It's probably gonna take me a bit to finish this next comic. So have this in-progress preview of one of the main reasons why.

Favorite Characters Tag Game

Rules: List your favorite character from 10 different fandoms and then tag 10 people.

Kendall Roy from Succession: My favorite failson, overall I love his  character development and the fact that he is in a twisted way, the only one on the show with a conscience.  One of the reasons why I like him is because I see a lot of myself in him (ex-drug addict, daddy and mommy issues, etc.).  Sometimes I have hated him, but at the same time I love him and want to succeed.  Plus his dynamic with Stewy Hosseini as well as his father and siblings are worth analyzing.  I want to cuddle him and sometimes strangle him at the same time.  It is all part of being a Ken Girlie. 

Claire Underwood from House of Cards: I have always had a crush on Robin Wright, but I love her in the role as Claire Underwood.  Originally, she lived in her husband’s shadow, but she has proven to be just as cold and calculating as he was.  Both of them worked as a team to achieve their goals, but I loved how she stepped out of her husband’s shadow in seasons 5 and 6 of House of Cards.  Plus I remember cutting my hair short into a pixie cut when the series first came out because I liked her hairstyle.

Tony Soprano from The Sopranos: I grew up watching The Sopranos as a kid, but only when I got older did I recognize the beauty of how they wrote his character.  He is conflicted by the life he has lived along with his familial obligations.  Despite how he is a mobster, he in reality is one of the most human characters on the show.

Izzy Hands from Our Flag Means Death:  My favorite homophobic pirate, I cannot help but fall in love with his character despite the fact that he has no moral compass.  He is an expression of gay rage, but directed inward and then expelled out of him.  Con O’Neill did an excellent job of bringing his character to life, and the fact is, he still loved Edward Teach despite him not loving him back.

Klaus Hargreeves from The Umbrella Academy: The fabulous pansexual who is eccentric and provides some lightness to the drama of The Umbrella Academy.  He openly loves his siblings and is finally taken more seriously in season 2.  Plus all of the Hargreeves siblings are a mess from childhood trauma and he is the most entertaining. 

Charlie Luciano from Boardwalk Empire:  He is hot, and seeing him rise to power along with his soulmate in crime Meyer Lansky was amazing.  Plus he looks sexy when angry. I still believe Charlie Luciano and Meyer Lansky had something more between them.

Malcolm Tucker from The Thick of It: Foul-mouthed and a perpetually grumpy git who happens to run one of the departments for one of the UK cabinet members.  ‘Nuff said.

Valery Legasov from Chernobyl HBO: I love how they wrote Valery Legasov in Chernobyl even though HBO Legasov was different from the real Legasov (whom I love very much).  Genuinely one of his best performances.

Martin Goodman from Friday Night Dinner:  Played by the late Paul Ritter (May he rest in peace) he was an amazing and eccentic character.  The fact that I found Friday Night Dinner during the quarantine really helped lift my spirits and I watched the whole series all the way through.  Plus I love how he is a loving husband and doting father.  And he is the reason why I say “Shit on it!” whenever I stub my toe on something

Brian Kinney from Queer as Folk:  A self described sex machine and defiant gay man despite the homophobia he received as a child and as an adult, combined with his good looks makes him one of my top characters.  His relationship with Justin shows more of his soft side, and he deeply loves Justin.

I tag anyone who wants to do this!

Would you possibly do another Aizawa requests ☺️ R is a student of class 1-A and when they asking parents about letting students come to the dorms he and all might go to her house and they realise she actually lives alone with her dog and younger brother or sister and Aizawa decides to take them both under his wing and one day R just suddenly turns around and calls him bad accidentally

This sounded too cute to pass up! Apologies for me taking forever to get to it! :’) When it comes to Dadzawa content I like to go all out (that means it’s probably messy) so hopefully, you enjoy it, anon!

I named the reader’s brother Haru because I adore that name

(Dadzawa) Aizawa Shouta x Female!Student!Reader

Warnings: Just a smidge of angst (Fluff that will giveyour heart a dose of love)

Words: 1,914

 “Aizawa-Sensei and All Might-Sensei? What are you doinghere?” You question softly a bit too surprised by their current appearance atyour house.

All Might is the one to speak, “We have been speaking to allof our students’ families about an important issue. May we come in to speakwith your guardian?”

Oh no. This is not happening to you. You are desperate intrying to come up with an excuse that you don’t notice their concerned gazesfrom your unusual quietness. You are after all one of their most enthusiasticstudents so it worries them that you are quite the opposite right now than youwould be in school.

“(Name)! I finished! Can you look it over?” A childish boy’svoice calls for you snapping you from your thoughts.

The nerves are eating at you as you ask in vain, “Is there achance that you can call or stop by some other time?”

“Negative. This needs to be taken care of,” Aizawa statescalmly.

With a defeated sigh you let your teachers enter your house.They take their shoes off the door per your request and they follow you to yourkitchen where your little brother, of the age five, waits. They’re surprised tosee that it’s just him and an old Shiba Inu, whose tag reads Fluffy, in thehouse so far.

They are quiet as they observe you look over your brother’shomework. You give your brother the biggest smile and say, “Nice job! You didit perfectly! As promised you can go ahead and watch TV. But first, would youlike to meet All Might and Eraserhead?”

At the question, the poor boy freezes before he shakes withexcitement for finally noticing the older males in the room. You laugh lightlywith joy from seeing your brother happy.

“Aizawa, All Might, this is my little brother Haru. He’s abig fan of both of you. He’s kind of like Midoriya in that sense,” You murmur.

You hold in your giggles as Haru bows repeatedly beforemaking a dash straight to the living room.

“Seems like a sweet kid,” All Might says with a smile.

You just nod absentmindedly as you place Haru’s homework inhis backpack on the counter. The two teachers stare at you surprised at yourcalm demeanor. You seem so much more mature compared to when you are in class.

However, you also look… fatigued. It just raises furtherquestions between the two.

“(Last Name), where are your parents?” Aizawa says thequestion you’ve been dreading.

You let out a heavy sigh as you pick up a few postcards thatlay on the counter and simply hand them to the man. Its multiple postcards froma few states in America. Aizawa and All Might look through them and notice thesimple note on the back that just says ‘Love you’.

“How long have they been gone?” Aizawa questions as AllMight looks saddened.

You shrug your shoulders as you reply, “A few months now.We’re fine if that’s what you’re wondering. They send us money and they stillpay the bills and have our neighbors check-in on us.”

This isn’t fine and you know it. Aizawa lets out a heavysigh as he shares a look with his colleague. They understand why you seem somature now. You have to be for Haru.

“I can give you their number but they may not pick up. Theneighbor would probably be able to get a hold of them,” You murmur.

All Might is completely baffled as he asks, “You don’t getin touch with them, like at all?”

“Nope, they’re out seeing the world instead of being with us.All we’ve gotten are postcards and words from them through the neighbor. I needto get dinner started soon… Would you guys like to stay for dinner?” You ask asyou easily evade their stares by grabbing ingredients from the kitchen.

They do, but not before they speak to each other and callNezu outside your house.

The dinner felt light-hearted with a hint of seriousness inthe air as All Might carries the conversation mostly with Haru. Aizawa staresholes into you while you try to eat in peace. When all is done and the twoadults had finished their food they merely observed you and a now sleepy Haru.

Haru who’s been sweet for you since your parents left, doesthe thing toddlers do when they want to be held. He lifts up his arms outtowards you and you easily lift him up and hold him, his face resting on yourshoulder. He’s out within the minute.

“Sorry about him. He usually passes out after dinner likethis,” You explain feeling a bit embarrassed that your teachers have seen somuch of your vulnerability.

All Might hesitates to ask, “Does… does he usually fallasleep like that?”

“Sort of? He’s been needing to be held by me or cuddled byFluffy before he sleeps. He’s afraid I’m going to leave him as they left us,”The disgust for your parents is evident in your voice.

Aizawa and Yagi are just surprised by it. However, they canunderstand why you feel that way. You’re practically raising your littlebrother, despite being a kid yourself, for them. It disgusts them as well ashow easy your parents could leave you guys like that. This is too much forsomeone as young as yourself.

“Young (Last Name), since you are a unique circumstance,Principal Nezu has requested that you-“

Aizawa cuts him off, “Stay with me. Both of you can’t beliving by yourself.”

All Might gives his colleague yet another look but this onehas a hint of confusion on his face.

~*~

“Is… Is this really okay?” You ask softly as you hold yourdog Fluffy in one arm and a bag of essentials in the other.

Aizawa doesn’t say anything as he sets down your littlebrother on the couch gently. He takes off the little kid backpack and sets thaton the floor. When he doesn’t say anything you frown.

All Might who helped escort you guys to Eraserhead’s home afterthe conversation is the one to speak. “It’s perfectly fine, Young (Last Name)!Thanks to Aizawa’s thinking this turned out to be much better than the originalplan.”

Ah, yes. The original plan thanks to Nezu being informed ofyour situation was that you and your brother would’ve been separated. You would’vegone to the U.A Dorms as originally planned but your brother would’ve beenplaced into a distant relative’s home or with a foster family do to yourparents’ negligence.

As of now, they are deemed unfit parents and you’ll bestaying with Aizawa. Feeling tired from the whole prospect of moving, you laybeside your brother, while Fluffy claims a corner of the room for himself. Theteachers notice how tired you are and bid you goodnight before stepping into anotherroom to speak.

In truth, Aizawa couldn’t even think of splitting the two ofyou up as a possibility. He saw the way you looked at your brother as if youwere his parent. The pride in your eyes as he did his homework correctly. Yourbrother looked at you as if you were his protector, it was obvious he adoredyou. It would’ve shattered the both of you if you were to be forced to split upand that’s not what he was going to let happen.

All Might knew this the moment Nezu said to bring it up(Nezu totally knew Aizawa is a softie and that this would happen). All Mightfelt the same way but since Aizawa is your homeroom teacher the feelings aredeeper with him. The grump of a teacher needed to take responsibility for you.

“Aizawa… what about your cats?” Yagi whispers to the grumpyman.

Aizawa shrugs and states in monotone, “They haven’t made abig deal so they’re fine. Besides, my cats can totally take down that dog ifthey need to.”

Yagi freaking has a heart attack and a nose bleed at thesewords. “THAT DOG IS OLD. Your cats don’t need to be murdering Young (Last Name)’sdog!” Yagi whisper yells.

~*~

You sigh as you text the parental figure that has beenwatching over you these past couple of weeks. He’ll be home a bit late but thatworks perfectly for you.

Surprisingly, it’s been a smooth transition and Haru loveshim. You live in the dorms with the rest but you get to go home with him on theweekends while Haru and Fluffy (who actually gets along great with the cats muchto Aizawa’s surprise) live with him indefinitely. With the unique circumstance,the other teachers help Aizawa take care of Haru while you are living in thedorms.

Overall, you are grateful for him, especially when youoverheard from All Might that he took both of you in when he didn’t have to.

It’s been feeling like home. To thank the man for all he hasdone, you and Haru decided to go all out on this weekend night and make hisfavorite dishes. Towards the end of your cooking adventure, you check on Haruwho had opted to make cat-shaped cookies.

“Looking good, little man,” You state admiring his work.

Haru looks up with happiness before a frown lands on hisface. You immediately ask him what’s wrong.

“Is Aizawa our new daddy?” His voice is meek upon askingthis and seeing your confused expression the poor boy continues, “It’s justthat… I don’t want to see our old mommy and daddy. They don’t love us. I wantShouta as my new daddy!”

WHAT IS THIS FEELING IN YOUR CHEST? Your little brother literallyjust killed your soul with this cute yet sad declaration. Even so, you completelyagreed with him.

“Hey, watch the food brat.”

A harsh sizzling sound, the scent of smoke, and Aizawa’ssudden appearance override your senses and you quickly apologize, “Sorry, Dad!”

Your face feels like it is on fire with embarrassment as yourealize you just called him dad. You hurry to set the food aside to cool downand clear out the slight burning smell before you turn to the male who appearsto be in shock.

“Aizawa?” You call out.

His normal grim expression is back on his face as he says, “Goahead and set the table.”

You go to turn to do what he said but caught the male unableto hold back a smile anymore. All tension in your body leaves as you realize he’shappy that you accidentally called him dad. When the table is set and you areall sitting, Haru curiously looks at the laid-back tired adult.

Aizawa gives the boy a glance and finally indulges him, “What?”

“Does that mean we can call you dad?” Haru for the love oflife doesn’t have a filter but you are grateful for it.

Aizawa is elated but it doesn’t show on his face, “Go forit.”

“If you’re our new daddy who can we call mommy?” Haruquestions.

Without missing a beat you answer, “All Might or PresentMic.”

Aizawa glares at you but says nothing else. The feeling oflove and happiness fills the air as it had been doing since both of you movedin with him. You can bet he’s doing everything he can do to adopt you.

1135.

by ausmuh

1. What's one TV episode that makes you laugh out loud every time you watch it? >> There’s an episode of Person of Interest -- “Number Crunch”, I want to say the episode’s name is? -- where an antagonist slips MDMA into Harold Finch’s drink and then pops something explosive in the microwave and leaves him to his fate. And here’s Finch, dopey and smiling, thinking it’s popcorn in the microwave and sway-dancing happily as he waits for it to be finished (meanwhile, one of his companions has broken into the place to rescue him and is just like “are you fkn kiddin me” lmao). He’s just so adorable in his impending doom, haha. Sigh... I love that show so much.

2. Who's one person you'd like to see a biopic made about? >> I don’t care.

3. Is plot an important aspect of books and movies to you, or do you care more about things like character development, themes, etc.? >> I really can’t imagine a plot that doesn’t include extensive and intricate character development. I guess I just don’t read plot-driven books, or something? I don’t know what a “plot-driven” book is. All the stories I enjoy are character-driven and the characters drive the story along... that’s just how it works for me. I guess I’d need an example of a different kind of story to understand.

4. What song hit you so hard that you remember where you were the first time you heard it? >> Awake O Sleeper by The Brothers Bright was like that. I was living with Hallie at the time. I wish I’d awakened to the bullshit I was dealing with, lmao. Regardless, that song hit me like a ton of bricks the first time I heard it sitting on the couch in the office in that house.

5. What's your "brand" of fictional character, the type you always get attached to (ex., "perky girls with deep-seated mental health issues," "guys who you would want as an older brother," etc.)? >> A few of my brands are “grumpy old magic man”, “probably a trickster god”, and “queer-coded villain”.

6. Are there any conspiracy theories that you kind of believe in? >> Nope.

7. What's the best "fake" song (one that exists only in the world of a TV show or movie)? >> I would name Dethklok songs but those songs are pretty real, lol. They used to have concerts and everything. I can’t think of any fake songs.

8. If you use Spotify, share your 2020 Wrapped! What are your overall feelings about it? Is it what you expected? >> Here’s the playlist link. And yeah, it’s what I expected -- the car playlist skewed a lot of the results, which is why there’s far more MCR and FOB and shit on there than seems logical. But You Ain’t Coming Back by Zeal & Ardor being the number one song is absolutely on point, lmao. I put that song on repeat on several occasions, which is novel for me because I don’t usually do that.

9. What's a film you watched recently that you can't stop thinking about? >> Possessor was wild. Fuckin Cronenbergs.

10. If you’ve been in lockdown/quarantine for most of the year, describe the different “phases” of quarantine you’ve gone through (whether defining them by an obsession you had, what you were doing most at the time, how you felt, etc.) >> I didn’t really have phases. Being forced to stay inside all the time was only different from my normal life in that I couldn’t choose to do anything different, which is the main frustration -- I didn’t exactly go out a lot before, but at least I knew I could if I wanted to (and sometimes I did). But in practice my life didn’t really change all that much, so I didn’t feel as disrupted as most people did. I kept doing the same shit I’d already been doing.

11. The last TV show you watched is now getting a crossover with the last video game you played: what is the unholy abomination that has just been created? >> It’d be fairly easy to recreate Bridgerton in The Sims 4, I’d think, particularly if you have some custom content installed.

12. What's an invention you’ve spent a lot of time wondering about the creation of (ex., "how did hourglass makers decide how much sand was needed and how thin the waist had to be???")? >> I think about that kind of thing randomly, but not extensively enough to warrant notice.

13. If you’re a ~gamer~, what are your top 3 all-time favorite games? >> FFXIV, Journey, and Hades are my current faves.

14. If the pandemic had happened just a year earlier, how different would your life be? >> Well, the wedding would have been cancelled. I might not have gotten to see Phantom of the Opera. 2019 was a good year and I’m really glad it wasn’t ruined by a pandemic.

15. Post a screenshot you particularly like from your favorite film without mentioning the film’s title. >> Nah.

16. Name the movie, book, TV show, etc. that you were most out of step with this year (meaning both the reviews and overall discourse was the opposite of how you felt about it). >> Hmm... I’m not sure.

17. What’s the biggest red flag you’ve ever ignored? >> Oof, just... Hallie’s whole fucking thing, lmao. But at that point I was so used to being treated any old way without care or consideration that I guess it must have seemed more normal than abnormal. Which really sucks. Because the stuff I went through with him is definitely abnormal and when I see other people going through similar things with their partners it’s really eye-opening.

18. What are some albums that “molded your brain” during middle and/or high school? >> My Own Prison by Creed, Something Like Human by Fuel, just... mainly those two. And my various mixed CDs recorded from the radio.

19. Without saying your age, post your favorite film that was released the year you turned 18. >> Hmm... The Jacket was good... Walk the Line too.... oh, Constantine! Fuck yeah! That’s the one.

20. What’s something extremely bizarre you believed as a very young child? >> I’m not sure, but I always think of this one story that this kid tried to convince me of when I was in second grade. He was light-skinned and he said that he used to be dark like me, but he started picking at his cuticles one day and peeled a piece of skin back and it kept going until he peeled all of his skin off and his current complexion was what was underneath. Kids, man... lol

🦇🎃Kana’s Halloween Hangover Rec List🎃🦇

Love Halloween? Not ready for it to be over? No worries! Old and new, these are some of my favorite spooky, suspenseful, and supernatural Kylux reads--perfect for drawing out your favorite month a little longer!

which is 100% why i’m posting this on november 1st, definitely not because i didnt manage to finish it before yesterday. nope, not at all

My Baby’s a Devil in the Bedroom | @callmelyss

- E - 4/5 chapters, 14 645 words - “Oh, obviously.” Kylo let out a shaky laugh and ran both hands through his hair. “Wait, no, you’re serious. You’re a fucking demon.”

“Well, yes, not to put too fine a point on it.” Hux smiled, clearly pleased with himself at the joke. “Or more accurately, I’m a succubus. A sex demon.”

—

Kylo has an unusual squatter. He's pretty fine with it. -

This fic is seriously amazing. It’s a super fun idea, the dialogue is hilarious, and it perfectly balances the sweetness and humor with angst/intrigue. Plus, I’m absolutely taken with snarky, smug, candy-tasting succubus Hux <3 <3

strange phenomenon | @brawlite, @kyluxtrashcompactor

- E - 8/8 chapters, 65 756 words - Kylo Ren is haunted by recent tragedy. He answers an ad posted by one Armitage Hux for a roommate, and he thinks a fresh start will help him begin to heal. He brings next to nothing with him from the past when he moves in.Or so he thinks. -

This fic is wonderfully suspenseful, and perfect if you’re looking for something to keep you on the edge of your seat. I also had a lot of Han feels when reading this one. Overall it’s just really nicely well-rounded with heartfelt and genuine characterizations, good spooks, and some searing sexual tension.

Something Wicked | @marlonbookcase

- G - 7/7 chapters, 22 514 words -  Kylo and Armitage have been friends since they were kids. Now in university, they run a semi-popular YouTube channel called "London Below" where they investigate all sorts of haunted and paranormal happenings in and around London and try to answer the question, are ghosts real? When they take on the mysterious and tragic case of the Pendle Witches, they come face to face with the spirit world in a way they never have before. Will they make it out of Pendle alive? Are ghosts real? And most importantly, does Armitage return Kylo's affections? -

I love Buzzfeed Unsolved. I love Kylux. I love this fic. A lot. As it says in the description, it’s not an exact Unsolved AU, but it really captured the format/feel of the “paranormal investigator” genre, so if you’re a fan of that, you’ll love this. Bonus points for some mutual pining and sugary fluff 👀👀

Second Spring, First Fall | @huxandthehound

- T - 5/? chapters, 7 018 words -  Nothing brings people together quite like the holidays. Well, maybe not Halloween... After a scare, Hux has to confront his neighbor. Lucky for him, Kylo might be a little sweeter than his tricks let on. -

A cute multi-chap made of Huxloween prompt fills! Lighthearted, but it’s still got that Halloween spirit. Plus I’ve got a soft spot for sweet modern AU Kylo :))

Some Strange and Unnerving Events | @longstoryshortikilledhim

- E - 10/10 chapters, 158 815 words -  As a boy in a dreary school on the moors, Kylo Ren had only one friend, a red-headed boy whose sharp tongue and wit drew Kylo to him. But that friend was taken from him. Now grown, Kylo goes into the service of the master of Stormfield Hall, the enigmatic Lord Arkanis, who is seeking a tutor for his charge. Kylo's past will come rushing back to him, both in his new employer and some unusual circumstances that bring to the fore powers that Kylo thought long-suppressed. -

This fic hit me like a ton of bricks. This fic hit me like TWO tons of bricks. Start this one when you’re ready to be feeling it for a few days afterwards. It’s an incredible historical AU with magic and a great murder mystery--it basically pushes, like, all of my buttons. And it’s /genuinely/ spooky, I had to start keeping a light on while I read it. Oh, and it features definitely my favorite Millicent ever. If you’ve got the time for something long, go for this one.

Reach Out in the Darkness | unicornsandbutane

- E - 2/2 chapters, 9 321 words - Having spent a decent amount of time researching the history and folklore of Arkanis, Cadet Hux strikes out one chilly evening in search of some legendary creature that's supposed to be extremely powerful. If the myths aren't true, all he's wasted is time. But, if they are based in some actual fact, then what a boon such an entity would be to his cause. He doesn't know what he will find, but he is prepared for any (absolutely ANY) eventuality. -

Tentacle monster Kylo. I am unapologetic. It’s really good.

Witchfeather | Whatever21ism

- E - 14/? chapters, 16 015 words - Armitage Hux is a new witch trying to establish himself in a new town. One day he goes out seeking a familiar, particularly a cat, somehow instead he ends up with a raven who is much more than they appear to be. -

A favorite of mine! Apothecary witch Hux & his crow familiar Kylo. There’s some really nice worldbuilding and crow Kylo is super cute. Possibly abandoned, but defs worth checking out what’s there & showing the author some love.

First Order Investigations | @mistresseast

- Unrated - series, 3 works, 58 094 words, incomplete - Hux and Phasma have been running First Order Investigations since high school, and Dr. Snoke's metaphysical research graduate program seemed like the perfect opportunity to pursue their interests under the protective umbrella of academia. Unfortunately, that meant allowing Snoke's personal project, a taciturn medium named Kylo Ren, to join their team. Hux and Kylo mix like oil and water, or, more accurately, like fire and gasoline, and Hux is convinced that working effectively with Kylo is absolutely impossible. They hate each other, and Hux is content to leave it that way.

But then, a case in the sweltering heat of South Carolina begins to change things between them, and Hux finds himself questioning not only Kylo's feelings, but his own as well. -

Paranormal Investigator AU of the highest quality. The detail and thought put into each investigation site is incredible. I love this fic to pieces, and if you like ghost stories, you will too.

Undead | @heyktula, @splinteredscript

- E - series, 2 works, 6 855 words, incomplete - They’ve been circling around each other for years. Kylo Ren, the most powerful vampire in Supreme Leader Snoke’s house, and Armitage Hux, the human liaison between the world of mortals and that of eternal darkness. Baiting, taunting, the cord between them growing ever tighter.Sooner or later, one of them is going to snap. -

A lovely and dark vampire AU~~ Gives off some real classic Kylux vibes, and is an absolute pleasure to read :D

Fixer Upper | @irisparry

- T - 5/7 chapters, 10 034 words - When Armitage Hux starts with First Order estate agents, he thinks the house on Alderaan Drive is an insult, a patronising set of training wheels for the new boy. He is ... not correct. -

Adorable haunted house AU! I love both of their characterizations in this one, especially shy, grumpy ghost Kylo~

Hair of the Dog That Bit You | @theweddingofthefoxes

- M - 9/9 chapters, 21 597 words -  Ren owns a popular tavern, and Armitage is a respected physician in town and the surrounding villages. Their years-long friendship will survive anything -- even the bite of a werewolf. Won't it? -

Full disclosure, I haven’t actually finished this one-- I have a tendency to get distracted unless I finish something in one sitting, rip. But I remember being SUPER stoked about starting it, and anything by weddingofthefoxes is guaranteed to be a treat, so I’m putting it on here anyway :D tbh now that I’m thinking about it again I’ll probably finish it tonight.

The Eldritch Effect | @generallyhuxurious

- E - 17/17 chapters, 67 899 words - For the last three years Major Donal A. Hux, formerly of the British Army's Parachute Regiment, and Kylo Ren, estranged son of US Defence Secretary Leia Organa, have been tooling around North America investigating "weirdness"- and they're plenty weird themselves. Their latest tip off is leading them towards a haunting in rural Alabama. But first they need to make a stop in Trinity, South Carolina... -

A real goofy Paranormal Investigators AU that I super love (but I also need to catch up on rip). It’s an American Gothic AU, but you don’t need to have any knowledge of the show to follow along (I don’t). It also comes with a series of oneshots set in the universe but outside the main plotline, so when you finish the fic and inevitably want more, you’re covered ;)

blackbird, fly | @acroamatica

- M - 19 265 words - One sunny afternoon in the mountains of Washington state, Ben Organa-Solo walked out into the woods.

He never came home.

Six years later, a journalist specialising in missing-persons cold cases decides to follow his footsteps and see where they might lead. -

This is a sad beautiful horror AU that is very close to my heart. The writing is just gorgeous and the suspense is beautifully done. Also, it about doubled the amount of emotions already attached to the song Blackbird for me (I still get a little heart-squeeze every time I hear it)

what’s real or isn’t | @brawlite

- E - 12/12 chapters, 57 398 words - Hux's new house is not haunted. It isn't. -

Super surreal haunted house AU. There’s also monster sex. This is definitely a staple of spooky Kylux fics :D

How to Kill a Living Thing | hedgerowhag

- E - 10/10 chapters, 25 394 words - It starts like any other horror movie: a young man moves into a strange old house full of relics of the past and becomes haunted by some strange entity. However, Ren doesn't find the monster that he expects. -

This one has got some of the most stunning, spooky visuals I’ve ever read. I could picture every scene and character so clearly. Plus, I love Hux’s characterization--he’s kind of a shit, and it’s beautiful.

Twenty-Six Weeks | @vmprsm

- E (eventually) - series, 4 works, 28 539 words, probably complete - Two mature adults need to do two things: live an a house with a stranger for six months, and keep their secrets to themselves. How hard could that be?

Apparently very. -

The author made a point of trying not to give too much away in the summary/tags, so I won’t either :D I’ll just say it’s one of my favorites, and definitely worth a read if you haven’t already~~

The Brief Wondrous Return of Vampire Boy | @hollyhark

- T - 21 190 words - Two days before Halloween, Hux hears a rumor that Ben Solo is back in town. While Hux does not believe the sensational version-- that his estranged childhood friend/enemy escaped from an asylum and is out for revenge --he is left on edge as to how to proceed. -

One of my favorite Halloween fics; it really encompasses the feel of fall/Halloween but also, like, good ol’ ~teenage bullshit~. There’s a lot of creepy Snoke stuff, some dealing with the fallout, and a nice hopeful ending :))

Ghost Encounters of the Hux Kind | carefulren

- T - 9/9 chapters, 25 610 words - Kylo purchases an old, abandoned house in order to get away from his family. He just wants the chance to be alone for a while, and he considers this house as the start of his new, isolated freedom.

Everything is going as smoothly as possible, until it's not.

Perhaps, Kylo isn't living alone after all.-

A sweet and soft ghost  story AU. I adore the ending <3 <3 

Spookylux Huxloween 2018 | @nofootprintsinsalt

- T - series, 31 works, 36 896 words, complete - Huxloween 2018 - 31 benarmie fics in 31 days -

A series of benarmie fluff/horror for the Huxloween prompts this year! These were so so fun to read throughout the month and I adore the little universe that develops as they go on :))

Of Our Time | @ezlebe

- E - 15 297 words - “Do you know how many people would think it’s weird you walk around in the day?”

Hux grits his teeth in vain against an uncanny sensation, his own words digging and clawing up his throat to leave behind the taste of blood and bitterness thick on his tongue. “I could care less. I was made this way before there were movies – before fucking Stroker. Call me a demon if it makes you feel better.” -

I only read this really recently, and I was BLOWN AWAY. Seriously, this packs so much into 15k--it’s got feels, it’s got lore, it’s got steamy smut. What more could one ask for?

Shiver The Whole Night Through | @theweddingofthefoxes

- T- 5/5 chapters, 7 977 words - Ren's always loved hunting, so when he's told his paid time off won't roll over into the next year, he decides to take a week, get his gun and rent a cabin in the woods. But it takes no time at all for the hunter to become the hunted. -

This one’s very accurately tagged “Mind Games,” which really made it stand out to me--I do love a good spooky woods story~~

The Ghost Under My Bed | @longstoryshortikilledhim

- E - 19 525 words - Amateur witch, aspiring actor and full-time family fuckup Ben Solo discovers that his house is being haunted. Best part? His very own poltergeist, Armitage Hux, is kinda cute. Worst part? Well. He's dead. -

THIS IS THE SWEETEST GHOST STORY. I love it so so much. The sweetness of their relationship set against the sad backdrop of both of their histories gives this one a really unique feel. And the ending is guaranteed to give you the warm fuzzies <3

--

aaaand that’s all, folks! Lord, this post turned into a behemoth lmao. I just. really love supernatural stuff. (on that note, if anyone has read/written anything even tangentially spooky/supernatural, feel free to send it my way. I will happily give it a read ;)))

Happy reading! ^_^

Game of Thrones: Fav characters and characters I dislike

(Long post) Kay so, today is the premiere of the final season, guess I'll do my top Ten favorite characters(it is pretty much my favorite show of all time). Show only since I have yet to read the books. If you wonder my opinion on any character not mentioned I either forgot to mention them or I didn't think they really earned a spot on the lists. Yes I do censor things in this a bit buuut I want my web comic to have a wider audience so yea, deal with it. (SPOILER WARNING, at this point, if ur not caught up tho, you have only yourself to blame) Liked Honorable mentions: - Melisandre - before I found out bout the necklace, I had the HUGEST crush on her. She's evil, yes, but she adds a sense of wonder and magic to the show, so I still like her character (other than that necklace scene obviously). Plus Jon wouldn't be back if it weren't for her so haters gonna hate. - Bronn- if he doesn't get his damn castle...lol I doubt I need to say why this wise cracking sword for hire is a favorite, I think most people love him. - Yara Greyjoy - Badass pirate/Viking chick on the high seas? Hell yeah! Plus I love Greyjoy armor, I don't doubt Euron will probably kill her though. - Oberyn Martell - Awesome character, the Red Viper was fierce with a spear and even moreso with his attitude. Unfortunately his pride wound up being his undoing in the end, arguably one of the most effective deaths in the series. - Tormund Giantsbane - How can you not love this absolute bro? I don't even like Brienne and I ship them. Geniune badass. - Jorah Mormont - Lord of the Friend zone, his loyalty makes him one of my favs, not top ten tier though - Petyr Baelish: The events of Game of Thrones wouldn't have happened without this slimy bastard. He was smart and cunning (which made him fun to watch) and though his death was cool, the build up was kind of weak (weird Sansa/Arya storyline) Favorite characters: 10.) Ned Stark - Everyone's original favorite character, his death cemented that GOT wasn't f*ckin around. I mean, damn, still a brutal death scene to watch to this day. Props to Sean Bean for making his so awesome. He was honorable to a fault in a dishonorable world. 9.) Ramsey Bolton - Kay, so I might get some flack for this one, but he was a great bad guy. I mean he was legit terrifying and despicable! Made the Battle of the Bastards have an entirely different level of intensity than most of the battle scenes. Dude was an absolute monster, but unlike another widely disliked villain, this psycho got his own hands dirty instead of beckoning others to. His death scene was poetic but I kinda wanted it to be gorier. (I'm an edgelord though) 8.)Jon Snow - Awesome character, obviously I dig him, so why so low on the list? Honestly, there's characters I like more. But he's still really cool, definitely has the best fight scenes of any of the characters. WE BETTER SEE GHOST THIS SEASON THOUGH!! Lol things are gonna be hella awkward when he finds out Dany is his aunt, yet we still root for them as a couple...that's wincest for you hurr hurr hurr hurr (sorry) I could see him living in the end cus tbh killing him again would be repetitive BS. 7.)Tywin Lannister - Kay...so he died on the sh*tter (imo probably the worst place to die) AND he was an absolute d*ck to Tyrion...but dude, he was awesome. He literally has a song about him in the world of GOT that is used as a warning to others to not f*ck with him!! He took a house that was laughed at and turned it into one of the most feared houses in all of Westeros. That is pretty frickin cool. 6.) Cersei Lannister - Another one I'll get flack for but whatever lol She's cool! So what she shags her brother and is an awful human being? She's a badass! Did you SEE how she blew up all of her enemies in the court and solidified her queen status in one fell swoop? That was dope!! She's vile but very entertaining to watch. RIP the Tyrells. Probably gonna get choked out though by her brother like Maggie the frog predicted. (By my second favorite character no less) 5.) Daenerys Targaryen - Dany! One of my cats is named after her! I love this character. The dragons are amazing, she's cute, she's powerful, maybe a little insane cus of Targaryen madness, and she's overcome some amazing odds. Her storylines could be a little meh in the grand scheme of things but Emilia Clarke's portrayal has made a character that we really root for. I suspect she'll die personally by the Night King buuuuut we'll see. 4.)Tyrion Lannister -Tyrion's writing has gone down a bit in recent seasons but still, most people's favorite Lannister. His quick wit and resilience make him a solidified favorite. Still seems like the person you'd most wanna drink with. I'd be pretty damn surprised if he bit the dust. 3.) Arya Stark - My other cat is named after her and there's a good reason why, SHE'S BASICALLY BECOME A FREAKING FACE STEALING NINJA!!! She was always likeable and I think I've enjoyed almost every storyline she's been a part of (excluding her main one last season) Maisie Williams is a great actress and I hope to see more of her in the future. I doubt Arya will die, but based on that one trailer, things do seem rather bleak for her. Who knows...maybe GRRM wants a divorce... 2.) Jaime Lannister - Yes. This dude is my favorite Lannister. In case you couldn't tell, Lannister is my favorite house. He's really had the best redemption arc in the series. He went from a character I disliked to my second favorite. I predict he will be the one to kill his sister, what happens to him after that, idk. It'll be awkward when he meets Bran again though... 1.) The Hound (Sandor Clegane) - CLEGANEBOWL BETTER HAPPEN!! Kay so... admittedly I screamed like a little freaking girl when this character came back. He... HE'S JUST SO FREAKING COOL!! Admittedly being a 6 footer and a rather grumpy individual, I probably relate to him more than I'd like to admit. Probably will die, but as long as he fights his brother, I'll be a very happy edgelord. Characters I dislike: 10.) Sansa Stark - Kay so I just...I dislike her, I never liked her. I feel sorry for her, sure. She's gotten better over time, sure. I still see her as very entitled and kinda whiny/bratty. She'll probably die. If not I won't be disappointed, still though, not a fan of Sansa. It was cool how she killed Ramsey, tho again, do wish the scene was gorier. 9.) Robb Stark - Ned Stark 2.0 but way less cool. Nuff said. I was okay with his death in the Red Wedding. Shouldn't have made a promise you weren't gonna commit to. Even if Walder Frey is a d*ck. 8.) Catelyn Stark - She was just such a jerk to Jon Snow and Tyrion, seriously. Even moreso in the books from what I have read of them. She got on my nerves. Honestly, I don't feel like Lady Stoneheart would've added much in terms of storyline. 7.) Brienne of Tarth: I find her annoying. Sure, her fight with the hound was FREAKING COOL, but she's kinda too self righteous for her own good. Duty is her thing and all but she is really not good at holding up to her vows. Still ship her and Tormund though. 6.) Theon Greyjoy - hated this dude, then felt sorry for him, now I roll my eyes at him. Honestly, Greyjoys other than Yara are pretty meh characters. Good for him finally regaining figurative cajones. Doubt he'll save his sister though, or survive the White Walkers for that matter. 5.) Euron Greyjoy - this one is a shame cus I hear the book character is amazing. Feels like a pretty generic bad guy of the week type for a show with outstanding villains. Funny like here or there, but kinda a weak character overall. Theon will probably kill him, though I'd love to see a twist where he kills Theon. 4.) Walder Frey - Old dude that got what was coming to him, props to the guy who plays Filch, portrayed two characters who were absolutely despicable. I doubt I really have to list the ways this cowardly character was despicable. Awesome death scene though. Winter came for House Frey. 3.) Shae - Grrrr. The actual actress I feel very sorry for cus I've heard her story, but man this character. Dumb but smart enough to screw over Tyrion. For personal reasons, I really hate this character, reminds me of people I've known. 2.) Tommen and Myrcella Baratheon - Most. Useless. Lannisters. Ever. I'm a Lannister fan so you could see why I roll my eyes so hard with these two. Tommen rolled over so hard you might as well have called him a wheel. And Myrcella was just kinda there, admittedly sad to watch her death scene though (pretty much moreso because it was the only time Jaime was really able to connect with his daughter) 1.) Joffrey Baratheon - Everyone probably saw this coming. Joffrey is that kid on the playground that'd hit you, you'd hit back, they'd start crying and get you in trouble. Everybody knew that kid, I think that's why everyone hates this character so. But man, his death scene was soooo satisfying. Props to the Jack Gleason for making him so horrible. There ya have it. My opinions on GOT characters. Freaking excited for tonight's premiere!! WINTER IS HERE!!

Sterek Fic Recs

This is not a finished list and will be updated as I continue to find more of these great fics. In terms of reading them, these are all finished works, and are pretty long too, so they are perfect for reading when you don’t have wifi. Also, while some of them may be angsty, I’m a sucker for happy endings, so no super sad fics will be included on this list. Sorry for rambling, I just wanted to share some of these greats with the world.

The Well of Living Water by kalpurna 

King Derek takes a consort.

-Includes possessive!Derek, clever!Stiles, and A+ political intrigue; What more could you want?

I don’t know why, but I guess it has something to do with you by LunaCanisLupus_22

“You smell like me,” the guy says, scowling as he crowds in and Stiles staggers back between the coats and finally hits the wall. “Why do you smell like me?”

He barely lets out a garbled sound as the blood rushes to his cheeks. “No reason,” Stiles yelps, struggling to get his footing and grasping at a whirlwind of puffy fur.

Or the one where Stiles goes thrift shopping and steals an alpha's shirt. And gets a lot more than he bargains for.

-Honestly anything by Luna is fantastic, but this is one of my faves because of the cute interactions, but also them both being thirsty af

(Sacred) In the Ordinary by idyll

The Pack, after college, graduate school and the starting of careers, comes back to Beacon Hills. Nothing's gotten less complicated after all this time.

Based on a kink meme prompt that grew legs and got serious.

Note: This is a whole lot of pack!fic with a very slow build Derek/Stiles.

-I gotta be honest, I skipped this one a lot on lists because the summary wasn’t super exciting to me, but I would hands down die for this fic. It’s the most classic of classic Sterek fics, and I can definitely see why. It’s a pretty slow burn and has a lot of other pairings and world building, but that’s exactly what makes it such a fantastic read. Absolutely no regrets.

A Heart is a Heavy Burden by lielabell 

In Which Stiles: is accosted by unhappy witches, becomes friends with fire demons, is rescued by darkly handsome wizards, discovers hidden inner depths, is introduced to princes, and finds true love. Though not necessarily in that order.

(Or the Howl’s Moving Castle AU fusion fic you never knew you wanted but are delighted to have.)

-This one is pretty good and I love the relationships and plot. It can be a little vague or confusing if you haven’t seen the original movie or read the book, but overall I enjoyed the read.

Shot Through The Heart by LunaCanisLupus_22

All they've given him is the guy’s head shot. And it’s terrible because now he is ridding the world of one more ridiculously attractive, instant pants dropping- take me now, if you please- regulation hottie.

Even if he has a scowl to rival Kristen Stewart.

Or the one when Stiles and Derek work for rival assassin companies and are sent to kill each other. It definitely doesn't go as planned.

-Another one by Luna because they’re literally the greatest. The summary pretty much says it all, but this is definitely a fic I go back to quite a lot. It includes sniper!Stiles and a lot of misunderstandings, so basically all of my favorite tropes in one. Also, pretty hysterical.

I know that you love me, even when I lose my head by LunaCanisLupus_22

“We’re not mates, Cora,” he insists. “I mean look at him-“

“Ouch,” the kid says, no longer pushing that shit eating grin.

“He’s- he’s,” Derek tries, at a loss of how to explain why this can’t be possible. Why it shouldn’t be possible.

Or the one where Derek gets attacked by hunters, ends up with amnesia and forgets Stiles is his mate

-Yes, yes, I know another Luna, but it’s soooo good. Let me warn you though, if you read this fic you’re in for the long haul because jesus is this angsty. It’s got a lot of Sterek hurt/comfort, but also a lot of great pack moments, and there is a happy ending so don’t worry.

Hemingway Can Suck It by KuriKuri

“For those of you who just transferred into this class or simply decided that day one wasn’t important enough to attend, I’m Professor Hale. Welcome to English 346, The American Novel.”

Stiles is pretty sure his mouth is hanging open right now and that his eyes are wide with shock, because holy fuck, he thinks he knows why his students transferred. Hell, if he was still an undergrad, he probably would have transferred, too.

(Or: In which Stiles is a Biology professor and Derek thinks he's a student.)

Note: French translation by the lovely enso-infinite now available (link inside)!

-A fantastic fic that’s a lot shorter than the others, but still just as great. The writing is good but also Sterek having literature boners for each other is just my cup of tea apparently

When sparks fly by LunaCanisLupus_22

“Derek,” Stiles thunders. “Were you ever going to tell me your house is trying to hook us up?”

Derek's head snaps up, eyes wide and scenting the evident crackle of magic in the air.

Or the one where spark!Stiles moves into an enchanted apartment block owned by a grumpy alpha and is completely oblivious to the building's efforts to matchmake them.

-Okay I promise this is my last Luna fic... but also read it it’s great. It’s based solely around the idea that while Stiles is indeed a magical badass, he is a really really oblivious magical badass.

Three Phone Calls by pandabomb 

“You’re not a hooker, Stiles.” “Okay, yes, true, but—for a thousand dollars…”

An AU in which Scott and Stiles live in a shitty apartment in NYC, Lydia is still queenly, and Derek is a clueless rich guy who mistakes Stiles for a hooker. Light-hearted, thinly-plotted fun.

-Super funny and wholesome. Also emotionally stunted Derek.

hope is the thing with feathers by ShanaStoryteller

Stiles is ten when he saves the Hales from their burning home and Derek from a wolfsbane bullet, and this establishes a pattern that seem to continue indefinitely.

"Then he's facing a burning home, and he wraps the hood of his sweatshirt around his mouth before he pushes the door open and steps inside. There's Mr. Hale asleep - he hopes asleep - on the couch, next to - Stiles thinks that's his brother but there are so many Hales, who can keep track. He rushes over and starts shaking him, can see the rise and fall of the man's chest so he knows he's alive, but he's not waking up. He shoves away his hood so he can shout, "Mr. Hale! You have to get up, there's a fire! Mr. Hale, get up!" Nothing, he's not even twitching, both of them taking in deep even breaths like they're having the most peaceful of rests, and Stiles is going to cry. "Wake up, wake up, wake up!" There's a moment, where all Stiles can hear is the blood rushing in his ears and not the roar of the flames or the creak of wood, then with a violent, silent pop it's all back and both of the men are gasping awake, eyes open and jumping to their feet. "

-If you haven’t heard of ShanaStoryteller on this site yet, you’re welcome, because they are one of my all time favorite authors and will soon be yours too. Overall brilliant story with magic!Stiles and an alive Hale pack.

Lock All The Doors Behind You by entanglednow

He has no idea what you're supposed to say when you find one of your...werewolf acquaintances, completely out of their mind, growling like they're about to see what your insides taste like. There's no handbook for this. Stiles is thinking that if he survives he might write one.

-Also a classic of classics, but less intimidatingly long. It’s about Derek getting stuck in a feral state and the only person he trusts is Stiles. Pretty fantastic, and I really enjoyed the characterization. Kind of ambiguous ending, so take it how you like.

OUAT 2X11 - The Outsider

Hey everyone! Don’t even SMEE-k to me until you’ve read my thoughts on the episode below the cut!

Press Release Mr. Gold finds an unwilling test subject to see if a spell he has concocted will allow him to cross the border of Storybrooke – without losing his memory – and go in search of his son, Bae; Belle stumbles upon a vengeful Hook in the Storybrooke harbor whose main goal is to eradicate Rumplestiltskin; and Mary Margaret and David go house hunting in search of a bigger place to live. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Belle meets Mulan as the two set out to slay a fearsome beast called the Yaoguai, who has been ravaging the land. General Thoughts - Characters/Stories/Themes and Their Effectiveness Past What I like about this segment is the pair up. Both Mulan and Belle provide something that the other wants and while their story of “person with no experience befriends hardened mentor or friend figure with more experience while simultaneously melting her heart with friendliness and trust” is pretty simple and is about as predictable as these tend to go, Belle and Mulan are interesting enough that it works.

That having been said, Belle and Mulan don’t get nearly enough quality time together as they should, and it does hinder Mulan’s resolve to let Belle kill the monster and for a couple of reasons. First, Mulan has been characterized as really freakin’ stubborn thus far in the series and those scenes all take place after this one. Why would she be so willing to give in to fighting the Yaoguai, especially given all the love she has for her village? Second, Belle brings up the good point that she’s not a fighter but instead a researcher and Mulan doesn’t give her much of an answer to it. And when she does, Belle having something worth fighting for isn’t reinforced at any point in the episode, making her resolution weak. Also, Belle’s overall story is just weird. Is she trying to just prove that she can be a warrior? Is it about being a female warrior? Is the story about accepting magic when it’s light? Fighting beasts with kindness rather than violence? There’s a lack of clarity here and it’s makes Belle’s story here feel undefined and because of that, her defeat of the Yaoguai and resolve to go t Rumple afterwards doesn’t strike the powerful note that it’s clearly supposed to.

Finally, the approach to the hunters in this episode is weird. Why not have them on their side? Yeah, they’re douchey, but it’s not like in “The Girl in the Tower,” when Alice and the hunters had diametrically opposed reasons for wanting to go after the troll (Alice wanted to protect the trolls and the hunters wanted to kill the troll). Here, they all want to take the troll down. They also don’t establish the men as sexist, yet the episode tries to paint them as it later on. They’re just a weird blend of evil, but it does nothing to establish Belle’s conflict. Present I have a large problem with a lot of this segment. They’re trying to set up that Rumple is losing sight of getting back to Bae to deal out vengeance (“Tell me this is just about getting the shawl back” is a crucial line in the Rumple/Belle fight scene at the shop and it’s made to be a big point that Rumple doesn’t answer this) while not having established that as a conflict Rumple’s actually going through. His actions haven’t been excessive when this instance of dialogue happened, and they only get excessive after Belle is threatened and Killian goads him on. Even his interaction with Smee isn’t all that different from his interactions with the man in previous episodes. And I do recognize that they finally get to showing him act excessively aggressive, but the moment isn’t helped by the lack of appropriate setup earlier.

I get that Belle isn’t super receptive to Killian’s speech about Milah and Rumple’s evil nature because of the gun, and I swear I get that, but what is the point of telling Belle all of this if she’s not going to change her mindset in any way as a result of this, especially when she’s the one who the audience is supposed to connect with, is generally framed in the right, and is being told about two characters who have established a level of sympathy? Killian’s definitely taking things too far, but we as an audience know that his words about Milah’s death are true and Belle refuses to react to that, making the scene entirely pointless. I understand that the theme of the story is that “when you find something worth fighting for, you never give up,” but this is never challenged and especially as Belle is learning that Rumple murdered someone, that would be the perfect time to challenge that sentiment. But instead, she just leaves the situation at: ”Because his [Rumple’s] heart is true. And yours [Killian’s]? Yours is rotten.” Again, this makes Belle’s doubling down feel so much weaker than it should. Insights - Stream of Consciousness -The town line is glowing! The hell?! -Rumple, wipe that SMEE-rk off your face! -”It’s [Smee’s hat] always brought me good fortune.” You have a very warped perspective on “good fortune.” -It’s so weird seeing such an optimistic character like Snow deliver a eulogy, but when you think about it, she’s probably the best person. Her eulogy is all at once a celebration of Archie’s life, a validity of the sadness of the other townspeople in attendance, and an encouragement to keep on living while keeping Archie in their hearts. -I feel so bad for whoever’s job it is to make tombstones in this world. Between Archie, Rumple, and Killian, they must’ve gotten so fed up with all of the resurrections. I imagine they are like the Cabbage Merchant in Avatar: The Last Airbender! -Bitter segue, writers from the funeral to Archie being tortured. Bitter segue. -Archie, just say “he came to my office one time.” -How does Killian know Archie is a cricket? I’d imagine that Cora told him, but how does she know? -We’ve got our start of the Captain Beauty BROTP here...I love what this is going to turn to, but this is awkward af… -I don’t think I’m ever going to be over the fact that Belle defeated Captain Hook with a fucking BOOKCASE! XD -I am pretty sure that right after that scene in the library is where the hug blooper (i.e. My favorite blooper ever) took place! Update: OH MY GOD, IT TOTALLY WAS! -Rumple, what the hell are you wasting time on? You literally just got what you wanted! -”You expect to defeat the fiercest creature in the land with a book?” No, but give her a case full of them and you might be surprised! XD -Belle’s gambit in that wagon scene was weird. Did she know they were going to push her off the wagon? And if she didn’t, then why lead them the wrong way? If she wanted to go on her own, then why not just leave on her own? -Do platonic relationships have food, because Swan Believer’s is totally Pop Tarts. -Grumpy makes so many good points in his speech to Snow and Emma. Like, the fandom loves to infantize him, but there’s a reason why he’s as in-good with the Charming family as he is: He considers things that no one else will and for the most part, he backs that information up. -”We’re a bit homesick.” My previous point having been said, I’m sad that they don’t really acknowledge this point all that much to my memory. That also having been said, why wouldn’t you want to stay here? I’m with Isaac! Indoor plumbing is the best! -Belle is amazingly inquisitive and I love her no-nonsense approach to learning about Rumple and Killian’s beef with each other. -Rumple, especially considering what happens to Milah in roughly three seasons, fuck you for lying. Now I get it narratively-speaking and it makes sense for him as a character and I get that it’s a half truth. But still...fuck you for lying. -Also, as I said back in my review of “The Return,” I like how to a point, for as inquisitive as Belle is, she reaches a point where she won’t push an issue any further, and I like how moments like that subtly show the differences between Belle and Bae. -Damn, Killian. While I don’t know if you know who that scarf will lead Rumple to, that was EVIL! -I almost hate to make this comparison, but Rumple has a very Kylo Ren way of dealing with his anger (Breaking shit). -”And this is my fault.” Belle, this is so the opposite of your fault. Like, no. This blame game just doesn’t work. -”You’ll cast some spell that gives me no choice?” ...Just play the fucking Rumple irony clip here, okay? -Smee, why can’t you talk? RAT got your tongue?! -Belle rocks. It takes serious balls of steel to walk into an invisible portal, especially over water. -Batten up the hatches, Belle! -Archie, more like “Aren’t ‘chu glad to see me?!” ...They can’t all be winners. -Wow! Seeing Henry call Archie’s answering machine just to hear his voice just breaks my heart. That’s too real! Hell, Henry hasn’t even changed after the funeral. That’s too sad for words! How is this one moment the best part of the episode?! -”It’s just four people and a dalmation is a lot.” Snowy, baby, you have no fucking idea what’s to come! XD -”We could get our own place.” Jeez, Snow! Also, this is another point that’s brought up, but not really dealt with, not even really in the Season where they do get a house. Hell, at least suggest buying a house for all of them to live in together! The Swan Jones house had more than enough room for all of you! -So, Snow’s scene makes no sense. First, she poses that they should move out and then she talks about how they should take the chance for a fresh start that Storybrooke gives them. -”That doesn’t belong to you.” Belle, never change! XD -”It’s just ahead.” This line is the best segue ever! XD -”What makes you think his son wants to be found?” Oooh, with the Killian and Baelfire episode’s information in hindsight, that stings so badly, both as a point on Baelfire and Killian’s characters. Killian of course knows Bae wants to avoid his father after what went down with the portal, and Killian feels the same way about his own father after his abandonment. -Thank you, Killian for telling Belle the truth! Like, I get why this doesn’t prompt any change in Belle because of the gun he has on her, but yesss!! -”He will do anything to hold onto his power. Why do you think anyone who’s ever gotten close to him has either run away or been killed?” -Belle, do not destroy the town to save it! This isn’t “Man of Steel!” That monster is fire and the town is wood! I don’t need to read a lot of books to know that this is bad! -Mal, that was one badass curse! -Wait a sec. Belle left an injured Mulan in the path of a beast without letting anyone know this? -I’m looking at the David and Mary Margaret material, and I feel like if you mix the Season 2 energy with the Season 6 timing and context, this subplot would’ve been so much better. -”Unless we don’t want the same thing.” WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS LINE? -The Cricket Believer hug soothes my soul!!! -”I knew it.” I’m going to be generous and give this line the benefit of the doubt that it was meant to be a joke. -Belle, why are you going on about how you can make Rumple powerless in front of his enemy?! -”What you’ve done cannot be undone.” Suuuuuuuuure Rumple. XD Arcs - How are These Storylines Progressing? Rumple’s Redemption - So, while I don’t think the episode made this come through effectively at all, the lesson of prioritization does hold through for a while, especially at the start of the next episode. Killian’s Revenge/Redemption - Well, Killian definitely gets his revenge! This I felt was also well done because it was effectively set up that Killian was going to go after Rumple’s love in order to destroy him throughout the episode. Favorite Dynamic Swan Believer. It honestly frustrates me that this has to be put down as my favorite dynamic. Now, that’s not because I don’t love Swan Believer. I fucking love Swan Believer, but when so many interesting dynamics are going up against each other, one of them should be theoretically higher than what amounts to a side story! But yeah. Emma’s struggling with and eventual comforting of Henry as he grieves Archie is really good. It’s a great continuation from what we got in “The Cricket Game,” as this is another aspect of motherhood that Emma has to learn if she wants to truly be a mother, and in addition to just generally comforting him and validating his feelings, getting Pongo is a big step (Or would be). That’s not only a cool thing, but it’s a motherly commitment for herself as she and Henry will be taking care of him together (Or would, if Archie was really dead). Writer I am so disappointed. Goldberg and Chambliss were freakin’ legends for me going into this episode, with prior episodes having such a strong thematic presence. How did they drop the ball this badly? Like, there is just no sense of story structure in either segment and it tarnishes what has the potential to be two great stories. There’s no cohesion between the individual scenes and what we’re supposed to be taking away from them. Motivations and framing go out the window and while some of the individual character moments work, little else does. Apart from plot, nothing else changes, and that’s not what a story should ever do. The writing itself is shallow, playing the “tell, don’t show game” to say what the character’s problems are, but not showing how those are problems. Rating 4/10. This episode’s sole saving grace (Aside from great acting, set design, and music, but those are practically givens on OUAT) is it’s fantastic individual character moments, for any sense of cohesion in the delivery or understanding of his story is nonexistent. Belle’s character isn’t shown to grow from any of her experiences (In either story), Rumple’s actions are weak for what the story is trying to make them seem like, and the nuances of Killian’s motivation, while given time to be presented, are completely ignored. As for the flashback, the same lack of cohesion applies as to exactly how Belle is supposed to learn what the episode is supposed to paint her as learning. Additionally, the time spent with the Charming family adds up to nothing. Flip My Ship - Home of All Things “Shippy Goodness” Rumbelle - Something I find so interesting is how Rumple hates fairies, but Belle is so much of the closest OUAT gets to a fairy fangirl outside of Nova. She’s shown to be friendly with Blue, to the point of making her Gideon’s godmother and teaming up with her on more than one occasion and is much more welcoming at the sign of using light fairy magic in her quests. Also, in terms of the episode itself, Rumple and Belle get a lot of cute moments. Their initial scene in the shop screams of puppy love, their hug after Belle’s rescue is so nice, and before Belle’s shot, hers and Rumple’s farewell is utterly beautiful. Grumpy Beauty - I LOVE these two together! Everytime they share a scene, it’s so tiny, but it tells so much about how much they value each other and their emotional supportiveness of one another. The connection to “Dreamy” itself is just great and helps to reinforce when “Dreamy” encourages Belle to join the hunting party. Millian - So it all comes to an obviously dark place, but you really feel Killian’s fervor for Milah all throughout this episode, from Killian’s excitement at the prospect of his revenge to the more leveled way he speaks of Milah to Belle to the fact that he kept Milah’s scarf despite knowing better to the way he so quietly enflares when Belle says she died to the way he tries to goad Rumple into killing him, and to the wide-eyed venom at the town line. The character work here, both as a shared effort on the part of the writers and Colin’s acting, is sublime. ()()()()()()()()() Writing negative reviews are both the absolute worst ones to write, especially when you’re expecting a good episode. They’re easy to construct because it’s easy to explain why something doesn’t work as opposed to why it does, but fun to put together? Not at all. No one wants to see something bad unless it’s something for jokes like “The Room,” and I’m at the top of this list. I remembered loving this episode, and it honestly hurt to see that it wasn’t nearly as good as I built it in my head it to be from memory and nostalgia.

I sincerely hope the next one is better.

Thank you for reading and to those at @watchingfairytales. Season 2 Tally (96/220) Writer Tally for Season 2: Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis: (29/60) Jane Espenson (17/50) Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg (24/50) David Goodman (16/30) Robert Hull (16/30) Christine Boylan (7/30) Kalinda Vazquez (10/30) Daniel Thomsen (10/20) Operation Rewatch Archives

keep shining your light

title from 'there's hope' by india arie. nothing is mine except for hope. not even killian's insecurities--i didn't invent those. thanks to @love-with-you-i-have-everything for reading this and being a source of encouragement and love <3

sort of a sequel to you’ve got me on a natural high, found on tumblr and ao3. not necessary to read first, but there’s a fair amount of reference to it.

For the first two weeks after Hope’s born, Killian doesn’t let her out of his sight.

If Emma’s feeding her, Killian’s sitting on the bed next to her, his eyes feasting on Hope’s face or Emma’s. If Henry’s holding her and reciting Snow and Charming’s love story, he’s sitting on the couch next to Henry, arm around him, eyes never leaving Hope’s scrunched up face except to grin at Henry every now and then. If someone else has come to the house to admire the baby or to bring over food for them, he’s either lurking in the room while someone’s holding the baby or holding her himself. Usually he’s holding her. He doesn’t like handing her over.

Killian and Emma don’t go to work for those first two weeks at all; David had, at first glance at the baby, informed her parents that he was well capable of taking care of Storybrooke while they stayed home with her. David, of course, had been thinking of the baby’s health and not Emma’s true annoyance with crises and Killian’s overall fragile mental health, both of which were events worth of David’s consideration. They’re fine with the enforced vacation.

Finally, when Killian’s staying in Hope’s room long after she’s asleep, Emma has to interfere. She wanders into the little room, quotes from the storybook Henry lovingly painted on the walls. “Killian,” she whispers. He’s sitting in the rocking chair, staring through the slats of the crib at Hope. It takes a moment but Killian finally sees her, and he smiles softly and raises his hook toward her in silent invitation.

She takes the hook and walks to him, settling on his lap. They both watch the slow up and down movements of Hope’s tiny body. They had done pretty well in her accidental conception. Pretty little thing, Emma thinks proudly. She snuggles into her pirate’s embrace for a moment but can soon feel both of them drifting off into sleep. “Come on, Killian,” Emma finally whispers to avoid waking the baby. “Come to bed.”

He doesn’t answer, just buries his face in her neck in silent agreement. She stands and pulls him after her. They curl up together in their bed, Killian pulling her as closely as physically possible and Emma tangling their feet together.

“Hope can sleep without you, you know,” Emma says.

“I know,” Killian replies in his gruff sleepy voice. “I just like watching her.”

“Me too,” Emma whispers.

The next morning it’s like he’s trying to not hover over her so much—he lets Emma get her in the night and morning, gets breakfast for the two of them and Henry without leaving the eggs to check on Hope, and he actually leaves the room with Hope in Regina’s arms to wake Emma up and tell her Regina’s there to pick up Henry. “I don’t care that Regina’s here,” Emma grumbles. “Tell her to call me if the Wicked Witch of the East decides to rear her ugly head, or a magical green Yeti comes to visit, then I’ll get up.” Then he kisses her briefly and nearly runs back to Hope, probably to make sure that Regina’s not done something with his child.

The next week, Emma forces Killian to return to work, as she can more than handle a baby on her own. Killian protests this, claiming that Emma will need him for something or another, or that Hope will get upset since Henry’s going back to school just as he’s going to work. Less people in the house, or something; Hope won’t know how to handle it. Emma, of course, eventually gets her way and Killian leaves for work with a packed lunch, a kiss left on Hope’s cheek, and only a little complaining.

David calls her that afternoon. “Is Killian okay?”

Emma’s holding Hope while on the phone, and she could swear Hope perks up at the sound of David’s voice. That’s going to be adorable, telling David that his granddaughter recognizes him already. “Yeah, I think so. He didn’t want to go to work but I eventually convinced him otherwise.”

“Yeah, you can watch over Hope by yourself, I should think. It’s just weird.” David’s voice goes lower, conspiring. “He’s sitting at his desk, just staring at that picture he has of you and Henry holding the baby. Just staring, like he’s trying to memorize it.”

Emma raises an eyebrow at Hope, whose eyes follow the eyebrow very well. She can’t help grinning at Hope’s eyes; they’re Killian’s exact eyes, shape and color and expression. She zones back into David’s voice. “Is he working at all?”

“No, and I think that’s the weirdest part. He loves work, can’t handle being idle, you know that.”

Emma’s starting to get concerned, not just because the baby on her arm’s starting her feed-me-now squeak. “He’s not doing anything?”

David pauses a moment, like he’s trying to get a closer look at his son-in-law without him noticing. Emma puts the phone on speaker and leaves it on the counter while she searches the living room for the softly squawking Hope’s pacifier. “Still staring at the picture. I swear he’s been staring at it for five minutes. Eyes not moving. He hasn’t noticed me blatantly eying him.”

Emma grabs the pacifier from the couch cushion, glances at it—clean enough, she’s sure—and pushes it gently into Hope’s mouth. “Well, you’re boss for another few weeks. Either tell him to come home or get back to work.”

Killian gets back home in eight minutes. Hope’s just about to fall asleep again, and Emma’s holding her while trying to catch up on whatever TV show she abandoned after the six weeks of heaven before the Queens of Darkness.

Killian quietly bursts into the living room as only he can and tosses himself on the couch next to Emma, kissing her for a few seconds before brushing a kiss to Hope’s sleepy forehead.

“What is up with you?” Emma asks after she gets her breath back.

“What, love?” Killian, bless him, looks genuinely confused.

Emma raises that eyebrow again. “You’re home four hours early. David called ten minutes ago to inform me that you weren’t working, just looking at a picture on your desk. Then I told him to either send you home or make you work. And here you are.”

She thinks Killian stiffens for a moment, his expression closing off for the briefest of seconds. Then he opens up again, relaxing into the couch, arm around her shoulders, maintaining eye-contact as normal. “I missed you and the little lass. Couldn’t concentrate on Leroy’s latest drunk and disorderly or someone David thinks is going to turn out to be, and I quote, ‘the evil gingerbread man, except not gingerbread’.”

Emma scoffs. “How could the gingerbread man be evil?”

“I asked the same question, love, and David handed me the book.” He brushes his finger down Hope’s face, their expressions finally peaceful and content. Emma relaxes, finally, and snuggles into his embrace. Killian whispers into her ear, “The gingerbread man is evil, Swan. We can’t trust it. And the little lass must never hear the story.”

“Henry can read her anything he wants that’s age-appropriate,” Emma grumbles, the few short hours of laundry, cleaning, and slightly grumpy baby catching up with her. Her last thought is Killian gently taking Hope from her and brushing a tiny kiss on her lips.

She wakes up a few hours later to a quiet house and a few seconds of panic at the time. The slightly painful state of her breasts tells her about what time it is, and she eventually summons the strength to stand and wander up to Hope’s room to see if she’s hungry. Killian’s standing above her crib when she enters. He’s staring into the crib, his gaze unfocused.

Emma stands in the doorway for a moment before seeing the tear tracking its way down Killian’s cheek. She quickly walks up to him, wraps her arms around his waist, and buries her face in his neck as he takes her hand in his. “What is it?” she asks. It’s not begging but it’s close. “Come on, Killian, tell me what’s wrong,” she repeats when he doesn’t answer.

“I’m terrified,” he finally whispers. Hope squeaks in her sleep for a second and he stiffens, staring down at her. “I’ve no idea how to care for a baby, let alone how to raise a child.”

“Nor do I.”

“You have fake memories of raising Henry, at least. I know it’s not comparable, but there’s that knowledge in the back of your mind.” Killian slowly turns in her arms to face her. “I don’t know anything—”

“Yes, you do,” Emma insists, wiping the tear away. “Three, almost four weeks of being out in the world, and Hope definitely has her favorite parent.”

He smiles, that self-deprecating smile that Emma can never decide whether she wants to slap or kiss off his handsome face. He leans his forehead against hers. She can see one more tear making its hot trail down his face.

“Come on, Killian, there’s something else,” she whispers. “Tell me, please tell me.”

He pulls away and leads her to the rocking chair to sit while he kneels at her feet. “When there was that chance we were losing Hope. That’s what made me remember, I think. That I’ve lost everyone. My parents, Liam, Milah, even you.” Emma wipes away another tear and he turns into her hand. “I thought we were going to lose our child, and some nurse whispered what could happen in miscarriage, pregnancy, childbirth—”

They take a shaky breath, almost in unison.

“I’m not sure who she was in the Enchanted Forest, but she should not be a nurse.” Killian’s voice strengthens, but that wobble in the background makes Emma want to cry. “She told me that not only did miscarriages result in the death of the child, which I had unfortunately prepared myself for, but that sometimes, they lose the mother too. That there’s nothing they can do.” He buries his face in her thighs for just a moment and takes a shuddering breath.

Emma wants to kill someone. Stride to the hospital and physically rip this woman’s head from her shoulders.

Killian pulls away and his glassy eyes pierce into her own. “And that was what reminded me. That I’ve lost everyone, and it’s only a matter of time before I lose you, and Hope, and Henry, and even David and Snow, and everyone I care about.”

Emma stares at her husband for a moment, rests her hand on his cheek, feels the agony in his heart that she knows all too well. Then she glares at him. “You think you have the monopoly on losing people?” she demands, still in a whisper. “I told you, years ago, that I had lost everyone I cared for. My parents, every single foster family, Lily, Neal, Henry, Graham, Walsh. You. I’ve lost you more times than I want to count.” Killian tries to speak but she cuts him off. “You are not the only one who loses people. If I have loved them, I have also lost them.”

“But—”

“I’m terrified too, Killian,” she whispers. He rests his chin on her knees, his eyes wide and pleading, and she strokes his hair. “But we have to stop being scared of losing everything.”

“I know.”

Of course this is the moment Hope decides it’s a good idea to wake up and fuss about general problems in the life of a baby. Killian stands and lifts the baby out of the crib with the gentleness normally reserved for fine china and hands her to Emma with the utmost care, stepping to her side as she gets the baby situated. Hope starts nursing ravenously and Emma grins down at her.

Then she glances up at Killian. He stands next to them, his attention completely captured on Hope. She can see the moment he realizes Hope didn’t even bother to open her eyes all the way, because his mouth quirks in the smallest smile. She watches his face as he memorizes every facet of their child’s face and her innocent beauty. When Hope’s finished eating and hiccups a little burp of satisfaction, Emma stands to hand her to Killian.

His face glows.

“See?” Emma whispers, resting one hand on Killian’s cheek and the other on his arm, just above Hope’s little head. “She’s here. Henry’s in his room, sleeping like the teenage dead. I’m here. You’re not gonna lose us. Never.”

Killian doesn’t say anything. His eyes shine with understanding and relief. He leans down and kisses Hope’s forehead, his lips lingering. Emma rests her forehead against his.

They stand there, in Hope’s nursery, for an indeterminate amount of time. Basking, maybe. In the presence of their daughter, the baby they wanted for so long and feared so much over and loved so intensely.

Later that night, when they’ve finally put Hope down and returned to their own bed, Emma thinks. She rests her head on Killian’s chest and he tightens his arm around her in his sleep. True love really is the most powerful of magic, she considers. For when Killian leaned down and kissed Hope, she could have sworn the room lit up in rainbow lights.

please tell me ALL about your ocs!!! 💕

I am Crying thank u so much thank u for Finally asking abt my ocs I have so many of them and I love them all so much so I’ll just sum up my few main ones and favorites (buckle up and also this whole story takes place in london as of now bc I’m uncreative):

Beckett (full name Beckett James Montgomery) is a happy little man who’s full of love and also a lot of chronic illnesses and other conditions. He just has really rough luck but he’s still pretty content with things. He’s working hard to overcome his shyness to set boundaries with others and he’s becoming a lot more confident in himself!! Of course losing a large portion of your childhood to illness and injury is pretty traumatic but he has a really solid support system. He loves his friends and is also very passionate about horticulture. And some other facts abt Beckett:

his favorite colour is pink (which is why his hair is pink throughout his teens and into his 20s but it’s naturally a mousy brown!)

he’s big gay

he’s a manlet (5'6")

he goes on to open up a plant nursery

he plays piano

his entire life is like 1/8th of a plan and 7/8ths of a prayer

Cherry Nova Griffin is a cool girl who’s super smart and just the raddest ever. She’s the older sister friend despite being the baby of her family bc she really really cares abt her friends and wants the best for them. She’s no square so she’s not gonna harsh anyone’s vibe but she is very sensible so u won’t go fucking yourself up on her watch bc she’s your voice of reason. This doesn’t mean she doesn’t partake in her friends foolishness, she just makes sure the foolishness goes smoothly. She’s super smart and very interested in science. She’s also pretty much always dressed to the nines (heavily influenced by her sister Azalea who’s a fashion icon). And some more facts abt Cherry:

her favorite colour is purple

her and elfie are the co-Just Dance™ wii champions of their friend group

she comes out as a lesbian in her 20s because that Internalized Home Of Phobia Tho

she’s 5 foot nothing she’s Small (she looks nothing like her two tall, rake thin older siblings)

her and Beckett are childhood friends, meeting when Beckett joined her class at school when they were both 7 or so

she’s always trying to prove herself to others but she has enough people around her that know how cool she is

Elfie Pepper (or Elfie Kiyoko Takemago-Pepper) is a fun, spritely Irish girl (her mom and biological father are Japanese but she was born in Ireland and raised there by her mom and now-stepdad). She’s super funny and very much the life of the party like she will always get u to chuckle. She can make any situation better just by being there bc she’s hilarious and rad. Her girlfriend is a super butch buff athlete but Elfie’s more often than not found eating lucky charms straight out of the box on her couch. She does like to skateboard tho and she’s pretty darn good at it. She’s the friend who makes all the playlists for driving/partying/chilling bc her music taste is universally liked (without her everyone would be fighting to play their own tunes she’s the peacemaker). Basically everyone likes Elfie. Now for The Facts:

she’s probably the rowdiest of the bunch. she’s like permanently cranked up to 100

Elfie is Big Lesbian

she’s a decent base player

her mom wanted to name her Kiyoko but let her hippie boyfriend pick the name Elfie for her

she moved to England when she was 12 and joined Beckett and Cherry’s squad then

She’s like 5'3" their whole squad is Tiny

Eleanor Lucille Atwin is the only one tall one in their squad. She’s 5'11" and the definite mom friend of Elfie, Cherry, and Beckett. She’s always got snacks and extra sweaters and pain medication and makeup wipes on her. She’s patient and caring and will have your back no matter what. You could indefinitely count on her in a crisis. Eleanor is also trans and has really been through it and still sometimes struggles with loving herself (not to mention dealing with transphobia) but she receives endless love and support from her friends. She’s good at painting and is always lookin super pretty. And some Eleanor facts:

she’s 20

she was born in Yukon, Canada

she joined the main group when she was 15

she’s prefers painting with watercolours

she marries her high school sweetheart (a ginger soccer/football player who’s like the only cishet guy involved in this story)

she goes on to become an interior designer bc she’s got rly good taste

Kimmo Alric Seppänen (23) is kind of a bitch, but he’s been through a Lot so it’s kind of expected. He had a really rough childhood where he was neglected severely by his parents before he was taken out of their house and placed with his adoptive parents who treated him super well and loved him a lot. He struggled a lot with fitting in and became really edgy in high school where he started dating Fredrik on and off. Then after school he had problems with addiction and did a lot of unhealthy shit but he eventually sorted it out. Now he’s living with Fredrik in London and they play in a band together (he still smokes like a pack a day). Kimmo is grumpy, and prone to lashing out, but he’s also a talented musician, wise beyond his years, and very dryly funny. He’s hard to get through to, but oddly lovable when you get to know him. And some Kimmo facts:

he was born and raised in Jyväskylä, Finland

he’s a killer guitarist and an adequate singer

he has a total of 12 piercings, most of which he got in his teens

he was diagnosed with Klinefelter’s syndrome in his early teens

he uses he/they pronouns and hes bi

his nose is crooked as shit from being broken several times

Fredrik Jeremiias Harmaajärvi is beefy and dumb. He’s the second oldest of 4 brothers. He’s like a big stupid golden retriever: cute and overall friendly, but kinda air-headed. He drinks too much (though he has captain america-level alcohol tolerance) and doesn’t notice many emotional cues from others, especially his emotionally unstable boyfriend Kimmo. When he was 21, he formed a band with some friends and Kimmo (his then ex-boyfriend whom he had newly reunited with). Kimmo and Fredrik moved to London after the band lost its two original members. Fredrik is easygoing and fun, but he has literally no brain cells. Some facts:

he’s a killer singer and an adequate guitar player

He’s also from Jyväskylä

His whole family is absolutely disgustingly beautiful (to his kinda ugly bfs dismay)

pure, unconcentrated himbo

His band is primarily punk/garage rock but Fredrik loves pop music

he’s also pretty into fitness and maintaining his image so he frequently goes to the gym (this is why he’s a big muscly Viking man)

Phoenix Delphinus Griffin is Cherry’s oldest sibling and he’s also a gem and a treasure. He’s a professional dancer and dance instructor. He’s 6'5" and all lanky, wirey muscle. He’s a laid-back, sociable guy who easily builds relationships with others. He acts super chill on the outside but he does struggle with pretty bad anxiety. He’s very fit and health conscious and is always up early to go to the gym or go for a run or drink a smoothie or whatever healthy people do. He has a number of large friend groups and is probably the most “popular” of all my ocs. And some facts abt him:

Phoenix has a phobia of drowning and is very uncomfortable with swimming in large bodies of water

he prefers contemporary ballet, but he’s trained in classical ballet and tap as well

he was once in a local production of cats the musical (he played macavity and plato due to his height and lack of singing required for the roles) and his friends won’t let him live it down

he’s bi

he dated the bassist in kimmo and fredrik’s band for a few months

he’s just a way friendly dude everyone loves him

I seriously needed motivation to make a post like this of all of them so thank u again!!!!!!!!

December 24th-December 30th, 2018 CTP Archive

The archive for the Comic Tea Party week long chat that occurred from December 24th, 2018 to December 30th, 2018.  The chat focused on Cat-Person by P.Lo.

Featured Comment:

Chat:

RebelVampire

COMIC TEA PARTY- WEEK LONG BOOK CLUB START!

Hello and welcome everyone to Comic Tea Party’s Week Long Book Club~! This week we’ll be focusing on Cat-Person by P.Lo~! (https://catpersoncomic.tumblr.com/)

You are free to read and comment about the comic all week at your own pace, so stop on by whenever it suits your schedule! Remember, though, that while we allow constructive criticism, our focus is to have fun and appreciate the comic. Below you will find four questions to get you started on the discussion. However, a new question will be posted and pinned everyday (between 12:01AM and 6AM PST), so keep checking back for more! You have until December 30th to tell us all your wonderful thoughts! With that established, let’s get going on the reading and the chatting!

QUESTION 1. What has been your favorite scene in the comic so far? What specifically did you like about it?

QUESTION 2. At the moment, who is your favorite character? What about that character earns them this favor?

QUESTION 3. Why do you think Neko refuses to go outside and has, in general, a grumpy attitude? Do you believe this is something she’ll eventually overcome at the current rate?

QUESTION 4. Will Neko and Eleanor be able to overcome the tension in their relationship? If so, how? Do you feel Neko’s attitude towards Eleanor is justified or vice versa? Will Neko ultimately ruin her dad’s relationship with Eleanor?

Delphina

(Content warning for anybody who needs it: Suicidal thoughts/attempts are a central theme in this comic)

So the creator describes this as a "serialized psychological-thriller". Neko is our viewpoint character, she's clearly got some unaddressed mental health issues that nobody around her is qualified to deal with, and as such becomes the most sympathetic. But it's clear that everyone starts from a deeply flawed baseline, and the creator is using things like porn addiction, alcoholism, and vegan diets to paint everyone in those "shades of grey".

From the about page:

“When a last-minute business trip forces DAD to leave home for a week, he enlists his eager girlfriend ELEANOR to take care of his reclusive daughter NEKO, which leads to jealousy, passive-aggressiveness, and… Bloodshed.”

So based on the tension, and clues being dropped around with Neko pocketing the key, and how controlling Eleanor is getting, I'm not expecting this to be a gentle healing story where everyone comes to understand one another. Things are going to go WAY south, perhaps physically and psychologically violent between Neko and Eleanor.

RebelVampire

QUESTION 5. Do you think Neko’s dad will be able to get a grip on his own problems, such as his drinking? How might his problems affect his relationship with Neko and Eleanor as the story continues?

keii4ii

I must say, I'm super impressed with how the art style and the repetitive format contribute to the storytelling. The clean style, the pretty but understated colors, the calm repetition of the three panel format... All of it contrasts against the turbulence and the ugliness of what's happening under the surface, and it's extremely effective.

RebelVampire

QUESTION 6. In what ways do you believe Neko’s life is reflected in the story she’s writing, especially given she mentioned taking aspects form it? What could that mean for the current state of Neko’s life?

RebelVampire

1) i really enjoy the first lunch scene when its just eleanor and neko because i find it to be a hard slap of truth in how communication can quickly go awry. eleanor is clearly well-meaning, but because of her personal insecurities about her position with neko and her own personal life beliefs, she winds up being pushy. but on the otherhand, neko is kind of a brat in general, even if i empathize with her more in that scene. but inevitably i really enjoyed the character dynamics in this particular scene cause they felt all too real and made my heart hurt. because neither character involved is awful, they just arent on the same page of communication. and that fact i think is really poignant for the darker tones of the story. 2) favorite character is probably neko's dad. because despite his own issues, he is an honest soul trying to balance helping neko while having his own life. he woefully underqualified to help neko, obviously, but hes trying at least.

3) i go back and forth on neko's decision to not leave the house. on the one hand, it could be hinting she might have extreme social anxiety or a form of agoraphobia. but on the otherhand, as someone who doesnt like to go outside, it could be she just doesnt like to go outside. not everyone gets a kick out of what the outside has to offer (often cause a lot of the more interesting things to do also cost zounds of money). so in a sense, i kind of feel it might be a mix? in that in general she just doesnt enjoy it, but that she does have some anxiety issues that doubly encourage her not to go out either. as for overcoming it, fff, it's not looking likely. as others have mentioned, she's really in need of some professional help, and atm she is not getting that. but as for the going outside thing, i dont think she necessary needs to overcome it. ppl can live healthy lives while staying mostly indoors. its mroe about whether it's hurting her quality of life. but i like the fact its not entirely clear in this regard, cause it makes neko more sympathetic in regards to her reactions to eleanor

4) I feel both character's attitudes is both justified and unjustified. as i mentioned with favorite scene, they both have their positive and negative sides. neko has issues but is also kind of a brat. eleanor is well-meaning but extremely pushy and inconsiderate. but in the end i dont think it matters who is more justified. theyre both right and both at fault, which is great because in general this is the gray situations we often face in real life. as for overcoming the tension in their relationship, eh, probably not. but in all honesty i dont think the dad and eleanor's relationship is gonna work out. i think at the end it's the dad's own unaddressed issues that are going to sabotage the relationship, nothing that neko does. but i do think neko is gonna feel like it's her fault and i think shes gonna feel guiliter about it then she suspects she will despite her general dislike of eleanor

5) as said in the end of 4, i think his own issues are what's actually going to ruin the relationship with eleanor. alcohol addiction leads to bad places and makes ppl not themselves. so i can only see it going badly. as for neko, i kind of think the same thing is gonna happen, more because he's not going to get neko the help she needs. inevitably, this story is on a downward spiral because everyone is sad and nobody seems to dealing with their issues in a healthy manner as of yet.

RebelVampire

6) before i speculate, i just want to say i love that the story flat out tells out neko's life is being reflected in her own story. because this is an element that would be left to reader speculation on simile and metaphor and stuff. but since this story is upfront about it, i actually think it makes room for a lot of tension building. since the story neko is writing is revealed in bits and pieces, this allows us to get the occassional view into neko's psyche. as the story she's writing gets darker, we get a window side view into neko's inner turmoil. and the more turmoil, the more worried you get since it's clear her mental situation atm might not be the most stable. now speculation, while i dont think neko is some secret killer of those around her through supernatural means, i do think shes reflecting the fact that she feels like a burden on those around her. which is somewhat interesting and also very sad. the extreme manifestation shown in her story makes me think neko has a very distorted self image. but on the otherhand, at the current moment its hard to say she isnt bit of a burden, though mostly in regards to her being a bit of brat just cause her dad wants to dad. but in a way, she kind of self fulfills the prophecy. and inevitably its just this cycle that leads her down a dark road that is overall very depressing but still interesting to see portrayed in this way.

Delphina

I was curious how old she was/what their financial situation is. She's of legal age to drink I guess, so she's an adult. Nothing like getting a job or her ever living independently has come up, so I assume the dad has that covered or is at the very least not mentioning that out of consideration of her mental health. But they can't afford more than one laptop for him to take on his business trip and her to write on?

And surely giving your shut-in daughter internet access would make life somewhat less isolating for her? Especially since internet communication has been established as something the dad does for support, it feels like a particularly odd situation. C'mon man, get your girl an iPad and let her do NaNoWriMo or something.(edited)

keii4ii

Was she actually legal to drink? I was under the impression that it was a special occasion only thing. (which isn't too uncommon IRL even if it's not legal?)

Delphina

I guess, but damn, that makes him an even WORSE dad.

They don't mention school or anything either, so I'm a little unclear.

keii4ii

Yeah...

Delphina

Regarding her writing, I think the dog/cat dichotomy that comes up in Neko's story that she's writing is a big theme (and well, the comic's called Cat-person, and she's named "neko" which means "cat" in Japanese). I'm assuming the parallel here is Neko is not actually the guy in her writing, but the cat. She's aloof, hard for anyone to read, stays away from people, gets violent. Eleanor's possibly the pushy, happy and over-attentive dog?

RebelVampire

i was super confused how old shes supposed to be, but i eventually settled on late teen based on 1) her general appearance and stature looks more teen/young adult to me and 2) a lot of the other stuff you mentioned. like shes very much being treated like a kid and not capable of being someone being independent. but to be fair, id ballpark maybe 17 or 18. so someone who is kind of an adult but not ready to be an adult by a long shot, which isnt uncommon for that age. i got the same impression as keii did about the drinking. that it was just a special occassion thing. neko just goes overboard and the dad doesnt punish her. which tbf to him, im sure hes worried about setting her off or something like that.

as for the laptop thing, i actually assumed that had nothing to do with their financial situation. i mean it might, but i got more the impression that he was protecting her and just in general didnt want her near the internet or things like that. which tbf i can understand that pov. cause as much as the internet can help, it can also hurt. cyberbullying is a real thing after all and we dont really have an established past for neko that lead her to do what she did. not to mention he might be afraid of what shes gonna search where he cant see. like what if she starts looking up "how to kill myself in [insert manner here]" alternatively, he also might just not want her to see whatever porn he has on the computer, cause id bet my soul he has porn on that laptop.

thats a good catch with the dog/cat dichotomy though. i didnt even notice it cause i was too busy fuss worrying over eleanor not caring where the key is

way to watch over neko, eleanor

Delphina

Oh yeah, there was a strip where he was doing some kind of adult chat and he deleted his browsing history before giving his computer to Neko, so he totally had porn on his laptop.

That's true about the internet possibly being a bad thing that he could feel he needs to protect her from. I think that sort of history of how she interacted when she WASN'T avoiding the world would really add a lot of depth to Neko and make her more sympathetic.

That said, the author has done a really good job of making the environment feel uncomfortably tight and trapped, so sympathetic characters might not be what they want for this story and might reduce the sense of tension we feel right now.(edited)

RebelVampire

yeah i def agree. it does feel tight and trapped. especially whenever eleanor is there cause whenever eleanor is around i feel like her constant talking serves to make the place feel more cramped.

RebelVampire

QUESTION 7. Why do you believe the fridge magnets spell out helpful sayings like “ask for help?” Who did it and for what purpose? What is the thematic significance?

Delphina

I suspect the fridge word art is Neko. It might be symbollic of her own subconscious trying to give her advice, or her way of communicating with her dad about his own poor way of dealing with problems.

RebelVampire

(the archive for the chat on Lovespells is now available! @thisintermezzo https://comicteaparty.com/post/181479135680/december-17th-december-23rd-2018-ctp-archive)

RebelVampire

QUESTION 8. How do you think the title, “Cat-Person,” ties into the story’s themes and topics? What does this title tell us about Neko or the other characters?

Delphina

(Going back to a previous topic, it looks like the pages that were added in the last few days do clarify that Neko does have agoraphobia/fear of leaving the house and she is an adult - https://catpersoncomic.tumblr.com/)

RebelVampire

idk if i consider that a confirmation shes an adult. but definitely old enough to drive.

Delphina

Neko knowing her phobias definitely makes me wonder why the dad wouldn't have told Eleanor those things. It seems like the kind of thing that I would have told my girlfriend before she met my daughter? And I have to hope Eleanor would have been broaching these subjects with more tact if these were known diagnoses.

Anyway, yah, the title "Cat-Person" seems to have ties in with Neko's name and the cat mentioned in her story. The stereotype of cats is that they don't like being around others and feel crowded/lash out pretty easily, which fits Neko pretty well at this point. Since it's such a core part of her identity, I'm curious if/how it can shift.

RebelVampire

the dad might have told eleanor tbf. she very much comes across as one of those ppl who thinks all mental issues are something you can just get over. or even if she isnt, i highly doubt eleanor did any research about it and attempted to actually understand.

it wouldnt surprise me if he didnt tell her. tbh, i dont think the dad really takes neko's fear of the outside all that serious either

i feel more he just tolerates it but doesnt understand the full extent of the problem

cause he seems kind of willing to indulge and spoil neko to a degree just so he doesnt have to deal with everything

Delphina

Hmmm, yeah, good point

RebelVampire

but to a degree i also understand cause hes got his own issues to work through. and ppl who have their own mental issues arent the best suited to help others in a lot of cases.

well more in the sense that neither are actively working to heal

so just arent in good places to help each other

keii4ii

I was actually wondering if he didn't tell her because he's a terrible dad and was worried it might drive Eleanor away from him

But I also like the idea of Eleanor having been told, but deliberately acting like she doesn't know

RebelVampire

tbh tho i could also believe he just never found the right time to tell eleanor

cause these are not casual things you drop down on your girlfriend

although i am leaning towards eleanor just didnt care

cause clearly she was told neko tried to commit suicide since she wasnt surprised at all

keii4ii

That, I was guessing (well, it was one of my guesses) Eleanor didn't actually take Neko seriously at the time and saw it as a younger person being an edgelord for attention

But any of these interpretations are possible at this time

RebelVampire

i think that is a good way to put it tho

that is 100% how i see eleanor fewing neko

as some young edgelord

that and she strikes me as one of those ppl who believes sunshine and fresh air will fix any illness

modern medicine be damned

RebelVampire

7) i kind of assume neko did the fridge word art for no other reason that shes a writer. so just makes sense. though i kind of feel like her father maybe encouraged her to do it. like put some positive affirmations on the fridge of some sort. i feel like their significance is to show something like how even when ppl can know what they have to do (like ask for help for instance) the actual execution of that is flawed and contingent on those around us. so asking for help is not necessarily a for sure path that lead to healing. or something like that. 8) as Delphina said, cats are "stereotyped" as being creatures that lash out and are relatively solitary (i quote stereotype cause as a cat owner annd lover, nah, cats are bundles of terror and these are accurate descriptions XD). the unfortunate thing is that ppl tend to assume these same traits apply to "cat people." which fits neko, but i also think in some way it also speaks of how ppl are auto putting their assumptions on her. in that the more they assume shes gonna lash out, the more she does so, and then its just a downward spiral. i think eleanor shows us the story is equally about ppls judgements and assumptions of who we are, in the same way people assume cat people are exactly like cats. and in so doing the title is also talking about how neko is being put into a box that is not conducive to her changing even if she wanted to, because people are already assuming certain things about her even before she meets or bonds with them

(i hope that drabble made sense cause im tired and about to go to bed XD)

RebelVampire

QUESTION 9. Do you believe Neko’s father’s attitude and precautions towards her since her attempted suicide is justified, or is it more likely making the situation worse? What do you think will become of the issue regarding the locked up knife drawer and missing key?

RebelVampire

QUESTION 10. What are you most looking forward to in the comic? Also, do you have any final thoughts to share overall?

RebelVampire

9) I think Neko's father's handling of the situation is kind of a mix of both. I can understand taking precautions so Neko can heal without being in danger. However, he's not doing a lot of other stuff he should be doing to help her get better. As for the key thing, I think it's gonna hurt the dad more than Neko. Cause I can just picture Eleanor mentioning it casually and the Dad fighting with her wondering how Eleanor could be so irresponsible. Or something like that. I'm gonna be optimistic rather than assume worst case. O_O 10) I'm looking forward to seeing where else the story Neko is writing goes. I really love how tied in that story is to the comic's story and it really helps build tension and makes for a really interesting read.

keii4ii

I'm looking forward to seeing actual changes, be they positive or negative... or suuuper negative even. So far there's been a lot of establishing what each character is like (which is necessary, and done very well). I mean, Eleanor being introduced to Neko's life is a change to her life, but not yet a change in her character. I feel like the point we're at is a cusp of some real changes...

RebelVampire

COMIC TEA PARTY- WEEK LONG BOOK CLUB END!

Thank you everyone so much for reading and chatting about Cat-Person this week! Please also give a special thank you to P.Lo for volunteering the comic and creating it! If you liked Cat-Person, make sure to continue to support it via some of the links below!

Read and Comment: https://catpersoncomic.tumblr.com/

P.Lo’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/pleaseleaveon?lang=en

Movie Reviews

Because my allergies has kept me on house arrest curled up with my air purifier, and I’m spring break for the next two weeks; I’m catching up with some movies I haven’t gotten to see yet and a few I thought I would never watch because Netflix has them and I”m bored.

First things: I now have a love/hate relationship with Supernatural. I finally caved in and watched it, and now I’m impatiently waiting for Netflix to put season 12 up because I’m NOT paying $30 on Amazon to watch it. I pay for Amazon Prime, I should be able to stream anything without paying crazy amounts. I have a love/hate relationship with Dean, Sam is kind of cute in a puppy way, Castiel is kind of annoying, the damsel of the week is REALLY annoying, their total lack of research on just about anything supernatural or myth related is EVEN MORE ANNOYING, the Impala is my favorite character, Mark Sheppard is amazing/adorable, Jim Beaver can be my grumpy Uncle, and my favorite episodes are (that I can remember): the one where Dean is afraid of everything, Swan Song, the one from the Impala’s POV, where Dean is Death for a day, where Sam tries to communicate with Dean’s spirit, a day in the life of Bobby, the arch where Sam is coming off the demon blood, where Dean dies and the last shot is of him opening his eyes, where Dean faces Cain, and the one where Sam keeps reliving the same day over and over again and Dean keeps dying in comical ways. OK Netflix, please put up season 12!

Right, movies.

The Jungle Book (the new one)- better than I expected. I really like the attention to detail with the animation of the animal characters and Mowgli was much better and a lot less annoying than the cartoon version. I also like how they went with the darker and grittier elements of the book rather than a straight copy of the cartoon version. While Jim Cummings is a better Kaa and the change to the songs was jarring, I enjoyed this version. Mowgli’s relationship with the animals, especially his pack, was better, and they didn’t shy away from Khan’s violent aggressiveness (his visit to the wolf pack was, unexpected) when they could have easily made him like his charming cartoon version. What I REALLY enjoyed was the move from the British Colonialism as depicted in the animated version to touching on and embracing the spirit of the Indian culture and Hinduism. Using the elephants not as a representation of British occupation but as the spiritual element in the film had me jumping off my couch I was so excited. I also enjoyed the touches of the original score sprinkled here and there. Also, Mama wolf taking charge of the pack and not putting up with Khan’s shit was breath taking. Lupita does amazing work and she didn’t fail! 3.5 out of 5

The Giver- I was worried about this one. It didn’t do well in the box office and reviews were spotty. As someone who loves that book, it added to my wariness. But, there were many times it followed the book, or was changed to add a new perspective on the message of the book that I enjoyed. I didn’t like the ending, as the book’s ending has a distinct purpose and message. But then I remembered that I was getting it confused with Fahrenheit 451′s ending and I was OK with it. Same idea, similar message, different books. The acting was better than I expected. Though it’s often difficult for actors to not show emotion when it’s something they’re trained to do. Jeff Bridges and Meryl Strepp were great at their roles. I was wondering when I wasn’t liking Rosemary (The Giver’s daughter), then I found out Taylor Swift was the one acting her. Mystery solved. What I loved most besides Jonas’s actor’s acting (say that five times fast!) was the choices in cinematography. Having it start off in black and white then moving to colors as Jonas is able to see color was beautiful. It was all crafted so well and it’s not often I praise cinematography. Overall, a faithful adaptation of the book. 4.5 out of 5

Kubo and the Two Strings- Holy cow stop animation has come a long way! Breathtaking to watch. It felt computer generated but it was all done by hand. If you’re familiar with how folk stories and myths go, the story line is a little predictable. There is a lot of symbolism, and once you catch on to it it’s pretty easy to find out what happens next. I’m not as familiar with Japanese mythology and folklore, so the material was new to me. Construction, all myth/folk stories are the same formula. But the story was fantastic. It also featured an instrument that is often heard but not often seen in Western culture. So it was great to see this particular instrument featured to educate. Some of the voices were odd choices (looking at you Beetle/Matthew), but overall it was a fantastic movie and a fresh look at non-Western stories. 4.5 out of 5.

Sky High- Yeah, I’m a bit behind on this one. Cheesy movie, stilted acting, bad costumes; I’ve been avoiding this one. It turned out OK. Not the best superhero movie, and I KNOW that’s not teenagers act, but it did something our modern superhero movies tend to shy away from or do badly. What I appreciated were the kids who had seemingly lame powers or were the outcasts were put in the spotlight to show their creativeness. And in no way were damsels being rescued. Pushed to the side or antagonized a bit, but they were right there saving the day. Cheesy, but entertaining. 3 out of 5.

Goosebumps- It was much funnier than I expected. Also had the fun twists and turns that you would expect out of a Stine book. Now, after meeting and talking with the real RL Stine, Jack Black’s version of the author was way funnier than the average film watcher would see it. Jack Black is hysterical in his own right, but his `mannerisms and dry wit and the sudden twists were very much in character of the author. What I didn’t like was the stereotypical nerdy kid and the Aunt, as they were both annoying and not really needed. What I loved was that it didn’t shy away from the scary element. Besides being funny, Stine has a way of scaring the living daylights out of you. The screenwriters did a great job of taking all of these monsters and nightmares and bringing them to life. If you’re an 80s/90s kid like me who grew up with these books, it brings back childhood fears in an anxiety-inducing way. OMG SLAPPY. That terrifying dummy still scares me. If you are a fan of Stine and his Goosebump series, or want to laugh while getting a scare, this is a good movie to watch. And, yes, Stine in his cameo is exactly how he is in real life. 4 out of 5.

Alice Through the Looking Glass- I’ve been putting this off due to the whole mess with Depp, but I love Mia and Elfman so I watched it. Here’s the problem with time travel movies. Unless you’re HG Wells or Doctor Who, time travel is often used as a bad plot devise and is often mishandled. I’m not as familiar with the book Thought the Looking Glass, so I can’t tell you how faithful it is. However, for a Wonderland story, it was weird and trying too hard. You could tell that the live actors were just kind of there, except Mia who was much more comfortable in her role and acting in general (Crimson Peak did her good!). It all seemed hurried and aimless in storytelling, which was disappointing because I enjoyed the first film and I’m not a huge Alice fan. Andrew Scott’s cameo was great, and I loved the character development in Alice’s Mom. However there was a cute man with Hamish’s group that the camera seemed to favor but he didn’t really have a purpose except to give Alice heart eyes. He looked interesting, focus on him! If they hadn’t messed with the time travel but use time in some other manner (running out of time for something) I think it would have worked better. 2.5 out of 5. 4 out of 5 for Mia.

I have Moana and Home to catch up on tomorrow. Maybe something else if it catches my eye.

[797 questions survey part 5 by voicedance16]

Your Room How big is your room? My room is pretty small. Do you share it with anyone? No. How big is your bed? It’s a full. Do you have a walk-in closet? I wish, but no. How many windows are in your room? One.

Is your room messy or clean? It’s disorganized right now with boxes of medical supplies scattered about. Do you have a TV in your room? I do. How about a computer? Yep, I have my laptop. Do you have posters on the wall? I have canvases and some framed paintings. Of what? Giraffes and beachy paintings. How about photos? I have some on my bulletin board. Of what/who? My doggo Brandie, my doggo Princess Leia, a photo of me and my brother at his college orientation with the mascot, and a few photos of Alexander Skarsgard. Do you spend a lot of time in your room when you're not sleeping? Yes, I spend majority of my time in my room, in bed. What floor of your house is your room on? I live in a single story. What color are the walls in your room? White. Do you wish they were a different color? Yeah. If so, what? A pastel color, perhaps. Have you ever painted them? No. Overall, do you like your room? I like all the stuff I have in it, I just wish I had more space. Your Cell Phone Do you have a cell phone? Yes. What kind is it? An iPhone 12 Pro Max.  

What's the service? Verizon. What color is it? Gold. Is it flip phone, keyboard, or touch screen It’s a touch screen. Does it have a camera? Of course. Can it access the internet? Yes. Oh man, the days where phones couldn’t do that or it was really slow and and expensive to do and you’d freak out if you accidentally click on it lol.   

What's your wallpaper of? I currently have a Grumpy Carebear theme going on. Who's the 8th person in your contacts? I’m not checking. Which people in your contacts do you text the most? My mom and brother. Which people do you text the least? Everyone else, ha. I only ever text and receive texts from my parents and brother now and sometimes my Nana and aunt. Which people do you call the most? I don’t make a phone call unless I have to and likely to my mom or to a doctor. Which people do you call the least? Like I said, I don’t make a lot phone calls and if I do it’s more than likely going to be to my mom or a doctor. How long have you had your phone? Since this past Christmas. Do you like it? Yes. Do you wish you could get a new one? No, it’s still very new. If your phone has a camera (otherwise skip) How many photos are in your camera roll? Hard to imagine a cell phone without a camera now, ha. Anyway, I have a shit ton of photos even after deleting a shit ton of photos. I’m too lazy to get the number, but it’s a lot. What is the first pic of? -- What is the last pic of? -- How about the 51st pic? -- The 138th pic? -- The 347 pic? -- The 526th pic? You are trippin’ if you think I’m going to do all that work.  What are most of your photos of? My doggo and screenshots. What is your favorite photo? The photos of my doggo and my Disneyland photos. Do you have any videos in your camera roll? Yeah. How many? I’m not checking. Of what? I know there’s some from my Disneyland trip. Do you have pictures of your pets? Yeppp. Your friends? I don’t have any friends. Yourself? Yeah. Your significant other? I don’t have one. Food? Yes.

Scenery? Yes. Now go to your iTunes on your phone/iPod/computer Nah. What is the first song alphabetically? What is the last song alphabetically? What is your most played song? What artist do you have the most music from? What is the first song under letter C? How about under letter F? Letter M? Letter S? What is the shortest song? How long is it? What is the longest song? How long is it? Oh, how many songs do you have? How many of them do you actually listen to on a regular basis? Do you have songs that you almost always skip, but never delete? Do you have any songs in foreign languages? How much time do you listen to music per day?

Routine Rhonda

MUTHER RUCKER IS BACKKKK!!!! I have really missed documenting and just talking about life! I’ve decided to do another year of review but this year leading to Abolarinde’s 2nd birthday I’ll be discussing more variety of things such as daily schedule, some parenting/relationship experiences and overall my FAVORITE chocolate man Mr. Abolarinde Adonis Dominic! 

So to start guess who started graduate school??? This girl right here! I am currently pursuing a Master’s of Public Administration with a Specialization in Non-profit Management at Indiana Wesleyan University and what am I going to do with this you ask? Whatever I want! But my real dream is to be an executive director or CEO of a nonprofit organization. Please don’t let people fool you non-profit is where the coins are at, chile. In 2017 in July I was sitting at my office desk at the YWCA randomly googling programs. I came across Indiana Wesleyan and remembered I had a high school classmate that attended the school in high school. Before I knew it (literally before I knew it I moved too quick) I had input all my information and was contacted by an adult studies advisor. I started the program in January and so far so good! However, this thing called LIFE has truly frazzled me. I put on a good face but when I lay down at night my mind is CONSTANTLY running. My husband is also pursuing his masters in Informational Technology Management and we both graduate this summer. So in between our full time jobs, school, being parents, and just wanting to you know BE MARRIED life is rough but we’ve come up with a good schedule. The best advice I can give anyone parent or not is to have a routine. Yes going outside the routine will happen and that is okay but I feel that any person needs some type of structure. This is how my week day/ weekend goes in my house:

MWF: 7:00am Wake-up roll out of bed and mumble good morning to my husband as he leaves the bathroom annoyingly steamy (we have one bathroom right now and I literally don’t know how we’ve been surviving but God is yet good)

7:15am Wake my baby up- He can either be a sweet honey melon in the morning or a grumpy teenage boy I get both some days. Daddy washes his face brushes his teeth (my mans got a mouth full now) and puts his clothes on

7:30am Abolarinde eats breakfast- he’s going to turn into a banana because thats all he eats but he’ll eat strawberries and a cereal too. I recently started introducing vitamins because the kids at the school house be with the germs and I just  cant 

7:50am March out the door and drive Abolarinde to school

8:00am-4:30pm Werk werk werk werk

5:15-5:30pm: You all see this big gap? I get off work at 4:30 but sometimes I go to the store, go to the bank, run and get food or my all time favorite is sit in my car and enjoy the peace before getting my I haven’t taken a nap today friend out of daycare 

6:00pm: BoBo’s Dinner Time- Convince BoBo that the food on his plate is delicious while simultaneously attempting to make his lunch and talking to his dad about his day was while he loads and unloads the dish washer 

7:00pm: Daddy marches BoBo to the bathroom for potty time and bath time-BoBo is not potty trained and to be honest I haven’t been trying that hard. He pees before bath time which is good enough for me right now. During bath time I finish making dinner or sit on the couch and center myself for 10 minutes telling myself that being in school is not a bad idea

7:30pm: BoBo reads-The child think hes slick. He use to have me and his dad read him 5 books each. One day I thought to myself, what if he just don’t want to go to bed??! Ever since then its 4 books then night night. I’m so glad hes not opposed to laying down at night. I don’t even care if he goes to sleep right then but at 7:45pm I need him laying down

8:00pm: My husband and I finally get to talk and interact with each other its nice! We usually greet each other while taking a sigh of relief I make his plate and we sit down for dinner and grown folk talk.

8:30pm: Homework Time: The time I dread every night. Homework time consists of me on the couch the floor the dinner table or my room. Sometimes it only takes me an hour sometimes it takes me until midnight. If its not done at midnight it won’t get done I just can’t sacrifice my sleep.

On Tuesday and Thursdays I work until 8pm so my husband carries the load of pick up, dinner, lunch, bath time and bed time (Hes great :)) 

The WeekendT:

Saturday: Wake up whenever the Lord says so . BoBo legit will lay in the bed and not say anything until we get him. I truly love him for this. He’s honestly my child and it shows because I too need a mental break and in his own way hes telling us that. We get him up make him breakfast and daddy kicks off Saturday chores. I understand we have a child and our home will get messy but my living space and comfort is top 5 on my priority list. If my living space is chaotic i’m grouchy and I just don’t function well. My husband is the same way and I APPRECIATE IT!!! By noon the cleaning is done and the rest of the day is pretty much ours. We may cook, watch a movie, workout, go on a date etc. Homework happens 

Sunday: Rolls over to husband saying “UGGHHH its Monday again”. I do my grocery shopping either on Saturday or Sunday its depends. Most times I take BoBo to get him out of the house and he’s a social butterfly at the store saying HIIIII loudly to everyone and saying UH OH if someone drops something. Also included in my Sunday is lunch meal prep for me and my husband. He does the laundry and we both do the “Stop that , get down, whats wrong, come here, get out the bathroom, get out the cabinet, leave it alone, go play, stop crying, be good” and it just works! (And homework happens)

So in conclusion, 

I don’t rest and I probably won’t until next summer when I graduate BUT I feel better about myself because we have STRUCTURE :)

Thanks for reading! :)

Random Qs

Survey #38 on the Countdown to 2018!

This one's from back in May from before my hiatus. I took a long break after posting two others from May months ago. There were a lot of changes to my health and other parts of my life so the pause was necessary. I'll be posting one more from the same month before getting to some from last week.

Did you have a New Year’s kiss?

No, but I don't really celebrate the new year.

Are there any words that you cannot pronounce, or that you pronounce incorrectly?

No, I just have throwbacks from my early youth concerning words I confuse and conflate such as "itch" and "scratch".

After a long day at work or doing something physical what tends to hurt more, your back or your feet?

It varies. If I did a lot of lifting then it would probably be my back, but if I just did a lot of walking then it would most likely be my feet.

Do you have a smartphone and if so, what’s your favorite app?

I prefer not to carry a phone, but there are apps on my computer. I just don’t have a fave right now.

If you had to choose between being a nurse or an English teacher, which would you choose and why?

The latter since I'm much more qualified for it.

Do you have a specific gas station you usually go to, or do you stop wherever?

I don't drive, but my mother has a preference and it has the best Subway in our area. It’s not somewhere I shop otherwise.

How much older than you was the oldest person you've dated or had a relationship with?

Five or so years, I think.

Is anything stressing you out at the moment?

I have some minor stress from my grandmother's situation right now. She might lose her only eye and that could mean different living arrangements for my parents and I since we would probably need to move in with her.

My mother's been avoidant when it comes to talking about the situation, but it's something I have to get her to do.

What's your opinion on dating someone who already has children from a previous relationship?

I don't want to take care of kids so I wouldn't date someone who has their own. It’s definitely a deal-breaker for me.

Have you ever actually found a mascara that makes a huge difference for your lashes?

I don't use mascara. My eyelashes are fine without it.

Would you rather have one or two great facial features that stand out or just an overall pretty face but no special features?

I don't feel I need any special distinguishing marks on my face. However, I do have facial moles right now. One of them stands out slightly on my forehead and the other is underneath my left eye.

Do you check your horoscope daily and if so, did you relate to your horoscope at all today?

I don't check it and I haven't since I became a Christian which was many years ago, but just using your star sign is pretty pointless anyway. I did learn that much about astrology way back in the day.

When you need to remember something, how do you usually go about doing so?

It depends on what I need to remember, but I’ll never use Post-It notes for things like that. I don’t like sticking those on things.

How would you describe someone that's your type?

I don't have a type as if I'm a child; I certainly prefer certain qualities in the men I date, but I don't generalize them into types.

The traits I always like in a man are dominance, intelligence, a broad sense of humor, someone who loves cats, one who doesn’t have or want children and men who share most of the same moral and political beliefs as I do.

Have you recently accomplished anything that you're proud of yourself for?

Some of the dietary changes I've made are marked improvements.

Are you still friends with any of your exes, and do you still communicate with any of them at all?

I only speak to Symon G. and Sasuke M. who're two of my besties. Most of them separated with me on good terms, though. There’s only one who was truly a jackass back when I knew him.

Do you live on your own or with your parents or a roommate, and do you think you’d like to live alone?

I can't live alone so I opted to stay with my 'rents although I'm wanting more personal space these days.

How often would you say you use Microsoft Word?

I no longer use that. I’m on a Chromebook now.

How often do you typically change your bra?

As needed, which is how I handle most things.

What's the last online purchase you made?

I think I last purchased more DD on Goatlings.

Do you usually have bad symptoms around that time of the month?

That's irrelevant to me now as I don't have a uterus.

Is there anyone you have to see on a daily or weekly basis that you really dislike?

I'm in control of my own life now that I'm an adult so I wouldn’t easily tolerate someone like that. However, I’m not in school anymore and I can’t work a paid job because of my learning disabilities.

The one “job” I do is entirely at my own discretion as well. I’m in charge and I only work with people I actually like.

The only awful person I ever had to see frequently was my paternal grandmother because my parents made the mistake of trying to live with her years ago. It didn’t go well at all. 

I learned a great deal from that experience; I don't force myself to tolerate anyone just because I'm related to them anymore.

Is your hair thick or thin, and would you say it’s easy to manage?

It's thinner now because of certain medications I'm on as well as my problems with hypothyroidism, and my bangs are the only unruly part.

Have you ever had to deal with any type of long-distance relationship whether romantic or just a friendship?

I have several good friends who live out-of-state or in other countries. I've also had romantic relationships over the internet just because it's so much easier to find guys with the qualities I'm looking for that way.

I tend to find male besties online who eventually have romantic feelings for me that I usually reciprocate.

Are you procrastinating doing anything right now?

Not really. I'm using this as a time-waster, but I'm also trying to chill before eventually confronting my mother on the issues we have with changing our living arrangements if my grandmother loses her eye.

It could be a negative experience. I just don't care to dwell on it all morning before she's even up.

Do you have a place you go to a lot that you may be considered a regular at?

There are a few restaurants Mom and I frequent where we request servers we know by name. We'll often ask for Juanita at Casa Ole or Ivy at Red Lobster for instance.

Have you smoked a cigarette today?

I don’t smoke and I'd never take up a deadly bad habit like that. Don’t tell me that the smoker is the only victim either. I know people who have cancer because of secondhand smoke.

What does your last received text message say?

Do you like to read during your leisure time?

If I do read then I only read paper books or fanfiction online. The paper books are most often educational although I occasionally pick up fiction these days. I’ll pick up book versions of certain shows I love.

Did you have a tree house when you were a child?

I had a two-story playhouse that my father built. The top was mine and he used the bottom for storage, but it wasn't built into a tree because that was my preference.

I never wanted to install a building right into a tree, and I just used what I had kind of like a clubhouse for when the neighborhood kids came over.

Do you still live with your parents?

It's either that or assisted living due to my learning disabilities. There's too much abuse in those situations. My family wouldn’t abandon me.

Have you ever dated outside of your race?

Yes, technically. I just don’t believe there’s anything but the human race. Our differences are actually ethnic, cultural, national, etc.

Do you have your own laptop or desktop?

I currently have this Chromebook, but I also have another laptop.

What's the last horror movie you watched?

It might've been The Bye Bye Man.

What was the last thing you ate?

I last ate an orange.

What's something that makes you grumpy?

Being hungry and hot at the same time usually makes me agitated.

What're you wearing?

I'm just wearing a nightgown.

Have you ever witnessed a drug deal?

Yes since Port Arthur and Beaumont are basically ghettos depending on where you go although a lot of people are just oblivious to it.

Are you better at science, math or art?

I have dyscalculia so I'm better at certain forms of art.

Do you have any songs in your head at the moment?

I don't.

Did you ever call any teachers by their first name?

I never did that, but I was a very respectful and obedient child.

Were you born in a hospital or somewhere else?

I was born in a hospital.

Do you often have doors held open for you?

Yes, men are often polite around this area and sometimes women are the same way toward me. It’s usually older men, though.

Do you know anyone who volunteers a lot?

Yes.

Have you ever been cheated on?

I have been as a kid, but if it ever happened otherwise I never knew.

Which would you choose between chocolate chip cookies and oat and raisin cookies?

I'd rather not have either right now and I don’t often eat cookies.

What did you have for dinner tonight, or last night if you haven’t had dinner yet?

I had some shrimp fried rice from Sun Wok last night. I rarely go there these days.

Are your parents smokers or have they ever been?

I don't think my mother has ever even tried a cigarette, but my father has smoked before. He once had a terrible habit of picking it back up whenever he was really stressed out.

That hasn't happened since his mother and brother died, though. They gave him so much trouble, but that’s really no excuse.

Do you drink alcohol?

I don't drink alcohol at all and I’m not stupid enough to try it as my mental issues prove that I could be very susceptible to substance abuse. Drinking within reason might not be a problem, but getting drunk is just dumb.