#this is my contribution to the fourth of july

[infinite-orangepeel]

steve & eddie fucking in the back of eddie’s van while the fireworks go off around them

eddie making it near impossible for steve to stay focused on the task at hand bc he keeps saying things like:

“baby, you’re MY firework”

“when i look into your eyes, sparks fly”

“damn, sweetheart, i wanna make fireworks every day of the year with you”

“you really make my heart go boom, stevie”

“this night’s certainly going out with a BANG, isn’t it babe?”

steve has to clamp a hand over eddie’s mouth in order to cum but damn—his boy really does look beautiful under all those pretty lights.

#this is my contribution to the fourth of july #you’re welcome #be as gay as possible to piss off the supreme court today #have fun and be safe today #steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #steve x eddie #fruity four #stranger things #steddie brainrot #steve harrington/eddie munson #eddie x steve #incorrect eddie munson #incorrect steve harrington #incorrect steddie #steddie drabble #steddie ficlet #steddie headcanon #steddie headcanons #steve harrington headcanon #eddie munson headcanon

[rhoorl]

Delta Landscaping Mainlist

Series Summary: The boys of Delta Force start a new business post-Colombia. At its core this is a soap opera - think Desperate Housewives.

Rating: Explicit (18+) - putting this here as a blanket rating even though not all entries will be explicit

A/N: A big thank you to @goodwithcheese because, without The Layover, this idea would not have come to life. And also thank you to everyone who has contributed hilarious additions to this universe and for listening to my rambles in your DMs.

Main Story | AO3

Chapter 1: Welcome to Torrey Hills | Chapter 2: The Neighborhood Watch Begins | Chapter 3: Watch the Show | Chapter 4: The Pool Party | Chapter 5: Let's Do Lunch | Chapter 6: Jeeps, Texts, and Sliders | Chapter 7: FriDate Night Lights | Chapter 8: Saturdays, Am I Right? | Chapter 9: The M Files | Chapter 10: Tio Frankie | Chapter 11: Right on Target | Chapter 12: In a Rink Far Far Away | Chapter 13: Pike's Place | Chapter 14: Sparks Fly Like the Fourth of July

Chapter 15: Lucky Strike | Extended Scene: Strike a Pose (Benny x Vanessa) | Extra Scene: Weathered In (Frankie x Jo)

Chapter 16: The Countdown | Extras: Benny's IG and After (Benny x Vanessa)

Chapter 17: Cousin Joel *live 5/9* | Deleted Scene: Stay (Benny x Vanessa) coming soon

Chapter 18:

Chapter 19:

Chapter 20:

Chapter 21

Additional chapters to come

Extras

Coming Soon featuring the logo @trulybetty created

Inspiration for Benny's sketch in Chapter 1 (from a post by @gemmahale)

Commercial idea from @patti7dc

The Cars: The boys' cars are mentioned in Chapter 2, but it wasn't specified who owned which car, now you know!

Vanity Plates: Going off the cars post, I received an ask about whether the boys would have vanity plates on their cars.

306 Mule Fall Court: Here's a little tease at who is joining the neighborhood. (Meant to go after Chapter 6)

Mule Fall Halloween: How does the neighborhood celebrate Halloween.

A Very Delta Thanksgiving: How the TF boys split up duties for Thanksgiving

PPCU Bingo: I made a silly graphic to keep track of which PPCU characters have been mentioned so far in Delta Landscaping.

#delta landscaping #delta landscaping extended universe #triple frontier fanfiction #triple frontier fic #triple frontier au #pedro stories

[f1xmeinfortyfive]

𝚂𝚘 𝙼𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝙵𝚘𝚛 (𝚃𝚘𝚞𝚛)𝚍𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚂𝚞𝚛𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝚂𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚜

As the tour has turned out to be a rollercoaster of emotions and nostalgia, I decided to concentrate in a small masterpost each of the surprise songs played by the guys throughout the whole tour. It will be constantly updated and is not free of errors, if you notice any mistake in the dates or the position of the songs, feel free to comment and I will fix it. By now the source is the people who had contributed to the setlist.fm website, so I will try to look for more reliable sources with links to their respective creators (and also videos if it's possible) Thanks for reading, and happy tourdust to all. 🖤✨

GUIDE OF FORMATS:

SONGS PART OF THE PERMANENT SETLIST

SONGS (NOT PART OF MAGIC 8 BALL DYNAMIC OR THE PERMANENT SETLIST) PLAYED

MAGIC 8 BALL SONGS

SONGS PLAYED BY PATRICK ON PIANO

LAST UPDATED: Jul/3

ALBUMS

Take This To Your Grave (2003)

Tell That Mick He Just Made My List Of Things To Do Today • Dead On Arrival • GRAND THEFT AUTUMN / WHERE IS YOUR BOY • SATURDAY • HOMESICK AT SPACE CAMP (Jun/30) • Sending Postcards From A Plane Crash (Wish You Were Here) • CHICAGO IS SO TWO YEARS AGO • The Pros And Cons Of Breathing • Grenade Jumper • CALM BEFORE THE STORM • Reinventing The Wheel To Run Myself Over • The Patron Saint Of Liars And Fakes • Roxanne 

From Under The Cork Tree (2005) 

Our Lawyer Made Us Change The Name Of This Song So We Wouldn't Get Sued (Jun/27) ● OF ALL THE GIN JOINTS IN ALL THE WORLD (Jun/23) ● DANCE, DANCE ● SUGAR WE'RE GOING DOWN ● Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner ● I've Got A Dark Alley And A Bad Idea That Says You Should Shut Your Mouth (Summer Song) ● 7 Minutes In Heaven (Atavan Halen) ● SOPHOMORE SLUMP OR COMEBACK OF THE YEAR (Jun/24) ● Champagne For My Real Friends, Real Pain For My Sham Friends ● I Slept With Someone In Fall Out Boy And All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me ● A LITTLE LESS SIXTEEN CANDLES, A LITTLE MORE "TOUCH ME" ● Get Busy Living Or Get Busy Dying (Do Your Part To Save The Scene And Stop Going To Shows) ● XO ● Snitches And Talkers Get Stitches And Walkers • The Music Or The Misery 

Infinity On High (2007)

Thriller ● "THE TAKE OVER, THE BREAKS OVER" (Jun/23) ● THIS AIN'T A SCENE, IT'S AN ARMS RACE ● I'M LIKE A LAWYER WITH THE WAY I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO GET YOU OFF (ME & YOU) (Jun/24) ● HUM HALLELUJAH (Jun/24) ● GOLDEN (JUL/2) ● THNKS FR TH MMRS ● Don't You Know Who I Think I Am? ● THE (AFTER) LIFE OF THE PARTY (Jun/28)● The Carpal Tunnel Of Love ● BANG THE DOLDRUMS (JUL/3) ● Fame < Infamy ● You're Crashing, But You're No Wave ● I'VE GOT ALL THIS RINGING IN MY EARS AND NONE ON MY FINGERS (JUL/3) ● G.I.N.A.S.F.S. (Jun/21) ● It's Hard To Say "I Do", When I Don't

Folie à Deux (2008)

DISLOYAL ORDER OF WATER BUFFALOES ● I Don't Care ● She's My Winona ● AMERICA'S SUITEHEARTS (JUL/2) ● HEADFIRST SLIDE INTO COOPERSTOWN ON A BAD BET ● The (Shipped) Gold Standard ● (COFFEE'S FOR CLOSERS) (JUL/1) ● WHAT A CATCH, DONNIE (Jun/28) ● 27 ● Tiffany Blews ● w.a.m.s. ● 20 Dollar Nose Bleed ● West Coast Smoker ● Pavlove ● Beat It ● Lullabye

Save Rock And Roll (2013)

The Phoenix ● MY SONGS KNOW WHAT YOU DID IN THE DARK ● Alone Together ● Where Did The Party Go ● Just One Yesterday ● The Mighty Fall ● Miss Missing You ● Death Valley ● Young Volcanoes ● Rat A Tat ● SAVE ROCK AND ROLL

American Beauty / American Psycho (2015)

Irresistible ● American Beauty / American Psycho ● CENTURIES ● The Kids Aren't Alright ● UMA THURMAN ● Jet Pack Blues ● Novocaine ● Fourth Of July ● Favorite Record ● Immortals ● Twin Skeletons (Hotel In NYC)

M A N I A (2018)

Young And Menace ● Champion ● Stay Frosty Royal Milk Tea ● HOLD ME TIGHT OR DON'T ● THE LAST OF THE REAL ONES ● Wilson (Expensive Mistakes) ● Church ● Heaven's Gate ● Sunshine Riptide ● Bishops Knife Trick

So Much (For) Stardust (2023)

LOVE FROM THE OTHER SIDE ● Heartbreak Feels So Good ● HOLD ME LIKE A GRUDGE ● FAKE OUT ● HEAVEN, IOWA ● So Good Right Now ● THE PINK SEASHELL ● I Am My Own Muse ● Flu Game ● BABY ANNIHILATION ● THE KINTSUGI KID (TEN YEARS)(JUN/27)● WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE (Jun/23) ● So Much (For) Stardust

EPs

Evening Out With Your Girlfriend (2003)

Honorable Mention ● CALM BEFORE THE STORM ● Switchblades And Infidelity ● Pretty In Punk ● Growing Up ● The World's Not Waiting (For Five Tired Boys In A Broken Down Van) ● Short, Fast And Loud ● Moving Pictures ● Parker Lewis Can't Lose (But I'm Gonna Give It My Best Shot)

My Heart Will Always Be The B-Side To My Tongue (2004)

My Heart Is The Worst Kind Of Weapon ● "It's Not A Side Effect Of The Cocaine, I Am Thinking It Must Be Love" ● Love Will Tear Us Apart

PAX AM Days (2013) 

We Were Doomed From The Start (The King Is Dead) ● Art Of Keeping Up Disappearances ● Hot To The Touch, Cold On The Inside ● Love, Sex, Death ● Eternal Summer ● Demigods ● American Made ● Caffeine Cold ● New Dreams

Llamania (2018) 

Past Life ● Footprints In The Snow ● Wrong Side Of Paradise  

Lake Effect Kid (2018) 

Lake Effect Kid ● City In A Garden ● Super Fade  

OTHERS

LAKE SHORE DRIVE (ALIOTTA HAYNES JEREMIAH COVER) (Jun/21)

SOMEBODY TO LOVE (QUEEN COVER) (Jun/27)

TAKE ON ME (A-HA COVER)(Jun/27)

SPOTLIGHT (PATRICK STUMP SONG) (JUN/30)🧡

NOTHING COMPARES 2 YOU (SINÉAD O'CONNOR COVER) (JUL/1)

MR. BLUE SKY (ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA COVER) (JUL/2)

EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE (THE POLICE COVER) (JUL/3)

DON'T STOP BELIEVING (JOURNEY COVER)

CRAZY TRAIN (OZZY OSBOURNE COVER)

[NEXT WILL BE ADDED AS SOON AS THEY'RE PLAYED]

#during the week i'll be adding links to the videos of each of them dw #fall out boy #patrick stump #pete wentz #andy hurley #joe trohman #so much (for) stardust #so much for stardust #so much for tour dust #so much for (tour) dust #tourdust era #tourdust #fob #fob8 #smfs #tour songlist #toudust spoilers

[dirtangeldean]

hello, for the love of regarding!dean, hiiiiiii!!!

it’s ren and i’m coming up on my 500 follower milestone and would love creators to join me in celebrating!

it’s mostly gonna be a free for all! just no w*ncest, angelc*st, jack x adults, or snuff/murders!

but! i take special interest in:

regarding!dean or deancas [x][x][x][ ch. 5 ]

homosocial shenanigans [x][x]

deanvictor [x][x][x]

autistic!sam [x]

cuddling [x][x][x][x]

deanbenny [x][x]

team free will in glasses [x][x][x][x]

deancassie [x][x][x]

hoh!dean [x]

synesthesetic!cas [x]

edit: it’s here!! check the boxed x’s for creations!

this will run from july 4th (fuck the fourth) to july 11th 31st (: tag #dirtangel500 or #dirtangeldean! if it’s writing, add the gift to “wisterialyptus” on ao3! 🪞✨

have at it and have fun!!

3rd edit: i loved all these contributions!! happy extension! you have all month!! i wanna see more stuff!! 👀 enjoy!! (honestly i’ll accept stuff until i reach 600 followers lol)

#cas #deancas #destiel #deanbenny #deancassie #hoh!dean #dean #autistic!sam #dirtangel500 #da.me #da.txt

[angelkakewritings]

SUN ON THE CUL-DE-SAC

DILF!Phillip Graves x Female Reader

ONE SHOT || MDNI

PRONOUNS USED: She/Her/Hers

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the canon character of Phillip Graves or any of the canon characters or canon lore of the games.

CW: DILF!AU, slight age gap! ( reader is set to be in her early to mid twenties and Phillip would be his canonical age) mutual pining, exhibitionism, kissing, cursing, praising, mentions of alcohol (nobody included in the story drinks!) male receiving oral, face fucking.

Author's Note: Based upon the existing headcanons about DILF!Phillip Graves contributed by the fandom, the concept is not something out of my original writings! I do not condone the actions or behaviors of Phillip, this was made just for fun! Enjoy!

Cul-de-sac.

The word hits the tip of the tongue three times only for its definition to plainly be "bottom of the sack."

A phrase that the young woman thought perfectly embodied what it was like to exist in the small town. A blur of endless birthday parties, summer picnics, and mediocre thanksgiving dinners with the same old neighbors who spent their time gossiping on who or what they saw in passing at the grocery store.

Perhaps, she had nobody else to blame for her unhappiness but herself. Nobody was forcing her to stay and why wouldn't she? The house was reasonably priced, the area was safe, work was a car ride away.

Safety, security and stability.

The American dream was right outside her doorstep.

And when the summer crept in, it was now moved right next door.

On the third day of the heat wave that plagued the neighborhood, the idea of staying inside and being overstimulated by the buzzing sound of the air conditioner and the heaviness of her clothes against her  body brought dread to the young woman.

The sound of sprinklers being timely turned on with the droplets of water hitting the soft green grass inspired her to stroll to the back porch with a cold water bottle in hand accompanied by a small stack of books in the other.

She opened the screen door, revealing the bursts of greenery and white iron lawn furniture that decorated the backyard. The summer heat pooled around her, the rays of sunlight that kissed her exposed navel made their way to the peaks of her breasts that were being held together by the dainty terry cloth string of her canary yellow bikini.

In the middle of the wildflower and clotheslines riddled backyard she sunbathed away, lounged on-top of the plush chaise chair and lost in her own little world of fictional romances and written angsts.

Chapter three of her drugstore romance novel was interrupted by the sound of a low whistle, the deep decibels caused her to prop up her sunglasses.

Leaning against the wooden face, standing at 5'10, was her neighbor Phillip Graves. He was almost unrecognizable without the droves of lonely and desperate housewives that coddled him in bites of their homemade apple pies and lingering french tip touches.

Phillip was a very handsome man, the kind of handsome that made people treat him differently. The dads of the cul-de-sac always gave Phillip top priority when it came to fourth of july barbeques, the mothers making sure to send over casseroles and inviting him over as soon as their husbands went to work, the children looked up to commander Graves as a true American hero.

His ego never got to the best of him however, despite all the attention he attracted. His attention always fell upon the young woman that lived next door, his scarred hands lingered on the small of her back when they greeted one another at gatherings, throwing winks and gazes at her when everybody else fell into their mindless chatter.

She never minded the extra attention. In fact, she played into it as much as she humanely could. She had grown into the nasty habit of leaving her curtains wide open towards his blue shuttered home, inviting his gaze in to witness her walking around her house wearing her shortest skirts with no underwear, bending and flexing over to expose her puffy cunt tucked between her supple thighs.

He wanted her as much as she did him.

There she laid, glossy with tanning oil, kissable lips lustrous with droplets of water and tied together with a pale yellow ribbon

A lewd illustration out of one of his fantasies.

"Enjoying the summer heat too?" She foxily asked, putting her book to the side while looking onto Phillip's lust hooded eyes.

He chuckled, "Sure. I'm just admiring your rose bushes." He boyishly commented. "I was just cleaning up a bit before the barbeque tonight. You're still welcome to come by the way." His baby blue orbs followed her form as she dainty walked over towards him, the two now standing mere inches away from each other.

"I'll pass, thank you. I don't think I'd stand a chance against the queen bees of the P.T.A" She giggled, the corners of her mouth curling in mischief. 

Phillip bit his lip at seeing how ecstatic she had turned around him, he wished nothing more than to revel in her essence.

"I'm pretty sure it would be the other way around sweetheart."

The nickname caused her heart to skip a beat, it was the type of material she would use to moan his name against the bathroom walls while touching herself to the idea of him.

The pregnant pause between them was filled with the sharp shrill of a cicada singing high up above the two.

A pair of manicured fingers gently laid upon his wrist, "You mind if I come over for a beer? I'm assuming it's already being chilled in the cooler." She purred.

His large hand took her fingers, "Of course."

'How could he say no?' he thought.

In a matter of minutes, a kaleidoscope of sweet cherry chapstick and the bitter notes of mint swatched on the palettes of their tongues.

"You're an angel." He breathed out in between kisses, humming in red hot delight at her hand palming the bulk between his legs.

"I can show you how much of an angel I could be." She hushed out, looking at his calloused fingers plucking away the string of her top.

"On your knees."

The words fell on her ears as a soft demand, a gentle plea to the siren in front of him to crawl at his will. The sunburnt skin of her knees stinged against the cool tiles of the kitchen floor as she nestled in front of his massive form, her rose petal soft face now juxtaposing the erection that was vulgarly throbbing beneath his pants.

Hypnotized, Phillip watched in unwavering movement at how she pulled and tugged away at the layers of his leather belt and cotton to reveal the long and pink nature of his cock that curved upwards, angry and weeping with beads of pre-cum. The rosy pair of lips haloed around his bloated tip, sloppily placing warm and wet kisses. His hand ran through her lustrous hair, pleasure and agony running up and down his back to the rooks of his shoulder blades.

Each bob of her head brought him further and further into the wet crevasse of her mouth, every movement earning a low groan and high whine.

"Atta girl." He praised out at his tip hitting the back of her throat, his hips began to buck against her pretty face. She looked through wet and willing eyes as he chased his high, visions of pinks and swollen reds blanketed her cheeks and the full of her pout.

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck."

The explicit chants, whimpers and swishing of her saliva coating the entirety of his length brought her pussy to a weep, feeling how her slick coated her exterior and down to the cup of her ass.

The destructive rhythm of his hips came to an abrupt halt as the veins that ran on every inch of his dick protruded and ached, spurts of hot white cum filled the opening of her mouth as he twitched and rocked out his climax.

His large hands clamping down on her chest, bracing himself with the pleasure that burned his aura.

Phillip pulled away, dusted in exhaustion and sweat.

A deep grumble of victory expelled from his chest while looking down at his girl, cherry red with tears at the corner of her eyes and swathed with brine white

He cupped her cheeks, placing the kiss of a bee on her destroyed lips.

She pressed herself into his, running her finger across the scar deeply embedded in his cheek, pensive in what the summer now held.

#phillip graves #phillip graves x reader #commander phillip graves #call of duty mw2 #mw2 fanfic #fanfic #mw2 smut #oneshot #just for fun #phillip graves smut #my writing

[apoeticwasteoofspace]

Star

I may not get the lead role. I might not seem to have any pull. I might appear to be at the bottom of the pole

But I’ll keep waiting.

I may not be the one chosen. I may not be the one who goes in. I might not be at the top of the lift, or contributing a bit

But I’ll keep waiting.

I might not be at the front of the group. I might not be the one for which people root. I may be smaller, I may be younger, I may be just a new-grown shoot.

But I’ll keep waiting

I may not be the teacher’s pet. I may not be the brightest person you’ve met. I might fall down, and I have no crown, but I’m still capable of making the touchdown.

And I'll keep waiting

I may not be a bonfire, shining in the night. I might not be a beacon of right. I might be small, I might be faint, but I am still a candle, trying to shine my light.

I’ll keep waiting.

I might not be the brightest star in the sky. I might not be fireworks on the fourth of July. I might appear to be shy. I might not be seen on the mountain high.

But I’ll keep waiting for my moment to shine.

#So yeah I kinda write poetry #I may not be the best at it #but it's fun and also a way to express myself #poetry #Eda poems #yep that's a tag now

[yr-obedt-cicero]

Does Hamilton have abandonment issues? Especially if you look into the exchange between his dad and him, I feel like his dad always asks for money and Alex always unconditionally give them to him.

Hamilton definitely dealt with a lot of abandonment issues, that was especially present in his close relationships.

Hamilton lost many loved ones throughout his childhood, and even later in life but his fear of abandonment definitely had to stem from his childhood trauma. With his father leaving his impervished family in 1765, only to lose his mother in 1768 due to yellow fever when he was eleven years old. After being taken in by his cousin, Peter Lytton, he soon lost that legal guardian too because of an act of suicide, and his uncle - father of Peter - shortly after. Hamilton was then separated from his brother, and despite some communication between the two they never successfully saw each other again. So, by the time Hamilton made it to the colonies, he had lost a majority of his close family and was on his own.

Hamilton's strained but still an attempt of a relationship with his father displays that Hamilton was quite eager to see his father again, but was incredibly anxious about losing contact with him again. Sometime in 1780, Hamilton mentions to Elizabeth that he'll inform James of their wedding and hope he'll attend. But as we all know, James did not attend. Some years later and again, Hamilton is anxious about losing contact with his father so much so that he even questions if James had died;

“But what has become of our dear father? It is an age since I have heared from him or of him, though I have written him several letters. Perhaps, alas! he is no more, and I shall not have the pleasing opportunity of contributing to render the close of his life more happy than the progress of it. My heart bleeds at the recollection of his misfortunes and embarrassments. Sometimes I flatter myself his brothers have extended their support to him, and that he now enjoys tranquillity and ease. At other times I fear he is suffering in indigence. I entreat you, if you can, to relieve me from my doubts, and let me know how or where he is, if alive, if dead, how and where he died. Should he be alive inform him of my inquiries, beg him to write to me, and tell him how ready I shall be to devote myself and all I have to his accommodation and happiness.”

(source — Alexander Hamilton to James Hamilton Jr, [June 22, 1785])

Despite the lack of requited communication with his father, Hamilton decided to name his fourth son after him in 1788. And even when Hamilton was knee-deep in political scuffles, struggling with his work as Treasury, Hamilton never stopped trying to keep up communication with his father. Later on, Hamilton even offered to help James sail over to America, where he would take care of him in his old age. During the August of 1792, Hamilton wrote to Seton asking for assistance with forwarding a letter to St. Vincents to deliver it to his father. Though unfortunately, Hamilton's letter was never actually delivered, so James reached out again reporting delays in his plans to set sail for America due to a war which broke out between France and England. And, well, unfortunately James never did reunite with Hamilton. But regardless, Hamilton was always loyally willing to trust his father and supply him with whatever funds he needed at the time. As if anxious that if he lost communication with his father again, it would become lost forever.

Not only that, but this fear of losing his loved ones was also apparent in his relationships with his lovers. John Laurens was terrible at writing back to people, and his family and friends often reprimanded him for it. So, you can imagine Hamilton's distress when he barely receives word from Laurens;

“I acknowlege but one letter from you, since you left us, of the 14th of July which just arrived in time to appease a violent conflict between my friendship and my pride. I have written you five or six letters since you left Philadelphia and I should have written you more had you made proper return. But like a jealous lover, when I thought you slighted my caresses, my affection was alarmed and my vanity piqued. I had almost resolved to lavish no more of them upon you and to reject you as an inconstant and an ungrateful ___.”

(source — Alexander Hamilton to John Laurens, [September 11, 1779])

And while later Hamilton does admit he also neglected to write, he still faults Laurens more since one of his letters was miscarried. Although just a bit later and Hamilton is desperate to hear word from Laurens;

“That you can speak only of your private affairs shall be no excuse for your not writing frequently. Remember that you write to your friends, and that friends have the same interests, pains, pleasures, sympathies; and that all men love egotism.”

(source — Alexander Hamilton to John Laurens, [September 16, 1780])

He even worries about this in regards to his own wife. Where he even goes on a bit of ramble of his fear that Elizabeth would neglect him;

“It is an age my dearest since I have received a letter from you; the post is arrived and not a line. I know not to what to impute your silence; so it is I am alarmed with an apprehension ⟨of your⟩ being ill. Sometimes I suspect a ⟨– – –⟩ of your letters. Sometimes my anx⟨iety accuses⟩ you of negligence but I chide my⟨self⟩ whenever it does. You know ⟨very well⟩ how precious your letters are to m⟨e and⟩ you know the tender, apprehensive ⟨amia⟩ble nature of my love. You know the pleasure that hearing from you gives ⟨me.⟩ You know it is the only one I am now capable of enjoying. After all you certainly would not neglect ⟨me⟩ if you possibly could. Here am ⟨I⟩ immersed in business, yet every d⟨ay or⟩ two I find leisure to write to my a⟨ngel;⟩ the reason is you are never out ⟨of⟩ my thoughts, and if I had but one hour in the four and twenty to rest ⟨all⟩ of it would be devoted to you. I do not say this to reproach you with unkindness. I cannot suppose you ca⟨n,⟩ in so short an absence, have abated ⟨your⟩ affection; and if you even found any change, I have too good an opin⟨ion⟩ of your candour to imagine you would not instantly tell me of it.”

(source — Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Schuyler, [July 20, 1780])

He even thought that she was deathly ill because he wasn't getting a response, and although later he apologizes for over-worrying he still remains adamant she writes back;

“Pardon me my lovely girl for any thing I may have said that has the remotest semblance of complaining. If you knew my heart thoroughly you would see it so full of tenderness for you that you would not only pardon, but you would even love my weaknesses.”

If you thought that him worrying over her being ill was a bit far, he even goes on to worry that Elizabeth - his soon-to-be bride, mind you - doesn't even love him and is simply marrying him out of generosity;

“For god’s sake My Dear Betsey try to write me oftener and give me the picture of your heart in all its varieties of light and shade. Tell me whether it feels the same for me or did when we were together, or whether what seemed to be love was nothing more than a generous sympathy. The possibility of this frequently torments me.”

It is clear Hamilton dealt with some anxiety with the thought that all his loved ones would either leave him, and if not that; than them dying.

#amrev #american history #alexander hamilton #historical alexander hamilton #james hamilton #historical john laurens #john laurens #elizabeth schuyler #elizabeth hamilton #history #lams #historical lams #hamilza #historical hamilza #queries #sincerely anonymous #cicero's history lessons

[fymoonbyul]

[INTERVIEW] Herald Interview |  MAMAMOO+ hopes to pave new path for girl group longevity

Solar and Moonbyul of MAMAMOO drop 1st EP 'Two Rabbits' as a duo

A decade together has passed already for Solar and Moonbyul of Mamamoo, yet the two singers still feel like fresh rookies, they said in a recent interview.

The interview, conducted with local press on Tuesday in Seoul, came a few days before the duo's subunit return as Mamamoo Plus, with their first EP "Two Rabbits."

Imagining this moment around a decade ago when they first set off as Mamamoo in 2014, Moonbyul said she did not imagine a rosy future just then.

"I thought that my career as an idol singer would not last long, because fame wanes. I'd already been worrying about what I would do 10 years later," the Mamamoo rapper, who has enjoyed quite a stable career as a solo singer, said.

Now she realizes it was all needless apprehension. According to Moonbyul, having accumulated the knowledge and experience of the past 10 years, it is just the beginning for her.

Considering that many new idol singers do not have much control over their career in the early years, especially the first seven when they are tied to the company-friendly contract, Moonbyul's statement may not be an exaggeration.

That's why Mamamoo Plus carries a personal significance for the two, as they willingly chose to come together as a subunit where they could do music to suit their own tastes.

"The two of us always preferred bright and upbeat music, which was what Mamamoo music was in the early stages, but later turned darker. We really wanted to pull up the energy inside us and that resulted in the new song, 'Dangdang,'" Solar said.

"Dangdang" is the lead single on the duet's new album "Two Rabbits," which is set to be released Thursday evening.

The boisterous dance tune with an easy-listening melody and repetitive lyrics was initially intended for a Mamamoo album, but was dropped, the duo explained.

"It was replaced by 'Starry Night.' The situation was complicated, but above all, I had a herniated disk and couldn't dance. Instead of 'Dangdang,' we went for 'Starry Night,'" Solar explained. "Starry Night" led the quartet's sixth EP, "Yellow Flower," which came out in March 2018.

At the time, they only had the chorus for "Dangdang." But Moonbyul said she was gripped by it the instant she heard it, so much so that she wanted to include it on her solo album.

"I felt just like the first line of the song. 'My head is going dangda-dangdang.' I felt numb hearing the song for the first time. But, the song was constantly pushed down the list. I'd kept it in a corner of my mind ever since and brought it back up because it's such a perfect match for Mamamoo Plus' identity," the rapper said.

Upon the prime sound, the two piled on new sounds flourishing with Mamamoo Plus' iconic peppy energy, Moonbyul explained. Their bandmate Hwasa, who contributed to writing the original chorus, is also credited as a composer and lyricist along with the duo.

While the forthcoming album is not the first from the Mamamoo subgroup, the two musicians say it's the album through which they introduce and define the sonic landscape they hope to paint as Mamamoo Plus: innocently uplifting music.

Welcoming listeners into the album is "Intro: Two Rabbits," which sets the foundation of the team's identity, according to Solar. "It plays in the outro of the title song music video, like a foreshadowing of what's to come. It's that significant and has much more to show," she said, expounding on the first track.

One of the tracks, "I Like This," was a song from 10 years ago, she added.

"The members together wrote the lyrics and made the choreography then, but it couldn't come out due to bad timing. I've been hanging onto it since," Solar said.

The fourth track, "Starry Sea," is a melodic hip-hop tune with sentimental lyrics inspired by Mamamoo's "Starry Night."

"Save Me," which was prereleased from the album in July, stands out among the package of perky scores with its calm, doleful tune. Moonbyul took part in writing the melody and words for the song.

Mamamoo Plus came out as the four-member group's first subunit in August 2022 with the first digital single "Better." In March, the duo dropped the first official single, "Act 1 Scene 1," fronted by title track "GGBB" and prerelease "Chico Malo."

According to Moonbyul, "GGBB" and "Chico Malo" were both of distinctively unique styles. The groovy dance-pop "GGBB" and "Chico Malo," a fusion of Korean and Latin sounds, had touched upon the broad musical landscape the two artists were capable of.

With "Dangdang," the two say they hope to reach a larger audience and boost their presence as rookie artists.

"We're pop singers, so it's inevitable that we stay aware of the public reaction. Whether to follow popular trends or to follow our creed is a never-ending dilemma," said Solar, the leader of Mamamoo as well as the subunit.

She continued: "That's why as a soloist I try to do what I want, like the shaved head style I did before. But as Mamamoo Plus, popularity is important as we will only exist as long as people continue to like us and our music."

A No. 1 on any music chart -- and staying on it for multiple weeks -- is the main goal with "Two Rabbits," according to Solar.

Making themselves known and thriving beyond Mamamoo is another goal, Moonbyul added.

Surpassing the high standards set by Mamamoo is a task that all four bandmates of the massively popular K-pop group share as they venture forth to the next stage of their careers.

Moonbyul and Solar remain with RBW, while Wheein and Hwasa left the company with the termination of their exclusive contracts. Wheein departed in 2021 and Hwasa last month.

Although groups tended to disband naturally in such situations in the past, recently many -- the likes of 2PM, GOT7, Girls' Generation and Infinite -- continue as a team despite contractual differences, Mamamoo being one of the latest examples.

"We think we've contributed to extending the longevity (of idol groups), and we feel proud," Moonbyul said, adding, "Even if we all belong to different companies, it doesn't mean Mamamoo has come to an end. We cherish each of our own dreams as much as the group. We'll exist alone yet together."

Solar said Mamamoo Plus will launch its first standalone concert tour this year.

"We're planning to hold concerts within the second half of this year, here and overseas. We expect we'll have many opportunities to meet our fans this year," she said.

Mamamoo Plus' first EP, "Two Rabbits," comes out at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

source

#mamamoo #moonbyul #solar #t:interview #era:two rabbits #230803

[raspberryfingers]

So… this is my contribution this Fourth of July

#1776 #1776 musical #1776 movie #thomas jefferson #god gave me access to CapCut and what have I done with it?

[eddies-house]

California Dreamin’

Chapter Three: Roxanne (18+ ONLY)

Modern!Eddie AU - In which Eddie travels to California searching for something more out of life.  And then he meets you.   Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 4

Warnings: smoking weed, drinking alcohol, eventual smut, mentions of a deceased parent, mentions of abuse, brief moment of abuse, please let me know if I missed any

6.8K words

Eddie x reader, Friends to lovers, Slow burn

<;- Prev | Next ->

Note: I’m kinda experimenting with my writing style so forgive me if this seems a little different than the first two chapters. I’m just trying to have fun with it til I figure out what I like :) and then hopefully I can create more series later on.

Masterlist

—

Red, white, and blue smother the interior of the local grocery store, sparklers stacked neatly in their boxes on a shelf near the checkout and supplies for s’mores settled nearby.  Those tiny American flags are staged in a matching flag design cup by the register, ready for patriotic citizens to purchase for the local Fourth of July Parade.  Barbecues along with bags of charcoal are lined up at the front of the store awaiting homes where the dads cook up burgers and hot dogs in the backyard for their eager families.  And last but not least, the bags of chips and the tub of potato salad that occupied your arms are tossed onto the conveyor belt to ring up.

Every year for the past five—was it five?  Maybe it was six years, who knew anymore—a potluck was held at Marlene’s.  Everyone would bring one or two things either homemade or store bought, it didn’t matter as long as you contributed something.  The tradition required using the fire pit in the backyard, loud music, and of course once the fireworks started, a quick drive to the top of the hill that overlooks the city where you could see at least ten different sets of fireworks in the distance along with roasting marshmallows after that to make s’mores, the goo sticking to everyone’s lips and caking onto their clothes with one wrong move.

There was a list in the group chat where everyone designated what they were bringing this year.  Marlene usually cooked up a few things, this year her menu including a vinegary pasta salad, a DIY taco station with various meats along with the fixings, cilantro, onions, her homemade salsa, some Mexican rice, and finally, some jalapeño poppers that are so delectable your mouth salivated at the thought of them.  Of course she would also have Jos grilling up some hot dogs and burgers just to cover all bases and El would most likely bring her signature brownies.  They were always nice and fudgy, just enough chew to them but not enough to stick to your teeth.  As always you opted to bring some store bought items, you were never much of a cook, not that you weren’t capable, you just never feigned interest and would stick to the basics — spaghetti and meatballs, sandwiches, and every now and then a nice salmon dinner for yourself.  Marlene would often send you home with leftovers when you had dinner at hers which was quite often so you had her to thank for the less frequent trips to the grocery store. 

The store was booming with people hurrying around the aisles for their last minute barbecue essentials.  Many of them were in a rush to get back before the parade took place, you on another hand had taken your time, never sticking around for the parade as you weren’t interested in all of the in-your-face USA imagery.  Jos and everyone else felt the same which is why you all celebrated at her house.  Paying for the items, you make your way back home and although you didn’t plan to cook, you still planned to put together a quick treat for the dessert table.  It was something you accidentally threw together one time that had become a favorite among the group.  It was as simple as some crushed up Oreos and a block of cream cheese molded into little round spheres which were then chilled.  Also known as ‘Oreo Ballz’ among the group.  Jonathan tacked on the ‘z’.

Weeks had gone by since the beach where you’d witnessed Eddie staring into the ocean like it had parted just for him.  You couldn’t get the vision out of your head as you drove home.

The afternoon was now dissipating into evening, a sliver of gold left as it cascaded along the shore and took with it the sun’s rays.  A light breeze danced through the air to a melody no one could hear.  The night was within an hour of kissing the sky, leaving a trail of stars behind until morning.  

You and Eddie had walked back from the pier and returned to your friends among the waves.  The remainder of the day was spent splashing, swimming, and repeating.  You didn’t dare go out too far into the water, the height of the waves intimidating you and leaving you closer to the shore where you could better predict their movements.  Jonathan, Eddie, Will, and El on the other hand had no fear, they faced the waves head on, swimming into them and riding them all the way back to land.  Jos and Argyle opted to do the same as you, playing it safe closer to the beach.  The three of you tossed around a foam football, the kind that soaks up the water enough for you to then squeeze it out.  You can’t help but giggle as you spot Eddie in the distance being tackled by a wave, his sopping wet hair thrown over his face at the impact.  He’s then bantering with Will, shoving him by the shoulder as he shakes his hair out of his face like a wet dog.  Will gives him another push back, sending Eddie off balance and into another oncoming wave.  “You’re gonna get what's coming to you, Byers.” He jokes, pointing a stern finger at the boy, bangs draped across his eyes.  “Oh, really?” Will looks at him quizzically.  “Cause what I’m seeing is you on your ass most of the time.” He finishes, leaving Eddie with a dropped jaw, astounded at Will’s true nature coming out.  It was heartening seeing Will warm up so quickly to Eddie, a contrast to what the boy was used to in his social life.  Besides his friendship with El and the group.

Exhausted, everyone disperses from the water—Jos and El to the pier for some fries, Will, Argyle, and Jonathan laying on beach towels, more than likely falling asleep, you sitting atop the wet sand staring off into the ocean, and Eddie standing a few feet away doing the same.  He looked angelic, his head of hair outlined by the remaining daylight, broad shoulders all burned and freckled, and his eyes twinkling as if he were a child on Christmas morning.  You almost don’t notice him backing up to claim a spot next to you in the wet sand, his knees to his chest and arms draped over them.  “Shit’s unreal.” He mutters quietly.  “Never thought I’d get to see the ocean to be honest.” He admits, never once looking away.  His bangs are just tickling his eyelashes in the most endearing way.  

“How’d you like your first official beach day?” You ask, squishing the sand in between your fingers, repeating the motion over and over.  “It was better than I imagined.  I thought the beach was just sittin’  around all day on your ass, sand getting everywhere and in everything—which, that part is true but I don’t mind it now.”  He explains, eyes squinting in the remaining sunlight.  “Oh and sunburns.  I’ve been sunburned before but this has that beat by like a thousand percent.” He pushes his palm into his bicep, the flesh turning white and then back to red again when he pulls away.  

“You’re gonna need a lot of aloe.  And you’re gonna peel like a lizard.” You joke, taking a leap and pressing a finger into his arm just as he did with his palm a moment before.  “Ouch!  Don’t do that!” He flinches away, softly rubbing his arm although his face almost says that the touch was welcome, a small grin displayed on his lips, eyes meeting yours for a brief second.  You could drink up the Coca-Cola fountain in those irises.  You murmur a humorous ‘sorry’ as he turns his focus back to the water.  And there he is again, enamored with the horizon and the tide’s movements.  The water meets at your legs every once in a while before retreating back into the ocean.  There is comfort in the silence of conversation between the two of you.  An understanding of some kind that just being in each other's presence is all that is needed right now.  You haven’t known Eddie for long but there is something—a kind of empathy detected in the air that neither of you could quite put your finger on.

—

Firewood was stacked into the fire pit in preparation for later and the backyard was coming together for its annual Fourth of July potluck.  Marlene assigned Eddie to hosing off the back patio where the fire pit and chairs sat while Jocelyn set up the fold out tables alongside the house near the back door so food could easily be set out.  Sunflower patterned tablecloths were then laid across both tables, creating one long table.  Marlene plugged the lights in, the bulbs hanging above, draped diagonally across the patio creating a perfect summer setting.  

It was nearing six o’clock which was just around when everyone agreed to show up.  Eddie winded up the hose as he finished, his hair in a messy-barely there-low bun and one of Jocelyn’s old snapbacks with the ‘Monster’ logo jokingly on his head.  They’d been rummaging through her room earlier as Marlene asked her, even at the grown age of 23 to clean it and he took it as a souvenir or as he called it “an homage to Jocelyn’s emo phase”.  He’d been wearing it all day, refusing to take it off and now here he was on the patio in only his ripped jeans and a snapback.  If only you could have avoided the sight by arriving a few minutes later. 

You arrived at Jocelyn’s at six on the dot, always punctual.  Stepping out of your car with the items you’d bought at the store earlier in a grocery bag as well as the tray of ‘Oreo Ballz’, you made your way to the front door and let yourself in, heading straight for the kitchen.  Many smells flooded your senses, Marlene had been preparing food throughout the day for tonight.  The bag was placed carefully on the counter and just as you began to turn around to place the dessert into the fridge before setting them out for everyone to devour, you just had to catch a glance outside the kitchen window into the backyard only to find Eddie Munson in probably the best outfit he’s worn so far.  If you could even call it an outfit seeing as he wasn’t even wearing a shirt…again.  Usually a guy in a ‘Monster’ snapback would be deemed as a douche by your standards and you wouldn’t give them a second thought however Eddie made it work in a way that seemed almost ironic and he looked good—really good. 

Before any drool leaks from your mouth, you avert your eyes and spin around to place the treats in the fridge as originally planned.  A dampness made itself known in between your legs, a throbbing accompanying it as you stood pathetically in Marlene’s kitchen alone, thirsting over the sight in the kitchen window you’d just witnessed.  It’s then you realize you possibly have to face him in order to place the bags of chips and potato salad out on the tables.  Hiding out in the kitchen is an option, maybe even the bathroom but then you risk Marlene asking why you’re late since you’re always on time and you knew she’d see through any little white lie, she always did.  

Hands clammy, you grab the bag of food and bravely slide open the screen door just off the kitchen that leads to the back patio.  All three faces turn at the sound as they wrap up what they’re doing, Jos throwing the cushions on the chairs around the fire pit, Mar straightening out the tablecloths, and Eddie fighting with the water spicket the hose is connected to.  “Hey, there’s Peach.”  Eddie announces, almost as if they’d mentioned you right before you got there.  “Yeah, weren’t you gonna help us set up?” Jos raises a brow playfully.  “I said I’d try and be here before six but I got caught up on some stuff, I had to run back to the store for more cream cheese cause there wasn’t enough for the Oreo Ballz.” You explain as you pull the noisy bags of chips out and set them on the table followed by the potato salad.  “Hang on—‘Oreo Balls?’” Eddie questions as he finally gets the water turned off.  “Ballz.  With a ‘z’.” Jos corrects him as she picks up a bag of charcoal near the door, setting it next to the grill.  “Yeah that helps.” Eddie replies with a roll of his eyes.  “Peach was experimenting one day and came up with Oreo Ballz, it’s cream cheese and Oreos rolled into…y’know balls—or ballz, I guess.” Jos enunciates the z with finger quotes as she explains.  

The fact that she’s now calling you Peach unironically has you giddy.  You’d never had a nickname before and now you felt somewhat special as stupid as it sounded.  “Pretty straightforward name, I like it.” Eddie decides while nodding his head.  “Those are Jonathan’s favorite, you better hide a few for yourselves.” Marlene teases while doing one more sweep through of the patio with the broom.  You nod to her before answering.  “Don’t worry I made extra.  But if he does eat them all this time he’s going to have some serious digestive problems, that’d be like eating two blocks of cream cheese.” Your face scrunches in disgust as you finish the sentence.  “You know that’ll be no problem for him when he gets back from his ‘walk’.” Marlene points out with a smirk.  She wasn’t necessarily against it but she did find it funny how everyone tried to hide it from her.  “Boy could eat like it’s the last supper if we let him.” Jos adds, you and Eddie laugh.  

“Help me get the food from the house?” Marlene asks the three of you as she leans the broom back in its spot and  opens the sliding door, stepping inside.  Without a word you each follow and grab what Marlene instructs you to grab.  Holding a tray of searing chicken, pork, and asada, you walk it out to the table outside, setting it down while pulling the foil over it to keep bugs away as well as to keep it hot.  Soon enough one of the tables is full of the meat, taco fixings, pasta salad, rice,  some bowls of chips that Marlene had transferred them into, the famous jalapeño poppers, and the tub of potato salad now accompanied by a large serving spoon.  Eddie emerges from the kitchen carrying his contributions to the potluck, some pinwheel sandwiches in a plastic container bought from the store and a seven-layer dip, also from the store.  From this, you gather he isn’t much of a cook either.  

Jos adds her offering to the table, her famous deviled eggs sprinkled with paprika that she only makes because she enjoys them the most.  Around six fifteen everyone else shows up in Jonathan’s car, the vehicle coming to a noisy halt in the driveway letting you know they’ve arrived.  

El carries a fruit salad medley along with a Tupperware container filled with her delicious brownies while Will holds a tray of sweet and sour meatballs.  Jonathan brings his cheesy potatoes and Argyle his chocolate drizzled potato chips and a liter of Sprite.  Everything is laid out to soon be feasted on as everyone greets each other.  Eddie and Jos rush upstairs to change since they’d been cleaning up the patio earlier, their clothes having absorbed a thin layer of sweat.  Well Eddie wasn’t even wearing a shirt so you assume he’s gone to throw one on.  

—

The sky was still coated with some daylight, a cool tone as the day winded down.  Everyone stuffed their faces as their paper plates were piled high with food and every once in a while a firecracker would go off in the distance and the speaker played a 70’s rock radio station as you ate without a word, the group too hungry and occupied to engage in a conversation at the moment.  Jos had grilled a few burgers and hot dogs for those who wanted them, she called herself ‘the neighborhood’s best dad’ as she did so.  The dogs, Winnie and Diesel waited patiently for a bite to miss someone’s mouth so they could act as the cleaning crew should any food hit the floor.  It was like Thanksgiving in Summer.

As plates were discarded in the trash can , bellies full, Argyle lit the firewood placed in the above ground fire pit.  Each one of you found your seats around it, the smoke now filling the air smelling like a campfire.  The dogs now laid at Marlene’s feet lazily while she listened to El enlighten her about something she learned in her agriculture class.  

“Peach, we’re gonna go for a walk in like fifteen before hitting up the table for seconds, you gonna come?” Jonathan asks, leaned back in his chair with his feet kicked up on the edge of the fire pit.  Peach seemed to be your nickname according to everyone now, not just Eddie and Jocelyn.  You liked it, it made you feel special which wasn’t really a major occurrence in your life.  “I think I’ll sit this one out, I don’t know if I could eat another bite—even after a ‘walk’.” You reply, he nods in understanding.  Your eye catches Eddie from across the fire pit, the flames dancing along your view of him, his hair down and his torso now adorned with a plain white t-shirt—he was scowling towards Jonathan though Jonathan didn't notice.  Why was he looking so intensely at him?  

Before you could register it, the look displayed on Eddie’s face was gone just like that as he glanced down and fidgeted with a rip at the knee in his jeans.  You’d have to tuck away your curiosity for now.  Glancing back over at Jonathan, you spark up a new conversation, quietly.  “Have you invited Eddie on a ‘walk’?  I told him your stuff is unreal.” You almost whisper, leaning toward his ear, not wanting Marlene to hear.  “No, but thanks for reminding me.” He whispers back, snapping his fingers.  He stands up and before walking away, looks back to you.  “You sure you don’t wanna come and just walk?  Like actually walk?”  He whispers the last part, sneaking a glance at Mar to make sure she isn’t looking.  It’s as if you’re teenagers sneaking around when in reality you’re all adults now.  You suppose everyone is just scared to disappoint Marlene since she’s like the group mom.  “I’m okay, have fun.” You giggle, waving him off.  He smiles and proceeds to move toward Eddie on the other side of the fire pit who has a distant expression on his face.

“Peach.” Will flops down next to you with a mouthful of pasta salad.  “Hm?” You hum tearing your gaze from Eddie and Jonathan.  “You got the booze for later?” He asks, swallowing his food.  You give him a look of bewilderment before answering.  “What are you, 85?!” You laugh as he scoffs.  “Okay, first of all, rude.  Never say that to me again.” He crosses his arms, his eyes wide.  “Then don’t say things like that!” You justify, giving his shoulder a nudge with your palm.  “Do you have it or not?” His face is now pleading, his lips pouting.  Taking a moment to think for longer than nexessary you finally give him a response.  “I don’t but Jos does.”  Will grins and sighs out a ‘yes’.  It was also tradition to get drunk at the end of the night every Fourth of July and have a sleepover in the garage.  Was it really considered a sleepover if everyone actually just passed out before being given the chance to Uber home?

“We’re going to take a walk.” Jonathan announces as Eddie, Argyle, and Jos follow.  Will hops out of his chair a little too enthusiastically to join them.  El remains seated next to Marlene, she was never really one to participate and you only dabbled occasionally when you felt like it.  Marlene shoots Jonathan a knowing look, not mean, just teasing.  He awkwardly shoves his hands in his pockets and avoids her eyes as he gives the three of you a small wave.  

“So…” Marlene begins as she directs her attention to you.  “How is everyone treating Ed?” She asks like the concerned mother she is.  “What do you mean?” You inquire, tilting your head to the side, looking at El who is wearing the same puzzled expression you are.  Marlene sighs before answering.  “Is everyone getting along?” She vaguely clarifies.  Searching your brain for anything she may be referring to, all you can recall is that everyone got along, especially with Eddie.  “Yes, why?  Did something happen?” You ask with furrowed brows.  Mar shakes her head, running a hand through her long dark hair.  “He’s just been through a lot for someone so young.  Just wanted to make sure things were okay.” She says, worry evident in her light brown eyes.  You’re unsure of what exactly may be stirring up this uncertainty and you’re not sure if you should impose by asking either.  El doesn’t give you the chance to decide when she blurts out “What happened?” concern filling her features.  Marlene ponders for a moment, her eyes shifting back and forth in thought.  “It’s not really my place to say, if he feels comfortable he’ll talk about it.” Mar replies, glancing down with almost a look of guilt.  As if she brought up something she wasn’t supposed to.  “Just keep an eye out for him?” She asks gently.  You and El nod.  “Of course.” You assure her with a small smile.  This only made you want to gravitate toward Eddie even more.

—

Jonathan, Eddie, Jos, Argyle, and Will smoked in the field or the ‘reservoir’, near a tunnel that led to the sewers at the edge opposite of the dam.  They stood on the concrete at the opening of the tunnel.  It was covered in graffiti, tagged by people who had stopped by long enough to give it the time of day.  The skunky smell wafted through the air between them as Jos puffed on the joint.  “This is our little stoner spot.” She explains to Eddie, gesturing around as if to say welcome.  Eddie nods, his curls bouncing with the motion.  “Don’t have the balls to do it in front of Mar?” He mocks.  Jos hands the joint off to Will as she answers.  “I’ll have you know Jonathan is the one who’s fucking terrified of her.  I just do it on the down low in the yard.  I don’t even think she cares.”  She shrugs and Jonathan’s eyes widen in disbelief.  “You are SO scared of getting caught, don’t pin it on me!” He says in his defense.  Will passes the joint to Eddie, he takes a long puff as the two continue to argue.  “At least I don’t get all anxious and weird when she gives you the ‘look’ every time we take a ‘walk’!” Jos states factually.  “I do not!” Jonathan shoots back.  “Oh dude, you so do.” Argyle butts in as Eddie passes him the joint.  “Argyle!” Jonathan pleads.  “Sorry, dude—it's true TV.” He puffs on the joint, blowing it toward Jonathan’s face.  “Jonathan, just drop it.” Will pipes up shaking his head.  “Dude, not cool, I’m your brother, you’re supposed to be on my side.” Jonathan whines.  Will shrugs in response, leaving his brother defeated.  “I love this kid.” Eddie giggles, eyes glassy and heavy, a dopey smile on his face while he slings his arm around Will’s shoulder.  

The rest of the conversation that took place was not remembered by any of the participants, too stoned to even know what was being said moments after saying it.  High and happy, they retreated back to the fire pit to resume the night’s activities which would hopefully involve devouring any leftovers.

—

As the evening darkened and more fireworks appeared throughout the sky, the cracks and pops heard through every neighborhood, the fire got brighter and created a glow across everyone’s faces.  Not even five minutes after coming back, Argyle and Eddie had finished off the chocolate drizzled potato chips, another serving of everything, and a couple dozen Oreo Ballz.  Jonathan only put up a slight fight, giving up after Eddie set aside a plate with a few of them, Jonathan too dazed to keep up with the two boys and returning to a seat in front of the fire.   

Conversations were flowing and you had been chatting to Argyle about his disgust for cats.  Eddie and Jonathan were both holding acoustic guitars, strumming random melodies as discussions continued and they gave their two cents every now and then.  Argyle removed on about how terrifying cat claws were and you suddenly weren’t listening when you overheard Marlene telling everyone else about her younger years.  The side conversations ceased as everyone tuned in on her, even Argyle forgetting he was even talking while turning his attention to her.  

“She did not!” Jos yells in disbelief at her mother.  “She did!  Stacy Harrington worked with us at The Hideout.  Before she was all rich and housewifey—“ “—and snobby!” Jos interrupts with a nasally voice laughing to herself.  “And snobby…” Marlene confirms.  “She was just like us regular folk.” She speaks with a sudden southern accent, causing El and Will to bark out a laugh.  All attention was on Mar as she relived her younger years, a glow in her aura as she spoke.  

“Yeah, me and Roxanne had to teach her pretty much every single little thing, even wiping down a table!  She didn’t have a clue how to clean things!” She describes through a wide smile.  “So even before she was known as ‘Stacy Harrington’, I guess she still didn’t know how to work?” Mar guesses with a shrug.  “Oh my god, but me and Roxy would always have to go behind her after she cleaned and do it again.  There was no point in even hiring her since it was double the work.” Jos’s expression is amused as she learns this information.  “What about the time you had to ride on Roxy’s motorcycle and you peed yourself!  Tell them about that one!”  Jos remembers, excitement seeping out of her.  “No!!  I only told you that one out of confidence!”  Mar jokingly scolds her daughter, taking a sip of a beer she had been nursing.  Everyone roars with laughter around the fire, warmth felt inside and out.  “We got into some situations back then, she was my best friend.” Mar smiles, replaying the memories in her mind.  “Where is she now?” Jonathan asks, a grin on display.  It gets quiet, crickets chirping in the distance, mirroring the atmosphere just created.  What was just a cozy and inviting environment was now uncomfortable and tense.  Marlene glances at Eddie so quickly you would miss it if you weren’t looking directly at her but you were.  

Eddie’s eyes are void of life, glassy but not from smoking, you don’t think.  His face is pale from what you can tell in the glow of the fire in front of him.  He makes no movements and is seemingly frozen, breaths quick and staggered as his chest heaves ever so slightly.  Suddenly in one quick motion, he stands and is gone before your eyes, leaving his guitar on the seat and making his way out to the front yard away from everyone.  All eyes are on the chair he was previously occupying, no one knowing what to say.  Marlene clears her throat quietly.  “Roxy—Roxy was Eddie’s mom.” She manages to get out, a shake in her voice.  “But…” she continues as she straightens her posture.  “I think that’s enough for tonight.  Once Ed gets back we’ll go up the hill for fireworks?” She questions.  A simple nod is all she’s offered from the group.  Jos speaks up and shifts to a new topic, hoping to aid her mom.  

As they move on to a new subject, you’re confronting the fact that all those stories about Roxy Marlene had told you and Jos about, were about Eddie’s mom.  Everything they’d been through together, all the good times, all the bad.  The time they took their kids to the local water park when they were little, their first day of kindergarten when they dropped them off together, the nights Roxy would drag Mar along to a local concert on their night off and they had extra tip money before they had kids.  But not once did she mention Eddie was her son in the time he’s been here.  Eddie was the renowned Roxy’s son, the woman in Marlene’s stories.  And Jos didn’t mention anything either.  You’d concluded that since it appeared to be a sensitive topic, they didn’t mention anything to protect Eddie—that is until they got caught up tonight and forgot he was right there.

Wild mocha colored curls, wide doe eyes, and deep dimples etched into her face, the woman in the photo you recall Marlene showing you is the spitting image of Eddie.  She wears a denim jacket with several pins and patches placed throughout the front pockets.  Some display logos for bands such as Black Sabbath, Dio, Metallica, and several others.  A few of them are for different causes such as one that reads ‘Women’s rights are human rights’.  She’s beautiful and from what you can see and what you’ve heard, she was the definition of a badass woman who was also the most kindhearted soul in the small town of Hawkins.  

Pulling yourself from your recollection of Roxanne from the stories and pictures, you come back into your body and find that everyone was once again conversing among each other as normal.  A tinge of worry swirls in your mind, Eddie coming to the forefront of your thoughts—where was he?  Was he okay?  Probably not, you decide based on his reaction however it seems Marlene wasn’t worried and she probably had a better idea of what was going on in his head seeing as she didn’t run after him to console him.  You could leave it at that—you probably should leave it at that and just wait for him to come back on his own but there’s a surge within you that’s forcing you to gravitate to him.  “I’m gonna use the bathroom.” You mutter to no one in particular before making your way through the kitchen door and then through the front door.  

There’s not a soul out front, not a trace of the curly haired man, only the bugs making their presence known as the crickets play their tune and mosquitoes buzz through the air.  It’s dark out now, the stars are sprinkled across the night sky almost intentionally placed.  Fireworks are booming and echoing as they explode, the prominent smell of several barbecues still  happening throughout the community.  Approaching Eddie’s van, you peek through the windshield looking for any signs of life but to your disappointment he’s not there.  The end of the driveway calls your name and you're walking toward the street, searching to the left and to the right for any signs of where he could have gone.  It occurs to you that maybe you’re thinking too hard and Eddie just ended up going upstairs and called it a night.  That is until you catch a glimpse of a figure seated on top of the dam across the reservoir, too far to actually decipher who it is though no one else really hangs out there and he seemed drawn to it like a moth to a flame that day you went up there with him.  Much like how you were becoming toward him.  

—

Things were quiet atop the dam as usual save for the occasional pop of a firework.  Eddie had found himself sitting up there quite often throughout his stay, usually when he wanted to be alone and think, sometimes he’d smoke and let off some steam.  The city lights twinkled at him and the moon beamed, creating a bath of celestial light around him.  Eyes blurry with unshed tears and his mouth wobbling as he tried to keep his cool, Eddie sniffled and inhaled a deep breath as he stared up at the moon.  His lashes were wet, collecting as much liquid as they could without spilling toward his cheeks.  A nervous hand ran through his hair, trembling while he exhaled shakily before he spoke softly into the night.

“Hey mama.” His voice wavers as a tear escapes the confines of his eyes, rolling down his cheek and onto his lip.  He licks it away and brings his hand up to wipe any remnants away.  Shaking his head and sniffling harder than before, the dam cracks and hot tears spill over his cheeks while his lip quivers.  As much as he tries to keep them at bay, the salty tears continue streaming down his face while he smudges his hands over them again and again as if each time he does it will be the time they vanish.  “I miss you.” He chokes out, finally relaxing his shoulders and releasing a sob, burying his face in his palms.  “I fucking miss you.” 

A memory plays out in his mind, a memory of mama, his mama…

“C’mon baby, there’s no use crying over spilled milk—or—spaghettios.” Her eyes are kind as little Eddie wails from his spot at the table, the watery tomato sauce coating the wooden surface and spilling into his lap,  little ‘o’ shaped pastas scattered throughout the mess.  “M—mama.” Snot drips from his red nose, his small hands rubbing it all over his face and mixing it with his tears.  “D—daddy’s gonna find o-out I—I spilled—m’ sorry mama.”  Roxanne grabs the mini white plastic trash can from the kitchen, not too far away from where she’d been sitting across from Eddie.  The house was cramped and could barely fit the three people living in it.  She takes an old rag and starts swiping the mess into the trash, kneeling next to her son still sitting in his chair.  The tomatoey spill is cleaned from the table and wiped from Eddie’s lap, leaving some stains behind on his ripped denim shorts and a few on his shirt.  Mama tosses the soiled rag into the sink still kneeling.  She looks to the little boy in front of her and rakes her fingers through his curls that were just barely falling into his face.  “You let me worry about that, okay Peach?” She assures him, a touch of her southern drawl slipping out.  The six year old looks into his mom’s deep brown eyes, nothing but love filling them.  

“No—no, don’t want him to hurt you again.” He whimpers as he clutches his mama’s shirt into his little fists, tucking his face into her shoulder, the scent of coconut shampoo overtaking him.  “He’s not gonna find out, Eddie.  Okay?  We’ll wash your clothes before he gets home, don’t you worry.” She promises.  Eddie nods, sniffling into mama’s shirt, she’s unbothered and welcomes it as she cradles his head with her hand.  Letting out a gentle sigh she vows to him “I’m gonna get us outta here, you hear me?  Gonna go some place where he can’t scare us or touch us.”

Eyes now bloodshot from crying and his face puffy, Eddie lets out a few hiccups before calming down and engulfing himself in silence once again.  Little does he know that as you approached the dam, hoping to check up on him and see if he needed anything, you’d see him sobbing and froze.  It felt wrong to watch but you physically couldn’t move as you rapidly tried to figure out what to do in your head.  As he seemed to settle down, you figured this would be the moment to make yourself known.

“Eddie?” You speak softly, slowly stepping toward him.  Shooting up, he does one more wipe of his face, hiding away as much emotion as possible.  “I was just leaving.” His voice is deep and raspy, nose stuffy.  “Eddie, you don’t have to—I’ll go back right now, I didn’t mean to…” you trail off trying not to startle him more than you have as if he were a horse just seconds away from being spooked.  “I was going to anyway.” His expression is stoic as he clenches his fists to his sides.  You don’t know what overcomes you but a second later you’re wrapping your arms around his waist in a tight hug, head to his chest, offering your support through your actions.  He becomes paralyzed, arms in the air as if defending himself and a gasp falling from his lips while you hang onto him.  Every emotion hits him at once, overstimulating his mind and before he knows it he chokes out a sob he didn’t know he was holding onto, hands grabbing at the back of your shirt tightly while he cries into your shoulder.  

He’s lost his cool in this brief moment, memories flashing in his brain, “Men don’t cry.”, “Boy, I’ll give you something to cry about if you don’t quit!”, “Stop being such a sissy and man up.”  All of it rushes through his thoughts, the vision of his dad rolling his sleeves up with fire in his eyes while mama was working the night shift at The Hideout and he was supposed to be asleep.  

He got curious when he heard another woman’s voice from where he was laying in bed, the one he shared with mama.  Dad usually took the couch, always passing out after coming home late and crashing onto the nearest cushion.  It was rare when mama would leave Eddie alone with him and this was one night she couldn’t find anyone else, she had to work to keep the bills paid and food on the table for her only son.  Before leaving she instructed him to stay in bed and that she would be back before he knew it.  He could never forget the fear that coursed through him when his dad caught him peeking around the corner, a bright red hand print delivered to his cheek and a bloody lip to match.  He swore the devil lived in his fathers veins.  Told Eddie “Suck it up, you stop pouting that lip at me or I’ll put it back for you.”  And when mama came back home that night to find Eddie asleep with a bruise under his lip crusted with blood and a handprint on his face, she knew she couldn’t wait any longer to pack up and leave.  They couldn’t go far with such little money but she had to do something.

Eddie’s hands are still clenching your shirt, tears soaking the fabric at the collar.  Stroking his back gently over his leather jacket, you stayed there for as long as he needed, whispering to him “It’s okay, I’m right here.  It’s alright.”  He was shaking uncontrollably, cries consuming his body.  Until you feel him tense up and his entire demeanor shifts.  Letting go, he stumbles backwards, a flash of fear in his eyes.  “Are you okay?” You ask with concern, taking a step toward him.  He quickly steps back again before his features display something you can only make out as anger as his brows come together and his stare becomes cold.  “Just—“ he croaks out, his face still wet, eyelashes separating delicately.  He appears to be having an internal battle with himself.  You frown at him, unsure if words would help the situation so you opt to remain quiet.  “Leave me alone.” He says sternly, brushing past you and back toward the house.

Within seconds Eddie disappears into the night and back toward the house.  Confusion clouds your brain, unsure of what just occurred.  He was suddenly so upset, his energy completely devoid of the sadness he previously displayed.  Anger seeped through his pores with a hint of embarrassment.  You didn’t know how to take it.  Was he angry at you for coming out and finding him when he wanted to be alone?  Was he just taking it out on you because his mother was mentioned?  You couldn’t be sure and you’d have to carefully address the subject the next time you had a chance.  Eddie was a closed book that you were determined to read.

~end~

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Masterlist

#Eddie munson #eddie munson fic #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x fem reader #eddie munson x feminine reader #eddie x reader #Eddie munson fluff #eddie munson smut #cal dreamin’

[heatherfield]

Hey! Hope you're doing well. Are the Headless playlists still up? And if so could you tell us where to find them? I've taken a look and maybe I'm just dumb (possible) but I haven't been able to find them and I just want to know what's on them!!!

(Fourth of July on Kat's playlist has me SHOOK lol)

Hello! Ahh someone else who is interested in the "Headless" playlists! Yay! (I'm also shocked someone noticed those tags on my reblog of that song. :D)

They are still up but I think they're only available through the Shipwrecked Comedy patreon here. I'm pretty sure they're available at the lowest tier if that helps? I know it's not feasible for everyone but if you're able to and considering contributing to their patreon, it is very well worth it.

I hope that helps a bit!! The playlists they've put together for each character are so fitting and enjoyable. I just love them.

(I've also got a "Headless"—re: Bromtilda—playlist of my own that I've been meaning to share if anyone's interested.)

#heather answers #anonymous #headless: a sleepy hollow story #shipwrecked comedy #music #seriously the playlists are so good #thank you shipwrecked for making them #i'm still obsessed XD #and they may or may not give me lots of feels still #also fun to discover new music! #i could go on and on #i'm just like 'please someone gush about these songs and characters with me' <3 #will forever wonder what was on lucretia's playlist though

[eepiebeepy]

ARTFIGHT 2023 COMPILATION POST

hi hi hi i didn’t get much done this year but i really like all the attacks i did get to! work has just been so hectic :,)

First up is Raindrop, owned by @/M1lkdraws on instagram!!!! i actually still really like this one and i’m glad i’ve come so far when it comes to drawing anthros :3

Next is Piña by @yo-no-fui3 !!!! She was on my bookmarks list since last year and i just had to draw her! Like i said in my original post, the color space of krita go really weird on my which is why there’s some discolouration around the gradients; i eventually fixed it by factory-settings the app but by then the damage was done finding. still i really really like how this turned out, she’s so freakin cute

And the third attack is Taz, she’s a dnd character played by @/Fruuths on instagram! I experimented a lot with my shading on this one abd im not sure how i feel about that, but overall i’m pretty happy with this piece :D

Fourth is Crystal! She’s so freaking cute and she belongs to @/godtegnomen on instagram! I love love love the way this came out and even though i purposefully tried for a messier/less time consuming linework style, it actually came out looking fantastic (in my eyes) and was SUPER fun to work on!

The fifth attack is on my boyfriends character Reyner!!! I really meant to do a digital version since the attack he did on me was so amazing and intricate but i didn’t get to it in july :( stay tuned tho :3 he’s @juiceb0x !!

Next is @abstractredd ‘s Lilith. uhhhhhhh boobies. i really like how the pose came out! hair shading is something i have to work on however, although i do like this i’m interested in trying new styles!

Next is Tila by @always-any-art !!! she’s so cute i just had to do an attack on her!!! i drew her on night shift and finished up the colouring at home :) she’s so frckin cute i love her fins and tail and silly hair

Last but not least is Sunny! Shes a big monster shifter who belongs to @/ellie.j.raws on instagram!!! I designed a short of halfway point of her transformation because i really wanted to do the best of both worlds! also i’m still not great at drawing reptilians yet :,)

But yeah!! That’s artfight 2023! I was on team vamps, i wish i could have contributed more but i was just too busy. i’d love to do art trades or something sometime during the rest of this year, though! I love drawing people’s character :)

#art #my art #artfight #team vampire #not my characters

[istherewifiinhell]

The conversations: joyful, contemplative, and earnest, looking into these medias to find what speaks to us, what could be discovered thru them, what identity and relationships built in conjunction with stories mean.

His comics: sweet, thoughtful, and [effortful] sequential art, care put into how to best communicate, discussing and deliberation about protential reading others could come away with, and work shopping things to be the most impacful, in both humour and pathos.

MY CONTRIBUTION:

ID from alt: Pencil drawing with digital editing. 03 turtles. Mikey has a foot proped up, one hand on hip and another point with emphasis in the air. Giant bright orange text has them yelling "This Whole Thing SMACKS of Gender". Next to them is Raph in a low stance arms pushing a grill to flip, [represented by a mostly not drawn oblong labeled "Grill thing"]. A caption box has his monologue in red "Mikey's hollerin' was my cue. I overturn [The Tribunals] grill, turnin' this Fourth of July into the Fourth of SHIT!". Shit is in larger text. Theres some faint pose doodles in the corner. END ID]

Raph was promised food and a good time. Not necessarily in that order.....

i CANNOT say this wasnt actually a joyful comtemplative or earnest process. And this is. In fact. Thoughtful and effortful for me. And.... well I THINK its sweet....

[Im. Not actually trying to say the tribunal would celebrate the fourth btw. I just have beef and they are... more or less. The closest the guys [gn] have to a uncle. Save. That other guy who would be their. Great uncle but. Ya know. Betrayed their grandpa. And Is Dead.]

[The reference. Which i think about probably every day. Incase ur one of todays lucky 10 000]

[ID from alt. Tweet from dril "This Whole Thing Smacks Of Gender," i holler as i overturn my uncle's barbeque grill and turn the 4th of July into the 4th of Shit. END]

#some shit #turbles... #turtle trek #u_u. not in a place were i can really say much but things i know are counter productive and etc etc. well ANYWAY.. #but i can say this their dynamic. to me??? its a sign of love. etc. being in cahoots. #[i... drafted this before the final form of his comic was done IM GONNA DIE. okay whatever. go look at that first tho its mandatory] #[one post down] #anyway. [raph voice] g'n duh

[cassiopeialake]

ok now that we have episode titles i’m going to attempt to do a plot-level prediction of each episode because that’s about all i can contribute:

1. I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher:

Pretty straightforward, everything up till the Minotaur attack (ends on a cliffhanger with Sally being taken). The big action setpieces are Mrs. Dodds and the Minotaur attack.

2. I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom:

Percy wakes up, we get an intro to CHB and meet (/re-meet) Chiron, Mr. D, Annabeth, Luke, Clarisse. Luke starts training Percy and we get the capture the flag scene. Episode ends with Percy getting claimed.

3. We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium

Chiron introduces the setup of the quest, they get the prophecy, and the trio start off on the quest. We get the Fury attack on the bus, and then they visit Medusa. Episode ends with some sort of stinger - maybe teasing Ares, or showing what Luke's up to back at camp? 4. I Plunge to My Death

Based on the trailer it seems like Echidna is on the train as well, so I think she gets on at a certain stop and they get off at St. Louis to try and shake her off, but she ends up following them? Anyway, they have the fight and Percy jumps and talks to the Nereid, ending the ep. Also poodle scene please please please. Note: I guess it could also end with a cliffhanger with Percy jumping from the arch but I don't think they'll do that since it might be too scary for kids tbh. 5. A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers

Ares intro, tunnel of love scene, Ares sending them to Vegas and the trio heart-to-heart in the van. Ends with Percy's dream.

We know Hephaestus is in this season so if there's any time for him to make an appearance it would be in Waterland, maybe he appears as an automaton/hologram of himself that is automatically triggered by the ride? Or he's actually there in person... 6. We Take a Zebra to Vegas

Basically all of Lotus Casino lol. Not sure how Hermes will fit in but super curious. Would love if they had time for Procrustes but I doubt it. It's popularly theorized we'll get a Nico and Bianca easter egg, not sure where that'll be but definitely makes sense. Ends with the trio breaking out of the Lotus Casino.

7. We Find Out the Truth, Sort Of

Ok this is where things start to get messy, namely because there is a Lot of ground to cover in these last two episodes and I'm not sure how they'll divvy it up and what might get cut for time? I think this ep will definitely consist of the trio going to the Underworld and meeting Hades and finding out they were set up. From the trailer I know there's the Cerberus scene and the Tartarus scene, the interviews also mention a line of dead people waiting to enter so that definitely implies Charon. I thiiink the Ares fight will be the finale of this episode, but I also think what might happen is they'll leave it on a cliffhanger, with Percy figuring out Ares tricked them and preparing to fight him. 8. The Prophecy Comes True

Honestly, from the Ares fight onward I think it'll follow the ending of the book pretty closely. Hopefully we get a camp montage and some fourth of july scenes bc that would be SO CUTE. And top it all off with a Luke betrayal twist ending to close out the season and act as "cliffhanger" for season 2!

Conclusion

Overall, I think plot-wise there won't be much differences from the book. I have a feeling that non-book scenes/moments that the creators have mentioned will be in addition to the book canon, rather than in place of certain scenes, and will help illuminate different sides to characters that we might not get to see from Percy's POV. I am curious though, if it'll stick fully to Percy scenes or if there will be scenes he's not in and can't observe (which would be SO interesting.) I'm also so curious about what will end up on the cutting room floor just for time and pacing's sake (it better not be Procrustes or I'm showing up at Rick's door in person).

#pjo #percy jackson and the olympians #this isn't really analysis i'm just interested in how they'll split up the plot between episodes

[yurimother]

Workplace Yuri Drama 'Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon' Releases Third Volume

On June 21, Seven Seas Entertainment digitally released the third volume in Shio Usui's workplace Yuri drama Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon (Kaketa Tsuki to Doughnut). Paperback editions of the manga will be available on Tuesday, June 28.

Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon is a Shaikijin Yuri series and so follows adult characters living and working in the real world. In it, office worker Uno Hinako becomes distraught after finding herself unable to find a fulfilling relationship with me. No matter how hard she tries to be "normal," she keeps failing. But when she is at her lowest, her quiet coworker, Asashi Sato, comes to her aid and comforts her. Despite their different personalities and goals, the two women form a close friendship that begins to develop into something more.

The publisher describes the third volume:

Hinako wants to get closer to Asahi, but there is still a lot she needs to work out. What will happen when she turns to Fuuka in her time of need? And how will Fuuka handle her own feelings for Asahi?

The manga was serialized in Comic Yuri Hime from 2019 until its conclusion in May. Ichijinsha publishes three Japanese manga volumes, with a fourth and final volume scheduled for release in July. Jenny McKeon translates the third volume into English, with adaptation by C.A. Hawksmoor and lettering by Rina Mapa.

Doughnuts Under a Cresent Moon has received praise from critics for its characters and tackling of social issues. Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network gave the series’ second volume a B+ and YuriMother awarded the first volume a 9/10 score, writing that it “handles its emotional and powerful story with grace and patience.”

Shio Usui is a Yuri mangaka known for Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon and Onna Tomodachi to Kekkon Shitemita (Trying Out Marriage With My Female Friend), which is currently serialized in Comic Yuri Hime. They have contributed to the Chocolat and Doujin Onna Yuri anthologies.

Check out Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon volume 3 today digitally and look forward to its paperback release Tuesday: https://amzn.to/3xURich

Reading official releases helps support creators and publishers. YuriMother makes a small commission from sales to help fund future coverage.

#Yuri #news #lgbt #lgbtq #lgbtq+ #pride #gay #lesbian #manga #girls love #gl #queer #wlw #anime #yuri

[the-good-spartan]

Food for Warriors.

As I mentioned in my last post, I wanted to break down the contributions to the mess in a way that would include more general information about the diet of Ancient Spartans, and by extension, the agriculture of the region. Yes, these are only details in a much bigger picture, but what is more important to we humans than the fuel that sustains us?

Cartledge, in his regional history of Lakonia (to which this post is heavily indebted), writes that Lakedaimon ‘…constitute[s] one of the most fertile and desirable pieces of land in all southern Greece. Soil, climate and man conspire to yield and garner sometimes two harvests of grain in a single year.’

To reiterate the contributions required, as listed by Plutarch:

‘Each member of the mess would contribute every month a medimnus of barley-meal, eight choes of wine, five minas of [goat or sheep] cheese, five half-minas of figs, and in addition a small sum of money for fish or meat. Besides, anyone who had made an offering of first fruits or had been hunting sent a share to the mess.’

So let’s break that down a little. 

Barley and Wheat:

“a mediminus of barley-meal…”

Until the fourth century BCE, Barley was widely preferred to wheat in Lakedaimon. This may have been due to technological disadvantages over other regions but was undoubtedly also basic taste. By the fourth century wheaten loaves were being contributed to the mess, though it was noted by Theophrastus (early fourth century BCE) that the Lakedaimonian wheat was particularly light.

A mediminus (73 or 74 litres) of barley per month was much greater than the living ration for a single male, at least if we base our workings on what was provided to the men on Sphakteria in 425 BCE. The expected contribution annually (82 medimini) might have fed up to 6 or 7 men. 

The surplus was either eaten by the citizen’s oikos (household) or put into a public store. I personally favour the theory of a public store, as the boys in the agoge were provided a small ration which had to come from somewhere.

There’s also the possibility that teachers might have required reimbursement, provided they came from outside Lakedaimon - a theory put forward by Ducat which I strongly disagree with. I see absolutely no reason why the tutors wouldn’t also be Spartans and part of the system - which seems logical for many reasons...

Anyway - I’m getting sidetracked. Ducat’s ideas do this to me. 😅

There is no information on how the grain made it from field to mess, but there may have been a central mill at Alesiai, called the Grindings. 

Grapes:

“…eight choes of wine…”

Both Lakonia and Messenia have the right conditions for viticulture, though Messenia is particularly suitable. They’re a labour intensive crop and require greater control of the conditions than other crops.

Five ancient vine growing districts names are known: Oinous, Dentheliatos, Karystos, Onoglos and Stathmis. These districts, where these can be located, are in perioekic territory though, rather than Spartan lands.

I have tried and failed to discover how much ‘eight choes’ is in modern measures.

 Goats and sheep:

“… five minas of cheese…”

Goats and sheep were grazed on the stubble following harvest or on the terrain between the arable land (which makes up ~ 20% of Lakedaimon), and the totally barren mountains.

It has been argued that Messenia was turned over from grain production to pasturage for goats and sheep after it was conquered, so we might imagine the Messenian helots as shepherds rather than strictly farmers. They did still have crops though, as attested from multiple instances of burning fields during raid by Athenians in Thucydides.

Besides the contribution of cheese, the goats and sheep would have provided skins, wool or mohair, animal fat, and to a minor degree, meat.

 Figs

“…five half-minas of figs…”

Figs in this part of the world have two harvests a year. The first crop in June-July is eaten fresh, while the second in August – October is dried.

They probably required irrigation of some kind, though Aristophanes refers to the small size of figs from Lakedaimon, so perhaps not.

 Foods not on the Contributions List:

The Lakedaimonians were the first people in Greece to anoint themselves in olive oil for exercise, which suggests an abundance of it from an early date. There is no question that olives were eaten throughout the Classical period. 

As far as vegetables go, Theophrastus mentions lettuce and cucumber. Legumes were the food of the common-man, and might be made into a porridge of mixed pulses - perhaps pea, lentil, lupine and vetch.

As for meat and animal products:

There was honey, of course, from as early as the eighth century onwards.

They were famously very fond of black broth, made from pigs' blood. This was a Spartan delicacy. 

Migratory quails were perhaps netted at the foot of the Tainaron and Malea peninsulas, while chickens provided meat and eggs.

Fish was probably caught by perioikoi then sold to the Spartans, who are attested eating it in the mess - though I have to say, I like the idea of Spartans having a day fishing on the banks of Eurotas with spears - even if there’s no evidence whatsoever to suggest this happened.

The below image is the interior of a Lakonian cup from the seventh century BCE showing a scene purportedly of Cyrene (modern Libya) but surely drawn from the world around the artist in Lakedaimon. Note the nets, presumably for fishing.

Finally - Boar, hare and dove were definitely hunted by Spartans - which brings us neatly to the final heading of this post.

Hunting

Cartledge suggests a very specific hunting ground for the Ancient Spartans: 

‘Central Taygetos seems to have been largely uninhabited in antiquity, when it was used by the Spartans as a hunting-ground.’ 

He goes on to explain that this was the region known as Therai, on the lower eastern slopes of the central Taygetos.

As per the above, they hunted hares and ringdoves, but the main prize was the boar, and it is fairly certain that this activity was at least sometimes considered religiously significant, perhaps as a coming-of-age activity related to Artemis Orthia.

I’m going to share this bowl yet again (but at least a different photo) because it shows a boar hunt in progress, with the younger man wearing a pelt stained with blood - suggesting this is a ceremonial activity. The boars are visible on the right. 

(I also like the idea that the fish at the bottom is a suggestion that fish might also be hunted - but that may just be me dreaming again.)

A few final notes around hunting that I find interesting:

They hunted with javelins, spears and perhaps nets. They were notoriously opposed to bows and arrows. 

They had a special breed of dog for hunting, the Lakonian hound, which were good scenters. 

Horses, dogs and provisions were made available on demand to all Spartans when they were going hunting, though horses were probably owned only by the rich.

Being back late from hunting was one of only three valid reasons to be absent from the evening mess meal.

Here’s a Lakonian Hound to see us out (c. depicted in 500 BCE by the Euergides painter.)

#spartans #ancient greece #ancient history #ancient greek #ancient sparta #spartan history #ancient greek history #ancient greek food #hunting #ancient hunting #history #long post