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nxtritething · 4 years

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TASK001 : MUN QUESTIONNAIRE

name / alias : caro / care / carebear gender / pronouns : female / she&her where ya from ? : u s of a . orig n y c. the current time : 9 pm ( when i started? ) , 1 pm ( when i finished ) job or major : i majored in mechanical engineering and math. no, i canno favorite thing ( s ) about yourself : i have some good one-liners.

why you joined hqclouds : ... i helped make it. also its felt like a long while since i got to play some of my favorite babes, and i just missed them, so i obviously had to jump at an opportunity to bring them back !!!

meaning behind url : it’s uh...... next right thing , as in anna’s big song in frozen 2. and i just felt it like, FIT.

last thing you googled : zac efron high school musical gif icons, bc i wanted to use for this, but then that account was flagged as adult content and i guess those beloved gifs are lost to the void now...

zodiac : pisces in your opinion , does your sign suit you ? : yes. i am a crying fish. also i’m a pisces venus. it makes a LOT of sense. myers - briggs : istj ??? i think?? moral alignment : i can be chaotic good, but mostly neutral neutral i think hogwarts house : i used to be a slytherin, now i’m a hufflepuff. idk what happened to me.

three fictional character ( s ) you see yourself in + why : uhhhh... 1) bubbles from powerpuff girls. because i am baby. 2) juliet o’hara from psych. i’ve just been rewatching a lot of psych and i love how she’s such a serious yet funny / soft and idk why i just relate to that. 3) john mulaney in mulaney. because this is a cop-out to say i relate to anything / everything john edmund mulaney every does.

i started roleplaying : i first started on some fourms ??? on an app on my itouch ??? but my first tumblr rp group was percy jackson and everyone though i was this all knowing pjo fan... when really i was just fast to look shit up on the wikia. i had never read a single page of the series. types of rps i enjoy : fandoms, typically ! i used to be exclusively love animated roleplays? like cartoons? but then i transitioned to musicals? like, exclusively playing musical characters??? at this point, tara is like the one exception nowadays... favorite fcs to use : um... olivia holt is a recent fave? joshua basset, also. my old faves are mary kate wiles and hunter parrish tho. real old. otherwise, i don’t know if i’d say i get attached to fc’s? fandom ( s ) you’d like to write in : i kinda wanna go back to some of my cartoon roots, maybe? i really haven’t deviated from the same 8 - 9 mostly musical characters in literally years... fandom ( s ) you aren’t in but are curious about : um... the raven cycle , miraculous ladybug , uh..... everything else. i’m so randomly interested in everything.

share a funny roleplay horror story : my favorite is when i was in a youtuber rpf / oc rp, and this girl... made an oc... and made the fc... herself. she made a literal self-insert oc. with herself as the face. like low-res gifs of herself. why, you ask? i think she was trying to ship herself with dan howell. that didn’t age well, did it?

favorite canon muse ( s ) to play : do i just list all the characters i’ve been playing for literal years? my recent faves are katherine plumber from newsies and princess anna. favorite original muse ( s ) to play : i had a hunter parrish oc. he was in both the pjo and youtube rp. he was obsessed with hanging out with trees and pranks. don’t ask me why. canon ships you can’t help but love : kristoff / anna , jack kelly / katherine plumber , jake peralta / amy santiago , orpheus / eurydice , && donny novitski / julia trojan. yes, most of these are musicals. who doesn’t love a good love ballad? trope ( s ) you tend to be guilty of : uhh... adorkable, one of the boys, badass adorable

i prefer . . . angst , smut , or fluff : i am a massive sucker for fluff, but i’m so guilty of angst... i love pain. i don’t really do smut tho. sorry. long or short replies : i generally prefer short replies, unless we’ve somehow developed a thread into something long. or i’m feeling particularly inspired. pre plotting or chemistry : i love chemistry with all my heart, but sometimes it’s fun to plot past connections that can reignite? idk. mostly chemistry sentence starters or headcanon memes : headcanon memes, because im never creative to turn a sentence starter into something that makes sense, esp between two characters who don’t know each other. single muse or multimuse blogs : multimuse, because i spent too many years reblogging replies to the wrong sideblog and those days are over !!! gif icons , medium gifs , or static icons : i prefer gif icons for shorter replies and medium gifs for longer ones... or whatever my partner is using. i like some sort of consistency.

grab the book nearest to you and pull a quote from it : ‘ what’s the rush? ’ repeat this phase when you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out. ask yourself whether somethings really needs doing immediately. are you ignoring your needs in order to do it? - the little book of sloth philosophy.

what’s a quote or song lyric that speaks to your soul ? : “ did you fall? or did you let go? ” - connor murphy to evan hansen, dear evan hansen. ( idk why this immediately jump to mind but... )

top current celebrity crushes : jeremy jordan, corey cott, jordan fisher, claire saffitz, brian david gilbert. last movie you watched : bridal boot camp did you like it ? : yes. i loved it. it’s absolute garbage and i loved it. favorite movie ( s ) of all time : idk but i can always rewatch prince of egypt. godspell favorite tv show ( s ) of all time : uhh.... i keep rewatching psych. favorite tv show ( s ) that hasn’t ended : brooklyn nine-nine, zoey’s extraordinary playlist. sports team ( s ) you rep : uh... grew up in a yankee / mets household. favorite video game ( s ) : pokemon, animal crossing favorite youtube channels : drew gooden, danny gonzalez, jenna marbles.

put your music on shuffle. what six songs pop up ? :

greased lightin’ from grease live ; oh mother by hunter parrish ; nerds by bo burnham ; a miracle would happen / when you come home to me from the last five years ; just another day from next to normal ; who tells your story from hamilton mixtape.

i haven’t listened to any of these in forever, but i am still, indeed, musical theater trash.

personal aesthetic : demin overalls, scrunchies, the color teal, big stuffed animals. dream vacation ? : somewhere beautiful with people i love. dream job ? : perhaps like designing custom 3D prosthetics dream car ? : i hate driving, but a big ol’ truck. like suv. big one. favorite musical : gospell, dear evan hansen, bandstand, newsies, shrek the musical, mamma mia, i could go on... unwatched stuff in your netflix / hulu / etc : sailor moon crystal, crash landing on you, locke & key, all the bright places, the half of it, younger, meteor, hello my twenties ...

what’s a subject you know too much about + never get tired of talking about ? : musicals. so many musicals. i know both know too much and not enough.

#cloud:task #cloud:ooc #「 ooc 」♪ ˙ ˖ ♬ ❝ wait... what? ❞

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quarterfromcanon · 4 years

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1-4. For the asks

Thank you so much for sending these! <3

Once I started to answer them, I realized there were comparatively few recent television shows appearing on the list. I seemed to keep gravitating toward older ones I remembered from years ago. I took a handful of days to mull it over in case I was forgetting something, but nothing else comes to mind. Maybe my ongoing list of Shows to Watch During Quarantine will turn up some fresh results but, for now, it looks like I’ll be taking a little trip down memory lane. :)

This turned out to be a pretty long and rambly post, so I’ll stow it under the cut!

Top 5 TV Shows

1. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend - I can’t imagine this surprises anyone who has been following this blog for the past two years or so. It brought fellow fans into my life, got me back into writing fic, and prompted countless tags of meta. It’s the show my mind drifts to on a weekly basis (if not daily) even a full year after the finale. Just when it seemed I’d reached an age where that level of intense fandom involvement and character attachment might be fading, it proved that quite the opposite was true. I’m very thankful to the series for that, and for the people whose paths have crossed mine as a result.

2. Schitt’s Creek - This is my #1 Feel Good show and, though I’ve been dodging spoilers for the final season until it gets uploaded to Netflix, I get the impression that it will remain in that top spot. The world feels softer and more hopeful there. It’s healing for my soul. I’m going to have a dreadfully difficult time saying goodbye, but I’m glad there are six season to revisit whenever I want.

3. Stranger Things - The theme song alone sends such a rush of excitement through me. I love the aesthetic and the atmosphere. I sometimes have mixed feelings about the romances but the FRIENDSHIPS sure do have a direct line to my heartstrings. I think the way they’ve combined media influences into their own story is really neat. You get something that’s new and engaging, but you can also go back and enjoy the sources of inspiration with fresh appreciation.

4. Joan of Arcadia - I can’t help it. The snark, the jackets, the early 2000s songs, the performances -- the nostalgia for this show is so strong. It’s not without its problems, but it did have some really good things to offer as well. I remember an episode that was one of my earliest introductions to the concept of a trigger, and the effect it could have on a person if exposed to one of theirs. The series dealt a lot with grief and the many forms it can take (I STILL can’t hear Fiona Apple’s cover of “Across the Universe” without getting misty-eyed). I’m also surprised, looking back, at the somewhat positive way I recall them discussing homosexuality on the several occasions that it came up in the show. Not to give too much credit since I don’t think there were recurring canonically LGBTQIA+ characters but, for a kid who spent most days around closed-minded people of a certain religious leaning, it was meaningful along my individual journey. I’d like to provide the several examples that are most vivid in my memory:

A. A girl with short hair, short nails, little to no makeup, and a bulky leather jacket is generally assumed to be a lesbian by the bullies at school. The show directly confronts the fact that “gay” should not be used an insult, that identity should not be assumed without the person telling you so, AND makes sure that the character in question never pushes back by saying harmful things about lesbians despite not actually being one herself.

B. A boy who is questioning is able to confide in his big brother and have a fairly calm conversation about it; the awkwardness mostly comes from neither of them being accustomed to openly discussing emotions, not from the possibility of a negative response regarding the subject matter.

C. Another character is accidentally discovered to be gay (he only appears in the one episode, if my memory serves), and some of the leads have the opportunity to share that for personal gain. However, even though he is a popular jock who is a bit of a jerk in the hallways, the show makes it clear that the right choice is still to leave the telling of that information up to him and him alone.

Like I mentioned, it can’t be said that representation was in abundance here - for instance, I don’t believe anything other than straight or gay was presented as a possibility - but any accepting acknowledgement in a faith-centric series was something for me to hold on to in my still-deeply-closeted days. As a final Very Important personal side note, this show brought Judith Montgomery into my life (pictured below on the left), and that feels like it merits a shoutout for being what I consider a rather significant marker in my awakening.

THE OVERWHELMING CRUSH I HAD - and still have - is one for the books.

5. Pushing Daisies - This is another show with an aesthetic I adore. The series has such a fun, whimsical energy. The crime-solving! The clothes! The cast! There's a lot to love. It’s the kind of world I wish I could visit... well, minus the evidently rampant murder rate.

Top 5 Overrated TV Shows

1. Once Upon A Time - *deep sigh* I tried to stick with it for so long. I think I’ve seen five out of the seven seasons in their entirety. It just felt like everything got mired down by excessive (and increasingly convoluted) subplots, often for the purpose of tossing in as many fairytale and/or Disney characters as possible. Plus, quite honestly, there was too much emphasis on romantic love. For a show whose first season involved a curse being broken by [potential spoiler, I suppose] a mother kissing her son’s forehead, I ultimately found myself up to my ears in romantic ships. It reached such a stifling extent that, if you were not particularly attached to those pairings, there wasn’t a whole lot else to entice further viewing.

2. Under the Dome - I don’t know for certain what the general public opinion of this series was, but it felt like the commercials always featured alleged rave reviews, so I figured I could include it here. I was vaguely interested in Season 1, mainly as a fan of Rachelle Lefevre’s work. Season 2 pulled me in with the introduction of a new townsperson and I threw WAY too much of my heart into that attachment, which backfired when that character was killed. I made quite the spectacle of my heartbreak, so much so that my family doesn’t let me mention this show around them anymore. :P Season 3 was, to phrase it delicately, not a great time. The series did introduce me to a few new-to-me actors, though, so that was cool.

3. Bates Motel - Even the incentive of learning that the two characters I liked most share a lot of screen time later in the series hasn’t been enough to call me back to this one. I don’t know if it was the pacing that put me off or what, but the prospect of finishing the remaining seasons feels so daunting. There are evidently five seasons in total and I believe I’ve only seen two of them thus far. I will probably muddle through it someday just to see how it goes, but the fact that I am so disinclined to prioritize it made this feel like a fair addition to the list.

4. Lost - My interest in this series unfortunately waned right before fervent fandom spiked. I don’t have any specific complaints that come to mind about what I saw; I just sort of drifted and then stayed away. Teachers I liked and peers I spent time with were starting to latch on to the show and I couldn’t find even the slightest inclination to give it a second try. However, did I still dutifully read all the latest installments in my friend’s Sawyer Ford and Kate Austen fanfiction when she passed me handwritten copies at lunch? Sure. I was glad it made her happy, even if I was no longer a viewer.

5. Hemlock Grove - I say this as someone who still mourns the fates of some characters in this show, so I wouldn’t go so far as to claim that the series stopped being able to make me feel anything. I’m just of the opinion that, in some ways, it might’ve been better off stopping at one season. That’s where the book it was based on ends, and things just didn’t feel as cohesive after that. Season 3 especially was - borrowing from my above review of Under the Dome - not a great time. That being said, there are also certain elements from the book that I could’ve done without in the Season 1 adaptation but... well... here we are.

Top 5 Underrated TV Shows

1. Picnic at Hanging Rock - Another one that won’t surprise followers of this blog. I have rhapsodized about it quite frequently since I found it a little over a month ago. It’s a period piece mystery miniseries with LGBTQIA+ representation, gorgeous costumes, and Samara Weaving. This felt specifically designed to wedge its way into my heart, and I’m quite content with the space it now occupies.

2. Dark - I’m so intrigued by the overlapping timelines with all of the morally gray characters. It’s possible to like one of these people in the timeline where they’re young but dislike them as adults, or vice versa. It also makes me think of Rant by Chuck Palahniuk a little tiny bit with the idea that time travel, specifically tampering with your own timeline, might make you physically and behaviorally unrecognizable to yourself. And the SONG CHOICES! I have gotten some solid new music selections from this series.

3. Sense8 - I still need to watch the finale. I really do. But I knew it would make me sad so I’ve avoided it for... two years now? Pretty close, I think. The concept is fascinating and the cast is so strong. Plus the cinematography! They came up with some of the coolest ways to depict the link these characters share and what it’s like when they connect over distance. The planning and careful editing it all must’ve taken... I remain in awe.

4. Penny Dreadful - There were definitely some story/writing choices I didn’t particularly like along the way, but I did get engrossed in the creepy goodness and the performances -- Eva Green’s Vanessa Ives most of all. It left me wishing for more period piece “monster mash” stories, because having all those classic characters in one place was a blast. It also helped me understand why Helen McCrory was once slated to play Bellatrix Lestrange because she can be terrifying. Oh and Sarah Greene in her Wild West outfits? Perdita Weeks with short red hair in fencing garb, and later in all leather with boots and a long jacket? I WAS NOT PREPARED AND I HAVE STILL NOT RECOVERED. I NEVER WILL.

5. Wonderfalls - There’s some cringe-inducing handling of certain representation in the series, but I have such a weak spot for quippy outcasts who become reluctant chosen ones (Joan Girardi in Joan of Arcadia, Wynonna Earp, Jaye Tyler in this series, et cetera). I also really love the sibling dynamics here. They bicker, tease one another, help each other out of trouble, and have rare but genuine heart-to-hearts. Caroline, Lee, and Katie all did such a great job blending their characters’ adult personalities with certain childhood attributes that rise to the surface in the presence of family.

Top 5 Movies

1. Addams Family Values - I’ve rewatched this movie at least once annually since I found it in Media Play at age 13. Usually, I’ll play it around Halloween or, at the latest, Thanksgiving. It’s mouth-along-with-every-line level ingrained in my memory. I find myself leaning forward in my seat before favorite parts because I’m still that excited to relive them. Why this movie, and why this devotion to such a degree? It’s hard to explain, even to myself. I can tell you, however, that I hold up every other portrayal of the Addams characters to the versions found in this. Everybody in the cast just feels that perfect for their part.

2. Clue - I was already pretty fond of this movie to begin with, but then my sister got older and claimed it as a favorite of her own, so now she just supplies me with further excuses to watch it repeatedly. It’s also been a bonding piece of media with a couple of close friends and such through the years. It’s incredible to think not everyone in it was the first choice for their roles; what everybody brings to the table is so top-notch that I wouldn’t have it any other way. I also LOVE knowing that it originally went to theaters with different endings depending on which showing you attended. I gather people weren’t terribly thrilled with the stunt back then, but I kinda think some moviegoers would be into that approach these days? Then again, one hit that tried something different tends to start a fad, so maybe I’d end up regretting the suggestion after a while. :P

3. The Craft - This. Movie. Yes, Act III is a major bummer even though I know it’s coming, and I’ll always wish it ended differently. Even so. This. Movie. I tend to headcanon mostly for shows and sometimes books, but The Craft is a beloved exception. I love so much about it: the magic, the music, the clothes, the settings, the dynamics within the friend group, the performances. I had no idea when I first got the DVD at 17 that it would become such a part of my life, but I’m so glad it found its way to me.

4. Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion - The soundtrack is a glorious ’80s and ’90s treat for my ears. The colorful costumes are perfectly suited to the main characters’ version of the world. There are so many great lines and it feels like everyone is having a lot of fun in their roles. I LOVE HEATHER MOONEY SO MUCH. She’s my awful, scathingly sarcastic, little grungy grump and she fills my heart with joy.

5. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - I was pretty sure at least one of the three had to appear on here. I think, if I were to tally them all up, The Return of the King features most of my favorite moments, so it wins the spot. “I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you!”, ‘Edge of Night,’ Éowyn in battle, The Army of the Dead, ‘Into the West’... I end up crying during the end credits every time. So, yeah, ultimately, I would choose the third part of the trilogy if I could only watch one.

Phew, that’s it! All the questions answered, all the shows and movies listed! Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read it all, and thanks again to @monaiargancoconutsoy for sending in the prompts! <3

#About Me #Answered Asks

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penelopelovesalvez · 6 years

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A Lucky Night- Chapter 16

Here is my multi-chapter pic featuring characters I do not own from Criminal Minds, Alvez x Garcia, in a story of my own creation. It picks up at the end of 13.5.

Warning: Some chapters contain smut. While many do not, the ones that do are definitely 18+, NSFW.

Please feel free to re-blog and review! Please ask for permission before posting on any other platform.

“Luke?” Penelope squeaked, uncertain. “I don’t know, could we maybe wait for something I know how to dance to?”

Luke chuckled, and the low, rolling sound reminded her of a smooth, fine whiskey- sweet, thick, and yet building to a breathtaking burn. A shiver ran down her spine and a slew of goose bumps erupted along her arms. The man could talk a nun out of her panties with that voice. His hand tightened on her hip, gripping her generous curves even tighter. “Penelope, I have no intention of missing the opportunity to have every sumptuous inch of you pressed against me while we dance. Besides, it doesn’t matter if you haven’t danced salsa before, because you have me to lead you. You already have rhythm Chica, and all the sex appeal,” he said, letting his gaze sweep over her body as a low moan literally rumbled in his chest. He continued speaking, moving his mouth closer to her ear, “You just need a good partner and I happen to have been raised on these dances. Now, baila conmigo Penelope. You’re going to have a blast and we are going to show everyone here that you’re a goddess of more than just digital sleuthing and information- procuring.”

Luke swept her onto the dance floor just as the band began playing a popular song that had been on the radio recently. Penelope recognized it as one she adored. He pulled her close, turning her into his arms so she was facing him. He calmly explained how to do a basic step, demonstrating slowly a few times, and in no time at all he and Penelope were executing the basic steps of the salsa. They stepped back and forth as Luke slowly led them to turn. After a song or so he began spinning her. He smiled down at her, enjoying the breathless, exhilarated laughs she let slip each time he spun her out then pulled her back into his chest. Several times he dipped her, enjoying the feel of her leg curling around his waist. As the strains of “Despacito” filled the room, he spun her into his arms so that this time her round backside was pressed firmly into him. Bending his knees slightly, he pulled her close and ground his hips into hers in time to the beat. He dropped his head to her shoulder, pressing a hot open-mouthed kiss to the skin and dragging his teeth across her pulse.

Penelope head was spinning with giddy pleasure. She heard her own whimpers low beneath the music and hoped the dancers around them didn’t notice. Between the exertions of the vigorous dancing, and the warmth of Luke’s body pressed against her, her entire body was on fire. Luke’s muscular arm was wrapped around her waist, holding her body tight to his. His other hand was rhythmically squeezing her hip, occasionally drifting downwards so that his fingers brushed lightly over the lace-edged stocking high on her thigh just below the short hem of her skirt. Their hips continued to sway and gyrate together as they continued to dance. The woodsy sent of his cologne… the feel of his hot breath on her neck… the pounding beat of the bass… the raspy sound of his voice as he sang along in Spanish about her showing his mouth her favorite places… the heat of his body literally surrounding her… the sensation of his hands gripping and caressing her and the feel of his hips pushing into hers… it was all becoming quite overwhelming. Her heart was pounding and she was breathing heavily- her chest rising and falling rapidly. She felt Luke’s hand drift up from her hip, over her ribs, and brush repeatedly across the underside of the swell of her breast. Her body was tingling and suddenly the room felt impossibly hot.

The song came to an end, and the band struck up something slower, softer. Luke turned her into his chest, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. Penelope let her head fall to his shoulder, her arms wrapped around his neck. She was nearly lightheaded from the adrenaline coursing through her veins. Never had she desired someone this much.

Luke’s hands drifted down to frame her ass and pull her even tighter into his own body. Penelope felt the muscles in her lower abdomen clench, and her mouth went dry. Luke swayed her to the slow ballad, occasionally spinning her out or twirling her, only to pull her back in close. Their bodies moved as one, perfectly matching each other’s moves. Sighing, she closed her eyes. She was lost in how much more intimate the slow, erotic dance was than even the hot, sweaty grinding had been. She listened to the music, the alternating voices of the male and female singers sounding both passionate but also slightly sad. Luke caught her mouth in a hot, fevered kiss- tangling his tongue with hers as his fingers snaked under the hem of her corset top to lightly tickle her spine. After several moments, Penelope pulled back, briefly catching his eye before she tucked her chin and cuddled back into his chest, hiding the scarlet blush that painted her cheeks. “Luke, what does this song mean?” she asked, her mouth moving against his collarbone and her voice just loud enough for him to catch.

Luke bent his head to brush his lips along her ear. He translated the words of the Marc Antony and Jennifer Lopez song. He whispered, “Even if in the future there are enormous obstacles, I am not afraid. I want to fall in love. Don’t love me because I’m lost, or because it is destiny. Don’t leave me, don’t disarm my heart with this, ‘don’t love me’, Don’t love me as I will make you suffer with this heart that is filled with a thousand winters. You and I will fly and continue together forever, this love is like the sun that appears after the storm, like two comets on the same pathway. The couple are singing to each other. He tried to push her away, telling her not to love him. She tells him that she’s not afraid and that she doesn’t want to be pushed away.” Penelope felt a single tear gather at the corner of her eye at the beauty of the lyics, even as her body was becoming flush with desire for the man softly whispering them to her. The sound of his voice and the feel of his lips on her ear had her nipples hardening, pushing sensitively against her top, and her knees going weak. Surely without his arms holding her so tightly she would have fallen.

“It’s kinda like you and me huh, since I kept pushing you away and you persisted until I finally let my walls down,” Penelope mumbled against his chest. The song drew to an end, and the dancers on the floor stepped apart and clapped for the band and the vocalists. Penelope took a step back and looked up into Luke’s bottomless brown eyes. “Luke, take me home? Please?” she asked, licking her bottom lip.

Luke’s eyes darkened, and his hands flexed on her bottom. “My place?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. She nodded, biting her lower lip. He let go of her derriere, intertwining his fingers with hers, and moving a hand to the small of her back as he turned her and led her back to the table to retrieve her purse. He took two hundred dollar bills out of his wallet and left them on the table, grossly over-tipping. “Let’s go, Chica,” he growled predatorily.

In no time at all they were back in Luke’s truck, and he was driving as fast as he dared without risking a hefty speeding ticket. Penelope sat in the middle seat, pressed closely into Luke’s side. His left hand gripped the steering wheel tightly, his right hand resting on Penelope’s thigh, gripping the supple flesh through the stocking. Her right hand was tangled in the curls at the back of his neck and her left was wrapped around the forearm of the hand that was kneading her thigh, her fingers languidly caressing the firm ropes of muscle. His eyes never left the road, carefully navigating the truck as it sped down the highway. Neither made a sound, content to simply listen to the radio as they drove.

Luke’s eyes remained focused intently on the road, but Penelope’s gaze was locked on him as marveled at the beauty of the man next to her, the man who was taking her home. She didn’t know when it had happened… She’d sworn she wasn’t going to let another team member close… into her heart. After Derek… she knew that the team was her family but she’d seen how even family can change. Although they loved her, they’d left. When their lives changed they’d moved on and it had hurt, some more so than others… Kate, Blake, Derek… even Hotch. They didn’t seem to understand that they’re the only family she had. She would never just walk away from them, but that hasn’t gone both ways. It probably would have been better if she’d been able to keep Alvez at a distance too… she’d tried, she sure tried. She told herself he would be different. Garcia’s gaze swept over him from head to toe again, taking in the persistent, determined set to his jaw and the steady, unwavering grip of his hand on her thigh.

And then there was the unflinching, resolved way in which he’d chipped away at her defenses and her determination to shut him out. Maybe she was right, he is different. Not because she succeeded in holding him at a distance, but maybe because he will be the one who doesn’t abandon her. Perhaps she will finally have a chance at family… Or maybe she’ll get burned twice as bad. Worse than when Derek left, or when she ended things with Kevin. Or… Penelope was startled out of her thoughts by the sound of the truck engine turning off. They had pulled up in front of a quaint, two-story Craftsman cottage.

Luke threw the driver-side door open so hard she was surprised it remained attached. He practically jogged around the car to her side, opening the door for her and reaching in to lead her out by the hand. He grabbed their bags from earlier in the day in his other hand, and led her up the un-lit walkway. He held her hand steadily, helping her up the three wooden steps onto the wrap-around porch. He inserted the key, turning it in the lock and pushing the wooden door open. He reached a hand inside, flicking on the lights for the porch as well as for the entry.

“Luke,” Penelope said breathlessly. “Your home is… beautiful. Oh, look at how charming the porch is. And you have a swing? Oh! You and Roxy must love to sit out here in the evening!” She gushed. Just like that the melancholy mood she’d started to let overtake her was gone, replaced with excitement to see Luke’s home for the first time. She heard him chuckle and then he was pulling her into the house behind him. “Welcome, Chica. Mi casa es su casa,” he said, setting their bags down and kicking the door soundly shut behind him. He reached out, locking the deadbolt and then pulling the chain into place. Luke pulled her hand, stopping her from her observation of the room as he spun her back into his chest. “Now, just where were we, querida?

#criminalminds #criminalmindsfanfic garvez #Garvez #luke x penelope #Garcia x Alvez

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jerseycollective · 6 years

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THIRD YEAR SHOW ARTIST STATEMENTS

Christine Alba (@thehappilyeverafter): I started my instagram account nearly six years ago so that I could have a place to document my days with iPhone photos of people, places and things that I love, including playful flatlays of food and objects from nature. I think with patience and careful attention, we can find beauty in simple, ordinary subjects, and I try to capture and share such beautiful simplicity in my photos. I take pride in being able to say that even after all these years, 99.9% the photos I post to instagram are taken and edited on my iPhone.

Kayleigh Ann Archbold (@herheartlaughs) is the owner of Laughing Heart Photography. She was raised in Hewitt, New Jersey but has called Montclair home for the past six years. She’s a soul-baring wife, artist, photographer, chaser of light, and adventurer. She spends most of her time daydreaming about being a mermaid and traveling this beautiful planet with her husband Jason.

Bobby Bates*

Lauren Bowers*

Alessandra Agabiti Braghelli (@unaromanainamerica): Born in Rome, moved to NJ for love. Mom, lifestyle blogger. Loves Autumn, healthy food, coffee, old fashioned houses. Her happy places are libraries and Wildwood. Wanderlust.

T. J. Brown (@photobyteresa): Mama Bear, Earth child, dedicated steward of the environment, Educator, Biologist in training, Dance Instructor, Writer, SJ native. If you find me under the sun or stars, dancing to a great band, with wild curly hair, and my shoes nowhere to be found, you've caught me in my most lively element.

Theresa Campbell (@tcampbell210) is a hobbyist who loves to travel, take photos, and share them with the Instagram community. She runs several hubs on IG including @just_unitedstates (in its 5th year!) and @just_newjersey.

Rey Caparros*

Meaghan Cross (@ohkichan195): Being able to share my perspective through a lens is fun for me. Others get to share in my experiences and I get to document them to look at them later. More often than not, my friends have come to me to ask if I still have pictures from a particular outing or party; the answer is always yes. I like it for it's documentation purposes and that it's also a form of art I get to experiment with. I've tried painting and drawing, but I've always circled back to photography more often than not. I think it's partially what influenced my job choice; Radiologic Technologist (or X-ray tech for short).

Zevilla Dahliana (@zezefox) is an Outdoor Advocate. She supports positive change within her community by promoting an active lifestyle. She is passionate about the outdoors; you can often find her hiking mountains, kayaking, biking, and snapping photos in between.

Gina Danza (@wildginaa) is an outdoor and food photographer who is always looking for new places. Her mission is the make the outdoors more diverse and healthy.

Craig DeCicco (@macaloin) is a photographer and real estate agent from Jersey City who enjoys shooting landscapes/cityscapes and traveling in his free time. Craig is a published photographer whose work has been exhibited in galleries throughout New York and New Jersey.

Jessica Defabritis (@jessica.def): Photography is such an interpretive art form that is so fun to share. It leaves it up to the viewer to decipher what the story is behind each shot. Whether it be a person experiencing a wonderful new place or a tiny heart shaped leaf in the middle of the woods. You decide why those things matter most as you gaze at them. It's what makes it special, you get to tell a story but only you know the true plot. Making them beautiful to look at is just the fun part.

Keith Drennan (@mrblackthorn) is a photographer from Jersey. He generally focuses on landscape and portrait photography.

Sarah Erbe (@saraherbe3) is a 24 year old from Bay Head, New Jersey. She works in retail as an Assistant Buyer. Her hobbies include photography, traveling, and blogging.

Bart Everts (@bartlehe) is a librarian at the Paul Robeson Library at Rutgers University-Camden and a historian of the Philadelphia region. He has written articles on South Jersey and the Philadelphia area for Hidden City Philadelphia, The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, Camden County Heritage, and Pennsylvania History. In addition to his personal Instagram, he also manages the account South Jersey Vegan @sjpvegan, which features vegan food in South Jersey, Philadelphia, and beyond. A native of Collingswood, he now lives in West Philadelphia.

Scott Faytok (@sfaytok78) is a photographer in Central NJ who loves the shore and traveling. His favorite spot is Bay Head. He loves showing off his state.

Jamie Ferrugiaro (@missjamiekaren) is a sort of jack-of-all trades creative who is passionate about the outdoors, traveling, and art. She has lived in Jersey her whole life, and loves the East Coast.

Mike Forgie (@prestonlogan) is a Digital Marketing Specialist. He would love for you to figure out what his username is from.

Olivia Frawley (@livfreddy): I am a mid-20s high school biology and marine biology teacher. I love teaching my students concepts they can both observe and apply when they go out in the real world! In the meantime, I try to capture as much beauty as possible right here in NJ; from the hidden oases in the middle of the woods to fiery sunrises at the beach during fishing season. Maybe we will just let everyone else keep thinking it's "dirty" here - and the beauty can be our little secret.

Jessica Grennen (@Simply_jessg87) was born and raised in New Jersey and has always been the creative type. She likes to think she followed in her dad's love of photography and hasn't stopped since. She’s drawn to nature and architecture mostly, “one being fluid and the other bold, hard lines; my ying and yang I guess you could say.” In the future she would love to start selling her art but for now she is content sharing it with friends and family.

Danielle Grubb*

Michael Guccione (@michaelguccionephoto) spends most of his time photographing at the beach in Monmouth and Ocean counties. He has been a New Jersey resident for 9 years now, and loves showing people how beautiful this state is.

Emily Anne Harber*

Kate Hausman (@Khaus11):I am a Park Naturalist from Ocean County, but I spent the past two years living and working in Stokes State Forest in Sussex County. I've enjoyed documenting the differences between my southern and northern homes, particularly the natural/ecological ones.

Andrea Hayes (@andreas.photos): I believe there is so much beauty to be found in our surroundings, you just have to look for it. That is one of the reasons why I explore New Jersey. The other is that I love photography. Instagram has been a wonderful way to connect both.

Cristal Johnson (@cristalinaj): Mama. Teacher. Sunchaser. Dreamer. The skies, the seas, and the world around me.

Adam K*

Youn Lee (@yjbunnylee) has been living in Basking Ridge, NJ (Somerset County) for over four years. She is currently a graduate student at Pratt Institute and a freelance UX designer. She loves traveling up and down the I-95 corridor with her husband. She was born and raised in South Korea.

Micael Lopes (@billyoliver) is a self-taught photographer and instagramer from Brazil. He considers New Jersey his home because it is where he grew as an artist and it has shaped his photography skills in the way he sees light, color, and natural elements. He often likes to incorporate nature with a twist of urban style in his photos in light settings. As an artist he strives to create work that will evoke emotions and inspire others.

Matt Marcheski (@mattmarcheski) is a portrait and landscape photographer from the Atlantic City area. Traveling and meeting new people is his thing!

David McGraw Jr. (@ddmcgrawjr): I've worked as a concert and nightclub photographer for the past four years. Having grown up in New Jersey it's been great to come back and take photos, especially during my Jersey Collective week last year (election week in November). I hope to cover emerging music scenes in Newark and Trenton in the future.

Matt Murawinski (@mattmurawinski) is a 20-something nomad-at-heart. Producer for CNN by day and photographer by night (and weekends).

Donovan Myers (@stryfe2103): Storyteller and Wanderer from South Jersey. I've lived in New Jersey since I was 5, but only recently began to discover the hidden wonders of this place. I've spent the last few years wandering the state with camera in hand, discovering parts of this state I never imagined, and trying to tell a bit about these places through my pictures and my stories.

Arati Patel (@aratip05) has a background in Environmental Law and Policy. She has had a passion for the outdoors since she was young. She enjoys discovering small pockets of nature within urban areas and always had an appreciation of how resilient urban ecosystems are. She thinks that Jersey Collective is a wonderful community to help photo enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds have a chance to showcase their talent and the beauty of New Jersey and is thankful for this opportunity.

Natalie Pereira (@rockbeertravel): I have been fascinated with photo documenting my life and the world around me since I got my first LeClic camera in the 80s! I am completely self-taught and just focus on what I see and how I see it. In my professional life, I run a series of artisan markets in Jersey City called Marketplace JC and am lucky enough to be part of a network of artists in artisans in New Jersey.

Corrie Peterson (@upbeatlibrarian): i'm upbeat. i'm a librarian. i'm corrie peterson, just a human animal living alongside the atlantic ocean in new jersey, spending my time growing & stretching, learning & reading, taking walks, swimming laps, writing poems, looking for treasure & making art out of books that nobody else wanted.

Amy Petrie*

Artyom Pocapinskis (@art_poca) is inspired by nature and always in search of new adventures and experiences.

Cindy Price (@mostlymaplewood) has written extensively about food and travel for the New York Times and the American Michelin Guides. Her Mostly Maplewood photography project began when she moved to Maplewood, NJ with her husband and two young sons and began exploring the area. She shoots solely on her iPhone 7.

Jennifer Rojas (@digital.concepts) was born and raised in upstate NY. She moved to NJ about 13 years ago. She began photographing and exploring NJ and the surrounding areas about four years ago and hasn’t stopped since.

Jason M. Schack (@jmschack_photography) is a nature and landscape photographer from Waretown NJ, located in Southern Ocean County. You can find him anywhere along the Jersey Coast for sunrise and sunset. Fall and Winter are his favorite seasons for photography, and he hopes to see you out there!

Blaise Scott-Miller*

Ana Mo Shoshin (@madcat1) is a hand-quilter and artist living in Asbury Park, NJ with her husband and cats. She enjoys taking photos, coffee, rocks, and bones. See her work at madcatquilts.com.

Michelle Simone (@michelle.simone) is a multimedia artist who specializes in photography, deejaying, and filmmaking. New Jersey is very inspirational to her--from its culture to its geography to all of the hidden treasures it has to offer.

Jaclyn Sovern (@jsovs) is a 24-year-old based in the Tri-State area, with a BFA in Photography from The School of Visual Arts. In 2016 she launched her own company, Socially Relevant, a full-service agency providing day-to-day social media management, content creation, website design, and more. Visit her websites www.jaclynsovern.com & www.sociallyrelevantt.com.

Diana Van Horn (@dianavanfarley) is a portrait and lifestyle photographer based out of Asbury Park and has lived in various parts of New Jersey her entire life. When she’s not out photographing the cute @AnimalsofAsbury, she enjoys documenting local events & politics.

Ed Waldron (@edwaldrons): I try to capture the built environment we have created within the natural beauty of the state. Pictures that incorporate architecture, constructed environments, and their placement in nature give a true sense to how we live and what makes New Jersey a great place to be.

David Warner (@davidwarnerphotography) grew up in New Jersey and has called it home all his life. When he was 12 years old, he had a darkroom in his parents’ basement and was hooked ever since. Although he does headshots, weddings, and much more, he really loves capturing the history and nature that we have all around us in the Garden State.

Sean Whener*

Kyle Willis*

Ben Wurst (@reclaimednj) is a field biologist who is happily married with two young children. He works with rare wildlife along the southeastern coast of New Jersey. He’s into everything related to the outdoors, including photography. He tries to use his creative skills in his work to highlight the need for conservation of wildlife and habitat preservation. In 2011 he started a small business centered around reducing wood waste being sent to landfills and use that salvaged wood to create picture frames and other creations.

*no statement supplied

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helloworlddemo1122-yahoopar-blog · 6 years

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7 Ways Meghan Markle's Life Will Change When She Becomes a Royal

With just a couple of weeks to go until her big day, Megan Markle is preparing for the role of a lifetime: officially becoming a royal when she and Prince Harry say "I do" on May 19.

With her new title comes a slew of new rules and responsibilities. Not only will she be representing the crown and have to be mindful of what she says and does, the American actress will also have to say goodbye to certain likes and hobbies. ET is rounding up seven things Meghan will not be able to do once she becomes part of the family.

1. Must Not Sign Autographs

According to the royal rules, one can only put their signature on official documents or visitor books during official public appearances, which means Meghan won't be able to sign autographs for fans anymore. Queen Elizabeth II is afraid that someone might try and forge one of her family member's signatures and use it against them.

Though, on Jan. 18, Meghan was photographed signing her autograph for a fan while out on an official engagement with Harry. However, she is technically still not married and not a royal.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

2. Must Not Work in an Office

Bye, bye Suits! Meghan's character may work in a law firm, but the soon-to-be-royal cannot work in an office and instead tend to her official royal duties. Once a royal, she will be obligated to represent the family on all types of trips, events and engagements in her day-to-day life. Goodbye acting career!

Meghan, however, has already taken this up since she and Harry announced their engagement.

Shane Mahood/USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

3. Can't Wear a Bright Manicure

According to the royal dress code, women in the royal family can only use nude-colored shades. For the most part, Meghan seems to have always rocked a neutral manicure and hasn’t been spotted with a bright or flashy color during her royal duties.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Though, she's previously been a fan of a black and burgundy mani.

Getty Images

4. Can't Have a Profile on Social Media

No more inside looks into her personal life. Meghan already deleted her Instagram and Twitter accounts earlier this year (so sad), and that's because there is a strict rule about the royal family only having their official pages, which are run by professionals.

Additionally, last April, the actress announced the end of her lifestyle blog, The Tig, following reports that she and Harry had become involved. Everything that you need to know about Meghan's life will now be reported by Kensington Palace.

5. Can't Wear Ambiguous Dresses

The bride-to-be has previously stated that she defines her style as "relaxed California girl" and "effortless," and at many past Hollywood events has worn mini dresses and pencil skirts. But from now on, she'll have to say goodbye to those LBDs and opt for more modest and classic ensembles.

While Meghan has been adopting her own princess fashion (messy bun and trousers), a source told ET that Kate Middleton is helping Meghan "with advice on royal fashion and go-to designers." We've already seen Meghan's style evolve over the past couple of months, and we're fascinated to see how it will change once she becomes an official royal.

6. Can't Go Shopping Alone

As a royal, and known to everyone around the world, taking a quick shopping spree to de-stress is out of the question. Meghan will be allowed to go to boutiques and markets, but she must have protection with her at all times. When she was a Hollywood actress, Meghan didn't always need a bodyguard while out and about. Now, things will change.

7. Can't Sit Wherever She Wants

Interestingly enough, every member of the royal family has their position and seat -- led by the queen, of course. When attending special events, they all follow a special order and only sit where they are assigned. The queen is first, followed by Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Kate, and then Prince Harry and Meghan.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

There have been a few times where this has already been demonstrated, including Christmas Day, at church services that the family has all attended and, most recently, the queen's birthday party. Take note of how Meghan and Harry are off to the side, always behind William, who is second in line.

John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Phew, it's not so easy being a princess!

Watch the video below to see how Meghan has changed since her engagement -- and keep up with all of ET's coverage of the royal wedding as we count down to May 19.

RELATED CONTENT:

Royal Wedding Traditions (and Two Major Departures) to Expect on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Big Day

Meghan Markle's Royal Wedding Dress: Everything We Know So Far!

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Royal Wedding: The Complete Guide

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recentanimenews · 7 years

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My Week in Manga: March 27-April 2, 2017

My News and Reviews

As regular readers of Experiments in Manga know, on the last Wednesday of every month I host a giveaway of some sort (usually manga-related) for which participants have a week to submit their entries. This time around the monthly giveaway is for the first volume of Coolkyousinnjya’s surprisingly delightful Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid. The winner will be announced this coming Wednesday, so you can still enter for a chance to win if you haven’t already. Also later this week, look for another guest review by my friend and fellow yuri manga fan Jocilyn. Elsewhere in the Manga Bookshelf sphere of blogs, The Manga Critic has started a monthly manga review index. There have been similar features in the past, perhaps most notably at MangaBlog, and I’ve always found them incredibly useful and valuable, so I’m glad to see Kate Dacey taking it on. Also in general, I highly recommend the content at The Manga Critic–Kate’s actually one of my major inspirations when it comes to manga blogging.

As for other interesting things I’ve come across recently: Chic Pixel’s Anne Lee has posted a really fantastic list of bibliographic resources for those curious about the academic study of boys’ love. (I’ve read quite a few books and articles myself, and even reviewed Jeffery Angles’ Writing the Love of Boys: Origins of Bishōnen Culture in Modernist Japanese Literature at Experiments in Manga a few years ago.) And if that’s not enough of BL studies for you, J. R. Brown has posted the slides from her Anime Boston panel “Boys’ Love, Otome Culture, and Gender” which covers everything from the origin of shoujo manga to gay comics and more. On their own the slides are fairly informative, but I’m looking forward to seeing the annotated version, too.

Also at Anime Boston, Viz Media made quite a few licensing announcements. Some were digital-only while others were digital-first or print-only. Here’s a quick list of the books that will eventually make their way into print: Kenta Shinohara’s Astra Lost in Space, Abi Umeda’s Children of Whales (I’m particularly curious about this series), an omnibus edition of Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata’s Death Note collecting the entire series and a bonus epilogue in a single volume, Nisioisin’s Hikaru Nakamura’s novel Juni Taisen: Zodiac Warriors (I’m not familiar with the novel, but the creators involved have certainly caught my attention), Kenji Taira’s Naruto: Chibi Sasuke’s Sharingan Legend, Kaiu Shirai and Posuka Demizu’s The Promised Neverland (which is supposed to be fantastic), a collection of nine Junji Ito stories and accompanying material selected by Ito himself called Shiver (always glad to see more Ito being released in English), Maki Enjoji’s SP Baby, and Sui Ishida’s artbook Tokyo Ghoul Illustrations.

A couple of Kickstarter projects recently launched which may be of interest as well: All the Anime/Anime Limited is joining forces with Studio 4°C to create a home video release of Masaaki Yuasa’s directorial debut Mind Game. Digital Manga has entered the fray again with a campaign to release more of Osamu Tezuka’s manga in print: Ambassador Magma, Dust 8, The Euphrates Tree, Metamorphose, Say Hello to Bookila, The Thief Inoue Akikazu, Wonder 3, and Yakeppachi’s Maria. It looks as though the print runs will be very limited and Kickstarter may be the only way to get a hold of some of the titles. (I have to admit, I certainly have my qualms about Digital Manga��s business practices in general and over-reliance on crowdfunding specifically. The quality of Digital Manga’s releases has really gone downhill over the last few years, too. Honestly, I’ve lost most of my confidence in the company as a publisher, but it’s managed not to completely go under yet.)

Quick Takes

Dawn of the Arcana, Volumes 1-6 by Rei Toma. I generally enjoy epic fantasy of the shoujo variety, so I’m not entirely sure why it’s taken me so long to finally get around to reading Dawn of the Arcana. So far, I’m enjoying the manga tremendously. Nakaba is a princess who has been married off to a prince of the neighboring kingdom despite her questionable ancestry in a half-hearted attempt to secure peace between the two countries. But instead, gifted with the ability to see both into the past and into the future, Nakaba may find herself in the unlikely position of leading a revolution. Dawn of the Arcana does come across as a rather typical example of high fantasy–all the way down to the heroine’s fiery red hair–but even though it hasn’t really made itself stand out yet, the manga is a solid series. I greatly enjoyed the manga’s mix of court and political intrigue, action, and complicated interpersonal relationships. Much like the story, the artwork tends to be somewhat standard although attractive. Toma’s backgrounds are generally fairly sparse, but the details put into things like the characters’ clothing is lovely. I definitely look forward to reading more of Dawn of the Arcana in the very near future.

Hana & Hina After School, Volume 1 by Milk Morinaga. I believe that Morinaga is currently the most well-represented yuri manga creator available in English. So far, five of Morinaga’s manga have been translated, the most recent being Hana & Hina After School. Interestingly, in Japan the manga was serialized in a magazine aimed at a general audience rather than one specifically catering to yuri fans. The titular Hana and Hina are two young women working part time at a store specializing in cute character goods even though their high school forbids its students from holding jobs. The story follows their relationship as they become friends and slowly realize that their feelings may evolve into something else. Like most of Morinaga’s other manga that I’ve read, Hana & Hina After School tends to be rather cute and sweet. The series is enjoyable and pleasant even if it is at times a little silly and somewhat unbelievable. However, the end of the first volume does introduce some sobering concerns when Hina is confronted by a few of her classmates homophobia, an unfortunate reality that many yuri manga tend to gloss over or ignore entirely in favor of pure fantasy. (Granted, that fantasy is important to have, too.)

Scum’s Wish, Volumes 1-2 by Mengo Yokoyari. I wasn’t initially planning to pick up Scum’s Wish, but after reading a few positive reviews of the series I decided to give it a try after all. The cover art of the first volume is deliberately provocative, but the manga isn’t nearly as salacious as it might imply. In fact, the series can actually be surprisingly contemplative. Scum’s Wish is a manga about unrequited love. Almost every character in the series is pining for someone with whom an involved romance would seem to be impossible or at least inadvisable, resulting in a complex web of personal relationships fraught with loneliness and anguish. (There is one heck of a love polygon going on in Scum’s Wish and nearly everyone who is introduced is connected to it somehow.) Hanabi is in love with Narumi, her childhood friend who now also happens to be her homeroom teacher. Mugi is in love with Akane, a music instructor who used to be his tutor. Recognizing that they are suffering under very similar circumstances and hoping to ease some of the pain, Hanabi and Mugi agree to find comfort in a relationship together. Neither one of them is in love with the other, but they are both aware of and take advantage of that fact.

Deep Red by Hisashi Nozawa. Although perhaps best known as a screenwriter, Nozawa was also recognized as an accomplished novelist. Deep Red, which earned Nozawa an Eiji Yoshikawa Prize in 2001, is his first novel to be released in English. Kanako is the only survivor of the mass murder of her family, simply because she happened to be away on a school trip when her parents and two younger brothers were killed. Understandably, their deaths have left a great wound, but Kanako isn’t the only one left troubled and hurt–the life of Miho, the daughter of the murderer, has also been irrevocably changed. At times, Deep Red is uncomfortably voyeuristic and there’s a peculiar fixation on Kanako’s body and sex life with her boyfriend. I was never entirely convinced by Kanako as a character, either. However, Deep Red does provide an interesting psychological exploration of hate, anger, and misplaced revenge. The novel is instantly engaging. However, the middle portion of the narrative is repetitive and does drag a fair bit; I admittedly started to lose my interest and patience with the story. But once Kanako becomes obsessed with and decides to pursue Miho, Deep Red picks up speed again and the novel’s ending is very satisfying.

By: Ash Brown

#Anime #News #Manga Bookshelf

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recentanimenews · 7 years

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My Week in Manga: January 2-January 8, 2017

My News and Reviews

Last week at Experiments in Manga the winner of the Kuroko’s Basketball giveaway was announced. The post also includes a list of some of the tournament and competition manga that has been licensed in English. As per usual these days, there wasn’t much else from me, but there is some other very exciting Manga Bookshelf news: The Manga Critic is back! Be on the lookout for some great content from Kate Dacey. Last week I also read Makoto Yukimura’s eighth Vinland Saga omnibus which was, as expected, excellent. (I highly recommend the series as a whole.) However, you won’t find a quick take of it below because I’m going to try to write up a full-length review of it instead. We’ll see how it goes!

Elsewhere online, The OASG has started a new series called How Fans Can Help the Anime & Manga Industries Grow in which industry folk share their experiences an thoughts on the subject. So far, the responses from Charlene Ingram, Viz Media’s senior manager of marketing, and Charis Messier, lead translator at Cross Infinite World, have been shared. Another interesting read courtesy of Sakuga Blog is a translation of a roundtable with three manga editors (Tatsuya Kusunoki, Katsuyuki Sasaki, and Ryouji Takamatsu) discussing the growth of the yuri genre. As for boys’ love, Khursten at Otaku Champloo takes a closer look at the Dangerous BL Manga list for 2017.

Quick Takes

Firefighter! Daigo of Fire Company M, Volumes 2-10 by Masahito Soda. I enjoyed the first volume of Firefighter! well enough to seek out the rest of the manga (while the entire series is now available digitally, most of the individual volumes are well out-of-print) and I am so incredibly glad that I did. I’m only halfway through, but Firefighter! is fantastic. It has exciting action, compelling drama, and engaging characters. The titular Daigo is a rookie firefighter who, although he seems to have good instincts, has a lot to learn. Each rescue he’s a part of is more audacious than the last and he frequently ends up in the hospital as a result. Daigo hasn’t lost anyone yet, but his unorthodox ways, disregard for direct orders, and tendency to go overboard puts his own life and the lives of other rescue workers at risk. It seems like it’s only a matter of time before tragedy will strike, but no one can deny that he has saved people who would have otherwise died. Firefighter! is intense and thrilling, but it actually has a fair amount of humor as well. (For all his bravery, Daigo is kind of a goofball.) I’m definitely looking forward to reading the series’ second half.

Horimiya, Volumes 2-4 written by Hero, illustrated by Daisuke Hagiwara. While I wasn’t quite as taken with these few volumes as I was with the first, I am still enjoying Horimiya a great deal. After accidentally discovering each other’s secrets, Miyamura and Hori have developed a close friendship which is slowly evolving into something more. It takes some time, but eventually they’re able to recognize their feelings and actually act on them. In large part, Horimiya is a manga about relationships of all types. Friendship and family are just as important, and are sometimes even more important, than the series’ romance. It’s also a manga which excels in depicting the characters’ multifaceted natures, showing how they behave differently depending on who is present. As more characters are introduced (including Hori’s father and some of Miyamura’s friends from middle school), the social dynamics in the series naturally change. Horimiya isn’t a manga that has me on edge desperate to know what will happen next, but the characters are tremendously endearing and I do want to see things work out for all of them.

Warning! Whispers of Love by Puku Okuyama. So far, only two of Okuyama’s boys’ love manga have been released in print. I had previously read and wasn’t overly impressed by the more recent Caramel despite liking some of the manga’s individual elements (in fact, overall I can’t really say that I enjoyed it much) but I already had a copy of Warning! so I figured I should at least give it a try. I’m happy to say that I enjoyed Warning! much more than I did Caramel. It’s a collection of rather silly boys’ love stories ranging from the subtly amusing to the overtly goofy. They tend to be fairly cute as well and generally any physical intimacy that is shown is limited to a few kisses and chaste embraces. Most of Warning! is devoted to the story of Hajime, a first year at an all-boys school, and the incredibly awkward relationship that develops between him and an upperclassman who seems to want nothing more than to clean the wax from Hajime’s ears. It’s easily the most ridiculous setup in the entire volume but it can be legitimately funny–all the boys’ love tropes and jokes that would typically be applied to sex are applied to ear cleaning instead and it’s surprisingly effective.

Wandering Son directed by Ei Aoki. Takako Shimura’s manga Wandering Son is an incredibly important series to me personally, so I was greatly saddened when Fantagraphics stopped releasing it in English. Initially I wanted to read the entire manga before watching the anime adaptation but, seeing as the rest likely won’t be available any time soon, I finally gave in. The Wandering Son anime is a lovely series. It’s not an exact adaptation of the manga, but it is faithful to the original story and characters. In general, the narrative style of the anime tends to be a little more linear than that of the manga. However, both series provide an empathetic exploration of gender identity, following a group of middle school students who are learning who they are. It’s a fairly realistic portrayal, meaning that society isn’t always the most accepting which can be absolutely heartbreaking. However, seeing the characters become more confident in their selves even when that goes against what is expected of them is exceptionally validating. The anime only adapts a portion of the manga and doesn’t provide much of a resolution (though it does go beyond where Fantagraphics left off), but it is still very well done and well-worth watching.

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By: Ash Brown

#Anime #News #Manga Bookshelf

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