#technically finished this piece months ago but finally got the motivation to share

[draw-of-the-moon]

Local Idiots ready to terrorize the town and their boyfriend

(Background from S3 Ep 8 “Benched”)

[temilyrights]

layover

Summary:  Jack Sloane x Reader. What happens when Reader and Jack's flight to D.C. gets cancelled and they have to share a bed? Cue a very panicked reader. Fluff, banter, and like two seconds of heat. 

A/N: I've been working on this for months with little to no success but finally, today I had a burst of motivation and managed to finally piece together an ending. Honestly, I'm a little confused about how? because I'm hungover and that's probably a good sign that I shouldn't upload but here you go anyway hah! (Also somehow I managed to write fluff while emotionally distraught about Maria/Jack?? This story really was completed against all odds). I didn’t do a final read-through of this so apologies in advance. As always, feedback is welcome and appreciated:) Enjoy!

Read on AO3

You sigh, collapsing onto your bed for the night. The covers ruffle beneath you but you can’t find the energy to care. You and Jack had been in Seattle for the last few days assisting on a case and were meant to currently be sitting on an aeroplane on your way back to D.C., however, you’d arrived at the airport only to discover your flight had been cancelled and the next one you could both get on wasn’t until tomorrow morning. 

Which, okay, wasn’t a big deal, apart from the fact when you’d called the hotel to try and get your rooms back, they’d only had one available due to a conference being hosted in the hotel over the next few days. Jack had said she didn’t mind sharing, she was tired and didn’t really want to spend the next hour searching for another hotel in the hopes of maybe finding somewhere else, so you’d agreed.

And now here you were, in a hotel room with only one bed, which you were going to have to share with the woman you’ve kind of been hopelessly in love with for months, and you were freaking out just a little bit. 

“All yours,” Jack says as she exits the bathroom dressed in her pyjamas. She’s wearing a matching navy-blue tank top and shorts set and your mouth goes dry at the sight, your eyes lingering too long on the deep scoop of the neckline before drifting downwards to her exposed legs. You quickly snap your eyes away when you realise what you’re doing, jumping up from the bed as a blush rises up your cheeks. You only pause long enough to grab your toiletries bag and pyjamas before hurriedly making your way into the bathroom muttering a ‘thanks’ to Jack without actually looking her in the eye. 

You drag out your routine by taking a shower. Usually, you’d just wait until the morning, but you needed to calm down and showering was the best option you had of doing that. It works because when you step out the shower, wrapping a surprisingly fluffy towel around your body, you’re feeling a lot better. 

You dry your hair until it’s damp. You wouldn’t fall asleep for a couple of hours anyway and you liked to let it air dry as much as possible. You grimace when you pull out the pyjama top you’d brought with you. An old oversized t-shirt that wasn’t flattering in the slightest. Sighing, you shrug it on along with some grey sleep shorts. 

Jack’s sitting on the left side of the bed flicking through the room service menu when you exit. You stifle a laugh, arching a brow, as you make your way over. The two of you had only had dinner a couple of hours ago. Jack rolls her eyes playfully as she looks up to you. “You can laugh all you want but I’m hungry.” 

You shrug, holding your hands up in surrender as you drop onto the bed next to her. “I didn’t say anything.”

Jack’s hums. “I can practically feel your judgement.” She hands you the menu before leaning over to the bedside table to grab the phone. “I’m getting one of their sandwiches, want anything?” 

You look over the menu brows shooting up when you see the prices. “You’re going to spend $10 on a sandwich?” 

“It’s a good sandwich,” Jack responds defensively. 

“But $10! I could literally buy you everything in that sandwich, it would be cheaper and you could probably make like eleven of them.” 

Jack snatches the menu from you. “Don’t get anything then.” 

You snatch it right back “I didn’t say that.” Jack smirks. “Just a thing of fries, please.” You hand her back the menu, and she places the order with a smug smile on her face. 

Thirty minutes later you’re sitting next to each other on top of the covers, eating your food and watching reruns of Friends. Jack’s been eyeing your fries since they arrived and without turning to look at her you hold out the bowl. 

“Thank you.” She grins, happily taking a couple before turning back to the tv. 

You watch TV for a little longer, Jack’s soft laughs fill the room and you find yourself getting increasingly more focused on her (and her legs). You need a distraction, so you grab your laptop from your bag, there was a report you still needed to finish that you’d planned to do on the plane and then send it back to the Seattle office when you had landed, but now seemed like as good a time as any. Jack rolls her eyes with a small laugh when she sees what you’re doing. “Really?” 

“Might as well get it done now.” 

“You know, having one evening off wouldn’t kill you.”

No, but you just might. 

“Oh, look.” You sigh, completely unapologetically as you point to your laptop. “It’s already all loaded up, might as well just do it now.”

“And people call me the workaholic.” 

“That would be because you are.” 

Jack opens her mouth in outrage ready to argue but then proceeds to slump her shoulders and sigh. “Okay, true.” You smirk and it only widens when you feel Jack shooting you a glare. “But if you’re going to be boring, I’m going to finally finish reading my book.” 

And, oh god, maybe you should have just stuck with being distracted by her laugh because Jacqueline Sloane in her reading glasses was a whole other level. One you were definitely not prepared for.

She switches off the tv, grabs her book and settles onto her side and you can’t help but glance at her every so often, loving the content smile on her face and the occasional chuckles she releases. She eventually catches you when you stare for a moment too long and sends you a playful wink over the top of her book that has you clearing your throat and quickly returning your attention to your laptop. Even if you can’t focus you don’t let your eyes leave the screen for the next five minutes as you try to gain control of your flaming cheeks. 

Being together like this, just coexisting, felt so intimate. It pulled at your heart how much you wanted this to happen more often. It wasn’t a new feeling, you got it every time you went shopping together, or really just any time you spent together outside of the office because like now, even though you were technically working (although you hadn’t typed more than half a page in the last forty-five minutes), you couldn’t help but think about the amazing woman lying next to you. And as much as your brain was in overdrive because of the close proximity to her, you also couldn’t help but feel grateful that your flight had been delayed. 

You’re so consumed with your thoughts you don’t notice Jack’s moved from the bed until the room plunges into darkness, the only light now coming from your laptop screen. You roll your eyes looking to Jack, whose finger is still resting on the light switch, her face full of faux innocence. “Whoops?”

“Really?” You huff, barely controlling the smile threatening to break out on your face.

Jack just smirks as she returns to the bed, back resting against the propped-up pillows, legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. “You can’t work in the dark, bad for the eyes.” 

“Hmm, good thing I’ve got a lamp then.” Careful of your laptop resting on your lap you lean over to your side table and flip the switch. The room fills with a soft glow as your laptop tilts slightly and Jack’s hand flies out to still it. “Thanks-hey!”  You’re just turning back when Jack swipes the laptop and moves it to her lap with a smug smile. 

“Jack-” You try to protest, going to grab it back but she just bats your hand away and in seconds has saved the report and switched it off. 

“Oh, look, It’s already off.” Jack shrugs, smugness radiating off her as she quotes similar words to what you’d said earlier. 

You roll your eyes; you’d be annoyed if you weren’t enjoying Jack’s playful smirk so much (and it wasn’t like you were getting anything done anyway). “Fine.” You huff, reaching out to grab the laptop however Jack picks it up moving it up and out of your reach. “Seriously?” 

“You’ll just load it up again.” 

Ignoring Jack’s remark, you lean over again going to grab it again, but she just moves to place it on her side table and then lays back down. “Fine.” You say, barely containing your growl of frustration. 

You definitely don’t think through what you do next because one minute you’re sitting on the bed next to Jack and the next you’ve moved to hover in her lap, knee’s either side of her hips as you reach for the laptop resting on the table. You grab it, and it’s only when you look down at Jack you realise what you’ve done. Your left-hand rests just below the pillow, the top half of your body hovering above hers as your right-hand stays frozen with the laptop. She arches a brow at you, teeth pulling at her bottom lip to stop the wide grin from taking over her face. Your face heats up and you don’t know why you aren’t moving; you should be moving!

“Comfortable?” smug shit.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” You huff, rolling out of her lap and off the bed, returning your laptop to the safety of your bag as you try to calm your thrashing heart and flaming cheeks. 

Jack waits until you turn back around before she speaks. “I would actually.” Behind the amusement, there’s also a genuine curiosity in her voice that makes you pause. You don’t know how to respond, and panic surges through you that has your fight or flight instinct kicking in. 

“I-I’m gonna go brush my teeth.” You quickly make your way to the bathroom and tell yourself the disappointment you hear in Jack’s sigh is just your imagination. 

When you return Jack has moved to lie under the covers, the sheets resting all the way up to her shoulders. Both your smiles are a little forced as you make your way over, pausing by your bedside table. “Am I alright to turn the light off?” 

Jack nods. “Yeah, that’s fine.” 

The room plunges into darkness and you slip under the covers, making sure to keep plenty of distance between the two of you. 

“You know, I won’t bite.” Jack laughs. You turn to face her not at all surprised by her playful smirk. “I mean unless you’re into that sort of thing.” 

“Original.” You huff cheeks heating up, and you just hope it’s dark enough that Jack won’t be able to notice. The floor was becoming increasingly more tempting.

“Originality is overrated” Jack smirks. “But seriously, move up the bed before you fall off.” 

There’s no use fighting her, so you shuffle over, moving more to the centre of your pillow. Jack still doesn’t look completely satisfied but she doesn’t say anything, just rolls closer. Your eyes had adjusted to the lack of light and you could easily make out Jack. She’s looking at you with a soft smile that has your heart thumping in your chest. 

“You better not snore.” You huff, turning to lie on your back to get away from her all-knowing eyes, and efficiently breaking the moment. Jack chuckles but doesn’t offer a response.

----

You’re not sure exactly how long you’ve been lying still, staring up at the ceiling, but you know it must be over the thirty-minute mark at this point. You’d long ago given up with trying to attempt sleep. Your brain just wouldn’t switch off. You couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if you’d leaned down and kissed Jack rather than rolling off her lap. Would you now be lying in her arms instead of staring up at the ceiling pretending you were oblivious to the fact that she was as wide awake as you...or would you be lying on the floor cursing everything in you for being stupid enough to risk it all. 

Jack shifts on the bed rolling over to face you, eyes trained on the side of your head. Your gaze remains fixed on the ceiling even after she sighs, “Can’t sleep?” You don’t respond. Jack huffs, and reaches her foot out, poking your leg. “Oi.” 

You slowly roll your head to the side, brow raised. Jack’s expression is bordering on a pout, and you are very aware that her foot is still resting on your leg, sending heat prickling through your skin. “It’s very difficult to sleep when someone is talking to you.” 

“Yeah, you should tell your brain to shut up.” Your mouth drops open and your cheeks flame red as Jack’s smirk dampens to a soft smile. “Do you want to talk about it?” 

“I, uh…” You swallow roughly, mouth suddenly very dry. Jack watches you patiently, giving you the time to work out what to say, but the thing was you didn’t want to say anything. You couldn’t stand the thought of ruining your friendship. Jack was just too important to you. “It’s nothing. It doesn’t matter.” Jack’s shoulder slump in disappointment as a quiet sigh escapes her lips. 

Jack’s known something was off with you for weeks now. She hadn’t said anything, but you’ve noticed the concerned looks she’s been sending your way and how she’s been subtly trying to motivate you to open up to her. And if what was playing on your mind wasn’t her, then you would have. You know it wouldn’t be long until she started pushing a little harder and that terrified you. How do you explain to one of your closest friends that you’ve fallen head over heels in love with her when you know she’ll never reciprocate it? 

You avert your eyes from Jack’s, hoping your feelings hadn’t leaked onto your face. “It’s late, we should get some sleep.”

“Right because that’s been working out so well for us for the last hour.” 

“Fine. Is there something you want to talk about then?” You were probably going to regret asking that, but you do anyway, and roll onto your side to face her properly. It brings you closer to her than you expect it to, and your eyes immediately dart to her lips before you catch yourself and quickly look away. 

“How about what’s bothering you?”

“Jack,” You whine, rolling over to lie on your back again. You can barely move before Jack’s hand darts out and grabs your arm. 

“I think you’ll find I won’t react in the way you’ve convinced yourself I will.” Your entire body tenses and you’re incredibly grateful you’re currently not looking at her. There’s no way she could know, right? You’d been subtle enough. I mean, well, Ellie had worked it out, but she only thought it was a harmless crush. Jack didn’t know. She couldn’t. 

Jack tugs you so you face her properly again. Your fear must be showing because her face softens and she begins to rub a calming pattern with her fingers onto your arm, your body melts. “I was scared by the strength of my feelings, and I knew you were too, but it wasn’t until a few weeks ago when you started to try and pull away from me, that I realised you thought I didn’t feel the same way.” Your heart thumps in your chest, your eyes darting between hers with slight desperation because there’s just no way she’s saying what you think she is. “Which to be honest I don’t understand because I’ve been flirting with you for months.”

Your mouth falls open. “Is this some kind of joke?”

“Why would I joke about this?” Jack frowns. “Is it seriously so hard to believe I have feelings for you?” 

“Yes. You’re this astonishing, smart, gorgeous wom-” Jack slams her lips against yours, efficiently cutting your words off. It takes your brain a second to catch up with what's happening, but the second it does you respond with equal enthusiasm. Jack’s hand slides from your cheek to your neck, pulling you closer as her tongue brushes your lips seeking entrance that you’re only too happy to comply with. 

You only pull away when the need to breathe becomes too strong. Jack’s shaky breath mixes with yours as you stare at each other. “So,” you say when your breathing was closer to its regular rhythm “come here often?” 

Jack rolls her eyes as a wide smile spreads across her face and she releases a small chuckle. “Is that the best you’ve got?” 

“I’ll show you my best.” You mumble, nudging Jack so she rolls onto her back, and straddle her lap. Her brown eyes sparkle up at you in amusement, and she’s just so beautiful, her blonde hair splayed across the pillow beneath her, that wide smile now a devilish smirk that takes your breath away. It’s unreal the effect she has on you, you should probably be embarrassed by how a single look from her could set your whole body alight. 

You stare at her, taking her in, and then do exactly what you’d wanted to do an hour or so beforehand, you lean down and kiss her. Both of you are smiling too much to deepen the kiss, but it doesn’t matter…that is until Jack’s fingers start teasing up your thigh. Your wriggle in her lap as your body begins to heat up, and then suddenly, in one slick movement, she’s flipped the two of you over. She hovers above you, that tantalising smirk still present as her eyes dance with mischief and you squeal in surprise. 

“Jack,” you laugh. She captures your lips with kisses that turn you to putty. You’ve basically melted into the mattress by the time her lips part from yours to leave a trail of kisses from your jawline down to your throat. Your hips buck and a soft moan escapes your mouth when she grazes her teeth against your pulse point. “I thought you said you didn’t bite.” You smirk, breathlessly. 

“I said, I wouldn’t unless you’re into that sort of thing and,” Jack repeats the action, nipping enough that you’ll know it’ll leave a mark. You moan, your hand tightening on Jack’s thigh. “I think it’s safe to say you are.” 

You don’t offer a response to that and instead, cup her cheek and guide her lips back to yours. You continue exploring each other's mouths but neither of you attempts to heat the night up anymore.

You surprise the both of you when a wide yawn suddenly breaks free from you. Jack pulls back with a soft laugh, as you look up at her sheepishly, cheeks colouring with embarrassment. “Sorry,” you mumble. 

“Don’t be. It’s been a long day.” Jack’s eyes flick to the clock on your side table before she looks back to you with raised brows. “Wow, It’s already two o’clock. We should probably get some sleep.” She rolls off your lap, and snuggles next to you, arranging the sheets to cover the two of you properly. You hesitate slightly, unsure how to proceed and Jack laughs. “Come here,” She breathes. You oblige, rolling onto your side, and wiggle backwards until you’re safely captured in her embrace. Jack links her fingers with yours and places a soft kiss to the back of your neck. 

“Night, Y/N.”

“Goodnight.” Your eyes fall shut, a content smile drifting over your face. Now feeling very grateful for the mishap with your flight and booked up hotel because without them you’d still be hopelessly pining after Jack who was currently wrapped around you like a koala bear. Sighing, you snuggle back further into her arms and it’s not long before you both succumb to sleep. 

[m39]

Hiveswap: Act 2 review

It’s the end of November. The shitshow known as 2020 will soon come to an end. So why not talk about Hiveswap: Act 2 for a minute? As I said days ago, Act 2 didn’t suck major ass. Overall I thought it was pretty good. Unfortunately, like many games, it also has some bullshit in it.

Just to warn you up before we start: While I’m not gonna talk about major spoilers from the game, there still will be topics that might be considered as one. Proceed with caution.

Byers-Tier of Awesomeness(positives):

Let’s start with the story. I kinda enjoyed it. It starts off slow but when it reaches the 2nd act (as in, the train), it gets better. We get the target location to get there and we are under the time limit to do so. So yeah, a solid motivation to go forward, and it makes sense what we are doing with the train.

The characters, however, are probably the best thing in Act 2, particularly our two main protagonists. I fucking adore Joey and Xefros! I adore what they do! I adore the dialogues between them! I fucking adore them! I fucking adore them!! I!!! FUCKING!!! ADORE!!! THEM!!!

As for the rest of the cast, it was mostly good. I kind of expected that the characters would act differently than in Friendsim(since you know, different people were writing them), but most of the time, I think they were acting like in the Friendsim. Sure, some of them could stick up for more time and there is definitely one troll who overestimated hER WELCOME but I’ll talk about it later.

There isn’t really much to talk about the graphics about it. Both backgrounds and characters look amazing and props to the artists for a fantastic work.

The soundtrack is still God-tier. Then again, it’s James Roach and Toby Fox (with some help from Clark Powell). These guys can make gold out of thin air. My three favorite music pieces were the first three variations of Ticket to Ride (the last one especially was stuck in my head for a long time)

Now let me show you some of the highlights from the game (particularly, the train ones):

The first act (before the train): The bug lusii from Charun’s and Zebede’s hives and the train station. Their design is awesome and I want to pet them.

Rust/Bronze wagon: It was kinda hard to choose the highlight from this section since it’s pretty short but I think I’ll go with Skylla. Her smile fucking broke me!

Gold/Olive wagon: The wagon itself was the best part of this section since it reminded me of the trains (railbuses to be exact) I used to take in the past. Asides from that, there is also Konyyl.

Jade/Teal wagon: Ignoring how the trial was a chore, Tyzias was a fucking savage beast in this game and I fucking love her for that. The best part was how she and Joey basically straight out humiliated Tegiri for being such an attention-seeking failure of a Tealblood. Stuff like this makes Tyzias the best troll out of her caste (in Hiveswap of course).

Blue/Indigo wagon: Amisia.

…

What? You want me to say more? NOPE! There is nothing else to add. Amisia is still the best! She was an adorable, murderous child back then, in Friendsim, and she’s still the same child now. I fucking love her!

I’m not going to talk about what happens in the third act because, you know, spoilers, but let me tell you: it gets fucking intense.

Septic Tank of Caliborn’s Yaoi Filth(negatives):

Unfortunately, Hiveswap: Act 2 is not all fine and dandy as you might have guessed. It can be infuriating sometimes.

Let’s start with the most obvious con: The trial in the Jade/Teal wagon. It drags the game out for way too long. When I was playing the game, it was around 10-11 PM when I reached this wagon. I’ve decided to finish Act 2 the next day after finishing that part of the game. Unfortunately, it went on, and on, and on for so long that I’ve decided: Fuck it! and stopped when I reached the recess. Sure, there are some funny moments like the one I’ve mentioned before but when you create a segment that feels like it’s ten times longer than it actually is, shows that you need to triple-check your in-making game before releasing it.

Now for my personal worst aspect of Act 2: Elwurd. Good, fucking, GOD!!! I fucking hate this one-note character for being such a plank of wood! The fact that we have to overly rely on her of all the trolls pisses me off even more! I’m serious, we are forced to ask her for help like three to four times to go further! Let me show you an example: You receive an item that you have to show to another troll. To make it look more convincing, you need Remele to cover it in paint. Now here’s the catch: In order to get the painted item, directly talking to her will do shit! Seriously! You have to talk to a plank of wood with I’M GAY written all over it to actually get help from Remele!!

OKAY! TIME OUT! CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHICH ONE OF THE WRITERS DECIDED IT WILL BE A GREAT IDEA TO TURN JOEY INTO A FUCKING SIMP?!?! Is it because they want to develop Joey in terms of her sexuality?! Well, I don’t think it’s a good idea to use someone who’s attitude screams GIMME DA PUSSAY every time there is a dialogue with her!! Like, for fuck sake, Tegiri was more enjoyable to watch! Hell, Zebruh, of all trolls, was more bearable than Elwurd! And we are supposed to hate his guts!! You could have make Joey ask for help from the other trolls that didn’t really shined in this game but NO! You are forcing us to pick the most boring one for help over and over again!! GOD FU-

technical difficulties

Okay, this rant was going on for too far. Let’s change the topic.

For some unknown reasons, Zebede and Charun were not in this game. Like, we saw them on promotional media and I saw that they were probably finished so the reason why the rest of the cast was in Act 2 but not them is nonsensical.

Although the artwork is still amazing, it feels rushed and unpolished in some places. For instance when Joey and Xefros are passed out, instead of the animation of them waking and standing up, they just… POP And now they stand up.

…

Okay?!

Also I would prefer for items to be more usable.

And that’s basically all stuff that I have to say about Hiveswap: Act 2.

Before I’ll end up my review, however, there is one last elephant in the room that needs to be said about: the credits that weren’t implemented when this game was released a few days ago. While the reason behind this decision can be considered reasonable (as is, avoiding a backlash until the hype wents out) since some of the fans can be considered complete nutcases straight out of Arkham Asylum, the decision itself overall feels hyperbolic to me. I saw many artists who were showing the assets from the game that they were working on, and they were proud of their work. They wanted to share it with fans and they were greeted with a very warm response from the fans. It basically looks more like it was about the writers and directors not getting a backlash for the decisions they created since some of them were working on the highly controversial Epilogues and an even worse sequel to them. If that was the case, then why not just have the credits from the beginning but without the directors and writers until around three months pass? There! Problem solved!

Summary:

Despite the trial, despite Elwurd being Elwurd, lack of two characters and the overall roughness, Hiveswap: Act 2 is still a very good game. While I don’t believe anymore that any of the future installments will give us the same level of magic that Act 1 did, I was still satisfied with what we got.

Before I’ll finally take a break from Homestuck for a long time, let me tell you something. The beginning of the game with the train in the background felt like this:

After finishing it, the atmosphere changed to this:

I’ll let you feel it for a moment. >:]

See you all next time.

Bye!

[callmenickk]

All The Things She Said

Remember in elemetary when our teacher required us to write an essay? This feels more like it. Not that I have nothing to write (God, no); There is just too much to tell. So how do I even begin.

Right now I sit by a room unfinished. This was where I left off. I don't have to leave now. I'll stay...to this blank space I can finally work my magic on — play my sound, paint my visions, read and reread, rewrite the chapters I was too caught up to finish and just...break through.

I really wish people had to stop judging me. Not at all times that I have to be on the pedestal. Trust me, I already have enough criticisms to my self. But some people just don't have the empathy no matter how hard I look — and that is how I'm willing to drop it off.

I can do errands; I can surely follow orders. I can even buy coffee and photocopy papers if no one else will. But I am done settling for a monotonous routine. Living in the city without motivation did sap out my whole being that I forgot what was it that use to fuel the fire that burns within. So I became side-tracked. And it was depressing so it had to end.

I am and will not be a mediocre.

I really had a great year coming through — 2018 was the awesomest! That is why it is so important that I dump all the bad of it behind. Maybe just one big dumping. And i'll be over.

T H E  L A W  B U I L D I N G

I've been walking around the street near a law building now for three years. It never came across my mind to take up such degree.  But every so often, someone somewhere is aggravated, an unorganized community satisfyingly settles to an old, more familiar routine, and the cowards refuse to come out of their despicable, vile shells. I can't blame them. But quite frankly, do they ever not get tired? Continuing as it is? Cause I am. To be in a place where I have my constraints because anything I do, disgraceful or proper, lawful or not, chains back to my dear family from unapologetic people who're sharp to my lapses! I don't have to prove it. You can never tell a (highly) intuitive woman wrong.

Fire your guns to your rightful targets, why am I taking the bullet?

This goes far beyond to how I value harmony to where I am and who I'm with — and that maybe wanting it badly means having to put yourself dirty in the mud, too. So this year, I had to step it up a little. Baby steps. Just baby steps. Law is the dream. On a more technical view, I am going to need a harsh warm-up cause its been awhile from school. Major reading and catching up current events! Plus, leveling up the EQ because this is usually where my level of sanity skips itself from yield limit to rupture. Reference that from Stress- strain diagram. (My engineering is not at lost.)

Anyway, while I can't have it yet I'll have my own little ways; and I am so done just sitting at a corner.

Courage, don't you fail me now.

T H E  B A B Y

And then there is this. (I'm over the bad now...all too quick just like that)

Do you ever believe in prophecies? I don't want to be sure, I never am. But I think that God might have blessed me with it, too. I've had significant dreams before that played an important factor to my surroundings. And that at some point, my alternate subconscious intellect is just overpowering. We can't dismiss it. Dreams have their own power, too. Which leads me to.

T H E  O N E

Almost, but not quite.

Do you have a boyfriend, they ask. None, I said. Always a face of doubt. Always. The kind of look that says Liar. Okay, I am not lying. You have the wrong question to ask ergo you never get the answer you want to hear. I don't have a boyfriend, but I have someone that I love. And lest it gets down that serious lane, I am forever playing the dare-you-not-mention-his-name. I don't wanna be deleting him on my feed in time (its a millennial ordeal hahaha secondly, we argue too).

So, why? Okay, why.

This is an era for the millennials. Wake up, darling. Natapos na ang kapanahunan ng harana (so I'll learn my keyboard instead). I may be looking for an 'extinct' man now. So, yah.

But he's bit different.

I need to find a potential in a man. Not just anyone who'll only want to get under your skin (what is happening with the world), no, I don't want that. I want something real. And more than anything, I don't have to fight for love, I don't have to deal with the wrong. I can be certain, the one that God meant for me will come along. Now, baby, that is called patience.

Moreover, my travels and constant soul searching pushes me to make a difference in this world. (Shoutout to awesome Bali & Iloilo humans) I will continually be a good influnce for those who look up to me esp the kids. And one day when it will be time, I can teach my lessons and show good things to my children.

T H E   R E W I N D

Wounds have healed. It has been years, for Pete's sake. I know I'm okay now. When my estranged old friends and I crossed our paths a month ago, I didn't feel bad anymore. I was sorry. They needed that closure too and I will not begrudge that from them. Can't help but miss the memories though. After all, we shared a lot of ourselves before things got bad. But maybe it is true when they say you just miss the memories...and not the people. All is well.

T H E  N E W  O N E S

I met a few good people I could keep forever this year. Isn't it ironic how things take up a turn when you're all ready to leave?

Before I started working in the city, I promised myself it won't be long. Just had to find the right time to leave and had three attempts. For the last one it had to be final.

I really can't quite decipher my God of what He wants to happen in my life. (Praying is imperative.) Is this just a trial, Lord? Cause I'm constantly enduring but I give in to that button too. I give up. Tell me it is okay to give up when the going gets tough.

I'm so sorry if I had to say goodbye. I didn't mean for them to feel bad. No amount of advice and comforting will change the fact that I hurt them still. But this really is life. If you get a hello, you get a goodbye. Learn to juggle the good and the bad, cause this is what life is all about.

I feel especially responsible for Yolie, cause I will not be around for the year to come. But this girl is tough. And I'll just be around watching her, guiding her. She will be loved.

T H E   C O N C L U S I O N

To the one reading this, everything that I just said was very personal. It is like taking a piece of me throwing it out on the open for angry wolves to devour — not even knowing if it'll be worth it or not. But every bit of my vulnerability is your vulnerability, too. This world doesn't always have to be a place of strong, guarded faces. Knowing that you took your time to read this makes a connection somehow. Isn't that amazing? For one bit, I impact your life. It may sound trite but it is true. You have it within you to impact others something good as well. I hope and pray that you will embrace uncertainties too as much as how you have your life figured. Acknowledge your fears wholeheartedly cause I feel like you too are holding it back. Take it from a good marvel quote I know by heart (from Doctor Strange movie),

We never lose our demons, Mordo. We only learn to live above them. — The Ancient One

Well, ready or not, it isn't an endgame yet, that's for sure. Cheers to an awesome year ahead. Claim it and it will be yours!🎄✨

[summylise]

Erasing the Stigma: Fanfiction as Legitimate Form of Literature

Remember this post from a few weeks ago that got a ton of notes (which I am STOKED about)? Well...I just submitted the final draft!! I figured you guys would want to see what your responses amounted to so here it is!! If you’d like to share it with others (especially those who look down at fanfiction) go ahead!! I’d love to spread the word more~~

(Oh! and here is where you can access the original formatted with the works cited essay)

      Erasing the Stigma: Fanfiction as Legitimate Form of Literature

Two writers type on a desktop computer. One sits cross-legged in a dark room lit only by a single, smooth Mac surrounded by sheets of character references, thesauruses, dictionaries, and the occasional motivational quote. The other in a similar position but at their local Panera with nothing but their school laptop open to a few wikis, Thesaurus.com, and maybe some calming music. Both bite their lip as the words fail to transfer to screen. Both stress about the possible response to their pieces. A few hours later and they are ready to submit. The first contacts their agent who then contacts a few others. Days, weeks, months pass and the first writer still hasn’t heard back from their agent. The second author uploads their file as soon as they finish typing the last word, sometimes in an email to their beta (or their editor from the same fan-base), other times directly to the site. Days, weeks, months pass and the second author has already cranked out more chapters, received a handful of reviews, and has gained many followers. The difference? The second person uploaded theirs to Fanfiction.net and is looked down upon by most of society. There has often been a stigma associated with the term “fanfiction”, as if it was a disease or something others look down upon. Yet many see it as a creative outlet and something that allows them to fully express themselves in a way that formal writing or writing a physical book cannot. Some oppose the fact that fanfiction, stories written about video games, movies, television shows, etc., are forms of literature and say that reading and writing is not “real” reading or writing. They even may go as far to say that fanfics serve no outside purpose and has no content. While some stories may be lacking in the grammatical or logical correctness, fanfiction as a whole is in fact a valid form of literature, especially when compared to formal reading and writing.

In order to discuss fanfiction, it needs to be defined. Fanfics are stories that are written by fans of a certain form of entertainment (whether that be musicals, books, animes, television shows, movies, etc.)(Lammers and Marsh). Fanfic authors are not paid, do not expect anything in return (except for the occasional review or two), and write just because they like the show and have an appreciation for writing. The fanfic author, formerly known as epeolatryx on Tumblr, writes, “People don’t pay for fanfiction. Reviews are our currency. Thank yous pay for the effort we spend on the next one,” (Xambedo). Another difference comes in the form of creativity, or rather, starting with nothing versus starting with a pre-existing base. Instead of creating entirely new universes with brand new characters, fanfic authors use existing characters, settings, and plots from existing medias to generate their own stories. Some of these stories even become so popular that they end up published due to a uniqueness they had despite being based on something else. The After series by Anna Todd, a One Direction fanfic, began on Wattpad, a free, digital publishing service, and became a published novel that is going to be made into a movie (Contrera). Granted, Todd had to change the names of the band mates in order to avoid copyright infringement but this successful story still began as fanfiction. Other fanfictions include The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Ella Enchanted, and many more that do not seem obvious to the naked eye. The only difference between stories on sites like Fanfiction.net and the ones listed above are that the second are considered “actual books” or “real reading” whereas the first are not. It all comes down to what makes up real literature.

Literature is defined as “any piece of writing that can claim that it has—in some way—artistic beauty” according to Richard Jewell, author of Experiencing the Humanities. However, he later states that items such as bullet points and grocery lists would not count as they are not artistic and are only meant to serve as lists rather than actual pieces. In his textbook, he states all of the qualities that make literature and claims that if a piece were to include those attributes, that it would be considered literature. Those three attributes are creative description, characters, and plot (Jewell). All of those are included in fanfiction which are just stories created using non-original characters. Based on these requirements, fanfiction would factually be regarded as literature. Not only does fanfiction count technically as literature, but the process is the same.

Fanfiction should also be viewed through a newer learning term known as the multiliteracy framework. Multiliteracies are forms of reading or writing that incorporate more than just a pen and an idea; they explain how different cultural mediums, forms of communication, and compositional variety come together to create a piece (Chandler-Olcott and Mahar 559). Three main branches of this framework can specifically be applied to fanfiction: multimodality, intertextuality, and hybridity.

Multimodality involves the “integration of various Designs such as visual, linguistic, and audio in one text…” (Chandler-Olcott and Mahar 561). In regards to fanfiction, authors often employ these three attributes in order to entertain their readers and make their story more enjoyable. In my experience as a fanfic writer and reader, we authors show pictures or fanarts that we have created or have had created for us, find music or sound effects to serve as the background to our stories, and alter their fonts to evoke a stronger meaning (such as italicizing thoughts). By doing so, we are incorporating many different elements into one to create a diverse and interesting final product.

The second concept is that of intertextuality. Intertextuality are the “relationships and references between and among texts. Fanfiction is the crossing of original ideas with those of pre-existing characters and features which, in a sense, is exactly what intertextuality is. The connection between two sources doesn’t have to be strictly between two written pieces; Chandler-Olcott and Mahar explain that it can also occur between fanfiction and reality. The authors describe a fanfic the girls they studied wrote that involved deep, psychological questions such as a woman’s place in the world and heterosexual relationships despite the girls still being in middle school. The authors say, “Viewing rhetorical moves like these from the perspective of the Multiliteracies framework helped us to appreciate how complicated, and even sophisticated, the girls’ fanfics often were,” (Chandler-Olcott and Mahar 563). The two fanfic authors were able to pull from different forms of “text” in order to create a unique and thought provoking piece by using the concept of intertextuality.

Finally, hybridity is the creation of new ideas by picking and choosing specific parts of different mediums and combining them in a unique and sometimes never before seen way. Fanfics tend to grab from many different areas such as different genres and different story structures. When I go to publish a work of mine on Fanfiction.net, it prompts me to select two different genres before I can continue. Much like published books, fanfictions mix many genres together such as adventure, romance, comedy, etc. in order to create a successful and unique piece. However, fanfictions differ from books immensely when it comes to story structure. In fanfics, there tends to be a lack of an exposition or any explanation, description, or background of the story; the author jumps right in (Chandler-Olcott and Mahar 564). Fanfic authors choose to not add an exposition because they know that their audience knows almost everything about their characters: their physical attributes, their history, their personalities, their hopes and fears (Chandler-Olcott and Mahar 564). By neglecting to include an intro and picking multiple genres with which to base their stories on, fanfic authors rely very heavily on the concept of hybridity. Creating a hybrid of literature tends to have consequences, though not the ones that society may expect.

Fanfictions are a new branch of reading and writing that not only counts structurally, subjectively, and scholarly as a form of literature but also, much like its published counterparts, leaves an impression. In my survey of over two-hundred people, I found that around 53.59% of respondents had connected with new people they otherwise would not have met through fanfiction, whether it was reading or writing. This is due to the collaboration and connection with authors and readers via the follow, favorite, review or comment ability on Fanfiction.net that allows people to say how a certain chapter made them feel, make assumptions on future chapters, and offer suggestions for future chapters. Social media also plays a role in connecting readers and writers. On the popular social media site, Tumblr, many fanfic authors publish their stories in order to further spread their work across their fandoms (or domains in which fans from the same genre congregate). This allows the fan-base to actually contact the author on a more personal level rather than just via the comment section.

In addition, fanfiction affect the connection between each other but it also changes one’s reading and writing habits. Motoko Rich’s claim that student standardized reading scores have steadily declined due to online reading (Rich 1). However, measuring one’s aptitude for test taking does not translate to their inclination towards reading. A psychology professor at Michigan State, Linda A. Jackson, agrees when talking about the results of giving low income students internet access: “[The students] were kids who would typically not be reading in their free time… Once they’re on the Internet, they’re reading,” (qtd. in Rich). I have also found that fanfiction actually increases a reader's want to read by means of the survey I conducted. 75.95% of respondents say that they are more motivated to read fanfiction than actual books, which in turn makes it easier for them to read more.“Books are a big time commitment for something I might not like. With fanfiction, I get something I’m already familiar with and will know I’ll enjoy, and they’re much shorter,” said a respondent to my survey. This is because in published works, the author has to include an exposition where they describe the characters and setting. In fanfiction, since it’s based on a world that already exists, the readers already know what the characters and setting look like so the author can jump right into writing their story. Reading online not only increases one’s wish to read, but also improves their writing as well. According to the study done by Jayne C. Lammers and Valerie L. Marsh titled “Going Public”, the young author they had longitudinally studied said that fanfiction had allowed her to stay anonymous and therefore felt more willing to share her works with others than if they had known who she was (Lammers and Marsh 281). By being anonymous, fanfic authors are able to express themselves and produce pieces that they otherwise may not have shared which allows them to further grow as a writer. A fanfiction writer who took my survey said the following:

Real writing, to me, is writing that makes us grow both as readers and writers. When I first started writing, it was through fanfiction. I was horrid at first. But fanfiction gave me a supportive, eager community to be able to continue producing work and subsequently grow into the writer that I am today. Therefore, I can confidently say that fanfiction is a valid alternative to reading and writing.

With the practice of writing fanfiction and support of the community, this author was able to make a name for themselves and eventually grow into the writer as seen above. A writer that may either turn into a published author or a fanfiction author.

[briannaslist]

Chapter 9: La Grande Illusion

A Riverdale Recap

With Jason gone, the shareholders to the Blossom Maple Syrup company are wondering who will inherit the empire. Hint – no one wants it to be Cheryl. Now the Blossom family is worried about the shareholders making a power play to take over.

At the Cooper home, Betty shares her worries about Polly to Jughead. She says she understands why Polly wouldn’t want to talk to her parents, but she doesn’t get why Polly’s ignoring her. Jughead decides to comfort her with a kiss. Since Alice has no concept of boundaries, she just walks right in on them and starts putting away Betty’s laundry while also telling them both of her plans to write a tell-all exposing the Blossoms. Betty says that she doesn’t think that will help bring Polly and Alice says that it’ll personally make her feel better. Those Coopers sure know how to prioritize.

Hermione tells Veronica that the lawyers are coming to take their statements. Veronica asks if she’ll have to lie and her mom says she’ll have to “shield the truth a little”. And since they’re talking about things that make them uncomfortable, Hermione tells her that Hiram also found out about the affair she’s been having with Fred. Veronica suggests that she tells Fred before someone else does. When the teenagers make more sense on the show…

Finally, these people make it to school, but it seems class still has not started. Maybe it’s the middle of the day. Cheryl asks Archie to escort her to her family’s annual tree tapping ceremony that they hold exclusively for the shareholders. She says she can’t face it alone now that Jason is gone. Archie says he can’t do it because he has a girlfriend. Ah yeah! Valerie. Remember her? It’s like we saw more of her before she and Archie started dating. He suggests that she take someone else. Cheryl says that it has to be Archie because he defended her when her own parents didn’t, but we’ve seen the shareholders and they’re almost all redheads or are wearing red, so I say, what’s the real reason?

It appears everyone is getting a little piece of plot this episode; after Ethel reads a sad poem in class, Veronica asks her if everything is okay. Ethel tells her that her parents are fighting and things at home aren’t great. It would probably seem sadder if not for the fact that this describes literally everyone on this show. Veronica offers to cheer her up by inviting her over for lunch and pampering and she says Kevin will be there. This is news to Kevin, who not only was not a part of the conversation, but also was not even sitting with them.

So after leaving the student lounge, Kevin asks Veronica what all of that was about. Veronica tells him that she vowed to never ignore a cry for help after she and a former best friend emotionally terrorized and bullied some girl from school just because they could. And Kevin is listening to this story horrified and is like, “Oh my God, did you drive her to suicide?!” and Veronica is like, “What?! No!” But it really did sound like that’s where she was going, so you know, phrase it better next time Veronica. Veronica and her friend’s treatment was so bad that the girl left the school and had to go to therapy. You know, this is told like a one off story, but I don’t think this is the last we’ve heard of this. At some point, more of Veronica’s old ways have to come to light. We’ve even seen hints of it in her previous behavior.

While this is going on, Penelope Blossom comes from nowhere to ask Archie to escort Cheryl to the tree tapping ceremony (get out your giggles about the “tapping”). Archie starts to off the same excuse he gave Cheryl, so Penelope offers to help get him into prestigious music academy’s summer program through a family connection; Archie agrees and Penelope has a moment because he reminds her of Jason. It’s uncomfortable. Actually, every scene involving the Blossoms for the duration of the episode is uncomfortable.

It appears that Archie immediately told the first people he knew that he’s going to the program because Betty and Jughead walk in to Kevin saying they’re talking about Archie’s admittance. Archie finally clarifies and tells them about the exchange with Penelope. Jughead and Veronica immediately switch to “oh bad idea, you should not do that”, but Betty has ulterior motives and tells Archie it’s a great idea and asks him to check on Polly for her. He assures the others that he shouldn’t worry and can take care of himself. They say the most convincing lies are the ones we tell ourselves.

Archie goes to the ceremony and helps calm down a nervous Cheryl. She does a good job of getting the maple syrup out of the tree and her parents look relieved. After the whole group takes a creepy photo that looks like it’ll be in a future textbook on a chapter about cults (it’s because of all the red/redheads), Archie goes to tell Polly that Betty is worried about her. Polly says Betty shouldn’t be worried and that is the entirety of their conversation and Archie “trying”.

As everyone is walking back, Archie and Cheryl overhear some trustees talking about how unfit Cheryl is, using her breakdown at the funeral for proof of her being unstable. Her breakdown at her twin brother’s funeral. Because he was murdered. Whether or not there was some kind of weirdness happening between Cheryl and Jason, anyone in that situation would be likely to cry a lot. Archie jumps to her defense.

When they finally reach their destination, Cliff tells Archie that he was hesitant about him coming, but now he’s glad Archie is there. Not sure why; Archie hasn’t actually done anything. This really may just be because of the red hair. He invites Archie to accompany Cheryl to a banquet they’re having tomorrow. Archie says that that’s not really his thing and he tries to get out of it, but Cliff insists. Then Cheryl jumps in saying he’ll need a proper suit and Cliff says he’ll have his tailor fit him for it. And hey, free suit, so Archie agrees. Look at how quickly Archie couldn’t take care of himself.

At the Lodge home, Betty joins Veronica, Kevin, Ethel, and Hermione for lunch. Ethel isn’t eating because of everything on her mind and she tells them that she thinks her dad had some bad luck with their savings and thinks that they may be losing the house.  That’s a lot to share with people you have  a few classes with. Veronica tells her that they have a lot in common and works to reassure her and says, “You’ve got this Ethel Muggs”. Hermione recognizes “Muggs” and has another “guess who else hates your dad?!” talk with Veronica in regards to the Muggs family. Hermione heard that the Muggs’ may be testifying against Hiram.

Since Hermione is having a bunch of awkward conversations, she decides to also go and tell Fred the truth about Lodge Industries being the buyer. She tells him that if she knew the shady stuff Hiram was planning then she never would have agreed to go along with the construction. She also tells him that Hiram hired the people to vandalize his work site because of the affair. Just get it all out in one go. Fred is super pissed about being dragged into the middle of this war between Hiram and Clifford Blossom while Hermione knew all about it. He has to leave to take a walk.

Archie goes to the Coopers to tell them what he learned in his less than 10 second conversation with Polly. He thinks that Polly won’t be coming back based on “Betty shouldn’t be worried about me”. Archie also tells them about the trustees potentially going for a hostile takeover, which delights Alice.

The next day at school, Betty and Jughead talk to Cheryl about Polly. Cheryl says that they should be celebrating – a doctor confirmed her grandmother’s prediction about Polly having twins. Betty is hurt that Polly didn’t say anything to her. So wait, Polly was really never getting medical care at that Home for “Troubled Youth” then? How did they not know that she was pregnant with twins before this? They should have known this months ago.

After school, Veronica has Ethel come over because she has some clothes and accessories that she wants to give Ethel. Ethel naturally has some reservations about just taking all of these expensive things and Veronica tells her that she wants her to have it. They’re gifts that her father brought home whenever he messed up; this includes the pearls she always wears. Obvious foreshadowing, how fun! Ethel tells Veronica that she just wants to be her friend; she doesn’t need the gifts.

Cheryl goes to the Andrews’ house and tells Fred that he’s looking extremely DILF-y before just walking in. You know what Cheryl, never change. She’s delivering a gift to Archie – an ’84 Les Paul guitar. She gives him a kiss on the cheek and leaves. Fred suggests that Archie return the gift and Archie is all, “Aw, c’mon, the Blossoms are being really nice and they’re helping me out.” But even if they weren’t “helping” that gift is way too much. Fred tells him that the Blossoms are trying to run the business into the ground and look at people like them as if they’re dirt on their shoes. And still Archie says, “Maybe if you just talk to Cliff about how he’s hurting the business…” Wow. There’s naïve and then there’s this.

Alice and Betty go to the newspaper office to talk to Hal about the expose that Alice wrote on the Blossoms. However, Hal technically is the owner of the paper and he refuses to publish it; he also locked Alice out of the system so she can’t publish it herself. Alice should have seen that coming though. Then to add insult to injury, Hal fires her. So Alice and Betty walk out. However, Alice isn’t finished and she picks up a loose brick and throws it through the glass door yelling, “I want my daughter back you bastard!” Hal and Betty look on in shock like she’s crazy, but it was really cool and it actually makes me respect Alice more.

Archie completely ignored that conversation he had with his father and is getting fitted for a tux by Cliff’s tailor. He asks if he and Cliff can talk for minute and the tailor gives them the room. Archie asks if Cliff can help his father instead of the favor for the music school. Cliff is impressed by Archie negotiating for his dad and says that they already called the uncle at the music school; however, he says they can talk more after the banquet about helping Fred. Archie is smiling all satisfied, as if he actually did something.

Betty fills Jughead in on everything that happened last night with her parents and cries about her family falling apart. Jughead comforts her and says that her family won’t fall apart because she’s holding it together; but that’s a pretty inappropriate job for a teenager in terms of family. The kid shouldn’t be holding a family together.

Valerie makes an appearance to add to Archie clearly not paying attention to this Blossom situation. She tells him that Cheryl came to talk to her bragging about how she’s going to steal Archie away. And Archie just brushes it off like he’s done all episode.

Oh, forgot about Veronica! She still has a storyline. Kevin comes up to Veronica and Betty and tells them that Ethel’s dad tried to kill himself; he’s going to be okay, but he is in the hospital. Veronica heads off to the bathroom to cry and she angrily rips off her pearl necklace. That’s so hazardous; I hope she cleaned that up. Betty comes in to comfort her.

Betty and Veronica bring flowers to Ethel and her mom at the hospital. But Ethel’s mom doesn’t know who Veronica is and the guilt is getting to Veronica, so she tells Ethel’s mom that she’s a Lodge. Mrs. Muggs goes from thankful to angry and tells Ethel that Veronica isn’t her friend and that Veronica’s dad is the reason Mr. Muggs tried to kill himself; she tells Veronica that her father belongs in prison for life. I mean, maybe, but I don’t really see what that has to do with Veronica herself.

At the Blossom banquet, Cheryl tells Archie that her parents wanted her to fail the tree tapping and they aren’t being nice or genuine. All of that would have been nice a day earlier Cheryl; though knowing Archie, he would just ignore it. Clifford speaks alone with Archie and tells him that he will help his father; Archie thanks him and tells him that he doesn’t have to keep doing him favors because he genuinely likes Cheryl and is happy to help her. Cliff then tells him that the board doesn’t like Cheryl because, while she’s smart, she’s not stable or trustworthy. However, he thinks that Archie being attached to her helps the “picture” that they’re trying to sell. Because the behavior of the board is contingent on exactly how these teenagers act today. None of them know Archie, and honestly, if they did, they would probably just take their chances with a solo Cheryl.

Polly politely cuts into Archie and Cliff’s conversation – and just in time because Archie clearly thought the conversation was getting weird – and the two of them start dancing. Polly tells Archie to tell Betty to stop asking about her and that she’s at Thornhill to investigate the Blossoms because she’s sure they have something to do with Jason’s murder. She has more to say, but Archie gets distracted by seeing Cheryl run off after a heated conversation with her dad and he decides to go after her. A move simultaneously kind and stupid; nothing would fit Archie Andrews more.

Cheryl tells Archie that she knows everyone, including her own family, hates her. Archie says forget what they think and that he thinks she’s awesome. Which is very sweet to say, but is so empty. She still has to live in that house, no matter how much Archie thinks she’s “awesome”. Cheryl tells him that she thinks he may be the only decent person in Riverdale and she kisses him. He lets her for a moment, but then he pulls back and walks away.

Incredibly, it proves to be a good thing that Archie kept hanging out with the Blossoms because he overhears Clifford and Penelope talking about how they’re responsible for Hiram Lodge going to jail. He moves along and Cheryl catches up to him. She tells Archie if he leaves then everything they’re giving him disappears. He tries to say that he came as a favor to her mom but Cheryl says she knows it’s really because of the favors, which means he’s not as different as she wants him to be. Archie can’t take it anymore and he leaves.

Betty and Jughead tell Alice that they heard from Archie about Polly choosing Thornhill so she could spy. That makes Alice feel a bit better, but she’s still worried that Polly won’t come home. Betty says that she will and that they can write about the Blossoms with Polly’s insight. Jughead offers Alice to come join them at the school paper. Alice kinda scoffs since it’s the school paper, but it’s not like she has anything better to do.

The next morning, Archie catches Valerie on her way to school and he tells her that she was right about the Blossoms and he’s done with them. Only took him an entire episode, so he’s making progress. Valerie says that great but she’s done with him because all he’s done is ignore her since they got together. That explains why we’ve only seen her for like a minute total over like three episodes.

Fred tells Hermione that he’ll stay on with the construction (his livelihood does kind of depend on this contract) but there will now be new conditions: everything they do is legal, he wants 20% of a stake because he’s tired of being used, and their romantic relationship is done. Somehow she’s surprised by that last part, even though that’s the one she should have seen coming.

Veronica goes to class early and apologizes to Ethel on behalf of her family. Ethel responds by being rational and saying it’s not her fault what did. Plus Ethel appreciates Veronica being there for her when no one else was. At this point several teens in Riverdale could be emancipated and do significantly better than being with their parents.

Archie tells Betty and Jughead what he overheard the Blossoms saying about Hiram Lodge. They think that’s a good motive for Hiram killing Jason and they put his name on the murder board.

Cheryl colors Archie and Polly’s faces out of the group photo from the tree tapping while wiping away tears because she’s emotionally immature.