#tessa’s treasure trove

[pedrospookie]

thank you for the tag, @slimybeth69 !!!

I’m a bit of a late comer to writing in the fandom, but I have lots of things up my sleeve for the new year. thank you for all the kind words of encouragement and support!

EOY Asks!

1. Describe your journey this year in three words

2. A piece you’re proud of and why

3. A fic or artwork you enjoyed

4. Creator you’d like to see more from

5. A scene you enjoyed creating

6. A scene you struggled with

7. Comfort character to create for

8. Most challenging character to write or draw

9. A work from another creator you keep coming back to

10. Fandom you created most for this year

11. Fandom you’d like to create more for this year

12. A concept you’d like to develop next year

13. A fic or artwork by another creator that made you happy

14. Something new you tried this year

15. An area of your art you feel you improved upon

16. Something interesting you researched as part of the process

17. The creation that took the least amount of time

18. The creation that took the most amount of time

19. A new genre or style you tried

20. Something that made you laugh

21. Something that made you emotional

22. An idea you had that didn’t make the cut

23. Rec another creator’s fic you wish more people would read

24. Rec another creator’s artwork you wish more people would see

25. A scene or image that lives rent-free in your head

26. Something that inspired you this year

27. Shout-out to a commenter/reblogger who encourages you

28. A song that relates to one of your creations

29. Shout-out someone who inspires you

30. Advice to yourself (and maybe others) for the new year

31. Ask me anything!

and now it is my turn to pass the torch along— I’m tagging folks I’d love to see answer these q’s if they are interested! @josephquinnswhore @syd-djarin (I’d also tag slimybeth69, but she’s already been tagged! 😌💅)

[choicesficwriterscreations]

October Creator of the Month: Tessa-Liam

Please welcome this month’s Creator of the Month: @tessa-liam

Each month, CFWC highlights one of our talented fanfic writers or artists. The writer or artist is selected at random. More info can be found on the navigation page. Past COTMs can be found here.

Tumblr Blog Name: Tessa-Liam

How do you want to be known on Tumblr? Tessa

Quick Links:

Tumblr Blog

Masterlist

1- When did you start playing Choices? What was the first book you played?

Christmas 2017, I was scrolling FB and saw an ad for Choices featuring The Royal Romance Book 1. I downloaded the app and started reading TRR right away.

2- When and why did you join Choices fandom?

I was hooked on that series and was waiting for a new chapter to release. I was desperate for more and my sister suggested that I try searching Tumblr for fanfiction in 2021.

3- How did you pick your blog name?

Liam was my LI, so I joined his name with mine!

4- Pull up the first post in your archive, and tell us about it!

My very first post was the masterlist to @ao719's series ‘The Invitation’. I found her treasure trove of Liam Rys/TRR stories very quickly! I couldn't get enough!

5- Do you write fanfiction, create fan art, or are you one of those really gifted people who do both?

I write fanfiction. I wish I could draw…the best I can do is create moodboards.

6- How long have you been creating for Choices and for any other fandoms?

I started writing my own stories for Choices pretty much at the same time I found the app. Publishing those stories started with prompting and encouragement from Anitah [@ao719] & Emmy [@txemrn]. I posted my first on October 28, 2022, ‘October Weekend Retreat’. I have also written for ‘Game of Thrones’, ‘Twilight’ & ‘The X-files’. These stories are all published on AO3 with other pseudonyms

7- What is your favorite Choices book, and what is your favorite Choices book to create for?

My favorite book(s) to read and create for: The Royal Romance Series. Favorite = book 3

8- Share your first Choices fanfic or fan art that you posted with us. Do you still like it, or would you change it if you were creating it today?

I do still like it! The changes I would make…I would add more ‘Would You Rather’ questions and dialogue.😁

9- What is your favorite piece of fiction or art that you created?

My favorite: ‘All is Fair in Love & War’ …and I won an art commission (my center pic) for it from CFWC, by ArtbyAinna (IG).

10- Do you have a fic/art that you didn’t expect to be well received, but it was? What about one you expected to do well but found it could use a little more love?

I am always honoured whenever anyone takes the time to read, comment, or share my stories!🥰

11- If you could write only angst, fluff, or smut for the rest of your writing life, which would it be and why?

Definitely angst❣️ I love writing/drama about a group of characters in a series with various sub plots and relationships over time.

12 - Do you ever recognize yourself in any of your MCs or in your writing?

Yes! My OC Sophie Taylor from Marabelle.

13 - What element of writing/art do you struggle with most?

Writing…Definitely 😏 smut! ….but practice makes perfect, right!? 😉

14 - Do you have any neglected work you really want to finish?

Oh geez, so much!? My one drive is well stocked! 😂

15 - If someone you know in real life (who isn’t involved in fandoms) asked to see your work, would you let them? If yes, what would you show them first?

Yes! My sister. No, not necessarily…I know she reads AO3, cuz she posts there too!

16 - Are there any writers (published authors and/or fanfic writers) who influenced your writing? Are there any writers that influence you?

Anitah @ao719, my fellow Liam stan definitely inspired me to write TRR stories here on Tumblr. She is a phenomenal writer!💖

17- Which one of your stories would you most like to see as a movie/series?

Marabelle …it's still a W.I.P. right now and I have so much story to tell!

18- Do you write original fiction or create non-fandom art?

I have started a framework for a novel and have created storyboards for it.

19- What other hobbies do you have?

I love horses and am learning dressage. Reading, writing, politics.

20: BONUS - tell us anything you’d like (if you want to)

I adore royalty in real life and follow news on William & Kate. They toured Canada in 2016. I was in Victoria, BC on vacation when they were here, but I couldn't get anywhere near that area of the city. 🤷‍♀️

[tessa-liam]

It's Writer's Love Day💕

For Anitah @ao719

When I first discovered Choices The Royal Romance books, I found myself enamored with Prince Liam and the world of Cordonia.

...and then I uncovered a treasure trove of writing talent, here at Tumblr.

Within that treasure trove I found one writer that has written and keeps writing exceptional and beautiful stories about Prince Liam, in multiple character types & AU's.

I hit the jackpot!

I am so happy to have uncovered your talent🥰

Thank you, Tessa @tessa-liam

@choicesfandomappreciation

[rebeccaheyman]

Review: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies / Deesha Philyaw / aBook narr. Janina Edwards / Tantor Media

Deesha Philyaw’s debut short story collection was a treasure trove from start to finish. Philyaw’s writing is deft, evocative, nuanced and brimming with voice; each story, regardless of length, manages to bring its subject(s) to life from the very first sentence. It feels rare to find a book that can make its home on the shortlist for the National Book Award as easily as it can be adapted for television (Tessa Thompson executive producing! Yes please!), but Philyaw’s storytelling is almost uncannily versatile. In each chapter of THE SECRET LIVES OF CHURCH LADIES, we meet Black women and girls who “dare to follow their desires and pursue a momentary reprieve from being good” (from the back cover). In her own way, each character is making space for herself between the lines — of Scripture, tradition, or her culturally-prescribed place in the world. This collection forces us to wonder how we write ourselves into the narrative when the language of others would have us erased — and the women in THE SECRET LIVES OF CHURCH LADIES? They will not be so easily forgotten.

Janina Edwards delivers a propulsive, eclectic performance, shading her voice to represent a host of women and girls at various ages, stages, and places. Her tone is warm but direct, clear as a bell, and full of depth. An absolute joy to listen to.

[thesustainableswap]

Pre Owned = Pre Loved!

In a world dominated by consumerism and having the newest product as soon as possible, it’s nice to take a step back and see what items you can source from others. From electronics, to furniture, there are a huge number of websites geared towards finding pre owned items a new home. But where to begin? What websites and apps are out there? I’m going to spend this blog telling you about a few you might already know, and a few you might not.

For electronics, I recently discovered BackMarket, a website which sells refurbished goods. From smart phones, to games consoles, to cameras, to laptops... if you’re looking for anything electronic you’ll most likely be able to find it here. A lot of people question what the difference between ‘used’ and ‘refurbished’ is, but Back Market have that explanation covered on their website:

‘In both cases, the two devices are pre owned or "second-hand" but that's where the similarities end. A refurbished [product] has been tuned up and brought back to perfect working condition in a factory before being sold on Back Market. So basically a refurbished [product] has the double advantage of being both cheap as well as also having a professional refurbisher guarantee its excellent quality.’

I made a purchase from Back Market recently and was so overjoyed by it. My laptop speakers are on their last legs, and music is a huge part of mine and my partners life but it became frustrating when my laptop speakers started distorting every single sound. We’d been discussing the idea of buying a bluetooth speaker my partner remembered Back Market. We bought a JBL Flip 5 (which has a recommended retail price of €130) for €100. It was advertised as having visible scratches and wear, but when it arrived we were happily surprised to see that it looked brand new. I love being able to purchase something of good quality, without having to contribute to consumerism, by giving a ‘used’ product a new home. 

For second hand items that haven’t been refurbished, it’s good to check websites like Gumtree or your Facebook marketplace. Consider these websites, however, as similar to that of a charity shop. There might be a lot of spam (or what my dad calls ‘tat,’) to get through before you find what you’re looking for. When me and my partner were moving from the UK to France we sold all of our furniture on Gumtree either for free or for around half the cost of what we originally paid. They were all picked up quickly, were wanted and resulted in us having a bit of cash in our pockets. Other alternatives to Gumtree are Craigslist, Ebay, Etsy, Wallapop, Trove Market and Krrb. In France we have Paruvendu and LeBonCoin. It only takes a moment to find the website for your area, and then you’re sailing!

If you live in a big city, you probably also stumble into things left on the street. Me and my partner found and brought home two HUGE epic mirrors last year, which were originally part of a dresser which had been dismantled and left on the curb. We also found an ikea clothes rail that, once given a clean, now has a new home in our flat. If it doesn’t gross you out (which it shouldn’t, because almost everything can be cleaned and fixed up) you can find some real gems out there.

It also takes no time to hit up your family and friends and see what they have that they don’t want any more. Myself and my partner recently moved, and were lucky enough to have lots of his family members give us their old furniture. If you’re handy or creative, it takes little to no time to give these items a new lease of life. Something small that bugs me with furniture is that I don’t like having lots of different wood tones in a room. It makes me feel like the room is disorganised. On the flip side, I love painting. I’m not good at it, but I love it. And so when we were given some different tables in varying sizes I decided to give them a bit of a makeover.

(Image of a coffee table painted with a white base and orange, green and pink lines to look somewhat like a road map, inspired by Lucy and Yak’s ‘Sundaze’ collection as well as Samiir Saunders, and also of a round end table, painted in circular stripes in the same colours.)

When it comes to fashion, check out shops that sell vintage fashion or dead stock (I’ll insert a link of two previous blogs here & here on the topic!) Otherwise, check out what fashion swaps there might be in your area. These kinds of markets are becoming increasingly popular, where you take some items from your wardrobe that you wouldn’t mind saying goodbye to and swap them with others to keep your wardrobe fresh and to ensure that the clothing is not mindlessly being thrown into a charity bin. If you can’t find a swap market in your area, start one with your friends and make it regular thing. Otherwise, if you have a special event coming where you feel like you need a one off, special item, look into renting (one to check out is The Endless Wardrobe)!

And what about one of the most wasted products on Earth? Food. Food is thrown away at an alarming rate, and for reasons that can seem pointless. An apple has a bruise? Some bread has a bit of mould on the corner? You have leftovers from a new days ago and they look a bit sad now? You only needed one pepper, but they only come in a pack of three? Food waste is a huge issue, and a huge emitter of green house gases. (Check out this Deliciously Ella podcast episode where she speaks to Tessa Clarke.) There are a number of ways this can be combated. By joining the sharing app OLIO, which allows you to share unwanted groceries with your neighbours. Or get your community on board without apps by heading to local council meetings and speaking up on the issue. In some areas across the world, fridges are set up in public spaces to provide a solution to this problem (you can find another article on public fridges here!)

By adapting this way of consuming products, you inadvertently begin to lean towards a more circular economy. Instead of throwing something out and replacing it with something new, you learn to search for what is already out there. You begin to make use of someone else’s unwanted items, and in turn, be more aware of what you already own. ‘One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,’ rings a bell here.

What items have you found that, without you taking them, would have been thrown away? What methods of reusing and re-purposing do you have using items you already own? What websites do you check before buying something new? Let me know by commenting below.

Until next time,

The Sustainable Swap.

[aion-rsa]

The 20 Best Horror Movies on Netflix UK – Scary Films to Watch Right Now

https://ift.tt/2RE5emn

Netflix is an ever-changing, constantly growing treasure trove of hidden gems and secret delights (here’s everything new on Netflix UK this month). Sometimes, a teeny bit too secret though.

Who hasn’t sat down to watch a horror movie and found themselves scrolling endlessly, either not being able to find something they’re in the mood for, or not really knowing what half the titles are, or if they’re any good?

We’ve scoured the full current catalogue available to watch in the UK now and picked out the best scary movies. It’s a mix of classic and new, and a range of slashers, horror-coms, mumblegore, monster movies and more to hopefully scratch that itch with ease.

We’ll keep this updated as and when titles drop in and out of the service.

Hereditary (2018)

If you haven’t seen this slice of trauma, the feature debut of Ari Aster, you probably should. If you have seen it, you probably won’t want to again. Toni Collette stars as a woman whose controlling mother has just passed away setting of a series of horrible events. Aster says the film was partly inspired by his own sense of his family being cursed – this a movie absolutely drenched in grief and pain with astonishing performances all round. It’s tough going, but it’s a masterpiece. Read our review.

The Platform (2019)

This existential Spanish horror made a splash at the start of lockdown with it’s tale of prisoner trapped in an enormous vertical prison with a platform at it’s centre which delivers food to the inmate floor by floor starting at the top, so that each floor only gets what the floor above has left over. It’s political, allegorical, it’s clever and it’s very violent.

The Endless (2017)

Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead’s gorgeous sci-fi horror stars the two as brother who escaped from a cult ten years ago and are drawn back in in search of answers when a strange videotape arrives. This is their third movie after Resolution and Spring and the two are only growing in strength as directors – The Endless is rammed with indelible imagery and deeply unsettling moments within a plot that is a joy to unpick.

What Keeps You Alive (2018)

Couple Jackie and Jules head to a remote woodland cabin to celebrate their first wedding anniversary but things go bad… Ok this sounds like the most generic slasher in the world but trust us it’s not. Twists hit early on (that we’d hate to spoil) and the tension ramps up fast in a very effective cat and mouse chase with a female bent. This comes from Colin Minihan who made Grave Encounters – this isn’t similar but both have a disorientating sense of place. Read our review.

Orphan (2009)

Released during the heyday of Dark Castle’s mid-budget horror splurge, Orphan is one of those genre films with an absolutely ludicrous (and therefore thoroughly enjoyable) twist, which we will not spoil for you. Peter Sarsgaard and Vera Farmiga star as a couple mourning the loss of their baby, who decided to adopt a little Russian girl called Esther from the local orphanage. Things quickly start to go very, very wrong as the pair start to suspect that wee Esther – who insists on dressing like a spooky doll – isn’t all she appears to be. Check out our review.

Insidious (2010)

The many sequels may have yielded diminishing returns but the first of this franchise, about a couple (Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne) whose comatose son appeared to be trapped in another realm by a evil spirit, is a very effective chiller. Horror genius James Wan directs, and the first half of this movie at least is pretty much guaranteed to make you jump out of your skin.

Annihilation (2018)

An all star cast including Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Tessa Thompson, plus the quality direction of Alex Garland wasn’t enough to secure this horror sci-fi based on Jeff Vandermeer’s novel a theatrical release in the UK. Nevermind, that just means you can watch it for free on Netflix. Portman joins a crew of women exploring the mysterious Area X where he husband ventured some time before and came back changed. It’s a weird, unfamiliar landscape of beautiful flora and terrifying fauna defying explanation until the strange, indelible finale (not sure what it means? Have a read of this explainer). And you can check out our review, too if you like.

Daybreakers (2009)

You’ll get a little bit of everything with this Spierig Brothers curio. It was the film that really got the directing team noticed and it’s not hard to see why. Set in a dystopian world where basically everyone has been turned into a vampire, one corporation thinks it’d be a bloody (sorry) good idea to track down all the surviving humans and…well, basically milk them. Ethan Hawke stars as a vampire haematologist who starts to think there might be another way for this story to go after he’s collared by a former vampire (Willem Dafoe), who can cure everyone. (Living) dead good. Check out our review.

The Bar (2017)

Slightly bonkers Spanish horror thriller which sees a bunch of strangers stuck in a busy Madrid cafe when snipers begin shooting anyone who tries to leave. Confusion and personality clashes abound in this economical single location chiller with a dark sense of human as the inhabitants slowly discover what’s going on, who’s responsible and try to work out if and how they will survive.

Read more

TV

Netflix UK: What’s New in April 2020?

By Kirsten Howard

TV

21 underappreciated films to watch on Netflix UK

By Paul Bradshaw and 2 others

The Cabin in the Woods (2012)

Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon’s love/hate letter to the horror genre felt like something of a game changer when it finally arrived (it was shelved for several years because of financial issue with original distributor MGM). Chris Hemsworth and Haley Bennett star in a double layer story about ordinary kids vacationing in a woodland cabin, with Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins as very particular kinds of bureaucrats up to something in the background. No spoilers, just watch. Here’s our review.

Cargo (2017)

Martin Freeman stars in this Netflix original developed from a short directed by Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke. Set in the Australian outback, Freeman is a father trying to find someone to protect his child in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. More wistful and emotional than that sounds on paper, there’s a fascinating subplot about an Aboriginal girl mourning her father and the final set piece is unforgettable. Check out our review.

Lifeforce (1985)

A Cannon Films classic directed by late Texas Chain Saw legend Tobe Hooper, people are still discovering the ’80s madness that is Lifeforce. Originally entitled Space Vampires, it’s exactly what you’d expect, and so much more. Nude, energy sucking bat creatures are brought back to Earth after an interstellar mission finds a gaggle of them lying dormant in Halley’s Comet, and it all goes very badly for the planet. You can expect a scenery-chewing Patrick Stewart to pop up in between the tits and gore. Not literally! Although, sometimes literally.

Creep (2014)

No, not the one set on the tube, this ‘mumblegore’ horror is far weirder than that. Director Patrice Brice plays Aaron, a videographer hired by Mark Duplass’s Josef to make a video for his kid to watch after he’s died of a terminal illness. Or does he? Playing on the power of politeness and the awkwardness of male relationships this is a highly original, itchily uncomfortable watch. Creep 2 is also on Netflix, and also good!

Read more

TV

17 of the best TV series on Netflix UK

By Louisa Mellor

TV

Underappreciated comedy movies on Netflix UK to watch now

By Mark Harrison and 1 other

Hush (2016)

Another smart sensory-based horror, this time from Oculus and Doctor Sleep man Mike Flanagan. This home invasioner sees deaf writer Maddie (Kate Siegel) attacked in her woodland retreat by a masked stranger. He uses her inability to hear to sneak around and terrorise her, but she has tricks of her own up her sleeve. Check out our review.

The Invitation (2015)

Karyn Kusama (Jennifer’s Body, Destroyer) just keeps knocking it out of the park (and she’s recently been attached to a Dracula movie from Blumhouse Productions), and with The Invitation she continued to secure her place as one of the best directors around. Here, Will (Logan Marshall-Green) and his girlfriend go to a party held by his formerly suicidal ex-wife, and discover that she seems to be happier than she ever was, but Will starts to suspect that rather than healthily coping with her mental illness, she may well have joined a doomsday cult instead, and be planning to kill them all. Paranoia and tension are at the max in this bad boy. Here’s our review.

Little Evil (2017)

Comedy horror from Eli Craig who made the wonderful Tucker and Dale Vs Evil. This time he’s playing on creepy kid tropes, particular those from The Omen movies. Adam Scott plays a man who discovers his new wife’s (Evangeline Lilly) son might actually be the anti-christ. And because it’s Eli Craig, of course it’s funny and very good natured as well as playing with the genre.

Gerald’s Game (2017)

Another Mike Flanagan offering here – what can we say? he’s damn good! – as Jessie (a spectacular Carla Guigino) and her husband Gerald drive to a remote house to try and spice up their marriage with a bit of gentle BDSM. One problem: Jessie is not into it. At all. Two problems: Gerald carks it, leaving her tied up with only her cunning to help her free herself from her prone, handcuffed predicament. Three problems: a mythical, supernatural killer may be in the house. Stephen King, you’ve done it again. Read our review.

Ravenous (2017)

Unusual Canadian zombie movie (in French) which sees remaining stragglers after an outbreak of the infected band together in disparate groups travelling to find other survivors. Ravenous sets up its infected as worshipping a sort of new religion of found items (chairs, TVs etc.) making comment on the zombification of society. It’s also funny and quite scary, so there’s that.

Veronica (2017)

Loosely based on a true story, Veronica is set in Madrid in 1991 and follows a young woman who messes with a Ouija board who thinks she’s accidentally summoned an evil spirit. Director by Paco Plaza, one of the two directors behind [REC], the movie gained minor notoriety when it first landed on Netflix because of a few viewers finding it overly scary. It’s true there are some seriously creepy bits (but you’ll be fine!).

The Perfection (2018)

Get Out‘s Allison Williams and Dear White People‘s Logan Browning star in this twisty, trashy but nonetheless enjoyable tale of two musical prodigies hothoused at a mysterious academy. It’s lurid and lavish (and it’s got some fairly dodgy sexual politics, we’d warn you) but great lead performances and a tricksy three act structure that keeps you guessing, make this an entertaining and unusual Friday night pick. Read our review.

Want more horror? Here’s our list of 81 genuinely creepy horror movies. Here are some horror movies it’s safe to watch with your kids. And here are some underappreciated Scream-inspired horror movies of the 90s.

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The post The 20 Best Horror Movies on Netflix UK – Scary Films to Watch Right Now appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[fandom-and-fantasy]

CAPTAIN FANDOM REVIEWS: MIB INTERNATIONAL

Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson rule the screen once again - this time as the dynamic duo in Colombia Picture’s next installment of their Blockbuster franchise, Men in Black: International. Based on the Men in Black comics and the three-film installment released over a period of fifteen years, Men in Black: International is a startlingly charming addition to the market’s oversaturated nostalgia-based remakes and sequels.

MIB: International topped the Box Office on it’s opening weekend despite an initially abysmal outlook from professional critics. In contrast to their opinion that the newest installment fell flat, the film stood up to everything it promised audiences it would be - a fun and exciting, albeit oft-times campy, alien film based in a cinematic universe that was piloted by a veritable king of comedy - Will Smith.

The lead role belongs to Chris Hemsworth (Thor, Avengers: Endgame) as Agent H, but the film is wholeheartedly stolen by Tessa Thompson (Thor: Ragnarok) - playing the role of Agent M, a dedicated and quirky nerd on the search for the answers of the universe. Agent M is the most relatable character on screen. She has “no dog, no cat, and definitely no chill” - and she proves it through her voracious curiosity and dedication. M’s determination is so strong that she singlehandedly tracks down the secret New York headquarters of MIB and sneaks inside, dressed in her clever approximation of an MIB uniform. It is endearing and heartwarming to watch Agent M grow from a character with no attachments save the singular goal of joining the Men in Black, to the strong and confident Agent that saves the world and discovers the value of friendship along the way.

Agent H, played by the ruggedly handsome and charming Chris Hemsworth, is everything Hemsworth embodies - charismatic, funny, and almost jovial - when he first appears on screen in a flashback to Paris 2016. However, the present 2019 Agent H is “vaguely inept, arrogant, [and] reckless,” as described by Thompson’s character. He’s riding high off his singular shining moment in MIB - saving the world from The Hive “with only his wits and his series 70 atomizer”. But the mighty have clearly fallen, and a lackadaisical Agent H embarks on a mission to once again stop Hive, this time with rookie M in tow - and while his character growth is subtle it’s still visible throughout the film.

For being set in an out-of-this-world universe of science fiction, the story was incredibly rooted in it’s characters. From Pawny, the melodramatic alien Pawn that joined Agent M as a pocket-sized sidekick in Marrakesh, to the ever so stuffy and proper Agent C (the character in the film that you love to hate), the MIB universe was uplifted by the new and delightful cast joining an already beloved franchise.

And with the amount of fascinating and creative additions to the alien life already seen in the previous films, it was amusing to note that the most unbelievable thing about the film was thinking a stockpile of Amazon packages left out on a shop stoop because the owner hadn’t been able to collect would remain as clues for the hapless Agents, rather than being stolen.

Men in Black: International was a treasure trove of visual interest that kept me engaged, entertained, and amused! From the incredibly colorful and exciting Marrakesh, to the sleek, shining and modern designs for London HQ, the Men in Black universe worked hard to immerse it’s audience and never let them forget for even a moment that there are aliens among us -  all you have to do is open your eyes.

Overall: 5/5 — This completely blew my expectations out of the water! I was genuinely expecting something lukewarm and blasé - but instead I received something even better than just average. The humor was palpable and didn’t disappoint from the tone of the original films and I left the theater ready to see it again.

Story: 4.5/5 — The story did manage to leave me second guessing my assumptions through several clever red herrings, but with a few minor plots left untied (perhaps for future films?), I have to knock it down half a point.

Music: 5/5 — You know you’re going to enjoy the soundtrack when the opening song (a new arrangement of the original theme) gets you so pumped that you can barely sit still

Special Effects: 5/5 — None of the clunky CGI from the original films, limited by the years of their release. Stunning aliens and effects - and the weapons were top notch

Costumes: 3.5/5 — I liked Molly’s original take on an MIB suit, but she did rock the classic suit quite well. There was also a tiny bit of variety in Agent H’s costume I caught that was pleasing but overall there wasn’t much variety or opportunity for the costuming to really shine in this film

Production Design: 5/5 — Everything from the futuristic elements of London HQ, to the gritty down to earth streets of Marrakesh, left me with a thrill and a deep seated desire to step into the screen to experience the locations for myself. Also, top notch designs for the different forms of transportation used throughout the film

BONUS

Alien Design: 5/5 — As a connoisseur of multiple Science Fiction universes such as Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who and others, I can appreciate when effort is put into designing new and creative creatures and aliens for an established franchise like Men In Black. While not as much time was spent on the aliens themselves, I was absolutely delighted with all of them

[desertfragments]

Okay so one thing I really like about your blog is your theme i think it is very cute and i like the colors and i like how it changes depending on the time of day i just think it is very cute.

But like in a more serious sense, i really love how like your blog is a treasure trove of very good info about your muses you reblog lots of different kinds of posts about your oc's which is v helpful for the uninitiated traveling through the pages and looking for fodder to start interactions with you.

I also think it's v cool how often you tag your rp partners ( not just me although it does make my heart go doki doki <3 ) because like! I don't know if you know how special it feels to write with you because you are so enthusiastic and so interested in other people's art and writing and muses. It's like. Sometimes the rpc feels very insular and isolated and it's discouraging, but you, Nico, are very warm and genuine and interested and i think it's just so nice and i know for a fact that I am not the only person who appreciates having someone be so communicative and interested in the silly little things we are making together.

Your writing is obviously very good. I love the emotion you put behind all of your characters and I love your word choice. I like how the tone of replies changes between characters. Kai's are musical and sing song and whiplash-y because of his emotional stuff. Red's are very internal and there's a struggle where you watch him try to decide just what he's going to allow the other muse to know and it's honestly! so interesting waiting to see what hypothetical ( and not hypothetical!) my muse is going to learn from him and what I, the writer, will be the only one who gets to know. Keerin feels so even keeled and Steady, but there's this turbulence that they keep to themselves and it kinda leaks out sometimes in more emotional threads and I think that's so interesting because it has so much potential to go places. Umm............ Jay is just so fun. I love the way Jay talks and I love Jay's whole Shounen Protag vibe i love the character arc I've seen her go through with other rp partners of yours and I love the contradiction inherent in someone so warm and fun but also so secretly private.

I love bouncing my muses off of yours because I think we find similar issues compelling and it's fun to see how our characters have developed and where their similarities branch off into stark differences (Like Tessa and Kai :3).

Anyway, I could keep going and this is already very long and I'm not sure if it makes very much sense, but I will wrap this up by saying that I think the best part of your blog is you because you are so hardworking and kind and creative and talented and you are so willing to support the people around you and you are so caring and passionate and ily v much and i hope you know that you are a gem in the rpc and a gem of a human being in general mwah mwah mwah

bro ive literally sat on this for like. weeks now. bc it makes me go !! i love all these details you pointed out about my ocs and my writing style and when we write and tbh!! its just super nice to chat and write with you bc you notice all this stuff and it's just. idk ur a bean ily im glad were friends im going to write with you so much <3333

[silhouettesofficial]

Celeste found two 1943 issues of Life magazine in an antique store the other week, and they're a treasure trove of all things Home Front, from underwear ads to cartoons of sassy secretaries to pictures of Howard Hawks-chic WAVES and workingwomen. We thought anybody following this blog and excited for Silhouettes might appreciate these glimpses at Tessa and Edith's world as the series' near-final draft proceeds towards completion.

[pedrospookie]

Hiiii Tess, for the Artist and Fic Writer EOY Asks I’ll send these numbers: 1, 14, 15, 22🩵🫶🏻

Love you

Hey hey Mina! Thank you for the q’s 🥰

1. Describe your journey this year in three words?

Not to rip off @slimybeth69 but — i. am. tired.

If I had to pick three original words then it would be: creating. for. myself. It took me more than half the year to kind of grasp this idea, but creating has been much more enjoyable now that I’m playing by my rules.

14. Something new you tried this year?

I’m actually kind of new to writing! I used to write a lot for the Spider-Man/Avengers fandom many moons ago and then life (multiple degrees lol) got in the way. I started writing a Joel Miller x Reader last summer that never saw the light of day, but some kind friends & mutuals encouraged me to try again and now I’m slowly making my way back into it. I’ve been looking for a non-judgemental creative outlet for awhile (if one exists, good grief) and so far writing stories has been really lovely.

In terms of my writing, I’m trying to push myself to be more descriptive! I want to move away from constant dialogue and focus more on how to further the plot while discussing the characters feelings and thoughts— that’s the real meat and potatoes that folks are interested in. I am also making a big effort to improve and expand my vocabulary! I have my thesaurus and dictionary open while writing and am pushing myself to use stronger language in my writing.

15. An area of your art you feel you improved upon?

Oo this is a good one. I was really proud of my scenic descriptions in my Agent Whiskey one-shot that I posted the other day. I took my time to try and clearly articulate the image I had in mind and I feel like it transferred! I just wish that ability would come a little quicker, but practice makes perfect.

22. An idea you had that didn’t make the cut?

In that same Agent Whiskey one-shot, there was supposed to be a really graphic return from a mission where Jack was really unwell. Bruised and battered, but also emotionally not okay. Reader was going to patch him up and that fear was going to be the catalyst for Jack to leave Statesman. There was also supposed to be a sex scene but I couldn’t find the right transitions for it all, let alone within the context of this short story. Maybe in the next one!

Thank you so much for asking! 💕

[tessa-liam]

CONGRATULATIONS 🎊

ANITAH 🤎🤎🤎!!!

This honor is so well-deserved!💟💟

When I stumbled and found Tumblr

And discovered your impressive treasure trove of stories, I thought,

'If only' PB had this amazing talented writer! Thank you for your love of Liam Rys and for helping to keep this Fandom alive with excellent character development and innovative story ideas.

...and thank you for your support and encouragement🥰! I am so happy to have met you here!!! 💕💕💕Tessa

CFWC Writer of the Month - Aug 2023: ao719

Each month CFWC highlights one of our talented fanfic writers, and this month’s writer of the month is @ao719. We hope you will enjoy learning more about them and their work below! The writer is selected at random. More info can be found on the navigation page.

Quick Links:

Tumblr Blog: ao719 Blog Masterlist

How do you want to be known on Tumblr? Anitah

1- When did you start playing Choices? What was the first book you played? 

I first started playing in June 2018. The Royal Romance was the first book I played, and I got hooked from the end of the first chapter. At the time, they were midway through releasing TRR book 3, so I binged books 1 & 2 and finally caught up on the day of the wedding, where the chapter ended with the attack at the boutique. Then I didn’t know what to do with myself because it was the first time I had to wait a week to find out what was going to happen.

2- When and why did you join Choices fandom?

Finding Tumblr was a complete accident. I was googling something really dumb about Liam and TRR and happened to stumble across a link for a fic on Tumblr. At the time, I didn’t know what Tumblr was; I’d heard of it but had no idea what it consisted of. The fic I came across was around 40+ chapters, and I was in my glory reading this angsty story about Liam, but it wasn’t finished, so when I reached the last updated chapter, I was like, “I need more.” So I opened Tumblr and searched for more Liam fics and found a trove. I lurked for another month or so before finally making my account in September 2018.

3- How did you pick your blog name? 

I wish I had some good story for it, but it’s the most basic thing, lol. It’s just my initials and a significant date. I think if I came into the fandom with the intention of actually doing something with the blog, I would have tried to come up with something a little more clever and creative, but I had zero intention of doing anything but reading. I thought about changing it a few years ago, but when I learned that I’d have to relink everything in my masterlist, it didn’t seem worth the hassle.

4- Pull up the first post in your archive, and tell us about it!  

It’s from the day TRR 3 ended and it’s about how I was sad that it was over but was glad that I had all these stories to read.

5- How long have you been writing fanfiction?

I’d never written anything until I joined the fandom, so I’ve only been writing for almost five years now. The thought of writing didn’t even cross my mind when I joined the fandom, but within a couple of weeks of making my blog, I had a random idea pop up in my head, and for some reason, I decided to write it down. A few days later, after talking myself out of posting and then talking myself back into it, I bit the bullet. For me to post a story that I wrote was entirely out of my comfort zone. I’m pretty shy and tend to be more of a wallflower, so I don’t usually put myself out there, especially like that, and I’ve never been someone who does something where I intentionally set myself up, knowing there is a very good chance that I will fail. And social media on any platform can be a pretty intimidating and terrifying place when you open yourself up, especially to strangers, even by way of posting a measly little fanfic. So to say I was terrified of posting that first fic is an understatement, but I’m so glad that I did.

6- What is your favorite Choices book, and what is your favorite Choices book to write about?

The Royal Romance will always be my favorite. It was the first book I ever played and was the only one I played for well over a year (I just kept replaying over and over and over until @cocomaxley convinced me to give MotY a try, which I fell in love with). It’s my comfort book. And like every book, it definitely has its flaws, but I love it and the characters so much. And TRR is my favorite book to write about. Liam will always be my number one guy.

7- Share the first fanfic you wrote with us. Do you still like it, or would you change it if you were writing it today?

The first fic that I wrote was I Dare You. It’s not an all-time favorite of mine, but I like it well enough that I wouldn’t change anything about it.

8- What is your favorite fic that you’ve written?

This is tough because I have a few that I love for different reasons, but I think Always You will always be the most special to me because it was the first series I wrote that I can truly say I poured my whole heart into. I love that story, and I love the history between Liam and the OC, their bond, and their relationship. 

9- Do you have a fic that you didn’t expect to be well received, but it was? What about one you expected to be but found could use a little more love?

When I decided to start Hopeless Hearts, I didn’t think it would be received any differently from most things I’d written before. It was an idea I’d kept on the back burner for over 2 years prior to writing it because I didn’t think it was anything spectacular or out of the box. It turned out to be my most well-received series, and it became one of my personal favorites as well.

I don’t think anything I’ve written has left me feeling as though I wished it had gotten more. I’m still surprised to this day that anyone wants to read anything I’ve written at all, so any love that my fics get is beyond appreciated.

10- If you could write only angst, fluff, or smut for the rest of your writing life, which would it be and why? 

Angst (but with a HEA). I love putting my characters through the wringer before giving them that happily ever after they deserve. Whether I’m reading or writing, there’s something about feeling the pain and longing they’re going through that gets me emotionally invested. I think that’s why I love the second chance romance trope so much, too. It’s a really versatile trope, but there’s a lot of room for angst in those kinds of stories because of that established history between the characters and a past that tore them apart the first time around.

11- Do you ever recognize yourself in any of your MCs or in your writing?

I think I sprinkle a little bit of myself into all of my MCs/OCs. It’s usually something small like a favorite food, a hobby, certain mannerisms, etc. I think the one that I’ve added more of myself into than any other and can relate to the most personality wise would definitely be Charlotte.

12- What element of writing do you struggle with most?

I struggle with all of it here and there, and I’m constantly questioning whether something makes sense, if it’s flowing together, if it’s too descriptive or not descriptive enough, etc. I think the one area I most consistently struggle with is deciding where and how to end because I always want to leave my chapters with a cliffhanger or if I’m finishing something for good, I want to give it the ending it deserves. 

13- Do you have any neglected work you really want to finish?

I have quite a few that are unfinished that I know I more than likely won’t ever pick back up, mostly because I just lost my mojo for them, but there are definitely some that I want to finish. I’d really like to get back to Past Meet Present one day. I don’t even remember why I got off track with writing it, and it’s been at least two years or more since I last updated it 🫣 so I’m not sure if anyone would even still be interested at this point, but I’d really like to finish that along with Breaking Point and Us Again.

14- If someone you know in real life (who isn’t involved in fandoms) asked to read your work, would you let them? If yes, what would you recommend they read first? 

No. Maybe. I don’t know, lol. I try to be a “never say never” kind of person, but writing is something that I’ve done for almost five years that literally no one in my real life knows about. Not my friends, not my family, not a single soul. It’s like my dirty little secret. And it’s a little tough because it does get lonely sometimes when you have something that you love doing so much but you just feel like you can’t share or aren’t ready to share that part of yourself with even those closest to you. I’m a pretty self-conscious person, and posting on here where I can hide behind a screen is hard enough; I get nervous and have a good spike of anxiety every time I post something, no matter what it is. I don’t know if I could handle someone who knows me personally even knowing that I write, let alone actually reading something I’ve written. I’ve got the bubble gut just thinking about it 🥴

15 - Are there any writers (published authors and/or fanfic writers) who influenced your writing? 

I’ve been lucky enough to talk to and befriend some amazing and talented people in the time I’ve been here who I’ve certainly looked up to when it comes to their writing talents. And there are also those writers who I got to know after I’d been writing for a while that not only continued to inspire me with their amazing stories and talent but who also became a huge support and really close friends. They were and/or are always willing to brainstorm, look over snippets, help in those moments when I’ve been extra critical of myself and feeling very unsure, and/or have just been the absolute best cheerleaders and constantly supportive and encouraging to not only me but others as well. I don’t want to make a list because I always end up forgetting someone and I don’t want to leave anyone out, but anyone that fits that bill above, you know how much I love and appreciate each one of you.

16- Which one of your stories would you most like to see as a movie/series? 

I’d say either Always You or Hopeless Hearts for a movie. Series I think Full Disclosure with some Charlotte shenanigans would be pretty fun 😂

17- Do you write original fiction? 

I haven’t. I’ve been asked a few times about whether I’ve thought about turning a couple of my series into original stories, but I just don’t think I’ll have the confidence to ever do it 😬

18 -  What other hobbies do you have?

I do photography. I love calligraphy and making hand drawn quote signs on wood or canvas. I love to read — I’m currently in my fantasy girl era and have been obsessing over the ACOTAR series for months, lol. 

19 - What’s your favorite emoji? 

I use so many to express myself in conversations that I think it would be hard to pick just one. My most commonly used ones: 💀 😂 🥲 😬 😍 🥴 🥹

20: BONUS - tell us anything you’d like (if you want to).

I just want to thank CFWC for working so hard to help keep this fandom active and supporting everyone here. 

To anyone who’s taken any time to read my stories and interact with me in any way, I appreciate it more than I can say. 

This place has been such an escape for me over the past (almost) five years, one I’m still very much in need of. So, whether you’re a content creator, writer, artist, reader, whatever the case may be, whether we’ve interacted before or not, thank you for what you’ve done to help keep this fandom alive.

[dangerouslycleverbooks]

MARCH WRAP UP???

Hi everyone!

So I decided that Saturdays will be the day of posts. Posts in other days than Saturday will be more random and probably shorter. I do realize that it’s the middle of the month of April and that everyone kind of forgot about March, but I’m about to post my March wrap up anyway.

Because in March I’ve read 9 books I will try to write it as short as I can. It’s not a lot, but I’m not disappointed, because as I said before there are 8 books I need to read per month (because of my reading challange for 2018). Not only I wasn’t disapointed by the number of the books, but also the contents; from all of 9 books I’ve enjoyed every single one, some more, some less, but there is no book I’ve give less than 3*.

The first book I’ve read in March was Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo. I’ve enjoyed these stories. I wish I had this book when I was younger. It’s inspiring and really well written. Most important it’s not only “book for children”, it’s something that we all can learn something from. Not only young girls and what’s most people haven’t noticed; not only girls. While I get a lot of women that were mention in book are not a really good examples to be followed for good girls, the book is not about being GOOD. It’s for a rebel girls for goodness sake! The book is about powerful and influential women, which sometimes doesn’t go along with being “the good girl”.

The next book was Before I Let Go written by Marieke Nijkamp. Best friends Corey and Kyra were inseparable in their snow-covered town of Lost Creek, Alaska. When Corey moves away, she makes Kyra promise to stay strong during the long, dark winter, and wait for her return. Just days before Corey is to return home to visit, Kyra dies. Corey is devastated―and confused. The entire Lost community speaks in hushed tones about the town’s lost daughter, saying her death was meant to be. And they push Corey away like she’s a stranger. Corey knows something is wrong. With every hour, her suspicion grows. Lost is keeping secrets―chilling secrets. But piecing together the truth about what happened to her best friend may prove as difficult as lighting the sky in an Alaskan winter… Though I haven’t gave this book 5* it’s still one of my favorite storie I have ever read! I love the concept, getting to know characters, the wat Marieke wrote this book, not unnecessary the style. I don’t want to say too much because I’m afraid I could destroy you the reading experience.

Another book, or should I say graphic novel, is The Mortal Instruments; The Graphic Novel Vol I. Hanging out with her best friend, Simon, is just about the most exciting thing in Clary’s life…that is, until she realizes there are people only she can see. But when her mother disappears and a monster attacks her, Clary has to embrace a world that she never even knew existed–a world full of vampires, werewolves, demons, and those who fight for the humans, Shadowhunters. I love the idea of the graphic novel for The Mortal Instruments because the first books from the series aren’t really good for older teens and adults. They could easily skip the first three books by reading the graphic version of them! For now, there is only the first half of City of Bones (the first book from TMI series) but there will be more! And hopefully we will get them at least to City of Glass. I recommend buying this edition not only for people who are a bit too grown for the way CoB was writte, but for everyone. It’s fun, the illustrations are really good and also there is one scene that was missing from the original book!

The fourth book from March wrap up is Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levensellet. Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map—the key to a legendary treasure trove—seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship. More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate, Riden. But not to worry, for Alosa has a few tricks up her sleeve, and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King. It’s really typical YA novel and from the synopsys you can clearly say it is cheesy, but I really enjoyed my time reading this. I hope the next book (because it is a duology, and  I haven’t gave you the name of the sequel for a reason; it’s pretty spoilering). Maybe I liked it because the book is about pirates and sea adventures, and I’m all about it! I don’t have problems with light books (and this was definitely one) I also don’t have any stipulations with it. But I do have some thoughts starting with „this could be better if…”. I wasn’t the big fan of a romance in it, but I believe that Levenseller will make it up with another books!

The next two books are my rereads and the first one is Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them… I’ve reread this book because I am taking part in rereading Clare’s books before Queen Of Air And Darkness release. I have to admit when I first read Clockwork Angel I wasn’t a big fan of it, especially the love trangle. During the reading this book this month I focus on London and the case they were into, I’ve tried to ignore the love affairs and I have to say, I was really pleased with it. I’m not saying that I’m madly in love with Infernal Devieces and it’s not my favorite series by Cassandra, but it definitely jump on higher place.

My second reread is the first book of my favorite duology of all times (which are basically on the same place as Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab), and that is Six of Crows by Leigh Berdugo. Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price–and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone… A convict with a thirst for revenge. A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager. A runaway with a privileged past. A spy known as the Wraith. A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first. If you still wonder about buying this book… don’t wonder, just buy it! If you already read The Grisha trilogy, buy Six of Crows asap! Or if you’re not really interesting in reading The Grisha, just jump right into it! I am really mad at myslef for ignoring Six of Crows because of the hype, but it really is worth it, at least for me. There is no words that can describe my love for this book. The first time I’ve read this book in January of 2018 and I immediately had to jump into the second book! I’ve finished SoC at 9 AM and right after this I went to local book store and bought Crooked Kingdom! Still it wasn’t enough so I ended up wanting to reread both books! First time I focused only on the story and the task they had to do, which basically made me miss a lot of really important things in relation between characters. Probably with the third reread (which will probably happen in the next 4 months) I will find something else. Six of Crows is connected to The Grisha trilogy and some people says it’s not necessary to know it before reading duology. I do believe it is better to read Grisha first because there you have the whole magic system and most important thing of this world is in it. Plus Six of Crows happened after The Grisha series which basically means you might find some spoilers, not big one, but still spoilers. I personally read Six of Crows first, but if I could I would definitely start with The Grisha series.

And now the book that I did enjoy but not that much… and everybody seems to love it… and after years of trying reading it I finally finished it. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone or if you prefer The Sorcerer’s Stone by none other but J.K. Rowling. Everybody probably knows what this book is about so I won’t write about it. And to be clear I love the world of HP, I love the films, I love the story, I love characters… it’s just, the book (THE FIRST BOOK) was not for me. I dislike the first movie from the series as well so maybe it’s just how it is. And maybe because I wasn’t growing with the books or that they are written for kids… I didn’t get it.  The only thing I liked about this book was the exploring the world all over again. More details about it etc. For me the worst part of the book (and I do get why it was shown this way, but it still was really pissing me off) is the hate towards Slytherin. That everybody in this house have to be evil. Like they are the worst. (I also might be a bit offended because it’s my Hogwart house).  But I will continue the series becuase after all I didn’t hate the book. It was okay, just not something I am madly in love with… or at love at all. I hope the next books will be better, I’m especially excited about The Half Blood Prince which is my favorite part when it comes to movies. I hope to love this series just as everybody else so much! Let’s hope I will.

Let’s move on to two the best books of March, and the first one is… Strange the Dreamer by Taylor Laini. I am so suprised that I loved this book so much. The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep and when a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors who proposed an expedition … to someone else. Because I’m writing full review about this book, I am not gonna write here much. I really do love Lazlo and the storie following his person, and not only his! I am really happy I did buy Strange the Dreamer and I cannot wait to hear more stories from Laini because she’s an amazing author!

And finally probably best of the best reads of this year is A Conjuring of Light by one and only, amazing V.E. Schwab. I absolutely adore Shades of Magic trilogy, it stole my heart with the first sentence! Because A Conjuring of Light is the third book in a series I won’t write anything about it, except the fact that it did broke my heart and left me empty, and yet the ending was so satisfying and beautiful that I cannot complain, but I do need more. And I heard we will get the stories set five years after the Shades of Magic, but we will see what will happen! For now, I will just highly recommend you this trilogy.

Well, I hope you enjoyed my little wrap up and that people won’t jump on me becuase of Harry Potter… we all should respect each others opinion, I mean, everybody has a right to have one (..right?). But that’s it for much, thanks to anyone who read this and let me know down in a comments what was your reads of the month of march and what was your favorite? 🙂

[wordcharming]

Thursday In September

There are those who watch Jeopardy and those who watch Wheel of Fortune. (I know, some people watch both…just humor me for a second.) It could be said that one group of spectators is high-brow, educated, intellectual—the folks who peruse The New Yorker and The Economist whilst sipping on their Counter Culture pour-over. While the other tends to be made of up yokels who might not have much to offer in the brains department—those who thumb through People while gulping down Dunkin’s finest. 

Regardless of the target demographic, both shows seem to welcome jolly contestants who proudly exclaim that they’re married and, without fail, mention how wonderful, beautiful and lovely their spouses and children are. But what if they spoke the truth?

“I’m Ted. A yokel from a small town in Alabama who’s married to a whiny woman named Sarah who’s only with me for my money. We have two spoiled, bratty kids, Tessa and Jimmy. I’m currently having a mid-life crisis and I hate my job. Can’t wait to spin the wheel, Pat.” 

These are the things that went through Emily’s head while munching on pretzels with onion hummus, which tasted a lot like heart attack in a can, aka Lay’s French Onion dip, that she once couldn’t get enough of in the ’90s. She was a game show fanatic.

She wasn’t one of those ladies who had dreamt of the perfect wedding day, her Prince Charming, wealth, a career. Despite her old age, she was a lifelong spinster and she’d always preferred career hopping rather than being chained to the same desk for years and years. Since first seeing Supermarket Sweep during its original 1965 airing, all she’d ever really wanted was to be a contestant. She had been an audience member for one episode in 1997, but she never got chosen to compete. 

Each time she was at the ShopRite checkout and she heard the beep, she thought of the fun she could have on the game show. Running down the aisles of the empty grocery store, hurling turkeys and hams into her cart, tearing a clue off a giant inflatable banana, getting into a tug-of-war over with fellow contestants over the diapers, grinding coffee for bonus points! Oh, the joy! Who would accompany her on the show? Would it be her brother, a fellow longtime fan of the game show, or her best friend, Phyllis? She hadn’t thought that far into it. All she knew was that she wanted it. And she wanted it badly.  

Unfortunately for Emily that ship had sailed, for the show had gone off the air entirely in 2003. But all these years later still it was fun to fantasize about sharing the stage with David Ruprecht, his colorful sweaters and his treasure trove of corny jokes. She could only hope that if somehow in some other lifetime she got on the show, she wouldn’t get swept up in the excitement or ever have the chance to ram into David with a cart, which had happened on at least one occasion that she recalled.

These days Emily was a part-time hermit crab peddler at a mall kiosk, working the night shift three days a week and mostly living off her hefty retirement savings. Certainly not the most glamorous job, but she did like it. There was something about her crustacean companions that thoroughly amused her. They each had their own little personalities—Dragon the jerk, lovable Fiona, curious Ian—and their unofficial names, by which she called them. Even though she didn’t really support pet stores and the kiosk owner had a strict don’t ask, don’t tell policy when it came to replenishing the stock, she had fallen in love with these little creatures one morning while mall walking with her frenemies, Gertrude and Penelope, two sisters she’d known since childhood.

The trio had trekked the mall every morning just as the gates cranked open one by one at the storefronts, soft rock music throbbed through what seemed to be invisible speakers, and the smell of hot pretzels began to permeate the stuffy air. They wore matching white t-shirts with My Three Mall Walkers embroidered over the left breast—a Penelope creation. She was never shy to brag about how she’d named the girl gang after her favorite childhood TV show, My Three Sons, how long it had taken her to weave the thick pink thread through the cotton tee, and how fabulous they had turned out. “Right, my lovelies? I did such a beautiful job.” 

Each morning was the same, meet at the double doors of the southwest entrance, the first to be unlocked, adjacent to JCPenney. Almost every time she approached, Emily’s frenemies snickered and then made a quip about her hairpiece, messy turquoise eyeshadow, or “old lady sneakers” followed by a, “Hun, we love you. You know we’re kidding, right?” Some days, when Samuel was working security, the Bobbsey Twins would flash him little coy, yet devilish, grins in synch whilst batting their mascara-slathered eyelashes and he would unlock the door a few minutes early. Though they were octogenarians, they never underestimated the power of flirtation.

This particular Thursday in September had started off just like any other and Samuel had in fact unlocked the doors two minutes before official opening time. The women passed the food court and movie theatre, Kay Jewelers, then H & M, made a right towards Victoria’s Secret, and turned to walk the perimeter of Macy’s. Penelope and Gertrude dominated the conversation as usual while Emily chimed in every now and then. Time flew by and even though it had been nearly an hour, it sure didn’t feel that way. Instead of continuing to the JCPenney finish line, Gertrude and Penelope suddenly bee-lined for the ice skating rink. 

“Emily! C’mon, darling. There’s no one on the ice right now and we feel like causing a wee bit of trouble,” Gertrude exclaimed, her veneers sparkling under the bright fluorescent light almost as if they were winking at Emily. 

Not one to bend the rules, Emily stayed behind and as her two friends giggled like schoolgirls and danced on the ice. Their fun was cut short when seemingly from out of a nowhere a Zamboni shaped like a shopping cart came barreling through.

“Gertrude! Penelope! Watch out for that Zamboni ,” Emily screamed while pointing her finger. “Please get out of the way!”

Before she could warn them any further and before they could take action, the Zamboni took them out like bowling pins. First Gertrude went down, and Penelope immediately followed. 

“…it’s a…but…I thought those things could only go 9 miles per hour…” Emily muttered to herself while sobbing and attempting to run towards the scene. She was of course halted once she crossed the threshold from the polka dot carpet onto the ice, and though it was an interesting struggle, she eventually made her way to the scene.

Her two friends lay there like ragdolls. At some point in the time it took her to get to the middle of the rink the Zamboni had stopped and the driver had gotten out to check on the women. 

“Are you with them? I-I-I-I am just so incredibly sorry. It appears they have no pulse, ma’am. Let me call 9-1-1.” 

Emily stood in the middle of the ice rink shaking uncontrollably and sobbing until the paramedics came and confirmed the passing of her friends. The Zamboni driver tried to console her by softly apologizing and placing a hand on her upper back but, shocked, Emily sat in silence.

Samuel soon arrived with two policewomen in tow, both of whom stood side by side looking down at Emily. 

“This is a crime scene. Everyone off the ice,” barked the brunette on the left. The blonde glanced angrily at the brunette, then smiled as she turned to face Emily, adding, “Sorry for your loss, ma’am. Would you please come with me to tell me what happened?” while extending her hand to help Emily up. “If Samuel would be so kind to escort you to the carpeted area, you can just wait for me at the picnic table,” she added with a smile.

The sly Zamboni driver pivoted toward the exit and the brunette immediately shook her head and exclaimed, “Not you, Mr. Zamboni. Samuel here tells us you were the driver. So stay put because I have a few questions for you.”

Arm in arm with Samuel, Emily slowly made her way off the ice as she heard the conversation fading, “It all started because I needed extra money to feed my ninth child. So I created my Tricked Out Zamboni channel on YouTube—which, by the way already has 2 million fans—” 

“Get to the point already!” the brunette interjected.

“…so after months of dedication I had finally gotten this fine specimen up to 65 mph! Unfortunately these two little old ladies decided to trespass just as I was taking it for a spin. I had no idea they were here. In fact, we don’t even open for another thirty-four minutes. Cheryl must’ve just lifted the gate moments prior so she could go get her morning coffee…”

While listening to Mr. Zamboni’s explanation, Emily was jolted by the thought of what Gertrude and Penelope’s passing really meant: no more having to wake up early and listen to them bicker, brag or complain—they’d seemed to be doing more of all three lately and she was just about at the end of her rope. Not to mention, they had never really been kind to her and they did spend a lot of time making her the butt of their jokes. Between her sniffles and cutting through two salty streams of tears, a smile formed on her face. 

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sight in the distance of the policewomen cuffing Mr. Zamboni and the three of them approaching. Two male backup officers had now gotten to the scene and were promptly instructed to take Mr. Zamboni to the station. The female officers jotted down a witness statement from Emily and said they’d call her if they needed any follow-up information. 

Still shaken, though admittedly not exactly sad anymore, Emily was free to go. She stepped back out into the mall corridor, passing Aldo, Boscov’s, Express, Game Stop and making her way to the exit near JCPenney. She took a few moments to relax and collect her thoughts once she reached Beryl, her blue BMW convertible. She put the top down, cranked up the radio and headed home.

The next morning, to her relief, Emily puttered around the house in her pajamas and rainbow slippers, read The New York Times while sipping her coffee and munching on a toasted English muffin with butter, relishing the unforeseen me time her friends’ deaths had gifted her. Once she was finished, she got up from the table and plopped down in front of the TV. Commercials, commercials, commercials, on every channel. She got so sick of channel surfing that she stopped on a random one on ABC, catching the tail end of another ad for a new incontinence drug. What came next took her by surprise—three people in bright colored t-shirts racing down an aisle with shopping carts. 

“Could this be what I think it is?” she quietly asked herself. 

“Sunday, October 18, it’s a rrrrace against time, to grab the priciest items you can find…the return of the classic game show…” a voiceover purposefully shouted as if directly at Emily. 

She was instantly flooded with jumbled thoughts, images of her two friends’ scowling faces, the odd shopping cart-shaped Zamboni, the sisters’ limp bodies on the ice, and all those times she’d told her friends and relatives about her game show dream.

[waltzgoes]

know any good tessa and scott fanfics?

sure, tons!

i recommend checking their tag on AO3. also, the virtuemoir livejournal is a treasure trove.

my all time favorite fic is ‘The Ballerina and the Hockey Player’ by iwantthemtostay on livejournal. but there are sooo many more good ones, this fandom is pretty blessed with awesome writers. happy reading!

[loves2readtoo]

I don’t know when this interview was (link doesn’t work), but what a treasure-trove of quotes! LOL! So Tessa hits the snooze button how many times Scott? And how fast can she get ready?

Let’s all take a moment to remember this precious interview. x

[officialroyalqueen]

New series featuring Marvel's Loki and a Falcon-Winter Soldier pairing; two more with characters dwelling in the "Star Wars" universe; and another based on the "High School Musical" films are among the highlights of Disney's upcoming streaming service, Disney+. The much-anticipated, ad-free service launches Nov. 12, and will cost subscribers $6.99 per month, with an annual option available for $69.99. (Netflix's most popular plan is $12.99 a month.) Some new series and films will be available at launch, with others scheduled for later premieres. The giant entertainment company flexed its programming muscle in unveiling plans for Disney+ Thursday at an investor presentation on its studio lot. Highlights include "Loki," an eight-episode series starring Tom Hiddleston that premieres in the second year of the service, and "The Falcon and The Winter Soldier" (Year 1 of Disney+), with Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan playing their characters from the Marvel films. The "Star Wars" series are "The Mandalorian," which follows a bounty hunter (Pedro Pascal) and will be available at launch, and an untitled spy series featuring Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." It arrives in the second year. Original films that will premiere exclusively on the service in its first year include: “Lady & the Tramp,” featuring the voices Tessa Thompson and Justin Theroux; “Noelle,” a Christmas-themed film starring Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader; a “Phineas and Ferb” film; and “Stargirl,” a high school story that features “America’s Got Talent” winner Grace VanderWaal. In addition to Pixar's animation library, Disney+ will launch two projects tied to Pixars's "Toy Story," whose fourth film premieres in theaters this summer: "Forky Asks a Question," a series of animated short stories featuring a new "Toy Story 4" character, and "Lamp Life," a short film in which Bo Peep, who wasn't in "Toy Story 3," explains what she was doing at that time. The service launches with eight "Star Wars" theatrical films, with three more arriving during the first year, and will be the exclusive subscription video-on-demand home of all 30 seasons of "The Simpsons," a crown jewel of the 20th Century Fox studio, which Disney acquired last month. Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), right, seen here with Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) in 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,' will be the main character in a new series on Disney+, Disney's upcoming streaming service. (Photo: Jonathan Olley, Lucasfilm) "Captain Marvel," the Brie Larson Marvel superhero film that premiered in theaters in March, will be available to subscribers on launch day. Other 2019 films coming to the streaming service include "Avengers: Endgame," "Aladdin," "Toy Story 4," "The Lion King" and "Frozen 2." Disney said the service will offer more than 7,500 episodes of television and 500 film titles by the end of the first year. Available films range from classics, such as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," and "Mary Poppins," to more recent favorites "Iron Man" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." The service also pulls from the Fox library, with such titles as "The Sound of Music" and "The Princess Bride." All 30 seasons of "The Simpsons" will be available on Disney's new streaming service, Disney+. By Year 5, Disney hopes to offer more than 50 episodic series and 10 new movies and specials per year. The company expects 60 to 90 million subscribers by fiscal year 2024, with one-third of subscribers coming from the U.S. After a clip featuring mountains of movie and TV clips opened the presentation, Disney CEO Robert Iger told analysts and reporters that "the video you just watched told a powerful tale about where we've been and what we've accomplished. It should also give you a strong sense of what we can do and what we're building from," he said. "For decades, these companies have been entertaining the world at the highest levels, creating an indelible connection with billions of people and a treasure trove of long-lasting content" that "no other content or technology company can rival." The new service will feature new and existing programming from Disney's film and animation studios, "Star Wars," Marvel, Pixar and National Geographic, which it acquired along with the FX network as part of the Fox deal. Marvel Besides "Loki" and "The Falcon and The Winter Soldier," Disney+ announced another series based on Marvel Cinematic Universe characters, "WandaVision" (Year 2), which brings together Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany). 'Star Wars' Twelve new episodes of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" will premiere exclusively on Disney+. Pixar Building off the "Monsters, Inc." films, Pixar is making a new series, "Monsters at Work," set to premiere in the first year of the new service and feature the voices of returning stars Billy Crystal and John Goodman.

http://www.royalqueen607.com/2019/04/all-you-need-to-know-about-disney.html