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spine-buster · 4 years ago

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The President Wears Prada (William Nylander) | Chapter 28

A/N: Thanks for all the love this past week ❤️ It meant a lot to me. Here’s 4600 words of subpar writing 😝 And FYI, we’re not getting too sad around here. This is the only chapter they’ll be apart. That means reunification next week!

April 12th, 2020

Aberdeen Bloom was with her family.

It was Easter, and they were celebrating together, thankfully. She was more grateful for it now more than ever, considering the state of the world. She had stayed camped out at her apartment for the last two weeks with Kasha, who had come back from Evan’s place and was none the wiser about William being there for the fourteen days prior. It made the most sense to Aberdeen because she still had to pay rent, and because she didn’t want to put Minerva through a stressful move again. So, she stayed put. Plus, now that she was living on her own, she’d know she’d go crazy if she lived with her family again. Especially with Siena back from Ottawa because of classes in some weird state of limbo. The sisters were thankful that Camden was independent enough to be able to learn on his own and not be constantly watched – and so was Orla. She had enough to tackle, having her grade one class turned into online learning until further notice. Everything was messy, and unprecedented, and weird, and not understandable, and weird, and chaotic, and confused.

But Aberdeen had her family. And Aberdeen had Willy.

They’d kept their promise about calling each other every night. Aberdeen would lay in bed and put in her headphones (so Kasha wouldn’t hear) and they’d FaceTime each other for a majority of the night, alone in their rooms, talking about anything and everything. Sometimes they’d fall asleep talking, and their phones wouldn’t shut off, and Aberdeen would wake up an hour later and see the brightness of her phone screen still lit up, and she’d see William sleeping on the other end, his face so peaceful yet so burdened with responsibility of caring for his siblings while his parents and other siblings were eight hours and an entire continent and ocean away, and she wouldn’t have the heart to end the call.

Things were fine in Tampa, from what he told her. Jacquie had calmed down considerably. Alex was…Alex – always trying to make jokes and make light of the situation. They barely left their house, but because there were three of them there, it wasn’t too bad. There were a lot of board games played, a lot of Netflix series watched. From across the countries, Aberdeen and William were watching Tiger King together. She didn’t think she’d watched anything as horrifyingly crazy. William would crack jokes about her putting him in a meat grinder and feeding him to tigers. She could only giggle.

She knew that today the siblings were going to go for their first “outing”, just to get some sunshine, along the Courtney Campbell Bridge. She hoped the weather would cooperate for them. And once they were all home, and once Aberdeen was back at her place, the routine would begin, and she’d crawl into bed, and she’d FaceTime Willy to hear all about it.

Good Friday meant they had fish. Easter Monday meant Orla’s roasted lamb and much of the same sides that were prepared on Christmas. They’d still video chat with their grandparents, Camden would still play hockey in the driveway, and Aberdeen and Siena would go down into the basement and watch episodes of Brooklyn 9-9 or another show. Routines, in a time of a global pandemic that brought so much uncertainty, were accepted with warmth. Even for just a day, life was going to feel normal. Orla and Mirza had even gone so far as to get their kids chocolate eggs. It didn’t matter that the youngest didn’t believe in the Easter Bunny anymore or that the girls were in their early twenties – the gesture went farther than that. They were all together again, even if it was just for the day.

When Orla placed the roasted lamb at the centre of the table, asking Mirza for his plate first, Aberdeen took a giant whiff of the smell and immediately felt more relaxed. She filled her plate with carrots and asparagus and Yorkshire pudding before her mom piled on the lamb and sauce.

“So where’s our good friend William these days?” Orla asked as she finished serving everybody and sat down in her seat. She immediately grabbed her knife and fork to dig in. “He didn’t want to come for Easter?”

“I’m sure he wanted to come and have your lamb, darling,” Mirza said.

“He’s in Tampa,” Aberdeen answered, smiling slightly at her parents’ interaction. “His brother and his sister went there at the start of lockdown, and so when he was good to go too, he went.”

“William quarantined for fourteen days too?” Mirza asked. “Why?”

“He spoke to one of his Swedish friends on the Predators so he had to. I bet the whole team did,” she explained.

“Did you guys quarantine together?” Siena asked.

Aberdeen rolled her eyes. “Hah. Good one.”

“William has sisters?” Camden asked.

“He has three,” Aberdeen smiled. “All of them are younger than him.”

“I can’t imagine three of you and Siena.”

Everybody at the table snorted. “We can’t imagine three of you either, buddy,” Siena quipped back.

Camden smiled, then focused his attention back to Aberdeen. “So what’s he doing in Tampa?”

“I don’t know. Hanging out with his brother and sister.”

“Why don’t you call him and ask?”

“Camden,” Aberdeen said, “I can’t just call William Nylander and ask him what he’s doing so my little brother can know,” her tone made it seem like it was the most out-of-this-world idea. But it was a total lie. William would be at her beck and call – he always was. If she called him right now, he’d answer. If she called him and asked him what he was doing because Camden wanted to know, he’d answer her and tell Camden what he was doing. He was just like that.

“I think the most important question we should be asking about William, considering the circumstances in our world right now, is whether or not he’s safe in Tampa,” Mirza interjected. He stuffed a roasted potato into his mouth. “Is he safe?”

Aberdeen nodded. “He’s safe. And he’s with his family, just like we are.”

***

Aberdeen could hear the video game sounds coming out of Camden’s Nintendo Switch as she lay in his bed, cuddled up to him while browsing through her phone. It was later – later than she thought – but she wanted to stay at home for a little while longer, at least until Camden went to bed, because, well…it was a global pandemic and she wanted to see her family. Her dad would drive her home eventually – she knew that. But she wanted to spend some time with her younger brother, even if it was just cuddling with him while he played video games and she browsed Instagram. Sometimes physical contact was the best contact; sometimes nothing needed to be said.

“Hey Aberdeen?” he whispered.

Apparently something needed to be said.

She looked over at him and saw that he’d placed the Switch face-down on his chest. He was looking up at her. “Yeah bud?”

“Are you scared about the pandemic?”

Aberdeen softened immediately. God, she wished he could stay this age forever. She didn’t want him to grow up and turn into a moody teenager. She wanted him like this forever: young and innocent and the little boy who cries over meeting Kyle Lowry. “Of course I’m scared,” she admitted. “Are you scared?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he nodded. “Mom’s home so it’s okay but I’m scared about dad. What if the virus is on one of the envelopes or packages he has to deliver? Or, like, on a mailbox?”

Aberdeen cuddled closer to her brother, if only to provide physical assurance. There were so many unknowns about the virus. It didn’t help that there was wall-to-wall coverage of it on the TV all the time. “I don’t think the virus works that way, Cam. I think—”

“But did you see how fast it spread in New York City? Mom and dad were watching the news one night and the number of people who have it is so high,” he was so concerned.

“I think dad’s work put a lot of, like, safety rules in place so nobody will catch it,” she tried to calm his nerves. “Dad wouldn’t be working if it wasn’t safe. Look at my work. They’re not letting me work because it’s not safe.”

Camden considered his sister’s words. She could practically see the gears shifting in his mind. “I guess so,” he acquiesced. “But I still think about dad a lot when he’s working. Mom’s even praying a lot more now.”

“I figured she would be,” Aberdeen nodded. “Listen Cam, I’m scared about everything too, but the reason why I’m not worried about dad is because dad’s a really smart guy, and we’re a family that listens to doctors and public health experts who are trying to make everything better,” she explained.

“And don’t forget the epado…epid…”

“Epidemiologists,” she smiled, saying the word for him. “Them too. I’m listening to them.”

“Mom thinks I won’t go back to school this year at all. She told me I’m gonna help her teacher her first graders,” he giggled. “Imagine that! At least I don’t have to take EQAO this year.”

“Lucky you,” Aberdeen wiggled her eyebrows at him. “Hey, if I order some masks, what designs do you want on them?”

“Raptors and Leafs, obviously,” he smiled. “Do you even need to ask?”

“Well excuuuuuuse me—”

Their conversation was interrupted by Aberdeen’s phone ringing from its place on her chest. When she flipped it over to see who would be calling her at this hour, she should have known better than to wonder. It was William. It would only be William. But he was requesting to FaceTime her. Just as she was about to reject the call, she heard Cam gasp. “Is that William Nylander? He’s calling you?!”

She gulped. “Cam—”

“Answer it! Answer it!”

She swiped her screen. She prayed to every saint that he wasn’t already topless. When he finally appeared on the screen, he was wearing an oversized t-shirt. She’d have to pray the rosary tonight. “Hi William,” she greeted formally – no “Hi baby” or “Heeeeeyyyyy” like she usually did, hoping he’d get the hint.

“Hello…” he answered back awkwardly, not realizing immediately why she was being so formal. When she tilted the camera and he saw Camden lying beside her smiling from ear-to-ear, waving frantically at him, he understood. “Heeeyyy Camden,” he greeted, waving back.

“Hi William!” Camden said. “How are you?”

“I’m good, buddy, how are you?”

“I’m okay,” he shrugged. “Aberdeen told me you’re in Tampa Bay with your brother and sisters.”

“I am,” William nodded, shooting the quickest of looks to Aberdeen. “She texted me to let me know you guys were apparently missing me today at lunch. I already know my lunch wasn’t as great as the one your mom made.”

Camden giggled slightly. “It definitely wasn’t. Mom made lamb today. Hey William?”

“Yeah bud?”

“Aberdeen told me you have three younger sisters. I have two older ones. How do you do it?!”

William burst out laughing, as did Aberdeen. “Ooooooh Camden. If I knew, I’d tell you.”

***

“How are you, minskatt?” William asked as he watched Aberdeen get into her bed. He’d called her again when he knew it was safe – when she was back at her apartment after her dad drove her home. He hadn’t expected Camden to be on his earlier phone call, of course, but they’d spoken for about ten minutes until Camden was satisfied.

Aberdeen took a deep breath. She was going for it. “Jag mår bra hur mår du?” she replied in near-perfect Swedish.

She watched as William’s eyes bulged out dramatically and smiled mischievously. “Minskatt?!” he gasped dramatically, even going so far as to sit up in bed. She could only giggle. “Minskatt where did that come from? Are you…”

“Mhm,” she nodded before he could finish his thought. “I ordered a bunch of Swedish language books and I’ve been learning since you left. I wanted to surprise you.”

“Minskaaaaatt,” he repeated, except this time in a more playful accusatory tone. “What have you taught yourself?”

“Just the most basic stuff,” she said. “Hello, how are you, where is the washroom, that kind of stuff. Verb conjugations are going to come later. And…” she trailed off.

“And?”

She smiled again. “Jag tänker på dig när jag inte ens tanker,” she whispered.

It was the most amazing thing William had ever heard. It didn’t matter that the pronunciation was a bit off – it was incredible. Incredible. So incredible that he couldn’t handle it. He smiled from ear to ear and buried his face in his pillow as he giggled. “Minskatt…you have no idea how beautiful that sounds,” he said. “Like…you honestly have no idea.”

“Do you like the surprise?” she asked.

“I fucking love it,” he said. “Minskatt, you’re too good to me.”

“I want to learn more. I want…I want to like, become as fluent as I can so that I can speak to your family in Swedish. You know, when we’re in Sweden. Whenever that is.”

William’s heart practically burst in his chest. If it was possible, he would have spontaneously self-combusted right then and there at her words and their sweetness. “If I could take you to Sweden tomorrow, I would. God minskatt, I miss you so much. I’m dying over here.”

“Me too.”

“I want to touch you so bad,” he admitted. “I was dreaming about it the other night but then I woke up, and I couldn’t fall back asleep again.”

Her heart fluttered. She’d dreamt about the same thing too last night and woke up sweating. She’d never been this sexually frustrated before, even in her single days. To think of the time they spent together during quarantine, only to have him leave and be unable to do those same thing…it was a lot to miss. A lot to look forward too, as well, once they reunited. But for now, she could only miss it. “How were you touching me?” she asked, biting her bottom lip.

She could see his Adam’s apple bob in his throat. “You know how,” he whispered.

“Tell me,” she said, slipping her hand underneath the covers. She snaked it down her body and underneath her pajama pants and underwear. “Tell me how you were touching me.”

William watched as he watched her one arm move and her hand disappear. He gulped at the sight of it. “I was touching your pussy,” he huffed, slipping his own hand under the covers.

“Was it wet for you?”

“Of course,” he said, grabbing hold of his cock, stroking it almost immediately. “Is…is it wet right now?”

“Getting there,” she nodded.

“Are you touching yourself?”

“Mhm,” she said, her eyes drooping slightly. She waited a few moments as she continued to touch herself before she finally continued. “Tell me how you were touching me. What were you doing?”

“I was fingering you. And my thumb was rubbing your clit…how you like it,” his voice was low.

“Mmmmm,” Aberdeen hummed, mimicking what he was saying and doing it to herself as best she could. She’d done it for so long as a single woman that she’d practically mastered it, but ever since she’d been with William, he’d mastered it in the short amount of time too. There was nothing he did that didn’t turn her on. “I had your cock down my throat in my dream last night.”

“Oh fuck,” William huffed, not expecting that at all. He thought, as always, this was gonna be about pleasuring her by some good old-fashioned phone sex. He didn’t think she’d go so far as to include him too, considering how new the experience was. But they were doing this. “Was it deep in your throat?” he asked.

Aberdeen nodded. “It hit the back.”

“Fuuuuuck Aberdeen,” he huffed. He imagined the feeling and it sent shivers down his spine. He got hard almost immediately at the thought as he kept stroking himself, but ever since he’d been with Aberdeen, his own hand didn’t fucking cut it anymore. She gave him the best handjobs, the best blowjobs…everything she did was the best to him.

“Remember when I sucked you off in the backseat of your car?” she asked, her voice sugary sweet. William nodded his head quickly. “Remember how you came in my mouth? You tasted sooooo good, Willy.”

“Ab—Aberdeen—fuck, don’t—”

“I can’t wait to taste it again.”

William’s eyes rolled back. “I can’t wait to taste your pussy again.”

“When you come back home, I want you to fuck me like you did during quarantine,” she continued. “Fuck me hard how I like it, Willy.”

“Ab—are you—look at me when you cum, Aberdeen,” William demanded. He could tell by just a quick look that she was almost there. “Look at me when you cum.”

“Are you close?”

“Y—Yeah.”

“Cum with me, Willy. Think of my tight pussy when you cum.”

She could see his face contort slightly as he closed his eyes. She bit her bottom lip and tried to suppress a loud moan, writhing in her bed and squeezing her legs together as her orgasm took over her body. She heard William moan too, low and guttural, and when she saw his chest heaving just as much as hers was, she knew he came too.

As her breathing steadied out, Aberdeen couldn’t help but giggle slightly. “I can’t believe we just did that,” she admitted. “That was—”

“That was really hot,” William finished her sentence, albeit more bluntly than her tone. “That was—we did that quick but God it was hot.”

“Yeah,” Aberdeen nodded. “Nothing compares to the real thing though.”

“No, it doesn’t,” William agreed. “The second I land in Toronto – finish quarantine – whatever, I’m taking you to my place and I’m fucking you senseless.”

Aberdeen couldn’t help but giggle and smirk at his words. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

***

April 14th, 2020

“What did you and your brother do that day?” Aberdeen practically screamed into the phone as the video played on what seemed like an infinite loop on her laptop. “Seriously. What made you think to film that?”

“We practiced for a long time!”

“Oh yeah, I’m sure the Toosie Slide dance took a lot of practice.”

“It does!”

“Your poor sister.”

“She lived.”

Aberdeen snorted. “And what are those shorts, William?!”

“Um, excuse me? Are you making fun of my shorts?” he giggled. “I thought you’d like them, seeing as they show off my thighs. We both know how much you like my thighs…”

“Stop it.”

“No.”

***

April 20th, 2020

“Did you get some sun today?” Aberdeen asked sarcastically, seeing William on FaceTime looking redder than a tomato.

“You’re funny.”

“Have you heard of sunscreen?”

“I wore sunscreen,” he grumbled.

“Sure you did.”

***

April 25th, 2020

“Have you been writing a lot, minskatt?” William asked as he watched Aberdeen concentrating on her screen, hearing her furious typing through the microphone. They were on the type of call where the participants just went about their business, connected through the screen, watching the other do their work while also doing their own. William was just being dumb and scrolling through golfing websites, but Aberdeen was actually being productive.

“Mhm,” she nodded. “I just…well, you saw how much I wrote when we were together too. In between the sex,” she chuckled slightly. “But after you left, there was just this huge burst of inspiration and energy.”

“I think it was the sex,” William deadpanned, causing Aberdeen to laugh. “The sex inspired you.”

“Well you definitely gave me the energy,” she smiled. “Too bad what I’m writing isn’t a sex diary or something.”

“What are you writing, minskatt?” he asked, genuinely interested.

“Um…” Aberdeen began, trying to formulate what she was writing into words. “It’s about a girl. Well, a group of girls.”

“You mean like that TV show Girls?”

“Better,” Aberdeen huffed. “Lena Dunham is awful.”

William smiled. “So a group of girls?”

“A group of girls and their relationships with each other. And the expectations they have for each other that sometimes may not work in their favour.”

“So is it semi-autobiographical?”

Aberdeen side-eyed him. Everything in writing was at least somewhat autobiographical. But he didn’t need to know that. “Maybe.”

***

April 27th, 2020

“I miss you so much,” William mumbled, his voice sleepy.

“I miss you too,” Aberdeen said, equally as tired. “I can’t wait for you to hold me. I can’t wait to just cuddle.”

“Me too.”

***

April 30th, 2020

For the first time in weeks, Aberdeen wasn’t doomscrolling about COVID-19. She was doomscrolling about William.

It started innocently enough, by Aberdeen reminiscing on the first time he drove her home from the airport and he spoke about his contract negotiations and how they turned a lot of people sour on him. She believed him right then and there, but she didn’t go looking. Now, with nothing to do and a curious mind, she went looking.

And she hated what she found.

Entire articles, practically one written every week, about his trade value. Those same articles devalkuing him as a player and downplaying his role on the team as a top-six forward. Panels of analysts and experts demanding that the Leafs trade him. Entire Twitter accounts dedicated to blasting every single little thing he did on the ice. Men with nothing better to do than to obsess over him and call him every name in the book.

And then there was the video from Tim & Sid, the popular sports radio duo in Toronto that Aberdeen listened to for fifteen minutes once, but couldn’t get past Sid Seixeiro’s dumbass opinions. In the video she watched, he took a less than 10-second clip of something William had said in a post-game interview during a loss against the Panthers and asked, indignantly, “What the hell is wrong with him?” He then proceeded to go on a five-minute rant about the entire locker room having an attitude problem, how Willy had an attitude problem, how he didn’t care about the team…and people believed it. She knew it. People gobbled it up. It was their serotonin while they hated him and called him a pussy on the internet and threw glasses at him in bars while drunk. She felt sick to her stomach that these people felt this way about him.

She’d been crying for a while before she picked up her phone to call him. Her hands were shaking as she dialled his number, waiting for him to answer. “Hi minskatt,” he cooed after the fourth ring.

“Willy,” she greeted, her voice shaky.

The last time she’d called him in such a state, she was being followed from her apartment. William’s mind immediately went into overdrive. “Minskatt? What’s wrong?”

“Willy you know I love you, right?”

He softened slightly. “Of course I do. Why would you—”

“—I love you every way you are—"

“—Aberdeen—”

“—And I know you’re a good person and I love you so much, more than anything—”

“—Aberdeen—Aberdeen—stop. What is this about?”

She took a quick breath. “What everyone says about you, Willy. They’re horrible. Horrible. I was reading and I was watching these videos and they’re just awful to you and—”

“Aberdeen, I told you not to watch those videos,” he said.

“Willy, please,” she begged. “How could they say those things about you and not even know you? How can they still be so bitter after your contract negotiations?!”

“Aberdeen—”

“I love you, Willy. I love you every way you are,” she repeated. “I don’t care what anybody has to say about you. I love you. I love you.”

“I love you too, Aberdeen,” he said calmly but fiercely. “Aberdeen, you can’t listen to them. I learned how to tune them out a long time ago. Even if I did…I don’t care what they say about me. I know who I am, Aberdeen. I know the truth, and they don’t. And you do too.”

“I do, but I just…they’re so awful, Willy. I don’t know how you can stand it.”

“Like I said…I know my truth. My family knows. And you do. The most important people in my life know the truth and that’s all that matters. I don’t give a fuck about what they think of me,” he said.

Aberdeen stayed silent. She knew she was overreacting, but damnit, she needed to overreact. She’d been a part of the hockey world now for what felt like a century, and if what she had with William was going to last, it would be a major part of her life for years to come. She needed to learn to roll with the punches. But at the same time, she felt like if those punches were unjustified, then she was justified in being upset about them and wanting to speak out. “I just love you so much,” she whispered, her voice much calmer now but still a bit shaky. “God, I’m such a horrible girlfriend. I’m calling you crying about the stupid Toronto media on the night before your birthday—”

“It’s okay, minskatt,” he interrupted. “I would rather you call me then cry alone. Besides, my birthday isn’t going to be special because you won’t be here.”

“Willy, don’t say that.”

“I mean it,” he replied. “I wish I could spend it with you. Fuck, I wish I could fly you down to Florida on a private fucking plane just so I could spend time with you. I’d kill someone just to hold your hand right now.”

Her heart fluttered. “I wish you’d come back to Toronto,” she whispered. “When you get back, Willy…I’m gonna let you hold my hand so hard.”

They both snorted. “I’ll be eagerly awaiting my gift, by the way,” he said, knowing that whatever she had in store for him for his birthday would be waiting for him when he got back to Toronto. She made it that way – she promised, and he’d accepted. He was dying in anticipation, but he’d accepted.

“Want a little piece of it now?” she asked.

He smiled. “You know I do.”

***

May 1st, 2020

Happy birthday I know you’re spending the day with your brother so it’s okay if you don’t text back I just want you to know how much I love you. I’m sorry that I waited so long. I’m sorry I denied it for so long. You have been so good to me Willy. I hope I’m half as good to you as you are to me. I’ve never felt the love that you give me every single day from another person and I think that’s because the universe was saving it for ~you, for ~you to show me, because I can’t picture it being from anyone else. I love you so much and I miss you. Jag tänker på dig när jag inte ens tanker.

i love u more than anything minskatt Jag tänker på dig när jag inte ens tanker Jag tänker på dig när jag inte ens tanker always i will always love u i wish u were here with me nothing is the same without u

nothing is the same without you either I love you so much Willy

i love u aberdeen

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rickriordanfandam · 4 years ago

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opinions on riordanverse ; my edition

a lot of people have been doing this so i decided why not right. probably gna lose some followers or smth but anyways. pls respect my opinions! if u disagree, thats fine, but please be polite. unless any of my opinions strikes u as morally wrong then pls point it out to me respectfully. thanks!

- i actually liked drew. im so sorry to everyone who hates her but full offence, why. think about it this way ok, first of all drew became hc because silena died. silena was the traitor, the one who betrayed chb, yet after she died campers celebrated her as a hero? and then drew suddenly has to replace her and live up to idk that legacy she left behind,, when all of a sudden this girl named piper swoops in and takes her place. idk abt u but i wld be salty abt that too. not only that, but as an asian, the chances of drew having faced racism/bullying as a child is pretty high (she studies at brooklyn academy). which means that when she finds out shes a demigod, and arrives at chb where most of the campers are white (this is an assumption btw), she’d obviously be scared of being bullied for her skin color right?? so the first thing she wld do before the campers get to bully her is to bully them before they can do so. (sentence structure here is wack i apologize) ofc this might not even have happened, drew could have had a perfect childhood && was a b1tch for no reason, BUT EVEN THEN HER ROLE AS A BULLY WAS PRETTY VITAL BECAUSE THAT FURTHER SHOWED THE CONTRAST BETWEEN HER AND PIPER,, HIGHLIGHTING PIPER AS A HERO//GOOD CHARACTER,, AND THEREFORE MAKING READERS LIKE PIPER MORE. anyway stop hating on drew please. ALSO WHY IS THIS SO LONGA SDFJHG

- jason isnt bland, the fandom just kinda erased his backstory (thanks to @pjohoo-memes for the phrasing lol)

- reynabeth wouldnt have lasted/would have broken up several times. idk i just see them as two extremely powerful characters who have firm opinions and will definitely clash at some point. in a platonic relationship,, i can see them as really good friends but as lovers? idk i just think theyll break up

- PIPABETH

- i dont really like jercy,, i see them as better friends than lovers. also idt jason and percy were that close..?

- the dam and not my type jokes are srsly cringey and were never funny. ik that seems hypocritical since my username literally makes use of the dam joke but honestly i dont actually like the joke. its not funny to me and has never been funny

- the seven were not best friends. they definitely argued,, and honestly probably werent as close as the fandom makes them seem. like ure dumped with 6 other people, out of which u only know a few. my introverted ass would have jumped off the argo 2 quicker than leo valdez could bomb camp jupiter up. also leo was a dick to frank. so what if frank is bigger sized?? thats not a valid reason to tease him

- the fandom needs to stop hating on octavian while worshipping luke. if u hate luke and u say u hate octavian too, then okay. but if u tell me ure a luke stan but u despise octavian?? imma disagree w u. luke was worse than octavian im sorry. first of all, octavian being a dick was kinda justified. hes been after the praetor position for so long, and everyone keeps saying to “wait for jason” when suddenly this dude, whos a son of NEPTUNE (neptune wasnt liked much by romans), and the camp decides to make him praetor?? dude i would be pissed off big time. and then afterwards, he finds out that greek demigods are real and the dude they made praetor is greek. AND THEN GREEK DEMIGODS COME TO CJ AND ONE OF THEM BOMB IT UP?? octavian has been told all his life that greeks are scum and this dude called leo valdez attacks cj. sure it was an accident, but did octavian know that? no. so it was honestly justified that he was such a salty prick im just saying. also some of yall be hating on octavian for cutting a teddy bear open and thats the funniest shit ive ever heard i swear

- luke didnt go to elysium

- travis and connor stoll r way too underrated. the two have been head counselors of the hermes cabin since luke was revealed as a traitor, can u imagine the stress? luke, the person they probably looked up to as a brother, betrayed them. and they didnt even have time to process this when they were thrown the roles of being hcs. that would have been so stressful and i would probably have broken down if i were them. the stoll brothers taking turns to wake up at ungodly hours because a new camper is crying and homesick and terrified, the stoll brothers having to comfort and take care of new campers, having to deal with the amount of people in that cramped space because not enough campers are being claimed fast enough. having to resolve issues between campers in the hermes cabin all the time. the stolls arent just comedic relief, and we need to stop treating them as such

- tratie shldve been canon idc idc

- demigods of the demeter cabin arent talked about enough and i love the fact that meg was demeters kid. like she isnt the child of one of the big three yet shes so powerful.

- we need to hype clarisse up more her character arc was phucking amazing

- rachel is overhated. sis found out greek gods exist and regularly come down to earth to fuck around and went “ok cool”. queen shit behavior methinks

- the floor 19 crew of mcga is srsly underrated. like do u even remember halfborn gunderson, mallory keen, tj, etc??? bc i feel like we only remember samirah, magnus, alex, and sometimes blitz and hearthstone

- sadie (tkc) was kinda annoying at first. i like her more now tho but i rmb not liking her for a phat while

- tkc and mcga need more love

- carter kane and jason grace arent boring. theyre just really sweet boys who are too good for this world and yes yes yes

- hazel and frank (especially frank) need to be hyped up more. i hardly ever see anything about them. also yall seem to forget that frank was literally made praetor and that even hecate admired hazel and was willing to fight beside her because of how powerful she was

- frazels age gap is kinda sketch but i still think theyre really cute

- nico definitely had trauma from going to tartarus on his own

- GROVER IS PERCYS BEST FRIEND

- annabeth isnt smarter than leo but neither is leo smarter than annabeth. ive seen a lot of discussions about who is smarter and heres my hot take on it: neither. theyre equally smart, just in different ways. leos a genius mathematically speaking. he has no issues solving math problems meant for people much, much older than him. annabeth on the otherhand, is great at strategies etc. she can make an army of 1000 more powerful than the enemy, even if theyre outnumbered. so in my opinion, both are equally as smart//u cant compare their intelligence, because their talents lie in two different areas.

- while i do agree rick riordan isnt a god and that hes bound to make mistakes,, AND that hes given us a lot of representation,, if the representation offends the people its sposed to represent, then theres a problem. im talking about piper as a poc and wearing feathers in her hair. im not a poc, so i cant speak for them on whether or not its wrong, because i dont know either. HOWEVER, i have seen multiple posts BY pocs talking about how they didnt really like rick’s representation of piper, and thats an issue. pocs have been and are still oppressed and discriminated against by many. as a white cis man, we cant really blame him for not knowing (tho he could have done a research,, asked some pocs,, idk), but by representing pocs in that manner, hes influencing impressionable kids/teens into thinking “oh pocs wear feathers in their hair all the time” etc, which isnt true. the pjo/hoo series is extremely successful, and kids who read the books will probably start forming inaccurate opinions on pocs. the amount of fan art that depicts piper with feathers in her hair dont help either. “but rick said so in the books, so its canon” yeah well rick isnt a god and he can get some things wrong at times. im not saying we should cancel him, im saying we should start educating ourselves and not spread false info like pocs wearing feathers in their hair all the time. also that snake song shit where she sang Summertime was just- yeah. bc heres the thing you can be racist, and still include minorities, but portray them in a racist way. And even then, ignorance isn't a thing to admire. Getting those facts wrong still has a major impact. It continues to perpetuate racist stereotypes.

“ With the feather thing, I looked it up myself; it takes less than five minutes to figure out that Cherokees don't braid feathers into their hair. I didn't grow up in the country where my parents are from. I have many other first/second generation American friends who have also been through that, with a bit of a disconnect from their culture. But something that most of us have in common is that when we didn't know something, and when our parents weren't that big of a help, we looked it up. We sought out resources online and through other people from our culture to be able to connect more with where we came from. Some of that took a Google search. So I find it hard to believe that Piper, a girl who Rick's trying to portray as someone who is attempting to connect with her culture and is totally against racist stereotypes, wouldn't know that eagle feathers aren't supposed to be braided into your hair casually. She may be disconnected from her culture, but she's also shown to want to connect back to it. Piper wouldn't be casually braiding feathers into her hair while also telling off people for being racist. It makes no sense.” - reddit thread (down below)

for those of yall who wanna know more please please read this, it has a lot of things i wanna add in here : https://www.reddit.com/r/camphalfblood/comments/gy3gl2/piper_mcleans_portrayal_is_innacurate/

as well as https://finding-my-culture.tumblr.com/post/189422373260/maxie-ratties-and-cattie-finding-my-culture

i will be posting screenshots of these in future posts so if ure viewing this on ig and u dont have tumblr,, dont worry

- the fact that most of the strong female characters in the series refuse to be “girly”, and ngl i dont really like that. just because ure girly doesnt mean u cant be strong.

- piper would have been a great way for him to start making the strong characters act girlier, but instead he went with the “I’m not like other girls” trope which is quite obnoxious to hear constantly, and I don’t think it’s necessarily great for younger girls to read that idea growing up. the closest we've ever had to a strong female character who was also into "girly" things was Silena. when I was younger I admired Piper's "I'm not like other girls" thing, but then I got older and realized that the whole mentality of "not like other girls" is super obnoxious, and a little bit toxic

i have a heck load more that i cant rmb rn but yeah feel free to add more

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viranlly · 5 years ago

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I love New York. I love drinking. I abso-fuck*n-lutely love drinking in New York. I love it so much I went to New York just to drink - caution: this trip is not, and I repeat, not for everybody. I mean, what’s not to love about drinking in New York?! The endless supply of bars; the attractive, charming and talented bar staffs, and let’s not forget the beyond delicious libations they serve up ‘til 3 (even 4) AM on a Monday - astounding, especially when you come from a small town where last call is 12.45, if you’re lucky. Before our trip, we agreed on the ‘one-drink-one-bar-rule’ - a rule that we slowly abandoned as the night progressed. After what felt like a 12 hour commute from YVR, I arrived in Penn Station, starved and parched. A quick change and a touch up later, I finally made it to dinner at WildAir: a hip, trendy, wine-focused Lower East Side restaurant from the boys who opened the Michelin-starred Contra. The food menu is a fairly simple: tartare, mushrooms, clams, and allegedly out-of-this-world fried squid. The wine list, on the other hand, is extensive and edgy. If you’re into the whole natural, skin-contact wine situation like we are, you’ll probably see us there again with a bottle of Susucaru, snacking on some fried squid. A couple blocks down from Wildair, is Bar Goto. A cozy Japanese bar with a MOOD AF lighting, brought to you by Kenta Goto, a Pegu club alumn. The man himself made me a plum Sazerac the last time I was in. It easily became one of those cocktails you crave over and over again. So naturally, I got one, and another one for good measure. The whisky finally kicked in. With a little buzz and a much better mood, we made it to Death and Company and put our name on the list. Wait time was about an hour and 30 mins, enough for a cocktail or two at Angel’s Share – or so we thought. It’s another 45 mins wait for us, but luckily, they have a sister bar next door that’s much less crowded, a little brighter, and slightly more peaceful. Our new friend Ryan, who’s bartending that night made me a ‘Bewitched’, a riff on Old Fashioned with grilled and spiced truffle-infused whisky, cognac, Kokuto syrup, bitters and Kaffir lime leaf. It’s as decadent as it sounds. Stunning mixture of flavour, texture, and aroma on each indulgent sip. It was on point. It’s finally time for us to get to Death and Co. Their Manhattan’s been calling my name since September last year. Everything about Death and Co’s Manhattan is perfect: the bourbon, the vermouth, the ratio, the temperature, just everything. Say what you want (I actually got into an argument on this) but this, is the best Manhattan in Manhattan. The night spiralled down the rabbit hole after the next drink, a Boulevardier - I remember we had two more cocktails there, but I can’t, for the sake of me, remember what they were. I know there was gin, somewhere, somehow. I won’t bore you with the details of our challenging journey home so let’s skip to the morning after - two bottles of Pedialyte, two advils, and a hot shower later. Our mind was focused on a bougie-ish scrambled eggs and caviar at Buvette, and so was the whole West Village apparently. “50 minutes” - the cute European host said. Other people would typically take this time to walk around, maybe get an oat-mylk latte and a croissant. Since we’re no ordinary people, and it just so happened that their sister bar ‘Pisellino’ just opened down the street (what a coincidence), we kinda had to stop by for a drink. It’s 1145, and in front of me was a full, frosty glass (and a mini carafe) of dry martini with olive and twist on the side. What a perfect West Village morning: sunny, breezy, and boozy. By the time we sat down for breakfast, I was a little buzzed, again. But nothing a plate fluffy scrambled eggs and caviar, waffle with berry compotes, croque madame, and another bottle of bubbly rosé can’t fix. We then spent the afternoon roaming around Soho, shopping for all the things we convinced ourselves we desperately needed - Hello new Thom Browne fragrance! It’s a quarter to eight, we were dressed to the nines, ready for a 10/10 night out in New York City. Our plan to have a chic pre-dinner cocktail at Polo Bar was cancelled because someone (aka me) forgot to call and make a reso, and it was packed there. We had to settle for the King Cole Bar across the street where the drinks were meh and the price tag was awfully expensive (no more $25, bland, overly spicy Red Snapper for us) - I went in purely to relive my Andy Sachs’ Harry Potter unpublished manuscript moment and nothing more. Dinner tonight was at the hyped up Korean steakhouse Cote in Flatiron. The one Michelin-starred restaurant is all about high quality meat, delectable side dishes, and impressive wine list (Their beverage director is such a star!). Here’s the thing, if you can make a hanger steak taste so succulently delicious, you’re doing something right. That’s exactly what they do at Cote. The steak (aside from the Galbi) is prepared in the simplest fashion: heat and salt, no marinade, no spices, no nothing - it was perfect. The service was impeccable, the timing of each dish was flawless. With a tummy filled with steak, scallion salad, and rice, we decided to walk our way back to the West Village - seemed crazy far, but at that point, it was necessary. We made it to Dante, who recently crowned #1 bar in the world, so naturally it was very busy. The apero-focused bar is famous for their ‘Negroni Sessions’, which is impressive and can be adventurous. From the most classic, to the most unexpected variation with tequila, banana and pineapple shrub, they do it, and they do it well. If you’re in the mood to splurge (we weren’t lol), their vintage martini is absolutely worth the $65 price tag (the Plymouth gin from ‘60s alone is drool-worthy). I, decided to go for the Olivette: a savoury, brine-y, less serious cousin of the vesper. We then visited Katana Kitten. Another bar in the village that scored a spot in this year’s 50 Best Bars, number 14 to be exact. It’s a fun (the owner Masahiro Urushido is also quite a legend), non pretentious neighbourhood bar with playful and whimsical cocktails. I obviously started with a Hinoki martini, yet another variation of the vesper, while Handika was having a slushy, boozy, crushed-icy ‘dessert’ (didn’t count as a drink, apparently). It was difficult to have just one drink here: would you skip on a yuzu-sisho daiquiri? how about a genever-based negroni with umeshu? or a calpico swizzle? Ya I don’t think so either. We had one of each, plus a another sisho G&T, and the classic highball. YOLO. For the sake of settling our argument on the best Manhattan in Manhattan, I invited Doris to join us at Employees Only across the street from Katana Kitten, conveniently. By the time we saw each other, my Manhattan was gone, and I was drinking a Monkey 47 martini yet again. That’s about all I can recall from that night. Oh wait, there was a tequila shot and another Manhattan - the end. Monday morning - not enough Pedialyte, water nor Advil in the world to bring me back to life. I, somehow, managed to meet Patrick for coffee, had a bite of a mushroom toast, and stayed alive. I made it back to the hotel just in time for a much-needed nap before check out and a trip to Williamsburg for lunch. It was rough. I kept telling myself another lie of “I’m never drinking again” for the 30 minute subway ride to Peter Luger. Peter Luger is a classic: steak (yes, another one), burger, with a side of onion, tomatoes, and fries. We then gathered enough energy to get to DUMBO for a picture of two (hundreds) before saying goodbye to each other - sad. I zipped back downtown for a meeting. A VERY EXCITING MEETING. I got the pleasure to visit the Bon Appetit test kitchen, thanks for the my lovely host Chris Morocco (Yes - we’re friends now HA!). it’s only appropriate that I wore my ‘Thirsty for Andy’ t-shirt - Andy was there, and we obvs. bonded over my OOTD. Claire was doing her ‘Gourmet Makes’, Carla was there, Molly too, Oh I also got to meet Alex Delany and Em Scultz too. It’s a casual Monday afternoon at BA test kitchen. It’s now cocktail hour and the one man I got to meet this time was the man everyone needs in their life: mister Steven Huynh himself. An instagram-turned-real-life-friend that I’ve known for 7 years. We met for the first time that night and we got along over dry martini-inspired cocktails and crudité at Thomas Keller’s TAK room (in the Hudson Yards). Sitting at the bar at TAK room feels luxurious but not intimidating. The bar team was friendly, interactive, and passionate about amaro. They even took us downstairs to check out the vintage amaro collections at their speakeasy, Bookbinder. After a snack break, we visited David Chang’s new restaurant Kawi downstairs. Steven had a pineapple rum daiquiri, I, had a ‘New Fashioned’ - a play of the classic Old Fashioned with coconut-washed Japanese whisky, sencha and bitters. It was delicious. The buzz is back on, and I felt so much better (HA!). Our next stop was The Nomad Hotel - our absolute favorite. We felt like we’re home right away, especially after a delicious Monkey 47 martini (Nobody’s counting, right?). Zanib joined us later that night for a negroni, and of course, I had to refresh my almost empty drink. Another friend Erik joined us for one more drink. Things started to get blurry real quick, I recall there was a Manhattan, a Brooklyn, a rum cocktail of some sort, fried chicken, and a Macallan 12 at one point before we’re back in the car for a nightcap at Blacktail. A tiki-focused sister bar of Dead Rabbit. We’re welcomed by a pink slushy daiquiri, and the bartender made me a delicious, stirred rum cocktail to sip on - don’t ask what it’s called. I finally tapped out and made my way back to Brooklyn. With close to zero voice, I got to Newark and flew back to Vancouver via. Denver - yes, I made a stop to Death and Co for a Sazerac-esque cocktail called the Uncanny Valley and a lobster ceviche. Here I am two weeks later, still recovering from the worst sore throat of my life, slowly getting my voice back (still can’t hit Mariah’s note tho :s). Will I do it again? ABSOLUTELY! Thanks for the amazing time New York - until next time!

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theclaravoyant · 6 years ago

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hey clara! i'm writing a fic in which 13 meets some former companions, and i'm not sure how to write a non-awkward way to ask for pronouns. do you have any tips? also, if you don't mind sharing, what are your hc's on the doctor's gender identity? i'm asking bc you're the only person i know who's put some Thought into gender/pronouns. also bc you've said before that people are welcome to ask you about this. this isn't really about questioning (sorry about that) but i'd love to hear your thoughts!

YAY I love sharing :D

First of all, how I tend to write about the Doctor is that I tend to use “them” when referring to their whole self/whole life, but “he” or “she” when speaking about the specific regenerations that use those pronouns in canon. I just find it easier to capture that way. I am not sure how the Doctor would see themselves, but Thirteen does seem happy to refer to herself as a woman and be addressed with she/her etc, so that’s a good start.

In terms of gender identity, I like the idea that the Doctor is nonbinary, and to be honest, they probably wouldn’t mind any pronouns. Pronouns don’t always reflect a specific gender, but the Doctor has expressed on a few occasions that Timelords have surpassed gender and things like that, which indicates they may not feel particularly validated and/or invalidated by certain perceived genders or pronouns. We also don’t know how pronouns work(ed) on Gallifrey and given that many Timelords have turned out to be able to change gender presentation, maybe they have a very different pronoun system. Anyway, as far as the Doctor’s gender experience in canon is concerned, I would tweak this a little to say that the specific type of nonbinary identity the Doctor experiences may be something like being genderfluid - this captures the fact that their gender actually changes between male and female (and potentially nonbinary genders as well) and back again, rather than being “a man” and then “a woman” or a “coming out (binary) trans” sort of situation. This may be reflected in which pronouns they prefer at any given time.

As far as asking for pronouns goes, there probably isn’t a way to do it that won’t feel a bit awkward, because it’s not something that we are used to asking each other, but throwing some ideas out there… I wrote a few down before I came to this conclusion, but I think the best way to keep it simple is pronoun coding. (I think that’s what it’s called?)

This means, having somebody introduce Thirteen, using whichever pronouns you choose for her or a descriptor that indicates which pronouns she would prefer. For example, when introducing someone who uses they/them pronouns irl, you might set it up like “This is Alex. They are new to this school, could you show them around?” or “This is Taylor. They are going to help with the X project, I’m sure their expertise will be very valuable.” Maybe one of Thirteen’s companions, if they’re around, could refer to the Doctor with she/her pronouns - they don’t even have to be deliberately introductory. It could be like “You know the Doctor? She’s a handful, isn’t she?” Boom, pronouns coded.(PS - One way to show more strongly that it’s been deliberately coded, rather than just that everyone’s assuming boobs = she/her pronouns, would be to show the other characters’ response as if they were not sure what/how to speak about the Doctor and now feel more comfortable going forward)

That said I have a LOT of other ideas which could also work, depending on what situation the characters are in and how involved you want the pronoun conversation to get. I’ll put those below a cut as it’s getting long -

Just have them start referring to Thirteen as “she/her”. It’s a little reductive, but not unreasonable that they would just kind of go “well obviously the Doctor is a woman now so she/her pronouns”. It’s also pretty quick, so that’s handy if you don’t want to turn it into A Thing. It’s an alien situation, so a “just roll with it” “it’s not the weirdest thing that’s ever happened” approach can still work here where it wouldn’t so much work with an actual trans or nonbinary human or human character.

If you want to be a little more nuanced about it, have the old companions / people unfamiliar with Thirteen automatically start using she/her and then later, check themselves, either directly to Thirteen or to Thirteen’s companions if they’re around. The unfamiliar people could be like “wait, should I be doing that?” even though it still works as their natural first response because of how we’re used to talking about and assuming gender. This is still fairly quick to clear up if you want it to be, but it can become more involved too. It also gives you some flexibility if The Pronoun Conversation doesn’t work at the beginning of the story or when the characters meet, but there’s a moment later on that it could fit better.

Or, on a completely different note, you could introduce them in an environment where people are already asking for pronouns, eg a deliberately trans inclusive environment or some alien version of that which results in the characters trying to figure out pronouns. Maybe the Doctor has to recalibrate the Tardis translator for a culture that doesn’t have pronouns or uses them very differently to us. This may be a bit too involved for what you’re after but anyway…

A less involved version of this may be if they’re on a world or in a situation where a cultural ritual or computer simulation or something asks them some establishing information. Maybe they have to pick a doorway, maybe it’s printing them ID cards or doing some kind of security scan, maybe it’s a hospitality robot, etc etc. and it just asks some basic things like name, species, gender and/or pronouns. Maybe they even have some kind of pronoun badge equivalent happening and all Thirteen has to do is pick one (or grab a handful of them, I can imagine her with like 3-5 badges fighting for space on her lapel!). This is a bit more flexible because it could be just a quick event or you could spin it into more of something if the Doctor decides to investigate their feelings about the answer to that question or something like that.

In a less alien situation, maybe one of the companions tries to be a Good Ally when they find out about the similar-to-trans experience the Doctor has, and goes along the lines of “you’re supposed to ask about pronouns right? that’s a thing?” The Doctor may even be curious/excited about this as they may not have thought much about it before, but again it depends how much time you want to spend on it.

Pronoun Coding. (I think that’s what it’s called? I forget). This means, having somebody introduce Thirteen, using whichever pronouns you choose for her or a descriptor that indicates which pronouns she would prefer. For example, when introducing people who use they/them pronouns, you might set it up like “This is Alex. They are new to this school” or “This is Taylor. They are going to help with the X project”. Maybe one of Thirteen’s companions, if they’re around, could refer to the Doctor with she/her pronouns - they don’t even have to be deliberately introductory. It could be like “You know the Doctor? She’s a handful, isn’t she?” Boom, pronouns coded.

Have someone guess. This is similar to pronoun coding but funnier. It could provide a great opportunity for some physical comedy as Thirteen would just be running around doing her thing while the others are like “would ssssssshhee?” *glances at 13′s companions* *13′s companions nod* “like something to eat/some help/etc?”

Have Thirteen refer to herself in third person, so she pronoun codes herself. This doesn’t always work unless you establish it as a character thing (like Terry from Brooklyn 99) but there are some sayings and things you could use as a throwaway line to pull this off eg “a woman’s gotta do what she’s gotta do” or something like that. Or she could be having one of those bitter little “I really hate how I get treated now that I’m a woman” rants and work that in like, “just because she [such-and-such], that means she can’t [such-and-such]??”

I’m sure there are lots of ways you could do it, but I hope that’s helpful! If you want any more suggestions or advice, ask away!

#the doctor #thirteen #thirteenth doctor #dw meta #doctor who #ask me stuff #lgbt #lgbt+#nonbinary #pronouns #pronoun coding #long post #smallblueandloud #welcome to reblog #and feel free to use these ideas!#dang it now i kinda wanna write one....

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deimagines · 6 years ago

Text

Magnus’s Only Love (A Magnus’s Daughter and AlecXFemReader Imagine) Part 1

‘Okay, As you may, or may not know. Last summer I had posted a imagine and I was proud of it because it took a lot of effort to get it right. But as an IDIOT I am today. I accidentally deleted it. Don’t ask me how, or why. But it was deleted it.

So, I tried and tried to remake this imagine and poured my blood, sweat, and tears into this imagine. Just so I can make it resemble its original story.

Please do not judge me if it took so long. But, I have very good excuses for why it took so long to rewrite it by memory.

So here we go’

Imagine being the adoptive daughter of the High Warlock of Brooklyn, Magnus Bane. He found you and raised you as your own. And instead of meeting Magnus at his club. The Shadowhunters were invited to an exclusive ball for warlocks, in celebration of your birthday.

Hmm… wonder how that will turn out?

Warning: I do not own Shadowhunters or any its relations to the studio and the actors and actresses

*Also, if anyone wants to request a Alex/MaleReader let me know.

=============================================================

(18 years ago)

It was a beautiful night. The High Warlock was walking home from his previous client’s home. He could’ve easily made a portal to go home, but something made him feel in need to take a walk instead. He doesn’t know why, but he feels that he needs to do it.

When he passed a dark alley, he heard a peculiar noise coming from the dark shadows of the wet and lifeless alleyway.

Magnus stops his whistling and turns to look at the alleyway.

Feeling cautious and curious, he carefully walk through the alley and began to follow the faint noise. From the sounds of it, it came from behind the large dumpster by the brick wall of the building.

And when Magnus came over and searches for whatever was causing the noise. His hard eyes immediately drop to replace a shocking look.

It was a baby. Wrapped in a beige blanket and placed inside a soaked box. It looked about no more than a month old. Definitely a newborn. The baby’s cries became louder and more painful for Magnus to listen.

He felt disgusted. What kind of Mundane would abandon a poor helpless baby in the streets?

The High Warlock had always had a soft heart towards children, especially to his students when they came of age.

“Shhh.” He shushes softly to the little babe. “There, there little one.”

He crouches down and gently picks up the baby from it’s poorly excused of a cradle.

Standing up and adjusting the baby in his arms. The baby’s cries died down as Magnus calms it down with numerous whispers of comfort.

The baby looks up at him with teary eyes. It watches as Magnus smiles warmly and gently grabs it’s hand. But when he did, he felt a wave of magic that he never knew existed in such a small vessel.

His smile went away and he looks down at the baby stunned.

It wasn’t a Mundane babe at all. It had warlock blood running through its veins.

“Curious.” Magnus whispers in puzzlement. Wondering how a baby warlock could be whined up in such a foul area.

But all of those thoughts went away when the baby started to coo quiet sounds. Caressing the back of the child’s hand with his thumb, Magnus smiled down at the baby as he began to feel a connection that would change his life forever.

“Well, this certainly changes everything.” He whispers softly to himself. The baby continues to coo as it touches his nose and Magnus lets out a quiet laugh and began to walk, taking the baby away from its unknowingly end.

Later that evening, after taking the baby to his home. He soon found out that it was a girl.

He named her, Y/N.

(18 Years later)

“Magnus Bane,” Hodge announced the name to the young Shadowhunters while showing some old and new pictures of a young Asian looking man on the screen. “He’s over 300 years old. And as you can see, he’s not exactly shied away from the pleasures of every century. His taste are both exquisite and quite excessive.”

“Looks like the Downworld’s David Guetta.” Clary commented as she studied the pictures.

“Guetta’s already a Downworlder,” Isabelle stated and Clary looks at her in confuse. “Vampire? Ever seen him in the daylight?”

“Can you two focus?” Alec snapped lightly, wanting them to shut up for Hodge to continue. “This is not a joke.”

Izzy simply sent a sly smile. “Someone needs to get slayed.” She mutters playfully.

“Alec is right,” Hodge said.”Now, Magnus is one of the most powerful warlocks I’ve ever known. he has a deep mistrust of Shadowhunters.”

Clary scoffs. “Well, then why did he help my mom remove my memories? Isn’t she a Shadowhunter?”

“Yes,” Hodges agree. “One of the best. But help might not be the most accurate word. Now, did Magnus provide a service for Jocelyn? Perhaps. But more than likely, your mother paid Magnus handsomely for his magic. Warlocks usually require payment before they help anyone with anything.”

“Word from the Clave is that most of the warlocks have gone into hiding since Valentine began hunting them.”

Hodge hummed. Valentine must be searching for the warlocks. Where did Jocelyn-” Before could even continue, a sharp hiss escaped from his lips as his rune started to burn him.

“Hodge, your rune. You okay?”

He nodded a bit to show that he was fine.

“So, how do we find Magnus?” Clary asked.

Jace leaned back in his seat as he studies the picture of Magnus on the screen. “We don’t. Magnus finds us. We’ll set up a meeting, somewhere protected. Lure him out of hiding.”

“That’s not gonna happen.” Izzy suddenly informs them with a tablet in hand.

“What do you mean?” Jace asked as he sent her a frowning look.

Isabelle turns the tablet to show them a picture of a girl sitting next to Magnus. She couldn’t be more than Clary’s age. “Remember her? Y/N Bane? As in-”

“Magnus’s daughter.” Hodges breathes in defeat. “Of course.”

“What? Why the sad face all of the sudden.” Clary began to worry about the plan to get her memories.

“Because, as much as Magnus loves to party. He loves his daughter more.” Hodge takes the tablet and taps the buttons to show a more clear picture of the High Warlocks daughter.

“Y/N Bane. Rumors are that she’s was found by Magnus as an infant and was later adopted by him. No one knows where she came from. All we know is that she has warlock blood running through her veins.”

“And there are no other information?” Alec asked.”Regardless of her relations to Magnus.”

Hodges shakes his head. “None.”

“Then I guess we’re screwed.” Jace said and Clary looks down in disappointment.

“Actually…” Izzy said with a realization in her eyes. She rips the tablet from Hodges’ hands and taps the screen with her eyes bouncing. Looking for the thing that clarifies her expectations.

“Aha!” She says in triumph and shows the group the screen of the tablet. “Here it is. During my surveillance of the Downworlders. I came across this.” The screen shows an elegant lilac invitation.

“It’s a warlock ball. An event that’s being held secretly in uptown for the celebration of Y/N’s 18 birthday.”

“Where did you get that? Wait,” Alec looks at her apprehensively. “How did you get that?“

“A friend,” Isabelle answers innocently with a shrug. “And from what I hear, Magnus loves to spoil his little Warlock Princess.”

The others paused for a moment to think through this plan. But as usual, Alec was cautious and snaps the reality into it.

“He’ll never go for it. From what Hodge described. Magnus seems to be very protective of Y/N. He can’t risk an opening, not with Valentine trying to kill him.”

“Then we’ll need bait,” Hodge says with a serious look. “Follow me.”

As the Shadowhunters continue on with their preparations for their plan. Another group was furiously working with theirs.

Under the watchful eyes of a being more terrifying under this time of day.

___

“What is this?!” Magnus asked in an angered tone. His voice nearly shakes the chandelier hanging in the ballroom.

Everyone was looking busy from each and every corner of the venue hall for the High Warlock’s daughter’s birthday ball. Everything was going well until a mundane delivery boy came in with a pink ice sculptured swan.

“I specifically ordered a magenta swan, not a pink one.” Magnus told the delivery boy in stress as he gave him a hard look.

“Magenta is pink.” The delivery boy exclaimed in boredom. Oblivious to the magic the warlocks were doing around the room.

“No, no, no.” Magnus waved his two fingers in gesture.”Magenta is a rich and elegant color. Pink is just a poor and dull lifeless loser that’s desperate for socialism.”

The delivery boy rolled his eyes.”Look, man. I just deliver the ice. I don’t craft or make. I just take whatever I was given to and make sure that its safely deliver to whatever address they gave me.”

Magnus groans clearly stressed and waved at the boy away. “Just get it out of my sight.”

The boy rolled his eyes again and began to take the swan out of the venue.

Magnus let’s out a heavy sigh and looks around the room. After taking a few deep breaths to calm himself, he calls out to a group of strong looking warlocks, who were in charge of protecting the venue, for a small conference and chat.

“And make sure to place protective shields in every exit. I don’t want any Circle members crashing this party.”

“Yes, Magnus.” One of them, who was obviously in charge of the security operation, nodded and they all went to various directions.

“Papa.”

A gentle voice was heard from behind the High Warlock. He turned around and a bright and warm smile appeared on his face.

There she was. Standing on the dance floor, wearing a very elegant ballroom dress that he helped pick out. Her eyes sparkling with excitement and worry. She probably thought that he might not like the dress on her. But she was wrong.

“Oh.” He breathes. “Bulan. You are an absolute vision.”

Bulan was an Indonesian pet name that he had given her since she was a babe. It means ‘moon’. He chose it in memory of the night he had found her in the dark alleyway on that night of a full moon.

“Give us a twirl.” He took her hand gently and turned her slowly as she smiled, relieved by his reaction. He placed his hands on her shoulders. “My dear, you are going to be the talk of the ball. And not because it’s your birthday.”

Y/N smiled at her adopted father’s complement. “Thank you, Papa. But I think this perfect night will have some alters.”

Magnus raised a brow. “What do you mean?”

Y/N looks behind at Elias. He was trailing her from behind after telling her some interesting news. “Tell him.” She mutters to him and he nodded.

The horned warlock steps forward to Magnus. “Jace Wayland wants to make a trade. Here, at the ball.”

Magnus looked unimpressed.“And what kind of trade will make me want to invite him to the ball?”

“He says he has Camille’s necklace.” Elias stated slowly.

Magnus looks up at Elias. Now interested in the Shadowhunter’s offer.

Y/N knows very well of what Elias was talking about. It was an enchanted ruby necklace that Magnus gave to Camille as a token of their love. But that was years ago. Camile changed, and Y/N never got to know the other Camille that Magnus had met before she became a vampire.

“Huh,” Magnus says with slight interest. “And what exactly does he want in return for it?”

“The memories of a Clary Fairchild.”

Y/N ears perked at the mentioning of Clary’s name. She knew her very well. They used to play together as children at every appointment right before Magnus wipes her memories away.

“Well then,” Magnus hummed.”I guess we’ll have to send another invitation, don’t we?”

Elias pursed his lips then steps closer to the High Warlock. “Magnus, consider your guests-”

“When did you become so talkative, Elias?” Magnus inquired. Not quite listening to the horned warlock.

Y/N offered him a small smile, encouraging him to continue, despite Magnus’s behavior.

“Magnus, I beg you to reconsider.” He was starting to beg. Desperate for Magnus to change his mind.

“Always frowning Elias. You may be immortal.” Magnus curled his nose. “But you’re immune to crow’s feet.”

Y/N rolled her eyes at her adoptive father’s statement as Elia sent her gave a pleading look at the corner of his eyes. Silently asking for her help.

But alas, she said nothing.

“You cannot invite them, nor place the meeting at the ball.” Elias began with a look of determination in his eyes. “Valentine is getting close to you, to Y/N. It is far too dangerous for the Shadowhunters to attend the event. This,” He gestures the venue.” is the beginning of a thin thread for all of us. Including yourself. You’re hanging us above to the pit of our deaths.”

“I was alive when the Dead Sea was just a lake that was feeling just a little poorly,” Magnus replied. He leaned in closer to Elias. “I value your console, truly I do. However, I can’t help but feel this will be my only chance of getting that jewel back. Not to mention the celebration of Y/N’s birthday is not to be ignored.”

Elias sighed and slumped his shoulders as Y/N stares at Magnus with a blank look. The necklace held a semi-value to him. She doesn’t know why, but it did.

“Is one necklace truly worth the risk?” Elias asked in disbelief.

“This necklace is.” Magnus gave him a solid look. “While that’s settled. Go to the Spiral Labyrinth and tell Tessa we need more shields. If any danger comes to this party, I want every warlock to be evacuated to our protective wards.” He ordered. It was the only thing that Elias had agreed, so far.

“Y/N and I may be prepared to take on Valentine, but our guests aren’t.” He patted Elias’s shoulder and took Y/N’s hand and tucks it into the crook of his elbow, leading her away from the worry warlock.

Y/N shot an apologetic look to Elias and he just shakes his head angrily before storming off to do her father’s orders.

“He’s right you know.” Y/N said to him. “Maybe we should cancel the ball-” Magnus raised his hand in front of her face.

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“But-”

“Y/N, I am telling as not just your mentor, but as your father that turning eighteen should be a grand day for young teenage girls like you. That’s why I want you to feel special, even if it’s just for today. Even if Valentine’s hunting us.”

Magnus looks down at her with a cool expression that made he would give her to calm her anxieties down. But she wouldn’t have it.

“Don’t worry about it, Bulan.” He gently rests the palm of his hand on her face. “Everything will work out just fine. I don’t want you to worry about these things. Especially on your birthday. The Circle members wouldn’t dare to ambush the ball. Not while we’re standing.”

Y/N sighed at him and she took his hand gently away from her face. “You can’t blame me for worrying about our friends. Especially Aggy.”

Agatha Geruno, also known as Aggy, is Y/N’s mundane nanny for as long as she can remember.

Before she was assigned to be her nanny. She was a simple caretaker of the Bane residence.

Back in the 1800′s, before he reunited with Camille at the time, Magnus saved Aggy’s African ancestors from a cruel owner, who would abuse them by using a whip and a hot fire iron. And after they were all rescued, they were forever in debt to the warlock for generations and had been keeping the secret of the Shadow World for almost a century now.

Aggy is the last bloodline of her family. Making her the last mundane to know about the Shadow World. And she’s always been an important part of Y/N’s life whenever Magnus has to attend a meeting with the Clave or brings her up to her room when ‘special’ clients came to their residence.

She’s basically the only woman that Y/N has ever consider as a mother.

“I know Y/N.” Magnus holds her hands gently. “But that’s why I made a precaution to insert the yes and no boxes in the invitations.”

Y/N held back a laugh. Feeling slightly a bit better thanks to her father’s so-called comedy but manages to let a small laugh escape.

“There’s that smile.” Magnus smile and gave Y/N a side hug as he leads her again. “By the way. I have a surprise for you.” He snapped his fingers and a young warlock boy came over with a decorative present.

“What’s this?” Y/N smiled with a slight frown on her face.

“A gift from your Uncle Ragnor. Since he couldn’t make it to the ball, he decided to do the best thing.” Magnus waved the warlock boy to proceed with the giving. He stepped closer and Y/N took the small card that was on top of the gift.

She opens it and reads it out loud. “ ‘My dear Y/N, I’m sorry I couldn’t make it. But until then, enjoy this gift. For he will watch over you in my absences. Love, Uncle Ragnor.’”

Y/N frowned but gave the note to Magnus to open the present. she looked inside and gasped lightly to see what Ragnor had given her. “Oh… well hello there.” She whispers.

She gave the lid to Magnus and reaches inside the gift, pulling out a small grey and yellow-eyed Persian kitten.

“Hi,” Y/N gushes quietly. “Aren’t you a little joy.”

Magnus silently sent the young warlock boy away with the empty present and note. He went beside Y/N’s side and flashes her a warm smile. “What do you think of him?”

Y/N now understands the meaning of Ragnor’s letter. “He’s perfect. Aww, look at those little eyes.” She gushes at the little creature and it let out a small meow in response.

“Now all he needs is a name,” Magnus reminded her with a smile. “What are you gonna call him?”

Y/N frowns and looks out the at one of the large windows in the venue hall. Down across the street from the building was a small white church.

She studies the little building until the words from her mind formed carefully with her lips. And a name was whispered. “Church…”

“Church?” Magnus repeated uncertainly.

“Church.” Y/N smiled widely and looks at Magnus affirmatively. “His name is Church.”

Magnus gave her a weird look but slowly wipes it away. “Strange name. But acceptable. And what about you? Can you handle being called Church for the rest of your life?” He asked the small kitten as he leans to pet it.

But the small kitten, now called Church, apparently didn’t like the warlock interfering his space with his new master. So he hissed wildly and raised a paw to scratch him.

Luckily, Magnus dodges it and steps back in surprised then glares at the small creature.”Well, I’ve never.” He says as he placed a hand on his chest.

Y/N chuckles and gently scratched the kitten’s head to calm him down.

It was all Magnus had hoped for. Watching his little girl who transformed into a beautiful woman. Blowing the candles on her three-tier cake and was whisked away by some of the guests to speak with her.

Magnus smiled and went to his own conversations with his close companions on the large staircase that resembles a lot like its twin on the other side of the venue. Where new young arrivals had come from the large doors and went down the staircase.

Clary and Isabelle wore simple, yet elegant dresses that were found in the back of Izzy’s closet for emergencies. Whilst Jace and Alec wore black tuxes. All four of them wore black masks as the invitation had instructed for them to. They were paired up to blend in with the crowd. Izzy holds on to Alec’s elbow, and Clary holding Jace’s. At first, Clary hesitated but still moved on with the plan.

“So this is what a warlock ball looks like,” Isabelle commented as she awes the dancers on the dance floor as she walked down and notices the floating flowers in the high ceiling. “Nice.”

“Hey,” Alec snaps his fingers at her face. “Remember, we are not here to have fun. We’re here on a mission.”

“I don’t know, it honestly feels like we are.” Izzy commented as a waiter passed by with a tray of glasses filled with champagne, which she happily took one when he offered them.

“He’s right.” Jace nodded. “We need to find Magnus.”

“How? Everyone here is wearing a mask.” Clary stated softly as they looked at the crowd with equals of uncertain looks.

After a moment of searching, no luck. “Spread out. It’ll save us some time.” Izzy said and they went to different directions.

Jace obviously took Clary’s hand and guide her into the crowd.

Isabelle decided to search around the resting area. Secretly hoping to get another glass of champagne.

And lastly, Alec chose to look around where the dance floor was.

But when he passed by one of the columns of the large venue, Y/N was there talking with few of the guests.

Y/N felt a small chill when Alec passed her and she was curious enough to turn and catch him walking and looking around the venue. For a moment, she thought it was one of the many guards that Magnus had hired. But when she caught a glimpse of his rune on the side of his neck and the very dark hair, she knew exactly who it was.

Alec Lightwood. She answered her own question in her head and curved the corners of her mouth.

“Excuse me.” She generously said to a couple of her friends that she was talking to and smoothly went to find the Lightwood.

Alec looked and looked. But he still couldn’t find any familiarity signs to which one of the men in the ballroom is Magnus Bane. He was about to check where Isabelle was but was stopped when a soft and silky voice was heard from behind him.

“I thought Shadowhunters weren’t allowed to this party?”

Alec turned and sees a (your eye color)-eyed girl wearing a black and laced mask that covered mostly around her eyes and the bridge of her nose. It matches well with the gown that she was wearing that complemented her aura very well. Her smile holds no emotion other than an innocent curiosity.

Unlike most of the warlocks in the ballroom. She didn’t have horns, nor gills or anything that’s considered to show the demon part of a warlock. But Alec knew better. This girl would definitely show the inhumane of her nature. Though as he was observing her casually, he suddenly felt the palms of his hands beginning to sweat as he continued to stare at the girl with an uncertain look.

“We aren’t. We were invited personally by the host.” Alec blurted out cooly. Trying not to give any attention away.

“We?” She repeated.”You mean there’s more of you?”

Alec wanted to slap his forehead. How could he be so stupid? He should’ve just kept quiet and walk away.

“Let’s see,” The girl trails off as she studies him closely but not too close. “Blue eyes, dark hair… You must be Alec Lightwood.”

Alec’s body tensed. “How do you know-”

“The Lightwoods aren’t exactly a very forgetful family in the Shadow world.” She stated with boring eyes.

“That’s not a fact.”

“It wasn’t supposed to be.” She quipped.

Even with a blank hard stare, Y/N can clearly see that she was pushing the Shadowhunter’s buttons. Which surprisingly pleases her a bit. She wasn’t one to annoy strangers other than the people who are close to her. “Care to dance?” She proposed as she offers her hand.

Alec raised his brow slightly. “Isn’t the guy suppose to ask that?”

Y/N shrugs, her expression never changing. “I guess I wanted to try to bend the rules for tonight.”

Alec shakes his head. “I don’t know how to dance.” He refused, mostly not wanting to get involved with a Downworlder.

“I don’t believe that for a second. From what I heard, you Lightwoods are excellent dancers when it comes to an event like this.”

The Shadowhunter’s blue eyes look upon the girl’s for a moment then to her hand. Raziel knows what was going through his head right now. He would be wise enough to refuse the girl’s offer. Or just rip the Band-Aid and dance with the Downworlder.

With a light sigh and closing his eyes for a moment. He took the girl’s hand and wordlessly lead her to the floor.

No one stopped when the young pair came to join to dance. Alec glided and guided the girl to the floor. Perfectly matching the pattern of the dance. Soon enough, there were no falters as they sync perfectly to the tempo of the music and dance along with the guests around them.

He turns them both elegantly and continued to follow the tempo of the music and followed the other dancers’ pattern. He and the other male guests lift their partners up and swiftly placed them back on the floor. The Shadowhunter and the Downworlder then found themselves in a hammerlock position as they turn in a circle two times. Staring into each other’s eyes.

In his quiet yet strategic mind. Alec was actually grateful for the lessons that his mother had thought him and Jace when they were little kids. Actually thankful for his mother’s suggestion in case for events like this. But dancing with a Downworlder was honestly not one of those events unless it was for a mission. Which is now.

Though if he was truthful, he finds the girl’s (color) eyes rather… hypnotizing.

As they dance, silent actions were taken when Jace had finally spotted the target. Standing on the top of the large staircase as he was speaking happily with a couple while holding his mask by the handle.

“Magnus!” Jace says his name loud enough to catch the High Warlock’s attention. But instantly regrets it when the music had stopped and suddenly felt numerous eyes at his and Clary’s way as they both take off their masks.

The guests on the dance floor stopped to see why the music had stopped playing and Alec immediately looked concern and silently cursed when he saw Jace being the center of attention. Meanwhile, Y/N watched him at the corner of her eye carefully to see what his next move will be.

Magnus turns slowly to see who was calling him and softly puts down his mask when he saw-“Jace Wayland.” He smiles in coy. “I see you got my invite.”

Jace merely nods and steps forward with Clary beside him. Magnus steps down the staircase with his eyes never leaving the newly arrivals.

“And who’s this?” Magnus’ eyes turned to Clary. “Do my eyes deceive me? Clary Fairchild,” He stops until he was a few steps between them. “Grown into a beautiful woman.” He studies her from head to toe.

“Magnus Bane. “Clary dries out his name with a disgusted look on her face. “So you’re the one who stole my memories.”

“At your mother’s request,” Magnus interjected joyfully. “She knew the risk.”

He turns to Jace with his hand extended forward. “Show me the jewelry, Shadowhunter.”

Jace lifts his hand and shows the necklace, dangling teasingly to show Magnus. The warlock smiles in satisfy and went to grab it. But Jace made a small taunting sound as he retreats the necklace back from Magnus’ reach.

“Give Clary her memories back and you get the jewelry.” He demands softly.

“I have to confirm it’s authenticity.”

Hesitated, Jace and Clary shared a brief look before Jace cringed slightly in defeat and reluctantly hands over the necklace.

Magnus smiles at it loving and flips it over. Clary leans in a bit to see that there was an in graving in the back.

“Amor verus numquam moritur.” Magnus says then translates it. “ ’True love can never die.’ Oh, how I miss this jewel. But it feels as if it’s incomplete without a new owner.” He quickly glances to the blonde Shadowhunter then looks past the pair. “Bulan!”

He calls over them and all heads were turned to where Alec was standing on the dance floor. At first, Alec was confused about what Magnus had said to make all the Downworlders in the venue to stare at him. But then he realizes it wasn’t him that everyone was staring at, but the girl that he was dancing with.

He turned his head to her and sees her staring up at him with guilt in her eyes. She leans up a little to whisper. “I’m sorry.” And pulls herself out of his grasp as he looks at her with a shocked look.

He had been dancing with the High Warlock’s daughter the whole time. But what scared him the most was not his disgusted feelings towards the Downorlder, but the strange feeling that he had experienced for her at the dance not just a moment ago.

Y/N reaches to her father and tugs her skirt a bit to walk up the staircase. And when she did, she notices that study look that Clary was giving her. Like she was figuring out something. She wasn’t surprised, they were playmates when they were children.

But that didn’t mean that Clary was eery about the sorceress. Though she couldn’t deny, that aura she was getting from the girl that past her to get to her father was familiar. Like she knew her before.

When Y/N came beside Magnus, told her to turn around and she did.

“An exquisite piece like this, should be worn by someone who can outwit its beauty.” Magnus says as he put the necklace around her neck.

Y/N smiled and turns to him to speak a thick language that Clary and Jace couldn’t understand. “ Terima kasih Ayah. Itu seindah yang kamu gambarkan.”

(Thank you father, it’s as beautiful as you described.)

Magnus gave his daughter a loving look for a moment before Jace cleared his throat to grabbed their attention.

“Now it’s your turn to pay up.” Clary notifies. Clearly, want to rush the deal a bit.

“Yes,” Magnus agree. “Well… I wish I could retrieve your memories but I no longer have them.”

“What?!” Clary exclaimed softly in horror.”Where are they!?”

“I fed them to a memory demon for safe keeping.”

Jace glares. “Why the hell would you do that?”

“To protect Clary and the Cup.” Magnus states it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “If Valentine would ever capture me. He could torture Clary’s memories out of me just like he tortured Dot.”

“Torture?” Clary repeats in both worry and confuse. “Wait, is Dot okay?”

Magnus and Y/N shared a glance before Y/N steps down to her. “You don’t know?”

Clary didn’t answer, which clears Y/N suspicions. “Dot is dead.”

Soft grief immediately formed on the redhead’s face. “What?… How do you know?”

“We can’t feel her magic anymore.” Y/N explains softly for her. “Valentine killed her because she would not betray your mother.”

“Oh my God.” Clary mutters in disbelief with as well as despair.

Magnus followed his daughter’s steps and gently grabs Clary’s arm. “Come with us, Clary. My lair could offer you protection no Shadowhunter could ever could.”

Jace scoffs at the idea.

“No,” Clary frees herself from Magnus’s hold. “No, I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“Don’t be a fool. Your mother would’ve wanted you to live.”

“Then help me get my memories back from whatever demon you give.” Clary snarled at him. “As for your offer. My answer is no. I won’t hide from my problems and neither should you.”

Y/N then steps in front of Magnus and gave Clary a soft but hard look that was a bit intimidating for the Shadowhunter to take.

“You think this is about our safety? Do you think we care about your problems? Look around you.”

Clary looks behind and sees that most of the guests at the ball had taken off their masks and suddenly notices that there were a few children in the venue. Some of them were toddlers, but most of them were in their preteens.

“This isn’t about cowardice or bravery, those are your costs. Our cost is the people you see before you.” Clary Then looks back at her as Y/N continues.

“You may have lost someone, but how many do you think that we’ve lost? Every man, woman, and children in this room had felt the taste of Valentine’s bloodlust. The worst part is that it was only a drop of what we had experienced throughout those horrible years.” Y/N looks over Clary’s head and saw the respected looks that she was receiving from the floor. But she stopped briefly to stare at a certain pair of black eyes.

Alec didn’t know what to think. After listening to Y/N. He had suddenly felt a somewhat of respect for her loyalty to her kind.

They stare at each other for a split second before Y/N looks back down at Clary and Alec took his chance to leave the crowd to search in the room for Izzy. He spots her near the other staircase and noticed how the way she silently signals him to come forward and points at the large doors behind her. Eyes alarmed and her whip was out.

Something was wrong.

“He��s planning something.” Y/N said. “And I will not have the people I grew up with, die for whatever cause he’s creating.”

“Jace!” Alec’s voice had suddenly called from the other side of the venue. By the looks of it, he has his bow and arrow out with a look that’s similar to his sister beside him. “Circle members.”

Everyone in the hall began to panic and some even screamed in fear. Luckily, some of the warlocks had started to create portals to escape the venue as fast as possible. Y/N acted fast and launches her hand at the gates of the other side to cast place a protective shield, long enough for their friends to evacuate to the protective wards.

Meanwhile, Magnus created a portal behind them. “Y/N,” He says.” You need to go. Make sure that everyone is settled. I’ll hold them off. Aggy, go with her.” He instructed at an older African American woman, who came by down to go to Y/N’s side.

Y/N shot him a frightened glance as she tries to take her wrist out of her surrogate mother’s hold. “No. I-I won’t leave you here!”

“You don’t have a choice,” Magnus argues. “Go. I’ll be okay.”

Hesitated, Y/N didn’t want to leave him to fight by himself. Anything could happen if they were ever apart in this kind of chaos. She couldn’t even bare imagine it. But he was right. She was the only person powerful enough to make sure the shields of their home was strong to fed off any Circle Members. She needed to go.

Before any of them could speak. A loud boom echoed the hall, it was so powerful that the chandelier started to shake by its noise.

“Go!” Magnus yells. Leading her to the front of the portal.

So without another word. Y/N kissed her father’s cheek and went into the portal with Aggy following behind. After then, the portal disappeared. Along with the High Warlock’s daughter.

=====================================================================================================================================================

Part 2 will be coming soon.

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canaryatlaw · 6 years ago

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alright, it’s late and I have to be up early for the interview so let’s get writing. Today was alright, not very exciting but fine. I couldn’t fall asleep for my LIFE last night and ended up only passing out sometime after 5, so I definitely did not get enough sleep, even with being able to sleep in till 11 when my alarm went off. I started getting ready, and I gave myself a little extra time than I normally would to get to the allergist because I was going to their office that’s slightly closer to me than the other one was, but then we hit traffic and it was raining so I ended up being late but thankfully it didn’t end up being an issue. So this was to check the patch testing I had on my back for the last two days. Apparently one of them sort of reacted, and they want to check again in a week because sometimes they get worse over time so I have another appointment for them next week. I ubered back home and got changed into comfortable clothes for the chiropractor since I had a 3 pm appointment. It was a good session, not terribly eventful but fine. The girl I’ve been doing PT with is apparently moving to another location and today was my last session with her so I was kinda sad about that, because I liked her better than the other guy who did it sometimes lol but oh well. When I got home from that I ended up running some emergency food supplies over to Jess (pedialyte I had leftover from when I had the flu, applesauce, and cinnamon raisin bread for toast) as she seemed to have once again contracted food poisoning from some food that had gone bad and had to abruptly come home from her job in the middle of the day because of it. I was kinda annoyed to see I didn’t have any of the anti-nausea medicine I like, called Emetrol, that works really well to stop throwing up (except the last time I used it it was too late to stop so I just ended up throwing up bright pink applesauce, which wasn’t fun lol) so I might have to pick some of that up soon. It’s unfortunate because we were supposed to be seeing Rent on tour tonight but obviously Jess was in no condition to go, and I’ve seen a dozen productions of the show at this point (Rent and Les Mis are the two shows I’ve seen the most productions of) so I tried to find someone to take the tickets but was ultimately unsuccessful, which was unfortunate but oh well, it happens. I returned to my apartment and laid on the floor with the ice pack on my back for a while and then sat down on the couch with my laptop while watching last night’s Riverdale (totally ridiculous, as expected) and then the news for a bit. I ended up eating some of the leftovers from last night’s dinner. I had a really strong hankering for ice cream but like, good stuff, not the subpar stuff I had in my freezer, so I ended up putting in a grubhub order for a pint of ice cream from this place I’ve only been to twice but they have the best fucking ice cream and I’ve been dying to have this flavor again (it was cream puff) since I last had it like, over a year ago lol so I felt like I was overdue. So I ate that and watched this week’s Supergirl. I would definitely say it was one of the stronger episodes of the season, the more Lex focused ones have been much better than the others so that’s good at least. I wish we got more actual screen time with Lex, but what we did get was done very well. I had to laugh when they had the clone Kara put down her face shield while they were fighting because they didn’t want to have to spend money on the special effects to make two Kara’s fighting each other lol. I definitely cried at the end with Alex, I’m very glad she has her memories back, it was really getting painful for her to be in the dark this long without any real justification. Seeing Lockwood realize he got played by Lex was really fucking satisfying lol I hate him so much. So yeah, I’m not sure when I’ll actually get around to watching the season finale that airs on Sunday since I’m gonna be at a con this weekend but at this point I’d say I’m looking forward to it a fair amount, which definitely isn’t something I thought I’d say in the beginning of the season. After that I watched like half an episode of the big family cooking showdown before watching Brooklyn 99′s season finale, which was of course hilarious, and then finished the earlier episode before switching over to the news for a bit, but ultimately going to shower and start getting ready for bed a bit earlier than I normally do (not that it ever really makes a difference being that it’s still 12:20 am when I’m actually writing this). Oh well, I’m going to sleep now. Interview at 10 am tomorrow morning, I’m pretty psyched because I think this could really work, so if any of you want to send prayers/good vibes/whatever you do my way that would be much appreciated. Goodnight friends. Happy Friday.

#daily journal #May 2019 #Jess tag #Rachel watches Supergirl

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sambergscott · 6 years ago

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that’s what brothers are for

read on ao3

Jake hears his seven new brothers before he sees them.

(He’d met them all pretty soon after he started dating Amy, a week or two after Amy had first told her family she was seeing him. Her brothers had apparently been desperate to meet “the famous Jake Peralta” and Amy couldn’t hold them off for long. He was super nervous because he’d assumed they were going to play the intimidating big brother act and they did try, but they realised quickly that Jake was awesome and perfect for their sister and the eight of them became friends immediately. Ever since, they’d all met up once a week to drink beer and eat pizza and play video games and tease Jake about his relationship with Amy. Obviously their budding bromance had been put on pause when Jake was in Florida, and again when Jake was falsely imprisoned, but when he was released and admitted his plans to propose to their sister on Halloween, his relationship with all seven Santiago brothers grew stronger than ever.

After his cancelled wedding, and then the makeshift Precinct wedding which their families all missed, the Santiagos decided to arrange a celebration at Shaw’s bar with their sister’s new husband.

Jake had asked if Amy could come - because he kind of hated being separated from her - but her brothers had insisted that no girls were allowed.

“Sorry, Ames,” he’d said, showing her the messages in the WhatsApp group chat. “I can’t get them to change their minds.”

He kissed away her disappointed pout and promised he’d make it up to her when he got back from the bar.

“I’m holding you to that,” she’d replied, biting her lip. “I’ll be waiting in that lingerie I ordered last night.”

Jake almost cancelled on her brothers then and there but she’d shooed him out the apartment, giggling as he kept asking for “just one last kiss” before he left.

After nine goodbye kisses, he finally relented and left for his favourite bar in Brooklyn.

As he was the first to arrive, he ordered himself a beer and texted Amy several times about how much he missed her already and how much her brothers sucked for not letting her join them. Before he could send the next text ( “babe, you’re the best wife I’ve ever had” ), he heard a loud group of men approaching the bar and slid his phone back into his pocket. The Santiagos had arrived.)

“Jake!” Tony exclaims, the first to stride over to the bar and hug Jake tightly. “Congrats, man.”

“You finally made an honest woman out of our Amy, huh?” Luis teases, next to hug their favourite detective.

Tomas, Mateo and Carlos follow, with Bruno and Alex the last to mob the newest addition to the Santiago clan.

Jake grins broadly as Mateo orders a round of beers and they find a table big enough for all of them, thrilled to be a part of the close bond between the brothers.

“To Jake!” They all toast, ignoring Jake’s reminders that their sister just got married, too.

“Forget her, Peralta. You’re our favourite person in the NYPD.”

“I’m telling her that,” Jake quips, laughing as Tomas’ eyes bulge. They all know Amy can be super scary when she wants to be. “Oh, and it’s, Santiago- Peralta, thank you very much. We’re both taking each other’s names.”

“You’re officially one of us then, man,” Alex replies, toasting to Jake again. He downs his beer and gestures to Hank behind the bar to bring them all another round. “How was the Honeymoon?”

“Incredible.” A dreamy expression passes over Jake’s face and everyone rolls their eyes.

“Here we go. He’s got that dopey look he gets whenever he talks about Ames. Why would you encourage him, Al?”

Alex shrugs as Jake protests loudly that he does not get a dopey look on his face.

“You definitely do. Amy’s so beautiful. I love Amy so much. I’m so lucky to be with Amy,” Carlos says in a spot-on impression of Jake, his brothers howling with laughter.

“I do not sound like that,” Jake insists.

“I do not sound like that,” Carlos mimics and even Jake laughs this time.

“But seriously, Paris was awesome. I think Amy looks even more beautiful in France than she does in America.”

“Oh to be a newlywed again,” Bruno, the eldest, says, patting Jake on the back. “I bet you can’t keep your hands off each other, right?”

Jake colours, thinking about Amy joining him in the shower before he left the apartment and the new lingerie Amy promised to wear when he returned.

“Ew! Gross! That’s our sister, Jake!”

“Bruno asked!”

“Make the most of it now, man. You won’t get two minutes of peace when you have kids. Mason almost walked in on us last week and we had to stop. I still haven’t forgiven him.”

“Kids?” Jake balks. “I got married three weeks ago and we’re having kids already?”

“Amy must have talked to you about kids,” Luis says, amused. “She only wants about a hundred.”

“Luis is kidding,” Tony quickly interjects at Jake’s terrified expression. “She wants two or three. But she does want them before she becomes captain, so you better hurry up and give us more nieces and nephews.”

“How do you know all this and I don’t? Kids aren’t on her life calendar…”

“Maybe she didn’t want to scare you off.”

“She’s been talking our ears off about being a mom since she was, like, seven. She used to pretend Tom was her baby and put diapers on him and everything.”

The tips of Tomas’ ears turn red. “Will you ever shut up about that?”

“You were an eleven year old boy wearing Winnie the Pooh diapers over your pants and it was fucking hilarious, so, no - unlikely.”

Jake chuckles, storing that information in the back of his mind in order to ask Camila if she has any pictures of it the next time he visits Amy’s childhood home. Knowing Camila, who has documented every moment of her children’s lives and organised everything from baby photographs and tiny baby shoes to high school report cards and medals from soccer competitions into binders and boxes for each one of her eight children, she definitely will.

“You do want kids though, don’t you?” Alex asks, suddenly serious.

Jake takes a large gulp of his beer. “Uh, I mean… yeah, of course. Yeah, I want kids. Just not right away,” he adds quickly. “I want to enjoy spending time just the two of us first.”

“Gross,” Mateo repeats.

“Grow up, man. We’re happy.”

“Mateo’s just jealous that he’s the only one here who’s still single.”

“ Hey!” Mateo cries. “I’ll have you know that I’ve been seeing this one lady for the past few weeks and she really likes me.”

“And do you like her back?”

“The Jury’s still out.”

“Mom’s going to start setting you up with her friends’ daughters soon,” Tony warns.

“She already has,” Mateo murmurs under his breath, embarrassed.

“It’s OK, man. Your mom was trying to set Amy up with random dudes even after Amy told her she was dating me.”

“Really?”

“Yep. Apparently Amy would have been better suited to somebody with a better credit score who was obsessed with organisation and crosswords,” Jake says, shaking his head. “Camila even told her we wouldn’t last and that Ames should ‘keep her options open’. I don’t think she ever imagined Amy marrying me.”

“Well, we’re all really glad she did.”

“Mom and dad, too.”

“Yeah, we’re so happy for you, man.”

“Thanks,” Jake grins. “I still can’t believe I actually have a wife. Is that weird?”

“Nah, it takes a while to feel real,” Bruno replies, spotting a familiar face entering Shaw’s bar from over Jake’s shoulder. “Speaking of your wife…” He nods his head in Amy’s direction and, as Jake turns around and sees her, Jake’s grin grows impossibly wide.

All seven Santiago brothers boo and jeer as he gets up and kisses her, eventually guiding her to the table when Carlos yells for them to “get your asses over here”.

“We were pretty clear when we said you weren’t invited,” Alex says as Amy sits down on Jake’s lap, one arm curled around his shoulders, her fingers idly playing with the hair at the nape of his neck as her brothers tease her relentlessly.

“Yeah, sis, we thought you were the smart one in the family.”

“I missed Jake too much to stay away and I am the smart one in the family. Ask dad.”

“Yeah, yeah, we all know you’re dad’s favourite.”

“Daddy’s little girl,” Mateo cajoles from next to Jake and Amy, earning himself a playful slap from his younger sister.

“Well, Jake is our favourite out of the two of you.”

“ What?”

“Sorry, babe,” Jake says with false sincerity, high-fiving Tony behind her back.

“I heard that, Jacob. And I can’t believe all of you prefer him to me, your own sister.”

Luis shrugs. “He’s more fun than you.”

“And he likes the Nets,” Tomas chimes in.

“And Diehard.”

(Jake high-fives Tony again for that one).

“Unbelievable,” she says, glaring at all of them. “I’m going to get a beer and I’m not getting one for any of you. Not even you, Jake.”

She climbs off his lap and storms over to the bar, Jake staring helplessly after her.

“If I miss out on sexy-timez tonight because of this I am never hanging out with any of you again.”

(Jake decides to call it a night after Amy downs her fourth drink, knowing sober-Amy would not want to be around her brothers in her super horny four-drink state. Amy crashes her lips against Jake’s the moment they’re through their apartment door, because of course she does, and he unbuttons her floral shirt and tugs down her jeans to reveal a half-naked Amy, wearing only a black thong that reads “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good”. Jake has to stop what they’re doing to laugh solidly for five minutes because that’s what his wife meant by the sexy new underwear she’d ordered and that’s freaking hilarious, Ames).

(The Harry Potter underwear quickly becomes Jake’s favourite to pull off his wife).

(His decisions clouded by God knows how many beers, Jake puts a message in the “Magnificent Seven + Jake” group chat, bragging about Amy’s awesome new lingerie and how many different places in their apartment he’d boinked his wife. They all complain because gross, that’s our sister, Peralta!!!!! and threaten to remove Jake from the band of brothers).

(Nevertheless, he ends up playing basketball with them the next weekend because they do love him. But none of them ever watch Harry Potter again).

#b99 fics #Jake x Amy #jake peralta #amy santiago #my writing

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johnboothus · 4 years ago

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11 Years of Untappd: How One App Gamified the Relentless Pursuit of Novelty

On Jan. 20, Gregory Avola announced he was stepping down as chief creative officer of Untappd, the online beer platform he helped found and then actively ran for a decade. This, Avola writes, is driven by a lifestyle change, and he will remain at Untappd’s parent company, Next Glass, as executive advisor. As when software developer Next Glass purchased Untappd in 2016, and then joined it with newer purchase Beer Advocate in 2020, this update is stirring up conversation and reflection on Untappd’s impact on beer culture.

Such reflection yields a mixed bag. In the 11 years since it launched, Untappd has facilitated a wider-reaching community in beer. It’s helped users find beers they otherwise wouldn’t, and, therefore, has helped breweries reach new customers. Some, however, feel that Untappd has fueled “ticker culture,” and that its rating system is a breeding ground for biased, baseless ratings that only favor hype beers and often hurt breweries. Beer’s relationship with Untappd might be complicated, but Untappd’s role has proven undeniably significant.

Foursquare for Beer

Avola created Untappd with Tim Mather in 2010. Perhaps surprisingly, he wasn’t all that into beer when he started working on the app.

“My main interest was in communities and building social platforms to connect people in different ways,” he tells me in a recent call. Avola and Mather used Foursquare as a model — which the press ran with — but, as Avola puts it, with more focus on what those check-ins could do. “No one cares if you’re checking in at a grocery store,” he says. “But people checking in at bars, saying what they’re drinking, that starts connecting people across the globe.”

Avola wanted to take the inherent social aspect of craft beer and grow it online. At the time, there were only BeerAdvocate and RateBeer, both representing an older generation in beer. Untappd arrived at the party hot on the heels of IPAs becoming a thing people traveled and waited in hours-long lines for, a ready and willing platform for drinkers to discover, share, swap info, and, by checking in that they were at those hype breweries drinking those hype beers, brag. In a way, and as was Avola’s intention, Untappd became a wide-scale, virtual tasting room where beer geeks could talk shop but, coming from different cities and even countries instead of different barstools, they could introduce each other to new brews. Avola says that at the time he was living in New York City and learned what Fat Tire was when Mather, living on the West Coast, checked it in.

The Next Generation of Beer Raters

Whereas BeerAdvocate’s pages were filled with long, thoughtful beer reviews, Untappd catered to a generation of beer drinkers that was always on to the next and wanting an app to keep up. This is why Untappd is credited with — or blamed for — “ticker culture.” After all, while Untappd was still in its infancy, The Alchemist was able to survive closing its brewpub after Hurricane Irene by pumping Heady Topper out of its production brewery. There’s no telling if this could have happened had Untappd been in its prime, fueling beer seekers to move on in search of a hot IPA they hadn’t already tried. Indeed, within a few years, the script had flipped. How to be a beer nerd went from having a discerning dedication to select brews to relentlessly trying every new beer released. The proof of your beer cred was in your Untappd portfolio, where millions of fellow users could marvel at the sheer breadth of hype beers you’d checked in.

“Ticker culture represents an emphasis on breadth of experience over depth,” says Alex Kidd, of Don’t Drink Beer. “The pour sizes seem to diminish, the style ratings seem to be heavily skewed as a result, and the check-ins seem to be a system of accomplishments predicated on consumption over contemplation.”

At best, it could be argued, ticker culture catalyzes beer sales by keeping drinkers motivated with the thrill of the hunt. At worst, it can be an arrow through the heart of brewers’ ability to create and diversify their offerings, since the haziest IPAs, slushiest sours, and most candy-packed pastry stouts are going to win ticks every time over a loving homage to an English mild. This can also hurt beer sales for breweries on an individual basis, if they decide to commit the cardinal sin of making the same beers and therefore lose luster in the eyes of tick-seekers.

“I don’t want to be an old crank who decries ticker culture, but I really can’t imagine what positive impact it could have on anything,” says beer writer Will Gordon. “The most obvious downside,” Gordon continues, is too many people “stumbling around juggling flights and phones in their mad dash to overrate beers that are either too sweet or too sour.”

“Ticker culture is negative, full stop,” says Gage Siegel, founder of Brooklyn’s Non Sequitur Beer Project, citing people buying cases of beer just to flip and festival-goers trying to cram in 100 different beer pours in three-hour time slots as less-than-ideal results. “Ticker culture certainly doesn’t start or end with Untappd, but I’d say they did a lot to normalize it [and] make it easier to participate in.”

An Inevitable Evolution in How Drinkers Engage With Craft Beer

The ticker-culture discussion never happens without mentioning Untappd, but it’s important to clarify: The app did not create ticker culture. It has aided what could be considered human nature in an industry exponentially exploding with new options every year. One could get bogged down in a chicken-or-egg quandary: Do breweries continuously push the envelope to meet the demand of tick-hungry Untappd users, or are tick-hungry Untappd users tripping over themselves to keep up with the constant deluge of hop innovations and wacky adjuncts? It’s a two-way street, and Untappd provides the platform for everyone to talk about it.

“Untappd serviced ticker culture, but I feel comfortable saying it would have happened anyway,” says beer and spirits journalist and author Tara Nurin. “Across any number of industries … younger generations are more peripatetic. … It’s about what’s next, what’s new, and that plays out very profoundly in beer.” Nurin has mixed feelings about the way Untappd has arguably “gamified” beer. On one hand, it’s a great push for people to try new things. On the other, it could disincentivize people revisiting brews.

“I do think the novelty effect can be harmful to breweries,” says beer writer Carla Jean Lauter. “The pressures of ‘newness’ have led to some of the proliferation of extremely similar beers (e.g., having eight IPAs on tap at once) to try to give something new, rather than to just provide the best.”

Subjective and Unqualified: How Ratings Affect Breweries

Whichever side of the fence one falls in the ticker culture debate, one specific aspect of Untappd’s rating system that helps propel it is especially murky: the subjectivity. Even the industry insiders we spoke with who generally like the app acknowledged that the ratings are far from uniformly trustworthy. Many users skip actually commenting on their beers in favor of punching a number of “caps,” from zero to five. These ratings are obviously completely personal and often offer no explanation, yet, as Siegel points out, they’re considered by beer buyers at stores and bars as well as consumers weighing their beer options. The problem is, what a “3” or a “4.5” means can vary wildly from one person to the next. There’s no agreed-upon metric.

“I’ve just never put faith in numeric ratings of beer,” Lauter says. “In Untappd’s case, there’s also the twist that many people for a long time treated the reviews as their own personal tastes. ‘If I don’t like pineapple on pizza, and I order a pineapple pizza, I give it one star just to remind myself: Yep, still don’t like that.’”

The range of expertise among Untappd’s millions of users may range from from zero to cicerone, but on average, these ratings aren’t coming from people with beer-judging criteria. In some cases, this can be great, as it levels the playing field for anyone who’s enthusiastic about beer. It can be not so great but harmless if you remember to take rankings with a grain of salt. Or, it can do a bit of damage to some breweries.

“Some people develop an over-inflated sense of self because of their amount of check-ins, and they think this makes them some sort of expert despite the fact that they have no formal beer education,” says Paulina Olivares, Sacramento Pink Boots Society chapter leader, who notes that this issue isn’t exclusive to Untappd. Olivares says she’s stopped rating beers on Untappd unless it’s a “5.”

Of course, subjectivity as a concept also isn’t something Untappd created, but for all of its positive features, the app has become such an authority, and the microphone it therefore gives to biased, careless, and/or ungrounded opinions can now in some cases actually affect whether a brewery’s beer makes it onto shelves. A beer might not get a high rating from the Untappd masses because it isn’t hazy or dank enough, even if that wasn’t the brewer’s intention, and many retail outlets take those ratings into consideration. They could therefore decide against selling what could be a perfectly great beer. And this can create pressure on breweries to stick to what lights up the ratings board on Untappd.

As Avola points out in our call, this is rating culture. It happens with everything from restaurants to dry cleaners on Yelp. And yes, it even happens to Untappd itself in the form of one-star, “this-app-sucks” reviews in app stores based on one-off experiences with little context. Avola says he understands that it’s frustrating for breweries to see their beers rated poorly, beers they put a lot of effort into. These subjective rankings, though, are a by-product of Untappd’s main goal to help people share what they’re finding and drinking. The downsides of this are something Avola says really can’t be policed, but that he hopes can be mended as Untappd continues to evolve.

A Platform for Visibility, Discovery, and Nostalgia

On the flip side of the biased ratings are some of Untappd’s key tenets. There is community on a global scale, more relevant now than ever as most beer drinking is done at home, and poised to only become more crucial as beer culture and even beer retail grow online. There is increased visibility, discovery, and access between users and breweries.

Plus, as many users report, Untappd is a helpful tool for tracking one’s own beers: It’s less about a rating for others to see, and more about actually being able to organize and remember brews you loved and brews you didn’t love. This becomes increasingly helpful as the number of options in craft beer only grows and styles bloom into sub-styles and hybrids year after year.

“I do feel like more and more people are using it just to keep track of what they’ve drank versus tracking ratings,” says beer Instagrammer Valerie Delligatti, who appreciates being able to remember what she’s sampled from breweries to (pre-pandemic) bottle shares.

This is even a helpful professional tool, as beer writers can track and sort brews they try and report on, something beer writer and “former semi-professional blackjack player” Mike Pomranz values, noting that even if it weren’t free, he’d pay Untappd for this feature. Checking in beers creates your own library to refer back to whenever needed. “When I check in beers … I am thinking about what I’ll want to know later,” Pomranz says. “So, someone asks me for a good IPA in Arizona. Well, I haven’t been there in a while, but I can filter IPAs produced in Arizona and then sort those by rating, and then read my notes and boom, I have the perfect beer ready to go.”

This also creates a sort of scrapbook for craft beer lovers. “I personally love the nostalgia of looking back and remembering where [I was] when I had a certain beer,” says craft beer drinker and wellness coach Amanda Steele. “That’s kind of my favorite thing about Untappd.”

Beyond this core tracking function, Nurin notes that by the same token as Untappd possibly deterring users from returning to beers in favor of trying new finds, it can just as easily be a conduit for users to remember beers they love. While we spoke, she scrolled through her feed and found promos poised to remind users that a beer they loved once is on sale, or a bar they forgot about is doing a great happy hour. Speak with enough users and it becomes clear: Untappd has definitely, if inadvertently, provided a stage for ticker culture and its disadvantages for breweries. But it’s also achieved its goal of creating a virtual community for beer drinkers, and it’s proven itself quite the handy tool for tracking a whole wide world of beers.

The Future of Untappd

All that remains is to see how Untappd continues to evolve, especially in this new, increasingly online chapter, and how beer culture will evolve alongside it. One safe bet is on Untappd increasing its attention to international markets: In 2020, the app saw growth in European cities where it saw declines in the U.S.

In December, Next Glass also acquired digital beer magazine and event producer Hop Culture; according to Hop Culture founder and now creative director at Next Glass Kenny Gould, we’ll be seeing further integration of Next Glass acquisitions Untappd, Hop Culture, Oznr, and Beer Advocate, playing to the unique contributions each of these has made to beer culture. “I think we’ll continue to see the development of a digital craft beer community,” Gould says, “with more content, sales, and connections happening online.”

The article 11 Years of Untappd: How One App Gamified the Relentless Pursuit of Novelty appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/untapped-impact-craft-beer/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/11-years-of-untappd-how-one-app-gamified-the-relentless-pursuit-of-novelty

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wineanddinosaur · 4 years ago

Text

11 Years of Untappd: How One App Gamified the Relentless Pursuit of Novelty

Foursquare for Beer

Avola created Untappd with Tim Mather in 2010. Perhaps surprisingly, he wasn’t all that into beer when he started working on the app.

The Next Generation of Beer Raters

An Inevitable Evolution in How Drinkers Engage With Craft Beer

Subjective and Unqualified: How Ratings Affect Breweries

A Platform for Visibility, Discovery, and Nostalgia

The Future of Untappd

The article 11 Years of Untappd: How One App Gamified the Relentless Pursuit of Novelty appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/untapped-impact-craft-beer/

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zakamore1 · 7 years ago

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before i do some D&D for today I wanna take up @chapelseed‘s dare and post the first chapter of my book. It’s not great, and not fully proofread but I feel like sharing it owo

so without further ado, chapter one of Inner Sin

Inner Sin

Book 1

Original Sin

Chapter 1

Nightmares

As usual, the subway was an overcrowded mess. Bodies pushed up against each other hanging onto flimsy metal bands while the few and lucky people got their seat off to the side, many of them filling the seats around them with whatever useless junk they dragged with them. Chris Mattews was one such lucky person, having gotten on at such a remote station in the city and at such an ungodly hour that it was empty by the time he'd gotten on. He couldn't complain either, he'd hate to be one of the drones of people around him standing in silent anger, especially with what little sleep he had gotten the night before. Where he was was comfortable for him.

So much so it wasn't surprising he'd drift off…

The crowded train was gone from view. In its place Chris was left in an endless expanse of black, the floor seeming to ripple with each careful step he took.

“Hello?” He called out, his voice echoing around from every direction. On and on the only sound he heard was his own and the only thing he could see was black.

The voice he heard started to turn from his own, sounding distorted and scratchy. The rippling of the ground stopped coming from Chris’ steps, they were coming from in front of him.

Hellohellohellohellohhhhheeeeeeelllllllll

“Ooooooo? Chris, anyone home in there?” Chris was stirred awake by the person next to him, moving the brown bangs of his long messy hair out from his eyes. Ricky was ready to snap in his face again as he had been for the past few minutes, giving a cocky grin to his friend as he came to.

“‘Ey there we go! Up and at em Chris boy, we're almost at our stop.” Ricky’s voice bled with his Brooklyn origins. “You still jet lagged or somethin’?”

“Uh yeah… guess so.” Chris said as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, grabbing his bag and joining his friend standing. “Honestly ever since I got back I've been having bad dreams.”

“No kiddin’? Sure you don't need to see ol’ Rouge then?” Ricky snickered, reaching into his pocket to show the top of a bag. “Or maybe more medicinal help~?”

“Fuck off Ricky,” Chris’ voice turned stern, a ding and muffled voice over the train’s sound system announcing they were at their stop. “I'm not buying your crap.” He then quickly followed along with the crowd of people exiting the train, leaving his friend to roll his eyes.

“Pfft, stick.”

Chris imagined his high school was like just about every other one; old, poorly funded, and filled with people he didn't know or care about. His only focus towards anyone in the school was limited to the people of his class, all of which were scattered around the room chatting away as he entered.

“Good lord Micheal!” Screamed out the short blonde girl, Brianna, to her much taller peer. “Can you not keep it in your pants for one night? I can barely hear my own thoughts with all that noise from your apartment!”

“So sorry Bri, but I just couldn't help myself!” Micheal chuckled to his neighbor, waving her off. “Besides, if you couldn't sleep you could have always joi-”

“God no!! Keep you and your little… sexcapades outta my life.” She huffed, taking her seat at the front of the class. As she sat she was joined by her desk neighbor, Chris, turning to him now. “Honestly, can you believe him? Why do people fall for him?”

“Couldn't tell you,” Chris shrugged, leaning onto his desk with his head in his hands. “I've just learned to tune his room out at this point.”

Brianna shook her head in annoyance, leaving Chris to listen in on the rest of his classmates.

“‘Ey how you doing there Jenna? Enjoyed yourself last night, I hear from a buddy you got some good stuff.” He heard Ricky say, most likely near the back of the class talking up to Jenna, who was more than likely already high off her mind and blankly staring off into space next to Alex.

“Shut up Ricky…” she said, a groan coming from her. “It's from my doctor not your creep friends…”

“‘Ey who said I'm not friends with doctors? Heheheh!”

Chris let the snickering voice of Ricky fill his head as he slowly felt himself drift back off into sleep…

Once again Chris was back in the dark void he was in before, the floor he was on before now a pitch black liquid that reached his knees. All around him he could hear the same laugh that brought him back here, reverberating from all around this void.

“This is a weird ass dream…” Chris said to himself, his own voice drowned out by the laughter. Looking down at his legs he could see the ripples in the water once again coming from somewhere in front of him. But he wasn't prepared for what was there.

Emerging from the liquid was a mass of black gunk, writhing and shaking to and fro as it grew. The mass began to slender up into a long form, the top pushing forward towards Chris. From the very top popped open two, large, glowing yellow eyes, the slitted irises pointing down on Chris. The two shared a silent staring contest for a time before an elongated row of jagged, yellow teeth grew across the “face” of this mass, forming a smile. The jagged mouth opened to follow along with the laughter echoing through the room, the sound becoming distorted and corrupted as it synced up with the noise.

HeheheHEHeheHehEHEheheHEHEHEhEheH

“Mr. Mattews!!” Was the words yelled down at Chris that woke him from his unconscious state. Looking up Chris was met by the scrutinizing stare of his teacher, Mr. Amuny, his brow furrowed in clear annoyance.

“So nice of you to join us from your current trip to dreamland.” He said, chuckling coming from some of his classmates. “I'm amazed you were able to take another one so soon after your trip to Israel, it must have been quite expensive.” His voice was laced with sarcasm and annoyance.

“Sorry sir…” Chris sheepishly said as he stood up in his seat, trying to be as awake as possible.

“As you should be,” Mr. Amuny said, looking down at Chris before taking his seat at his own desk. “Now then, seeing how Mr. Mattews missed the beginning of class, and it's a half day, I'll just pass back your reports.” At the sound of such an assignment, Chris silently panicked, knowing full well he missed it entirely.

“Brianna Kingsly!” The Indian man called out into the class, said person giddily skipping up to the front desk. “Your report on the current political standing and its needed improvements was an intriguing read. An A+ for you.” He announced, handing Brianna a folder.

“Thank you Mr. Amuny! I just want to help our country obviously~.” Brianna said as she snatched the folder, her words drowning with sweetness and pride.

“Mr. Safrete!” Amuny called once again, the person coming up being the portly Horton Safrete, still eating his bagel from the morning. “While I'm not a nutritionist or very knowledgeable in how genetics and weight are connected, I applauded you for your work. B-.”

“Thanks professor.” Horton said between chews. “Put a lotta work into it, I appreciate it.”

“Neid!!” Calling out another name and bringing forth the skiny demeanor of Alex Neid shuffling up to the front desk. “I must say I'm a little surprised by how close your work was in comparison to Ms. Kingsly’s on politics. C.”

“T-thank you Mr. Amuny…” Alex shyly told their teacher, shuffling back to the end of the room. Mr. Amuny’s eyes soon narrowed down onto Chris, filling the young man’s heart with dread.

“Let me guess Mr. Mattews,” he spoke even though he knew the answer. “You don't have the report I told you about before you left?”

“I um…” Chris started to say, trying to come up with some excuse for himself. Luckily for him it seemed his talkitive friends had his back on this.

“Prof. Amuny,” Micheal’s smooth talking voice came. “If I may, wouldn't it make much more sense for our dear Chris to write about his experience abroad?”

“Yeah! I'd think it'd be an awesome read.” Ricky butted in.

“Probably better than most of ours…” was faintly picked up from the back coming from Jenna.

“Shut up!!” Roared Amuny, slamming his fist on the table and shocking the group of students to attention. A disgruntled sigh escaped the older man as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “I commend you all for coming to the aid of your peer, but that doesn't mean I'm changing your grades.” Brianna gave a slight snort at that, smirking. “But as well… I agree with your thoughts. Very well Mr. Mattews…” his gaze returned to Chris and the bearded smile he was given creeped Chris to his core. “Fifty pages on your experience in Israel on my desk tomorrow.”

Chris felt his heart sink at such a task, staring up at his teacher. “H-how am I suppose to do that?!”

“Not my problem Mattews. Here's hoping you got enough sleep in class.” Once Amuny finished that sentence the school bell rang, the trampling sound of students leaving beginning to pick up. “Well it seems you're all free for today, we'll be continuing our lesson on reptiles tomorrow, make sure to bone up on the chapter on snakes.” Amuny’s words practically fell on deaf ears as his students had begun to leave.

“Not you Mattews.” Chris heard, stopping dead in his tracks from packing, once again looking up at Mr. Amuny. “Seeing how you missed so much class, including today, I thought it might be worth while to give you a crash course.” Once again the older man’s grin was terrifying, Chris’ only comfort being the hand placed on his shoulder.

“Good luck…” Jenna tiredly said, yawning and adjusting her glasses before taking her hand and leaving. Horton and Ricky at the door gave a silent prayer while Micheal drew a cross over his chest.

‘Oh boy…’ Chris thought to himself, gulping.

Three hours. Three grueling hours of a constant bombardment of information, and if Chris even started to drift off he was smacked back awake. Needless to say this wasn't exactly how Chris thought his first day back would be like.

“I don't want to hear another god damn thing about reptiles ever again.” Chris groaned as he walked down the street. It was the dead of night at this point, and for a street in New York it was rather empty, but that's how Chris preferred it. He hoped it'd be this easy and less crowded on his whole trip home as frankly he just wanted to write his report and sleep for a thousand years.

Suddenly though Chris felt a… pain in the back of his head. It was sharp and quick at first but it struck him again as he moved forward, stumbling on his feet and falling against an alleyway garbage bin. “Oww… fuck…” Chris groaned, rubbing his still stinging head.

“What was that?” Chris went as dead silent as possible, covering his mouth to quiet his breathing. The voice he'd heard was rough and wet, like a saw moving through water. And it sounded close. Peaking over the edge of the bin gave Chris a sight that nearly made him vomit.

Standing in the far side of the alley under the flickering light of a lamp was a tall figure, standing well over Chris’ own six feet in height, hunched over scanning the area with bright, piercing red eyes. Its body looked humanoid, but parts were seemingly stretched, patches of whatever clothing it had being torn open by a series of jagged spikes that seemed to cover itself, two massive ones having sprouted from its arms reaching the ground. Its mouth held a row of long, sharp teeth that were very clearly covered in blood and gore, the source of which was undoubtedly the ripped apart body that it was hunched over.

Holding back his scream and vomit, Chris slowly pulled away from viewing the sight, hoping he wasn't seen himself. He needed to run, to hide, call the police, the god damn army. He needed help, now.

Another sharp pain dug through Chris’ head, having to bite back his urge to scream in agony but unable to keep his leg from jerking out in pain.

*clinck-kongalongalong*

A discarded can was right in his foot’s path and was now scattered across the alley, loudly skipping across the ground. Chris didn't even have time to panic, he got up as fast as he could and made a run for it.

But he didn't get far.

“I thought I heard something~.” Chris felt the hood of his jacket get grabbed as his body was lifted with it, getting a glimpse of the monstrosity he had saw just a moment ago up close. It was only a glimpse because he was thrown backwards across the alley, soaring through the air before slamming against the wall. Chris could feel a rib crack, blood filling his mouth as he tried to stand but couldn't, his legs were paralyzed from fear. He spat out a glob of blood and noticed he was next to the mangled, half eaten corpse he had seen before, but couldn't bring himself to throw up as he looked to see the monster in front of him. “I thought I was going to be done tonight, but I guess you're just in time for dessert!!”

The creature cackled and laughed as it brought its mass spike up ready to strike Chris. This was it for him. Only one thought was left in his head.

“Help.”

Help

Helphelpgelphelphelphhhheeeelllpppppp

“Ok.”

#My writing #my book #original character #original story #Inner Sin

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midnight-moonlight-and-mars · 7 years ago

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Bubbly - Steve Rogers x Reader Pt. 1

A/N: Hi guys!!! This is my first fan fic EVER!! Please lemme know what you think and reblog if possible!! Thanks for following!!💕

Pre-serum!Steve x Reader

Warnings: Fighting, SUPER FLUFFY

It was the buzzing 1930s in Brooklyn, New York. Fall was just settling down to cooler temperatures as October rounded the corner. Steve was on his way from school along his usual route, where he would meet Bucky around the block for lunch. The streets seemed rather quiet for a Monday afternoon, but he didn’t mind. It was peaceful.

He soon rounded the corner to notice two tall muscular guys harassing this little kid who was obviously a lot younger than the other two. He was crouched in the corner of the dirty alley and seemed to be crying. The guys were throwing rocks at him with malicious laughter. Steve could feel his blood boiling as he stood at the entrance. He knew he couldn’t take both of them on, but that wasn’t the point. He wanted to distract them while the kid ran off. Hopefully they wouldn’t kill him he thought to himself.

Without hesitation he bellowed, “Hey, leave him alone!” Trying to form an imitating stance. His muscles tightened with fear as they turned their attention towards him, but he kept his stance. For a moment the two men paused and exchanged looks, not long after bursting into laughter. Steve motioned for the little boy to leave, and off he went with a jumping start. When the men saw the kid leave their laughter soon died. “Hey!” one shouted after him, but he was long gone. “You’re gonna pay for that pipsqueak.” He growled. The other slowly picked up a pipe with a devilish chuckle that made Steve’s throat tighten. The other bolted towards Steve and grabbed him by his jacket, and threw him to the ground. Steve got up quickly dodging the man’s incoming kick. “I can do this all day.” he grinned with a following punch. Unfortunately he missed, as well as the next three punches. But those men didn’t. With each strike Steve grew weaker, and eventually fell to the ground, passing out.

When he woke, he was in an unfamiliar house with the smell of vegetable stew filling his nose, which he was pretty sure was broken. He appeared to be in someone’s bedroom, and some of his scrapes were bandaged. Only the lamp in the corner lit the entire room, with exceptions of a few candles. There was only one window on the opposite side of the bed, away from the door. It appeared to be dark outside. He thought he’d been asleep for hours. Pain quickly shot through him as he tried to sit up as he tried to get a better view, but he did it anyways. He was ready to get up, but someone walked in the room.

It was a woman, a rather beautiful one too. She seemed the same age as Bucky, probably younger, and wore a beautiful yet simple long sleeved, yellow dress. Steve felt his heart melt when he saw her smile and the air leave his lungs when his eyes fell into hers. “You need to lay back down tough guy, you need to rest.” she said with warm smile, but her voice had Steve even deeper trance. It sounded so smooth, so warm and gentle like a flower, he could feel the butterflies in his stomach wanting to break free to feast indulge in it.

He noticed he needed to say something, and remove his piercing stare. Before he could say anything, (as if any legible words would come out), she introduced herself gently placing herself beside him on the bed. “My name is (Y/N) (Y/L/N), you saved my little brother from some really big bad guys. They’ve been harassing everyone around here, and no one was brave enough to stand up to the them. When my brother came home and told me what you did for him, and we called the police. Those guys were caught eventually and probably won’t be coming back anytime soon. He took me to where you were as soon as we were done with the call and we found you unconscious. You’re friend Bucky showed not long after we did and said he knew you. I told him what happened and he helped me bring you back here.” she said with that soft smile he couldn’t get enough of, and it even made him smile. Breaking his gaze he cleared his throat and mustered up a few words. “Thank you for all of this.” he said looking at his bandages and the small side table of food then back at her. She chuckled at his words and it made his cheeks catch fire. “Awe you’re so sweet! I should be thanking you! My brother could’ve gotten seriously gotten hurt or worse if it wasn’t for you. You had to have known that you couldn’t take both of them on… When my brother Alex explained it sounded like you just wanted to distract them, you knew you could get hurt” She said grabbing a hold of his bruised hand. He felt his whole body catch fire and tried to hide it with a small smile. “You risked your life for him, and we are forever grateful.” (Y/N) said with a genuine smile which had Steve’s body heat up even more with nervousness. “I think you might have a fever you’re so warm….” she said gripping his hands tighter and reached for his forehead and gently traced down to his flushed cheeks. He felt bubbles underneath his skin as her soft hands touched him. Steve could see the sparkle in her beautiful (y/e/c) eyes and got lost in them.

“You feeling ok?” she asked, noticing his silence and strange behaviour. Steve managed to nod, but she wasn’t convinced. (Y/N) quickly left his side to grab a cold rag she had sitting in ice water on the side table. She came back over, and began gently running the rag over his face and motioned for him to lay down.

“I’m fine I promise. You don’t have to do all this” He said with a small chuckle and pleading eyes. Still, he obeyed her wishes and laid his head back onto the pillow with a small wince from his bruised sides. “A-ha!” She said with a triumphantly. “You are not leaving until you’re better. Even Bucky says so.” (Y/N) snickered as she was continuously dabbing his forehead with the icy rag. “Plus I’m a trained nurse so this is no problem for me, and the longer you stay the more we can spend time together.” She said but grew a little more timid towards the end of her sentence.

Hearing her last words he swore his heart stopped beating. He thought he died from happiness and he didn’t even know who she was an hour ago. “Looks like I’ll be staying a while then.” Steve managed to say with the little air he had left in his lungs. (Y/N) smiled brightly at his words which made him almost pass out. He felt every nerve in his body light up with electricity. “That’s so great to hear!” (Y/N) beamed with excitement as she stood up straightening her dress tossing the rag to the bowl of water on the table. “Make sure you get some rest. I’ll tell your friend you’re awake and doing well.” She inquired give him one last thank you, followed by a small, gentle kiss on his cheek before she left.

He definitely knew he died this time. Even after she had closed the door, he could still feel the fireworks on his skin, and the butterflies finally managed to fly up to his head and make him feel dizzy. He turned off the light and turned his body towards the window. Every time her smile passed through his mind, he would get this tingly sensation at his fingertips and toes. It was like he was feeling electricity surge through him like a wave. Yet, what he feels is like a drug. He wanted to feel it more. What were these sensations that made him feel so warm and happy inside?

It was her. (Y/N) made him feel crazy. Steve didn’t know how he got under her spell, but he wasn’t planning on her get out of it either. He fell for her almost immediately, and he planned to stick around to be with (Y/N) to be sure she felt the same. However long it takes…

#steve rogers #pre serum steve #fluffy #steve rogers x reader

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dustandthunder · 5 years ago

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Haven’t been on here in forever !

I’m back at uni now (20/09/19), I moved back last Friday and so far it’s been absolutely amazing. My room is the nicest ever I love it so much, my housemates are the best and everything is going so good so far !

Mom came down with me on the train on Friday, I got no sleep because we had to leave the house at half three in the morning to get a bus to town to get the 5:30 train. It was quite stressful because my railcard has expired and I didn’t realise so I had to buy a new one on the train and I felt really sick for some reason , but we saw an amazing sunrise and it was pretty fun to go with mom.

We had a great day, went for breakfast, did a grocery shop, walked round town, did my room ... it was so fun ! Mom paid for my first grocery shop which was really nice!

Other than that I’ve been out a few times for freshers, I’ve sort of been working on a basis of one night out, one night in. So I went out on Saturday night which was my first time in academi as I never went last year, and that was pretty fun I actually had a great time! Gen and I made friends with this group of gay guys who were really funny and cool, and one does geography and he gave me his number if I need help !! I also saw sash and Ollie from hockey and then this guy off my course who I have seen before but I hadn’t got a fuckin clue what he was called, I did ask his name but I didn’t hear it and I didn’t want to ask again hahaha. I danced with him and his mate for ages- he asked me where I was living about 5 times it was so funny, and he kept talking into my ear and I was just going along with it cause I couldn’t tell what he was on about Hahahha. He was cool though ! Then he went to the loo so I ran back outside to find Glenn cause my phone was dying, and then we went home I think. It was so sick! Then Monday was a messy one hahaha, I was more drunk than I’ve ever been and truly I don’t remember half of it. Like I wasn’t black out awful drunk but like I woke up and didn’t remember bits of the night. We stayed in the house and played card games and drinking games, then we went to BV for a round and some shots , then we went to rascals and I had this green drink and I don’t even know what it was cause I never buy my own drinks so I just take what Gina gives me hahaha (not like in a scabby way, I wouldn’t ever expect or even ask my friends to buy my drinks for me) so that was that.... then we went to academi and truly I do not remember being in academi at all. I remember leaving and I saw AJ from hockey and I didn’t remember this but he told me later that apparently I was just making Brooklyn 99 references hahahahaha oh my gosh that proper made me laugh when he told me that. Anyway I was crying really bad on the way home cause I really was missing Matt and I called him and he thought someone had done something to me so he was going to drive here yikes but it was ok I told him I was just sad and he stayed on the phone for ages while we wakes home. Gina wasn’t too drunk but joe was plastered unbelievably because he was quite sad cause his girlfriend cheated on him over summer and I think he’s still pretty upset about it. So he couldn’t even walk, turns out he didn’t even get into academi cause he couldn’t stand up, so he just came home with Gina and I. Gina went into the takeaway to get food which I don’t remember, and two people who I don’t know were holding joe up, but I just remember him lying on the pavement throwing up. It wasn’t good. And then I sort of ran off down the street cause I really needed a wee and I was talking to matt and Gina was yelling at me like a dog to stay put Hahahahah . Anyway we managed to get home- I throw up which I remember was VILE cause I’d just eaten chips (actually I had only eaten chips that day) and they basically came up whole . It felt absolutely vile. I did take all my makeup off though ! Joe slept in Gina’s bed and she slept on the floor. I woke up and I didn’t feel so bad, like I didn’t throw up or have a bad hangover or anything. Regardless, I am never doing that again. I know people always say that but I actually mean it 100%. Anyway I was supposed to have a hockey training session on Tuesday at 3:30 and as time was creeping on I started to feel a bit dodgy and I wasn’t sure whether to go cause I thought this is either gonna kill me off or make me feel loads better. I did go in the end and it made me feel better and I was totally fine afterwards so I was happy I went !!! It was so sunny as well, and I stupidly wore a thick long sleeved top . It was funny we were doing this drill and I kept hitting the ball into Lewis’ feet pretty hard so he was hobbling hahahaha and then he pulled a muscle so all in all it wasn’t great for him. Oh as well he’s best mates with patrick in my house which is sick cause I think Lewis is sound so if he’s round ours it’ll be cool :)

Tuesday was obviously a night in , which was needed and appreciated !

Wednesday was amazing .... Gina has gone to Llandudno with Sean all day so me, Glenn, joe, Michael, and Alex went to serendipity which is the student fair where you sign up to all the socs and clubs . We went at like 11 in the morning and it was such a good day ! We walked round and got fuck tons of free shit, I got a slice of pizza (although I gave it to Glenn as I don’t like pizza lol) a subway cookie and a load of subway vouchers, a canvas bag, a pen a wall calendar which I was sooooo happy about, a coaster, some post its, Morrison’s vouchers, free teabags, 4 booklets of spoons vouchers, a free smoothie, a free burger ... it was so good. I signed up to hockey obvs and ask mountain walking as mom wants me to do and I was going to go last year but it clashes with hockey a bit and I didn’t know anyone else. Turns out joe did it last year, and Michaels doing It this year so I’ll defo go !!! Then we went outside and played with the lacrosse stuff (Glenn does lacrosse) and we were just lobbing the balls at the goal, but they kept smacking the halls windows hahahaj, then there was a strip of Astro and a crazy catch for hockey and a couple of the lads were there like lyells, dyson, AJ etc so I was doing that do ages. It was sooooook much fun the sun was baking and I was wearing such a nice outfit and everything was sick !

All the hockey girls were asking if I’d go to social that night so I did end up going. I met holly and Maggs at BV and then we walked down to varsity with this old girl called Sam .

Social was actually ok ! I just had a pint of cider black currant which was ok and it was only 1.50 which was good cause I lit took 5£ with me out Hahahah. We played drinking games but they were the nicer ones they so it was fine. Then we went to harp for shots at 11:15 but I didn’t have one ‘cause hell no lol then we went i academi again, although it was absolutely dead in there. I danced for a bit then went outside and sat with Eleanor and the others outside for a bit. There was a really funny fight / argument where this girl was saying ‘I’m not wasting my time on you’ to this lad and then idk what next but she just yelled ‘your jackets from a charity shop!’ And it was so fucking funny cause he was so angry he was like ‘this jacket was £340’ loooooool .

Anyway I left a while after and just walked home cause I had a headache and my phone was on 6% so I just called Matt and went home, was so so lovely to have a relatively early nice still , I was in bed weeeellllll before 1am . Yum .

Then yesterday was sick too, it was the freshers hockey taster session . I wasn’t like ‘supposed’ to go but I went along anyway cause it was a peng day again and i has nothing better to do so I headed over. It was cool I just stood with Eleanor and AJ coaching and I joined in with some of the drills and Lydia and I passed it around a bit so it was really fun !!! Baking though!! Luckily I’d frozen a litre bottle of water the other day so I took that.

Joe and I made dinner together as Gina was at a law dinner, so we were just chatting and that, and then I was on FaceTime to Matt until like getting on for 1 . We were talking about how we’d treat our kids like in terms of differences between a boy and girl and we had a massive conversation about it all. Matts quite traditional because that’s his upbringing so he said he’d be more in line to be stricter on a daughter with going and stuff because of the risks, and I said my whole Spiel about I wouldn’t tell my daughter to put more clothes on to go out because that’s like saying it’s her fault or she’s asking for it when I don’t agree with that and that is be more likely to be stricter on my son with stuff like u know absolutely do not touch a girl without consent, don’t spike drinks, don’t harass girls etc so stuff that seems obvious but I feel like isn’t drilled into boys enough... so we had such a lib conversation and it turned into all the worldly social issues. I like those conversations because whilst often I do not agree with matts view it’s good to talk about it, and much as I’m not trying to always make him agree with me, i do like to try and get him to see things more radically and then understand where I’m coming from (because not being funny but i do truly think I’m right) and it does make me pleased when he shifts his stance slightly because he’s seen things from a different perspective - esp because I’m a girl and he isn’t . It was actually such a good thing to do, esp cause I am really passionate (if u will) about stuff like that. I almost with I’d recorded it to listen back lol .

Anyway we’re all going out today to acid lakes- should be amazing since the weathers good and everyone’s sound. Updates to follow xoxox

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roselesliesource · 8 years ago

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As Gwen Dawson—the youngest house maid at “Downton Abbey”—she secretly dreamed of escaping a life of service, and becoming a secretary (in the show’s very first season). In a memorable season six cameo, she returned to visit England’s best known stately home, as the wife of a rising politician, an eloquent feminist, and an ardent advocate for the education of women. In “Game of Thrones” she was the raven-haired wilding archer Ygritte, for whom Jon Snow broke his Night’s Watch vow of chastity—kindling an impossible passion that both characters would deny, even to themselves, until she died in his arms (toward the end of Season 4), while the wilding armies lay siege to the Wall and Castle Black, telling Snow one last time (with a broad Lancashire accent) that he “know[s] nothing.” As for the fate and fortunes of Rose Leslie’s latest character, Maia Rindell—a recent law school graduate (from a prominent and enormously wealthy Chicago family, who’s secured a job offer at the law firm of her godmother, Diane Lockhart)—this may depend less on Leslie— or her versatile gifts as an actress, or even on the storytelling skills of Robert and Michelle King in creating an absorbing sequel to their long-running CBS hit series “The Good Wife,” and rather more on the venerable broadcast channel’s marketing bet that it can launch its new subscription streaming service “All Access” by luring the old show’s loyal audience (of 10-13 million regular viewers over seven seasons) back to the colorful political and legal world of Alicia Florrick (played by Julianna Margulies, who won three Emmys and was nominated for seven more in the role), but without Margulies’ beloved character ever actually turning up in the sequel. MONROWE recently caught up with Rose Leslie by phone, shortly after her return home to London following some five months living and shooting the first season of “The Good Fight” in Brooklyn, New York. Guy Lesser: So, is Julianna Margulies going to be lured into appearing in Season 2 of “The Good Fight” when you all come back to shoot next fall? Rose Leslie: I don’t believe so. I don’t believe so. No—but, as a mere actor, that’s not something I would ever be privy to. Were you wanting to see Juliana appear? Not necessarily. But when a character like Alicia doesn’t die, with, say— An arrow through the heart? There’s no closure to her storyline, and of course Alicia does periodically receive mention in “The Good Fight.” True, true. But I loved the way they ended “The Good Wife” and left the door open— even if there isn’t any way that that she’s going to come through it. But it also reflects life, when, you know, you’re not too sure whether you are going to see an old friend again. Were you a fan of the “The Good Wife” or was it Maia’s character that convinced you to take the part? I was completely drawn into the world that the Kings created in “The Good Wife,” and I felt completely honored to be asked to be part of that. But it was the writing that really got me. I feel that they are such bold writers, and such advocates for women, and as a result, I greatly admire their work. I knew this was something I would love to be part of—particularly when it came to Maia, and the opportunity to explore in depth one character through the arc of however many episodes. She wasn’t someone—despite the privilege she was brought up with—who felt entitled or was arrogant. She realized that she had to work incredibly hard to prove her worth to her peers and others. And I rather loved her backbone and her resilience. And certainly with everything that is thrown at her through the season. You see her flaws, but you also see that she’s passionate, and dedicated to the cause of fighting injustice, and I love the core of self-belief she has. Did you discuss Maia with the Kings? They asked me to read the pilot and to come back to them—to see what I thought, and whether I was a fan of this particular genre, and this particular universe, and the character. I really loved the pilot. And they were very open to discussion in terms of letting me know what the character’s arc would be in the first season, and helping me be aware of where the character was going to go. In some ways, she seems so different from other characters you’ve played. Obviously, I’ve had to be prepared to play all kinds of women. But I always find myself being drawn to playing characters who are forced to get out of their comfort zones. Hopefully that keeps it interesting for the audience, but certainly for me—along with the development within the character—it keeps it interesting. The fictional Rindell family is very clearly modeled on Bernie Madoff’s, with many of the same questions posed about who knew what, when, and who was blissfully ignorant about the family’s and Madoff’s investment fund’s extraordinary good fortune—particularly before the scandal broke. What sort of preparation was involved for playing someone who’s American, a lawyer, and the daughter of this sort of family? I had played a couple of American characters before, so I felt at ease with the accent, although I’d never approached a project where I was talking in American for nearly five and an a half months. I listened to voices on Youtube and American TV so it would come across as naturally as possible. But I was also surrounded by Americans on set— so if I wasn’t too sure about how to pronounce a particular word, I could just ask anyone. With Maia Rindell, I didn’t necessarily check out the bar exam—was that terrible of me? But I did do some research when it came to Ponzi schemes, and I read Stephanie Madoff Mack’s autobiography, “The End of Normal.” And of course that was her take on being married to Mark Madoff, and what they were thinking, and the horrific consequences after Bernie Madoff confessed. It seems just extraordinary, crazy in a way, that his surname was “made-off.” I actually went to a minor English boarding school, called “Mill Hill,” that is sometimes confused with your boarding school, Millfield—both because of its name, and for its prowess at team sports. Of course, not only did I not fit in, but even after two years of playing them, I’m still far from sure I understand either cricket or rugby. Cricket is still something I cannot wrap my head around. I’m lost halfway through the explanation. And I still don’t get it—not that I’m proud of that—I should understand how cricket works. Rugby is a lot easier to follow—rugby I get. So were you good at sports? Interestingly enough, I know Millfield is well known for sport— my older sister was, and is fantastic when it comes to that. She did netball, a lot of hockey, and rounders. But Millfield also has a fantastic drama program. And from a very young age, rather than pursuing sport, I was always drawn to the creative side, and they were brilliant at pushing you to write pieces of your own, and perform pieces of your own. There were evenings whereby you could do whatever you wanted to do— whether that was dance or poetry or a bit of acting or singing, playing a musical instrument. And so, we were really encouraged by the school to explore. Then, after I was 18 and my A-Levels, my fabulous drama teacher—Mr [Alex] Boyd-Williams—helped me chose and hone my monologues to apply to LAMDA drama school. Helena from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was my “classic.” And my “modern” which was powerful, and rather harrowing, and very dark—but then, I’m kind of drawn to that—was from a Mike Bartlett play. Which is to say, the road to your playing “Emma” in the Crucible Theatre’s revival of Bartlett’s “Contractions” last year began when you were at Millfield. I really do owe my love of Bartlett and the enjoyment I find in reading his work to my drama teacher, Mr Boyd-Williams. He introduced to Bartlett, and pushed me in this particular direction. Was “Downton Abbey” in some sense your first “big break,” or somehow get you the role of Ygritte on “Game of Thrones?” Downton very much helped me land an agent, and be more confident in the acting world. And I felt incredibly privileged to have a job that lasted for 6 months. Before Downton everything I’d done was episodic, so that was a really really lovely, wonderful experience. I did hear from David Benioff’s office [GoT’s co-developer] that they happened to see me when Downton was airing in the US, and they were looking for an auburn-redhead. And as a result, I was one of many to audition for Ygritte. So [Downton] definitely helped me get my foot in the door, since I’m not sure I would have been able to audition for the role if I hadn’t been “seen.” But I feel it’s always a snowball effect— isn’t it? That each job lends to the next. Then, there’s also an element within my career driving which particular role or character I want to choose next. And hopefully through that there’s longevity.

#rose leslie #interview #news #it just never stops !!! :D

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roselesliedaily · 8 years ago

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Rose Leslie: ALL KINDS OF WOMEN OUT OF THEIR ‘COMFORT ZONE’ 04.27.2017

photography by KRISZTIAN EDER / story by GUY LESSER

In “Game of Thrones” she was the auburn-haired wilding archer Ygritte, for whom Jon Snow broke his Night’s Watch vow of chastity—kindling an impossible passion that both characters would deny, even to themselves, until she died in his arms (toward the end of Season 4), while the wilding armies lay siege to the Wall and Castle Black, telling Snow one last time (with a broad Lancashire accent) that he “know[s] nothing.”

As for the fate and fortunes of Rose Leslie’s latest character, Maia Rindell—a recent law school graduate (from a prominent and enormously wealthy Chicago family, who’s secured a job offer at the law firm of her godmother, Diane Lockhart)—this may depend less on Leslie— or her versatile gifts as an actress, or even on the storytelling skills of Robert and Michelle King in creating an absorbing sequel to their long-running CBS hit series “The Good Wife,” and rather more on the venerable broadcast channel’s marketing bet that it can launch its new subscription streaming service “All Access” by luring the old show’s loyal audience (of 10-13 million regular viewers over seven seasons) back to the colorful political and legal world of Alicia Florrick (played by Julianna Margulies, who won three Emmys and was nominated for seven more in the role), but without Margulies’ beloved character ever actually turning up in the sequel.

MONROWE recently caught up with Rose Leslie by phone, shortly after her return home to London following some five months living and shooting the first season of “The Good Fight” in Brooklyn, New York.

Guy Lesser: So, is Julianna Margulies going to be lured into appearing in Season 2 of “The Good Fight” when you all come back to shoot next fall?

Rose Leslie: I don’t believe so. I don’t believe so. No—but, as a mere actor, that’s not something I would ever be privy to. Were you wanting to see Juliana appear?

GL: Not necessarily. But when a character like Alicia doesn’t die, with, say—

RL: An arrow through the heart?

GL: There’s no closure to her storyline, and of course Alicia does periodically receive mention in “The Good Fight.”

RL: True, true. But I loved the way they ended “The Good Wife” and left the door open— even if there isn’t any way that that she’s going to come through it. But it also reflects life, when, you know, you’re not too sure whether you are going to see an old friend again.

GL: Were you a fan of the “The Good Wife” or was it Maia’s character that convinced you to take the part?

RL: I was completely drawn into the world that the Kings created in “The Good Wife,” and I felt completely honored to be asked to be part of that. But it was the writing that really got me. I feel that they are such bold writers, and such advocates for women, and as a result, I greatly admire their work. I knew this was something I would love to be part of—particularly when it came to Maia, and the opportunity to explore in depth one character through the arc of however many episodes. She wasn’t someone—despite the privilege she was brought up with—who felt entitled or was arrogant. She realized that she had to work incredibly hard to prove her worth to her peers and others. And I rather loved her backbone and her resilience. And certainly with everything that is thrown at her through the season. You see her flaws, but you also see that she’s passionate, and dedicated to the cause of fighting injustice, and I love the core of self-belief she has.

GL: Did you discuss Maia with the Kings?

RL: They asked me to read the pilot and to come back to them—to see what I thought, and whether I was a fan of this particular genre, and this particular universe, and the character. I really loved the pilot. And they were very open to discussion in terms of letting me know what the character’s arc would be in the first season, and helping me be aware of where the character was going to go.

GL: In some ways, she seems so different from other characters you’ve played.

RL: Obviously, I’ve had to be prepared to play all kinds of women. But I always find myself being drawn to playing characters who are forced to get out of their comfort zones. Hopefully that keeps it interesting for the audience, but certainly for me—along with the development within the character—it keeps it interesting.

GL: The fictional Rindell family is very clearly modeled on Bernie Madoff’s, with many of the same questions posed about who knew what, when, and who was blissfully ignorant about the family’s and Madoff’s investment fund’s extraordinary good fortune—particularly before the scandal broke. What sort of preparation was involved for playing someone who’s American, a lawyer, and the daughter of this sort of family?

RL: I had played a couple of American characters before, so I felt at ease with the accent, although I’d never approached a project where I was talking in American for nearly five and an a half months. I listened to voices on Youtube and American TV so it would come across as naturally as possible. But I was also surrounded by Americans on set— so if I wasn’t too sure about how to pronounce a particular word, I could just ask anyone. With Maia Rindell, I didn’t necessarily check out the bar exam—was that terrible of me? But I did do some research when it came to Ponzi schemes, and I read Stephanie Madoff Mack’s autobiography, “The End of Normal.” And of course that was her take on being married to Mark Madoff, and what they were thinking, and the horrific consequences after Bernie Madoff confessed. It seems just extraordinary, crazy in a way, that his surname was “made-off.”

GL: I actually went to a minor English boarding school, called “Mill Hill,” that is sometimes confused with your boarding school, Millfield—both because of its name, and for its prowess at team sports. Of course, not only did I not fit in, but even after two years of playing them, I’m still far from sure I understand either cricket or rugby.

RL: Cricket is still something I cannot wrap my head around. I’m lost halfway through the explanation. And I still don’t get it—not that I’m proud of that—I should understand how cricket works. Rugby is a lot easier to follow—rugby I get.

GL: So were you good at sports?

RL: Interestingly enough, I know Millfield is well known for sport— my older sister was, and is fantastic when it comes to that. She did netball, a lot of hockey, and rounders. But Millfield also has a fantastic drama program. And from a very young age, rather than pursuing sport, I was always drawn to the creative side, and they were brilliant at pushing you to write pieces of your own, and perform pieces of your own. There were evenings whereby you could do whatever you wanted to do— whether that was dance or poetry or a bit of acting or singing, playing a musical instrument. And so, we were really encouraged by the school to explore.

Then, after I was 18 and my A-Levels, my fabulous drama teacher—Mr [Alex] Boyd-Williams—helped me chose and hone my monologues to apply to LAMDA drama school. Helena from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was my “classic.” And my “modern” which was powerful, and rather harrowing, and very dark—but then, I’m kind of drawn to that—was from a Mike Bartlett play.

GL: Which is to say, the road to your playing “Emma�� in the Crucible Theatre’s revival of Bartlett’s “Contractions” last year began when you were at Millfield.

RL: I really do owe my love of Bartlett and the enjoyment I find in reading his work to my drama teacher, Mr Boyd-Williams. He introduced me to Bartlett, and pushed me in this particular direction.

GL: Was “Downton Abbey” in some sense your first “big break,” or somehow get you the role of Ygritte on “Game of Thrones?”

RL: Downton very much helped me land an agent, and be more confident in the acting world. And I felt incredibly privileged to have a job that lasted for 6 months. Before Downton everything I’d done was episodic, so that was a really really lovely, wonderful experience.

I did hear from David Benioff’s office [GoT’s co-developer} that they happened to see me when Downton was airing in the US, and they were looking for an auburn-redhead. And as a result, I was one of many to audition for Ygritte. So [Downton] definitely helped me get my foot in the door, since I’m not sure I would have been able to audition for the role if I hadn’t been “seen.” But I feel it’s always a snowball effect— isn’t it? That each job lends to the next. Then, there’s also an element within my career driving which particular role or character I want to choose next. And hopefully through that there’s longevity. . . .

#rose leslie #gotcast #interview

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