#that's what i do since it was nerfed in france

[albonium]

horner and danica in the same shot on sky. rip to the people who have to pay for this

[rainofaugustsith]

SWTOR: On "too easy"

I keep seeing posts elsewhere from "serious gamers" saying "waaah, they nerfed the game, IT'S TOO EASY NOW." I keep seeing posts from people who seem to think the only way to "save" SWTOR is to make it really difficult. And posts that cast judgment on those who prefer a more laid-back approach. 

I can't stand that. Truly, one of the worst things about gaming is some of the playerbase. 

I fully believe that where possible, content should have story/veteran/NiM modes available, the way KOTFE, KOTET and the non-story flashpoints do. If someone's idea of fun is to run every single thing with extreme difficulty, and that's what they get a charge from, let them at it...as long as it doesn't mean everyone else has to play that way too. That's where these discussions usually go off the rails, since these folks seem to think that everyone should play at an arbitrary high standard they deem acceptable. 

A lot of different types of players love SWTOR. Some really do want NiM all the time. Others want to decorate strongholds or dress their characters. Some are all about story. Some love the group aspect and always want to play with guildies or friends; others steer clear of all interaction with other players. Some do a mix of all of the above. Some avoid certain activities at all costs. 

I'm a solo story player. For me, extreme challenge isn't fun. It's usually enough to get me to quit. It's not fun for me to die over and over in a game or to struggle with complicated mechanics where one misstep means death. I hate things like the Onderon datacrons. I felt that Spirit of Vengeance was originally tuned way too high and had way too many mobs, even though I was fully able to finish it. 

I've gone in and done some more difficult things like Dread Seeds and veteran flashpoints solo because I wanted to see the content and complete those missions. If the entire game was tuned like the last Dread Seeds mission or those veteran flashpoints, I'd likely leave in about two seconds. In the longterm, it's not pleasant for me. It's physically painful, it's boring and I don't find it relaxing or fun.

No one playstyle is "correct" or "normal." They all are. What's abnormal is when someone insists everyone has to play a certain way. What would I say to those gatekeepers whining about content being too easy? 

The story content isn't getting people ready for endgame. 

So? 

You're assuming everyone wants to play endgame content. They don't. There's nothing Bioware could do, say or bribe me with that would get me into things like Ops, ranked PvP, PvP at all, PUGs or Master Mode flashpoints. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. I am here for the story. Period. 

A training ground for endgame content exists in the form of flashpoints. The flashpoints in the game do get progressively tougher. If someone's truly interested in getting raid-worthy skills they're likely going to be doing solo flashpoints. And using groupfinder or joining a guild that works to help players progress. There are options, and those who are interested in raids will seek them out. 

But the story is so easy. It's a faceroll. Games are about challenge.  

Challenge means different things to different people.

Everyone has different abilities. You might roll through every flashpoint. The next player might die seven times just getting through the first tomb on Korriban. By the way, I'm "next player." I think my first toon may have kicked the bucket before even getting into Ajunta Pall's tomb. The word "easy" is very, very relative. 

Also, for some of us, easier content is relaxing and fun. The same way some people like a leisurely bicycle ride along the bike path and others train for the Tour de France. 

If challenge for you involves very difficult gameplay, it does exist. Go join a NiM guild for raids. Go play ranked PvP. Play another game. Why does everyone else need to play the way you play? 

People aren't grouping. They should be forced to group. 

Because you think they should? What gives you any right to dictate how other people play or who they play the game with? Are you the National Gaming Czar and nobody told us? 

This "grouping should be compulsory!" belief is bullshit. People who want to group WILL group. That's always been the case. Hell, I remember being a kid and playing single player console games with friends. We'd take turns, cheer each other on, and yell out advice to the person playing. We found a way to play in a group because we wanted to. 

Right now, the people in SWTOR there are guilds and healthy incentives to join them. Right now, the people in SWTOR who want to play with a friend or friends can do that. Even in things like class stories or KOTFE where it only progresses for one person, they can still come along and help. There are multiple opportunities in the game for players to meet each other. There are social media sites where they can do the same. There's group finder. There are people who look for groups on the fleet. There are PvP and GSF where they can play against others. 

Bottom line? Anyone who wants to group has multiple ways to accomplish that at this very moment. 

Those who aren't grouping likely do not want to group. They don't have to explain why. If you force them to group one of two things will probably happen: they will do it and hate every second of it and not want to be there, or they will stop playing. Which is more likely? Well, I'm sure we've all finished Oricon, Iokath and Macrobinoculars, right? Oh wait...

This is a game. It's not supposed to be like a job where you have coworkers you detest and still have to interact with them. It's not some life skill. It's. A. Game. Get over it if people don't want to play with you.   There should always be open world PvP. Sure, if you want a mass exodus from the game in about a day. The minute they make open world PvP non-optional or make PvP content compulsory is the day I stop playing. And I don't think I'm alone there. I feel like this comment usually comes from people who are frustrated that others don't accept their duel requests and that there isn't a huge pool of players for PVP matches. They can't get people to play with them voluntarily so they want to force it. And you should be able to tag a mob someone else is working on. I keep seeing this brought up as an ideal in other games. It seems to be a way to force people to group with you even if they've said no to an invite. You know what will happen with this? You'll have players hitting the mob once and getting credit/loot without any effort. Or you will have players following around other players to "share mobs" with them even when that other player wants to be left alone. I'm of the opinion that any type of group play should be consensual in all cases, not forced on players because they happen to be in open world.

*sigh* It's an MMO. 

And? MMO doesn't mean "group all the time" or even some of the time. It means a lot of players are co-existing in a shared online world. It means the ability to group should exist - and it does. 

People come into group content and don't know what to do. 

#1: Everyone starts somewhere. We all know that you were so miraculously gifted that you came out of the womb knowing advanced mechanisms for every boss fight, but most of us didn't. 

#2. If you want to play strictly with a team of veteran players, join a guild, make some friends in the game and have fun. That's a lot more realistic than expecting random players in a PUG or groupfinder to meet whatever your exacting specifications are. 

#3. Blame the devs for forcing players into Groupfinder to complete Galactic Seasons and other objectives. There are plenty of people who wouldn't be there if that weren't the case. 

People come into flashpoints and want to watch the cut scenes. 

Hang on. Let me process this. In a story based game, players want to watch the cut scenes? For real? That's completely unreasonable! /sarcasm

In the latest flashpoints, they've more or less removed all the cut scenes. You have your wish granted. For the older flashpoints, there are still many that don't have solo/story mode. The only way people can see those cut scenes is in veteran or master. If you have an issue with this, start advocating to the devs to make solo story versions of those flashpoints.  I feel like the bottom line is that everyone has the right to ask for the type of gaming experience they want, but they don't have the right to insist everyone else should share that experience.

[derekmorganscrocs]

Last Summer: Ace x Reader (OneShot)

Here’s an adorable Ace gif for you because I love him.

Word Count: 2, 064

Summary: You and Ace are best friends but it turns into something more.

Quick Note: This is the first thing I’ve written that I’ve fully finished and am posting so I’m like freakin our right now. Also this isn’t my usual style but I’m super happy with how it turned out and I hope you (anyone who reads this) likes it! I’m considering a series but I also have several other things in the works, so it might not be soon. Anyways, let’s get this show on the road!

Ace and Y/n. Best friends since they could walk. Inseparable through elementary, middle, and high school. Where do we start?

To be honest, there’s not a lot to explain. You and Ace kind of just... were. It made sense. Best friends, always had the other’s back. You both work at the Claw, you’re both a little burnt out and worn down, but still clever and funny. Everything always made sense.

You always joke, laugh, and do stupid shit together. You’ve bailed him out of trouble more times than you can count. He’s done the same for you. He’s your favourite person, you’re his.

And you’ve been in love with each other forever. Except neither one of you can tell that the other loves you back. So we’re at a roadblock.

You got weird when Ace dated Laura back in the day.

Ace got weird when you dated James, the biker dude in high school.

You got weird when Ace started crushing on Bess.

Ace got weird when you mentioned that Ryan Hudson was hot in a douchebag kind of way.

Summer was different though. Had you known it’d be your last summer before you spotted Dead Lucy, saw Tiffany Hudson’s ghost, were introduced to the spirit world, and started doing seances and rituals every other day, you may have appreciated it more. But oh well, right?

Not right. The start of summer was when you started realizing you couldn’t go on the way you were, but that you also couldn’t live without Ace. So how do you confess? You don’t.

A couple weeks go by before you start to notice the way Ace looks at you, how he always stands just a little closer than anyone else does. How he puts himself between you and the guys that ogle you as the two of you walk to the pier. The way his jaw clenches when someone cute hits on you. His hand always right beside yours, and you wonder if he gets the urge to grab your hand like you do his.

And by the end of June, you’re this weird something. Not just friends, you’ve both seen the way the other stares. But it’s unspoken. You don’t know if you can bring yourself to tell him. He doesn’t know if he can bear the risk of losing you.

Don’t get it twisted, despite the buried feelings you and Ace are the best pair of best friends anyone in Horseshoe Bay has ever seen. Constantly laughing and cracking jokes, seeing who can get more tips in a day. Ace is always the one you turn to, you’re the one Ace turns to. For pretty much anything.

When July rolls around, you both get more time off. The fourth comes quickly, and you make plans to watch the fireworks from the roof of the claw. Upon climbing up at sunset, you decide to just hang out for a few hours until it’s actually time for the fireworks. You talk and joke, and you and Ace carve your initials into one of the shingles. Laying against the shingles, he only carves an A, and you ask if you’ll ever find out what his last name is.

“Maybe when you take it.”

Those are the five words that change everything. He looks up from his knife, startled at his own words. You’re frozen in place as the sky finally reaches its full darkness. And the first boom grabs your attention. You look over in the direction of the beach, and see red sparkles in the sky. Turning back, Ace is sitting up now, both of you still shell-shocked at his joke. Was it a joke?

His knife is long gone, tucked safely in his pocket, and he grabs your face and kisses you. You kiss him back, obviously. He kisses you passionately, slowly but strongly, and fireworks erupt. Both metaphorically and literally. You both end up laying side by side on the roof, kissing and watching the fireworks. It’s the best night ever.

But it’s never made official. There’s still no blurted out confessions, and it never happens again. His eyes still dart to your lips when you speak to him, you still imagine his arms around your waist, and you both still stare longingly at the other whenever their back is turned.

Until August rolls around, a month filled with storms and fog. And death. Ryan Hudson and his goons pull up for dinner. You and Ace serve them when all the others bail, make jokes about insufferable rich people and stare at each other’s mouths, both trying to not get caught as you wish you could just have what you want.

Then the lights go out. Screaming outside from Nancy, and Tiffany Hudson is dead. You and Ace are pretty much free to go, alibis confirmed. The next day Nancy comes to you with evidence that Tiffany Hudson was killed by Lucy Sable. Dead Lucy. Oh god.

The case unfolds and you’re wrapped up in a supernatural mystery. All the while trying to figure out your very natural mystery. What the hell is going on between you and Ace? It’s normal but not, and you don’t want to lose him, but you can feel the drift starting. It’s so uncertain. For once in your life, nothing makes sense.

You cover well though. Burying your feelings is a lot easier than it should be, and you and Ace still joke and pull stupid shit all the time. George and Bess are tired of being caught in the crossfire of your pranks, Nancy would be, but the only time she’s actually noticed anything is when you shot her with a nerf gun because Ace dodged. Nick, the guy from the garage, makes his way into your crew, and takes immense amusement from you and Ace. It’s fine. Great, even.

Then in September, after Tiffany Hudson’s funeral, you go to the Claw to talk to Ace. But he’s beyond talking. He’s got his tongue in Laura Tandy’s throat. And you knew she was back in town, hell, that’s what pushed you to finally talk to Ace. Only you’re too late. You’ve wasted the summer, your summer, being afraid of losing him. Just to lose him anyways.

So you spend a miserable month pretending you’re fine and fake gagging every time him and Laura have their backs turned on you. You bitch to Bess, who’s all too keen on the drama. Nancy’s so wrapped up in the paranormal and her own love life that she’s barely bothered to notice that you’re drowning. George on the other hand... she’s supportive. Well as supportive as George can be. Mostly threatening Laura and saying she’ll fire Ace if you want her to. But you can’t do that. He may only be a dishwasher at the Claw, but he loves it. He loves being part of the team.

And then you walk in on Laura asking Ace to go to Paris with her. You nearly lose it, but manage to keep it together, hiding around the corner with a hand clamped over your mouth as tears threaten to finally spill free. When they’re out of sight, you call Bess, then George, then Nancy, all to no avail. And so you’re hyperventilating and alone, sitting on the front porch of the Claw when Nick swoops in to save you.

Of course it was Nick. The only one who doesn’t know about the whole mess with Ace. So he makes you explain and watches in horror as you refuse to let tears fall and successfully convince yourself to just not be sad. Over the next few days he turns into a brotherly figure, managing to help you realize that feelings are okay to have.

So the garage is your new hangout, and you don’t realize that Ace is actually missing you. Because the only one he wants to ask about going to France was you. Nick sends you back to work on the fourth day, you don’t want to go but he forces you. He says ‘mixing shitty Caesars is the best remedy for any amount of pain.’ It’s the first time he’d seen you laugh in a while. Actually, the first time you’d laughed in a while.

The first person you see when you walk in the diner, of course, was Ace. Sitting at the bar, staring into the wall’s soul. You manage a quiet ‘hey’, and when he turns to see you looking mostly back to normal, he nearly tackles you into a hug. He manages to restrain himself though, not sure what to do. You two never fight. Is this even a fight? How do you make up from a not-fight-fight? Instead he asks you to sit with him. You do, reluctantly, but only because he insists and you can never say no to him.

“Say the word and I’ll stay. Say you want me here and I won’t go.”

And there he goes, changing everything again. You freeze, just like on the Fourth of July, and stare at him in shock. This time though, he isn’t surprised, it’s just you who’s shell-shocked. It takes you a while to understand that he is actually saying what he’s saying, and you kind of just stare at him for a minute. Then you make your decision.

“I can’t tell you what to do. You need to make this call on your own.”

And then, you mix Caesars. And more Caesars, and more Caesars. The restaurant could be supplied for a week if it weren’t a festival day. You would’ve kept going, but what’s left in the bottom of the vodka bottle looked pretty delicious, so you down it instead. Still mostly sober, but tipsy enough to manage a smile, you patted George on the back and said goodbye before heading to the garage.

Nick makes you crash on his couch in the loft, and after a power nap and a glass of water you’re back to completely sober. Good as new. The only thing that’s missing is... your phone. You left it at the Claw earlier. Which means you have to go back. And probably see Ace again.

So back you go. You get the phone without running into anyone, but pause at the sound of voices in the dining area. Frozen in the kitchen, you watch as Ace tells Laura he’s staying. That he has a ‘purpose here. And a person.’ She tells him to miss her, which gives you mixed vibes, and leaves.

“Ace?”

“Jesus! Oh, Y/n! You’re-you’re here. Oh that’s great, you saw that. How much did you hear?”

“That you have a purpose here. And a person.”

A smile finally appears on your lips, and he reciprocates. You walk into the dining room, toward Ace. He watches your every move intently, as if he’s entranced with you. He is, because he hasn’t seen you smile since Laura came to town. And even though he’s been playing it happy, he’s been miserable. He loves Laura, he really does, but it’s more of the ‘maybe in another world’ kind of relationship.

You and Ace. That’s the ‘perfectly perfect, made for each other, soulmates, in any world’ type of relationship. Best friends to something more, with ups and down. Real. Not some whisk you off to Paris and live in a movie. Horseshoe Bay’s ugly, scary, haunted, real life.

Sitting on a barstool, back to the kitchen, you lean against the bar and look at Ace. You think about what to say. There’s so many things you could do. That you want to do.

Slap him.

Kiss him.

Throw him off the roof.

Hug him until he has to peel you off of him.

Throw a bottle at his head.

Jump into his arms, wrap your legs around his waist and stay there forever.

Stick Lucy on him to suck out his soul.

Kiss him until you run out of air.

Maybe you’ll say something instead. There’s lots of things you could say, but you’re not sure how many of them are true.

Did he really betray you by seeing Laura?

Are you grateful for this because you met Nick and gained a brother?

What would’ve happened if Laura never showed?

Are we still us?

Instead, you decide to go with something you know is the truth.

“I’m your person.”

And he smiles like he’s won the lottery.

Tags: @vexfulfun

[tropicalfreckles]

Okay thinking more on it, while pts 4-6 have a lot of issues I got with since they started doing an overarching plot to Lupin finally but it's kind of clunky in some areas.

I also still like a lot from it.

Like I'll admit I think I had a lot of fun with pt 4 even tho it... had some weird ass plot turns but that's just how Lupin kind of is so I'm like okay I'll roll with it.

What issues I really thought was stupid is how they developed the women of pt 4 cause all of their backstories kind of meld in a similar way that's just unnerving. I don't think you need to make a well rounded lady character by giving her SA trauma but that's just me. :\

Pt 5 had those fun ass different Jacket Era episodes (which confused me at first but then I got where they were going with it, it kind of is like a filler to the plot of pt 5 but in a enjoyable way), but GOOD GOD I will never not bitch about what they did with Ami. Nope. No, her character arc did NOT end on a nice note for me(her dad was a horrible person?? wtf??) and I am still not okay with how they oversexualize this specific 14 year old over other 14 year olds introduced in the modern Lupin franchise. Like Maki in the mermaid special or even Lily Watson that's in the PART AFTER AMIS, neither girl is ever drawn in an unsavory way. It's kind of hard sometimes to just sit there and enjoy things when that's going on.

Pt 6 I liked okay (it had fun character interactions) but I thought the first arc kind of ended anti-climatically (also I thought we were gonna be focusing on the subplot built up by Albert wanting to take over France), then the B plot had some lore building which was nice. However I still don't know how to feel about plot B. It was a mixed bag in itself as well and I think the overall feeling of pt 6 kind of was weak. Maybe pt 7 if we get it will build up more? I'm hoping it focuses on Albert's whole thing.

Also I think pt 5's outfit for Albert was better pt 6 nerfed him lol

Let the gay man wear a bright ass green suit and pink tie IT LOOKS GOOD

[keepapplesaday]

“The kids, they ambushed me.” for the supercorp holiday fics.

Thank you for sending this in! Here you go!

Established supercorp a few years into the future~

Send me a prompt! 

-------

Lena was about 6 seconds away from murdering Santa.

Well, not actually Santa Claus. Just some guy named Ernst Archer who was supposed to be playing Santa for the L-Corp’s Annual Toy Drive for the kids later that day, but decided that getting drunk the night before and starting a bar fight only to end up arrested would be a good use of his time.

“And there’s no one else?” Lena asked, pinching the bridge of her nose in a very vain attempt at curbing the oncoming migraine.

Jess looked apologetic as she shook her head. “Not really. Everyone’s already booked solid at the Santa agency, and since it’s for today-”

“Right. Oh, the press will have a field day with this,” Lena murmured with a groan. “I can see the headlines now: Luthor scams needy children out of a visit from Santa Claus. World Domination next?”

“I’m sure we’ll be able to come up with something.” Jess tried to sound reassuring, but with a simple glance from Lena told her that it wouldn’t be that easy.

Just then, the phone rang - some investors from France - and Jess left Lena to her call, while she brainstormed. Who could possibly fit the role of Santa on such short notice?

By the time that Lena had hung up, Jess was practically brimming with excitement (which was a first for her generally composed secretary). “I have got the perfect idea.”

Lena raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Kara.”

“Kara?”

“Yep.”

“Kara Danvers?”

“The very one.”

Lena was sure she was missing something. “You want my girlfriend to dress up as Santa Claus? I don’t think she’d fit the bill, even if we did stick a cotton beard on her and stuffed a pillow into the suit.”

Jess shook her head with a small laugh at the mental image. “Not as Santa. Have her go as Supergirl! Think about it. What kid wouldn’t love to get presents from Supergirl? It’s like the next best thing, except she’s actually real and can fly, so really, it’s probably an even better idea than a Santa impersonator.”

“That actually might work,” Lena said as she pondered the idea. If there was one thing that made Jess such a wonder, was her out-of-the-box thinking. “I’ll have to see if she’s available.”

“I’ll leave you to it,” Jess said, heading back out of the office. And then she paused to poke her head back in. “But please tell me what she says, in case I need to figure out something else. The event starts in 3 hours.”

“You got it.” Lena smiled and nodded. She took out her phone and sent Kara a quick message asking if she was available for a ‘Super Assignment’.

Rather than answer her with a text, Kara decided to actually show up, standing by her balcony door suited up and everything.

“You know, if superhero-ing doesn’t work out for you, you have a great future as a delivery person,” Lena said with a grin as she stood up and walked over to the other woman. “And you know you could have just texted back.”

“And miss the opportunity to see you?” Kara said, beaming. She wrapped her arms Lena’s waist and pulled her girlfriend close to give her a swift kiss.

But Lena wasn’t going to let her go so easily, instead placing her hands on either side of Kara’s face and pulling her into a deeper kiss.

They probably would have kept going if it wasn’t for Jess and her meticulous planning, popping her head into the office, hand over her eyes, having already learnt her lesson from past unplanned entrances while Kara was around. She cleared her throat and started, “I really don’t mean to be that person but-”

Kara and Lena sprung apart, blushing a deep shade of red. “It’s okay Jess, we’re decent.”

“Oh thank goodness,” Jess said with a sigh of relief in her voice as she removed her hand from in front of her eyes and fully stepped in, tablet ready. “Now, Kara: yes or no?”

“To...what?” Kara asked, looking between the two women with confusion.

“Right, I hadn’t actually gotten a chance to explain,” Lena murmured, starting to explain what the situation was before Jess managed to get a jab in about Lena thinking with other parts of her body rather than her head when it came to Kara.

“So you guys need me to do a toy drive?” Kara asked, making sure she understood.

Jess nodded. “That’s the gist. Are you in?”

“Of course!” Kara said. “Oh and I have the perfect outfit!”

“Outfit?” Lena asked, brows furrowing.

Before she could ask for clarification, Kara had flown off, leaving the other two women perplexed.

-------

Turns out that Kara had gotten another suit made a few years ago. A specifically holiday themed one.

It was simply the most garish holiday themed anything Lena had ever seen.

“How many candy canes did you have to murder for this?” Lena asked, unsure if she actually wanted to know.

Kara just laughed. “You love it.”

“I do not,” Lena clarified, looking as if the bright red suit that Kara was sporting, with a pair of white boots and a matching white cape, were personally affronting her. “I most certainly don’t.”

She was at least thankful that whoever had come up with the idea hadn’t decided to also add a fluffy edge to the cape.

“Want to get going?” Kara asked, tilting her head towards the city.

“Flying?” Lena asked; as much as she loved flying with Kara, she was not going to do so while Kara wore that eyesore.

“Yep, probably before Jess comes back in to say we’re going to be late.”

“Well, I’ll just-” she was cut off by her own yelp as Kara picked her up and flew them towards the event in a blur of red, white, and gold.

So maybe she should amend: she might kill Santa after all for having chosen such a loud colour scheme.

Lena stood by the sidelines with the event coordinator as Kara entertained the kids by making them fly with her, and some hung on her cape as she jumped up a few feet. They had been there for a few hours now, and the children were beyond ecstatic.

“Thank you so much for this,” the coordinator was saying. “I don’t know how you managed to get Supergirl, but this is much better than any Santa they’ve ever had.”

“I have my connections,” Lena responded with a smile.

Suddenly, a platoon of children with shiny new Nerf guns aimed their weapons at her. “Fire!”

Kara was pelted with about a dozen darts, and she made the dramatic show of seemingly succumbing to her injuries - with some added dramatic flair - and Lena smiled softly. Her girlfriend was the biggest goofball.

The kids began piling on her and declared victory, puffing their chests out. With a gasp, the coordinator and some of the other staff scurried off to check on the children before they got too rowdy. “Alright children, let’s wrap this up, it’s getting late!”

Once Kara began to sit up, Lena called out, “So Supergirl was finally bested huh?”

“The kids ambushed me!” Kara laughed, floating up and away from the pile of children, to make her way to her girlfriend. “But I know what will heal me right away.”

“Oh, what’s that?” Lena asked, feigning ignorance.

Kara snaked her arm to wrap behind Lena’s waist as they stood side by side watching the children get their stuff and head out in a single line until they were alone in the event hall.

“We could start off with a kiss,” Kara began.

“Ah,” Lena hummed. “I’m sorry to say, Supergirl, I am in a relationship with someone. Though I will accept a ride back home since you brought me here. I’m sure my girlfriend won’t mind that.”

“Oh really? The great Lena Luthor is dating?” Kara continued the charade, though she couldn’t stop her grin from spreading. She always got giddy when they spoke of their relationship and Lena called Kara her girlfriend. She picked Lena up with practised ease and headed outside before pushing off towards the sky.

“Indeed, and even if I wasn’t,” Lena started, voicing raising a bit to be heard over the wind, “The outfit you’re wearing is a mood-killer.”

Kara huffed good humoredly. “It’ll grow on you.”

“I know it won’t, darling,” Lena confirmed. “The minute we get home, you are divesting yourself from that affront to supersuits everywhere.”

With a laugh, Kara said, “So what I’m getting from this is that you want me naked the second we touch down?”

That got Lena to snap her mouth shut.

To which Kara added, “Now what would your girlfriend say to that, Ms. Luthor? Or worse, what would my girlfriend say to that?”

They landed in their apartment balcony before Lena said, “I know your girlfriend would say, ‘shut up and kiss me.’”

And Kara did just that.

[jasontoddiefor]

Summary: In all honesty, Hal should have seen it coming. Wally and Dick had already been there when they had started dating. Or: Hal contemplates family in the Wayne-Allen-Jordan household on a chaotic morning.

AN: Bc @amaztim and I have a new OT3 and there are only 2 fanfics so far so I had to fix it.

Hal woke up to screaming. He turned around again in the king-sized bed and pressed his pillow over his head. He was too old to be woken up by fighting children. Or maybe Dick and Wally just hadn’t been quite the terrifying chaotic mess that was Damian and Helen.

After hearing yet another shout on one of Hal’s rare free days damn it, Hal finally got up. Bruce and Barry were nowhere to be seen, but that was nothing new. Barry was stuck on monitor duty and Bruce had traveled to France on Monday, chasing after a lead.

Hal should have taken the offer and gone with him, but no. Someone had to look after the children since everybody was coming over for the weekend. Hal stumbled out of bed with the grace of a hero who had suffered way too many injuries. On his way over to the door, he grabbed a shirt and put it on. It was a little big on him – one of Bruce’s then. He rubbed his eyes and for a split second he contemplated just letting Damian and Helen murder each other for another ten more minutes of sleep.

Then the second was over and Hal threw open the door. Helen and Damian came to a halt right in front of it, both looking appropriately caught.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Damian and Helen shared a look before switching to equally grave expressions.

“We’re fighting for the honor of killing Jason,” Damian explained nonchalantly like he wasn’t holding his training sword to Helen’s neck.

“He committed a serious crime,” Helen added, her glowing nerf-gun construct still aimed at Damian’s forehead.

Hal could still use his ring, go pick up Barry and get into a jet and visit Bruce. Eat some crêpes under the Eiffel tower while Bruce took down his arms dealer. It would be just like those summer months when Wally and Dick, who were the only kids running around the manor back then, went to San Francisco to work with their fellow Teen Titans.

Peace .

Yeah, Hal missed it.

“And what did Jason do?”

“He-“

“HeyguysIfoundthepaintgunsyouaskedfor- oh, fuck.”

Bart came to a stop just a few doors down the hallway, his arms full with paint guns and his shirt basically covered in acrylics. He looked at Damian and Helen, then to Hal and then back to the kids.

“Morning, Hal. I think I’mjustgonnagonowbye.”

“Oh, no!” Hal shouted back. “Don’t you dare run off, Bartholomew! How are you involved in this? And aren’t you supposed to be picking up Tim?”

Hal ignored Damian and Helen snickering at him using the speedster’s full name in favor of acting very intimidating and authoritative while still being dressed in his PJs with deep bags under his eyes.

Bart grinned sheepishly. “I already picked him up. I left him downstairs with Duke and Kyle. He sort of fell asleep on me on our way back home.”

“Kyle’s here?”

Bart shrugged. “He said something about dropping off an artifact, but Jason’s making pancakes for breakfast so he stayed.”

Hal pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled. How did the saying go again? Kids are the future? Someone obviously forgot to attach the ‘because they’ll run you into an early grave’. France. Watchtower monitor duty.

“And if Jason’s making breakfast, why aren’t the three of you downstairs eating?”

“Because Jason threw us out of the kitchen,” Helen said. “We were interrupting his ‘workflow’ so he banned us! Uncle Hal, do you see now what terrible offense he has committed?”

Beside her, Damian nodded and once again raised his sword. “The evil has to be defeated.”

Hal had calmed down considerably since he had first become Earth’s Green Lantern. He didn’t rush into battle anymore, he had seen too many of his friends and comrades die. He had been dead, and been dealt an even worse fate for a while, and he had lowered both his lovers and his children into the ground at least once. No, Hal didn’t rush into war anymore and he carefully picked his battle nowadays.

This one he wasn’t going to fight.

“No maiming each other anymore,” Hal said and watched as three faces lit up with identical expressions of delight. “The house is off-limits for everything concerning paint, or you’re answering to Alfred. Outside of the manor, Gotham, Central and Coast are fair game, but not on patrol. Got it?”

“Got it!” They replied and rushed off in the opposite direction, jumping hopefully not straight into a loophole Hal had forgotten to cover. Either way, they were not Hal’s problem anymore. If they made a mess now, that weight would be on their shoulders, and they only had themselves to blame if Alfred’s cold disapproval would make them do chores until they turned eighteen.

Hal checked his watch. It was almost twelve. Jason had come to the manor late, and if he was making breakfast for everybody, he certainly wouldn’t be done yet. Hal made his way downstairs to the kitchen, passing the living room while he was at it.

Duke was playing a game on his Switch while Cassandra and Kyle were talking animatedly about whatever drawing Kyle was showing her.

And Tim was lying on the ground, his head resting on Titus’s body.

“Please tell me he decided to sleep there,” Hal said, already knowing the answer.

“Uuh,” Duke decidedly did not look up from his console while Cass just raised a brow.

When had they all become so sassy? Hal recalled their first weeks at the manor as if they had been just yesterday. Both of them had been so unsure and careful with everybody.

“Just put your brother on a sofa at least if nobody feels responsible for getting him in his room.”

Cass smiled at him and gave him a thumbs-up, but didn’t move from her spot. Right, why had he even bothered asking?

Next time, he’d let Barry and Bruce handle the weekend meet-ups. Hal had done the single-parent thing for a year, and it hadn’t been any fun having to be strong for so many grieving children. The least his partners could do was cover the family weekends until they actually died of old age.

The closer Hal got to the kitchen, the louder did the music in the hallway get. Today Jason had decided on classical tunes apparently, or as classic as Jason got. Hal wasn’t even sure where Jason found so many classic instrument covers of current songs, and he’d rather face Parallax than even suggest to Jason that he was recording his own violin plays, but fact was that Barry had found the corresponding scores in Jason’s bag once.

Jason was flipping another pancake when Hal entered the kitchen. The room was neat and orderly still, except for the side of the table Wally and Dick were sitting at. That part of the table was covered in Nutella, sprinkles, gummy worms, chocolate sauce, and fruits.

“Mo’nin’,” Dick greeted, his mouth stuffed with a pancake. Next to him, Wally only raised his hand and didn’t even stop inhaling his share.

“Good morning, boys,” Hal returned and sat down opposite from the duo.

“Slept well, old man?” Jason asked and put a plate with warm an delicious breakfast in front of him.

“I thought Bruce was the old man.”

Jason waved Hal’s comment off and took another gulp from his cup of coffee. “You’re all old, but only you are here this morning. You got any plans for today?”

Hal sneaked a look at the two oldest and, yes, Wally and Dick looked equally mischievously. Fourteen or twenty-four, was there really any difference with them?

“I’m not teaming up with you against the kiddos for Cluedo.”

“Why not?” Wally asked. “This week’s price is deciding the Thanksgiving dinner. Hal, please. We need to win. I need that turkey and Damian will do his best to stop it.”

Hal bit off another piece of his pancake. Out of all of them, minus Alfred of course, Jason could cook the best. If Jason willingly made anything for you, you accepted without hesitance, which was precisely why Hal stole another pancake before he replied.

“I know, which is why Barry, Bruce, and I are working against the rest of you. We’re not eating candied apples for dessert again or tofu turkey or any other monstrosity you kids come up with every year. This year it’s adults against the rest of you. May the better team win.”

Silence followed Hal’s statement before the kitchen’s other three occupants began to complain loudly. Hal could only grin. Okay, yes, this was better than the Watchtower or France.

“Jason! Come out and face us, you coward!”

Even if it came with the possibility of a hospital visit.

[shewasanamericangirl]

I know, but for the benefit of those who may not be into tokusatsu and follow your blog, tell us about some of your favorite toku cuties!

oh boy, i could go on about this all day. which i will. hope you don’t mind that they’ll mostly be guys, as tokusatsu in general tends to be a sausagefest. i’ll try to avoid spoilers for the aforementioned non-toku devotees.

let’s get the obvious one out of the way first!

black woz from kamen rider zi-o

he came from 50 years in the future to give a high school boy a magic belt that would enable him to become an evil king with ultimate dominion over space-time

catchphrase: “REJOICE!” followed by super hammed up dramatic speeches whenever said high school boy gains a cool new power

user of the thoth stand

he basically worships this high school boy and tries to encourage him to become the despot who shaped the dystopian hellscape woz came from

he has a doppelganger we call white woz whose goals are completely counter to his, and you know what? the woz who stans the evil king is the good one

he likes natto and mustard on his rice

he can actually be surprisingly sassy if you push his buttons enough

woz’s actor, keisuke watanabe, is the prettiest human being in this universe

shinji kido from kamen rider ryuki

REJOICE! he’s also in zi-o!

he transforms into kamen rider ryuki, with dragon powers and a mask like a sports car grille

catchphrase is “oi, ren!” which was changed for me forever after watching the end of the rider time ryuki special

he is my son! i want to adopt him!

dumb as fuck, heart of gold, will let you peg

he works as a reporter at a not very reputable newspaper which seems to mostly publish investigations of weird rumors and urban legends

he also works as a waiter at this cute teahouse

he still has no money because his friend yui broke a window

in the world of ryuki, kamen riders must duke it out in a battle royale by transforming into their super alter egos and entering the monster-infested world on the other side of reflective surfaces

shinji doesn’t want to fight anyone though, he just wants to keep the monsters from hurting people!

he’s such a sweet cute idiot. i’d protect him with my life.

akira nijino from ressha sentai toQger

transforms into toQ 6gou, the the orange toQger

catchphrase: “this is the place where i will die…” (and variations on that)

reformed monster turned magical railroad worker turned hero

his introductory arc will tug at your heartstrings

his face turn happened after he saw a rainbow for the first time, and henceforth dedicated his life to protecting rainbows

his guilt complex hangs over him in the form of a literal rain cloud

he’s normally taciturn but gets super cheerful and giggly in the presence of cute baby animals, especially kittens

he loves public baths so much he uses the word “aishiteru”

he often makes his dramatic entrance while playing a mournful tune on his harmonica

he’s got a lot of internal conflict going on but he’s such a good guy

his monster form has the softest fluffiest ears and a bitchin cowboy outfit

seriously sets off my gaydar for some reason?

noel takao from kaitou sentai lupinranger VS keisatsu sentai patranger

transforms into both the silver lupin X AND the golden patren X

catchphrase is “oh la la!” which he says when surprised/excited/intrigued

he’s both a phantom thief and an elite international police officer. it just works…somehow.

uses his mecha train to travel between japan and france in no time flat

older than he looks

does unnecessary acrobatic stunts for the hell of it (which his actor, seiya motoki, really does!)

wants the phantom thieves and police officers to be friends and work together instead of fighting

lowkey shipper on deck

(accidentally typed “lowkey shipper on dick”)

is he japanese? is he french? well that is just his own sweet and sexy secret

owns a shiny silver and gold kimono equally as awesome as akira’s in the gif above

tsukasa kadoya from kamen rider decade

he’s kamen rider decade

catchphrase is “i’m just a kamen rider passing through…remember that!”

his show is so weird and confusing but that’s okay because he’s cute and has an adorably bad attitude

always trying to take photos with the camera he carries. they always turn out looking shitty. he says it’s because the world is rejecting him, and not because he’s shitty at taking photos.

so he’s supposed to hop universes destroying worlds but he seems to just keep saving them instead

said worlds are extremely strange AUs of the first nine heisei kamen rider shows

anyway, back to tsukasa. he has a weird and sexy way of sitting which he did in front of black woz once which made him start doing it

actually his interactions with black woz in zi-o are memorably hilarious for both characters

every time tsukasa enters a new world, he automatically has a job that helps him fit in. in the kiva world, he’s a concert violinist–and boy, can he play. in the blade world, he’s the head chef of a cafeteria, and comes up with some great (if a little underhanded) methods of making money.

what the fuck is he even doing?

will i have the answer to that by the time i finish watching decade or nah?

regardless, he’s incredibly charming, and pleasant to watch

ma…zhen…TA.

umika hayami from kaitou sentai lupinranger VS keisatsu sentai patranger

umika is secretly the super cute phantom thief lupin yellow!

she’s super cute and acts cheery but she’s got some intense sadness going on deep down which remains a secret to most people

waits tables at bistro jurer (the front for the lupinrangers)

i started watching lupat because she’s cute, even though i did not think i’d really get into super sentai

(i did)

fellow lupinranger and bistro staff kairi pinches her nose just like how his older brother used to pinch his nose

…when umika turns it around and pinches kairi’s nose…when that happens you will want to cry, just sayin

one of the patrangers gets a big dumb crush on her, unaware that she’s actually a lupinranger (can you blame him?)

she loves fashion and has a delightful sense of style

her favorite pair of earrings look like cherries and they’re soooooo cute, eat your heart out noriaki kakyoin

sougo tokiwa from kamen rider zi-o

he’s the high school boy black woz is obsessed with

he’s kamen rider zi-o, kamen rider zi-o ii, kamen rider oma zi-o, part of the fusion kamen rider zi-o trinity, and has a fuckton of various forms

in the tradition of shinji kido he is cute, dumb, sweet, and bleaches his hair

can you believe this widdle bitty cutie pie grows up to become a megalomaniacal overlord subjecting humanity to a dark timeline of misery and woe??

at least, he might. he’d rather not. the time travelers from 2068 inform him that it’s a definite possibility.

good at history, bad at math

has been convinced since childhood that he will become a king after graduating high school, and because of that, he has no other career aspirations and no friends…wah wah waaaaaaaah

a plucky orphan much like myself

possesses latent psychic time manipulation powers that are a little scary if you think about them too hard

haru “tokatti” tokashiki from ressha sentai toQger

blue hero toQ 2gou

during roll call he always bows and says something

adorkableness incarnate

this boy is a nervous wreck

he adjusts the train track visor on his sentai mask like it’s his glasses

massive crush on his childhood friend mio, aka toQ 3gou and the mom friend of the group (she is also a toku cutie i love to bits) (i ship it hard)

becomes particularly close friends with akira, which is interesting to see since their personalities (and suit colors) contrast so much

even when anxious and easily discouraged, tokatti is always brave and strong for his friends when in a pinch

thinks of his big brother ryo as a cool superhero

the glasses nerf just how handsome he is

i have a lot of other tokusatsu cuties i adore but these are some of the ones who’ve been on my mind the most lately! hopefully you readers enjoy this small sampling of tokusatsu dorks 💖

[teenwolf-rarepairs]

My god, I thought anyone shipped Dallison anymore. Please I want them for the ship thing

I know the felling, I started shipping them later on the series (after Allison’s death, mind you) so yeah. 

Who wakes the other one up with kisses: Occasionally Derek will do it, but it’s a rare occurrence.

Who is the morning person/night person: Allison is the morning person, though Derek has a habit of waking up early he’s cranky about it.

Who is the romantic one: Both of them are, but mostly Allison. 

Who is the more cuddly one: Derek. He says it’s a wolf thing, and that’s just part of the truth. He’s cuddly even for a werewolf.

Who cooks: Both of them.

Favorite nonsexual activity: Nerf wars. Derek finds it a good way to keep himself training with guns without using real guns. Allison just enjoys shooting at him. 

Their favorite place to be together: The preserve is a place they both find somewhat paceful.

Any traditions: They have dinner with Chris every Thursday and go camping with the pack at least twice a year.

Their “song”: Irresistible - Fall Out Boy

What they do for each other on holidays: Allison is thoughtful, so she likes getting him meaninful gifts. Derek asks Lydia for help.

Where did they go for their honeymoon: Saint-Tropez

Where did they first meet: At that party when Scott had to leave and Derek gave her a lift

Any pets: An ugly cat Allison rescued. Derek hated it at the beginning, but he’s fond of it by now. He would never admit it tho.

What do they fight over: Nothing and everything really. It’s more like constant bickering, but the real fights tend to happen when they can’t agree in pack meetings over a plan or when one of them takes innecessary risks.

Do they go on vacations, if so where: They take vacations in France while visiting Isaac, or in South America when Cora finally accepts Allison. 

Who kills the bugs; Both of them, though Allison takes care of spiders since Derek hates them.

Who hogs the sheets; Allison, but Derek kicks them off anyways, so it’s not a problem.

Who hates mornings; None of them, but Derek hates to wake up early after a full moon.

Who’s cranky before they had their coffee; Allison. Since caffeine doesn’t really do anything for Derek he’s cranky even after having his coffee.

Who’s doesn’t like their mother in law; DEREK

Who drives; They both do, but Derek is a better driver.

Who gets horny in awkward public places; Allison, she really enjoys to tease him in the most improper moments. 

Who had a scene phase; None of them, but Derek was close.

Who wore braces; Allison wore them when she was a kid. Derek teases her mercilessly about it

Who got bullied; Both of them. Allison for being a year older than her classmates. Derek got bullied after Paige died and he became more introvert. 

Who is louder?: Allison usually

Who is more experimental?: Allison gets very creative sometimes and Derek just goes with it

Who takes more risks?: Both of them, though Allison is the most reckless

Do they fuck or make love?: At the beginning they just fucked, sometimes really hard. After they both grew up past their grudges and fell in love, they started actually making love. 

Lights on or off?: On. They both like to watch every inch of each other.

Who is more likely to be caught masturbating?: None of them is a prude, but Derek is quite private about his intimacy. Allison gets caught by him on purpose. 

Who is more likely to suggest a threesome?: Allison has suggested it once or twice.

Has either stolen the other’s underwear?: Not stolen, but Allison once left her panties in the loft and Derek didn’t return them.

Who comes first?: It depends on the moment

Who is better at oral and who prefers it?: Derek, hands down. Allison likes to do it and watch Derek struggle to keep himself under control, but when he does it it’s her undoing. 

Who is more submissive?: Neither of them, really. But Derek lets her take control sometimes and enjoys it.

Who usually initiates things?: They’re even.

Who is more sensitive?: Derek is more sensitive, but he doesn’t show it as much as Allison.

Who has the most patience?: Derek. Allison has a hot temper and her patience wears thin quick enough

Which kinks do they share?: They both have a thing for dominance and Allison has suggested a couple of things as well. But that’s the most common one for them. 

[rgr-pop]

I need an ENTIRE afternoon wall of noise. 4/3 music library on shuffle until I hit a killdozer song.

the thermals - “god and country” reset - "double cross" nirvana - "polly" (1986-88 home recording) nirvana - "radio friendly unit shifter" (2013 mix) peterbuilt - "sateliteyes" the dickies - "got it at the store" apocalypse hoboken - "box of pills" fiona apple - "slow like honey" tex & the horseheads - "big boss man" everclear - "the drama king" anti-flag - "america got it right" neil young - "tonight's the night, pt. ii" everclear - "brown-eyed girl" noooooooooo oh my god no please millencolin - “israelites" listen you know that i'm p tolerant when it comes to this subject but why specifically did you boys do this. specifically you useless id - "note" never accuse me of pop punk nationalism again! that's three of global pop punk the selecter - "selling out your future" built to spill - "some things last a long time" holidays - "proof" let's wrestle - "bad mammaries" radhos - "one breath" ween - "boing" bracket - "g-vibe" local h - "'cha!' said the kitty" sublime - "40oz to freedom" failure - "saturday saviour" blink-182 - "don't leave me" (tmtts live take) why did they make this live album, they were so bad live shrimp boat - "melon song" interpol - "not even jail" the ataris - "angry nerd rock" 50 million - "superhero" skankin pickle - "violent love" the breeders - "put on a side" all - "honey peeps" the commandos (suicide commandos) - "weekend warrior" suicide machines - "friends are hard to find" the eclectics - "laura" good ska block! love this band pansy division - "jack u off" rocket from the tombs - "ain't it fun" dynamite boy - "devoted" young pioneers - "downtown tragedy" the breeders - "so sad about us" fenix tx - "jean claude trans am" fuck i love this song nofx - "bob" hickey - "happily ever after" bob dylan - "tangled up in blue" (bootlegs vol. 2) gas huffer - "king of hubcaps" tullycraft - "crush this town" atom and his package - "goalie" faith no more - "the real thing" carly rae jepsen - "tell me" bis - "listen up" one direction - "still the one" mtx - "she's no rocket scientist" eugene chadbourne - "roger miller medley" grouvie ghoulies - "carly simon" white town - "thursday at the blue note" gas huffer - "moon mission" rx bandits - "sleepy tyme" everclear - "rocket for the girl" failure - "kindred" blood on the saddle - "johnny's at the fair" the distillers - "red carpet and rebellion" cruiserweight - "dearest drew" stp - "plush" everclear - "wonderful" (live, from the closure ep) (don't hate it) new found glory - "sonny" everclear - "otis redding" (impure white evil demo) (BEST song) stp - "adhesive" incubus - "have you ever" cub - "tell me now" everclear - "short blonde hair" i simply do not hate it letters to cleo - "happy ever after" amazing transparent man - “the ocean is a fuck of a long way to swim” nerf herder - “(stand by your) manatee” kitty kitty - “ab tokeless” osker - “the mistakes you made” perfume genius - “hood” radhos - “shut up & deal” (welcome to the jungle take) osker - “the body”  gas huffer - “the sin of sloth” the fall - “bombast” excuse 17 - “code red” mad season - “lifeless dead” unwritten law - “differences” hanson - “two tears” the eyeliners - “anywhere but here” moby grape - “lazy me” brian wilson - “wonderful” 88 fingers louie - “something i don’t know” sicko - “wisdom tooth weekend” the replacements - “love you till friday” suicide machines - “green world” midtown - “another boy” hickey - “cool kids attacked by flying monkeys” the roman invasion suite - “carnations” the beat - “tears of a clown” local h - “24 hour break up session” okay i’m awake i want to end this now toots & the maytals - “funky kingston” local h - “strict-9″ his name is alive - “her eyes were huge things” nirvana - “frances farmer will have her revenge on seattle” slapstick - “almost punk enough” urge overkill - “bionic revolution” janet jackson - “you want this” piebald - “long nights” small brown bike - “now i’m a shadow” the story so far - “left unsaid” crj - “more than a memory” tracy + the plastics - “my friends end parties” liz phair - “6′1″“ fastbacks - “555, pt. 1″ this mix is feminist now swindle - “one track” shockabilly - “burma shave” temple of the dog - “say hello to heaven” amazing transparent man - “shove” cool soul asylum cover from dekalb illinois :)) the vindictives “eating me alive” midwests only!! the judys - “radiation squirm” gulfs only!! frogpond - “sleep” flipp - “rock-n-roll star” throwing muses - “red shoes” everclear - “santa monica” throwing muses on summerland??? mekons - “atone & forsaken” holidays - “take me home country roads” this is a good tone to lead up to killdozer... true believers - “all mixed up again” prince - “adore” beulah - “queen of the populists” eveclear - “rocky mountain high” (99x live acoustic--I don’t have a date for this actually) of montreal - “dustin hoffman thinks about eating the soap” heatmiser - “stray” rickie lee jones - “woody and dutch on the slow train to peking” tar - “viaduct removal” common rider - “carry on” the frogs - “u bastards” mudhoney - “this gift” hammerbox - “outside” fuck my mom would have loved this song if it had gotten the airplay it deserved in 1993... hammerbox on summerland!!!! letters to cleo - “little rosa” kay hanley on summerland!! nine pound hammer “wrongside of the road” hanson - “with you in your dreams” (3cg demo) hamson on summerland!!! fastbacks - “555, pt. 1″ again... fastbacks on summerland!!! face to face - “sensible” soul asylum - “happy” soul asylum on summerland!!!! television - “see no evil” pinq - “careful not to mention the obvious” the dickies - “nights in white satin” tar - “mel’s” truly - “chlorine” babes in toyland - “deep song” hole - “berry” hellbender - “half driven” hammerhead  - “new york? ...alone?” everclear - “malevolent” guzzard - “last”  archers of loaf - “tatyana” hum - “stars” hum on summerland die kreuzen - “don’t say please” this is not fair joanna newsom - “sadie” down by law - “peace, love and understanding” nirvana - “aneurysm” (1990 demo) hovercraft - “endoradiosonde” modest mouse - “cowboy dan” rage against the machine - “born of a broken man” skatalites - “scandal ska” pylon - “driving school” the vindictives - “babysitter” jimmy eat world - “ten” the get up kids - “lowercase west thomas” oh we’re doing this now? hot rod circuit - “knees” fine triple fast action - “the rescue” FINE  full disclosure i do skip emo diaries tracks at my discretion the amps - “bragging party” everclear - “am radio” this is not fair mxpx - “middlename” MXPX ON SUMMERLAND chokebore - “your let down” bob dylan - “you’re a big girl now” helmet - “primitive” pond - “filterless” blink-182 - “all the small things” local h - “ralph” tar - “over and out” pearl jam - “black” the gits - “sniveling little rat faced git” local h - “eddie vedder” >:) tar - “flow plow” i always misremember this as a subpop single so i’m like “i’m not amphetamine reptile biased?” but it was an a/r release, lol. brad wood produced it. lake michigan as hell  unicorns - “jellybones” this song makes me sad ever since i didn’t get to adopt the jellybones cat oblivion - “clark” desmond dekker - “jeserene” veruca salt - “one last time” veruca salt on summerland!!!! dead moon - “dead moon night” extremely dead moon on summerland fishbone - “i like to hide behind my glasses” dead moon - “on my own” paw - “sleeping bag” tar - “goethe” doc dart - “casket with flowers” smashing pumpkins - “zero” i don’t want billy corgan on summerland and i am sorry for that kicking giant - “&” kicking giant on summerland lmao shockabilly - “pile up all architecture” ween - “sorry charlie” sublime - “april 29, 1992 (miami)” heatmiser - “blackout” the clash - “pressure drop” hellbender - “pissant’s retrospective” the queers - “i won’t be” the vindictives - “circles” the beat farmers - “selfish heart” screaming trees - “end of the universe” 7 year bitch - “second hand” bourgeois filth - “above” nirvana - “scoff” the breeders - “cannonball” saturday looks good to me - “save my life” cara beth satalino - “good ones” communique - “dagger version” soul asylum - “sometime to return” sublime - “jailhouse” tullycraft - “twee” nuns - “wild” beyonce - “countdown” the replacements - “sixteen blue” living colour - “what’s your favorite color” britney - “why should i be sad” mdc - “church and state” alice in chains - “junkhead” rage against the machine - “mic check” everclear - “nervous and weird” soundgarden - “fresh tendrils” helmet - “army of me” the gits - “it all dies anyway” pansy division - “smells like queer spirit” mtx - “i’d do anything for you” 5 year sentence - “just a punk” pennywise - “nothing” mudhoney - “thirteenth floor opening” yesterday’s kids - “eighteen” mxpx - “punk rawk show” small brown bike - “zerosum” incubus - “trouble in 421″ hanson - “speechless” incubus - “circles” dead moon - “my time has come” (!!!!) first of all is this killdozer blink-182 - “here’s your letter” everclear - “electra made me blind” (nervous & weird take) saves the day - “through being cool” groovie ghoulies - “don’t go out into the rain (you’re gonna melt)” babes in toyland - “never” husker du - “target” guzzard - “biro” fairweather - “next day flight” mcr - “house of wolves” broadcast - “until then” liz phair - “never said” the dicks - “rich daddy” quasi - “the iron worm” mustard plug - “not again” janitor joe - “boyfriend” snapcase - “new academy” neil young - “someday” blindsided - “spaceman” placebo - “without you i’m nothing” the creeps - “lakeside cabin” solomon grundy - “time is not your own” the clash - “the card cheat” silversun pickups - “common reactor” lagwagon - “leave the light on” denali - “where i landed” system of a down - “highway song” sprinkler - “personality doll” the vindictives - “structure and function” unplugged” the queers - “ursula finally has tits” we’re entering no repeats territory  buffalo springfield - “expecting to fly” hit squad - “pictures of matchstick men” cows - “almost a god” hop along - “young and happy” pixies - “i’ve been tired” the fall - “spoilt victorian child” camper van chadbourne - “knock on the door” queens of the stone age - “tension head” choking victim - “war story” cool that we have gotten to drop by the greatest song ever recorded :) guttermount - “happy loving couples” audio karate - “nintendo 89″ tad - “pork chop” the kelley deal 6000 - “where did the home team go” colorfinger - “hateful” :} man or astroman - “evil plans of planet spectra” pere ubu - “arabian nights” accepting repeats for  new found glory - “my friends over you” cool moving on american steel - “optimist” tom petty & the heartbreakers - “even the losers” meat puppets - “another moon” black cat music - “wine in a box” wallside - “ready” crucifucks - “pig in a blanket” the bananas - “my charmed life”

KILLDOZER - “EARL SCHEIB,” UNCOMPROMISING WAR ON ART UNDER THE DICTATORSHIP OF THE PROLETARIAT, 1994. KILLDOZER ON SUMMERLAND

[chaosamplified]

1: the meaning behind my url: chaoSAMplified. because it has Sam in it and Sam is my name (half of my name? I have 2 names now) and also because I thought I was really cool when I made it

2: a picture of me: my profile pic

3: how many tattoos I have and what they are: I have 0 currently

4: last time I cried and why: Wednesday because I was drunk and I listened to Mariana’s Trench

5: piercings I have: 2 lobe piercings in each ear but i only wear them in 1 ear

6: favorite band: Fall Out Boy

7: biggest turn offs: Republicanism

8: top 5 (insert subject): Anon didn’t give me a subject. Feel free to give me subjects lmao

9: tattoos I want: I want to get my t date on my arm (once I have a t date), something large on my left thigh and a lil ghost somewhere

10: biggest turn ons: I don’t even know I’ve had the same crush for like 5 years and the one other person I’ve had a crush on since then (maybe still do? Idk) is veryyyyy similar to him so uh. I literally don’t know

11: age: 18, 19 in 17 days!

12: ideas of a perfect date: Realistically like going to cedar point together just the two of us, idealistically like going on a week long road trip to the other side of the country and visiting the ocean

13: life goal: Get a Grammy

14: piercings I want: I don’t think I want any more

15: relationship status: Single and trying too hard

16: favorite movie: Nobody has an actual answer to this question. I guess I’d say The Imitation Game

17: a fact about my life: I had a personal protection order against someone at age 12? Idk

18: phobia: I’m a fearless bitch

19: middle name: Alexander 🤙

20: height: 5’1” for all of eternity

21: are you a virgin: Virginity is a social construct developed to slut shame women. Also as a Gay Trans that word has very little meaning at all

22: what’s your shoe size: 7

23: what’s your sexual orientation: We just went through this. Gay

24: do you smoke, drink, or take any drugs: I have smoked weed but don’t really enjoy it, never smoked cigarettes, yes drink, have lots of prescription drugs

25: someone you miss: Max :(

26: what’s one thing you regret: Not talking to my mom for 6 months in 2012

27: first celebrity you think of when someone says attractive: First of all I think of a person I know, not a celebrity. But Halsey is hot as hell. I’m so gay but Halsey man

28: favorite ice cream: Raspberry

29: one insecurity: b o o b

30: what my last text message says: From me: yeah no prob 🙂👍. From someone else: ok cool thank u lol

31: have you ever taken a picture naked: hnnnnng yeah

32: have you ever painted your room: I didn’t but my dad and sister painted mine while I was in France

33: have you ever kissed a member of the same gender: (I’m using gender instead of sex because sex is fucky): Yes a couple of ems

34: have you ever slept naked: Of course

35: have you ever danced in front of your mirror: Every single time I drink if I’m being honest

36: have you ever had a crush: Always

37: have you ever been dumped: Lots of times :-)

38: have you ever stole money from a friend: No but Charlie paid for a ton of my laundry once and I still have to pay him back

39: have you ever gotten in a car with people you just met: YES my boyfriend at the time was about to leave me at this place outside after an event but instead I got in this van with a whole bunch of his friends I didn’t know it was a mess

40: have you ever been in a fist fight: No I’m a bottom

41: have you ever snuck out of the house: Only once and it was to go with max to meijer at midnight and he bought a nerf gun and we shot at each other in his car in the michaels parking lot until like 2am and I have absolutely no regrets it’s still one of the best days of my life

42: have you ever had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back: I’m gonna say yes but also I’m not entirely sure how he feels so like. Probably yes

43: have you ever been arrested: No

44: have you ever made out with a stranger: No

45: have you ever met up with a member of the opposite gender somewhere: Yeah Alessandra and I just had lunch the other day. Jk I know what this is implying and I’m extremely gay and also no

46: have you ever left the house without telling your parents: This is the same as number 41

47: have you ever had a crush on your neighbor: Define neighbor?

48: have you ever ditched school to do something more fun: On my 16th birthday I stayed home so my dads girlfriend at the time could give me blonde highlights (yikes)

49: have you ever slept in a bed with a member of the same gender: Yeah

50: have you ever seen someone die: No

51: have you ever been on a plane: Yes!

52: have you ever kissed a picture: Yikes probably

53: have you ever slept until 3: I hate that you say this like it’s a challenge, I do this at least 4 times a month

54: have you ever loved someone or miss someone right now: Yes and yes

55: have you ever laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by: Yes

56: have you ever made a snow angel: Yes

57: have you ever played dress up: It was my favorite thing when I was little (plot twist I’m trans now)

58: have you ever cheated while playing a game: Probably (ps I lose)

59: have you ever been lonely: Always

60: have you ever fallen asleep at work/school: So many times

61: have you ever been to a club: Yeah Lio and I went to Necto once lol

62: have you ever felt an earthquake: Yes! I was 5 and in California

63: have you ever touched a snake: Yes

64: have you ever ran a red light: I hope not

65: have you ever been suspended from school: No

66: have you ever had detention: No

67: have you ever been in a car accident: Yes but it wasn’t that bad, the car was totaled but everyone was fine

68: have you ever hated the way you look: Everyday babee

69: have you ever witnessed a crime: Yeah

70: have you ever pole danced: No

71: have you ever been lost: In a figurative or literal way? The answer to both is yes

72: have you ever been to the opposite side of the country: Yes I’ve been to California

73: have you ever felt like dying: Haha yeah

74: have you ever cried yourself to sleep: What are these questions of course I have

75: have you ever sang karaoke: Not in front of more than like 3 people

76: have you ever done something you told yourself you wouldn’t: So many times lol yeet

77: have you ever laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose: YES

78: have you ever slept with someone at least 5 years older or younger: No

79: have you ever kissed in the rain: I’m trying to remember but I don’t think so?

80: have you ever sang in the shower: I’m a little bit shook myself by this but I honestly don’t think so?

81: have you ever made out in a park: Yes would recommend

82: have you ever dreamt that you married someone: Not like literally dreams no

83: have you ever glued your hand to something: Lol what no

84: have you ever got your tongue stuck to a flag pole: No gross

85: have you ever gone to school partially naked: No what

86: have you ever been a cheerleader: No but I used to say it’s what I wanted to be when I grew up lol

87: have you ever sat on a rooftop: Unfortunately no

88: have you ever brushed your teeth: Yes?????

89: have you ever been too scared to watch scary movies alone: Not too scared but I don’t really like watching any movies alone

90: have you ever played chicken: Like the water game? Yes with max and his sisters it was honestly a grand time

91: have you ever been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on: No but goals

92: have you ever been told you’re hot but a complete stranger: Yes I’ve been on tinder

93: have you ever broken a bone: Nope

94: have you ever been easily amused: A friend told me the other day that I laugh at everything

95: have you ever laughed so hard you cried: Of course

96: have you ever mooned/flashed someone: No consent is important

97: have you ever cheated on a test: If you say you haven’t you’re a liar

98: have you ever forgotten someone’s name: Yep

99: have you ever met someone who didn’t seem real: Do you mean like too good to be real or like I’m dissociating and they literally don’t seem real cuz uhh

100: give us one thing about you that nobody knows: I’m alone in a room with a stranger in a bed that’s not my own (jk listen to my song Matches on YouTube https://youtu.be/Q-SGbIjLYEI)

[blackphoenixalchemylab]

It’s Time for 2017′s LILITH & FATHERHOOD Updates!

Every year, BPAL and Trading Post founders Elizabeth and Ted Barrial look back over the past year in their daughter Lilith's life, isolating moments and sense memories worthy of enshrining in scent. This year, the result amounts to thirty-five unique, limited edition blends. Behold: ++ FATHERHOOD 2017 ++ LILITH 2017 Happy ninth birthday, Lilith! These will be available at tonight's Lunacy event at the Lab, and for a limited time beyond.

++ LILITH 2017

Lilith, my angel, I love you with all my heart. I love the hiccup’ing snorts of your bellylaugh, I love the strange stormy grey of your eyes. I love your fart jokes and your songs, I love our late night talks. I love everything about you, from your taste in shoes to your moral fiber. I love your kindness and your strength of character, I love your sense of humor and your sense of justice.

I love you, I love being your mom.

Happy birthday, Lilith. ADMETE

On the last day of school, some of the families get together at the beach to celebrate the onset of summer break. It was cold, grey, and overcast, but that was hardly daunting for this little Oceanid. Lilith and her friends splashed and played in water I couldn’t put a toe into. She boogie boarded for the first time that day and fell in love. The beach bunny I have now is a far cry from the Tiny Virgo who wouldn’t go near the sand because she didn’t want her Doritos to get dirty.

Driftwood and sea salt submerged in a marine layer, a touch of sweet carnation, bright neroli, and a sandy strip of kelp.

APOCALYPTIC HORSEPRINCESS

Lilith has always enjoyed the company of monsters. She grew up at Dark Delicacies, and two of her favorite toys when she was a baby were a Freddy Krueger rubber mask and a matching Freddy doll (with razor hands that were blunted by Grandma Sue so Lil didn’t poke an eye out). She has fears just like any other kid, but her monster friends help protect her from “real life” dangers. When she gets scared late at night, we talk about her ghost friends that roam the house, the vampires that live in our basement, the werewolves that hang out in the yard, the zombies that keep spare brains in our garage freezer, and all the other monsters (imaginary monster friends?) that love her and keep her safe from “real world” dangers. When we vend at horror-centric conventions, the monsters are always so nice to Lilith. At Midsummer Scream, she gets tons of high-fives from shambling ghouls and radioactive plant horrors, and she gets hugs from demented clowns and slobbering werebeasts.

Ever since Lilith was in kindergarten, we’ve helped with her school’s Halloween party, so she’s grown up loving setting up and working in haunted houses and horror mazes.

This photo is from this year’s Midsummer Scream. Lilith was inspecting a headless horseman scene, getting ideas for this year’s Halloween maze.

Crushed mint and neon lime, sour candy powder, and wild plum.

BABY’S FIRST CON PANEL

On July 20th, Lilith went to her first SDCC panel. As a carny kid and the tiniest Lab Rat, she’s been to tons of cons and events, and we’ve been taking her to San Diego Comic Con since birth. While she’s always had a good time, this was the first year that she was independently invested in her enjoyment there. She tore up the vending area, played video game demos, went looking for Arthas’ ice cream shop, and sat through several panels of her choosing. It was an experience that was truly /hers/ for the first time, and that was a really amazing piece of magic that I was privileged to witness.

The scent of the soft pretzel we hid in our backpack, plus a bit of leftover chocolate chip cookie.

BRUNCH WITCHES

Dressed in her witchy best for brunch with the fam!

Pumpkin pancakes and berries in cream.

CEMETERY CREEP

This summer, Brian got married at the Mountain View Mausoleum. As a side benefit, the Barrials got to spend hours skulking around its beautiful, cavernous halls in the weeks leading up to the event. Lilith loves the vast quietness of the mausoleum almost as much as she enjoys playing tag in the cemetery, and wandered the halls doing impromptu math equations to figure out how old people were when they passed.

I love this little cemetery creep with all my cobwebby heart.

Marble-white musk, orris root, and vanilla blossom.

CLOSET RAID

Funny how much better Lilith looks in my clothes than I do! This is the scent of generations of children raiding their parents’ closets: my grandmother and mother’s Chanel No. 5, my father and grandfather’s Lilac Vegetal, my Snake Oil, and Lilith’s lavender blossoms.

DANCING AMONG THE TOMBS

Autumn at Lilith’s favorite cemetery, Lafayette No. 1.

Osmanthus and jasmine, Spanish moss and dandelion, Snake Oil and Dorian.

DAYBREAK

Just a photo of Lilith and Pickle that I took one morning. I love this little human so, so much.

Last night’s lavender drops and a whiff of Pickle’s vanilla coconut pupper shampoo.

DO ALL THE GOOD YOU CAN

Lilith has been involved with our humanitarian and philanthropic work for several years, helping with fundraising events like our food, toy, and feminine napkin drives; she has taken the initiative a few times now, setting up her own fundraisers for the UNHCR and Pasadena Humane Society. This year, we decided that she’s old enough to do the footwork, and she volunteered with us twice in serving those currently experiencing homelessness. This photo is from Christmas Day 2017: Lilith spent several hours helping us distribute food, toiletries, and sleeping bags in Hollywood.

Madagascar vanilla and sweet patchouli with Yule pine, white fig, and almond blossom.

DO YOU LIKE CLOWNS?

Lilith has been watching Drag Race with me since she was teething, and she has worked with us at every Drag Con. She loves filming promo videos with Tom for the Nobodies events. She loves watching drag makeup tutorials, UNHhhh, and Alaska’s videos, and one of her goals in life is to pull off a reveal like Violet Chachki’s tartan runway look on the first day of school. So when she heard that Bob the Drag Queen was looking for a little girl for a comedy video, she was all over it. She loves Bob, she loves drag, and she loooooooooves being a big funny ham on stage. I’m the worst stage mom in all of Los Angeles history, and she has no headshots and no reel—so I sent over a funny photo of Lilith jetlagged and one of her Nobodies vids, and somehow she got the gig. It was one of the best days of her life. Bob and the crew were incredibly nice and friendly, and Lilith had the time of her life. To say thank you, she drew this picture for Bob of the two of them together on a bus bench.

Raspberry ice cream and a smear of black cherry lip gloss.

EGO SUM LUX MUNDI

Doing her work at the grotto, the International Shrine of St Jude at Our Lady of Guadelupe Chapel in New Orleans.

Frankincense and myrrh with golden amber, green apple pulp, and white pear.

GAS MASKS AND SNAILS AND PUPPY DOG TAILS

My offspring loves crossbows, gas masks, and kittens. She loves unicorns and rainbows and rhinestones and glitter, insects and Spongebob and fart jokes and whoopee cushions. She has a Nerf arsenal that would make her great-great-great-great-great (so many greats) Grandpa Attila proud, and a sea of big-eyed, rainbow-poofy plushies you could (probably literally) drown in. She loves fashion dolls as much as she loves anatomical models, Legos as much as she loves jewelry, and Hamlet as much as she loves My Little Pony. I love the diversity of her interests, and that—over the years—she is finding peace with loving what she loves, regardless of what anyone else might think.

Cotton candy and jellybeans with sugar cookie crumbles and vanilla frosting.

THE GODDESS OF MISCHIEF

Lilith has a ton of empathy for the God of Mischief. I think many kids identify with Loki because they know what it’s like to be passed over, to be ignored in favor of a shinier relative or friend, and what it feels like to not be as strong or powerful as some of your peers. He may be evil(ish), but he has a sense of humor and a grasp of irony that kids relate to, and that’s worth its weight in Alfheimian gold nuggets.

Thor is great and all, but Loki has /gone through some shit/, and Lilith respects that.

But what are the main reasons why Lilith digs Loki? “He looks like me, and he’s really funny.”

Girl!Loki costume by Chrissy Lynn!

White lavender and sweet amber, green oudh, and inky musk.

HECK ON WHEELS

Sometimes I make a perfume just because I love this kid. Red velvet confetti cupcakes and bubblegum.

HUNTRESS

This was the day that we discovered that Lilith was likely a sharpshooter crossbowman in another life. She was startlingly accurate, even with the handicap of using a clumsy carnival weapon.

Funnel cakes, baked apples, and strawberry cream.

LITTLE PHOTOJOURNALIST

Lilith Barrial, budding photojournalist, at the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis, King of France, New Orleans, LA. She’s been snapping photos since she was a toddler; we have whole photo albums of blurry photos of shoes and pavers from those days. She loves taking her powder pink instax on trips, and loves to document playdates with her friends.

Cathedral incense and rock candy.

PAYING HER RESPECTS

Lilith’s annual visit to St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.

Star jasmine and tobacco leaf.

PEW! PEW!

There is nothing that sparks joy for me quite like sharing something I love with Lilith. She’s been playing console games with me on and off since she was five, though she took a break from Diablo for a while after Brian bailed on her to chase after a treasure goblin.

Blue raspberry slushy, a bowl of strawberries, and microwavable popcorn.

POKE!

On December 30th, Lilith went with a gaggle of her Grownups, her plush alligator, Crocky (there’s a story there), and one of her besties, Camilla, to get their ears pierced by the wonderful people at Studio City Tattoo. When the needle went through, she didn’t scream and she didn’t cry… she growled “FFFFFFFFFffFFfffFfffFffffffffffaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh” in an attempt to repress the impulse to yell FUCK in the middle of the tattoo shop. Tom and I got new piercings in solidarity, but Crocky, Teddy, and Brian all declined.

Coconut and red currant, red musk, and a pop of surgical steel. POTAMIDES

Thanks to the much-needed winter rains this year, my little river nymph was finally able to see the creeks in Eaton Canyon as something other than dry, fawn-beige, tumbleweed-strewn strips of sandwash. In the past, she’s always been ambivalent about hiking, but something about the rushing streams and sparkling waters enchanted her, and she fell in love.

Honeysuckle and honey, water lilies and white sage.

THE SPECTRAL FLOWER GIRL

The ghosts swarm.

They speak as one

person. Each

loves you. Each

has left something

undone...

With love to Rae Armantrout for the poem. Black lilies, red roses, and baby’s breath.

Lilith has been taking kiddo Shakespeare classes for the past four years, and absolutely loves them. Last year, they did a mini-series focusing on Julius Caesar, King Lear, and the Tempest. The kids analyze the plays, and perform scenes from them; then, at the end of the cycle, they put together a play of their own based on the themes in the works of Shakespeare that they have studied. Their play this time around was entitled Evil Bunny.

STORYBOARD: JULIUS CAESAR

Lilith performed as Marc Antony, and showed off her orator skills. Hearing Lilith speak at Caesar’s funeral gave me the chills. She came to bury Caesar, not to praise him.

Macerated myrrh, rose petals, and iris with frankincense and a splash of blood.

STORYBOARD: THE TEMPEST

Lilith played Ariel and Miranda, and said she liked playing Miranda more. She said it’s easy to relate, because her mom is a lot like Prospero.

I’m still trying to figure out whether that’s a compliment or an insult.

Ivy and lime rind, marigold and moss.

NYC SNOWBALL FIGHT

Last winter, we took Lilith to New York for the first time. We were en route to the march in Washington, DC, with our friends, and made a few pit stops on the way. This photo was taken a split second before I got snowballed in the face at the East 72nd Street Playground. The handsome devil in the background is one of Lilith’s best friends in the world, Kyle.

Snowballs and vanilla ice cream.

VALUABLE, POWERFUL, DESERVING

In a hotel in Baltimore, Lilith helped me color in my sign for the Women’s March in DC. She had made her own two signs — brimming with Girl Power and featuring a unicorn, of course — but finished in time to help me get mine all dolled up.

There are many criticisms of the march that are valid, but I will tell you this: being able to show my daughter thousands upon thousands of people that were demanding a government built on justice, compassion, and acceptance was something incredibly powerful. The experience she had meeting other children who were there in the hopes of a kinder, brighter future was invaluable. It was a pivotal moment, this ability to demonstrate for her /how to show up/ and how to /work/ for a better country and a better future for marginalized and under-represented groups. It was incredible being there in Washington with her, and I will never forget it. I hope this experience helped to reveal her own inner strength to her, and the strength she can find in her allies.

Golden amber, vanilla oudh, and orange blossom.

VAMPIRE PRINCESS

Last Halloween, Lilith wanted to be Maleficent, so we hooked her up with a Maleficent costume. The horns were imbalanced, though, and she was frustrated, so she decided to wear the rest of the costume—sans horns—and be a vampire. She looked amazing (in my motherly opinion), but when the time came to trick or treat, her voluminous skirts and flowing cape made it difficult for her to keep up with the other kids. We tried knotting it, hiking it up, everything…and in the end, she vowed never to wear another costume that she can’t run and jump in.

Blood musk and lavender with bourbon vanilla, plum oudh, black patchouli, and Romanian wildflowers.

WINTER AT THE CAPITOL

It was a cold, cold day, and a thick fog obfuscated everything. It was tremendously symbolic in myriad ways.

It’s funny. Lilith was two months old when Obama was elected, and I remember how I felt that night as the election returns were coming in. When his presidency was announced, it was like a fist surrounding my heart unclenched, and I could breathe again. With Lilith in my arms, I inexplicably wept with relief, suddenly believing with all my heart that she was safe, and that her future—all of our futures—were on a trajectory of kindness and justice buoyed by hope. The country is flawed and imperfect, but we were on our way to making things right.

Then November of 2016 happened, and in January, a thick fog descended on the National Mall and the fist clamped around my heart again.

++ FATHERHOOD 2017

Expressing my love for Lilith in words will always be hard for me because my skill set does not include this word-and-spelling thing. At least I know that I am on the right track when I have to stop because I am crying. Here goes nothing… Happy ninth birthday, Lilith. You are the best part of me and Elizabeth, you are my partner in crime, you are my best little friend, you are my love and joy and I treasure every single second that we spend together. I do my best not to, but sometimes, I cry when I think about how much I love you. I would do anything to shield you from the sadness of the world and it hurts to see shed any tears.. Every so often, I have this huge fear of you outgrowing me and not needing me. It is usually during those times when you run off with your friends and I find myself standing there alone. I am afraid that you might have moved on from your dad but, thankfully you still return and ask me to join in and play with you. I will forever cherish these moments. I love the time we share while we are walking and you reach out to hold my hand. As I have always said, as long as you want, I will continue to hoist you up on my shoulders. You might be getting a little heavy to carry but I promise I will carry you down the aisle for your wedding if you ask me to. I know that you might not realize it now but I hope that when you are a woman, you will look back at your ninth year and remember it with happiness and joy because I sure will. All my love, Daddy THE PILLORY Captain Lilith is a harsh taskmaster and her first mate has been put him up for public humiliation. His crime must have been not making her buttered pasta fast enough. Can he escape? Will people come by and throw tomatoes at him? Caramelized rum ice cream with a splatter of berries. SPINNING ON GRAVES Late at night, as you walk through a dark and creepy cemetery, all is quiet except for the giggling of two kids: one is eight and one is fifty-eight. They are standing in the middle of the tombstones; the bigger kid is spinning the little kid around by her arms. They spin and spin and then fall down laughing. What could be more fun than falling down on people’s graves? Dorian and lavender mist, crushed grass, cypress leaf, and a drop of clove. 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 Lilith “All-Night Party Bean” Barrial begged us to allow her to stay up past midnight and ring in the New Year at the Los Angeles Zoo with her oldest friend Novi. How could we refuse? We all danced, we sang, we drank apple cider, and we partied all night long. They would have stayed until the dawn if the zoo had not kicked us out. You know what they say, you don’t have to go home but the monkeys want you to leave. Vanilla cake with sprinkles and red velvet cupcakes, with a touch of climbing wisteria and sparkling apple cider. A CUTE KID Near the end of last semester, we arrived to pick her up from school and she was hanging out in her classroom drawing pictures on the white board. Of course I joined in and wrote “funny looking kid” with an arrow pointing at her. She changed it and wrote “a cute kid”, and gave me her big giant smile as if to say I WIN! Pale lavender and Tahitian vanilla with a smudge of chalk dust and a pop of strawberry bubblegum. WEDNESDAY'S CHILD IS FULL OF WOE Our friend, Lee Moyer, asked if Lilith could be a model for an illustration of Wednesday Addams that he was working on, They wanted a photo of her in a lab and of course I jumped at the chance to take a photo of my baby. I grabbed my camera and we set up a little table. We had so much fun decorating the table. Lilith was running around grabbing things and saying, “Can we use this? Can we use that?” Luckily for her, there's no shortage of creepy things scattered around her house. A little kid’s interpretation of a gothy goth perfume: sugared clove and vanilla patchouli with cacao, dried Avignon rose petals, and a bit of black cherry. MY LITTLE THEMYSCIRAN PRINCESS As I was carrying Lilith around the San Diego comic con, people would stop us and ask to take a photo of her cosplaying Wonder Woman. As I set her down, a change would come over her: she would light up, engage the person, and charm the hell out of them while the photo was being taken. She would be so charismatic and charming, and then would then come back to me, this shining, happy little kid, and ask to be picked up all over again. I was so proud of her, and I love my lil Themysciran princess. Rich, sweet, valiant amber, coconut milk, honeyed saffron, LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER Raisin' 'em right! The t-shirt that Lilith is wearing is Alaska Thunderf*ck's Lil' Poundcake. Lilith, I am your real dad and I always will be! Pomegranate cotton candy. ZIP LINE My Danger Baby loves to do crazy things and for some reason, I am always chosen to accompany her on these adventures. (Editor's note: it's because her mother possesses an actual survival instinct.) At the Renaissance Faire, we rode the zip line.... and let’s just say that it rode up a bit on my naughty bits. As we stepped off the ledge, I screamed MY BALLS, and Lilith thought it was soooooo funny. Brown leather and bourbon vanilla with honeyed oudh and cinnamon buns. MORNING IN THE CITY OF ANGELS Walking and holding hands with my Lilith as we joke and giggle is one the greatest joys of my life. She is growing up fast, and these moments will happen less and less, but I will forever treasure them. I hope that when she is an adult, she will look back on these memories and feel 1/100 of the happiness that she brings to her father. Sunflowers and California poppies, vanilla-tinged oak bark, and a spill of sugary breakfast cereal.

[a-shakespearean-in-paris]

10 questions.

I was tagged again by both @kagetsukai and @star--nymph and I like procrastinating so I’m going to do both.

Answer 10 questions, come up with ten more...leave the rules here...yaddda yadda.

@kagetsukai‘s questions

1. What country of Thedas (other than Orlais or Ferelden) would you like to visit

Really any place we haven’t seen in game. Like they all sound cool. I really want to know what Ostwick is like since my quiz is from there though.

2. What is your favorite drink (alcoholic or not)?

frozen margarita, amaretto sour, kahlua and cream and green tea. I can’t pick one favorite alcoholic beverage. 

3. What country would you want to visit the most?

Been to France and Italy but I dream of going back EVERY DAY. A place I haven’t been but want to be is London England. 

4. What is your favorite dish?

Gyro plate with a Greek salad and feta cheese. Tzaiki sauce on the side.

5. What language would you want to know?

French. ASL

6. What is your favorite word in English?

celestial, amethyst, idiosyncrasy.  

7. What superpower would you want to have?

Teleporting. 

8. If you could have magic in Thedas, what would you want to specialize in?

Knight Enchanter because magical sword is magical. 

9. What skill of yours would be most beneficial to Inquisition if you suddenly got transported to Thedas?

No clue. I would probably die. Maybe I could help Josephine write letters to nobles?

10. What kind of person are you: city, suburban, or countryside?

City. I like all three but I love being in the center of culture and being around lots of eclectic people.

@star--nymph‘s questions

1. What’s your dream job?

Lecturer and teacher at a university 

2. What’s your favorite fairy tale?

The Little Mermaid. I love the Disney movie but the original fairy tale is also great. Also beauty and the beast.

3. You wake up in an unknown room by yourself and the only door is locked. What’s the first thing you do to try to escape?

Kick the door open

4. What’s your least favorite book in the whole world?

OH MAKER. My sweet audrina by VC Andrews. Also 50 shades of grey sucks, as does Breaking Dawn the last twilight book. Blah.

5. What’s your favorite flower?

I like peonies, gardenia, and the smell of jasmine is heavenly. 

6. Did you have a favorite place to as a child that your parents took you to? What is it and can you still get to it today or is it just stuck as a childhood memory now?

You know I’m stumped. Maybe six flags the theme park? I went there sometimes as a kid and always had a good time. Later on though I worked at the same park and dealt with annoying costumers in the pizza restaurant, so now I’m a little disillusioned by it, though it’s still fun.

7. Where you in a fandom before this one?

Oh boy. When I was a younging (like 7) I was obsessed with the phantom of the opera. “Fandom” didn’t exist like it does today but if it did, I would have been a part of it. Later on in my Sailor Moon phase I would spend hours looking it up on the internet. Then again though, fandom wasn’t really a thing. I used to lurk in the tom hiddleston fandom on tumblr some years later, and when DAI came out I would come on here, look at pictures of Cullen, lurk, and fangirl privately. then when I wanted to share my fic with the world I was a lurker no longer.

8. You’ve been invited to join a nerf gun war in your house. How many nerf guns and what kind do you equip yourself with?

I don’t really know. A water one? Maybe just one?

9. What’s a really weird thing you’re into?

Most of the music I listen to is from the sixties and seventies, and I also really like French music. 

10. You have your choice of any un-romancable character in DA to romance in DA4. Any one. Who do you pick?

RYLEN. GIVE ME THAT STARKHAVEN BOOTY

guys I’m lazy I can’t think of 10 questions but thanks for the tag!

[ohnohetaliasues]

Principality of Ostlake

(Kat) 

I don’t remember where I found this one, but I think the country is made up. When I googled Ostlake, all I found was something relating to a Pokemon game. 

How about we begin?

Name: The Principality of Ostlake (micronation)

Why are these fake countries always micronations? It’s either they’re that, some made up city, or a huge country that takes up half of Spain. Or that one country a few reviews ago that  literally did not have a location that existed geographically. It claimed that it was in the sea between Germany and England, but also below Russia.

Human name: Amy Taylor

Okay, let’s do some Etymology to get some answers as to where this micronation is located. The thing that irks me about made up micronation OCs is that they usually don’t have a location. 

For the name ‘Amy’, Behind the Name says:  “ English form of the Old French name Amée meaning "beloved" (modern French aimée), a vernacular form of the Latin Amata. As an English name, it was in use in the Middle Ages (though not common) and was revived in the 19th century.”

So it was originally French, but adopted by the English, from what I gather. 

As for her surname, Taylor, I found this on Wikipedia:  “ Taylor is a surname used in the British Isles of French and Latin origin which originated as a Norman occupational surname (meaning tailor) in France It is derived from the Old French tailleur ("cutter"), which is in turn derived from the Late Latin taliator, from taliare ("to cut").”

So going off of her name, she is somewhere in the English Channel???

Gender: Female

Age: 15

I’m assuming they mean human age, so that would mean that the micronation was formed somewhere in the very early to mid 1900′s.

I hate having to make assumptions when these things aren’t provided.

Birthday: April 25th

I have a sneaking suspicion that this is probably the creator’s birthday.

Looks: Shoulder length light brown hair, grey-blue eyes. A straw boater hat with black and white bands to represent the water she’s surrounded with,

Aha! I was right! She is an island! Which I’m going to assume is in the English Channel.

 a white blouse, black bow tie, black city shorts, white, black and red striped socks and black Chelsea boots.

I like the description, I’ll give you that.

Likes: Sunshine, reading, drawing/painting, killer whales, 

I... I don’t think killer whales live in the English Channel? They’re not native there, at least.

spiders and America.

Why America?

Dislikes: When people say she’s not a country,

And we have a Sealand cookie-cutter.

drawing too much that her hands ache,

sAME.

 waking up early in the summer (because it gets light early).

Pfft, I just sleep through it.

History: The Principality of Ostlake, more commonly known as Ostlake, was established in 1886, a while after America’s independence from England. It lies as a small island 13 miles off the cost of Washington

Washington was established in 1889, not 1886.

Also, I don’t think micronations were a thing back then. Sealand was the first micronation, and it was founded back in the 70′s.

and is currently under America’s rule, despite being owned by a “prince” (hence Principality).

So... commonwealth? Or is she a state but also not a state?

There is no sigh of Ostlake becoming independent from America any time soon.

That history section was too short for my tastes.

Relationships: America: Due to being ruled by him, Ostlake spends a lot of time with him and sometimes goes to world meetings with him (as long as she “stays silent”). Together they play video games together, have Nerf gun fights and eat hamburgers, as Ostlake consists of twelve American people. Sometimes she goes and stays with him rather than back in her home.

America wouldn’t take a micronation state-not-state to world meeting with him. He doesn’t give this treatment to any of his other states.

Sealand: The two of them are both micronations, and met in the Micronations Club. Due to the similar age, they like to have fun together, sharing the same interests and both being surrounded by a body of water.

That isn’t really reason for friendship. I also had no clue there was a Micronations Club.

Wy: Like Sealand, they met in the Micronations Club, and made good friends.

Well, this is very pointless.

Latvia: Whenever Sealand visits Latvia, Ostlake tags along too.

Okay, so the Latvia thing is fine, cuz Sealand does that frequently, and they are said to be good friends.

But Ostlake has no reason at all to be there.

Liechtenstein: Since Ostlake is six times smaller than her, and they’re both recognised as a really small nation, the two of them will sit next to each other in some world meetings. 

Six times???  Do you mean area? Because the population of Lichtenstein is 34,000 and that’s a lot more than 6x12.

Possible Pairing: America

No more please.

~Kat

[pokelec]

@france-scah There’s this thing called an askbox. It’s makes answering these things a lot easier if you use it in the future.

Send me an Overwatch Hero 

This needs to be under a cut due to length (why did you send FIVE HEROES AT ONCE?!)

One Main: Mei

What skin/spray/voiceline is my favourite: 

Skin: Luna! I do like the classic and Chang’e, but the red and gold is more flattering on Mei, in my opinion. But gdi, Blizzard, fix the damn skins!

Spray: Eyes is really good. The snowflake and Mei in the center feels... fitting. Dragon Dance is also pretty good, with Snowball and all

Voiceline: “I’m gonna have to science the heck out of this!” I just... it’s so pure... It’s so good

My first impression of them

“Oh, an ice character! And she’s a scientist! I’m gonna play here first!” -Me, right before playing Overwatch and right before realizing she will become my main

What I think of them now

“STOP CALLING HER A DEVIL!“

How many hours I have on them

51. I think that’s the most I have on a single character, period. But there’s someone else who is pretty close...

Something that needs to be buffed

I don’t know if Mei needs a buff? I mean, that glitch where her freezing effect didn’t make people slow down was fixed, so I’m good now. I also don’t play against enough Meis to say for sure what needs to be buffed (or nerfed).

Something that needs to be nerfed

I would love something where, if a griefer decides to play as Mei and they’ve been reported enough times in the past for trolling, I would love it so that they could never use ice walls

Then again, people may abuse that system by reporting Mei mains... Dammit.

Solution: let teammates pass through ice walls? ...Nah.

If/How I got their Cute/Pixel sprays

I think I got her sprays within my first day of playing Overwatch. No stories for them, I’m afraid. I just knew right away that she would be my main. I can’t say the same for...

My Other Main: McCree

What skin/spray/voiceline is my favourite:

Skin: BLACKWATCH, DUH! I’ve been wanting a young McCree skin for a long time. And I am so happy I got it! Now, I can’t say I’m as pleased that I got three duplicates in loot boxes during the event...

Spray: Draw, and Target Practice is pretty similar, too. They have a dramatic feel to them.

^Special mention to SnowCree, which I got immediately after I decided I would go for it in the Winter Wonderland event

Voiceline: “I feel like a man possessed.” O_O That’s not even an equipable voiceline, it just... stands out.

My first impression of them

“Oh! Uh, I guess this guy is pretty fun to play as...” -Me, as he started to grow on me

What I think of them now

“I LOVE THIS FRACKING DORK THAT ALSO NEEDS A HUG! IT’S HIGH NOON SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD!”

How many hours I have on them

50. Considering that the hero with the third most hours I have on them is, like, 16, I think it’s pretty obvious who I love to play as. 

Something that needs to be buffed

I heard he’s getting a fix to a hidden part of his gameplay! That’s good! 

I would also like it so that, since he’s the only hero who’s able to actively cancel his ult after it’s been activated, he keeps some ult charge when he cancels it. 

There’s also a proposition I heard of for a passive for him. “Bounty”, as it was called, would allow him to see enemies that are on fire (sorta like Sombra’s passive). The youtuber who I heard this from (who heard of it on reddit) asked a lot of questions about practicality and limits, but if it behaves like Sombra’s passive, then the answers are pretty obvious. I can explain my thoughts in a different post, if I felt like writing the questions and my answers all out. 

There was also another idea, that his combat roll gets instantly resets if McCree gets an elimination, and I liked that idea, too. 

Something that needs to be nerfed

This cowboy has enough of a bad reputation as a glass cannon as is. He doesn’t need a nerf.

If/How I got their Cute/Pixel sprays

I got the pixel spray “Whoa there!” pretty early in my time as playing as him. I got “High Noon” on Volskaya Industries, and I remembered where it happened because a) I posted the POTG on my tumblr somewhere and b) I have a lot of luck on getting achievements at Volskaya, for some reason. 

Genji

What skin/spray/voiceline is my favourite:

Skin: BLACKWATCH. I mean, I did like his Chrome skin for subtlety, but HIS HANZO PHASE BLACKWATCH SKIN IS PRETTY AWESOME

Spray: I’m not impressed by Genji’s sprays. If I had to pick a favorite, I guess it’d be Green Dragon

Voiceline: “Life and death balance on the edge of my blade.” It’s pretty dramatic, and it’s even better with his Hanzo Phase Blackwatch skin on

My first impression of them

“Get away from me, and stop trying to reflect my ice beam.”

What I think of them now

“I’M A SHOOTING STAR LEAPING THROUGH THE SKYYYY LIKE A TIGER, DEFYING THE LAWS OF GRAV-I-TYYYYYY”

How many hours I have on them

~4. I’ve only picked him up recently. Strangely, I feel like he’s better on defense than on attack.

Something that needs to be buffed

I already heard that’s he has a buff in the PTR and a possibility he’ll be able to use the dragonblade 7 times max as opposed to 6... 

Something that needs to be nerfed

I lowkey want an occassional troll message in the chat instead of “I need healing”. It’d be like what happens whenever a player types “gg ez”, but not as reliable. Though, I wouldn’t mind something like that to be an April’s Fool thing next year... 

If/How I got their Cute/Pixel sprays

I have not gotten either of his sprays yet. I have a POTG on here where I was a fraction of a second off of getting his cute spray, though. Man, I was mad I didn’t get the achievement. 

Lucio 

What skin/spray/voiceline is my favourite:

Skin: I’m not impressed by a lot of his skins, even the legendaries. I just like the recolors and Andes. 

Spray: In Concert, because it’s funny to watch a performer put up his own posters lol

Voiceline: “Why are you so angry?” I would love to ask that to Lucio’s voice actor, just because. I’m lowkey mad I didn’t see him at WonderCon

My first impression of them

“At least I can play as one healer...” -Me, before I started playing every healer

What I think of them now

It’s either “GET OFF THE DAMN PAYLOAD” or “CAN’T STOP, WON’T STOP”, there’s no in between. 

How many hours I have on them

12. After all this time, he’s still in the third spot in my quick play time. 

Something that needs to be buffed/nerfed

Listen. He’s already gotten a huge buff/nerf recently. I kinda don’t wanna tough him right now. 

If/How I got their Cute/Pixel sprays

I have the cute spray! I remember getting it at Numbani, but I don’t remember much else.

Trust me, I WISH I had the pixel spray.

Symmetra

What skin/spray/voiceline is my favourite:

Skin: Architech, because Star Trek. Utopaea is pretty... pretty, too!

Spray: As a contrast to Lucio and Genji, Symmetra’s sprays as all #aesthetics. The Lotus is probably the best in that regard

Voiceline: “I don’t think so”, mainly as a response to other people’s voicelines lol

My first impression of them

“Stupid turrets!”

What I think of them now

“OMG I NEED TO PLAY THIS CHARACTER MORE, I GOTTA!”

How many hours I have on them

~3. I only have one officially, but I play her a good bit in Capture the Flag and No Limits. Seriously, I need to play her more. 

Something that needs to be buffed

I feel like she needs the ability to cancel her ult. Sure, I like that McCree is the only one who can do that, but I feel like it would at least make sense for Sym to be able to do that, too. 

Something that needs to be nerfed

I’m not a fan of how her primary fire gets stronger as it is used for a long time... if that made sense. If that had to be kept in, I’d like the rate of power-increase to... decrease. 

If/How I got their Cute/Pixel sprays

I got her pixel spray at King’s Row by doing the infamous microwave-at-spawn technique. 

I don’t have her cute spray, obviously. I’m trying to think of when I possibly could get 20 people teleported in one match... 

[iwrotemywayto-revolution]

Inconceivable

Request: okay I can’t find it but basically it asked for jefferson cheating on the reader and the reader going to the rest of the hamilsquad for comfort.

Pairings: past Jefferson x reader, platonic hamilsquad x reader

Warnings: cheating, mac n cheese, some swearing in multiple languages, the title is a reference to the princess bride

Word count: 1,851

A/N: I tried to make the reader gender neutral, so I hope that worked! Also fils de pute is french for son of a bitch and mierda is spanish for shit.

--

It was a warm Friday afternoon and you were exhausted but happy when you finished work early. You checked your watch as you headed towards the subway station, figuring you had enough time to grab something special for dinner. 

Maybe some of the mac n cheese from the little restaurant on the corner, you decided. Thomas would be home and you wanted to surprise him. 

You and Thomas had been together for two years, ever since you met at one of the Schuyler sisters’ galas. He had insisted on getting you a drink and inviting you to dance to whatever pop song had been blasting out through the speakers in sharp contrast to the couples waltzing on the dance floor.

-

“That’s not even slightly right, Alex,” you pointed out, “If you completely dismantle a system you have to have something in place to pick up the pieces-”

Alex looked like he was about to argue back when someone behind you caught his attention. “Thomas,” he glared. You glanced over your shoulder, catching a glimpse of a bright purple-y pink coat and a halo of dark hair. 

“What are you being wrong about today, Hamilton?” Thomas asked smoothly, idly stirring some kind of cocktail. “Is it everything?”

Alex straightened. “I was being right,” he snapped, “about how much nicer this conversation was before you joined it.”

You laughed and waved as Alex turned to go. “See you later,” you called after him. He grumbled something incoherent in return and you rolled your eyes, heading towards the bar. Thomas followed you.

“What’s someone cute like you doing in a place like this?” Thomas asked, raising an eyebrow. You snorted, surprised at his attentions. People like him didn’t generally try terrible pick up lines on people like you.

“Getting a drink,” you said, accepting your glass from the bartender. 

“Might I join you?” He extended his hand, “Thomas Jefferson.”

“Y/N L/N,” you shook it. “Nice to meet you.”

-

A small French take-out place around the corner from your office made the only non-homemade mac n cheese that Thomas would eat. You waved at the owner, Jean, as you entered and went to order from your friend Lafayette, who was working there on his evenings off. 

“Hey Laf,” you grinned.

“Y/N!” He leaned over the counter to give you a clumsy hug, “What can I get you?”

You pretended to consider the menu, “Mac n cheese for Thomas.” 

Lafayette’s nose crinkled. “A travesty,” he muttered, voicing the general opinion of Thomas’ love for the cheesy pasta, “and France’s only mistake.”

“I’ll come over to yours with the leftovers tomorrow,” you teased. “I promised I’d come over to wake your hungover asses up anyway.”

Laf made a face and called your order through to the kitchen. “There will be no leftovers,” he pointed out, “because Thomas will eat it all. But don’t you dare bring that near our beautiful apartment.”

Jean came out of the kitchen, mac n cheese in a styrofoam box. Lafayette took it and slid it into a paper bag for you to take. You pulled out your wallet and paid. “See you tomorrow,” you waved as you left. 

You hurried down the stairs to the subway, just making your train.

--

You unlocked the door and headed into your apartment. You couldn’t hear Thomas, so you guessed he must still be at work. His schedule varied so much that he could be home at two in the afternoon one day and ten at night the next. 

You slipped off your shoes, shrugged off your jacket, and went to dump the mac n cheese on the side. Yanking out your phone, you fired off a quick text to Thomas.

To: Thomas

I got something nice for dinner- when are you getting home?

You heard the familiar ping of Thomas’ text tone and frowned. Had he left his phone at home again? Wandering through to the bedroom, you kept an eye out for it. It would be just like him, you thought fondly, he would forget his head if it wasn’t attached to his body.

You pushed open the door to your room and headed in, clicking Thomas’ number so you could find the phone by the dial tone. 

It rang and you heard Summertime start to play somewhere. You looked up and your mouth fell open. Thomas was in bed with someone else. You still held the phone to your ear, and it was still ringing. 

“Thomas?” you asked, feeling very far away.

He sat up, clutching the sheet to his chest as though it would hide what had been going on. Beside him, a guy sat up, wearing one of Thomas’ shirts half buttoned. 

“Y/N-” Thomas gasped “this isn’t-”

“You’re a dick,” you choked out. You stalked forward and punched him in the jaw, before whirling round and all but running out, pausing only to grab your jacket and keys. You let the door slam shut behind you and were dialling Lafayette before the elevator doors had even closed.

“Hey Y/N!” Laf said cheerily as he picked up, “Good timing- I just finished my shift-”

“I’m coming over,” you interrupted, surprised at how steady your voice was. Damn, you wanted to throw something. All you could see was Thomas’ surprise when you found him, your mind replaying the moment when the guy beside him sat up in bed, curly hair in disarray and mouth kiss-swollen. 

Thankful that you had forgotten to take your key for Laf and Alex’s apartment out of your jacket, you all but ran down the street towards their building. People gave you weird looks as you passed them, and you could hear Laf’s concerned voice in your ear.

You hung up and clicked the buzzer that was neatly labelled “G. Lafayette and A. Hamilton” and waited. When they had first moved in, you remembered Lafayette trying to fit his whole name onto the label, and Alex complaining.

-

“It’s a stupid name!” Alex said childishly, ripping up their third paper slip, “And it won’t fit.” 

Lafayette drew himself up to his full height. “Nobody calls Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette stupid.”

“Nobody’s got the time,” you pointed out, and handed them both a coffee. John followed you through from the kitchen, two more coffees in hand. You had agreed to help them unpack and get started on setting up, but so far they had mostly bickered about where to put things. 

“You do realise we’re all going to end up living here?” John pointed out as he hopped up to sit on the counter, “This place is fucking brilliant.”

Laf only raised an eyebrow and sipped his coffee. “I would hope so.”

-

You unlocked the door and walked into their apartment. Shrugging off your coat, you threw it over the back of one of the chairs in the kitchen.

“Y/N!” Hercules yelled, pulling you into a crushing but brief hug. “It’s been ages since you’ve got your ass over here.”

You grinned. You could never stay sad around Herc. “It’s not my fault you’re always out when I come over.”

“We put the game on,” Herc said, and you followed him over to the couch. Laf patted the space beside him and you threw yourself down between him and Alex.

“What happened?” Laf asked, “You said you were not coming tonight- you bought that mac n cheese-”

You swallowed thickly. “I wasn’t going to. But when I got home, Thomas was in bed with some guy-”

“Oh mon chou,” Lafayette sighed sadly, “I’m sorry.”

Alex walked through, empty mug in hand. He’d been working on an article all day- you could tell by the crease in his shirt from where he leaned against the desk and the way he blinked in the light of the living room. “What’s happened?”

“Thomas- that fils de pute- has been cheating on Y/N,” Laf explained just as John walked through.

“Mierda,” he breathed. “That dick.”

Alex looked furious and picked up his laptop. “I’ll fight him-” he promised, sitting down beside you and opening twitter, “by tomorrow no one in the whole country will want to touch him-”

“Thanks,” you laughed, gently closing the lid, “but I’ll settle for watching a movie with you guys and forgetting about it.”

“You sure?” John asked, looking worried. You nodded and he settled on a bean-bag beside Herc, who had already opened a bag of crisps. He offered them round as Laf stuck The Princess Bride in the DVD player.

You let yourself relax, focusing on the screen. Alex rested his head on your shoulder, muttering under his breath about what he would tell Jefferson at work on Monday. 

Laf unfolded a blanket and threw it over the three of you, then threw a spare cushion at John. It hit his head and, without a pause, he turned and threw it back.

You laughed and joined it, throwing one at Herc, who smoothly ducked without looking away from the screen. “Terrible aim, Y/N,” he said.

“Oh?” you grinned, “test me with a nerf gun and you’ll regret it-”

Herc shook his head. “No one will risk you with a nerf gun,” Laf pointed out, stealing a handful of crisps from Herc, “we value our lives.”

--

Alex fell asleep first, snoring softly into your shoulder. Laf went next, draping himself across your lap, his hair coming out of its bun. “So much for a late night,” John laughed, “they didn’t even make it to the end of The Princess Bride.”

He got up and took the DVD out, stuffing it back into the case. Herc stretched, groaning as his muscles popped. “What should we do about them?” you asked, nodding to Alex and Laf.

“We’ll all pile on my bed,” John decided, slipping an arm around Alex and lifting him up. Alex grumbled but clung onto John, curling his fingers into John’s shirt. Herc helped Laf up and the two of you helped him stumble down the hall to John’s room.

John’s bed was massive. He set Alex down on it and disappeared to get pyjamas for him. Herc disappeared to get his and Laf’s, and you were left to stop Alex falling back asleep.

John came back with two pairs, handing you a blue set. “I think those might fit you,” he offered, and you left to get changed. 

Everyone was changed by the time you got back. Alex was in the middle of the bed, still holding onto John, who had curled up beside him. Laf flopped down and Herc lay beside him. You squeezed in and tugged at the duvet so some was covering you.

“Night,” you said sleepily as you reached to turn out the light.

“Night,” came a muffled reply. You lay down and closed your eyes, thankful to have your friends with you, knowing you would have spent the night alone and angry if you had stayed home.

Now you knew that Herc and Laf would go back to your apartment with you in the morning and help you either kick Thomas out or collect your stuff. Alex would roast him on twitter in a fifty-one part rant, and John would make your favourite food for dinner.

It was more than enough.

[actutrends]

GamesBeat managing editor Jason Wilson’s favorite games of 2019

Each year, it gets harder to nail down my favorite games of the past season. Part of this is because there are just so many studios putting out fantastic games. The rise of live-service games plays a role here, too — each year, the living games I enjoy seem to get better and take up more of my life. I can’t think of a better time to enjoy games, and as my compatriots at GamesBeat have shown, this year has had such an amazing amount of quality — be it on PC (my favorite platform), consoles like the PlayStation 4 or Nintendo Switch (portable mode is a godsend for role-playing games), or my phone. Here’re my favorite games of 2019. Note: These aren’t the games I consider to be “the best.” The most important factor is how much I enjoy playing them (and, increasingly, how much my kids enjoy watching me play them). The Outer Worlds

The Outer Worlds can be gorgeous.

Obsidian Entertainment is one of my favorite studios. It’s made three of my most-played RPGs of the past 15 years — Neverwinter Nights 2 (and its expansions), and the two Pillars of Eternity games. The Outer Worlds is different than these. You’re running around a system of planets that are at the mercy of a group of greedy, power-hungry corporations. It’s a capitalist dystopia, but it’s a funny one. And it skewers a world in which plutocrats, not people, run things. It also comes with a good character-building system, and its loading screens show off fantastic pieces of art (some of which only shows up based on your decisions). It wears its Fallout influence on its power armor (its makers include some of that landmark RPG’s creators). The Outer Worlds will also leave an important legacy for Obsidian: a fantastic finish to its run as an independent game studio. Pokémon Shield

Dynamax Pokémon loom over the battlefield.

Image Credit: GamesBeat

Years ago, I wrote about how much I hated Pokémon when I tried Red, the then-new release for the Nintendo 3DS. But last year, Let’s Go: Pikachu captured my heart. I credit part of this to my children, who love the TV series and the cards. Yet the game has plenty to recommend it. It’s cheery, and the way so many of its characters are supportive of you and each other is touching in an age where so many people seek to just tear everyone and everything down. It’s also fun to find all these new Pokémon, use the Dynamaxx power to turn them into giant monsters, watch them evolve, and explore the world. My favorite part, though, had little to do with the gameplay. Every time we encountered a new Pokémon, my kids would look it up in their books, helping me find its vulnerabilities and plotting how I should set up my team. Pokémon’s better when we’re playing like this, together. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

There are fouler things than Imperial Stormtroopers in the deep places of the world.

Image Credit: Respawn

Respawn created new worlds and characters in Jedi: Fallen Order. It nailed how I’ve long thought a Jedi should feel in a game. Using your Jedi powers and lightsabers to smash through legions of stormtroopers just feels right. Mixing in metroidvania-like levels gives players plenty of places to explore, and I enjoyed going back to different worlds in key moments of the story (like your second time on Kashyyyk). But most important, it creates a compelling, sympathetic character in the Second Sister, showing that a servant of the Sith can be more than an evil person with a lightsaber. My only quibble: I wish Respawn’s easier modes made it, well, easier to deal with some of the challenging platforming sections, not just nerfing combat. Mistover This is a fantastic spin on Darkest Dungeon and Etrian Odyssey from Krafton, a small team inside the larger Krafton Game Union group. You start in a town, recruit a party, get quests, and outfit your crew. This is where it feels like Etrian Odyssey. But in town, you open up different buildings as you accomplish quests, the first of its many Darkest Dungeon influences. Food and light play a role in the exploration as well. Once you’re in a dungeon, moving around becomes more like a traditional roguelike. For every move you make, the monsters move as well. Combat is strategic as well, as your formations and the abilities you choose matter on the battlefield. It’s a fantastic take on roguelikes, and it’s worth playing. Grindstone

Grindstone is a clever puzzler in which you slay monsters by drawing lines for your buffed-up brawler.

Image Credit: Capy Games

Capy’ Games Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes and Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery are two of my all-time favorite mobile games. So when Grindstone hit Apple Arcade earlier this year, I had to check it out. And when it debuted, I spent about 2 hours playing it. It reminds me of Clash of Heroes in how you line up enemies to slay. It’s a puzzler. You draw a line from your warrior through groups of baddies. It’s simple enough that young children can understand it, but it gets complex enough that it becomes a real challenge to accomplish every map’s goal. It’s fantastic, and I think it’s the best game on Apple Arcade. Magic: The Gathering — Arena

The Brawl decks I’ve settled on during the final day of the event.

Image Credit: GamesBeat

Two years ago, I had no idea I’d love Magic. Now, I play it almost every day thanks to Arena. It’s a fantastic adaptation of the granddaddy of all collectible card games. I’ve learned to play every color, and I’ve even had success beating tuned netdecks with creations of my own. I’ve become a better-than-average draft player as well, and when publisher Wizards of the Coast introduced Brawl, I not only found myself making decks in Arena but with my growing cardboard-card collection as well. Earlier this year, Arena left its open-beta status. The game still has some problems. Most days, you’ll find someone on Reddit complaining about performance issues. Wizards’ monetization tactics are annoying — more than once now, it has introduced an idea (such as the 2-to-1 wild card crafting cost for Historic cards), then changed it after outcry from players. Right now, it’s charging 10,000 in-game gold for a month-long Brawl event, and while you do get one special card as a reward, it’s pretty much charging you to play what I and others consider to be Arena’s best format. That sucks, as Brawl should be a format we can play in a queue, not just in a friendly challenge, at any time. But despite these issues, Arena has proven to be the best way to play Magic when you can’t shuffle cards with your friends. And that’s pretty awesome. Hearthstone

There be dragons!

Image Credit: Blizzard

Year 5 of Blizzard Entertainment’s free-to-play collectible card game might be its best yet. Hearthstone’s development team has been more active this year than ever before, introducing a flurry of prompt card changes to fix problems, better in-game events, its first new mode in years (Battlegrounds, which is pretty dang good), and a willingness to try new things (like the recent Wild event or Arena rotations). It’s even telling better stories with its expansions. Like Magic, Blizzard has stumbled some this year. During its Wild event, it didn’t do anything to address the power of Evolve Shaman, which drove many players (like me) away from Standard and into other modes like Battlegrounds … or spending more time with other games. And its handling of the Hong Kong situation was clumsier than a newborn calf trying to stand up for the first time. But even with those problems, Hearthstone feels more vibrant now than any time since its first expansion. And that’s a good thing for Blizzard and its millions of players worldwide. Dragon Quest Builders 2

Even the quest lines have punny names in Dragon Quest Builders 2.

Image Credit: GamesBeat

I’ve never been able to get into Minecraft. I know it’s fabulous. My kids love it. But I like a little more direction, and I get this from Square Enix’s Dragon Quest Builders series. In the sequel, you’re building your way to defeating a great evil. It’s charming, and as you finish off quests, you open up more building materials and options. It has most of the fun of a Dragon Quest game, but with a sandbox openness. It’s neat, and it’s even more fun when you play with kids. Disco Elysium

Disco Elysium is like no other RPG that came out this year … or in any recent year.

Image Credit: ZA/UM

This might be the trippiest RPG I’ve ever played, and I dig it. You play a detective coming off a bender, trying to solve the mystery of a hanged man left on a tree. It doesn’t have combat, really. You face decisions in conversations you have with the characters around you (and in your head). The system revolves on skill checks in conversations and reactions to the words you and others use, not weapons, warriors, or wizards. It’s fascinating, and it developer ZA/UM delivers something I’ve rarely seen in my decades of gaming: an RPG where choice, not combat, matters the most. A Plague’s Tale: Innocence

A Plague’s Tale: Innocence is a fascinating game.

Image Credit: Asobo Studio

I’ve been fascinated with this game since seeing it at E3 in 2017. It’s from Asobo Studio in France, and it’s about a 15-year-old girl and her younger brother surviving during a horrible plague afflicting France. And rats. Swarms of rats. Millions and millions of rats. The pair must use stealth to escape an inquisition that’s after them … and may be at the center of the plague. It’s a terrific, terrifying story, and it has the bonus of capturing the repulsiveness rats and magnifying it into a game that both fascinates and disgusts. It’s unique. Honorable mentions Code Vein Etrian Odyssey: Nexus Iratus: Lord of the Dead Metro: Exodus MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries Path of Exile Queen’s Wish: The Conqueror Slay the Spire The Surge 2

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