#watch me be a dyke on a bike one day

[genderflu1dwh0r]

"You're an idiot." Veronica sighed softly, sitting next to Heather on the sidewalk edge, she pulled her to lean on her and pressed a cold coke against her eye. "I know." Heather mumbled, letting Veronica take care of her. She and Courtney had gotten into an argument which turned into a fight, which led Heather to getting a black eye and a busted lip. Courtney had the same, but her earring got ripped out and her eyebrow was cut. They were fighting over Courtney calling her a dyke and following her pretty much all-day during school. Once it was the last class, Heather had enough.

Veronica had overheard what happened and had gone over to the Snappy Snack Shack and picked up two cokes and some other snacks, she found Heather on the curb by the school. Heather didn't talk much, just letting Veronica be the one to do so, she was just nervous that Veronica would be upset at her. "I really appreciate you standing up for yourself, but you should've just asked me to handle it, Jason wouldn't mind having a few words with her." Veronica smiled slightly. Heather breathed out a laugh, sighing.

They sat like that for a few minutes before Duke and McNamara showed up, they were carrying their bags. "You okay?" McNamara asked, tilting her head to the side. Heather shrugged, sitting up and taking the coke from Veronica's hand. "My parents won't be fine." She said getting up and wiping off her ass and thighs from the little rocks. Veronica stared at her for a second before getting up and doing the same. "Well, you can stay over with me if you want, I don't think my parents would mind." She said picking up the bag with the snacks in them.

Heather looked at her, nodding. "Alright but let me go home first to get some stuff." She said walking over to the parking lot, she looked over to see Jason getting on his bike and starting it up. He saw her and stared back, trying to figure out what happened. He slowly drove out of the space and up to the girls. "Heard there was a fight, did you win?" He asked, smiling. Heather scoffed, opening her coke. "Take one look at her, you'll know." She said before taking a sip and taking her keys out of her bag. Jason nodded, looking over at Veronica. "Did you see the fight?" He asked, slowly walking his bike with them.

Veronica shook her head, pointing at the other girls. "Did you see what happened?" She asked them, Duke nodded. "I saw the aftermath, but not anything during." She said opening the back door of Heather's car. McNamara went to the other side and opened the door. "I didn't see anything, except when Courtney ran off with blood going down her neck and eyebrow." She said getting into the car. Jason nodded, watching all the girls get into the car. "Alright, well, take care." He said before pulling out of the parking lot and driving down the road.

[a-hard-spring]

secrets

today i hope you come to the cafe that sits between our street blocks. buy me a sweet coffee, tell me i look beautiful with my hair tied in ribbon, become overwhelmed by the mixed scent of warm pastries and my sweat. 

baby, how i miss calling you baby. how right it felt on my tongue, how easy it was to feel you were mine. i keep replaying that time you slipped up, right outside my apartment door. you called me that name and leaned in for a kiss before you realized it wasn't allowed. how i wish you would do that again.

sometimes, i think back to that raining july day, before our month of silence. how i cried and whispered my side of abandonment, and you couldn��t breathe. all that tenderness you showed in listening whilst the window fogged. secretly, i wish you fucked me in the back seat of your car. it was so dark out and i was so open- but not even a kiss. i wonder if your mind was on his hands back then. 

i know everything we need now will hurt. i try to not think about it out loud, but i'm not used to all this forgetting. 

im mad at you for doing everything that you never did with me; coffee and cigarettes, dogs and bike rides, shaved heads and dyke clubs. i wish we could keep growing together. 10 years passing and i pretend to not care.

i keep my back-door open in case you want to visit. every time the doorbell buzzes i hope that its you. romantically you're standing on my steps, confessing how you've needed me all along. like some lovesick puppy i'll fall to your feet, become your good girl so we can make new promises out of old hurt. but its never you knocking- its never been you.

at night, i change my bedroom light dark-pink and strip myself naked on top my sheets. i picture you watching, the heat of your eyes. i move in the only ways i know how. molding myself into the shapes that made you need me more. even four fingers deep i can't seem to fill that space inside me. this routine hasn't stopped, even if i always feel more alone in the aftermath.

every morning i get dressed, i wonder what you are wearing. if its something i'd recognize, something i would've kept for my own. i think about the texture of the fabric, how it feels against your back. if its itchy or stained or tearing. i become jealous of an imaginary shirt because its closer than i can be.

last week when adrianne sang that song about donut steam, i wish you looked at me. i felt the beating of your skin so close, but i couldn't see your face. even when the whole world was dying, you didn’t choose me.

i fear i dont know how to love like i thought i did. in my one bedroom apartment, i talk myself down. maybe its the masochistic in me, but just because you stopped trying doesn't mean i can.

i know you might be reading this. i hope that you are.

mjp

[ginnymoonbeam]

My Dear Gangster Oppa ep 3 let's gooo!

- Funny how none of Guy's other internet friends are sus in Wahl's eyes. Just the hot guy. Funny.

- Listen I know this ain't about them but the vibe between Pai and Muffin is immaculate. Fluffy femme getting bossed around by a bike dyke and batting her eyes about it? Six seasons and a movie please.

- Even Tom has caught on that Tew likes Guy. They are both so pathetic, I love it.

- Tew got to do a rescue! What a good day for him. And once again Guy isn't content to just swoon about it, he's gotta ask the tough questions like "why did those dudes seem scared of you?" What a good day for me.

- Y'all who said Tul is the best character were so right.

- I would clown on Tew for this but if I'd gotten cornered into telling a giant lie my first instinct would also be "okay how can I adjust my whole life to make this true before anyone finds out"

- Oh my god if the "buy an entire restaurant to look legit for a cute boy" scheme sparks a mob world paranoia spiral I'm going to be SO happy

- Oh my god if this is going to be a problem boyfriend for Tul I'm going to be SO HAPPY

- Kenji is so creepy and gross. Not even in a fun way.

- Okay so I wasn't exactly sure about the nuances of Wahl's departure before, but now it's clear. He stuck by Guy and refused to leave (and rejected a call from Nami? Caller ID wasn't translated) until the rest of the friends showed up and it wasn't just Hot Dude there. Then it's suddenly very important that he go watch Nami's presentation. I hope Nami dumps him.

- Every time Wahl looks perturbed at the idea that he's no longer the center of Guy's universe, an hour is added to my life.

- Okay, there's some poetry in the fact that Tew is wearing this candy-shop polo shirt because he almost got stabbed and then beat a guy half to death.

- I said to a friend this week that even though this show is chock full of tropes, there's an earnest air to them, like they're reinventing the tropes from first principles. This lip wipe is a great example. The foiled attempt coming first makes it feel oddly fresh. So much of why I'm enjoying this show comes down to that kind of detail.

- I guess this Boss kid is the spy sent by Kenji's people? but I can still ship him and Tul.

- IS he the spy? He's being way too weird to be a good one. Whatever, I'm just gonna sit back and enjoy. The way Tul's looking at him is exquisite. Honestly he needs someone bossy and competent to take a little something off his shoulders.

- I'm in love with Tul actually. That is all.

- Mob guys: notoriously can't endure one single day of silence from their beloved without spiraling. Yes this is a Tang Yi callout.

- TEW. TEW MY BESTIE, MY DEAR DUMBASS CHILD. I wasn't gonna say anything about you buying an entire restaurant to cover your identity for your crush, but then you gave him a business card with your apparently very googleable name? SON. You're so dumb. I love you, never change.

I'm glad the mob identity is coming out now, I hope he doesn't somehow manage to cover it up in the cliffhanger continuation. I also hope whatever Boss is there for, he ends up kissing Tul about it.

[beangods]

1, 6, 11, 12

1. Zodiac sign

depending on how special i'm feeling, i'm either a sagittarius/scorpio cusp or a november sagittarius (like, the last possible day you could be considered a cusper).

6. What I find attractive in men

i am le basic in terms of physical preferences---i usually go for the slim guys who are not inconveniently tall, OR very solidly built short guys. in terms of personality and overall vibes i am exclusively attracted to nerds, geeks, and dweebs. i pay attention to hands, teeth, and eyebrows, and i am #sink4source: my extremities are always cold, so my ideal guy would also double as a space heater so we could have thermal equilibrium. 2010s tumblr was formative to my sexuality so the day dyed white hair went out of fashion was my 9/11

11. My last night out, in detail

saturday afternoon and evening was entirely taken up by the DC pride parade. i went alone in the early afternoon, driving to the nearest metro station and taking the line in to the stop closest to the local sci-fi organization. it was hours before the parade, but i saw some german ladies who looked like they were going and a few other gay guys in rainbow corporate branded socks, one of whom left an empty brewski on the seat across from me. i threw it out at my transfer station and discovered my homemade brownie/cookie hybrids had been squashed a bit by the bottle of V8 splash i brought as a drink. whatever, i got to the sci-fi org meeting (in a gorgeous little brownstone) with time to spare.

i was the youngest guy there, and it was my first time attending a meetup, but it was really nice to be around older gay nerds who were having fun. two dudes left early to get a good spot to see the parade and hit up the circuit parties after; i left with the bulk of the sci fi guys and missed the dykes on bikes.

i ended up near the front of the crowd, but anything i caught i offered to people behind me because i didn't want any of that crap to keep. it was my first pride as a stealth gay man, and it was really . . . striking, i guess, how other dudes actually approached me and flirted with me or (in the case of the retirees) regaled me with tales of their own gay youth and what pride was like back in the 80s. there was one really beautiful strawberry blond with dark brown eyes who liked what he saw, but he was with friends and nothing much could have happened anyway.

the parade itself was disgustingly corporate; there were a few pro-palestine signs and one smugly homonationalist one from the israeli column, but also . . . three grocery store chains, not even decked out. after a certain point i'd had enough and went back to watch the guys play board games.

i ended up going on a walk around the block with the host and one of the oldest dudes there, who told me about the neighborhood and what it was like 20 years ago, and everything about original receptions to star wars. we passed through a block party and around several groups of revelers before ending up back at the house, and i finally got to play a game of unearth, which involved dice and hexagonal tiles.

i did socialize a bit, had fun, and walked out of there with 5 skeins of yarn and three professional contacts i still have to follow up on. emails.

got out of there a bit after 10pm and passed three lines into clubs on my way back to the metro. i probably would have had fun if i'd gone in, but i had no cash and a long way home, and i was worried about being stranded at the transfer station. luckily the lines run til 1am on saturdays, but even after getting back to my car i still had a forty-minute drive home in the dark with only weird saturday night radio for company.

i arrived shortly after midnight and spent a solid few minutes stargazing, trying to find the milky way. i'm on a farm, so we do see a lot of stars, but we're still only 30 minutes away from anywhere that's anywhere and light pollution keeps getting worse with all the construction going up around us.

anyway yeah that was the last time i "went out" for fun.

12. My favorite book

hmmmmmmmmm right now probablyyyyyyyy hold me closer necromancer by lish mcbride. that's a very tenuous position as i don't really have that many favorites though

ask meme 51 questions!

[lil228]

Red White and Royal Blue Notes Day 8

WARNING- Spoilers for both the book and the movie

Despite the fact that Henry’s mom is dealing with a lot, but she’s still here for her son. That’s so sweet! We love supportive moms!

Catherine is so nice to Alex and that’s just so sweet.

I have a feeling the meeting with Queen Mary’s not going to go well.

Would she technically be Queen Mary The II? When dose the books timeline diverge from our own? I mean Anne Boylen is mentioned, and it seems the rest of history is mostly the same so I’m going to guess it diverges around 2015 ish. That would mean that she is Queen Mary II

Dose Trump exist in this timeline? It dosen’t really seem like it. So dose he not exist at all or did he just never get involved in politics? Dose Hillary Clinton exist? I mean she must exist at least as a former first lady but did she- none of this actually matters. I mean it’s what I thought about but it’s not important to the book.

Queen Mary is the worst! Not only is she homophobic but she’s also racist! Boo! Hiss!

Look I don’t want to be that guy but there might be some parallels between the fictional Queen Mary and the really Queen Elizabeth. And this came out before Meagn and Harry talked to Orpha. 

It’s also probably not a coincidence that this queen is named Mary, which is also the name of Mary I- half sister to Elizabeth I, and who is often called bloody Mary. 

I just want to give poor Henry a hug. He dosen’t deserve this bullsh*t

Catherine really is a good mum.

Yes Henry stand up for yourself sweet boy!

Alex dosen’t need you permission to do anything ma’am! (Queen Mary) He dosen’t even have to bow to you! I googled it out of curiosity one day, Americans- and any non-brit for that matter- don’t have to bow to the Queen or King of England 

 Philp shut the f*ck up, nobody aksed why are you even here?

I watched the movie, so I knew what was coming, but it was so much better and more heartwarming in the book somehow.

The Alex and Henry were here banner got a good laugh out of me.

Look I know this whole thing seems pretty cheesy, but straight people have the whole Hallmark Channel, queer people should get cheesy romance too!

Yes Catherine! You go future queen!

Philp! Shut. The. Fu*k. Up!

Bea is the MVP for getting Philp the hell out of there.

Okay that mural sounds stunning! I hope there’s fan art! I’d do it myself but I cannot draw, like at all.

I wish that headline was real! Also is Dykes on Bikes is a real thing? Oh my gosh it is! And it’s a motorcycle group! I don’t know why I thought it was a cycling group, it being a motorcycle group makes way more sense!

I love that June bought merch, also I would a thousand percent buy and wear a “History, huh?” t-shirt. Both in the book universe and in this one.

Uh where the f*ck is Nora? What is she doing? Is she okay?

Lol, I love that Nora just bursts in, and addresses the President of United States by shouting her first name.

The Richards campaign! They’re responsible? Invading people’s privacy and outing them for a political campaign is just a whole new zip code of f*cked up.

Wait! Wait! Rafael Luna told Nora about the leaks! Holy heel-face turn batman!

I’m so exited for Henry and Alex to be together publicly. 

Okay this books timeline/universe is clearly better than ours

No Trump (or at least he’s not involved in politics)

A gay prince 

A bi first son

A beloved high profile same sex couple 

No Covid

I’m really impressed by June’s speech writing abilities

I love Amy! She’s the best!

Amy has a WIFE? Just when I couldn’t thought she couldn’t get better! She’s been gay the whole time! Why am I just learning this now!

Amy is trans too!

After a quick google search I learned that Amy was played by a trans actress in the movie! That’s amazing!

 Cash is pan! Damn Helen and Zahra are the only straight ones in the White House! 

“Stupid Sam the Eagle face” got a good laugh out of me.

Okay so Senator Luna actually that bad, but he did switch sides, so I’m going to keep prediction point.

Okay nevermind, he was double agent the whole time! I’ll give back my prediction point I’m back down to 7.

Holy Sh*th Richards is a truly terrible person. He outed two young adults and he abused/ is abusing/sexualy exploting his staffers! What a POS.

Henry staying in the Queens Room- which is Dolores Umbridge of pink- made me giggle. But is makes sense, the internet tells me it is named after the many royals who have stayed there.

It makes me so happy that Alex gets to do all of the official royal suitor things!

I’m just so happy that these two get to love each other publicly now. 

The youth shelters! 

Why is Philip here. Go away!

Okay, maybe I was a bit harsh, Philip is at least trying to be nice.

Nora and Alex getting exited about their futures is so cute!

The jacket is a really nice touch.

I audibly squealed when June said she got a book deal.

It’s sweet that the candid photo is the one that got published.

Out of everything in this book I having the hardest time believing that Texas voting blue.

Henry wearing a tie with yellow rose tie, because of the yellow rose of Tx is so adorable. 

Liam! I was not expecting that! 

  Liam reaching out to Alex after he got outed was really nice of him.

Okay, we must protect Spencer at all costs 

I can relate to June stress eating.

Cash dancing on the chair made me giggle!

Amy is still the flipping best!

I think Zahra gets a pass for making out in public. She was incredibly stressed like two seconds ago.

Henry bought a place in Brooklyn! Squeal! 

Zahra is going to need the worlds longest nap after all of this

Henry being on stage during the victory speech! Oh my heart!

The double meaning of we won is just brilliant! 

Alex and Henry in Alex’s childhood home is so adorable! 

[kowboykiller]

this was from the dyke march but it’s pride 2 so you’re gonna get these photos anyway

the protest group that was there at the beginning of the parade was chanting “cops are not queer, cops are not dykes, fascists take a fucking hike”

and i don’t know much about the group protesting, but what i do know is that people have been characterizing them as violent and all sorts of other words, but the reality is that i saw butches getting yanked off their bikes by cops for “disturbing the peace.” i saw cops harassing two young trans women. all of the cops i saw there were men, almost all of them were white. the protesters had every damn right to scream and call them fascists.

[thisisarcanereverie]

Something ‘Bout You (Biker Natasha x Reader) Chapter 1

A/N: Hey this is a new series! I’ve been meaning to write something for her for a while now so here ya go enjoy! 

MAIN MASTERLIST

MCU MASTERLIST

NATASHA ROMANOFF MASTERLIST

REQUESTS ARE FREE AND ENCOURAGED 

SUMMARY: After Wanda announces her engagement a familiar face returns into your life. 

“(Y/n)!”

You heard the familiar chime of the doorbell and the familiar excited voice of your friend fill the relatively empty store. You whipped your head to her just in time to see her barrelling toward you and captured you in a bone crushing hug. 

“Whoa there Wands,” You said as you returned the hug, “did something happen or are you just that happy to see me?” 

Wanda quickly released you from her vice grip, “oh nothing much happened,” Wanda paused before holding up her left hand, “except this.” On her left hand on her ring finger sat a beautiful vintage ring. 

“Oh my god!” You exclaim smiling as you grab her hand to get a closer look at the ring, it was simple in design but it really suited Wanda. ‘When did this happen?!” 

“Last night,” Wanda reveals happily her smile never deterring, “Vis and I were watching reruns of the Dick Van Dyke Show, I told him how Mary’s ring was beautiful and next thing I know he asks ‘is it as beautiful as this ring’ next thing I know he’s down on one knee with the ring in his hand asking me to marry him.” 

“I’m so happy for you and Vis.” You congrat Wanda as you and her continue to talk about her engagement for a few more minutes. 

“Actually Vis and I were planning on going to the city tonight to celebrate, are you busy?” Wanda asks. You take a quick look at your calendar finding nothing but closing the store on the agenda for tonight. 

“Nope,” You respond, “just have to close the store.” 

“Close early and Vis and I will pick you up,” Wanda said, “We’re bringing Pietro, Steve, Bucky, and Monica with us.” 

You hesitate for a bit, but you take one look into Wanda’s pleading eyes, the same eyes that have gotten you into more than your fair share of trouble since highschool, next thing you know you’re nodding your head in agreement.

Wanda lets out a small squeal before enveloping you once again in a small hug before saying goodbye and that Pietro will pick you up by seven. 

As you continue about your day, stacking books and working the register you start to wonder when the last time you actually had a date was. 

During the slow rush you decide to check your calendar again. You flip through each page until finally you land three months prior where you had plans to meet up with the local coffee barista at some bar you can’t remember the name of. What you do remember is that the date ended with you buying a half quart of ice cream and watching reruns of Gilmore Girls. 

You check the clock and check the store to find it empty. You decide now would probably be a good time to close and to start getting ready for the night in the city with Wanda and the rest. 

You turn the sign on the door to ‘closed’ and push all thoughts of dating to the back of your mind. 

---

You had just slipped your shoes on when you heard Pietro knock on your door in the familiar pattern he’s done since high-school. 

You answer the door to reveal Pietro. You always thought he had looked handsome in that mischievous way. But when he wears that white button up and slacks with his hair gelled back he is a special type of handsome. 

“Well damn don’t we look fancy tonight?” You say as Pietro noticeably checks you out in the same appreciation. You did a small turn in your black dress that fell just mid thigh. 

“And you don’t look too bad yourself Princeza,” Pietro said as he offered his arm in an overdramatic gentlemanly style. Which you responded in kind, laughing slightly as you made sure to lock the door behind you before finally heading out.  

---

You were back in your parents backyard, sitting in that hammock with a book in your hands. Nancy Drew had wormed her way into eleven year old you’s heart, with all of her adventures and detective skills. 

Just as you were about to reach the climax of the book you heard a familiar voice. 

“Whatcha reading today?” You look away from the book and spot a familiar blue haired girl the same age. She was the neighbor that moved in about three years ago, Natasha, who quickly became your best friend. 

“Nancy Drew,”

“Again?”

“There’s more than one Natty.” You responded, next thing you know the book is lifted from your hands and Natasha is hovering over you with the book in her hands. 

“Naaat.” You whine as you try to reach for the book only to have her expertly move it away from you. 

“C’mon,” Natasha says as she makes her way to the bushes separating your yard and hers, “adventure awaits.” 

You struggle a little as you make your way out of your hammock and through the lush bushes to Natasha who slips through the crack in between. 

“Nat,” you warn lightly. 

“I promise I’ll give you the book back,” Natasha promises, “but first we go on an adventure! Grab your bike and meet me out front!” 

“Where exactly is this adventure?” 

“Just grab your bike, chatty cathy!” 

You hear her footsteps rush over to her bike as you rush to yours. 

By the time you let your parents know you’ll be riding your bike and get to the front of your house Natasha is already waiting for you. 

Together you both rode your bikes until finally settling on a clearing near the local park. There was this big oak tree and in front of it a huge rock as well covered in green moss. 

For a while both you and Natasha played by either climbing on the rock and proclaiming yourselves rulers of the land, climbing the tree, playing pretend in the most kid way possible. 

However you would catch glimpses sometimes, you didn’t know what, but it made you worry for her. Like how sad she looked, or scared. 

Finally, after being worn out by playing you both lay on the grass beneath you and watch as the fireflies began to dance around the big oak looking like thousands of moving stars. 

You were enjoying the bit of peace and silence when you felt her hand hold yours. You look over and see the blue haired girl still staring at the millions of fireflies with a smile on her lips. 

“Thank you for being my best friend.” She said gently as you looked away from her and continued watching the fireflies dance, until the sun finally set and it was time to go home. 

She never did give that book back. 

---

“Princeza, we're here.” You hear the familiar accented voice say. You slowly open your groggy eyes to see the glittering lights of the city. 

“How long was I out?” 

“An hour.” 

“So the whole car ride,” You say, you could see Pietro nod from the driver's side, “I’m sorry.” 

“What for?” 

“I was asleep the whole car ride, you were probably bored.” 

“No, I wasn’t bored,” Pietro said, “I know you haven’t been sleeping much because of the store.” 

Here it comes. 

“You need to start working less Princeza,” Pietro continued concerned, “you spend all your waking hours at the store, tending to your books, and life is going to pass you by.” 

“Pietro-” 

“I don’t mean to be harsh or rude,” Pietro quickly added, “it’s just I see you all the time at the store and nowhere else lately. I get that the store is demanding, but just try to make some time for yourself. Promise me?” 

You look at him and can’t refuse. 

“I promise.” 

You can start relaxing tonight. 

---

You came to quickly realize that clubbing really wasn’t your thing. 

A pile of random sweaty bodies ground on each other on the dance floor to music that hurt your eardrums. 

It wasn’t that you were judging anyone for liking this atmosphere, it just wasn’t your cup of tea, you preferred to stay on the sidelines and watch your friends dance. 

And the full bar proved that you weren’t the only one. 

You had looked away for a second to order a beer when you spotted someone familiar. 

It was dark save for the flickering lights that illuminated her every once in a while. You couldn’t place where you knew her but you knew that you knew her. It was in the way she walked with a certain grace and her eyes were sharp enough to cut through you and you imagined her tongue was the same way. 

She must have noticed you staring because the next thing you know she’s staring right at you. Your eyes lock and that’s when it hits you. 

You didn’t recognize her without her blue hair. 

Natasha. 

You panic and turn back to the bar to order that beer you were going to order about five minutes ago. You mentally beat yourself up, if you didn’t look like a creep before you definitely did now. 

You were so busy mentally assaulting yourself that you didn’t notice the redhead sauntering her way to you and sit on the empty barstool next to you. 

“Well if it isn’t Nancy Drew.” 

You turn your head and see Natasha there beside you. Her hair was shoulder length and no longer blue. Now her hair was it’s natural elegant red color, her blue eyes sharper than you remember as well as her cheekbones. You noticed hints of tattoos peeking out from the collar and sleeve of her leather coat. 

“You never did return that book.” 

You both couldn’t help the laugh that erupted. Even though it’s been years somehow it almost feels like no time has passed. 

Almost. 

“So what’ve you been up to?” Natasha asked, “still into books?”

“Uh yeah,” You confirm, “I actually own a bookshop back home.” 

You see Natasha smile from ear to ear before taking a sip of what was your beer now it seems to be adopted by Natasha. 

“That’s so you,” Natasha said before taking another sip from the beer bottle. 

“Well what about you?” You ask, “what have you been up to?” 

You could see the hesitancy in Natasha’s face, just as she was about to answer, however you see a light brown haired male come up beside her. 

“Hey Nat, I hate to interrupt but we got a Budapest situation over here.” Natasha swerved her attention to where he pointed at the blonde who was obviously drunk off her ass putting a six foot tall man into a choke hold. Which you had to admire and be impressed at. 

“I guess that’s my cue Nancy Drew,” Natasha said as she took one last sip from the beer bottle before abandoning it. As she was making her way through the crowd but before she got too far you saw her turn around. 

“What was the name of your bookstore again, Nancy Drew?!” She yelled over the crowd. 

“Oh-um- Summertime Stories!” You call out, you catch a glimpse of something in her eyes before it disappears. 

“I’ll see ya soon Nancy Drew!”  

Oh how right she was.

[gatheringbones]

Tristan Taormino, My Father’s Eyes, from His Hands, His Tools, His Sex, His Dress: Lesbian Writers On Their Fathers, edited by Catherine Reid, and Holly K. Iglesias, Alice Street Editions, 2001:

["When I was fifteen, I spent the whole summer at my dad's, and my dad happened to live in Provincetown. I got my first job that summer, working at a leather shop, and spent my free time hanging out with drag queens and being crushed out on a dyke bike messenger named Nina. I remember grinning a lot whenever she made deliveries to our store. She had muscles and jet black hair and looked like a tough tomboy all grown up. It never occurred to me that my friends back home on Long Island weren't having a summer like mine. The summer when I wore perfume for the first time, and a transvestite named Lola helped me choose it— it was her favorite scent and I loved the way she smelled, like spiced apples and vanilla. It was a summer of lesbian potluck dinners and five o'clock tea dances at the Boatslip.

It was a summer of walking down Commercial Street hand in hand with my father. In my memories, we are dressed in some hip outfits on our way to see Jimmy James at the Pilgrim House. Jimmy James was a performer my dad was close friends with who impersonated Marilyn Monroe. They called it "female impersonation" but it was really more than that. Jimmy was the most exciting, most glamorous person I knew. Unlike the tired queens with the cheap shiny dresses who couldn't even lip sync very well, Jimmy sang Marilyn's songs and talked to the audience in Marilyn's voice. And his nightly transformation was magical. When I saw him during the day, he was always cute and perky and witty. When he got himself in that peach-pink sequined dress and blond wig and diamond bracelets, he embodied her. She was gorgeous and sexy and naughty and brash, and I wanted to be her. Not the Marilyn I'd seen in All About Eve with my dad, not the Marilyn on posters and t-shirts everywhere. I wanted to be the Marilyn that Jimmy was. 

I also spent the summer watching my dad cruise other men on Commercial Street. He'd stop to flirt with some guy or another on the way. I can see him moving his hands a lot when he talked, fingering a guy across the ribcage, looking him right in the eye. I can see why men fell in love with him. It never felt that strange to see him with men, and even that first summer in P-Town, no one told me my dad was gay. They just assumed I knew.

I remember sitting at his kitchen table one afternoon with the younger brother of one of my father's friends. His name was John, but everyone called him Boomer, and his brother was a gay priest. "So, what do you think about your father being gay?" Boomer asked matter-of-factly.

It all came together at that moment in my head. Right, my dad is gay. Of course, everything makes sense now. My dad is gay. Because, even through all the male roommates, the absence of any women lovers, his impeccable taste in clothes and decorating, it just didn't occur to me that my father was gay. And I was a pretty savvy fifteen year old. There was never any moment with either of my parents which began, "Honey, I need to tell you something...." But my mother had gay friends whom I adored and it seemed perfectly fine that my dad was gay. Besides, he was not a typical father to begin with, regardless of his sexual identity.

[...] There was a recurring, unspoken ritual my father and I had which is one of my most treasured memories. When I packed for a visit with him, I always brought my best clothes, the hottest outfits, something brand new I bought just for the trip, just for him. The first morning I was there, I headed for the bathroom, showered, primped for a long time, then dressed for him. I emerged from the bathroom, strutted into the kitchen or the living room, and stood there in front of him, posed for a proper look, poised for approval.

Without missing a beat, his eyes followed my body into the center of the room, lit up with glee, and he bellowed in a loud, expressive voice: "You look fabulous!" He'd say how much he loved my dress or ask where I got the shoes, and elaborate on his appreciation. It was my moment to shine, to be the beautiful object to him. It was our moment. I relive those times now with lovers, dressing up, anticipating the moment she will arrive at my door or I will emerge from my bedroom, and she, usually a handsome butch, will survey every inch of me, drink me in with her eyes, smile and say, "You look incredible."]

[herpronuonsarefemslash]

Satisfaction Brought it Back - TEASER

The one where Lena ghosted Kara rather than going villain, Kara went into reporting on human rights abuses in warzones and Lena started a project to take medical information for aliens and their anatomy to help human hospitals.

And then volunteer Subject 99 walks in for a full exam and Lena wonders if she can pretend she's doing anything other than "playing doctor" while learning about Kara's unique body. But her traitor heart just wants to play house. SEE THE REST HERE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/56078508 ===== Alana helps the gray-scaled Jorviunan gentleperson down from the exam table. Five genders on a three-pole gradient, the species file says. Subject 98 uses he/him according to the survey. But it's not right. She's gotten enough peripheral glances of herself in a ballroom's mirror, gritting her teeth and using the identity of least resistance when one of Lillian's friends slid a hand around her back. Lena's been in both the human medicine and xenobiology games long enough to know when a word tastes bad in someone's mouth. Or fangs. Or pincers. Or feelers. Or bioelectrically charged water-filtering membranes. Subject 73 was a Vyllnat who rolled in the other day who looked like she belonged on a Wikipedia article about the Dykes on Bikes movement with the zinger being that her partner was checking in for the session in the next bay during the same time slot. Mating for them involves snuggling close and sharing body heat until their physiologies sync up enough to allow genetic material to simply seep through softened skin. What Lena thought was a rather plain leather riding jacket was, in fact, skin that just looked like supple black leather. Membranous flaps that adults use to seal each other's bodies in an airtight embrace during one of these sessions. A mutually embarrassing moment involving Lena stumbling and nearly wiping out with a tray of sharps and some accidentally-spit acid revealed the tight jeans were really fifteen feet of muscular tail as thick as Lena's waist trailing behind 73 in a holographic concealment field. Lena even weaseled her into letting her take 3D scans of all five sets of interlocking fangs and slicing teeth and a venom sample.

Late that night, Lena might have put a few minutes of Clash of the Titans on loop while she got herself off. Sue her. The idea of reproduction by snuggling is even gayer than a race of medusa-ish beings who come in three flavors of what could only really be called female in a human framework.

"Next subject?" Lena asks, looking up at Alana who is tapping some commands to the repurposed attack drone of Lex's they use to burn any biohazards off the equipment.

"iPad," Alana replies, her eyes sparkling a bit too much as she directs three streams of particle-dissolving energy. Lena sometimes gets a distinct whiff of Kate McKinnon's character in Ghostbusters, except that not only is Alana weird and unapologetic and intense, she's also a first-generation immigrant. She tears through American pop culture like Kara tears through potstickers, so Lena's never 100% sure if Alana's showing up in an outfit that looks like business-safe cosplay on purpose or not. Some city in Nigeria is missing their resident mad genius, to National City's benefit. ===== "Uh, hi."

Rude, is all Lena can think at first. She had heard through the 'DEO to Alex to Kelly to the group texts of doctors who deal with aliens' pipeline that Supergirl had gone from on-patrol to emergency use only around the time that blogs gushed about one of CatCo's human passing journalists coming out as alien and then leaving the company. She was trying very hard not to stalk Kara's Instagram at the time so she didn't follow up. Something something independent reporter in the field somewhere somewhere bringing attention to the plight of someone someone.

Lena only avoided full-on alcoholism over the last year by screening out all reminders of Kara's existence, which let her pretend. Which didn't make it hurt any less when Jess came into her office a few months ago and said that Kara Danvers had come by to ask if Lena had gotten a new cell phone. Kara's first thought wasn't Lena being a cruel, overdramatic mess of gay thirst and Luthor trauma. She trusted Lena's good nature, so her first thought was clerical error.

Kara seems to have taken being ghosted in stride because she spent the last six months getting somehow even hotter than she already was, which probably violates some United Nations Convention on placing dangerous pressure on the human body or something.

Her hair is the same length, but it's tied in a hasty ponytail that's tied off with a scrunchy made of honest-to-god paracord the same crimson as her cape. She's let the curl come back in--how did she straighten it, anyway?--so it doesn't look like Supergirl's sheets of gold more suited for a damsel in diaphanous silk than the halo of an avenging angel. What it evokes is a stallion's mane, glossy in the harsh light and waving as the beast moves.

The dresses that never suited her are gone, and the button ups are back but now they're a thick flannel or something worn half-unbuttoned over a burgundy tee shirt that clings tight and reveals the corners of the suit's breastplate underneath. She could trace the glyph through it, which means if Lena could only get her out of the damn suit, it would revea--FOCUS, she reminds herself--and rather than CatCo-required chinos Kara is in black denim that hangs loose at rest but molds to her muscles when she walks over to put her coat across the 'patient clothing' rack. Each flex and tense tells Lena way too much about how powerful her thighs are and also not nearly enough about what it would feel to have the--FOCUS, Lena--and Jesus take the wheel Kara's even wearing combat boots covered in a fresh coat of pale dust that could just as easily be from a hiking trail north of town or a warzone in Somalia.

"It's funny. On the plane, back from Kasnia? I almost told you."

When she couldn't stop fidgeting with her glasses. Her hair was a mess when she escaped from the Eve clones. She had her glasses off and her hair down and she was going to show me... Lena realizes.

She makes a sound she doesn't even recognize and suddenly she's in Kara's arms, her knees sting from hitting the floor before Kara knelt with her. She's slapping ineffectively against the protective firmness around her and watching her own tears fall like it's happening to someone else.

Kara shushes her and rocks her back and forth and doesn't ask before kissing her forehead. Lena doubts she thought about it consciously. Maybe when she is released, she can complain about lack of consent or maybe she'll demand another kiss to make it all better.

=====

"Lena, I really can't do this. Not like this, not with you."

Reality slams down around Lena like the doors in a haunted house closing.

"Of course. I can schedule you with Alana or per-"

Kara molds her hands to Lena's hipbones and pulls her into her arms. She takes her with force, cupping Lena's head and holding her fast. She nips at Lena's lip and uses the moan as a chance to lick into Lena's mouth. Hot and wet and impatient, her tongue seasoned with ginger and orange and grease, cut with the waiting room mints. She kisses like she eats, greedily and curiously and bottomless. Kara hums and holds and presses and licks and nips and sucks. She brings one hand up to Lena's neck and curls around her pulse, rubbing her thumb along Lena's windpipe. She doesn't seem to notice or care that Lena can't do this forever because Kara wants to do this forever and fuck human failings like a need for oxygen. Lena has to bite her tongue to get her to retreat. It would've drawn blood on a human but Kara just moans and pulls back.

"Christ, Kara."

Kara licks her lips lazily. The chilly blue that reminds Lena of ice caps and winter skies is darkened and her pupils are swollen and fucking hell Lena can even see little white crackles in the depths of them, rising towards the surface like caged lightning.

[oldguardhc]

Old Guard hc #67

Prompt number: 26 - “How about you trust me for once?”

Fandom: The Old Guard

Rating: PG-13

Warnings/Tags: Crack

Summary: Nile takes them to Pride. 

AN: For @spookyvoidangelskeleton, thank you for always liking and reblogging my stuff. This is definitely more cracky than normal, so heads up.

“We’re going to go somewhere fun,” Nile promises, taking a left at the light. She read online that there was a good parking garage a couple of blocks away from the parade and that the walk was totally worth the price. Even though her eyes are on the road, she can feel them trading glances behind her back. “How about you guys trust me for once?”

“The last time we trusted you, we got banned,” Joe reminds her, and okay, that’s fair. But in her defense, she didn’t think Nicky would actually punch the guy!

“Wait-what?” Quynh asks, sticking her head in the middle. “Where did you guys get banned from?”

Nile pushes her head back. “Put your seatbelt on. We’re going to get pulled over, and I’m sure as hell not paying for that ticket,” Nile says, and oh god, she’s turning into her mother.

“You guys got banned from somewhere in the seven months I was exiled?” Booker asks.

“Technically, only Nicky is banned,” Joe says, turning around to grin at his husband. “He was my hero.”

“Yes, a true hero,” Andy sarcastically drawls, dodging Joe’s swat. He hits Booker instead and gets a very offended ‘hey!’ in response.

Quynh sticks her head back in the middle, and Nile sighs. If they crash, Quynh’s just going to have to suck it up and deal with the pain of healing. “I understand how you feel now. I don’t like it.”

“How I feel?”

“Yes, being out of the loop. Very annoying.”

Nile huffs, a wry smile stretching her lips. “Welcome to Initiation, it lasts a good fifty years.” Nile doesn’t have to turn around to know Quynh is scrunching her face up, the one that tells the world just how displeased she is.

“Is no one going to tell us where you guys are banned from?” Booker loudly asks, interrupting the intense bickering match between Andy and Joe.

“No!” Andy and Joe shout as one before resuming their little love spat.

Nile briefly makes eye contact with Nicky through the rearview mirror. He looks far too amused with everything going on. “Sorry, Quynh and Booker. You must be a level 8 to unlock the list of places we’re banned from,” Nile says, grinning ear to ear. “Ow! No pinching the driver, Quynh!”

“The driver was being a bitch and deserved it.”

Never let it be said that Quynh was a slow learner. That woman picked up curse words faster than a cheetah on speed.

It takes ten more minutes to pull into the garage. It’s the ten most painful minutes Nile has ever lived through. She almost turns the car around, but that would mean another fifty minutes, and she’s not strong enough for that.

“Oh! Is there some festival going on?” Joe asks as a gaggle of people walk past their car. They’re all in bright shirts that have a rainbow on them, and they’re carrying several signs as well. “I forget what it’s called, but it’s for gay people.”

Nile pulls into a spot. “Pride Parade,” Nile answers.

“Yeah! We should go after we get banned from wherever we’re going!” Suggest a haunted house once, get banned, and no one will let go of it. How was she supposed to know that Nicky’s reaction to Joe screaming would be to turn feral?

Nile turns the car off and looks at her passengers. “Surprise! We’re going to Pride!” She looks at Nicky. “Please don’t get us banned. I don’t know how that would even happen, but please don’t get us banned.”

Nicky smiles. “I can make no promises, but I will try hard not to.” That’s good enough for Nile!

“We’re not appropriately dressed,” Quynh says, watching as another group passed their car. “We need more colors.”

Nile scoffs. “I prepared, honey. Everything is in the trunk.”

By the time they get to the parade, it’s just starting. There are more than a hundred thousand people lined up on the streets, all buzzing with infectious energy, cheering on the people in the middle.

“Dykes on Bikes?” Quyhn asks, pointing to a group of women riding motorcycles. “Are there Dykes on Horses?”

Andy wraps an arm around Quynh’s waist. “People these days don’t value horses.”

“They’re wrong. But, okay.” Everyone but Nile nods in agreement.

Before this can turn into another horses-are-great rant, Nile gets their attention with a wave of her hand. “Let’s get drinks, and then we can enjoy the parade.”

“I’ll go with you. They can stay here,” Booker says, sidestepping around Joe. “They don’t get to see this very often.”

“Cool, any requests?”

“Something sweet,” Joe says.

Darn, she can’t bring a bottle of tequila back. What are they going to drink now?

“Colorful,” Nicky adds.

“Anything is fine,” Andy says, and Quynh nods.

“Alright, I can do sweet and colorful. You guys stay here; come on, Book.”

They find a frozen daiquiri bar towards the middle. It’s absolutely swamped. The ten frazzled employees are dashing around like headless chickens to fill cup after cup as fast as they can. Of course, Nile and Booker choose this one.

“Hi, what can I get you?” The cashier asks once they’re at the front.

“Six monster yards pride drinks,” Booker orders, handing over his card.

“That’ll be $134.86, thank you. Can I say, it’s very nice of you to support your daughter.”

Nile stares at the guy and then promptly bursts into laughter. Oh my god. This is definitely the best day she’s had in years. Booker is looking at the cashier like he lost his damned mind.

“I-I’m sorry, I just thought-I’ll get your drink,” the cashier says, cheeks a bright red.

“I don’t look that old,” Booker touches his face, lingering on the wrinkles on his forehead. “Do I?”

“You are old!” Nile reminds him, swatting his hand away from his face.

“Your drinks,” the cashier says, putting them all on the counter. “Thank you for stopping by, and I’m sorry again for the rude comment.”

Nile waves him off and picks up three drinks. “Thanks! Now, come on, Dad.”

The other’s eyes widen when they see them with their drinks. It’s understandable, the cups were only 48 oz, but instead of building the cups wider, they went taller.

“They didn’t have anything bigger?” Nicky asks, relieving Nile of two of the drinks. He hands one to Joe.

“They were all out of kegs,” Nile responds. “Hope it meets your colorful criteria.”

Nicky looks down at his bright, rainbow-themed drink and his lips quirk up at the corners. “I think this will do.”

“These are amazing!” Quynh exclaims, taking another sip of her drink. Almost half of it is gone already. “You gotta get more!”

“Wow,” Andy says once she swallows her first sip. “These are good.”

“Nicky and I will get the next round,” Joe pipes up, and holy crap. There are only a couple more sips left in his cup.

Have these people never drank a frozen daiquiri before? Or a spiked slushy?

“That’s fine by me,” Booker says, glaring at his drink.

“What happened to you?” Joe asks.

“He’s upset that the cashier thought he was my dad,” Nile answers.

Joe laughs with delight, letting Booker shove him. “Nicky and I are definitely going back then. Have to support local businesses, you know?”

They have a great time. Nile doesn’t think she’s ever seen them all so loose in a public setting before. Joe’s tucked neatly under Nicky’s arm, tangling his fingers with the hand he’s currently under. Andy is standing behind Quynh, both arms wrapped around her neck, chin hooked on her shoulder.

Booker and her end up going back to get the second round. The third too. Nile taps out after that, she has to drive, and she hasn’t exactly been testing her alcohol metabolism rate.

As they’re leaving, Quynh lets out a shriek and runs across the street. Several heads turn her way, and they all watch as Quynh skids to a halt in front of an animal shelter tent.

“A dog!” Joe excitedly says, jogging over to join Quynh.

“Dios,” Nicky mutters, stalking after his husband.

“We’re getting a dog,” Booker sighs and finishes the last of his drink. “There’s going to be shit everywhere.”

“You don’t think Nicky is enough?” Nile asks.

“No,” Andy answers, crossing her arms. “He’s going to fold.”

Nile turns to look at her. “Why aren’t you getting your wife?”

“She’s more than that.” Nile rolls her eyes. “But if I go over, we’re getting more than one dog.”

“You like dogs?”

“She likes pussy,” Booker says and laughs when Andy smacks his arm. “I hope they don’t get a puppy.”

“God, those things yap,” Andy takes another sip of her drink. “They better not get a small dog.”

Nile looks across the street. As Andy said, Nicky has definitely lost the argument. They’re all petting the puppies, and man, Nile really hopes she doesn’t get a million dollars. How awful that would be.

Five minutes later, Quynh and Joe come skipping back, a puppy in each of their arms. Nicky is carrying some papers as well as two leashes.

Quynh holds the puppy out to them. “This is Max, and that’s Ollie! They’re Australian Shepherds!”

Nile pets Max; she’s not a monster and looks up at Nicky. “You’re weak.”

Nicky sighs. “I know.”

[finalcreacher]

Chapter One - That Summer, And Many More

It was that summer that Richie confessed, and time froze for me, and we spent the day together talking and holding hands. And that one where the clown came, and the one the year after- where Beverly left. Worst of all, not when IT came back- but 1992. The day they left.

A series of vignettes of Loser's club member, Y/n L/n, and all the summers that went right, that went wrong, and went the worst.

T/W - Homophobic Slurs (Enter At Your Own Risk)

13 years old

It was 1987, and we had just gotten out of school. Already the heat of the sun souring my mood. I must have been twelve, maybe thirteen? It was the least of my worries how old I was- Richie was late today. He and I had made a commitment to meet just outside of school every day of the working week. Often times, he'd be a few minutes late, not a whopping twenty minutes. This had me worried. I had a large, silver watch from my father; he thought it was essential to keep track of the time. With Richie, the hour hand never moved before he got there. Imagine how frantic I was, my heart beating quick, quick, quick! It was dizzying how many times I looked back and forth. Finally, I had had enough. It was back into the school for me.

We also made a promise not to go back into the school, in fear of the Bowers gang. I figured it was dire enough a situation to go back and check. It would be easy enough to avoid those meaner big kids unless they were with Richie(which you hoped he wouldn't be stuck with them, he was smart enough to avoid them, I thought), or they had moved from their usual stalking ground. To my great horror, it was not the latter. When I turned the corner, I was face to face with a leering Henry Bowers. We were so close, I could see every inch of dirt and grime on his face- it nearly made me gag(I didn't, that would have sent me to an early grave).

"Is this fag yours? Lose him on your way here?" Henry taunts, giving me an open grin with lots of teeth. It was then I noticed Richie, cowering between the bully's other friends. I chose not to say anything, as to not aggravate Bowers- it was clearly the wrong choice.

He grabbed me by the tuft of my hair, yanking me down. "Ow!" I seethe, "Let go a' me!"

There wasn't much for him to grab onto, my hair was short. Too short for what was coming to me. Really, it's Richie's fault. He had stuck gum in my hair, he chewed it really loud all of class time, then slapped it on as we were leaving. He thought it was hilarious, as did I before my mother saw. She made me wear a hat to school because she was so embarrassed.

"What you gonna do, ya' little dyke? Tryin'a rescue this fucking animal? He's filthy."

This is where the Richie in me came out, he says a lot of things he shouldn't. "You got that wrong, your absolutely stinking! Maybe you should take a bath."

Remember, he's still got a fist clenched around my hair, practically holding me by the neck. He pulls it- real hard- and I nearly screamed. "Yer' gonna 'pologize, or have to face that mangy mutt." He turns my head to face this tall, skinny boy, his black hair in tangles. He's smiling, something big and mischievous. "Eee-tha deal with me, or whateva he's got. What's it gonna be?"

Then he removes his hand from my neck and yanks my wrist up, my watch wrist! "Ooh, this yours?" I whimpered, a noise I didn't want to come out. What I wanted was to disappear into the background. I still needed to get my ass and Richie's, out of this mess, though. "Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick..." he mimicked a clock sound, tapped my watch, and waited for an answer.

I didn't know what to say, he was going to do something terrible to my watch, and my father was gonna kill me for that! But the way Patrick looked at me, made my skin crawl. Every time I looked at my second option, Richie would shake his head, very adamantly, no. No, no, no. Suppose what my father had in store for me, would be less than that creepy asshole. "F-fine! You can have it! Just leave Rich alone!"

Bowers' grin practically widens, and focuses his attention on the watch, fumbles with it, and then slides it off easy. "I'm gonna break it!" He announced. My face, to anyone else, would look pure white, like a ghost. He couldn't really...could he?

"I can twist it," he fakes twisting it, "or I could stomp it against my foot!" He throws the watch down, playing around like he's about to step on it, but he doesn't. A teacher, rushing out from one of her later classes(detention, probably, or a club), and had stopped mid-step to stare at us. She looked appalled at the scene before her.

"What's going on here? Bowers, Hockstter, Huggins, and Criss, I think I made it very clear to you boys that you would be serving your detention in my class today, it was disappointing not to see you there." Oh, so it was detention. "You boys, especially you, Bowers, should be attending summer school. Now, run along, leave these poor kids alone."

I looked back at Bowers, his face flushed bright red. "Come on, these kids ain't worth our time." With that, he was gone.

"If these boys ever give you trouble again, I'm just down the hall."

"He-he had me by the scruff of my neck!"

"Well, I'll see to it that they get to detention next time, sound alright?" She pays no mind to the assault- but Richie and I nodded in agreement nonetheless. Of course, she wouldn't, she was just as scared of the Bowers as all the little kids running around were. She continued on, making her way out of school- as we should have done nearly half an hour ago. We both let out a sigh of relief when we were finally alone.

"Gee, Rich, how'd you get into this trouble?" I smile, kneeling down to pick up my watch, there was only a scratch or two, father wouldn't be too mad- as long as he didn't stare at it too close. I figured as long as it works, it should be fine. I place it back on my wrist. "It's nearly time to meet Eddie an' everyone else!"

"Oh, we'll catch up just fine. I finally got my bike fixed, after last time, and it's faster than ever!"

"Woah! Really? I forgot my bike at home today, my mother claimed I'd get a stroke riding out in this weather. She made me leave it."

"Well, I have room on my bike for another person..." he fidgets with his thumbs, looking outright abashed(a look no one ever- really- saw on him).

"I don't know, Rich. Might be dangerous." I pipe up- while he leans over, and checks the time.

"Only if you want to get there on time," I look down again. Christ, we were going to be late- again!

"Sure, but you're going in back!" I tease, running down the halls.

"Oh no, you aren't! That's my bike!" He chased after me.

"Last one there sits in back!" I hollered.

[dngrdyke]

May the Best Bitch Win Part 1

"Aw, c'mon! It'll be fun!"

"I said no, Dyke."

"Pleeease?"

He sighed and readjusted his hair. "I dunno, man. The Girl..."

"The Girl can watch! It'll be nice for her! Better than shooting Dracs with rocket launchers, anyway." She gave him a Look with a capital L. She disapproved.

"That was Jet's idea! And it worked, anyhow."

"Then what's a drag race gonna do except make her laugh?"

He sighed again. "You got me, Dee. Gimme a time an' a place. Ghoul's my second, 'cause I know he'll never get to drive. Faggot gonna be yours?"

She looked over at her partner struggling to open a can of peaches with a rock.

He was over by her bike, while Dyke stood, leaning against the gas station building with a cigarette in her hand. The extended Killjoy squad were taking their last rest stop together before heading their separate ways. Dyke wanted to set up a more permanent camp for her and Faggot. Couldn't sleep outside forever.

"Can I ask Jet?"

Poison looked over at Faggot. "I mean, it is a sharp rock."

"Faggot!" she called.

He looked up and stopped stabbing the tin with the rock.

"We've got a tin opener! I salvaged it last week, remember?"

Faggot's face lit up and he sprinted over to the bike to dig through the storage box.

She sighed and ran a hand through her hair, leaving it to rest on her head.

"You know I love the kid, Poison, but I don't trust him with my bike while I'm still alive. When my mask goes to the Phoenix Witch, then he can drive. But only then."

"Fuck, you're more protective than me," he laughed. The two heard a shriek and whipped around, guns out, to see Faggot gleefully scooping peaches out of the tin with the lid.

Dyke sighed and put her guns back away. "Spread the word, yeah? See if we can't get some other racers in on this."

Poison nodded, smiling as he watched Jet finish refuelling the Trans Am. He slapped the roof.

"We're good to go, P," he called over.

"Hey- Jet, before you go, can I have a favour?"

He walked around to where she was standing.

"Shouldn't smoke at a gas station."

"I'm well away from the pumps."

"Hm. Still..." He shook his head. "What's the favour, anyway?"

"Dee and I have decided to have a little drag race," Poison grinned.

"I think you mean 'Dee convinced me that a drag race was more fun than blowing Dracs up with a four-year-old' but essentially, yes. I need a second."

"Aren't you gonna ask the F-bomb?"

"I mean, I would but..."

The three looked over at Faggot, who was now dancing in a circle around Kobra and Ghoul with the peaches held above his head.

"I see what you mean," he nodded. "And you're sure you want me as your second?"

"Positive. You're the only one I know who isn't dumb enough to wreck my bike."

"Huh. Okay, then. Thursday night?"

Dyke and Poison looked at each other. "Why the hell not?" Dyke grinned. "Talk to D, get the word out- oh, and see if Cola wants to ride."

Poison did a lazy two-finger salute as he walked back to the car. Kobra and Ghoul managed to get away from Faggot and his peaches and into the car. Dyke watched them lock the doors as soon as Poison and Jet climbed in. They drove away, dust trailing behind them.

She made her way over to the bike and turned on the radio. The two listened to D's broadcast for a while, drinking soda and eating another can of peaches between them.

Dyke was just starting to doze off when she heard D's voice say he had a "special announcement".

"It looks like our very own Killjoys have put together a little drag race. Miss Dyke on a Bike had the idea to stop clapping with Dracs and have some old-fashioned fun in the sun while we still can. Thursday night as the sun sets we'll be bustin' out the slaughtermatic sounds to make you feel alive. You got a motor? Grab a partner and get yourself to the Hub. Winner gets first call on the power next week. And now, a message from Cherri Cola."

"Shit, Dee, it's happening!"

"It sure fuckin' is," she grinned, putting on a pair of sunglasses she won off Kobra in a game of cards. Kobra couldn't play cards, which made it easy to win whatever she wanted off him. Last time they played, he bet four tins of peaches, and only one of those tins belonged to him. That was not a fun day for him.

i know it's been a while (oops) but i'm back now with a great concept that i really like so hopefully you guys will too!!! i'm gonna absolutely hound dan to get some kinda art up so stay tuned!!!

[tripthelights]

i’m watching mpr with the director’s commentary because that’s how deep i am into my special interest. here’s some fun highlights (in order)

joel loved being pulled along by the kite and every time he hoped lin wouldn’t catch him so he could keep going

while emily was on wires 60ft in the air for her big entrance, rob blasted the music and everyone got emotional and super into it

the mirror bit with mary’s reflection looking on after her wasn’t planned. on the day, rob realized they could use it as a reference to the first movie, and they put it together

in the scenes where the parrot umbrella talks, it’s an animatronic

the kids were super excited to film the scene where they disappear into the bathtub (because it was really a slide). emily, who had to go in backwards, wasn’t as thrilled.

marc shaiman and scott whitman wrote 4 different songs for mary’s first song before finalizing “can you imagine that?”

the underwater scene was shot with everyone on wires, and was shot twice as fast so they could slow it down for a more underwater feel

emily and ben studied george and winifred banks from the first movie to play michael and jane

when the royal doulton bowl is spinning, it’s not cgi, it was actually spinning

one of the shots during the music hall sequence (a few frames during mary and jack’s bows, and the camera’s looking down at them from far away and you can see most of the audience) has more onscreen hand-drawn characters than any other hand-drawn animated film, ever

rob marshall, john deluca, matt johnson (the visual effects supervisor), and mike higham (the musical supervisor) are the voices of the penguins!

rob calls lin’s “rap” a patter song, which is what i’m determined it’s supposed to be called, thank you for validating me mr. marshall

gilly was named after rob and john’s dog!! she can be seen in the shot where the admiral is taking off on a balloon

the chase in the bowl was the last thing they shot, bc it was just the three kids, and they were super excited to film the action scenes

when they’re riding to topsy’s shop, jack’s bike was actually being pedaled by lin. there were extra wheels on the side that held equipment to wobble the bike!

the alley that topsy’s shop is in, it was filmed in the real life alley that inspired diagon alley!

topsy was written specifically with meryl streep in mind. (and in the books, it’s arthur turvy, a man. they changed it just for her.)

joel wasn’t told to peek into the letter-thing on topsy’s door, that was just him being curious

when jack and jane are riding off on the bike together, lin and emily would improvise lines and apparently one of them was something along the lines of "will you marry me?"

mary’s “right, that’s enough!” was improvised by emily

rob basically confirms that jack orchestrated the whole neighbor meetup as the banks are packing up

the approval to let them film at buckingham palace had to come from the queen herself (and she was at the palace when they were shooting)

there really is a little door in the face of big ben, and it really used to be lit by gas lamps! the lamps are still inside, even though they’re not used anymore.

the entire commentary during the mr. dawes jr scene is just rob rambling about how great dick van dyke is

after mr. dawes’ big speech (’feed the birds’ was playing on set as he was giving it, too!), rob was so emotional that he couldn’t say cut. which is partly the reason why you can see a slightly-too-long shot of dick van dyke kinda nodding at the end, because he was waiting for rob to say it

[thanksforthedinosaur]

february 2020

1. satin jackets - meridian getaway 2. cloudnone - let the music in 3. direct - nobody like you 4. tycho - outer sunset 5. rolemodel - room for silence 6. lane 8 - road 7. templime - alpha (rework) 8. emma hazy minami - metro 9. サクラsakura-lee - by the side of love 10. android52 - future groove 11. ko3 - i'll be for you 12. aika - space girl 13. c-show - sea the stars 14. kabuki - talk 2 me 15. neko hacker - erased 16. freezer - caramel rain (sanaas remix) 17. cy8er - もしもしじゃぽん 18. lu-i - loved happiness 19. nanahira - twinkle password 20. couple n - departure 21. lapix - loneliness 22. kyrrin - heart dash 23. zekk - raindance 24. tofuku - wonderland 25. t+pazolite - refactoring travel 26. mizuki ohkawa - cosmic cleft 27. tomggg - sweet salt 28. 4s4ki - lavender 29. sophiya - ripple 30. nasaya - soleil 31. nakala - waves 32. khalid - eleven 33. dyo - papaya 34. emani 22 - slime 35. jhené aiko - p*$$y fairy (otw) 36. dreamville - bussit 37. tuamie - you needed time you said 38. cat paw - chamomile 39. omaure - sincere 40. fujitsu - move on 41. palm - memories of winter 42. phony ppl - fkn around 43. awich - poison 44. megan thee stallion - diamonds 45. riarosa - better than nothing 46. sun june - terrified 47. anna burch - not so bad 48. soccer mommy - circle the drain 49. hazel english - off my mind 50. alexandra savior - bad disease 51. mitski - cop car 52. torres - good grief 53. frances quinlan - lean 54. ethan gruska - enough for now 55. ride your bike - make like a tom and cruise 56. beauty queen - this time around 57. the big moon - barcelona 58. ratboys - i go out at night 59. bombay bicycle club - is it real 60. ajj - normalization blues 61. big nothing - hook 62. tennis - need your love 63. nada surf - so much love 64. caspian - nostalgist 65. maddie ross - liv tyler 66. beach bunny - cloud 9 67. beach slang - let it ride 68. dump him - dykes to watch out for 69. tricot - 真っ黒 70. polkadot stingray - sp813 71. cidergirl - 飛行船 72. base ball bear - ポラリス(c3 mix) 73. shishamo - フェイバリットボーイ 74. fulusu - ghost 75. yeti let you notice - オレンジ 76. クリスタル(vo.lauren dyson) - unbreakable 77. アンジェラ (vo. alisa) - not afraid 78. アンジェラ (vo. alisa) - move mountains 79. アンジェラ (vo. alisa) - all i want 80. selena gomez - rare 81. kesha - birthday suit 82. fickle friends - pretty great 83. chelsea cutler - sad tonight 84. transviolet - rituals 85. yumi zouma - cool for a second 86. wild nothing - sleight of hand 87. mint julep - blinded 88. rina sawayama - comme des garçons (like the boys) 89. iri - 24-25 90. younha - one day of twenty 91. 眉村ちあき - 緑のハイヒール 92. キャロル&チューズデイ(vo.nai br.xx&celeina ann) - polly jean 93. キャロル&チューズデイ(vo.nai br.xx&celeina ann) - hold me now 94. yutaka hirasaka - arise 95. nom tunes - summer ends 96. gabrielle aplin - dear happy 97. the seshen - don’t answer 98. 角銅真実 - 6月の窓 99. ichiko aoba - bouquet 100. rosie tucker - ambrosia

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/35Cv2vzWGqUinLTd8i8wA6?si=deOfCOwVTGSY42Kh9OcfKQ

[keepingupwithlinmanuel]

Lin-Manuel Miranda masters bicycle singing, scales Big Ben in 'Mary Poppins Returns'

The chance to appear alongside Emily Blunt, who plays the famed nanny in the original musical sequel to "Mary Poppins," definitely played into that decision. But Miranda, 38, makes it clear that the prospect of his character climbing London's famed Big Ben during the climatic finale was dead-on appealing.

"The thing you need to know about me is, really, all my life I have wanted to be a stuntman," says Miranda, holding out his hands for emphasis during an interview at the Four Seasons hotel. "I watched every special on stunts growing up. That was going to be my career, until I learned I didn’t like getting hurt, heights or going fast."

But now, we can add Golden Globe-nominated action musical star to the multitude of Miranda accomplishments.

The native New Yorker of Puerto Rican heritage was an out-of-the-box choice for director Rob Marshall to star as Mary Poppins' enchanted sidekick in the follow-up to 1964's "Mary Poppins," which starred Julie Andrews as the magical nanny. Jack was an apprentice to Cockney chimney sweep Bert (played by Dick Van Dyke) in the original film.

Beyond Miranda's clear musical talent, Marshall was compelled by his "inner child."

"He just has this pure enthusiasm that is so real and authentic. He’s not jaded in any way, shape or form," says Marshall. "And I saw Jack the lamplighter as this bright light who hasn’t lost the child inside, who can be this wonderful collaborator with Mary Poppins."

Miranda's childlike enthusiasm is full tilt during his hand-waving, exuberant interview. But he boosts it up to 11 when he slides over to a nearby table to "steal some caffeine." He cracks open a Diet Dr Pepper, takes in a gulp, and continues uninterrupted about his "Hamilton" transition.

...

Even Miranda's East End London "patter" dance hall scene, which turns into a Victorian-era rap right in his wheelhouse, was written entirely by lyricists Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman (who also composed the film's music).

"That was all their invention, they created a bespoke suit. And my job was to make it look good," says Miranda.

...

The surprising challenges were seemingly effortless moments, like Miranda's opening scene in which he bikes through a London street while singing. Simple, right? Miranda calls this "the hardest ten seconds of my life."

"That’s one long take. I light a lamp, get on the bike, steal the apple, toss it to the orphan, all while singing in a Cockney accent over bona fide British cobblestones," he laughs. "But I loved watching Donald O’Connor in the MGM musicals do something impossible with a smile on his face. I would just repeat, 'Donald O’Connor did it.' You don’t want it to look like work. You want it to look like just another morning."

Miranda spent free hours just getting to know the lamplighter bike (he dubbed it "Gertie"), which was tricky to ride effortlessly with a ladder attached.

"It was not just riding a bicycle, it was one with a Fred Flintstone piece o' meat on the side," he says. "And you're making it feel like that’s the most natural thing in the world."

Safety precautions were called for when Jack's bike was loaded London transport style with Mary and her young charges Annabel (Pixie Davies), John (Nathanael Saleh) and Georgie Banks (Joel Dawson). Miranda leaned into bicycle training wheels, which were edited out in post-production.

"The hardest thing was really getting everyone on and off with the weight distribution," he says. "But once you’re going, you’re good."

[Miranda] kept the momentum going all the way through his big Big Ben moment. The famed timepiece was re-constructed to exact scale on a Shepperton Studios soundstage. On the day when "Shoot Jack onto Big Ben" was on the director's call sheet, Miranda brought his son Sebastian, 4, to watch.

"I thought that would be fun to watch your dad get catapulted from a ladder onto the face of Big Ben," says Miranda.

...

Miranda is readying for his limited January return to the "Hamilton" stage in Puerto Rico and has already gone Texan for the first season of fantasy drama "His Dark Materials" (airing on HBO in 2019). He cherishes his Big Ben leap, but he's not counting on dominating future stunt-role discussions.

"I think The Rock sleeps just fine right now," says Miranda. "But from then on, every time we passed Big Ben in London, my son would say, 'Daddy climbed that for work.' "

Watch the video linked above for more on the accent and even a bit of Star Wars.

[sequesteredsnake]

Tag 10 people you'd like to get to know better

i was tagged by @gentleman-jacker

Put your playlist on shuffle and name the first four songs

Buttercup - jack stauber

Drag - day wave

Jailbird - SHELLS

Grab the nearest book. Turn to page 23, Line 27

'that's right,' said Ligur. Someone's right arm, anyway, he thought

- Good Omens, terry pratchett

Ever had a song or poem written about you?

yeah i think once by a girl that liked me (but we never went on a second date because i was ace and she didn't like that lmao)

When was the last time you played air guitar?

oh gosh, like two days ago to bohemian rhapsody on a sponsored walk

Celebrity crushes

i'm not really one for celeb crushes but i do really like Suranne Jones, Sophie Rundle and Kat Barrell

Sounds you hate/love?

i can't really think of any sounds i love but i hate anything loud

Do you drive, and have you ever crashed?

nah, but i do wanna get a bike licence (yeah i know i'm a typical motorbike dyke)

Last book you read?

The six of crows duology (it's Really good i recommend)

Do you believe in ghosts?

nope, i think it'd be super cool if they did exist tho

Do you believe in aliens?

yeah but not like the traditional ones, but i reckon that somewhere in the universe there must be some sort of life even if it's just single cell organisms

Do you like the smell of gasoline?

oh Hell Yeah i Love it

Last movie you saw?

i think Endgame? but there's a few that i want to watch when they come out on dvd

Do you have an obsession right now?

Defo Gentleman Jack, but also quite like Good Omens, Steven Universe and Wynonna Earp (what can i say? i'm gay) (also btw join the #fightforwynonna because it's really good and its deserves another season)

Do you tend to hold grudges?

nah but it's really hard to get me angry lmao, but just cuz i don't hold it against them doesn't mean i don't forget, it makes for good teasing material lmao

uhh idk who to tag that hasn't already been tagged so i guess You, if ya wanna but haven't been tagged yet here's youre chance! tell me about yourself i wanna get to know you :)