#it's like: a summer tale: a fun story about sisters on vacation.

[redheadgleek]

January 2024 books!

I had some vacation this month. I also had an entire week when I was stuck at home without internet due to the ice storm. So I read a lot, mostly very light, fluffy comfort read books.

What I read:

Nine Goblins by T. Kingfisher. A novella about war as experienced by goblins. As usual from a TK book, a little gory, a lot witty, with some fun characters.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. I've read so little of Neil Gaiman's books and I really enjoyed this one. I thought it was quite inventive and I liked how the passing of time was framed.

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry. It's an odd experience reading a book written by a person who has died. He had a lot of mental health problems, and I'm so sad that the medical world failed him so much.

All Systems Red by Martha Wells (audiobook). I read the novella last year and have been wanting to read the whole series, but I had already forgotten details, hence the audiobook. It was a great way of seeing things through Murderbot's eyes. I just got the next book from the library, so that will be my next listen, I think.

Miss Buncle's Book by D.E. Stevenson. A very charming book about a woman who scandalized her hometown by writing a book about them. Reminded me a lot of L.M. Montgomery's short stories.

Lord of the Butterflies by Andrea Gibson. A book of poetry exploring love and family and gender. So much emotion packed into every poem. Truly lovely.

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett. I've also not read much of Sir Terry's and everybody has recommended the Tiffany Aching series. It was a lot of fun and had some very unique characters.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros. This is not high fantasy, but when the frozen world was coming down around me, this was exactly the kind of escape fiction I needed.

Weyward by Emilia Hart. Three stories woven into one about generations of women who are witches. There wasn't anything that really unique about the book, but it had great atmosphere.

An Unexpected Twist by Andy Borowitz. Not sure I should really count an 18 page essay as a book, but I enjoyed this perspective of the medical system from somebody experiencing complications.

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan. Okay, it mostly stretched credibility, but I enjoyed the banter between the love interests. And I especially liked the way the MC was dealing with her grandmother's dementia.

Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn. I enjoyed this one. I appreciated that while it was a "going home to the small town" trope, it also didn't paint that as solving all of the problems.

Upstream: Selected Essays by Mary Oliver. I started reading this last year and it took me to finish. Some of the essays were gorgeous, some felt unfinished, and others felt like book reports.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Huang. I nearly DNF at 90% because I was so mad at the "chivalrous" macho possessive behavior of the male character. There was a lot of gender roles and conformity and casual (and not so casual) sexism throughout. Oh the other hand, the sex was plenty and pretty well described.

What I'm currently reading:

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. My sister recommended this. I'm about half way through and it's a tale interweaving people from the past and the future. It's at a point where it feels like bad things are going to start happening, so I'm a touch anxious, but it's been excellent so far.

Poverty. by America by Matthew Desmond (audiobook). I'm an hour in and it's utterly horrifying and gutting.

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. It's a 20 year old book at this time and needs an update, but it certainly makes science understandable.

The Six: The Untold Story of America's First Women Astronauts by Loren Grush.

The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Key. I remember reading this in high school and really liking it (while also feeling dirty because there was some swearing and a sex scene in it). This time though? It's obvious he's channeling Tolkien, the writing is painfully stilted and the premise is weak and I've found out that it's a sort of King Arthur retelling, so I'm just not sure about it.

What I plan on reading next:

Emily Wilde's Map of the Underworld, Tom Lake (audiobook), and The Starless Sea are next on my list, I think.

#books #bookblr #RHG reads #reading #www wednesday

[lotzzoforangezoutside]

135 X-Files fanfic, w/ summaries

I...missed Summer 2022 masterlist somehow. Oops.

OG series

Season 1

Jeer: Mulder visiting the Boys.

Unicorn Sightings Scully visits Mulder's apartment for the first time.

The Warranty: Scully gets a watch.

My Little Friend: Mulder buys a watch.

Like Birds on High: Post "Beyond the Sea", Mulder recovering in the hospital.

The Jinx: Mulder and Scully traps in a high school gym.

Season 2

The Jar A social visit at the Gunmen.

Clays: Set during "Red Museum", Mulder and Scully eats BBQ.

The Sushi Dinner: Mulder and Scully go out for sushi.

The Piece of Information: Skinner and Mulder talk about his partners.

Too Early to Tell: Mulder visits Scully at her mother’s, set after Scully’s abduction.

Season 3

Set!: Conversation and a card game.

Loud: living habits, sharing hotel rooms.

What to Do with April Showers: A little fun to be had at the office.

A Waste of a Nose: Mulder's finds his favorite perfume.

Cabana Bar: Scully has a date this weekend.

Modeling: Mulder draws Scully a bath.

Season 4

A Freaky Fairy Tale: Post "Small Potatoes," door’s kicked, eddies’ booked, what’s next?

Lunch A: Never in a million years did she ever think she would be having lunch, at a cafeteria, in a middle school, with Fox Mulder sitting right across from her and drinking chocolate milk.

Unspoken: Set during "Home".

Surefire Tell-Tale Signs: Hotel room etiquette

Superstitious: A Friday the 13th story.

The Prince in the Blue Plastic Chair: Set during cancer arc, Mulder and the waiting room.

TCB: Post Never Again, Sequel to The Game.

Season 5

Lucky: Mulder has a chat with Frohike.

Things We Don’t Talk About: post bad-blood, Mulder talks to Scully about the case.

Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off: At first, he dreads seeing unfamiliar phone numbers, set during cancer arc.

I Count the Moments, Darling: Post "Kill Switch".

Pioneer Club: Mulder gets a piece of mail and Scully is intrigued.

The Love Song of Prime: Mulder sees Scully kissing another man.

Post Fight the Future

Fireworks: Fourth of July, 1998.

A Prayer: Set during the movie, the Gunmen breaking Byers out.

Season 6

Three Inches: Make a big difference.

Bedside Manners: Dr. Scully and her bedside manners.

Aquadina: Post "Agua Mala." Mulder recovers.

Fooling: just fluff.

The Best-Laid Plans: Mulder's best plans.

Counting: A celebration. Happy one-year.

Juvenile: Being young again.

Apart: Scully gets picked up at the airport after a mini vacation.

After the Dream It was all a dream, or was it not?

Bachelor Pad: Fox Mulder and his bachelor pad.

Sweet Revenge: Mulder's getting his revenge.

Siren and the Sailor: Mulder calls his friends to express some gratitude.

True Lies: Doodling in the meeting.

Cafeteria: Pre "the Unnatural", Scully getting her ice cream.

First Summer: Lovers in summer time.

Summer School: Another seminar for Mulder and Scully.

Strings: Another afternoon in the bullpen.

Scully’s Arched Eyebrow: Mulder has a little misunderstanding about trees.

The Cross: The items to turn one on.

The Investment: Mulder visits the FBI accountants.

The Sasquatch’s Club Rob and Laura goes shopping.

Five Boxes: Mulder helps Scully get rid of some boxes.

The Crush: Mulder calls Scully while they’re a continent apart.

Season 7

Bloody Tuesday: Post "All Things," The morning after.

Caddyshack: Post Je Souhaite. Popcorn and a movie date.

The Last Moments of October: Halloween, 1999.

Kitten: post "Je Souhaite", Mulder and Scully talk about his wish.

Morning Person: He thinks everything about her is adorable, and that’s not because he’s in love with her.

Minty Fresh: A good thing after waking up.

Calling Baby Sisters: Scully gets a phone call.

Seven Seven Forty-Nine: Mulder has a dream.

Season 8

Hard-boiled Eggs "He’d punched people for far less."

Losing Grey Matter: Nighttime, in the household with a newborn.

How the Stars Stole the Night Away: Mulder comes home, but is it really him?

Jupiter: Mulder sings a lullaby.

Season 9

Mother’s Advice Mulder following his mother’s advice.

The Motel Guide for the Wanderlust: Mulder writes a book.

Season 9+

All the Moms in the World (are the Same): Mom and Mulder.

Delta Glen: the ultimate road trip of seeing America.

Simple Maintenance: Visiting mom.

Homes Away: Life on the run. For fun.

Infinity: Healing is being understood.

Mulch: Mulder digs a garden.

Home Improvement: Making improvements on the remarkable house.

The Project: Mulder learns to bake.

Gossip Folks: Working with the enigmatic Dr. Dana Scully...

The Big Four Zero: Scully turns 40.

Nighttime Intermissions: Scully hears a sound and Mulder investigates.

Shells: Life on the run. A road trip without a destination.

Slipper Hero: In the unremarkable house, Mulder waits for Scully to come home.

Just in Case: December 21, 2012. The end of the world is coming.

Revival Period

The Records: A busy day at the records office.

Wizard: The woes of being a superhero.

Unspecific Time:

3x-13: Three stories about comforts.

Sympathy: Mulder and Scully visits a museum.

Lounging: Summer solstice is the longest day of the year.

Lass: School fun.

Packing: Scully learns how to pack.

Designated: It’s not like they’ve never drank together.

Smitten: It's hard not to be smitten with Dana Scully.

The Riddle: Mulder tries to guess Scully’s screen name.

Preparedness is the Mother of Luck: Staying over at Mulder's.

Eureka Springs: one bed.

Reruns: Mulder spends some time in his apartment after an injury; Scully visits.

Puppy Love: Mulder muses about Scully's hand.

Born-Again: The first time story.

Regulars: Mulder and Scully make a bet.

Funraiser: Putting the fun in church function.

Fools in the Summertime: Mulder is under the weather.

The Lavender Soap: Mulder walks down memory lane.

Ask and You Shall Receive: How Mulder got his partner.

Sensible: Mulder and Scully’s shoes.

Emily AU:

Bossy: Emily is a bossy little girl.

A Practice: Emily studies for a vocab quiz.

Mutt: Emily draws a picture.

Extra, Extra, Extra: Emily gets a toy.

Compliments: Aunt Tara visits.

Bedtime: The bedtime routine.

The Swing: Emily gets a swing.

Ultrasound: Scully gets a prenatal check-up.

Open House: Going to an open house.

Emily and the Giant Pumpkin: Uncle Charlie sends his love.

Cricket Universe:

Frog: William and Mulder talks about girls.

The Sea Monsters of the Atlantic Ocean: The Scully-Mulder's take a trip to the beach.

The Carousel Slide Projector: Family game time.

The Love Interview : Cricket interviews daddy about the love of his life.

Granpes: An old fool meets a smart child.

Cricket’s Best Friend: Mulder observes his daughter’s friend.

Coral: Coral is for the 35th year.

Cool: William gets his 19th birthday present.

Jacksons AU:

Here Come the Mulders: A typical afternoon.

Fire Fear: How Mulder got in trouble with his boys.

Divergence series:

Stonehenge: Season 7 split, before “All Things”.

St. Marks: Season 6 split, post “Unnatural”.

The Old Man’s Choice: The Smoking Man intervenes.

The Romantic’s Choice: Frohike to the rescue.

The Girls’ Choice: A boy’s imaginary friends.

A Mother’s Choice: Scully changes her mind.

The Witnesses’ Choice: Will think something’s funny about his parents.

The Caller’s Choice: William comes home after a phone call.

AU

The Daifu: Summer in Northern China, mid 1800's.  A young, new doctor and his best lost girl.

Marrying Superman: Getting married, post-colonization style.

#with summaries #masterlist #fanfic masterlist #fanfic #the x files #x-files fanfic #lotsoforangesoutside #135 stories

[kingofthenorth]

Horror recommendations from someone formerly too afraid to enjoy the genre

I spent almost my entire childhood too chicken to watch scary movies, only occasionally trying to brave and get through one here and there. I lost countless hours of sleep over trailers I'd seen on tv for various horror movies, which then went on to shape the nature of my fears--and nightmares--for the rest of my life. But in my late teens I decided to try and conquer my fears by facing the genre head on, and in the process... it actually became my favorite genre.

If you're scared but want to jump in, this is my gift to you, as someone who used to be in your shoes. This list is broken down based on the kind of experience you're looking for, so you can get your feet wet on your own terms. It's not that these movies aren't scary (scary is subjective, after all!), it's that this way you can at least know the general vibe first.

Disclaimer #1: Horror tends to be absolutely teeming with common triggers, so much so that I don't trust myself to individually warn for each item on the list. I suggest using a site like Does the Dog Die? or similar registries to look up anything you might need to filter out. Assume death and violence to be a common theme here. Disclaimer #2: This list is far from perfect. Please don't come into my inbox saying "but what about [insert movie here]?"...

Emotional

If wanting to connect to characters and their situations is a big priority, and you're tired of ye olde "one dimensional teens on summer vacation get picked off one by one" vibes from movies you've considered, here are some deeper, heavier options.

Before I Wake: A couple adopts a child who has been in and out of homes, only to discover the reason why no one will keep him is because he has the ability to physically manifest his dreams as he sleeps... and often has recurring nightmares about a horrible, menacing creature. This movie is an excellent take on the tough issue of how adoption means shouldering a child's baggage, and how difficult that can be, even when you want the best for them.

The Monster: On a long drive through a fairly remote stretch of road, a young mother and her daughter have to deal with both the figurative monster that is the strain on their relationship and the much more literal monster that is the thing hunting them in the woods. For being relatively straightforward in plot, this movie does a lot to tug at the heartstrings.

Train to Busan: A man's train ride to take his small daughter to visit her mother goes south fast when a zombie outbreak hits. Zombie movies aren't for everyone, but even as someone with mixed feelings on the genre, I consider this a must-see that balances drama, action, and fear amazingly well.

Fun

Every horror fan has a different definition of what a "fun" horror movie is, but hopefully you can see eye to eye with me on these movies being a good, entertaining ride.

Nope: Following their father's death, a brother and sister investigate the perplexing occurrences plaguing their family farm. One of my top "go in blind" recs. The less you know, the better. It manages to balance fear and humor while also being a fresh take on a classic concept.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark: A group of friends find a book of scary stories, one that's all fun and games until their own names start popping up in the tales. Whether you read the book or not as a kid (which I didn't), this one is incredibly nostalgic. It feels like it belongs at a sleepover, or perhaps retold around a campfire. Perfect viewing for a Halloween party!

Malignant: Surrounded by mysterious deaths, a woman can't help but suspect her childhood imaginary friend may be the one responsible. A fantastic example of a movie where the creep factor is unique and well thought out while also being fun in an almost absurd way.

Unsettling

Sometimes, instead of being outright terrifying, you want a movie that makes you go "hey, what the fuck?"

The Boy: To get away from her own troubles, a young woman accepts a nanny job with strict rules while the parents leave on holiday... only to discover right away that the "child" she must watch is actually a doll. This movie is creepy, subtle, and keeps you guessing. Honestly, it's a great first horror movie if you're looking for something iconic but not so classic you already know the whole plot.

Oculus: A young woman manages to track down the haunted mirror she blames for destroying her family's lives many years ago, and she intends to prove that supernatural forces are behind it all. This remains one of the most interesting horror movies I've watched, combining past childhood terror with an investigative spirit in the present as it jumps back and forth in the story.

Savageland: This mockumentary the trial of a man charged with slaughtering an entire small town because he walked away the lone survivor. Another "go in blind" rec, and honestly a hidden gem. The reflective tone of looking back on the events creates a sense of safety for the viewer, and yet, watching the mystery unfold is positively chilling.

In the Tall Grass: In an attempt to help a boy they spotted from the side of the road, two siblings enter a disorienting field of tall grass. Arguably a bit more "advanced" in its creepiness than others in this category, but I feel like I'd be amiss not to include at least one Stephen King adaptation, and this one makes the cut by not bearing as much pop culture baggage as his better known works.

It's Not That Deep

If you don't want a heavy, involved plot, and would rather focus on the scares, then these movies have you covered!

Sweetheart: A young woman shipwrecked on an island must survive not only the wilderness itself, but the strange beast that wanders onto land at night looking for a snack. If the first episode of Lost set your hopes high for a more creature feature vibe, then this movie will scratch that itch nicely.

Dark Skies: After repeated unexplained occurrences in their home, a family begins to accept that their problem may be extraterrestrial in nature. A fantastic and spooky alien horror flick for both UFO buffs and casual viewers alike.

Willow Creek: While filming a small documentary about the famous Patterson-Gimlin bigfoot film, a couple realizes they aren't alone as they try to reach the site of the film itself. As silly as it starts off, this one captures the simple but powerful fear of not being alone in the woods at night, and is to bigfoot what Dark Skies is to aliens; perfect for both cryptid fanatics and those unfamiliar. Also, it made me hate sleeping in tents even more than I already did.

Staples of the genre

Popular movies are popular for a reason. Here are some ones you've undoubtedly heard of (and maybe even seen parodies of) but get a spot on this post because they're Just That Good. No plot summaries on these, as you likely already know more about them than I could say in any brief description. Just pure opinion from here on!

Ringu/The Ring: Whether watching the original or the American version, this one is a must. I say this despite it being the movie with the trailer that scared--and scarred--me the most as a kid. Onryo are among my worst fears now. Enjoy!

Paranormal Activity: Despite people making fun of it, this one (and its sequels) actually makes amazing use of subtle-but-realistic effects. When I finally watched it, I was shocked by how simple yet high quality it was. I think everyone should watch this at least once.

The Woman in Black: One of my first serious attempts at getting into horror. It's everything you could ask for out of a haunted house movie, hitting all the classic elements without feeling too predictable.

The Blair Witch Project: You know this one. Everyone knows this one. It was THE genre defining found footage movie, so go watch it!

The Conjuring: Yet another great haunted house movie, and one that scratches that "based on a true story" itch to boot! The trailer for this one also scared the snot out of me, except that I was already an adult (I think?) by then. Somehow, it's practically an old friend to me.

Midsommar: As much as this one dealt a devastating blow to critical thinking (particularly of white women), it really is a good movie. Just... please try not to miss the point.

The Ritual: Okay, not quite as iconic as the others in this section, but any creature design fanatic can tell you that this one holds a special place in the hearts of many horror fans. No, it's not one that anybody and everybody has heard of, but it's very well known inside the broader horror fandom.

...And that's it for now! I might edit it to include some others, though, since I had to leave tons of ones I dearly love out, and my willpower to resist mentioning them is not strong.

#horror #horror movies #movie recommendation #yes I ran out of my adhd meds and wrote this on a wild fucking whim #long post

[beyzasenkan]

Introducing Beyza Senkan!

BIRTH NAME :  Beyza Kismet Senkan ALIAS  /  NICKNAME :  Bey AGE :  29 DATE  OF  BIRTH : July 28, 1992 PLACE OF BIRTH : Bridgeport, ME RESIDENCE :  Downtown TW : Death, Student/Teacher relationship (college)

EDUCATION : Associates degree in theatre OCCUPATION :  Mermaid at Oceanic Paradise Aquarium

GENDER :  Female PRONOUNS : She/Her SEXUALITY :  Heterosexual

FACECLAIM :  Ayca Aysin Turan

HAIR COLOR : Brunette EYE  COLOR :  Blue HEIGHT : 5′6″ BUILD : Slim SCENT :  Hawaiian ginger

TATTOOS :  None PIERCINGS :  Ears BEAUTY HABITS : Always has her hair and makeup done, has a strict skin care routine

ZODIAC : Leo TEMPERAMENT : Phlegmatic HOGWARTS HOUSE :  Hufflepuff ELEMENT : Water

CLOTHING :  Dresses, wedges, heels, sandals, flowy shirts, colorful items, florals HAIR STYLE : Long, usually styled nicely

PHYSICAL AILMENTS :  None ALLERGIES : Strawberries

EATING HABITS : Healthy, but loves sweets EXERCISE HABITS : Yoga, walking, swimming SLEEPING HABITS :  Gets about 6 hours a night, heavy sleeper, wakes up a lot

SOCIABILITY : Supportive

BODY  TEMP :  98.2 ADDICTIONS :  None DRUG  USE :  None ALCOHOL USE :  Socially

POSITIVE  TRAITS :  Friendly, creative NEGATIVE TRAITS : Insecure PHOBIAS :  Needles FEARS :  Losing her loved ones, not finding love

HOBBIES :  Making TikToks, singing, swimming HABITS :  Humming USUAL DEMEANOR : Happy

FATHER :  TBA MOTHER : TBA (deceased) SIBLINGS :  Melisa, Murat (deceased), Hazal, Youngest Sibling PARTNERS : TBA  CHILDREN :  None

INSPIRATIONS :  TBA

BIOGRAPHY

Fairytales were always something that fascinated Beyza since she was a little girl. She heard the story of how her parents met from her father saving her mother and to her, that was the best fairytale. Still, she insisted every night to be read stories of mermaids and dragons and at times, it was the only way to get the younger girl to sit still. She would always be dancing around and moving, being known to toss glitter here and there and for a straight year, all she would wear was a mermaid tale and a tiara; which was all of Kindergarten. However, that summer she was made fun of for wearing it so she stopped and switched to regular dresses and skirts, but still had the tiara and tail she wore at home.

As they aged, the kids her age forgot about her mermaid princess days, but they didn’t forget her. In fact, her fun personality and looks made her quite popular going through school. She got good at flashing her big blue eyes at boys and honestly anyone and getting what she wanted, which made her and her friends laugh. By the time she was in high school, Beyza knew how to use this power to sneak out, get someone to buy her and her friends drinks, and to get out of detention if she happened to get it. She knew her power was her innocent and sweet look, and she liked that.

Not having the pressure like her older sister, Beyza had a world of opportunities for her and it was her love of fairytales that won her over and she went to the local college for performance. She knew she wanted to be an actress of some sort and was starting to think more about maybe being a mermaid performer. During her second year there, she met an older man, but fell so quickly. As it turned out, he was a professor and because she was a student, they kept it a secret. She was fine with this for a long time. They’d spend vacations together and during the summer he’d have dinner parties, but she was just deemed as his honor student, never his girlfriend. This was leaving her heartbroken and the two started arguing. As much as Beyza tried, nothing seemed to make things better and finally after two years, the two broke up.

After graduating, she started helping her family with the jewelry store while looking into ads for mermaid performers around the area and mending her broken heart. Finally, she got hired by the one in Bridgeport and started living her dream. Just as she was getting settled in her job, tragedy struck and both her mom and older sibling passed away from a car accident. Beyza put it on herself to put on a brave face for the family, especially her oldest sister, and tried to continue being that light she always was, but alone, she’d allow herself to break. She started helping again with the store and taking more hours off work at the aquarium. Then, out of the blue, her oldest sister up and left. Not knowing where she was, the family was in a state of panic, worry, and grief and once again, Beyza put on her brave face. Even after finding out her sister was okay, Bey felt a sense of betrayal from her sister and refused to speak to her.

To help her dad and be closer to the family, Beyza quit her job and has been working at the jewelry store for the last couple years and while it wasn’t exactly what she wanted to do with her life, she doesn’t mind working there. She helps out at the front and is always that bright eyed girl she always has been. She’s rarely dated anyone since she hasn’t found the time and when she does have time off, she’s usually still at the store helping with whatever is needed, at her childhood home, or even her own home; not really going out and having a social life. However, things took a turn again as her sister suddenly showed up and Beyza has been struggling to be happy with it and still feeling hurt that her sister left them.

As of recently, her dad saw how unhappy she was working at the store with the family despite putting on a brave face. He sat her down and convinced her to go back to her dream. He helped her get her old job back and the last several months, she’s been happier than she had been in so long. She still spends time at the jewelry store, but her focus is back to what she truly wants to be doing.

#bridgeportintro #beyza;about #death tw #student teacher tw

[jmsa1287]

A Year in Review: The 25 Best Films of 2019

This list may seem a few months late from the rest of the media, but I consider the movie season to stretch 14 months, from the start of the Sundance Film Festival in January through the end of the Oscars ceremony in February. This year's movie season was shortened as the 92nd Academy Awards were held about three weeks earlier than usual, commencing on Feb. 9. Of course, South Korean director Bong Jon-ho's "Parasite" took home the Best Picture prize making history as the Academy's first-ever non-English language film to take home the top award.

Now that the Oscars have officially wrapped up, and the 2020 movie season is revving up (to a weak start), I feel comfortable with sharing my favorite 25 films of 2019. From box office hits to smaller gems, below is a breakdown of the top films that debuted last year.

25. “The Beach Bum,” directed by Harmony Korine

24. “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” directed by Marielle Heller

23. “Toy Story 4,” directed Josh Cooley

22. “Alita: Battle Angel,” directed by Robert Rodriguez

21. “The Lighthouse,” directed by Robert Eggers

20. “A Long Day’s Journey into Night,” directed by Bi Gan

19. “Doctor Sleep,” directed by Mike Flanagan

18. “6 Underground,” directed by Michael Bay

17. “Uncut Gems,” directed by Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie

16. “The Nightingale,” directed by Jennifer Kent

15. “Hustlers,” directed by Lorene Scafaria

Lorene Scafaria's "Hustlers" might be the most fun film of 2019, composed of brilliant shots and serving as a spotlight to showcase Jennifer Lopez's talents. Mostly set during the 2008 recession, the film is a condemnation of late stage capitalism while following a group of strippers, played by Lopez as well as Constance Wu, Keke Palmer, Lili Reinhart and more, who drug wealthy men and steal from them — until their crimes catch up with them.

14. “The Farewell,” directed by Lulu Wang

An impressive debut feature from Lulu Wang, "The Farewell" is a special kind of family tale, featuring a breakout performance from comedian Awkwafina. Rooted from Wang's true story (which was first turned into an episode of "This American Life"), "The Farewell" is unlike any kind of family drama you've seen; a deeply personal, sad but ultimately uplifting film about the things we choose to tell (and not tell) those closest to us.

13. "Asako I & II," directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi

Following up his six-hour film "Happy Hour," Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi's "Asako I & II" clocks in at just two hours but still manages to pack in a number of the same themes. Here, a young woman named Asako (Erika Karata) briefly falls in love with a handsome boy named Baku (Masahiro Higashide) in her hometown in rural Japan before he suddenly vanishes. After moving to Tokyo a few years later, Asako spots Baku — but he tells her his name is Ryohei (also played by Higashide). From there, a relationship blooms and unravels. Similar to "Happy Hour," Hamaguchi's effortless ability to draw an emotional response from the ebbs and flows of deep, personal relationships (between friends, family, lovers) is unparalleled.

12. "Climax," directed by Gasper Noé

Gasper Noé is often hit-or-miss with most movie audiences. His films are always provocative and his latest feature "Climax" is no exception. Set in the 90s, a French dance troupe rehearses a routine ("Climax" opens with the single best scene of 2019) before celebrating for the night with some snacks and sangria — which someone has spiked with LSD. The rest of the film plays out like a perverse whodunnit while the group, led by Sofia Boutella, tries to figure out what's going on before losing their minds and allowing deep secrets ruin their lives.

11. "The Irishman," directed by Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese's long-awaited return to the gangster flick resulted in a three-and-a-half-hour epic. "The Irishman," which reunites Marty with Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, also stars Al Pacino (the first time the actor appeared in a film by the acclaimed director), as Jimmy Hoffa. The film is Scorsese's most meditative work outside his films about religion. There is as much subtext to the film as there is text, making "The Irishman" a dazzling feat of filmmaking and storytelling, featuring outstanding performances from its three leads.

10. "Gloria Bell," directed by Sebastián Lelio

Since his 2017 breakout film "A Fantastic Woman," Sebastián Lelio's career has been quite quiet. Nevertheless, the English-language remake of his own Chilean-Spanish film "Gloria," re-titled "Gloria Bell," is a stunning piece of filmmaking. Starring Julianne Moore as the titular character, the film follows the middle age single woman through the ups and downs of her dating and family life. It's an unassumingly beautiful film that is gorgeous and features one of Moore's best performances to date.

09. "Her Smell," directed by Alex Ross Perry

Alex Ross Perry's career has dramatically shifted since working with Elisabeth Moss on the 2015 thriller "Queen of Earth." Instead of making quirky New York City centric love stories (a la Noah Baumbach and Woody Allen before him), Perry once again teams up with Moss for "Her Smell." Structured like a five-act play, the film follows Becky Something (Moss), the leader of an all-girl punk group. In what is Moss's best performance to date, Becky is an addict and downright evil at times as she manipulates those around her. It's a dizzying feat of filmmaking that puts Moss to the test.

08. "Ad Astra," directed by James Gray

Brad Pitt won the Oscar for his performance in "Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood," but "Ad Astra" was his best performance in 2019. Following up his 2016 masterpiece "The Lost City of Z," director James Gray continues on his path of making ambitious epics, moving from the Amazon to the depths of our solar system. Here Pitt's Roy McBride is on a mission to find his father (Tommy Lee Jones), who is literally lost in space. Roy has to confront his issues with his father as he battles moon pirates, rabid baboons and his inner demons. "Ad Astra" is not only an impressive film for Grey, but Pitt's turn as the sad spaceman is nuanced and shows how much range the Hollywood icon actually has.

07. "Honeyland," directed by Ljubomir Stefanov and Tamara Kotevska

"Honeyland" made Oscars history when it became the first film to be nominated in both Best International Feature Film and Best Documentary Feature — and for good reason. Clocking in at just 85 minutes, Ljubomir Stefanov and Tamara Kotevska's stunningly beautiful film follows Hatidže Muratova, a beekeeper living in a remote village in North Macedonia. But "Honeyland" is so much more than that; it's a universal story about our delicate ecosystem, fickle Mother Nature, taking care of our family and having bad neighbors. In what may seem like a specific tale turns out to be incredibly relatable, with Stefanov and Kotevska achieving some of the best nonfiction filmmaking in years.

06. "Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood," directed by Quentin Tarantino

Quentin Tarantino's penultimate film "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" is a love letter to Tinseltown. Here, he honors the summer of 1969 as the film industry is thriving with newcomers like Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) and aging stars like Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio in his best performance ever). Rick is a TV villain and his stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) is along for the ride. "OUATIH" is more of a hangout movie than something one would expect from QT; it's more in line with the sophistication of "Jackie Brown" than the over-the-top cartoon violence found in "Django Unchained." Like Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman," "OUATIH" is a contemplative and meditative look at aging, youth culture and America through the prism that is Tarantino.

05. "Midsommar," directed by Ari Aster

Following up his horror masterpiece "Hereditary" just one year later, Ari Aster returned with the daylight gonzo vacation nightmare "Midsommar." Like with "Hereditary" and its star Toni Collette, Ari gets a stunning performance out of rising star Florence Pugh, who plays Dani. She just suffered a major tragedy and is decides to go on a trip to a remote village in Sweden with her aloof boyfriend (Jack Reynor) and his college pals. The trip, of course, is worse than anyone could have imagined and plays out in complete sunlight, making Aster's daytime nightmare incredibly upsetting and one of the most vibrant horror films ever made.

04. "Pain and Glory," directed by Pedro Almodóvar

Spanish auteur Pedro Almodóvar returned last year with "Pain and Glory," unlike any movie he's made in his nearly 40-year career. It's a deeply personal film and one of his most quiet and contemplative. It also reunites the filmmaker with Antonio Banderas — in his best role ever — who starred in Almodóvar's earlier films and his 2011 horror film "The Skin I Live in." Despite it being far removed from Almodóvar's oeuvre, it still fits in snugly with his work, resulting in a beautiful and self-reflexive film about age, lost love and the past.

03. "Little Women," directed by Greta Gerwig

On paper, remaking "Little Women" in 2019 might have seemed like a fool's errand. But Greta Gerwig's take on the classic story, and her follow up to her breakthrough film "Lady Bird," gave a new purpose to Louisa May Alcott's centuries old story about the March sisters living in Concord, Mass. During the Civil War. Here, Gerwig assembles the hottest cast of 2019 (Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Laura Dern, Eliza Scanlen, Bob Odenkirk, Louis Garrel, Chris Cooper and Meryl Streep), enlists Alexander Displat for the score and Yorick Le Saux to carry out luscious cinematography. But it's Gerwig's breakdown of the story and her daring changes to the novel that make her rendition of "Little Women" vital and beautiful. She manages to retain the Alcott's tone and vibrance while bringing something wholly original to a story we've seen time and time again, proving Gerwig is a master storyteller.

02. "Parasite," directed by Bong Joon-ho

Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" took the world by storm. A true tour de force, the South Korean film started hot out of the gate, winning the Palme d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival, blazing its way to win Best Picture at the Oscars earlier this month. And rightfully so — "Parasite" is a relatable tale about class struggle unlike any other film in its genre. Joon-ho, who has other masterpieces under his belt ("Mother," "Memories of Murder"), is in total control of his film; a true craftsman and storyteller, who knows how to build tension, introduce bits of comedy and create compelling characters. The film is complex yet fully understandable; a truly accomplished piece of filmmaking that will become a gateway for world cinema.

01. "Marriage Story," directed by Noah Baumbach

Noah Baumbach's "Marriage Story" is his most sophisticated and considered film to date. Following a couple (Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson) going through a divorce, Baumbach crafts a personal story with a raw script that is executed by astonishing performances from its two leads and its wonderful supporting cast (Laura Dern, Alan Alda, Ray Liotta, Merritt Wever). For so many films about finding love, there are few that are directly about the end of a relationship or divorce and Baumbach's intimate tale is a dazzling feat of not only writing, but acting and understanding of how all the moving pieces of a movie can coalesce into a breathtaking piece of art.

#movies #film #cinema #best of 2019 #film 2019 #the beach bum #harmony korine #a beautiful day in the neighborhood #marielle heller #mr. rogers #toy story 4 #disney #alita: battle angel #robert rodriguez #the lighthouse #robert eggers #robert pattinson #a long day's journey into night #bi gan #doctor sleep #mike flanagan #Stephen King #6 underground #michael bay #ryan reynolds #uncut gems #adam sandler #josh safdie #benny safdie #the safdie brothers

[searchingwardrobes]

top 5/bottom 5 kudo fics

Tagged by @justbecauseyoubelievesomething - thank you so much, sweetie!

What are your five most popular works by kudos (in descending order)?

5. The Journey to Gold - [255 kudos, Complete(4,726 words), Captain Swan, Rated T]

Emma is 9 and Killian is 12 when they are forced together as pairs partners. Just a little ficlet of our babies growing up together as pairs figure skaters. Inspired by watching the Winter Olympics, of course.

4. This Thing We Started - [261 kudos, Complete (3,104 words), Captain Swan, Rated T] Ruby convinces Emma that the best way to finish off her birthday celebration is a one-night stand with the hot British guy at the bar. But, as usual, things never go as Emma plans.

3. Descended From Delilah - [ 329 kudos, Complete (24,685 words), Captain Swan, Rated T] After being cruelly betrayed by the only woman he has ever loved, Killian Jones vows never again to trust a woman with his heart. Even if she is a princess. Even if she saved his sorry arse from the bloody dungeon.

2. Someone to Watch Over Me - [ 391 kudos, Abandoned WIP (38,868 words), Captain Swan, Rated T] Emma Swan is ten when she first sees the pair of bright blue eyes watching her from the cracked door of the wardrobe. She thinks it was just an imaginary friend, until she sees those eyes again at 16 and 23.

1. Natural Opposite - [ 457 kudos, Complete (57,504 words), Captain Swan, Rated M] Dance is more than Emma Swan’s career; it’s practically saved her life on more than one occasion. But when it comes to reality TV shows, she’s always danced in the shadows of her twin brother David and her sister Elsa. Her first season as a pro on Dancing With the Stars was a disaster, and she enters her second season determined to prove herself. All she needs is a good partner. Hollywood bad boy and ladies’ man Killian Jones isn’t what she had in mind.

What are your five least popular works by kudos (ascending order)?

1. Journeying the Realms - [ 9 kudos, Complete (49,253 words), Captain Swan, Rated T] Family vacations - fairy tale style. Set in the universe of the Last Battle, but can be read alone.

2. The Valley of Tomorrow- [ 19 kudos, Complete (677 words), Captain Swan, Rated T] But the one thing that cuts deepest of all is the mirror that hangs on the other side of the chamber. This is Killian Jones true torture. Deleted scenes of Killian from Swan Song through Labor of Love. Or how Killian went from a hero's death to being tortured by Hades.

3. Falling into You - [ 27 kudos, Complete (4, 582 words), Snowing, Rated T] Mary Margaret is trying to forget about her silly summer cheer camp crush on the college instructor they've all dubbed "Prince Charming." Until she literally falls into his arms. His very muscular arms . . .

4. Angel at My Door - [ 28 kudos, Complete (1,941 words), Captain Swan, Rated G] Emma Swan has a good life. At least, she keeps telling herself that. Deleted scene during Emma and Henry's year in New York (episode Going Home).

5. Let Us Love - [ 28 kudos, Complete (just a ficlet at 376 words), Captain Swan, Rated T] A tragic, apocalyptic CS moment written as an odd birthday present for @cocohook38.

I’m not sure I understood “descending and ascending order” correctly, haha, but you can see how I did this looking at the kudos. I agree with @justbecauseyoubelievesomething that this was very interesting. I totally understand why Journeying the Realms is so low because it’s actually a repost of a series of older stories in a verse that few probably remember anymore. Let Us Love also makes sense because it’s so short and probably the worst birthday fic ever (sorry @cocohook38 !) It’s really more the germ of an idea that I might revisit someday and work into an MC. I also get why Falling into You is so low - it’s my only Snowing story and I don’t think that fandom is as big as CS. I absolutely adore it, however! Still, it doesn’t hurt. Actually, none of these hurt.

What does hurt is that in doing this, I saw that my CSRT The Early Leaf's a Flower almost made the least popular list with only 30 kudos. I know it only just posted Monday, but I’ve looked at everyone else’s stuff in the CSRT and they are getting tons of kudos already. Ironically, it’s a rewrite of my second most popular fic - Someone to Watch Over Me - which, I hate to tell people, is not going to be finished. That’s not a threat, it’s just reality. Even if I hadn’t done the CSRT, I had talked to fandom friends about abandoning it. I put my heart and soul into The Early Leaf’s a Flower, so it’s been really difficult to write this week, honestly, when that fic went over like the proverbial lead balloon. Kind of shakes your confidence. I think it may be the Major Character Death tag because I know some people filter that out. But it’s only canon deaths!! I just didn’t want anyone angry with me for Liam dying because I’ve been down that road before, and it isn’t fun. You say “AU” and people expect him to stay alive. Sorry for the rant, just frustrated. God, now I’m going to get trolls in my inbox again, oh well . . .

Sooo, I probably made this game sound like a downer, sorry about that. However, it can be cathartic to mourn your overlooked stuff, so I’ll tag a few of you: @optomisticgirl @wellhellotragic @spartanguard @xhookswenchx

#tag game #a rant of sorts I guess #my fic #the woes of writing

[stonestridernerd]

WHAT HAVE I DONE?! -Mun Game

Driven 100 mph - Hahaha...nope!

Ridden in a helicopter - No, but my one of my uncles pilot them for his job and previously for his military career.   Gone zip lining - Nope.  Been to an NFL game - Welp, no. I have a hard time sitting through the Superbowl, so it’s hard to imagine going to a loud stadium. However, I have been to a local baseball game (Go Bees!) Been to Canada - When I was wee little, yes. The last time I went though, I would have been about 14 months old, since this was a month after 9/11 and the airport was paranoid that I was a kidnapped child (there was a similar looking girl that disappeared from the local area around the same time). Hence I don’t remember anything of it, but I’ve grown up on all sorts of stories from my grandmother’s childhood! Visited Florida- Oh you sweet summer child, not only have I visited Florida, I used to live there! My household moved back and forth between Utah and Florida throughout my early childhood. I hardly remember the Sunshine State though, but my longing to go back and disgust with snow and sneakers after getting used to southern climates are seared into my memory.  Visited Mexico - Despite what my mum’s students think, we haven’t (nor is Canada a part of Mexico, but that’s a whole other story).  Visited Las Vegas - My family goes almost every year! Mind you, we go during our summer vacation to St. George in southern Utah, so the pavement’s hot enough to melt flip flops, but it’s usually pretty fun so long as we stay indoors with the AC blaring.  Eaten alone at a restaurant - Yeppers! For bonus points, the first restaurant I’ve ever dined alone in was Popeye’s.  Ability to read music - I was adamantly against doing band or any other music classes after taking choir and loathing it. As such, music sheets are a whole other language to me.  Ridden a motorcycle - Nope! Ridden a horse - In this economy? Heavens no! Stayed in a hospital - Fortunately, I haven’t had to stay in the hospital. I’ve visited both of my grandparents in the hospital as well as gone with my sister for her broken leg, but I’ve been lucky myself.  Donated blood - I’ve contemplated it, but I haven’t yet. Been snow skiing - Despite living in a state known for its winter sports, I haven’t.  Been to Disney World - Nope, but I went to Sea World when I was little.  Disney Land - As with Disney World, no, but my sister was able to go for a band trip and brought back souvenirs!  Slept outside - I’ve napped outside, yes.  Driven a stick shift - The plan was to teach me to drive on a stick shift, but my anxiety wasn’t controlled whatsoever at the time.  Ridden in an 18 wheeler - No, but for Driver’s Ed, they had us climb in one to see just how large their blind spots are.  Ridden in a police car? - Nope! The closest to that we’ve got in this family was my sister riding in a firetruck after a neighbor called on her running around their yard at o’ dark hundred a few years back.  Driven a boat - Frankly, the only boat I’ve ever been on was this large cruiser to get my class and I across the English Channel. It was quite exciting and I was desperate to remember every detail of the hour or so long adventure. Yet the power of soothing waves and anti-nausea meds I took just in case lulled me to sleep, so I don’t remember much of it.  Eaten Escargot - No, but in elementary school, a teacher volunteered to get escargot if we raised so much funds. While it got overshadowed in the moment since we duck-taped a teacher to the back of the cafeteria doors and my mum had a bunch of students drawing all over her face (which, for grubby students, also included shoving markers in her eyes, mouth, and nose).  Been on a cruise - Alas, no.  Run out of gas - Probably, but it would’ve happened when I was little.  Been on TV - Unless I was in the background of the news or something and am not aware of it, I haven’t been.  Eaten Sushi - I’ve had one bite. To put it as nicely as possible, it wasn’t my cup of tea.  Seen a UFO - As far as I’m aware, no.  Been Bungie jumping - Oh goodness, no!  Been stuck in the house for days - Beyond recent events (in which many of us have fallen under these circumstances), I have. I’ve had two lovely bouts in pneumonia in which I had to stay home for a few days. The first time, I powered through a week of school before refusing to move for the weekend. The next time though, they wouldn’t let me leave the house for a week! A week! All while everything fun that I’d been planning for months, if not a year, were going on without me. I’m still a bit salty about it, but after this virus, I’ve definitely calmed down about it. 

Tagged by: @koszmar-zycie

Tagging: @kuzi-the-hunturr, @feelmyrayne, @unabashedrebel, @waroftwowolves, @belillina-ooc, @saeil-moonblade, @curiouscodex, @draenei-tales, @the-petalpaw-family, and anyone else who would like to do this!

[ofstormsandwolves]

The Secrets of Queen B

The second part of the back before dawn series

Teen

Buffy Summers, Rupert Giles, Joyce Summers, Dawn Summers, Hank Summers, Angel, Xander Harris, Willow Rosenberg, Cordelia Chase, Jenny Calendar

Episode rewrites covering Prophecy Girl/ Dust (How I Survived My Summer Vacation Volume 1)/ When She Was Bad.

Canon Divergence, temporary character death

In the summer of 1997, Buffy and Dawn spend the break in Los Angeles with their father. But Dawn knows there's something weird going on with her sister, and she's going to figure out what it is...

Or, we see Dawn's take on Prophecy Girl, Dust (How I Survived My Summer Vacation volume 1), and When She Was Bad.

Teaser:

The first thing that tipped Dawn off that something was wrong with her big sister was that Buffy wanted to get out of town.

Ever since discovering her older sister was a high school student by day and a vampire slayer by night, Dawn had not only kept the secret from their mom but had also kept an eye on Buffy. Even though she was only ten, she knew what Buffy did was dangerous and she couldn’t help but be worried. Truth be told, she often didn’t sleep until she heard Buffy creep back in through her bedroom window in the early hours of the morning.

But Dawn also knew enough about Buffy’s double life to know that something big had to be going on if she planned to walk away from it all. She wasn’t as dumb as people thought she was, and something about her sister’s actions worried her.

“You know the gallery’s open on weekends,” Joyce was telling Buffy gently.

“Mom, please!”

Buffy’s tone could only be described as begging, and Dawn hovered nervously in the doorway, fighting the urge to run across the room and hug her sister. Surely their mom would have to notice something was off; as much as Dawn loved her mom she also knew that she was very good at overlooking the odd elements of Buffy’s life. Particularly after Los Angeles and the hospital.

“Isn’t the Prom tomorrow night? Or Spring Fling, whatever they’re calling it?” Joyce asked, fixing her elder daughter with a concerned look as she sat on the bed.

Buffy shrugged, noncommittally. “I... I guess.”

A look passed over Joyce’s face, a look that usually meant she’d figured something out. “Nobody asked you?”

Dawn watched as her older sister swallowed. “Oh, someone...”

That was met with a sympathetic smile. “But not the right someone. See, sometimes I actually do know what you're thinking.” Joyce stood and crossed to Buffy’s closet. “Well, then, uh, this probably isn't the best time for this, but, uh...”

Dawn stepped further into the room as Joyce opened the closet door. Hanging in the closet was the prettiest white gown Dawn had ever seen. A pang of jealousy flashed through her as she realised how much Joyce must have spent on the dress. She hadn’t got a new dress.

Joyce smiled gently at her elder daughter. “I saw you eyeing it at the store. I figured...”

Buffy stood, and there was a strange look on her face. Somewhere between awe, sadness, and disbelief. “Mom, we can't afford this.”

So Dawn wasn’t the only one who thought that. Folding her arms across her chest, she fixed her mom with a look, waiting for her to notice.

“The way you've been eating, we can afford it.” Joyce caught Dawn’s eye. “And when you have a fancy school dance, you can have a new dress too, honey. I just thought your sister deserved a treat.”

Joyce’s words made Dawn feel a little guilty as she processed them. Their mom was more right than she thought she was. Every night, Buffy risked her life, fighting the monsters that grown-ups said didn’t exist. And nobody was ever allowed to know about it.

“I guess,” Dawn shrugged, trying not to sound too agreeable. If she played it right, maybe mom would make her pancakes for breakfast tomorrow as a consolation. But then she saw the look on Buffy’s face as she still stared at the dress. The weird look was still there, and it made Dawn’s tummy feel all funny.

“It's beautiful.”

“I think you should wear it,” Joyce told her gently. “To the dance.”

Buffy tore her gaze away from the dress, and her eyes very briefly caught Dawn’s. There was a sadness there, which Dawn felt was more than just a reluctance to go to a dance alone.

“No, I-I can't go to the dance.”

“Says who?” Joyce asked, apparently not seeing the same look in Buffy’s eyes that Dawn did. Or, if she did, she didn’t realise why it was so frightening. “Is it written somewhere?”

A look passed across Buffy’s face then, and Dawn didn’t know what it was. It was only for a split second, and for a moment she thought it was perhaps her imagination. Their mom certainly didn’t seem to notice.

“You should do what you want,” Joyce continued.

And as Joyce started regaling Buffy with tales of her college dances, Dawn studied her older sister. No, she wasn’t as dumb as people thought. She wasn’t just some little kid. She was some little kid whose older sister risked her life every night and Dawn couldn’t talk to a single person about it.

Well, that wasn’t entirely true. There was Willow; she was nice, and fun. And Xander, who was really smart, no matter what anyone said. Ok, he perhaps wasn’t book smart like Willow, and Dawn didn’t really consider him street smart either. But he was smart, in a way that she couldn’t put her finger on. He understood more than people gave him credit for, like Dawn did. He saw things that others didn’t, and he got how scary it was for Dawn, having a Slayer as an older sister.

Then there was Mr Giles. He was Buffy’s Watcher, and Dawn supposed she could talk to him about it. But she rarely saw Mr Giles, and when she did he always seemed a bit stern and a bit annoyed with her, like he didn’t really want her there. She couldn’t quite see him as someone she could talk to.

As Joyce finished her story, Dawn saw that Buffy was looking somewhat- what was the word? Wistful.

“And you had your whole life ahead of you,” Buffy commented, a tinge of bitterness in her tone.

Joyce smiled. “Yeah.”

Buffy gave a tight smile in response. “Must be nice.”

And if Dawn hadn’t already been worried, she was now.

#buffy fanfic #buffy summers #angel #dawn summers #buffy the vampire slayer #back before dawn #rupert giles #xander harris #cordelia chase #willow rosenberg #takin' over the queue

[the-writerly-night-owl]

Master List

Okay so I thought it would be easier for me to write out a master list of all my fics. There are a few that are NSWF content which will be marked with a * next to it. I’m not sure how to tag this but here it goes. This list is long and mostly MC and the LI of choice (I’ll be breaking that down later) but in the meantime enjoy! 

Desire and Decorum 

MC x Ernest 

Like Sand in the Wind

Continuing a Legacy 

Something about a Baby 

Not Exactly an Arranged Marriage  

How it Should have Ended 

A Lot More Desire and Less Decorum* 

All I Need Is You* 

Exactly Where To Be 

What if That’s the Future 

Crashed the Wedding 

Young Love 

Just a Disagreement 

I Will Always Love You 

What If’s and Maybe’s - Links to fanfiction account 

Portrait Perfect *

Only One for You 

A Time for Reminiscing 

Dreaming of the Future 

First Impressions 

Waking Up on Wednesday * 

Carrying On Advice 

Wouldn’t Want It Another Way 

The Wedding Night *

Not Exactly 20 Questions 

Together With You*

A Tale of Two Something New’s 

Not So Silent Night  *

Stolen Moments on the Holiday’s 

Parenting Collection  

A New Member of the Family

A Normal Afternoon at Ledford  

A Good Birth 

Father Daughter Bonding

The Significance of a Garden 

During the Darkest Part of the Night * 

Just a Quick Glimpse 

From Boy to Man

Testament of Time 

Alone At Last *

I’ll Always Have You

A Very Full House 

A More Complete Afternoon 

Sweet Lullaby 

Strengthening Family Bonds 

New Traditions 

Late Nights 

Mr. Chambers x Mr. Konevi (with some minor Annabelle) 

Playing in the Park 

The First Day of Vacation 

Mixture of Pairs

What’s in a Name  Ernest x MC + Mr. Chambers x Annabelle x Yusuf agreement

A Surprise Delivery 

Pressures to be Married Ernest x MC + Mr. Chambers x Annabelle x Yusuf agreement 

Having a Little Fun  Ernest x MC + Mr. Chambers x Annabelle x Yusuf agreement

Siblings Conversations Harry and MC bonding, minor Ernest x MC 

Other 

The Confidential Diary of Carrie Mills -  Part 2   

Start of a Lasting Friendship - Queen Charlotte and Dominique friendship 

Negotiating a Contract - An alternate look at Desire and Decorum 

Quiet Afternoons - Queen Charlotte and Dominique friendship 

Can You Picture It - A modern AU look at Ernest and Clara’s relationship

Something About a Legacy - Part of the future of the Sinclaire family 

Could Not Ask for More - Percival bonding story with Ernest and Clara 

A Very Special Christmas Story - Another Part of the future of the Sinclaire family 

About a Proposal and Blessings - Percival surprises Ernest and some Clara x Ernest bonding 

Tis the Season to have Babies - A bunch of pregnant women are together and Ernest expects nothing 

The Elementalists 

Beckett and MC 

No Asking Required

A Different Kind of Proposal

New Beginnings 

A Wedding Night To Remember * 

That Special Place 

What Might Be

The Book *  

A Puzzle to Figure Out

An Apology and a Dozen Red Roses

Important Question to Ask

Those Three Little Words 

Breakfast Conversations 

Written in the Stars 

The Perfect Distraction

Beneath the Chandelier Light 

The Fun in Moving 

I just Want to Be With You 

A Conversation of Favorites 

How to Not Find the Perfect Christmas Present 

Adding Sunshine to a Horrible Day 

A Sweet Surprise 

The Day Beckett Never Stopped Smiling 

Parenting Collection 

Being a Father

To be a Parent

A Father and His Daughter 

A New Perspective  

The Birth of a Daughter 

Worries and Hopes  

Nothing to Worry About 

Up For a Challenge 

Other  

Sister Bonding  

A Surprise Too Many (an AU) Part: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine 

Seeing the Bigger Picture Beckett x MC with brother sister bonding 

From the Bay Window 

The Freshman Series 

Relationship in London 

The Royal Romance 

The Perfect Girl for Liam and Girl Scout Cookies  Maxwell and Bertrand bonding

Beneath the Light of the Full Moon MC x King Liam 

The Darkness Before the Light MC x King Liam 

A Tale of Two Birthdays MC x King Liam with Olivia and Maxwell bonding

It’s Not Supposed to Go Like That MC x King Liam   

Preparing for an Heir MC x Liam  

Learning a New Skill 

Baking Up Memories MC x Liam with their daughter 

The Best Parts of the Past

Feels Like We’re Making History  

It Lives in the Woods 

Early Morning Kisses: mc x Stacy Green 

Big Sky Country 

Were We Anything 

Endless Summer 

To Be Remembered 

The Bright Side of Boring

The Crown and the Flame 

Constant as the Wind - Kenna and Dom friendship 

Open Heart 

Ethan x MC 

Rainy Day Conversations 

Wishful Thinking 

An Unconventional Meeting 

How a Hospital is Like High School 

Change in the Air  

Is it Worth It 

Where to Go From Here 

Here For You 

For the First Time 

Trying to Begin Again 

The First Time I Saw You 

Nerve Check 

Patience is a Virtue 

More Surprises 

Making the Most of a Desk * 

Finding the Perfect Solution 

What Else is There to Celebrate?  

Feeding the Gossip Train  

The Most Thoughtful Gifts Are Special 

In Flight Romance 

Picture Perfect in Holiday Sweaters 

Others 

Be My Superman - Rafael x MC 

Starting off on the Right Foot - Bryce x MC 

Getting to Know a New Friend - MC and Dr. Banerji friendship 

The Ideal Applicant - Ethan’s thought process choosing MC to be an intern. 

To Freeze That Moment in Time - Naveen point of view 

Friends Stick Together - Clarissa and her girl friends. 

The Haunting of Braidwood Manor 

Good Friends and Hope 

It Lives Beneath 

The Summer They Deserve 

Mother of the Year 

To Make Things Right 

When Shopping is Fun 

Making the Most of the Morning  

How to Prepare for Christmas 

Of Hobbies and the Future 

When Rain is Good Luck 

The Meaning of Family 

It’s the Most Useful Present 

One Planned Surprise and One Unexpected Surprise 

Just Like Clockwork 

Can’t Help but Imagine the Future 

Change in This Season 

Wishful Thinking 

Wake Up Northbridge  

Christmas Shopping Fun 

It’s That Time of Year 

Bloodbound

The More You Know About Someone

To Remember that Special Feeling 

Updated January 13, 2020

#my master list #my ideas #playchoices fanfiction #choices you play #playchoices #choices: stories you play #choices stories you play #choices

[theyearoftheking]

Book Eight: Cujo

“The world was full of monsters, and they were all allowed to bite the innocent and the unwary...”

Guys... I’m going to be perfectly honest here. Cujo was just one big trigger for me. I love dogs. I love children. I don’t want to read about dogs attacking and (SPOILER) killing children. 

If nothing else, let this blog serve as a PSA: please take good care of your dogs. Keep them up to date on their shots. If you notice something might be off with them, take them into the vet. If you’re going to leave for a weekend, make plans to have someone feed your dog for you. Just, please take care of your dogs. If you won’t do it for me, do it for the sweet baby angels in my life. Please and thank you. 

If you couldn’t tell, I didn’t love re-reading Cujo. I didn’t particularly love it the first time, but in the spirit of this challenge, I agreed to leave no page unturned. I will say, there were a few Easter eggs I picked up this time I hadn’t before. For example, the book is set in Castle Rock, Steve’s fictional town in Maine. Castle Rock was still reeling from serial killer Frank Dodd (remember him from Firestarter?); and Dodd’s former partner is convinced Cujo’s evil is the direct result of Frank Dodd’s spirit transferring into him. Or, it could be rabies. Either way. But it was interesting to see the Castle Rock universe start to build on itself a little bit. 

The story could best be described as, “cellphones have made this whole story line completely irrelevant today”. 

The Camber family lives out in the sticks, where husband Joe runs an auto repair shop, son Brett owns lovable Cujo the Saint Bernard, and wife Charity just won the lottery and is planning her escape to see her sister. Also, the family only has one telephone... in the kitchen of their house... nowhere near Joe’s shop. In this day and age, he’d have a cellphone out in the shop with him. Just sayin’. 

The Trenton family lives in Castle Rock. Husband Vic works in advertising, wife Donna is having a regrettable affair with tennis pro, Steve Kemp, and son Tad is convinced the evil spirit of Frank Dodd is residing in his closet (he’s not wrong). The Trenton family also owns a Pinto that has been having some engine problems as of late. 

After finding out about Donna’s affair (Steve Kemp mailed a Dear John letter to his office. Steve Kemp is classy motherfucker), Vic has to leave to handle an ad emergency for Sharp Cereal. If you were to eat their newest cereal, Red Raspberry Zingers, you’d projectile vomit red dye. Sooo he had to get out in front of that. He and Donna are on rocky terms when he leaves, what with her screwing the tennis pro and all. But, Vic knows her Pinto is having some issues, and tells her to take it out to the Camber farm to get it fixed. Donna dithers about it. 

Meanwhile over on the Camber farm, Charity tells Joe about her lottery winnings, and gets him to agree to let her and Brett leave to go see her sister in the city. Joe, a functioning alcoholic, convinces his equally drunk neighbor buddy, Gary Pervier, to take a trip into Boston with him. They’ll get some hookers, drink some beer, maybe watch a baseball game. Good times. So, Charity and Brett get on the Grayhound bus, and set off for their vacation. Meanwhile, Cujo is super rabid from sticking his head in a hole, and getting chomped on by some rabid bats. Before Joe and Gary get to leave for the city, Cujo mauls them both to death in a rabid fury. It’s gross. 

Donna decides to drive out to the Camber farm to get her Pinto looked at. She’s called several times, but no answer. She chalks it up to the fact the phone is in the house, not in the shop, and Joe will be around to help her with the Pinto. Again... text messaging would have solved this issue. Just sayin. Tad begs to come along, so she agrees. The Pinto dies as soon as they hit the Camber driveway, and as soon as Donna opens her car door, a rabid Cujo comes after her. Luckily she makes it back into her car in time, but she and Tad are basically trapped in the car for two days, with a small thermos of milk, and very little food. Oh, and it’s basically the hottest summer on record, so the car has turned into a greenhouse. Horrible. If Donna had a cellphone, she could have called for help. She could have posted on social media. She could have made an SOS call. She could have sent a text. But none of these things happen. Instead, she’s stuck inside the Pinto with a dehydrated kid, while Cujo growls and pounces on their car from outside. Fun times. 

Meanwhile, Vic is starting to panic since he can’t get ahold of Donna. He calls the Castle Rock police who go to the house and find it completely trashed. And semen all over the bed. Because, again, Steve Kemp is a classy motherfucker. He had casually stopped by, looking to see what kind of impact his letter had on Vic. Finding no one home, he destroyed the entire house. As you do. 

The police tell Vic to come home ASAP, and he tells them all about Steve Kemp. They issue a BOLO for his sex van, but they are also super curious where Donna’s car is. Vic remembers the Camber farm, and they dispatch an officer to go check it out. The officer heads over, and finds Donna and Tad mostly dead inside the Pinto, but before he has a chance to call for help, Cujo guts him. 

So close to rescue! So close! 

The police find Steve Kemp, but there’s no sign of Tad or Donna in the sex wagon. They bring him into the police station for questioning, but he’s not talking. Because classy motherfuckers don’t kiss and tell. They just send letters to their mistresses husbands. 

Vic decides to take a trip out to the farm to look for the Pinto, and arrives to find Donna bloody, bitten, and beating the shit out of Cujo with a baseball bat. But, he also finds Tad dead in the Pinto. That’s the biggest gut punch of this entire novel; Donna fights so hard for her and Tad’s survival, only to have him die a few hours before help arrives. It’s also a big “I Told You So” on Tad’s part. He had told his parents monsters were real, and coming for him. They didn’t believe him. Welp, this is awkward... 

That’s Cujo. No Wisconsin references, no Dark Tower references, nada. But I will give the book credit for two things. First, the format of the book is kinda cool. It starts with this... 

And the rest of the book reads like a cautionary fairy tale. No chapters, no parts, just one long narrative story. I liked it. I also liked the fact Steve gave Cujo a voice. I didn’t feel too bad when he died, though. So I feel conflicted about that. 

The other thing I appreciated was the author photo on the back. After last week’s Firestarter brooding Glamour Shot, I was happy to see this gem. 

Looks like Steve plays tambourine in a folk band. Or sells hand-tooled belts at the local swap meet. Or can give you a bag of some really dank weed. The possibilities are endless. 

Total Wisconsin Mentions: 9

Dark Tower References: 6

Book Grade: C-

Rebecca’s Definitive Ranking of Stephen King Books

The Shining

The Stand

The Dead Zone

‘Salem’s Lot

Carrie

Firestarter

Cujo

Nightshift

Next up is Danse Macabre. I’m stupid excited to read this, because I love Stephen King non-fiction. I find his humor and insights really shine through when he’s using his most authentic voice. I’ve read the updated introduction so far, and have already laughed a few times. I mean, he talks Bride of Chucky. How can you not appreciate that?

Until next time readers, Long Days and Pleasant Nights!

Rebecca

[muffin-n-waffle]

Channy Watches Anime Sometimes And You Should Too: Summer 2018 Edition

With the ending of spring, summer obviously comes in its wake, as well as the ever pressing need for it to just be fucking fall already! But aside from heat, bugs, and disappointing family vacations, summer also brings a whole new onslaught of anime. As usual, I have some specific as fuck tastes, and not all the time in the world to watch every single show airing this season, but I decide to compile a list of the ones that I plan on watching. 

This list is a little different this time around since I’ve decided to give some different anime a chance, so this time I’ll be putting these shows in a list from what I’m most likely to finish all the way through to least likely. Here we go! 

Banana Fish

Nature made Ash Lynx beautiful; nurture made him a cold ruthless killer. A runaway brought up as the adopted heir and sex toy of "Papa" Dino Golzine, Ash, now at the rebellious age of seventeen, forsakes the kingdom held out by the devil who raised him. But the hideous secret that drove Ash's older brother mad in Vietnam has suddenly fallen into Papa's insatiably ambitious hands—and it's exactly the wrong time for Eiji Okamura, a pure-hearted young photographer from Japan, to make Ash Lynx's acquaintance...

This anime is awesome so far! The animation is fluid, the writing is amazing, and the story sucks you in from episode one. I feel like this one is going to hurt a lot, but I’m so looking forward to following along each week with every new episode. 

Hataraku Saibo

This is a story about you. A tale about the inside of your body... According to a new study, the human body consists of approximately 37 trillion cells. These cells are hard at work every day within a world that is your body. From the oxygen-carrying red blood cells to the bacteria-fighting white blood cells, get to know the unsung heroes and the drama that unfolds inside of you! It's the oddly relatable and interesting story that is the life of cells! 

I present to you, Osmosis Jones: The Anime! Except, not really. This slice of life comedy follows the cells inside of a human body, and all of the triumphs and tribulations they have to go through with each passing day, whether that be fighting off germs, or even dealing with a small scrap. This one is pretty funny so far, and I definitely love the dynamic that’s been set up with one of the white and red blood cells. 

Chio-chan no Tsuugakuro

This is a story of a nerdy bookworm girl on her way to school, and yes, that's the entire premise, as she's not getting to school any time soon. Taking her "usual" route to school, it becomes an increasingly unusual adventure, and all the more ridiculous as it carries on. It takes an unpleasant sentiment many can empathize with, the feeling of tardiness, and brings humor to it—making it a hilarious situation to look back upon.

This season is filled to the brim with bizarre comedies it seems, which suits my tastes just fine, since aside from romance, comedy is one of my favorite genres. There’s not much plot to speak of, but each episode follows the lead, Chio, as she makes her way to school everyday. The premise is simple, silly, and great for a laugh. 

Asobi Asobase 

Hanako, an athletically proficient, yet thick-headed student with a weird fashion sense, plays a game with the American transfer student Olivia. However, their vigor irritated their classmate Kasuki who dislikes playing games since she has always been teased by her sister for being bad at them. With a turn of events, it was found out that Hanako is terrible at English. Thus, she asked her foreign classmate Olivia to help her, but Olivia, who is only born and raised in Japan with foreign parents, can't actually speak English at all! Watch over these three girls' surreal school-life comedy.

Another bizarre comedy! This one also doesn’t have much plot to speak of, and follows these three girls through school and the different situations they find themselves in. The faces that are drawn on these girls at times are hysterical, and it’s also been just a great show to sit down and simply laugh with. 

Hanebado!

Ayano Hanesaki, a first-year student at Kanagawa Prefectural Kitakomachi High School, has a badminton ability able to surpass others effortlessly yet avoids playing the sport. She meets Nagisa Aragaki, a third-year student who practices day and night aiming to become the best player in Japan. Encouraged by coach Tachibana Kentarou, supported by club colleagues, and fired up by various rivals, the two engage in their youth and adored sport so thrilling like a shuttle flown at high speed!

I don’t delve much into the world of ‘sports anime’, but after I saw the animation on this one, I just had to give it a chance. This one can be a bit melodramatic at times, and I’m sure it’s just some dumb misunderstanding that’s causing all of this drama in the first place, but so far i’m enjoying watching some really well animated badminton. 

Harukana Receive 

The story takes place in Okinawa, where Haruka forms a beach volleyball pair with Kanata. Kanata, who couldn't handle the pressure put on her by her short height, had given up on beach volleyball already but is convinced by Haruka to step back on the sand once again and aim for the junior tournament. 

My second shot at a sports anime! This one is all about cute girls and beach volleyball, though of course it isn’t without it’s melodrama as well, though this one seems to be handled a little better at least. The animation is cute, and it really has a fun, summer feel to it. 

Tenrou: Sirius the Jaeger

The series takes place in the Imperial Capital of 1930. A group of people known as "Jaegers" landed on Tokyo Station. They carry musical instrument cases and came to hunt vampires. A man named Yuliy stood among them with a striking serenity and unusual aura. Known as a werewolf who had his home village destroyed by vampires, he and the Jaegers engage in battle against the mysterious holy arc known as the "The Arc of Sirius". What truth awaits them?

This one is pretty good so far. It’s action packed, and has awesome animation, as well as a decent plot it seems. It’s so far down on the list because I’m only two episodes in, and my fear is that the story is going to end up disappointing me, or become boring. 

Angolmois: Genkou Kassenki

The scary great king comes from the other side of the sea… The big incident ‘Genkou‘ that shook medieval Japan is being drawn in an original way in this historical anime, along with the beginning of the Samurai…!

A samurai historical about the Mongol invasion of Japan. Lots of action, and decently animated so far, but might not continue with it if it starts to really bore me. I’m also secretly hoping for some romance between the two characters featured on the poster.....

Grand Blue

Among the seaside town of Izu's ocean waves and rays of shining sun, Iori Kitahara is just beginning his freshman year at Izu University. As he moves into his uncle's scuba diving shop, Grand Blue, he eagerly anticipates his dream college life, filled with beautiful girls and good friends.

But things don't exactly go according to plan. Upon entering the shop, he encounters a group of rowdy, naked upperclassmen, who immediately coerce him into participating in their alcoholic activities. Though unwilling at first, Iori quickly gives in and becomes the heart and soul of the party. Unfortunately, this earns him the scorn of his cousin, Chisa Kotegawa, who walks in at precisely the wrong time. Undeterred, Iori still vows to realize his ideal college life, but will things go according to plan this time, or will his situation take yet another dive?

Yet another comedy! I think this one is aimed at a younger generation of boys though, but so far facial animations are funny, and it’s been good for a laugh with one immature gag after the other. I may not stick with it, but I’ll give a few more episodes just to see if it’s worth my time. 

Kyoto Teramachi Sanjou no Holmes

Based on mystery novels written by Mochizuki Mai.There is an antique shop in Kyoto's Teramachi Sanjou shopping district. High school girl Mashiro Aoi unexpectedly runs into Yagashira Kiyotaka, the son of the shop's owner, and ends up working part-time at the shop. Kiyotaka is called the "Holmes at Teramachi Sanjou," and he and Aoi solve odd cases brought to them by various clients.

This one probably should have been a little higher on the list, but considering I forgot about it until just now, maybe it doesn’t.... I decided to check this one out purely based on my love for Sherlock Holmes. The animation in this one is just okay, and the cases, while only two episodes in so far, are so predictable that it’s almost laughable. I’ll probably stick with this one since it’s easy enough to get through, and while it’s more of a slice of life, I am sort of hoping for a romance between Aoi and Holmes. 

Aguu: Tensai Ningyou

The series is about a missing genius whose mysterious disappearance becomes a shady secret among the successful members of society.

Last one on the list, and only one episode for this one so far. It has some pretty odd animation, so much so that it nearly through me off. I suppose it speaks well of the story that I stuck around despite that. I know the plot synopsis above is pretty short, but it’s hard to explain what this wild show is about, and it’s better if you just check out this weirdness for yourself. 

#anime #banana fish #hataraku saibou' #chio-chan no tsuugakuro #asobi asobase #hanebado! #harukana receive #tenrou: sirius the jaeger #angolmois: genkou kassenki #grand blue #kyoto teramachi sanjou no holmes #aguu: tensai ningyou

[thetigarchives]

THE TIG ARCHIVES│LIVING│SUMMER READING LIST

“She reads books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live. Annie Dillard hit the nail on the head with that one. Because whether it’s to escape, to inform, to inspire, or to just turn off the world while you sit by a pool, I love getting lost in a good book. When I asked my Suits sister wives, Gina Torres and Sarah Rafferty, what literary finds they would be delving into between the scripts we read every week, I was tickled by some of their answers. As a matter of fact, when I told Gina I was surprised by one of her rather unexpected picks, her response was classic: ‘Lotta layers under all this hair.’ Well played, Mama G, well played.

Here are your TIG approved summer reads from the ladies of Suits:” - Meghan Markle, July 2014

Meghan’s Picks (as quoted by Meghan):

“The Opposite of Loneliness” by Marina Keegan

“I am undone by this book.  It’s a collection of essays written by Marina Keegan, who graduated Magna Cum Laude from Yale in 2012, had a job lined up at the New Yorker, and tragically died in a car accident just five days after graduation.  Her stories are raw and real, funny and relatable.  And she writes with a fluid conversational tone that makes you feel like you know her.  I truly wish I had been able to. Get this book – I couldn’t put it down.”

“The Dud Avocado” by Elaine Dundy

“I always go back to this book for summer reading because it’s light and fun, and exactly what I want when I’m laying on a beach. I love opening the pages and finding little flecks of sand from vacations past. It’s set in the 1950s and about an American girl in Paris who lives wildly and fully, and runs a muck. The main character Sally Jay Gorce is everything – a little Carrie Bradshaw, a little Holly Golightly, a lot of likable. One of my favs.”

“Where’d You Go Bernadette” by Maria Semple

“My friend, Benita, recommended this one to me and Sarah. B is an avid reader, and knows that during the summer it’s nice to escape with a book that just makes you laugh. Guffaw, even. This is that book.”

Gina’s Picks (as quoted by Gina):

“Rita Moreno, A Memoir”  by Rita Moreno

“Because she’s a true flesh and blood goddess at whose altar I have worshipped, my entire life.” - Gina

 “Doctor Sleep” by Stephen King

“I loved The Shining and love that Mr. King felt compelled to tell Danny Torrance’s story after all these years.”

“The Hotel on Place Vendome: Life, Death and Betrayal at the Hotel Ritz in Paris” by Tilar J. Mazzeo

“I love this hotel, and have had fantasies of going back in time, and being there when it was all new and exciting. I’m hoping this book will do that.”

Sarah’s Picks (as quoted by Sarah):

“The Goldfinch” by Donna Tarrt

“So I am reading The Goldfinch and likely will be reading it all summer since it’s almost 800 pages and I am a slowwwwww reader. It’s amazing, today’s Great Expectations.”

“Bittersweet” by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore

 “I recently finished this book.  A summer page turner. Kinda Gone Girl -esque. I mentioned it to you Megs – my friend Molly told me about it, and I happened to not be able to put it down.”

“Prayers for the Stolen” by Jennifer Clement

“About an incredible heroine who is wrapped up in the world of drug cartels in Guerrero, Mexico. Sarah says: I have [this book] bedside, waiting for me.” And for summer reading with her daughter (AKA the sweetest tradition I can think of), Sarah shares the below: 

“Oona and I do summer reading together—we did the abridged versions of “Anne of Green Gables” and “The Secret Garden” and she loved them. We started “The Tale of Despereaux” last week and I am in love with that little romantic mouse. Last summer “Wonder” was amazing and I would recommend it to kids and adults alike.” 

#meghan markle #the tig #the tig archives #meghan markle books #gina torres #sarah rafferty #summer reading list #tigliving #tigbooks

[thelastspeecher]

This is me asking very nicely for those stories about vacation bible summer camp

you got it Anon

okay, so, this summer camp was a week long, and at the end of the week, we would put on a musical.  casting happened on like, the second day of the week, I think?  there was one day where we got to read through the musical and decide if we wanted to audition for any parts.  and then auditions happened.  it was pretty fast, bc like I said, we had one week to put together a musical.  granted, it wasn’t a BIG production.  it had a shoestring budget (the entire time I participated in this, which was for years and years, no new props or costumes were bought) and there weren’t THAT many kids in the musical.  but still.  one week to memorize lines and songs and choreography.  I’m still good at memorizing songs quickly.

all the musicals were based on different bible stories, because the music camp took place at a Methodist church.  I’m not Methodist, and neither were a lot of the people involved.  but I already knew literally all of the people who helped to run the camp, bc we were all part of the same community choir, which was affiliated with the Methodist church.  it was like a club, almost.  all the volunteer teens who did choreography and taught lessons and told the campers what to do were part of the community choir, and at least 50% (maybe closer to 75%) of the campers themselves were part of the community choir.

so I basically grew up in this community.  it was more diverse than you would expect, given that the choir had a very Christian bend to it.  our director was very fond of bragging about how the choir had members of multiple religions, including someone who was Muslim, someone who was Hindu (who coincidentally was one of my closest friends), multiple atheists and agnostics, and multiple branches of Christianity.  ....but I digress.  I knew everyone involved, we had inside jokes, and when I got too old to be in the musicals, I pretty much automatically was hired as a volunteer.  like, I don’t think I even applied.  they just told me when to show up and I did.  I cannot emphasize how much this choir and this camp were connected.

everyone was divided into groups, and each group did activities at different times.  sort of like a school schedule, y’know?  one group had snacktime while another group had music theory, etc etc.  the activities, by the way, were: snacktime (it always, every single day, without fail, included lemonade and some sort of cracker/cookie treat), music theory (we actually DID learn music, like, legit learned music), choreography, and actually learning the songs of the musical.  and then right before lunch, we would gather in the chapel to read the bible story we were performing, from the good book itself, and the director would discuss it.  then we would pray and go to lunch.  then, after lunch, we had rehearsal.

being a volunteer was very different from being a camper.  it wasn’t better, it wasn’t worse, it was roughly the same in quality.  we all got to hang out together when we weren’t needed, we got to gossip about what was going on with everyone, we could hang out in the bell room that doubled as the storage room for costumes and go through the various supplies, and best of all, we didn’t have to have what the campers had for lunch.  we regularly got tacos.  well, that was the volunteers that were basically camp counselors.  other volunteers were basically the stage crew, and they had slightly different schedules and tasks than we did.

OKAY.  now I will get to the actual stories.  I just wanted to set the scene.

the first year I participated, it was the story of Esther.  the musical started with people being sent into the audience to find the king a wife.  my older sister was one of the people.  they actually had lines, like “nah, this one’s too old” or “not with that nose” (but...nicer), and said those about people in the audience.  and then someone “found” the person playing Esther, who was sitting in the audience.

the second year I participated, it was the story of Daniel in the lion’s den.  I played a lion.  the mane was made of foam and very VERY scratchy.  that’s literally all I remember of it.

the second year I participated, we did the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo.  I got a special part that was basically a soli, with me singing a song about it being “cool in the furnace” with a few other people (including my good friend Marcus, who comes up later).  the part was described as “blues singer”.  we dressed up as the Blues Brothers and snapped our fingers and it was great.

I think...the year after that...we did Jonah.  that was one of my favorite ones.  it was fucking AWESOME.  I got my first named role as Angel #5, one of the narrators of the story.  we didn’t really do costumes that year, instead, we color-coded the T-shirts that everyone in the musical got.  the angels got white shirts, the ship captain (played by my friend Marcus) had a black shirt, I think some people had blue shirts?  it was a long time ago, I can’t even remember who Jonah was.  maybe Derek?  idk.  Marcus got to wear an eye patch, tho, and all us angels wore those bobbly antennae thingies, to signify that we were otherworldly.  oh!  that was the one year my friend Johnny from orchestra participated.  he was an angel, too, and he got the broken antennae.  he asked for them.

the first song of the Jonah musical, I somehow remember.  it went something like “well the tale of a whale is a whale of a tale/it’s the story of the deep blue sea/about a fish and a man named Jonah/and responsibility”.  I think...when Jonah gets to Ninevah, the song that introduced the city was a rock and roll type song called “sin city”.  something like that.

and then the next year, we did the story of Elijah.  I got a main role, as Queen Jezebel.  it was great.  my friend Marcus played her husband, the king, and I basically got to push him around the whole time.  it was ridiculously fun to play a villain.  there was one song called “palace trio” and it was me, Marcus, and this other person Grant (who played the royal advisor) singing.  we each had our own little part to shine in the song, and for it, we stood on this block.  Marcus sang his last, and then we all sang our lines at the same time.  but I got to shove Marcus off the block and stand on it, even tho it wasn’t a solo anymore, it was a trio.  it was great.

...I can still remember the lines from that song, damn.   also I can still remember remarkably well the various stories we performed.  particularly given that I’ve never been a very devout individual, even when I was Christian.

I wish I could remember some of the other things from the camp, but right now all I can remember is a scene where Jonah went overboard and we just used a blue spotlight to signify that he was on a ship and then when he went underwater people crouching just slightly offstage rushed forward and tossed a sheet of blue paper over him.

I wish I had pictures of all this, Anon, bc I know those pictures exist.  but I couldn’t find any.  if I can get a hold of some, I’ll post them.  we all looked ridiculous doing these musicals, and I so desperately want to show y’all.

#these were zanier in my head #idk maybe my affection for these camps is influencing how I view these stories #sorry that I rambled for so dang long and it wasn't even that funny after all #I'm gonna get a hold of my mom and ask for some of those pics tho #story time #ask #Anonymous

[marjaystuff]

Elise Cooper interviews Maisey Yates, Catlin Crews, Nicole Helm and Jackie Ashenden

A Cowboy For All Seasons written by the cowgirl quartet, Maisey Yates, Caitlin Crews, Nicole Helm, and Jackie Ashenden is billed as an anthology, but is actually a compilation since the four stories flow into one riveting plot.  It will remind readers of the Dixie Chick song “Cowboy Take Me Away,” as they are swept up by the characters and plot line. The four heroines tangle with their hard headed cowboys as they find love, healing, and the true meaning of family.

After her passing, June Gable sent to all four of her grandchildren a handwritten bequest, to spend a season at her beloved farmhouse in Jasper Creek, Oregon, before they sell it. These cousins were once as close as sisters, but time and family betrayals have pushed them apart. Grandma June knew her grandchildren had eyes for only one man, so she orchestrated matchmaking scenarios to bring the couples together.

Spring has Keira Long returning to her small hometown after successfully making it in the big city of Seattle. Grandma June has asked her to work alongside Remy West to tend to the land and cattle. But in doing so she must come to grips with her first true love, a relationship she broke up to find her independent way.  This is a story of second chances at romance with her true love. Coming in the way is the family parental issues that both must come to grips with and overcome.

Summer has childhood friends, JJ Frost and Cade Matthewson, coming together to help his two daughters, Lora and Ellie, have a fun summer vacation. Having experienced something similar to what the girls are going through JJ understands the feeling of abandonment by a mother.  Both Cade and JJ must allow each other to share their feelings as they open up their hearts.

Fall has Lila Frost optimistically returning to plan the Red Star Holiday Bizarre. Grandma June asked her to take it over and to work with Everett McCall whose ranch is where it will be held.  Lila had a crush on Everett as a child and wonders if he sees her as a woman.  Will both be able to overlook their ten-year gap in age? Lila must help him take down the wall he has built to protect himself from being hurt by others. Besides trying to repair the relationship with Everett she also is trying to figure out how to reconnect with her sister JJ.

Winter has Bella Jackson returning.  She is probably the most broken of all the cousins. Isolated by her mother from the rest of the family including Grandma June she has to learn how to ask for help.  Willing to ignore her requests to do everything on her own, Noah Faraday steps in to repair the farmhouse and both his and her emotions.

The thread that ties all these stories together is reconnecting. Each of the heroines needs to reunite with one another and to forge a relationship with their lost loves.  These stories blended together as one even though there were four different authors, allowing readers to take a journey with the characters as they try to reunite with each other.

Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea?

Maisey Yates:  I was talking to Nicole and joked about book pitches.  I was totally kidding, but the next day I started thinking about the possibility of writing a story centered around four people staying at a farmhouse.  I texted the other authors, and got them on board.  We actually had an auction to see which publishing house would get the story.  

Maisey, Nicole, Caitlin, Jackie:  It came out of the fact we were all friends.  We shared everything we wrote. It just seemed to flow together and felt very organic.  

Caitlin Crews:  Nicole wrote those wonderful grandmother letters that started off each story. Jackie wrote the first story so we knew where we were all going.  

EC:  Since there was a crossover of characters how did that work?

Jackie Ashenden: Since they were all in my story, I wrote the other heroines and asked each author if what I wrote was out of character, but no one rewrote the lines.  We all knew each other’s character very well.  

EC:  How about the seasons, how did that come about?

Caitlin:  Maisey came up with the year of the cowboy.  I thought since it is a year let’s break it into seasons.  The original title was The Year of the Cowboy.

Nicole Helm:  I chose summer because my hero has two children.  I wanted them to be a large part of the story and did not want them to be in school.  

Maisey:  I love the season of fall.  It was October when we pitched it and as I was driving by my daughter’s school, I saw the sign, “Red Star Holiday Bizarre.” I ripped off the name and used it in the book.

Jackie:  They thought to give me winter because it was freezing and sad.  I had never written about snow or Christmas so I found it challenging.  Thankfully, everything magically fell into place.

EC:  How did the farmhouse come about?

Maisey:  Some of us were staying at a farmhouse in Illinois.  It was very similar to the one Caitlin’s husband drew for us.  In this book, with the farmhouse, it felt a bit mystical.  It was funny, how we all had the same farmhouse in our heads.

EC:  How would you describe Grandma June?

Nicole:  Even though she was a great grandmother, her daughters were not great mothers.  I knew people who were not great parents, but learned from their past mistakes.  I also think that sometimes we cannot control how people turn out.  I think June was outspoken, accessible, salty, and brave.  She could not go back in time but did try to make changes for the future. Like the four cousins, I miss my grandparents so much.  What a great thing it would be to have a magic farmhouse.  My grandmother had a paperweight that I used in the story.  I put in tidbits that reminded me of my grandma.  

Caitlin:  Both my grandparents have passed.  I dedicated this story to them.  I would love to be able to communicate with them.

EC:  How would you describe the parents?

Caitlin:  Most of the parents were selfish and self-centered.  They cared more about themselves than their children.  

EC:  How would you describe Bella, Noah, and their relationship?

Jackie:  BELLA is stubborn, determined, vulnerable, kind, and guarded.  She is like most of my   heroes.

NOAH is grumpy, a man of few words, a loner, and protective.

THEIR RELATIONSHIP is based on a connection both tried to deny.  Bella doesn’t want Noah around because she is ashamed of the terrible crush she has on him.

EC:  How would you describe Keira, Remy, and their relationship?

Caitlin:  KEIRA is elegant.  She is a lost-soul and fragile but would argue with that description.  Because she is the first one to live in the farmhouse she is grieving a bit more than the others who had more time to process. Being the oldest she tended to have a slightly different relationship with her grandmother.  Some grandmothers favor the oldest.

REMY is angry, heart-broken, hard-headed, and basically a cowboy.

THEIR RELATIONSHIP has two different parts, one they had and one they will have. The previous one was destined to fall apart because they could not communicate, had secrets, and they were so young.  The one today looks back at the failures of the first time, which enabled them to build a stronger structure going forward. They became friends before lovers.

EC:  How would you describe JJ, Cade, his daughters, and their relationship?

Nicole:  JJ is serious, practical, and sometimes tries to hide her emotional hurt. She is compulsive and not a dreamer, with a focus on being helpful.  

CADE’s main focus is to be a good dad. He is responsible.

LORA and ELLIE are aware that their mom left them.  The older one is snarkier and grumpier.  The younger one is a dreamer.

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GIRLS was based on my family. JJ first thought of herself as just a baby-sitter.  But she became emotionally involved because what the girls went through was similar to her own backstory.  She is reliving her past through them because she lost her relationship with her sister.  

CADE and JJ’s RELATIONSHIP was really good for each other.  At first, JJ and Cade were very guarded because they were hurt in the past.  They rely on each other and then let the attraction take over.  They developed a friendship first.

EC:  How would you describe Lila, Everett, and their relationship?

Maisey:  LILA feels she has boundless options and can always make things turn out OK. She wanted to be an optimist instead of being like her mother who was sad and bitter.  Everett was the first time that did not happen.  She is determined, cheerful, optimistic, creative, and impetus.  

EVERETT has the need to think that controlling the outcome will make things turn out all right.  He is responsible, practical, and a realist.  

THEIR RELATIONSHIP had them both butting heads since they are control freaks.  They have a ten-year gap in their age difference.  Lila saw him as a fantasy at first, but then realizes he has his own issues.  Both had to overcome barriers. Everett tried to protect himself from the bad things but also the good things.  They realized that if there was to be a long-term commitment there will be ups/downs and give and take. I wrote this book quote, “Love wasn’t just rainbows, and fairy-tale endings.  Love was acceptance.  Love was patient. Love was fifty-fifty. Love bore burdens. Love hoped.  Love believed.”

EC:  Do you have Christmas decorations like you wrote about?

Jackie:  When I was writing that scene, I thought about the Christmas decorations I have.

EC:  There is a quote about cities.  Are you a country girl or a city gal?

Caitlin:  You are referring to the book quote, “Country roads, sooner or later they get you where you need to go.” I have lived in cities all my life until about four years ago.  We moved to rural Oregon.  I am aware of the difference in lifestyles and like to write characters that represent small towns.  

EC:  Do you garden?

Nicole:  I do not.  My grandmother and my mom were big gardeners.  By putting those scenes in the book, I was paying homage to them.

EC: Iris Cob Horses?

Maisey: I was flying to Atlanta in October and next to me was a cowboy.  He was telling me how profitable these horses are and showed me pictures.  I told him I was totally going to steal the idea and I did.  Unfortunately, I know nothing about horses.

EC:  Can you give a shout out about your next books?

Maisey:  There is a strong possibility there will be a sequel to this book with new characters, but we hope to bring in these characters as well.  Out in May will be Secrets From A Happy Marriage.  It is my first women’s fiction book that focuses on family relationships with some romance.  It is about women who have a Lighthouse Inn B & B.

Nicole: I have a new book series that started last week, called South Dakota Showdown.  It has six brothers who are police officers who are trying to bring down their father, the head of a motorcycle gang.  It is romantic suspense.

Jackie: Sexy Beast is the next book in the billionaire series.  It has a billionaire and his neighbor, a best friend, who become involved.

Caitlin: In the summer will be book 4 in the “Alaska Force series.” It is written under the name Megan Crane and is titled Delta Force and has the heroine escaping her criminal family by changing her identity. She meets the leader of the Alaska Force that helps her survive her demons.

THANK YOU!!