#the untold story of lily's life

[cuppajj]

Beast Ancients AU FAQ

I’ve seen a lot of asks in my inbox that are identical to each other, so I decided to put em all in one post and then some. This’ll be updated the more I develop the AU and the more info we get.

As a disclaimer, I am very new to CRK (as of December 2023) and I haven’t gotten to all the game or story modes yet (notably odyssey), so things are definitely bound to change + be elaborated on more! Anyway without further ado:

General

What are the Beast Ancients’ themes?

Vanilla is Penance, Lily is Sovereignty, Dragonberry is Pride, Cacao is Solitude, and Cheese is Conquest. I tried to keep them within the realm of their original meanings

Essentially my philosophy is: Penance is the acknowledgment (truth) that sins such as deceit exist in the world and must be cleansed. Sovereignty is an extreme form of freedom where one can have all the agency they wish, but can be just as silent about their presence/power as well. Pride is a byproduct of passion or sloth, boiling down to the adamancy of the subject. Solitude is a choice made with both resolution and apathy in various degrees, and lastly Conquest promises an abundant future at the cost of untold destruction.

If the ancients are bad, are the beasts good?

No, the old Beasts are still a threat. With a total of ten beasts to worry about, the situation on Earthbread is very dire. However, there is still hope left, and hope can go a long way.

Is there a new set of ancient heroes with soul jams?

No, and there likely won’t be. The Neo Beasts and first Beasts still have their respective soul jam halves, and both want each other’s.

Where’s Gingerbrave and his party?

Likely the Crème Republic, which becomes a refuge for many cookies after the rise of the neo beasts. They’re at the front of the resistance movement, working with Clotted Cream Cookie to plan how the beasts will be taken down.

What do the Neo Beasts think of their past selves?

Generally they see themselves as improved or improving. The only one who doesn’t feel that way is Frigid Cacao, who doesn’t reflect on himself that often.

Did they all corrupt at the same time?

Still working on that part. The timeline for beast ancients is a WIP, but for now, it’s likely that while they didn’t corrupt at once, they corrupted pretty close to one another. Cheese was likely first, followed by Lily. Vanilla was among the last to fall and evidently had it the worst.

Do the Neo Beasts still have kingdoms? How is life like there?

Answered here

What are the cookies of darkness doing?

As of writing (5/31/24) we don’t have a lot of info on the cookies of darkness in beast yeast, but at the very least I can say Dark Enchantress cookie may or may not know about Midnight Lily’s plan to destroy her.

How would legendaries react?

I admittedly don’t know everything about the legendaries to say yet, but they’re all alarmed to some degree. I can flesh them out the more I learn about them

Individual Neo Beast questions under cut!

Saint Vanilla Cookie

How do his powers work?

Answered here

Does he know he’s killing cookies?

Nope, he doesn’t see it as that and it would pain him to. He sees purification as a form of transition or ascension in itself, to put it simply; he might even envy those he turns to stardust, knowing his own tainted soul will be so much harder to liberate.

Why is he constantly crying?

He’s just like that. He’s just that big of an empath.

Has his relationship with Lily changed?

Saint Vanilla still cares very much about Lily, and may even be more open about his feelings towards her; but he admits the only reason why she’s still alive is because she convinced him to leave her for last. Lily very well knows that Vanilla, in his mind, wants to purify her more than anyone else. Vanilla often pities her choice to stew in her tainted soul, but he respects her decision… at least the alternative is that they’ll someday be the only two cookies on Earthbread.

What happened to Black Raisin?

As the very first to witness his rise, she inadvertently became his very first martyr.

Where’s Custard Cookie III?

With his relatives in the Crème Republic, alongside the rest of Gingerbrave’s party. The kid has a hard time wrapping his head around what happened to Pure Vanilla, and it may be a blessing that he’s been largely focused on worrying about the well being of his uncle, Clotted Cream Cookie. As the head of the resistance, he’s been working tirelessly… is this what a king goes through too?

Shadow Milk’s opinion on Saint?

To put it simply, he starts out thinking that a confused Vanilla will be easy to manipulate, but he soon finds out that Saint Vanilla is way smarter and more aware than made out to be. He knows Shadow Milk is with him, and he wants to purge him from his soul; but that is a process that may be harder than anything else. So in the meantime, Shadow Milk can watch as he continues on his path of Penance towards ascension, fighting back the resistance he creates before it can truly harm him. Essentially, Saint Vanilla isn’t trapped with Shadow Milk, Shadow Milk is trapped with Saint Vanilla.

Dragonberry Cookie

Is the skull on her head real?

Yes! It comes from a nondescript monster.

If Pitaya is imprisoned, where is Snapdragon?

With Tarte Tatin and/or Royal Margarine. Dragon City likely got taken over by Dragonberry’s kingdom, but they noped out of there as it happened. The two of them might’ve been the first few to recognize Hollyberry’s spiral into corruption and where it was headed

How is her family doing?

Alright for the most part, but they can feel Dragonberry’s influence in every aspect of their life now. While Royal and Jungleberry are technically still the king and queen, it’s only a figurehead role as Dragonberry is the true ruler. She still cares about her family very much, but she’s controlling and good at keeping them under her thumb. Dragonberry’s granddaughter Princess Cookie is the only one who objects this new way of life, and runs away from the palace.

How would the other dragons react?

The other dragons aren’t canon to CRK so they’re not canon to the au by extension, but just for this question, they’d be different levels of alarmed or concerned save for maybe Longan. I could see Ananas wanting a word with Dragonberry in particular esp since they’re both prideful cookies

Frigid Cacao Cookie

Does he ever go outside?

Very rarely, but it’s usually to observe the licorice sea or meet with the few denizens he has left.

Where is Dark Choco?

Still working on this part (waiting for Apathy pt 2 to come out so I have a better idea), but he’s likely alone by himself. He heard wind of his father’s corruption though and took it less well than he thought he would. Perhaps he’ll run into someone who feels the same?

Is his permafrost truly permanent or can the frozen citizens be thawed?

Technically yes, the permafrost can be thawed, but it’s a meticulous process since Cacao’s ice isn’t normal ice. It’s a cure that Crunchy Chip is looking for to save Caramel Arrow.

How does the licorice sea work for him and how did he come to tame it?

I can’t say how yet outside of the fact that it was a definitely cool and heroic thing for Dark Cacao to do, on the scale of taming the Black and White dragons. The sea, arguably a sentient monster in itself, and all of the creatures within it came to follow Cacao and Cacao only. Now it almost acts like an extension of himself: the beast can make the sea do whatever he wants, like acting as his shield, arms, or barrier, and the licorice horrors will vehemently defend him. There are tons of monsters roaming his frozen kingdom now.

Mystic Flour’s opinion on Cacao?

Working on it, but to some degree she knows Cacao is much stronger than he looks. She might see his apparent apathy for his frozen kingdom with fondness though.

Celestial Cheese Cookie

Is the Golden City still running or did she leave it to die?

It may still be running but in a scaled-down beta form. Cheese learned to accept the fact that what she’d built was entirely fake, but she didn’t move on from regaining what was lost. Her virtual Golden City serves as a blueprint for the kingdom she wants on Earthbread, and then some; with nothing in the barren desert to grow her kingdom, her brightened eyes turn elsewhere towards civilizations that could be brought into the fold. Such is the beginning of the Beast of Conquest’s terror.

She does sometimes visit her golden city, only sometimes. It doesn’t look the same; it’s not a paradise for her to escape to, but it is a promise of what she will have someday. This time, it will be no mirage, and there will be no one to threaten its destruction ever again.

Midnight Lily Cookie

What is her opinion on dark enchantress cookie?

DE is the source of insecurity for Lily, who regards herself as the weakest among all the beasts. Because she’s half of a complete whole, who was already half of another whole, she is passionate about reuniting her souls. While she is focused on expanding the influence of the faerie kingdom, her true goal is to track down Dark Enchantress Cookie and destroy her; but she knows she will need more help than just herself, and has considered asking for help from other vengeful allies.

Does she still guard the silver tree?

Yes, she still fiercely honors Elder Faerie’s wishes.

Have her relationships with the other neo beasts changed?

Ish, most notably her and Celestial Cheese are a little more on speaking terms; but they’re connecting through their potential partnership as Lily hopes she can help her take down Dark Enchantress. In return, she might help her expand her kingdom and take down Burning Spice.

If more FAQs come up, I will make a part two. Thank you for your interest!

[naebellaa]

“The Spy Who Loved”

A snake in black, a heart in chains,

A silent man with countless pains.

To walk between the light and dark,

And hide within a fractured heart.

For Lily’s eyes, the same he spurns,

He sacrifices, yet never earns.

To live a life of shadowed lies,

And die for love that never dies.

Though cruel his words, his actions cold,

His truest story stays untold.

For underneath that icy gaze,

Was love that burned, a secret blaze.

In the end, when truth unfolds,

A silent hero, brave and bold.

His love, his life, his final plea:

“For her, for him, remember me.”

[liquidorcard]

Lily can't keep her own "Sympathetic" Villains rules Straight: Anthony Gramuglia edition

See Crim's edition for the rules and outlines. Here we go.

Lily's Response to Ant:

Lily's probably going to get a significantly worse score on this one because me and Ant I think have similar media diets. We begin:

1. In the book, 100% he is THE villain. The movie not as much. Still though, I think movie Hammond more than fit's Lily's criteria. -1 life found a way

2. We already went over this (yes I am still writing p.3 of my Magneto post.) -1 Anthro cow delivering your children

3. Kyubey's keeping the universe from ending Lily. How could you get closer to having a point than that? -1 timeline

4. See Crim's post. He does fail #2. Again though, by Lily's original parameters this was a valid entry. But I have to give her the point. +1 spider gets it's legs ripped off

5. I bet she thought this was clever. -1 gate keeper.

6.N/A

7. I don't even know what she's talking about here. -1

8. Del Toro sends his regards. -1 Nerdy fish man.

9. LILY HASN'T SEEN THE BROADWAY SMASH HIT PLANET OF THE APES THE MUSICAL, STARRING TROY MCCLURE!? For shame! -1 (has anyone else watched that movie recently? I'm not saying it's aged poorly, but like, it is profoundly unintentionally hilarious, watching it in the modern day. I know this was like, the whole thing back then-- leading men who were too cool for school, but Taylor is such a fucking asshole. Cornelius is the real hero of the film, and everyone bullies him for not matching their lunatic energy. #justiceforCornelius #GeorgeTaylorisoverparty)

10. N/A (Trekkies don't try me.)

11. N/a

12. N/A (I mean I feel like I've probably seen the whole Mummy franchise just through memes at this point but. Lily's reasoning here is fucking asinine though-- as per usually Ant us uniquely getting her goat.)

13. This is actually the first example that breaks rule #3. Sorry fam I love Elfen Lied too, but it's a bit of a hot mess. +1 dead puppy

14. Scar is a dead ringer to Lily's criteria. She straight up just didn't have a pot to piss in, so she just wrote "no." -1 Dwarf in a flask

15. For the record, my boomer mom has seen Ghost in the Shell. The movie anyway. -1 body on loan

16. I watched this as a kid but can't really remember anything about it, so, I gotta put it as N/A.

17. This might actually be the first time I've seen anyone else memtion this movie . . . But still. -1 burnt wheelchair

18. Not plus ultra. -1 for all

19. Oh fuck off Lily. Glass houses. -1 jutsu

20. Sai, Crim and Ant spoke pretty extensively about this one. -1 angry hair raise

21. This one too. -1 demon pig

22. Yes she is. -1 dad

23. See Crim's list. -1 Prisoner 24601

24. N/A

25. Read ANY book, Lily. -1 absent godly parent.

26. I've only read the first one. N/A

27. Lily's reason here is bullshit but I haven't seen Columbo either. N/A

28. Why not Lily? -1 Jimbo

29. YES SHE FUCKING IS LILY. Just because in a modern context her story is a lot more tragic doesn't mean she isn't intended to be a villain. Lily made up the rule "has a point," but if they have an iron clad one she just declares them not a villain. -1 head

30. OBJECTION! NOW YOU REMEMBER VILLAIN AND ANTAGONIST ARENT TRUE SYNONYMS FOR EACH OTHER!? -1 Lily if you could just ONCE try to engage with a media discussion honestly.

31. N/A. I'll get around to watching it.

32. Not in Dracula Untold. -1 Damn Luke Evans looks like he was cloned from Orlando Bloom. I can't tell those two apart.

33. DIFFERENT DRACULAS. HOLY SHIT. -1 Lily this rational is so piss poor it's embarrassing. Even for you.

34. N/A

35. Isn't he in Kingdom Hearts? -1 Ah Ha Ha Ha

36. Another non-surprise. -1 traveler on his way home.

37. I haven't played enough Kurby to know why Meta Knight is a sympathetic villain. N/A

38. I've played enough to know Lily's right on this one. +1 Deddeddeedeeededededeeedede

39. A) several characters on both Crim and Ants' lists have been protagonists. B) IT'S FUCKING COMMON POPCULTURE KNOWLEDGE DONKEY KONG WAS THE ANTAGONIST IN THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF BOTH MARIO AND DK. -1 Lily I'm fucking shocked you don't know this. Genuinely. That's saying something, considering it's you.

40. Solid Lily continues to be the worst one. -1 LIQUIDDDDDDDD

41. Yes she is. Her point is the magic is what keeps her fucking family safe. -1 gift

42. You'd probably like this movie actually, Lily. Not the book, but. Or maybe not, there's no incest lesbians I guess. -1 sexy tree

43. I'm going to give Lily the point to maintain consistency that mind-manipulation doesn't count as "a point." Before he put on the crown he's not really even an antagonist, so. He IS an example of a sympathetic villain, however. +1

44. THERE ARE OTHER ANIMALS ON THIS LIST. Another one who's spot on, so she can't figure out how to even pretend to argue against it. -1 Beauty who killed the beast

45. GODZILLA ISN'T LITERALLY A NUKE. -1 pop culture jokes don't substitute proper media analysis

46. The Kaiju Lily. Her name is the title of the film. It's not Ant's fault You're too lazy to Google shit. -1 Viking Relic

(Biollante would have been my personal pick for sympathetic Kaiju. And her dad. She would have broken Lily's first rule since she's probably not aware of exactly what's happened to her, but. Her father at least fits Lily's criteria. A lot of the Kaiju are sympathetic though.)

47. This is a perfect example as to why Lily's rules are ridiculous. John Kramer is, in my opinion, outrageously unjustified in what he does. He follows her rules though. Having a bad point is still having a point. How "well written" he is wildly different depending on the movie, but because he's at least well written sometimes I'm counting him. -1 foot

48. You haven't read Paradise Lost Lily. I know you haven't. -1 Satan crying for everything he's lost

49. God Lily I wish you'd actually read something for once because this is an even better example as to why your rules are a joke. -1 Facist Worm King

50. This is a specific example. -1 tears, it's a waist of good suffering.

LILY'S FINAL SCORE: 19/50

38% - F

Got wrong: 24

Got right: 2

Removing the ones I haven't seen:

19/39

48% - F

Removing the ones Lily hasn't seen:

15/37

40% - F

Removing the ones we both haven't seen:

2/26

7% - F

[hearthown]

Games Untold Theory!

I'm just gonna get right into it. So, we are able to guess who the subjects are for most of the stories – except for Pain at the Right Gun.

I know that some of us are guessing that this one could be about Gray and Lyra (and I personally started to believe that too), but last night I had a sudden thought.

What if it isn't about Gray and Lyra but about Tobias and Alice?

One of the main reasons I don't think it's Gray and Lyra is because the events in Games Untold happen before the start of TGG and plus, JLB mentioned that the stories revolve around the characters from the original trilogy – AND the new Grandest Game characters do not appear.

Now, for my reasons as to why I think it's Tobias and Alice. I mentioned before that I believe Alice will be included in this book because of the pearl necklace on the cover. As for Tobias, I think he'll be included because of this:

The key. There's a key on the cover and the blade of the key (the part which you put in a lock) is shaped like a letter H. Tobias once said that the keys he made for the key challenge he created (the one where they had to find which key would open the door to Hawthorne House) told the story of his life. So this could be an indication that he's included.

But how could Tobias and Alice's relationship relate to the title of their short story, if it really was about them?

Pain at the Right Gun. There are several meanings for the word "gun". It could mean a weapon. Or it could also mean a bicep; muscular arms.

WARNING: This will start to sound like I'm stretching TOOOOO far but I'll try to make this make sense.

If we took "gun" to mean bicep, then it would mean Pain at the Right Bicep. Right bicep can kind of relate to right-hand, as in right-hand man. And I believe that Tobias and Alice had quite a close relationship since Tobias mentioned that Alice was the woman that he loved wholly (with that Hawthorne love).

Bicep pain is caused by muscle strain. So what if this is pointing to a strain in their relationship? As I said before, whatever Jameson heard in Prague (which was presumably Alice's words) was quite unnerving towards the Hawthorne family. It even seemed as though Alice didn't want to have anything to do with them. She didn't even come back to Hawthorne House during the old man's funeral – she didn't even have an intention of coming back to see her grandsons. And she warned Jameson to not talk about the fact that she was alive to anyone. What if there was a strain in Tobias and Alice's relationship and she ran away? Pain at the Right Gun. The pain could also be due to the fact that Alice kind of destroyed Tobias by running away. Tobias said "once you love the way a Hawthorne loves, there is no going back."

"If she is the one, someday, she will destroy you."

NEXT – Yes, I know there are calla lilies which point to Lyra on the cover. But remember – Nan mentioned that Tobias sent flowers to Lyra's dad's funeral... and who is to say that the flowers weren't calla lilies? Lyra's father gave her a calla lily before he sh0t himself de@d. He said "a Hawthorne did this". Somehow, I think the calla lilies mean more than a parting gift from Lyra's dad to Lyra.

And I just thought of something... WHAT IF... Alice is related to Lyra and her family in some way? What if she knew what Tobias did and it led to her running away?

Okay, that's it for my theory 👋 thank you for reading :P

[wizardingworldlibrary]

Fic Titles W/ Character Names (3) Masterlist

part one, part two

A Seamus Thing (ao3) - Delphi seamus/dean E, 3k

Summary: Dean and Seamus share a tent at the Quidditch World Cup during Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Be Mine, Hermione. (ao3) - monsterleadmehome hermione/draco E, 3k

Summary: It’s Valentine’s Day and Hermione has been receiving mysterious paper hearts from a secret admirer for a week. She has no clue who the culprit could be, but he seems to know her better than almost anyone. He ends each note with “Be mine, Hermione.”

Cedric’s Necklace (ao3) - shadowglove88 cedric/blaise T, 8k

Summary: The first time Blaise met Cedric Diggory he’d been freshly sorted into Slytherin and not exactly as proud or smug as Malfoy about it. He never guessed that the chance meeting would evolve into something that’d change his life forever.

Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love (ao3) - isthisselfcare hermione/draco E, 199k

Summary: Hermione straddles the Muggle and Magical worlds as a medical researcher and Healer about to make a big discovery. Draco is an Auror assigned to protect her from forces unknown – to both of their displeasure.

Features hyper-competent, fiery Hermione and lazy, yet dangerous, Draco. Slow burn.

Hagrid Saves the Day (ao3) - Roff T, 5k

Summary: Rubeus Hagrid, keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts, thinks of a good way he can help when Voldemort and his death eaters come calling.

Harry Hagrid (ao3) - Zerox_Z21 G, 111k

Summary: Instead of being abandoned at the Dursleys’ doorstep, Harry is instead adopted by family friend Hagrid. Shameless fluff fic.

Herbology_Neville and DragonKeeperCW (ao3) - Anaxandria neville/charlie E, 11k

Summary: When Neville starts live-streaming on WixenVid, he’s unsure who would want to watch him ramble about plants for an hour.

Hermione Granger, Demonologist (fanfiction.net) - BrilliantLady

Summary: Hermione was eight when she summoned her first demon. She was lonely. He asked what she wanted, and she said a friend to have tea parties with. It confused him a lot. But that wasn’t going to stop him from striking a promising deal with the young witch. Dark!Hermione, Slytherin!Hermione, occult theme. Complete.

Lee Jordan’s Untold Love Story (ao3) - scarlettjabner lee/fred N/R, 3k

Summary: The title says it all.

Lessons With Hagrid (fanfiction.net) - NothingPretentious T, 4k

Summary: “Have you found out how to get past that beast of Hagrid’s yet?” …Snape kicks Harry out of ‘Remedial Potions’, but as we know from The Philosopher’s Stone, there is another Occlumens in the school good enough to keep out the Dark Lord. Stupid oneshot.

Lily Evans and the Head Boy (ao3) - roaraf james/lily T, 79k

Summary: Lily Evans’s final year at Hogwarts gets off to a bit of a rough start. Between NEWTs, her Head Girl duties, her ruined friendship with Severus Snape, and the obnoxiously dreadful Head Boy James Potter, she has little time to think about the looming threat of He Who Must Not Be Named and the evils that lurk outside the walls of the castle.

As the challenges that face the Wizarding World become more of a part of Lily’s life, she comes face-to-face with a side of James she’s never seen before and an unlikely partnership develops between them. Confronted with dangers beyond their years, Lily, James and their friends grow together into the courageous witches and wizards of the Order of the Phoenix.

Starts just before Lily and James’s 7th year and ends shortly after they leave Hogwarts.

Lily Evans and the Marauders (ao3) - FeBee G, 54k

Summary: Twenty years before Harry Potter received his letter inviting him to Hogwarts, his parents began their own journey and it all started with a rose.

Looking After Hermione (ao3) - amidland hermione/harry T, 9k

Summary: As a break from the stresses of moving house, Harry treats his girlfriend, Hermione, to a day full of dates for Valentine’s Day. Only, when do Harry’s plans always work out perfectly?

Loving Neville (ao3) - MarshmallowMcGonagall neville/draco/harry M, 797

Summary: Harry and Draco love Neville, but sometimes the Herbology Professor can get a bit carried away.

Luna Lovegood and the Dark Lord’s Diary (fanfiction.net) - The madness in me G, 72k

Summary: Tom Riddle’s plans fall through when Ginny Weasley loses his diary shortly after starting her first year and it is found by one Luna Lovegood. A series of bizarre conversations follow. Luna? - Yes Tom? - I’ve been giving this a lot of thought…and I believe you may be insane. (Not crack. Plot takes a while to appear but it’s there) See last chapter for fan art and translations.

Petunia (ao3) - antebunny T, 1k

Summary: In which Lily finds a way to teach her sister magic.

Ronald (ao3) - DistrictThirteenTribute hermione/ron, harry/ginny G, 580

Summary: Ron secretly loves it when Hermione calls him by his full name. And one day, in the middle of an argument, he’s finally going to let her know it.

sirius & the gryffindor common room sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G (ao3) - halfshook sirius/remus T, 1k

Summary: The kiss was short and sweet and Remus had smiled into it but it was nothing more than a simple farewell between lovers.

But that was the problem. No one knew they were lovers.

or the one where sirius kisses EVERYONE to cover up his relationship with Remus

The Problem with Dating a Professor Named Neville (ao3) - coffee_n_cocoa [archived by thequidditchpitch_archivist] E, 4k

Summary: Twelve-year-old James is horrified to discover his mother’s boyfriend and his Herbology professor at Hogwarts are the same person.

The Three Trials Of Severus Snape (ao3) - copperbadge T, 5k

Summary: Minerva McGonagall narrates three events in the life of Severus Snape, in an attempt to show his true character.

[ashleybenlove]

@lifblogs asked me a few days ago if I was gonna share the list of books I read this year. So, I'm gonna do that.

Due to character limits, I had to separate the numbered lists, so first list goes up to 100 and then the second list is the rest.

Couple of notes, my list includes the date I finished reading and a couple of marks.

Their meanings:

Started in 2022: * This book is a reread: ** Did not write down the date but probably the date: *? (Basically I decided after I had started to include the date finished.) Special notation for Dracula and Dracula Daily: **!

Bold denotes favorites.

Eight Kinky Nights: An f/f Chanukah romance by Xan West* – Jan 1*?

Through the Moon: A Graphic Novel (The Dragon Prince Graphic Novel #1) by Peter Wartman – Jan 4

Maphead: Charting the Wide, Weird World of Geography Wonks by Ken Jennings – Jan 7

The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World by Steve Brusatte – Jan 12

A Brother’s Price by Wen Spencer** - Jan 13

Gossie and Gertie by Olivier Dunrea – Jan 17

A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight Chapters by Andrew H. Knoll – Jan 18

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler – Jan 22

Flying Dinosaurs: How Fearsome Reptiles Became Birds by John Pickrell – Jan 25

Promised Land: a Revolutionary Romance by Rose Lerner – Jan 26

Bad Girls Never Say Die by Jennifer Mathieu – Jan 27

How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States by Daniel Immerwahr – Feb 2

Artemis by Andy Weir – Feb 4

Hunting Game by Helene Tursten – Feb 7

How the Earth Turned Green: A Brief 3.8-Billion-Year History of Plants by Joseph E. Armstrong – Feb 14

Fortuna by Kristyn Merbeth – Feb 16

After Hours on Milagro Street by Angelina M. Lopez – Feb 22

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan – Feb 22

Super Volcanoes: What They Reveal about Earth and the Worlds Beyond by Robin George Andrews – Feb 28

Memoria by Kristyn Merbeth – Feb 28

American Revolution: A History From Beginning to End by Hourly History – Mar 5

Discordia by Kristyn Merbeth – Mar 6

A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley – Mar 17

Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded by Simon Winchester – Mar 18

The Ends of the World: Volcanic Apocalypses, Lethal Oceans, and Our Quest to Understand Earth's Past Mass Extinctions by Peter Brannen – Mar 18

Big Chicas Don't Cry by Annette Chavez Macias – Mar 19

Innumerable Insects: The Story of the Most Diverse and Myriad Animals on Earth by Michael S. Engel – Mar 21

The Cause: The American Revolution and its Discontents, 1773-1783 by Joseph J. Ellis – Mar 24

Eragon by Christopher Paolini – Mar 25

Immune: A Journey into the Mysterious System That Keeps You Alive by Philipp Dettmer – Mar 25

Locked in Time by Lois Duncan** – Mar 26

Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur – Mar 28

The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict – April 4

Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbotham – April 7

Bisexually Stuffed By Our Living Christmas Stocking by Chuck Tingle – April 8

Bloodmoon Huntress: A Graphic Novel (The Dragon Prince Graphic Novel #2) by Nicole Andelfinger – April 9

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell – April 11

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton – April 13

The Return of Martin Guerre by Natalie Zemon Davis – April 17

What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jimenez – April 19

Cinder by Marissa Meyer – April 20

The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson – April 20

Eldest by Christopher Paolini – April 22

The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan – April 23

The Sentient Lesbian Em Dash — My Favorite Punctuation Mark — Gets Me Off by Chuck Tingle – April 24

The Pleistocene Era: The History of the Ice Age and the Dawn of Modern Humans by Charles River Editors – April 26

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie – April 27

Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach – April 29

Absolution by Murder by Peter Tremayne – May 3

Matrix by Lauren Groff – May 6

The Color Purple by Alice Walker – May 7

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie – May 9

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume – May 11

The Dragon Prince Book One: Moon by Aaron Ehasz and Melanie McGanney Ehasz – May 13

Mind the Gap, Dash & Lily by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan – May 15

Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez – May 15

Atlas of Unusual Borders: Discover Intriguing Boundaries, Territories and Geographical Curiosities by Zoran Nikolic – May 20

How the Mountains Grew: A New Geological History of North America by John Dvorak – May 20

The Guncle by Steven Rowley – May 21

Brisingr by Christopher Paolini – May 24

Reflection: A Twisted Tale by Elizabeth Lim – May 26

Sailor's Delight by Rose Lerner – May 26

The Last Days of the Dinosaurs: An Asteroid, Extinction, and the Beginning of Our World by Riley Black – May 28

Humans are Weird: I Have the Data by Betty Adams – June 3

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro – June 4

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer – June 8

Slaughterhouse-Five, or, The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death by Kurt Vonnegut – June 9

A Tip for the Hangman by Allison Epstein – June 11

Cress by Marissa Meyer – June 20

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao – June 22

The Rise and Reign of the Mammals: A New History, from the Shadow of the Dinosaurs to Us by Steve Brusatte – June 24

After the Hurricane by Leah Franqui – June 24

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini – June 25

Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez – June 26

Dark Room Etiquette by Robin Roe – June 30

The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking) by Katie Mack – July 4

Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains by Bethany Brookshire – July 5

Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin – July 7

Cosmos by Carl Sagan – July 10

1984 by George Orwell** -- July 11

What Once Was Mine: A Twisted Tale by Liz Braswell – July 17

Evolution Gone Wrong: The Curious Reasons Why Our Bodies Work (Or Don't) by Alex Bezzerides – July 20

The Planet Factory: Exoplanets and the Search for a Second Earth Hardcover by Elizabeth Tasker – July 21

Witches by Brenda Lozano – July 24

Son of a Sailor: A Cozy Pirate Tale by Marshall J. Moore – July 29

Winter by Marissa Meyer – July 29

As Old As Time: A Twisted Tale by Liz Braswell – July 30

Baking Yesteryear: The Best Recipes from the 1900s to the 1980s by B. Dylan Hollis – August 4

Half Bad by Sally Green – August 7

The Great Mortality: An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time by John Kelly – August 14

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley – August 18

Gory Details: Adventures From the Dark Side of Science by Erika Engelhaupt – August 22

The Last Karankawas by Kimberly Garza – August 25

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore – Sept 5

Oceans of Kansas, Second Edition: A Natural History of the Western Interior Sea by Michael J. Everhart – Sept 7

Corpus Christi: The History of a Texas Seaport by Bill Walraven – Sept 9

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury** – Sept 12

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia – Sept 18

The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera – Sept 20

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett – Sept 22

The Mammals of Texas by William B. Davis and David J. Schmidly – Sept 29

The Romance Recipe by Ruby Barrett – Oct 4

The 2024 Old Farmer’s Almanac edited by Janice Stillman – Oct 7

Half Wild by Sally Green – Oct 7

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James – Oct 7

Verity by Colleen Hoover – Oct 10

Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence – Oct 15

Archaeology: Unearthing the Mysteries of the Past by Kate Santon – Oct 16

100 Places to See After You Die: A Travel Guide to the Afterlife by Ken Jennings – Oct 22

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie – Oct 22

Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe García McCall – Oct 22

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie – Oct 27

How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures by Sabrina Imbler – Oct 28

The Fires of Vesuvius: Pompeii Lost and Found by Mary Beard – Oct 29

Conflict Is Not Abuse: Overstating Harm, Community Responsibility, and the Duty of Repair by Sarah Schulman – Oct 31

The Great Texas Dragon Race by Kacy Ritter – Nov 6

Dracula by Bram Stoker**! – Nov 7/8

The Wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser – Nov 9

Cascadia's Fault: The Coming Earthquake and Tsunami that Could Devastate North America by Jerry Thompson – Nov 10

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison – Nov 11

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney – Nov 13

Untamed by Glennon Doyle – Nov 14

Nimona by ND Stevenson – Nov 18

Dracula Daily by Matt Kirkland**! – Nov 20

A Mother Would Know by Amber Garza – Nov 24

Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie – Nov 25

How To Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell** – Nov 27

Hickory Dickory Dock by Agatha Christie – Dec 1

Murtagh by Christopher Paolini – Dec 8

The Labours of Hercules by Agatha Christie – Dec 8

Icehenge by Kim Stanley Robinson – Dec 9

These Holiday Movies With Bizarrely Similar Smiling Heterosexual Couples Dressed In Green And Red On Their Cover Get Me Off Bisexually by Chuck Tingle – Dec 9

The Domesday Book: England's Heritage, Then & Now edited by Thomas Hindle – Dec 10

You Sound Like a White Girl: The Case for Rejecting Assimilation by Julissa Arce – Dec 13

Himawari House by Harmony Becker – Dec 13

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck** – Dec 18

Born Into It: A Fan’s Life by Jay Baruchel – Dec 18

The Dragon Prince Book Two: Sky by Aaron Ehasz and Melanie McGanney Ehasz – Dec 23

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree – Dec 24

Half Lost by Sally Green – Dec 24

Understudies by Priya Sridhar – Dec 28

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir – Dec 28

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking – Dec 31

[roseblancheenfleurs]

Untold story of magic ✨ 2

Warning ⚠️⚠️⚠️

Nsfw Content, Slight Degradation, later aged characters, fanfiction, toxic, rivals to lovers to enemies to spouses 😌,Muggle insult, cursing by underage etc.

Continuation .....

You hurried to the Godric 's Hollow , Potter's house.

It wasn't like this when you came here before on the birth of your grand nephew. The predicted chosen one, Harry Potter.

You ran into the house..., "James...Lily" you called for them only to find Minerva arguing with Dumbledore .

"... you handed over Harry to them" that's what you heard after entering .

Before they looked towards you.

"Harry? Where's Harry?"

You asked fearing the worse...

"He is in safe hands , don't worry Ms. Y/s (your surname)."Dumbledore assures as Minerva cuts him off.

She says more like acussing him of a grave crime, "You literally handed them over to those people who would hesitate to provide him the bare minimum "...

"THE DURSLEYS!" You screamed...

"Am I still not alive or am not enough strong to protect him?" You considered them the second dangerous people next to him.

"You still have that confidence in yourself Ms. Y/s.... Good good" it may seem to anyone that Dumbledore is encouraging you but the sarcasm can be seen dropping from that mocking gaze.

"Are you even aware that how easily Harry could be hunted down if he stays with you? plus he is with his closest relatives and I see absolute no difference between you and durselys especially the blood. And after that it's more dangerous to stay with you" He says while giving you a side gaze from the upper side of his glasses.

"hah!" You smirk and proceed to say those things over his face, "Obviously what can be expected from a fucking manipulating man because whom all these happened if only you didn't use that rotten head of yours "

"Truth is always bitter, my dear student, try hard maybe one day you could digest that, Just a few words of mine triggered you so easily, who knows if you hand over Harry to him yourself just by some false sugar coated words " he shows himself out of the murder scene . You could feel millions of needles piercing the heart. Standing there speechless cause of the amount of trust your most inspiring teacher had on you.

A tear escaped your eye remembering that day you still couldn't believe .

Like it was a day or two ago you gaining all fame and name, an interesting fact blowed your mind that being a muggle born magician meant you had a wizard/witch ancestry , that was the time you meet Him, the most renowned yet retired cosmetic potioneer known for the invention of Sleekeazy's Hair potion in 1926.None other than Mr . Fleamont Potter and His wife Euphemia Potter with their 11 year old son, James Potter.

A conversation soared,

Both of you were on the peak of your careers Fleamont and you have meet many times before for business purposes but today it was a informal meeting without any purpose.

Sitting inside a five star restaurant having dinner talking about many daily life things one of them was the family tree, many didn't know that you are a muggle born and assumed you were a pure blood.

"If Salvius Gryffindor didn't marry a muggle we could have been relatives through your maternal side, Ms. Y/s" Fleamont laughed.

Salvius Gryffindor brother of Godric Gryffindor not much mentioned in the wizarding scriptures shared the name as your Maternal ancestor who you found to be the only wizard in your bloodline Salvius YM/s(your mother's surname).

That was something you sort of calculated and suddenly felt a little tug on your lower sleeve. It was little James with pink blush spreading on his cheeks.

"What happened little one? " You asked him softly.

Seeing him shuttering infront of you Euphemia says, "James is a great fan of your books, He has been asking to meet for many days to get a sign of yours".

You see him helding out one of your first published books with his little hands, you never gave autographs but the scene of you felt too cute to be ignored.

You bring out your personal quill and gave a sign on the front cover.

"Happy now, little one" Those pupils could be literally seen to be shining. He rushed and hugged you.

With those sparkly eyes puppy eyes looking at your face he says with a wide smile, " Thank You". And you hugged him back with little kiss on the forehead that little face of his was completely red now. With three of you laughing at the shy kid.

The rest went well but a problem arised at the parting.

It was James clinging to your skirt set on his words to go with him.

"My parents are waiting for me ,They would worry if I don't go back" You try to free yourself from his grip trying not to hurt him.

"They will also stay with us we live in a big house, everyone will live together" He tightened the grip.

Both of his parents tried to make him understand to let you go. But who listens.

You see literally no way to make him understand. You knelt to his level and say, "You will be going to Hogwarts right?"

"Yes" He answers...

"I teach there... When you get there you can meet me whenever needed" You assure him with a sweet smile .

"Really" He says.

You nod in a positive way.

And that's the start. At Hogwarts, Every student, every teacher were scared of the pranks of the Marauders but they used to be the most well behaved infront of you. Enjoying afternoon tea, collecting herbs in the forbidden forest taking care of beasts, reading in library. It was a daily routine during the break time there would be a knock on your door only to find Minerva dragging James by his collar

"How did my dear friend thought to visit me?" You ask Minerva who was still panting .

"Take your student, Or one day I may beat the shit out of him" She says pointing towards the empty coat "Wait wasn't he just here"

James who sneaked away from her standing beside you holding your sleeve giggles.

"Why do you always behind him, Minerva?"

"Ask that trouble maker" She huffs sitting at the table pouring herself a cup of tea and drinking it.

"What did you do James?" You ask.

"The other day you said Cats are lactose intolerant" James says

"Yes I did"

"So I change Mimi's cow milk for tea with flour mixed with water"

"Hahaha" You laughed hearing it,

"You are laughing it off" Minerva gives you a glare.

"It was out of concern Minerva, Cats should not be given cow milk" You somehow convey your words through your laugh "James is just concerned about Mimi, right James?"

He nods. You never really scolded James about anything you always thought if Tom and You had a son, he would have been the age of James.

After parting with Tom you were never able to love someone else. Leading to be single even now. James seemed to be fulfilled all the absence of your dream family.

You slowly forgot the loneliness due to him.

During vactional breaks there were times you would take James to roam in the Diagon Alley trying new food and drinks, sometimes showing him your new inventions.

Like any other day you were walking down the street holding James in your hand both of your identity Hidden with cloaks you collided with another hooded figure.

Losing your balance you fell on the figure revealing a mature face with the same curly bangs , dark eyes familiar to you .

Tom Marvolo Riddle!?

[this-is-lit]

Drop Dead

by Lily Chu

One mysterious mansion. Two rival journalists. Three weeks to uncover the story—and love—of a lifetime. Don’t miss this unforgettable romantic comedy!

Drop Dead by Lily Chu follows rival journalists Nadine Barbault and Wesley Chen as they race to discover the untold tale behind one of bestselling author Dot Voline’s books. Nemesis since college, Nadine and Wesley must put aside their rancor for a chance at a defining story of their careers.

Chu is a master of the lighthearted, feel-good rom-com tale. Drop Dead has everything readers of the genre expect from the rival-to-lovers trope, and while she throws in a dash of miscommunication, it is just enough to raise the stakes and cement deeper connections between our two protagonists and not too much that the plot depends on it. Nadine and Wesley come from their own places of hurt and have their own preconceptions; readers will empathize, sympathize, and root for Wesley and Nadine’s personal and business success. All of Chu’s characters are relatable to life in every way, with believable villains and friends who are also flawed. The narrative is character-driven, but the plot is engaging and will suck readers into the intrigue.

Lovers of this genre of books will want to delve into this story post-haste, but crime enthusiasts and readers looking for heavy angst may not find it appealing.

[bookished]

Garden of Constellations

Amidst the greenery of a garden fair, Blooms a wondrous sight so rare, Where flowers sway and gently nod, In patterns like the stars of God.

Above, the skies may twinkle bright, With constellations, a wondrous sight, And in the garden, down below, The flowers mimic that cosmic glow.

Petals and leaves weave and dance, A floral tribute, a cosmic trance, Where patterns match the stars on high, And beauty reigns without a sigh.

So walk the paths of this garden grand, And witness a sight so truly grand, Where flowers bloom in constellations fair, A dreamlike world beyond compare.

And as you gaze upon this scene, Remember all the wonders in between, For in this garden, as in life, Beauty shines amidst the strife.

Each bloom a star, each stem a line, In this garden where wonders entwine, Where colors blend in harmony rare, A celestial dance beyond compare.

The roses twinkle like Orion's belt, The lilies form a celestial quilt, Petunias shimmer like the Milky Way, In this garden where dreams hold sway.

The daisies sparkle like Gemini's twin, The violets glow with a soft chagrin, Each flower a story, a tale untold, In this garden where beauty unfolds.

So pause a moment, take it all in, The magic of nature, the heavenly spin, For in these blooms, in these constellations, Lies the essence of divine creations.

In the garden of constellations, we find, A glimpse of the cosmos, a reflection so kind, Where beauty blooms in patterns true, A reminder of the universe's vast and wondrous view.

A symphony of blooms, a celestial ballet, In every corner, a cosmic display, Petals and leaves, a celestial map, In this earthly garden, where stars entrap.

The marigolds twinkle like a distant sun, The daffodils glisten, their dance begun, Each flower a spark in the cosmic sea, An ode to the stars, a reverie.

As night falls and the stars above appear, The garden glows with a celestial cheer, For in this earthly paradise, we find, A universe in bloom, so wondrously aligned.

So let us revel in this garden so bright, Where earthly and heavenly realms unite, For in the flowers that bloom in constellations, We find celestial beauty, beyond limitations.

As dawn breaks and the night sky fades, In this garden where beauty cascades, We carry within us the memories dear, Of flowers that bloomed like constellations clear.

And though the stars may fade from sight, Their presence lingers, pure and bright, In the floral patterns, in the earthly skies, A reminder of beauty that never dies.

So linger a moment, with gratitude in heart, For the garden of constellations, a work of art, A blend of nature and cosmos so divine, Where the beauty of creation forever shines.

In the garden of constellations, we find solace true, A glimpse of eternity, a cosmic view, For in each bloom, in each constellation's grace, We see the wonders of the universe, in this earthly place.

In the garden, where blooms mirror the stars above, Petals unfold in celestial love, As morning breaks, and the sun's first rays ignite, The heavenly and earthly embrace, a wondrous sight.

[inevitablemoment]

I'm mostly a Janegon fan, but your OC ideas are sweet, I specially like the fact that Cathleen is a storyteller.

Have you watched the series The Nanny?

There is an episode where Mr Maxwell Chefield (Charles Shaugnessy) is about to marry the titular Nanny, Mrs Fran Fine (Fran Drescher), and there is a sweet scene where he talks to the spirit of his deceased wife and she blesses his new marriage, saying that, from the afterlife, she sent Fran to his life to bring joy for him and the kids.

In the series, is also shown that while married to Maxwell and having adopted his children, Fran never asks them to forget his first wife their birth mom. When the children miss the original Mrs Sheffield, Fran watches a video tape recording of her with them, and also dedicates jewish prayers to her memory.

In an AU where Egon keeps custody of Callie and happily marries Janine after proccessing the grief for the death of Cathleen, could you envision a similar dinamic between them?

(Sorry that this took me so long to answer)

Thank you so much! I like Janegon, too, but I'll admit that I've kinda grown attached to Cathleen, so I've gotten focused on my AU where Cathleen lives. But I did make a Janegon playlist that you can listen to here.

I got the idea of Egon falling in love with a storyteller from the musical, Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier. That musical in general made me just love with the idea of a STEM geek and a literature geek finding love together.

Oh, I love The Nanny! I have a lot of memories of watching reruns of it on TV Land on Saturday mornings back in second and third grade, and then watching my recording of the episode about Maggie's wedding when I was home sick one day. I was recently able to get the complete series boxset from a Half-Price Books store during a vacation earlier this month.

This ask actually helped me create this AU, as I always have considered what my take on "Egon keeps custody of Callie and ends up with Janine" would be.

(Not-so-brief summary under the cut)

As Cathleen died when Callie was only a year old, Callie can't remember her mother. She knows her from photos, home movies, and stories that her father and her uncles tell her, though. Callie is a few months away from her fourth birthday when the Ghostbusters team is first formed and Janine is hired to work as their receptionist. One of the things that attracts Janine to Egon is seeing how, underneath his reserved and stoic exterior, he's a devoted father to Callie. Janine connects with Callie, who immediately imprints on Janine like a baby duck.

Egon slowly opens up to her about how he struggled adjusting to life as a single parent after Cathleen's death, and the tense custody battle between him and Cathleen's parents. Their friendship builds into a romantic relationship, and they end up marrying in 1986.

The only time that Callie ever felt insecure regarding Janine's love for her was after the birth of her half-sister, Lily Esther Spengler, in 1987. She began to feel now that Janine had a child that was biologically hers, then she wouldn't be as loved as she was before. Janine took her aside and reassured her that she loved Callie. Three years later, Janine and Egon welcomed a third daughter, Vanessa Ruth.

After the move to Summerville, as in my Cathleen Lives 'verse, Callie's main grudge with her father is that he uprooted her life over something that may or may not happen, and burned every bridge he had when no one but Janine believed him. Callie ran off to her maternal grandparents' new home in Chicago and refused to return home. She cuts off contact with her father and half-sisters, but only occasionally speaks with Janine over the phone.

Following the defeat of Gozer (I haven't decided whether it's Callie, Lily, or Vanessa who gets possessed by Zuul in this 'verse), the surviving members of the Spengler family reconcile.

[kuraikyu]

@digenvez : It's a bold move to make --- Reaching out for his friend. Carefully, nearly gingerly, using his hand to cradle the other's chin, a benign touch that could be brushed off and pulled away from if wanted and demanded. " Hey. " It had been incited by the sadness he had worn all day in his eyes, by that untold little story, singing out in a discordant tone only between the both of them when fingers brush along Suguru's jawline. Aside from the soft call, there was nothing else, just this certainty of I'm here.[ teen satoru and suguru <3 ]

Rings under sunken eyes laminated by dark circles grew with worries unbefitting of his age. A silk ladder unrolled across the ivy wanderlust of each other's limitations. Suguru himself was not weary in hardships of body but shadows of his mind.

The familiarity of the sound rings hollowly in still tapestry of his arduous dreaming. The strongest and egotistical by definition in a tough position, would hold no caution counsel in dealings with his best friend. Yet, here was the other one, engulfed by silence of campus, sitting and staring how spilled ink soaked into notepad pages with glassy eyes and perception deeply absent; compounded guilt and ruin that have fallen beneath notice. Time itself had become irrelevant; tens of seconds could have been hours, hours mere seconds. Why Sorcerers ignore warnings at their peril? Can't they see that our life would be fleeting as single breath because of ... [ ... ]

That one stupid word regarding primates of this society haunted his mind like Baskerville hound. Unfortunately, it was not only sadness that day. Did he really think Satoru would not notice, his stands apart from the rest, how every now and then his eyes drift into direction of the unknown and without aim or focus, nervous finger drumming against the table surface, reading more than thirty minutes one sentence of a short poetry book? And those periodically violent shifts in his cursed energy whenever he was alone? Wordplay without surrounding consonants. There are two syllables in water and three in inferno, he thirsted for the first while fusing himself with the latter but he would not weep for the need of it. Such a theatre of absurdity it made his stomach twist and turn. Near to choking on self-produced venom, day by day his inner darkness was growing teeth, searching for a target to sink them in without truly understanding or acknowledging such desire. Whatever it was it couldn’t feel pain, yearning, or regret just this eclipse of emptiness he kept falling in endlessly. There was something feral going on within scape of Suguru's energy that day, something that threatened to unleash itself from chains and rip to shreds whenever light and solace would not reach him. The night parade in his core kept perpetually thinking about carnage and craved bloodshed of the unworthy scums. The shower should be soothing and not the other way around. He blamed too much exorcism, too much everything ...

Until his focus was guided away by initiatively secured touch. Hand that roams far afield along the contour line of his jaw sending shivers down his spine. And he follows, cranium titles. There was a mild sense of astonishment expanding in the gloom of Curse eater's eyes where somewhere in their depths, with a flick of sericeous tail a shimmer of hope swims like an ivory beta in the black pool of Yin. Another half is never too far, even to the ends of the earth to complete like an equation and like a missing piece puzzle. They ride though life conjoined - expanding and contracting instinctively, filling each other's spaces liquidly despite spiny conflict. Two halves of insanity - a beginning of terrible brilliance for twisted mirror can not exist by itself.

Bright red quickly darkening, the spider lily coops petals of trickling vices and prepares to slumber, applause echo of invisible collective ceased, every fleeting beat of touch has died safe and warm within attempts of rescue. But even if temporarily so -- was it not a moment worth to mellow in that tender light, calm and reassuring, forget about what gaudy day denies, reject the ends of being, and lean against ideal grace?

Satoru? Early is the hour in which he returns, by the time Geto was long after the shower. Did he say something; something before? He could swear Gojo's lips moved just now but he could not hear anything until his sense of sound returned to the faculty of perceiving.

White portion of the eyes saturated with bloodshot. Awareness perked enough through executing action to reflexively trap firmly his friend's wayfaring wrist within his hand. It was almost harsh; nearly savage, only to manifest another touch the next second with a lighter contact where each could try and pry free if wanted. Persistent fool, he would still try, /attempt/, knowing he should not be around when the binge eater was near at peak of his worst.

A worm gnawing at his subconsciousness manifested once again. Oh, look who shows up. Where were you for so long, hm? ........ Where were you when I needed you the most?

Ah, the Honored One finally minding to pay a visit to his old friend after done safeguarding his new priority; monkeys?! He wanted to coil arms around his stomach, curl, and cackle in hysterical self-derision and romanticization of disgust. But there's a hiss that snakes bitterly past his lips instead. Oh, and that moment and he could have snapped, could have pulled him into ravaging calamity and devoured him, setting the floor ablaze with the impact of destructive turbulence where even divinity would shake itself because he knew Satoru could withstand that, the thought was there, at length of his arm -- rooting deep. One tug was enough to pull them together in a tornado of seeking intensities. But his best friend's eyes ... like cloudless climes and starry skies ... kept looking at him with a sign of worry and reminded him of lost control. Once ravenette fulfilled his sight with prolonged eye contact he seemed relatively calmer, no, much calmer, because, and undeniably foremost he always had this emollient effect on him. Upon his word, faithful puffs of warm breath fell on the brevis of the inner side of Gojo's palm as Geto held him in place until full rotation to face him. Lips on the doorstep to quiver from sucking in a thicker consignment of air till he masters and swallows indescribable emotions, until they vanish and he stands once again with his expression tired just this time indulging in something grander and less destructive. Ocean eyes take him back to the floral shores sweet as May. Like at the edge of the receding glacier, he nodded sagely as a sign of perception and even attempted to charm fragment of a ghosting smile, " I'm sorry, my reflexes must have overreacted due to pounding headache ... did you say something? I probably misheard ... ''

" Must be the weather ... "

Thank you. For being here ... and reminding me (*how) to be better.

[themattress]

OUAT Season/Episode Opinion Masterpost

ONCE UPON A TIME:

1. Pilot - GREAT 2. The Thing You Love Most - GREAT 3. Snow Falls - GOOD 4. The Price of Gold - GOOD 5. That Still Small Voice - GOOD 6. The Shepherd - GOOD 7. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter - GREAT 8. Desperate Souls - GREAT 9. True North - OK 10. 7:15 A.M - GOOD 11. Fruit of the Poisonous Tree - OK 12. Skin Deep - GREAT 13. What Happened to Fredrick - GOOD 14. Dreamy - GOOD 15. Red-Handed - GREAT 16. Heart of Darkness - GOOD 17. Hat Trick - GREAT 18. The Stable Boy - GOOD 19. The Return - GREAT 20. The Stranger - GREAT 21. An Apple Red As Blood - GREAT 22. A Land Without Magic - GREAT 23. Broken - GREAT 24. We Are Both - GOOD 25. Lady of the Lake - GREAT 26. The Crocodile - GOOD 27. The Doctor - GREAT 28. Tallahassee - GREAT 29. Child of the Moon - POOR 30. Into the Deep - GOOD 31. Queen of Hearts - GREAT 32. The Cricket Game - OK 33. The Outsider - OK 34. In the Name of the Brother - OK 35. Tiny - OK 36. Manhattan - GREAT 37. The Queen is Dead - GREAT 38. The Miller's Daughter - GREAT 39. Welcome to Storybrooke - BAD 40. Selfless, Brave and True - BAD 41. Lacey - BAD 42. The Evil Queen - BAD 43. Second Star to the Right - GREAT 44. And Straight On 'Til Morning - GREAT 45. The Heart of the Truest Believer - GREAT 46. Lost Girl - GOOD 47. Quite a Common Fairy - GREAT 48. Nasty Habits - OK 49. Good Form - GOOD 50. Ariel - GREAT 51. Dark Hollow - GREAT 52. Think Lovely Thoughts - GREAT 53. Save Henry - GOOD 54. The New Neverland - OK 55. Going Home - GREAT 56. New York City Serenade - GOOD 57. Witch Hunt - GREAT 58. The Tower - OK 59. Quiet Minds - OK 60. It's Not Easy Being Green - POOR 61. The Jolly Roger - GOOD 62. Bleeding Through - POOR 63. A Curious Thing - POOR 64. Kansas - POOR 65. Snow Drifts - GREAT 66. There's No Place Like Home - GREAT 67. A Tale of Two Sisters = OK 68. White Out = OK 69. Rocky Road = GOOD 70. The Apprentice = GREAT 71. Breaking Glass = POOR 72. Family Business = OK 73. The Snow Queen = GREAT 74. Smash the Mirror = GOOD 75. Fall = GOOD 76. Shattered Sight = GREAT 77. Heroes and Villains = POOR 78. Darkness on the Edge of Town - GOOD 79. Unforgiven - POOR 80. Enter the Dragon - POOR 81. Poor Unfortunate Soul - GOOD 82. Best Laid Plans - POOR 83. Heart of Gold - POOR 84. Sympathy for the De Vil - GOOD 85. Lily - OK 86. Mother - OK 87. Operation Mongoose: Part 1 - GOOD 88. Operation Mongoose: Part 2 - GOOD 89. The Dark Swan = OK   90. The Price = POOR       91. Siege Perilous = GOOD     92. The Broken Kingdom = GREAT   93. Dreamcatcher = OK   94. The Bear and the Bow = POOR   95. Nimue = GREAT   96. Birth = GOOD     97. The Bear King = OK   98. Broken Heart = GREAT     99. Swan Song = GOOD   100. Souls of the Departed = GOOD 101. Labor of Love = GOOD 102. Devil’s Due = OK 103. The Brothers Jones = GOOD 104. Our Decay = GOOD 105. Her Handsome Hero = POOR 106. Ruby Slippers = OK 107. Sisters = GREAT 108. Firebird = GREAT 109. Last Rites = GREAT 110. Only You = OK 111. An Untold Story = POOR 112. The Savior - POOR 113. A Bitter Draught - POOR 114. The Other Shoe - GOOD 115. Strange Case - GOOD 116. Street Rats - POOR 117. Dark Waters - OK 118. Heartless - OK 119. I’ll Be Your Mirror - POOR 120. Changelings - BAD 121. Wish You Were Here - BAD 122. Tougher Than The Rest - BAD 123. Murder Most Foul - OK 124. Ill-Boding Patterns - BAD 125. Page 23 - BAD 126. A Wondrous Place - GOOD 127. Mother’s Little Helper - OK 128. Awake - BAD 129. Where Bluebirds Fly - POOR 130. The Black Fairy - OK 131. The Song In Your Heart - GOOD 132. The Final Battle: Part 1 - OK 133. The Final Battle: Part 2 - OK 134. Hyperion Heights - OK 135. A Pirate's Life - OK 136. The Garden of Forking Paths - BAD 137. Beauty - POOR 138. Greenbacks - POOR 139. Wake-Up Call - BAD 140. Eloise Gardener - POOR 141. Pretty in Blue - POOR 142. One Little Tear - BAD 143. The Eighth Witch - BAD 144. Secret Garden - BAD 145. A Taste of the Heights - POOR 146. Knightfall - OK 147. The Girl in the Tower - GOOD 148. Sisterhood - BAD 149. Breadcrumbs - OK 150. Chosen - POOR 151. The Guardian - OK 152. Flower Child - BAD 153. Is This Henry Mills - POOR 154. Homecoming - OK 155. Leaving Storybrooke - POOR

ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND:

1. Down the Rabbit Hole - OK 2. Trust Me - OK 3. Forget Me Not - GOOD 4. The Serpent - GREAT 5. Heart of Stone - GOOD 6. Who's Alice - GREAT 7. Bad Blood - GREAT 8. Home - GREAT 9. Nothing To Fear - POOR 10. Dirty Little Secret - GOOD 11. Heart of the Matter - GREAT 12. To Catch a Thief - GOOD 13. And They Lived - GREAT

MATHEMATICAL AVERAGES:

Season 1 = 4.4 (GOOD) 1A = 4.4 (GOOD) 1B = 4.4 (GOOD)

Season 2 = 3.6 (OK) 2A = 4.3 (GOOD) 2B = 3.1 (OK)

Season 3 = 3.8 (OK) 3A = 4.3 (GOOD) 3B = 3.3 (OK)

Season 4 = 3.3 (OK) 4A = 3.6 (OK) 4B = 2.7 (POOR)

Season 5 = 3.6 (OK) 5A = 3.6 (OK) 5B = 3.8 (OK)

Season 6 = 2.5 (POOR) 6A = 2.5 (POOR) 6B = 2.5 (POOR)

Season 7 = 2.0 (POOR) 7A = 1.8 (BAD) 7B = 2.3 (POOR)

Wonderland = 4.2 (GOOD) A = 4.2 (GOOD) B = 4.2 (GOOD)

[krastbannert]

A map from my original series, Songs of the Sea. This is the northwestern portion of the Great Tethyeian Ocean and the eastern half of the continent of Larosha.

Larosha is massive, the largest of the known continents by far, and is almost entirely unexplored. Many nations from the other continents of Calavai and Mirian have colonies or client states. The largest native Laroshan nation is the Kasoni Empire, primarily populated by mermaids that spent nearly a thousand years in isolation, but emerged as one of the most influential and important nations in the world of the Great War. The Spirebacks are the biggest barrier into the interior from the eastern coast - they are the tallest mountain range in the world, peaking at Mount Skri in the north, the tallest mountain in the world. Skri translates in the local language to simply “Fire” - this refers to it being a monstrous volcano, though it has been dormant for nearly a century. Just beyond the Spirebacks lies the Osuma River and a massive tropical forest, the Osuma, stretching across ten-thousand miles of coastline and nearly 1000 miles inland. This forest is believed to be the most ecologically diverse place on Iera.

Beyond the Osuma Rainforest is a wild, untamed, dangerous, and astonishingly beautiful frontier. East to west, it ranges from the low shrubland of the foothills to wide open savannas to the swirling sands of the Great Desert, the largest in the world. In the north are thick, untamed boreal forests said to be the home of spirits and monsters, and the Osuma Forest is rumored to hold untouched ruins and spirits of its own. Few attempts have been made to explore this frontier, and even fewer explorers have returned. Lost airship crews passing over the continent have reported seeing strange things that defy logic and science: distant mountain ranges that never seem to get closer, bottomless rifts that extend deep into the earth, strange creatures in the air and on the ground, massive buried cities and overgrown ruins. All of these reports are, to date, unconfirmed, as no expeditions have been able to make it through the Great Desert. Many have met untimely, grisly ends, and many more simply were never seen again. It is said that beyond the desert, in the far east, is a great, open waste, devoid of all life, named ‘the Empty Lands’ by the Laroshan natives, but it has never been found. Some also say that the far side of Larosha is where the legendary Grey Ships of Mirian originate from.

But the continent has beauty, too. Laroshan nations have rich cultures with a history that dates back thousands of years, some even older than the nations of Calavai. Ancient tribes in the mountains and jungles live as they have for untold millenia. Ruins dot the charted landscape, testaments to the glories of an ancient, storied past, lost to time. Larosha is the single most biologically diverse continent on the planet, with untamed wilds full of animals and plants thought of only in the imagination. Larosha is regarded worldwide as a place of beauty, from the Pearl Falls in the Spirebacks, to the blaze lilies growing upon the ashen slopes of Mount Skri, to the Crystal Delta at the mouth of the Osuma River. It is a continent of legends and dreams and hopes, a place of mystery, waiting to be solved.

[loiladadiani]

Leopold and Louise

What a great picture! These offsprings of Victoria were so, so special. I will not discuss Louise here (she deserves her own post.) But I deeply admire and respect Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany. He might have been the greatest of role models for Tsarevich Alexis. A hemophiliac, no less severe than Alexis, he was often sick and under constant supervision, sometimes of people, he did not like (he did not get along with the gillies his mother assigned as his personal helpers). But in his thirty years, he did sooo much. Leo squeezed the juice out of his short life, although not in an irresponsible or crazy way. He had a wonderful mind, and he did not waste it. The British Royal Family did not hide his illness; as a result, there was more activity in the investigation and study of hemophilia. Leo went to university, had a photo of Lily Langtry on his bedroom wall, and became his mother's secretary; he had the keys to the red boxes (not poor Bertie.) He married and had two children. Not bad for thirty years of life.

Charlotte Zeepvat wrote a book about him: "Queen Victoria's Youngest Son, the Untold Story of Prince Leopold," which is well worth reading. I recommend it.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Hi Raven!!! Would it be ok for me to request a Lilia piece for the First Flush of Spring event? ;////; I'd love for it to involve white calla lilies and be platonic, thank you so very much in advance and for your kindness doing this!!!

White lilies, white calla lilies... the flowers of beauty and purity.

“There is nothing quite so beautiful and pure as a soul that does not yet know of the world and its secrets.”

When Lilia wants to prevent the world from steeping you in its cruelty—and so, he releases you to it.

The First Flush of Spring.

“One day, I want to go to the ends of Twisted Wonderland just like you have, Lilia-senpai!”

He peered at you from over the rim of his teacup. His beverage was still giving off some steam, a pale white veil wafting up to shroud his gaze. Lilia’s glittering eyes pierced through it, cutting like a sword against a blade of grass.

Deep red orbs so large, yet also sharp, with strange slits for pupils. There was a youthfulness to how they glittered, but a certain wisdom in that vast, expansive color. Aged like a fine wine swirled in a crystal goblet.

Eyes all-knowing and discerning.

It was very slight, but you could sense an immediate shift in the atmosphere when his eyes closed in on you. An oddity, having emerged from the depths of darkness, to observe yet another oddity.

You had his attention--his curiosity, piqued.

Lilia smiled, setting down his cup in its saucer and tucking a hand under his chin. “Well now, it seems you’ve cultivated quite the adventurous spirit.”

“After hearing all those crazy stories of your travels, who wouldn’t want to do the same?” You clasped your hands together. “It sounds like there’s a lot to do and to see outside of NRC.”

He chuckled, his low voice almost set in a vibrato.

“Indeed, there is,” Lilia agreed, throwing one leg over the other. Crossing them, he leaned forward in his seat, his tone turning teasing. “However, that is provided that you are prepared for such thrills.

“While it is true that the world beyond the gates of this school houses wonders untold... it is also true that the world boasts of just as many dangers and threats. Horrors that taint people, and alter their view of life forevermore.”

“Eh? But you’ve come out of your travels just fine, Lilia-senpai.”

“Do I appear that way to you?”

There was a space left in the conversation for a response, but you couldn’t bring yourself to give a sure answer.

“... It is a risk worth taking to learn, to grow.” Lilia smiled reassuringly. “A sapling can only become a great oak through exposure to the elements: both the good and the bad.”

“It sounds like the bad stuff will hurt... or change me forever, and maybe not for the best.”

“It might, and it might not.” He pressed a finger to his mouth, his eyes sly from the shadows cast by his long lashes. “To many, it’s sad to lose one’s innocence, the long-cherished trait of childhood--but purity is not simply to be free of faults and blemishes.”

“It’s not?”

Lilia nodded solemnly. “Is your desire to travel not fueled by passion? By curiosity to know what lies in the unknown? To pursue a singular thing so ardently... That, too, is ‘pure’--embracing the very essence of oneself.

“So long as you have your drive... you shall always be at your noblest and most pure, no matter how the world may try to stain it. You will always be beautiful.”

[intothewickedwood]

Once Upon A Time Rewatch: Links to My Recaps

So, I finished 3 year long rewatch of ouat & ouatiw a few weeks ago and I thought I’d post links to my live reaction posts of each episode. If anyone’s interested in anything specific you can find it here. It’s also just to have them all in one place. I would love to see your comments about the episodes or in regards to any questions I raised, or anything really if you would like to add anything! I’d love to talk Ouat with you!

All Episodes Tag

Chronological Order | Last To First Order

Season One

1x01 Pilot | 1x02 The Thing You Love Most | 1x03 Snow Falls | 1x04 The Price of Gold | 1x05 That Still Small Voice | 1x06 The Shepherd | 1x07 The Heart is a Lonely Hunter | 1x08 Desperate Souls | 1x09 True North | 1x10 7:15 A.M. | 1x11 Fruit of the Poisonous Tree | 1x12 Skin Deep | 1x13 What Happened to Frederick | 1x14 Dreamy | 1x15 Red-Handed | 1x16 Heart of Darkness | 1x17 Hat Trick | 1x18 The Stable Boy | 1x19 The Return | 1x20 The Stranger | 1x21 An Apple Red as Blood | 1x22 A Land Without Magic

Season Two

2x01 Broken | 2x02 We Are Both | 2x03 Lady of the Lake | 2x04 The Crocodile | 2x05 The Doctor | 2x06 Tallahassee | 2x07 Child of the Moon | 2x08 Into the Deep | 2x09 Queen of Hearts | 2x10 The Cricket Game | 2x11 The Outsider | 2x12 In the Name of the Brother | 2x13 Tiny | 2x14 Manhattan | 2x15 The Queen is Dead | 2x16 The Miller's Daughter | 2x17 Welcome to Storybrooke | 2x18 Selfless, Brave and True | 2x19 Lacey | 2x20 The Evil Queen | 2x21 Second Star to the Right | 2x22 And Straight on 'til Morning

Season Three

3x01 The Heart of the Truest Believer | 3x02 Lost Girl | 3x03 Quite a Common Fairy | 3x04 Nasty Habits | 3x05 Good Form | 3x06 Ariel | 3x07 Dark Hollow | 3x08 Think Lovely Thoughts | 3x09 Save Henry | 3x10 The New Neverland | 3x11 Going Home | 3x12 New York City Serenade | 3x13 Witch Hunt | 3x14 The Tower | 3x15 Quiet Minds | 3x16 It's Not Easy Being Green | 3x17 The Jolly Roger | 3x18 Bleeding Through | 3x19 A Curious Thing | 3x20 Kansas | 3x21 Snow Drifts | 3x22 There's No Place Like Home

Season Four

4x01 A Tale of Two Sisters | 4x02 White Out | 4x03 Rocky Road | 4x04 The Apprentice | 4x05 Breaking Glass | 4x06 Family Business | 4x07 The Snow Queen | 4x08 Smash the Mirror, Part 1 | 4x08 Smash the Mirror, Part 2 | 4x09 Fall | 4x10 Shattered Sight | 4x11 Heroes and Villains | 4x12 Darkness on the Edge of Town | 4x13 Unforgiven | 4x14 Enter the Dragon | 4x15 Poor Unfortunate Soul | 4x16 Best Laid Plans | 4x17 Heart of Gold | 4x18 Sympathy for the De Vil | 4x19 Lily | 4x20 Mother | 4x21 Operation Mongoose, Part 1 | 4x22 Operation Mongoose, Part 2

Season Five

5x01 The Dark Swan | 5x02 The Price | 5x03 Siege Perilous | 5x04 The Broken Kingdom | 5x05 Dreamcatcher | 5x06 The Bear and the Bow | 5x07 Nimue | 5x08 Birth | 5x09 The Bear King | 5x10 Broken Heart | 5x11 Swan Song | 5x12 Souls of the Departed | 5x13 Labor of Love | 5x14 Devil's Due | 5x15 The Brothers Jones | 5x16 Our Decay | 5x17 Her Handsome Hero | 5x18 Ruby Slippers | 5x19 Sisters | 5x20 Firebird | 5x21 Last Rites | 5x22 Only You | 5x23  An Untold Story

Season Six

6x01 The Savior | 6x02 Bitter Draught | 6x03 The Other Shoe | 6x04 Strange Case | 6x05 Street Rats | 6x06 Dark Waters | 6x07 Heartless | 6x08 I'll Be Your Mirror | 6x09 Changelings | 6x10 Wish You Were Here | 6x11 Tougher Than the Rest | 6x12 Murder Most Foul | 6x13 Ill-Boding Patterns | 6x14 Page 23 | 6x15 A Wondrous Place | 6x16 Mother's Little Helper | 6x17 Awake | 6x18 Where Bluebirds Fly | 6x19 The Black Fairy | 6x20 The Song in Your Heart | 6x21 The Final Battle, Part 1 | 6x22 The Final Battle, Part 2

Season Seven

7x01 Hyperion Heights | 7x02 A Pirate's Life | 7x03 The Garden of Forking Paths | 7x04 Beauty | 7x05 Greenbacks | 7x06 Wake Up Call | 7x07 Eloise Gardener | 7x08 Pretty in Blue | 7x09 One Little Tear | 7x10 The Eighth Witch | 7x11 Secret Garden | 7x12 Taste of the Heights | 7x13 Knightfall | 7x14 The Girl in the Tower | 7x15 Sisterhood | 7x16 Breadcrumbs | 7x17 Chosen | 7x18 The Guardian | 7x19 Flower Child | 7x20 Is This Henry Mills? | 7x21 Homecoming | 7x22 Leaving Storybrooke

Once Upon A Time In Wonderland

1x01 Down the Rabbit Hole | 1x02 Trust Me | 1x03 Forget Me Not | 1x04 The Serpent | 1x05 Heart of Stone | 1x06 Who's Alice | 1x07 Bad Blood | 1x08 Home | 1x09 Nothing to Fear | 1x10 Dirty Little Secrets | 1x11 Heart of the Matter | 1x12 To Catch a Thief | 1x13 And They Lived…