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rebelwrites · 24 days

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Twenty Three: Don’t Make A Scene

Charles Leclerc x Nova Teller (OC)

Till the wheels fall off Masterlist

Small town meets the fast lane. What happens when two souls meet? Will it end in happiness or will they both crash and burn?

As always reblogs and feedback is highly appreciated ❤️ if you want tagging in future parts let me know ❤️

“How is everyone doing back home?” I hummed, leaning against the wall of the Ferrari hospitality area, a smoke hanging from my lips as I squinted at my phone screen trying to block out the Italian sun, even with the raybans shielding my eyes it wasn’t enough. Everything was different here, I had never really traveled outside of Charming, well apart from the occasional run with Jax back in my teenage years. But this was different, the warmth of the sun beating down against my skin felt like I was being wrapped in a fluffy blanket. There was something comforting about it and I couldn’t help but smile.

Everything so far had been somewhat of a culture shock, I had tried foods that I would have never dreamt of trying, and even though I was still trying to adjust to the time difference I was living my best life.

“Everyone is good, in fact everything is perfect,” Jax smiled back, there was something about it that didn’t sit right with me. Not only wasn’t it as bright as normal but he had a haunted look on his blue eyes.

“Tell that to your face,” I scoffed, taking a long drag of the cigarette. “You look like someone just took a shit on your Harley.”

I stared intently at my device, watching as my older brother ran his hands over his face. “I’m just tired, that’s all,” he paused, obviously trying to think of what lie to spin. “There is nothing for you to worry about, I’ve got everything under control. Now enough about me, Squirt, how is Monza treating you?”

“It’s amazing, Jax,” I beamed. I finally felt free from the weight of the world that always seemed like it was crushing me into the dirt. Part of me felt bad for feeling like this, but I had quickly realized that taking care of Pops and the club had taken a toll on my mental health, so it was nice to have a break from it all. Although that didn’t stop me from missing everyone. “Everyone is amazing, and they are already treating me like family. Fred has taken the role of my body guard which is highly amusing,” pushing myself off the wall I decided it was time to head back into the garage, not wanting to miss the start of free practice.

“As in team principal, Fred Vassuer?”

“That’s the one, being the new kid on the block the press are trying to get the latest gossip but anytime they try and get too close to me whilst Fred is around he gets all protective of me. It’s kinda cute, reminds me of Pops.” I grinned, glancing over I noticed that the pit crew had formed what looked to be a human wall at the front of the garage. There was some sort of commotion going on, I wasn’t quite close enough to hear what was happening but the moment I heard my name being screamed I felt my blood boil. It had been years since I heard that scratchy voice, the sound alone sent a cold shiver down my spine.

“Squirt, you look like you’ve just seen a ghost, you have gone white as a sheet.” Jax asked, causing me to shift my attention back to him.

“I think I fucking have,” I mumbled, trying to stop the anger brewing deep inside me from bubbling over, causing me to explode, this was not the place, “that bitch has a fucking death wish.” I growled, flicking my gaze between my brother’s face and the opening of the garage.

“I can fucking see her, let me speak to my daughter.”

“There is no way,” Charles growled, venom dripping from his words. This was the first time I had seen this side of him but I wasn’t scared, in fact my heart skipped a beat at how protective he was being. “Sur mon putain de cadavre. Over my fucking dead body.”

I could feel the anger radiating through the phone screen from my brother, from the look on his face I was adamant he was going to jump on a plane to personally take care of the waste of space that was my birth mother.

“I am gonna fucking kill her,” Jax seethed, “She has no right crawling back into your life now, god I am so fucking angry right now!”

Taking a deep breath I knew I was going to have to take control of this situation, this was not the type of press coverage the team needed.

“Jax, I gotta go, don’t worry about me, I can handle this bitch,” I said, not taking my eyes off Charles. I could feel the anger radiating off him from the other side of the garage. “Charles is gonna snap and that isn’t good for him or the team.”

“Don’t make too much of a scene Squirt,” he hummed, cocking his brow at me.

“No promises.” I shrugged, before quickly saying bye.

Slipping my phone into the back pocket of my jeans I let out a shaky breath, I hadn’t seen this bitch since she last tried to make contact with me and Pops and the club chased her out of town.

“Kiddo, you okay?” Fred asked, appearing at my side.

“Je le serai, une fois que j'aurai mis cette salope à terre. I will be, once I put that bitch down.” I growled, clenching my fist by my side. She had no right trying to worm her way back into my life, I didn’t need her, she was dead to me.

“Il suffit de ne pas salir le sol et des blocs de glace se trouvent dans le réfrigérateur si vous en avez besoin. Just don't dirty the floor, and there are ice packs in the fridge if you need them.” Fred chuckled, taking my shaking fist in his hands squeezing softly. “Don’t let her get to you, kiddo.”

Slowly nodding at the Frenchman standing in front of me, I took a deep breath trying to steady my heart rate. I knew I needed to confront her otherwise she would never leave and reporters were already gathering around the garage trying to get the best shot of the disruption to the weekend. Within a few short strides across the room I found myself standing next to Charles, my hand instantly finding his, not caring if I outed our relationship at this moment. I needed his touch to keep me grounded and calm because I did not want my face plastered all over the gossip sites.

“The fuck do you want?” I said keeping my voice low and emotionless.

“I want to make amends, you are my daughter at the end of the day,” she pleaded. “I’ve changed, I went through rehab, I’m clean just for you baby.”

Rolling my eyes at the confession, did she think I was stupid? Her pupils were the size of dinner plates, she couldn’t stand still to save her life and was excessively sweating. I knew what her game was here and she wasn’t going to succeed in creeping her way back into my life, using me to get money.

“You ain’t clean,” I scoffed, leaning further into Charles. “Do you really think I would believe you? I ain’t that vulnerable five year old you left living in squalor just so you could get your next fix.”

“Fred, il faut la faire sortir d'ici. Fred, we've got to get her out of here.” Charles said, turning to his team principal.

I was moments away from lunging forward tackling the person who abandoned me, the main cause of my trust issues, the reason I carried demons on my back, but before I could step forward Charles wrapped his arms around my shaking body, holding me tight as he managed to guide me through the garage back to his driver room.

Once the door was shut I felt my resolve crumble, my fingers went into my roots as I slumped on the floor letting out a strangled scream. “Who the fuck does she think she is, coming here trying to act like the caring mother.” I growled, “you should have let me rip her apart.”

“Sunshine,” Charles whispered, crouching in front of me, placing a hand on my knee. “You need these right now,” he said softly, handing me a pack of cigarettes.

“I don’t,” I whispered, resting my hand on his cheek. “I just need you.”

“Je suis là, bébé, je ne vais nulle part. I'm here, baby, I ain't going nowhere.” he hummed, wrapping his arms around me, pressing small kisses against the top of my head. “Why would she come here now?”

“Because you have money and she is a gold digger, she must have seen the posts about us and thought she could get a massive pay day,” I breathed, gripping onto Charles’ fireproofs like my life depended on it, “and she knew if she tried to step foot in Charming, Pops would kill her with his bare fists.”

“Well, if she tries to come near you again I will drive over her with my car at 200 miles an hour.”

“Char, that would cause too much damage to the car,” I said with a slight laugh. Letting out a shaky breath I looked over his shoulder to the clock on the wall. “Five minutes till FP1 you better get going.”

“I can’t leave you, not like this.”

“I will be fine, promise,” I nodded, resting my forehead against his, “I’m gonna go chill with Fred, we might even make a list of different ways to kill her, you know just some light bonding nothing major.”

I knew Fred would make me feel better, there was something about him that reminded me of Pops, he happily took me under his wing in Zandvoort making me feel right at home within the team. I knew Charles had told him everything he needed to know about me and my past, which was the reason he was so protective over me when the devil made her appearance in the garage.

“Just don’t go all psycho killer on me now baby,” he chuckled, pressing a soft kiss against my lips.

“Don’t spoil all my fun, Mr,” I hummed, a small smile appearing back on my face. “Now go kick some ass out there.”

I found myself staring blankly at my boyfriend, trying to process the words that had just casually fallen out of his mouth.

“Hold on a second, you want me to drive that?” I stated, pointing at the SF-23 that was currently sitting in the middle of the garage.

“Were you not listening to me, Sunshine,” he chuckled, wrapping his arm around my shoulders, pressing a kiss against my temple.

“I was listening, but you do realize how crazy you sound right now? I don’t even have a super license, we would get into a shit load of trouble if anyone knows I took her on the track. She aint set up for me Char,” I rambled, not taking my eyes off the car, “there is no way. Aint happening, I will kill myself do you know how fast that thing is.”

The sound of Charles laughing caused me to tear my gaze away from the middle of the garage, cocking my brow at him, it was official he had completely lost his mind.

“Babygirl, it’s fine, we are all good, no one will know, trust me. Plus we aren’t in parc ferme conditions yet,” he smirked, slowly guiding me towards the car. “All I ask is don’t crash, I kinda need her for quali tomorrow.”

“You are fucking crazy, Leclerc.” I shot back, refusing to believe he was being serious. “We shouldn’t even be here, everyone has gone home.”

“Thought you loved driving fast?” he hummed, that cocky smirk still firmly planted on his face.

“Yeah in my beater of a truck, that if I am lucky will hit 70 miles an hour, or Jax’s Dyna, not a beast of a machine that is built for speeds of 200 miles an hour plus.”

“Fine, if you won’t drive this, what about this?” he said, fishing his car keys out of his pocket, placing them in the palm of my hand.

Dropping my gaze I ran my fingers over the bead keyring Elenor had made for him, my heart fluttering at the fact he had this on his keys, “wait, isn't this your Pista?”

“You talk too much,” he winked, moving so his arms were wrapped firmly around my waist, in one quick motion I had been thrown over his shoulder and was staring at his ass.

“Well, this is the best view ever,” I giggled, praying that he didn’t lose his grip as he carried me out to the track. “You drop me and I will kill you.”

“Quoi, comme ça ? What, like this?” he said, jolting his body causing me to cling onto him for dear life.

“Fucking asshole.”

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#Charles Leclerc #charles leclerc x reader #Charles Leclerc x oc #charles leclerc x you #Charles Leclerc x female oc #Charles Leclerc imagine #f1 #f1 x oc #f1 imagine #sons of anarchy #jax teller #jax teller x reader #jax teller imagine #sons of anarchy imagine #sons of anarchy x reader

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i-plague-eater · 11 months

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It took me long to choose characters but I've ended with Elyon, Orube and Yazoo (from FFVII). First, Elyon.

I like her shaggy hairstyle in cartoon a lot! It is a reason for Kane/Phobos to has his hair so wild! But in a comic book her silhouette is much closer to Weira and they're said to be very look alike, so I've came with a compromise between comic and cartoon versions. Her iconic sweater is a noticeable detail too, plus it's purple and purple always gives a magical and mystique vibe.

I'm not gonna lie: as a kid, I've never been fond of her. As far as I know, most fans say the same as I do: she's too sugary sweet, naive, gullible and never had a chance to kick Phobos's ass. But as she's one of the characters in my fancomic In Breach, I followed my commom approach "You can't have a character in your script and feel a subjective grudge towards them". So I started asking myself why Elyon is acting the way she does. And I've discovered а very interesting fact.

Why she WOULDN'T act the way she does?

She is an ordinary teen girl, not the smartest, not the brightest (when it's not about amazing drawing skills that she share with Hay Lin. I mean, come on!). She isn't the most socially successful, as she mentioned in a cartoon "I'm a teenager without friends" (in rus dub). The ordinary "normal" type. Her only stable relationship is with Cornelia and Alchemy. She's so unnoticed that only Alchemy notified the police that Elyon is missing. And Alchemy is not a teacher, just a classmate. A family has disappeared and literally no one (including neighbors) told to police that lights were off for a long time.

Yes, we see Elyon in a background from time to time and she even says a phrase or two. She's not an outcast type, she hangs with the others BUT every time we see her involved it also involves Cornelia who was most likely the one who invited her. And she's always slightly away from the rest making me think she only does this to mix with her surroundings. We never see her hanging with her own company or even a single friend instead of the main heroes or Alchemy (who's also a Cornelia friend). Or Bryan... but it was a sad and short story. We never see her having a long dialogue unless we know who she really is. It's an arguable point tho as the story is about W.I.T.C.H girls and script writers probably were trying to keep a secret of her true nature.

But when Cedric appears! Unlike her furtive parents that always withhold something and Cornelia who's all about herself (with all the respect to Cornelia), Cedric just... listens to her. He shows compassion, non-judgmental approach and sound sincere. With him Elyon feel being special. Not to mention that Cornelia has betrayed her for Will (we know the reason behind it but Ely doesn't).

And then! Bang! Suddenly Elyon becomes THE special. The only one! She's like Harry Potter who got a letter from Hogwarts, like issekai character, the fucking King Arthur, THE CHOSEN ONE! Common people of Meridian are praying on her, servants are ready to perform any caprice, Miranda is being nice and ready to play with her, her older brother is such a sweet and cheerful person who would do just anything for her. She's like Coraline who found the other mother. And this case is actually so good that it should be in a video "How and why people fall for abusive relationship or being lured into a sect".

The only thing she can be accused is being too gullible but she acts as a person who grasps any straw. Who would you choose? Parents who lied to you for your whole life? Fake friends who replaced you with a new girl.

We can go deeper here. Remember the first scene with Elyon in a comic book? She got a low grade and instead of supporting her, her "friends" invent a humiliating punishment to hit on a stranger. Although they know she's quite shy! What a nice company we have here, don't we?

Don't get me wrong, teenagers may show low empathy due to their age. Cornelia isn't a bad person too. She's the most loyal friend one might only dream of! Both in a comic book and cartoon she stays at Elyon's side and refuse the idea of her friend being evil. Although Elyon did a lot in a comic book to be judged. Cornelia risks her own life to get to her. BUT she's still quite an narcissist type. Such people attract very specific friends: those who always stay in their shadow, never a threat or a competitor. You can see others confronting her in either passive-aggressive form or trying to show her a place like Irma does. But Elyon was with Cornelia since they were small kids. I have a theory that Elyon actually wins from it too: she seem very "normal" by hanging with a popular friend who would invite her to every party. And literally no one can say no to Cornelia, right? And Elyon seem present in the society. And at the same time she actually isn't.

So here's the whole picture: Elyon isn't a scapegoat outcast like Martin, she isn't labeled as "odd" like Hay Lin. BUT she's not a successful either. She's a blank one, that average conformal person that does their best to suit "normal" standarts. She's short on social contacts, she's breadcrumbed by Cornelia and has no friends outside her pack. As we remember, Alchemy is also Cornelia's friend. Both Browns are hideous, insanely quiet people who made a very, very isolated, incapsulated family to the point that no one even notices their absence. They do their best to lay low and they teach Elyon to act the same way (we know why, but it's quite unhealthy thing you know). I bet Eleanor is quite unhappy with Ely's marks, but I'm not sure if she's strict about it. She's been shown as a good parent in both comic and cartoon. Although the way Elyon agreed to throw them in prison in a comic so easily is something that keep my brain buzzing.

Sooo my idea is that her reliance problems has started long before the cartoon events. Her social contacts never worked properly to begin with and that's why Cedric got her so easily. Not to mention his speech skills. Elyon was a quiet, shady kid with a certain tendency for escapism. Drawing on her level is quite a specific trait that requires a lot of time spend alone and some wild imagination. I think while she never shows this in a cartoon and probably suppressed it, she was really envy of Cornelia, Irma, Hay Lin and even Taranee having huge and nice families, lots of friends and being very bright people. While she's... on the sidelines. There's a thick wall of white lies between her and her parents. She's... no one. Only Cedric shown her what being heard and important is.

Although all the above is cool, it makes her a bit bland to my personal taste. So in my AU called In Breach I given her a bit salt and spice by returning her some of her comic characteristics. I see her as a stalker type, very jealous and vengeful, but too afraid of showing aggression and staring a feud. She would write some really nasty fanfiction about her foes and spread rumors, make ugly caricature on Grumper sisters. Might even play a nasty prank on someone if she can get away unnoticed. But nothing violent, just humiliating.

So, imagine this lost envious girl stumbling across another narcissist. Different from Cornelia, quite a violent type. The one who seem to be afraid of no one. Like, literally not a single person can tell him what to do - even the police (on a first glance. In reality, he's afraid of jail as fuck). The one who questions the moral, the normality, the good and evil. AND telling her this is what she can and should be. WELL WELL WELL WHO COULD THAT BE)

Also, a song that must be a soundtrack for her kicking Phobos's butt in a cartoon.

#w.i.t.c.h.#w.i.t.c.h fanart #w.i.t.c.h #elyon escanor #w.i.t.c.h elyon #w.i.t.c.h. elyon #art challenge #Spotify #draw fanart of a character #elyon brown

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moreespressoformydepresso · 3 months

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What are your honest thoughts on all Descendants boys? From both books and movies?

Oehh that’s a good question! I’ll base most of this off of the movies because I remember them more clearly. Sorry this is so late, I needed some time to sort out my thoughts. Let’s see:

Ben: cutie, golden retriever energy, needs to grow a bit more of a spine but as a recovering doormat I vibe with him.

He’s got a good heart, and he’s definitely going places, but I have no idea who decided a 16-year-old should be king. Hilariously, he’s a better king than his dad because he cares about all of his people, not just the “heroes”. But still, he’s 16, let him have his dumbass teenage years. He’s still in his phase of wanting to please everyone and that isn’t gonna lead to the best decision making. You’re king, Ben, you can overrule your girlfriend’s selfish idiotic plan of closing the barrier. Just tell her “the barrier was opened for you to come through too. If those kids aren’t worth the risk, does that mean you aren’t either? Should we throw you back?!” And she’s change her tune real fast. You gotta give some tough love sometimes.

Jay: cool, I wanna know his gym routine, pretty funny but rash, needs Carlos to temper his brand of crazy (love their bromance).

I love the narrative parallels to the movie Aladdin. Jafar thought himself so far above a street rat and now he’s raised his son to be one so he can continue being a con-man. In the movies, Jay is actually a very accurate representation of your upbringing shaping you into who you are. All Jay knows is stealing, he’s never been taught to pay if he doesn’t have to, so to him stealing’s perfectly fine. It’s normal. It’s a lot more subtle than the whole “who doesn’t like being evil” bit, but the core idea is the same: when all you’ve ever known is one perspective, that’s gonna feel like the objective truth because you’ve never had a chance to try a different one.

Carlos De Vil: Best (movie) Boy, my baby, I love him. What a little nerd (affectionate).

He’s a big part of why I willfully ignore the absolute stupidity that is the third movie’s ending. I’m sorry Mal, wtf is wrong with you??? You set your supposed friend’s abuser free for nothing but some empty platitudes and dare suggest you’ve become an empathetic person?!?! In the books, we get a lot more insight into just how horrible of a mother Cruella is, but even in the movies we see he’s had it bad because of how jumpy and nervous he is. Disney is still Disney so we don’t get much of the healing process, but we see how he calms down and adjusts to a normal life over the course of the movies when he’s out of the bad situation, which is pretty good by Disney standards. Cameron Boyce did an amazing job playing him (R.I.P Cameron) and seeing an abuse victim get comfortable within their own skin and getting the happy ending they deserve is always fun.

Harry Hook: Insane (affectionate), most fashionable drama queen ever, absolutely crazy, more than a few screws loose but in the best way possible, he’s hilarious.

So on the surface, Harry’s pretty simple. A dude who’s lost his marbles and flirts with everyone. He probably has some kind of moral compass, since he didn’t rip Mal’s throat out with his hook when she revealed her little stunt in D3, but it fell overboard at some point and couldn’t be found so nobody knows what it is except Harry himself. Also, he has his sane moments, like during that same confrontation in D3 I mentioned before where he says “And you, King Benny... you're probably gonna throw us all back inside.” It’s the first time I’ve heard him sound… not like Harry. It’s sombre and defeated, a little disappointed maybe? Either way it’s really good acting and it implies he can act completely “normal” but he just chooses not to, which makes me like him even more. He’s just a dude living his best life despite the circumstances he was born into.

Gil: adorable, hilarious, kinda clueless but in a good way.

I love characters that have no idea what’s going on half the time but are absolute sweethearts trying their best. He’s like- the opposite of his dad in every way and I’m living for it!

Gaston Jr and Gaston the third: I don’t have much to say on them, let alone separately, so they get a section together.

Honestly? I don’t remember having an opinion of them. They made Evie happy by wresting, which is cool so they get points for that. Seem like they’re trying to out-gentleman each other to win Evie’s heart and since they’re not being creepy assholes about it they are objectively better than their dad. Very much brawl over brains, the two of them, with their constant wrestling reminding me of Carlos and Jay except they’re both the muscle. Kinda cute sibling relationship, even if it’s in a VK-typical villain-flavored way.

Anthony Tremaine: squeeeee, my type is pretty boys who sigh in annoyance at everything, I guess? We only get scraps but I happily cradle them to my chest.

Uhmmm so Anthony’s personality is mostly up for imagination? The only canon information we have is that he’s most likely Anastasia’s only kid (someone on Tumblr pointed out that, in the scene with the wicked step-daughters, he’s referred to only as their cousin, not their brother) and he’s very bored with his cousins’ antics. Given A Twist In Time the potential drama is endless. Every time Anthony’s mentioned we’re reminded he’s pretty and has good style, and I love that for him. Dude lives on an isle of junk and still looks like a supermodel. Lots of room for my own ideas while still remaining within the realm of “could be canon” with just enough base in there that I’m not just creating an OC, and as a writer and artist that’s all I need tbh.

Hadie: cute, deserves better, I need more of him and Mal bonding

Mal’s half-brother, son of Hades, very cool. I like that he’s trying to turn good and having a hard time, because that’s very realistic for someone who grew up not knowing anything other than evil. Descendants 2 tried to tackle it with Mal, but failed miserably. We know Hades sucks as a parent in descendants (neglect is abuse) so that’s not gonna help him.

Dough: Awww he’s so cute with Evie 🥺

No really that’s it. He’s a nerd that gets the girl, has some very funny moments, but honestly most of his character is centered around Evie? And they’re cute together it’s not a bad thing but there isn’t much to analyze. He’s understandably pissed about someone like Chad getting all the girls while using them, but that’s also only ever seen in relation to Evie.

Chad Charming: what a bitch (derogatory), total coward, I hate him but he’s funny.

So I have no issue with characters who conduct themselves terribly (I love Audrey, (fanon) Anthony, Uma, and many others from many fandoms) if, and that’s a massive IF, they have a good reason for it. And I’ll count “because I can and I want to” as a good reason, because by that point you have someone who’s mean and owns it. I can appreciate the self-awareness and usually those characters are very extra so it’s entertaining. If not that, there needs to be a reason they are the way they are. Audrey has the pressure from her grandmother (and the borderline verbal abuse), Uma has the very real grievance of living in squalor on a run-down island full of the worst of humanity because she was born, what does Chad have? He’s spoiled. A spoiled brat. And he goes from that to an overtly whimpering coward with none of the pretense of superiority in any field. His one saving grace is that he’s a massive joke.

Diego De Vil, Clay Clayton, Gonzo, Jace and Harry Badun, Herkie, Aziz, Jonas, Lefou Deux, Li Shang Jr, everyone else I missed: no opinion, because they’re not relevant enough for the writers to give them a personality.

I have nothing I’m sorry. I barely remember reading their names and I don’t remember anything from the scenes they’re (mentioned) in to get an idea of what to talk about here.

That was… a lot lmao

#disney descendants #descendants #descendants anthony #descendants jay #carlos de vil #descendants carlos #descendants ben #descendants chad #chad charming #descendants gil #gil descendants #harry hook #descendants harry hook #hadie descendants #gaston jr #gaston the third #anthony tremaine #character analysis #?? i guess

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caseyandsloan · 1 month

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Mark Sloan x own character

Back story

Mark Sloan had been dating Meredith Grey’s older sister Madison Grey, and they had ended there relationship a couple of months ago. Madison had broken up with Mark when he wanted to step up and be a father for his pregnant daughter that he had only known for two months, but it was too much for Madison and she wasn’t ready to be a step mother to a teenager.

Madison Grey was working at Seattle Grace hospital as the head of Cardio, she was close friends with Callie Torres who works at the hospital and she was a really good friend with Addison Montgomery but she wasn’t working at the hospital anymore.

Friends to both Madison and Mark never thought that they would get together, they didn’t even had that thought when Mark was making sexual comments.

Madison’s pov

I was at the hospital and I was working like I had been doing for the past hour, at the moment I was standing by the nurses station and just filling out some paperwork. I looked up from my papers and I saw Callie walking over to me and I saw she was smiling a little bit. I just wished that I was feeling her mood today, but I wasn’t.

Madison - hey, you look happy.

Callie - I am, and you look like you have been sick.

Madison - oh…thanks.

I went back to looking at my paperwork, and we stayed quiet for a couple of seconds before Callie spoke up again.

Callie - can we go and talk somewhere else?

Madison - sure.

She pulled me away from nurses station and she dragged me away towards the girls bathroom which wasn’t to far away from the nurses station. Callie was looking around inside of the bathroom to see if someone else was there.

Madison - what’s up, Callie?

Callie - I have something to tell you.

Madison - okay, I’m listening.

Callie - I’m pregnant!

Madison - OMG, that’s amazing. Who’s the father?

Callie - you remember the guy from the bar?

Madison - yes?

Callie - he is the father but I don’t know anything about him.

I don’t know what happened to me and my body but I just started to feel really nauseous, I had to take a few deep breaths and leaned in to the sink.

Callie - what’s going on with you?

Madison - I don’t know, I haven’t been feeling so good for the past couple of days. I have been throwing up and feeling nauseous.

Callie - is there a chance that you might as well is pregnant?

Madison - god no, you need to have…….

I started to think for a few seconds, the last person I slept with was Mark Sloan which was a couple of weeks ago and the same night as Callie slept with a stranger.

Callie - did you and Mark use protection?

Madison - I don’t know, I was drunk and I don’t remember so much of that night.

Callie - stay here, I will go and grab something. I will be right back.

When Callie had left the bathroom I started to think about the possibility that I might be pregnant, I was freaking out about little bit. I haven’t thought about having kids, my career has always been on my mind. And I didn’t have the best mom which had lead me to not thinking about kids since she was also a surgeon.

Callie came back after she had been gone for a couple of minutes, but I saw Callie holding something in her hand.

Callie - take this test!

She handed me the pregnancy test and I walked in to one of the bathroom stalls, and I peed on the stick and then I just had to wait.

Two days later

Mark’s pov

It was early in the morning and I was still laying in my bed, I heard Callie was up and doing something in the kitchen. She had been staying with me since Arizona had left to Africa but Arizona was back in Seattle but Callie didn’t want to move back in to the apartment just yet.

I heard a knock to my bedroom door, and I was expecting to see Callie opening the door but it wasn’t her. Madison Grey was the one who opened the door and walked in to my bedroom.

Mark - hey!

Madison - hey.

She sounded nervous and she looked kind of nervous, which isn’t normal to see.

Mark - what are you doing here? Do you need the Sloan method?

Madison - no.

She laughed a little, and I had missed hearing her laugh. I had missed everything about her since she broke up with me and after the night we had been sharing together at my place.

Madison - I need to tell you something.

Mark - okay, come and sit here.

I had my hand on the other side of the bed to show her that she could sit down on my bed. I watched as she took a deep breath before she said something.

Madison - I’m pregnant!

It felt like a bitch slap on my face and I just stayed quiet, I was shocked when I heard what Madison told me. I was so damn shocked I couldn’t say anything or even move.

Madison’s pov

Less then five minutes ago I had told Mark that I was pregnant, he haven’t said a word since I told him. I guess he was shocked to hear this and especially since Callie had told that she was pregnant yesterday.

Madison - You have to say something. Words. Make words.

Mark - Holy crap.

Madison - Yep.

Mark - A baby?

Madison - Growing like a weed in my uterus.

Mark - Not like a weed. Like a mighty oak.

I really thought that he would freak out, but I guess he just needed to process it.

Mark - I just have to ask. Is it mine?

Madison - yes, it is. You are the last person I slept with.

Mark - We're gonna be great parents.

Madison - Mark, you ... you don't have to do ...

Mark - Are you kidding? That's my kid in there.

He placed his hand on my stomach, I was now laying next to him over the covers in his bed.

Mark - I'm a dad. We're parents ... of a baby.

I couldn’t help but smile, and I couldn’t help to notice that Mark had an even bigger smile on his face.

Madison - Okay. You're in.

Mark - Should we get married?

Madison - Oh, no. No, I mean, I'm all for raising a baby with you, but, uh, there's a line.

Me and Mark aren’t even together and I don’t want to get married now, and especially since I’m pregnant. I want to get married in the future and the only reason why to get married is love, and not to get married because someone knocked me up.

General’s pov

About 6 hours had passed since the early morning, Madison and Mark was at the hospital working like they usually do. Mark and Madison haven’t seen each other since Madison left his apartment.

Mark had been walking around in the hospital for the past 10 minutes to look after Derek. And after he had been walking around in the hospital, he finally found Derek sitting in one of the conference rooms.

Mark walked in to the room and Derek looked up from his paperwork and watched as Mark was standing in front of him on the opposite side of the table.

Derek - Want to know what's really fun and not at all depressing? Alzheimer's research.

Mark - Madison is having my baby.

Derek - what?

Mark - right? Best news of my life. At least it would be, if she wanted to get back together.

Madison and Mark didn’t get the chance to talk about them this morning.

Mark - I just want to get back together with her, so that we can be a family and give our baby the family that I didn’t have. But I don’t know what to do, especially since Madison is stubborn.

Derek had just been quiet the whole time since Mark had opened his mouth and talked about himself and about Madison.

Mark - You're the man with the answers. What do you think?

Derek - How could Meredith and I try for months and not have any luck, and you look at somebody, and a baby appears?

Mark - Sloans are unusually fertile.

Derek - You're a classic example of failing up.

Mark - Not exactly the advice I was looking for.

Derek - Well, you got it. Cheers.

Mark was just standing by the wall and watching as Derek walked out of the room. Mark was really happy and thrilled that Madison was pregnant with his child but he was scared as well of everything.

Mark’s pov

Most of my work day had passed and I haven’t seen Madison since she was at my place. After I had talked to Derek a couple of things have been going through in my head. I have been thinking about me and Madison, I have been talking to Arizona since she is in kind of same position as me with Callie.

I was currently standing outside of OR 2 and waiting for Madison to be done with her surgery. I wanted to talk to her for a few minutes and ask her something.

I have been waiting for Madison for about 30minutes, I was looking at some paperwork which was about the patient Madison was working on. The time went really slow and it felt like I have been waiting for two hours but I had only been waiting for little over 30minutes.

I watched as Madison walked out of the OR and behind her Lexie Grey and Alex Karev walked out of the OR. Madison saw me and she said something to the residents before she walked over to me.

Madison - hey.

Mark - hey, how did the surgery go?

Madison - good, the patient survived.

I don’t know but I was a little bit nervous, it has been about 6 or 7 month since she and I was a couple and it didn’t end the way I wanted. I was pretty cold towards her when she did break up with me and then I was just an ass.

Mark - can we talk tonight after work?

Madison - sure.

Mark - can you come by my place then, at 8?

Madison - yeah, is everything okay?

Mark - yes.

I didn’t want to tell her right away what I wanted to talk to her about, I wanted to wait for tonight.

Madison’s pov

I had finished my shift about one and a half hour ago, and I had just walked in to the apartment building where Mark is living and where Callie and Arizona are living too. I took the elevator to the fifth floor where they are all living but Mark has his own apartment and Callie has one with Arizona.

I had just walked out of the elevator and I was walking towards where Mark is living, I came up to his door and I press the doorbell. I just had to wait a few seconds before the door opened, and Mark was standing there in a pair of black pants and a black shirt.

Mark - hey!

Madison - hey.

He let me inside, and I followed him as he walked towards the kitchen which was connected to the living room. We both stayed quiet as we walked in to the kitchen, I smelled pizza and my eyes did catch the sight of a homemade pizza on the kitchen island.

Mark - I made some pizza, and I know you love pizza. I have some great things on the pizza which I read was good for the baby.

Madison - thanks!

I watched as Mark took two pizza slices and he placed each one of them on two plates, he handed me one of the plates and he went and took a seat next to me on the kitchen island. I took a bit of the pizza and it tasted really good, and I was almost a little surprised that Mark could cook something this good.

When we were a couple before, it was always me cooking.

Madison - delicious pizza.

Mark - thanks, I’m glad you liked it.

Madison - okay, Mark. Why did you ask me to come here?

Mark - I wanted to talk about us and the baby.

I knew this would come but I didn’t think he would bring it up so fast.

Mark - I want you to give us a second chance. We are having a baby and I know you want to give our baby a family, the family that we didn’t really have.

I had to think for a few seconds.

Madison - okay, I will give us a second chance. But then I want us to take it slow and not rush in to things.

Mark - deal, you won’t regret!

He had a big smile on his face and I couldn’t help to laugh a little. Mark got a little closer to me and he leaned in with his head until our lips were connected. I had missed feeling his lips on my lips, I even felt like a teenage girl again as we were kissing.

Mark - stay here tonight.

Madison - okay.

We continued to kiss and we had totally forgot about the pizza, the night started with kisses and the night ended with us sleeping together.

Would you guys like another part of this?

#greys anatomy #mark sloan #mark sloan x reader #seattle #derek shepherd #meredith grey

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jaxteller87 · 4 months

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something new part 1

Teenage Years

The football game had just ended, and normally, I wouldn’t bother with these events, but Jax asked me to go, so how could I say no? Donna was a regular at every game, cheering for Opie, who was on the team also. Tara was there, too; she had been on the cheerleading squad the past two years, and while I may not be her biggest fan, she was really good at it.

“I know this may sound like a dumb question, but do they huddle up like that after every play?” I was relying on Donna to help me understand the game.

“Yep, pretty much. That’s when the players go over the plays and stuff like that. Sometimes, if they’re in a hurry, they do what’s called a ‘no-huddle’ offense; in that case, they just run to the line and wait for some sort of secret hand signal from the quarterback to get their assignment for the play.”

“Oh,” I pretended like I knew what she was saying.

As we waited by the tunnel, Opie finally made his way out, covered in sweat and smeared eyepaint. I felt a little awkward as they exchanged a quick kiss while I was stuck watching Jax talk with a few of the players by the cheer squad.

“Do they really gush over him like that every time?” I said softly, intending for it to be inaudible to Ope and Donna, but they both heard me.

“Yup, they do, and Jax hates every second of it,” Opie laughed.

“Really?” I asked, keeping my eyes on him. For someone who hated it, he sure seemed to like it. Smiling from ear to ear, being everyone’s friend, not that I cared per se, but it did have me feeling a little…envious, perhaps?

“Amber, seriously, don’t sweat it. I promise you, this is killing him a lot more than it’s killing you.” Opie gently nudged my shoulder.

“It’s not killing me; I just feel like maybe I’m holding him back sometimes. I mean, look at him; he looks so happy.”

Opie shook his head, “Looking happy and being happy are two totally different things.”

Before I knew it, Jax managed to sneak away from the crowd somehow, and he sought me out like a heat-seeking missile. “Amber, hey!” he beamed, noticing me with a smile.

Okay, maybe Ope was right. He seemed different with me like he was genuinely happy to see me. “Great game,” I said.

“Yeah, it was close at half-time, but we managed to pull it out at the end.”

“You were amazing out there. Have you ever thought about going pro?” I joked.

“Nah, not really. Football is just a way to pass the time in Charming and take out some frustration by legally being able to hit a few guys.”

“Aren’t you worried about getting hurt?” I could feel my face getting red. He looked hot with his jersey and shoulder pads off, standing there glistening in sweat with his long, slicked-back blonde hair.

We became so engrossed in conversation that we forgot about Donna and Opie, who stood silently beside us while we ogled over each other.

“What?” Jax and I said in unison like two kids being caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

“Oh, nothing,” they both laughed.

The next day, Saturday, Jax invited me to a party he and Opie were throwing. Typically, I’d decline, but Donna convinced me to make an appearance.

“Jax, Tara! A picture for the local sports section?” a young reporter asked.

Jax had that uncomfortable look on his face, “Uh, sure, I guess.”

“Tara?” the reported gestured for her to stand next to him.

“Oh, okay,” she smiled, doing what she was told.

“Perfect! Now, smile!”

The flash lit up the room.

“This will be in tomorrow’s paper. Thanks for the picture, guys! The town loves to see the Prince and Princess of Charming after a strong home win! Great game again, Jax! Four more touchdowns, and you’re looking at the school record…”

Seated at a table in the corner, I leaned over to Donna, “What did he just call them?”

“The princess and prince of Charming. Jax lowkey hates it,” Donna laughed, watching Tara and Jax in the crowd. Donna excused herself, and I sat quietly, watching Jax mingle with the partygoers. He seemed out of place but in place at the same time. Then, Opie came by and sat beside me.

“So, out two nights in a row, aye?” he asked.

“I know, but I’ll have to head out soon. I don’t want to turn into a pumpkin,” I laughed.

“He likes you, you know.”

I sat quietly for a moment. I felt the spark between us, but for some reason, it felt forbidden. “I know, and I’m not sure why.” We watched as Jax moved through the crowd with Tara, occasionally locking eyes with me.

“You’ll make a good old lady one day,” Opie smiled.

“My hair isn’t big enough,” I smirked. Opie looked at me with a raised eyebrow; I don’t think he got the joke. “Haven’t you heard? That’s where Gemma keeps all her secrets.”

Opie laughed pretty hard once he got it. I didn’t think it was that funny, but maybe he was just trying to be nice.

“They’re not going to last. It’s just a label the whole town put on them because he’s Jax Teller, and Tara’s on the cheer squad,” Opie explained, still watching them. “If I was close to breaking a record and Donna was on the cheer squad, we’d have some cheesy nicknames like the Lord and Lady of Charming or something like that.”

“What about Gemma? She for them, too?” I asked, curious.

“Hard to tell, but I think so. You have to be outgoing for that one. If you’re not attacking life like a starving puma, you’re not trying hard enough in Gemma’s eyes.” Opie chuckled. “She’ll come around, though, especially once you guys make it more obvious. You just fit in better. Tara grew up with us.”

“I’m not going to make him choose. Is that what you’re getting at?” I said.

Opie didn’t say anything, just nodded.

“I don’t want to do that,” I added.

“The club, that’s where he’s headed. Anyone with eyes can see that,” Opie elaborated.

“I don’t think the club life is for me. Tara is more cut out for it,” I responded.

“If you’re letting the chair define who you are, Amber, stop.” Opie looked deep into my eyes, my soul even. “If you don’t get over your ‘I can’t be good enough’ attitude, then you’ll simply never be good enough. You’re a smart girl, but I feel like everybody sees how perfect you two are for each other, but you.”

He was right.

“What were you two laughing at a few minutes ago?” Jax literally appeared out of nowhere.

“Oh, nothing,” Opie laughed as Jax cracked open his beer. “Happy to see you here,” Jax smiled at me.

“Yeah, like I told Opie, I need to go soon before I turn into a pumpkin,” I said, and Jax chuckled at my joke.

“Tell him the one about Gemma’s hair,” Opie started laughing again; I think he honestly found that funny.

“What about Gemma’s hair?” Jax asked curiously.

“Oh, nothing,” I smiled. Tara joined us, so I spent time with the three of them, and it was nice – just us. Jax seemed more himself at that moment, and I felt like I knew what I had to do.

#jax teller imagine #jax teller x disabled reader #jax teller x oc #jax teller fluff

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distantlaughter · 1 year

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Nico Rosberg was already sure of his plans at the age of 15 - "My goal is F1"

By Raila Kinnunen for Apu, posted 28 November 2016, originally written in 2001 (x)

Nico Rosberg became Formula 1 World Champion on Sunday night. The Rosbergs, Keke and Nico, are only the second father and son duo in history to both win the F1 championship. Apu met 15-year-old Nico in Monaco and is now re-running the story to celebrate the historic championship.

Keke Rosberg sighs deeply and says that it happened yesterday on a farm in France: a son beat his father 6-0 in tennis.

The gust echoes with both regret, the nagging thought of his own aging, and pride in his son. But Dad quickly recovers and, under the cover of his walrus moustache, his mouth turns up in a grin. Yesterday may be the most illegal time to play on a fast surface, as long as he pays for the pitch, he chooses the surface.

It's the same turn of events that awaits every father. Keke is 52, Nico 15, the son is almost a professional tennis player, having played since he was two, and in the last couple of years he's closed the gap on his dad: 170 centimetres against 176.

But when Keke is told that if Nico loses next time, the loss will be intentional and the tax will soon be paid in the form of "Papa, how about a scooter, a party…", Dad gets nervous.

"A year ago, we almost had a fight when my son announced a couple of weeks before his 15th birthday that you must be thinking of buying me a scooter as a present, I've been thinking about it, don't buy it as I won't have time to use it anyway! And Nico didn't even know that I had already arranged it. "After digesting the story for a while, I asked if anyone had threatened to scrap or steal the scooter. Something like that must be behind this, because he can't be that sensible. And that's what got him angry, claiming I underestimated him. "For me it was once the most important thing in the world to have a moped at 15, and this one says it's not worth it! Maybe he gets to ride so many other motor toys that the normal desire of a normal teenage boy to get a ride is already satisfied," Keke muses.

The story is actually a very typical example of the relationship between the men in the Rosberg family. There is partnership and love, the difference between generations, eras and situations in life, and a father's wonder at these.

That's what it's all about: winning

Nico Rosberg was 11 years old when he won the French karting championship in his second year of driving. He started cornering on a karting track at the age of two, around the same time the kid was using a tennis racket the size of himself to pull 50 metres of well-placed serves. I can testify to this as an eyewitness.

"Tennis was the other option for a long time. I was too small for tennis at first. I was very short until I was 13 and then I suddenly stretched," says Nico, making the all-important whoosh sound. "At some point, I decided that driving was the choice after all. That's the goal, I'll try to do as well as I can and then see how far I can go. I play tennis for fun now, and football. "When I won the French championship, I had an awful lot of fun. Winning is amazing, so sweet! The feeling is great, the whole atmosphere. That's what it's all about, winning. The funny thing is that in tennis, winning doesn't bring nearly the same joy. I guess racing is about the whole package, the pace and everything else. It simply feels good," Nico describes. "Sometimes when you feel like you're driving to the limit, everything is going smoothly and all that's left is the speed and the driving, it feels great. But that doesn't happen very often," Rosberg Jr. regrets.

He is a nice-looking young man in his last moments, somewhere between childhood and manhood. His body still has a cherubic softness, his blond hair curling in the same pattern as Keke's, which has begun to grey elegantly at the temples. His behaviour is almost that of an adult: a straight look, a brisk handshake, good manners, clear speech and then, in the middle of it all, he gets excited and starts giggling like a brat. Quite disarming.

And the eyes, they're a combination of green and blue among the curled lashes.

"Yeah, and grey. At least that's what the girls have said," Nico enlightens me and beams happily.

So Nico didn't want the scooter that people use to shuttle through the narrow streets of his hometown Monaco. It will be more than two years before he gets behind the wheel of a car. Does he mind?

"No, there's plenty of excitement to be had in Papa's car!"

Keke, the 1982 Formula 1 World Champion, one of the most brilliant and accomplished riders on the track, is a legendary and terrifying rider in civilian life. So ferocious, in fact, that wife Sina and Keke have jointly decided that to save their long marriage they will no longer share the same car. Sina is scared to death of Keke's driving, and Keke is uncomfortable in the passenger seat - so they take off in two cars, or in different modes of transportation altogether.

After receiving a burst of honesty, Keke calls himself an even worse hooligan behind the wheel.

"Nico certainly won't learn anything worth repeating while riding with me!" his father confesses.

"My dad is always telling me, 'don't learn anything from me behind the wheel.' I'm not scared at all when I ride with my dad, my trust in him is complete. He drives fast, but I trust him more than anyone else," says Nico. "Obviously, I'm not going to drive on the road like my father. First of all, I would never be able to pick up my mother, and I probably wouldn't even get a car!" the boy reckons.

How do father and son differ as drivers on the track?

"That's quite different from me. I was fierce and wild, the boy is totally controlled, calculating, and never looks fast on the track, you can't see how fast he is with your eyes," Keke defines when the main characters of this story were interviewed separately.

Nico never saw his father behind the wheel of a Formula One car, Keke quit when Nico was one and a half years old. As a DTM driver, he got to know his father.

"Dad is a bit of a bzzzzzz," Nico describes with a wasp tongue, "crazy, or not crazy but aggressive and wild while I'm calmer. Dad says that Alain Prost was very similar—I don't mean to compare—but that he thought Prost was also very calm, untempered and icy."

When it is said that his father described him as a calculating driver, Nico briskly asks what calculating means, explain.

He does the same a couple of times during the interview. When an unfamiliar English word comes up, he immediately asks what's that, explain.

The father tells an anecdote about the same thing.

"I have a friend who is totally impressed with the way Nico does things. He took Nico to a board-level meeting, so a big conference table, five adults and Nico. The idea was, of course, to leave a good impression of yourself, as you usually do when you want something, right? "I was really proud of the kid, but the water is pretty deep when you throw someone that age into a situation like that. My friend was speechless, told me that Nico did fantastically well and that it was the fact that he said ‘I don't know’ when he didn’t know that impressed him the most. He doesn’t try to pretend to play a role and be knowledgeable when he doesn’t know."

There you have it, you can see how successful you have been at parenting!

"Successful where? We have not raised a son. He's probably grown up under the influence of his environment, his friends, their parents. We haven't had to raise him once yet!"

Sina Rosberg, pretty, elegant, and slim, happens to arrive at this very moment on the balcony of the Rosbergs' studio apartment home in Monaco.

"We have never had any problems with Nico. He hasn't been mean, late, cheated, caused worry - not even now, even though he is in puberty. No worries whatsoever," his mother marvels. "When Nico was two years old, everyone said, wait until he's three and you'll know what the problems are. When he was five years old, they told you to wait until he was six, or nine, and at puberty you'll know what the trouble was! Now I just wonder how long you have to wait!"

Putting on the brakes next year

Nico is in tenth grade at the International School of Nice, where he is taught English and French. Next spring, he will have his matriculation exams, and because he skipped a grade at the suggestion of his teachers, he will finish his schooling before he turns 17.

Nico is now in his first year in Formula Super A, driving for Mercedes Benz and McLaren's teammbm.com team, as one of the junior drivers of Keke Rosberg’s team, alongside Lewis Hamilton, a 15-year-old dark-skinned Englishman, the other junior driver. There are 14 races during the season, with World Championship races in Canada, France, Italy, Belgium and Japan, plus six races in the Italian championship series and a couple of other races.

On weekends, he either competes or tests. Most of the testing is done at the team's home track near Venice, but recently Nico went to Montreal for a couple of days to test Bridgestone tyres.

"I thought I'd put the brakes on my driving for next year, so I can finish school in good shape. I’ll still drive, but as little as possible. Once school is over, I'll concentrate on driving hard. I'll still be so young, 16-17 years old, that it won't make sense to go to university yet." "Even if I do well in driving—which is my great hope—I will still be doing something else all the time. I'm very interested in aerodynamics, I like physics and mathematics. I'm going to look for university courses related to these, for example six-week courses in the summer. And then another course at a business school, maybe in Monaco or Germany. There are often suitable breaks while driving," Nico plans. "In any case, I would like to go to university and get a degree. Because what will drivers do when their career is over? My father was lucky to find a career in driving."

Do you have as good a business instinct as Keke?

"Absolutely," Nico laughs. "I'm studying business at school and I'm top of my class. I'm very interested in the subject, let's just say I'm excited, but I don't know how far I'll go yet."

Keke, the first Finnish athlete who knew how to make money out of sport, how to handle money, and make it work, answers the same hereditary question like this:

"At that age, how would you know? He's a thrifty boy, that's for sure. Otherwise, I can say that he hasn't inherited much from me, judging by his school performance. There are a lot of absences because of driving and yet his school results are really good! "The certificates came last week, and Nico warned me that tomorrow it's coming, and it was scary good! Maybe he’s so ambitious at school with the absences being exceptionally high. Or maybe a little bonus of such a hobby is also the ability to focus and set goals. "Never have I had to tell him to do some homework, but ‘that's enough, it's so late you're going to bed.’ That a boy of that age should be dragged away from his books, there was no such thing in my day!" his father wonders.

In almost identical words, father and son describe on successive evenings how meaningful it is to have two plans for the young person's future, A and B. If one fails or circumstances change, the second plan is put in place.

"I don't push or advise. The boy does what he wants. I hear much more about his plans for the future from my friends than directly from the boy, with whom he discusses them in the sauna in the country. Apparently it is easier to discuss and spar with them and when they ask questions, he answers." Keke knows that when dad asks questions, his mouth goes agape.

Nico says he has only just now realised the joy, benefits and advantages of sports.

"I look at my friends whose lives are dominated by school. They go to school in the morning, come home, do their homework and go to bed. Weekends are spent preparing assignments and holidays catching up on backlogged studies. I don't think you can live like that. That’s how youth is wasted and ruined! "I think it's nice to be able to take a break from school, do something completely different and enjoy it. "I don't really know how I'm going to get through my homework in the time I have to do it. Every night I work out, take a 45-minute swim and play football or tennis. On the weekends when I'm driving, I don't think for a moment about school, and I still have no problems at school. Teachers don't give me any slack or leniency for my absences—I have to keep up with everyone else," says Nico.

Short-haired little baby

The Rosbergs speak German at home, Sina's language.

Keke grumbles that he was in a terrible situation when he fell into speaking German—a language he had gotten out of at school by telling the old maid that he would never need one— when he really wanted to speak English, an easier and more familiar language.

"I was probably so blindly in love that I chose her language, and once you've said yes, you can't change it."

At the wedding, Keke does remember saying 'I do'.

"And you [Sina], who always protested against everything rigid and formal, answered the priest's question with "why not?", Keke still marvels.

Keke also regrets that the teacher from Iisalmi died before the cosmopolitan, who had moved to Germany, could confess to them that he had made a colossal mistake.

So Nico, who has dual Finnish and German nationality, learned two languages in parallel, German for the parents and English for the nanny, and then, as the environment shifted from home to yard to school, French. The three languages are still on equal footing. A couple of years ago, Italian was added to the mix, which Nico picked up from his best friends. Just the other day he announced: "From now on, please only speak Italian to me.”

In Finnish, he only gets a few words.

"I really got an earful about it ten years ago when someone in Finland found out that Nico doesn't speak Finnish. There were a lot of scolding letters. I think the language decision was quite sensible: one more language would have taken away far too much capacity. If the boy ever wants to move to Finland to live, I'm sure he'll learn the language too. The likelihood of him settling in Finland is quite low. Unless some pretty girl tempts him, and if she does, he's sure to be able to speak the language," says the father.

It is only in the last few months that Nico has become enthusiastic about Finland. He takes his dictionary with him on his travels and is very interested. Jatta Rosberg, Keke's younger sister, who first lived in London and married an Englishman, then divorced, moved to the outskirts of Nice, married a Belgian and now works in Keke's office, has been teaching her son Nikolas, a couple of years older than Nico, to speak almost perfect Finnish. Of course, things were easier in those days, when there were only two languages, English and Finnish.

Nico was motivated to learn Finnish for many reasons: to get to know Keke's mother, Grandma Lea, better, to have his own special language with his cousin Nixu. But the main reason is very clear.

"I want to be Finnish. In the world of racing, I want to move and be known as a Finn, not a German. I can't really explain why. Part of the reason must be that there are so many Germans, being Finnish is more fun!" Nico reflects.

So maybe one day we will hear the Maamme song when Rosberg Jr. climbs the highest podium?

"Let's hope so!"

"In any case, I think it would be wise to learn Finnish. I only know a few words. Bun, potty, short-haired little baby. The latter came from when Nixu and I were joking on the bus with a guy who had shaved his head bald. When there was nothing better to do, Nixu taught me: short-haired little baby. It would be nice to surprise Grandma Lea one day by speaking at least a little Finnish! I'm not afraid of grammar or pronunciation, it's in my head somehow, because I hear my dad speak Finnish every day."

Keke is very calm about Nico's preference for citizenship.

"At some point in the future, the boy will have to think about whether, if he goes to Germany to drive, he should be an exotic Finn or a German who’s more interesting to the sponsors. I can't answer that, and I don't think it's a burning question at all at this stage. Either you are a good driver or you are not."

Nico, when you watch a hockey match between Finland and Germany, which side are you on?

"In this case, you should be on Finland’s side, because they are so much better. In football? I haven't had time to pick a side because it's so funny to watch my parents in that situation, it's hilarious! I suppose I wisely try to be neutral halfway through. No, of course I would hope Finland would win, because that would be a surprise and newsworthy!"

And when you watch teammates Finnish Kimi Räikkönen and German Nick Heidfeld on the Formula 1 track, who do you root for?

"The Finn of course!"

Your cousin Nixu said that Mika Häkkinen is like a big brother to him, that they spent a lot of time together before he got married. What kind of relationship do you have with Mika?

"Not that close at all. Nixu is Mika's friend and the difference comes from the fact that Nixu speaks Finnish and it's easy for Mika to talk to him. But Mika is by far the best, I respect him enormously as a driver. I don’t like Michael Schumacher. Of course he is damn good, but I don't like his character and his style. Schumi doesn't seem fair, but what luck he has!"

Scared, of course

Keke Rosberg's team has three divisions, two junior drivers, two lower Formula drivers and two DTM drivers. Keke also manages Mika Häkkinen and Olivier Panis in Formula One, Kalle Palander in alpine skiing and partly handles Jyrki Järvilehto's affairs.

He is now rarely seen in F1, as Nico's racing schedule swallows up a couple of weekends a month.

"Nico already does the tests on his own, but I go to all the races." It's actually a deal with Sina: if the son drives, the father goes with him.

According to Keke, it's quite easy to keep the roles of team boss and father separate, as for Nico he's always first and foremost the father.

"The separation became even easier after Nico fired me from the mechanic job, and it didn't take long to get fired. At one of the French championships, when the front wheel came off, my son announced that it might be better if you didn't touch the car. I forgot to tighten the wheel. I'm not mechanically gifted at all," says Keke.

Keke's father Lasse, a veterinary surgeon by profession, competed with his son year after year. Keke often went along on his father's nightly sick trips, not so much to meet the cows, but because he was allowed to drive his father's Peugeot on the gravel side roads, kept secret from his mother.

"Nico has had a professional mechanic for four years, I used to have a veterinary mechanic from one year to the next. The biggest difference between my time and now is the professionalism of the work. We were hobbyists, they have computers and tuners, they have a lot of material, the drivers are involved in the development of the machines. I got the number 24 engine for the World Championship, the one that no Italian or Central European wanted. "When I was 28-29 years old, I was at the same level of technical understanding and comprehension of the material as Nico is now," Keke explains.

When Keke failed at the races, father and son sulked for three days, not talking to each other when he failed like that.

"I've always told Nico about these things. Yes, we may have a quiet life, but luckily I'm not a mechanic, I'm not in the line of fire and partly to blame. Sometimes, during the weekend, I say, 'I wonder what I'm doing here when you won't even talk to me! Good morning you have said today, nothing more.' The boy is so in his own world. "Of course a father is scared, it's only natural. When two cars go around a bend side by side, the insides turn. Then there's no other role in your mind than that of a father. The top speed in karting is not huge, 125-130 km/h, but the cornering speeds are tough. Fortunately, nothing out of the ordinary has happened to Nico. A few times he's been to the hospital for a mid-race X-ray—all fine. Nothing has been told to his mother. "Many times while I was standing there on the track, it also occurred to me that my father never saw Nico drive anything, he died just before Nico started. I think he would have liked what he saw," Keke says.

You can't watch Nico drive. Not on the track and not on TV either, when he moves to the televised leagues.

"There are mothers who want to be there and see everything and then there are those like me," says Sina. "I'm scared when Nico drives, it's terrible. I was there sometimes when Nico was younger, and I was terribly unhappy if Nico was unhappy when he was unlucky. And the parents would fight amongst themselves that your son was blocking our son's way, pushing! "When Nico was little, I was like a hen, always spreading my wings to protect the chick. Now Keke plays the same role, he is the rooster, ready to defend the chick and the rooster has even bigger wings," Sina defines.

Nico says that when things go very wrong at the races, Keke leaves him to his own devices.

"Usually Keke waits for me to start ranting, and then he says it's not the end of the world, that these things happen," Nico explains.

Rosberg must be beaten!

Is the Rosberg name a joy or a burden?

"In the beginning, I was worried that the name was definitely a burden," says Keke. "The attention Nico got as a ten, eleven year old was definitely a burden. Soon it became a burden in another sense: in many races you could see that they had nothing else in mind but to beat Rosberg. Today, in the world of karting, it no longer matters, since Nico stands so firmly on his own two feet. When Nico moves to the big cars, the same thing will happen again. First you get too much attention, then it's Rosberg's turn to get beaten up, and then he stands on his own two feet," Keke continues. "And there is no way to prepare a boy for that. He will walk there himself and learn. Next time it will be easier, Nico will be older and stronger to understand and accept it."

Nico himself has a much more positive view of his surname than his father.

Obviously it has been an advantage. It's probably impossible for me to even assess what the benefits are.

Is it obligatory?

"Of course it means you have to maintain a certain level, you are being watched. And maybe someone wants to pick on you. I hope one day to have a reputation and a name as my own person, so that people don't see me as just my father's son, but as an independent athlete. All will be well the day they say he's a pretty good driver and, by the way, Keke’s son, if you didn’t happen to know! "I've had more of a problem with always being the youngest and smallest in everything I do. It's hard to fight against the bigger ones, they were always pushing and shoving me off the track in the beginning. I'm a Rosberg and the youngest of the bunch, so I have to earn double the respect of others! "At the front? First some lower formulas, I'm too young for F3 or Formula 3000. No point trying to get in too early when I can't get to the top yet—what would I do in the meantime? I'd better go step by step, I've got time. The goal is definitely Formula 1," says Nico Rosberg.

By the end of the year, I'll be trying to explain to Keke and Sina what a great son they have, a nice, smart, multilingual cosmopolitan, a future charmer and champion.

Sina has the final word.

"Nico has inherited his father's intelligence."

Pause.

"Because I still have mine."

#preemptive apology to the country of finland for probably committing at least ten different crimes of translation for this article #nico rosberg #keke rosberg #sina rosberg #nicology #my post

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lesbiantoaster · 1 year

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The Golden Enclaves (The Scholomance Book 3) - Spoilers

I've just finished The Scholomance series by Naomi Novik and I need to write my thoughs because I have some opinions XD These are just my thoughs as 20+yo freshly after finishing the series in one go (+listening/reading some opinions on-line). Also english is not my first language so I hope my message won't be lost in traslation.

El is unreliable narrator but she's a great character imo. Yes, she's ulikable, stubborn, 17yo brooding edgelord full of trauma BUT (for me at least) she's an believable on top of all of that. What I mean by that is I can believe that this is what a 17yo girl would sound/think/akt like. That doesn't mean her actions are always right but who doesn't make mistakes (especially when they're a teenager) ? But despite all the trauma she's endured during her stay at the Scholomance as well as before that and loads of self-loathing she's always been a good kid at heart to whom the world/fate has been really unfair. I love her journey throughout the series I truly do even though this journey is just beggining, but that's what's amazing about this character because now evry reader can have their own headcannons about her future. And that's what makes El Higgins one of my favourite characters of all time and makes me love this character!

Orion on the other hand had been made dirty imo. I'm sorry I really wanted to like him but he literally has ZERO personality he's just a depressed mawmouth shaped like a boy who wants to hunt mals and be next to El... It's sad because his whole story is genuinely tragic yet I felt next to nothing while reading it (only after finishing the golden enclaves I've started to think about everything he'd been through...). Also kinda unrelated but WHAT is Orion now? Like is he human enough to idk... get old? Or will he remain a 17yo till the end of Scholomance? On that note if he'll get old like a normal human being then what will happed to Scholomance once he passes away? (I don't expect to ever recive an answer to any of those questions but I am curious about it).

So... what do I think about Orion x El relationship? Well I think it was good for them while they're in Scholomance and (of course) it was crutial for the plot progression. But do I think this has a future? Absolutely not. For the first two book I was authentically rooting for them. They were good for each other and helped each other grow and mature, but reading The Golden Enclaves I couldn't help but play this tiktok sound (the one that goes: "He is not 'the love of your life'! He's literally just a guy. Just hit him with your car!") in my head for most of the Orion-related parts. And while what happened between Orion and El was genuine and beautiful and was working pretty well for the time being but they're teenagers in their first realtionship (that was formed in confined space where death was waiting for them litterally behind every corner and for what they knew they could die in the next 5 minutes, and lets not forget the social structure of small comunity of Scholomance - and while you can find some analogies beteween that to the outer world, they're not the same) and I don't think it'll survive past the point of when their frontal lobe will be fully developed... But I do think they'll remind good friends after that. That's just my opinion!

And that's I'm SO glad that the Liesel x El subplot happened! Some people say it came out of nowhere just to get representation points but I disagree with that sentiment... Don't det me wrong - I didn't saw it comming until the scene in London enclave, but when it happened it cliked for me and everything from The Last Graduate till the end of The Golden Enclaves started making sense... (?) My interpretation of the situation is that El DID notice Liesel in Scholomance and WAS atracted to her (considering that El's our narrator and we only see her version of reality, everything we learn about the world is El's understanging and observations of it - we only know things she considered important enough to describe to the reader AND she considered Liesel to be worthy of describing her multiple times to this degree that we KNOW that during New Year's cleaning El was looking at Liesel's boobs and wasn't complaining about it (she was complaining that Orion wasn't doing the same thing) maybe a the time she wasn't considering herself being attracted to the same sex - it might be because she wasn't quite experienced with social interactions and it was all new to her.. I mean newer than to 'normal' 17yo who's just begining their dating life). The biggest tell for me that El was attracted to Liesel was her reaction when she figured out what Liesel was proposing to her in London. What I also like in golden enclaves is the character development of Liesel herself. Watchin how this prideful, cunning, inteligent and fierce girl starts to care (even deeply) for El and how this relationship catalyzes her own process of healing from all the trauma.

And don't let me get started on thie whole "cheating" discourse... The first time El and Leisel get intimate is when we are sure Orion has been eaten by maw-mouth and the only reason for El to go back to Scholomance is to kill said maw-mouth so Orion along others victims to can die peacefully instead of suffering in eternity. So she's grieving and everyone grieves differently and it's not our place to judge that. The second time on the plane is slightly more complicated but also I wouldn't say it was cheating (I wouldn't even say that El and Orion were dating again at that time... it was more of will-they-wont-they-situationship where Orion specifically asked El to kill him if his mother won't heal him - and we all knew she wouldn't), it was a shitty move tho... Let's remember we're talking about deeply traumatized and mentally fucked-up kids (ok... young adults). I don't condone what El did in that moment but I also try to remember the context of these decisions and I refuse to judge her by my standards (+ I highly doubt that after all of this El never mention to Orion what happened between her and Liesel, just because she didn't do it right away after the events from the book doesn't mean they wouldn't have talked about this - it's just that hiding this information from Orion doesn't sit right with my interpretation of El's character).

El's just a teenage girl who's going through her first love but it doesn't mean she's gonig to close herself from the world just for this boy she met in school (in contrast to her own mother who's the archetype of mourning widow). I just really want to hope that in the case things wouldn't work out between her and Orion it wouldn't be the end of the world for her.

I'd like to believe that what these kids started was a revolution at the core of the rotten magic society and the whole system build on death and suffering, and that the change will come (after some probably long and painful process but IT WILL COME - that's my headcannon and I don't accept any other outcome for my own mental wellbeing XD). But also alongside of the changing/rebuilding world these kids need to heal/grow/change themseves. They've been through some serious shit and need to redefine who they are and find their own place in the new reality. I'd love to read about older versions of our heroes (because I'm 100% sure they won't be the same kids we left at the end of the last book) but I also don't think we'll ever come back to this world to see what happened next with our beloved misfits but I really hope the future will bring more fanfictions, headcannons and other fan-media that will keep this world alive and will allow us to dive in this world once more!

All to all I loved the series! It's not ideal (in many aspects) but overall I've really enjoyed it & sincerely recommend reading it and to shape your own opinion on the matter! Please keep in mind that it's only my interpretation of the series which is based on translation of the books and my personal life experiences and if you disagree with me you are more than welcome to express it (I'd love to see other perspectives) but please don't send hate! Lots of love <3

#golden enclaves spoilers #el higgins #galadriel higgins #Liesel Mueller #orion lake #the golden enclaves #the scholomance #el x orion #el x liesel

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chronicallylatetotheparty · 9 months

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Ch.3 With a Little Help from My Friends

Alya splashed water on her face and took a deep breath. Sending a silent thanks to Past Alya for deciding against wearing makeup. "It's okay. You're okay. This is for your best friend. She needs a little normal after hiding several life altering secrets from everyone... Again."

Making sure her afro was still in perfect condition Alya gave her reflection the I'm-watching-you gesture for good measure. Before walking back to their booth.

Rose, Zoe and Alix threw back their shots while Marinette cradled hers.

"So why couldn't Mylène come again?" Marinette asked.

"Something something mayoral duties," Alix supplied while refilling her glass.

"I'm sure she would've been here if she could!" Rose held her glass out for Alix to refill.

"Are you sure you should be drinking?" Zoe asked.

Rose stuck her tongue out. "I'm fine! One night out won't kill me, Jules."

Zoe snorted but held her hands up in surrender.

Marinette suddenly downed her shot and also held it out for a refill. "How are things with Juleka?"

"Amazing as always," Rose grinned dreamily. "You'd think she'd get tired of writing songs about me but nope!"

Alix perked up. "There's a new song?"

"Not for you!" Rose preened. "This one's just for the two of us."

"Aww."

Zoe chuckled into her drink as Alix slumped back down.

Rose grinning innocently. "We're even thinking of getting marr...ied..."

Marinette raised a finger at them "No. We're not doing that. We're not walking on eggshells around Marinette," she stated as her eyes reddened. "I've had my cry... Like, five times."

Alya nodded. "It's true. Marinette is an ugly crier." She was pleased with the chuckle that surprised out of Marinette.

Who wiped at her eyes as she took a steadying breath. "Okay, let's have it then."

The others glanced at each other before Zoe began.

"When do you see the kids?"

Alya gave her a glare from behind Marinette's head.

Zoe gestured in a well-what-did-you-expect sort of way.

"Ow." Marinette grabbed her shot and threw it back. "I can visit them this weekend. Ugh, that sounds awful. Hate that."

"It's weird that the court didn't settle on joint custody," Rose thought aloud.

"...Yup! Super weird!" Marinette grinned forcefully.

Alya bumped her shoulder.

"Alright, fine! Adrien wanted the kids with him and I... Have a business to run." Marinette shrugged with her hands.

Zoe grimaced. "Oh that sucks."

Marinette shook her head. "Adrien was already doing most of the parenting. I dug my heels in pretty hard but... He had a point." She stared into her empty glass. "Guess that's why I agreed to it in the end."

Alya bit the inside of her cheek. Don't say it. Don't say it. Don't say it.

"See, this is why I only date women," Zoe joked weakly.

"Objection!" Rose stood up to her full five foot four hight. "I've met the women you've dated! They weren't anything to write home about."

"This is why I don't date," Alix muttered as she refilled everyone's glasses.

"That is not why you don't date!" Marinette countered.

"I don't know what y'all are on about. I've only ever had great dating experiences," Alya interjected.

"I don't want to hear it from someone who's still friends with her exes."

"I'm still friends with my ex! We write letters every month!"

"We know, Rose."

"That's weird for entirely separate reasons."

"Also, we're all friends with our exes here."

"I retract the statement."

"LOL."

"Did you just say 'LOL' out loud?"

"I did and I'll do it again!"

"LOL. Lmao, even."

"I'm surrounded by teenagers."

"It helps that you're the size of one."

"I'll make you the size of one!"

"Girls, girls! No fighting. There'll be plenty of time for that later."

"Wh- Why did she say it like that? Why did you say it like that?"

"So, Alix, how's the protest art going?"

"Don't ignore me!"

"Well it's pissed off a lot of people."

"All according to plan then! Zoe?"

"I'm this close to getting boarding schools outlawed."

"Woohoo!"

"Yeah! Stick it to the man!"

"Alix, she's a millionaire."

"Shhhh. Lemme have this."

"What about you Alya?"

"The life of an intrepid reporter isn't as glamorous as it's made out to be-"

"Wait. When was this glamorized?"

"-but it does have it's moments."

As the night wore on Marinette relaxed into their banter. Her smile appearing less forced. Comebacks more natural.

Just for tonight Alya forgot about what Marinette told her. Just for tonight they weren't Paris' protectors but old friends catching up amid their busy lives.

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

"Girrrls, they wanna have fu-un!"

"Ok, Rose, let's get you home." Zoe gently grabbed her friend by the shoulders and steered her towards the metro.

"No," Rose giggled. "I already have a girlfriend," she slurred. "She's...way prettier than you."

"Oh, you owe me big-time Juleka," Zoe muttered.

"That's her!" Rose exclaimed. "That's my girlfriend!"

"Aww, c'mon! The night's still young!" Alix protested again. "We could hit up our old stomping grounds?"

"The night may be young but we're not," Marinette pointed out. Massaging a kink out of her arm.

"Speak for yourselves!" Alix ran a hand through her pink hair with a sigh. "But, yeah. Just don't let it be another six months before we all go out again! Looking at you millionaire people!"

Zoe gave a thumbs up without turning around.

"Just wanna! Just wan-na-a!"

Marinette giggled before realizing Alix was staring at her. "Oh. Oh! Right, millionaire. That means me too!"

Alya snorted as Alix rolled her eyes.

"Sure, we'll do this again soon."

"I'll hold you to that!" Alix said as she stopped to eye a barren patch of wall.

"Good luck!" Marinette called.

"Don't get caught!" Alya added.

... Alya and Marinette turned a corner into an alley. And after a flash of pink and orange light Ladybug and Rena Rouge leapt over the city rooftops.

"Thanks for this," Marinette said. "You were right. I did need that."

"I usually am..." Alya spun her flute as everything she wanted to say suddenly left her.

Marinette using the phone function of her yo-yo while muttering something about fabrics.

"...C'mon." Alya reached out, grabbed Marinette's hand, and pulled her towards her apartment.

"Huh?"

"You're not staying in that big empty mansion all by yourself," Alya stated.

"Well, actually the second mansion also has a-"

"Nope!" Alya cut her off as they jumped over a street. "You're gonna stay up late, working on some new design. Avoiding all of... this" -she gestured vaguely at Marinette- "and when you finally do go to bed it's gonna hit you all at once! So no. You're sleeping over and you're gonna like it!"

Marinette felt her eyes water as Alya's grip on her hand tightened. "O-okay..."

#ml au #ml fanfiction #alya cesaire #marinette dupain cheng #Perfect Paradise #divorce au #alix kubdel #zoe lee #rose lavillant

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pantherlover · 8 months

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An Artificial Night Re-Read: Part 1

Hello again! It took me a little longer to get started on this book, but I'm back to re-read An Artificial Night. I'm *very* excited for this book; this was the one that made me a ride-or-die reader of the series, so I'm interested in seeing what I can pick up from it now that we know about the series. Please feel free to discuss things with me! It makes everything much more fun.

Chapter One:

Is Dame Altair ever mentioned again? I don't think so.

This might be one of my favourite openings. Low stakes job! Danny's trying to get Toby to have a life! The Brown kids!

I feel like Danny's reaction to the Barghests being 'awww! This thing that kill people a dozen different ways is so cute!' and to adopt them all demonstrates the biggest reason why Toby and Danny are such good friends.

We get an April mention! It's nice to see her enjoying herself, even (especially?) if its' at Toby's expense.

'I don't know. How about you call that King of Cats guy I used to see you with?' How often did Tybalt follow her around, even when they 'hated' each other, that Danny knew him? I don't think they met each other in the first book, and they didn't see each other at all in the second.

Do we know what age fae children typically start going to mortal school? Toby mentions that the only Brown kid that's currently living on a mortal schedule is Cassandra. Karen's eleven, so she should have control over her magic by now, so it's not learning how to hold illusions that means that hey can go to school. Do they just go for high school? Or is it just the nobility that sends their kids for a few years of mortal school?

I *love* that the Brown kids call Toby Aunt Birdie. And the Brown kids love her soooooo muuuuuuch.

'If I'd been juggling that many kids, I would have demanded whiskey and duct tape instead of offering them things bound to make them even more hyperactive.' Says the woman who's house is going to be a second home for, like, half a dozen kids? And I'm pretty sure routinely hosts pizza nights? Although maybe she thinks it's different 'cause all of her kids are teenagers.

Here's a mention of how little Stacy's aging and how much all of the kids look like her.

Andy's cake sounds amazing; I want Kerry to make me a cake with sugar dinosaurs.

Chapter Two:

Poor Spike; the cats are always ganging up on him. You would think the fact that he has *thorns* would make him a little harder to bully, but smaller animals seem to have a knack for intimidating animals who should definitely be able to handle them.

Re-reading has definitely made me feel much worse for Rayseline and Connor. Rayseline's nature was literally fighting itself, and she wasn't getting anywhere near enough support for what she'd gone through. And it was very unfair to expect Connor to be able to 'fix' her when he barely had any support of his own. I don't know if they would've been capable of being friends if Rayseline hadn't been tearing herself apart, but I'm sad that they never had the chance to try.

May's here!!!! Yayyyyyyyyy!!!!!

So here, May's says that the reason she's here is because Toby's going to die soon. In later books, Toby says that Fetches aren't *actually* portents of death, it's just that the people who'd create Fetches tend to be the type of people who have short lifespans (correlation does not equal causation). Wouldn't the Fetches themselves know that? Or does it normally work like that and it's just that Toby's an unusual case?

I am veeeeeeeeery curious about where Toby's met a Fetch before.

Has anyone ever written a fic of May trying things out and figuring out what she likes? I think that would be interesting to explore.

'Fragments of plate crunched underfoot, cutting my feet. I didn't care. It didn't matter. When you're waiting to die, you have bigger things to worry about than a little bit of blood.' I cannot believe I didn't pick up that Toby's pain tolerance/healing abilities were above average. Who just walks over *shattered plates* and is? Fine??

Chapter Three:

We're already getting into the quest and Toby a) hasn't slept enough and b) hasn't eaten enough. This isn't a great start for her this book.

Karen, Jessica, and Andrew were very lucky that Blind Michael didn't realize that they were Titania's children. It's interesting to think about how Titania would've reacted if she'd known who she was - I can't decide if she'd take it as an opportunity to get rid of them or be deeply insulted that a son of Maeve would Dare steal *her* children and just raze everything to the ground.

Spike reacting so strongly because he was created from a Blodynbryd is a neat detail I didn't pick up the first time.

Oh, poor Mitch. His kids keep getting sucked into things much bigger than them, and he can't do anything but watch.

That's it for now! As always, please come and discuss things with me!

#October Daye #An Artificial Night #Reread Project

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mxharleyhua · 5 months

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Harley Hua ~ Task Thirteen: Short and Sweet

What is your favorite book from childhood? I was just talking to Elliot about this the other day, but I loved Watchmen. I know it's not really for children, but my parents didn't. I also had a more age-appropriate book I loved, because the art was so beautiful in it. I remember it took place in the woods, but not what it was called or what the plot was. But it was so detailed, and colorful, and had a unique art style.

Do you own an item that comforts you when you’re sad? Do my art supplies count?

What makes you happy? I seem to have a one-track mind tonight but after a long day I love to go home, take off my cochlear implants, light a candle, and spend hours painting. I do my best work in the middle of the night when everyone else is asleep. What are three things you like about yourself? I like almost everything about myself. That sounds like a cop-out, but it took me a really long time to learn self confidence. So maybe that's the first thing I like - that I'm a confident person. I also like the discipline I have to eat right and work out every day so that I can have the body I always dreamed of. And I love my sense of fashion. It's so much fun to dress up for all the events we have here in Merrock.

Which season is your favorite? Summer, easily! I love the heat, getting to spend a lot of my free time at the beach, and how much brighter everything feels; literally and emotionally.

Do you believe in the supernatural? What are we defining as supernatural? Ghosts and witches? Or are more religious symbols such as Gods, angels and demons also supernatural? Being raised both Jewish and Chinese, I got a lot of mixed messages as a kid. Parts of my Chinese culture are clearly against Jewish law. But I didn't grow up orthodox, so I've always taken it with a grain of salt on both sides anyways. I was generally discouraged from things like magic, or ghosts and demons, unless it was coming from a Chinese family member. I think my parents disagreed with how to raise us in that regard and tried to compromise, but it just made any of it being taboo feel nonsensical. Anyways, both cultures say not to mess with ghosts but I really want to go ghost hunting one day. Name a song that has a deeper meaning to you You've activated my Deaf card. What do you think about social media? I think it's great! Obviously, there are some drawbacks. But it allows people to connect in a way we couldn't have just a couple decades ago, and connects vulnerable people to resources that they need. How many queer communities have thrived on websites like tumblr? I remember being a teenager and seeing people like myself online when I didn't know there was anyone else like me in Merrock. It was lifechanging! What would be your dream job? Illustrator. Specifically, illustrating comic books but I also really want to do childrens books too. Name three things you don’t leave the house without My keys, obviously. And my phone. Normally I have my wallet or my cochlear implants on me, but not always. With so many places having tap-to-pay now, you really only need those two things. What is your favorite comfort food? My grandma is an amazing cook and she does this delicious lamb hot pot. It's a good thing she lives so far away, because I could not stick to my nutrition goals if I had the opportunity to eat that every week. Are you an active person? / What do you do to stay active? Is water wet? Technically not, but that's not the point. When I'm not painting or instructing a class, I'm almost always on the move. I try to spend two hours at the gym every day, although that's not always realistic with my busy schedule. I get a lot of steps in, walking around and giving tours at From Brush to Canvas. And I grew up doing gymnastics and cheerleading and try to practice so I don't lose my ability to do some of those stunts. Even as I've transitioned, I've managed to keep a lot of the flexibility I grew up with. I also live in the ocean in the summer, whether I'm surfing or swimming. Name your three biggest inspirations (people-wise) My brother and my grandma are easily my first two. Leaving my family for the third one, I think Gerda Wegener was amazing and pushed boundaries on sexuality and gender with her art in a way I really admire. What is currently your favorite airing show? I don't watch a lot of TV. When I'm at home, I like to take off my cochlear implants and enjoy the silence. And after a long day, the last thing I want to do is read captions for an hour straight. But I'm really excited for Echo to come out in a couple months. If you had to go anywhere right now, where would you go? If I had to? A warm, tropical beach that has complimentary cocktails and crystal-clear water.

#merrocktask #(task 013.)#(about.)

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mjflovebot · 2 years

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I see way too many negative things about Shrek The Third, and that's fine! No one has to love the movie, and I understand that to some it is very weak and I won't ignore the flaws it does have. But! I wanna see more positive things talked about because I feel like the really good stuff is just blatantly ignored, so I have made a list of my favorite things from the movie. (Feel free to add anything if you think I've missed something!)

• First, the music!! 9 Crimes by Damien Rice and Royal Pain by Eels are such amazing songs on their own, and not only do they fit the scenes they play during, they also fit very well as "Shrek songs". They are criminally underrated for no reason. The score is also amazing as always :]

• Every scene between Shrek and Fiona in this movie are so sweet and tender. I cannot express how adorable they are in this movie but sometimes I will watch this movie just for those scenes because they're so sweet. Maybe a bold take but maybe some of the cutest scenes in the entire franchise. I love them to death.

• I do not care what anyone saids but this movie is really fucking funny and all the jokes are very overlooked for no good reason. Shrek saying "Well somebody better be dying" and it cuts to King Harold dying, not to mention the guilty look on Shrek's face, very nice comedic timing and I love the little touch. Puss's "you are royally fucked" joke makes me giggle every single time without fail. Shrek trying to relate to Artie by using slang 'teenager lingo' and then Artie running away has no reason for being that funny but it really is. Shrek's line "Hahaha, you made a funny." brings such a stupid grin to my face because it sounds like something I would say!!! When they're all cornered by knights, and Puss attempts to do the cute face in Donkey's body but they all think he's ugly, and right after that they all start acting like Shrek is some big celebrity and Artie asking if they got the list of the dressing room and Donkey listing off this big order and Shrek going "I just lost it!" is probably my favorite scene in this whole movie. It's so good I could watch it over and over again. (I resonate with Artie so much here, I will defend Shrek's honor with my life).

• I adore Artie a lot, his character is really funny and one an audience can resonate with since he's just one of the more normal humans! I feel like his character brings something new to the franchise because he's shy and awkward, (yes, I do see some of myself in him but that isn't important.) while other characters tend to be very outgoing!! Just brings something new to the table, and it's always nice to see more of Fiona's family!!! Little world building is good world building!!

• PRINCE. CHARMING. I adore this guy to death, I love the scene out in the alleyway at the beginning of the movie, where he's crying to the picture of his mother, and the scene that ties in with it later in the movie where he's in his dressing room talking to a figure of her saying that *their* happily ever after is almost complete. He really misses his mom and in my eyes its portrayed that he's doing a lot of this for her. I wish they tapped into this a little but more but REGARDLESS. I loved him in the second one, and seeing him here more is a delight. Seeing him convince the evil fairy take creatures that Far Far Away is their's is a fun scene, and I also love the scene where he's practicing for the big play and he has pink leg warmers!!! Very cute in my opinion. I love how he's just the embodiment of a theater kid (Me too) Shrek 2/The Third musical when?

• The entire baby shower scene is just *chef's kiss*. 10/10 I love everything about it. I love seeing all the princess there ESPECIALLY DORIS! (I will get to her in a second btw.) It makes me happy they're all still friends with Fiona because in the second movie in her diary it said she hung out with them when she was younger, so it's nice to see they're still around, and the continuity feels very nice makes me happy. Dragon being there also makes me so happy. And do not get me started on the fact that the three little pigs, Wolfie, Pinocchio, and Gingy all pitched in to get that baby carrier for Fiona that whole scene is so adorable and Gingy in the carrier!!! All around a very sweet scene I could rewatch it over and over.

• Speaking of the other Princesses, I am OBSESSED with how they're portrayed here. I feel like after the Shrek first movie they went a little lighter on making fun of Disney and overall Fairytale troupes, don't get me wrong they were still there, but Shrek at that point became it's own thing so it's understandable that they slowly drifted away from it. But the princesses ohhh man, everything about how they're portrayed feels so Shrek and DreamWorks all the way around. Firstly their designs, they look very different from how Disney draws them, love that, Sleeping Beauty's medium length brown hair reminds me how i looked when I was younger, and Rapunzel's hair being braided and tied up is very pretty, I like how they're all kinda.. i guess snobby is the best way to put it? Which feels in characters since they are spoiled princesses. When they're in the prison and all get into 'position' and just say "we're waiting to be rescued." is just, so so good, maybe I'm looking in too deep but it feels like DreamWorks is almost sayinf "These princesses are useless and are a bad influence on young girls" which makes the payoff of the scene were they kick it up a notch and save far far away feel all the morr rewarding. Also Rapunzel getting with Prince Charming like, you go girl!

• TIME TO TALK ABOUT DORIS! I'll try to keep this short as to not sound like a broken record because she is talked about a lot, BUT I LOVER HER SO MUCH!! She got the screen time she deserves in this movie and she's friends with Fiona too AND IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY!! And when she saids "A baby will only strengthen the love Shrek and Fiona have." IT'S LIKE, YOU GET ME DORIS YOU'RE SO RIGHT!!! Me and Doris being Shrek and Fiona fans very real and true!!!

• This is a small thing but I can't help but love it. We get a better look at the Dronkeys in this movie!!! We only got to see them at the after credits scene in Shrek 2 so I'm beyond happy they got their time to shine! They're all very adorable and we even learn the name's of three of them, which of course are, Coco, Peanut, and Bananas!! Very cute and energetic buddies, love them to death. Also the scenes between Donkey and Dragon are very sweet, love how DreamWorks was able to portray an absurd relationship so sweetly.

• Don't worry I did not forget the scene with Shrek and Artie by the campfire. Very warm and calming scene, love to see Shrek take on the fatherly role and reassure Artie. The line "It may be hard to believe, what, with my obvious charm and good looks, but people used to think I was a monster. And for a long time, I believed them. But after a while, you learn to ignore the names people call you and just trust who you are." gets me every single time. I love how Shrek finds a way to lighten the mood while staying serious, helps get a good giggle out before the emotions really kick in. I feel like the line gives a good little insight to Shrek's life before the movies, like he never saw himself as a monster in a say, just took on the title because it was forced onto him, which makes me more emotional because it again shows just how much Fiona changed his life.

• The line "It's not my life I'm worried about ruining, it's the kids." is just another fantastic line, I wish they explored that more within the movie, the idea that Shrek does want kids (I feel as though it's never properly expressed, besides this one line of course) he just doesn't know if he'd be an amazing father. But regardless still a line I adore and it's hard in the emotions department.

• And lastly, a lot say it isn't needed, and maybe it isn't, but all in all Donkey and Puss changing bodies is very funny to me at least, it is a kids movie so you gotta expect those kids things, it's a nice little background conflict. Seeing Donkey learn how to walk/run is very amusing, and neither of the voices fit the looks, all around so good, and I love how the whole thing makes them more friends and we get the littke duo of them! I just love it, it's cute!

#oz.txt #shrek #shrek the third #IM SORRY THIS IS SO LONG #Just had so so many thoughts i HAD to share #very passionate about these movies can ya tell #ngl i didnt think this list would be that long #and it made me realize i like this movie more then i thought like i knew i liked the movie but yknow #anyways #i hope u all can brainrot with me!#also see this movie is likeable YOU ALL ARE JUST HATERS #ALSO ALSO sorry this is everywhere but hopefully it makes sense

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may-tine · 2 years

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Someone who has never watched TMNT Rise reacts to the movie

@gauntletknight this is for you

so the last tmnt anything i watched was the 1990 live action film and the 2003 cartoon, when i was like 7? so we are off to a great start, but lets get into it

hey what, why are we in hell

okay wow Casey is here already i remember him

hey MIKEY??? WHAT im sorry does leo have a metal arm?

are we opening with time travel WHAT

WHY IS CASEY JONES FROM THE FUTURE.WASNT HE JUST SOME PUNK FROM NEW YORK?

I just watched a man die.

things keep happening and i cant put my thoughts down- oh i JUST WATCHED ANOTHER MAN DIE

alright pausing for half a sec to get thoughts down, this is a wild opening, tho i guess for a movie you need some higher stakes then a normal show. Im pretty sure the normal show is more classic turtle hijinks. aight back to it

actaully whats the krang? was that in the original? Are we going to see shredder?

oop yep classic teenage turtle hijinks

now i dont remember much but i remember Donnie and Leo being kinda hard to distinguish personality wise. Im glad they put some further characterization on them both

Mikey is somehow more childish? but like in a babyish way

oh yeah Raph is the leader this time around.

okay so the magic thing is already established in the show, and Shredder has been dealt with?

oh buddy

WHO THE FUCK ARE THESE RANDOS?

I think Donnie was always tech but was he always THIS tech? Damn son

music is super funky

Eyy foot clan! wait these are shredders guys arnt they?

Raph is still mostly angry but hes like, softer. and WHY IS LEO BEING SUCH AN ASS! is he always like this?

Rat dad! We Love splinter

this version of casey is so weird compared to what im used too, i dont hate him tho

yoo wait thats April? APRIL STEALS?

Yo have they been training her as a ninja as well? good for her- APRIL DONT STEAL RANDOM CHEMICALS

Oh this is begging to go wron- yep

this entire interrogation scene is amazing

Okay i do adore this casey

shit is it really like, too late, too late?

god this krang thing is heking creepy why are they blocks

OH THE MAGICS OFF, right after i noticed April had magic too

oof Splinters out cold

Do they have a pod for casey? ok yeah- oh leo no

wha

hey waat the fucK? RAPH?

oh god the you survived banner is about to NOT be funny

nooo hes turning on casey

oh god the powers are still gone

Raph isnt captured... is he?

COMMANDER?

oh he is captured, kinda surprised there

ah hostage situation got it- HEY WHAT THEY FUCKKKKK

AHHHHH?????? bye foot clan

same mikey

AHHHHH HIVE MIND

oh caseys about to ruin the mood

or hype them up

oh no reveals are being delayed

GOD this is horrifying isnt this a kids show?

HEY LEO I THINK THEY SAW YOU COMING!

APRIL HAS A MOTORCYCLE YESSSS (did she have that orginally? maybe?)

Im worried how single minded Leo is getting about this, but at the same time, i get it.

THEY POSSESSED A TRAIN???

SOFT SHELL? oh your kidding

Oh god dont possess the tank

APRIL NO- oh, april yess

Ive never been so scared of a train in my life

WHY IS THIS A STRAIGHT UP HORROR????

WHY DID SHE STEAL SO MANY????

Casey with the call out!- oh not like that kiddo no

yep like cops will do anything- WHY ARE THEY GOOP LIKE THAT, Its too fleshy my guy.

Casey what was that smirk? Did you do this on purpose?

Mickey with the mystic hands stuff worries me cuase is LITERALLY KILLED HIM

oh the triangulation scene ive seen this

oh no

oh raph is not going to be raph once hes out of there is he

AH I HATE BEING RIGHT

WAIT I THINK I SAW FANART OF THIS EARLIER TODAY I THOUGHT IT WAS SOME AU

WE ARE HITTING FINAL HOUR SHIT AND ITS ONLY HALF WAY THROUGH THE MOVIE????

god krang raph is so spooky

HEEY FAM? HEY TMNT FANS??? ARE YOU GUYS GOOD??? i was not expecting such levels of cosmic horror

wait why does a turtle have eyebrows?

god the krang possessed tech is the worst, horrific,OH GOD WHAT IF THE TURTLE TANK.

shout out to Donnie having a step counter, same buddy.

i do enjoy the art style

oh why he sound like that

god the animation on krang raph is upsetting

I do adore this mikey as well, i was thinking i wouldnt liked this take on ‘immature’ but hes growing on me

OH NOOO DOnnie no dont do it oh god the goop

guys WTF

GUYS WTF

I DONT LIKE DONNIE IN THERE

AHH THAT EYE

WTFWTFWTFWTF

Hello?? am i about to cry over turtles??

MYSTIC POWERS!!!!!! What about the power cancel?

oh yeah B team. Love that Aprils first idea is dropping a building on somthing

AHHH THATSD A BEAM THROUGH AN EYE AAA, like its an alien but ye

YOOOO MIKEYYYY JUST THROWS A BUILDING

Oh this is so sick

yeee the anti power stuff or not? they still work?

Leo damn it dont do the self sacrificial shit YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THAT SCREWED YOU UP WHEN RAPH DID IT

hot moment to appreciate the Krang mechs, great monster designs

HAHA PORTAL FUCKERY

Casey my boy ; _ ;

oh god it ended on a portal chop

whats he holdin- NOOOOOOO DONT DO THAT TO ME

ONE OF THEM IS STILL ALIVE AHHH

MIKEY NO DONT HURT YOURSELF

HES CRACKING- THEY ALL ARE AHH

WAIT THIS IS GONNA LET KRANG BACK IN

QUICK SAVE YEAAAAA

ive only been to new york once whats wrong with Staten island

Casey gets pizza!!!

WHo the hek is Cassandra- UH OH

oh this ending song is a banger

WELL That was a lot of fun and SUPER DARK WHAT. At least I get the hype now. I dont know if ill start the actual series but I will be rooting for a s3 for all the fans

#tmnt #rise of the tmnt #tmnt rise movie #rottmnt

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robinruns · 2 years

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What a Night

I seriously don't know where to begin, how to begin to describe finally being able to see the band that has saved my life time and time again. I was in the same room as Mikey, Gerard, Frank and Ray. And it was everything.

So to begin, me and @maria-the-ghoul got up, got breakfast and chatted with the waitress about seeing famous people at the hotel. We then walked up to the Minnesota Historical Museum, and it was very interesting. There was an exhibit on the Greatest Generation, on the different industries in Minnesota, like agriculture, lumber, mining, etc, an exhibit on the Indigenous people of Minnesota that displayed beautiful beadwork, like so gorgeous. The last exhibit we went into was the weather exhibit. I'm a weather nerd so it was cool seeing all the facts about the like biggest snowfalls, or the hottest days. The most interesting, and ultimately terrifying, exhibit was the tornado simulator! It was a small room built to look like a typical midwest basement, with windows at the top of the wall. You pressed the button and people started to describe going through a tornado that hit Fridley in May 1965 (if I'm remembering correctly). The exhibit flickered the lights, they eventually went out, outside the windows they made it look like the sky changed colors, and it was really loud and I could feel my anxiety spike despite it being a simulation. Immersion therapy? It was very interesting anyway.

We grabbed lunch, and saw the Peanuts statues which were so cute, I absolutely love Snoopy. I'm only bummed the Peppermint Patty statue wasn't on display because they were my first gender icon lol Only fitting that I'd later be seeing Gerard in the flesh!

We went to the merch line outside the venue about 4 and started talking to a nice girl from Kansas City. She was really nice and funny. I spent WAY too much money! Yea!

Came back, got ready, and finally ended up going to the venue right about 7. Homeless Gospel Choir played first and they weren't too bad, then Thursday. Anthony Green came out for Understanding in a Car Crash and that was amazing. Love that for me.

Then My Chem came on. Guys, I say this with complete seriousness, I'm not exaggerating at all, I almost fainted when Mikey and Frank came on stage. I felt my knees going weak and my head spinning and I had to actively pull myself out of it. I was telling myself "I'm not missing this!!"

Love that we got a relatively normal Gerard outfit, pulling out the ol' Malibu Barbie shirt (is it just me at @thewordworrier who call it that?) but with the bloody gunshot wound makeup on his forehead. Frank had on his skeleton hoodie, Ray had on an untorn black t-shirt and distressed jeans, and Mikey, like Gerard, was wearing a sorta Hawaiian shirt. I am lowkey obsessed with that fact.

The drum said "Sounds good, I'm in." Frank said "I'm not okay dontcha know!" because he apparently like making fun of midwesterners. It's ok, I'll allow it.

They played Foundations into I'm Not Okay and it was amazing. Like fuck, the whole setlist was amazing. I'd have loved to hear Kids From Yesterday or Ghost of You, but honestly, I'm ok with not hearing them as well. I got Surrender the Night!! Dessert Song!! Famous Last Words!! I cried during WTTBP, which I guess I shouldn't be surprised about, especially since I've been seeing eagles all over the place today so yea. Very glad Cancer was not on the setlist. Thank you Frank.

Seeing Ray shred live has changed me. The sex appeal? I'm unable to describe it, it's overwhelming. Gerard dedicated Teenagers to his mailman. He loves his mailman. He also loves spaghetti soup. God, all I wanted was just random ass rambling, and I got it. Mikey was all over the stage and it was amazing, so much energy, so much joy. I love Mikey Way so much. Fuck.

It was absolutely perfect, it was exactly what I wanted and hoped it would be. I'm so at peace. That's how I feel, at peace, like something I've been waiting for forever has happened, and while I was worried that I'd feel... empty afterward, I instead feel renewed. Like a new lease on life now. I've seen my favorite band live. I've seen My Chemical Romance live. They were beautiful and amazing and I love them and I've seen them live. I've seen them live. I've seen my favorite band live. I don't have to worry about something going wrong anymore. I've seen My Chemical Romance live.

#mcrstpaul #mcr 2022 #my chemical romance

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tellthemeerkatsitsfine · 2 years

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When I was a kid, I went through a phase of a few months in which I listened to nothing but my Best Of The Eagles CD. This is not an actual Eagles album, it’s a compilation my parents burned of their favourite Eagles songs, and they were right to do so. I got a boom box in my bedroom when I was nine years old, which was very exciting, and there was a while when I decided The Eagles had made the best songs I’d ever heard and it would just be a waste of time to listen to anything else. I still do think that The Eagles are mostly a good band, sometimes a very good band, and there a few songs off that Best Of album that I still consider some of the best songs in the world. Music does not get a lot better than The Last Resort.

Anyway. I think I was a teenager when I got into Jackson Browne, and had a somewhat similar experience of being amazed that music this good could exist so I got really really into it for a while. I was surprised to hear the song Take It Easy on one of my parents’ Jackson Brown CDs, since most of his songs were original and that was an Eagles song. But I liked it at least as much as I liked the version by The Eagles. I like a well done cover.

It wasn’t until a while later that I came across the information that it wasn’t a cover; Jackson Browne wrote Take It Easy with Glenn Frey from The Eagles. For some reason, that concept was a bit amazing to me. I don’t think I’d heard a song before that was sung by two completely separate people, on completely separate albums with no crossover, but neither version was a cover. I thought it was so cool to be able to hear the two different interpretations of the same song, but both interpretations were by people who had equal claim to it. There wasn’t one “original” and then someone else giving a different take; there were two originals that sounded different but could both claim to be “how the author intended it to sound”.

That’s how I felt when watching Andy Zaltzman’s stand-up DVD, after watching John Oliver’s DVD a few weeks ago. A lot of jokes appear on both DVDs, and I think it’s safe to say this is a case of “two originals, no cover”. Comedy doesn’t have “covers” the way music does; in comedy, that’s just called “plagiarism”. And barring the extremely unlikely possibility that plagiarism is the secret real reason why the Zaltzman and Oliver double act ended, I assume any joke appearing on both DVDs was co-written.

John’s DVD came out in 2008, while Andy’s was recorded in 2014, so any jokes on both were at least six years old by the time they appeared on Andy’s DVD. Probably at least eight years old, because John moved to the States in 2006, and even though they’ve recorded many hours together since then, they didn’t keep co-writing. They wrote their Bugle material separately and then shared it with each other while recording.

I guess that’s how stand-up DVDs are meant to work. For your first one, you can take the best bits of all the material you’ve ever written. For each subsequent one, you can only have the best of what you’ve written since the previous one. Not that everyone does that - some people just record that year’s tour show every time. But I know it’s also normal to do what Andy did, which is to work in all the best of your catalogue to the one you know will be filmed, so you can show it all off at once.

Seeing it this way gives me a bit more appreciation for just how much work goes into putting together a show of over an hour, and then having it officially recorded. Gathering up that many years of material and working out which bits you want to represent you on a recording. I guess that makes second and third DVDs (or stand-up specials, whatever an official recording of a stand-up show gets called in the technological era of its time) harder, because they can’t go back to the beginning of their careers for material, unless they’re Ricky Gervais. But there’s also less riding on a second or third one, it’s not just one thing by which you’ll be known to everyone who can’t see you live.

Seeing that also gave me a bit more appreciation for how well the Zaltzman and Oliver double act works. Some of the jokes they co-own are clearly in John’s style and some are clearly in Andy’s style, but a lot are in the space between, and there’s so much crossover. When they do their podcast together, you can hear the way they set each other up and can see exactly where the other is going because they’re so familiar; that lets them tailor what they say to work with where the other will take it, and it comes out perfect. Like in a tennis game where each time they know exactly where the other person will send the ball, so they can be there to meet it. They get into these beautiful back-and-forth rallies that way, but occasionally one of them will hit it back so hard that they’ll actually surprise the other, and that’s delightful too.

I used the tennis analogy to describe their dynamic before, but it actually makes me think of my own sport, which is also a one-on-one sport. I’ve been involved in the sport long enough so I know a bunch of people who’ve been teammates and training partners for years, sometimes over a decade, and watching them train together can be beautiful. They push each other to be better by learning each other’s styles, adapting their own techniques to counter those, and then the other has to adapt as well. They end up developing in parallel, like mutual evolution, so they don’t end up become the same type of athlete, but they do end up as complimentary athletes and you can see how they fit together.

When they train together, they can do things they can’t do with other partners because they get to higher levels. One person will have a move that normally works, so normally, they do it and that’s the end of the scramble. Or it might get blocked, but they go to their backup plan, and that works so they move on. But with two long-term training partners, it never ends that fast. They try their first move, their partner knows exactly how to respond. They go to their backup, that response is planned too. They go to their third, fourth, fifth, sixth lines of offense, pushing their partner each time to further lines of defense. They keep anticipating the next move, and then finding a way to adapt to it, and adding a layer for next time. Watching two longtime training partners work together lets you see levels of the sport that don’t come out in any other situation, and it’s really cool.

I realize this analogy doesn’t work perfectly because, you know, Andy Zaltzman and John Oliver are not trying to “beat” each other when they work together. But they’re trying to make themselves and each other better, which is what good training partners do as well. So it sort of works. It’s what I think of when I hear them play off each other. That I’m seeing levels of comedy, or at least this specific form of double act comedy, people don’t normally reach, because the only way to get there is to know each other so well that you can get past the initial back-and-forth and see what you come up with to do next.

I’ve gotten into the early 2015 episodes of The Bugle, and I’m now properly in the home stretch. I’m going to run out of episodes (from this era, anyway) and then I am going to be genuinely sad, for the same reason I’m sad to see a long-term training partnership in my sport end when one person moves to another team or just moves on with life. The end of something beautiful and so hard to replicate. Last Week Tonight is a unique, important, and entertaining show. It does things that have not been done before on mainstream TV, and those things are very much worth doing. But the difference is that someone else could do Last Week Tonight, as long as they had a huge amount of talent and a willingness to put in a huge amount of work. So most people couldn’t do it, but there are some who could. While no one else could replicate the Zaltzman and Oliver double act without putting years and years of foundation into it first. It’s lightning in a bottle.

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crymeariveronceagain · 2 years

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Anyways I'm sorry but is ranting okay? I want some advice on something but I don't want to seem like a brat by asking anyone irl.

So my parents are amazing. They've sacrificed so much for me and all my issues are also due to some other events in my life, but like...

When I was in middle school my mental health was bad. Very bad. Like I *ahem* sh bad. When they found out, along with some other stuff, their reaction was to guilt trip me about how much I was hurting them, and for my mom, to scream at me. I understand they were worried, but their approach to my maybe-depression-but-undiagnosed-BECAUSE-of-them really hasn't changed. They, my mom especially, act like everything that I said and thought was due to my friends at the time (yes some of it was but most of it was not) and not because hey! Maybe I'm not actually the happy perfect kid you wanted! Not to mention: I'm asexual, arospec and maybe biromantic, idk, and she/they. To say they wouldn't be happy is... an understatement. Once, I made a joke about liking girls, and my mom pulled over while driving to yell at me about how I need to 'be normal'. Another time I was at a friend's house, and my friend's mom referenced me and my friend as 'they'. My mom then called me up to yell at me about why she 'called me they'. She does this constantly; she once yelled at me and interrogated me in the doctors office about my honest answers to a mental health exam, even though she had told me to lie and I was already exhausted and not ready to talk about this. She also alternates between being mad at me and screaming and just acting normal and being nice, and... I get that's just how she is, but it puts me on edge a lot, and I'm never sure if she'll be nice or yell at me. My dad is... different. He's more consistent and stuff, but he also seems to think anyone who isn't him is automatically wrong and dumb. He brushes aside my opinions all the time just because I disagree with him, calls me lazy and fatshames me, and even though it usually doesn't bother me as much because I'm not close to him at all, it still does.

And the worst part is it affects my brother! They fight a lot, and yeah I'm used to it, but my mom will brag about how they never get 'the kids' involved in their fights and them yell about getting a divorce in front of my brother. Who is an actual child. Not even a teenager he's a child. He's even started repeating some of the same things my dad tells me! I just- I love them, but I'm really starting to wonder if being here is good for my mental health, you know? Is that wrong? Am I just being oversensitive?

hello, beloved! Sorry it took so long to get to your ask! be assured I didn't mind it and that ranting is okay!

and can i just say to answer your last question right off the bat

from what you've said here

it does not sound like you're being oversensitive. This sounds really hard to deal with, and very un-fun.

I'm sorry you have had to deal with that. That's super rough. I get what you're going through quite a bit. I've had a couple similar things happen to me, and a few of my friends have mentioned things like this. Parents... are pieces of work sometimes. And that sucks, because we depend on them so much for everything. I'm assuming from the way you're talking that you're still a couple years from college or turning 18, dearest anon, which means you probably see your parents more right now than you ever will again in your life.

And it does honestly sound really pretty bad from what you've said here. You do not deserve to live like this. I'm saying that again for the people in the back.

You do not deserve to live like this.

So, yeah. I could tell you how beautiful and worthy you are. But it's not gonna change the situation at home. I hope you know that you are beautiful, and you are worthy, and that whatever your parents say or do doesn't matter.

They're just people. As much as it feels like they're more than that, they are simply people. Human beings. Human beings are complex, and flawed, and cracked, and torn. They do good things and bad in the same breath, without questioning it. And as rough as it can be, your parents are only human at the end of the day.

Which is probably why they suck so much sometimes. We are broken people.

Although, I will say, the sexuality thing is absolutely terrifying, and I entirely get your parents reactions being worrisome. And I know you want acceptance and all that, everyone does. It's such a funny thing, society. They've told us for years that "we don't need to be accepted! be your true authentic self and that's all you need to be!" like, first of all, that's a bold faced lie. Humans are societal creatures, and we need acceptance to live. So for people to say that acceptance is unnecessary as long as we're being ourselves is just a vast oversight of human psychology. We crave to be seen, known, and loved like we need air and water. Personally, I'd suggest not coming out to your parents or making references to it, as much as it's gonna hurt not to, based one what you've told me. It sounds like they'd take it really poorly, and I want you to be loved and safe, anon.

But hey, the nice thing about asexuality/aromanticism is screw them you'd don't have to do anything unless you want to. Like seriously. This is something I learned while questioning my own sexuality(and then stopping, admittedly) but society places far too much importance on sex. Marriage, sex and babies are not the be-all, end-all, no matter what the rom-coms say, or the books, or the movies, or the ads. We live in a hyper-sexualized culture. And I think a part of the reason there are so many people who identify as asexual today is because this hypersexualized culture and world does not appeal to them. Like, either they're disgusted or they just don't want in. I think that's completely valid. I don't want in, either.

If/When people ask if you're gonna get married/have kids, just say nah. Like, if that's what they wanna focus on about you, just. Nah. Or say something fun like, "Why would I want kids? They're gonna eat my toes." They'll be so shook they're gonna drop the entire topic. Unless of course you do want kids(also valid!!!!) in which case say, "Great question, I'll ask my lawyer!" and walk away.

Anyway. Also, side note, remember that as much as it can feel like it, you are not the sum total of your gender and sexuality. I know you've heard that before, in a million different ways from a million different people. But let me promise you. Your gender and your sexuality are not who you are. The colors of your pride flags do not create you. So, even if your parents don't get to know this about you, that's just fine, because you are not your sexuality. You are not your gender. You are more than that. You are thoughts, opinions, personality, behaviors. You are the love you show towards others, you are the feeling in your chest when you know you'd do anything for them, even at your own expense, and they'd do it for you. So even if you don't want to/can't safely come out to your parents, trust me when I say that your sexuality and your gender are just tiny pieces to who you are. Like, honestly, little puzzle pieces to the thousand piece puzzle that makes up you.

Also, about the brother. That is the worst. I hate that it happens, and I'm sorry. Your brother should love you, as much as your father should, as much as your mother should. That's how it should be. Sometimes things don't work out like that. Sometimes ideal reality is not what we get.

What I recommend there is telling your brother that that's mean, and that it makes you sad/hurts you. I'd also recommend telling him when your parents say things that hurt you, even if only in passing. Also stress that he shouldn't say anything like that to anyone else. Tell him it's mean and no one likes being around mean people. Or, basically, whatever age-appropriate version of this is available to you.

If you already do, YES! ANON! GOOD JOB!

Anyways. I'm proud of you. You are doing your best, and I can tell.

Do not be afraid to keep on living, beloved. Someday this world will be kinder.

#river's advice column #thanks for the ask!#rant #tw rant #vent #not my vent #or my rant #tw bad parenting mention #tw bad parenting #tw emotional abuse mention #i hope it all gets better #and im not gonna advise you on the living with them thing #that is something you should talk to with someone who knows you really well and can get you help easily <3 #okay darling anon?#anyways #<3 #i love you sm #i hope life gets kinder and that it is easier to deal with at the very least

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