#that nee is the best and deserves his own crown

[tonguetiedraven]

any thoughts on shiemi? I really love her, especially the way she wants to move the moments in which she was vulnerable. (I do feel like her character suffers a bit from being the love interest and that might just be my preferences but) I love how she's a very kind person without it being unrealistic (her reaction to rin immediately post amaimon)

I have so many thoughts on Shiemi, and each new chapter is just giving me more.

I adore her, and I adore the arc Kato has given her. I love how shy and uncertain she starts out and how much she just doesn't understand friendships and the complexities with which people navigate those sort of relationships. I like her naivety about the world and how that allows her courage and kindness to shine through.

I love that we get small hints that she was traumatized when she was little through some kind of difficult and likely violent trauma (chapter 130-131) and that it gives us a good reason for why she's so sheltered and for why she's so timid about being around others.

I love that her first act of friendship is giving someone a clover and a nickname, and that when she makes her second friend she apologizes to him for misjudging him by immediately putting him to work in her garden because she loves it best and it's a way to show she's open to him and she doesn't realize or get that most people don't enjoy that kind of thing. (Manure hands? What's the problem with that? I wiped it off. xD)

It hurts my heart how much she gets bullied by Izumo and how much she doesn't call her out for her cruelty, but Shiemi wouldn't be her if she did. She's a gardener and used to dealing with thorns and prickly plants and stubborn plants and is patient. She can and will take hits to make something flourish, even if she really shouldn't.

I think she's absolutely the best team player in the group, and the strongest ally that none of them even have to wonder for a second if she'll be there. She's usually one of the first, if not the first, to step up in a problem and begin by defending, and she never flaunts or acts like it was something to be boastful of. She is wicked powerful and goes through most of the manga not even really realizing it. She's a defender and a healer and not necessarily the offense, and those roles are often overlooked but none of them would be alive without her vital aid.

I can understand where you might think she suffers for being the love interest, but I don't particularly see it that way. Sure, Rin sees her (at least at first) primarily as someone to date and make out with, but she has a lot more depth with Rin than that, and Kato having her be slow to realize her own heart and affections has allowed her to lean on him as a friend first and develop into something else. She's always there and willing to call him away from the violent parts of himself and self loathing and despair that can consume him. She's willing to reach out a hand to anyone who needs her and pull them back up even if it gets her hurt in the process.

She's clumsy, and often a bit too emotional for her situations, but she's honest about who she is and that encourages the others to do the same. There wasn't anyone else, even Paku, that Izumo would have felt quite so safe to break down in front of. There wasn't anyone else that could have reached for Rin and embraced him and his flames and made him realize there were hands reaching out for him. There's no one else Yukio could have gone to so many times for comfort and guidance.

I love that when she knows she's going to have to leave them all for a while, she gives each of her friends a charm that later saves their lives, because that's who she is. Even when she can't be by their sides, she's defending them and healing and helping.

And god, her relationship with Amaimon? So complicated and dangerous and layered with multitudes of power dynamics, most of which aren't healthy, and half buried secrets and things we've barely glimpsed, and the way he's introduce leads to violence against her, and then he captures her, and we see later on that she could watch all of that attack happening while she was under his influence. I can't imagine being forced to just watch while my friends are hurt and I'm used against my friend, stuck seated on his arm without the ability to move at all.

Agh.

And then there's the current stuff we're getting into with who she really is and why he's at the school and so tied to her, and gosh the layers to it are delicious. Kato has done so much with and for her and it's so often overlooked.

She suffers some with the animes -- everyone does, of course -- but I think hers is from a lack of the quieter moment and the thoughts she has. She's a well rounded and complex character, and being kind and soft doesn't negate either of those things. She's also immensely strong, physically, of course, but also emotionally and mentally. She's often the first one to call Rin out on his tendency to go it alone and push people away, and will listen when people need her too which a lot of people can't do.

Her struggle in the Kyoto arc I also feel deeply. I get the pain of thinking you were close to summon and thinking they relied on you and then finding out it was all wrong, and having it confirmed twice? Once when Rin denies they're friends at all and then to have all of that revealed and it turn out you didn't know either of the two people you'd consider your closest friends? To just want to help and to be so stuck in your own head and so certain you're not strong or smart enough to do that?

I love her and her weedy spirit and can't wait to see what all she's going to do.

[ni-kol-koru]

KnB 30-Days Challenge

Day 11 : Favorite Uncrowned King

Mibuchi Reo 👑✨️

No second-guessing or too much thinking was necessary here. I needed one second to decide who I am going to write about here.

Now, what do you mean an Uncrowned King? When I look at Reo, I see a King proudly wearing his crown! He really doesn't care about what anybody thinks of him, he knows he is awesome, unique, beautiful, a skilled player, and loves and respects himself! One thing I really admire him for doing in the 2010s Japan is expressing himself, more specifically embracing his femininity. Those times didn't really offer a lot of space or support for people who were different, but there he was, confidently being himself, pursuing his own happiness within himself by finding out what style and feel he was comfortable with, even though a lot of people considered him a 'weirdo'!

Finding his character was a big thing for me for a couple of reasons. I was always afraid of being seen as a 'weirdo' as a kid, and his character inspired me to be myself and not care about what others think of me. He also introduced me to the LGBTQ+ community! When I was younger, people with sexualities different than straight or genders out of the binary system were something I never heard of, so finding him opened really important doors to me, and my view of people and the world changed. I didn't know what homophobia was, but seeing the way some people treated Reo automatically made me an ally and a person who wants to fight for queer people and their rights.

Speaking of the way he was treated... He seriously deserved so much better. The show and the manga treated him horribly. It is obvious that the creator isn't a fan of queer people, but making his characters, especially Hyūga Jūnpei, who he claims is most like him, treat him that way and never having anyone stand up to protect Reo, just made him, the characters and the show look bad. Still, I am grateful that Reo at least has teammates who don't pick on him for being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Now, I have to ramble about his personality and other qualities a bit. What makes him one of my favorite characters and my favorite Uncrowned King is his play style. Reo never felt boring on the court, and watching him always had me at the edge of my seat. Seriously, I think he is so clever, and his shooting forms are just genius. Also, the way he is so elegant and graceful, yet so explosive and percise... I am in love. His personality just adds more to my love for him. He often appears to be rather uptight, having the need to keep everything and everyone in check, but when he relaxes, he is sweetness itself. He is gentle, thoughtful and kind. He acts like a mother to his teammates, and has an obvious soft spot for Seijūrō! When I saw the end card where he made sweets for Sei-Chan, I just melted! Not only that, but when I listened to a special CD, and heard him talk about how he feels about Rakuzan's loss at WinterCup, I felt really bad for him. He really blamed himself for the loss, he even said he wasn't able to sleep at night because he instinctively jumped to block the ball and bumped into Jūnpei. Only after he was repeatedly told he didn't have to worry about because it's not his fault, he felt at ease. Well, that proved just how much he cares and how deep of a feeler and thinker he is.

I love Reo a lot. He seriously deserves the world, and if I could, I would give it to him. Everything the best for Reo-Nee!✨️

[sofiahanover]

— ♔ In the past, people were born royal and for SOFIA HANOVER, nee KAISER, the TWENTY-NINE-year-old CROWN PRINCESS of GERMANY, that is a tradition SHE intends to keep. To others, SHE looks an awful lot like EMILIA CLARKE and has been painted as THE KING’S LOVE-CHILD but behind closed doors, SHE is QUIRKY & UNPREDICTABLE but also ADAPTABLE & CARING. It has also been said they are NOT BETROTHED.

BASIC INFORMATION

NAME: Sofia Emilia Hanover [nee Kaiser]

NICKNAMES: Sofi, Princess Love-Child [by her siblings], The King’s Love-Child [by the tabloids]

DATE OF BIRTH: October 23, 2091

AGE: 29

HOME TOWN: Hohenschwangau, Bavaria, Germany

CURRENT RESIDENCE: Russia

OCCUPATION: Crown Princess of Germany

LANGUAGES: Primarily German & English

PARENTS: King Luis Everett Hanover (father); Marie Lilly Kaiser (mother)

BROTHERS AND SISTERS: 3 younger half-brothers, one of which is deceased and a half-younger sister.

HUSBAND OR WIFE: N/A (not currently betrothed)

SIGNIFICANT OTHERS: Her dog, Stewart named after James Stewart. Her best friend from back home.

RELATIONSHIP SKILLS: Sofia is loyal to those whom she cares about. She would do anything for them. She has a kind heart and cares about the people around her, and even though she’s faced much ridicule and cruelty from both her father’s side of the family, including her siblings, and much of the public, Sofia still wishes the best for those around her and would try and help them to the best of her ability. However, she can have a very sarcastic and cheeky side, especially if someone upsets her. While doesn’t go out of her way to be mean to anyone on purpose, she will stand her ground and refuses to let people walk all over her, especially in light of the information that has come out in recent years about who her father and her family is.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

(TW: Sleep Disorder, Alcohol Mention)

HEIGHT: 5′2″

HAIR COLOUR: Brunette, sometimes blonde.

EYE COLOUR: Blue

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: Sofia’s eyebrow game is like no other. She’s very expressive in her emotions. And if she’s truly happy, you’ll know it by the smile that lights up her entire face. She’s been told many times that her laugh and smile are infectious. Good luck keeping a straight face around her.

DRESS STYLE: Sofia dresses for comfort. She can often be found in sweaters and jeans. And even though she’s recently taken her place as Crown Princess, she does know a good heel when she sees one. Getting dressed up in the fanciest outfits has been one of the best parts of this entire lifestyle change, including getting to wear designers she could never afford before.

PHYSICAL HABITS: Aside from red wine and chocolate, Sofia has tried marijuana, before and sometimes smokes it to relax. A little secret she’s kept hidden from her father. Her mother doesn’t mind it as much.

MANNERISMS: Sofia’s biggest tell, when she’s nervous or anxious, is one or both of her legs shaking. She’s been scolded multiple times by her etiquette teacher, since becoming the Crown Princess. She also likes to chew on her cheek or bottom lip. Her eyebrows are also a big tell for her when she’s happy, sad, or upset.

HEALTH: Sofia is in good health. She prefers fruits, veggies, and if any kind of meat is available, she orders fish and other seafood. Though she does have a weakness for a glass of red wine and dark chocolate. She exercises daily. She loves to snowboard and ride horses. Running has also been a hobby for her since she was a teenager having ran in several races over the past several years. Sofia does have Sleep Apnea, which has been undiagnosed, and often leaves her feeling groggy in the morning from waking up multiple times throughout the night. She’s talked to several doctors, including the ones who work for her father’s family, but no one has cared to officially diagnose her, most believing she’s making things up for attention, as a lot of people still don’t trust her.

HEADCANONS

Sofia Hanover, nee Kaiser, is the illegitimate daughter to the King of Germany. A young prince, who was once wild in his ways, had spent a drunken, euphoric summer with a sweet, village girl by the name of Marie Kaiser. But when word got out that he was in an affair with the young woman, he was immediately reprimanded and sent back to the castle to fulfill his duties as the future king. However, what he didn’t know was that Marie had gotten pregnant and nine months later gave birth to a baby girl who was almost the spitting image of the future Germanic King. Fast forward several years later and Marie found herself struggling to raise the young and rambunctious child. Reaching out by letter to the man, who had just been crowned the King of Germany after the death of his father, Marie got no response. However, Luis, whose heart was torn at the thought of having a child in the world, held the letter close under lock and key praying no one would ever find out.

It wasn’t until the death of his second eldest son, that Luis realized life was precious and he had a daughter somewhere in the world who deserved the best life had to offer. By then, however, Sofia had grown into a young woman, who had dreams for her future, but unfortunately not enough funding to reach them. It was then that she received a letter that would change her and her mother’s life forever. King Luis Hanover wanted to meet Sofia and her mother.

Reluctantly accepting his offer to become a part of the royal family, especially after her mother had insisted to the point of them arguing, Sofia’s life took a complete 180. Word had gotten out of the bastard child of King Luis from a previous relationship, before he was ever crowned as the King or married. At the age of 24, she became known as the German King’s Love Child and tabloid after tabloid was written about her. But what seemed more like a curse than anything was the realization that because she was the King’s first born, she held the rights to the crown; snagging the title by being just a few months older than her predecessor and younger brother. Her life, as she had once known it, was over, and while both her mother and Luis had only wanted what was best for their daughter, life for the young woman was growing increasingly dangerous.

After nearly five years spent in the castle, and commuting back home to see her mother when she could, it was decided that Sofia was to be sent to Khatanga with her half-siblings as a means of safety with the increasing tension growing around them. It wasn’t easy saying goodbye to her mother, and she had almost renounced her spot as the future Queen of Germany, but not wanting to let Marie down, and knowing that she had a solid future laid out for her, Sofia tearfully left Hohenschwangau for a small village in Russia.

Since arriving, things haven’t exactly been the easiest for the young woman. She feels as isolated as ever with her siblings treating her like an outcast. While she learned proper etiquette and was well on her way to becoming a princess, there are still many things she struggles with. But the hardest part to bear has been not having her mother nearby or being able to communicate with her regularly. Only time will tell if Sofia can weather this shitstorm of a new life she’s found herself in, or if she will renounce the crown hoping to go back to the life she once led.

Sofia is an avid horseback rider and snowboarder. She also likes other extreme sports, including skydiving, most of which she’s had to cut out since becoming Crown Princess.

Before accepting her father’s offer to the Crown, she was working at a small holiday themed shop in her home village. Her goal was to save up enough money to attend university for a degree in Art.

Speaking of Art, Sofia can often be found with paint all over her hands. She’s an avid painter and has even sold some of her work, including being hired to paint a mural on the side of a local house. Not enough to make a huge difference in her finances, but enough to help her get by with her job at the Christmas shop.

Most people, including her own family and other members of the royal party in Germany, as well as the press, believe Sofia just accepted her title for the money. While that’s partly true, she mostly did it for her mother and to get to know her father. While she does hold some regret and anger towards him, she’s starting to find out he genuinely cares for her and wants what’s best. He also believes that because she has lived as a commoner most of her life, that she would understand what the people of Germany genuinely need as opposed to his legitimate children who were originally in line for the throne and have lived more lavished lifestyles.

Sofia has a dog named Jimmy Stewart, James for short. He is named after the actor James Stewart, because of her love for his movies and the memories they hold spending time with her mother.

She loves music and loves to sing. Sometimes she can even be found dancing around her room in an oversized t-shirt to classic rock and other songs that she finds are true bops.

Red wine and chocolate are her true weaknesses in life. Well that and puppies and kittens. But she loves to unwind with a glass of red wine at the end of the day. And put chocolate cake in front of her, and she goes weak in the knees.

The Brothers Grimm hold a special place in her heart, just like Jimmy Stewart, because of the book her mother passed onto her before she left for Khatanga. Though the tales often scared her as a child when her Oma and mother read them to her, she grew to love and respect them as she got older, which has also led to her being an avid fan of horror movies and books.

More to come...

[alyssabethancourt]

A Unique Spin on the Fantasy Genre

from the blog It Came From the 20th Century, filmmaker Jonathan R. Skocik:

Okay, strictly speaking, this falls outside the parameters of this blog, since it is not from the 20th century. However, I’m making an exception in this case because I want to help promote an excellent book that deserves to be read.

Elves, castles, magic, kings and queens, swordplay, imaginary languages – yes, we’ve seen all this before, and Alyssa Marie Bethancourt’s debut novel, Mornnovin has them in droves. That is not to say these elements are automatically tired in any way. There’s a reason we keep revisiting them. But in the wrong hands, they can admittedly feel stale or even silly. Fortunately, Ms. Bethancourt knows her genre, and navigates the material with ease. The best fantasy will make you forget that it’s fantasy, allowing you to completely buy in to what you’re reading. Mornnovin is such a novel. Beyond this, however, and perhaps more importantly, it gives us a wholly fresh perspective in that the author is autistic, and her elven characters are also coded as such.

Bethancourt’s elves are emotional basket cases. Their feelings run the gamut, their internal lives raging storms of passion, guilt, and self-recrimination, yet they are expected to maintain a veneer of stoicism that would make Mr. Spock proud, even to the point of making elaborate hand gestures to indicate their feelings rather than allow a genuine emotion to reach their faces. These elves are no Vulcans, though, and their ability to maintain this cool facade is, shall we say, less well-perfected than their sci-fi counterparts. This is, in fact, an amazingly on-point depiction of the autistic experience. People on the spectrum spend most of their lives learning to hide what they’re really feeling, having been told over and over that their expressions of emotion are inappropriate. For this reason, autistics are often viewed as cold, rude, and distant. But this is largely learned behavior, the only reaction that makes any sense when it seems like everything you do is wrong.

That Bethancourt’s autism stand-ins are literally not human reflects the feeling many on the spectrum experience of not really being a part of humanity, of being aliens in their own world. This is further illustrated by the state of isolation in which the elves of Mornnovin have placed themselves. They live in Evlédíen, also called the Valley, hidden away from the rest of the world to protect themselves from the humans who once tried to exterminate them. The Purification, as the humans call it, could be viewed as a parallel for the erasure experienced by autistic people every day. Often, the lives and perspectives of the autistic community are ignored. The clueless and ignorant have even gone as far as to say that autistic people are not even really people, and that those on the spectrum actually have no inner life, no genuine feelings or sense of identity. What is this if not a low-key extermination, if not in fact, at least in spirit?

Onto this stage emerges our heroine, Loralianasa Raia, nicknamed Lorien. Though she’s over a hundred years old, she’s only just on the cusp of adulthood in elf terms. As the crown princess whose parents have long-since been murdered, she now faces the unwelcome responsibility of ruling her people. To make matters worse, this coincides with a global war among the humans as well as a sinister plot that soon drags the elves back onto the world stage. Lorien now faces the almost unthinkable decision to expose the existence of her people to the rest of the world in an effort to save the very people who once brought them to the brink of extinction. This funhouse lens coming-of-age story perfectly illustrates the exaggerated gravity that an autistic person faces upon joining the adult world. In much the same way that Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer used monsters as a metaphor for growing up and learning adult responsibility, so does Bethancourt use her fantasy landscape of imagined cultures in a global war engineered by a vengeful sorcerer.

Of course, no coming-of-age story would be complete without a romance, and Bethancourt does not fail to deliver the goods. The concept of lovers bound by a telepathic link has perhaps been done to death in numerous online fanfics, but this manages to feel fresh, perhaps because of the earnestness with which it is written. It might also have to do with how truly endearing the love interest is. Naoise (pronounced Nee-shuh) Raynesley is the prince of Grenlec, a kingdom at war with their longtime rival, Telrisht. We meet him in the first chapter and there’s instant sparkage with Lorien. He’s bright, kind, open-minded, thoughtful, and witty. Indeed, he borders on being a Mary Sue, though thankfully never quite crosses the line. By the end of their first encounter, Naoise and Lorien are mystically joined, and though separated afterward for a large chunk of the story, their love grows stronger and stronger through the psychic bond they don’t even know they share. Visiting each other in dreams, they become each other’s only solace from the hellscape their world has become – though Naoise arguably has it worse, being that he’s stuck on the front lines of a battle that seems frustratingly unwinnable for reasons that will eventually become ominously clear.

As the story unfolds, we’re introduced to a colorful cast of supporting characters as intriguing and memorable as anything offered up by J.K. Rowling, Marvel, or even Tolkien himself. There’s Lorien’s sister Lyn, who having been raised away from her people has never learned their stoicism and therefore expresses herself with some delightfully creative profanity. We’ve also got Naoise’s womanizing brother, who manages to be charming despite being a total heel; a mercenary named Cole who struggles to outlive his shady past; the brusque elf warrior Sovoqatsu questing to fulfill a sense of purpose; and Sefaro, a good-natured ambassador from a distant country who serves as the moral compass of the group. Aside from the main party, there’s Lorien’s taskmaster guardian, Tomanasil; Naoise’s overbearing father, King Lorn; and a mysterious fairy named Sun.

But the greatest gem, for me at least, is the villain, Kataki Kurome, a sorcerer grieving over the murder of his wife at the hands of the humans. He engineers the war between Grenlec and Telrisht as a way to thin the herd and lessen the task he’s set for himself of annihilating humanity. He easily could have been a thinly-written mustache twirler, but Bethancourt gives him depth, pain, and a cold civility that at once makes him relatable and utterly terrifying. His cold determination, detached sense of purpose, devious craftiness, and sheer power make him seem utterly unbeatable. This, coupled with his age and inflexibility make him the perfect foil for the young and idealistic Lorien, who was already overwhelmed by the adult world even before the shit hit the fan.

No character is ignored, and Bethancourt not only gives depth and individuality to all of her primary characters, but breathes life and personality into even the most minor characters. Such a task naturally requires a lot of breathing room, and Mornnovin is not a short book. But it never overstays its welcome, and indeed the epic scope of the proceedings demands the necessary space to unfold. Beyond that, the pace never wavers, and the novel’s bulk is never daunting. Quite the contrary. This is the kind of expertly-woven story that draws you right in and keeps you anticipating each new development. Mornnovin isn’t just one of the best fantasy stories I’ve ever read. It’s easily one of the best novels I’ve read in recent memory, and I eagerly await the next installment in the series, due out next year.

Mornnovin is printed by Dogwood House press and is available from all major online booksellers.

Full disclosure: I am married to the author. However, this is my honest assessment of the piece.

-- Jonathan R. Skocik

[an-island-of-bunnies]

Tending an Injury: Surprise Tangled!Au

So like... nobody asked for this. I didn’t even ask for this. But somehow I just got... really involved in the Tangled!Au. I did some sketches of it, but I also really wanted to recreate the healing scene. So hope you enjoy! <3 The fanfic is just below the read more!

Tending an Injury - Tangled!Au

---

Garrett’s hair glows. His hair fucking glows.

Okay, well, to be fair, a lot of weird shit happened today. First, it was getting captured by a guy who had the longest hair he had ever seen on...well, anyone. Then there’s the fact that Garrett was much more willing to trade a crown worth millions over a nice view of some paper lanterns. And that they stumbled into a bar where a group of seemingly cold-hearted mischiefs began to dance and sing as if they were in some sort of musical (he refused to think about how he was coerced to join). Finally, he fought off a sword-wielding horse. Sword-wielding horse.

Oh, and to top it all off, there was a good chance Dario and Garrett were going to die, what with being trapped in a dark, claustrophobic cavern with rising water and nowhere to go. 

He tried desperately to find some way out. He couldn’t die here. Not now at least. But nothing was working. He pushed and shoved the cavern but it didn’t budge. He made a third attempt before a sharp pain cut through his left hand, causing him to draw back. There was a long gash in his palm and fuck, it fucking hurts, but he tried one last time to try and find their way out again.

It was too dark, nothing was changing, and there didn’t seem to be any escape route. It seemed all was lost. Panting, he turned to look at Garrett, who seemed so distraught and scared. For a moment, he felt terrible that the other was caught in this. The guy only wanted to see some stupid lanterns… He didn’t deserve to pay for Dario’s mistakes.

He guessed his face wasn’t good at hiding his emotions because Garrett tried diving in himself to find a path. It was a desperate move, and Dario couldn’t stand it. He grabbed the other’s arms and pulled him back up to the surface. “Hey,” he said quietly, hands at the other’s sides, “there’s no point. It’s pitch-black down there…” Garrett looked as if he was in denial at first, but eventually, the truth reached him. He pressed his back against the wall, apologizing to him over and over- that it was all his fault. That he should have never stepped outside. “I’m so sorry, Darren,” he whispered, his eyes swelling with tears and then delving into guilty sobs. Dario didn’t know exactly what to say. He wasn’t good at this kind of stuff.

Somehow, he ended up giving Garrett his name. His real one. That he wasn’t (sort of) Darren. But, “Dario,” he said quietly. Garrett only gave him a sad, confused look. “My real name. I just thought… someone should know.” The tears seemed to slow. The other’s face was mostly baffled, but then it softened, a small smile making its way to his face. Garrett let out a pleased hum as he wiped away his tears, before saying back,

“My hair glows when I sing.”

...Huh?

Dario… stared, flabbergasted. “What?” he asked, but a look of realization hit Garrett’s face, and the blonde suddenly became excited.

“My hair glows when I sing!” he gasped, and quickly, he began to sing. Dario didn’t know how to react. What was he doing? 

The water rose faster and faster until it engulfed them both, and all Dario could see was darkness. His life was over soon, he thought, but faintly, a glow began to emit. Against his better judgment, he opened his eyes, and Garrett was in front of him, his hair floating all around them but…

It was glowing. Garrett’s hair was glowing. Holy fuck.

He gasped, but quickly regretted it when he felt the sudden rush of water entered him. He covered his mouth with his hand, eyes wide to the view before him. The other didn’t waste any time looking for an exit, and even Dario followed his search, landing his eyes on the pile of rocks somewhere in the corner. Through some quick digging and pulling, they were finally able to break apart the wall of rocks, releasing the water and spilling them into the river nearby.

They lifted themselves to the ground as soon as they had the chance and collapsed onto the grass, trying to catch their breaths. 

Garrett’s first reaction was relief; a moment later he lit up with a smile and marveled, “We made it...” Dario realized that yeah, they did, but:

“Your hair glows,” was all that came out. It didn’t seem to affect Garrett at all, who didn’t spare him a glance but instead rose to his feet and faced the river.

“We’re alive!"

“Why does your hair glow?!” Dario reiterated, because no, fuck that, he wasn’t letting something like that go. The other didn’t have a care, leaning over the water and scooping up the rest of his hair still caught in the gentle stream, all while holding a pleased smile.

“...It doesn’t just glow,” Garrett finally responded. Dario could only stare back dumbfounded.

“... What?”

---

They stayed in that spot for the night, setting up a campfire next to the river they fell into. There wasn’t much talking as Garrett began to gather his golden locks to the find the end of them. Dario didn’t really know what to say anyways. The hair glows. That was all there was to it… except it’s not. Garrett said it can do more. How? He didn’t know what to expect from him.

Garrett asked for his hand, the one that was injured during their near drowning. Dario didn’t try to argue, merely rested it on top of the other’s awaiting one. The blond then showed hesitation, his face crunching with concern as he began to… wrap the hair locks around Dario’s injury. He suddenly looked so serious that it just... really didn’t fit him at all.

“You’re being so serious as someone who is wrapping their magic hair around me,” he commented, because how could he not? Those blue eyes peered up at him, and with a sudden jerk, wrapped the hair a little too tightly. Dario winced at the sudden pain, and Garrett held his hand in his own.

“S-sorry,” he apologized. He still looked... so worried. Dario was surprised at this. “Just don’t… freak out, okay?” Dario glanced over to his hand-covered hair, now a little worried. He tried to look back at Garrett with reassurance, but the other wasn’t stupid. Nevertheless, Garrett sighed and closed his eyes.

… and he began to sing. “Flower, gleam and glow…” His hair began to lit up once more, beginning from the top of his head. Dario watched with amazement, as Garrett’s soft melodic voice continued,

“Let your power shine.

Make the clock reverse.

Bring back what once was mine.”

The glow of his locks spread across the length, with Dario’s eyes following. To a point, it was… almost pretty, the way it shined apart from the darkened night. Eventually, it reached to the locks around his hand, and Dario… could almost feel its energy. His palm was beginning to tingle, and he turned his glance to Garrett, who only continued to sing.

“Heal what has been hurt.

Change the fate’s design

Save what has been lost

Bring back what once was mine.”

The other… looked… beautiful, too. His eyes were still peacefully closed, and his hands were still securely wrapped around Dario’s, a gentle hold fit for someone who seemed so… kind-hearted and naive... but maybe not as naive as he thought. Still… to risk his life at home for some lanterns… he wondered the reason behind it. Garrett never really told him why, but maybe it was best not to ask.

The song had finished, the tingling was gone, and Garrett’s hair slowly returned to the duller blond it was before. He opened his eyes and looked at him expectantly. Dario lifted his hand and tugged the hair off.

His wound was gone. Healed as if it was never there. He tried to ignore the rising panic in him.

Okay. So glowing hair. That’s strange. Glowing hair that heals. That was fucking mad.

“Please don’t freak out!” Garrett shouted quickly, and Dario realized his mouth was open. He closed it quickly and looked to the other as confidently as he could (which wasn’t much).

“I’m not freaking out, are you freaking out, oh no, your hair is totally normal!” he tried, and Garrett gives him a look. “... except it has magical qualities that make it glow and heal!” He squeezed his palm. “That you’ve had for how long again?”

“... Uh… forever, I guess,” Garrett answered. He looked to the ground and began to run his fingers through his locks. “Ever since I was a baby, actually. People tried to cut it to take the power for themselves, but once it’s cut, it turns brown, and it doesn’t work anymore.” He sighed. “Something like me… has to be kept away. That’s why I never…I never left the…” He was struggling to get those words out. Dario frowned.

“You never left the tower,” he finished for him.Garrett nodded. “... Are you gonna go back?”  The other looked at him sternly.

“No.” Then immediately his face softened. “Maybe, I don’t know… It’s really complicated.” But he didn’t continue or elaborate, and Dario didn’t push. He didn’t really have anything to offer him, after all. 

Garrett didn’t let the silence hang over them long. He fiddled with his hair as a smile grew on his face. “So… Dario?” he teased. Dario huffed and ran his hand through his own hair, embarrassed.

“It was.. just stupid. I didn’t really like my name and I… changed it to something people wouldn’t make fun of me for.” Garrett sidled closer to the other.

“I really like your name,” he said. Dario felt his cheeks warm, caught off-guard from the innocent compliment. “Why didn’t you like it?”

He bit his lips, a bit on unsure on whether he should say. Did he really trust Garrett anyways? 

Then there was a soft touch on his hand, where the wound used to be. It was Garrett’s fingers, trailing lightly over his palm. It was… a comforting touch. He let go of the breath he was holding and continued, “I just… didn’t grow up with a lot, you know?” He looked to the ground. “My dad… I haven’t seen him since I was 12. My mom-…” He paused for a moment. “And my grandparents... were trying to be everything I needed… but I was tired of being nothing.” He withdrew a breath, his hand curling to squeeze over Garrett’s smaller one.

“...  It’s why I ran away.” The other squeezed his hand. “I wanted to do something. I wanted to help out. I wanted to… be someone. And it just… seemed like the right choice at the time.”

Garrett gave a sad smile. “... so your dream. About being home with riches? It really wasn’t you being greedy, huh?” Dario groaned.

“Listen, don’t tell anyone, okay? It would ruin me.” Garrett laughed.

“Wouldn’t want that~” He squeezed their hands again, and Dario realized their hands had been interlaced for a while. He blushed again and stood up quickly, catching Garrett by surprise.

“I should probably get some more firewood,” he coughed and began to make his way into the woods.

“... Hey,” he heard. Dario stopped and looked back. Garrett was still sitting on the log, but his eyes were pointed towards him. “You have it here,” he said, touching the middle left of his chest, “... Dario.”

“...”  Dario smiled at him. “Thank you…” Garrett returned the smile to him before he stepped off into the woods again.  

[amaraspen-blog]

Fireworks

Part Two

I woke up feeling better than I had yesterday. I guess I needed the extra sleep.  It was time to get moving so I could have everything at Tammi’s by noon. I wasn’t ready to get up and moving. If it wasn’t for all the food I had to bring, and knowing Tammi would drag me out of my house; I would gladly stay in my house. Today would be a perfect day for getting cozy in my bed and watching movies, alone. The kids were coming with me, but if I didn’t go they would easily make other plans.

I dragged myself from my bed before the thought had a chance to settle and entered the walk in closet. We were supposed to hit ninety six degrees. I needed something comfortable that would keep me as cool as possible. Shorts and a tee were appealing but I finally settled on a yellow floral sundress. The material was thin without being too see through. There were knee high slits on both sides to give me some movement from the form fitting garment. I opted for a quick shower. After lotioning my body with cocoa butter it was time to tackle my nest of hair. There were more than a few gray hairs but not more than that. I twisted the front crown back and pulled the rest into a low ponytail. I looked in the mirror and was pleased with the result. The yellow complimented my chocolate complexion. At almost fifty years old I looked good. I loved my size sixteen frame. A few extra pounds in the right places and little cushion where abs should be, but I earned it. Jordan loved my wide hips and thunder thighs. He spent many a night with his head resting on my lap while we watched TV. My facial features were accentuated by my ponytail. Large almond eyes and naturally curly lashes. Eyes the color of wet cinnamon. In this heat there was no need to put on any makeup other than lip gloss. I applied a wine gloss to my full lips. Satisfied with my appearance, I threw on sandals and was ready to go.  

“Are y’all almost ready?” I called out to my children. “Remember I need to have the food there before other guests arrive.”

“I’m almost ready, but Dany was hogging the bathroom this morning.”

“Hey perfection takes time.”

“Maybe you need more time then.” Brandon teased.

Malik strolled up looking like he walked out of an Old Navy ad. Button up linen shirt, khaki shorts and boat shoes. “Looks like you both need more time. I’m ready Mom.” My oldest baby wasn’t a baby anymore. His slim six foot four inch frame still towered mine at five nine. I could always count on him to be responsible. Sometimes to the point that I had to remind him to enjoy his youth. At twenty five he should be having fun. He had completed his bachelor’s degree, was working in IT earning a decent amount of money. He needed to be dating. It probably didn’t help that he lived at home. Don’t get me wrong, he could afford to have his own place but thought it was better to stay after Jordan passed.

“Malik, can you start loading the car for me?”

“No problem Mom.”

“Thanks honey.”

“No problem Mom.” Danyel mocked.

“Dany, worry more about being ready.” I cautioned.

“I’m just putting earrings on. I’m ready.” This girl had on cut off shorts, tank top, an oversized cardigan and gladiator flats. She was six feet and all legs. Not to mention a head full of wild shoulder length curls and a full face of makeup. Visually there was a lot going on. Looking at her you wouldn’t guess we were headed to a backyard barbeque.

Danyel was my free spirit. She was an art major in college. She was living the college experience and dating a lot more than I wanted her to. I had to remind myself to guide where I could and let her develop into the person she was meant to be. At one point she was talking about studying abroad next semester, but who knew if she was serious about it.

“Good, help your brother.”

“Brandon, are you ready?”

“Yes ma’am.” He shuffled his way out of the jungle he called a bedroom, almost tripping over a shoe. He wore his high school basketball jersey, black basketball shorts and slides.

“Do you ever wear anything that isn’t sports related?” Danyel judged, shaking her head is disgust.

“Hey, I like what I like.” Brandon shrugged and walked off. I truly hoped his sense of style would change in the future.

Thirty minutes later the car was packed and we were on the road. Tammi stayed about twenty minutes from me.

Tammi didn’t give us a chance to stop the car before she was walking outside.

“Bout time. I been waiting on you.”

“Malcolm, she been sippin already?”

“You know how she is.” We joked. Malcolm was the opposite of his wife. Tammi was the life of the party, and Malcolm a lot more mild mannered. They had been married almost as long as Jordan and I. Tammi and I met freshman year and had been inseparable ever since.  

We unloaded the car and started setting up the backyard. Spending the 4th of July had become tradition for us. We normally alternated locations, but I hadn’t really felt up to participating the last few years. I gazed at all the pictures hanging on Tammi’s walls. So many memories and good times. My thoughts drifted as I went down memory lane.

“Don’t think about it, Renee. This is supposed to be a party and you were happy when you got here.”

Sigh. “I know. It’s just…”

“It’s just nothing. It’s been 3 years, you deserve to live. He wouldn’t want to see you living like a hermit.”

I know it came from a place of love, but she didn’t understand. “You’re wrong Tam. Remember he used to joke about haunting me if I tried to move on.”  Oddly enough that memory brought a smile to my face.

Tammi laughed at the memory. “He sure did. Lucky for you I’m just trying to get you to be present and enjoy friends. It’s not like I’m setting up a booty call. Although I’m sure you could use someone to come dust off the cobwebs.”

“Don’t worry about my situation. I’m not hurting for anyone.”

“Not now, but one day. I’ll make sure I help you find the right duster.”

“What y’all over here cackling about?” Malcolm walked over, beer in hand beer in hand.

“Just talking about cleaning services baby.” Tammi leaned in to Malcolm and rested her head on his side when he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

“Oh, I know a good one. Their prices are decent and they’re Black owned.”

We looked at each other and laughed.

“What am I missing?”

“Nothing, you know what kind of equipment they use?” We laughed even harder.

“See now I know you playing.”

We couldn’t even deny it, and poked more fun at Malcolm’s expense.

“I’m gonna go back to my grill, since y’all minds in the gutter.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

“I wouldn’t say a gutter, but definitely in the street.” That was Tammi.

Other guests arrived. The smell of barbeque saturated the air. Music was bumping through portable speakers. They played a nice mixture of the music I loved: Keith Sweat, New Edition, and Anita along with some new school the kids could vibe to. The atmosphere was right. I sat in my lawn chair sipping one of Malcolm’s spiked lemonades and enjoying the scenery when I overheard Malcolm and Tammi arguing.

“Woman, you don’t wanna see me on this table.” Malcolm exclaimed.

“Come on Cleetus, let’s do it. You bout to get embarrassed today.” Tammi looked my way. “C’mon Nee, let’s give this man spanking he deserves and shut him up.”

I stood and stretched out. “Now I came to chill, but if folks asking for it, I’ll gladly come tap that ass one time.”

“That’s what I’m talking bout!” Tammi hi-fived me from across the table.

“Ain’t nobody scared of Nee!”

“You still talking Malcolm? You don’t even have a partner!”

“Now I don’t know you, but it sounds like we’re gonna have to skip formalities and go straight to spanking.” I turned my mouth up to reply and paused at the Ralph Angel looking King standing before me. I don’t even know where he came from. He was about six feet and dipped in chocolate.

“You look a lil young for this table but I will gladly whoop you and send you crying back to your mama.”

“Boy I still see milk behind your ears.” Tammi snickered.

“Time to put up or shut up.” Malcolm announced while shuffling.

We talked shit and played spades until the men finally had to accept they weren’t ready for me and Tammi. We had been playing together for decades. Malcom and the newbie didn’t stand a chance.

“Y’all cheated, over there using secret gestures. I saw you.”

“Awwww, don’t be a sore loser. Take this spanking like a man.” Tammi laughed and slapped Malcolm on his butt.

I made my exit from the table to get a refill on my drink. Mid-pour Ralph Angel entered the kitchen.

“I guess I’ll have to brush up on my skills.”

“That would probably be the best thing for you.” I teased.

“I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself. I’m Daryn Thomas.” He extended his hand to mine.

“Renee Johnson.”

“Nice to meet you.” He smiled and I could see dimples just above his beard. Lord, this man couldn’t get any finer.

“How long have you know Malcolm and Tammi?”

“Probably longer than you’ve been alive.” I couldn’t help myself. Don’t get me wrong, Daryn was fine as hell but I meant it when I said he looked a little young. Definitely not as young as my children just younger than me. I didn’t want him to get the wrong impression.

“I highly doubt that. Did you too grow up together?”

“No we met in college.”

Daryn couldn’t hide his disbelief. “I’m sorry but I have to ask. How old are you?”

I chuckled “You know you aren’t supposed to ask a lady her age.”

“I know, but you don’t look that much older than me.”

“How old are you?” I asked to satisfy my curiosity.

“I’m thirty eight. I’ll be thirty nine in September.”

I just laughed. “I’m fifty.” I shook my head and started to walk away.

He placed his hand on mine, halting my progress.

“You don’t look it at all.” Daryn replied looking me up and down. I felt naked under his gaze.

“Thank you.” I stated pulling my hand back. I walked to the door to make my exit and end this conversation before anything else was said.

“Let me get that door for you.” I left and didn’t turn back. I could feel Daryn’s eyes still staring me down.