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ascottywrites · 5 years ago

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Love on a Silver Platter -- All Hallows Eve

Love on a Silver Platter

All Hallows Eve

Behold the power of the Tide and all the wishes made wherein…

12:00 AM October 31

A fog rolled in over the city, covering it like a winter coat. An unusual sight for the time of year. But that’s not what set this day apart from the other, going unnoticed by the one who most needed to see it. Though, perhaps if those involved would have been more wary and there would not be a story that needed telling. In the stead of ominous weather, it all started because of a book. A thick leather-bound thing that took obvious care to create. Something taken as so innocuous it could be given as a gift from one friend to another. A petty little parcel accompanied by a birthday card with sarcastic note written inside:

All Hallows Eve. The one night of the year when the link between the two worlds is at its peak. Doors are opened. Spirits can cross. Wishes can be made and magic appears where magic did not exist before. Happy Samhain.

Happy Birthday weirdo! Open on your birthday ONLY and go to the marked pages. I’ll know if you don’t you cheating cheater who cheats.

Love you Asshole Call me in the morning

Blinded by ignorance, none took heed off that rolling fog or the series of perfect events Siobhan Ferguson unwittingly set in motion that would make this gift something far from trivial.

2:00 AM

Happy Halloween my lovely weirdos!

Veronica Torres replied to your comment: Yooooo! Happy Birthday asshat! Did you open my gift?

Penny Sutherland replied to your comment: Happy Anniversary of the day of your birth! Why are you still awake anyway?

Siobhan Vonnie Ferguson: Veronica I did open your gift and did so at the specified time. Penny you know, the yoose. I lit the fireplace too late. Waiting for it to die so my apartment doesn’t catch fire while I’m sleepin’. Thank you both, my best loves!

Siobhan snorted when the chat window popped up at the bottom of her screen.

Veronica: Your only loves you fuckin’ liar. Open it! Siobhan: I did open it you asshole. A book of spells? Really? Penny: Hahahaaaaaa!! Veronica you’re such a dick! Veronica: No. I’m a godsend. Penny I got the book, true. But really I got her the specific spell inside. Penny: OMG I’m afraid to ask. Veronica: It’s time for her to get laid. She’s gonna be 40 before we know it. Penny: A love spell? I just died laughing. Siobhan: I’d appreciate you two not carrying on like I’m not here. Veronica: But frfr have you ever thought of it? Siobhan: What? Being a virgin until I’m 40? Seriously? Penny: OMG! Please! Why am I friends with you two? Veronica: No you idiot. Veronica: Are you telling me you never thought Oh my birthday is on Halloween. Maybe I could be a witch? Siobhan: LOL No. Penny: Bullshit Siobhan: Eh? Penny: Every girl our age that laid eyes on a TV growing up at some point thought she could be a witch. Veronica: True Penny: I mean Justin Timberlake in your closet. Saving the world every week and looking hot doin in? Penny: Come on Siobhan: Lol Penny don’t pass out. Penny: Whatever Vonnie ijs. If I could live in a bomb ass Victorian instead of my current shitty apartment and blow shit up. I’m down. Veronica: ANYWHOOZLE Veronica: In all seriousness. Happy B-day Von. I still love your non-magic havin ass. Penny: I guess I do too Penny: Speakin of love. We getting together soon? I miss you nerds. Siobhan: Right on, love you guys too Siobhan: I agree. We should make it happen soon. Veronica: Talk about it in the morning? Penny: Sure Siobhan: Sure. Everything should be cooled off enough anyway. I should go pass out. Veronica: Do the spell. See if it works Siobhan: Seriously Penny: If you get a man I wanna try it Siobhan: omg Veronica: Couldn’t hurt. Night! Penny: G’night! Siobhan: Love you guys

Setting her laptop aside Siobhan took a sip from her wine glass, a festive little thing that was too big to constitute a normal serving, more goblet than glass, and sported an obligatory conical hat toting witch caught flying across the face of a full moon. She hummed, squinting dubiously at the book setting on the coffee table in front of her. It was interesting if she had to admit anything. A touch faded and well worn. Something that probably would have been passed down along the generations had it not somehow found its way in the back of whatever thrift store Veronica liberated it from. Setting her glass to the side, Siobhan reached out to graze cool-tipped fingers across the edges until she could dig her fingers to the split seam, wedged open by the ornate bookmark Veronica placed inside. “Almost thirty and you’ve never been in a real relationship.” She huffed. “…couldn’t hurt.” Then ripping it off like a band-aid, she wrenched open the book. Then there is was, after a complex looking spell to bind and tagged as ‘Romani’ and before a simple seeming, non-descript incantation for peace, the ‘gift’ Veronica meant: To Call for Love. It began as all good recipes do, with a description. A short blurb that described the spell as a combination of invocation and summoning. That both were precarious in their own right and could be even more so when forced together. That because of the inherent danger of dabbling in matters of the heart and summoning the unknown, one should be pure in their craft and sure in the work they will commit in influencing the natural currents of life and love. “Don’t do this if you’re just lookin’ for a good time. Got it.” She read on

…One virgin candle to ignite desire and a waxing moon…

Well, she had that mulberry scented candle she lit every evening when she came home and she wasn’t all that worried about the phases of the moon. A little improvisation couldn’t hurt anyway. Swiping the half spent, burnt candle from the side table she set it on the coffee table beside the book. “Anoint the candle with your vaginal secretions from the bottom up.” Her face scrunched in distaste. “Well that’s not happening.” And that was that. “Conjure the image and characteristics you would desire of a perfect mate and hold them tightly in your mind’s eye.” Well that she could do with veritable ease. Had been doing it for a good while if she were being embarrassingly honest. Which is probably the very reason why Veronica had stooped to the supernatural in the first place. She winced at that. “Goodness gracious. Let’s just get this done.” The last of the fire diming in the hearth went unnoticed by Siobhan as she closed her eyes. He would be strong, passionate, desperate to love her and hot with a touch of villainy to keep things interesting. Always having had a weak spot for dark hair and light eyes she was not surprised by the image that sprang to life in her head. One with a gaze the brightest of blues and a head of perfectly coiffed golden hued brunette hair. She laughed at what her mother would think. Her lips pulling up her crooked mouth. Just another black girl mixing it up with some white guy that was going to undoubtedly ruin her life in the end. Not that she blamed her mother for her opinions, not with their family history. Not that it mattered. He wasn’t real. Just a mesh of ideas she’d put together in her head. And after a slew of bad dates…oh who was she kidding, they were all completely horrible, disappointing failures of the worst kind and she deserved this fantasy. “As you hold onto this ideal gaze into the flame and repeat the incantation three times. Each time with more conviction than the last:

During this dark witching hour I call upon the witch’s power Take this description near to thee And bring my heart’s desire to me”

She repeated the words and each time with more determination. Staring deep into the blue of the flame. Caught in its hypnotizing sway. Half wishing that it could all be real. As if to prove itself the candle flickered and blew out. Severing the thrall its dance dragged her into. “What in the world?” Curious and confused, Siobhan leaned forward. There was no breeze from an open window. No air from the A/C. She had not touched the flame or moved near it. Her heart raced wildly in her chest. Blood thrumming in her ears. What now? Then as the world around her became still and quiet the flame flickered back to life and a sound crash came from behind her. She flinched with a hard yelp, spilling the wine in her lap. “God damn it Pogue!” A haughty meow came from the kitchen. That cat was going to be the death of her. Sucking her teeth, she wiped at her lap. It was useless, the wine was going to stain. Sighing, she carefully moved to stand. Setting her glass atop the coffee table with a little more force than she meant the stem snapped. The broken glass slicing into her palm. She hissed a curse, cradling her bleeding hand. Completely engrossed, the few drops of blood that sizzled on the newly lit candle and the flickering flame that held strong went unnoticed.

3:30 AM

Wrapped in the snuggliest blanket burrito known to man Siobhan snuggled deeper into its warmth. A sigh of con-- "Oh fuck!" he eyes snapped open. She forgot the chili on the stove. She screwed them shut. "Whatever." The embers in the ash heap, the leftovers, the mess of glass and wine, they'd be alright 'til morning. If the window in her living room cracked open just a bit, well…she was one the fourth floor, that would be fine too.

5:45 AM

Siobhan groaned. Unsure of what it was that woke her in the middle of her beloved REM. Whatever it was, though, it left her buzzed and when one wanted nothing more than to sleep, to feel electrified from skin to boney center was the last thing desired. Fortunately for her she knew her body, even in her sleep inebriated state and the best, sure-fire sleep remedy she had up her sleeve was one good orgasm. She’d rub one out like a pro and pass right the hell back out. Her eyes slipped shut. Fingers slipping into the juncture of her thighs to find the nubbin waiting just there. She wasn’t ready, not in the slightest. But she didn’t have to be. Her imagination was solid and just the idea of what would bit sitting at the end of the other side of the rainbow was enough to make her flutter. Dry, wet, it wouldn’t take long either way. She thought back on the face she created of her perfect man. Imagined how his body would look. How it would feel against hers. How warm he would be. …How beautiful his hard cock would look jutting up from his lap. Looking like an offering sitting relaxed on her couch. Waiting for her to take the initiative, to come sat astride his lap. The next she knew, he was moving against her, around her, inside her. His words whispered hotly against her ear, deep and desperate and harsh, “Fuck –yea. That’s it. Wanna feel you come on my cock.” Oh! All right brain we’re just jumping right into the thick of it then. Which that was just fine, she didn’t need to build up just the release and there was nothing that was going to get her there faster than the desire to beat her partner to the finish line. To give him what he begged for and to take everything he offered. Her skin turned hot to the touch, burning beneath the blankets, her breath devolved into short bursts pushed out by the rapid beat of her heart. A fresh rush of arousal surged forth to slick her way around the engorging nub. She imagined large hands clinging desperately to each cheek of her ass, thick fingers dinging in deep enough to leave bruises. “I’m gonna come.” His voice brought to a reedy whine by her ministrations. He wrenched her closer. “F-fuck. Gonna come in you.” He could. That was fine too. Because even if he did, even if he pled for her to slow down, to give him a respite from his oversensitivity, she would keep riding until she finished. She would take and take until there was nothing left. Ring him out until he was a goddamned husk if it came to it. When she came it was with a seize that took her whole body and to the idea of a pathetic sounding whine coming from the barrel of a finely sculpted chest. “Goddamn. Well that was fuckin’ new,” she whispered to the darkness of her room. It wasn’t long after that she was fast asleep once again.

8:00 AM

She shot up with a start. Restless. An unusual buzzing trapped beneath her skin. Not so unsimilar to that surprise the few hours before, if only a little more subdued. She chalked it up this time to the gruesome details of her fading dream. Goodness, had it been the wine? Whatever the case may be, the results made her shudder in disgust all the same. But the further away she moved from the realm of sleep the fuzzier the dream became, leaving her with mere vestiges of what happened in it. Like trying to see into the farthest reflection of a mirror in a mirror. But there was still a piece of her that knew it was something horrible. Something involving her friends. Something…that made bile sting at the back of her throat and sent a cold shiver racing down her spine. But…whatever it was slipped through her fingers like sand through a sieve until there was nothing more for her to grasp onto and she was left with just that feeling of that restlessness. Christ, she needed to get out. Needed fresh air. A walk would do. She cleared her throat against the burn and clenched her hands into tight fists. They were shaking. What the hell was wrong with her? …Air.

9:00 AM

The next thing she knows, Siobhan is stepping through a dinner door. The chime overhead startling her enough to bring her into the present. How had she gotten here? “Mornin’. How many?’ Hearing the words felt strange, as if they had been the first sounds she heard since going to bed the night before. “Uh — jut me.” She followed on suddenly unsure feet when the over-coffee’d waitress pointed to one of the empty booths seated along the windows. “So what can I do ya for?” She wasn’t from around, that was for sure. “Just coffee for now, thanks.” “Cream?” “No thanks.” “Be just a minute then.” What the hell was she doing here again? Old fashioned Greasy spoons, while not unheard of in a city like San Francisco, the city’s eclectic aspects catnip for hipsters interested in such hospitality throwback, weren’t places she typically found herself spending her time and she’d definitely never seen this place before. But that wasn’t the point. Point was…well… what the hell, she couldn’t remember. Her mind was slipping and sliding, this way and that, racing in some thoughts, sluggish in others. Tugging in all opposing directions. Almost as is if it was actively working against her. Keeping her distracted. “There ya are hun.” The waitress returned, shocking her out of her inevitable spiral. “Did you get a chance to look over the menu?” “Sorry.” Siobhan cleared her throat, embarrassed. “I haven’t even looked.” “Well that’s alright. Take your time. I’ll be back to check on you in a bit.” Siobhan returned her sweet smile with and uneasy one before she flitted off to another table. “Try the French toast. It’s pretty good here.” His voice rang clearest of all among the den of senseless chatter and Siobhan couldn’t help looking up at its source. Oh wow, he was beautiful. She stared up at him, transfixed by eyes the deepest blue, shaded by thick, dark lashes. He took the seat across from her. Plopping down comfortably, confident he wouldn’t be turned away. “So, French toast?” She grimaced, her stomach flipping at the idea of the sweet treat…or was it because of him? Holy hell, she was losing it. “I think maybe I drank too much last night,” she confessed, unprompted and rightly confused to why she felt comfortable enough with this stranger to do so. “Ah.” He smiled, commiserating. “Then you need the hash browns.” He took her menu, flipping it to the back, mulling over the options listed there, “Maybe with bacon, sausage, and two over-easy eggs. Sound a little more appetizing?” “Over-easy?” Siobhan asked, admittedly a little more lost than she liked. As if she just couldn’t keep up. What the hell is going on? “Sunny side up. Goes good with toast. It’ll help with your uneasy stomach.” Then the stranger smiled, and it was like a punch to the gut. Everything about him grew clear as if he existed superimposed on the world around them. The most prominent thing to exist in the hazy mess of people around them. And in that moment, she knew him. Those blues eyes were familiar, that sculpted collar and thick neck revealed by the three open buttons of his soft looking Henley…familiar. “Holy shit,” she breathed. It worked. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

9:30 AM

They chatted through breakfast and into a late morning dessert… “This place has the best New York Cheesecake in town.”… and if she was so caught up in it that she didn’t notice that she’s missed several calls well…enough had been missed so far, what’s one more drop in a pail full of water?

5:00 PM

After a reluctant goodbye and a date planned for later that evening Siobhan finally put the leftover chili into the refrigerator and cleaned out the fireplace. The restless feeling suddenly dissipates and the exhaustion that had been lurking around the edges finally takes its toll. She laid back along the couch, happy to take advantage of a few winks, and before she knew it, she was sound asleep.

6:45 PM

Unprovoked, Siobhan leapt into consciousness, cursing with a quick glance to the time. She was supposed to meet Him in fifteen minutes. There was no way she would make in on time. In her haste she tripped over Pogue, the cat screeched, and she went tumbling into the coffee table. Pressing her hand tight against her stinging bicep she was sure that when she lifted her hand, she would pull back blood. “Fucking shit! Goddamnit Pogue.” She couldn’t go like this. Then, as is the way of things, her phone started buzzing, rattling persistently against her breakfast bar. The name flashing across the screen, one she couldn’t remember adding to her contacts. She answered anyway. “Hey! I was just calling to see if you wanted to try this Irish pub I found instead of going to the Mexican place we were talking about earlier.” “Peter?” she asked, needing the confirmation. When had they even exchanged numbers? She shook her head against the errant unease creeping up on her. “Oh my goodness, your timing is incredible. I was just going to call you.” “You’re not canceling on me are you?” He chuckled into the phone, a suave sound that made her forget any possible blooming discomfort. She smiled at it. “No! I mean, I was going to ask if you wanted to just hang out at my place tonight. But if you’re dead set on that pub—“ “No-no. I’d be happy to spend time with you anywhere. Just text me your address and I’ll be there soon as I can.” “Great. I’ll be here.” I’ll be here? What the hell? Where the hell else are you going to be? “See you in a bit,” she blurted, fumbling to hang up before she said anything else embarrassing. Good job you awkward ass. She looked down to her cat, “At least he was kind enough not to laugh.”

7:30 PM

Pogue has never been of the friendly sort. Not even towards Siobhan, the hand that feeds him, no matter how reluctantly at times. Siobhan and Pogue are enemies caged in an apartment that is not big enough for the both of them. Their war a near daily one beginning with a cat slap to the face and a reciprocated angry toss worthy of a football quarterback. While other smarter, more humane people with a fully developed sense of self preservation would have called it quits long ago, the two had instead come to an understanding that one day one of them would wake up dead and when push came to shove, both of them were fine with that dysfunctional set up. That being said, when it came to strangers, Pogue rarely paid them the time of day. Would have lazed about the apartment, being his usual blaze self, preferring to pretend that whoever that cretin to deign to exist in his space simply didn’t exist at all. So when Pogue hisses something fierce, bats at the air, his hair standing on end, before shooting off as if the hounds of hell are on his tail leaves Siobhan standing flabbergasted in her doorway where Peter waited patiently to be allowed in. “I’m sorry about that,” she mumbled. “That was weird, even for him.” Peter shrugged it off, a half smile tugging at his lips. “Ah, don’t worry about it. Some cats just don’t like me. Call it my personal curse.” His eyes flickered to the bandage on her arm when she shifted uncomfortably. “What happened? You bleeding?” “It’s nothing.” She shied away, trying to hide in her invitation. Peter asked nothing more about it after that. In fact, he wouldn’t say much at all for the rest of the night. But Siobhan wouldn’t judge. Wouldn’t think on it at all really. It could have been the way he touched her, a gentle graze against her skin. Or the way he looked at her, with hunger lurking just beneath the surface. Being able to pinpoint what it could have been exactly was of little consequence in the grand scheme of all things. All she knew…all she needed to know…all that mattered was his mouth on hers. Was how it felt when searching hands tugged impatiently at the hem of her dress; groping, desperate, and moving with a single purpose: to bring her to the height of pleasure and hurl her over the cliff. She never thought she would be the type. One to fall in bed –couch…semantics…whatever—with a veritable stranger. The kind so willing to be devoured. Such a severe about face from who she knew herself to be. The change was exhilarating, and she lost herself in it…him. In that mix of pleasure and the right side of pain he coaxed from her. Burning her from the inside out. Lost herself in his breath, his moans, his grunts, his praise, and everything else that was him. It was dangerous. She couldn’t bring herself to care. She groaned, a sound birthed from deep in the hollow of her chest at the press of his hand against her throat. His thumb pulling roughly at her bottom lip. Tilting her head back. Arching her spine. His grip tightening with each forceful thrust of his hips. For a moment she thought she might die as he filled her overwhelmed by the feeling of being both empty and full. Then came the swell, building from the tips of her fingers and toes to converge at her center and form the tightest of knots until it was strained to its limit and shattered into a billion pieces. The world around her falling to white noise.

11:59 PM

The fire is dead. The food is still out. The wine she poured, spilled against the white carpet in the living room. Siobhan remembers these things for little more than a second during the five minutes of lucidity wherein she also notices that she’s alone. Five minutes of a flash of worry and oppressive insecurity fighting to rear its ugly head. But then, he was slipping back beneath the blankets with her and where he when, why it was long enough for the sheets to turn cold, none of it mattered. And when he started touching her, his hands warm against her skin, God, nothing else outside of him mattered and in that moment, she wasn’t sure she could ever be convinced that anything would again. It made it so easy to ignore the fact that his hands were wet and that the room suddenly smelled more of copper than sex. To instead, bury herself deeper into his warmth. “I’ve never met anyone like you before,” she whispered into his mouth. She felt him smile against her when he said, “I’m one of a kind.”

That he was. Wouldn’t her friends be proud.

Happy Birthday to me.

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gattinarubia · 7 years ago

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1: when you have cereal, do you have more milk than cereal or more cereal than milk? i guess more milk than cereal

2: do you like the feeling of cold air on your cheeks on a wintery day? yeah usually

3: what random objects do you use to bookmark your books? usually i turn the corner unless it’s a really nice book - and then just like a scrap of paper

4: how do you take your coffee/tea? cream only

5: are you self-conscious of your smile? no

6: do you keep plants? yeah! their names are cheryl and lydia

7: do you name your plants? see above question hahaha

8: what artistic medium do you use to express your feelings? usually writing

9: do you like singing/humming to yourself? yes

10: do you sleep on your back, side, or stomach? side/stomach

11: what's an inner joke you have with your friends? farts (haha jk “inner joke”)

12: what's your favorite planet? i’ve only ever been to the one. but maybe mars because people might go there

13: what's something that made you smile today? yuri on ice

14: if you were to live with your best friend in an old flat in a big city, what would it look like? messy because of me? idk. i’m picturing separate rooms and a nice view

15: go google a weird space fact and tell us what it is! venus has a volcano that’s 4000 mi long

16: what's your favorite pasta dish? mac and cheese. followed by carbonara or bolognese

17: what color do you really want to dye your hair? i’m happy as a blonde, actually

18: tell us about something dumb/funny you did that has since gone down in history between you and your friends and is always brought up. i traded a cigarette for a handful of koala cookies once

19: do you keep a journal? what do you write/draw/ in it? yeah. it’s mostly for when i’m traveling or stressed out. there’s a lot of calligraphy practice in it, too

20: what's your favorite eye color? on someone else, i’d have to say brown

21: talk about your favorite bag, the one that's been to hell and back with you and that you love to pieces. it’s a disgusting shit pile but i still use it because the outside looks okay

22: are you a morning person? yeah, actually

23: what's your favorite thing to do on lazy days where you have 0 obligations? sit and work on projects and watch netflix

24: is there someone out there you would trust with every single one of your secrets? yeah, i guess. i don’t have terrible secrets so it’s not really an issue

25: what's the weirdest place you've ever broken into? the trip room at camp at night

26: what are the shoes you've had for forever and wear with every single outfit? black boots i guess. or black flats. depending on the time of year

27: what's your favorite bubblegum flavor? juicy fruit or big red

28: sunrise or sunset? it totally depends

29: what's something really cute that one of your friends does and is totally endearing? always texts me to say thank you for letting him come by after he’s already left

30: think of it: have you ever been truly scared? umm yes.

31: what is your opinion of socks? do you like wearing weird socks? do you sleep with socks? do you confine yourself to white sock hell? really, just talk about socks. none of them match, and half the time i can’t find a clean pair and just wear dirty ones. my mom loves socks and takes care of hers and struggles to understand me

32: tell us a story of something that happened to you after 3AM when you were with friends. i have no idea where to start. i rode in an ambulance with a friend in my overalls one time.

33: what's your fave pastry? croissants aux amandes

34: tell us about the stuffed animal you kept as a kid. what is it called? what does it look like? do you still keep it? it was a blanket. i called it blankie, it was white with pastel animal shapes and crocheted edges. i have no idea what happened to it.

35: do you like stationary and pretty pens and so on? do you use them often? omg YES. i’m obsessed with office supplies and pens especially.

36: which band's sound would fit your mood right now? no idea. i’m not good at that stuff.

37: do you like keeping your room messy or clean? i don’t like keeping it messy, but i do anyway

38: tell us about your pet peeves! really dumb grammar errors in scripted content (like double comparatives). also mispronouncing something really badly in one’s native language. i hate being called “little lady” (by anyone) or “sweetie” (by strangers). people who are always shushing people.

39: what color do you wear the most? black i guess. also blue.

40: think of a piece of jewelry you own: what's it's story? does it have any meaning to you? i have a ring on my thumb. i told my grandma that i liked her ring and she gave it to me. i’ve only taken it off twice in 5 years

41: what's the last book you remember really, really loving? ooooh tough question. Maurice. definitely read it. it’s so gay and beautiful

42: do you have a favorite coffee shop? describe it! the one downstairs because a cute girl works there

43: who was the last person you gazed at the stars with? no idea. my brother, possibly.

44: when was the last time you remember feeling completely serene and at peace with everything? i feel personally victimized by this question. honestly it’s been years.

45: do you trust your instincts a lot? a good bit

46: tell us the worst pun you can think of. no.

47: what food do you think should be banned from the universe? none of them? idk, people need food. kale is pretty gross and useless. i’d have to go with whale meat, tiger meat, and elephant meat. don’t eat endangered animals, friends.

48: what was your biggest fear as a kid? is it the same today? i think it was rejection and abandonment, much like now.

49: do you like buying CDs and records? what was the last one you bought? no, i haven’t bought a CD since 2010, and buying records is pretentious unless you’re oldish and have a nostalgic reason to buy them.

50: what's an odd thing you collect? my birds’ feathers

51: think of a person. what song do you associate with them? ... i don’t really work like that.

52: what are your favorite memes of the year so far? anything shitting on trump

53: have you ever watched the rocky horror picture show? heathers? beetlejuice? pulp fiction? what do you think of them? all of them. i enjoy them usually.

54: who's the last person you saw with a true look of sadness on their face? myself in the mirror lol -- no but seriously my mom talking about her mom’s alzheimers....

55: what's the most dramatic thing you've ever done to prove a point? probably had sex with someone. slapped someone. ate a cricket.

56: what are some things you find endearing in people? shyness, mothering tendencies, accents, unironic enthusiasm, touchy-ness, a funny laugh, self-deprecating humor

57: go listen to bohemian rhapsody. how did it make you feel? did you dramatically reenact the lyrics? i’m not going to do that. but i love that song, and i would have dramatically reenacted the lyrics

58: who's the wine mom and who's the vodka aunt in your group of friends? why? i’m worried that i’m both.

59: what's your favorite myth? The Devi Shakti

60: do you like poetry? what are some of your faves? yes. i love arthur rimbaud, oscar wilde, lady ise, and shakespeare (who wouldn’t like shakespeare?)

61: what's the stupidest gift you've ever given? the stupidest one you've ever received? gave someone a rock once. i got one of those crinkle shirts one time

62: do you drink juice in the morning? which kind? not usually. but if i do, orange juice

63: are you fussy about your books and music? do you keep them meticulously organized or kinda leave them be? i leave them be

64: what color is the sky where you are right now? dark brown. nightime in the city

65: is there anyone you haven't seen in a long time who you'd love to hang out with? plenty

66: what would your ideal flower crown look like? i guess something with greenery and bleeding hearts on it

67: how do gloomy days where the sky is dark and the world is misty make you feel? delightful

68: what's winter like where you live? cold and snowy (but more slushy the last couple of years)

69: what are your favorite board games? i prefer card games. but i like guess who and reversi

70: have you ever used a ouija board? yeah

71: what's your favorite kind of tea? chai

72: are you a person who needs to note everything down or else you'll forget it? not necessarily

73: what are some of your worst habits? biting my nails, being late, interrupting my brother when he’s talking

74: describe a good friend of yours without using their name or gendered pronouns. friendly smile, worrywart, dumb jokes, caring, gregarious, anxious

75: tell us about your pets! i have two birds, a fish, and a tarantula. my birds are my beautiful angels.

76: is there anything you should be doing right now but aren't? always. but it’s nighttime so nothing major.

77: pink or yellow lemonade? no preference. they taste the same.

78: are you in the minion hateclub or fanclub? i’m in the i-don’t-care club

79: what's one of the cutest things someone has ever done for you? a boy i used to nanny drew me a picture to make me feel better about my bird dying - he drew about her being alive and flying around.

80: what color are your bedroom walls? did you choose that color? if so, why? grey. no. i live in an apartment. i could paint the walls but i don’t really care.

81: describe one of your friend's eyes using the most abstract imagery you can think of. no, this isn’t creative writing class.

82: are/were you good in school? yeah, pretty good.

83: what's some of your favorite album art? i haven’t bought an album since 2010

84: are you planning on getting tattoos? which ones? yes. triskelion, and camp symbol. i just haven’t decided where i want them.

85: do you read comics? what are your faves? yeah! archie and buffy

86: do you like concept albums? which ones? no?

87: what are some movies you think everyone should watch at least once in their lives? jeez idk. some documentaries probably.

88: are there any artistic movements you particularly enjoy? romanticism for some reason

89: are you close to your parents? yeah, i’d say so.

90: talk about your one of you favorite cities. awkwardly worded but sure. Chicago is delightful because the people are nice, the views are pretty, and we have all the best comedians.

91: where do you plan on traveling this year? mexico.

92: are you a person who drowns their pasta in cheese or a person who barely sprinkles a pinch? drown it. make it 90% cheese.

93: what's the hairstyle you wear the most? down.

94: who was the last person you know to have a birthday? some facebook friends

95: what are your plans for this weekend? it just ended. no idea about next weekend. i might decide to drop acid.

96: do you install your computer updates really quickly or do you procrastinate on them a lot? procrastinate for weeks.

97: myer briggs type, zodiac sign, and hogwarts house? i’ve never been consistent on myer briggs, gemini, ravenpuff

98: when's the last time you went hiking? did you enjoy it? it’s been a while. but i love it.

99: list some songs that resonate to your soul whenever you hear them. Bees by Laura Cantrell, Over the Sea by Bec Sandridge, More than Life by Whitley, Cooke by Modern Baseball - a bunch of others

100: if you were presented with two buttons, one that allows you to go 5 years into the past, the other 5 years into the future, which one would you press? why? past. i’d make different choices.

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ttawoabw · 8 years ago

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OwlCrate: January ‘Classic Remix’ Box

Okay, so if you don’t know what a book subscription box then;

Where have you been?

Check out my blog post about them HERE. (I really need to update this…)

As some of you might have gathered I am the sort of person that researches upcoming releases and tries to guess which books will be featured before I decide to order a box – or at least I’ve begun doing this and do not intend to stop. This is a handy little practice that means I can better maintain my funds and spend less on books and book boxes so I can begin paying back the excessive amount I owe my mother. But I didn’t need to do research to guess which book would be included in the January box, I knew, I had anticipated it since I first heard of it’s eventual existence, and I had a lot of hope for this box – I was a little disappointed with the overall contents of the box, but I’ll get into that throughout the unboxing and in my final thoughts.

As always OwlCrate has lovely Introduction/Information cards in each box that are surprisingly detailed. I love this one! And of course the box arrived in perfect condition and the packaging was excellent.

The first thing I saw in the packing worms was this The Little Prince inspired tea by First Edition Tea Co. which I think is cute but as I am not a tea drinker and no one in my household drinks herbal teas I shall be gifting this to a teaholic friend for her upcoming birthday. It’s mint and rose flavoured and was created exclusively for this OwlCrate box.

The next item hidden in the packing worms was this open book soap by TeaSoapBooks. The scent is inspired by The Secret Garden and it is scented with white tea and berries. I don’t typically use bar soaps (they carry a lot of germs and usually leave my skin either dry or with an oily residue) but this soap does smell nice and I’m willing to give it a try. It was made exclusively for this OwlCrate box but they have heaps of others open book soaps and bath salts inspired by literature so be sure to check them out!

The next thing I pulled out was this double sided bookmark which says ‘Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.‘ which is a quote from Slaughterhouse Five – a book I have not and will not likely read. But I love this quote and the bookmark, made by the talented Lexy Olivia, is stunning! Again, it was made exclusively for this box and is not available anywhere else – a running theme with this box.

Up next we have something that, though cool and pretty, is completely useless to me. A desk calendar, designed by Obvious State. Each month features a unique print with a quote inspired by 12 different classic children’s stories.

January: Peter Pan “Would you like an adventure now, or would you like to have your tea first?“

January: Peter Pan “Would you like and adventure now, or would you like to have your tea first?” February: Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland “Where childhood’s dreams are twined in memory’s mystic bond.” March: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz “The north and south winds met where the house stood.” April: The Call of the Wind “Old memories were coming upon him fast… stirring the realities of which they were the shadows.” May: Anne of Green Gables “To sleep in a wild cherry-tree all white with bloom in the moonshine.” June: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn “It did seem so good to be free again and all by ourselves on the big river.” July: The Secret Garden “It was the sweetest, most mysterious-looking place any one could imagine.” August: Treasure Island “Hang the treasure! It’s the glory of the sea that has turned my head.” September: The Wind in the Willows “And still, as he looked, he lived; and still, as he lived, he wondered.” October: The Time Machine “Looking at these stars suddenly dwarfed my own troubles and all the gravities of terrestrial life.” November: The Jungle Book “We will leave the lights of the village and go to the low moon.” December: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea “If one’s destiny is strange, it is also sublime.”

As I said I don’t have any use of a calendar such as this but the prints are lovely so I’ll cut them out and stick the ones I like around my room.

Next up we have this magnet of The Phantom of the Opera designed by Sweet Sequels. I love The Phantom of the Opera and so does my mum so this magnet now lives on our fridge.

Something to know about OwlCrate is that they don’t typically include promotional stuff but I am so glad they included this promotional mini poster for Wires and Nerve – I love it and I love the series and I can’t wait to read the graphic novel following Iko (I just have to properly read the series…). This is the kind of promotional stuff I like and enjoy hanging on my door.

Something OwlCrate has included in all their most recent boxes is a collectable pin that matches the introduction card. I’ve been thinking of putting all my pins on a book bag, but I’m unsure- until I decide I have very little use for the pins but they’re fun to get.

And this month’s book is….

Roseblood by A.G. Howard. This is an atmospheric and dark romance set in the tunnels of Paris. It is a modern-day retelling of The Phantom of the Opera and I am so excited this exists. The Phantom of the Opera was the first musical I saw live, I was 13 and instantly fell in love with the dark tale. Back then I didn’t understand the dark themes, it was just beautiful music and costumes. But in the past 8 years I have come to understand that the Phantom is a tale of obsession and possession and is in fact not a love story. I love how dark it is and I’m so excited to read this retelling. I’ve already started a bit and it’s stunning, it’s so descriptive and the writing almost makes the music come alive and take hold of you as it does to Rune. I’ve also been loving the subtle nods to the original story that only people who have seen the production or movie (or even read the book) would pick up on. I can see how those who haven’t had a prior introduction to this tale could become confused or not really click with the story but I love it and can’t wait to continue.

In this modern day spin on Leroux’s gothic tale of unrequited love turned to madness, seventeen-year-old Rune Germain has a mysterious affliction linked to her operatic talent, and a horrifying mistake she’s trying to hide. Hoping creative direction will help her, Rune’s mother sends her to a French arts conservatory for her senior year, located in an opera house rumored to have ties to The Phantom of the Opera.

At RoseBlood, Rune secretly befriends the masked Thorn—an elusive violinist who not only guides her musical transformation through dreams that seem more real than reality itself, but somehow knows who she is behind her own masks. As the two discover an otherworldly connection and a soul-deep romance blossoms, Thorn’s dark agenda comes to light and he’s forced to make a deadly choice: lead Rune to her destruction, or face the wrath of the phantom who has haunted the opera house for a century, and is the only father he’s ever known.

Something extremely cool to note about this copy of Roseblood (not sure if it’s just those included in OwlCrate, just hardbacks or for all) is that the text is all red! I will say that when I come across italics (which is frequent because all French is in italics and they’re in France) the red text does blur a little to me, but I don’t even care. This is something I’ve never seen before and it fits so well with the story.

And of course a letter from the author to us subscribers is included in each OwlCrate box. This is one of the things that initially drew me to OwlCrate, I love reading about what inspired the author. I love reading their passion for their book and I think it’s such a special thing to have – especially when it’s a book that means a lot to you. A signed bookplate was also included, which is as always awesome.

Dear OwlCrate Reader,

While re-reading The Phantom of the Opera in preparation to write RoseBlood, I was once again struck by the Phantom’s loneliness: being rejected by so many because of his gruesome appearance, something he couldn’t control or change. Any of us can relate to rejection. In high school, I was too introverted and shy to fit in. My clothes weren’t cool enough, and neither was my beat-up Datsun. But there were other classmates dealing with far worse: a girl who’d been in a car accident that left her with brain trauma; a boy who walked alone to school each day in a worn-out jacket, even when storms or snow weighed heavy on his shoulders; kids no one talked to due to rumours surrounding them. I defended that injured girl once when she was teased for being different, and it felt so good to step outside of my own problems and stand up for someone else; even though several classmates shunned me for it. That shining moment made such a positive impact on my life, that when it came time to build on the Phantom’s story, I wanted to give him a chance to embrace altruism. to step outside of his bitterness and help another human soul. However, there’s a sacrifice involved, as there was when I stood up for my classmate. I won’t tell you if the Phantom does the benevolent thing and finds peace; you’ll have to read RoseBlood for that answer. But what I will do is challange you to look for opportunities when you can set aside your own fear of rejection to help another person. There’s nothing more rewarding than being a friend to someone who feels alone, even if it’s only for one shining moment. Wishing you happy reading and courageous living, A.G. Howard

Final Thoughts:

Okay, so odviously I loved the book and the related items (the letter and signed bookplate), the Wires and Nerve mini-poster now lives happily on my bedroom door and I do enjoy collecting beautiful bookmarks. But to be honest I wasn’t that over-joyed with the main three items included in this box. It isn’t that they’re bad quality or anything like that; they’re just not things I really use. As I said I’ll give the tea to a friend, test the soap out and use the pictures from the calendar as art but I felt somewhat let down by the contents of the November box as well. Primarily the inclusion of tea. I know a lot of people really enjoy getting tea in their book boxes, but I really don’t like that it’s included to the extent that it is. Also while I think it’s cool that OwlCrate have included something they’ve never included before (the soap but also the calendar) I know there are people who have sensitive skin or are vegan who may not be able to use the product. Although everything individually is good the combination of them is kind of a let down. I’m not upset that I got the box, I feel the value of the book with the signed bookplate and author’s letter is equal to the total price of the box (minus shipping) but I have felt somewhat let down by OwlCrate these past two boxes. I’m thinking of giving OwlCrate a rest for a little while (unless the theme matches a release I’m eagerly anticipating) so maybe absence will make the heart grow fonder? (The break from OwlCrate has nothing to do with feeling disappointed, but more to do with the fact that I owe my mother A LOT of money and I need to start saving for my license and a car…)

Just as I’ve said I’m thinking of giving OwlCrate a break; the theme for February is ‘Run Away With the Circus‘ – if you’re part of the book community you can probably guess what the book included will be and you know that it is a highly anticipated novel for everyone. And the two sneak peek’s we’ve been given are both from artists or companies that I look forward to receiving products from, so that’s promising. I think you can still order this box, either as a subscriber or as a single purchase.

You can order your Owlcrate box HERE for $30 USD (not including shipping). If you want to check out past boxes you can click HERE and HERE.

My Links:

Goodreads : Becca Winter

Instagram : becca_theory

Twitter : @Becca_Theory

Facebook : The Troubles And Woes Of A Bookworm

Becca

xxx

The opinions expressed in this review are mine and mine alone. This post is not sponsored I paid for the box myself.

Book Subscription Box Review: OwlCrate OwlCrate: January 'Classic Remix' Box Okay, so if you don't know what a book subscription box then;

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