scott's a werewolf, dumb but true,

Vera's a boss, she'll run over you,

Calculester's a robot, with a gold heart,

Zoe's old as time but making a fresh start

Witches Joy, Faith, and Hope cast their spells,

Juan's selling potions, you can never tell,

In the auditorium, we're puttin' on a show,

In the library, we're makin' that cash flow

Monster Prom, it's a hell of a ride,

In the cafeteria, where fates collide,

With every choice, our story moves,

We'll find romance, or just improve!

Smarts, boldness, and creativity,

Charm, fun, and money, it's all you need,

From class to the gym, we're making moves,

In the bathrooms causing hijinks, getting smoove

So leave a good review, spread the word around,

Beautiful Glitch got us all spellbound,

Monster Prom, it's a night to remember,

With monsters in love, from Spring to December.

Monster Prom, it's the ultimate test,

Will we get a date, or leave depressed?

But in the end, we'll stand tall and loud,

At Monster Prom, where all love's allowed.

We've only got 3 weeks to make our night,

To seize every moment, and hold each other tight.

Who knew so many monsters could touch our hearts,

But we were young and unafraid, and ready to start!

So leave a good review, spread the word around,

Beautiful Glitch got us all spellbound,

Monster Prom, it's a night to remember,

With monsters in love, we're gonna break all the rules!

Monster Prom, it's the ultimate test,

Will we get a date, or leave depressed?

But in the end, we'll stand tall and loud,

At Monster Prom, where all love's allowed!

==== CREDITS ====

Music & Vocals: Suno AI

Lyrics: AI Generated (then heavily modified)

Audio Visualizer: Tuneform

Lyrics Subtitle Sync: YouTube AutoSync

Audio + Video Editing Software: Vegas Pro 19

20+ Hours of Editing: Me

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Sunday, April 14 - Monday, April 15

DAWN: I'm not a child. I'm not even human. Not originally. SPIKE: (sighs) Yeah, well, originally I was. I got over it. Doesn't seem to me it matters very much how you start out. DAWN: That's smart. I get that. (pauses) I like how you talk to me like I can understand things. Everyone else is being all ... twitchy and secretive.

~~Crush~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

PUNK SPUNK by jizzyliz (Good Omens crossover, Spike/Crowley, Explicit)

5h 15m (Nonstop) by belledamn (Giles/Jenny, Giles & Buffy, Jenny & Buffy, T)

Dead Hearts by Geliot99 (Buffy/Spike, M)

Worms in the Earth by TheClowniestLivInExistence (Xander/Angelus/Drusilla, Explicit)

sucker for punishment by CallMeVampy (Giles/Jenny, Explicit)

my thoughts will echo your name (until i see you again) by untiljanuary (Buffy/Spike, Willow, M)

Untitled (Look, do you know anything or not?) by scooby-group-texts (Buffy, Spike, worksafe, posted as an image)

Forget Me Not by cawthraven (Buffy/Spike, R)

Heaven’s Teardrops by VeroNyxK84 (Buffy/Spike, R)

Taste and Temptation by RavenLove12 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Яблочки и яблони - Chapter 1-7 (COMPLETE!) by B_E_S (Supernatural crossover, Buffy/Angel, Joyce/John, T, in Russian)

If I Could Turn Back Time - Chapter 1-2 by Tropicmorningnews (Buffy/Angel, M)

Я не могу вспомнить - Chapter 1-6 (COMPLETE!) by B_E_S (Buffy/Angel, Explicit, in Russian)

Valkyrie vs. Cordelia - Chapter 1-27 (COMPLETE!) by Nonkosherian (Faith/Willow, OC, Cordelia/Dennis, Lilah/Wesley, T)

Bathroom Wall - Chapter 1 by hulettwyo (Buffy/Spike, Explicit)

Parent Trap - Chapter 1 by Bobbie23 (Giles/Jenny, G)

Poetry in the Margins - Chapter 1 by Anonymous (Spike/OC, Explicit)

In the Dark of the Night - Chapter 1-3 by norik23 (Spike/Buffy, Giles & Spike, Giles & Buffy, Giles/Jenny, Mature)

To Survive I Forged You Like a Weapon, Ch. 1 by cawthraven (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

[Images, Audio & Video]

New Banner Art #17 by veronyxk84 (Buffy, worksafe)

Drawings: been thinking about the Pjo au lately by pzyii (Percy Jackson and the Olympians fusion, Buffy, Cordelia, Angel, Spike, Anya, Willow, Tara, worksafe)

Robin and Nikki doodles by aa-arttss (worksafe)

Willow by taniaairiarte (worksafe)

I did drawings from the quotes post I did the other week! by BPD-and-Lipstick (worksafe)

Drawings by Fren (LeFrenchUnicorn) (Spike, Buffy, Clem, worksafe)

[Reviews & Recaps]

BTVS/Angel Rewatch Chronicles: Seasons 5/2 [BtVS s5 and AtS s2], Part Three by QualifiedApathetic

Season 6 Favorite moments? by agirlhasnoname17

Help S7 E4 (Buffy and the Art of Story Podcast) - Lisa Lilly

[Community Announcements]

Sign up for Spring 2024 of Seasonal Spuffy! This round will run on LiveJournal and Dreamwidth with the theme "Thanks for the Memories"

[Fandom Discussions]

My most self-indulgent headcanon is that, when Buffy died in The Gift... by coraniaid

ats s5 truly where my pathetic little meow meow men from prior seasons went to die by justafriendofxanders

I do wonder if Wesley would have been less insufferable if... by nicnacsnonsense

Do you think the writers of Season 7's Lessons were thinking about Rupert Giles... by coraniaid (with tags by rachaeljurassic)

One thing each about two [AtS] Season 3 episodes by TelephoneCertain5344

Season 3 thoughts… holtz kind of makes sense… by ukcountrylover

Ways that Buffy could save money by Tuxedo_Mark

[7x18 "Dirty Girls"] Was Caleb referencing something specific when he mentioned Paul? by halyasgirl

Spike and Dawn. by ceecee1909

Does the creature known as a Kennedy fan exist? by danielbrennan6900

Theories on Xander/Cordy not having sex despite dating for a year. by RokToBer26

I can't be the only person who thinks Robin and Giles' plan to get rid of Spike was a good one by cascadingtundra

Was Angel’s budget higher than Buffy? by starsandbribes

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

[randomname-231]

Nobody asked for it but here is a review of the game Test test test.

Released the January 17th, 2024 on steam by the Indonesian indie studio, toge productions, and Mojiken studios, Test test test is a short puzzle game (point and click) about a worker, who’s late on his work. More info at the end of this post, but be aware of the spoilers.

So. Why do I liked this game and why do I think it was incredible even if the game is about one hour and a half long ? Okay.

First : it’s free. We like what it’s free. It made us save money to buy stupid shit. So we like this game.

Second : I love puzzle games. And everything is well done in this one : the enigmas are good, the solutions aren’t simple but it’s not impossible either. It’s really well done for that, so puzzle game’s lovers, go !

Third : it’s not very long. I mean, it could be a negative point but to be honest, it’s cool to have a short game to play from time to time.

Fourth : the enigmas are original, some are very smart. Things are not that classic, so it’s surprising when you find out the solution.

Fifth : you feel really involved in the game, in the universe. You’re in the game, you feel this want to finish it.

Sixth : it’s funny to scream stuff at people who doesn’t know a thing about the game to them.

Seventh : it’s free. What the hell do you risk by testing it ?

Note : recommended for those who liked there is no game.

Spoiler :

There is a very cool use of 15min temporal loops, some « secret languages » you can decrypt.

Between finding a key in an aquarium and having to go to the 60th floor of a building, the game is very fun !

cc f3 1f 19 ff 16 36 36 : 1f f9 cc 39 1f 63 36 36 f9 c9 1f 19 9c f9 19 61 f6 19 cc 1c f9 63 c9

[joseopher]

GUYS, IT'S TIME FOR ATLAS SIX LIGHTNING HEADCANNONS

Lightning is a magical version of a mortal social media app!

To quote:

"It had been Tristan himself who’d advised the Wessex board to consider investing in Lightning, the magical version of a mortal social media app."

Reina

Running a social media account sounds like a lot of work

She really doesn't care

(secretly runs an account that trash talks different plants)

(her followers think she's joking)

(she's not)

Parisa

Definitely posts pictures of her amazing outfits

Gets a lot of comments from people asking her to step on them

Thinks social media is a great way to find people to amuse her or find those she can sway to give her money

Every once in and while she'll post something really smart and intellectual (this confuses 90% of her followers) (the 10% of followers make fun of their shock)

Has a side account where she reviews mystery novels

Libby

Posts inspirational quotes

Posts self-care check-ins

But the real reason people follow her is that she gets into drama with Nico on a daily basis

Nico

Exists on Lightning to bother Libby

Made a group chat for the Atlas Six, everyone was very resistant to the idea but eventually gave in because he was like 🥺

Posts pictures of himself with captions of how great he is, Gideon always comments on them agreeing, Libby and Max always comment on them disagreeing (Libby being genuinely outraged that he would brag like that and Max just fucking around)

Gets into drama with Libby constantly

(they don't know they're in a murder cult yet)

(Don't worry Callum is here to make everything worse /affec)

Tristan

Has an official professional account where he posts boring stuff, like what he ate for breakfast or something, no one follows him

Has a secret anonymous account where he RANTS endlessly about his rage and sadness etc. (mostly he trashes people he knows, referring to them by the first letter of their name or an emoji)

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FOLLOW HIM ON HIS ANONYMOUS ACCOUNT BECAUSE HIS LIFE IS SO DRAMATIC

They got to witness him ranting about how his "best friend" was cheating on him with his fiancee

They heard him talking about how his father was horrible to him

Then he was like "I joined a secret society" and refused to elaborate

There are ship wars on if AA (Tristan) should date L (Libby), P (Parisa) or C (Callum)

Those that ship him with R (Reina) or N (Nico) don't engage in the ship wars and are chill, they hang out with the poly/mutishippers

Callum found Tristan's anonymous account and recognized it instantly as Tristan, he decided not to say anything and follows him on an alt account

Callum

99% of the time he posts thirst traps to boost his own ego (post-knife scene Tristan comments on them (with his main boring account) pointing out that not only is Callum's body illusioned but also photoshopped)

1% of the time Callum posts concerning things that scare everyone (ex. "There is no fate so final as betrayal. Trust, once dead, cannot be resurrected" or the selfie he took with the hostage Nico and Tristan kidnapped) (how he manages to escape being suspended is beyond anyone)

All of Callum's followers are very confused when he randomly posts something ominous, though some of his fans have started theorizing that based on when Callum posts his concerning shit and when Academic Anonymous complains about "C" that Callum is "C" (especially since his name starts with a C) (especially since Callum's account matches with the personality AA described).

Callum also decides to be a problem on purpose and bothers all of the Atlas Six on social media, they are very close to blocking him

Atlas

Has 70 alternative accounts he uses to subtly manipulate the Atlas Six into doing what he wants

(Has a AA fan account)

(Gushes about AA daily on every account)

(Will cancel you if you ship AA x C)

(Has "C Anti" in his bio)

(He has "AA apologist" in his bio too)

[ppeonppeonhan]

Dangerous Romance Review

Released: August 2023

Language: Thai

Genre: Romantic Crime Dramedy

Setting: High School

Main Couple Type: Enemies to Friends to Lovers

Main Couple: The school bully is forced to ask one of his victims for help in order to not flunk out of school.

Main Conflict: A smart orphan (Sailom) and his mischievous older brother (Saifah) owe a debt to a mobster, which forces them to do several things against their better judgment to make money.

Side Stories: There are 3 side couples: soccer-playing frenemies (above); a femme student-teacher flirtation; and childhood bffs on different sides of the law.

Romance Level: PG-13 -- A couple of chaste sex scenes and a lot of gay panic

Tropes: Love triangle; secret crushes; mild medical scares; 2 enemies to lovers; spontaneous trip

Plot Twist? Yes, at least 5

Moral of the Story: Everyone is struggling with something, so don't be quick to judge or write them off. And, with the right support system, you can do anything.

Fun Fact: One of the screenwriters wrote 2gether, Bad Buddy, Vice Versa, and My School President, which explains why the duo's dynamic was so on point. And the other wrote Theory of Love, A Tale of a Thousand Stars, and KinnPorsche, which explains why the will-they-or-won't-they, love-hate dynamic was electric.

Does it need a Sequel or a Korean remake? I'd watch a sequel where the tutor actually struggles in college while the bad boy excels, forcing them to grow apart and find their way back to each other.

Episodes: 12

Episode Runtime: 44min

Network: GMM 25 ViuTV

Available on: Youtube

[jenyifer]

Dangerous romance 7/10 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Lists I’d Put It In: So much potential, Sports, Slice of Life

Review: There is a lot of things I like about dangerous romance but the cons makes it so that I’d likely not watch it again.

Pros the actors main and side were fan fucking tastic. Perth can be so intimidating bratty sexy and on the other hand just a sweet little puppy. I love how funny he made Kang just adding flare. Chimon baby of OffGun of course I watched this show mainly for him. Sailom is basically a hop skip and jump away from Wave from the gifted Sassy Smart Secertly extremely caring and gushy. I’m hoping Chimon’s roles always involve sass it’s his signature. GIVE PAPANG AND PEPPER A BIGGER BL ROLE AND VIEWJUNE ALL OF MY MONEY. MarcPawin really surprised me as well I wasn’t expecting much because I just watched my gear your gown. The grandma was precious. Euro and JJ were great comic relief I wish there had been more of them. I wish there was more I made a post before this 12th ep saying how I’d fix the series in detail. So I’m gonna boil it down here. The ships should have been more interlocked with eachother. The editing made the show boring. Why did we have so many flashbacks and lingering shots. I love a pretty scene but they took so long and we needed extra interlocking scenes for all the ships. Ugh I can see how this show would have been great with just a few changes which makes it so frustrating. Anyways more about the ships after the break

First Perth and Chimon are not at fault for this I’m talking about editing and story. I adore KangSailom they had good potential but it felt like it got every trope imaginable enemies to lovers, poor boy rich boy, long standing unexplainable secret crush from childhood, tutor student, redemption arc, misunderstanding. AND YET IT FELT WEAK BECAUSE OF THE EDITING AND LACK OF OTHER CHARACTERS INTERACTION UNTIL THE VERY END.

Meanwhile audiences kept getting tiny precious glimpses of WONDERFUL side ships.

GuyNawa Idiot Sport boy for Idiot Sport boy with injury, enemies to lovers (really fully enemies), long standing crush was so incredibly beautiful and effective. I probably won’t have liked their plot too if it had been drawn out because I would have been missing the other side characters but what we got for them was perfect I’d rewatch their scenes again. I was much more impressed by MarcPawin this time I hope they get another series their kiss was thru the roof. They give me strong Sports Anime vibes made me miss Haikyuu.

Saifah and Name had the most potential to be a 10/10 ship. Papang and Pepper definitely need their flowers because the show didn’t give them a lot to work with. Their characters and storylines should have been worked in from the beginning. I wanted to want to cry for Saifah when he was taken away. I wanted to want Name to stay safe as he tried to protect Sailom and Saifah. But I felt like it was so rushed. We barely got to see what these characters had. But everything we did was leaning towards greatness a big brother who has done wrong in the past to get by trying to do ANYTHING for his brother even tho he’s in over his head and a bit of an idiot and mafia guy who sees his highschool friend again falls in love but is offered shit choices all around to his enviable conclusion and redemption. If only we had gotten them sooner and worked into Sailom’s plot more. I’m telling you it would have been stunning. I can see the vision.

I really love Pimfah. She is… a great female character. I talked about it already but great lesbian energy. I wish I had more. I wish Pimfah could have been worked more smoothly into Kang’s storyline after he decided to go after Sailom. The student teacher was precious. She is going to make a great teacher. I wish we got a spin off of what happens in London. But sadly the ship just didn’t have enough screen time.

I might rewatch the GuyNawa scenes again but the rest is probably a skip.

Bonus: Strangest kiss in the bathroom award goes to….

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

Death in the Details by Katie Tietjen

With a mother who loved dollhouses, had more than one of her own, and took me to see a famous one in Chicago AND a father who loved mysteries, suspense, and crime stories – How could I not read this book? Finding out this is based on a real person who made miniatures to solve murders and teach the skill to others is just an additional bonus. I am hoping this will be a series but haven’t found out yet if it will or not.

The setting is a small town in Vermont just after the end of WWII. Mable “Maple” Bishop finds out she has less to fall back on than she thought and will need to earn a living. Little does she know that her hobby of creating miniature dollhouses might lead to a very interesting future.

An argument overheard, a murder scene stumbled onto, and realizing she sees what others have not, she recreates the murder scene in a miniature “nutshell”. She then uses her mental skills, legal knowledge, her husband’s medical books and her belief in justice and finding the truth to the best advantage and uncovers more than she or anyone else thought she would.

This story reminded me of stories I had heard about the scrimping and saving, rationing, donating items needed for the war effort, victory gardens, loss, and other issues that were real when my parents were young. I felt a part of the story and loved meeting characters that I hope will show up in a future book. Will Maple and Ben continue to spend time together in his hardware shop? Will Charlotte have more children? Will Kenny grow into his own and perhaps take over the sheriff’s department from his uncle?

This had some darkness to it with the mention of verbal and physical abuse, black market smuggling, murder, fraud and other crimes but it also talked of purpose, joy, and moving forward in a positive manner even when times are not easy.

I am glad I read this book and would recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction and cozy mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

BLURB

Inspired by the real life Frances Lee Glessner and featuring a whip-smart, intrepid sleuth in post-WWII Vermont. Maple Bishop is ready to put WWII and the grief of losing her husband Bill behind her. But when she discovers that Bill left her penniless, Maple realizes she could lose her Vermont home next and sets out to make money the only way she knows by selling her intricately crafted dollhouses. Business is off to a good start—until Maple discovers her first customer dead, his body hanging precariously in his own barn. Something about the supposed suicide rubs Maple the wrong way, but local authorities brush off her concerns. Determined to see “what’s big in what’s small,” Maple turns to what she knows best, painstakingly recreating the gruesome scene in death in a nutshell. With the help of a rookie officer named Kenny, Maple uses her macabre miniature to dig into the dark undercurrents of her sleepy town, where everyone seems to have a secret—and a grudge. But when one of her neighbors who she never got along withher nemesis goes missing and she herself becomes a suspect, it’ll be up to Maple to find the devil in the details—and put him behind bars. Drawing inspiration from true crime and offering readers a smartly plotted puzzle of a mystery, Death in a Nutshell is a stunning series debut.

[romancomicsblog]

My Adventures with Superman delivers a solid reintroduction to Last Son of Krypton - SEASON REVIEW

*Spoilers for all of Season 1 of My Adventures with Superman*

Adult Swim and Max's My Adventures with Superman's first season has just wrapped up, and I have quite a few thoughts on the fun ten episode journey.

When watching the initial episodes of My Adventures with Superman, I was immediately smitten with our lead three protagonists. Clumsy adorable Clark, Conspiracy theorist and loyal friend Jimmy, and leader of the crew, the overly ambitious and intense Lois all had fantastic chemistry, I knew they would be the force carrying the show if it had nothing else to offer.

Luckily, it does. But let's talk about our core crew first.

One thing I love about this show is they quickly throw away the secret identity shtick for the core crew. Having Lois figure it out so soon and Jimmy knowing already speaks to their characters and their skills as reporters. Plus, now that that drama is over, they can go on this journey together, as they should.

The character I was hoping for more of which I was most happy with was Jimmy. Ishmel Sahid continues to bring multiple layers to Jimmy thoughout the show, and quickly made him my favorite character.

I felt he was the most sidelined of the three in the first couple of episodes, but he really gets two episodes focused on his friendship to the others in the middle of the season that I loved, and has a fun plot developing Flamebird throughout the season.

It pays off with the final joke of him becoming a multi millionaire, but I hope they use this money plot for Jimmy to go on ridiculous adventures and team up with other heroes and monsters like in the comics.

Also just love that Jimmy continued to be a good wingman to both Clark and Lois and give them space when needed. What an absolute pal.

While I'm here, I do love the cute love story between Clark and Lois, but it felt a bit rushed. Throwing the L word around a bit quick in my opinion, but I understand this is basically an anime, and needs to be a bit dramatic. I wish they would've saved that for Season 2, but I love the chemistry and that they are already together.

Alice Lee continues to shine as Lois, often having to voice some incredibly dramatic points in the show. I love the revelation that she is "the worst Lois" because all other Lanes are exceptional. That episode in general is a highlight for me, although it is a little bit Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Of the three characters, Lois felt the most fleshed out, dealing with insecurities from her father, trying to live up to her own expectations and his, and trying to make a real difference. Those little things make moments like the crew getting desks so satisfying and heartwarming.

I feel like people have talked to death how great Jack Quaid is as Superman, so I'll try to be brief. He's incredible. It's clear they casted for Clark instead of Superman, which was a smart move.

As Clark he is humble, kind, brave, and genuine. You cry when he does, you feel for his pain when he stumbles and you cheer when he succeeds. This should be the blueprint for Superman media moving forward.

While I had to adjust to the Superman voice, by the end of the show I was good with it, and it was perfect. I would love to see him lead an anime style Justice League.

I think tying General Lane to this Kryptonian invasion plot was a really good through line throughout the season. Making him directly connected to the destruction caused by Kryptonians felt very Batman v Superman (but in a good way), and made their interactions feel real weight.

One aspect of the show I criticized and hoped would improve were the villains. While I like the overarching villain being Sam Lane, I think this show doesn't quite have the iconic villains say a Spectacular Spider-Man or a Young Justice does. I was hoping for someone with something special or unique to grasp on to, but there really wasn't.

I think having the Suicide Squad be one of the final battles, and doing the match up from the "What if Superman ripped off the roof of the white house?" line from Suicide Squad movie is kind of fun, but the Squad members didn't feel fleshed out enough for me to care.

I think with the exception of Banshee and Mxyzptlk , most of the designs for the villains felt a little boring. This includes the final two teased at the end of the show. I wish more thought and color was put behind the characters, like Superman or even Jor-El.

Parasite was the most fun inclusion, but I felt he was too different from his usual version for me to fully grasp on to. Of the Superman villains shown, I think he could come back and win me over.

I hope characters like Brainiac, Zod, Luthor, Lobo and Doomsday bring life to this show through villainy. With great antagonists, this show would be absolutely perfect, but it's just not there yet.

I think this show is on to something really special, and I hope to see it continue for multiple seasons. It could be a fantastic introduction to the character of Superman, if it could bring more life to Metropolis through its recurring characters.

Overall, I think it's a great show. One that surprised me with emotion, the laughs, the triumphs and the falls. I recommend you watch the season, now streaming on Max.

Thank you for reading!

If you'd like to support me you can find my socials here!

[burgerpiee]

Rea talking about OCs?

I watched The Beekeeper a couple of weeks ago and my honest review was that it wasn’t the best film I liked this year.

But I do love Derek and Mickey! Me and my friends did eventually tried to rewrite The Beekeeper..so anything I say is not what happened in the film but ofc spoilers for The Beekeeper if you haven’t seen it (don’t waste your money on it)

TW: Mentions of domestic abuse, child abuse, mental abuse, etc..

Daria Danforth is also Derek’s really younger sister. A 14-year-old girl that the Danforth family adopted. Derek is twice her age (Derek 28, Daria 14) so they barely interacted and only make small talk or see each other during big events or Jessica’s (Derek and Daria’s mom)

Daria is mainly known as someone perfectionist, quiet, smart, stressed, and gloomy girl with a little group of friends she hangs out with. (It's just 5 school friends and Derek) Daria also is pretty introverted herself, with the fact she has an impaired social skill. She finds it hard to make friends because of a bunch of rumors about the fact she is a member of the Danforths...(Cough cough Derek's secret crimes and Jessica)

Her perfectionism is from the fact she does more than one sport, or instrument and gets the highest grades in school. Captain of the both Soccer and Tennis teams. Plays in the orchestra, good at guitar, piano, and violin. Not to mention speaks more than 1-2 languages..That child might be a 'little miss perfect'.

However, when she is around her friends she's a completely different person. A humorous and generous person who would stay up all night playing video games or chatting with her friends in the rooms of the Danforth's mansion or Derek's place (aka her house as well lol).

Her relationship with her mother is really strained and odd. Jessica pressures Daria into many things, Jessica pressures Daria into doing many things in life which causes Daria to have high levels of anxiety and low self-esteem because she doesn't meet her mother's success criteria. Daria constantly is being burnt out and she becomes emotionally exhausted and does not want to do anything but stay in her room.

Meanwhile, her relationship with Derek is considered 'awkward' to both of them. Both children are born in different generations. They are at least trying to fix this broken-off relationship because every interaction feels like they aren't siblings just two people with the same last name. Daria and Derek are constantly always thinking one of them is Mom's favorite. (What I mean is Derek believes Jessica loves Daria more because she is more responsible while Daria believes Jessica loves Derek more because Derek wasn't pressured into any of what she's doing)

However, both of them had a joking hatred for one another and can be seen as complete opposites. They never said 'I love you' or 'I care for you' but they know how to show it to each other without the uses of words.

Daria now lives with Derek since her mother is running for president, instead of making the maids take care or even send her to a boarding school, Daria lives with Derek in the penthouse they owned. Also the beginning of fixing their awkward-strained sibling relationship.

Daria at first thinks this beekeeper is just some stupid man threatening her family and will not even successfully manage to murder the family. When she realizes the causes of the fire from the scam companies were him (Clay). One day at the beach house, she witnessed her brother lying dead beside her which left her traumatized, she couldn't progress anything happening.

Daria missed Derek, the only family member she cared for the most, Daria for a moment realized that she would be the only one to take care of the Danforth Enterprise leaving her passion and interest in the rubbish bin because she had to run this legacy while her mother uses Derek's death as a shield.

[books-in-a-storm]

Snowflake Book Review’s

Title: Kara Gillian #3 Secrets of the Demon

Author: Diana Rowland

Pages: 310

Snowflake Rating:❄❄❄❄(4/5)

Synopsis:

Homicide detective Kara Gillian has a special she can sense the "arcane" in our world, and there's quite a bit of it, even in Beaulac, Louisiana. She's also a summoner of demons, and works on a task force that deals with supernatural crimes. Her partners are attractive and smart FBI agents, but they're not summoners, and they're not telling Kara why they are on this special force with her.

To complicate things even more, Kara has pledged herself to one of the most powerful of demons—Demon Lord Rhyzkahl—who helped save her partner's life, but now expects things in return. Meanwhile, she's trying to solve a string of murders that are somehow tied together by money, sex, rock music and...mud. But how can she concentrate on the case when she's not even sure who—or what—her partners are? 

First And Last Sentence: Here

[finishinglinepress]

FLP NOVELLA BOOK OF THE DAY: Off the Wall by Kari Wergeland

On SALE now! Pre-order Price Guarantee: https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/off-the-wall-by-kari-wergeland/

SADIE TAUBE, the daughter of a deceased heroin addict, has been forced to live with her aunt and uncle in their “big ass house.” While they treat her all right (she’s living on Bainbridge Island), she’s not exactly their daughter. Sadie has been working in a diner and saving every penny. She finds it funny how this diner is decorated with the dollar bills customers have left behind. And she loves her boss Bev, who trained her to be a waitress and continues to offer support. Case in point: when Sadie turns 18, Bev asks her to stay after work so they can celebrate. Unbeknownst to Bev, Sadie has a plan brewing, one focused on the Coast Starlight. She’s gonna get on that train and head to California. She does stay for Bev’s party, but then she finds reason to track down a little extra money (when Bev isn’t looking). What she really needs to discover is a family of her own. #novella #fiction #read

Kari Wergeland, who hails from Davis, California, is a librarian and writer. She moved to Oregon at the age of 14 and eventually attended the University of Oregon, where she earned a B.A. in English. She also holds an M.L.S. in Librarianship from the University of Washington and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing with an emphasis in poetry from Pacific University. Wergeland wrote a children’s book review column for The Seattle Times, which ran monthly for 11 years. Her fiction has appeared in Calliope, Doubly Mad, and through Medusa’s Laugh Press.

PRAISE FOR Off the Wall by Kari Wergeland

“Kari Wergeland’s novella OFF THE WALL is a rich and nuanced portrayal of a young woman struggling to find her place in the world. I was immediately drawn in by Sadie, the intriguing protagonist, in this tale of redemption and healing, of love and family beautifully rendered!”

–Patricia Santana, author of Motorcycle Ride on the Sea of Tranquility

Nothing better than to read a good story about a smart girl who sets off to be independent, and along the way grows into a strong woman with dreams and aspirations. Kari Wergeland brilliantly creates a young Sadie who has many obstacles and road blocks in her way, but that never stops her from inspiring us with her determination and honesty. A story that will make all readers get up and follow their own journey.

–Amy Wallen, amywallen.com, Author, Editor, & Baker, How to Write a Novel in 20 Pies: Sweet & Savory Secrets to Survive the Writing Life

Off the Wall by Kari Wergeland

Please share/please repost #flpauthor #preorder #AwesomeCoverArt #prose #fiction #novella #read