#is a tragic tale of missed opportunity

[randomfusilier2]

"...there is this fantasy that persists, wherein I invite you to stay for a time, where I can take you to dinner, take you to museums and bookstores, we can chat and get to know each other, build friendship and affection, explore each other in mind and body, and when it is time for you to go, instead you decide, decide to stay forever, with me..."

-Jahn Breen from Lying Cat

#fake quotes #at this point #I'm not sure #if #Lying Cat #is a tragic tale of missed opportunity #but i hope it's not #best beloved

[novlr]

how to describe despair in writing

Despair is a visceral and crushing emotion—one that echoes through the pages of a story, gripping readers with its raw intensity. It is more than just a feeling; it’s an abyss that characters fall into, a shadow that colours their every action and decision with hues of hopelessness and loss.

Behaviour

Neglecting personal care or obligations.

A lack of motivation or interest in activities they once enjoyed.

Withdrawing from social situations or avoiding company.

Engaging in self-destructive actions or habits.

Consistent signs of fatigue or lethargy.

Frequent emotional outbursts or mood swings.

An inability to concentrate or focus on tasks.

Indecisive, even on trivial matters.

Focusing on negative thoughts.

Displaying a loss of hope or a sense of defeat.

Interactions

Avoiding physical or eye contact with others.

Short-tempered and easily irritated.tempered

Speaking in monosyllables or giving terse responses.

A sense of indifference or apathy toward others’ concerns.

Struggling to express themselves or to articulate their feelings.

Misinterpreting others’ intentions or words negatively.

Isolating themselves despite offers of help or companionship.

Being unresponsive to attempts at humour or light-heartedness.

Blaming others or external circumstances for their despair.

Seeking out enablers or situations that validate their mindset.

Body language

Slumped shoulders or a consistently bowed head.

Averted gaze or blank stares into the distance.

Fidgeting, such as wringing hands or picking at skin.

Slow, dragging movements or a lack of coordination.

Heavy sighing or audible breaths.

Neglecting personal space or boundaries.

Minimal gestures or lifeless posture.

Clenched fists or jaw during moments of heightened emotion.

Visible trembling or shaking due to emotional strain.

A general lack of energy or life in physical presence.

Attitude

Pessimism towards the future.

Cynicism about intentions, whether their own or others’.

Resignation, believing that effort will not change their situation.

Indifference to opportunities or choices presented to them.

A sense of helplessness or powerlessness in all scenarios.

Self-deprecation and a tendency to dismiss their own value.

An overwhelming sense of guilt or responsibility for past events.

A fixation on the negative aspects of every situation.

An inability to accept comfort or positive feedback.

Believing they are a burden to others.

Positive Story Outcomes

An epiphany or realisation that sparks a desire for change.

A gesture of kindness from another character that provides a glimmer of hope.

The discovery of an inner strength or previously untapped resource.

A serendipitous event that offers a new perspective or opportunity.

The formation of a supportive relationship or friendship.

Minor victories or achievements that build self-confidence.

Learning a valuable lesson through hardship.

Developing empathy for others going through similar experiences.

Finding purpose in aiding others, easing their own despair.

An eventual embrace of vulnerability, leading to healing and growth.

Negative Story Outcomes

A surrender with long-lasting consequences.

The breakdown of important relationships.

A significant loss incurred because of inaction or apathy.

Descent into a more self-destructive or reckless lifestyle.

The solidification of a character’s role as an antagonist.

A missed opportunity for redemption or improvement.

A worsening of the character’s situation, potentially affecting others.

The development of a trait or flaw that hinders future happiness or success.

A downfall that provides a cautionary tale within the narrative.

A tragic ending that leaves a profound impact on the reader and other characters.

Helpful Vocabulary

Desolate

Forlorn

Wretched

Crestfallen

Anguished

Dolorous

Bereft

Hollow

Numb

Morose

Sullen

Bleak

Languish

Melancholy

Hopeless

Despondent

Dejected

Heartbroken

Miserable

Pained

Woeful

Eclipsed

Defeated

Overwhelmed

Grief-stricken

Tormented

Disconsolate

Listless

Oppressed

Despairing

#writers #creative writing #writing #writing community #writers of tumblr #creative writers #writing inspiration #writeblr #writerblr #writing tips #tips for writers #writing asks #let's write #writblr #writer stuff #writers corner #writer #writing advice #writing resources #writers on tumblr #writers and poets #writers block #how to write #writer's block #beat writers block #advice for authors #helping writers #writing help #help for writers #quick writing tips

[drchucktingle]

It’s Carly Tingle’s big day, the release of her first traditionally published horror novel, Camp Damascus. Unfortunately, Carly’s having trouble enjoying this moment as fear and chaos begin to swirl around her. She wants the book to do well, of course, but it slowly becomes apparent there’s more to Carly’s ambition than meets the eye.

Things get clearer when Carly revisits an old erotica short she’d written, titled Eaten Right By The Physical Manifestation Of My Pride And Excitement That The Lead Character Of My First Traditionally Published Horror Novel Is On The Autism Spectrum Just Like Me. This sets off a chain of fourth-wall breaking events that will send Carly on an adventure unlike any other.

Now at the book shop, Carly will come face-to-face with the beautiful physical manifestation of her pride and excitement as an autistic artist, culminating in an erotic lesbian encounter that could inspire generations to come.

This erotic tale is 4,300 words of sizzling human on sentient physically manifested excitement in the form of a punctuation mark action and lesbian autistic pride love.

----

please enjoy EATEN RIGHT BY THE PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF MY PRIDE AND EXCITEMENT THAT THE LEAD CHARACTER OF MY FIRST TRADITIONALLY PUBLISHED HORROR NOVEL IS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM JUST LIKE ME out now for free but asking for donation to AUTISTIC SELF ADVOCACY NETWORK

MORE ABOUT THIS TINGLER:

hey there buckaroos i would like to use today to talk on something that is very important to me. i have talked a lot about my journey as a bud on the autism spectrum, and about how I LOVE BEING AUTISTIC.

my story on the spectrum is not a struggle. my way was diagnosed in early twenties, but because of way of masking VERY FEW BUCKAROOS WOULD EVEN NOTICE. it has given me ability to hyper focus and get large amounts of writing done, to find creative ideas neurotypical buds might miss, and to have a unique perspective on life on this timeline.

HOWEVER as man name of chuck my pride in this way used to make me uncomfortable, thinkin i should not share my story. there are many buds on this spectrum who have a MUCH harder time than chuck, and i want to respect the VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY REAL struggles of my fellow autistic buckaroos. for long time i did not feel like it was my place to share and say ‘personally, i wouldnt change my autistic trot for anything. i think being autistic is very cool’

but as tingleverse got more fans and buckaroos started listening to my words more i started thinking: THIS is an opportunity to prove love. part of the reason i am PROUD of my spectrum way is because FIRST INTERACTION with idea of this trot (was called aspergers way back then) was to realize that ALL MY HEROS were on this spectrum: david byrne of band TALKING HEADS being number one.

my FIRST INTERACTION with this idea was not ‘whoa this is tragic’ it was ‘whoa the coolest buckaroo on the PLANET is the same as me’

POINT IS i have been on this timeline a while now and now i am in this position myself. i can be the one buckaroos see when they learn this about themselves and think: WOW LOOK AT THIS WILD ARTIST I ADMIRE BREAKING THE NORMS AND CHARTING A NEW TROT THROUGH THIS TIMELINE WE ARE BOTH AUTISTIC THIS IS THE HECKIN COOLEST

most of the characters i write are probably a little on the spectrum because they are comin from inside chucks head. i look back and notice this and laugh, but other than a single tingler i rare actually OUTRIGHT SAY this character is autistic. i decided that FIRST BIG HORROR NOVEL WITH A TRADITIONAL PUBLISHER was a good time to change this. while i write erotica most of the time which means NO YOUNG BUCKAROOS ALLOWED, horror is a little different. buckaroos young and old can read CAMP DAMASCUS and think ‘i see myself in this autistic hero and I FEEL COOL’

EVEN WRITING THIS NOW makes me get teary eyed and emotional, because these feelings of belonging and positive representation were SO IMPORTANT to me. i would not be trotting here without these autistic heroes, and now i have been given the chance to create one of my own with CAMP DAMASCUS and WITH MYSELF just by being chuck and talking openly about my joyful, exciting, artistic trot on the spectrum.

WITH ALL OF THIS IN MIND i am releasing a brand new tingler called EATEN RIGHT BY THE PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF MY PRIDE AND EXCITEMENT THAT THE LEAD CHARACTER OF MY FIRST TRADITIONALLY PUBLISHED HORROR NOVEL IS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM JUST LIKE ME for free. HOWEVER i am requesting that if you choose to read you send your three dollars (or whatever donation you would like) to the AUTISTIC SELF ADVOCACY NETWORK. this way 100 percent of all profits will go to them. (WARNING this is actual erotica so no young buckaroos allowed for this one).

all ages (who are old enough to read horror) can preorder CAMP DAMASCUS at any bookstore. i also have a tingler name of NOT POUNDED BY THE PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF SOMEONE ELSE'S DOUBT IN MY PLACE ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM BECAUSE DENYING SOMEONE'S PERSONAL JOURNEY AND IDENTITY LIKE THAT IS INCREDIBLY RUDE SO NO THANKS that is pound free so all ages can read so check that out if you would like.

thank you for blessing me with a space to explore these ideas. i am so thankful to be here with you and you have treated me so well. i am eternally grateful for our tort together and look forward to the future we craft on this timeline.

LOVE IS REAL - chuck

#tingleverse #autism #actually autistic #love is real #chuck tingle #camp damascus #horror #lesbian #queer

[martellspear]

Hey! I love your blog and your dedication to Elia Martell as a character. I have read your fics on ao3 and absolutely loved them. And I was wondering if you had any recs for us Elia enjoyers out there? Canon-compliant or AU it doesn't matter I just want to consume Elia content like there is no tomorrow <3

hi, anon!! thank you for your sweet words, they mean a lot and i'm so happy that you enjoyed my fics 💗. i haven't read many fics - studying is getting in my way -. but, i'll share a list of my favorites ones and my bookmarks.

* warning: it's LONG

First of all, I'd recommend checking Failed_to_Deanon, she's insanely talented and has a lott of elia-centric works

A Farewell by Ramzes - one shot

In the morning of Rhaegar's departure for the Trident, Elia Targaryen makes a surprising discovery about her husband and their marriage.

The Sun Rises Again by amn_elfire - fanfic - 10/?

After her death, the Seven give Elia the task of saving her people from Rhaegar and Lyanna's folly with the opportunity to avenge her children by sending her back in time to before her betrothal with Rhaegar was ever arranged. Or With her prior memories still vivid in her mind, Elia sets out to prevent the events that led to the deaths of thousands while never forgetting who was at fault for the deaths of her children. But she isn't the only one.

All Too Well by starboundheart - fanfic - modern!au - 1/?

Five year after a fairly clean divorce, Rhaegar decides its time for a family vacation - to Summerhall. Under the guise of his children needing to know each other. But as always, the man has ulterior motives. Or does he?

Elia's House of Ghosts! by biohazard603 - fanfic - 3/?

i can't wait to read this one!!

Elia buys her first house! She has always been drawn to that old abandoned tower, the Tower of Joy, and now it was finally hers! Too bad she doesn't know or remember the ghosts that were there first. or Modern AU where Elia buys a haunted house.

clear the board, reset the pieces by lostchildofthenewworld - fanfic - 9/9

All they ever wanted was the opportunity to go back and do it right, to allow themselves to be happy.

The wolf burned like the heat of the sun for her alone by Redroses123 - fanfic - 10/?

Rhaegar has to get rid of his wife so that he can be with the woman he loves. He does this in mad Targaryen fashion. Elia finds herself hitched for life to the second son of Rickard Stark. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise she doesn't understand yet. How will this change fates design. NOT FOR RHAEGAR FANS

Repercussions of the First Sin by Sunspear22 - fanfic - 27/?

It started with a blue crown...

The Bereaved Dunes by aurasjournal - one shot

this one is so beautiful

In the Bereaved Dunes, where shadows weep, A tale of love and sorrow, bound to keep. Elia, my sun, in your memory I tread, Through sands of despair, where tears are shed. I should've taken you far away, my dear, To Dorne's warm embrace, where skies are clear. But fate had other plans, a cruel twist of hand, In the Bereaved Dunes, where sorrows expand.

What if you go, what if you stay by Biggestscarinyourback - fanfic - 4/4

She listens to the eyes of violet and sits down. Her husband's eyes are almost this colour too, she reflects again. But not half as bright, certainly no laughter in them. His are darker, cold as they are soft, a confusing contrast that gives her no reprieve. They should have been burning, The Last Dragon they had called him and yet he lacks any and all fire in those eyes, as far as she has seen. The blood of the dragon runs hot, they had declared, she has it too, running in her veins, burning. A bittersweet look into Princess Elia Martell's life amongst dragons and lions, from the day of her wedding to her tragic demise.

Lazarus in the Sun by Anonymous - fanfic - 3/?

The Princess of Dorne is a marked woman. With her husband victorious at the Trident yet somehow still missing, now more than ever does Elia Martell find herself stuck between a rock and a hard place: to stay in King’s Landing with herself and her two children at the hands of a madman, or to take the jump and escape? A spur of the moment decision turns into a years-long deception as Dorne wrenches her way out of the Seven Kingdoms on the back of a lie. And though peace is finally taking root once more in this corner of the world, no sooner do the gods laugh when an unexpected figure from the past comes back and unsteadies the ground beneath them all.

Hourglass by spearsndragons - fanfic - 11/?

Elia dies and awakes on the day of her wedding. Armed with the memories of her previous life, she is determined not to let them come to pass. She will make the Seven Kingdoms regret they ever underestimated her. In another part of the Red Keep, the Gods of Old Valyria send Rhaegar back in time to fix his wrongs and ensure the survival of House Targaryen. Rhaegar knows his madness and hubris led to the destruction of everything he loves and cares for. Never again. OR AU: The Gods and fate reverse the hands of time. Elia seeks retribution and Rhaegar endeavors for redemption. In one life, they were husband and wife. In this one, they might just be each other’s biggest adversaries. But, while Elia and Rhaegar plan to prevent the tragedies that befell them, they find out they are not the only ones who were given a second chance. And not all who came back are their friends.

we fall apart as it gets dark by sunstealer (TheSunsetStar) - fanfic - 2/?

this one is SO dear to me <3

The apparent abduction of Lyanna Stark sets off a chain of events: Brandon Stark and his allies march to the Red Keep, where Brandon demands Rhaegar's head. A duel is called by Aerys, and fire serves as his champion, leading to the death of Brandon's father and Brandon's own imprisonment. It's only after these events that a letter arrives at Winterfell, written by Lyanna herself, explaining that she left of her own accord. The deaths of the Lord of Winterfell and the Heir of the Eyrie, along with Aerys' demand for the heads of Robert and Ned, ignite a rebellion. Elia, isolated in Kings Landing without her children, must play her role as the dutiful wife. However, complications arise when the man who once demanded her husband’s head becomes her constant companion, the Kingsguard sworn to her. Will she stay true to her duty or follow her husband's example and forsake it?

Sunset Embers by spearsndragons

Five years into King Rhaegar I's reign, the realm prospers under his progressive leadership. However, the same cannot be said for the king's family. Behind the walls of the Red Keep, Rhaegar grapples with his inner demons, and House Targaryen continues to be haunted by the war's tragic end. Water magic resurfaces across the sea in the Golden Empire of Yi Ti for the first time in centuries with the arrival of the Emperor's new wife. She works to uncover the forgotten history of the world, only to realize that her own past refuses to be buried. OR Dark AU: Is this love or a curse? To yearn for freedom while willingly chaining ourselves to someone, finding solace in the very shackles we can't bear to break?

wherever the wind blows by TheSunsetStar - 1/1 (part of a series)

Rhaegar comes back to her, bringing along a wife and child. Ashara comes back to her, grieving the loss of a child with wolfsblood. Oberyn also returns to her, having just returned from his journeys across Essos, offering words of apology. Everyone returns, yet her daughter never does. or in her desperation Elia gives her daughter to Varys and never sees her again.

Reckless by sunstealer (TheSunsetStar)

"Get out," she tells him. "Leave." "You're not going to talk to me?" His voice comes out hoarse; she wonders why. "You've done enough!" she lets out. He looks disappointed when she says it, his eyes clouding over. She almost apologizes for snapping at him. But she reminds herself that he shouldn't be here at all, he shouldn't be here with her. "Goodbye, Rhaegar," she says gently, not allowing any trace of emotion to surface in her voice. The name sounds foreign coming out of her mouth, as though it belongs to someone else. She wishes for the days to go back to before he met Lyanna. Before everything turned sour. Before it was too late. or Rhaegar returns to her but things are difficult now.

Baelon the Cruel and His Queen of Love and Beauty by sunstealer (TheSunsetStar) - fanfic - 6/?

Baelon Targaryen, the second-born son of King Aerys and Queen Rhaella, and the twin brother to Crown Prince Rhaegar, possessed an ethereal beauty expected of one with Valyrian blood. Yet, behind his captivating face, an aura of cruelty and ruthlessness lingered, casting an unsettling shadow over his reputation. And his sudden appearance at the Tourney at Harrenhal unknowingly changes everything. (or just a crack fic about Rhaegar's 'cruel' twin brother and his shenanigans at the famed Tourney at Harrenhal)

Right Where You Left Me by TheSunsetStar - fanfic - 19/19

elia is dead in this one, but she's so important to the story and i love this fic, so it makes the list :)

Rhaegar's life is spared by the valiant intervention of Arthur Dayne, moments before Robert deals the fatal blow. With their lives preserved, Rhaegar and the remaining Targaryens seek refuge on Dragonstone, eventually making their escape to Essos. Regrettably, Rhaegar is forced to leave his eldest daughter behind. Left in the midst of her adversaries, Rhaenys grows up surrounded by those who view her as an enemy. As time passes, she becomes entangled in the treacherous game of thrones, particularly in the aftermath of Cersei and Jaime Lannister's public execution for their incestuous relationship. Caught in a web of schemes and deceit, Rhaenys finds herself compelled to employ similar tactics in order to ensure her own survival.

#a song of ice and fire #elia martell #asoiaf #fanfic #house martell #fic rec

[builtbybrokenbells]

belladonna | ii

Too beautiful to resist, and too deadly to survive; the tragic tale of belladonna in all its glory.

Masterlist | Taglist

Pairing: Danny Wagner x f!reader, f!reader x OC

Word Count: 11k

Warnings: mentions of toxic/abusive parents, mentions of/toxic relationships, gaslighting/manipulative phrases, arguing/fighting, mentions of criminal activity/criminal records, poverty, mentions of physical violence, mentions of blood, mentions of AA/NA, addictions, use of/mentions of drugs, mentions of relapsing, mentions of OD, mentions of drinking, flirting, mentions of hookups/sex, smoking, depression/anxiety, mental health struggles, swearing, sorry if I miss any!!

hi lovelies 🤍 back again with some more belladonna… been going through some things and this story has been a fantastic outlet for me. i hope you’re all liking it so far. as always, enjoy, be kind and don’t mind any grammar mistakes 🫶🏻

April 4th, 2022

Your fingers trembled as you held your phone in your hand, your stomach positively sick with anxiety as you wished you never sent the message at all. You wracked your brain for answers on why you were so stupid as you re-read the message a million times.

Was it too forward? Was he just being nice and didn’t actually want you to text him? Why were so naïve to believe someone like him would actually like someone like you?

You

So you really want to hear about Utah, huh?

‘What a fucking stupid thing to say.’ You cursed yourself, wondering if maybe there was an unsend option on the text. As you fumbled around, looking for an easy way out of the hole you had just dug for yourself, you debated throwing your phone out the window and skipping town, just to never chance the opportunity to run into him again. As you paced your living room, questioning every single life choice you’d ever made, your phone buzzed in your hand.

All of a sudden, the noise seemed to disappear. The never ending buzz of anxious thoughts slowed to a stop, and your hands turned clammy. You were so nervous that your brain had short circuited, and not even the relentless overthinking remained.

Somehow, the silence seemed worse than the sound of your own mind.

Unknown

I do.

Unknown

Always thought it was nothing but mormons and beehives, but now I know that incredibly beautiful girls live there, too.

Unknown

Well, used to, anyway. Maybe you were the only interesting thing about the place.

The triple text would normally send you running, but coming from him, it felt like winning the lottery. You could not contain the smile on your face as you typed back a response, the nervous jitters suddenly turning into excitement.

You

I’ll tell you whatever you wanna know, but you’ll have to tell me about Michigan, too.

You

All I know is that Detroit is a shithole, and you gave us Stevie Wonder.

Unknown

Tough crowd. Guess I’ll have to change your mind about it.

You

You can try, but I can’t make any promises.

Unknown

I’ll have to make it good, then.

You

Seems so, sweetheart. I’ll be waiting ;)

April 21st, 2022

“You think John is ever going to fix this lousy fuckin’ window?” Vincent grumbled, dropping the roll of tape in his hand for the tenth time. You rolled your eyes, bending down to pick it up for him. Before responding, you climbed in the booth beside him, leaning into him and holding the plastic wrap straight. He turned his head down towards you, giving you a smile at the close proximity. He didn’t say a word, but he didn’t need to; you knew exactly what he was thinking.

“He was going to, and then they told him it would be two thousand dollars.” You reminded him, watching as he ripped the tape between his teeth. He reached upwards, taping down the top corner and securing it in place. “So the plastic will have to do.”

“For a sheet of glass? Are they in-fuckin’-sane?” He placed down another sheet of duct tape, and you let your arms fall back to your sides.

“Who knew it would be so expensive for some sand?” You chuckled, flattening out the bottom corner so he could do the same thing with it. He paused for a moment, his face contorting into an expression of confusion. For a second, his head cocked to the side as he tried to relate the two topics.

“Sand?” You looked up at him, confused at his confusion.

“Y-yeah,” you stuttered, giving a small nod. “That’s how glass is made.”

“You’re messing with me,” he said, weary of your words. Your lips upturned into a small smile, but you shook your head.

“No, I swear to it.” You promised, finding his surprise oddly charming. You did not mind that Vincent didn’t always know what you were talking about, and you never minded having to explain it to him. Making him feel bad about not knowing something would not get either of you anywhere, and educating him on it was a fun little pastime. He didn’t graduate high school, and he thought you were a genius; it was a win-win for both of you, as you got to feel smart, and he got to learn something new. After a moment, he began to tape down the next corner.

“Huh,” he muttered to himself, taking in all that you were telling him. “That’s… kind of cool, actually. Guess I never really had to know how glass is made.” You gave a small shrug, sliding out of the booth and on the other side. You stood, holding the sheet taut so it wouldn’t sag. He got in behind you, certainly a little closer than he needed to, but you didn’t say a word. As of late, Vincent had been awfully distant, and you felt guilty in admitting that you missed him. Maybe not the relentless flirting, but definitely the constant company.

In truth, you hadn’t reached out to him much, either. The conversation in the kitchen paired with your ogling of Danny had driven a stake between you two. Well, that, and the fact that you had taken Danny up on his offer to talk about Utah the minute you got home from that fateful afternoon shift. Since then, you’d spent an awful amount of time texting him, and when the time allowed for it, calling him. When you weren’t preoccupied with him, your nose was buried in a journal, and your fingers were clasped around a pen. It seemed as though the minute Danny stepped into your life, your desire to write hit you with a new-found force.

When you weren’t writing or calling Danny, your weekly Narcotics Anonymous meetings filled the empty time slots, and of course, your shifts at the Fox. For once, your life seemed pleasantly balanced with work and play, and the play was finally enjoyable. In the last three weeks, your free time had grown into something you cherished rather than something you coped with; as you always liked to say, spare time was the mentally ill’s biggest enemy. Three weeks ago, when you weren’t working, you sat in your apartment most nights, tapping your foot against the floor or rolling around in bed to pass the time. Freedom was a curse to someone who’s only ever known how to abuse it. Your shifts at the Foxhole were your favorite part of the day, because it ensured you would get to socialize (even if it was rude bickering with Katie), that you would have something to eat, and most of all, you would have a distraction.

Eighteen months of (rocky) sobriety had taught you one thing: after so long living life a certain way, you had no idea what to do with yourself now that you could not give in to the temptation of substance.

Aside from drinking, you had cut out every other illicit substance that you could think of, and even when you drank, you had to be incredibly mindful of how much you consumed, and more specifically, how often you consumed it. Although alcohol was not your biggest vice, it was a habit that you did not need to take to. Plus, it was a certain pathway to even worse decisions, and you were not wealthy enough to afford any bad decisions. Now that you were living your life so straight, it brought up some hard truths, the biggest being that you had no idea who you were when you were not high, or desperately searching for one. For a very long time, until you could find that piece of yourself again, being alone with your own thoughts was equal to torture.

Now, you had found a spark of life in the company of a certain curly headed boy who made your heart do backflips when he said your name.

He did not solve all of your issues, and you never expected him to. He did, however, make them a whole lot easier to digest. His joyful voice and his sweet words were addicting, more so than any substance you had ever tried, and his happiness was infectious. You had spent so long believing that all you knew how to feel was misery, but since meeting him, you wondered if maybe misery was not your only friend, but rather the very thing you chose to surround yourself with. One thing you had learned about yourself was that you were incredibly impressionable, and that was evident in many of your life choices. As of recent, you began to wonder if your misery came from yourself, or if it bled into you from the people you allowed yourself to be around.

It was a tough topic, and an answer was not certain; perhaps you were just excited about having someone around that made you feel things that only substance knew how to do, and maybe that was why you were so happy. Yes, before Danny, life was bleak, and the people constantly surrounding you were known to be negative and pessimistic (and that was putting it lightly), but you still chose to believe that Vincent and Dylan were not the source of your misery, for you had felt it long before they showed up in your life. No matter which it was, you still cared deeply about them and wanted to spend time with them, but you did have to admit that the lack of constant anger and emotion was very nice. Plus, it was always a bonus when you weren’t tripping over yourself to clean them up after a bar fight, or break down their front door to drag them to NA with you.

“Where’ve you been, anyway?” Vincent asked, stretching his arms upwards to run a long line of tape across the edge of the plastic film covering the window. As if on instinct, your eyes drifted downwards to the flash of a toned stomach peeking out from under his black shirt. You swallowed hard, forcing your eyes away from him and reminding yourself that you absolutely, under no circumstance, could give in to that temptation.

“What do you mean?” You avoided the topic as if it were the plague. He made sure that the covering of the window was airtight, giving a huff of satisfaction as he looked it over. A few weeks ago, a couple of kids thought it would be funny to throw rocks at windows, but did not seem to understand the implications of their actions. Now, you were all suffering from the frigid weather seeping in through the shattered glass.

“Haven’t seen much of you, lately.” You climbed down from the booth, steadying yourself on your feet before turning to face him again. You gave a shrug, crossing your arms over your chest.

“I’ve been writing a lot.” You admitted, a small smile tugging at your lips. He looked back over his shoulder, his brown curls sweeping down over his forehead and falling into his line of sight. His eyes were happy, as if the statement had given him his daily dose of hope. The world seemed right when you were writing, but you feared if he knew the truth behind your motivation, it would break his heart beyond recognition.

“It’s Thursday night.” He stated, straightening up for a moment. “Did you bring anything?”

“It is,” you nodded slowly, reaching into your apron. You pulled out one of the things inside, and his smile grew at the sight of a ripped out journal page. “How could I forget?”

“Shall we begin?” He asked, motioning to the empty dining room. The night was dark outside, and you did not expect any customers for the foreseeable future. Katie was ‘sick’ again, to no one’s surprise, and Dylan was only half-occupied with emptying the grease traps under the grill. You could see him lazily working through the kitchen window, too uninvolved in the moment to realize you were both staring at him.

Every Thursday night was always a safe bet for your own homemade version of slam poetry. Katie was almost always ‘sick’, and the boys were always looking for an excuse to get out of working (not like they were ever over-exerting themselves, anyway). Over a year ago, they had found out the real reason you’d moved to the city, and since then, they had done everything in their power to encourage you to keep going. They were your biggest fans, and although your work was extremely personal to you, you found a happy medium to share it with them comfortably. When the evening rush died down, you took post on a booth, dramatically recounting whatever torturous things that had been ravishing your brain. By doing this, it ensured you would always write enough to form a single poem, and it fulfilled their need to be included in the process.

Some weeks, it was funny blurbs about the pigeons fighting over an empty dime bag in the parking lot of the Pony, or the mice on the subway dragging dropped food three times their size. Other times, it was heavier, and much more meaningful; stories about your own recovery, or your family’s devastatingly bad relationships with each other. Oftentimes, you took symbolism from sitting in the nearly empty hall during NA meetings, sipping at bitter, cold coffee while listening to people tell stories of how badly they fucked their own life up. Other times, you drew inspiration from your audience’s very own struggle, to which they never seemed to catch on to.

You tried to keep the heavier topics few and far between, because they were just that. When the words were in the air, it laid heavy over the three of you. Misery was a concrete blanket that all of you had grown comfortable underneath, but it did not mean you liked to exist within it constantly. But, every now and again, you realized that sharing something with substance was exactly what your heart craved, and you ripped out a page all about your own suffering to share with the world for a moment.

Tonight was that night, and after weeks of meaningless conversation about the birds and the leaves on trees, you knew you had to share something with meaning. Before work that night, you grabbed a poem to share, but it was not without great hesitation. You had no problem talking about your own journey with sobriety, or your Narcotics Anonymous escapades. You did not even care about discussing your gruesome experiences in the detox room in the county hospitals, nor the mornings waking up with shaking limbs and sweaty skin. That was something the other two knew, and what they had seen of you already. You were not sharing anything that they did not know about, and if anything, you were sharing something that could directly relate to them, and something that carved the very foundation of your friendships.

The poem you had chosen tonight was none of those things, and instead about the thing in the world you hated talking about most; your mother.

Of course, they knew bits and pieces of your own tragedies, and they understood the grand aspect of your miserable childhood, but she was a monster in your closet that was bigger than all of the others, and she was one you were so afraid of that it nearly paralyzed you.

So why had you chosen such a touchy topic?

That was the begging question, after all, but that was an answer you did not have. Sometimes, the pain was so large that it seemed to engulf every other feeling or emotion in your body, and it felt like if you did not get it off your chest, you would explode and become nothing, just like she always expected of you. Instead of letting it consume you, you decided to speak it aloud, and hopefully by doing so, ease some of the discomfort that was steadily accumulating in your chest.

Well, that, and it was nearly her birthday, and birthdays are the absolute fucking worst.

“Dylan!” Vincent shouted, barrelling a balled up rag through the kitchen window. It knocked Dylan in the top of the head, not causing any harm, but definitely catching him off guard. He looked up, shocked at the sudden outburst, pausing the music playing from his smashed up phone.

“The fuck was that for?”

“It’s Thursday night,” he said in a tone that seemed like he was begging for a fight. “Get the fuck out here and listen to the lady read her poem.” Dylan’s eyes lit up as if he’d almost forgotten, too. He threw a kitchen towel over his shoulder, covering one strap of his torn, dirty white tank top. He took a step towards the swinging door, and moved to join you in the dining room. He grabbed a chair from a table, moving it in front of the booth you were standing at, then swinging it around and sitting down. Vincent gave a nod of approval, a small smile forming on his lips as he turned his head towards you.

Vincent and Dylan were friends, but under the surface, you knew it ran much deeper than that. They were brothers, and although they were not born from the same family, they understood each other better than their own kin. They fought, and arguing was almost their only form of communication, but it was meaningful to them. Their harsh words were not meant to harm, but rather because that was the only way they knew how to express themselves. Their addictions and attitudes made them more alike than even they could even comprehend, and you knew that despite the troubles that landed them in their current position, they would always have each other to lean on.

“What do you have for us tonight, doll?” Dylan asked, leaning his chest into the back of the chair, showing you his attention was only on you. You sat down on the edge of the booth table, the poorly secured plastic wrap on the window giving you a luminescent background. The moonlight scattered across the rippled material, sending waves of white light through the dining room. You left the main lights off almost always, because the fluorescent bulbs were nothing but a further irritant to your already bothered mind. The outside streetlights and moon worked on one side of the dining room, and the kitchen lights filled in the other side. John didn’t care, because your habit seemed to cut loads of money off of his electricity bills.

“I have,” you started, unfolding the paper as you cleared your throat for dramatic effect. “A tragic tale about seeing the parts you hate most about your mother in your reflection when you look in a mirror.”

“Oh?” Vincent asked, raising an eyebrow. That was definitely not what he had expected to come out of your mouth, but he wasn’t necessarily unhappy about it. He knew how much it bothered you, and how little you cared for talking about it.

“Guess all of that misery always comes back to the same thing.” You muttered.

“Don’t make me cry, Angel, cause that’ll be a poor sight for all of us to see.” Dylan warned, a joking smile on his lips. That was one reason you loved to share your sadness with them; it was always lighthearted, because they knew sympathy was not what you needed. If you wanted a shoulder to cry on, you would go to a therapist and allow them to tell you how it wasn’t your fault, and you were so strong for ensuring what you did. You broke up the monotony of depression with laughter and insults towards the subject of the conversation, and sometimes even each other. It helped you swallow down the pain that always seemed to be stuck in your throat, and it was the only thing that helped you move on.

“Don’t be a fucking pussy.” Vincent scoffed, rolling his eyes. Dylan shot him a look of warning, reaching one arm out and giving him a forceful shove. Vincent stumbled slightly, as he’d always been the smaller of the two, and his eyes darkened with anger in a split second. Instead of jumping forward and fighting back, he took a moment to realize the situation. He deemed his desire to hear your writing more important than defending himself, and instead took a deep breath, steadying himself and planting his feet firmly on the ground. He looked at you, forcing a pleasant expression as he tried to reassure you of his intent to listen.

You could never tell him, but in those few seconds, you were proud of him. You wished he could demonstrate that ability more often, but critical thinking was never Vincent’s forte.

“Are the judges ready?” You asked, changing the topic before he had too much time to dwell. Or, perhaps you were trying to avoid the emotion blossoming in your chest for Vincent. Either way, you knew it was best to move on and move forward, because neither outcome to the situation was ideal. When faced between falling further for Vincent, or him doing something that would ultimately force you out of love, it was a lose-lose.

“Whenever you are, sweetheart.” Vincent said, leaning against the counter as he waited for you to begin. You took a deep breath, crossing your ankles as you tried to calm your nerves. You held the paper in your shaking hands as you began to read the first line.

“Born from the very heart that was destined to be my demise,

I stand in front of the mirror and wonder if I have my mothers eyes.” You started, looking up over the top of the crumpled shirt to gauge the reaction. Dylan’s face was stony, as if he was trying to process the words without any emotion getting in the way. Vincent looked as if he wanted to speak, but shook his head at himself and looked towards the ground. He wanted to argue, to denounce the idea and assure you that you were nothing like her, but he knew it was not his place, even if he wished it was.

“Walking the earth that I now know not to touch

Tell me, how do I navigate this wasteland without a mothers crutch?”

“It is a fuckin’ wasteland, isn’t it?” Dylan interjected, smiling to ease the tension. You gave a nod of agreement, chuckling slightly before you continued on.

“For she has told me that all I know is ruin,

and that I have such catastrophic feelings

for such a tiny human.” You took in a shaky breath, the line hitting you harder than you thought it would after saying it aloud. You looked up again, catching Vincent’s eyes for a moment. He had a small look of confusion on his face, but seemed as though he didn’t want to speak. After a while, he eventually aired out his thoughts.

“You’re not tiny, though.” He said, cocking his head to the side. “I mean, not like that, but you’re… You’re a regular sized adult.” You let out a small giggle, finding the interjection a good source of comedic relief.

“It’s a metaphor, dumbass. Her mom makes her feel tiny, she doesn’t mean she’s actually tiny.” Dylan explained, sparking another nerve in Vincent. “Right?” He looked back to you for clarification.

“That’s a good point, Dyl.” You complimented him, pondering the idea. “I meant it more like she was telling me that when I was a little kid, but I like that too.” You smiled.

“Shove it, you fuckin’ know it all.” Vincent sneered, but it was playful. You laughed at the banter. One thing you absolutely adored about the Thursday night routine was that it not only allowed you to share your work with people who cared, but also seemed to teach them a little more about the craft you loved so deeply. Neither of them finished high school, and it was something that bothered them deeply, even if they didn’t say it aloud. You could see the frustration, especially in Vincent, when he couldn’t understand the figurative language and literary devices you were using. With time, you saw the frustration turn into curiosity, and it made your heart soar with joy. “Anyway, continue.” He said, smiling. You gave a nod, happy to move on as a collective.

“With backhanded attitude, she convinces me that the monster in the closet

Is none other than my own avid imagination, and that I am my own worst enemy

When I point my finger at her to correct the blame, she laughs as if I have it misconstrued.” You spoke slowly, allowing them to grasp on to every word. When they had no further input aside from nods and hums of agreement, you began again.

“But that I am not, and I know I have never been

The monster does not live inside my head,

because—“ you were cut off by the door opening, sending the shrill chime echoing against the walls. Your head whipped around to face the entrance, your heart pounding against your chest. You were so involved in the reading that you almost seemed to forget where you were. You scrambled to stand, ready to shove the paper back in your pocket and pretend the scene had never happened, but then you caught sight of the familiar head of brown, curly hair. When the silhouette of his big nose came into view, your cheeks began burning red for a whole new reason. Danny was standing in the doorway, seemingly curious as to what was going on.

“S-sorry, Danny.” You stuttered, giving a chuckle. “Come in, sit down.” You waved him inside, making sure he knew he was welcome. You were too enthralled in the newest addition of the audience to notice Vincent’s eyes burning holes in your head. He was wondering why you seemed so excited, and how the hell you knew his name. He could have picked Danny out from a crowd of thousands, because after seeing your awe-struck expression at the sight of his face only a few weeks prior, Vincent had been positively sick with worry. He was flooded with jealousy, but more than that, he was terrified he would lose you, even if he did not technically have you.

“No, actually.” Danny shook his head, smirking at your crimson cheeks and desire to move on. He looked at the paper in your hand, quickly piecing the scene together. He remembered you saying you were a writer, and he was itching to hear some of your work. “I think you should keep going.”

“W-what?” You asked, clearly flustered and definitely not expecting to hear that.

“Keep reading,” he said, giving you a smile. “Unless you aren’t looking for a bigger audience. If that’s the case, I can wait outside.” He offered, but you knew he was all but serious. He wanted to hear whatever you had down on that paper, and he wouldn’t walk away without a fight.

“No, it’s okay.” You assured him.

“Okay, proceed.” He chuckled, leaning against the wall as he waited for you to continue. You nodded, forcing your eyes away from him and back to the paper. The nervous ticks you had already conquered made their way back with a new found force, and now there was a quiver in your voice when you spoke, too. You could barely hold the paper still, and you were forcing the words out, but you continued on despite the fact.

“But that I am not, and I know I have never been

The monster does not live inside my head,

because when I look for too long

I begin to notice her skin turn red

In the daylight she has a smile as warm as the sun,

But at night, behind closed doors,

her eyes blacken

and I have nowhere to run.”

“Oh, that’s good.” Dylan nodded, giving a hum of approval. He was so invested in the storytelling that he had leaned forward over the back of the chair without even noticing it. His elbow was propped on the edge of the chair, his palm holding his head up as he clung to every word.

“You think?” You smiled, intrigued at his fascination. “I was actually going to change that part. I didn’t like it very much.”

“No, keep it.” Vincent cut in, not willing to debate the idea. You couldn’t read the expression on his face; it was unfamiliar, and you weren’t sure if it was because of Danny leaning against the wall, joining in on a normally intimate exchange, or if it was because of the words you were reading aloud. “He’s right, it’s really good.” He cleared his throat, ridding the room of the awkward silence. You looked towards Danny, who also gave a nod. His eyes told you that you’d taken him by surprise, and that when you told him you were a writer, he did not expect such words to come from your mind.

Then again, Danny only seemed to know you as a little ball of sunshine, and unfortunately, that was far from the truth. You only hoped that after he knew of the bad, he would still be keen on being friends. Or, hopefully, maybe even more.

“Alright, last verse.” You announced, looking back down at your hands. “Ready?”

“Always.” Vincent answered for everyone, his eyes focused only on you. As much as he wanted to sneer in Danny’s direction, he knew his attention would be most useful when it was directed towards you. Plus, he wasn’t sure if there was anything to be defensive about, but he still felt the need to be, anyway. When it came to you, he was always on the defensive.

“My mother the Angel, who has given her life for mine

I never care to speak out, because she’s left me without a spine

Who often talks praise about her generosity

But refuses to acknowledge that she is a monstrosity.” You paused, briefly looking up to see the reaction. When nobody spoke, you continued. “I am her daughter, and that I will always be; i cannot call her on her evil, because it also exists within me

I am her rage, her fear and her fire

All that I am is that in which I cannot rewire

All that I hate has become my own fate

When I look in the mirror,

I cannot swallow my own distaste.

I have become what I despise the most

My life is her own wicked puppet show

And I have become the morbid host.”

The silence that hung over the room was heavy, but not uncomfortable. The whole world seemed still as the four of you processed the intensity of the emotion, and it even seemed for a second that the moon had stopped casting light inside. Eventually, you folded the paper up and stuck it in your apron, slowly turning your head upwards and unfortunately, looking at Vincent first. You always looked for him first. As much as you did not want to be with him, you could not help but feel drawn to him. You wanted it to stop, but you couldn’t seem to break the habit.

Unfortunately for you, habit-breaking had never been your area of expertise.

His head was pointed towards the floor, and when he noticed your staring and looked to meet your gaze, you knew why. Even from the distance, and in the dim light, you could see the shine of tears brimming his eyes. You swallowed hard, trying to process the emotion from him. Vincent was a man who refused to give in to vulnerabilities, yet he stood before you in a room with two other men, unashamed of the sadness plaguing him. His heart ached for the little girl who was hurt so badly, and his chest hurt at the sight of the woman who was still standing despite the suffering. Of course, he had no idea how to voice such profound feelings, so he just cleared his throat and gave a curt nod.

You wished for a moment that he could have spoken all that his heart was telling him, but as always, he did not. Maybe if he did, things would be different, but it reminded you that Vincent would always be exactly what he was; a man who could not comprehend change, and a creature of habit that could not fathom anything other than what he was used to. It was not his abundance of action that drove the two of you apart, but rather his lack of. He showed no interest in bettering himself, and his lack of trying made it harder and harder for you to want to fight for him. You knew that he could be what you needed, but he did not want to be. You could not fix him, and he did not know how to fix himself, nor did he want to learn how. Because of this, he was inadvertently forcing you to move on.

Even so, your heart ached, and your desire to love him grew stronger as you watched him blink his tears away. He was worse than the drugs you were trying to stay away from; he was more addicting, more dangerous, and definitely more disastrous. Loving him would do all the same things as relapsing, and it would kill you ten times faster. You hated that when you turned your head to look at Danny, you felt none of those feelings or fears. Instead, a flutter of excitement ran through you and instead of the usual dread, hope seemed to take its place. It hurt you to know that despite barely knowing Danny at all, you knew he would be the best person to you. Wanting to explore the possibilities made you feel dirty, but you were tired of constantly denying yourself the simple pleasures in life.

You had wasted eighteen months waiting for Vincent to change, and it would be unfair to yourself to pass up a good opportunity in hopes that he would become what you wanted. Not only would it be unfair to you, but to Danny too, who seemed undeniably interested in you. You could not wait for something that may never happen, and you certainly did not want to miss out on the opportunity of knowing Danny, because he appeared to be everything you were searching for when you moved to the city. Even if it was with a heavy heart, moving on was the best thing for everyone.

“So, what do you think?” You breathed, looking between the three.

“I don’t know how you’re not famous yet,” Dylan said, shifting in his chair as he spoke. “I think the whole world should hear that, doll.” Your lips pulled into a small smile and your cheeks heated with a blush.

“Thank you.”

“Seriously, sweetheart. He’s not joking.” Vincent agreed, nodding slowly. “It’s… real, and it’s good. You were meant to write. There’s more emotion in that than I’ve probably ever felt.”

“Thanks, Vin.” You gave him a soft smile, lingering over his face for a moment longer than you should have. He was looking at you too, hoping you would say something more, to invite him to keep flattering you, but you didn’t.

“I think you might have played your talent down a little too much.” Danny said, standing up straight from his spot against the wall. You looked over to him, nervous about what was running through his head. “For someone who only writes every now and then, that was pretty damn good.” Your cheeks were crimson, incriminating of all you felt for him. It was the first time you had seen him face to face since your first encounter, and he was just as beautiful as you remembered, even in the dull night light.

“Maybe I lied,” you shrugged, giving a small chuckle. “I write a lot, actually.”

“When you write like that, it would be a shame not to do it all of the time.” He explained, now stepping closer to you. The smell of his cologne hit you with a strength that made your head spin; it was delicious, not too heavy or woody, almost fresh and light smelling. It fit his bright personality, and the minute it reached your nose you wanted more.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” You brushed him off, the smile still lingering on your lips. “What are you here for, anyway? Like I said last time, I know it’s not the food.”

“Is it a crime to come here? You’re not selling the place very well.” He joked, now within an arm's reach. Your conversation was so enthralling that you seemed to forget the presence of the other two boys, one more so than the other watching the interaction carefully.

“Yeah, cause there’s a whole lot to sell.” You laughed, motioning around the room. “The broken window and the rotten foundation gives it charm, eh?”

“I think you could sell anything, sunshine.” He smirked. “Mind if I have a seat?” He asked, nodding his head towards the booth that you were sitting atop.

“Of all the places to sit, you want to sit here?” You questioned, raising an eyebrow at him.

“Well duh,” he chuckled, “cause it’s closest to you.”

At that, you were certain Vincent turned as red as the sun. His blood was boiling and his fists were clenched to his sides as he bargained with himself to stay calm. He wanted you to look over at him, to see the agony he was in while watching you flirt with another man, but you did not once stray away from Danny’s heavy stare and flirtatious smile.

“If that’s the case,” you teased, giving him a small nod. “I’m sure it would be alright.”

“Thank you,” he chuckled, sliding in the booth. He kept his eyes on you, hoping you would remain sitting at the edge of the table. He wasn’t shy to admit that he liked the sight of you, and the position was allowing him to see much more of you than he expected to see that night. You did just that, turning your head over your shoulder to look at him again.

“You gonna introduce us to your friend?” Dylan asked, clearly oblivious to Vincent’s volatile anger and the reasoning behind it. He was intrigued at the chemistry between you and Danny, and excited to finally see a smile on your face that was not laced with a hint of sadness. Your head snapped towards him, coming to reality and realizing that you were not alone with Danny, even if you wished to be.

“Right, sorry.” You chuckled, giving your head a shake, embarrassed at your own lack of manners. “This is Danny, I met him the other day when I worked the afternoon shift.”

“After you were too scared to introduce yourself the night before?” Dylan teased, hoping to get a reaction out of you. Your jaw dropped slightly, shocked at his bold statement. Suddenly, you felt a wave of embarrassment wash over you as you fought the urge to reach out and strangle him.

“Shut up,” you snipped, your face burning with heat as you prayed that the conversation would not continue in the same direction.

“Oh?” Danny asked, looking up at your blushing face with curiosity.

“She didn’t tell you?” Dylan chuckled, clearly still trying his best to get under your skin. “She was head over heels when you walked in that night, but she was too scared to say hi.”

“Interesting,” Danny chuckled, finding your embarrassment endearing. He thought the whole idea was quite cute. “She didn’t say a word about that.”

“Anyway,” you cleared your throat dramatically, begging to change topics. “Danny, this is Dylan.”

“Nice to meet you, man.” Dylan laughed, finding your tone of voice funny. He loved bothering you, and if you had to admit, he was damn good at it, too.

“You too.” Danny grinned. You were devastated at the idea that he had the ability to get along with anyone. Everything you seemed to learn about him made the feelings grow stronger in your chest, and you knew it was much too early to be so infatuated with him.

“And that’s Vincent.” You pointed at the boy standing beside Dylan, finally noticing the veins in his forehead and the tense muscles in his jaw. You tried to catch his eye, but his stare seemed set on Danny, now.

“You decided to come back here after trying the shit food?” Vincent asked, trying to pass his question off as a joke, but you could tell his tone was off. He wanted to know everything and anything about the relationship the two of you seemed to form, starting at the very beginning.

“I didn’t think it was that bad,” Danny shrugged, chuckling quietly. He seemed to sense the tension, but was doing his best to keep it minimal.

“He thinks I’m a good cook,” Dylan said, smirking as he nudged Vincent in the side. He didn’t respond, instead continuing to stare at the newest member of the group.

“And you guys met on your day shift?” He asked, turning his head towards you, now. You swallowed hard, trying to hide your nervousness. You gave a nod, praying that he wouldn’t overreact to the innocent nature of the situation.

“Yeah, he came back and we ran into each other. Guess it was just a little coincidence that I got called in.” Vincent gave a slow nod as you shrugged off the idea, taking in all of the information.

“Yeah, isn’t that just fan-fuckin’-tastic.” Vincent forced out a smile, scoffing slightly at his own words. He watched you for a moment longer, waiting to see if you would say anything that would calm his mind, but he grew tired of waiting. You had nothing to say, and it hurt him further the longer he waited. Without any further comments, he turned on his heel and walked towards the kitchen. After a moment of silence, the back door slammed behind him, and you closed your eyes to rid yourself of the regret that came along with it.

Just because you could not be with Vincent did not mean that you felt good about hurting him.

“Wonder what his problem is,” Dylan muttered, looking back over his shoulder in the direction Vincent had just stormed off to.

“No idea,” you lied, looking down towards the ground.

“He’ll get over himself, he always does.” Dylan sighed, standing up and stretching out his arms. “You gettin’ something to eat, or just here to see her?” Dylan asked Danny, raising an eyebrow.

“Just here to see her.” He admitted.

“Alright, man.” Dylan nodded. “Gonna go finish cleaning those traps. I might be finished by the time the sun comes up.” You chucked, nodding in agreement.

“You deserve a raise for that alone.” You said, watching as he placed the chair back in its original spot.

“Gotta pass the time somehow.” He shrugged, pulling the towel from his shoulder and walking back towards the kitchen. “Just let me know if you need anything.”

“You know I will!” You called back, drumming your fingers against your leg. Now that the other two had gone, the idea of being alone with Danny was making you anxious. Never had the two of you been face to face in such seclusion. After a moment of silence, Danny spoke first.

“I take it you do know why Vincent’s upset?” He asked, leaning back in the booth. You kept your head down, looking at your legs as you tried to formulate a response. He was suspicious, and rightfully so. The entire exchange was quite interesting, and definitely telling of the relationship between you two.

“I do, but it’s not what you’re thinking.” You assured him, sliding off the table and into the seat across from him. “It’s a long story.”

“Is everything a long story with you?” He joked, trying to lighten the mood. A sad smile crossed your lips, because he was right. Everything in your life was a long story, and none of them ever pleasant. He noticed the sadness encasing your features, worried he might have overstepped. “I didn’t realize you were seeing someone. I'm sorry if I took it too far.” You reached across the table, landing a gentle hand on his wrist as you shook your head.

“I told you, it’s not what you’re thinking.” You promised, heaving a sigh. “And yeah, everything certainly does seem to be a long story.” You smiled, pushing away the emotion and covering it up. “When I first moved here, we were… something, but definitely not dating. It was pretty obvious from the start that the two of us didn’t have the same outlook on life.” You explained it in the gentlest terms possible.

“So not dating, just complicated?” He asked, trying to get a better grasp on the situation.

“Complicated for sure, but I think mostly on his part.” You said, looking up to meet his eyes. “I’m not that type of person, and I wouldn’t have led you on if I was caught up with someone else.” It was only partially true; yours and Vincent’s story would never fully end, but something with Danny might help it grow closer to closure.

“I never thought you were, but you never know, right?” He chuckled, enjoying that you were looking at him now. He was stunning, and it was making it hard for you to think of anything other than his smiling face. Your hand was still lingering on his arm, and he didn’t seem keen on changing the fact.

“Yeah,” you nodded. “You never know.” He was right, even if it did make you feel dirty to be perceived in such a light. Two timing was not something that you would do, even if most other things were, but you could understand why the thought ran through his head.

“So single, and interested?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Single, and definitely interested.” You nodded, your cheeks heating slightly as he smiled down at you. You could not comprehend how someone could be so beautiful, nor how someone like him could have so much interest in you. “After all, you did come here just to see me, and I haven’t told you to leave yet.” You smirked, calling him on his earlier comment.

“At least I wasn’t the one too shy to say hello.” He argued back, his tone light and his eyes playful.

“Didn’t matter much anyway, cause we’re here now.” You giggled, dismissing the idea. “I like you, Michigan.” He let out a low laugh at the sound of the nickname.

“I like you too, Utah.” He reiterated the sentiment, looking out the plastic covered window for a moment. “I’m happy you texted me. Was worried you thought I was a loser.”

“I’m happy I did too. I was scared you thought I was stupid.”

“I gave you the number for a reason, sunshine.” He recalled, looking back at your face. He took a few moments to study the details, finding himself enthralled in all of the things he did not have the opportunity to notice before. The way your dark eyelashes swooped down over your under eyes when you blinked, standing prominently against your skin. The way your nose angled down, sharp yet rounded perfectly at the tip. He noticed a dust of blush across the tip, matching the makeup you’d swiped onto your cheeks. He noticed your lips, soft and inviting despite the dryness from the cold air outside. Further than that, he saw scars littered over your skin, what looked to be from acne but he couldn’t be certain. You were young, vibrant looking, yet there was a certain wisdom held deep in the features of your face.

He thought you were stunning, and every time he looked too closely, you seemed to take his breath away.

He wanted to be closer, to study even more than he could see from the short distance between you. He wanted to connect the constellations of freckles over the bridge of your nose and he wanted to memorize the specs of color offsetting the main hue of your irises. He needed more, but he knew he could not have that yet. Meeting you on his first day in New York told him that the trip was going to be everything he hoped for and more; a breath of fresh air, and a new perspective on life. When he noticed your sweet smile and witty humor, he realized that the city was exactly what he needed to start fresh, and you were the very thing that would help him do so. The texts and limited phone calls shared between the two of you over the last week and a half was not enough for him, even if it did make him feel selfish.

He wanted to know why a girl from Utah would rather be far away from home, struggling to pay rent with a disappointing paycheck from a shitty diner. He wanted to know why you felt the need to travel across the country to write stories and poems, and why you seemed so adamant about never going back. The desire was more than a feeble want, but rather a desperate need. He’d never stumbled across another person who intrigued him so easily, and he never wanted to let it slip through his fingers. You were a puzzle waiting to be solved, and he would be damned if he was not the one to piece it together.

His curiosity was not one sided, and you too felt the same way about him. You had no idea how a boy from Michigan landed himself on the outskirts of New York City, renting an Airbnb with his best friend for an undisclosed amount of time. You wanted to know his dreams, his hopes, and his fears, because within that, you could find more inspiration to continue writing. He was a breath of fresh air, and different from anyone you’d met since moving to the city. He was kind, polite and respectful. He flirted, but did not overstep. More than anything, he was funny, and he was stunning. Everything about him made you want to be loved by him. You didn’t know him, and he did not know you, but the two of you were dedicated to changing that.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” He asked, breaking the silence you’d fallen into. The question surprised you, but you were happy to answer it.

“Well, I get out of here at six, and I usually sleep until twelve.” You laughed, knowing that the two of you were living on opposite schedules. “I have to be back here tomorrow at six, but other than that, nothing really.”

“You work twelves here?” He asked, curious about the prospect.

“I do,” you nodded. “It’s not as bad as it sounds. I mean, this is what we do all night.” You laughed, motioning around the empty room. “We get the last part of the dinner rush, and usually one around eight or nine, then we just do whatever we want. Every now and again we get a couple rounds of customers, but it’s definitely not too stressful.”

“Probably helps that you work with friends.” He noted, referring to the two boys you’d introduced him to.

“It does.” You nodded. “I mean, I guess this place gave me the friends to work with. When I moved here, I didn’t know anyone.”

“You met them here?”

“Yeah, when I got hired they’d already been here for a while. It was nice to be around people who I could get along with. Makes the whole job a lot less miserable.” You explained, giving him a soft smile. “I don’t hate the job, even if most people would. It pays the bills, and it gets me out of the house. I only work four days a week, so I have plenty of time for other things.”

“That doesn’t sound too bad, then.” He agreed, nodding along with your words. “The overnights don’t mess with your head?”

“No,” you shook your head, being completely honest with him. “I’ve always been a night owl, so I guess I never really thought twice about it.” He hummed in agreement, opting to stay quiet for a moment to process everything you had told him. “So why are you wondering if I’m busy tomorrow?” You smirked.

“I was just wondering,” he smiled, giving a shrug. “Thought maybe you could meet Sam and show us around the city a little bit.”

“Sam? Like the friend you came here with?” He nodded at your words, a hopeful look in his eye.

“He’s a great guy. A lot to handle sometimes, but he’s fun to be around.” He offered, hoping that the idea wasn’t too much for you. “I think you’ll like him.”

“Yeah, I think we could do that.” You agreed, smiling. “That sounds fun, actually.”

“Great,” he sighed, relieved at your enthusiasm. “It’s a date, then.”

“Is it?” You raised an eyebrow, biting back a grin. “Don’t know if I could go on a date with a man I don’t know. I might not even like this Sam guy.” You theorized, teasing him. “Unless you meant the three of us together. Is that your thing?” He let out a laugh at your words, one that came straight from his chest and filled the stale air. It was just as beautiful as you remembered it to be, and you wished you could spend the rest of your life listening to that sound alone.

“I was thinking more like you and me, and he can be a third wheel.” He explained, his eyes twinkling with happiness at the jokes shared between you.

“Oh, I see.” You pretended to understand, as if you had actually missed his intention entirely. “Yeah, that would be alright. Seems kind of mean to him, does it not?”

“He’ll live.” Danny assured you.

“If you say so.” You grinned.

“I promise.”

“Alright,” you breathed, still trying to wrap your head around him wanting to go on a date with you. “It’s settled then. We’ll go on a date, and Sam can follow behind and enjoy the experience.”

“Sounds fantastic. You’ll call me when you wake up?”

“I will.” You nodded, already excited for the next day.

“I’ll leave you to it, then.” He said, looking over your face one last time. “Before I go, do you have a pen by any chance?” He asked as if he suddenly remembered the most important part of his visit.

“Oh, yeah.” You dug into your pocket, grabbing the one clipped to your order pad. You slid it across the table, and he grabbed a torn piece of paper from his pocket. You watched as he scribbled something down, wondering if he’d brought his own paper just so he could leave you another note. After a moment, he slid the paper and the pen back across the table to you, and stood without any further notice.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Utah.”

“See you tomorrow, Michigan.” You smiled, watching him turn towards the door. As he stepped towards it, wrapping his large hand around the doorknob, he turned to look back at you one last time. You blew him a kiss, subtle but still sweet. He chuckled at your expression as he stepped out the door, wishing he had enough courage to say something more.

When the door closed behind him, you looked down at the paper, feeling your stomach twist with butterflies at the messy handwriting.

Keep writing, Utah. You have what it takes to make it big. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow ♡

- Michigan xx

You could not bite back the smile as you slipped the note into your pocket. Somehow, after all of the misery that life had thrown at you, it seemed as though there was a light at the end of the tunnel, or a rainbow after the storm. Danny was refreshing, and he was captivating. He gave life the sparkle it so often lacked, and he gave you the desire to live, instead of just exist. You no longer felt content with working, sleeping, and forcing yourself through the day. You wanted to jump out of bed and discover all the world had to offer. You wanted to live life the way a twenty-three year old should instead of wasting it away and hoping that the next life would be kinder.

Unfortunately, you did not exist within your bubble of happiness for very long, because a voice with immeasurable disdain cut through the air and caught your attention. “What’s that all about, then?” You looked over to the swinging door separating the kitchen from the dining room, seeing Vincent standing against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest and a scowl on his face.

“Not much to talk about. We’re friends, Vin. Met him the other day, and he stopped by to say hello.” You shrugged, downplaying the situation in hopes that you would not cause him any more hurt. You could see in his eyes what you had already done to him, and you were desperate to avoid any further damage.

“You say we’re just friends, too.” He offered, refusing to move from his spot on the wall.

“‘Cause we are,” you said, reminding him of the fact.

“Right, how could I ever forget.” He rolled his eyes.

“What’s your point?” You said, your fuse burning closer to the end. He had a fantastic way at making you lose your temper, so much so that you could not even comprehend it.

“Point is, you and I both know we’re far from friends. It might not be perfect, but there’s something there.” He said, trying to keep his cool. “Just sucks when you decide to flirt with someone else right in front of me.”

“You know what my stipulations are, and you don’t want to do it.” You argued, unwilling to take the blame for something that was not solely your fault. “We could have been more than friends, but it seems like you didn’t want that.”

“Yeah,” he chuckled, although the situation was humorless. “Forgot, it’s always my fuckin’ fault. Little miss sunshine can’t take the blame for anything.” He grumbled, clearing holding back from all of the things he truly wanted to say. “You didn’t try very hard either, sweetheart. In fact, don’t really think you tried at all.”

“You don’t get to say that,” you shook your head, your cheeks burning with anger. “I tried, and I still do.” You snapped, willing yourself to stay seated even if you wanted to get in up his face and scream everything he’d ever done wrong. “I gave you the chance to get clean a million times, and you won’t do it. Who cleaned you up after every bar fight? Every detox?” You pressed. “Or when you OD’ed? Who sat with you at the hospital, begging you to get better?”

“You’re gonna throw that in my face?” He said, his expression stony. “After everything we’ve been through, you’re gonna use it against me?”

“Point is, Vincent, I did it ‘cause I cared. I did it, and no one else, but you don’t care enough to stop doing it. I’d do it again a million times, but you won’t even try to do what I’m asking.” You blinked hard, knowing that tears were desperate to fall. Your chest was tight and your throat felt like it was constricting around the words as they came out of your mouth. “I can’t wait forever, cause I’ll be dead before I see you sober.”

“Maybe I could if I had a little support instead of you always expecting me to fail.” He argued. Instead of answering, you turned to look away from him, finding the conversation redundant and painful. You’d given him so much support that you were lacking when it came to yourself. You’d taken care of him so much that you neglected to do it for yourself. You couldn’t say it aloud, because you knew it would hurt him too badly. His ego was too fragile, and you would scream and yell only start at the very beginning tomorrow morning with no change. It didn’t get you anywhere, and telling him such would only make him feel responsible for your own relapses.

“You just want to fight, or do you have something worthwhile to say?” You said, tapping the pen against the wood grain of the table.

“You think he’s the one? Really?” He asked, changing subjects again. He didn’t like it when the heat was on him. “Looks like he has a VIP spot at the golf and country club. I bet his parents pay his way through life, and I doubt he even knows what suffering is.”

“And that’s a bad thing?” You scoffed, turning back towards him. “If my parents did that for me, I’d take advantage of it too. You can’t judge a book by its cover, Vincent.”

“Never said it was a bad thing, but you just proved my point.” He said, pointing a finger towards you with a smug smile on his face. It was not one of joy, but rather one that showed how happy he was to be proven right. “You couldn’t imagine what a life like that is like. Your parents would never do that for you. He doesn’t get you, doll, and he never fuckin’ will.”

“Maybe that’s not a bad thing either, Vincent. Maybe I need someone or something that doesn’t get it, so I can have a chance to get away from it.” You explained, praying he would see some kind of reason.

“Or, he’ll think you’re too fucked up and leave you just like the rest of em’. Rich people don’t like struggle, sweetheart, and struggle is all we know how to do.” He shot back, praying you would see his side. “I get it. I get you and what you’ve been through. Doesn’t that mean anything?”

“You don’t, though.” You gave a small, breathy laugh. You shook your head as you thought over his words. “We came from the same things, Vin, but you don’t get me. You’re still stuck there, and I’m trying to get away from it.”

“Right,” he gave a slow nod, looking to the floor for a second. “Do what you want, doll. Keep thinkin’ he’s what you need, but I know it’s too much for him. He can’t handle you, and it’s okay to admit that.” He paused, looking back up at your saddened expression. “I can’t stop you, but I’ll be here when you come back crying. I’ll be here when he realizes what he actually got himself into.”

“Fuck you, Vincent.” You spat, your stomach sick at the sound of his words. You hated how vile he turned when his feelings were hurt. He was a man who loved to hurt others in reaction to getting hurt, and he knew how to hurt you better than anyone else. It was hard to love him when he was only himself half of the time. Sometimes you had to wonder if he did it on purpose, or if he was even aware of the damage he was causing.

“You can be mad all you want, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m right.” He said, turning on his heel and walking back into the kitchen. You stared at the spot he once stood, his words still looming over your head and begging to destroy every bit of happiness you’d built up.

You wanted to be angry, to scream at him and throw things and tell him how terrible he was, but you couldn’t. Instead, you sat at the booth, remembering what it felt like when Danny was sitting across from you and how nothing else in the world mattered. Then, you pictured him leaving. You imagined him walking away after you spilled your guts to him about the horrors your life has been. Instead of arguing that Vincent was wrong, you were plagued with the knowledge that it was very likely that he was correct, and there wasn’t a thing in the world you could do about it. You were too much, and you always had been. There were few people in the world who could comprehend what you had been through, and even fewer who were willing to stay. Danny seemed like a breath of fresh air, but you wondered if he still would be even after knowing you completely, or if you would have to hide parts of yourself from him so he would stay.

Maybe, your skies were just a little too dark to ever be graced with the light of a rainbow, and that thought was possibly the most sickening of them all.

TAGLIST: @imleavingyoufornewyork @itsafullmoon @bladenotblaze @jessicafg03 @dont-go-home-without-me @peaceloveunitygvf @torniturntomyarrow @lostoverseer @clairesjointshurt @jordie-gvf @lallisonl

#gvf #greta van fleet #danny wagner #danny gvf #gvf fic #jake gvf #sam kiszka #jake kiszka #sam gvf #josh gvf #danny wagner series #danny wagner angst #danny wagner fluff #danny wagner fic #danny wagner smut #danny wagner x reader #daniel gvf #daniel wagner #gvf smut #gvf angst #gvf fluff #gvf imagine #greta van fleet angst #greta van fleet fluff #greta van fleet fic #greta van fleet smut #greta van fleet fanfic #greta van fleet imagine #builtbybrokenbells #belladonna

[redgoldsparks]

October Reading and Reviews by Maia Kobabe

I post my reviews throughout the month on Storygraph and Goodreads, and do roundups here and on patreon. Reviews below the cut.

Finna by Nino Cipri, read by Amanda Dolan

Ava is having a rough time: three days ago she and Jules broke up, and since then she's been avoiding them at their horrible mutual job at LitenVärld, a dystopian Ikea. Then a customer goes missing in a wormhole in spacetime, and Ava and Jules are chosen to try and retrieve the missing grandma. Very short, very fun. Written by a nonbinary author. Gave this a re-listen as an audiobook because there is a sequel now :D

Defekta by Nino Cipri read by Ramon De Ocampo 

This novella takes place in the same LitenVärld store that Ava and Jules worked at in book one in this series, but follows Derek, the store's most loyal and dedicated employee. He lives in a shipping container in the store's parking lot, and has no friends and no life outside his time at the store. In fact, he doesn't even have any memories from before he started working at the store... or any explanation for why the store seems to make sense to him, and even speak to him, in a way it doesn't to any of his co-workers. Then something even more shocking than an wormhole occurs in the store: the furniture starts waking up and coming to life. Derek's entire worldview and sense of self are completely upturned. Unfortunately this story didn't capture me as strongly as book one; despite being a novella it felt oddly slow. I was rooting for Derek and the wayward furniture by the end, but the structure of the story was not as strong or streamlined as Finna. I do still want to keep reading Nino Cipri because I love the way they effortlessly include nonbinary characters in their sci-fi and I want a third installment that returns to Ava and Jules!

Princess Floralinda and the Forty Story Tower read by Moira Quirk 

A four hour fantasy novella read by the talented and wonderful Moira Quirk, who also reads the Locked Tomb audiobooks. This original fairy tale features Floralinda, a princess captured by a witch and imprisoned in a tower full of monsters. When all of the princes who try to rescue her fail Floralinda has to to take up arms against the monsters herself. I was entertained throughout my whole time listening to this story, but it didn't have a particularly strong emotional impact. I would mostly recommend it to Tamsyn Muir completionists; though it was published in the same year as Harrow it feels like an earlier work. I kind of wanted the ending to be either more hopeful or more horrible.

My Aunt is a Monster by Reimena Yee 

Safia is blind, but she was raised by booksellers who read her stories of adventures and the wide world. After her parents tragically die in a fire, Safia is adopted by a distant relative, a reclusive aunt who used to be the world's most famous adventurer. A curse ended her traveling career, but a rival adventurer and the discovery of an ancient city might pull the whole family back into the world. This book was sillier than I expected, but I still greatly enjoyed the art style and the magical whimsy.

Thistlefoot by GemmaRose Nethercott read by January LaVoy 

Isaac and Bellatine Yaga grew up on the road with their parents' traveling puppet show, but neither has a good relationship with their parents as adults. Isaac ran away as a teen and has lived as a train-hopping actor and scam artist into his early twenties. Bellatine moved across the country to study woodworking in New England were she is trying desperately to live a normal life despite her power to bring inanimate objects to life. Her power, and Isaac's shapeshifting ability, are inheritances of a generational trauma from a history they barely know. But then another inheritance arrives for them in New York: a house on chicken legs, built by a Russian Jewish ancestor who survived the pogroms of the 1920s and the turmoil of the Russian Revolution. To Isaac, the house is an opportunity. To Bellatine, it is a home. But it comes with a curse: a shadow man follows the house to America, wanting to finish the destruction he started. I loved this story, woven through with Jewish folklore and American folk songs, a road trip story, a story of facing and accepting family history and how far its shadow falls into the present. I image this book gets compted with American Gods by Neil Gaimen and The Golem and the Jinni by Helen Wecker but it is very much its own book with its own lyrical tone. And its queer! Highly recommend.

The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu 

This queer, modern retelling of Hamlet is set in a scientific lab and contained mostly within a tense 12 hours. Hayden Lichfield finds his father's cooling body in Elsinore labs within the first few pages; he immediately calls on the sentient AI system, Horatio, who controls the security cameras and many other aspects of the building. Horatio reports a 1.5 hour gap in the video logs. Hayden and his father, Dr Lichfield, were working on formula to reverse death. Hayden's immediate assumption is that the killer was after his father's research. The lab goes into lockdown and Hayden is trapped inside with his uncle Charles, lab technician Gabriel Rasmussen, Hayden's ex and research intern Felicia Xia, and her father Paul Xia, head of security. Unless they find an intruder, one of them is the murderer. I enjoyed how deftly this novel kept me guessing even when following a plot I know well. I was genuinely unsure how many, or who, of the people trapped in Elsinore would survive the night. I was also into the unashamed queerness of an AI in love with a human, and the ways in which that love could and could not be reciprocated.

The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson read by MacLeod Andrews

This book does an unbelievably thorough job of recounting one of the most devastating recent thefts from a modern museum. In 2009, an American student studying at London's Royal Academy of Music broke into the Tring museum, which contains thousands of natural history specimens including birds collected by Charles Darwin and his contemporary Alfred Russel Wallace. Darwin and Wallace both independently formulated the theory of natural selection and survival of the fittest in the same decade, by observing and collecting birds on remote islands during the height of the British Empire. They both believed in the importance of preserving these birds for future science. At the same time, the colonial empire had developed a huge appetite for exotic and colorful feathers for Victorian hats, the cabinets of curiosities and natural history specimens which were in vogue in the upper class, and for another aristocrat's hobby: tying salmon flies. These appetites nearly drove many bird species to extinction. Modern day lovers of the Victorian art of salmon fly tying now comb the internet for feathers from these rare birds, desperate to get their hands on materials mentioned in Victorian books. The majority of these feathers are now semi-illegal to possess or sell. It was this obsession that drove 20 year old Edwin Rist to break a window at the Tring and escape with nearly 300 stolen bird skins. There followed a long detective investigation into how he'd done it and what happened with the feathers afterwards. I enjoyed the audiobook and was impressed by the persistence of the author, who pursued this story for half a decade.

Asylum by Greg Means and Kazimir Lee 

A short but rich story about platonic adult friends who bond through a competitive fantasy card game, but end up supporting each other through all kinds of life transitions both joyful and heartbreaking. Allen and Zekia are both single, both wish they were dating or partnered, but instead they're sharing hotel rooms at geeky conventions, setting up mutual friends, attending weddings and funerals, babysitting other people's kids, and most of all playing the card game Asylum. Zekia, a Black lesbian, struggles with her self-worth, feeling unlovable and too socially awkward to date. Allen, a straight cis man, take a more philosophical view of his situation, appreciating the good things he has in life, including his many strong friendships. The black and white art is simple, clear, and effective. I read it all in one sitting!

Sincerely, Harriet by Sarah Winifred Searle

This is a very quiet and soft story of a girl struggling with an invisible chronic illness, and the resulting isolation and loneliness. Harriet and her parents recently moved to Chicago (to be closer to hospitals and specialists) and she doesn't know anyone in her neighborhood yet except the older woman, Pearl, who lives on a lower floor. Harriet misses friends she made at a summer camp and sends them postcards, lying about her new busy and fun social life. Pearl lends Harriet a series classic of books to try and gently nudge the girl out of her shell. But Harriet struggles to focus on them, instead wondering about a possible ghost living in the attic. There are other emotional struggles hinted at, but they are very subtle and a lot is left to the reader's imagination. The line art is very careful and lovely.

#comics #reading #books #book reviews #comic book reviews

[alastorinwonderland]

Alastor In Wonderland

(Chapter 5)

Chapter Four: The Tale of TweedleRazzle and TweedleDazzle

Alastor continued his search through the dense forest of Wonderland, calling out for Charlie and Vaggie in the hopes of finding them amidst the twisting trees and winding paths. But his calls echoed unanswered, lost in the quiet solitude of the woods. "Miss Rabbits! My dear Rabbits! Where are you?" Alastor's voice carried through the air, but there was no response.

Frustration gnawed at him as he pressed on, the thick undergrowth hindering his progress. Suddenly, he stumbled upon a peculiar sight – two goat dragon bois engaged in a heated argument over a single donut.

"TweedleRazzle, you've had your share! It's my turn now!" TweedleDazzle protested, his voice rising in indignation. "But I was only halfway through it! You can't just take it like that!" TweedleRazzle retorted, his horns clashing with his brother's. Alastor approached them cautiously, clearing his throat to get their attention.

"Excuse me, gentlemen. Have you seen two girls, white rabbits perhaps, wandering through these woods?" But the Tweedle brothers were too engrossed in their dispute to pay him any mind. Frustrated with their childish behavior, Alastor took matters into his own hands, grabbing the donut and splitting it in half.

“Here, take your halves and cease this bickering," Alastor said firmly, handing them each a piece. "You're behaving like spoiled children." The Tweedle brothers grumbled but accepted their portions, their attention shifting to Alastor as they offered him a game or a fight as payback. Alastor declined, explaining his urgent need to find Charlie and Vaggie and return to Hell.

Their mention of the Little Oysters piqued Alastor's interest, prompting him to agree to listen to one story before continuing his search. The Tweedle brothers launched into a tale called

"The Walrus and the Carpenter," recounting the tragic fate of the Little Oysters lured away from their mother by deceitful promises of dinner.

Alastor listened intently, his expression growing somber as the tale unfolded.

"How tragic," he remarked softly as the story concluded. But as TweedleRazzle and TweedleDazzle eagerly began to recount another tale, Alastor seized the opportunity to slip away unnoticed, his patience with the brothers wearing thin.

“I appreciate your hospitality, gentlemen, but I must be on my way," Alastor said, his tone polite but firm as he made his escape.

Navigating through the forest with renewed determination, Alastor vowed to find Charlie and Vaggie on his own, dismissing the Tweedle brothers as nothing more than a detour in his quest to return to Hell.

As he ventured deeper into the woods, Alastor couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered within him. Wonderland was a realm of mysteries and dangers, and he knew that his journey was far from over.

#alice in wonderland #alice in wonderland au #alastor in wonderland #my au #hazbin hotel #very special au #hazbin hotel au #hazbin alastor #hazbin charlie #hazbin vaggie #hazbin razzle and dazzle

[bookaddict24-7]

REVIEWS OF THE WEEK!

Books I’ve read so far in 2023!

Friend me on Goodreads here to follow my more up to date reading journey for the year!

___

204. The Parasite by Richard Paul Evans--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I can't believe we get more MICHAEL VEY stories! I was in love with this series when I did my re-read and I didn't know we were going to get a sequel series with them being in College until I saw this one pop up at work last year. Although it's a wholly new adventure, the suspense and fun is just the same.

Although it reads more like YA like the other books in the series, the characters are definitely older (wouldn't be surprised in they're at least 20). I liked this side of it because it felt more proportional with the violence they experience.

I also mainly loved reading this book because while it was fun, we got to have the opportunity to see how the characters were doing beyond the initial series, which is something so rare. AND it is a great story, too, it's not some sad attempt at writing yet another MICHAEL VEY story.

The team goes back to the site of one of the places that started it all because one of their old teammates has gone missing there, and two other have been abducted. It was nonstop action and intrigued.

If you haven't read this series, I highly recommend it. I think it's good for any ages because it's just pure fun. (My review rambles because I don't want to spoil anything LOL).

___

205. The Traitor by Richard Paul Evans--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The way I always devour these books. Since I waited to read the last book in this series, I was able to read this one immediately after.

I loved the twists and turns, and the constant adventure. I also almost cried during this one because it feels like the impossible has happened near the end of this book. I'm not going to say much because of spoilers, but I'm left with questions and I'm eagerly waiting for the next book, since this one left off on a cliffhanger!

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206. Come With Me by Ronald Malfi--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I've been meaning to read a Ronald Malfi novel because I came across a couple of his short story collections that looked really good to me. I wanted to see if I vibed with his writing and while it took me a little bit to get into it, I think I'm going to enjoy his stuff.

COME WITH ME dealt with not only a chilling mystery to be solved after the tragic killing of the MC's wife, but also the shadows of grief that haunt us when we're stuck in that immediate loop of not being able to cope with the new reality that loss paints for us. We see the personification of this grief in Malfi's novel as the MC struggles to find the answers his late wife had secretly been hunting for while she was alive.

This is definitely one of those horror books that masquerade as a ghost story, but is actually a tale of human-created horror and the haunting of grief. The actions of several people, including police officers, is another one of the chilling topics brought into focus in COME WITH ME.

It took me a while to get into the book because the first few parts are about the MC's reality shifting and in retrospect, I think that it was a very necessary introduction. We are being brought into the MC's very real horror story and then we start exploring the true crime aspect of this book.

I think what made this book all the more compelling was how consistent Malfi was throughout the story when it comes to grief and the horrible things humans do to one another. Even the ending was a jarring reminder of this.

COME WITH ME leaves you with questions like "Why?" and "What now?" and I have zero regrets about finally reading this book. I've read a lot of iterations of grief and how it can be explored in fiction. I think Malfi does a great job and I'm excited to read more of his work!

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207. Hello Stranger by Katherine Center--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I'm a huge fan of Katherine Center. I've enjoyed pretty much every book she's ever written and that hasn't changed at all after reading this new one!

HELLO STRANGER was such a cute and unique story following a woman who loses her ability to recognize faces after a life-saving brain surgery. She's an artist and while she's struggling with her new (and potentially temporary) reality, she grows closer to the resident playboy (or is he?)

I loved seeing their banter, her hilarious take on certain situations, and how obvious the conflict was--but in the funniest way possible. This was truly such a sunlight of a book during the scariest of months.

Center's writing is always such a joy and HELLO STRANGER is perfect proof of that. It's not smutty, so know that, but it does focus on a classic and fun will they/won't they romance between two enemies (maybe?). If you like stories that feature a guy who falls first, but let's the FMC do her enemies bit, then you're going to really enjoy this.

Also, much like Center's other books, the MC also has a complex storyline. Her complicated relationship with her family, the grief that has helped shape her as an artist, and her need to be the best friend possible make her a fun narrator for HELLO STRANGER.

Add this one to your TBR if you want a fun romantic comedy with a little puppy, an evil stepsister, and a sexy man who just wants to be helpful.

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208. The Fate of Ten by Pittacus Lore--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Well, that ending was...I'm very glad I'm reading these years after they've all been released. I don't know if I'd be able to handle having to wait a year for the the final book after that ending.

Much like the rest of this series, this was a fantastic book. Will always be a fan of how the characters have grown so much and the complex relationships between all of them. They all work off each other so, so well.

I liked the twists and there were definitely moments where I thought the storyline was getting really cool. Not going to lie, series like this one make me feel like a kid again. The fun of them, the emotional weight of them, and the "will they actually succeed?" urgency of these stories hook me every time.

I can't say too much because they're super easy to spoil, but if you've been on the fence about reading this series, I highly recommend that you give yourself a few days off to just sit and read these (or listen to them). They're that good and addicting. Even though I'm giving myself breaks in between each book, I am always thinking about them!

Seriously can't wait to get my hands on the next one!

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209. The Ferryman by Justin Cronin--⭐️⭐️⭐️

It has been a LONG time since I've read anything by Justin Cronin. I remember that summer, years ago, when I fell into THE PASSAGE--the bible-thin pages taunting me--and completely falling in love. I didn't know what to expect from THE FERRYMAN, but the concept seemed interesting and I wanted to read something new from Cronin that didn't have to do with his spooky tome of a series.

Long story short, I thought THE FERRYMAN was...okay?

I THINK I understand what Cronin was trying to do with this one. I even see this as a bittersweet love letter to grief. Grief over a future lost; grief over what could have been and is actually a completely different existence. The whole experience was like a manic dream highlighted by the grief that the characters carry in their hearts. This aspect was powerful and honestly so heartbreaking.

One of the things that I recalled from THE PASSAGE were the parental undertones when one of the children lacked a parent to help guide them in their scary new world. This is another part of THE FERRYMAN that I think Cronin did well.

What I think was a flaw in THE FERRYMAN was the structure of the story and the at-times wordiness of the story, even though this book was much shorter than THE PASSAGE. We kept jumping from one storyline to another, and another, and another. Just when I thought I was getting a grip of where the story had jumped to, we were thrust into another new reality. The structure was akin to an onion full of layers--metaphorical layers that made me cry with frustration because understanding was such a slippery concept. Thankfully, the ending really and truly helped me understand what the hell was going on, but the journey was admittedly exhausting.

I'm happy I read this because it was different and challenged me, but the exhausting nature of it also makes me happy I made it to the end. (I don't foresee a re-read in my future.) Overall, I enjoyed the messages in this, but the execution could have been done better (unless disorienting the reader was the goal, then bravo!)

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210. Time to Shine by Rachel Reid--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received a copy from the publisher. This did not affect my rating in any way!

I LOVED THIS BOOK.

Listen, I haven't stayed up until 5:30AM listening to a book in FOREVER. Rachel Reid hits us again with another incredible M/M hockey romance! I simply adored this--in the "kicking my feet with joy" way.

The himb0 MC is the cutest person I have read in a book in a long time. One of my favourite lines he says is "Sometimes he had thought ideas were great and they turned out to be terrible, like the time he stirred peanut butter into his coffee." (Quote is from the ARC.) My sweet summer child. This quote pretty much paints a perfect idea of how he his. He's the sweetest and most...sexual guy ever and I fell immediately in love.

The second and quieter MC is this tall and shy badass goalie who is the biggest cinnamon roll. I wanted to hug him (after asking first) and take on some of the grief and guilt he carries with him for a good chunk of the book. His anxiety and adverseness to his talkative counterpart was hilarious and watching him slowly open up was the absolute best.

One of the best things about this book, which I have already told a couple of people, is the communication between the two characters. Consent is always important and it is definitely highlighted in this book.

TIME TO SHINE is an apt title, not just because we see these characters grow to be the brightest people they can be (in their worlds), but because this book is a like a ray of sunshine full of important topics, but most importantly, such a pure and sweet love.

I giggled, fell in love, and sweated my way through the smut.

I'm in love and I hope there's more coming in this world (or at least from Reid!)

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211. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I listened to the audiobook and this was an incredibly great choice. The production level was incredible and I can see younger readers falling in love immediately. I almost wish the sound effects had played throughout the whole book.

The mini storylines of how Roz the robot made friends and survived on the island were so sweet that I couldn't help but smile throughout the whole book. I especially loved the storyline where she was the mom to an orphaned little goose. It made my heart feel so warm and fuzzy--it was just so, so cute.

Now I understand why so many little ones come into the bookstore looking for this series! It has a lot of great messages of forgiveness and the complexities of the topic, friendships, different kinds of parents, never judging someone before getting to know them, and how family isn't always blood-related but can be made up of those around us who love us. It's an incredible wholesome book.

I think this would be a great book for an even younger demographic than 9-12. I think I'd recommend this for as young as eight or nine--especially when one considers what some kids are reading now. This is a wholesome read with very, very minimal violence and a whole lot of love.

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Have you read any of these books? Let me know your thoughts!

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Happy reading!

#Review #Reviews #book reviews #my writing #my opinion #long text post #Features #book blog #book blogger #bookworm #books #booklr #bookish #bookaholic #books and reading #book lover #book list #book recs #reading #read #reader #readers of tumblr #readers community #readers life #reading community #book review

[litrallymadlad]

you mentioned you were reading trc at some point—what are your thoughts on it so far? :0

HAHAH IT MADE ME SO MAD I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE IT. I got like two chapters into the second book and haven't picked it up in a couple weeks.

I've been wrangling in my rants about trc so if you're interested to know em I'll put em under the fold below. BUT FAIR WARNING: I think I missed the opportunity to read them in middle/high school because I think I really would have enjoyed them then and been able to read them later in life for the nostalgia factor because THE VIBES WERE IMMACULATE.

BLUE PISSES ME OFF. FUCK HER HONESTLY. She's so unnecessarily mean to the lads (specifically Gansey AND I'M A GANSEY APOLOGIST. I LOVE THAT MAN I WOULD DIE FOR HIM.) It's giving 2012 not like other girlies PICK ME VIBES. I ENDED UP SKIPPING BLUE'S POVS CUZ SHE'D ALWAYS SAY THE FOULEST THINGS ON THE PLANET and I'd have to put the book down. I just don't respect her as a person LMAO

AND ADAM PISSED ME OFF for similar reasons but his beef with Gansey was a lot more personal so the justification was there. BLUE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW THESE GUYS. TALK ABOUT PRIDE AND PREJUDICE MY GOD. Adam's angst was like, a deep character and circumstantial flaw that I can get behind. BLUE???? I get the impression that she's supposed to be a y/n character which is very 2012 tumblr girlie of her so I'm supposed to insert my grievances with rich boys and wanting to kiss em onto her BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY OF THAT TO BACK HER UP. SHE'S ON HER OWN.

ALSO I'm convinced the kissing scheme is BS because theoretically she can kiss the love of her life AFTER he dies. What's stopping her from kissing a corpse. Necrophilia?? NO!!!!!!!!!!! That doesn't have to stop her. Why aren't we considering the possibility that the person she kisses could die before she even kisses them and then in a fit of grief she kisses them or gives them mouth-to-mouth trying to resuscitate them. YOU KNOW WOT OIM SAYIN BRUV??? ALSO Istg the logistics of the kissing scheme CHANGE. IT CHANGED LIKE THREE TIMES. I think it was just a matter of rephrasing it but with something like that THAT'S LIKE A PROPHECY. YOU CAN'T BE MIXING UP THE LANGUAGE. THAT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE. It added to the unreliability of the narrator misinterpreting it and it made me want to wring someone's NECK. Cuz by the end of the book I was like "I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT THE ORIGINAL VERBIAGE WAS."

Also, what if she has MULTIPLE LOVES?? I'm of the belief you can love someone the same amount in various parts of your life like??? Do widows just never love the same way again? What if the love of her life was a childhood friend who died tragically? LOVE IS DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE AND EVERY RELATIONSHIP. IT'S NOT ALWAYS A HIERARCHY WHERE THE END-ALL-BE-ALL IS YOUR PARTNER. She loves her family! What if she kisses her mom on the cheek and she knocks out DEAD. WHAT THEN. DOES IT HAVE TO BE ON THE MOUTH?? I don't trust anyone relaying this prophecy. FUCK THEM, HONESTLY. I'm sure I'm just reading into it too much and am bitter about the verbiage constantly changing. It's probably more like a fairy tale Disney vibe of True Love HAHAH IF SO IGNORE ME.

Honestly I think if I'd just read this in middle school/high school I'd like it a lot and the nostalgia would be unreal. It'd be so iconic. But at this point I think I'm too old to vibe with it HAHAHA I FUCKING LOVE GANSEY AND ADAM THOUGH. THERE'S LIKE NO FICS OF THEM (and them alone, no Ronan). I'VE READ THEM ALL. THEY'RE SO GOOD. THE GANSEY X ADAMS OF THE WORLD KNOW WHAT THEY'RE FFFFFUCKING DOING.

#I'm sure you opened the rest of the post and went o_o #trc #t #ask #anon #BUT GENUINELY I did enjoy the writing and the vibes #All of my gripes stem from Blue which is unfortunate because she's the protagonist HAHAHAHAH OPE #LIKE IF SHE WASN'T INVOLVED AT ALL I'D BE LIKE “HELL YEAH !! ADVENTURE !!!” #I'm also incredibly ace so all the kissing nonsense had me GAGGING #IF THAT PROPHECY WAS ABOUT ME I'D BE LIKE “BET I HAD NO PLANS ON KISSING ANYONE ANYWAY SO THIS IS GREAT” #rant

[mycharacterlistandwipdump]

The Plot Synopses of The UnTitledverse Masterpost

Note: May update over time. TW: A few possible lackluster descriptions.

The Perfect Storm saga

Jurassic World: Before The Storm (Jurassic World) - Lisa Cobalt finds herself in a predicament; she is the legal guardian to her foster brother, Joaquin, but cannot financially support him and herself. That is, until an opportunity to fill the role of a paleo-veterinarian at the marvelous Jurassic World presents itself. However, not is all as it seems. When an abnormal dinosaur makes a sudden appearance, it brings with it mistrust among the staff, and a conspiracy that shrouds an inevitable doom. Life gifts lessons and fortune. Those who do not heed these lessons are fools bound to repeat history.

A Blast In The Past - In 1936, you return to your old workplace at Carmine Studios, your old partner wanting to have a reunion. What you did not anticipate was the darkness that welled up from the consequences of your departure. Live or die, trust or betray, kill or be killed, again and again, follow the path laid out for you, and dwell in the regret of crossing me.

FNAF: Ask Goldie Anything (Five Nights At Freddy's) - Goldie and the Fazbear Gang (both the Originals and the Toys) are asked questions by the readers on Wattpad, AO3, Tumblr and fanfiction net (and possibly more), influencing the plot into varying directions. Based on Grawolfquinn's FNAF comic Ask Goldie Anything, but with a twist.

Adapt To Survive (Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous) - Left behind on Isla Nublar, Joaquin Cobalt traverses the years spent on the dinosaur populated island, with the reluctant help of an industrialist by the name of Edward Carmine. Indo recovers from his fight with the Indominus, grieving the loss of his pack.

Jurassic World: Into The Eye Of The Storm (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) - Isla Nublar is on the brink of a volcanic destruction, so when mercenaries make their way to the island to collect the dinosaurs, Joaquin, Edward and Indo take separate paths to get off the burning island. All these paths lead them to the same Manor on the Mainland.

The Tale Of Mario Emmet (FNAF: The Silver Eyes) - Charlie and her friends return to Hurricane, Utah for the memorial of Michael Brooks and the children who went missing at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. When exploring the old pizzeria, they discover the ruined building is being used as a nest... and the creature is not too far away.

The Aftermath Equation (Jurassic World) - Evading death once more and tying up loose ends, Edward Carmine traces his obsession to the Dolomite Mountains of Italy, in the Biosyn Sanctuary run by Lewis Dodgson. He offers his services and funding. Meanwhile, Maisie learns more about the Joaquin who saved her.

The Adventures of Debra Holmes And Her Amazing Space Friend Mario Emmet - Set before The Tale Of Mario Emmet, in 1988, a Texan girl by the name of Debra Holmes makes the discovery of an alien shapeshifter who she refers to as "Mario Emmet" taking residence on her homestead. The beginning of a wholesome and tragic friendship, both human and alien have the time of their lives while Mario hides away from the U.S Government.

SPECIALS - A novelisation of a roleplay (that I have yet to make), in which the plot is not a priority and is merely a fun and chaotic celebration of several holidays hosted by Calvin Dearing... right?

The Dark Awakening - The sequel to A Blast In The Past, you have had enough with the narrator's torment and venture to break the cycle out of the purgatory he's left you in. A battle between first-person POV and second-person POV, hoping to finally reach third-person POV.

Jurassic World: The Perfect Storm (Jurassic World: Dominion) - The finale to the Jurassic World arc, Edward makes his final move to uncover the Aftermath Equation from the mechanical beast that keeps knowledge within itself, in order to evade death once more. It is up to Joaquin and Maisie to not only sabotage Edward, but also ruin Lewis Dodgson and Biosyn's plans until help arrives.

Honour Thy Father (Transformers Prime) - After a botched mission that held uncertain revelations, Autobot Arcee ventures across Earth to figure out her origins, with the aid of a droid by the name of Timekeeper, whose Time Watch had fallen into enemy hands.

Walking Fate Season 1 (The Walking Dead Game Season 1) - Lee Everett is given a second chance at life, in a world where the dead roam. He takes a girl by the name of Clementine under her wing, and they join up with more survivors as they endure the new world where death can be around every corner.

More Than An IT (IT (2017)) - IT has gone by many names, many forms. ITs' most favorable form being "Pennywise the Dancing Clown". IT has spent centuries devouring the fear and flesh of children. But what can it do against a child that has no fear of it?

Trust In Us (TFP) - The Autobots are lured to a possible energon lab buried underneath the Grand Canyon. The Decepticons had also followed the lab's signal, engaging in combat when meeting the Autobots. Decepticon Communications Officer Soundwave manages to enter the lab first, with Arcee hot on his heels. Events take a turn for the worse, as both Autobot and Decepticon find themselves locked inside a stronghold that's sole purpose was not to create energon, but keep mechanical horrors from reaching the surface. And they have the capacity to deceive.

Not The Strangest Thing (Stranger Things) - Hawkins, Indiana is a hot spring for supernatural occurrences. Follow a party of kids as they traverse the sinister realm that has broken into Hawkins, with government conspiracies and the Cold War looming over an opportunity to weaponize the creatures on the other side.

Gravity Falls Gets Weirder (Gravity Falls) - Twins Dipper and Mabel Pines are sent to Gravity Falls, Oregon, to spend the summer with their Great Uncle, or "Grunkle", Stan at his tourist attraction; the Mystery Shack. Here they attempt to make friends with the locals, and even two additional teen newcomers; Jack Bolt and Maze Woods. But after the discovery of a journal, Dipper and Mabel's summer vacation is flipped upside down and inside out once Gravity Falls reveals a more supernatural presence amongst the populace.

Demonic Clown Guardian (IT (2017)) - Georgie Denbrough makes friends with a lost clown by the name of Pennywise; and he lives in the sewers too! The Losers Club... take time to get used to this peculiar clown.

DOOMed (DOOM (2016)) - The demonic forces of Hell invade the UAC facility stationed on Mars, and in a desperate gamble, Samuel Hayden awakens the Doom Slayer to wipe them out and kill the progenitor behind the invasion; Olivia Pierce. The Slayer and his allies however discover that the Demonic forces have made another pact with the supernatural forces of the Wicked.

IT Gets Stranger (IT (2017)/Stranger Things crossover) - A crossover where the Losers Club take a school trip to Hawkins, Indiana, where they meet the Party.

Walking Fate Season 2 (TWDG Season 2) - After being separated with her group, Clementine fends for herself until she comes across survivors living in a cabin. This fateful encounter leads Clementine to face new enemies, meet familiar faces and the breakdown of a friendship thought to be unbreakable.

Strings Of Fear - A group of outcasts who form a friendship with each other investigate the odd disappearances surrounding Hurricane, Utah. Here these Outcasts come across a vile evil that feeds on the innocent.

Walking Fate: A Dark Era (The Walking Dead: A New Frontier) - Javier Garcia has watched as society had been overrun by the dead and pocketing factions of survivors wage war on each other; the New Frontier being prominent. To protect what remains of his family, Javi allies with a group co-lead by Clementine, despite the bounty on her head.

Strings Of Fear: The Second Part - Years after the first defeat of the cosmic horror that plagued their home town, the Outcasts return to end the creature that haunted them once and for all. But is there more to the horror than meets the eye?

DOOMed: From The Beginning (DOOM (2016)) - Set several months before the events of DOOMed and the fateful "Bring-Your-Kid-To-Work" Day, read how the staff of the UAC facility began its descent into horror and madness through the eyes of a recently transferred doctor and security guard; Leslie Who and Alfred "Jeff" Hopper.

Strings Of Fear: The Finale - The ending chapter to the Strings Of Fear arc. Trapped in a repetitive cycle of hatred and guilt, can one cretin escape his confines?

SCP: Confining Spaces (SCP: Confinement) - Connor, a young man who cannot die, is forced by the SCP Foundation to confront and interview multiple classes of SCPs. Though things take a dark turn upon one reality warper calling himself Jester taking an interest in Connor's nature, leading to the discovery of two warriors; an academic cyborg war hero by the name of Haven, and the Sarcophagus of Shame which houses the Wicked's tactician general, called the Overlord.

More Than Bargained For? (FNAF) - Lillian "Lena" Elliot is hired as the newest Night Guard for Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Fazbear Entertainment believed she'd end up like the other guards... only to prove that she isn't trapped with the animatronics; the animatronics are trapped with her.

Kicking The Bucket Spills The Truth (TFP) - With Flatline's faction making their move, Autobots and Decepticons come to a decision; mark a truce to end a threat, or adjust to this third party?

Detroit: Battleground (Detroit: Become Human) - After Markus' recent victory in the android revolution, both humans and androids move to build a better future with each other; however, Elijah Kamski unleashes his hidden weapon to revert the androids back to servitude; a sentient megavirus designated "K.I.L.L.J.O.Y". However, he did not anticipate K.I.L.L.J.O.Y's capacity for strong emotions such as rage and the desire to dominate.

Smile Tunes (Hellaverse) - Samuel Who is the Morningstar Family's top advisor, trying to balance being Charlie's best friend and looking out for her as a royal advisor. Especially when it comes to her recent venture to redeem sinners with the help of Alastor, the infamous "Radio Demon", due to the upcoming Extermination. He's even more cautious when the strangest Exorcist comes under their care.

DOOMed: Death Isn't Eternal (DOOM: Eternal) - The sequel to DOOMed, follow the Doom Slayer once again as he continues his quest to wipe out Hell's ongoing invasion of Earth. The Slayer meets new allies, faces threats old and unfamiliar, and races against time as the Khan Makyr and the Wicked doom this Earth for their own ambitions.

Walking Fate: Reign Of Sin (TWDG The Final Season) - Clem leads what remains of her small family to a new home in the form of Ericon's Boarding School, lead by troubled teens. She uncovers plots, confronts the one person who embodies her traumas and fights against both the undead and the living.

Pet Sematary: Where Dead Is Better (Pet Sematary (2019)) - The Creeds move to Ludlow, Maine; a decision Louis had agreed to so he could land a stable job while being able to spend more time with his family. The family discover a burial ground hidden in the woods, near their home. Warnings are shared, but not heeded.

Down Memory Lane (Multifandom Crossover) - Calvin and Mario unite again to bring back a lost friend home, without gaining the attention of the Carver of Fate, the Chairman.

Red Dead Redemption: Peace For Thy Sinners (Red Dead Redemption 2) - Maddilyn Darling has been in the Van Der Linde Gang ever since she was nine, raised alongside Arthur Morgan and John Marston into the life of an outlaw by Dutch van der Linde, Hosea Matthews and Abigail Emmet. Through her eyes, she watches her family grow, some members more likeable than others, and she watches as they fall. Her story begins before, during and after the fall of the Van Der Linde Gang.

Truth Or Dare? (Multifandom Crossover) - A menagerie of characters are collected by the dealmaker Jester to play the most intense game of all time... Truth or Dare?

What If? (Multifandom/Crossover) - A collection of alternate routes a story or one of my fics could have taken. What if Kiyotaka Ayanokoji came to the ANS with Ichika Amasawa and Takuya Yagami? What if Clementine died instead of Lee Everett? What if Abigail Emmet never learned to appreciate human culture, and raised Mario in her species traditions? And much more you will be able to ask before and after The UnTitledverse and the other series ends.

Pet Semetary: Let The Dead Rest (Pet Sematary (2019)) - Almost twenty years after the events of his family's destruction, Gage Creed returns to Ludlow, Maine, to put his family to rest.

Yo-Kai Watchlace (Yo-Kai Watch) - Katie Forester was just an average eleven-year-old girl attending Springdale Elementary School with her friends Nathan "Nate" Adams, Edward "Eddie" Archer and Barnaby "Bear" Bernstein. Over the weekend, she comes across an old crank machine, which gifts her a Watchlace and a Yo-Kai butler by the name of Shallow. He "guides" her to compete against the other Yo-Kai Watch user in the area to help as many Yo-Kai as possible for means unknown to Katie.

The Devil Of All Time - Follow the trial of Edward Carmine in the mid-nineties, accused for the ritualistic murder of Leslie Who's child.

Walking Fate: The Final Season (TWDG) - The final confrontation between Delta and the survivors of Ericson, and the end of Clementine and Malcrum's journeys.

We Stand Together (Multifandom Crossover) - The Wicked have banded an army together to accomplish their goals of domination across this corner of the Multiverse, all in the name of their dark master. Joaquin, Calvin and Mario unite their allies to push back against the evil that has risen to claim their glory again.

Gravity Falls: Next Gen (Gravity Falls) - Thirty years after the events of Gravity Falls, Gwen Pines and Sara Gleeful return with their families to visit Soos and his family at the Mystery Shack. However, an old enemy awakens, and with him a plan to bring some new friends to the party. Based on turquoisespace35's Next Gen AU comics.

Subnautica: Deeper Depths (Subnautica: Below Zero) - Taking place five years after the Aurora's crash and Planet 4546B's liberation from the Kharaa, Robin Ayou returns to the antarctic region of the planet after recovering from an accident on an Alterra expedition three years beforehand. However, she finds her half-sister, Sam, had taken lead in the expeditions after Robin's absence, and went missing for some time. To find out the truth, she has to go deeper in the cold, dark depths of the treacherous ocean... where she discovers secrets under the ice.

Supremacy (Multifandom Crossover) - The finale to The Perfect Storm saga, the culmination of the journeys of not only Joaquin, Calvin and Mario, but Edward Carmine and the Wicked's as well. Who will win in this fight between resistance and domination?

The Omniscient Rule saga

The Omniscience Rule (Multifandom Crossover) - Saved from the destruction of his universe, Joaquin faces down trials guided by the firstborne Eldritch, Amari the Apothecary, to strengthen himself to become a leader capable of protecting the very essence of the Multiverse itself; the Omniscience.

Life Is Cruel (Life Is Strange) - After sacrificing her closest friend, Chloe, to save Arcadia Bay, Max finds that her powers have not dissipated as she initially believed they would, and that Arcadia Bay's destruction has only been suspended rather than averted... and replaced with a far more viscous force of nature than a hurricane. Can fate be fought against? And what is the nature of Max's powers?

Our Family Shelter - After retiring from the Omniscient Rule, Malcrum Darling finds a new purpose; protecting a group of children from the sinister clutches of an organization called C.Y.P.R.U.S.

The Omniscience Rule: Web Of Lies (Star Wars) - The Omniscient Rule take an assignment from the Time Bureau Authority to ensure the events of one universe does not diverge from canon, while also finding and arresting the rogue members of the Time Guard. The further they get into the Clone Wars conflict, the more they find out the reason the Time Guard are ruining the canon.

All Who Remain (The Last Of Us Part One) - Joel Miller lives amongst a dying civilization where hardened survivors and the infected fight to determine humanity's preservation or extinction. He is hired by a rebelling group called the "Fireflies" looking to change the fate of humanity by smuggling a girl by the name of Ellie to one of their facilities. Easier said than done, as Joel and Ellie face obstacles upon obstacles, human and infected alike, and worse of all; a maniac with the distinct ability to command the Cordyceps movements, and an obsessive hatred towards Ellie herself.

Enjoy Your Stay In Eastview! (Multifandom Crossover) - With the revelation of "dead worlds" amongst the Multiverse, full of abandoned survivors seeking refuge from destruction, Joaquin and Haven determine the best course of action for the Omniscient Rule, chasing after a myth in the form of a world powered by the Omniscience itself.

SPECIALS: IN 2 REALITY - A maddening sequel to the SPECIALS roleplay, here the Omniscient Rule adapt to the oddity that is Eastview.

Time Guard: Khronos' Law - Jeff Hopper joins the Time Guard in helping catch a wanted criminal by the name of Maddison Darling; a mass serial killer determined to irreparably change the flow of time.

Happy Accidents At The Dark Circus (FNAF) - Mario and Charlie just wanted to go on a date at the newest attraction in Hurricane, Utah; the Dark Circus. However, not only do they run into Charlie's friends, including her distant former best friend, Elizabeth, but the menagerie of next-gen animatronics; Fizzer Pop and his Merry Band of Rocking Friends, seem to get a bit... quirky in the night.

A Lovely Murder Musical (Multifandom Crossover) - Charlie's hometown of Hurricane had been taken over by the Prime Minister of Hell themself; Alamach, with help from a spirit by the name of Kara Darling, to perform the musical of a lifetime. Mario brings his fellow compatriots from the Omniscient Rule to help him save Charlie and her friends from the inside.

The Omniscience Rule: Dark Omen - Maddison's rampage across time had caused a ripple effect, both good and bad; returning Lena Elliot to existence, but also causing a group of curse-preserving warlocks known as "the Occult" to come into power; intent on bringing the "Great Malevolence" to Eastview. An unlikely alliance between Jeff Hopper, Lisa Cobalt and Fizzer is formed to put an end to the most recent chapter of the Occult.

All Who Remain: Madness Reincarnate (The Last Of Us Part Two) - Five years after All Who Remain, Ellie embarks on a journey of revenge against a militia lead by a bitter woman by the name of Abby; even if it means aligning with her detested rival, Malcolm Darling.

The UnTitled Stories (Multifandom/Crossover) - A collection/series of short stories that happen in the canon of The UnTitledverse, with the express purpose of tying loose ends and expanding the stories. A number of these stories can be viewed below The UnTitled Stories section near the bottom.

Red Dead Redemption: Pandora's Box (RDR) - Maddilyn Darling thought her days of donning the guns for anything other than bounty hunting were over, until she meets relatives who came from the future; twins Malcrum and Cassandra Darling who intend on stopping Maddilyn's dead aunt, Kara, from creating a second Divine Holy War between Heaven and Hell.

The Omniscience Rule: C.Y.P.R.U.S Uprising - The Omniscient Rule have been cleaning up the mess left behind by their enemies. In this final entry of The Omniscient Rule saga, they engage with another group; C.Y.P.R.U.S, an organization that kidnaps and trains children into soldiers, assassins and spies, lead by their director, Madame Callaghan, and her children. Madame Callaghan seems to have an intense focus on Joaquin, recognizing him from a past he no longer remembers.

The UnTitled Ventures saga

UnTitled Venture: Hazardous Residence (Resident Evil: Biohazard) - Joaquin Lockwood was supposed to be retired from the BSAA, however an old pal asks him a favor to provide reconnaissance at a family homestead in Dulvey, Louisiana due to suspicious activity which could be B.O.W in nature, and he's the closest person with experience there. Joaquin agrees, but finds himself trapped with a civilian by the name of Ethan Winters, and both begrudgingly work together to survive the onslaught that awaits them.

UnTitled Venture: Whisper My Name (Resident Evil: Revelations) - Agent Maisie Lockwood races against the clock as she searches for her partner, Joaquin, through Umbrella's connections with an organization called C.Y.P.R.U.S.

UnTitled Venture: Village Of Shadows (Resident Evil: Village) - On a drive from Romania to visit the Winters in Hungary, Joaquin gets into a car crash, and his adopted daughters are taken to a Village in the dark Romanian forests, where the locals worship the matriarch who rules over them; Mother Miranda, the head of the Four Lords. While Ethan gets together the BSAA and Taskforce ECHO, Joaquin fights his way to his girls.

UnTitled Venture: Balancing Roulettes (Resident Evil 6) - Joaquin and Maisie Lockwood trace after a series of bio-terrorist attacks across the globe, hunting down the B.O.W's and the people behind them, as the BSAA's finest agents try to stop the spread of the C-Virus.

UnTitled Venture: Old Smoke - Joaquin settles in his new life in the Village, which is disrupted by the presence of a vengeful Roy Lockwood; Maisie's close great uncle, who has a vendetta against B.O.W's.

UnTitled Venture: Perverse Justice - The BSAA are attacked by C.Y.P.R.U.S, lead by Madame Callaghan's second son, the nihilistic Urijah Callaghan, searching for the whereabouts of Joaquin Lockwood. Urijah's end goal threatens the very state of life itself, and Joaquin won't be going down without trying to fight.

UnTitled Venture: Viva La Révolution (Multifandom Crossover) - Saved in the nick of time, Joaquin is presented with an opportunity by a being who calls himself Benny with getting his life back from the clutches of the Orchestrator; Zachariah.

UnTitled Venture: Found Out (Multifandom Crossover) - With the flames of revolution alight, Joaquin and Benny face a counterattack lead by the Apostles of Zachariah.

The Ender saga

Chapter One: The Truth Seeker - Decades after the disappearance of her adoptive father, Elise Lockwood strays from the only home she knew to find his whereabouts, even in the darkest crevices of her world.

Chapter Two: The Change You Can Be - With a head start, Elise conjures the wrath of Zachariah, but is rescued by two unlikely individuals she never knew she'd get the chance to meet.

Chapter Three: The Feuding Houses (Multifandom Crossover) - With Zachariah's plot kicked into gear, Joaquin Cobalt and the Omniscient Rule escort Elise to Benny's Domus Memoriae... and find out the struggle of keeping allies together.

Chapter Four: The Soulless Opposition (Multifandom Crossover) - Alliances start to forge as the end date closes in, but the Omniscient Rule aren't out of the woods yet when Zachariah sends his Apostles newest monstrosities; a cross between the brute determination of the Soulless Husks and the deadly intelligence of the Exterminators.

Chapter Five: The Shining Miracles (Multifandom Crossover) - Joaquin's capture dwindles hope, but Elise does not discard it yet. With Benny and Maisie, they locate the best world to open up a doorway to Zachariah's pocket dimension; Earth Prime. All they need are a couple of Shiners to summon it.

Chapter Six: The Ender (Multifanfom Crossover) - Zachariah lays his cards on the table as he engaged the Omniscient Rule in an all out battle for the fate of the Omniscience; continue its freedom or fall under Zachariah's control? Meanwhile, Joaquin and his allies traverse the dank and treacherous landscapes of "Wonderland"; a prison dimension set on an infinite loop in what seems to be a combination of the 15th and 20th century in a town called "Prehevil" with some other prisoners.

Original Spin Offs

Jagged Instincts Novelization - The novelisation of a Wattpad/Discord roleplay I had been in. A group of strange creatures escape auction and traverse a world of technology, interstellar travel and mystical intrigue.

Mario: Mother's Boy - Abigail Emmet balances the struggle of teaching her newborn son how to be self-sufficient while surviving in a world where fear is rampant, and keeping her own hunger satiated as human's terror dwindles less and less.

The Time Guard - Discharged from the duty of a Time Lord, Timekeeper brings together a team of delinquent individuals who have no effect on the time stream (none except of which they leave behind when present) to do Judge Khronos' dirty work.

The UnTitled Stories

Unnamed The Last Of Us (2023) Malcolm Darling fic - Malcolm Darling continues his spree across the Multiverse, killing all the Ellie William's he can find. Until he enters one world that forces him to reflect on his self-perceived "righteous" revenge.

Unnamed Classroom Of The Elite fic - Kiyotaka Ayanokoji enrolls in the prestigious "Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing School", intent on using the three years of no contact with the outside world to answer a question; what controls us? Is it the mind that controls the body or the body that controls the mind? Little did Ayanokoji know how much merit a footprint can leave behind on others... nor how they can return the same impact back. A heartfelt story about self-identity, healing, and regaining a piece of humanity back.

Hitman: Evangeline (Hitman: Absolution) - After leaving the circus life behind, Evangeline hitches up with the International Contract Agency as an independent hitman they can hire. Her first target is a rogue agent by the name of Diana Burnwood. What follows afterwards is an example on how not to fail your task successfully.

Unnamed The UnTitledverse Joaquin, Maisie and House of Thanatos fic - Joaquin has tea with the Gods of Death and afterwards he and Maisie process the events of The Omniscient Rule: Dark Omen, including the loss of Lisa.

Unnamed The UnTitledverse Mario Emmet, Charlie Emily and Elizabeth Afton fic - In the eve of their retirement of the Omniscient Rule after the events of A Lovely Murder Musical; Mario, Charlie and Elizabeth go on a solo adventure and learn that godhood can be achieved without resorting to murder and spilling blood.

Unnamed Inside Job Fic - Cognito Inc. manage to earn two contracts in one day, one with the Envy Ring of Hell and the other with C.Y.P.R.U.S, resulting in two representatives sent to help the corporation; Urijah Callaghan, a bright mind with a cynical outlook, and Oswaldo Thanatos, the son of two members of the House of Thanatos. What shenanigans do they get up to?

Unnamed Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure OC's crossover from the Multiverse into one world fic - Zhan Tiri triggers multiple breaches into the realm of Corona, leading to four unknown individuals to be sucked into the kingdom; some more dangerous than others. It is up to Rapunzel, Eugene and Cass to round these trespassers up and send them back where they belong.

The Heinous Crimes Of One Elusive Maddison Darling (Multifandom Crossover) - Exiled from C.Y.P.R.U.S after multiple assignment failures, Maddison finds being a hitman isn't her specialty; but finds a passion in being a mass-murdering serial killer. Follow her string of crimes before her eventual tomfoolery in The Time Guard: Khronos' Law.

#masterpost #the untitledverse #the perfect storm saga #the omniscient rule saga #the untitled ventures saga #the ender saga #fanfiction #original works

[tamlinrose]

Good Omen 2 Spoilers

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Needless to say I’m devastated, obviously. The season was amazing, the writing, the acting, everything, and I was SO sure it was going to end with a drunken breakfast at the Ritz like Crowley. I was SO SURE they were going to kiss and happy music would swell and it was going to be all fine and dandy.

And of course I’m heartbroken for how It turned out, of COURSE I’m devastated that Aziraphale fundamentally missed the point that Crowley doesn’t want to be an Angel again, he doesn’t want to be a demon, he wants to be AZIRAPHALE’S.

Of course I’m so fucking sad that Crowley finally was vulnerable, and it came at just the wrong moment, the wrong time, the wrong wording to convince Aziraphale heaven can’t be fixed, because the thing is, Aziraphale is still brainwashed by the idea of Good. He is SO used to heaven being unkind that the second they throw him a bone he jumps, thinks “this is a chance for things to be different!” And is completely blinded by his own need to feel like a part of something bigger that he can’t see the truth, that they are manipulative and always will be, that if he didn’t have respect before he certainly won’t now, and most importantly That CROWLEY has never treated him like that, not once.

On the other hand, for all the people who are devastated and saying that they won’t rewatch, that they’re burning the bridge of their interest in good omens, that this is queerbait, it’s NOT. That’s your prerogative to stop watching of course, but the point is this is an UNFINISHED TALE. 6 episodes couldn’t cover the story, the overarching story, and this season didn’t have what would have been essential to Crowley and Aziraphale truly ending up together.

Crowley said it himself, Aziraphale WASNT THERE when they told him to shut up and die. He doesn’t believe heaven is as bad as it is because he hasn’t witnessed the true coldness up there in so long, and he’s NORMALIZED to the neglect and abuse he faces up there in a way many abused people are. He thinks that one bone is enough, that he can fix them, and he always would have felt that, which is why He NEEDS a personal arc where he realizes this on his own and stands up for himself AGAINST HEAVEN. THIS is his opportunity to do that. THAT is why the writers made him go back, he needs to know for himself before he can accept it.

THATS why Neil Gaiman is saying on his blog that he needs a season 3 to complete the arc. The writing timing of this falling out is intentional to keep the show alive to get to that point. If this tragic moment was left for Season 3 Ep 1 and they dined at the ritz like normal for Season 2 finale, there wouldn’t be any development we need for Aziraphale, and more importantly, if would feel like there was no need for a season 3. This tension is the writing worlds way of PRESERVING this show, and it’s frustrating yes, but that’s how things get renewed, that’s how Aziraphale gets the arc he needs, that’s how we get happy endgame Aziracrow, that’s how you rev up anticipation for the Second Coming, THATS how you write a story.

Also, it’s not queerbait. It never has been. They’ve always been in love, not even TALKING about the kiss here but about their complete trust in each other, their inside jokes, the DANCE SCENE, Crowley comforting Aziraphale after he lied to heaven. The symbolism between them and Maggie and Nina. (Nina also being in an abusive relationship like Aziraphale with heaven and needing TIME TO PROCESS before getting with Maggie, who will wait for her is totally mirroring the arc Aziraphale needs to have btw. Abused people don’t often just fall into healthy new relationships while still being entangled in their old ones mentally). My point is that if your argument for hating the ending is this was pulling the rug out from under queer fan base, think about all the creators who shoe in a gay relationship, kiss at the last second on the shows last episode, think about all the shows where subtext had to be enough, or where showrunners weren’t brave or allowed enough to make a relationship canon until the last second. This is the MIDDLE of the show (if everything goes well with Amazon which is out of Neil’s control). This has been explicit from the creators mouth and frankly the show itself for ages, even without a kiss. This is not queerbait, and sometimes relationships need space to be able to come back together in a truly fulfilled way, even queer ones.

Anyway that’s my rant, I have more, per usual, but this post is already long

#good omens season 3 #good omens season 2 #good omens season 1 #good omens spoilers #aziracrow #aziraphale #crowley #neil gaiman

[persephoneflowerpetals]

In some sources, Meg is the daughter of Creon who was the uncle of infamous Oedipus in other word mythology wise Meg had to see her family drama on display. But in real mythology, Meg was a princess ad if they kept her a princess she could have been a Disney Princess or at least B-List Disney princess. Just to keep it in the source I like to think her father is still Creon but no he's not a king.

Right! I was just talking about that in the one ask about Cassandra’s royal origins lol!

I didn’t know about that first one thought lol, but yeah, Megara would’ve made an awesome Disney princess, but I guess with her being an anti-heroine she’s doesn’t qualify (plus Hercules just doesn’t get a lot of rep by Disney, thankfully because of the 25th anniversary last year they’ve been bringing it back a little and putting Hades on more villains merch since he’s a fan favorite. I’ve also noticed the movie getting more popular these days so we’re getting there in terms of getting more Hercules related stuff from Disney lol). House of Mouse really missed the opportunity to use Meg as a Disney princess joke, like her hanging with the princesses and they’re all like:

Snow White: I met my true love when he sang me a beautiful ballad from my balcony!

Ariel: I met my true love when I saved his life!

Cinderella: What about you, Meg?

Meg: Oh, I met him when he saved me from a river guardian because I was working for his evil uncle who wanted to kill him.

The princesses: …..

Cinderella: Well, that’s…nice.

But I think just a “normal/not royalty” Creon could definitely still work as her dad! I believe in Go The Distance (the Disney Twisted Tale book aka the official Hercules AU fanfiction lmao) her father was named Leonnatos and her mother was named Thea. (Spoiler alert if you haven’t read the book) Leonnatos ended up leaving Thea and Meg because he didn’t want to deal with the stress of being husband and father and being the main provider for the family and if I remember correctly, Thea died from getting hit by a horse drawn chariot or something like that when Meg was a kid. So, yeah quite a tragic backstory for our beloved Meg. Though, that story is an AU, so like most AU stuff in the Disney Hercules universe it may or may not be canon to the original movie lmao

#ask #anon ask #hercules #disney #hercules 1997 #disney’s hercules #megara #go the distance #the house of mouse #house of mouse #disney twisted tales #rambles

[agentnico]

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) Review

This film features the MCU’s first use of the F-bomb, and I must say its inclusion works for a great joke. However Marvel fans better be prepared, as this is nothing compared to what Deadpool is going to bring to this cinematic universe. Don’t you dare PG Deadpool! Disney don’t you do it!!

Plot: Still reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill must rally his team to defend the universe and protect one of their own. If the mission is not completely successful, it could possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.

Fresh off the heels of their very entertaining Holiday Special that gave us the gift of Kevin Bacon singing Christmas songs, the Guardians return for what is pitched as their final outing for this version of the team, as well as the final time James Gunn directs them before fully embracing his new head-of-DC duties. Look, we all love these characters, so of course even though the Marvel Cinematic Universe itself is stuck in a bit of a rut at the moment, there was no chance I was going to miss this final hurrah for these galaxy saving a-holes. 

I’m happy to report that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a very enjoyable superhero flick and a very satisfying conclusion for its heroes. What works for this movie is what Marvel itself currently lacks - focus. There are many characters here to balance yet Gunn manages to give each and every one of them a moment in the spotlight, whilst also delivering a tale filled with emotion, humour and heart. In a way it’s like the recent Thor: Love & Thunder, only it’s not a pile of crap. Unlike that movie, Guardians 3 manages to find a perfect stability between its comedy and dramatic heft, and the result is a super entertaining movie. 

Naturally the big focus is on Rocket and his tragic backstory, and yes there is some animal cruelty involved so be warned, but that dark element really rose the stakes for this film and made you really care and understand why Rocket is the way he is, whilst also providing the perfect motivation for our team to proceed. In terms of the backstory, yep, it can be at times hard to watch. But also the animal characters are really adorable. A scene between an intelligent raccoon, a rabbit with artificial legs, a walrus with wheels and an otter with metal arms really got to me in a way I didn’t expect. My heart of stone was touched. What was also effective in relation to the backstory and even the present story was the villain. Chukwudi Iwuji was fantastic playing a truly despicable and downright horrible antagonist who had no moral compass. All too recently Marvel has been trying to give all its villains an element to root off, so it was nice to see one that was simply a bad guy full stop. And Iwuji infused this character with terror and evil. And look, he was much more menacing than Majors’s Kang who is supposed to be the MCU’s new big bad. 

As mentioned prior, all characters get their moment to shine. It was nice seeing Chris Pratt return back to the goofball teenager attitude, as the character of Star-Lord was kind of ruined in the Avengers films and even in the Holiday Special he seemed off, but here Pratt makes Star-Lord once again the loveable idiot, and it was great seeing him back. Also his rapport with Gamora was very interesting, as following Endgame the original Gamora had died and was replaced by an alternate universe past version, so she doesn’t recall her romance with Star-Lord, so he is stuck longing for something he can never have which leads to both emotional and humoristic moments. Dave Bautista’s Drax and Pom Klementieff’s Mantis continue their fun banter following the Holiday Special, and Groot is, you know, still Grooting. At least it allows Vin Diesel to take a little break in between his endless Fast & Furious movies. Karen Gillan as Nebula brings her solid deadpan delivery, Sean Gunn’s Kraglin gets more opportunity to enjoy being part of the main group now, as Maria Bakalova voices Cosmo the Dog, and Cosmo is great. Just don’t call her “a bad dog”, she doesn’t like it. 

Visually this is one of Marvel’s best looking movies, especially since even though there is green screen used, it is pretty smooth. What’s more there’s a lot of practical effects used too, and I even read on IMDb that this film sets the record for the most makeup appliances used in a single film, having more than 23,000 prosthetics used across more than 1,000 actors. And I’ll always pick practical effects over CGI. In terms of negatives, there aren’t many. Will Poulter is introduced as Adam Warlock, and he seems the most shoehorned in, as his arc and inclusion feels very pointless and inconsequential. Will Poulter himself is solid playing yet another baby-minded caricature, but I feel like Warlock should have been saved for later or maybe introduced in an earlier movie. Also the soundtrack - it’s by no means bad and there are a few bangers, but it’s got nothing on Awesome Mixes Vol. 1 & 2. 

James Gunn emphasises yet again that without him Marvel is going to struggle, especially when it comes to continuing the storylines of some of these characters in the future, but nonetheless Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a wonderful ride and a great caper to Gunn’s trilogy, bringing lots of great humour, character dynamics and emotion, and gets you hooked on a feeling...one last time. Oh, and Gunn finally managed to properly show Nathan Fillion’s face in a Marvel movie, and that in itself is a win!

Overall score: 8/10

#guardians of the galaxy #marvel #mcu #disney #james gunn #superheroes #action #adventure #comedy #fantasy #science fiction #guardians of the galaxy 3 #guardians of the galaxy volume 3 #chris pratt #bradley cooper #sean gunn #zoe saldana #dave bautista #pom klementieff #will poulter #karen gillan #chukwudi iwuji #maria bakalova #nathan fillion #vin diesel #movie reviews #2023 #film #movie #2023 films

[tolerateit]

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career. Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

-A book rec by 📚 anon

📚 ANON I MISSED YOU BESTIE

#you ask for the tab* #Was planning on picking up Carrie sotto today lol #📚 anon

[thesecondpossum]

Tumblr's Goncharov (1973) DOES NOT EXIST

Hi. So, if you’re new to Tumblr or you haven’t been around for a while, you might have seen some discourse about the hidden Scorsese-masterpiece Goncharov (1973). I’m sorry to tell you that that film just DOES NOT exists. I REPEAT. DO NOT GO AROUND SEARCHING FOR 1973’s GONCHAROV. It’s just another example of Tumblr over-analysing something and tripping over itself.

I can’t believe I have to be the one to say it, but the actual 1973 film Goncharov isn’t actually that good. In fact, I’d say that at-best it’s a poorly executed mess of interesting ideas and at worst a full-on 3-hour snoose-fest. The fact that anyone could think that this is one of Scorsese’s or DeNiro’s greatest films is honestly astounding to me. Don’t get me wrong, I see that a lot of good ideas were brought into this film, and I’m sure that everyone involved gave it their best shot, but good intentions don’t make up for bad execution, and I have some grievances I’d like to address:

This is probably one of DeNiro’s worst performances, period (and I’m counting all those movies where he plays a raunchy grandpa). I know that his god-awful Russian accent has been talked to death, but honestly, even without it, his performance is all over the place. The man clearly can’t decide if he wants to play the titular Goncharov as a greater-than-life character or as a subdued, meekly man moved by his circumstances. The result is two conflicting performances that might’ve worked on their own, but make absolutely no sense in the same film. And before you start, I know about the grandfather clock scene. I agree that it might have been one of his best performances ever put to film. But ONE masterful scene does not make up for a full three hours of poor acting.

Tumblr is reading waaaaaay too much into Katya’s arc. I get that we all want her to succeed, but unfortunately, everything about her, from the homo-erotic subtext to her independence arc is handled so poorly. This isn’t a dig at the actress. In fact, if any of us were able to get anything from the movie it’s 100% due to her masterful performance, but if you actually look at the text of the film, you’ll see that Katya’s character is awfully underwritten.

Sorry, I’m not done talking about Katya because WHAT THE FUCK IS UP WITH THE HOMOEROTIC SUBTEXT IN THE MOVIE. I get that it was the early seventies and Scorsese would probably risk full-on career suicide by putting an explicitly queer woman in his film. Once again, I’m not blaming him or the mesmerising Cybill Shepherd. I get that this was probably the closest we could get to seeing Katya’s inner struggle without the film getting banned, but it’s still such a missed opportunity. As it stands, the film falls into the “evil lesbian that plots against our hero” trope, and despite being a supposed morality tale, we’re still supposed to root against Katya for not being 100% on Goncharov’s side at all times.

Also, how anyone can miss the fact that Katya’s ending is completely tragic is beyond me. Like, DID WE EVEN SEE THE SAME FILM? Katya’s ending might be one of the most heart-wrenching things I could possibly THINK of.

Al Pacino. I rest my case.

Once again, what the fuck are the Russian accents in this movie????

I don’t know if a lot got lost in the editing room floor or if the script is just clunky, but there’s so much about the film that just doesn’t make sense. The movie is OVER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY MINUTES LONG you should be able to tie up at least one (1) single narrative thread. The film is ambitious; I give it that, but it’s such a mangled web of themes that whenever someone asks me what it was about, I can’t say anything beyond hehe funny mafia movie.

You don’t even have to believe me, Sheperd and DeNiro THEMSELVES have said that the film was “a lost opportunity” and that “it had a lot of potential […] but unfortunately, it just didn’t work.”

Now, I don’t enjoy being a negative-stu all the time, so here are a couple of good things I’ll say about the movie:

You’re all right about the soundtrack, I mean holy shit. I still can’t listen to “Katya’s main theme” or “farewell to Berlin” without getting teary-eyed.

The cinematography is gorgeous. The film is absolutely a visual delight, especially in every scene that Katya and Sofia share together.

Wanna know why I haven’t talked about Sofia? Because I have no notes. Magnificent performance, brilliant characterisation, everything about her is just perfect. If you can find it, the “and yet it sparkles” deleted-scene is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. I cry like a baby every time I watch it.

The film at least attempts to show themes of queer romance in a nuanced light. And as much as it often fails to do so, I still appreciate the effort.

So yeah, I’m sorry, all-in-all Goncharov (1973) isn’t that great a film. It has tons of good ideas but the execution just falls flat. I don’t mean to be a hater, but this really isn’t a hidden-gem from Scorsese’s early career. It’s a so-so film that got forgotten to time for a reason, and all the amazing music, stunning visuals, and homoerotic subtext in the world can’t fix poor execution.

#goncharov #goncharov (1973) #katya goncharov #katya #katya x sophia #film critique

[popentertainment-moviereviews]

MACBETH

Starring Ruth Negga, Daniel Craig, Maria Dizzia, Amber Gray, Danny Wolohan, Michael Patrick Thornton, Asia Kate Dillon, Che Ayende, Danny Wolohan, Amber Gray, Emeka Guindo, Paul Lazar, Maria Dizzia, Grantham Coleman, Bobbi MacKenzie and Phillip James Brannon. 

Written by William Shakespeare.

Directed by Sam Gold.

Playing at Longacre Theatre, 220 W. 48th St., New York, NY, 212-541-8457. Duration: 2 hours 20 minutes. Closing Date: July 10, 2022 

With Stars Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga, Macbeth Makes A Return to The Broadway Stage For Better or Worse 

Not being any kind of Shakespearean expert — or even your basic Bard-ite — I wasn't sure what to expect of director Sam Gold's version of Macbeth. Certainly, he had his share of accolades and supporters for earlier interpretations of the legendary scribe's other plays.

A Tony winner for Fun Home, Gold has directed some of the most high-profile recent William Shakespeare productions in New York. On Broadway his King Lear, won accolades for Glenda Jackson. There was also his earlier Hamlet, starring Oscar Isaac, and an Othello which featured former 007 Daniel Craig in the role of Iago. Craig must have had fun since he came back to work for Gold again.

So as I anticipated seeing this production, I saw an opportunity to reevaluate the legendary playwright once again. In particular – Macbeth being one of his seminal, serious tragedies — I'd seek to understand Shakespeare's view of passion, power, and its corruptions. Drawing on Greek tragic dramas, the story looks at the dynamics of aristocratic minds and how its upper-class members often view their worlds differently than those who operate according to more traditional moralities.

Believed to have been first performed in 1606, Macbeth (full title: The Tragedie of Macbeth) dramatizes the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those who seek power. Of all his plays written during James I's reign, Macbeth most clearly reflected Shakespeare's relationship with King James, the playwright's acting company patron.

This tragedy in five acts was written sometime in 1606–07 and published in the First Folio of 1623 from a playbook or a transcript of one. Some portions of the original text are corrupted or missing from the published edition. It's the shortest tragedy in the canon and its relative brevity among Shakespeare's tragedies comes without diversions or subplots.

As the tale goes, Scottish general Macbeth comes across a trio of witches who predict that he will be King. Consumed by ambition and spurred by his ambitiously scheming wife to act, Macbeth murders King Duncan, ascending to the throne. Wracked with guilt and paranoia he then murders others to protect himself. But because of enmity and suspicion, he soon becomes tyrannical. A bloodbath and civil war ensue, driving Macbeth and his Lady into the realms of madness and death. 

Shakespeare's source for the story is the account of Macbeth, King of Scotland along with Macduff and Duncan in Holinshed's Chronicles (1587), a history of England, Scotland, and Ireland familiar to Shakespeare and his contemporaries. Although the events in the play differ from the real Macbeth's history, the tragedy is further associated with the execution of Henry Garnet for complicity in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

Over the years, this famous play has attracted some of the most renowned actors to the roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The so-called "Scottish Play" has been adapted to film, television, opera, novels, comics, and other media. 

It chronicles Macbeth seizing of power and subsequent destruction, his rise and his fall the result of blind ambition. Did I get it? Not quite. All the usual visual cues in the costumes and staging weren't there since Gold subverted the normal expectations of how this Macbeth should be experienced. Instead, he puts the cast in plain, simple, modern outfits and uses austere, minimal staging to underscore his take on Macbeth. This approach made the play harder to understand and made me care little for this production. Maybe I should have read the original before seeing this production, but I got lost in the jumble.

Nor did this version make me appreciate the language. Instead, at times I found myself wondering if everyone in the cast was in the same play that I was seeing and hearing.

Both Craig and Ruth Negga did their best to capture the seesaw relationship between Lord and Lady Macbeth, one of the more logical marriages in Shakespeare's catalog. The two feed off each other, both feeling at home in their marital cocoon. Of all the dynamics in Gold's production, the actors get their interplay better than anyone else does.

While there's electricity in Negga's and Craig's performances together, individually they fumble. Negga's mad scene seems sketchy at best. Craig's solo speeches feel like an emotional roller coaster where the brakes work only intermittently.

Like his earlier effort, Gold's Macbeth is both over thought and under designed, full of half-executed ideas and uneven performances. Actors try to play their characters as if they were all in the same version of Macbeth, but the director can't seem to have them inhabit the same world with all his shifting imagery.

How do I ascertain whether a retelling of a classic Shakespearean drama can inform me about this modern world? That's hard enough for any piece of art even more so when a production veers so far from the usual expectations.

The event starts out with Michael Patrick Thornton delivering a routine about the play's parallel to our time, with its genesis during a pandemic. In turn, that observation leads into exposition that jumps between King Duncan (Paul Lazar) receiving news of the battle and the witches (Bobbi MacKenzie, Maria Dizzia, and Phillip James Brannon) who are nothing like what we expect of the witches. They make a brew for Macbeth, Duncan's loyal associate. They predict that he will become Thane of Cawdor and then King. And that his companion, Banquo (Amber Gray), will begat Kings — and in Gold's production that includes shifting gender expectations. Soon after, Lord and Lady Macbeth begin their plotting ways to speed the prophecy along with expectations of power and glory.

Actors watch the proceedings from the exposed wings. Performers create the "fog and filthy air" with handheld fog machines, employed as though they're in a Catholic mass. The costumes the actors wear could have come from their own closets, or maybe even worse than what they have at home. Craig is the exception, donning special garments scene by scene: a smoking jacket, a paisley housecoat, and a full-length fur but to what purpose? That was unclear.

The final confrontation between Macbeth and Macduff (Grantham Coleman) is meant to be a blowout bash but it comes off looking like a street brawl outside a sleazy bar. Despite an effort put in by the two, one can easily imagine them slugging it out more convincingly in a better production. As for the rest of the cast — half the time, I don't think they knew what to give to their performances since they often didn't seem to be in the same play as everyone else.

I left this Macbeth in a fog of confusion. From beginning to end, it featured actors doing things that in an ordinary play, set in modern times, would make sense within a clear, discernible narrative.

Macbeth is meant to be bigger than that. And yet, this version not only obscured "The Scottish Play," it seemed as though it were set in some other world altogether. Certainly not mine.

Brad Balfour

Copyright ©2022 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: June 2, 2022.

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