#there’s hardly any lutz content out there

[artsy--shipper]

So uh… I may have fallen for this ship a little bit… 🙈

[sleepyxcoffee]

@sugar-and-spice-witcher-bingo

Prompt: Ice skating Title (optional): Ciri on Ice Relationships (romantic/platonic/etc): Ciri/Cerys, Geralt/Jaskier Rating: G Content Warnings: none Summary: Ciri is the daughter of the pride of Redania and Kaedwen’s White Wolf, and the champion of Cintra.

Thank you to locktea for helping with worldbuilding!

Competitions were always thrilling. Ciri knew some skaters dreaded them, but she and Cerys thrived off them. There was just something about hearing the crowd go wild, the weight of the judges’ eyes, the pounding of her heart, which gave Ciri an incomparable rush.

That particular year, the World Championship was held in Cerys’ home country of Skellige, and Ciri found the air unbearably cold - something that amused her fathers to no end. “You’re a figure skater, Ciri, you should enjoy the cold,” Papa would say, while Dad sighed and shook his head and told her she’d be warmer if she had a proper coat.

While Worlds was always the highlight of her year, there was something even more exciting that time around. Ciri had been to Skellige before, of course, both during and off season, but this was the first time she was competing against her girlfriend on Cerys’ home turf, and it excited Ciri to no end. She could hardly stay still on the plane, bouncing nonstop, much to Dad’s chagrin.

“Ciri,” he groused as she kneed him for the third time in five minutes, “stay still.”

“You can’t blame her, Geralt,” Papa scolded. “She’s seeing her girlfriend!” Dad groaned and buried his head in his arms. He hated being reminded that Ciri had a girlfriend.

“Yeah, Dad,” Ciri added. “I haven’t seen Cerys since the Grand Prix Final in December.”

“See, dear? Ciri has every right to be excited.” Dad rolled his eyes.

“You’re supposed to be on my side, Jaskier.” Papa blew Dad a kiss, which made Ciri groan and plug in her earphones. She might be seventeen, but that did not mean she had grown any less disgusted by her parents’ public displays of affection.

Ciri and her fathers were greeted by the exuberant an Craites at Skellige International Airport. Ciri caught sight of Cerys’ distinctive red hair bobbing in a sea of people first, and she immediately abandoned her parents in favour of sprinting down the corridor and out the door, past a very surprised security guard. “Careful, Ciri!” Dad called. “You’ll sprain your ankle!”

Naturally, Ciri ignored him in favour of leaping into Cerys’ arms.

“Ciri!” Cerys exclaimed in delight, wrapping her arms around the taller skater.

“Cerys!” Ciri took a moment to bask in Cerys’ embrace, and then waved at Cerys’ family. Standing several feet away were Crach an Craite and Hjalmar an Craite - a renowned hockey coach and a rising player respectively, but, more importantly, Cerys’ father and brother. They waved back at Ciri, and Crach stepped around them to shake her fathers’ hands.

“Jaskier Pankratz and Geralt Rivia, as I live and breathe!” Crach boomed. Dad chuckled and clapped Crach on the shoulder.

“It’s been too long, Crach. I hope your Cerys is in top form - Ciri certainly is.”

Ciri whined and elbowed him. “Dad!”

“You are, Ciri, and there’s no point in hiding that,” Papa chipped in unhelpfully. Ciri only rolled her eyes and linked her arm with Cerys’.

“Will you take me to the skate rink?” Ciri asked quietly.

Cerys beamed at her. “It would be my pleasure, Ciri.”

Ciri felt her heart flutter, and her parents promptly ruined it by opening their mouths. “How’re your programs coming along, Cerys?” Dad asked, and the next five minutes delved into meaningless figure skating and ice hockey small talk that Ciri tried to, unsuccessfully, shut down several times before her parents and Crach finally decided there had been enough small talk, and deigned to ask the girls what their plans were.

“Can I go to the rink with Cerys?” Ciri asked, and it then delved into a ten minute discussion that went in circles about whether it was a good idea for Ciri to go gallivanting off two days before a competition, whether Dad and Papa were alright with bringing her bags, if Hjalmar would join, et cetera. Cerys rolled her eyes dramatically, making Ciri giggle.

Once Ciri had successfully shoved her luggage at her parents and promised them, five times, that she wouldn’t try any jumps, they finally allowed her to get on the train with Cerys and head to the skate rink.

“I’m not supervising these lovely ladies on their date,” Crach said, much to Ciri and Cerys’ mutual embarrassment.

“Promise you won’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” Papa called at Ciri as she and Cerys skipped away from their families. Crach had kindly offered to drive the Rivia-Pankratzes to their hotel, and Hjalmar was tagging along to be dropped off at his friend Skjall’s along the way (who, coincidentally, Ciri had gone on one date with before they mutually agreed they were better off seeing other people).

“There’s not much that falls under that umbrella,” Ciri shot back. Dad chuckled as Papa spluttered in horror. Before they could say anything else, Ciri grabbed Cerys’ arm, and they ran off to the station, giggling.

“Your parents are nice,” Cerys said to Ciri as they stood on the platform awaiting their train. Their hands were linked, and Cerys was tucked comfortably against Ciri’s side.

“Mhm. Gets a bit hard sometimes, though, being the daughter of figure skating’s power couple.”

Cerys hummed and tucked a stray piece of hair behind Ciri’s hair. “I can imagine. Both gold medal Olympians with more world titles combined than I have fingers.”

Ciri nodded, burying her face in Cerys’ soft red hair. “Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever be as great as them,” she admitted. “Everyone expects me to be just as great as they are. You know, my uncles Eskel and Lambert stopped hoping for first place once Dad and Papa really got going. They started vying for silver instead.” Cerys chuckled.

“Really? Well, for what it’s worth, I think you’re just as good as they are.” Blushing, Ciri turned her head away. Cerys laughed and reached up to cup her cheek, turning her face back at her. “Hey, you are! Maybe your scores aren’t as high as theirs, but that’s the ladies’ skate for you. Besides, you’re the free skate world record holder, and that’s nothing to laugh at.”

There was nothing but admiration in Cerys’ voice - not even the slightest hint of envy. On ice, Ciri and Cerys may have been rivals, but off it they were girlfriends, nothing more. Cerys was far too good of a sport to let their careers leak into their personal lives.

“You say that like you’re not the only lady to have ever landed a quad Lutz in competition,” Ciri said good-naturedly. It was Cerys’ signature jump - ever since she had first landed it in her first year as a senior skater, she had managed to incorporate it into every single one of her skates since.

It was Cerys’ turn to blush. “Look, there’s our train,” she said. Moving away from Ciri, she kept hold of her hand and guided her onto the train. It was packed full - with Worlds only two days away, the small city of Kaer Trolde on Ard Skellig was full of skaters, their entourages, and sports fans alike.

“Look, it’s Rivia and an Craite,” someone on the train whispered. Embarrassed, Ciri turned her head and put up the hood of her coat. She wormed her hand out of Cerys’, who looked crestfallen for a moment before putting up her own hood. They stood there in awkward silence until the train reached their stop, and then Cerys tapped Ciri’s hand lightly to let Ciri know it was time to get off the train.

Skating with Cerys was always fun. Even though neither was allowed to jump without supervision, they sped around the rink, spinning and practising step sequences. Cerys made the mistake of challenging Ciri to see who could perform a faster shoot-the-duck spin - she fell over after trying to outpace Ciri. While Cerys’ jumps were admired by judges for their height and form, Ciri was known for her spins.

Cerys skated up to Ciri and threw her arms around her shoulders. Laughing, Ciri returned Cerys’ hug, and they allowed themselves to skate in small circles, wrapped up in each other. Ciri let herself sink into Cerys’ warm, comforting scent, and closed her eyes. It was as though nothing else mattered.

Then she heard one of Cerys’ rinkmates’ voice. “Hey, who’s that with Cerys?” he said.

“I know that hair - is that Cirilla Rivia?” Stiffening, Ciri pulled back and turned away. Out of the corner of her eye she caught Cerys’ expression fall.

“We should go,” Ciri said awkwardly, skating to the gate. “My dads will want me back.”

“Alright,” Cerys said quietly. It broke something in Ciri to hear Cerys sound so fallen - she was meant to be bright and warm and full of energy. Ciri took the thought and forcibly shoved it away. She was Ciri Rivia, daughter of the pride of Redania and Kaedwen’s White Wolf. She was Cintra’s champion, and she was stronger than this.

***

“Papa,” Ciri said to her father later that night, “how did you and Dad do it?”

“Do what, sweetheart? You’re going to have to be more specific,” Papa said as he plaited her hair.

Ciri gestured broadly. “Do all… this. Dating, while figure skating. You were rivals. Didn’t people talk?”

“Of course they did, but that’s what people do,” Papa replied. He produced a scrunchie from his pocket and tied off her fishtail braid. “There you go.”

“Trouble in paradise?” came Dad’s rumbling voice. He was leaning against the doorway of the bathroom, hair twisted in a towel and dressed in light grey pyjamas. Whenever Papa and Dad fought, all Papa had to do was threaten to post a picture of Dad after his showers to Instagram, and Dad would be on his knees begging for forgiveness.

“\It seems so,” Papa said lightly.

Dad walked over to his family and sat on the bed next to Ciri, wrapping an arm around her. Papa cleared his throat, and, stifling a smile, Dad placed a kiss on his cheek with a smile. Ciri pretended to gag.

“What’s going on, Ciri?” Dad asked.

Ciri shrugged half-heartedly. “It’s just… well, when people see me and Cerys, they talk. ‘Isn’t that Rivia and an Craite?’, they say.”

Papa bristled. “Who’s been talking about my daughter? Let me at them!” he cried overdramatically. Dad rolled his eyes.

“Ignore your Papa. People will talk, Ciri, and there’s nothing you can do about that. What you can do, on the other hand, is lift yourself up. Don’t listen to them,” Dad said.

“But I did,” Ciri groaned. “And I think I hurt Cerys, because she probably thinks I’m ashamed of her now.”

“Change one of your jumps to her quad Lutz,” Papa said jokingly. “It’s how your Dad proposed to be - by changing his last jump to a quad flip.” Ciri groaned. Now that was a story Ciri had heard far too many times.

“Don’t encourage her,” Dad admonished, but Papa’s words set Ciri thinking. She had never landed a quad lutz before, and she didn’t want to try in competition. Changing her double axel to a triple lutz, on the other hand…

Ciri didn’t see Cerys all of the next day - they had booked the rink at different times, and what time they spent not skating, their coaches (and fathers) filled with pre-competition exercises. Dad was a firm believer in hard work, and it showed. Ciri managed to send all of one Snapchat to Cerys, and Cerys managed to send one back.

They spent supper with their respective clubs. Dad and the other coaches for the Cintran team spent half an hour debating whether a steakhouse or barbecue was more suitable for the supper before the short program, ignoring Ciri and Dara’s protests that they were more or less the same thing.

“Let him,” Papa advised in an amused tone. “It’s how he works off his jitters.”

“He’s not even competing and he’s more nervous than I am,” Ciri grumbled. Next to her, Dara continued to pace in circles, muttering his entire skate program. While Ciri was blessed with nerves of steel, Dara was not.

“Triple Axel, double toe loop - Ciri, what if I over rotate - combination spin - maybe I should have left out the Biellmann - it’s not like most men do it after all -”

“Dara,” Ciri said, a hint of irritation bleeding into her voice, “calm down.” Dara shot her a glare, but stopped speaking. “You’ll be fine.”

“Easy for you to say,” Dara mumbled. “You’re the champion of Cintra. I’m just another figure skater.”

Ciri frowned. “You’re not just another figure skater. If you were, you wouldn’t be at Worlds,” she pointed out.

In front of her, Dad and the other coaches finally finished their squabbling and broke away. “Listen up, kids,” Dad announced, and the ten or so skaters who had come with them put down their phones to face him. “Steakhouse it is. Now, you know the rules - nothing less than a medium rare - we don’t want any upset stomachs before Worlds - nothing you haven’t tried before, especially you, ladies, since you’re in tomorrow - we don’t want a repeat of the Rostelecom Cup incident -” at this, Rosa Attre cringed, and her coach Mousesack gave her a sympathetic look.

Dad continued to list off his various terms and conditions, ending with, “and if a single one of you breaks these, it’s back to the hotel with bread and tomato soup for you all.” Only then did he finally allow the increasingly antsy congregation of skaters in the hotel lobby to bundle up in their coats and walk out the front door. Dad and Mousesack took the lead, discussing how quads were destroying young skaters’ knees, while Papa and some other adults made up the back of their little party.

Ciri’s phone pinged with a notification, and she opened it to see a Snap from Cerys. She tapped on it, and Cerys’s face popped up on the screen. She was standing next to Hjalmar, and in the background was Birna Bran arguing with a red-faced Lugos Drummond. Both an Craites looked distinctly bored.

birna and lugos can’t decide where to take the team for dinner, said Cerys’ message. A few moments later, another message came through. This time it was just Hjalmar, looking mock-annoyed while Cerys grasped for her phone behind him.

Shouldve stayed w the hockey team, the picture was captioned. Ciri muffled a smile behind her scarf. She took a selfie and sent it to Cerys.

we’re having steak for dinner!! she wrote.

“Ciri,” Papa called. “Get off your phone!”

Scowling, Ciri tucked her phone into her coat pocket. “Yes, Papa,” she shouted back.

It was a shame she wouldn’t get to see Cerys, but at least she would meet her on the ice the next day. Besides, considering Worlds was the last major competition of the season before the World Team Trophy in April, Dad and Papa had agreed to let her stay with the an Craites for a few  days after.

Unfortunately, between warmups and assignments, Ciri quickly realised she wouldn’t get a chance to talk to Cerys until after both their short programs, much to her annoyance. At least she would be the first to skate - Ciri hated skating last. She moved through life like a whirlwind, and she preferred to skate while her nerves were still running high.

As Ciri stepped out of the waiting room, she made eye contact with Cerys, who gave her a cheery little wave. Ciri’s resolve hardened - for Cerys, she’d try the Lutz.

How is Ciri the daughter of a Redanian and Kaedwenian, but a Cintran skater, I hear you ask? The answer is that I have no idea myself.

[pickalilywrites]

Happy SnK Positivity Week! I read the prompts over again and just realized a suggestion for Content Creator Appreciation Day was to write a fanfic for a fanart you enjoyed and I really liked the art that @attack-on-social-skills drew for a YOI AU created with @tsuki-no-ura 💕 I hope this is okay 🙏💖

The Dance of the Sexy Pork Cutlet Bowl

Springles. Yuri on Ice AU.

2728 words. 

“So,” he says, a wide grin on his face. It’s too wide, too bright, too expectant. “What do you have for me?”

Nothing. She has absolutely nothing for him, but it’s not like she can say this to her idol. Her idol, Connie Springer, the most talked about figure skater in the world, who is standing right in front of her and asking her to perform a short program for her. He should be in Russia practicing his quad lutzs and quad loops, not standing here and waiting for him to slip and fall on the ice right in front of him. So why is he here?

She should be over the moon that she finally gets to meet her idol after so many years of watching him on screen and behind the scenes during skating competitions because she didn’t have the courage to talk to him. She should be marveling at how unexpectedly tall he is – much taller than he looked on television – and how gray his hair is for someone as young as himself. She should be wondering if it’s naturally gray or if he’s dyed it that color. She should be gushing about how much she loves his work, his dedication, his talent, not standing in front of him and stammering because she can hardly string two words together in front of him.

There’s a giggle in the corner of the ice rink and Sasha turns to glare at the little kids hanging out, watching the world-famous ice skater hanging out in the very same place that they practice. As expected, there is a phone amongst them and they elbow each other, fighting over who should hold it as they record Connie Springer and rack up more likes on their YouTube page. How did seven-year-olds have YouTube pages now? Didn’t they have age limits to those things?

Sasha sighs.

That’s what started it all. A video recorded by those little troublemakers while she was just fooling around in the rink after returning home from a competition where she failed to place yet again. It was just practice. She had just put on Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite. It’s  “Infernal Dance Of All Of Kaschei’s Subjects,” the same movement that Connie Springer had skated to when he won his first Grand Prix medal. Some people believe that his last Olympic performance was his best, but his performance at the Grand Prix back when he was still new is still one of Sasha’s favorites.

She was just standing in the middle of the rink, her eyes closed as she soaked in the magnificent horns and drums of the Stravinsky. The plan was just to practice her toe flips, her spins, her jumps, but she was caught up in the music, reimagining that performance she had watched on the television years ago. It was what had really sold her into the world of ice skating. Before she was just fooling around. After watching Connie Springer, she wanted to really skate, to dance on the ice like he did.

Before she knew it, she was envisioning what it was like to be like him, to move so elegantly across the ice. She began to glide across the ice, mimicking the graceful movements of his arms that she had seen so long ago. She had watched the video clip so many times after that that she had practically memorized the choreography. Sasha knows every spin he did as the music swelled, knows when he punctuates each phrase with the perfect jump, and remembers all the intricate footwork to his step sequences. And she does it all one by one, probably not as perfectly as him – she can’t do the same jumps he can and she’s not nearly as graceful as he is - but it feels thrilling to skate the steps he did because it gives her a feeling of what it feels like to be him.  

So this is what it must feel like to be magnificent, she thinks when the piece finally comes to an end, breathing heavily.

Unfortunately, other people didn’t think it wasn’t close to magnificent. Reiner, her friend whose parents owned the rink, had his little and their friends come over often for skating lessons. Sasha had always known the kids were addicted to technology and the various social media apps that have become popular over the years, but she never thought they would feel the need to capture her on camera and post a video of her dancing to Firebird Suite on YouTube. She didn’t even know about it until her dad barged in her room, telling her that her skating abilities had improved so much since she was a little kid.

She was mortified, but Reiner only laughed when she came running to him. It was giving her recognition, and isn’t that what she wanted? It was, but not like this. She didn’t want people comparing her to Connie Springer or accusing her of wanting to be like him when she could never be on his level. She didn’t want people giving her pity praise, telling her that her technique is good and that in time she would become even better than she already was. And she most certainly did not want Connie Springer to fly all the way over from Russia and ask her to skate for him after watching the video.

He doesn’t seem angry at her, which is what she’s most grateful for, but she can’t say that she’s exactly happy he’s here either. There are some idols that get incredibly angry if they see a fan mimic them, screaming about how originality is dead and that the younger generation will never live up to the old stars. Connie doesn’t seem like that at all though. He looks like he genuinely wants to watch her skate for him up close and personal. It’s just that it’s too up close and personal for her.

“Well, you see,” Sasha mumbles. She twirls a lock of her hair nervously around her finger. “I don’t really…have anything. I was planning on taking a break from this season of skating, you know. I don’t have anything choreographed and my programs from last season…they weren’t any good.”

He looks so surprised when she says that. “Really? But I thought they were impressive,” he says. His eyebrows are knitted in confusion.  “But what about that last one you did? The one in the video, I mean. It was magnificent. Do you think you could skate that one just a little bit? It seems like you know it quite well.”

Sasha’s sure that he’s mocking her now. He says it as if she’s the one who originated the program, the one who had skated it first, but he must know that he was the one to do that. It was his first gold Grand Prix performance, how can he not?

She’s about to open her mouth to refuse him when she hears another giggle where the children are. Unable to deal with both the children and her figure skating hero, she shoots a glare at Gabi and her friends and growls, “Scram!”

The children all scream and scamper away, Falco nearly dropping the phone. The door slams shut behind them, but even then, Sasha only feels a little calmer.

“Sorry,” Sasha mumbles. She looks down at her skates, wondering why she had even bothered to put them on. “They just…like to hang around here and watch me skate a lot.”

“No worries,” Connie says cheerfully. “I like kids. If they’re making you too nervous, though, maybe we could talk to them later.”

She doesn’t want there to be a later. She wants this to be over now, but it seems like he won’t leave until he’s seen her skate once.

Fumbling with her phone, she finds Firebird Suite and hands it her idol. When he sees the piece she’s chosen, he gives her an excited grin.

Right from the start, she knows it’s a failure. She can hardly hear the music over the thumping of her heartbeat. She’s off by a beat, two beats, an entire bar of music. Her movements are unsure, clumsy rather than graceful. Instead of gliding over the ice, her skates scrap across them. She’s not dancing the way she should be; her spins are all over the place, her jumps sloppy, and her step sequences are nervous stomps across the ice. She should have never put on her skates. She should have never put on this song. She should have never thought she could skate the way he could – even for a little bit – because it’s clear now that that will never happen.

She doesn’t even notice that she’s tripped over herself until she hits the ice. It’s a hard and fast fall, one she doesn’t feel until she stumbles up. She rubs at her cheek, numb from the ice and sure to turn purple the very next day. It doesn’t really hurt though. It just feels cold.

“Hey, are you okay?” a voice asks quietly. When she looks up, Connie is there with a hand outstretched and a worried look on his face.

“Yeah, I just,” Sasha mumbles, swallowing hard. Damn, she really wishes he weren’t here. She feels how tender her cheek is again, wincing at the pain after touching it so lightly. She hadn’t fallen like that since she was a kid. “I guess it’s not really my day.”

Connie shrugs, helping her up. “Bad days are more common than you think. I’ve had my own fair share of those.”

“Sure,” she says bitterly. “I’m sure you have.”

“It’s true,” he says, eyebrows raised. “Some days are so bad that I just feel like quitting, you know. But I never have.”

“Why not?”

He blinks. “Why not what?”

“Well, why haven’t you quit?” she asks him.

“Oh! Huh. I guess because I have things I like. Things that inspire me to skate more,” Connie says, shrugging. He tilts his head, thinking of examples. “My parents, you know. The people in the village I was brought up in. They’ve never had someone like me representing them before, so I guess I’m kind of a big deal. And the kids I meet, the ones that say they want to skate just like me.”

For a guy that’s won numerous world championships, he’s pretty humble. It makes Sasha like him even more, but it also makes her even more upset that he’s seen her slip and fall. Years of skating practice and she can’t even prove that she’s capable of skating better than a child. He must be so disappointed that he’s come all this way here only to be let down.

“What about you?” he asks.

“What about me what?”

“What did you think about when you were skating in that video?” he asks.

“Absolutely nothing,” she lies immediately. She was thinking of him, how graceful and magnificent he was, but she can’t admit that to his face. That’s too embarrassing and she’s already so flustered already. “My body just moved on its own. You know how it is sometimes.”

“Is that so? I guess that happens sometimes,” he says, laughing. She’s not sure that he believes her entirely, but he doesn’t press on. “Well, next time you skate, maybe think of something that inspires you or motivates you. Don’t think about people watching. I find that only makes you nervous.”

“Right,” Sasha says quietly. She reaches for her phone which Connie holds out to her in an outstretched hand, but she hesitates. Firebird Suite is still on her phone and she could easily just switch her phone off, pocket it, and be on her merry way. Then he could go back to Russia and forget all about her, but it seems like such a shame. He came all the way to see her and all she gave him was an embarrassingly terribly performance. He didn’t even laugh at her once, only smiled and given her this advice, and she’s not sure she’s ready to let him leave like this. This isn’t the way she wants him to remember her if he remembers her at all.

So she presses “play,” skating to the center of the rink once more as she listens to the sound of horns blare from her phone. She chances another glance at Connie to gauge his expression – confused, elated, surprised. Good. She’ll surprise him even more by the end of this piece.

Think of something that inspires you.

Katsudon. Her mind immediately goes to katsudon, her go-to comfort food once she comes home from a competition. She likes to sit in the Japanese restaurant at the corner of the street, soak in the quiet and comforting atmosphere as she sits and waits for her pork cutlet rice bowl. She doesn’t even have to ask for it. She just sits and the chef immediately begins making it in the kitchen, the dish appearing before her.

As the music begins again, she lifts her arms as if to mimic the warm and inviting atmosphere that her favorite dish brings, and she begins. Although it’s the same choreography that she had done in the video, the same movements that Connie had used in his stunning Grand Prix performance, it’s not the same either. Those movements were far more fluid, graceful. Now, she moves with more strength and power. It is not the grace of the firebird that she dances with, but its energy and vigor because it is the same with katsudon.

She twirls as she thinks about the captivating aroma of the delicious dish, how it envelops her right as the pork cutlet begins to fry in the pan. She jumps as she imagines the seductive pork cutlets, juicy and full of flavor from the fried crust. She thinks of the absolute satisfaction of finishing the entire dish – the fresh scallions used for garnish, the mouth-watery eggs cooked in a sweet and salty broth, the savory and tender meat of the pork cutlet underneath its crispy fried crust, and the fluffy white rice underneath – and feels the same satisfaction when she finishes the program, arms extended towards Connie who is clapping enthusiastically as if she’s won a gold medal already.

“Did you see that? It was incredible!” Sasha asks him excitedly, skating towards him recklessly and jumping into his arms.

“I did! I saw the whole thing and you were magnificent,” he laughs, twirling her about.

Magnificent. The word people use to describe him on the ice, the word that pops into her head whenever she thinks of him, and now the word he chooses to describe her skate.

It takes her a second to realize that she’s still holding onto him and she lets go immediately, thinking it must be strange for her to hug him when she’s only just barely met him, but Connie doesn’t look as if he’s bothered by it.

“It really worked, you know,” she says, her cheeks flushed from hearing the compliment he had given her earlier. “I was skating to katsudon.”

“Katsudon?” Connie repeats. He doesn’t laugh at her, but there’s an amused smile on his face. “That’s that pork dish, right? The pork cutlet bowl?”

“Yeah,” Sasha mumbles, feeling a little silly now. It’s not often that she feels self-conscious, but she feels that way now. It would help if he stopped smiling at her so much.

He has a charming smile. That’s what judges and competitors always say. No matter how many years pass, his smile remains boyish and charming. In the end, that smile he flashes at the crowd is what ultimately makes people fall in love with him and his programs. Sasha thought it was just something they said, an embellishment that created in order to play him up whenever he was on the screen, but she understands what they mean now that she’s able to see his smile up close.

“What is it?” Sasha asks nervously, tugging at a lock of her hair that has fallen out of her ponytail. He’s been staring at her for quite some time now.

“Nothing,” Connie says, grin growing wider. “It��s just that I’ve never seen a pork cutlet bowl that was so…alluring.”

Her face flushes again but for a different reason this time. She’s probably a brilliant red now, bright as a firebird.

[iromyy]

The Twilight Movie Cast - Who Would You Choose?

I've been perusing remarks about The Twilight Movie Cast...there are such huge numbers of to be discovered on the web. I can't help contradicting some of them and thoroughly concur with most. Who might you pick?

I imagine that Rob Pattinson is an incredible decision to play Edward Cullen. I didn't generally feel that. At the point when I previously found out about the throwing for the. Dusk film I didn't think Rob was a decent decision for the character of Edward Cullen. Not excessively I think Rob is definitely not a decent entertainer. He is and I enjoyed his exhibition as Cedric Diggory in the fourth Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I wasn't persuaded of his capacity to take on a progressively experienced job like the character of Edward...boy, was I wrong. The first occasion when I saw the Twilight film I realized he was the ideal decision. Presently to a great many Twilight fans, Rob Pattinson has become Edward Cullen https://gomovies-online.vip/brands-pages/gogoanime Shouldn't something be said about Bella? Do you think Kristen Stewart is Bella? I do...I can't envision any other individual in that part yet her. These two youthful on-screen characters have heaps of understanding among them and both Kristen and Rob acted their hearts out...they put 100 percent into their characters and that is the reason the film is as well known as it seems to be. The science between them is magnificent. Science can't be faked and this film is so incredible in light of the fact that these two had it! I think the film was cast impeccably.

Catherine Hardwicke, the executive of the Twilight film, was extraordinarily answerable for throwing Kristen and Rob. She really found the glade they utilized in the film, needing it to be great. It's somewhat unnerving to consider New Moon without the course of Catherine Hardwick. Harry Potter flourished with changes in the chiefs of a few of his movies, so lets trust The Twilight Saga has a similar destiny.

Back to the cast...I have seen Kristen and Rob in different exhibitions, yet I was curious about any of the others entertainers and on-screen characters in the cast. Presently I feel like they are my companions, at any rate I have a feeling that I know the characters they depicted. They all, joined, gave us an incredible blessing with the Twilight film. Ashley Greene, Nikki Reed, Elizabeth Reaser, Jackson Rathbone, Kellan Lutz and Peter Facinelli.

Edward Cullen is played by Rob Pattinson. Edward is 17, until the end of time. He has been a vampire since 1918. Carlisle Cullen discovered Edward and his mom kicking the bucket of Spanish Influenza. Edward's mom asked Carlisle not to let her child perish...as on the off chance that she could detect something about Carlisle that could spare her child.

Isabella "Bella" Marie Swan the multi year old human in adoration with a vampire is played Kristen Stewart. It's the fragrance of her blood that makes Edward insane. It resembles a medication to him, and neither Edward or Bella are certain in the event that he can oppose it. Despite the peril and before Bella even comprehends what the risk is, she expresses that she is "unequivocally and permanently infatuated with him".

Carlisle Cullen is the most caring of the group. He transformed four individuals from his family into vampires. Edward was the first, Esme, his better half was the second, Rosalie was the third and Emmett was the fourth. Carlisle is played by Peter Facinelli.

Esme Cullen is played by Elizabeth Reaser. Esme goes about as "temporary mother" of the vampire faction. She was diverted via Carlisle subsequent to jumping from a precipice in a condition of sadness in the wake of losing a youngster. She is delicate and adoring, ideal for the job of a mother.

Alice Cullen has the endowment of seeing what's to come. In her human life she was admitted to a refuge. In the early piece of the century, the endowment of feeling was thought of as dysfunctional behavior. Alice was at risk for being executed by the vampire tracker James, while in the foundation. A merciful vampire there turned her before James could hurt her. Ashley Greene plays Alice Cullen.

Jackson Rathbone plays Jasper Hale. Jasper is Alice's mate. She discovered him at a burger joint in Philadelphia. Jasper was a common war major, a southern noble men, who was turned by a vampire named Maria. At the point when Jasper left Maria and met Alice, Alice said "You've kept me hanging tight for quite a while". Alice, because of her blessing, realized that she would discover Jasper and where he would be. Jasper was befuddled, however being the official and honorable man he was, answered "Sorry Ma'am". Jasper felt trust in the wake of meeting Alice.

Rosalie Cullen is played by Nikki Reed. In life Rosalie Hale was the most lovely young lady around. She was content with her present circumstance and despises being a vampire. On the off chance that she could get human, she would. She doesn't care for Bella's choice to turn into a vampire however Rosalie helps Bella in Breaking Dawn.

Kellan Lutz plays Emmett Cullen. Emmett was battered by a bear, and practically dead, when Rosalie discovered him. He was so excellent, with dull hair and dimples, he helped Rosalie to remember a delightful child she once knew. Rosalie was hesitant to attempt to turn Emmett and conveyed him more than 100 miles to carry him to Carlisle. He and Rosalie are hitched.

Jacob Black, Bella's Quileute companion and werewolf is played by Taylor Lautner. Jacob's character advances in significance through the Saga. He cherishes Bella and she adores him, however he can never supplant Edward.

I can't help contradicting the individuals who figure the Twilight film wasn't cast appropriately, or that the film doesn't do the Twilight tale equity. For me all the pieces fell together like a jigsaw puzzle. Each piece fit effectively, and let me see a total picture when it was finished. I figure I will go watch it again at the present time!

I am not a film critic...just a Twilight film fan...and it's what the fans think all things considered, that issues! I have an inclination there will be bunches of film survey parties when the Twilight Movie is discharged on DVD. I don't think about you, yet I can hardly wait for New Moon!

[horrortoyou]

The Best Horror Movies of 2018 So Far

best horror movies  of 2018

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Hot damn, 2018 is turning out to be one serious year for repulsiveness. Around this time a year ago, Blumhouse had just conveyed the one-two punch of Split and Get Out, and that was just the beginning of a string of frightfulness hits that finished in IT turning into the most noteworthy earning blood and gore flick ever. So it's sheltered to state this year beyond any doubt has a ton to satisfy, however with the absolute most foreseen titled of the year still on the docket, it's as of now simple to see this is a standout amongst the most energizing and effective years with sickening apprehension history.

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The lineup has run the range from educated and existential fear to shocking retribution spine chillers and abuse twisted loathsomeness comic drama. We've discussed "raised repulsiveness," did the calmest popcorn chomping ever in A Quiet Place, recollected the amount we cherish Nicolas Cage, and delved profound into discussions over testing films like Annihilation and Hereditary. It's been an extremely solid year for the class, to be sure.

We're keeping this rundown bound to films that have been discharged in 2018 — be it dramatically, carefully or on a spilling administration — so you won't perceive any unreleased celebration top choices on here, yet we'll be refreshing the rundown consistently. Also, with movies like Halloween and Suspiria on the docket, we have a ton to anticipate,

Unsane.

A producer who's never substance to avoid any risk, Steven Soderbergh chose to handle enormous thoughts with little means in Unsane, another mental blood and gore flick shot totally on an iPhone (however as a matter of fact with some huge spending focal points and programming). The organization may appear to be a hacky contrivance, however in Soderbergh's grasp, it works, conveying a bizarre closeness to the skewed story of biting suspicion and society's preposterous hesitance to trust ladies. Claire Foy proceeds with her ascent to the best as Sawyer Valentini, a youthful agent who moves to another city after a frightening knowledge with a stalker. When she begins seeing him wherever once more, she starts to scrutinize her very own existence, and after an as well fair treatment session, she coincidentally concedes to a psychological healing facility where she could possibly be caught with the man she's endeavoring to get away. Soderbergh plays with your brain, and that is a large portion of the fun, however it's the manner in which he jabs and goads at the experience of uneasiness and entanglement that makes Unsane such a viable excursion down the rabbit opening. It tends to be somewhat obtuse and schlocky at minutes, yet when Unsane burrows at a nerve, it generally hits, making for a greatly frightening knowledge.

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Mother and Dad

For the wonky, wild awfulness drama Mom and Dad Nicolas Cage reunites with Brian Taylor, who co-coordinated Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, and the broadly OTT performing artist is unmistakably having a great time in the anarchic film. Mother and Dad pursues a suburbs gone to damnation when a puzzling mass insanity plunges on the guardians of the populace, giving them a voracious want to kill their own kids. It's an ideal corruption of the common request, and everybody on board has a fabulous time with the idea, hamming it up and inclining toward the blandness with jazzed merriment. Taylor knows precisely what sort of motion picture he's creation, keeping the run time trim and conveying various camp-frightfulness successions that keep the gathering of people smiling and squirming all through, including a doozy of an appearance from Lance Henrikson and the best utilization of Selma Blair's abilities in 10 years. Mother and Dad is a midnight motion picture to boot and it works so well since it never endeavors to be whatever else.

Veronica

After three [REC] films, executive Paco Plaza is back behind the focal point of another component film, something that shares some comparative characteristics with the [REC] establishment (short [REC] 3 Genesis), particularly the style, yet in addition how vulnerable Plaza can make a watcher feel inside a specific account. Notwithstanding, there's additionally one champion quality that makes the story profoundly close to home and lifts the force of the film by and large – an extremely solid hero. Veronica was roused by an unsolved case including a young lady who passed on not long after utilizing an Ouija board. In Plaza's film, the title character played by Sandra Escacena does only that and what pursues is to a great degree agitating, however it's Veronica's ground-breaking association with her three more youthful kin that ups the stakes ten times. It's a chilling, personal and exceptionally climatic experience that adds amazingly, one more thing to the endless rundown of motivations to avoid Ouija sheets. — Perri Nemiroff

Load

Immediately, Cargo has outstanding amongst other theoretical snares of any blood and gore flick this year — a man chomped by a zombie has merely hours to locate a sheltered place for his baby girl in the end of the world before he turns. It's basic, it's solid, and you're in a split second intruiged — luckily, it's additionally supported by a pitch-ideal execution from Martin Freeman and a delightfully shot take a gander at provincial Australia that gives the zombie kind a truly necessary new setting. Freeman stars Andy, the dad being referred to, executives Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke furnish the performer with the ideal job for his reality fatigued aura, giving him a ton to bite on in a quieted, driven execution. Savvy with being excessively shrewd for its own great, Cargo relies on the groups of onlookers comprehension of how zombie films function, without turning into a meta-critique, or, in other words change of pace in a class that is simply beginning to break out of a time of staleness.

The Ritual

It's been a long sit tight for David Bruckner's first element film, however luckily, it was justified, despite all the trouble. The movie producer behind champion sections in Signal and V/H/S made his element make a big appearance this year with The Ritual, a Netflix unique that dives into the well of disgrace and lament to mine piercing, unmistakably grown-up dread. Goodness, and there's a quite extraordinary beast as well. The Ritual pursues four companions into the forested areas, where they adventure out grieve the passing of a dear companion, yet once they're there, a spindly, hardly observed animal frequents them consistently. Bruckner takes as much time as is needed building the dread, offering brief looks at their colossal stalker and utilizing the common cover of the backwoods further bolstering his good fortune in organizing his alarms, and between the chilling takes a gander at the animal, he takes as much time as is needed fleshing out the injury shared by these old companions and the contentions that would undermine to shred them regardless of whether they weren't being chased by an extraordinary power. The final product is a develop, downplayed blood and guts film that gradually settles in under your skin.

Overhaul

Saw and Insidious co-maker Leigh Whannell conveys his present for chilling ideas to the science fiction classification with Upgrade, a propulsive impact of technophobic fear that joins activity, loathsomeness, and sci-fi to wind up a standout amongst the most engaging movies of the year. Set in a not very new future where self-driving autos and bio-tech inserts twist a generally relatable image of the world, Upgrade pursues Gray Trace (Logan Marshall-Green) on a mission of retribution after a gathering of culprits murder his significant other and abandon him deadened starting from the waist. Everything changes when he's acquainted with STEM, a PC chip embed that enables Gray to move again, yet substantially quicker and superior to anything he at any point did previously, and not generally inside his control. Relying on a totally dazzling physical and passionate execution from Marshall-Green, Upgrade is part tech awfulness, part body frightfulness, and kick ass completely through, showing some savvy course from essayist/performer/maker turned-chief Whannell and demonstrating by and by that this person has a talent for snappy kind thoughts. In the event that you missed it, try searching this one out at home, since it's one of the most slender, meanest old fashioned science fiction rushes of the most recent decade and in a simply world, Marshall-Green's execution would be all the rage.

Vengeance

French movie producer Coralie Fargeat creates a treat shaded, sun-soaked bad dream of survival and retaliation in her singing directorial make a big appearance Revenge. Succintly titled and snappy to summon the oft-dull custom of the assault exact retribution subgenera, Revenge offers a more instinctive, refined, and a la mode turn on the material that never shies from its abuse roots. Flipping the male look on its head in a demonstration of subversive viewpoint moving, Fargeat challenges the crowd to denounce her explicitly uninhibited hero, Jen (Matilda Lutz), for her short skirts and Lolita-designed enchantment. While on a sentimental escape with her wedded sweetheart, the platinum blonde wannabe on-screen character teases and displays, sucking on a candy and granulating on her darling's companions, however when the snapshot of infringement arrives, it conveys a striking censure to injured individual disgracing and "what was she wearing?" attitude, uncovering the attack for what it genuinely is — the activity of a couple of frail, entitled, and frantic men. From that point on, Revenge is a jamboree of bloodletting as Jen first tries to get away, at that point survive, and at last overwhelm her attackers in a fierce, blood-heaving representation of resurrection.

Chilly Hell

A fighting Giallo return by method for sex bowed Taxi Driver, Cold Hell is a motor, kickass wrongdoing spine chiller of the most elevated request with a thick damp with sweat sheen of black market grime. Violetta Schurawlow conveys a breakout execution as Özge, an unpleasant cabbie in Vienna, where she spends her evenings grabbing rough and brutal clients, fuelling her inward anger with each new pickup — seethe she doles out every day in her Thai boxing club. When she returns home after another exhausting night in the driver's seat, she observes a grim homicide, and when the killer witnessess her as well, he sets his sights on Özge as his next unfortunate casualty. But, she is the keep going lady on earth you need to upset. Established in prejudice, sex and religion, Cold Hell has more to state than your normal thick spine chiller, and coordinated by Oscar-winning movie producer Stephan Ruzowitzky (The Counterf

[cover2covermom]

As we are already 10 days into July, I figured that I should probably get around to posting my June Wrap-Up before it’s too late…

How is everyone’s July going thus far?  The majority of my July has been spent up in northern Ohio at Lake Erie with family.  We spend the week of July 4th every year this way.  We had a great week relaxing, going to the pool, playing pickleball, going to Cedar Point, and visiting Kelley’s Island.  It was a wonderful trip.

And of course I had to add a picture of my family in our 4th of July gear…

  Now that we have completed the last of our summer vacations, it’s time to get back to reality!  And I am hoping that that reality includes more blogging.  Confession: I have not been a very good book blogger over this past year, and it breaks my heart.  I really need to find some balance that allows me to dedicate more time to this blog & the community.  When I fist started book blogging, I read 85-ish books the first year and had plenty of time for blogging & being active in the community.  In 2017 I had some major life changes in the second half of the year but I still managed to read 120 books.  I basically took a 5 month hiatus while we were in the process of renovating a new home & moving.  Since the beginning of 2018, we are finished with the bulk of the renovations, and are all moved in.  Unfortunaly my blogging has not gone back to being regular.  It is sporadic at best.   I’ve been evaluating where all of my free time goes, and to no surprise it goes to reading.  I am on track to hit 120 books again this year, but what’s the point if I am not dedicating the time to a hobby that brings me so much joy?  At the end of the day I’d rather only read 100 books in a year, and have more time for the bookish community.  Fingers crossed that I can pull it together for the second half of 2018!

  » The Light of Paris by Eleanor Brown

Feelings in a few thoughts:

Some of the elements in the story were a little cliché

Despite the fact that I wanted to smack Madeleine for putting up with her ass-hat of a husband, I enjoyed Madeleine’s growth throughout the book.

I really enjoyed Margie’s storyline the most – a young woman discovering herself in Paris in the 1920s.

I’m a sucker for stories where a descendant learns about a long ago ancestor & unravels family secrets.

A lighter read, but with enough depth to keep me satisfied.

» The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

*4.5 Stars*

Feelings in a few thoughts:

The audiobook version is very well done!  With such beautiful writing and an excellent narration, I’d recommend going this route.

It took me a little bit to get into this one, but once I did I was hooked.

I’d recommend this book to Greek Mythology fans.  I wasn’t very familiar with Achilles’ story going into this book (aside from the fact that his heel was his weakness – which doesn’t make an appearance in this book) but now I want to research some of the original tales to see how similar or different they are.

I don’t think it’s a spoiler to mention that this book includes a M/M romance.  I’d probably venture to say it would be one of my favorite M/M relationships in a book.  This isn’t to say the relationship was perfect by any means, but it was flawed and realistic.

This book really does have it all: action, adventure, love, tragedy, friendship, political intrigue, etc.

» The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Feelings in a few thoughts:

I was NOT expecting to love this book as much as I did!

Despite the fact that Evelyn wasn’t exactly an endearing character, I definitely admired her ambition, drive, independence, and strength.  I really enjoy reading books where the main character walks that grey line between “good” and “bad.”

There were two big plot twists.  One I didn’t see coming at all.  The other I did guess shortly before it was revealed.

What a fascinating look at “Hollywood culture”… I wonder if a few of the happenings in this book are not as farfetched as you would think.

» Neverland by Margot McGovern

Feelings in a few thoughts:

Content/Trigger warnings: mental illness (general), depression, suicide, self harm, etc.

Margot’s writing is absolutely stunning!  On one hand, I am not surprised, but on the other I am highly impressed.

I personally would not consider this a Peter Pan retelling.  If you go into this expecting one, you may find yourself disappointed.  I’d think of it more as a book inspired by Peter Pan & sprinkled with Peter Pan references.

This is not an uplifting book by any means.  It is dark, raw, & gritty.  It was even a tad unsettling at times.

I was engrossed in this story & found myself needing to know what was going to happen next.

I only had a few minor issues with the book *highlight between arrows to see spoilers ⇒ Kit & Rohan’s relationship felt instalove-ish at first, but after finishing I understand why it was written this way.  It still annoyed me for a big part of the book, but it did get better.  Another issue I had was that the “monster” turned out to be Kit’s mother wo suffered from bi-polar disorder.  It just didn’t sit right with me & felt counterproductive for a book with mental illness representation. ⇐

» An Ember in the Ashes (Ember Quartet #1) by Sabaa Tahir

Feelings in a few thoughts:

I’m going to venture to say this will be one of my favorite books of 2018 – I’m kicking myself for not starting this series sooner!  It is definitely worth the hype.

This book is full of action & adventure and mixed with just the right amount of romance.

Holy crap Tahir is ruthless!  She must be a George R. R. Martin fan lol

Fast paced from beginning to end.

» A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1) by Claudia Gray

Feelings in a few thoughts:

I think we can all agree that the covers for this series are absolutely stunning.

I really liked the concept behind this one: the idea that there are multiple parallel universes existing simultaneously & the ability to travel between them.  I also really liked the focus on science in a YA book.

The romance was too central to the plotline.  For me, a YA sci-fi book needs to be a sci-fi book first, and the romantic elements need to be secondary.  This isn’t to say the romance wasn’t well done, it was, just that I wanted more sci-fi elements.

The travel between parallel universes was well done.

Overall, this one was just OK.  I was expecting more from it.  I will give the second book a go though.

» A Torch Against the Night (Ember Quartet #2) by Sabaa Tahir

Feelings in a few thoughts: 

Just as awesome as the first book.

Starts off with a bang and continues to be fast paced & action packed throughout the novel.

This is a journey book.  I’m a sucker for a good journey.

I cannot wait to read the 3rd book!

» Legendary (Caraval #2) by Stephanie Garber

*2.5 Stars*

Feelings in a few thoughts: 

I’m sad to say that this one came up way short, which is a shame since I enjoyed Caraval.  Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t think Caraval was perfect by any means, but I saw the potential and was hoping that Garber was going to develop further in her second novel.

Much like Caraval, Garber’s writing is too forced throughout the book.  I found it even more so in this one.

I was excited when I found out that this book would be narrated by Tella, which COULD have worked, but unfortunately didn’t.  This book didn’t really feel like a sequel.  I didn’t feel any connections to the first book.  Legendary felt more like a spin off than a continuation.

This series supposedly focuses on the bond between two sisters, but they hardly ever spend any time together in either book… How am I supposed to believe they would die for each other?

I do not think I am going to continue on with this series.

  May 2018 Bookish Wrap-Up + Book Haul

June 2018 TBR

Book Review: Nora & Kettle (Paper Stars #1) by Lauren Nicole Taylor

Book Review: The Passenger by Lisa Lutz

Physical Books:

» A Reaper at the Gates (An Ember in the Ashes #3) by Sabaa Tahir

*Copy signed by the author*

  I find that I’ve been buying less and less books and utilizing my local library more and more these days.  In reality, the only books I have been buying are at author & book events.  My wallet & book shelves approve of this new Amanda.

Which books did you read this month?

Have you read any of the books I read or hauled this month?  If so, what did you think?

Did you buy any books?  If so, which ones?

Comment below & let me know 🙂

Which #books did you kick off the summer with? See which ones I #read in June on my #wrapup today on the #blog. #BookBlog #BookBlogger #Bookworm As we are already 10 days into July, I figured that I should probably get around to posting my June Wrap-Up before it's too late...