#this took a really long time like LONGER than the david one which is saying a lot

[12woso12]

Dorothy lands in North London - Part 6

Part 5

I know it's been quite the build up to meet all the players but trust me it's coming :) A short chapter ahead, sorry!

Once you had bid goodbye to Jonas, Jennifer wasted no time in dragging you pitch side. It was there that you experienced just how much went into announcing new signings as you met the rest of Jennifer and David's team and crew members. They took long videos of you walking pitch side and sitting among the thousands of seats in the stadium, you couldn't wait to hear them roar to life on match days.

'Here' Jennifer approach where you were seated with a box in hand. 'New pair of boots for the day, wanna give them a try?'

'Hell yes' you said excitedly ripping open the box to find a pair of pink Nike phantoms laying in wait. You grinned and held them up to the camera examining with glee the way your initials and number were engraved into the side. 'Fucking fantastic aren't they?'

'Language!' Jennifer exclaimed 'We'll have to mute that Y/n'

You glanced at her sheepishly before pulling the boots snuggly over your feet.

'Perfect fit.' You weren't ashamed to admit that you went through football boots like a Foxes through chicken. They never usually lasted longer than a few months before they were falling apart of the seams, maybe it was the rough tackles or the way you liked to knee slide but you weren't all that sure. It was a shame considering how much you loved your new pair.

As you got up from your seat and made your way back down to the grass an Irish voice abruptly stopped you in your tracks.

'There's me new protege'

You turn to see Katie McCabe sauntering out the tunnel. The Irish Captain was also decked out in an Arsenal kit and she dragged a ball bag behind her.

'Katie' She introduced herself, dumping the balls at your feet.

You decided instantly that you liked the girl. You'd be lying if you said you didn't admire her style of play, it was incredibly similar to your own right down to the risky tackles and red cards. From what you'd seen in videos online, you were also pretty sure she'd appreciate your humour.

'I know who you are' You began ' Katie Robinson, right?'

A look of shock crossed Katie's features for a moment before she cackled loudly. 'Got a mouth on ya, don't ya?'

You shrugged. 'That's what they all say'

Jennifer inserted herself into the conversation. 'Okay, now we can get started'

'Started?' You frowned

'On the video."

You shook your head. 'Then what've we been filming for the last half hour?'

Jennifer shared an amused glance with Katie. 'Just some little snippets and shorts for social media, some of it might make the cut for our main video but it's going to be something a little different and i think the fans will really love it' She beckoned you and Katie to follow her over to the nearest goal where the crew had began to set up large cameras.

'That's why i'm here kid, the fans love me' Katie joked to which you sniggered.

Ignoring the Irish defender, Jennifer continued. 'The whole concept is based around reputations, people hear Katie's name and they think passionate, fearsome, daring, dangerous and your name carries that weight too. So we're gonna play onto that, teams aren't just going to have to deal with one McCabe now, but two.'

You liked that idea. You thought it made you sound tough, like you were built to handle anything.

'We're gonna be bringing the danger kid, me and you'

You smirked 'I think your face alone is scary enough'

Katie shook her head. 'I'm going to have to keep an eye on you aren't I?'

'As long as it's not when i'm in the shower' You countered

Jennifer narrowed her eyes at you as Katie just laughed. 'Stop saying things like that Y/n'

You held your hands up in surrender, you were surprised at how easily you'd managed to fit in already. It was a calming feeling, it made you more at peace with your new life in England despite only arriving a day earlier.

'Kyra's taken a liking to ya' Katie said suddenly as Jennifer wondered away with David to deal with a lighting issue. 'Came through the door at 7 this morning covered in mud but grinning like a mad man'

'Yeah, Emily wasn't too pleased with me about that'

Katie shrugged. 'That's valid, at least Kyra left me a note...even if i couldn't exactly decipher her hand writing.'

'Well I'll know for next time.'

'Next time?' Katie rolled her eyes 'Fantastic'

You honestly couldn't wait to see Kyra again. 'It's good to know someone my own age over here, most of my friends are back in the States'

'Any boyfriend...or girlfriend?' Katie teased

'Not anymore' You answer cryptically but before Katie can respond Jennifer is rushing the two of you into position in front of the camera.

'ACTION'

[vivemonroi]

Can we talk about Hallelujah and how it represents Solavellan? We've long considered Hallelujah as the hymn for Solavellan, but I never fully realized how deeply it might reflect their love.

I combined lyrics from Leonard Cohen’s version and Rufus Wainwright’s rendition to get a "full picture."

Content spoilers!

I imagine that it’s Lavellan singing to Solas, sharing how she sees him and his story.

Now I′ve heard there was a secret chord That David played, and it pleased the Lord But you don't really care for music, do you? It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth The minor falls, the major lifts The baffled king composing Hallelujah

The "baffled king" could represent Solas and his god-like status during the Evanuris era. Even with his power and knowledge, Solas could be seen as someone vulnerable, struggling with the burdens of his choices. This reflects his grandeur and his inner conflict, showing that despite his god-like status, he was still susceptible to doubt, regret, and even love.

Your faith was strong but you needed proof You saw her bathing on the roof Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you

Now that we know more about Solas and Mythal’s relationship, I think that the "her" mentioned is actually Mythal, and Solas was willing to do anything for her. This includes obtaining a physical body and standing by her side no matter what.

She tied you to a kitchen chair She broke your throne, and she cut your hair And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

But eventually, Mythal leaves Solas, who remains attached to her. She "broke his throne," meaning she pushed him to rebel; she made him cut his hair… and now the guy is bald. Clearly, this represents his betrayal.

The Hallelujah signifies the deepest, most sacred love — he still loved her, even then. But their relationship was ultimately toxic for both of them.

Maybe I've been here before I know this room, I've walked this floor I used to live alone before I knew you I've seen your flag on the marble arch Love is not a victory march It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Now Lavellan is singing about herself and her life before Solas. She was alone, especially after the Conclave and becoming the Herald of Andraste. The Dalish rejected her, and humans weren’t her people — much like Solas himself, upon awakening to a world that was no longer his.

With him, she discovers a love deeper than any she has known, she realizes that loving someone is not a "victory march." Her love for him is filled with pain and bittersweetness. It's hard to love him, yet she love him still.

There was a time you'd let me know What's real and going on below But now you never show it to me do you?

This is about the time they shared during the events of the Inquisition. He taught her about the Fade and the ancient gods, but after Trespasser, he vanished, concealing his true self beneath the mask of Fen’Harel.

And then there’s the line, “you’d let me know what’s real.” Remember what Solas said after they defeated Corypheus, just before he walked away forever?

“I want you to know that what we had was real.”

And remember when I moved in you? The holy dark was moving too And every breath we drew was Hallelujah

Both could represent the time they shared or her attempts to reach him after Trespasser. The "holy dark"— maybe the Blight?

You say I took the name in vain I don′t even know the name But if I did, well, really, what's it to you?

She didn’t know his true title, the Dread Wolf, a part of his very nature and ancient past. Yet she wonders: if she had known, would it have changed anything?

Now there's a different versions for Lavellan who want to save Solas and Lavellan who want to stop him.

The redeemed and happy version.

There's a blaze of light in every word It doesn′t matter which you heard The holy or the broken Hallelujah

At first glance, it may seem like the holy love, the holy Hallelujah, represents his love for Mythal, and the broken one for Lavellan. But I think it's the opposite: Mythal is a god, yet their love is broken; Lavellan is mortal, but her love for him is divine. Both of them have the power to redeem him, in different ways — one through letting go, and the other through allowing him to be loved.

I did my best, it wasn′t much I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch I′ve told the truth, I didn't come to fool you

The words point directly to Solas, she tries to convince him, that their love can find a way to endure. She isn't like Mythal, she accepts him, his nature. But he's afraid, he's not allowing himself to move forward.

And even though it all went wrong I′ll stand before the Lord of Song With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Even in the end, Lavellan still holds onto her love for Solas, with nothing on her tongue but their sacred love.

She is his future.

Now to the grim and sad version

Maybe there's a God above And all I ever learned from love Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you

He deceives her, and all that love has taught her is sorrow. Mythal' and Solas' history confirms that.

She remains steadfast, standing in his path, even if it means his end, because her love and his history taught her "to shoot at someone who outdrew you."

And it′s not a cry you can hear at night It's not somebody who′s seen the light It's a cold and it′s a broken Hallelujah

In this version, their love is doomed to be cold and broken. There is no light. She has given up on him, yet the suffering remains, deep and unrelenting. Still, it is a Hallelujah.

He is all alone, facing his most terrible fear. Yet he believes he deserves it and it's the only thing that can redeem him.

Thank you for reading this! I know I’m being delusional, but it helps me sleep at night.

[a-star-that-burns-brightly]

I've already brought this up in this post, but I absolutely believe Hu ended up telling David what her secret was and why it made her so uncomfortable (presumably because she more than likely has the hopeless child secret)

Hu: I have to be the one to give everyone guidance. That's the only thing I can do. If no one relies on me, then I won't be useful anymore. Hu: You knew how I felt, and yet you... You... Hu: You toyed with my heart!

Like, let's really analyze this dialogue for a second. Why would Hu say that David knew how she felt, why she acts the way she does, unless she told David herself? David is not a mind-reader, he can barely handle the things going on in his own mind. So the only way I can see David knowing about this is if Hu told him herself. Throughout all of Chapter 2, David is constantly pressuring others to tell their secrets. Especially in CH2-6. And that is made especially apparent with how he handles Nico's forced-coming out

David: I know this isn't the ideal time for me to do this, but... David: Nico, do you know what your secret is? Nico: [Sniff] Hu: He's clearly upset. Don't bother him with your questions. David: Part of me thinks that this conflict between Ace and Nico stems from the position of power Ace holds over Nico for keeping his secret. David: If that secret was exposed, then Ace would no longer have that edge over him. David: Nico, can you reveal your secret to everyone? Nico: W-What? Nico: I...I don't want to. David: I know it's difficult to reveal a secret that mortifies you, but aren't all of our secrets going to be revealed in 2 days anyway? I don't think it matters much if you do it now or later. Nico: ... David: Unless you're thinking that the secrets won't be revealed at all? Nico, don't tell me that you-- Nico: Okay, fine!!

David: So then, revealing your secret was a good thing, right? That way, you won't have to be misgendered anymore. Nico: ... Nico: I wasn't ready. David: This is definitely an improvement. It's good for everyone to be open with their secrets.

Nico: Hey I don't think I was in any way shape or form ready to have this part of my identity that I've been ostracized and bullied for for my entire life to not only be outed in front of my classmates but to what is presumably international TV David: K, so anyway :)

He even does this specifically to Hu later in this scene

David: Hu? Hu: I'm sorry, but my secret is something that makes me uncomfortable. David: Even though it will be revealed by MonoTV anyway? Hu: Perhaps it's not an admirable thing to do, but I'd rather put it off for as long as possible. I apologize.

I also have no doubt that David and Hu had some time alone. Teruko left the Relaxation Room, and considering the fact that Nico was planning a murder and also...is reasonably pissed at David

Nico: But David is really suspicious. He's always been really pushy on getting people to reveal their secrets. Nico: And he can do that only because he revealed his own secret first. That way, he doesn't look like a hypocrite. Nico: But if he lied about his secret, then he can just pretend he's in the right. And then other people will follow his lead because it's "good" to share secrets. Nico: And, um, I'm not just saying this because I'm mad at David. Really.

(they say after basically recounting word-for-word what happened to them)

I don't doubt they would've left at some point soon after Teruko given their personality.

Which would leave David and Hu alone to have a conversation about her secret, to which Hu would most likely fall victim to the same pressure Nico did, and reveal what secret she got.

You only took on your talent to distract form your incessant need to harm yourself for fun.

I bring up this frame in particular, by the way, because I find the difference in how she talks about not sharing her secret very interesting. In the Relaxation Room scene, she describes the act of not sharing her secret as "not an admirable thing to do". Here, she straight up calls it "selfish". It's almost as if someone implanted that seed in her brain to pressure her, wonder who that could be.

Along with this, she would also probably explain why she felt so uncomfortable sharing her secret as that was also something David tried pressuring her to explain, which would lead to her talking about her experiences and reasoning for why she is the way she is, which as we have commonly theorized, is most likely in line with the secret Veronika received

You were quite the hopeless child. Dying once wasn't enough, so you attempted suicide three times.

Which David would put together based on the secret appearing on the board. And that's why he taunts her over it.

David: And in spite of how easily you'll spill other secrets for the sake of "peace," you're still too much of a coward to admit your own. Hu: I...that's not what... David: What's wrong, "Julia"? Go ahead and share your secret. It can't be *that* bad, can it? Or is it worse than mine? Worse than Nico's? David: Or could it be that you're actually not as noble and strong of a person as you make yourself out to be?

He is the only person in the room who not only knows what secret Hu received, but knows why she won't say it out loud. He knows her secret and he is hanging it over her fucking head like a carrot. He knows how she feels, and even still, he toyed with her heart.

[hero-israel]

What they said.

And I could have put another 4-6 similar messages in here, I can tell what is weighing on peoples' minds. Though we are outnumbered, it is not hard to see through the lies of our enemies. We just need people who will listen to us.

"Every accusation is a confession" was never more true than in claiming JEWS want to kill off ARABS. The briefest review of regional demographics - WHO has actually wiped out WHOM - makes that instantly clear. Mahmoud Abbas said his family fled their home in Safed in 1948 because they were sure the Jews would try to get revenge for Arab massacres in 1929. In 1967 when Israel took the West Bank, Arabs in Hebron were so afraid of reprisals for 1929 that they flew white bedsheets from their windows and piled their weapons outside their front doors.

There is no such thing as a "genocide" that is true for Palestinians but false for white people. And while most of the time, posting about hypocrisy and double standards isn't going to make a real-life change, this is one time where I'd really like people to point it out, to demand answers from those who correctly identify the Alt-Right as lying. We should also request clarification on whether all warfare involving urban bombing is automatically considered genocide (spoiler: it isn't, but this time Jews are involved, aha!).

Desmond Tutu was notorious for insisting Jews forgive the genocide that had actually been committed against them and also that they be constantly condemned and judged for the potential genocide they were always just about to commit. It is not even meant as a statement of fact - just a way to put us in our place. As David Schraub put it:

For thousands of years, for much of the world, part of the cultural patrimony enjoyed by all non-Jews -- spiritual and secular, Church and Mosque, enlightenment and romantic, European and Middle Eastern -- was the unquestionable right to stand superior over Jews. It was that right which the Holocaust took away, or at least called into question; the unthinking faith of knowing you were the more enlightened one, the spiritually purer one, the more rational one, the dispenser of morality rather than the object of it. To be sure, some people were better positioned to enjoy this right than others. And some people arrived onto the scene late in the game, only to discover that part of the bounty they were promised may no longer be on the table. Of course they're aggrieved! The European immigrant who never owned a slave but was at least promised racial superiority is quite resentful when the wages of Whiteness stop being what they once were. Similarly, persons who lived far from the centers of Christian or Muslim power where Jewish subordination was forged are nonetheless well aware of what was supposed to be included in modernity's gift basket. They recognize what they've "lost" as acutely as anyone else.

Every definition of "genocide" rests on intent; you cannot accidentally do it. That's what both the U.N., Genocide Watch, and basic common sense say. The militia going door-to-door to torture and massacre all the children and elderly is genocidal intent. "The missile launcher built into your house just fired at us, we will now destroy it, you have 5 minutes to evacuate" is not.

I have no idea what is coming next in Gaza, how long it will last or how bad it will get. Godforbid, if the death toll gets another zero at the end, it may become impossible to get people to see it as non-genocidal, regardless of what is empirically, definitionally true. But if people are going to cite sources and moral authorities, let them stick with the boundaries they have introduced.

[drdtshipping]

I humbly ask for teruvid headcanons :3

i hasth humbly received thine request, and i shall humbly come forth with headcanons for you. hope they're to your enjoyment, and sorry you had to wait for so long!!

⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢

˗ˏˋ ★ ― TERUVID HEADCANONS‼

꒰1 ୨୧◞ 。if teruko is sitting down whilst talking to somebody, david likes going behind her and simply resting his arms on teruko’s head while greeting the other person as if teruko doesn’t even exist. it annoyed teruko at first, but she just grew to get used to it⠀.ᐟ

꒰2 ୨୧◞ 。sometimes they’ll just have late night talks about the things that they’re bottling up. even if they can’t actually do anything much to help the other, it’s still nice to talk about these things seeing as the other is the one who understands them the most⠀.ᐟ

꒰3 ୨୧◞ 。teruko is obviously a mess in the kitchen, while david can cook a decent meal..the keyword being decent, because a lot of the time he can’t muster up the energy to do so. meaning they get take-out fairly often. due to teruko’s bad luck, however, the order seems to be messed up every time to the point where they make bets on what’ll be screwed up each time they order. ⠀.ᐟ

꒰4 ୨୧◞ 。teruko is the type to pull david by the collar to get him on her level if they’re having a disagreement. not that david doesn’t like this sort of treatment, that is⠀.ᐟ

꒰5 ୨୧◞ 。’i love you’ is a bit of a rare phrase for the two of them. they don’t have to say it a lot in order to express that feeling. it’s usually only used whilst comforting the other, or when they don’t think the other can hear (david more than teruko)⠀.ᐟ

꒰6 ୨୧◞ 。it took a while for them to be physically affectionate, more on teruko’s side than david’s. whenever they do take that step, it’s usually in the comforts of their own living space⠀.ᐟ

꒰7 ୨୧◞ 。sometimes when they’re talking to people and the person says something stupid or outrageous, the two will sort of just share a look that sort of expresses ‘really?’ or ‘did they seriously just say that’? they’re both die-hard judgers⠀.ᐟ

꒰8 ୨୧◞ 。while teruko isn’t exactly feminine with her outfits, she does wish to be a little more so. meaning whenever she does step out of her comfort zone and wear something that could be seen as more girlish than usual, david ends up making a flirty comment about it. teruko usually just brushes him off with an annoyed look, but teruko does enjoy it slightly the same way that david is genuine with it even with his theatrics⠀.ᐟ

꒰9 ୨୧◞ 。before they were dating, there was SO much tension. there was probably a bet within the class as to how they’d end up ⠀.ᐟ

꒰10 ୨୧◞ 。they do have a lot of small arguments, which would result in them blowing off the other for a day or two. for these, however, they don’t really need a verbal apology. somehow they’ll roll back around to the other and life goes on with the two of them still together⠀.ᐟ

꒰11 ୨୧◞ 。they’re both the type to attempt distracting themselves from their problems–especially david. so of course, they’re each other’s go-to for getting away from their problems⠀.ᐟ

꒰12 ୨୧◞ 。once when they were passing by a store together, teruko had seen a teddy bear on display. she hadn’t said anything, but her eyes lingered a little longer on that than most other things. a bit later, when she got home, teruko noticed a bear on her pillow. david didn’t mention it, but she knew that he had gotten it for her. ⠀.ᐟ

꒰13 ୨୧◞ 。their relationship was probably kind of rocky at the start, until they managed to lay down some basics that they wanted in the relationship. which admittedly was a very awkward conversation seeing as they’re not the most open about their feelings⠀.ᐟ

꒰14 ୨୧◞ 。a lot of the times when they’re tired, one will simply sit next to the other and be in their presence. it doesn’t resolve the issue, but it makes them feel slightly calmer being near somebody they know loves them⠀.ᐟ

꒰15 ୨୧◞ 。a lot of the time david will suggest something to teruko (usually stupid date ideas or conversation topics) and teruko will just stare at him blankly before completely changing the subject ⠀.ᐟ

⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣

[freddiemercurylegendabovelegends]

Today, on April 22nd, 1989 - Queen Story!

Queen filmed promo video for “I Want It All” at Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, UK, director David Mallet

🔸Roger Taylor: Yes, it is our first studio album since 1986, I think that the reason for, for the delay, no, not the delay, for the long wait in between was that we wanted to sort of go away, and just recharge our batteries, quite logical really, and er, and just sort of generate some, some new energy and enthusiasm for, for being Queen

John Deacon: After we did the, the tour in 1986, which was a very big European tour, we were all absolutely exhausted, and shattered, and basically we didn't want to really work together or see each other for a while

Roger Taylor: To get into the whole cycle of er, just making an album, then going on tour, then coming back home and making an album again, we wanted to get out of that

Brian May: We said right, we'll take a little break, we're not, we're not going to split up, but we just er, we need some space for ourselves, and when the time is right, we'll make the album, rather than, you know, somebody says you've got to make one so we make one, so we waited, and we did some, did various other things, you know, Freddie and Roger both did solo projects, and I'm half way through one, and did a lot of producing

John Deacon: That took at least a year to a year and a half, and then towards the end of that second year, er, we sort of met up, and Freddie suggested, I think it was Freddie, perhaps we'd try a little time in the studio

Roger Taylor: So we went into the studio, saw what it was like, and we enjoyed it very much, and we still didn't have any material, so then we decided to go in for the long, for a long, longer time

John Deacon: You know, the third year was spent making the album, so the, in a way it was a two year gap to us, rather than three years, and er, and what was the, I've forgotten the second part of the question already

Interviewer: Did it help you to return to the studios feeling refreshed?

John Deacon: Yes (laughter) yes

The first few weeks of the recording we did a lot of live, er, material, a lot of songs um, ideas came up, some jamming, we had a few ideas that were already prepared, er, 'I Want It All' was one of the, one of the few songs that was actually, written before we went in

- From 'The Miracle' Interviews

Various and separate interviews recorded with Brian, Roger and John on the set of the 'Breakthru' promotional video, May 1989

👉"We were heading into the period where we decided to share the credit for all the songs, and John has said that [the song] was pretty much a finished song when we went into the studios – that's true, it was just this riff that I was obsessed with for months. The actual title was a favorite phrase of Anita's, a very ambitious girl: 'I want it all, and I want it now '... We were never able to perform this song live. It would have become something of the staple core of the Queen show, I'm sure, very participatory. It was designed for the audience to sing along to, very anthemic."

- Brian May, interview 2003, from Greatest Video Hits 2

[newx-menfan]

Moments I REALLY want to see in Flashbacked to in NYX (part 2):

(Warning…this is a LONG POST lol)

9. Laura and Hellion going to save Cessily/ Hellion’s speech on Morality 

I will admittedly LOSE MY SHIT if we don’t get a flashback of this panel!

Out of all the people that tried to reach into Laura’s morality…I would argue this moment was the MOST important.

More than Kiden. More than Logan. More than Gabby. More than ANYONE.

Julian was the FIRST person who believed Laura could be more than a weapon- even her own MOTHER often doubted Laura (which is why Henry Sutter and Megan were so important to Sarah). 

I know X-23 fans will argue it with me- but Hellion was the first person to encourage Laura to no longer kill, for her own good.

In general- I would say this issue was really important for Laura, from the fact that it taught Laura she COULD depend on other people to help her…to Julian asking Laura who she “was”…kicking off Laura’s search into self discovery…

10. Laura’s Creepy Crush on Hellion, in General 

Laura took a somewhat…possessive…FERAL interest in Julian…that we have NEVER really seen in any of her OTHER relationships….

Again, the thing I hate about Liu, is it’s totally made fans forget that Laura was the one obsessed and borderline stalking Hellion in the beginning. 

For better or worse- Laura has ALWAYS had strong reactions to Hellion. Hellion WAS for a long time Laura’s chink in the armor and it’ll be interesting to see if he still IS….

11. The KISS

Ah- the KISS. The petty childhood grievance that changed the group dynamic completely.

The moment that seemed to bring back all the Hellion/Surge/Prodigy animosity from the pre- “No More Mutants” days…

The moment where Laura realized she had the full potential to thoroughly feel emotions like jealousy.

The moment that killed David and Noriko’s relationship. 

I’d put it lower on the list of things I want to see pop up, but I would be surprised if it doesn’t at LEAST get referenced….

12. Hellion and Karima/O.N.E. Sentinel 

The moment EVERY Hellion fan remembers. The tragic rebound to Julian losing his hands and constantly being seen as the next “Magneto”. 

The moment you see just HOW MUCH the years of CONSTANT TRAUMA affected him.

The line where “child soldier” starts to show…

You CAN’T NOT have some flashback of Julian talking about wearing “robot claws” in Dr. Rao’s lab or beating Karima while ranting about what Sentinels took from him, in a story about Hellions descent. Hellion’s FALL from “X-Men” into  “Villian”.

13. THIS MOMENT

Ironically…Liu wrote my favorite Hellion/X-23 moment.

The art, Hellion’s insecurities, Laura’s line “I have missed you”, and Hellion seeing his feelings returned….it gets me every time!

It would be wrong for Laura NOT to have a flashback of it at some point.

I will 100% CRY if after first panel of Hellion reveled as “the Krakoan” to Laura…there is a flashback of her standing there…telling him “I have missed you” 😭😭😭

14. The Falling Out

What’s compelling about Laura and Julian, is how much their relationship opened up their vulnerabilities.

Hellion’s insecurities painfully bubble up throughout this entire story.

Julian admitting he felt like Laura abandoned him STILL TO THIS DAY makes me sad. Julian obviously desperately wanting SOMEONE to tell him he “did the right thing” hits me in the heart.

I will give Liu this- this story STILL packs a punch, even if I disliked the outcome of it. It WAS a well crafted arc, even if I HATE that she threw Hellion under the bus to do it.

There 100% HAS to be a flashback to “Babysitters”. It was undoubtedly the end to Laura and Hellion’s relationship, let alone friendship.

It was the beginning of their lives taking different paths.

15. The Yearbook 

I know- it’s a small moment…but I would be sad if it’s not referenced.

Some character flipping through the yearbook, or HELLION himself, and it landing on “MOST LIKELY TO BECOME AN X-MAN” after the big battle…

It’s just the perfect, most heart wrenching scene ever lol

Honorable mentions:

Hellion’s desire for “Fame and Glory”

I would love to see Hellion remember this moment- back when he was still innocent and saw superhero-dom as just a means to become famous…

Hellion’s talk with Northstar and switching Mentors

If ANY choice probably DAMNED him…it was this one lol; Emma doesn’t have a great track record of keeping students alive…

While not AS POWERFUL as “the Lunch Table” scene… it is a nice callback to how much people saw Julian as possibly “the next Magneto”…

Emma abandoning him at a hotel 

“You’re taking away everything I had”

While not the most gut wrenching moments…it’s still pretty tragic and the best story done that examined Hellion’s psyche post “No More Mutants”…

Magneto and Hellion meet 

I had a hard time NOT including this one, and this was ALMOST #15…because Kyle did SUCH a GREAT JOB at pinpointing Hellion’s pain and desire to lash out at the people he loved….

Ultimately though, I think the unmet potential of Julian being a “great hero” and his personal attachments to his old team SHOULD be mentioned and referenced than this one….

“You’re my BEST friend”

This and the moment where he calls Laura the “Bravest person I know” while talking to the Collector, gets me EVERY.time.

While it’s nice to see them both acknowledge their relationship…I think, ultimately, there is better, more tragic moments to reference….

David’s Parents Reaction to him being a Mutant

I think it WOULD be interesting to see David recall this moment, especially if he ends up SACKED…

David was always the mutant that faced a lot of judgement because he “passed”…

Hopefully we get a speech where David kind of calls out Sophie, saying that his whole life everyone has judged him because he had a more “subtle” power set….

But idk if we will see it.

Hellion’s Trophy Acceptance Speech

While not the MOST important scene… it WOULD be hysterical to get a callback to it in a panel…if nothing else, but to remember the more light hearted X-Men days….

[dominimoonbeam]

Hi, first I wanted to say that I really love your writing and thank you so much for sharing it.

You're amazing and so talented and you made me addicted to your writing. The way you write characters is so real and your way of writing scenerios in general makes me so Invested in the story.

Another thing, I don't know if you accept requests and if you don't feel free to ignore it:

Can I please ask for Sam comforting darlin after a long week when they basically shut down from stress? (Can you tell I'm projecting?😅)

Please don't feel pressured to do it, I know you're working on a lot of stuff now too so maybe just keep the idea for the future?

Anyway I wish you a happy rest of your week, take care of yourself and rest if you need to!

Anon! Thank you so much for all the kind words! You're not the only one needing some comfort and care lately! I think something about this season has been rough for people for a bunch of different reasons, myself included. I've got you! Or at least, I tried. Hope you like it! And I hope things turn up and go smoother for you soon!

Sam/Darlin comfort fic below the cut. Will probably reread and post it on ao3 later on.

<3

They were tired.

Dead tired. Like they wished they were dead. No, no, that was bad. They didn’t wish that. They just… It had just been such a long fucking week and it felt like everything was going wrong. Nothing big enough that they could point it out or complain. Just, off. And they hadn’t been able to sleep. And it seemed like the longer it went, the longer they hid it well enough that no one pressed for an explanation they couldn’t begin to come up with, it got heavier rather than lighter.

When they got home that night from a job, they were actually relieved Sam wasn’t back yet. The last thing they wanted to do was to drag him down with them. God, he deserved so much better than them. They tossed their keys on the side table, toed off their boots, and hung up their jacket. The side of their face throbbed. They’d gotten hit with a fucking bat. David thought their cheekbone was broken and had only finally allowed them to go home because he knew Sam would take care of it.

Darlin sat down in the big chair, their favorite chair, and told themself they’d just sit for a minute. And then they’d shower, see if their face was really that much of a mess, and if it was, maybe they’d drag their ass over to the clinic and get a healer there to fix it. They felt bad making Sam patch them up all the time, but they also hated the idea of anyone else touching them let alone mending them.

They could put an ice pack on it. Maybe the swelling would go down on its own.

They sank back in the chair and closed their eyes. Just a minute.

-

Sam was still at the Solaire house when he got a call from David.

His heart always lurched high in his chest when he got a call from David, his first thought always that frantic fear that something had happened to Darlin. Why else would David call him instead of Darlin or instead of using the group chat?

Sam stepped away from the big table of squabbling younger vampires and a very amused William.

“David?”

“Hey Sam,” David said, voice gruff but easy, instantly relieving that tension in Sam’s chest. “I just wanted to check in and see how they’re doing.”

The tension was back. “What?” Darlin had been off for almost a week, barely talking but not willing or ready to tell him why. He wasn’t sure they knew themself, not yet. But somehow he didn’t think that was what David was talking about.

The pause stretched. “Are they not home yet?”

Sam was already grabbing his jacket and waving heading for the front door. “They might be, but I ain’t. Why?”

David sighed. “Sorry. It’s not an emergency, Sam. The job got rough and they took a bat to the face… I would have taken them to a healer but they insisted—”

“Yeah,” Sam said, nodding. Of course, they would. “I’m heading home now. I’ll let ya know when they’re patched up.”

He called Darlin in the truck but they didn’t answer, which conjured a mess of panicked thoughts. What if they’d passed out behind the wheel? The thought of his Darlin in a twisted wreck was hard to push away and almost immediately replaced by other tragic imaginings.

He exhaled small relief when he saw their car in front of the house.

The front door wasn’t locked. Darlin never locked it when they were home. And there they were, asleep in the big chair. He sighed and put his keys down with theirs. Another step inside and their eyes opened. Well, one opened, the other was swollen shut.

“Damn…” Darlin winced as he closed the door. They sat up with some effort. “Sorry, I think I fell asleep… What time is—”

“Don’t you dare stand up,” he warned when they were starting to tip forward. He was already in front of them, gently catching their shoulder to ease them back. He kept his voice in a low hush, thinking their head had to be hurting inside and out. “You shoulda called me, Darlin.” He knelt beside their leg, carefully fingering hair out of their face. The bruising was new, like it had only just begun, and the swelling was bad. It looked like their cheekbone was broken. “David said you got hit with a bat?”

Darlin sighed, shoulders slumping. “I wasn’t paying attention and this guy… Yeah.”

Sam clicked his teeth to keep from snarling at the idea of ‘this guy’ whoever the hell he was. He reached toward their face but they caught his wrist and pulled it gently down to their heart instead. “I’ll be gentle,” he promised, surprised.

Darlin smiled weakly, eyes already closed again. “I know. You always are, cowboy. But I don’t…” They sighed, their smile gone. “I don’t want to cost you anything right now, you know?” Their voice had gotten small, like they were far away inside themself.

Sam kept his hand to their chest, feeling their heartbeat through his palm. He leaned against their thigh, so they’d feel him right there next to them, practically leaning into the chair with them. “You never cost me anything,” he whispered back. “Healing you is a privilege. It makes me feel like there’s something I can do for you. I love you, Darlin.”

Their face pinched, not a wince but close, and he thought if they opened those eyes, they’d be teary. His other hand stroked up the side of their thigh, squeezing them gently. “Tell me what it is,” he said gently. “Tell me what’s going on in your head.” He said it quietly, like it could be just between them.

Darlin sighed and he heard all the exhaustion and strain in that breath. “I don’t know. I just… It’s been a bad week. It’s everything. I just feel… Everything. And I’m tired and I hate myself and I can’t… I can’t take things from you when I feel like I’ve got nothing to give.”

Sam watched them the whole time they choked out that barely audible confession. They’d never told him these things, but they didn’t shock him either. They hurt, because he never wanted them to feel like that, but they didn’t shock him. “Do you trust me, Darlin?”

That good eye opened enough to look at him, surprised. “Of course. I love you.”

He stroked his thumb against their collar, above their heart. “I’m going to heal you and then we’re going to take a bath. You can talk or you can relax. We’re going to get some well needed sleep and I’m going to order your favorite food. And every step of the way, I’m going to remind you that you’re incredible and all the reasons I love you, all the reasons your pack loves you, and all the reasons my clan loves you. You get to feel however you feel, Darlin, but that voice in your heart telling you bad shit, that’s asshole is lying.”

A tear rolled off Darlin’s lashes, even though their mouth was set in a stubborn line, like they refused to acknowledge it.

He reached up slowly, so they could stop him again if they needed to argue about this more, but he also couldn’t leave their face like that. His fingertips brushed the edge of the bruising and Darlin’s eye closed as that warm magic slid through their skin, spreading out. The delicate bone in their cheek healed and the swelling went down.

They exhaled relief when they opened both eyes and blinked at him.

He could see an apology building in their eyes, trying to form on their tongue. He took their face in both hands and leaned in, touching his forehead to theirs the way he’d seen the pack do. “Trust me,” he pleaded. “I ain’t ever going to lie to you, Darlin, and we’ll get through bad weeks together.”

Darlin stayed tense for another few seconds, like they might push this comfort away, but finally they sagged. Too tired maybe?

Sam smiled when they tipped their face into his, brushing a soft kiss against his lips. He kissed back and then pulled them to their feet to lead them to the bathroom. He had to make a dash back to his jacket to send a text off to David, telling him Darlin was fine but they were taking tomorrow off.

[phychohex]

I Met a Vampire Down in Santa Carla. Chapter Five

(A/N. I just want to say sorry for taking so long for this chapter. I had writer's block for a long time and was busy with life. I will try to put the next chapter out in a day or so.)

I rummage through the box that I brought with me to work. I have to restock the snacks and drinks, which has become quite popular. "what are you doing?" I glance over to see Tyler leaning against my doorway. Things with him haven't been great. From the moment I walked through that door he has treated me as a lesser being. He had an ego to him one that I loved crushing. It'd be one thing if he was just confident in his work, was proud of something, and showed me that's normal. If I show him, he nitpicks it, boasting how he could've done much better. It pissed me off to no end. 

"Restocking" I mutter trying not to give him the time of day he craved.

"You're wasting your money" He scuffs I roll my eyes.

"No, I use my tip money" There is a silence I grab the now empty box and brush past him.

"You get tips" his surprise made it clear he didn't I nodded with a big grin on my face. "Wow," His voice was quiet as if pondering the idea. "How do you get that"

"By doing a good job" I shrug "It isn't that big of a deal they usually just round up the total. Like if the tattoo ends up being seventy-five they give a hundred. It helps pay for the snacks and other things I need at home. It's fun money."

"Damn, you know when you started I didn't like the idea of working with you," He admits.

"Yeah, you made that very clear" I turn to him.

"Sorry," he scratches the back of his neck, "You think we could start over? I've grown to respect you and your work. I've met plenty of by-the-hour artists who tattoo for like twenty minutes and then use the rest of the hour for a break charging people an arm and a leg. You don't do that I barely see you take any breaks you have an outstanding work ethic. Hell you are making more than I am" 

"Really?" That was a shock. "How do I get paid less than you" I was only doing twenty-five an hour he was thirty. He had been tattooing longer than I have. 

"Tips, and you take more customers even the ones who have a short budget and can't pay hourly" That was true he never took in people who could only pay like twenty bucks but just wanted something extremely simple that took like thirty minutes. I also get more booked customers. "Hell, you've brought in more customers. The day shift gets people asking for you it's insane." He laughs obviously jealous. "I just, I've been an ass and I'm sorry" 

"You're forgiven"

"Fresh start" I nod smiling.

"Fresh start." We head back inside getting ready to close shop for the day. 

"So what plans do you have?" He asks 

"After work, I'm meeting up with a friend" 

"No, like in the future do you plan on working here forever or"

"Oh yeah um. I don't know yet I would like to open my own shop one day but there are so many here. There are three right on the boardwalk. I guess I would run mine differently but that isn't going to happen anytime soon." 

"Why, you'd make good money I bet if you saved you could do it" He was right.

"Yeah but I kinda want to go to a community college and get a business degree so I'm better prepared ya know" I start getting my stuff together. I am meeting up with David again. We have been doing that a lot lately. It's been only a few days yet we have been either staying up texting or we've been hanging out. We usually just hang out at the bookstore where we first meet. Tonight was going to be a bit different. He wanted me to meet his 'brothers'. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit nervous. I never enjoyed meeting new people, especially a group of guys. It isn't safe to do I don't know these guys. I trust David though he hasn't given me much reason not to. 

I head to our meet-up spot going through our texts as I wait. We usually talk about random shit like a movie that we want to see that's coming out or events that are going on at the boardwalk. In person is different though, we always seem to talk about deeper stuff. Stuff that I don't usually open up about honestly. He knows so much and always find myself confused. Why do I tell him any of it? He knows about my son, who I had miscarried at six months due to the abuse. He knows that I have trauma which I never go deep into. Whenever I say something that brings me back he seems to know and changes the topic. We were at the bookstore one night and I was looking for a specific book that had just come out. It was a horror novel. I did find it and had been talking about it for days. 

"Well, what's it called?" He was able to look at the higher shelves.

"The dying flower" I look down the aisle in search "The lady at the front said they got it yesterday but wasn't sure where they put it" My eyes dart to the words of the title. "Got it!" I grab it to read the back and fliping to the first page. It had a trigger page and was loosely based on a true story. As I go down the list I realize this book sounded great but was too real. I close it and put it back a bit shaken by the triggers. 

"Thought you wanted it" He picks it up flipping to the page I just read. "Holy shit" He was taken aback by what he was reading. "Why did you want this anyway?"

"It sounded good, I didn't realize it was that bad though." He looks at me our eyes meeting. I look down trying not to go to that place.

"Well we aren't going empty-handed" He puts the book back and goes down the craft aisle. I follow curious. He looks through the adult coloring books finding a pinup coloring book. We ended up sitting down and coloring for hours. 

I look at the time it is close to our agreed time to meet and as if on cue I hear the engines of motorbikes coming my way. David parks close to my car getting off his bike, flashing a bright smile. "Didn't keep you waiting did I?" He asks. I shake my head standing up straight having just been leaning on my car. 

"Nice car" One of the other blondes comes over. He walks around the car taking a good look at it before coming over to me and doing the same. I felt self-conscious suddenly being checked out was a bit shocking. I instantly knew this was Paul. He smirks at me. "Driven by a very sexy driver at that" I look over at David nervously. He was watching very closely. 

"Ignore him" The shorter blonde comes over moving Paul out of the way and holding out his hand. "I'm Marko that's Paul he is a whore so just ignore him" He smiles. I chuckle shaking his hand. That leaves Dwayne who comes over to check out the car. 

" Rory it's nice to finally meet you guys. David has told me a lot about you" I smile. 

"Same he won't fucking shut up" Paul is shot a glare that could cut through stone. "Can't say I blame him though" He smirks giving me another once over this guy was a hoe. Dwayne, Marko, and David start laughing as Paul rolls his eyes. It was as if they heard my little note to self. I was confused but didn't focus on it. David wraps an arm around my shoulders as we walk the boardwalk's fair area. When me and David came it was just for the Farris wheel and nothing else. We walked around looking at all that it had to offer which was a lot. We get some tickets enough for a few rides and start looking around. 

We eventually made it to a fun house. I feel someone grab my arm dragging me. It was Marko jumping around like a kid who just ate a whole birthday cake. He leads the way as we go through the mirror maze first. I hold my hands out so I don't run into the walls. I was the leader for some reason. I decide to follow this dad and his toddler. I turn to see David right behind me and the boys following. As we head forward the kid runs full speed into one of the mirrors. I turn fully trying not to laugh. That ends up not being possible as Marko loses his shit.  

We ended up making it through the maze after watching the kid run into more walls. It was to the point that I started getting genuinely worried. We had to go through trick floors and stairs which proved to be harder than it looked. After we made it through the fun house we all followed Marko's lead to a bigger ride. It was a pirate ship that swung back and forth at a fast pace. I watch as people scream. I shake my head, "Sorry no" 

"Oh come on it's not that bad" Paul smirks "Don't be chicken you'll be fine" 

I follow their lead as the ride stops and people get on. Before I realize it I'm on the ride waiting for everyone to sit down. I end up in the middle between David and Marko. The ride starts very slow to build up the height. I grip the bar tight, so tight that my knuckles go white. "You okay" Marko laughs. I nod lying this was not okay. The ride picks up pace going higher and higher. We went to the highest being at the end of the boat. I close my eyes tight screaming. I lean into David grabbing onto him for dear life. All I could hear was the other riders screaming but the boys were laughing their asses off. I feel David wrap his arm around me as if he was guarding me from the fear. I could feel my heart race as it went up and down. As the ride died down and we got off I felt the excitement and adrenaline course threw my veins. I was ready to chase my next high looking around for the next thrill-seeking ride. My eyes are drawn to the Himalayans. I point and pat Marko who seemed to be into this the most. "Can we do this one next?" I smile he smiles back and we run to the short line. 

As the night kept on we went on more rides. Marko and I ran around like kids in the candy store. Hell, I felt like a kid again. I haven't felt this type of excitement and joy in years. I forgot what this felt like and I couldn't help but be grateful for David convincing me to come along. We went on the Tilt-A-Whirl, Round-Up, The Zipper, Starship, and the Bumper Cars. Before I knew it hours had gone by and we were leaving. As we are walking I hear one of the carnies yell at us. "Come on try and win a prize before we close" He yells to us. I glance over and see a huge pink bunny. The guys didn't seem to notice me as I was drawn in to play. I paid not asking how many points I needed for my goal. The game was shoot the cans the more cans you knock over the more you win. It was five bucks for ten bb's. I try aiming having not shot a real gun before. 

"what are you doin'?" I hear a deeper voice from behind me. I look to see Dwayne watching and the boys coming over to watch. I motion for him to lean down which he does seemingly amused. 

"I want the pink bunny but I can't let him know" he nods chuckling. He motions David over and whispers in his ear. A smirk makes its way across his face and he comes over.

"Let me see that," I hand him the gun and as if he had been a gunslinger he shoots ten cans with ease. My eyes widened in awe I could tell the carnie was shocked as well. "So what do I get?"

"Any of the prizes" The poor guy seemed a little shaken up. I point to the Bunny which I had my eyes on. He grabs it handing it to me. We make our way back to the bike and car. 

"How did you do that," I boast. "That was insane I thought those things were rigged" 

"Most are." He shrugs walking me to my car "Did you have fun?" 

"yeah, I did. Thank you." 

"For?"

"Showing me I'm not a total buzzkill. That I can still have fun" I hold the bunny close. "I haven't had this much fun in years."

"Well, I can tell you, I don't think you're a buzzkill." He reassures. "What are you doing tomorrow?"

"I have a DND session with my friends at the shack." I shrug "But we can hang out on Thursday." I offer.

"The Shack" 

"Yeah, it's this little cabin out in the middle of nowhere. It's like a clubhouse that we've been going to since we were kids." I turn to him "Thank you again I mean it." I hug him it takes him a minute to register. I wave to them as they drive off before going home myself. As I walk through the door I couldn't hide the huge smile on my face. 

"What are you so cheery about?" Mom walks over smiling.

"Nothing I just had fun tonight, and made some new friends," I admit

"New friends?" 

"Yeah I met this guy and we've been talking," I admit putting the bunny down on the table as I grab a drink from the fridge. 

"Is that where the bunny came from?" She smiles I turn opening the ice-cold water bottle. 

"Yeah, we went to the fairgrounds at the boardwalk." I take a long sip. "Thank you. I haven't had the chance to tell you that. I know it was a lot to let me come back, especially with what I said before I left. I'm sorry I did I should've taken you with me. I didn't realize how bad things had gotten" She shakes her head coming over and pulls me into a warm embrace.

"Hush that nonsense. You did what you had to do I don't blame you. I just want you to be happy." she admits. I hear the heavy footsteps going down the stairs. I take it as my cue to get the fuck out. It was too late though. 

"Oh good you're home, we need to talk." I nod sitting down at the table and waiting for him to get on with whatever he needs. "I don't like you being out all night," 

"Why?" 

"Well, you have moved back into my home, which means you are a part of the family again and you need to act like it." He starts "I also need more from you, money wise." 

"Okay, well how much do you need" I shrug. 

"It would be for this month only, about three thousand," My eyes widen.

"O-okay but why?" 

"Well the company I work for is under repairs this month and we won't be able to go back for a month with that being said no one will be paid." He looks down in shame. Mom comes over shocked. 

"Why didn't you say anything?" 

"Because I thought I could take care of things but I can't" he snaps. I was shocked, and I hate to say a bit happy. I had the money saved up. I have a lot of money saved up. I get out my wallet and write him a check. His eyes widen in shock. "Just like that?" He scuffs. 

"Yeah I have some saved up it's no big deal," I grab the bunny off the table. "And as for the whole act like I'm in this family, I'm pretty busy but if you want a certain day for a family dinner then I can work with that but I'm exhausted and just want some sleep," I admit before leaving. He follows.

"Just like that?" 

"Like what?" I call down. 

"Were you telling the truth?" I give him a puzzled look. "You really do make twenty-five an hour?" I nod. "Well, I'm sorry I didn't believe you," I was shocked not once had he apologized. "If you don't mind paying more though." 

"I do." I knew I was trending the boundaries. "But I can buy my own groceries to make up for it." He nods.

"Okay fair," He turns walking away "Thank you for the money," I look in awe Mom looking at me just as shocked.

"Night" I mutter she waves back at me. I go to my room still in shock. Did I finally get a win?

[transmutationisms]

also genuine question, what is the miasmic rhetoric surrounding covid and what are the epistemological ramifications? sorry if I'm being annoying I am genuinely trying to understand how it is people talk about covid today. and if you could throw some readings my way if this would all be obvious and apparent from Doing the Reading, even without an explanation of the above, I'd appreciate that

hi sorry this took a minute. no i don't really have readings on this although i'm sure somebody will write on it at some point because it's not a particularly original observation on my part lol. by miasmic theory i'm just referring to ideas popular in medical discourses up to roughly the bacteriological revolution (late 19th/early 20th century) in european medicine that held that 'bad airs' could carry disease (see eg the classic plague masks with the long beaks that were stuffed with things intended to counteract the ill effects of the air to keep the wearer safe). although miasma theories held on longer than most people think and were often synthesised with bacteriological ideas pretty successfully (david barnes and bruno latour have written about this), by 2020 i don't really know of anyone who would still have been seriously defending such ideas. i think this made eg lindsey marr's work very fascinating—you might remember, she was one of the early voices arguing that covid is aerosolised, and therefore airborne in a way larger-particle viruses can't be. this is in some ways reminiscent of miasma theory simply because it forces us to think about things like airflow in much more depth if we want to be serious about not catching covid. at the time her stuff was first being published i remember saying half-seriously that it would lead to a resurgence of miasma theory in popular medical discourse, which was of course wrong because most public health institutions basically gave up and rolled over once capitalist interests started pushing more forcefully to get everyone back to work lmao. but it is still interesting to see eg joe biden using pretty heavy-duty ventilation tech when he gives speeches these days—clearly at least some members of his team are actually thinking about disease in terms of air and airflow in the way we might expect from work like marr's. anyway tbc when i call these ideas miasmic i'm not criticising them it's just sort of funny to see this after like 100 years of bacteriologues trying to present the bad air hypotheses as like, hopelessly passé and scientifically antiquated.

[rmd-writes]

a harder ask:

you're on a cursed work retreat at a very vague place of work which i have not decided. as part of the retreat, you have to do team-building exercises. one of these exercises is an outdoor scavenger hunt. you're picked last (sorry) so you get to join whichever pair you want to. whoever wins gets a really good prize. pick the pair you'd be most likely to want to join, and the pair you'd least likely want to join:

TK and Carlos who are just married and literally cannot be detached from each other.

Alex Claremont-Diaz and Hunter Huntington III.

Henry Fox and Queen Mary.

Owen Strand and Pez Okonjo.

Roland Schitt and Sebastien Raine.

Paul Strickland and Moira Rose.

Marjan Marwani and the hopeless boyfriend from LS that got stuck in the flying porta-loo.

Mateo Chavez and David Rose.

Johnny Rose and Stevie Budd.

Jonah (as a baby) and Alexis Rose.

Then rank them in order of placings.

This was so much fun and took me way longer than it should have 😅

Would join: Marjan and the boyfriend (Caleb), because Marjan would kick ass and I think the boyfriend would be scared enough of her that her just do what he’s told.

Would absolutely fucking never join: Roland Schitt and Sebastien Raine - I do not have the patience to deal with Roland, and Sebastien is a shit human being

Rankings

1. Marjan and Caleb - as I said, Caleb would likely be scared enough of Marjan to just do what he’s told and would be less of an impediment than, say, Moira. Marjan is good enough to do everything on her own anyway

2. Alex Claremont-Diaz and Hunter Huntington III - ACD’s competitive streak is too strong, plus he’s scrappy and fast. Hunter, while a pretentious wanker, won’t want to be shown up so he will keep up with Alex, while simultaneously driving him mad. They’re slowed down slightly by Alex’s need to rant at and about Hunter periodically. If there are water ways involved, they’ll place lower in the rankings because Alex will push Hunter in.

3. Paul Strickland and Moira Rose - Moira is absolutely a hindrance to Paul, but she is charmed by him and he’s able to get her to cooperate. And if all else fails, he can just throw her over his shoulder. This slows him down just enough (because he tries to get Moira to cooperate for too long before just literally carrying her) that Alex and Hunter finish before he does, but only just.

4. Mateo Chavez and David Rose - okay first, the idea of David having to cope with Mateo is hugely amusing to me. There would be much eye rolling at Mateo’s enthusiasm and many “I don’t know what that means” in response to any and all superhero references. But the thing is, Mateo’s enthusiasm will go a long way, plus he’s a competent fire fighter who is capable of taking charge. And David, for all his protests, is the man who once shot a turkey and also carried his boyfriend up a mountain. If Mateo can give him some direction, I think they’re dark horses

5. Johnny Rose and Stevie Budd - they’ll be slow starters due to Stevie’s general lack of enthusiasm and Johnny bumbling some clues, but much like Steve Bradbury, due to the failure of some teams to complete the game, they finish higher in the rankings than anyone expects - even after Alexis convinces them to join forces so that Johnny can help with Jonah

6. Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor & Queen Mary - poor Henry, as athletic and clever as he is, he’s hampered by the sense of duty and obligation to his family that no amount of time living as Alex’s partner can erase. In this scenario, Mary is nothing but dead weight who will inevitably slow Henry down.

7. Alexis Rose and baby Jonah - assuming that Alexis cannot simply foist Jonah off on an unsuspecting spectator, my fave girl is very resourceful but I do not think she could cope with an infant. Like, at all. Ew.

8. Roland Schitt and Sebastien Raine - does this need an explanation? Roland would misinterpret the clues and Sebastien wouldn’t even try. Roland finishes the game, but hours late.

9. Owen Strand & Pez Okonojo - they start strong but Owen gets distracted by a side quest (does he hear a crime being committed? See a hot blonde he absolutely has no business dating? Could be anything) and once he’s wandered off, Pez finds more leisurely pursuits. They DNF

10. TK & Carlos lose because they don’t complete the game. They get ✨distracted ✨

I feel like almost everyone else you’re sending these too is going to have a much simpler job because they’re not choosing between characters from three fandoms lol

[acacia-may]

Hiya Acacia! For the ask game; may I ask for 4, 7, 31, and 46 please 🥰?

Hi there, Lyra! Thank you for the ask, friend!! 💜 These replies got really long so I've put them under the cut.

4. What is the plot bunny you’ve been carrying for the longest? optional bonus question: do you ever wonder why you haven’t written it yet and experience deep existential dread?

Since I have way too much WIPS, I am going to take a very narrow focus for this question and make myself choose from plot bunnies I have never written anything for (rather than including any existing wips). In which case, I've got to go with my Langris x Finesse Beauty and Beast AU where the Golden Dawn is all turned into the palace furniture (It's based off the Disney movie (loosely) and Alecdora Sandler made an excellent uptight clock, William was a candlestick, and David is particularly hilarious as a wine glass). I wanted to write this one so badly but just never could figure out how to make it into an actual story rather than vignettes of scenes and shenanigans, so it never came to life. 😭

And yes, I feel deep existential dread when I think about all of my wips and the stories I will (probably) never get to write... 🙈

7. Tell us about the plot of the first fanfic you ever wrote

I think I was "writing" fanfiction pretty much my whole life. When I played make-believe as a little kid, it was always continuations of my favorite stories or putting my favorite characters into AUs. I remember writing some short stories about my favorite book and cartoon characters too, but I'm not sure what my very first one was about. I want to say it was Star Wars because my friend and I wrote this whole series when I was about 9 called "The Adventures of Space Cat" (which was my friend's Star Wars OC: a talking cat who was basically adopted by Luke, Han, and Leia and brought on all their adventures after the end of the original trilogy).

When I was in middle school, I wrote what was essentially Ben 10 Alien Force fanfiction for an epic poetry school project and just changed all of the names and some of the more specific details. This absolute gem (I say with total sarcasm) is unfortunately lost to time but my sister swears she vividly remembers this one particular line that was basically, "Character A paused during the battle because of his trauma and confidence issues" (which I think probably says a lot about me & the kinds of characters that compel me even back then...).

I don't think I got serious about writing fanfiction until high school though when I wrote my big, long Secret Garden epic which was 46 chapters and 176,134 words long (and was going to be a duology so was technically never finished even though book 1 has a complete first draft...) The plot was pretty basic. It was a sequel to my favorite book of all time, The Secret Garden, and (believe it or not) a period romance that took place when all the characters were adults mostly during World War 1. It was split perspective and had OCs as major characters too, so it was, honestly, a really ambitious project.

I made so many changes to it after I had a complete draft so I'm honestly very relieved I never posted it anywhere and just shared it with my friends and family irl. They seemed to like it well enough but...it's a bit of an embarrassment for me tbh as I feel my writing has gotten so much better since then. A friend I met in college wanted to read it but I had made so many changes to the draft & had never finished the 2nd draft so it was basically unreadable (i.e. the beginning no longer matched the ending, random plotlines were taken out and added ect.) so I wrote Secrets and Sugar Mice for her as a little taste of my overall ideas and also to introduce her to one of my OCs (and I actually did post that to AO3 (linked here) if you are at all curious).

Writing that story helped me grow so much as a writer, character creator, and storyteller and I'm so grateful for the experience, but I'm not sure I will ever actually resurrect this project, especially since I'm not sure this particular 100+ year old book has much of a fandom.😅

31. Tell us about one of your characters who’s an absolute joy to write

I've answered this here (about one of my OCs) and here (about Black Clover canon characters I enjoy writing), but since we're doing blast from the past here a little, I will give a shout out to very first real OC, Julia, who taught me so much about how to create a character and fit them into an existing world (and as an eventual love interest for an existing character). Some of the most fun I have ever had as a writer was writing her and Colin's quick-witted rivals to friends to lovers plotline. They're both highly intelligent people, strong-willed, and stubborn as heck, and their plotline took place in a hospital (mostly during the war) where he's a doctor and she's a nurse and they are just butting heads about how best to run things at every possible turn. They end up playing up their rivalry because neither wants to admit defeat or that they actually have a lot of respect & admiration for each other and want to be friends. (Secrets and Sugar Mice is about that specifically if you're at all interested).

Here is a short excerpt if I can be completely self-indulgent (just a short little exchange between her and her dad (who technically is a canon character but we know next to nothing about him so he's basically an OC too lol):

Julia stopped abruptly, staring at the medical supply cabinet. It was exactly as she had left it with supplies organized for practical use—bandages next to gauze as they would often be taken together and so on. It only made sense after all—at least to Julia anyway. Some people were of the opinion that it would be better if the supplies were arranged alphabetically.

“Dr. Craven didn’t rearrange the cabinet today,” said a voice from behind her. She turned and found her father, Dr. Louis Cartwright, dressed in his white coat with files in hand. He smiled slightly at her.

 “So I see.”

“He was very busy,” her father explained. “It’s alright if you’re a bit disappointed.”

Her cheeks flushed, but she frowned. “Why would I be disappointed?”

Her father sighed and smiled knowingly at her. “I think you enjoy your little squabble over it.”

Julia could feel a deep blush rising in her cheeks, but she huffed indignantly. She most certainly did not enjoy arguing over the cabinet. It was bad enough that Dr. Colin Craven had somehow convinced her father to move them across the country to work in his hospital, but to then refuse to organize said hospital in a practical manner was even worse. Well, perhaps the rest of the hospital was alright, but this blasted cabinet simply wasn’t practical. She had reorganized it almost immediately, and he had rearranged it right back stubbornly insisting he couldn’t find anything unless the supplies were organized in alphabetical order. She insisted that putting frequently grouped items together saved time and rearranged it again. Then he reorganized it alphabetically again. And so on and so on. This had gone on for months now. It was a matter of pride not something she enjoyed—or at least not something she’d ever admit to enjoying no matter what her father said.

“It’s a matter of principle only, and if this is a sign that Dr. Craven has finally conceded, I would be glad of it.”

Her father laughed—his dark eyes sparkling. “I think it’s more of a sign that he was busy and had lots of patients today. I suppose, we’ll see tomorrow. Unless of course you want to ask him. He hasn’t left yet.”

Julia blinked. As much as she relished the idea of him admitting she was right about the cabinet, she was fairly certain that, as her father had said, this spoke more to Dr. Craven’s workload than to him conceding to her.

“I think I’ll just wait to see. Plus, I think this is a new record for my organization system.”

Her father chuckled quietly to himself but shook his head. “Don’t you think this cabinet squabble has gone on long enough?”

“We haven’t reached a resolution yet.”

“I don’t think you’ll ever reach a resolution this way.” Her father sighed. “I don’t understand why you won’t just admit you want to be friends and find something else to talk about.”

Julia’s cheeks grew hot, but she huffed and shook her head. “I don’t want to be friends.”

Her father raised his eyebrows and tilted his head slightly at her. Julia fidgeted. He could always tell when she was lying. The truth was she wouldn’t mind being friends. In fact, maybe a part of her did want to be friends—but at the same time she barely knew the man, and the little she did know of him was not particularly flattering. Still, she couldn’t help but concede that he was at least intriguing—this heir to a grand estate who spent his time as a doctor in a country hospital—or at least he would be if he was actually sociable from time to time and wasn’t so stubborn.

Julia huffed again. “It’s beside the point. Even if I did want to be friends, he clearly has no interest in making friends with me.” She sighed. “And besides, even if we did try to make friends, I doubt we would even get on—we so often disagree.”

“I think you’d get on extremely well if you got to know each other a little better. You have lots of common interests.”

“Which he never talks about,” Julia protested.

“He’s just shy and…”—Her father paused as if thinking of the right word—“awkward.”

“He’s very opinionated for someone who’s shy,” she countered her brow furrowing. 

Julia’s father laughed, but he smiled kindly. “He is a bit of an odd duck, but he’s a kind person at heart and very generous.”

“Why don’t you make friends with him then?” Julia teased with a chuckle.

Her father laughed. “I already am friends with him, and it’s quite pleasant.”

Julia wrinkled her nose, but her mouth turned up in the corners in spite of herself. She sighed. “I know that you’re very fond of him, Papá, and I can tell that he admires and looks up to you, but he has been nothing but cold and standoffish to me. Arguing about that cabinet and occasionally discussing work related issues is the full extent of our interaction. It’s not nearly enough to build a friendship.”

“I haven’t seen you try to talk to him about anything else, either,” her father countered pointedly before his face softened. “I know he wants to be friends, but I don’t think he knows how to strike up a conversation with you especially since you’re so set on disliking him.”

Julia sighed. “I’m not set on disliking him, but it is difficult to like someone who is so often disagreeable.”

46. what time are you the most productive when it comes to writing?

First thing in the morning or the middle of the night. But I think it changes based on my health and how busy I am. I am a very slow writer in general so it takes me a lot of time in the drafting/outlining stages before I actually sit down to start writing.

[our-time-is-now]

October 22, 2019 (2): This means there’s no competition?

(previous play)

You can find more information about the authors, translators, content warning and additional information about the plays in the pinned post on our blog.

Tuesday, 8:28 pm:

David: ~has spent some really nice time with the people from the Transformerz and had to promise to definitely come back again the following week~ ~is happy that everyone understood that he couldn’t stay too long and then hurries to get back home~ ~is quite glad that he cycled there and therefore it only takes 20 minutes~ ~arrives at their street at a little before 8:30 and already glances up the building to try to find the apartment which might soon be their future home~ ~then hurries up the stairs to the flatshare, unlocks the door and immediately goes through to their room~ ~says slightly breathless~ I’m here! We can go! ~smiles broadly when he sees Matteo and holds his arms out for him~

Matteo: ~had been chilling on their bed~ ~but already sits up when he hears the key in the lock~ ~laughs when David announces that they can go~ ~gets up~ But there’s still time for a “hello”, right? ~reaches him in two steps and kisses him~ Okay… let’s go… ~slips into his shoes, grabs his keys in the hallway and goes upstairs with David~ The guy is really nice, so if you have any questions, just ask him, okay? ~then rings the doorbell~

David: ~grins slightly and wraps his arms around Matteo when he reaches him~ ~kisses him back tenderly and murmurs against his lips~ Hi… ~kisses him again and then lets go of him slowly~ ~runs a hand through his hair and then glances at the mirror in the hallway while Matteo slips into his shoes~ ~wants to make a good first impression~ ~then reaches for his hand when they climb up the stairs and nods at his information~ ~murmurs~ And later, I want to know the details of how Linn managed all that, okay? ~then sees that the door is already being opened and that a guy is smiling at them: “Ah, you must be the aforementioned boyfriend! Nice that it worked out so fast. I’m Mister Scholtis! Come on in… ~sees him glancing at Matteo: “You already know the way…”~ ~also smiles~ Yes, exactly. David Schreibner, pleasure! And thanks already for letting us disturb you that late… ~clutches Matteo’s hand a little tighter when they enter the hallway, simply because he’s incredibly nervous and full of hope~

Matteo: ~grins~ Linn can tell you about it herself later… she wants us to come by and tell her if we’ll take it or not, then she’ll immediately tell you… ~then smiles in a friendly manner when the door is being opened~ ~nods slightly~ Yes, I’ll quickly show him everything and if we have any more questions…? ~hears him say: “I’ll be in the kitchen… come on in!”~ ~squeezes David’s hand and then goes in the apartment with him~ ~slightly grins at him~ That’s the hallway… and look, the kitchen… ~looks at Mister Scholtis~ Will you take the kitchen with you?

David: ~takes a look around the hallway and feels like it’s a little longer than the one in the flatshare, but it could also only seem that way because Linn’s door is missing~ ~then goes to the kitchen with Matteo and hears Mister Scholtis answer his question: “No, it’s really old!”~ ~frowns skeptically and hears him laugh: “Yes, I know, it doesn’t look like it… but really! My wife took good care of it and three years ago, she restored and repainted it… but now it’s time for a new one… if you want to, then you can have it - otherwise we’ll throw it out! Only the appliances, we’ll take those with us… but it shouldn’t be a problem to install new ones…”~ ~smiles broadly and looks at Matteo askingly~ Would definitely be nice if we could keep it, right? ~also likes the placement of the kitchen table and would probably put one in the exact same spot, but doesn’t want to discuss furnishing with Matteo in front of Mister Scholtis~ ~lets his gaze wander around the kitchen once more and then grins at Matteo~ Let’s continue?

Matteo: ~nods at his words about the kitchen~ Yes, sure, that would be great… and we’ll manage to get appliances from somewhere… ~then nods~ Yes, let’s continue… ~goes back into the hallway with him~ Here’s the bathroom… I think it’s big enough… and with a bathtub… ~grins slightly~ ~waits for David to take a look around~ And here’s the living room… much brighter than our’s, more windows… ~beams at David~ Do you like it?

David: ~follows Matteo back to the hallway and then realizes that the hallway has to be bigger, because the bathroom here is much bigger than the guest toilet downstairs~ ~goes inside, takes a look around and then turns around to Matteo with a grin~ A tub /and/ a window! And it’s definitely big enough! We don’t need more! ~then goes to the living room with Matteo and just like in the kitchen, feels a little like being downstairs at the flatshare - the only difference being that the room is much brighter and seems all the more friendlier for it~ ~sees Matteo beaming at him and can’t help but wrap both arms around him and beam right back at him when he hears his question~ Without having seen the bedroom it’s as if someone has simply taken the flatshare and cut off all the rooms that we don’t need…that’s really awesome! Perfect! Does the bedroom also have a balcony like our room? ~kisses him briefly, takes a deep breath and then gets antsy in his arms~ Oh man, it would be soooo awesome if this worked out. Did Linn tell you what our chances would be like? Are there a lot of other applicants?

Matteo: ~notices himself getting ants because he really wants to have the apartment and because he really hopes that David will like it~ ~beams when he hugs him and hugs him back~ Yeees, right? Carlos would say that the vibes are already good… ~grins slightly at his question and briefly kisses him back~ Let yourself be surprised… ~then goes to the bedroom with him and points to the balcony~ Cool, right? And the bedroom would also be big enough once again to fit both desks… unless you’d want yours in the living room? ~realizes only now that he’s already planning and remembers his question~ Linn said that it hasn’t even been posted yet, so if we want the apartment, then we’d get it, because Linn has recommended us!

David: ~laughs when Matteo says what Carlos would say and nods~ The vibes are definitely good! ~catches himself already thinking about how he would furnish the living room, but then gets pulled along to the bedroom by Matteo~ ~smiles when he sees that there’s a balcony and then listens to Matteo basically already planning where the desks will go~ ~laughs quietly and presses a kiss to his cheek~ ~murmurs quietly~ First I want to get the apartment… and then I want to plan! ~is a little scared of getting their hopes up too much now and that it won’t work out again~ ~but then hears what Linn has said, shakes his head in disbelief and looks at Matteo skeptically~ Hang on! This means that there’s no competition? If we want the apartment and if we can afford it then we’ll definitely get it!? ~can't really believe it~

Matteo: ~laughs when he looks so skeptical~ I know! It almost sounds too good to be true, but Linn has connections. ~grins very broadly~ If we decide by the end of the week then we’ll get it! ~jumps around a little~ So yes? Yes? You like it, right? And it’s not toooo close to Laura or anything? ~remembers only now that David wanted some distance~

David: ~hears Matteo’s laugh and still thinks that it’s one of the nicest sounds in the world~ ~smiles broadly but shakes his head in disbelief when he says that Linn has connections~ ~then also laughs quietly when he tells him about the deadline and thinks that they don’t really need until the end of the week~ ~laughs even more when he jumps around and puts his hands to his cheeks so that he’ll look at him~ ~beams and says~ Yes! Oh man, of course I like it! It’s perfect! And no, it’s not too close to Laura… ~kisses him a little forcefully and then says quietly and happily~ This here… this will be ours! This will be… wow… us! ~can’t really believe how lucky they are and shakes his head in disbelief once again~ ~can feel this feeling of happiness in his gut when he imagines Matteo and himself really living here together~ ~tenderly strokes over his cheek and kisses him again - more tenderly this time~ ~then looks at him lovingly and whispers barely audibly~ I love you!

Matteo: ~hears David’s laugh and feels like he himself can barely stop laughing and grinning because everything’s simply perfect~ ~looks at him when he puts his hands to his cheek~ ~beams broadly when David confirms once again that he also wants the apartment~ ~gets kissed again and kisses him back and wraps his arms around him~ Yeeees, this will be ours! ~can feel his heartbeat picking up and somehow can’t really believe it~ ~runs a hand through David’s hair when he strokes over his cheek and then beams again or continues beaming~ ~kisses him back, then hears his whisper and beams even more~ I love you too! So much! ~kisses him again and then hugs him~ ~stays like that for a moment and breathes in his smell and enjoys the feeling~ ~then slowly pulls away from him~ Okay, then we’ll tell the guy that we’ll take it, right? Or do you want to ask further questions?

David: ~slightly leans against Matteo’s hand when he runs it through his hair and tries to close his eyes~ ~can hear him return his words and smiles happily~ ~then closes his eyes, after all, when he kisses him again and wraps his arms around him when he hugs him~ ~squeezes him close and doesn’t really know where to put all his happy feelings right now~ ~quietly murmurs into the crook of Matteo’s neck~ This is the best pre-birthday present ever! ~then kisses his neck tenderly before they slowly pull away from each other~ ~then grins slightly at his question and nods~ ~then thinks briefly and says~ Well, I do have a few more questions… maybe it’ll also be good to talk to the landlord in person… because of the security deposit, for example… and when we could move in… ~suddenly his thoughts are already busy with planning~ …and we’ll have to think about how we’ll do it with the rent… if we pay it from your account or my account or if we’ll open up a joint account for the running costs or whatever… ~doesn’t really realize right now that a joint account would be another huge step for the two of them~ ~would love to take care of everything right now and is somehow full of drive~ ~goes back towards the kitchen with Matteo, where Mister Scholtis is smiling at them: “So? Did you make a decision?”~ ~looks at Matteo again and then beams at Mister Scholtis~ Yes… well, we’d definitely take it! ~sees Mister Scholtis beam as well: “Excellent! Then we won’t have to set hundreds of appointments with potential applicants and we’d only have short distances if we want to discuss further things. You’re also welcome to come back up shortly before the move. We wanted to throw several things out - maybe you could still use some of it!”~ ~smiles happily~ Yes, that would be great! Umm… and how does this work? Do you have to renovate the apartment before you move out? Or did you renovate it yourself when you moved in?

Matteo: ~laughs slightly when he says that it’s the best birthday present~ Does that mean that you don’t want your actual birthday present anymore? ~then grins slightly and nods when he says that he has more questions~ We can still call the landlord… maybe tomorrow if you’re not needed for once… ~then smiles slightly when he talks about bank accounts~ We can talk about all that later… ~does think that a joint account would make sense but also thinks how crazy it is that then, they’d have a real household together~ ~then goes to the kitchen with David~ ~is happy when Mister Scholtis also offers them stuff~ We’d definitely be happy to have a look at it… ~then hears Mister Scholtis answer: “Well we’re actually supposed to paint all the walls white before we move out, but maybe we can also go through it again together once the apartment is empty. Maybe you’ll also like how some of it is painted…”~ ~nods immediately~ Yes sure, we can do that.

David: ~tilts his head in amusement and pretends to consider if he still wants Matteo’s present~ Hmmm… yes… present are always good! ~grins, but then nods at his suggestion of calling the landlord~ Yes, maybe together with Linn… then she can already put in a good word for us! ~then hears in the kitchen that Mister Scholtis is actually supposed to paint everything and has to think about the fact that Matteo and he had decided once that they wanted all the walls to be white~ ~but still nods at his suggestion and then says his goodbyes~ Thank you again for letting us disturb that late! We’ll talk to Mister Huber about the details and then we’ll get in touch with you again! ~waits for Matteo to also say goodbye and then leaves the apartment with him~ ~but doesn’t go back down immediately and instead leans against the wall in the hallway and pulls Matteo close~ ~wraps an arm around his waist, strokes a strand of hair off his forehead with his free hand and smiles~ Looks like we have an apartment, Mister Florenzi… ~grins slightly and kisses him tenderly~ ~then looks at him again and says in anticipation~ This will be nice!

Matteo: ~also thinks about the fact that they wanted to have white walls~ ~but has also already seen white walls in the apartment~ ~but thinks that it will be a good thing to go through the empty apartment again and have a look~ ~then also says goodbye to Mister Scholtis~ ~grins when David pulls him close in the hallway~ ~wraps his arms around his neck~ Looks like it, Mister Schreibner… ~kisses him back and runs his hand through his hair~ This will be great! ~kisses him again~ And now let’s go tell Linn and Laura and then let’s go to bed, to recharge the yearning-battery, okay?

(next play)

[kellyscowboy]

꒰✧ᯇ✦꒱ DON'T BE SORRY FOR LEAVING AND GROWING OLD || ch. 2

ᯇ summary ! ✦ Jack Kelly finally gets out of New York and makes something of himself. Though, he's never been good at goodbyes and David won't answer his letters. || read full thing on ao3 now WRITTEN FOR THE NEWSIES FIC EXCHANGE ᯇ warnings ! ✦ cussing & angst 777 WORDS © 2023 , 𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐰𝐛𝐨𝐲

prev. chapter || next chapter

Jack had finally made a life for himself. He no longer wondered where his next meal would come from or if he might spend the next week in the refuge instead of the lodging. It wasn’t like he was famous, but he was known enough.

Santa Fe wasn’t as small as he had hoped, but still smaller than New York. In his mind, he had pictured a town where everyone knew him, and neighbors would bring him eggs and invite him over for Thanksgiving.

It had taken a while, but everyone did know him. However, it wasn’t due to the shortage of population, but due to his impeccable art that was sold at coffee shops and diner’s all-around town. He had aneighbor that brought him eggs, but she only did so in hopes that the boy would fall in love with her and draw her.

Which he did… draw her. He never could fall in love with her. She was missing something, something he had yet to find anywhere but New York. But he married her anyway, because he didn’t know what else to do and he was horrified of being alone.

That’s when his career kicked off. Darla, his wife, came from a well-off family who had many connections in the art business. It was sheer luck that her father’s best friend happened to be a curator, who had chosen the art that was displayed in many popular museums. 

When he got paid for the first time, the bubble of guilt that had popped long ago began to fester again. He knew what he had sacrificed to get to that point, the friendships he had lost and the family he had left behind. That’s when he wrote his first letter.

Dear David,

It’s been a while since I left, and I guess I’m kinda hoping you’ve gotten over the whole leaving ya behind thing. Which I guess ain’t fair of me to ask.

I’m glad you were mad at me. You let me get away with too much, Dave. I shouldn’t have talked to you the way I did, I should have said goodbye, and I should’ve brought you’se with me. So, I’m sorry.

You probably don’t care, but I’m doing pretty good out here. People really like my art. I just got my first check, it’s weird to see dollars and not cents. Sorry, I feel like I’m bragging. I’m not trying to. It’s just…

Well, I dunno really. You always told me I could be something more and I guess this is me thanking you, because you’re right. I wouldn’t be here without you. And I don’t want you to blame yourself for me leaving, cuz I would’a done it anyway.

I’ve been thinking about coming out and visiting. But I’m sure no-one wants to see me ever again.

I want you to know that I felt guilty, I still feel guilty. I don’t know why I didn’t want to say goodbye, but. Anyway. I’m sorry for everything, Dave.

Sincerely & forever yours,

Cowboy.

It wasn’t too long after that that his art began to change. Colorful landscapes of Santa Fe that took deep breaths of fresh air turned into dark Manhattan sky lines with smog that leaked out of the edges. Portraits of Darla began to showcase curly hair, freckles, and light blue eyes. Images of Darla’s younger cousins swinging over the lake turned into young, raggedy-clothed boys hugging each other tightly during a storm.

“Jack…” His wife started. She approached him carefully, softly. “Honey, I think you might be missing New York.”

Jack hummed, barely acknowledged the statement. “Why do you say that, dear?”

“Your last five paintings were supposed to be of me,” she said. “Not that they had to be. But you said they were.” She looked in a mirror that hung above their dresser. “I don’t know if you haven’t taken a good look at me recently. But I have long, straight black hair and brown eyes. My skin is pale, and I don’t even have freckles during the summer.” She paused too long for Jack’s comfort, then turned and waited until he looked up at her. “And I’m not a boy, Jack.”

Immediately, tears began to well in his eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Darla smiled and wiped the stray tears off his cheek. She kissed his nose and pressed their foreheads together. “I’ve known for a long time, Jack. I just want you to be happy.”

“I really do love you.” Jack said quietly.

“I know you do.” She intertwined their hands and ran her free hand through his hair. “But you’re in love with him.”

[teenmomcentral]

Jenelle Evans took a break from cosplaying as a teacher at The Little School of The Land on Friday to dish out some relationship advice and more importantly, throw some accusations at her estranged husband, David Eason. 

During a Q&A on her Instagram Story, the fired Teen Mom 2 star, who separated from her significant ogre other earlier this year, responded to a series of questions submitted by herself followers.

Jenelle was asked by one follower to comment on David’s latest TikTok antics– including the recent TikTok Live on which he begged strangers on the internet for donations to pay for an attorney to fight Jenelle in court. Jenelle responded via song, encouraging her former soulmate to “get a job,” before going on to accuse David of having “some dark secrets.”

“Everything he’s saying he’s just doing it to make himself ‘look better’ but in actuality he knows the person he truly is behind closed doors,” she wrote. “He has some dark secrets no one knows but me.”

When asked to divulge said secrets, Jenelle– who recently requested a domestic violence restraining order against David for herself and her kids– said she was unable to do so at the moment for a few different reasons.

“Not the right time but also I’m scared and feel like my life would be on the line,” she said, later adding, “There’s a huge investigation going on so I can’t comment on much at the moment.” 

In another reply, Jenelle explained that she’s scared of David due to “the way he talks about people he hates,” alleging he has “threatened his baby mama’s life” and is controlling, demanding and selfish, among other things. Despite claiming that she fears David, Jenelle told another follower that she doesn’t regret standing up for David in the past.

“I don’t regret that time because I learned a lot of life lessons that were very important for me to grow up and mature,” she wrote. “Life is easier to understand I would say. I always have learned from by mistakes and he was def a big mistake,” she added. 

When asked how her children are doing now that David is no longer living on The Land, Jenelle said her and David’s daughter Ensley “doesn’t appreciate” David’s behavior towards Jenelle as of late, while Kaiser “doesn’t want to be near David.” She was also asked if her son Jace is “doing better” in a David-free environment. (As you know, David currently has pending child abuse and “assault by strangulation” charges pending against him for his alleged physical attack on Jace in September.)

“Everyone is happier and my ex doesn’t even reach out to call or text any of the kids 🤷🏻‍♀️ living his best life,” she wrote. “Even his own daughter doesn’t even want to live with him.”

While David has allegedly gone non-contact with his youngest daughter, Jenelle said David’s teenage daughter, Maryssa, continues to make an effort with the little ones on The Land.

“She’s actually been in contact with Ensley which is really nice of her,” Jenelle stated. “I’m glad she’s staying in touch with the kids 🩷.”

Jenelle went on to tell another follower that she isn’t dating right now and is instead focusing on herself and her kids. She also encouraged anyone else who may be in a “mentally abusive” relationship to leave their partner, adding, “don’t wait as long as I did!!!”

“There’s someone out there who will be way nicer to you than an abusive ex,” she wrote. “There ARE men out there worth it and would love to spend every waking second with you. 💕”

Jenelle also made a point during the Q&A to let followers know that, even in David’s absence, she remains on the outs with her mother, Barbara Evans.

“Hell no, I don’t trust either of them,” Jenelle responded, when asked if she and Barb are on speaking terms again.

[postguiltypleasures]

My Peak TV Journey *Sex Education*

With both Sex Education and Never Have I Ever ending this year, the days of me watching television show that are about (and more-or-less for) teenagers. Even though I really liked these shows, part of me is just like, “finally!” Another part of me feels like on some level, my watching shows in this sub-genre really ended when MTV cancelled Faking It way back 2016. Which feels appropriate as what Sex Education does with the new college (Cavendish) in the final season reminded me of what Faking It was doing with the high school it focused on. It makes me feel weirdly nostalgic. Faking It deserves to be better remembered/known.

I have to say as an aside that this season coinciding with the end of You Must Remember This: Erotic 1990s made a kind weird experience from me. Especially when I took a break from the final season and watched David Croenberg’s Crash. How does one reconcile Sex Education’s promotion of body positivity and and enthusiastic consent with that? The podcast did bring home how notably free of “Lolita” types Sex Education has been in a way that might have been unimaginable 1990s media. So bravos all around. Though this may get at why the final season felt off for so many people (besides changing a huge amount of the cast between seasons).  People wanted it to educate about under represented identities, and correct stereo types that have been with us for too long. And it did its best, but it’s only a television series.

I feel like I have to preface any discussion of the season by pointing out that it covers such a short time frame. The first four episodes cover a little over a week, and there had only been about eight weeks since the end of the third season, two years ago. Characters would say things like “it’s like this now” and I would be like “it’s been days, nothing is settled.” It did make it harder for me to invest in some of the plot. For example, Eric’s complaints about the ways in which Otis failed him as a friend felt more like they were residual feelings from previous seasons than responding to incidents worthy of new complaints. And I get that as a teenager, not too distant feelings can easily resurface, but in my middle age, it just didn’t draw me in.

I have to say, I feel like I wanted to like Eric’s plot more than I actually did. I love Eric’s exuberance and love of life. But it felt like it came with some kind of false promise and that made me sad.  As I look back, his story seems tied to the pressure put on the show to be the good example countering all the bad depictions of teen sexuality out there. Eric sees God, gets called to be a prophet, though when he talks with Otis about it he says he wants to be a pastor. (The fact that this would probably involve starting his own church as the congregation in which he was raised has too many homophobes, though not from the pastor himself, goes unsaid.) Otis celebrates this. Their friendship is healed. As a teen, I thought the mutability of Christianity was a beautiful thing, reflecting the importance of an eternal truth while constantly ridding itself of the various out dated baggages. As I age, I see the baggage still there and it feels less likely that it will be dropped. Then I think the truth might better off without this tradition of faith. So ultimately, this plot touched on too heavy things to work, despite always liking the character and his actor’s on screen presence.

Eric was great as tool for getting the new characters acclimated to the audience. It mostly worked! While I will wonder if having less turnover in the cast would make some if the plot less didactic, the new cast was generally likable. I never thought “this plot would be better with a character who is no longer on the show.” 

Ruby, Aimee, Jackson and Vivienne were the only characters who accompanied Otis and Eric to Cavendish. Ruby turned out to be a great character. A complicated self-creation who insists everyone see her as fabulous as she wants to be. She has her hidden (or semi hidden) insecurities, and is a little unclear on what she wants, besides proving her power. In the first season, when she existed  mainly to make Aimee need to keep her friendship with Maeve secret, you would have never guessed this. I just wish she had better makeup, it was sometimes distracting from what is she trying to do.  Her plot in the final season involved confronting a former friend who had once betrayed an embarrassing secret. This friend now calls herself O and had made herself the sex counselor of Cavendish. This also makes O Otis’s rival for that specific niche. Otis calls her a “rip off”, though that was mostly a defense mechanism. Ruby and Otis use this rivalry to briefly work together, but more importantly come to peace with their surprising and tumultuous relationship. Ruby’s plot with O worked better than Otis’s plot with O. The latter mostly made me think how insane it would be to have a school sanctioned sex therapist who was also a student.

Aimee’s plot involved becoming an artist partially to make some personal response to her sexual assault back in season 2, and develop a romantic bond with Isaac, Maeve’s ex. The taking a sudden interest in art art plot rubbed me wrong. Most character-becomes-an-artist plots rub me wrong. Part of it is that their art needs to mean something in a super literal way, which as an artist myself, I have to say it doesn’t always.  I think it was also that this plot happened in the same season many characters go to a screening of Brief Encounter and none of them watch it. That felt like a rejection of the old, and as an old movie fan I can’t abide. Brief Encounter is a movie about a man and a woman who are married to other people. They meet and start a non-sexual but romantic affair, only to mutually end it before it can go too far. While the couple on screen is straight, people have read this as having a gay subtext largely because the screenplay was by Noel Coward, who would be further out of the closet later in life. As Sex Education can be very explicit, crude, and features many openly queer characters, the general rejection of Brief Encounter by the characters felt like a rejection of all the oppression it was about both textually and sub-textually. And I’m not sure that they should. If only because that worked better as drama. 

Jackson’s plot where a cancer scare led him to find out about his biological father was good. Vivienne’s where she gets involved with a boy who quickly escalates into emotional abuse was decent, if rushed. 

Cavendish is mostly portrayed as something near utopia. The clique that is most popular in school is deserving of it in away that no other popular clique in no other fictional high school ever has. But that all also made them feel kind of cult like, and Eric’s religious calling only underlined it. I can understand why some people would say that it felt more like a transphobe’s nightmare than a transperson’s dream. There was a prayer circle when the couple within the popular crowd had tension. That’s not how you treat your peers. And it didn’t feel like a school, despite a few references to preparing for A levels. It wanted to be a fantasy and it wanted to have something to say about the real world, but it didn’t stick the landing of balancing both. This probably became most clear in Cal’s story of gender dysmorphia bringing suicidal ideation. Whatever rejection that they experienced from their parents, was off screen. (And it wasn’t so much rejection as confusion and lack of enthusiasm.) So Cal’s emotional journey is more told than shown. Pinning the season’s emotional climax on them makes them feel like a plot point.

A couple of more thoughts that don’t fit with what I wrote above.

I was genuinely shocked that Maeve’s mother died without one last onscreen appearance. I know Anne-Marie Duff is on Bad Sisters now, but I thought she’d be able to do both. Also I forgot about Maeve’s brother Sean between his appearance in the first season and now. The episode with the funeral was the best of the season, but getting so many characters together for the first time in a long time, mostly reminded me who hasn’t spoken since season one.

I’m glad they found a way for Gillian Anderson’s Jean to play against a character played by Hannah Gadsby. And I like getting to meet Jean’s never before seen sister and find out a little about their childhood. Her having a history of depression made sense with what as happened before. I do wish the end of her relationship with Jakob could have been on screen. 

I did like the resolution of Otis and Maeve’s relationship.

Adam, isolated from most of the cast as he was, had a decent end.

I did like that most of the characters were not paired up at the end. They're still figuring out how they are in relationships, and on their own, which is appropriate for them.