CHLOE GONG TAKE MY MONEY

confirmed: roma montagov and cardan greenbriar are both the worst at sending letters

In honour of Doctor Who's 60th birthday, here are 60* things that I like about less popular** Doctor Who stories.

(*in multiple posts because I'm falling foul of the character limit)

(**IMDB rating of less than 7/10)

1. Susan is great in The Sensorites. She's at her absolute best in stories like this where she gets to be genuinely a bit alien and a bit weird.

2. "So," said someone at the BBC, "we're going to produce an allegory for different political systems, using insects. Choreographed by a mime artist. On a budget of about £2.50." The Web Planet might not entirely have succeeded, but my god, you have to love that they tried.

3. They introduced Jamie, the best companion, in The Highlanders! How is does this have less than a 7/10 rating, what is wrong with you people. It's Jamie.

4. I applaud the utter bonkersness of The Underwater Menace, and Patrick Troughton really gives it socks.

5. The Wheel in Space is proper 60s sci-fi: Servo-Robots, x-ray lasers, radio beams! I can practically smell Penguin mass-market paperbacks thinking about it. And with the introduction of Zoe, it completes my all-time favourite TARDIS team.

6. The Dominators contains the Quarks, who are adorable. They weren't supposed to be, but it doesn't matter.

7. Zoe is still relatively new to the TARDIS, but she has heaps to do in The Krotons. Nice having a female companion who's written as smart and capable.

8. We have entered the 70s, so with Colony in Space, we get Social Issues. Especially an Evil Mining Corporation, which are always fun.

9. More Social Issues in The Mutants, but this time they're paired with big sci-fi ideas. Ancient tablets! Strange life cycles! Love how much is going on here.

10. The Time Monster is like the Eurovision of Doctor Who. Deeply silly, but what would Doctor Who be without silliness? I'm sorry about Jo's coccyx too.

11. I love that they returned to Peladon in The Monster of Peladon, especially with the 50-year time jump. I'd like to see that kind of follow-up more often.

12. Is it not cool to love K9 any more? Well, I like my Doctor Who with a dose of silliness, and The Invisible Enemy delivered that. Every time traveller needs a robot dog.

13. The design of the Seers in Underworld is excellent, I love a brass dome.

14. Doctor Who doesn't have enough giant squidmonsters looming on the horizons. I'm glad the The Power of Kroll does something to address the deficit.

15. The Creature from the Pit gave us the line "a teaspoon and an open mind", and I appreciate it for that at least.

16. Romana wears one of her best of many splendid outfits in The Horns of Nimon.

17. I liked all the arch dialogue between the Doctor, Enlightenment and Persuasion in Four to Doomsday.

18. Heathrow airport is an underrated setting. I also appreciate how Time-Flight prominently features Concorde, making it far more 80s than they could ever have planned.

19. I don't intend this to be damning with faint praise (even though it probably sounds like it) but my favourite thing about Arc of Infinity is that we get a little jaunt through 80s Amsterdam. I do love a tram.

20. Babyfaced Martin Clunes doing his spoiled princeling thing in Snakedance is enjoyably disconcerting.

21. Terminus is tense and scary and bleak. Another one that I'd expected to be more highly rated.

22. Warriors of the Deep gives us a very solid base under siege. Silurians + Cold War is a winning combination.

23. Landing in a modern village doing a historical re-enactment in The Awakening is a witty touch.

24. I can’t say I enjoyed the idea of the Doctor’s violent moods in The Twin Dilemma, but I have to commend it as a punchy way to introduce the new regeneration.

25. The Mark of the Rani should surely get some love just for introducing the Rani: camp, delightful, iconic.

26. Herbert turning out to be HG Wells in Timelash is a lovely twist and handled well.

27. The Trial of a Time Lord is so grand and ambitious. If the show hadn't been struggling in general at this point, it would be among the all-time greats.

28. With its colour-coded gangs and faux-urban slang, Paradise Towers is gloriously of its time in a way that currently feels quite naff, but that I suspect will be fascinating to revisit in about 30 years.  

29. Delta and the Bannermen is action-packed and has one of the best titles in 80s Who.

30. Possibly the most terrifying moment in all of Doctor Who is Kane's face melting in Dragonfire. This series is nothing if it doesn't send children running for safety behind the sofa.

31. Got to love it when Who gets aggressively anti-Thatcher, and they never did it more than in The Happiness Patrol.

Tagged By: @minisugakoobies 😘 Last Song: Skinny Love by Bon Iver Last Film: Fear Street 1994 (but I am also on this strange nostalgia binge of 80/90's cult classics) Currently Reading: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (bc I waited for the paperback to come out last month) + audio booking These Violent Delights by Chole Gong (I have a hard time world building a new series in audio book, it's been painful) and a little Yunho series by @hwaslayer called Project: Make You Love Me Currently Watching: many things, strap in; OMitB, Tempted, Kieski: Dear to Me, The Devil Judge, Vincenzo, Over the Garden Wall, and a linear rewatching The Nanny with my mom so it is taking us ages! Current Obsession: the apple crisp oatmilk shaken espresso 🍁 this drink helped get me through the hell I lived in 2021. No Obligation Tagging: @still-with-koo @mochilatae @kittycat1dsn

Fandoms you're a part of?

too many

but i guess actively? like ones i actually discuss, or make things for?

ever after high (i made maddie hatter art that i’m really proud of), these violent delights/our violent ends (i wanna buy the paperbacks and annotate them!!!!), disney? (is a big fandom), bbc sherlock!!!!, six of crows/crooked kingdom, the a good girl’s guide to murder series (i made a bullet journal spread that i think looks pretty cool), httyd (i painted how i see test drive because i have synesthesia), kung fu panda, and i mean i love a lot of books and shows and movies that i collect merch for so yeah!!!

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong (ft the TVD fairyloot booksleeve!) - buddy read w @booksopi (insta)

4 stars

These Violent Delights is a retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet set in 1920s Shanghai. The city is ruled by rivalling gangs: the White Flowers ruled by the Montagov’s and the Scarlet Gang ruled by the Cai’s . When an unknown threat sweeps the city and targets White Flowers’ and Scarlet’s alike, an unlikely alliance must be drawn.

I LOVED the complicated relationship between Roma and Juliette, who, as heirs of their gangs, are not only separated by the blood feud between their families but also by a long ago betrayal by one of them. The building tension between the two is only amplified by the tension in the city as more and more people lose their lives to a threat beyond scientific explanation. The side characters were just as fun to read about as the main with Marshall Seo making me laugh with every dialogue he had. There were lots of vivid descriptions that not only entraps the reader but sets up the story so well and achieved in making Julie and I feel at times nauseous. I also loved how often the consequences of colonialism were discussed, highlighting the injustices and prejudices that resulted from it whilst also describing the blend of cultures well. The little similarities and references to Shakespeares original was fun to read, as well as the many differences. I was worried that it may become predictable but the twist on every aspect Gong took from the original avoided that.

I have very mixed feelings about the ending. As it is a Romeo and Juliet retelling, I had SOME sort of inclination that it would end on a cliffhanger. Whilst I liked the twists at the end, the very last one almost seemed a bit tedious and I’m not absolutely dying to read the next one as I expected I would (which I guess is a good and bad thing cos the paperback comes out in November). But I do still think I will pick it up and give it a go once it’s out as my heart is still attached to the characters and story that Gong wrote so, so well.

Special Guest Joanna Campbell Slan - Author of Paint Can Kill: Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series #GuestPost / #Giveaway @JoannaCampbellSlan @JCSlan

Paint Can Kill: Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series by Joanna Campbell Slan I am delighted to welcome Joanna Campbell Slan back to Escape With Dollycas today! How Authors Beget Authors By Joanna Campbell Slan I’m teaching my son to write cozies. Michael is a huge reader with a creative mind. He’s got a great idea for a series, and he’s a terrific writer. Besides, this is a fun project for the two of us. In fact, each time I talk with him, I think of Caroline Todd and how she wrote with her son, Charles. Together, they were the author “Charles Todd,” quite a dynamic duo. And now Caroline has passed. I find myself looking for her at conferences. Gosh. That’s a lesson. Always take the time to chat with people you like, no matter how busy you are. None of us know how much time we have. Today my son asked me about clues. “How can my protagonist find a clue that the cops wouldn’t see?” That’s a good question, isn’t it? I explained that on occasion, cops overlook clues. I attended a lecture by a woman whose company cleaned up after tragic accidents. (Translation: She came in after a violent murder or a suicide.) She told our group she once found teeth jammed into a ceiling tile. The victim had put a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. The cops and forensics crew had searched for clues, but they’d neglected to look…UP. I also pointed out that an amateur sleuth might have access to information that the professionals don’t have or can’t get or aren’t aware of. For example, tomorrow there’ll be an Easter egg hunt in my son’s neighborhood. His wife is in charge. I asked my son if the neighbors had a special Facebook group to plan these events. Or did they have an email list they shared? Or some other way of communicating? These are avenues the police would not necessarily know about unless someone told them. Even if they did find out, they would have to get the necessary permissions whereas a person who was part of the group would be privy to that information immediately. My son is quickly getting the hang of this. “Oh, yeah,” he said. “Agatha Christie doesn’t even tell the reader all the clues she’s gathering, does she? At least, not until the end?” See? I told you he’s a smart kid. One day when he’s 80 books into his career, I can imagine him teaching his son, my grandson, these same skills. Isn’t that a wonderful thought? Thank you, Joanna, for visiting today. Excited to see what your son writes! ____ Keep reading for info about PAINT CAN KILL, and Joanna. About Paint Can Kill Paint Can Kill: Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series Cozy Mystery 9th in Series Setting - Hobe Sound, FL Publisher ‏ : ‎ Spot On Publishing (December 15, 2023) Paperback ‏ : ‎ 252 pages ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8870813547 Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CLYY79CV It's raining outside, and it's raining inside. Hey, that's Florida. But as sassy entrepreneur Cara Mia Delgatto watches a van full of Highwayman paintings walk out the front door of The Treasure Chest--because the collection's owner is taking them back--she's crying on the inside all the way to the bank. There will be no quick fix for this. Instead Cara focuses on an outstanding bill. When she visits the wealthy woman who has stiffed her, Cara stumbles over another stiff, a dead body. With multiple crisises in her business life, Cara grieves the loss of her live-in love and her rescue Chihuahua. The man and the dog have left a huge hole in her heart. Will Cara survive all these losses? - Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series is a clean read - Features a female amateur sleuth and her friends - Includes Florida lore and history - Shares ideas for upcycling, recycling, and repurposing - Celebrates friends, family, and fur babies Great Escapes Praise for Paint Can Kill: Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series by Joanna Campbell Slan I so enjoyed traveling to Florida in Paint Can Kill: Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series by Joanna Campbell Slan. The mystery is solid and the pacing is excellent. A truly enjoyable read. ~Sarah Can't Stop Reading Books Bottom Line: Paint Can Kill by Joanna Campbell Slan is an engaging and layered story with likable characters and complex mysteries. Twists, turns, and red herrings await readers in this charming cozy mystery, and you may find yourself craving a peaceful cottage on the coast after reading it! ~Reading Is My SuperPower About Joanna Campbell Slan Joanna is a New York Times Bestselling, USA Today Bestselling, and Amazon Bestselling author as well as a woman prone to frequent bursts of crafting frenzy, leaving her with burns from her hot glue gun and paint on her clothes. And the mess? Let’s not even go there. Otherwise, Joanna’s a productive author with more than 80 written projects to her credit. Her non-fiction work includes how to books, a college textbook for public speakers, and books of personal essays (think Chicken Soup for the Soul). Currently, she writes six fiction series: The Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series (Agatha Award Finalist, contemporary, St. Louis setting, crafting), the Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series (contemporary, Florida setting, DIY, and recycling), the Jane Eyre Chronicles (Daphne du Maurier Award Winner, 1830s England, based on Charlotte Brontë’s classic), the Sherlock Holmes Fantasy Thrillers (late 1800s, based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s books), the Tai Chi Mystery Series (featuring a mature female amateur sleuth!) and the Friday Night Mystery Series (set in Decatur, IL in 1986 with a spunky female heroine.) A former TV talk show host, college teacher, and public relations specialist, Joanna was one of the early Chicken Soup for the Soul contributors. She won a Silver Anvil for her work on the original FarmAid concert to benefit farmers. In her ongoing quest never to see snow again, Joanna lives with her husband and their Havanese puppy, Jax, on an island off the coast of Florida. You can email her at [email protected] or visit her website at https://linktr.ee/jcslan Author Links Newsletter sign-up     Street Team sign-up Website —   Facebook —  Facebook Group —   Twitter/X —   Amazon Author Page — Instagram — Goodreads — Bookbub — LinkedIn — Pinterest Purchase Link Amazon  The Rest of the Series Find all books written by Joanna Campbell Slan HERE TOUR PARTICIPANTS - Please visit all the stops.  April 8 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT April 8 – Teatime and Books – SPOTLIGHT April 8 – Maureen's Musing – SPOTLIGHT April 9 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT April 9 – Sarah Can't Stop Reading – REVIEW April 10 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST April 10 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW April 11 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT April 11 – Sneaky the Library Cat's blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW April 11 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST April 12 – Christy's Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST April 12 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW April 13 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – CHARACTER GUEST POST April 14 – Maureen's Musing – SPOTLIGHT April 14 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST a Rafflecopter giveaway Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today! Want to Book a Tour? Click Here Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent Read the full article

also in These Violent Delights, there's an exchange on page 56 (paperback version) which goes something like this.

You've got a set of fraternal twins, Rosalind and Kathleen. Kathleen is a trans woman. Fine, okay. Rosalind is braiding Kathleen's hair, Kathleen is squirming and fidgeting and Rosalind tells her to knock it off. Kathleen says something like, "Well, SORRY, but while you were learning to be ladylike and style yourselves, I was learning how to play golf and shake hands aggressively."

And Rosalind says, "Yes, I know, your tutors were bigoted assholes about your education."

Considering, just considering, that for literal millennia it has been cis women who were barred from all manner of education, this exchange (cis woman apologizes to trans woman for having the "girly" education, while trans woman learned how to move through the halls of power, woe and lamentation) just comes off as astoundingly tone-deaf.

book asks: 1. 4. 13. 15. 16. 21. 26. 30.

omg thank you! 1. do u prefer a standalone or a series?

hmmm this is hard bc I love standalones but I also think there's nothing more fun than being consumed by a series and like getting inmersed in a world and caring so much about it that you just want to keep reading stuff about it, so I think I'm going with series

4. a book which had a tv adaptation that was better than the book itself?

oh I'm so mad at myself rn because just the other day I remember I thought "ugh this movie/tv show is so much better than the book" and now I can't remember which one was it and it's going to drive me insane. Since I can't remember that perfect answer I had thought of, I'll answer with Gossip Girl. I don't know if it's actually better than the books and it's probably less of an adaptation and more of a loose inspiration but I never cared for the gossip girl books whereas I really like the show (in all it's terrible-ness, it's just fun sometimes)

13. ur fav author (if u have any)?

Fredrick Backman!!!! I love love love his writing and the stories he writes. He's not my one and only favourite author but he is certainly the one that comes to mind when I'm asked this.

15. an underrated book?

These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever!!!! I get that it's not for everyone but I need more people to read it

16. the book that made u fall in love with reading?

very cliche answer but the harry potter series. I've always been a person who loves reading, at least according to my parents (I basically like taught myself to read and then I wouldn't stop reading anything I could find) but if I have to pinpoint one moment when I like actively started reading books all the time it was after I read the harry potter series when I was like 10 or 11.

21. hardcovers or paperbacks?

paperbacks, thouigh it's not that strong of a preference

26. ur fav quote from a book:

I can't pick one single quote so I just chose one randomly from my little quotes notebook: "Hannah sings along, her right arm flinging out to gesticulate wildly and her wispy hair flaring around her face. She's the most beautiful when she's this relentless kind of happy. Maybe that's when everyone is their most beautiful, especially to those who love them" (from A Million Junes by Emily Henry)

30. give any 3 book recs to ur followers! Brother by David Chariandy

Things my son needs to know about the world by Fredrick Backman

The Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater

ask game (book edition)

Hello everyone and happy Wednesday to you all - hope you’re all well and getting through the last week before Christmas/the holidays, however you celebrate or don’t celebrate it. I found a fun tag on the lovely Helen from @belles_and_books page, the #unostackchallenge and I thought I’d join in! 🔄 Reverse - a book set in a different world Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff. Im reading this soon and not Debefore time, I’ve wanted to carrythis series for a long time now! ⏭️ Skip - a book you keep putting off Cecily by Annie Garthwaite. It’s getting ridiculous. I know I’m going to love this! Does anybody want to buddy read it with me so I can finally get round to it?! 😅😂 2️⃣Draw two - a duology on your TBR shelves Our Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong. This is a Romeo and Juliet-esque story and is also a series I’ll be starting soon! 4️⃣ Draw four - a series with four books or more The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. Proven Guilty is number eight in the series so far and there’s seventeen books currently released. I need to get a move on, I’ve only read six! 🙈 😝 Wild - a book outside your normal genre. This was tough. I tend to read such a variety of books that I don’t have a preferred genre. I’ve gone for YA as I couldn’t find any romance on my shelves and I probably read less YA then anything else. This is The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman which I received in an @illumicrate subscription box. 🔢 Number - a book with a number in the title Sixteen Horses by Greg Buchanan. I waited for the release of the paperback as I had seen it around and was intrigued. I’d love to hear your thoughts on any of these books or authors. Let’s have a chat in the comments! #bookstagramuk #scottishbookstagrammer #stacksofbookseverywhere #godsgrave #jaykristoffbooks #cecily #anniegarthwaite #ourviolentdelights #ourviolentends #chloegong #jimbutcher #provenguilty #thedresdenfiles #theivorykey #akshayaraman #sixteenhorses #gregbuchanan #stacksofbooksmakemehappy https://www.instagram.com/p/CmcR9aarCQy/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

purchasing my favorite book (these violent delights (gay)) in every form (hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, downloaded straight to my brain)

Little Bones 3

Warnings: non-consent sex and rape (series); harassment, general creepiness.

This is dark! (biker) Thor x chubby!reader and explicit. 18+ only.  Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Series Synopsis: You’re a city girl stuck in a small town, but Birch isn’t as sleepy as it seems.

Sister series to Smalltown Bringdown and When the Weight Comes Down

Note: Another random update of a series for y’all as I toil away at drabbles in between!

Thanks to everyone for their patience and feedback. :)

I really hope you enjoy. 💋

<3 Let me know what you think with a like or reblog or reply or an ask! Love ya!

Masterlist

Your skin crawled as you walked to work the next morning. The memories of the night before made you cringe and tuck your chin down as you kept your eyes ahead of you. You feared if you looked around, you might summon the incessant biker from his hole.

The library was as empty as any other day and you claimed your seat at the curved desk. You booted up and sipped from your thermos, the coffee bitter on your tongue as you watched Melissa appear from the non-fiction section. She sat in her own chair and yawned as she signed on.

The monotony of Birch was sobering after the night in the dank bar. The bikers and their own little world, a microcosm of the worst types all in one place. You went about your usual tasks, there were a few returns on the cart to put back on the shelves and you walked the shelves and checked for out of order codes.

The hours slaked by like the peaks of a mountain against ancient gales. The stale lights made the days stretch to tedium and the grey without added to the sense of listlessness. Colin’s low snores escaped the back room and Melissa sorted through bent paperbacks in a far aisle to put out for the Sunday penny sale.

As the windows darkened, Colin gave his usual grumbled farewell and further mussed his wavy hair as he tried to smooth it out. It didn’t matter much as he covered it with the old faded Leafs toque and left through the automatic doors. His shadow was soon followed by Melissa as she looked forward to seeing her daughter and watching some new program on the local channel.

You were the last as you walked the aisles before final lock-up. The automatic doors were off as you checked for unlikely stragglers. You came back to the round desk and flipped off the lights for all but the entry way and the back office. You pushed open the door and locked the outside ones with a jangle of keys. As you turned back, you gripped the big key to the back door and shook your head.

You stepped through the space between the inner doors and stared at the man behind your desk. He sat in your chair, your purse sat before him on the counter as he shoved a large hand inside. You crossed your arms and watched Thor as he pulled out your coral coloured wallet and unsnapped it.

“What are you doing?” You asked harshly. “How did you get in here?”

He snickered and pulled out a card and lifted it up to look at it closely. He leaned back and flicked it with his thumb. “I knew you were a city girl.” He said.

“Get out. We’re closed.”

“Sorry, I’m late. I’m a busy man.” He slid the card back in place and searched the rest, uninterested by the few bills inside the fold and your various reward cards and outdated alumni ID.

“Late? You don’t seem the reading type. We don’t have that many audiobooks.” You neared and grabbed the other handle of your purse. “There’s an app for that now.”

Again, he laughed and dropped your wallet into the depths of your purse. He released it and pushed his shoulders back as you dragged the bag off the desk. He tilted his head and held up your phone in its shiny lavender case. He smirked as the screen lit up and he swiped it open. You never should have added the library as a trusted location.

“Hmm,” he turned it to face him and scrolled with his thumb, “I think you’re missing a number in here.”

“Give it.” You reached for the phone and he held it away from you like some annoying teenager. “Hey… Thor! Give me it. It’s mine!”

His blonde lashes flashed and he looked at you with delight. “Oooh, I love it when you say my name.”

“Stop. You can’t be in here and you certainly can’t--” 

You swiped for the phone again and he caught your arm. He yanked you so hard you almost left the floor and you dropped your purse and keys. He held you over the counter as he twisted your wrist just a little.

“And who exactly is going to make me leave?”

He kept his thick fingers locked around your wrist as he searched your phone. You struggled with him but it only sent a violent jolt up to your elbow.

“I can do whatever I want and you can’t do anything to stop me. In fact, there’s no one in this town who can.” His jaw clenched and he locked your phone. “Well, kitten, I’m going to hold onto this.” He let go of you and stood as you retracted your arm and rubbed your sore wrist. “And when you want to be a good girl for me, you can come find me and ask for it nicely.”

“Ask? You’re crazy. It’s mine. You’re--” you sputtered.

You swallowed as his hand balled to a fist and his brow twitched. It was the first hint of anything but amusement. It was much more troubling, a slight tell. He was angry.

“I’ve been nice, kitten. I like you and your claws but don’t scratch too deep.” He warned as he backed away. “I’ll see my way out unless of course… you would take me up on my offer from last night.”

“Go. Keep the fucking phone.” You snarled and reached for your purse and the keys. 

You stood and watched as he ran his tongue just below his teeth and turned away. He snaked his way through the back office and you heard the heavy metal door whine in his stead. You locked the inner doors and grabbed your jacket from the rack.

You went to the same door and hit the lights. You activated the security system and stepped out with a cautious look around the vacant parking lot. You locked the door and headed around the side of the brick building and out into the glow of the streetlights.

You could get a new phone, that was nothing, just a chunk out of your check. He could search your contacts, your apps, your phones, he’d find nothing but the pathetic life of a thirtysomething wash out. That wasn’t what worried you. 

He was watching you. He had to be. He knew when you were alone and he knew how to get in. You might not see him but you were certain he could see you. You shivered and pulled your hate over your head and puffed out a cloud. 

💀

You went home angry but slightly addled from the encounter. You watched over your shoulder the entire way home and locked your door with the tarnished chain. You found it hard to settle as you debated marching over to the bar and demanding your phone back and opening the wine you hadn’t touched since your impulsive purchase. You really hated Thor but you knew you could push him much further before he did something much worse.

You ignored your wrath and ate your dinner in front of the television before hiding under your covers and watching the snowfall until you fell asleep. Every night was as dull as the one before and the morning always came too quickly.

You woke and readied for your day with a cup of home-brewed Colombian roast and packed your lunch. You searched for your phone for two seconds before you remembered where it was. Your neck prickled as you thought of Thor with access to all your information and the barren social media accounts. 

The snow was even deeper that day and you fought through the thick carpet. The library felt twice as far by the time you reached it and you were panting as you entered and shook off the powder. You took your usual spot at the usual time with your usual thermos and usual disillusion.

You whiled away the hours without the distraction of your phone. You realised how easily this man could torture you and not even be in the same place as you. You went searching in the aisles for something to do and scraped the gum off the bottom of the tables. A disgusting task but work nonetheless.

When the end of the day came, you were all too happy to go home and hide under your duvet with a tea and a sitcom. You hated this. You would go to the city and get a new phone if you had too. God, how much would that cost?

💀

The days slogged by and on your first free day, you were too tired to make the drive out of town. You resigned to your procrastination, instead taking a short walk down the main street to Babs’. Your usual order, but cinnamon instead of caramel in your latte, and a scone to enjoy at home.

The snow remained as thick as days before. You looked out the bakery window in dread as you awaited your order at the end of the counter. You still caught yourself reaching for your phone. If you waited too long, you might not even be able to make it into the city. Well, you could always order something online. 

The door chimed as Steve’s girl came to the other side of the counter and placed your latte out for you. She smiled and you thanked her but her eyes rounded as you heard boots come close. You turned, barely surprised by the man who was better described as your shadow those days. 

Since his visit to the library, Thor had made himself known in several instances, every day as you walked home he was outside the asp, watching. Other times, he’d be waiting by the steps of the library, mocking you silent as he pulled out your phone. You had too much pride to ask for it back and you knew that it would take more than asking.

You tried to sidestep him and he blocked your path. The foam pushed out through the hole in the plastic lid and you sighed.

“What do you want?” you hissed.

“I should ask you. I don’t know many girls these days can go days without their lifeline,” he taunted, “You know, it’s dangerous how much of ourselves we keep on these little things.”

He patted his jacket where he no doubt had your phone hidden. You looked down at your latte and thought of popping the lid off and tossing it at him. That wouldn’t be any good. You shrugged and looked past him.

“I gotta go--”

“Is there anything I can get you, Thor?” Steve’s girl eked out as if her voice could barely fit through her windpipe.

“I’ve come for something sweet but I think I found it,” he smirked, his eyes stuck to you.

“Give it up,” you scoffed and elbowed past him. He chuckled and followed you to the door as you sped up, your treads squeaking on the salt-stained floor.

“On you? Never,” he purred as you pulled the door open and he caught it behind you.

“You can break the phone for all I care,” you snarled, “just leave me alone.”

He kept up with you as flakes gathered on your scarf and you peered down the street and ran across. His boots crunched in time with yours as he lingered in your peripheral. You spun as you came to a stop on the other side and scowled.

“Jesus, I thought dogs were supposed to be obedient,” you snapped.

“I can be,” he winked and reached to brush the snow from the hair poking out from under your cap, “I’ll gladly get to my knees for you, kitten.”

You snapped at his hand and he pulled away with a surprised laugh. You gritted your teeth and took a step back.

“I won’t tell you again and I’m getting real tired of this.”

“You keep forgetting who you’re meowing at, kitten,” he stepped closer and you backed away again.

You turned and flitted away from him. You had not planned for him in your day off and you weren’t going to let him ruin it. You wanted to go home and enjoy your coffee, alone. However, that meant leading him to your front door. You stopped again.

“Go,” you pointed across the street at the Asp, the town’s marquee.

“Oh, kitten, you’re so cute,” he tugged on your scarf and you swatted him away.

“Alright, that’s it!” you smashed your cup against his chest and the hot liquid steamed as it splashed across his front and dripped down his leather jacket. 

He held out his arms as he looked down at himself and slowly back to you. His blue eyes dilated as the ends of his golden hair sopped with caffeine. It was too late to apologize, too futile. You sputtered and quickly turned away.

You were thankful when you didn’t hear him behind you. You stopped and peaked back at the corner of the next side street. He watched you still and even at a distance you could see his rage.

If you hoped he’d lose interest, that optimism was dead.

💀

A snow storm stagnated the already stale town and you could guess that the highway was even worse. You could replace your sim online but that would take at least a week to arrive and with the weather, likely longer. It might be quicker to wait out the blizzard. You stayed in limbo, reluctant to pull the trigger.

You kept to your apartment for the rest of the weekend, with no reason or want to leave. On your way, you didn’t see him. You sighted a few figures through the falling powder but they were faces familiar to the streets. You kept an eye over your shoulder, glancing around every few steps.

You avoided the cafe. He might look for you there, he might even be waiting for you. You sat down at your desk but felt out of place. He could walk through those doors like he had only days before. He could taunt you and tease you. What made you so antsy was that he could do worse than that. You knew it but you’d let your temper get the best of you. A wasted latte might have cost you everything.

By the end of your shift, it was decided. You were leaving Birch. No one could know until you were gone. Not Melissa, not Colin, no one. You old all-weathers would have to get you down the highway, just to the city so you could lose yourself there until you had a real plan. Even as the snow piled higher and higher, there could be no delay. You’d waited long enough.

Paranoid, you were certain you’d be met again on your path home. The town was dead as the soft blanket covered the ground. The flakes turned to mounds and the tops of your boots let in errant clumps of snow. The store may as well been closed for the day, the library had been little different but its lethargy was expected. Even The Asp seemed to have dulled with the pale gusts.

You packed a bag. One. The apartment came furnished and you never cared much for miscellany. Anything you left behind was replaceable. You went down the back stairs and cleaned off your small Focus. Used but reliable. You were out of breath as you climbed into the driver’s seat and threw the brush in the back.

You drove carefully down the side streets, snaking around as you knew the main fair would give away your escape. You stopped at the sign that pointed to the highway ramp and wondered. 

What if he had got the clue? What if you were running from nothing?

You remember the look in his eye and shivered. No, that glimmer assured you that return to your mother’s was as wise as it would be torturous. You followed the arrow and took the curve steadily with your foot planted on the gas. The traffic was slow and cautious as headlights were barely visible through the snowfall.

You gripped the wheel tightly and let out a breath. You would be gone before he knew. You’d get a new phone, a new job, a new life. Even if it was just pay-as-go, a McDonald’s visor, and your mother’s couch for a while. What good was a job in a place like Birch anyway? Just as good as your irrelevant degree.

You were startled and nearly lost control as a set of lights appeared behind you in the next lane. They were dangerously close to dinging your rear bumper as the reckless driver took a u-turn right before the upcoming barriers. You wrinkled your brow as you glared at them through the white haze. What kind of maniac was pulling shit like that in this weather?

And then, they did hit you. A nudge but enough to send you veering in the thick lines of snow. You clutched the wheel and tried to steer into it, tried to right yourself as you were knocked again. Your heart was in your throat as the engine revved and you hit your brakes, not knowing what else to do as a third collision came.

You spun out and hit the cement wall along the far lane, narrowly missing another car as it pulled ahead. You stilled, your seatbelt saving your face from a smack against the wheel, and stared down the highway as you stared at oncoming traffic. You were completely turned around on the arm.

You caught your breath and reached for your purse. Fuck, you had no phone. What was that asshole thinking? It didn’t seem like an accident.

The car that had bullied you into a crash pulled up along the barrier. You watched in the rear view as the barely visible tail lights glowed and a dark figure appeared between the car and the concrete. You squinted as the man neared, a long coat flapped around his tall figure as he held his hand to his face.

He came up beside your car as you heard his voice muffled through the glass and tapped on your window. He bent and knocked again as you shot him the finger. You were ready to give him a piece of your mind. You rolled down the window with the manual crank and growled, “what the fuck!?”

“Can I have your name, darling?” he asked in a sinisterly familiar accent.

“Screw you! You almost killed me!”

He turned his phone out as you screeched at him and quickly put it back to his ear, “that sound like her?”

A deep voice rumbled in the speaker and the dark-hair man nodded as he shielded his face from the blowing snow, “you owe me, brother.”

“Who the fuck are you?” you spat and reached to your glovebox. You grabbed the heavy flashlight and swung it at him, “get away--”

He caught with a leather-gloved hand and glared back at you. He tucked away the phone in his jacket. His nostrils flared and his green irises caught fire. 

“Let’s not do this, darling,” he warned, “my brother has given me clearance to use whatever force necessary…” he pushed the button and pulled open your door as he wrenched away the metal flashlight, “and while he seems the bigger brute, I assure you his cruelty cannot match mine.”

i don’t know who exactly created this tag but i wanted to thank @arywizm for being the one who happened to make me aware of it since it does seem cool.

book tag:

- how many books are too many books in a series?

my recent two favorite series (the skybound saga by alex london + the timekeeper trilogy by tara sim) both consist of just three books, which works pretty well for me.

but then there’s also the raven cycle series by maggie stiefvater, which consists of four books (+ an additional short story). with each book that i read, i fell deeper and deeper in love with this world the author built so i can’t forget that.

with that in mind, if i do the math, the maximum is five books. any more than that is overkill.

- how do you feel about cliffhangers?

they’re amazing.

ex: “chainbreaker (timekeeper, #2)” by tara sim.

- hardback or paperback?

some hardbacks come with a special design underneath the printed cover depending where you order them from (ex: “cemetery boys” by aiden thomas) so it is really cool to see that, plus the feeling of holding a hardcover book in my hands is immaculate.

however, paperbacks are better.

my copy of “white rabbit” by caleb roehrig proves it. it’s so floppy and brilliant, i can’t get enough of it.

- least favorite book?

“the unfortunate importance of beauty” by amanda filipacchi. it is the first (and hopefully last) book i ever gave a 1-star rating on goodreads.

- love triangles, yes or no?

i feel mostly meh about them because i just don’t care. i would prefer if there not be one because then there’d be less relationship drama but it could sometimes be fun seeing how readers are at such opposite sides when it comes to the ships.

(ex: addie & luc vs. addie & henry from “the invisible life of addie larue” by v.e. schwab. it’s not much of a love triangle but it’s close enough, i guess you can say).

i personally love addieluc.

- the most recent book you just couldn’t finish?

i tried giving “the inheritance games” by jennifer lynn barnes a second try over a month ago but i just couldn’t get into it.

if it was an adult, or even new adult (everyone in the online book community knows how many more books we need under the 18-22 age bracket), the story probably would work better, in my opinion, because it being in the young adult category just makes the writing feel off to me.

- a book you’re currently reading?

there’s two: “the weight of the stars” by k. ancrum + “china room” by sunjeev sahota.

- last book you recommended to someone?

“vicious” by v.e. schwab to a close friend of mine. i raved to him about eli ever and he found the premise really interesting so fingers crossed 🤞🏽

i have a bad habit of recommending books to non-readers but i genuinely can’t help it when i know the book in question would just be absolutely perfect for them.

like, i recommended aftg to this same friend a long while ago and it’s become so incredibly important to him, especially the character andrew, so that’s just a little fact that matters a lot to me.

- oldest book you’ve read?

“we have always lived in the castle” by shirley jackson (first published: 1962).

- newest book you’ve read?

it technically hasn’t even come out yet but it was my book of the month pick for august so it was an early release: “the heart principle (the kiss quotient, #3)” by helen hoang; it’s set to be published on august 30.

note: it can be read as a standalone.

- favorite author?

adam silvera was the first author i ever considered my favorite and he still is. but there’s also olivie blake.

- buying books or borrowing books?

i love that feeling of adding books to my personal collection but 9/10 of the time, i prefer borrowing them first so that i know for sure i want to own them for myself.

- a book you dislike that everyone else seems to love?

i don’t necessarily dislike it but i didn’t care too much about it: “the mark of athena (heroes of olympus, #3)” by rick riordan.

it was my least favorite of the series, although, “blood of olympus (heroes of olympus, #5)” was slightly disappointing, but only just because of how rushed the ending felt.

- bookmarks or dog-ears?

bookmarks!! there’s these charm ones i buy off of etsy and they’re really cute.

- a book you can always reread?

“autoboyography” by christina lauren; i originally answered this one with “masters of death” by olivie blake because it has become a huge comfort book of mine in the last couple of weeks but then someone by michael schulte just popped up in my shuffle and my mind changed.

the song’s always reminded me of sebastian & tanner from “autoboyography” so i couldn’t help including them in this tag because they mean a lot to me.

- can you read while listening to music?

i just listened to the entirety of taylor swift’s “red (deluxe)” album while reading “it ends with us” by colleen hoover so……yes.

- one pov or multiple povs?

multiple!! i especially love it when authors include the perspectives of some minor characters since personally, i think it adds more depth to the story (ex: the skybound saga by alex london).

a booktuber complained about this in “the jasmine throne” by tasha suri but it just made me that much more excited to read the author’s new adult fantasy.

- do you read a book in one sitting or over multiple days?

depends on the book, really.

i read the entirety of “firestarter (timekeeper, #3)” by tara sim all while laying in bed with very few social media breaks in between.

on the flip side, it took me over a couple weeks to finish “these violent delights” by chloe gong.

- who do you tag?

i wasn’t tagged to do this, it was just something i thought could be fun and it was. i hope maybe there’s any titles that stuck out to anyone who comes across this, reader or not, since i do believe that there’s always a book out there for everyone.

if this is something that could be fun for you, i tag: @tawmlinsun @kritiquer @flying-elliska @dreamingoftinystars and @minyardss

Book Tag because life is as tedious as twice-told tale, vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man I'm bored:

How many books are too many books in a series?

the more the better as long as it makes sense from the perspective of the story. For example, I haven't read everything from the ender's saga (at this point I don't even know how many books there are) but I thought everything after the first book including Xenocide and Children of the Mind was a solid addition and a good book on it's own. But then take, say, Vicious, and while V. E. Schwab isn't quite the writer Orson Scott Card is (I'm going to get lynched aren't I) , Vicious is an enjoyable read on it's own. And then there is the sequel whose only function is providing the reader with additional 300 pages before giving them the ending that should have been in the first book.

To put it simply, you can never have too many good books.

Also go read vicious because it's a lot of fun and despite my snobbish remarks I think about it daily.

How do you feel about cliffhangers?

I haven't read a book ending on a proper cliffhanger in years but I don't mind them, in fact getting emotionally abused by books is one of my favourite pass times

Hardback or paperback?

It makes no difference to me tbh, my favourite copies that I own are the most 'damaged' ones. my collection of shakespeares isn't old or nice even, but it's positively falling apart, and I love it.

Least favorite book?

probably not the worst book I have ever read, but even thinking about Moby Dick makes me feel like stabbing a whale. the thought that might be what Melville would have wanted is even worse.

Love triangles, yes or no?

my go to response is a hard no, however, sometimes I will read a book and absolutely love it only to have my friend point out that I always talk how much I hate love triangles and then I'm all "ThAt WAsN't a LoVe tRIanGle".

in conclusion, I don't think I know what a love triangle is.

The most recent book you just couldn’t finish?

the most recent one would probably be Even If We Break by Marieke Nijkamp, I didn't even get far enough to be able to say what I disliked, the tone just wasn't for me.

this happens really rarely though, because if I'm going to rage about how much I hated it I'm going to Do It Right.

A book you’re currently reading?

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, love it so far which is alarming considering that the series isn't finished and it looks like it won't be in the foreseeable future.

and because I'm a heathen who reads several books at the same time, I'm also reading The Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, and I'm enjoying it so far, it's tonally lighter than Rothfuss' first person everyone-is-gruesomely-dying- around-around-me-oh-and-also-I'm-twelve fantasy but the story is equally sinister.

Last book you recommended to someone?

not so much recommended as coerced my sister to read If We Were Villains, she was reading Save Me (?) or something like that and was talking a lot about a james, so I took it upon myself to introduce her to The James. I'm proud to announce she loved it.

Oldest book you’ve read?

I don't feel like checking that so I'll just say Antigone and pretend it counts

Newest book you’ve read?

These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever and GOOD LORD THIS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL. I'm going to get my hands on a physical copy of this one even if it costs me a kidney

Favorite Author?

this is a very ungentlemanly thing to ask and therefore I will not deign it with a reply.

Buying books or borrowing books?

buying because, as we already established, I inflict irreversible damage on them.

8/10 books I buy are ebooks though, turns out I need some money to buy food, go figure

A book you dislike that everyone else seems to love?

The Alchemist, don't even get me started on this one. [I yelled about it here]

Bookmarks or dog-ears?

bookmarkfortheprogressdogearsforquotes *runs from the angry mob*

A book you can always reread?

you probably figured out by now that fantasy and SF are a dirty pleasure of mine, so I'm always up for a reread of my favourites. Namely the lord of the ice garden Pan Lodowego Ogrodu which sadly hasn't been tranlated into English (a tragedy), it's just a really solid SF with a fantasy twist (or the other way around??) + it's full of top notch dark humour

and obviously The Silmarillion because there's no way in hell I will ever comprehend this one.

Can you read while listening to music?

I think I spent 90% of lunch breaks in primary school reading, so I can read absolutely everywhere, no amount of noise, harmonised or not, will stop me.

One POV or multiple POVs?

I don't really know, this isn't really something that I consider when choosing the next book to read.

Do you read a book in one sitting or over multiple days?

nowadays I don't really have the time to inhale 500 pages in one sitting but I generally prefer it. Realistically, I just bite off what I can every chance I get.

Who do you tag?

since I showed up at this party uninvited, and several months late no less, I will just sort of throw invitations in the air with a flair for anyone to catch to cover up the fact that I don't know anyone on this side of tumblr

rules : tag at least 5 people to learn more about

tagged by : @caribaheine thanks sm bea! ♡♡♡

tagging : @resetme @burnhamandtilly @jynesro @fahey @marksfarrows @keepyourlife (of course feel free to ignore!) ♡

music

♡ fave genres : alternative, indie, rock, pop punk

♡ fave artists : halsey, måneskin, the unlikely candidates, the struts, barns courtney, bishop briggs, queen, arctic monkeys, lana del rey and many more

♡ fave songs : don't have one, but my fave albums are smoke + mirrors by imagine dragons, il ballo della vita by måneskin, pure heroine by lorde, i love you by the neighbourhood

♡ songs most listened to recently : i am not a woman, i'm a god by halsey

♡ song currently stuck in your head : dis-moi by bb brunes

♡ 5 fave lyrics :

"your heart was glass, i dropped it" - champagne problems, taylor swift

"when the stars look down on me, what do they see?" - thief, imagine dragons

"you steal the air out of my lungs" - don't take the money, bleachers

"in my head, i do everything right" - supercut, lorde

"heaven is a place on earth with you" - video games, lana del rey

♡ radio or your own playlist | solo artists or and bands | pop or indie | loud or quiet volume | slow or and fast songs | music video or lyrics video | speakers or headset | riding a bus in silence or while listening to music | driving in silence or with radio music on

books

♡ fave genres : young adult, contemporary, low fantasy, murder mysteries/thrillers

♡ fave writers : marie lu is probably the only author I keep up with

♡ fave book series : still searching for it

♡ comfort book : i'll give you the sun, aristotle and dante discover the secrets of the universe

♡ perfect books to read on a rainy day : any classic really

♡ 5 fave characters : kestrel trajan (the winner's curse), jude duarte (the folk of the air), adelina amouteru (the young elites), fang runin (the poppy war)

♡ 5 literary quotes that you know by heart :

"You could jump so much higher when you had somewhere safe to fall." - Truly Madly Guilty, Liane Moriarty

"The only way the universe will remember you is if you do something worthy of remembrance." - Illuminae, Amie Kaufman

"My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me." - Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

"You can't get away from yourself by moving from one place to another." - The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway

"The stars incline us, they do not bind us." - These Violent Delights, Chloe Gong

♡ hardcover or paperback | buy or rent | book series or standalone novels | ebook or physical copy | reading at night or during the day | reading at home or in nature | music while reading or reading in silence | realism or fantasy | one or multiple POVS | judging by the covers or the summary | rereading or just once

tv + movies

♡ fave tv / movie genres : fantasy, sci-fi, comedy, superhero

♡ fave movies : tenet, inception

♡ comfort movies : all of the early barbie movies + studio ghibli

♡ movies you watch every year : different versions of A Christmas Carol

♡ fave tv shows : 3%, sense8, orphan black, what we do in the shadows, the umbrella academy

♡ most rewatched tv show : avatar the last airbender

♡ ultimate otp : i don't really care that much tbh

♡ 5 fave characters : melanie cavill (snowpiercer), michael burnham (star trek discovery), yennefer (the witcher), daenerys targaryen (game of thrones), villanelle (killing eve)

♡ tv shows or movies | short seasons (8-13 episodes) or full seasons (22 episodes or more) | one episode a week or binging | one season or multiple seasons | one part or saga | half hour or one hour long episodes | subtitles on or off | rewatching or watching just once | downloads or watching online

TAG GAME

tagged by my favorite human @phylasvell ily thank u <3

tag 9 people to know more about their interests, hobbies, and yeah:

@tolerateit @marcspctor @benoitblanc @yelenaabelovaa @sashafierce​ @jackarthurdavenport @sith-maul @sovietbarnes  @yelenaboleva​ @amisdalas​ & everyone in the slesties gc

MUSIC

fav genre? i listen to everything, but i guess indie rock & pop 

fav artist? george harrison, prince, taylor swift, stevie nicks, david bowie, halsey, tame impala, bad bunny, don’t make me choose 

fav song? all time fav is while my guitar gently weeps by the beatles 

most listened song recently? traitor by olivia rodrigo 

song currently stuck in your head? need to know by doja cat 

fav lyrics? Your Midas touch on the Chevy door /  November flush and your flannel cure / "This dorm was once a madhouse"/  I made a joke, "Well, it's made for me" / How evergreen, our group of friends / Don't think we'll say that word again / And soon they'll have the nerve to deck the halls /  That we once walked through / One for the money, two for the show / I never was ready, so I watch you go /  Sometimes you just don't know the answer / 'Til someone's on their knees and asks you / "She would've made such a lovely bride /  What a shame she's fucked in her head, " they said

radio or your own playlist | solo artists or bands | pop or indie | loud or silent volume I slow or fast songs | music video or lyrics video | speakers or headset | riding a bus in silence or while listening to music | driving in silence or with radio on

BOOKS

fav book genre? science fiction & mystery 

fav writer? chloe gong, laura esquivel, gabriel garcia marquez, edgar allan poe

fav book? the atlas six & these violent delights 

fav book series? vicious 

comfort book? le petit prince 

perfect book to read on a rainy day? it’s kind of a funny story 

fav characters? victor vale, nico de varona, parisa kamali, roma montagov, zoya nazyalensky, kaz brekker, inej ghafa, libby rhodes, serena clarke, percy jackson

5 quotes from your fav book that you know by heart?

“and if I couldn't walk, i'd crawl to you, and no matter how broken we were, we'd fight our way out together-knives drawn, pistols blazing. because that's what we do. we never stop fighting” “the problem with knowledge, is it's inexhaustible craving. the more of it you have, the less you feel you know” “i was raised in hatred, roma. i could never be your lover, only your killer” “the dark is generous and it is patient and it always wins , but in the heart of its strength lies its weakness: one lone candle is enough to hold it back. love is more than a candle, love can ignite the stars” “in my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that i've been turning over in my mind ever since. "whenever you feel like criticizing any one," he told me, "just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had”

hardcover or paperback | buy or rent | standalone novels or book series | ebook or physical copy | reading at night or during the day | reading at home or in nature | listening to music while reading or reading in silence | reading in order or reading the ending first | reliable or unreliable narrator  | realism or fantasy | one or multiple POVS | judging by the covers or by the summary | rereading or reading just once

TV AND MOVIES

fav tv/movie genre? psycological horror and sci-fi 

fav movie? midsommar 

comfort movie? little women or moulin rouge! 

movie you watch every year? the nightmare before christmas, the dark knight rises 

fav tv show? mindhunter & gossip girl 

comfort tv show? the clone wars & parks and rec 

most rewatched tv show? gossip girl 

ultimate otp? 

5 fav characters? blair waldorf, amy march, olivia pope, velma kelly & april ludgate 

tv shows or movies | short seasons (8-13 episodes) or full seasons (22 episodes or more) | one episode a week or binging | one season or multiple seasons | one part or saga | half hour or one hour long episodes | subtitles on or off | rewatching or watching just once | downloads or watches online