#Then again Ford was never my top character lol

[beyondxmeasure]

As a fellow Aquarius I love that you can't follow the rules. I was gonna ask top ten but thought that might be to much. I am interested in your whole top 18 though. My top shows are in no order

Cold case. I honestly lost count of how many times I have watched this show.

Suits. This show introduced me into the fanfic world and I haven't been able to leave.

House. Grew up watching this show. It will always be one of my favorites.

White Collar. Just did a rewatch and I still holds up.

New York undercover. I used to watch this with my dad. So I reminds me of that time.

Resurrection Blvd. Again something I watched with my dad. But I love boxing and hate that I can't find it on streaming. I own the first season on DVD so manly thats what I'll watch.

The Mandalorian. Honestly hadn't watched anything star wars ever but my little brother was obsessed. He had heard about it and since he wasn't able to watch had me write him about it. I needed up really liking it.

Currently watching the new percy jackson series and am liking it so far. Also started The Rookie and am enjoying it.

Ok I just realized I like mostly crime shows. That would make since given my childhood of watching America's most wanted every Saturday night. Also documentaries but those aren't tv shows.

I need some fluffy shows any recommendations? I have never really looked into them.

Yes, I definitely see the trend! I have not seen any of the shows you’ve listed unfortunately. I did go through a true crime phase but that was more with documentaries and podcasts. For a time I was really into SVU and all of the ‘Chicago’ shows (Chi Fire/Med/PD) but that’s about it. White Collar interests me a little because after Fellow Travelers I’m kind of jonesing for any Matt Bomer content.

Anyway… for the remaining faves that didn’t make the cut. Here they are in no particular order…

Boardwalk Empire- of the two post WW1/roaring 20s era tales, this one pulls me in more- the music, the costumes, characters, the feel of it all. Even though it’s the underworld of the prohibition era, it’s more enticing.

Peaky Blinders- The darker, grittier and slightly more violent post WW1/prohibition era tale from across the pond.

*Downton Abbey- For Violet Crawley’s clap backs alone.

*Call The Midwives- I don’t have kids, don’t want kids and don’t particularly care for them but somehow a show about nuns delivering babies in the East End of London in the 50s just fills me with joy.

Deadwood- Wild West shenanigans and they say fuck a lot. Like, a lot. The interactions between Al Swearengen and Mr. Wu is worth the price of admission. Basically just anytime Al is on screen is gold.

*I Love Lucy- I grew up watching Nick at Nite and loved all those classic B&W sitcoms but Lucy was always my fave.

*Our Flag Means Death- gay pirates, what’s not to love?

Sons of Anarchy- motorcycles, mayhem & murder. It’s a wild fucking ride, but worth every mile—buckle up.

*Shrinking—a show so brilliantly funny with such a stellar ensemble cast you almost forget it’s about a family dealing with grief. It’s a bit of a slow starter but stick with it for the real payoff. Harrison Ford high on gummies was a high point for sure.

*Sex Education- worst name for a show that’s about so much more than that title makes it sound like. I feel like a lot of people slept on this show because of the title or the idea it was just some throwaway teen sex comedy. Far from it.

*Parks & Rec- if The Office is my wife, then Parks is the sidepiece I’m hiding uptown in a luxury townhouse and I’ll never give her up.

Rescue Me- There’s one scene that still haunts me to this day. I got chills just thinking about it, and the music throughout was superb. TBH I have a weakness for pretty much all firefighter/first responder shows (or as I affectionately refer to them—my ‘wee-woo’ shows🚨 LOL) but this one’s my OG fave. My newer faves are: 911 Lone Star and New Amsterdam

So, I’m noticing a trend with this list… if it’s British or old-timey I’m into it, and if it’s British and old-timey then I’m really into it.

Not sure what you meant exactly by ‘fluffy’… like rom-com-y? Or just something on the lighter side and easy to watch? Because I’ve never been much for most sitcoms (other than the ones I listed) but my last ask that I answered with the original list had quite a few lighter/comedy shows on there. Otherwise I could definitely recommend Downton Abbey or Call The Midwives if you want something to get lost in something with a feel good wholesome vibe to it. I’ll put stars next to anything else above that I think might hit the mark as far as fluffy vibes. Enjoy!

#ask me anything #anon ask #asked and answered #favorite tv shows

[dazais-guardian-angel]

Fic Questionnaire

@ford-ye-fiji tagged me to do this; thank you. ^_^

How many works do you have on AO3? 106

What's your total AO3 word count? 395,897

How many fandoms have you written for and what are they? 27 fandoms, though for most of them it’s only like one or two. They are Akatsuki no Yona, Bungou Stray Dogs, My Hero Academia, Hunter x Hunter, Tales of Zestiria, Tales of Berseria, Tales of Graces, Tales of the Abyss, Tales of Xillia, Tales of Hearts, Tales of the Rays, Professor Layton, Noragami, Pandora Hearts, Dai Gyakuten Saiban, A Series of Unfortunate Events, RWBY, Tangled the series, Doki Doki Literature Club, Ori and the Blind Forest, Vanitas no Carte, Genshin Impact, Kiznaiver, Boku dake ga Inai Machi, Kuroshitsuji, Ai the Somnium Files, and Charlotte.

What are your top 5 fics by kudos? “Pictures, Posters, and Tender Beauty”, “Plus Est En Vous”, “My Reason”,  “I Am Here, Too”, and “A Bandage for my Scars, and your Heart” ...Not surprised that four out of five of those are MHA fics, but I will never understand how that Tangled the series one I did got so insanely popular..... maybe because the show director himself acknowledged it. 0_0

Do you respond to comments, why or why not? I try to, though I have to shamefully admit I pick and choose which ones I respond to. I appreciate every comment I get, of course, every writer does, but idk, I just feel like a broken record responding to all similar shorter comments with “Thank you so much!!! I’m so happy you liked it <3″ or something like that... Is that cruel of me? >_> I also feel weird responding to comments on my super old stuff, because aside from a few exceptions, I don’t really like most of my old fics anymore alkgklflkkl and I barely remember them enough to be able to give a reasonable response to comments on those. Instead I just put all my energy into responding to longer, more detailed comments, because with those I actually have more to work with to say back... But again, I love all my comments!! I’m really sorry if I don’t respond to your comment, it doesn’t mean I’m not grateful, I just don’t know what to say back OTL

What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending? Haaaah, there are a few, but proooobably the most angsty ending would be in “Smile, and maybe tomorrow, you’ll see the sun.” Since the thing is basically 12k words of agonizingly drawn-out All Might death... :’) Though I meant for the actual ending to be somewhat hopeful/bittersweet? and I surely have other ones that have more painful endings... But that’s the obvious one that comes to mind, since I’ve had multiple people yell at me for it. :)

Have you ever received hate on a fic? I can’t remember any instances of outright hate, but I’ve gotten some... odd comments every once in a while... Or just some annoying criticism that the person didn’t intend to be mean about, I don’t think, but that realllly wasn’t warranted. These comments are very rare though.

Do you write smut? If so what kind? Noooo way in hell lol

Have you ever had a fic stolen? ....I mean, not that I know of!

Have you ever had a fic translated? Yeah, I think I had at least one someone asked to translate into Russian, although they put it on FF.net lol

Have you ever co-written a fic before? No... I really want to though. Multiple friends and I have planned different ones, but we haven’t gotten around to doing any of them yet because I’m into different fandoms atm and also dealing with health problems that distract me.... My ex-friend and I had a major one that was in the planning stages, but then she stopped being my friend so it never got off the ground. :’) I’m still upset about that...

What's your all time favorite ship? Mmmmm that’s hard; I don’t ship that much at all, so although I have a few favorite ships, one in particular doesn’t really stand out to me as my hardcore OTP.... Buuut I guess I would say Snow/Serah from FFXIII; I love ff13 so much, it’s so special to me, and those two are just the absolute sweetest and the heart and soul of the game 🥺❤️ I haven’t written anything for them or ff13 in general, but maybe someday.

What's a WIP that you want to finish but don't think you ever will? I only ever have one WIP at a time, so..... Hopefully not my current long one, I am constantly trying to slap myself for thinking, intimidated as I am by it with all my ideas for it and all the research I need to do. :’)

What are your writing strengths? I think I’m really good at writing characters’ emotions... the emotions they show, and everything they’re feeling internally. I really like the stream-of-consciousness style of internal monologue I’ve started using within the last few years; I think it’s very... cathartic? In general I just think I’m good at writing softness, cause I definitely feel the soft feels rereading my stuff lol

What are your writing weaknesses? Motivation.... starting a writing session and not getting distracted.... ADHD.... what do I do. :’) Although I just said I like that stream-of-consciousness style I use, I often feel like I use it too much, or things get redundant, and too wordy and overwhelming, bah..... I’m also shit at just.... knowing things, like worldbuilding, but like, real-world stuff that everyone knows, but I’ve been living under a rock my whole life and not done a lot of things that are normal for most other people, so I struggle with that in my writing, which is why all my fics not-so-subtly eek around mentioning things like food and irl places and so much else, haaah.... now I’m got myself writing 1800s Victorian London; someone save me

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic? Ehhhh only do it veryyyy sparingly, like when a character is startled and might briefly revert to their native language, or something similar. I just did that in one of my recent fics, actually, and looked up a few Russian words, being super anal about getting it right.... and I still got a comment correcting my Russian, even though it was only like 3 words in the entire thing, with nothing else to say about the rest of the fic... it was a little frustrating :’)

What was the first fandom you ever wrote for? Akatsuki no Yona/Yona of the Dawn. That was the first series that really got me into fandom and making online friends, and gave me the courage to try writing fics; I’m so grateful to it for that, and it still remains one of my favorite mangas <3 Ah, to be able to pump out fics as easily and quickly as I did back then...

What's your favorite fic you've ever written? I think it’s still “Manufactured Hearts, Real Happiness”, the sole Tales of the Abyss fic I’ve written. TotA is my favorite game of all time, and I wrote this for a Tales big bang that happened a while back; it turned out much longer than I ever anticipated, one of my longest fics to date, and pretty much exactly how I wanted it to be, which is always the best feeling... I was so happy to feel like I did my favorite game justice. :’) Now.... my dream is for my current WIP to become my new favorite, if I can pull it off right; we’ll see :’)

Uhhhh I’ll tag @sixtyfourk , @cenally , @arcane-palm , @kyoukalay , @magicmetslogic , and @evevoli03 , if any of you want to do this~

#tag meme #i thought i had a lot of fics but that's nothing compared to you Fiji jfc #i need to get going already....... #so much dgs to write #not enough executive function....... #the amount of DGS ideas i have and the lack of skill to write or draw them is literally killing me inside </3

[august-anon]

Tickletober Day 13 - Wake up!

Fun fact: this is the very first fic I wrote when prepping for tickletober and that's why it's so plot-heavy lol. It's also one of my favorite fics I've written for tickletober, so I hope you guys enjoy it! Also, sorry for the bit of angst lol

Fandom: Gravity Falls

Ship(s): platonic Pines fam

Characters (lee/ler): Lee!Dipper, Lee!Mabel, Ler!Stan (also Ford is here briefly)

Word Count: 1691 words

Summary: Stan may have difficulty recalling anything now, but at least he knows the kids will be a constant.

[ao3 link]

-----------------------------------

Stan sat at the kitchen table, staring down at Mabel’s scrapbook and flipping through pages. He hadn’t been able to stop since she’d given it to him a few days ago, after they all realized how much it had started helping his memory.

The thing was, Stan couldn’t remember much beyond this past summer, and even that was fractured at best. Ford told him stories, of course. Their mom, their dad, their brother. He’d told Stan about the Stan ‘O War, about how they’d always been there for each other, about shenanigans the two of them had gotten into. Stories from Ford’s perspective could only do so much, though. And Stan wasn’t as clueless as Ford thought he was, he could clearly see that Ford was holding a lot back.

Something had happened between the two of them. Possibly multiple somethings. And not good somethings, seeing as Ford wouldn’t crack.

It was disorienting and uncomfortable, to have so much of his life blank. He forgot names, faces, places. He had lapses, even with memories they thought he’d recovered permanently. Sometimes, on bad nights, Stan forgot who he was entirely again, and where he was, and why this strange man that looked like him was trying to tell him to calm down.

He didn’t know why he gave it all up. Stan’s family said, repeatedly, that what he did saved them, all of them. Even people he didn’t know or couldn’t remember. Stan wished that it brought him peace, knowing that, but it never did. He did know, though, that if it came down to it, he would probably make the same choice again in a heartbeat.

No one was hurting those kids, or his brother, ever again. Not if he could help it.

“Stanley?” Someone called from nearby. Stan got the notion that it wasn’t the first time they’d tried to get his attention.

He glanced up, seeing Ford in the doorway to the kitchen. He chuckled, slipping into a nonchalant persona that felt comfortably familiar, even if he hardly remembered it.

“Sorry, lost in thought, I guess,” he said, knocking a fist against his forehead. “Didja need something?”

Ford’s smile was tight around his eyes, like he knew exactly what Stan had been lost in thought about. “No, not at all.”

An awkward silence spread through the room again and an anxious feeling rose up in Stan’s chest. Was he supposed to be remembering something? Was this another routine he forgot, and now he was messing up the steps?

“Why don’t you go wake the kids?” Ford offered, cutting through the silence. “I can make us all breakfast. It’s starting to get late, anyway.”

Stan snorted. “Eight thirty is hardly late, Poindexter,” he said, but he was already rising from the table even as he said it, closing the scrapbook as he went.

Sure, the kids would probably be a bit grumpy. He would too, being woken up so early during a day off, especially in summer, but it gave Stan a task. Something to do that would (hopefully) be hard to mess up, memory or not. 

So Stan dragged himself up the stairs to the attic and quietly pushed open the door to the kids’ room. He sighed when he saw the two of them curled up together in Dipper’s bed. He wasn’t surprised that they were having nightmares. He couldn’t fall asleep either, most nights, but instead of a face or voice haunting him, he had no name to put to his tormentor. Stan didn’t know if that made it easier or harder.

He heard them shuffling around at night when he couldn’t sleep, whispers carrying down through the old wooden house. Never enough for the words to travel, though, just the tone: angry, scared, tired, resigned. These kids acted far too old for their age.

Stan was rather tempted to just leave them and let them sleep. They clearly weren’t sleeping any better than him or Ford, the dark bruises under their eyes only accentuated by the shadows from the window. Really, Stan doubted anyone had been sleeping well, ever since what the town had dubbed “Weirdmaggedon.”

Maybe the kids would benefit from some time outside their realms of nightmares. He could already see Mabel’s face scrunching up in fear.

But how did he wake them? How did one wake an almost-teenager? Shake them? Poke them until they got annoyed enough to open their eyes? Talk really loud until it drew them out of dreamland? None of that seemed like it would lead to very happy children.

Stan sighed again and quietly entered the room, moving to stand next to the bed. Mabel made a distressed sound in her sleep and Stan couldn’t help but let out a sympathetic hum, tucking some of her tangled hair behind her ear. Mabel scrunched up her shoulder weird and a smile briefly tugged at her lips.

Now there was an idea.

Stan may not have had much memory left, but he knew a ticklish kid when he saw them. It felt a little rude to just tickle them right awake, though. Stan figured that would be pretty startling, while coming out of a nightmare. Instead he gently grabbed each of their shoulders and carefully shook them.

“Kids,” Stan said, voice low but not quite a whisper. “Kids, it’s time to wake up.”

Mabel’s face scrunched up, this time in annoyance and not fear. “Grunkle Stan, no,” she moaned, slurring her words in her half-asleep state and rolling over to bury her face in a pillow.

“Too early,” Dipper grumbled, and pulled the blanket over both of their heads.

Stan couldn’t help but chuckle. “Alright, maybe it is a bit early for grumpy pre-teens. But you know who it’s not too early for?”

Twins gasps sounded from under the blanket, and Stan got the distinct feeling that they’d gone through this song and dance before. Well, at least it was reassuring that his personality didn’t seem to have changed much, despite the gaps in memory.

“Grunkle Stan, wait!” Mabel cried, and it already sounded like she was laughing.

“No, no!” Dipper yelled, but his voice was giddy and excited.

“There’s no Grunkle Stan, here,” Stan growled, ripping the blanket off the two of them. “There’s only… the Tickle Monster!”

Dipper and Mabel shrieked as Stan lunged.

Even if Stan himself didn’t remember, it seemed like his fingers did. One hand clawed into Dipper’s stomach, making him squawk and cackle, while the other quickly buried itself up under Mabel’s arm, making her shriek and squeal. Stan couldn’t help but laugh along with the two of them, their laughter being painfully contagious.

“Hey,” Stan said, a goofy grin spreading across his lips. “Did you know, my ex-wife still misses me--”

Dipper and Mabel both groaned through their laughter.

“But her aim is getting better!”

Stan laughed, and he was certain that if the kids weren’t laughing too hard to talk, they would be making the usual assortment of annoyed comments. 

“Wow, kids, I know I’m funny, but I didn’t know my jokes were that good.”

Mabel’s legs had started kicking, trying to propel her away from the tickling fingers, while Dipper seemed to curl in on himself as he snorted and cackled. It was an interesting dichotomy, with them being twins, and reminded Stan a lot of him and Ford when they were younger--

Well well, looks like goofing off did some good for Stan, after all.

But Stan decided that he had plenty of time to focus on that, later. For now, he needed to finish these kids off and get them down to breakfast. Preferably soon, because the realization that Ford could not cook and would likely burn the Shack down had also just hit him.

Stan leaned down, deciding to do his big finish on Dipper first. He pushed Dipper’s legs back down and pulled up his sleep shirt just enough to see his belly. Then, he took a deep breath and blew the biggest raspberry he could in the center of Dipper’s stomach, making sure to shake his head and rub his stubble in on it, and almost breaking to laugh at the near-scream that left Dipper’s lips. He blew a handful of smaller raspberries in a few random places before pulling back and letting Dipper breathe.

Turning toward Mabel, she had already tilted her head back like she knew what to expect. And now that he thought about it, Stan did seem to be getting a weird sense of deja-vu, so maybe this had been routine, before. Stan darted forward to blow a big raspberry against the side of her neck, hoping he didn’t go deaf from her shrill laughter right next to his ear, and blew a handful of smaller raspberries as he moved to the other side of it. There, he blew one last big raspberry before pulling back.

Stan sat on the edge of the bed as the kids caught their breath. They recovered faster than he expected, and Stan suddenly found himself tackled backwards to the bed, the kids laughing as they piled on top of him. Stan laughed, too.

“Good morning, Grunkle Stan!” Mabel yelled, far too loudly for having been asleep just moments before.

“Good morning!” Dipper echoed at a much lower volume.

“Come on,” he said. “We’d better get down to the kitchen before Ford blows the whole place up. I’m sure you two could convince him to step away from the stove long enough for me to make something.”

Dipper and Mabel both gave him incredibly mischievous looks before rushing out of the room without another word. Stan huffed out a breath, watching them go. Then, he quickly rose to follow them. Either his brother was about to get absolutely wrecked by two 12-year-olds, or those kids were about to have quite the round two (six fingers did wonders for tickling skills, based on what was coming back to Stan) and he didn’t want to miss a moment of either scenario.

After all, he knew more than anyone, now, that the memories he made with his family were beyond precious.

#tickle fic #My writing #tickletober2020 #gravity falls tickling #lee!dipper #lee!mabel #ler!grunkle stan #ticklish!dipper #ticklish!mabel #gravity falls #mabel pines #dipper pines #grunkle stan #grunkle ford

[infriga]

Writer tag game

I was tagged by @novantinuum !

Author Name: I’m Infriga on tumblr but I go by Ppleater on AO3 because it’s a username I liked to use in the past lol.

Fandom(s) you write for: Steven Universe, Gravity Falls, and in the past I’ve also written one or two things for Red vs Blue, Gintama, Chuck, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles, and SGA. Most of my older stuff is on FFN, where it will stay because it’s old and embarrassing lol. I want to write a One Piece fic some day but christ is it a hard fandom to write for. There are so many puzzle pieces and moving parts and layers to everything in the OP world that anything bigger than a oneshot is daunting. Also Luffy’s mind is an enigma so I can only imagine how difficult he’d be to write.

Where you post: AO3. I used to post on FFN years ago, but not anymore because let’s be honest, ffn kinda sucks in comparison.

Most popular one-shot: My RvB fic I guess. The long cliched title is Five Times Tucker Knew Church Was a Robot, And One Time He Forgot That Church Was Still Human. It’s not all that popular, but it got more attention than any of my older oneshots on FFN haha.

Most popular multi-chapter: My Gravity Falls fic about kid Stan and paranoid Ford, 1 Step Forward, 20 Years Back. It was my first multichapter fic, and boy was I floored by the response it got!

Favorite story you wrote: I’m really bad at picking favourites! I like both my GF fic 1 Step Forward, 20 Years Back, and my Steven Universe fic Aid to Navigation at the moment. They’re both more recent fics and I feel like I’ve shown the most improvement in writing both of them, which is part of why i like them more, but I like them both for different reasons so I can’t really choose between them.

Story you were nervous to post: Man I’m nervous posting everything I write lol. I guess I tend to be more nervous about my hurt/comfort stuff for some reason? Especially the hurt parts. Like the chapter where Stan gets thrown down the stairs by Bill in my GF fic, or the upcoming chapter 5 in my SU fic. I really enjoy writing that sort of stuff, and I love reading it even more, so I’m always a little like >:3c but I can be a wee bit sensitive about stuff I get really into writing because I’m invested in it so I’m also a little like <:3c every time, you know? Still, if there’s one thing I’ve learned by getting more involved in fandoms is that it can be worth it to just put stuff out there and own it even when I’m nervous about it, so I usually just force myself to press the post button before I can chicken out. It’s worked out pretty well for me so far.

How do you choose your titles? I’ve developed 2 main methods which, funnily enough, I used for my two recent multichapter fics.

Method 1 involves word play, such as using a pun or a saying that fits one of the themes of my fic, and I adjust it as needed it to match the story. I felt like the saying “1 step forward, 2 steps back” fit the whole portal confrontation in general, and Stan getting turned into a kid involves taking some pretty literal steps backwards, so I changed it to 20 years back to give it a de-aging spin and make it even more of a play on words. That one admittedly came pretty easy to me. I also came up with more puns,wordplay, and jokes for the chapter names to match.

Method 2 involves using symbolism. I like to figure out something I feel would be symbolic of my fic and I look for interesting and relevant terminology or topics related to whatever that symbol is. In Aid to Navigation I settled on lighthouses as the symbolic element because I felt it suited Steven’s character, since he lives on a beach, helps guide people, and literally glows. An aid to navigation is basically any structure that helps ships navigate on the ocean, which includes lighthouses in particular, and it felt really suitable for Steven’s character and the themes of the fic. Other terminology that popped up and caught my interest while looking into stuff related to lighthouses ended up serving as inspiration for the chapter names and some of the story progression.

Of course, sometimes a title just pops into my head automatically and I end up liking it right away, but that’s pretty rare lol.

How many of your stories are complete? 2 on AO3, my RvB oneshot and my GF fic, and an extra 7 oldy moldy ones on FFN which are all oneshots. I technically write more now than I used to, but while my word count has rised drastically the number of individual fics I’ve written isn’t too high yet. I just found I enjoy writing longer multichapter fics a lot.

In progress: Just Aid to Navigation at the moment. I’m the kind of person who usually likes to finish a writing project before moving to a new one.

Coming soon:

I’ve tried coming up with future projects but honestly it seems like I tend to just be sort of... Gripped with a sudden idea that just feels right. I always have tons of concepts I like, but most never actually become anything. Only a few strike me as something that I really want to turn into a story right away. I might make a series of connected oneshots for Aid to Navigation involving interactions and scenes that I couldn’t fit in due to there not being enough time to explore every character the way I wanted (like I wanted to write a scene with Lars and Steven for example, but it didn’t seem to fit anywhere), but beyond that I have no idea what I’ll end up writing.

Upcoming story you’re most excited to write: Do upcoming chapters of a current fic count? The chapters I felt most excited to write for Aid to Navigation are the next one which is already finished and awaiting the accompanying picture, titled “Red Sector”, and the following one after that, which will be titled “Leading Lights”. All I’ll say about them is that both types of lights serve as warnings.

Top five favorite authors:

I like so many damnit, it’s hard to choose!

I’ve loved everything I’ve read by @novantinuum

I’ve bookmarked a lot of GF fics by @impishnature

Same with @fanfoolishness and their SU fics

One Piece fics by @taizi are my favourites in the fandom

There’s probably more people I’m forgetting and if that’s the case I’m sorry and I love you all, but if anyone wants to see more authors I’ve read stuff by I have fic rec/fic recs/fanfic rec/fanfic recs tags (wish I could remember which one I use at a given time so I wasn’t so inconsistent about it otl. Someday when xkit is working again I’ll try to organise them better). Also I have like, 400+ bookmarks on AO3 that you can look through as well.

Tagging: Uh, I tag all the writers I mentioned above I guess, if they want to do it and if they haven’t done it already!

#tag meme #fic recs #writing #Steven Universe #Gravity Falls #I'm only gonna tag those two cause I aint tagging the rest of the stuff i've written for lol

[kenzieam]

Druid - Chapter One

Rating: M (smut, language, violence, mature themes, potential major character death)

Genre: Drama/Angst

@captstefanbrandt @iammarylastar @kiiiimberlyriiiicker1995 @notimetoblog @captain-ariel-barnes @jaamesbbarnes @lancefvcker @bitsandbobsandstuff @softlybarnes @lovelybbarnes @buckitybarnes @bucky-plums-barnes  @moonbeambucky @badassbaker @citylights221 @empress-of-boujee  @shynara51 @diinofayce @casestudy-mw  @jewels2876 @damnaged-princess @everythingisoverrated @allmyfanficfaves @melgoodwin @clarabella960 @curvybihufflepuff  @angryschnauzer @wowspideyholland @sergeantwhitewolf @smilexcaptainx @plaidcat4815 @shirukitsune @chook007

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Alright.... here’s another Bucky AU with my OFC, Levi.

Bucky is the President of the Druids MC and Levi is back in town to take care of her dying father. They meet through mutual friends and Bucky is immediately (still) taken with the girl he secretly fantasized about in high school, but he’s an outlaw biker and she has a life halfway across the country, will Bucky have a chance to make her his???

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Some of you might recognize parallels to other stories of mine, like “The Reaper and the Vixen” and “It’s Time” but this is my blog lol and if I want to borrow, I will.

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LEV

Nothing had changed, not that I expected it to. Small towns don’t grow, they just endure.  

I left home ten years ago, last visited almost three years ago, but it’s like I’ve only been gone a week. I’m sure that Tony’s Diner down at the corner still has the same faded papers taped to the glass, advertising Gerald Sampson’s old ‘78 Ford truck for sale (runs like a top, uh huh) and the same tired request for a part-time waitress; especially if Tony’s wife Pepper is still there, she runs the diner with an iron fist and military precision (that somehow never extends to updating the posters), a humorous contrast to Tony’s almost chronic easy-going nature. He'd rather spend his time tinkering in his workshop than anywhere else, while Pepper oversees the breakfast specials.

I still wouldn’t have come back, to this quiet little corner of northern California, if it wasn’t for my Dad. He did not bad after Mom died, slowing down and sitting back, but now he’s gotten sick. I try to be optimistic, but he isn’t, he’s ready to be back with Mom and I can’t help but let this color my view of the town as I drive through it. Everything’s darker, sombre, stuck.

I’ve taken the long way around, for whatever reason, and can’t help but crane my neck as I pass Panhead Joe’s, a local bar. I tended to avoid this side of town when I lived here, but I knew even as a kid that it was a biker bar; still, I’m not prepared for the array of Harley’s parked outside, even though it’s only late afternoon.  

A few bikers mill around, leaning on the railing outside the bar or against bikes. There seems to be a common theme amongst them, all are wearing black leather vests with a large patch across the shoulders. I’ve seen enough Sons of Anarchy to know what this means, and while it flutters in the back of my mind that there’s always been an MC in town, it never really dawned on me as a child what that meant. We’d lived on the opposite end of town, where huge trees shaded the yards and streets, and people still sat out on their covered porches at night while the neighborhood children organized street-wide hide and seek or games of tag.  

A tall blonde draws my attention but I look away, pressing the gas a little harder when he looks up to meet my gaze. There’s something familiar about him, even with his black t-shirt, jeans and leather vest.  

Steve? Steve Rogers, the head jock of our small but spirited sports program? I would have assumed he’d left long ago, on an athletic scholarship or something, but here he is, leaning against a chromed-up Harley. He frowns at me, stuck in the same ‘who’s that?’ moment and I stare straight ahead, hoping he doesn’t recognize me and start spreading the word. Although I didn’t leave town on bad terms, I still left and, I plan to again, sooner rather than later.  

The streets grow softer and more familiar and too soon, I’m turning into the driveway of my childhood home. A charming Craftsman, I used to love sitting on the verandah out front, holding court with my eclectic mix of barbies and ninja turtles and while a swell of nostalgia hits me, so does sorrow. I haven’t asked Dad what he plans on doing with the house, or anything else... after, but I’m going to need to soon.  

The car ticks as I turn it off, it’s been a long drive from Houston, where I’ve lived since leaving here. My back cracks as I stand and I stretch backwards with a groan, feeling the skin pull on the back of my right shoulder. Chap just finished my newest tattoo before I left and it’s still tender under the bandage.  

What started as a source of income while I was in school soon turned into my chosen career and, while I finished my classes, my degree sits gathering dust while I happily work at Sweetheart Ink, popular tattoo artist and body piercer with a large client base waiting on me to return. Needless to say, it was hard to tell who was more surprised at my abrupt career detour, my parents or me, but I haven’t regretted it.

“Levi.” Dad’s voice is a far cry from the deep baritone I remember from childhood, and he’s lost weight too. A sharp stab of reality hits me, this is real. Dad is dying and I didn’t really sink in until seeing him just now.  

I stand there like installation art for a minute, like a skipping record until Dad grabs me in a tight hug. “Good to see you, Bug.”  

I choke a “Hi, Dad,” in return, and hear his soft, rueful chuckle in return.

“That bad, huh?”

“No! I, uh...”

“It’s okay, Bug; I might look like shit but I don’t feel too bad, just tired. Glad you could stay for a while.” He’s so casual about it that I almost start crying and he tightens his arms around me. “It’s good to see you honey, don’t cry.”

I nod, sniffling hard and straighten, pulling away and suppressing a shudder at the bones I felt poking through my Dad’s sallow skin. He hasn’t really elaborated about what’s making him sick beyond its terminal, non-contagious and he’s decided to just live what time he has left rather than trying any treatments. He didn’t even tell me he was sick until a few weeks ago, keeping it hidden and passing off his weakened voice as mere tiredness. He’s already made all the arrangements for his funeral, but he’s always been practical and organized and it’s a small comfort to know he’s going out the way he chooses to. Mom’s death was sudden and unexpected, a hidden intersection and missed stop sign; Dad’s will be the opposite.

“Come in, Bug; I haven’t started anything for supper yet, I was wondering if you wanted to order a pizza or something.”

“Popo’s delivers now?” They never did before, they didn’t need to, people came from miles around for their pizzas.

“Popo’s is closed.” Dad replies and, at my strangled exclamation, nods in understanding. That was one of my favorite hang-outs as a student, me and the rest of the high school. “Old Popo retired to Florida, last I heard.”

“Huh, what’s left then?”

“There’s a couple to choose from.” Dad taps a mess of menus taped to the fridge as he walks into the kitchen and I stare blankly at them.  

“Oh, hey. I ran into your old friend... Nat? She was asking about you and I said you were coming up for a while, she left her number to call if you want.”

Well that makes sense. Why I saw Steve Rogers still in town, he and Nat were hot and heavy in high school; looks like they’ve stayed together. Shit, they’re probably married by now, maybe a couple kids. I never stayed in contact after I left.  

My stomach growls, interrupting my musings and I turn my attention back to the menus before settling on a place and grabbing the phone.  

Two hours later, Dad’s nodding asleep in his armchair and I’m fidgeting nervously. I’m keyed up and restless, not yet ready to try and sleep.

“Go out and have some fun, Bug.” Dad mumbles, startling me out of my thoughts. He stands slowly, shuffling over to me and patting my shoulder. “I’ll be fine, I’m heading to bed. Go on.”

I’m hesitant, chewing on my lip before nodding. “Yeah, okay.”

“You want money for the movies?” He teases and I laugh, shaking my head.  

“Maybe call up Nat,” he throws over his shoulder as he leaves the room and I frown thoughtfully. It’s not late by any stretch, maybe we could meet up for a drink or something. Surely they have Uber here if I get tipsy. I reach for my cell.

“Hello?” The voice at the other end is familiar, but tentative. I hear muffled music in the background, loud voices; at least I didn’t wake her up.  

“Hi, Nat? It’s Levi.”

“Levi?! Oh my god, hi! Your dad said you were coming up, are you here now?” She’s all excited energy, practically humming over the line and I feel my spirits lifting.

“Yeah, just got in this afternoon.”

“You want to meet up?”  

“Uh... yeah, sure. Where at?”  

“I’m down at Panhead’s now, come on over!”

“Panhead’s? The biker bar?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you a biker?”

She laughs. “No, my husband is. You’ll be safe; come on girl, hurry up!”

…........ “Okay, give me a half-hour.”  

“Sure, I’m so excited!” She hangs up mid-squeal and I stare at my phone for a long moment before standing and walking to my room. What does one wear to a biker bar? Jeans probably, tank top? I quickly clean up and dress, pulling on my cropped jacket and pushing my feet into the only boots I own, ones I tossed in the car almost as an afterthought yesterday as I was leaving.  

I poke my head into Dad’s room, but he’s already asleep. I write a quick note and leave it on his bedside table then leave.

It doesn’t take long to reach Panhead’s, and I park nearby, clearing my throat nervously as more than one head swivels my way in sudden interest.

“Levi?! You look amazing!” Nat all but shrieks, appearing from the front door and rushing at me. I’m engulfed in a tight hug that wraps me in her yummy, familiar perfume, stuff she’s rocked since high school. Can’t mess with a classic. She pushes me away far enough to look me up and down and grins widely. She’s grown up, but still looks the same; beautiful reddish hair and sweet smile, she probably still gets ID’d. It takes a moment for me to register this and then a tall figure is towering beside her. I notice vaguely that all the interested onlookers have looked away, as if scared.

“Levi, you remember my husband, Steve?”

Holy shit, yes. The very man I saw outside this bar earlier, dressed in a black biker vest and leaning against a bike. Wait...

“Hi Levi, welcome back.” Steve’s voice is rough and deep, but still kind. He always was a sweetie, even in school when most boys are preoccupied with showing off and whistling at girls. It takes a moment for my eyes to register the patches on his vest. V. President on the right side, Captain on the other; I look over to Nat, see she’s wearing a similar vest.

“Wait, you’re in a motorcycle club?” I should have realized sooner, but I’m a little slow sometimes.  

Nat smiles and turns, showing me the Property of Captain patch across her back. She turns back, smiling and Steve pulls her closer with one massive arm, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Yeah, Steve’s the VP of the Druids.”

“The Druids?” Oh yeah, the club that hung around town. They never really blipped on my radar as a child, none of my family were a part of it, so I never really paid attention to them. “Oh, wow.”

Nat giggles at me. “Steve got involved with them after high school and loved it.” She reaches for me. “C’mon, the guys are nice.” I let her pull me along, one arm slung over my shoulder and try to relax.  

The bar is rocking, music loud and voices even louder. The crowd parts as Steve walks through, holding Nat’s hand and I’m still trying to reconcile the Steve in front of me with the boy I knew in high school. Steve’s hair is crew-cut short, and stubble darkens his cheeks, but other than that, he looks rather tame for a biker, but I catch the sight of ink on his biceps, and crawling up his neck.  

There’re more leather-clad men seated at the table Steve brings us to with women scattered about as well, either perched on chair arms or directly on laps. Nat pushes me to sit in the booth then Steve sits beside me, pulling Nat into his lap.  

I’m introduced to the table and recognize a few faces. Another pal from high school, Wanda, is seated on the lap of a man named Hawkeye, and is wearing his patch, but none of the other women are and Nat leans over and murmurs that they’re club girls, unattached and available to all the men. She and Wanda are the only ol’ ladies here tonight.  

The big surprise is the man directly across from me. A blond is preening in his lap and his hand rests on her bare thigh, but he’s too busy talking with others at the table to speak to her. Steve introduced him as Cannon, and his patch says President. It takes a second, but I finally recognize him, and understand my surprise.  

“Bucky?” I gasp, then clap my mouth shut, blushing. Fortunately, only he and Steve heard me and Steve starts laughing, slapping his mitt on the table. “Sorry.” I choke, face burning.  

Bucky smiles at me, softening the harsh lines on his face. He’s big now, as thick and powerful as Steve, maybe even more so and the fluffy hair I remember from high school is shoulder length, his cheeks dark with stubble. But the clear, deep blue eyes are the same.  

We didn’t hang out in high school, but Bucky stood out to me because he and Steve were best friends, but seemed exact opposites. While Steve was gregarious and sweet, Bucky was silent and brooding. Steve was All-American blond, Bucky was dark. Steve was the jock, Bucky the shadow. I know he took a bunch of shop mechanic classes while I labored away in the college prep courses and yeah, if I’m going to be honest, I may have had a tiny bit of a crush on him too. I never acted on it though, and to be honest again, he’s hardly entered my thoughts since I’d left. The last place I expected to see him again was at a biker bar, and the President, no less.  

“Hey, Levi. How you been?” His voice is soft and deep, a hint of growl.

“Good,” I reply, relieved my voice sounds strong, even though I’m still on edge. While nobody at the table has been rude to me, there’s still a powerful vibe to them that I attribute to their club status. You don’t become part of an MC by being a pansy. Nat’s words echo in my mind, ‘you’ll be safe, the guys are nice’. Yeah sure, as long as you weren’t an enemy.

“What have you been up to all these years?” Wanda speaks now, leaning forwards. The blond man, Hawkeye, wraps a hand casually on her hip for support then turns his head to talk with another man. He seems used to Wanda’s squirming.

“I uh...” I pause, surely they don’t want the boring history of my life? “I live in Houston, work as a tattooist and body piercer.”

“I thought you went to University there?” Bucky asks and I pause again. What? Was he keeping tabs on me in high school?

“Yeah, but I got into body mod for extra cash and loved it, so I went into it instead.”

Hawkeye has turned his attention back to our conversation and hoots, slapping Bucky on one massive shoulder. “Hey! You gotta get one now, no excuses, Prez!” Wanda and Nat simultaneously roll their eyes and I sense this is an old argument.

“Get what now?”  

The faintest flush colors Bucky’s cheeks and he looks away as Hawkeye chirps merrily. “A dick piercing! I keep telling him it’s worth it, I-” He breaks off as Wanda swats at his head with a giggle and I can’t help a snort of laughter. Alright, if they’re going to trot out this particular horse, I’ll take it for a ride too.

“I don’t know,” I pretend to think. “Not every guy has the right anatomy for one-” this causes an explosion of laughter and good-natured ribbing and Bucky throws me an amused glance.

“You wanna check, doll?” He rasps, raising a brow.

Well, I walked into that one. “Not every guy can handle the pain.” And I keep right on digging myself deeper.  

“Don’t worry doll, I like a little pain.”  

Alright then. Time to double down. “Well, I brought my kit if you want to try?”

The guys explode, roaring with mirth and I lean back as Nat giggles in my ear. “You’re such a tease, Levi. You were so quiet in school, what happened?”

I shrug, I hardly know myself. I’ve certainly never discussed dick piercings like this before.

Bucky leans across the table and winks at me. “Whenever you’re up for it, dollface.”

Wow.  

Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your viewpoint, loud voices interrupt my reply and everyone at the table swivels their head to the door. There’re sounds of a brief struggle, then a few dull thuds that register to my slow brain as punches, then cheers. I look back at the table to see the men have relaxed again, but I don’t miss that each one has a hand in their vest, as if reaching for a weapon. A booming voice interrupts my musing.

“And who is this delectable beauty?” I look up in stunned silence to the speaker. ‘Delectable beauty’? Me? A towering blond man pulls a chair over, turning it backwards and sitting at the table, reaching across Steve and Nat to offer me his hand. His grin is wide and infectious and I still can’t get over his height, Jesus, he’s got a few inches on Steve even. I remember his question, and lean over to take it.

“Hi, I’m Levi.”

“Levi,” his faint accent does amazing things to my name. “I’m Hammer.”  

I glance belatedly at his vest. He’s the Sergeant-at-Arms, that explains the size and his bouncer act. “Was Thor already taken?” I blurt, going instantly red.

He seems unperturbed, even grinning wider. “That’s my given name, my lady; I’ll answer to both.”

The table roars again, but I catch a faint scowl cross Bucky’s face, huh?

#bucky barnes #au bucky barnes #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky and lev

[avalonsilver]

Supernatural questions

SPN Questions Game!

I was tagged by @lovedsammy

Thank you! I appreciate it. Sorry this took so long. It was fun answering the questions though. :-)

1. When did you start watching Supernatural? The night the show first premiered on Sept. 13, 2005 (according to Google). I knew Jensen and Jared from other shows (more recently at that time, Jensen's recurring role on Smallville and then Jared on Gilmore Girls) and was curious. Sci-fi/fantasy is a fav genre for me, so Supernatural seemed right up my alley (the horror/gory aspects sometimes was a little much for me, but the character dynamics keep me watching). I watched the show regularly for the first five seasons. What got me to fall in love with the show was a small scene in the first episode.  (rest under the cut)

That was when Dean answers Sam's belief about Dean doing this alone [find their Dad] with a "Yeah, well, I don't want to." The way this line was delivered by Jensen... it just showed a vulnerability in Dean. It showed what sort of character Dean was -- that he needed, wanted his brother by his side. That moment left me wanting to learn more about Sam and Dean, and I cared about their journey in each episode. After the Season 5 finale, I stopped watching the show regularly. I watched the first few eps of Season 6 I believe, but they failed to hold my interest. Not enough Cas I guess (I loved him in Seasons 4 and 5 and his character development in those two seasons). I randomly watched a few Season 7 episodes when they aired (the one with Charisma Carpenter & James Marsters (7x05) and the Eliot Ness episode (7x12)). I was wondering where Cas was at as I didn't really know then what had happened to him. Finally, about five years later, when Season 13 was airing, I fell back into watching the show. I saw War of the Worlds 13x07 live without much of an idea of what had gone on in the show in the last few years. So I had no idea that Sam and Dean now called this bunker their home. It was certainly an experience watching that episode being pretty confused about things. The mid-season finale/"The Bad Place" really peaked my interest that I should catch up with this show again. Jack got me curious. I ended up watching the Season 13 finale live. 

Over the summer, I binge-watched the seasons I missed post-Season 5. I watched the episodes I missed in Season 13 first. Then I went through Seasons 6, 9, 10 and 11 (still working on Season 12- finished through 12x08). With Seasons 7 & 8, I mainly watched the episodes where Cas appeared (with S7, that made the season go fast for me since he was only in five episodes... I did see 7x03 though because of Colin Ford. He is my favorite version of "young Sam"... and catching up with the show, it was a nice surprise that he returned in Season 7). I am planning to see those S7 & 8 episodes I skipped over-- feel kind of bad for not watching those seasons completely.

2. Who is your favorite in TFW? Castiel -- I looked forward to his scenes back in Seasons 4 and 5. His journey since then has been interesting to watch. While his development in Season 6 was hard to see unfold, I see it as the unfortunate fallout from averting the apocalypse. It was a win that TFW stopped the apocalypse particularly through Sam's sacrifice. But sadly, Cas's desire to prevent Apocalypse Take 2 from happening caused him to go to dark places -- leaving TFW fractured. I think his experience as a human was one of the best things that happened to him-- it really helped him be more compassionate and understanding-- or just really bring out what Cas already had inside him. I still prefer him to be an angel though (I have a weakness for "superpowers"...like the glowy eyes/healing...). But I appreciate that Cas did experience being human and learned something valuable from that.

3. Who is your least favorite in TFW? Dean, although it's hard to choose a least favorite. Each one has their good and bad traits. Dean's harsh treatment of Jack in Season 13 is not something I can brush aside completely. So that's why Dean comes to mind. Dean has gotten better with Jack, true, but his early S13 handling of Jack while Sam pleaded with Dean to give Jack a chance is still hard to forget.

4. Tag your top 5 Supernatural blogs. (I think most everyone has done these questions, so below are just the Supernatural blogs I like checking out) Let’s see… I tag: @hallowedbecastiel, @lovedsammy @flightoftheseraph​, @soluscheese, @castielisourhero, @sastiel-daily, @canonspngifs

5. Who is your favorite character (not including TFW)? Bobby Singer, although I guess he can be considered an honorary member of TFW. I have not seen the episode where he dies (7x10), but I plan to and I know it'll leave me teary-eyed I'm sure. But seeing the episodes where he returns in some capacity (10x17 "Inside Man" -- so much love for that episode, and 11x16 "Safe House") got me really emotional. That letter to Sam in 10x17, and Dean figuring he and Bobby were there at the same time in that house thanks to some time-wimey explanation... it just made me wish Bobby was still alive. He was really like a father to Sam and Dean and it'll certainly be hard to watch those early seasons with Bobby -- knowing now that he's gone. At least he's in Heaven. I want to add Jack too-- even if he is a part of TFW, but technically it's TFW 2.0 for him, so he does sort of count I guess (I'm reaching here, I know, but couldn't resist). Mostly because his character got me curious and led me to watching all of Season 13 and motivating me to finally catch up with the seasons I've missed of the show. Seeing all the crap that Sam had been through with Lucifer post-Season 5 made his willingness to help Jack, Lucifer's son, all the more compelling.

6. Who is your favorite woman in Supernatural? As far as a female character who's currently still alive, Rowena is pretty awesome -- some of her outfits have been gorgeous. And there's the 13x19 scene on the phone where she flirts with Cas --"oh is the handsome angel there with you? Hello, Tweetie Pie." was amusing in how it left Cas a little flustered and off-footed in his response. Considering back at the end of Season 10, Rowena cursed him with that "attack dog" spell causing Cas some considerable misery... it's just so like the show for the pair of them to be sort of chill with one another now. Cas still doesn't quite know how to take flirtations-- it's endearing. Also, due to my summer rewatch, I really enjoyed Meg 2.0's character. I loved her dynamic with Cas and was sad when she died. I love that she saw Cas as "her unicorn." Rachel Miner did a great job with the character of Meg. I'll never forget that moment in 6x10 when Meg made out with Cas.

7. John or Mary? Mary (I haven't seen all of Season 12 and did hear her storyline had its issues, but from what I know about her, I prefer her to John). Watching the 300th episode caused me to warm up to John again. I'm glad Sam and Dean got some closure with him. I think I blame the background music sometimes used during the John moments... it got me all nostalgic and emotional. I enjoyed Mary in Season 13 and being protective of Jack -- to where she decided to stay with him even if it meant needing to leave the camp because AU! Bobby was suspicious of Jack's half-angel status. So I'll stick with Mary on this one.

8. What were your first opinions of Sam, Dean, Cas, and Jack? Sam: I thought he was a compelling character. He was like the "regular guy" character at the beginning helping to introduce the audience into the strange world of hunting the supernatural his family was a part of. I took a television course back in college, so this kind of stuff was discussed, bear with me. lol ... as the show went on, it was ironic that he was the one with psychic powers, the demon blood and was the "true vessel" for Lucifer. After playing catch up with the show post-Season 5, I feel so bad for the crap Sam has gone through particularly with Lucifer. It has been a long time for me, so I can't exactly remember my first impression of Sam. After seeing Jared on Gilmore Girls, I think I just automatically decided to find any character he played likable since I generally liked his character on Gilmore Girls. It was sad how badly Sam wanted to live a normal/safe life with Jess in the pilot but that wasn't in the cards for him.

Dean: I found his "devil may care" attitude kind of cool, but as brought up earlier, I liked that he cares about family. That he came to get Sam because he needed him by his side to search for their Dad. Even despite the big fight that was close to John disowning Sam, Dean wanted to make the effort to mend bridges. Dean took the chance that Sam would still care about their Dad's well-being despite the big fight. Or maybe Dean knew that deep down, Sam would agree to help -- as after all, Dean practically raised him so he obviously knew Sam pretty well (even if he didn't quite understand Sam's strong desire to head to university and try for an "normal apple pie life.")

Cas: He was a big part why I was excited for Seasons 4 and 5 when they were airing. Although in retrospect, he didn't really have a lot of scenes in S4 &5. I just ended up being grateful for what we did get back then. I liked how though seemed alien in his first appearance and interaction with Dean, there were hints that Cas did care and wasn't a cold, unfeeling angel. Like I couldn't quite hate him completely for burning out Pamela's eyes even though I wanted to initially. Cas just seemed a little regretful about that, so I could see sparks of opportunity for character growth. I need to rewatch the scene again, but I vaguely recall Cas looked sad/regretful about Pamela's fate. And when he told Dean, "You don't think you deserve to be saved,"-- the way the line was delivered got me even more curious about Cas. Then his end of episode appearance in 4x02 freaked me out a bit because he was intense there. But honestly, during most of that 4x02 scene, I was bothered by his lips being dry/cracked... why I still remember this after all these years, IDEK. Still wish someone had given him some chapstick or something then. lol 

Jack: The first episode I saw him in was the mid-season 13 finale. I was interested in Jack and learning more about him... I'm sure it would have been better if I'd seen those earlier Season 13 episodes to understand Jack better. I really enjoyed how everything went down in 13x09 and how climactic it ended up being. The last shot of Jack in "Apocalypse World" with him looking up at Mary in a cage was a well-done shot. After seeing 13x01, I liked Jack's curiosity about the world and his love of nougat. He seemed like a sweet and caring person and eager to please.

9. What’s your favorite season? Season 1. It was when I first started watching and was just a pretty solid season overall. The cliffhanger was evil, but hell, that really got me on the board to continue with this show. Plus, the memorable lines --"driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole", "hope your apple pie was freakin' worth it!" and I loved the moment of Dean bringing peanut M&Ms as one of his provisions in 1x02 "Wendigo" (and they did prove useful in the end in tracking him down). It's tempting to say a season with Cas too because I like his character. With Cas, probably Season 10 since I enjoyed his interactions with Claire. Also, I love 10x17 so much (just made me miss Bobby and that end montage is an automatic rewatch for me). Although Season 4 was good too with Castiel's introduction. I like how his character developed to the point where he was prepared to fight off archangels to stop the apocalypse. Even if this defied the other angels wanting the apocalypse to come to fruition. Honorary mention to Season 13 mostly for the journey of Sam and Jack's father-son bond. I always love seeing tributes to that bond and the support Jack received from Sam.

10. What’s your least favorite season? Season 7, but then again I haven't seen the entire season yet. From what I saw of the Leviathans, I didn't like them as villains. But Leviathan!Cas was pretty awesome-- he definitely freaked me out for the brief time the Leviathan took him over. Just a shame that the Leviathan after that were just kind of meh... For a season I saw entirely, I'd have to say Season 6. Though Castiel had some great moments in this season (6x20 of course being a highlight), it hurt to see Cas turn against Sam and Dean. Yes, Cas was doing all that to stop Apocalypse 2.0, but I hated that he resorted to breaking Sam's wall (leaving Sam a mess into Season 7). Also, the first half of the season with soulless!Sam was weird to watch... since Sam wasn't himself and knowing that was sad. I enjoyed the episode 6x11 where Dean made a deal with Death to get Sam's soul out of the cage. So yeah, I liked some parts of Season 6, but overall, it's not easy to rewatch knowing this is the unfortunate fallout of averting the apocalypse in Season 5. Back in the day-- for just Seasons 1 through 5, I'd say Season 3...the season had its moments, but it just ranked lowest for me in terms of the first five seasons. Although S3 gets points for one cliffhanger of an ending.

11. Opinions on Destiel? I used to be big on Destiel, or just Dean and Cas's friendship/strong bond in Seasons 4 and 5. Maybe my enthusiasm for them just faded away over time... after catching up with the show recently, my perspective has changed. I can't completely get over Dean's treatment of Cas at the end of Season 7 after he'd taken on Sam's hell trauma leaving him broken and not mentally stable. Dean yelling at Cas more than once was frustrating to see during this time. I just can't get into Dean x Cas as much as before... though Cas sticking around and still being Dean's friend, helping him and Sam out, does speak a lot to Cas's ability to forgive... not to stay angry with Dean after some of the things Dean has said to him and put him through (such as kicking him out of the bunker in 9x03 without any offer of assistance so Cas wouldn't continue to be homeless... I can understand why a lot of people didn't like 9x03).

12. Do you believe Supernatural queerbaits? No. t's nice that Dean can have a solid, meaningful friendship with someone who isn't Sam... so it's good that he has Castiel. But the moments where it seems like it's leading to something more than friendship for Destiel... I think it just shows the strength of their friendship.

13. Seasons 1-7 or 8-14? Seasons 8-14 -- mostly because I liked Cas's character development in the later seasons. That he's more compassionate, maybe more human -- his short time as a human influencing him in a good way for the most part. Even if his angelic powers were diminished in the later seasons. 

I miss his teleporting (I had grown used to the "rustle of wings" sound effect in Seasons 4 and 5), and to learn he'd lost that ability for a few years already by the time of Season 13 -- that was sad to know. Despite that loss, I like that Cas has become more expressive -- like in the 14x12 scene where he's discussing "Rowena's remarkable command of profanity" on the phone to Sam -- The line delivery and his facial expression was on point there.

14. Favorite villain (plot wise)? Crowley. He had some great moments on the show, and it was great to see his journey on the show. From full-on antagonist to sort of being on Team Winchester. I don't like that he killed Meg 2.0 (I miss her :(), but he was a compelling character and it's sad that he's not on the show anymore.

15. Do you think they should end the Lucifer plot line? Yes!

16. Who do you think has gone through more trauma (Sam, Dean, or Cas) Sam. They all have gone through their share of trauma, so it's not easy to just choose one. But Sam has been tortured by Lucifer himself, and still suffers PTSD from that every time he has to deal with Lucifer.

17. What’s your favorite Supernatural episode? 1x12 - "Faith"  -- I have a fondness for some Season 1 episodes. Asylum was another fav for me along with Home and Something Wicked. At the time that “Faith” aired, I was big on hurt!Dean, and this episode delivered. I loved how determined Sam was to save his brother. This was still back when some great classic rock songs were used. The "Don't Fear the Reaper" song playing while Sam and Dean carried out their plan to stop the reaper was pretty epic. And looking back, boy, do I miss those days when iconic songs like that were used on the show. 18. Do you like case episodes? Yes -- I like seeing how the mystery unravels, and finding out who the culprit is in the end.

19. Who do you relate most to in TFW? Sam. Mostly due to his love/appreciation of research. I like to research too and learn new things. Also, he's the younger sibling, which is the same for me. I can relate to his frustration with his dad -- though it was for different reasons, I've felt similarly-- just different personalities and perspectives clashing, I would say.

20. Why do you like Supernatural? I like Supernatural because of the brotherly bond between Sam and Dean. Sam and Dean was what first drew me to the show and I still enjoy seeing the twists and turns they go through -- and I appreciate the moments that strengthen their bond and get emotional and heartbroken when they're divided. At the end of the day, I feel Sam and Dean are the heart and the soul of the show -- my hope for the end of the series is that the brothers' bond is as strong as ever. I would be so sad if they end the show with Sam and Dean at odds with each other-- I have faith the writers wouldn't do this -- it would be hard to watch (like back in 4x21 where they fight each other and go their separate ways... it was painfully heartbreaking to see).   Also, I love Team Free Will -- it's nice that Sam and Dean have Cas now as a long-time friend and confidante. I like Jack and the more recent Team Free Will 2.0 that formed to include him. Though the original Team Free Will is more iconic, I guess, for me since it formed as the apocalypse approached in Season 5. And the name really had a meaning: that Sam, Dean and Cas weren't going to fold and follow what the higher up angels wanted... that their free will mattered more than following their long foretold destinies.

21. If you could bring back one character and kill off another who would they be? I'm torn between bringing Bobby back or Meg 2.0. I'd kill off Lucifer (if he is really woken up in the Empty -- he needs to be put down again. :\). I'd like Kevin Tran to come back. I would be okay with killing off AU! Bobby if we can get the old Bobby back. And Meg 2.0 being brought back would be great-- I miss her interactions with Cas.

#supernatural questions #supernatural discussion #supernatural characters #tagged #long post #text post #tumblr ask #answer

[oflgtfol]

9, 27, 50 wahoo

9. What made you realize you were aspec / arospec?

i don't think there was any one single thing that made me realize. i know i felt abnormal and disconnected from everyone else from a very young age, and i kind of always knew that the "fall in love -> get married -> house with a white picket fence -> 2.5 kids -> die happy" path in life wouldn't ever play out for me. i would say probably as young as like, first grade, so 6-7 years old?

but i was too young to like. really understand the reason as to why that life wasn't for me. as i said i just felt abnormal, kind of wrong, kind of a failure. i didn't understand concepts like attraction or even really what "romance" was i just knew i wasn't like everyone else for some reason

by 10 years old i think i did finally figure it out, the reason why i felt so wrong and abnormal. coincidentally that was also at the height of my hopeless romantic phase so i spent like all my free time reading romance stories and books. so after months of surrounding myself with all that i was finally able to consciously say like, "oh shit. this will never happen to me." but again i didn't really have the vocabulary to describe what that was so i still thought i was just like, fundamentally fucked up as a person? like i had a screw loose or something and it prevented me from being ~normal~ like everyone else

and then when i was 13 i was on tumblr and i finally heard the word "aromantic" and it just like. fundamentally resonated with me lol. like, oh. that's the reason why i'm like this. of course i continued to live in denial for a few more months till i finally decided to actively identify as aro but ultimately deep inside i still like, KNEW, as soon as i saw the word lol

27. Do you enjoy seeing romance IRL / online / in media / etc. ?

it really honestly depends on the day?? i guess i would say most of the time i'm pretty apathetic about it but when i have any strong feelings i think they do tend to be negative.

with background romance it's just kind of. whatever. but any romance involving main characters does tend to make me like want to take them by their shoulders and shake them with frustration LMFAO i think my negative feelings tend to come from the fact that like, 90% of romance in mainstream media is the most boring, baseless bullshit EVER. it's like, guy and girl make eye contact, BOOM they're getting married two days later. it makes me want to rip my hair out LMFAO

but, y'know, sometimes i do enjoy it! i think probably the only fictional romance that i have ever like, genuinely lost my marbles over, is eddie/venom, and it's due to sooo many factors that i won't get into here because that's not what this post is about LMFAOO but to keep it short - they are not boring, and they have such an interesting fucking dynamic that is sooo fun to explore that like very few other media has. even other romances that lean more towards "better written" still tend to be just... boringggg and so like. yeah unfortunately i do still get a little negative / frustrated with romance in media even if it isn't as vapid as "he was a boy / she was a girl / can i make it anymore obvious"

50. Any arospec headcanons?

i am the number one Aromantic Din Djarin champion !!!!!! i will die on this fucking hill. i will accept nothing else.

other than din, my other like, main aro headcanons i guess are

tigress from kung fu panda <3

po also from kung fu panda

toph beifong from atla

fennec shand from star wars

ford pines from gravity falls

and i definitely have way more but just with characters i don't really care about long-term (hence why i can't remember them off the top of my head lol)

» arospec ask game here

#this was all very long winded. sorrie. you chose some very interesting questions i jsut had to ramble to <3 #ask #dandyshorts #aro tag

[kixaxstyx]

Evens! ^_^

ok!!

2) What fandoms do you write for and do you have a particular favourite if you write for more than one?

I write for a lot of fandoms! Most notably in recent times are Durarara!! and Shadowhunters/The Mortal Instruments, but when I was younger I wrote a lot (and I mean a lot) of Yu-Gi-Oh/Yu-Gi-Oh GX stories. Recently I’ve been really getting into writing for The Case Study of Vanitas and I have some stories in the work for it… I don’t really have a particular favorite, I love them all equally!

4) What is your favourite genre to write for?

I like writing a lot of generic/slice of life stuff to be honest, but I also like tragedies and action/adventure stuff too. 

6) If you had to delete one of your stories and never speak of it again, which would it be and why?

*Sweats nervously and makes awkward eye contact with all the fanfiction I wrote in middle school* Why? Because I have grown so much in the 12 years since I started writing that I don’t want anyone to see it. AT ALL

8) Where do you take your inspiration from?

From everywhere, to be honest! I got first place in a writing contest with a story that took inspiration from the song “Sixteen Tons” by Ernie Tennessee Ford. A story I used on my grad school application took inspiration from Dungeons and Dragons. It really depends on the piece and its context!

10) (skipping bc no title requested!)

12) Who is your favourite character to write for? Why?

My favorite character to write for tends to be my favorite character in that series - and my favorite in the series is typically someone who I can relate to, or that I like. So, if you notice, my favorite character to write for in Shadowhunters tends to be Alec Lightwood - because I like him, and I feel I can relate to some of his struggles, and that translates to better writing and characterization!

14) (skipping bc no title requested!)

16) (skipping bc no title requested!)

18) Do you have any abandoned WIP’s? What made you abandon them?

I do have a lot of abandoned WIPs. I typically abandon them if I lose interest, or I feel like I’m struggling/wrote myself into a hole I can’t get myself out of. And of course, sometimes, I stop simply because I’m not motivated because I don’t think people are interested, or I’m getting harassed for some reason by readers.

20) Are there any stories that you wished you’d ended differently?

Definitely, lol. Every time I re-read Don’t Make Promises (You Can’t Keep) I kick myself for making it Shizaya, when the first half/three-quarters of the story totally reads as Shinzaya. 

22) Do you have a story that you look back on and cringe when you reread it?

A lot of my earlier works, to be honest. Especially the ones that have OCs bc they read as really bad Mary-Sues (but to be honest, those were characters I, myself, needed when I was writing them which is why they were created)

24) How do you feel about writing smutty scenes?

Not very confident, tbh. I feel awkward doing so, and it’s something that’s not really in my skills repertoire (and that I’m okay with not refining)

26) (skipping bc no title requested!)

28) What is something you wished you’d known before you started posting fanfiction?

That you can go at your own pace, and you don’t need to kill yourself to crank updates out! And that it’s okay to “come late” to a fandom and still write for it. It’s not about the popularity of your stories, it’s about your enjoyment writing them!

30) In contrast to 29 is there a story which gets lots of love which you kinda eye roll at?

Not off the top of my head, but I know that I have come across stories that seem to be popular in fandom for some reason but I can’t get behind.

32) Are any of your characters based on real people?

I wrote something about 3 years ago, for my Intro to Creative Writing course in College (an easy A for me lol). It was called “My Roommate” (I’m still working on the title to this day lol) but the characters in it were all based off of me and my 3 college roommates at the time. It was a flashback piece, really interesting to do, though a bit dark. Once I get the name solid and do a bit more editing, maybe I’ll post it here lol.

34) What’s the harshest criticism you’ve gotten?

I don’t remember, to be honest, but it was something that actually led me to deleting the story from the site it was posted on. :(

36) Can you give us a spoiler for one of your WIP’s?

The night was cold, one of the coldest on record.Being on the cusp of mid-December, the cold made sense, but the time of yeardidn’t make it any better, didn’t make it any easier to weather. Their handsfelt frozen solid, and the dark gloves they wore didn’t do anything to keep thechill out. As the coach rolled to a stop in front of the mansion, they onlyhesitated a moment before exiting. They ascended the steps with a deliberateslowness, knocking to announce themselves just as slowly.

38) If you could collab with any other writer on here, who would it be? (Perhaps this question will inspire some collabs!) If you’re shy, don’t tag the blog, just name it.

Oh, there’s a lot of people, I couldn’t just name one lol! 

40) Do people know you write fanfiction?

My boyfriend and friends from college know I write fanfiction, but my parents think I just write stories and post them on a blog - they don’t know it’s “fanfiction” per se. 

42) (skipping bc no title requested!)

44) What is the last line you wrote?

“Sister!” Their brother said in greeting, entering thesitting room with his wife just steps behind the child. “We weren’t expecting avisit from you, not for a while yet.”

(From a WIP I’m working on, lol!)

46) (skipping bc no title requested!)

48) What’s your favourite trope to write?

I love, love, love writing first meetings. It is something I am always a sucker for. Especially “love at first sight” first meetings.

50) If you could write only angst, fluff or smut for the rest of your writing life, which would it be and why?

*Fast and Furious chanting* Angst angst angst angst angst

I like to suffer and make people miserable as well.

#kix's answers #ask meme #writing ask meme

[twenty-nothing]

OneHundredSixtyOne

On Saturdays, I like to… hang out with a friend and go to lunch

Where would you like to be a missionary to? No where

What’s better — toilet paper rolled over top or underneath? Over the top

Which Scooby-Doo character are you most like (Scooby, Shaggy, Daphne, Fred, Velma, the monster, Scrappy?) No idea, I didn’t really watch Scooby-Doo

If you had to endure one natural disaster (i.e. hurricane, tornado, etc), what would you pick and why? A blizzard. I already live in an area that gets A LOT of snow during the winter. Natural disasters scare me because you can lose your house and everything you own. So at least a blizzard sucks and might lose electricity but you will keep your home and everything in it.

What movie or TV show do you take guilty pleasure in watching? Any of “The Real Housewives”

If you had to describe your day as a traffic sign, what would it be? Green

What traditional stereotype would you classify yourself as? Prep

What “group” did you belong to in high school? Cheerleader

If you wrote a book about yourself…what would it be about? My life

If your house were burning down, what would you take and why? My dog, phone, laptop and my favorite sweaters and blankets

Describe your favorite pair of PJ’s. Soft sweatpants with lightweight baggy tshirt

How many handbags do you own? A few crossovers

If this were your last day alive, what would you say to your friends? I’d tell them I love them and was so glad I met them

What is your very favorite part of your day? Leaving work lol

What is your best scar? Tell the story of how you got it. LMAO I have a scar in the middle of my left forearm because I got a pen cap stuck in my cast when I was 13 years old. Old enough to know not to stick a pen, cap side down in your cast to itch it lol

You win a million dollars, but you have to give half to a charity. Which charity do you pick, and what do you do with the rest of the money? I would have to do a ton of research before I choose the right charity to make sure the money doesn’t go to the CEO’s like they usually do. The rets would pay off my student loans, my parents house and put the rest in savings

Describe your dream wedding where money is no option. I’d get the most sparkly dress I can find, Somewhere overlooking a waterfall in the fall, amazing plated dinner and fresh flowers ending with a fireworks show

What kind of deodorant do you use? Dove

If you were a spy what would your alias be? No idea

Do you have a birthmark? Where? Does it look like anything? Yes, just a brown large dot in the middle of my thigh

You are planning the most awesome dinner party of your life. Which 3 celebrities/historical figures (past or present) would you add to your guest list to keep the dinner talk interesting? Gordon Ramsay, Sandra Bullock, Harrison Ford

What is your favorite sport, and which team of that sport do you cheer for? Hockey. Syracuse Crunch, local team. Need to find a good NHL team to root for

Which would you rather have a kiss or a hug? Why? From someone I’m dating, a kiss. Everyone else a hug, but I rather not hug lol

If you could be a pair of jeans what style would you be?  Why? Ripped skinny jeans. The best ones lol

You have multiple personalities, describe some of them. A bitch

What is the best thing you have done in your life? I can’t think of anything...

If you were blind for the rest of your life… what would you miss seeing the most? Fall foilage

What household chore do you hate the most? Dishes

What is your most disappointing moment in life? Seeing how long it would take me to pay off my loans after only going to a community college, made me wish I never went

When have you laughed the hardest? Cried? I’ve been laughing the hardest with Elaine at work, I cry the hardest when I think about any part of my life...

If you had a “theme song” that played whenever you walk into a room full of people, what would it be? I dont know, I’m awful trying to think of shit like that

What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex? Smile

What time period from the past would you most have liked to live in and why? the ‘50s. Just seems like an easier time. No technology really and just seems like a nicer time.

What is the best reward anyone can give you? Gifts

If you had a band what would you name it? No idea

Do you like fruit? Vegetables? Both!

What can someone do to encourage you? Show me encouragement by showing up for me

If you could be one for just 24 hours, what cereal box cartoon character would you be? Why? lmao who the fuck knows

What was the best thing that happened to you this weekend? The steak I had at Longhorn was PERFECT and amazing!

What is your favorite animal? List three adjectives to explain your choice. Koala. Grey, Cute, Small

What is your favorite color? List three adjectives to explain your choice. Mint. Cool, Relaxing, Pretty

It’s a very hot and muggy day. You desperately want something very cool and refreshing to quench your thirst and revitalize your body. What would you drink — either make your own or store-bought. Ice cold lemon water

You discover that the person you’re head-over-heels interested in loves a good homemade & handmade dessert. What will you concoct when you have this person over? Chocolate chip brownies

What would you leave in your will for the person you care about the most?

Everything

What do you consider to the most valuable thing you own: when you were a child/teenager/now? I don’t own anything really valuable

What’s the kindest act you have ever seen done? Just people giving back and being selfless

If you could have any job in the world, which one would you want? Forensic Accountant

What are your best/worst subjects in school and what subjects would you want to learn now? Best was science and worst was math, I’d love to learn all about history from start to now!

What are you most talented at? Nothing lol

What is your worst nightmare today? Lose my job

How often do you clean between your toes? Every time I shower

What is your favorite way to waste time at work without getting caught? Incognito internet lol

If you could have had the starring role in one film already made, which movie would you pick? Mean Girls

If you were to perform in the circus, what would you do? The ones that fly and flip in the air

If you could eliminate one thing you do each day in the bathroom so that you never had to do it again, what would it be? If it didn’t affect my health, brush my teeth lol

You were just given a yacht. What would you name it? Dreamer

If you could have been told one thing that you weren’t told when you were a teenager, what would you like to have heard? Really research what you want to major in, look up the jobs in the market that relate to that major, what do you really need? An associates or bachelors?

You’ve just been hired to a promotions position at Kellog Co. What would you put in a new breakfast cereal box as a gimmick? Coupons for free cereal

Just like “Everybody Wang Chung tonight!”, what action would your name be if it were a verb? What the fuck???

Name your favorite song. Right now it is Santa Baby because its like 4 days til Christmas lol

#random #short #long #survey #courtneyhelene

[shimmershae]

Counting Stars, Chapter 1 (a Walking Dead story, Caryl + Sophia, more).

The story continues. 

 The real story starts with a little girl lost in the woods.

 My response to the Nine Lives "Find Your G-Spot" June challenge.  Think The Princess Bride meets The Walking Dead.  Sort of, lol.  AU with appearances by multiple characters.  Rating subject to change. 

   Author's Notes:

The story continues. 

Counting Stars

 xx1xx

  He settles for some coffee, fixes himself a mug and takes it to the front porch, the wide, worn planks warm beneath his bare feet.  Eyeing the wilting plants on the top step in their clay pots, he shakes his head.  He’d told Mrs. McLeod they weren’t a good idea, not a practical one, at least, with him being gone so much on various jobs, but the arthritic old widow just wouldn’t be swayed, and now he’s stuck, performing life-saving measures on the pitiful petals every few weeks to avoid hurting her feelings.  He adds Miracle-Gro to his ever growing, ever-evolving mental list and drains the last dregs of caffeine, scratching idly at his chest as he takes in the still-slumbering neighborhood. 

  <3<3<3

                                                                        “I know a Mrs. McLeod!” 

 “Don’t say.” 

 <3<3<3

   The mailbox catches his attention again, and he leaves his mug on the porch railing, heads down the steps. 

 Weeds poke up through the stones that make up the walkway, stubborn and proud.  A bird, round and cheerful, flits from stone to stone ahead of him before finally deciding to take flight, darting to a low-hanging branch nearby and watching him curiously. 

 He grunts out a laugh.  Something so small shouldn’t act so suspicious, but he supposes it’s no surprise.  He’s been gone a long time, almost a month this time.  Spring was just a faint scent in the air and the days were just beginning to warm last time he traveled this same pathway.  Surely, he’s a stranger to his feathered friend, and that’s not all, it seems. 

 The house across the street, vacant since the Fords’ last, more permanent split, shows signs of new life.  The overgrown flower garden that Rosita never seemed to find time for is a vibrant rainbow of color, not tamed exactly, but obviously cared for and appreciated.  The shutters wear a fresh coat of paint, and a child’s bicycle rests on its side in the tidy yard. 

 He wonders at this new development as he gathers the various flyers and envelopes into his arms from the mailbox, bends to retrieve the rest.  The mirroring clay pots resting on the top step, though, tell him he won’t have to wonder long, and so, he takes his mail and goes back inside.  He’s got that list to work on, after all. 

  <3<3<3

 “That’s it?” 

 “Don’t have to sound so unimpressed.” 

 “Where’s the princess?” 

 “Y’ain’t payin’ attention.” 

 “Am, too.” 

 “Patience, Baby Girl.” 

 “M’not a baby.” 

 “You gonna fuss all night or listen to the story?” 

 “Fine.” 

 “Where were we?” 

 “You was skipping to the good part.” 

 “Not so fast.  Still some story to tell ‘fore then.  Don’t make that face.” 

 “What face?” 

 “That one.  Look like somebody else I know.” 

 “Who?” 

 “Never you mind ‘bout that. Think you’ll like this part, princess or not.” 

 “Fine.” 

 “That it?  I’m a good mind to save my breath.  Tell this story to somebody more appreciative-like.” 

 “M’sorry.” 

 “What’s that?” 

 “Don’t stop.  Please.” 

 “Since you askin’ so nicely.” 

                                                                                                      <3<3<3

                                                                                                      The ride into town isn’t far, and it doesn’t take him long to stock up on groceries and all the other necessities because he’s a man of simple tastes.  Before he knows it, he has everything on his list taken care of but for one thing, one very important thing. 

                                                                                                     The gateway to the Greene farm stands open when he rounds that final bend in the road, Otis’s truck nearby. 

 He nods at the man himself, drums his fingers on the steering wheel as he lets his vehicle idle and the friendly farm hand approach. 

 “Good to see you made it back.” 

 “You thinkin’ I wouldn’t?” 

 Otis draws his hat down from his head, fumbles his fingers through his graying goatee.  His face breaks into an amiable smile as soon as he realizes he’s being teased, in George’s deadpan way, and he replaces his hat, the sun already high and beaming overhead and the Georgia heat making sweat bead on his brow.  Noticing the bags in the floor of the truck, he doesn’t waste any more time, directing him onward.  “She’s up at the main house with the girls.  Doc Greene thought she’d benefit from the company.  She’s missed you something awful.” 

 “Missed her,” he admits. 

 Otis doesn’t make a big deal out of the confession.  He just nods and slaps his palm against the truck’s sun-warmed door.  “Best be gettin’ on then.  Might take you awhile to convince that young-un to part with her.” 

 “Thanks.” 

  <3<3<3

 “Does George have a little girl?  Is it Princess Sophia?”

 “Got a one-track mind, Baby Girl.” 

 “No, I don’t.” 

 “Do, too.” 

 “Do not.  I didn’t even ask…” 

 “Didn’t ask what?”

 “Nothin’.” 

 “Ain’t nothin’.  Know you.  Don’t give me those eyes.  Might as well spit it out.”

 “Is George’s Doc Greene our Doc Greene?” 

 “Didn’t know he was ours, but maybe.  Just gonna have to listen and find out for yourself.” 

 “Well…” 

 “Well, what?” 

 “I’m waitin’.” 

  <3<3<3

  The little one cries when he drives up, fat tears welling in those too-big eyes of hers and her shiny blond ponytail shaking as she hurries inside.  Ms. Annette just shakes her head at him and smiles because it doesn’t take two seconds after he’s opened that creaky-old door before he’s got his arms and his lap full. 

 “That dog knows the sound of your truck.” 

 “Everybody in King County knows the sound of his truck, Annette.” 

 He ducks his head, dodges the most exuberant of the canine’s slobbering kisses, but he can’t miss them all and he soon gives up trying.  “Thanks for lookin’ after her.” 

 “You know our Bethie’s always been partial to her, has been since the beginning.  It wasn’t no imposition, Son.  You know that.  Fact of the matter is, there’s been a time or two while you’ve been gone that I’ve experienced some regrets.” 

 He doesn’t press the man for more because he doesn’t have to.  He knows exactly what he’s referring to.  He rears his head back to look into a pair of intelligent brown eyes, and he’s sent back to that very first moment, when she was nothing more than a tiny, shivering wet ball of black and white fur abandoned in a road-side ditch.  One small whimper toward him and pink swipe of her timid tongue, and he hadn’t the heart to leave her behind as others already had.  He’d wrapped her up in his flannel over-shirt and turned the heat on high blast, making the old truck sputter and groan all the way to the veterinarian’s country-side practice.  The little one had been there that day, and she’d fallen in love, straight away.  Fate and Doc Greene, though, had had other plans, and it wasn’t even a week later that he was puppy-proofing his whole house.  That little bit of fluff had made coming home worth it ever since.  Still, sometimes he wonders if he’s doing right by her, leaving her so often and for so long.  Ms. Annette kindly intervenes before he can voice those thoughts. 

 “Seems to me Tsu made her own choice a long time ago.” 

 Her husband echoes his agreement with a grin.  “Reckon you’re right.  She’s been missing you.” 

 “I heard.”  If he sounds a little happy about that fact, well.  He missed her, too.  Giving the dog’s ears a playful tug, he smirks when she barks at him.  He looks down when he feels a soft touch on his arm.  It’s the older girl, tomboyish and independent where the little one is soft, and she looks up at him with eyes as green as gems. 

 “Stay for a little bit.  Please.  Just long enough for Bethie to see that Tsu’s happy.” 

 “I’d like to, but I got groceries needin’ to be put in the fridge.” 

 Ms. Annette comes to her stepdaughter’s aid, closing her hands over the girl’s sturdy shoulders and giving them a fond squeeze.  “I can put those in our fridge for you, just for a little bit, and you can join us for a bite of lunch.” 

 “When’s the last time you had a home-cooked meal, Son?” 

 His stomach growls before he can formulate a response.  It really has been a while.  Gruffly, he agrees, “Alright.  Sure you don’t mind?” 

 “Mind?  You know you two are always welcome.” 

  <3<3<3

  “It is our Doc Greene!” 

 “What makes you so sure ‘bout that?” 

 “Because he’s nice.” 

 “That all you’re basin’ your assumption on?” 

 “What’s ‘ssumption mean?” 

 “Don’t worry ‘bout that.  How else you know it’s the same Doc Greene?”  

 “He has a Bethie, too.  But she’s not little.” 

 “Maybe she’s not little anymore.” 

 “Maybe he’s not our Doc Greene.” 

 “Confusin’ you?” 

 “No.” 

 “Sure?” 

 “Maybe a little bit.” 

 “You sleepy yet?” 

 “No.”

 “Could swallow whole watermelons with that yawn.” 

 “M’not yawnin’.” 

 “Sure ‘bout that, Baby Girl?” 

 “Don’t stop the story.  George still hasn’t seen his presents or met the princess yet.” 

 “You callin’ my story borin’?  Done told you…” 

 “Pretty please with a cherry on top?” 

 “And chocolate sauce?” 

 “Lots.” 

 “Alright.  Don’t want you bein’ disappointed though.  Presents ain’t always what you think they are.” 

 “Huh?” 

 “Just listen and let me tell my story.”

 “’kay.” 

 “Sure you ain’t sleepy?” 

 “Real sure.” 

 “Real real sure?” 

 “Real real real.” 

 “Alright.” 

 “Finally.”

  <3<3<3

   He forgets about the mail until he’s back home, groceries packed away and Tsu lazing around on the couch like she never left it, tuckered out from a sun-drenched afternoon filled with games of tag on the Greene farm.  He sits at the table and sorts it into piles, and sure enough, most of it’s junk.  Some of it’s not, though, and he takes care of the bills first.  He hesitates over the envelope from West Georgia Correctional Facility, but in the end, he chooses to let it wait.  It’s been a long first day back already, and he’s not sure he’s physically or emotionally ready to deal with picking out the truth between the lines of his brother’s words.  Soon, he comes to the bottom of the pile and he frowns.  It seems Stookey has struck again, the proof right there in front of him and addressed to one Mrs. Carol Peletier, apparently the proud new owner of Sergeant Ford’s old place. 

  <3<3<3

  “What’s a ‘rectional cility?” 

 “It’s a place where…know what?  It ain’t important.” 

 “But what is it?  What do people do there?” 

 “They learn to be good again.” 

 “Were they bad before?” 

 “Some of ‘em.  Some of ‘em just got lost.” 

 “Like that time Gabby got lost and we found her up in a tree?” 

 “Not exactly.” 

 “How then?” 

 “That’s a conversation for another time, Baby Girl.” 

 “I’m not a baby.” 

 “Not a big girl either.  Not yet.” 

                                                                                                     “Yes, I am.” 

 “No.  You’re in between.  Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.  You’ll grow up soon ‘nough.” 

 “How soon?” 

 “Too soon.” 

 “How soon is too soon?” 

 “Blink of an eye.  ‘Fore you know it, you won’t want me tellin’ you stories no more.” 

 “That ain’t true.” 

 “Why?” 

 “Just ain’t.” 

 “Tuck your toes in, Baby Girl.” 

 “M’snug as a bug in a rug.” 

 “That so?” 

 “Uh huh.” 

 “Good. Just a little bit more and that’s it for tonight.  We’ll save the rest of the story for later.” 

 “M’kay.” 

 “Sleepy, ain’t you?” 

 “Don’t wanna be.” 

 “Know.  You’ll have sweet dreams.  I’ll make sure of it.” 

 “Promise?” 

 “Promise.” 

  <3<3<3

  The sun is setting before he finally works up the nerve to walk over there.  The crickets are out in full force, and that quiet little girl from three doors down is chasing after lightning bugs with her dad, mason jars in hand.  He can’t remember her name.  It’s short and foreign-sounding, and he wonders if the family are travelers, must be with a name like that, but it’s a fleeting thought because it doesn’t take long at all to walk up those three wide steps.  He clenches the envelope between his sweaty palms and swallows.  He doesn’t have a chance to knock on the door before it is pulled open and another little girl and a woman spill through it, nearly plowing into him.  There’s a blanket tucked beneath the woman’s arm and a melting popsicle in the child’s hands, and they look just as startled or more so than he feels, and it takes a few moments before any of them rediscover the power of speech.  The little girl reaches for the woman’s free hand, and that seems to do the trick. 

 “I’m sorry.  You are?” 

 “M’your neighbor,” he offers. 

 “My neighbor?  Oh.  You think I’m Carol.” 

 “You’re not?” 

 A small voice butts in then, soft and shy and apologetic all at once.  “Aunt Andrea.  You promised.”

 The woman stoops to the little girl’s level, hands over the blanket with a reassuring smile.  “Why don’t you pick us out a good spot for counting while I talk to the nice man, okay?  I’ll be right there.” 

 They both turn to watch the little girl scamper across the yard and arrange the blanket just so.  He smirks a little when he sees her lick a trail up her arm, the popsicle fast dwindling in her hand and painting her skin in cherry stickiness.  His amusement fast fades when he catches the woman watching him with hawkish blue-green eyes, her mouth curling at the corners.  Feeling uncomfortable under her scrutiny, he glances away for a brief moment, shoves the envelope into her hands.  “Postman left Mrs. Peletier’s mail in my box by mistake.” 

 “Thank you for bringing it by.” 

 “Ain’t nothin’.” 

 She laughs a little, the sound not unkind.  She crosses her arms across her chest and considers him. 

 He doesn’t miss those eyes of hers glance downward at his left hand.  He can feel the usual heat of embarrassment creep along his skin in response, and he burrows his hands deep in his pockets, nods his head.  “Just wanted to make sure she got her mail.  I’ll just…over there.”  Her voice stops him before he can fully turn around.   

 “You’re the man with the dog.” 

 “Lots of people in this neighborhood with dogs,” he answers.  He’s not sure why, though.  It’s just prolonging this whole uncomfortable encounter and he wants nothing more than to escape to his own little piece of peace, close that door behind him.  The woman has other ideas.  She just keeps talking. 

 “But your dog is no ordinary dog.” 

 Another woman steps outside, and the two link hands.  Her eyes are just as deep and warm as the color of her skin, and her smile bright as she regards him.  “Definitely not an ordinary dog.  Not according to Sophia.” 

 “She does tricks.  I saw her, Aunt ‘Chonne.” 

 He looks down, surprised to find the little girl at his side and staring up at him in something akin to secondhand wonder.  There are freckles on her pale skin, all across her cheeks and her button nose.  She’s small and she’s delicate, and he’s sure she’d weigh next to nothing in his arms.  It’s a strange thought, one that finally spurs him into action.  “Not tricks.  She just listens.  Make sure your mama gets her mail, ‘kay?” 

 “Yes, Sir,” the little girl solemnly promises.    

 It takes less time for him to cross the distance this time, but his escape still isn’t quick enough. 

 “She’s not married!  In case you’re curious about her.  Carol.” 

 “Andrea!” 

   <3<3<3

  “Sleep, Baby Girl.  There’ll be more tomorrow.” 

    End Notes:

Thanks for reading!!!

 Feedback would be wonderful. 

#The Walking Dead #Caryl fanfiction #Caryl #Carol x Daryl #Daddy Daryl #Carol Peletier #Daryl Dixon #Sophia Peletier #Hershel Greene #Maggie Greene #Beth Greene #Mrs. McLeod #Otis #Annette Greene #Rosita Espinosa #Abraham Ford #Bob Stookey #Andrea Harrison #Michonne #original character #things that make me smile and cry

[thatsnomoonknightlight]

What is your favorite Gary Oldman role? What is your dream role for him? (Upcoming or existing)

Asking the tough questions here anon. I’m not gunna lie I had to go to Gary’s imdb cause I have a list of things I absolutely adore him in, which is basically his filmography, to see if there was anything I didn’t love him in. And really I came up blank, so I’ll list my top 5 Oldman films

1. The 5th Element - probably totally cliche answer for fave Oldman film, but hey it’s true

2. The Professional - again, another super fucking popular answer but here we are I love it

3. Air Force One - that’s right I said it! I fucking LOVE this dumb movie and it’s where my love for my husband’s boyfriend first truly reared it’s ugly head. If you don’t think Gary Oldman is a least a little bit in love with Harrison Ford you’re crazy! (My husband is Harrison Ford just fyi)

4. Lost in Space - oooooh boy, this movie shaped my life probably. As a kid I never knew it was a TV show originally (and of course when I found it I watched every ep) but I read the movie novelization, if Air Force One didn’t cement my love for him this one did

5. Rosencratz and Guildenstern Are Dead - So Hamlet is my favorite Shakespeare play and I adore Tim Roth so this movie was destined to be one of my favorites.

As for dream roles...wow idk I mean we have the Churchhill one coming up which I am beyond excited for (bonus points Ben is in it!). I loved him in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy so he’s filled my love of 70s spy movies, he has Dracula to fill my monster movie needs, and he was Sirius Black who was my favorite character before he was cast. So picking something for him to do is really tough. I do have to say I would LOVE to see him in the next Indiana Jones movie, but that’s more cause I need my husband and his boyfriend in a movie again lol

#my favorite anon #Anonymous

[harryspaceshipmchale]

community ;))) (even though im guessing you'll have like, 17 of these asks)

In-depth Fandom Qs

Pshhhhffff, I wish! But hehe, tHANKS! Here we go…

Top 5 favourite characters:

1. Jeff Winger2. Abed Nadir3. Annie Edison4. Troy Barnes5. Britta Perry

Other characters you like:

Craig! Shirley! Chang! 

Least favourite character:

Pierce… or Rich. LOL.

Otps:

Jeff x AnnieJeff x AbedJeff x Bob (Waite)Britta x Troy

Notps:

Jeff x BrittaJeff x with anybody else but Annie

Favourite friendship:

Jeff & Abed

Favourite family:

The Study Group! Jeff, Annie, Abed, Britta, Troy, Shirley and Pierce :)

Favourite episode:

Oh god, I can’t pick one. I’ll give you a list of some of my favourites…

Communication Studies

Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television

Cooperative Calligraphy

Asian Population Studies

Intro to Finality

Oh god, I could go on for hours.

Favourite season/book/movie:

Season 2. I think a lot happens and the characters grow and it’s just… good. I love Season 3 too, but the episodes are so memorable that I don’t really rewatch it that often.

Favourite quote:

In terms of a sort of, heartfelt quote, IDK why I’ve always really loved this one from Jeff in Modern Espionage: 

“We self-destruct like this because we’d rather be heroes and villains than just kind of sucky people that need to work at getting less sucky.”

Moment that made you fangirl/boy the hardest:

Ummmm, not sure. DK if that applies.

When it really disappointed you:

Season 4… and also, the fact that Jeff and Annie never actually dated on the show (kinda bummed but happy to deal with what we got).

Saddest moment:

Jeff. Standing over the study room table. Thinking about married life with Annie. His face. His sadness. 

Most well done character death:

It was dehydration from filling up all of those cylinders. - RIP Pierce. 

Favourite guest star:

Nathan Fillion because of my new headcanon of Jeff and Bob becoming best friends.

Favourite cast member:

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)Bet you can’t guess. Go on, try!( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Jeol McHlea

Character you wish was still alive:

Umm… well nobody really died other than Pierce and Vice Dean Laybourne and Pierce’s dad… so… nobody really.

One thing you hope really happens:

…#andamovie

Most shocking twist:

In true Community style - when Jeff looked like he was running to Annie, but he was in fact, running to Rich in Asian Population Studies.

When did you start watching/reading:

About June 2015? So yeah, you can probably see how disappointed I was when I realised I’d just missed watching the show in real time :))))

Trope you wish they would stop using:

Wished* I guess - IDK. Like… nothing. Community did tropes better than anyone because they were never too trope-y.

One thing this show/book/film does better than others:

EVERYTHING. EVERRRRYYYYTTTHINGGGG.

Funniest moments:

Once again, EVERYTHING.

Couple you would like to see:

*cries* Jeff and Annie, obviously.

Actor/Actress you want to join the cast:

Hmm, IDK. I don’t think I can think of anyone who would have been any better on the show. The whole cast was always amazing, even the side characters.

Most boring plotline:

Every Season 4 episode.Also Bondage and Beta Male Sexuality was pretty dull because it didn’t really make sense with Jeff and Britta, and Annie and Shirley went off to have McDonalds.

Best flashback/flashfoward if any:

Every single one during Paradigms of Human Memory but especially– “HARRISON FORD IS RADIATING OUR TESTICLES WITH MICROWAVE SATELLITE TRANSMISSIONS”

Most layered character:

Jeffrey Tobias Winger. Underneath it all he’s such a beautiful and wonderful person and he deserves so much love.

Scariest moment:

When Dan Harmon thought IT WOULD BE OKAY TO ALMOST KILL JEFF AND END IT WITH A GROUP HUG.

Grossest moment:

Either the Jeff and Britta tongue kiss of Anthropology 101 (although it was hilarious) or when Buddy (Jack Black)’s character started singing “Annie gonna move her luscious fanny all day long”.

Best looking male:

Do I even need to say it? It’s like you don’t know me at all.  Jeol McHlea.

Best looking female:

Alison Brie, I suppose. 

Who you’re crushing on (if any):

I mean, COME ON.  Jeol McHlea, DO YOU NOT GET THE IDEA??

Most beautiful scene (scenery/shot wise):

To be honest in the Pilot when Jeff’s sat on his own - that’s pretty special. But also after Jeff and Annie’s kiss in Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television and they’re just standing on their own holding hands - MAN, THE LIGHTING AND EVERYTHING. 

Unanswered question/continuity issue/plot error that bugs you:

Can’t think of anything right now…. hmmm. Not really. 

At what point did you fall in love with this show/book:

Probably like 3 episodes in. I was like - YAS. THIS. IS. IT.

#asks #answers #indepth meme #bumblebeeslies #this was funn!!!

[reneehearts]

28: Top 3 instagram accounts you follow longislandnypups, xomissdanielle, Jonasbrothers

29: Top 3 guilty pleasures ice cream, puppies, Selena Gomez

30: Top 3 summer activities swimming, walking my dog, just being outside

31: Top 3 things to draw stars, hearts, flowers

32: Top 3 aesthetics pastel, neon, rustic

33: Top 3 things you'd buy if you gained three million dollars my dream house, a lot of dogs, a private jet

34: Top 3 ways to treat yourself Ice cream, pedicure, face mask

35: Top 3 celebrity crushes Chris Evans, ryan gosling, Aaron judge

36: Top 3 books from your childhood baby sitters club, babysitters little sister, two of a kind Olsen twins books

37: Top 3 accents to hear British, Australian, Canadian

38: Top 3 scents pine tree, vanilla, apple

39: Top 3 "friends" quotes ugh I love friends but I’m blanking in quotes rn

40: Top 3 cupcake flavors funfetti, vanilla, chocolate

41: Top 3 fruits banana, raspberries, peach

42: Top 3 places you've had amazing pizza from Timothy’s, Jimmy’s umberto’s

43: Top 3 sports teams to watch Yankees and whoever are playing the Yankees

44: Top 3 crayola colors idr the names

45: Top 3 things you hope to accomplish in college

46: Top 3 fanfictions you've read I only read jonas brothers ones when I was in high school lol

47: Top 3 people you miss right now Donna, jimmy, Bry

48: Top 3 fears burning alive/fires, heights, not finding happiness

49: Top 3 favorite literary devices simile, foreshadowing, satire

50: Top 3 pet peeves ppl who don’t use their blinkers, when ppl are inconsiderate, when the same song is playing on 2 different radio stations

51: Top 3 physical things you find attractive calves, abs, smile

52: Top 3 bad habits ED, getting sucked into depression, and idk I’m sure something else and many more

53: Top 3 pets you've had/wish to have dog, hamster and I wish monkey

54: Top 3 types of foreign food italian, Greek, Mexican

55: Top 3 things you want to say to someone in your lifetime idek how to start answering this

56: Top 3 dog breeds Australian Shepherd, yorkie, corgi

57: Top 3 cheesy romance movies the notebook, a walk to remember, the last song

58: Top 3 languages you speak/wish to speak wish- italian, French, Spanish

59: Top 3 series (book, movie, television) friends, himym, new girl

60: Top 3 pizza toppings cheese, pepperoni, that’s it

61: Top 3 youtubers you're subscribed to

62: Top 3 tattoo/piercing ideas I have all of my ideas done

63: Top 3 awards you want to win I don’t really need to win an award

64: Top 3 emojis 😍😂🙈

65: Top 3 cars you dream of owning pickup truck, 2009 Ford Escape (again), and idk I don’t care about cars too much

66: Top 3 authors Gillian Flynn, tana French, Sara Gruen

67: Top 3 historical figures MLK Jr, Abraham Lincoln, Anne Frank

68: Top 3 baby names Juliette, violet, hazel

69: Top 3 DIYs

70: Top 3 smoothie combos/flavors strawberry banana, peach, and idk

71: Top 3 songs of this month happy when I’m sad-jonas brothers, take your breath away-yams, shake it out- Florence

72: Top 3 questions of this post you want to be asked

73: Top 3 villains hades, scar, and idk

74: Top 3 Cities you want to see a few in Germany, Sydney, Portland, Oregon

75: Top 3 recipes you want to try a raspberry crumble bar, lemon poppy seed muffin, blondies

76: Top 3 dream jobs ice cream store owner, social worker, dog breeder

77: Top 3 lucky items I don’t really have any idt

78: Top 3 traditions you have Christmas Eve traditions - matching pajamas, reindeer food, gingerbread cookies

79: Top 3 things you miss about being a kid no bills, no responsibilities, no depression/anxiety

80: Top 3 harry potter characters

81: Top 3 lies you were told like Santa or the Easter bunny or like secrets about ppl?

82: Top 3 pictures in your camera roll right now any of my puppy

83: Top 3 turn ons abs, passion for me, confidence

84: Top 3 turn offs lies, not paying attention to me, no ambition

85: Top 3 magazines/news papers/ journals to read

86: Top 3 things you wish you had known earlier I really don’t know

87: Top 3 spongebob episodes never really watched

88: Top 3 places to be in the world my bed, the arms of someone I love, cuddling with my dog bailey

89: Top 3 things you'd do differently get my bachelors in social work, a couple interactions with ppl and and I can’t think of anything

90: Top 3 TV shows from your childhood Lizzie McGuire, Hannah Montana, zoey 101

91: Top 3 meals you love hamburgers, spaghetti and meatballs, sweets and ABeets salad or apple salad from Panera

92: Top 3 kinds of tea black tea, earl grey, Irish breakfast tea

93: Top 3 embarrassing moments putting my foot in the muddy tree, thinking someone else was my mom and holding her hand, being yelled at for going to the bathroom

94: Top 3 holidays to celebrate Christmas, thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve

95: Top 3 things to do in the rain cuddle, watch tv, sleep

96: Top 3 things to do in the snow watch from inside/cuddle, drink hot chocolate, read

97: Top 3 items you can't leave the house w/o phone, ID, and rn a face mask 😂😭

98: Top 3 movies you'd like to see I don’t really like movies

99: Top 3 art mediums

100: Top 3 museums you've been to

101: Top 3 school memories Bronx zoo field trip, 8th grade field trip - lion king on broadway, Mr Flynn

102: Top 3 things you don't/Won't miss not being able to drive, going to classes, living in college dorms

103: Top 3 pick up lines

104: Top 3 sports to watch baseball, baseball, baseball

105: Top 3 taylor swift songs delicate, haunted, blank space

[preciousmetals0]

Aurora-Coke Rumors: All Smoke and No Toke

Aurora-Coke Rumors: All Smoke and No Toke:

Share a Coke With Aurora Cannabis?

Are you well rested from the holiday break?

I hope so, because I have a doozy of a conspiracy theory in the cannabis sector for you today. It involves the most widely held stock on Robinhood and the world’s largest soft drink maker.

Before we get to the speculation, let’s start with the facts.

On Monday, Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) announced that Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Cam Battley was leaving the company. Battley was considered the face of Aurora, so his leaving hit investor sentiment hard.

What’s more, analysts at Jefferies downgraded Aurora to hold from buy on the news. “It is clear to us that the market is lacking conviction in Aurora, and this update will do little to help that,” the ratings firm said in a note to clients.

ACB plunged 8% on Monday as a result.

Now for the speculation. A gentleman by the name of “Gabor the Blind Guy” posted a video to YouTube earlier this week where he tries to open a new childproof lid his father designed for Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO). According to Gabor, this childproof lid is for a new cannabidiol (CBD) drink that Coke is releasing in Canada.

Coke childproof lids? Coke CBD drinks?

There’s nothing in the news about any of this … save for one article over at TheCannabisStock.com.

Anyone else remember the last company Coke was talking with to produce CBD drinks?

That’s right: Aurora Cannabis.

The Takeaway: 

Don’t go looking on YouTube for the video — it’s gone.

In fact, Gabor’s entire YouTube account is gone. So are his Facebook and Twitter accounts. I’m thinking someone accidentally broke a nondisclosure agreement here. Oops.

But this is the digital information age. Nothing is ever truly gone. In fact, you can find a mirror of the video here (while it lasts).

Now, I don’t need to tell you that Aurora could really use a boost … and a deal with Coke would be a major coup for the cannabis company. Aurora just rolled out its Cannabis 2.0 products in Canada, including a long list of edibles, vapes and drinks. A Coke-backed Cannabis 2.0 drink could send ACB to the moon.

What’s more, what if CCO Battley only moved out of Aurora (and into an Aurora subsidiary) to make way for a Coke representative ahead of a CBD drink deal?

The possibilities are tantalizing, aren’t they?

For an expert’s take on the situation, I reached out to Banyan Hill’s resident pot stocks guru, Anthony Planas. Here’s what he had to say:

I saw it on Reddit. I think it’s BS.

Clearly not the take we anticipated, but it’s a stark reminder that any potential tie-up between Aurora and Coke is purely speculation at this point.

Thank you, Anthony, for bringing us all back to earth on this one.

As it turns out, Anthony was right. Just before Great Stuff hit the presses, Coke issued a statement: “As we have stated many times, we have no plans to enter the CBD market.” Bummer.

Remember, the cannabis sector is quite volatile right at the moment. You need an expert to help guide you through the rumors and speculation. To that end, Anthony and Real Wealth Strategist editor Matt Badiali have come up with five pot stocks you “must own” right now … before more states legalize.

Click here to find out more!

Good: Tesla Smokes $420

It was bound to happen … and when it did, CEO Elon Musk was just itching to make a joke.

On Monday, Tesla Inc. (Nasdaq: TSLA) hit $420 per share. The milestone prompted Musk to tweet out: “Whoa … the stock is so high lol.”

All jokes aside, Tesla is smoking right now. The shares are up a whopping 1,600% since their initial public offering, with optimism over the new Chinese Gigafactory driving bullish sentiment right through that burning Walmart roof.

Analysts are even jumping on board, albeit reluctantly. Today, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives lifted his price target on TSLA to $370 from $270, citing strong demand for the Model 3. While Ives gave a nod to “massive short covering” for Tesla’s recent resurgence, he also pointed out “underlying fundamental improvement” at the company. After all, Tesla turned a surprise profit last quarter.

But the short squeeze story can’t be ignored. Tesla shorts have … well … lost their shorts by betting against the company. And there’s more to come. ShortSqueeze.com reports that 27.5 million TSLA shares remain sold short after a 4% decline in the latest reporting period.

Those remaining 27.5 million shares still account for about 20.5% of Tesla’s total float (or shares available for public trading). With TSLA still climbing, how much longer can these remaining bears hold out before they’re forced to buy as well?

Better: Riveting Competition 

When Tesla unveiled its new Cybertruck, the internet had a field day making fun of the “truck’s” odd design features. Not since the Pontiac Aztek have we seen a vehicle so, well … ugly.

With so few true competitors, it looked like energy-conscious truck enthusiasts (yes, they do exist) were stuck driving a truck designed by a six-year-old. That is, until Rivian secured a massive amount of funding.

Rivian is an electric vehicle startup that’s drawn considerable interest from backers as of late, especially after Tesla’s Cybertruck made its debut. Rivian’s trucks and SUVs look more like traditional vehicles than anything Tesla makes, providing a level of confidence to key backers.

So much so that the company announced it raked in $1.3 billion in funding in its latest investment drive — its largest to date. Big names are lining up behind Rivian, including Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) and Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN).

Rivian is expected to start delivering trucks and SUVs next year. Are we witnessing the emergence of a true competitor in the electric vehicle market?

Best: Breaking Records

I honestly don’t know why more people don’t shop online during the holiday season … or at any point during the year, for that matter. It’s like y’all didn’t get the memo: You don’t have to fight hordes of people to buy things anymore.

This year, online shopping saw more converts than ever. According to data from Mastercard, e-commerce sales surged to a record high, rising 18.8% from 2018 to account for 14.6% of total retail sales in the U.S.

Naturally, the big winner here is Amazon. The e-commerce giant said this past holiday shopping season was “record-breaking.” The company reported 5 million new Prime subscriptions (free trial and paid). What’s more, traffic at Amazon pickup points was up 60% year over year.

Here’s the surprising thing: Amazon stock is actually down more than 6% in the past six months. The shares lag the S&P 500 Index by about 8% for the past 12 months.

So, what gives? Amazon’s spending spree, that’s what. After the company posted its first profit drop in two years back in October, investors have been reluctant to push AMZN higher.

That’s a mistake. Amazon has proven time and time again that it knows how to invest in itself. This latest spending round was on one-day shipping and content for Prime TV. These investments will pay for themselves. We’ll see proof of that in Amazon’s holiday quarter earnings report.

Before I sign off and try to steal another Hawaiian roll — the King’s Hawaiian ones are OK, but homemade rolls help me feast like an emperor — it’s time for a helping of Reader Feedback.

But Great Stuff, you didn’t even ask us for any feedback this week!

No, but “readers gonna read” … and write in.

And I’m grateful for all the feedback and comments you send in.

This week, y’all got personal with the questions. The holidays bring out all kinds of folks. (Especially out on the roads by me … jeez, how many of you really went last-minute with the shopping?)

So, I thought it’d be a wholesome, festive Kodak moment to respond to some of your questions about the great stuff behind Great Stuff.

Brian E. asked:

When and why did you get into trading? I’m trying to convince my son to turn off Counter-Strike and start investing. Any advice?

Well, Brian, at least it’s Counter-Strike and not Fortnite. I don’t have the … umm … poetic license here at Great Stuff to tell you how I truly feel about Fortnite.

As a lifelong video game fan, I initially saw trading as yet another type of “game” to master. It was a challenge. With the right knowledge, I too could win this game played by billionaires.

Yes, I was young and naïve, but I never shrank from that challenge. To this day, I continue to search for that edge — that “cheat code,” if you will — that will help me (and now you) make it big.

Gwenn M. wanted to know:

Your movie references are all over the place (in the best way)! Any one favorite?

As you know, Gwenn, I have an affinity for ’80s movies — everything from Top Gun and E.T. to Indiana Jones and anything made by the great John Hughes. I also have a big weak spot for Monty Python and dry British humor.

But my real favorite, the pièce de résistance, is Star Wars. The Empire Strikes Back was the first movie I ever saw in a theater. It was a masterpiece. So, for better or for worse, Great Stuff readers get more Star Wars memes than any other.

I have spoken.

Short and sweet, Suze said:

Do you have a quote you live by?

Suze, there are, in fact, three quotes that I live by … one for investing in the market and two for life.

For the market, I live by the words of John Maynard Keynes: “Markets can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent.”

For life, my favorite is by Robin William’s character, John Keating, in Dead Poets Society: “But only in their dreams can men be truly free. ‘Twas always thus, and always thus will be.”

But equally important is one my grandfather told me jokingly decades ago: “Don’t sweat the petty things, and don’t pet the sweaty things.”

I don’t think you can go wrong with any of those quotes.

And on that note, you can look forward to more meme-fueled festivities tomorrow.

Until next time, good trading!

Regards,

Joseph Hargett

Great Stuff Managing Editor, Banyan Hill Publishing

[goldira01]

Share a Coke With Aurora Cannabis?

Are you well rested from the holiday break?

I hope so, because I have a doozy of a conspiracy theory in the cannabis sector for you today. It involves the most widely held stock on Robinhood and the world’s largest soft drink maker.

Before we get to the speculation, let’s start with the facts.

On Monday, Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) announced that Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Cam Battley was leaving the company. Battley was considered the face of Aurora, so his leaving hit investor sentiment hard.

What’s more, analysts at Jefferies downgraded Aurora to hold from buy on the news. “It is clear to us that the market is lacking conviction in Aurora, and this update will do little to help that,” the ratings firm said in a note to clients.

ACB plunged 8% on Monday as a result.

Now for the speculation. A gentleman by the name of “Gabor the Blind Guy” posted a video to YouTube earlier this week where he tries to open a new childproof lid his father designed for Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO). According to Gabor, this childproof lid is for a new cannabidiol (CBD) drink that Coke is releasing in Canada.

Coke childproof lids? Coke CBD drinks?

There’s nothing in the news about any of this … save for one article over at TheCannabisStock.com.

Anyone else remember the last company Coke was talking with to produce CBD drinks?

That’s right: Aurora Cannabis.

The Takeaway: 

Don’t go looking on YouTube for the video — it’s gone.

In fact, Gabor’s entire YouTube account is gone. So are his Facebook and Twitter accounts. I’m thinking someone accidentally broke a nondisclosure agreement here. Oops.

But this is the digital information age. Nothing is ever truly gone. In fact, you can find a mirror of the video here (while it lasts).

Now, I don’t need to tell you that Aurora could really use a boost … and a deal with Coke would be a major coup for the cannabis company. Aurora just rolled out its Cannabis 2.0 products in Canada, including a long list of edibles, vapes and drinks. A Coke-backed Cannabis 2.0 drink could send ACB to the moon.

What’s more, what if CCO Battley only moved out of Aurora (and into an Aurora subsidiary) to make way for a Coke representative ahead of a CBD drink deal?

The possibilities are tantalizing, aren’t they?

For an expert’s take on the situation, I reached out to Banyan Hill’s resident pot stocks guru, Anthony Planas. Here’s what he had to say:

I saw it on Reddit. I think it’s BS.

Clearly not the take we anticipated, but it’s a stark reminder that any potential tie-up between Aurora and Coke is purely speculation at this point.

Thank you, Anthony, for bringing us all back to earth on this one.

As it turns out, Anthony was right. Just before Great Stuff hit the presses, Coke issued a statement: “As we have stated many times, we have no plans to enter the CBD market.” Bummer.

Remember, the cannabis sector is quite volatile right at the moment. You need an expert to help guide you through the rumors and speculation. To that end, Anthony and Real Wealth Strategist editor Matt Badiali have come up with five pot stocks you “must own” right now … before more states legalize.

Click here to find out more!

Good: Tesla Smokes $420

It was bound to happen … and when it did, CEO Elon Musk was just itching to make a joke.

On Monday, Tesla Inc. (Nasdaq: TSLA) hit $420 per share. The milestone prompted Musk to tweet out: “Whoa … the stock is so high lol.”

All jokes aside, Tesla is smoking right now. The shares are up a whopping 1,600% since their initial public offering, with optimism over the new Chinese Gigafactory driving bullish sentiment right through that burning Walmart roof.

Analysts are even jumping on board, albeit reluctantly. Today, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives lifted his price target on TSLA to $370 from $270, citing strong demand for the Model 3. While Ives gave a nod to “massive short covering” for Tesla’s recent resurgence, he also pointed out “underlying fundamental improvement” at the company. After all, Tesla turned a surprise profit last quarter.

But the short squeeze story can’t be ignored. Tesla shorts have … well … lost their shorts by betting against the company. And there’s more to come. ShortSqueeze.com reports that 27.5 million TSLA shares remain sold short after a 4% decline in the latest reporting period.

Those remaining 27.5 million shares still account for about 20.5% of Tesla’s total float (or shares available for public trading). With TSLA still climbing, how much longer can these remaining bears hold out before they’re forced to buy as well?

Better: Riveting Competition 

When Tesla unveiled its new Cybertruck, the internet had a field day making fun of the “truck’s” odd design features. Not since the Pontiac Aztek have we seen a vehicle so, well … ugly.

With so few true competitors, it looked like energy-conscious truck enthusiasts (yes, they do exist) were stuck driving a truck designed by a six-year-old. That is, until Rivian secured a massive amount of funding.

Rivian is an electric vehicle startup that’s drawn considerable interest from backers as of late, especially after Tesla’s Cybertruck made its debut. Rivian’s trucks and SUVs look more like traditional vehicles than anything Tesla makes, providing a level of confidence to key backers.

So much so that the company announced it raked in $1.3 billion in funding in its latest investment drive — its largest to date. Big names are lining up behind Rivian, including Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) and Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN).

Rivian is expected to start delivering trucks and SUVs next year. Are we witnessing the emergence of a true competitor in the electric vehicle market?

Best: Breaking Records

I honestly don’t know why more people don’t shop online during the holiday season … or at any point during the year, for that matter. It’s like y’all didn’t get the memo: You don’t have to fight hordes of people to buy things anymore.

This year, online shopping saw more converts than ever. According to data from Mastercard, e-commerce sales surged to a record high, rising 18.8% from 2018 to account for 14.6% of total retail sales in the U.S.

Naturally, the big winner here is Amazon. The e-commerce giant said this past holiday shopping season was “record-breaking.” The company reported 5 million new Prime subscriptions (free trial and paid). What’s more, traffic at Amazon pickup points was up 60% year over year.

Here’s the surprising thing: Amazon stock is actually down more than 6% in the past six months. The shares lag the S&P 500 Index by about 8% for the past 12 months.

So, what gives? Amazon’s spending spree, that’s what. After the company posted its first profit drop in two years back in October, investors have been reluctant to push AMZN higher.

That’s a mistake. Amazon has proven time and time again that it knows how to invest in itself. This latest spending round was on one-day shipping and content for Prime TV. These investments will pay for themselves. We’ll see proof of that in Amazon’s holiday quarter earnings report.

Before I sign off and try to steal another Hawaiian roll — the King’s Hawaiian ones are OK, but homemade rolls help me feast like an emperor — it’s time for a helping of Reader Feedback.

But Great Stuff, you didn’t even ask us for any feedback this week!

No, but “readers gonna read” … and write in.

And I’m grateful for all the feedback and comments you send in.

This week, y’all got personal with the questions. The holidays bring out all kinds of folks. (Especially out on the roads by me … jeez, how many of you really went last-minute with the shopping?)

So, I thought it’d be a wholesome, festive Kodak moment to respond to some of your questions about the great stuff behind Great Stuff.

Brian E. asked:

When and why did you get into trading? I’m trying to convince my son to turn off Counter-Strike and start investing. Any advice?

Well, Brian, at least it’s Counter-Strike and not Fortnite. I don’t have the … umm … poetic license here at Great Stuff to tell you how I truly feel about Fortnite.

As a lifelong video game fan, I initially saw trading as yet another type of “game” to master. It was a challenge. With the right knowledge, I too could win this game played by billionaires.

Yes, I was young and naïve, but I never shrank from that challenge. To this day, I continue to search for that edge — that “cheat code,” if you will — that will help me (and now you) make it big.

Gwenn M. wanted to know:

Your movie references are all over the place (in the best way)! Any one favorite?

As you know, Gwenn, I have an affinity for ’80s movies — everything from Top Gun and E.T. to Indiana Jones and anything made by the great John Hughes. I also have a big weak spot for Monty Python and dry British humor.

But my real favorite, the pièce de résistance, is Star Wars. The Empire Strikes Back was the first movie I ever saw in a theater. It was a masterpiece. So, for better or for worse, Great Stuff readers get more Star Wars memes than any other.

I have spoken.

Short and sweet, Suze said:

Do you have a quote you live by?

Suze, there are, in fact, three quotes that I live by … one for investing in the market and two for life.

For the market, I live by the words of John Maynard Keynes: “Markets can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent.”

For life, my favorite is by Robin William’s character, John Keating, in Dead Poets Society: “But only in their dreams can men be truly free. ‘Twas always thus, and always thus will be.”

But equally important is one my grandfather told me jokingly decades ago: “Don’t sweat the petty things, and don’t pet the sweaty things.”

I don’t think you can go wrong with any of those quotes.

And on that note, you can look forward to more meme-fueled festivities tomorrow.

Until next time, good trading!

Regards,

Joseph Hargett

Great Stuff Managing Editor, Banyan Hill Publishing

#Timor Invest

[s3mag]

Dude… dude… just freakin’ do it already. 

What’s the hold up? Whatever it is you’re after. Whatever you’re stuck on, whether it be cars, travel, career, relationship status. Just. Jump. In. 

Is that always the best advice?? 

Yeah f*ck it I think so. 

Usually. 

I mean… if you die, you went too far dummy. But usually when your heart gets stuck on something… that’s because it’s right. 

1) Your heart is essentially your spirit on this earth. 2) Your spirit needs to be heard. 3) And it’s heard when you follow your heart. 

Your brain is the ‘risk calculator’. It’s the financial planner and/or the band manager. Your heart is the dreamer… the artist… the romantic. 

But they’re in this together (literally)… so there needs to be a trust alliance lol. And a little faith in your ability to prevail. 

Heres the thing… people are scared-stiff of failure. But when you’re following your heart, you’re not gonna fail. I mean… ‘failure’ is kind of a made-up imaginary monster to a certain extent. You may fall… and fall again. But you can only put the official ‘FAILURE STAMP’ on it when you decide to roll over & quit. There’s always a Door #2, or 3, or 4. 

A lot of times in life, the journey is the lesson. And the journeys we take… shape our paths. They develop our character traits, our belief systems, our core values, our peer groups… our ability to problem solve, adapt, risk-take, and bounce back from adversity. 

If you always make the safe & sound choice… do you really win in the end? Put another way… if you never let the water get above your knees, did you really swim? If you never took the training wheels off, did you really ride a bike? Life is an experience. It’s about interacting with things, feeling things, and absorbing things. It’s not about competing with some other jackass and his version of success.  

Anyway – this little toast was inspired by Mark Craig & his BRZ. Mark was fresh out of college when the BRZ came out. He had maybe gotten 2 paychecks from his first real job when found out that Subaru was gonna kill the Galaxy Blue Silica color on the BRZ for the following year. The timing was off, but he wanted this car, and he wanted it in this damn color… so tracked down 1 of the last 2 remaining new Galaxy Blue BRZs in the country, and he took the plunge. Hands down changed his life! Mark was barely a car guy before he bought this car. Now – car culture is at the core of who he is. A lot of y’all are on that virtual tipping point… where adulthood is trying to define you & set you straight. It doesn’t have to be cars. Or – it can be cars + many other things. But the point is: You define it; it doesn’t define you. 

EXTERIOR

-Drivewaylabs type-3 rear diffuser

-Seidoworks whale tail 

-Toms racing jdm tail lights

-Rexspeed tinted convex mirrors

-Helix clear side markers

INTERIOR

-Likewise Neil Diamond shift knob

-Likewise love button e-brake button

-Jdm Sti push-button start

-Gold paisley wrapped door cards

-Gold paisley wrapped e-brake boot (sewn by my lovely mother)

-Gold paisley wrapped shift boot (sewn by my lovely mother)

-Memphis Audio 10-inch sub

-20% window tint all around

-White led conversion (courtesy, overhead, trunk)

SUSPENSION / WHEELS

-Rotiform LHR 3pc forged

18×10.5(25) rear

18×9.5(8) front

-Achilles ATR sport tires

215/40 front

225/40 rear

-Front & rear fenders rolled and pulled

-Stoptech slotted front rotor kit

-Stoptech slotted rear rotor kit

-P2M rear upper control arms

-SPC rear lower control arms

-P2M rear toe arms

-RacerX front lower control arms

-Airlift Performance front strut kit

-Airlift Performance rear strut kit

-Accuair e-level management

-dual Viair 444

-dual 2.5 gallon tanks (gold leafed in 23k gold by me)

-Camber is a matching -9 degrees all around

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ENGINE

-Vortech v3 supercharger kit

-front mount Turbosmart bypass valve

-Pure Automotive built custom intake

-Full Blown Motorsports oil cooler

-Openflash unequal length header

-Topspeed front pipe with electric cutout welded in for fun

-Ford Focus oem muffler retrofit

-Password JDM rear engine covers

-Password JDM cooling plates

-Password JDM manifold cover

-Password JDM fuse box cover

Text by Wooley   Photos by Sam Igel II

Dude… Dude… Duuuuude: Supercharged Subaru BRZ Dude… dude… just freakin’ do it already.  What’s the hold up? Whatever it is you’re after. Whatever you’re stuck on, whether it be cars, travel, career, relationship status.

#BRZ #subaru #supercharged #vortech