#i blame ink and katie for this

[dreamy625]

Overture and beginners - chapter 2

< Chapter 1

Words: 2212

Content: There’s casual drinking and smoking in this chapter, and some smooching

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

For such a casual arrangement, Katie found that a quite unreasonable level of anticipation crept up on her over the intervening week. She flaked on another date with Gary and then, after ten minutes of introspection, called him back to end things altogether. With the vision, however uncertain, of a particular sweet shy smile perpetually hovering in front of her, Gary had just… faded into the background. Oh he was nice enough, and she’d liked that he had a respectable, clean job - chilled goods manager at the new supermarket - and a car, but it turned out, not much else. He wasn’t the most exciting bloke in the world, and the only thing he seemed to be really passionate about was Sheffield United. She let him down gently, blaming their incompatible work schedules rather than the fact that he was boring, and he accepted it with predictable stoicism. 

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

Steve’s head had swivelled like an owl every time the door swung open and finally, at twenty past six, he was rewarded with the sight of Katie walking into the pub and looking around searchingly. He jumped up, almost knocking the bar stool over, and then, checking himself, strolled oh so casually over to where she was standing. 

“You came! I mean, hi.”

“Well, sure. I hear this is where all the cool kids hang out on a Friday night,” she quipped. 

“Oh definitely,” agreed Steve, eying the motley collection of steel workers and engineers, some still wearing their overalls, that made up the majority of the patrons. “Have you just got off work?”

“Err, yeah, busy day,” (in fact she had put the cover on her typewriter nearly an hour ago and had spent the intervening time in the ladies’ loo refreshing her makeup, fussing with her hair, and trying to get the ink stain off the cuff of her blouse). 

“Can I get you a drink?”

“That would be lovely.”

While Steve went to the bar, Katie scoped out a small table in a corner made less gloomy than most of the pub by the last of the evening light coming in through a frosted window. When Steve sat down with a vodka and orange for Katie and a pint of beer for himself there was a brief awkward silence when it dawned on both of them that this was now undeniably a date. 

“So, you’re not with your mates today then?”

“Oh they’re around here somewhere. Last I saw they were in the back bar reenacting William Tell and the apple but with darts and a pickled egg! I couldn’t watch.”

He mimed an unfortunate apprentice turning cross-eyed as a poorly-aimed dart approached his forehead and Katie’s laughter, and Steve’s bashful delight at having made her laugh, seemed to break the ice. After that, starting with their common ground of Wisewood Comprehensive, they shared reminiscences about Mr Taylor’s wig, the time 3B set fire to the chemistry lab, and whether the boiler room was actually haunted, before moving on to families, with Steve telling stories of escapades with his two younger brothers, and then grumbling about their shared workplace, each striving to top the other’s tales of dimwitted colleagues and virtually inedible canteen food. Steve’s shyness evaporated once he got engrossed in the conversation, and he was funny, and observant, with a talent for mimicking voices and mannerisms. Katie tried, however pretty his eyes were, not to stare at his face the whole time, and instead found herself studying his hands - black staining like all the men in the manufacturing departments, from oil and metal dust worked so deep into the skin that you couldn’t wash it off however hard you scrubbed, and long slender fingers that were always moving - pushing his overgrown fringe out of his eyes, fiddling with a cigarette, tapping on the table, tearing the corners off beermats. Three drinks and several packets of peanuts later and they were on to more personal topics - childhood dreams, hopes for the future, and, of course, music, at which point Steve’s twitchy fingers took flight, subconsciously miming chords and riffs as he talked about his favourite players. They were in the middle of discovering a shared love of David Bowie when a group of blokes from the factory walked past on their way to the pool table, and one of them did a double-take. 

“Aye aye, Dreamer’s found a girl!”

“Is this your sister, Steve-o?”

“Bet it’s his cousin - they’re like that in Hillsborough.”

Charlie, bringing up the rear, gave a couple of the young men a good-natured shove, “Come on lads, this might be the only time he’s ever spoken to a woman, don’t ruin it for him.” Still snickering and with some crude hand gestures, the group continued on their way. 

Clutching his forehead and turning pink with embarrassment, Steve apologised, “I am so sorry. I work with a bunch of hooligans.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve been at GEC long enough to know what they’re like. The office girls call your bit of the factory the monkey cage!”

He grimaced. "Sounds about right."

“Why do they call you Dreamer?”

“Because I’m always sleeping when I’m meant to be working.” He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. “And because I want to be a musician and they think that’s a pipe dream.”

“Well that’s very unsupportive of them.”

“Yeah. They’re probably right though,” he mused gloomily.

“No,” she insisted, suddenly fierce, “how dare they try to squash your dreams!” Impulsively she reached over and squeezed his hand. “You’ve got all the time in the world to get there. And you’re already doing it, playing in a band and all.”

Steve’s head was lowered and she followed his gaze to where it rested on their joined hands. Self-consciously she released her grip and moved her hand, not snatching it back but trailing her fingertips across the landscape of tendons and veins. 

“So, what would you like to do now? Another drink, or…?”

Mustering every ounce of courage he possessed, Steve stretched across the table and very lightly touched his fingers to her cheek. “I would like…” She heard him take a quick breath. “To kiss you. But I don’t want to do it with all that lot watching us.”

“Well, I would appreciate a kind gentleman who would walk me to my bus stop.”

“I am at your service, m’lady.”

Conveniently, it turned out that they lived close enough to one another that Steve could catch the same bus as Katie and only have to walk a couple of extra streets. After establishing this plan, the previously easy conversation dried up, stifled by the anticipation hovering in a cloud above their heads. As they walked, their hands occasionally brushed against each other, and they both pretended not to notice. As they rounded the corner and came in sight of the row of bus stops, they saw that there were quite a number of people already waiting there. 

“Oh goody,” muttered Steve under his breath, “another audience.” Looking around quickly, he spotted open gates leading to the yard in front of some factory or warehouse and stepped sideways into the shadowy gateway, inclining his head in an invitation for Katie to follow him. Though not in the habit of following strange men into dark corners, this one somehow seemed irresistible. 

“Sorry, not the most glamorous of locations,” he said with an anxious smile. 

“At least it's private, and doesn't smell bad."

“So…” He looked at her a little sideways, fidgeting his feet. He could feel his heart beating fast and his palms were sweaty. 

“So… I think you said you wanted to do something?” she teased, looking up at him with doe eyes.

Steve stepped closer and reached out a hand, hovering it uncertainly before deciding that her shoulder was a safe place to land it. Katie put her hand on his other arm and tilted her face up expectantly. He leaned down and bestowed a soft, chaste kiss at the corner of her mouth and then waited for a moment, in case she was going to yell ‘bleugh’ and run away - okay that had only happened once, when he was nine, but it had stayed in his mind as a possible outcome ever since. Happily, there was no cry of revulsion, so he lightly brushed his lips across hers before pressing them together. She responded eagerly, and he felt inspired to elaborate, alternating delicate pecks with firmer pressure with pulling her lower lip into the slightest pout to graze the soft inner edge. His kisses were like questions, to her, to himself - do you like that, can I do this, does that feel good? Each move tentative at first and then more ardent as the response was a clear yes! Eventually they reached some kind of natural conclusion, separating with a final clinging pop and little puffs of hot breath.

“Wow…” She blinked, temporarily unable to find any more words.

“Really? I’ve never had a ‘wow’ before.”

“Maybe we should check it wasn’t a fluke?”

The first kiss had brought them closer together and this time Steve dared to put his hands on Katie’s waist. She lifted up on her toes and looped her arms around his neck. This kiss was bolder; Steve’s tongue traced the inner edges of her lips and she parted them and moved her own to meet it with exploratory touches. His hands gripped tighter on her hips, and hers tangled in his hair. 

The increasingly-passionate moment was rudely interrupted when a group of lads passing in the street spotted the canoodling couple and whistled and hooted (honestly, was there nowhere you could go in this city that wasn’t infested with packs of feral boys). Steve, without breaking the embrace, held up his middle finger in their direction. Not really looking where they were going, he started to steer them, Katie shuffling backwards, into the deeper shadows. After a few steps, she bumped into a wall and broke the kiss with a little ‘oof’ of surprise.

“Sorry, I…” Steve started to apologise.

“No, this is good.” She trailed her hands down the front of his jacket and anchored them around his waist, tugging him closer as their lips met again.  

Pressed into each other, and back against the wall, Steve’s knee slipped between hers, bringing their whole bodies into contact. Katie dropped her hands to his bum, and he let out a half-moan, half-sigh that she felt as much as heard. That sound cemented the transformation that had been happening in her head since the previous Friday, turning the dorky kid from the music room into a handsome prince grown man, with warm lips and strong hands and… let’s be honest, a really nice arse. She felt him slip a hand between her blouse and her jacket, up her back and then round to the side, as if he was following the bra band underneath like a map. Hesitantly, he moved his hand to cup the curve of her breast and his thumb brushed over her nipple. Even through two layers of fabric the touch was enough to make her gasp, and Steve reacted by repeating the action deliberately. Eager for skin contact, Katie wriggled her hand under the hem of Steve’s t-shirt, touching her fingers to the curve of his back. But her hands were cold, and her realisation of it, and his involuntary shiver, broke the spell and they both pulled away from the kiss with simultaneous ‘sorry’-s. 

Steve dropped his hand back to Katie’s waist and took a half-step back, forcing himself to create distance between their bodies. He blew out a long breath. “So… that was…”

“That was…” She was still gazing at him with starry eyes.

“I don’t usually…”

“I don’t either…”

“Sorry, too fast…”

“No… maybe…”

He cleared his throat and tried very hard to form a complete sentence. “If I asked you… would you go on a proper date with me? One that’s not groping in doorways?”

“Of course I would.” She smiled, “Though I wouldn’t be too upset if there was a little bit of groping in doorways!”

“Deal!” 

As they were leaving the yard, they almost bumped into a group of older men also, by the jovial laughter and slightly wobbly gait of some of the party, on their way home from a night in the pub. One of the men stopped after a few steps, turned back and scowled at the couple.

“Uh oh, it’s Mr Rafferty, the foreman. Don’t know why he’s got that face on him though, for once I haven’t done anything wrong!”

“Um, it might be because you’re holding his daughter’s hand.”

He dropped her hand like it was molten metal, muttering ‘bloody hell’ under his breath before pasting on an ingratiating smile.

“G-good evening M-mr Rafferty, I was just, err, seeing your Katherine home safe,” he stammered. “But, err, now you’re here, I’ll just say goodnight.”

He bobbed his head in a kind of awkward bow before scuttling off down the street as fast as his guilty feet would carry him. Katie tore her eyes away from his retreating figure and looked up at her father’s still frowning face. She wondered if she had lipstick smeared on her chin.

‘Home’ was all he said.

Chapter 3 >

[eurekaspringshq]

welcome to eureka springs, FINN ELLIS. nick robinson is now taken !! please send us a message within 24 hours to receive the link to the discord.

( nick robinson / 24 / cisman he/him. ) i heard that FINN ELLIS is a TATTOO ARTIST AT A TOUCH OF INK. they have lived in town for THEIR WHOLE LIFE. i also heard that they are extroverted and outgoing but also oblivious and fearless. there’s a rumor they STOLE A LARGE SUM OF MONEY FROM THEIR MOTHER’S BUSINESS AND BLAMED SOMEONE ELSE, but you didn’t hear it from me. ( katie, she/her,23, cst. )

[norsecoyote]

Full track list + Bandcamp links:

The Happy Fits - Hold Me Down The Wrecks - Lone Survivor Delta Rae - Danced Right Out Of My Arms Orville Peck - Daytona Sand Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers - HELP Saint Mesa - Lion Air Traffic Controller - 20 Dessa - Blush MisterWives - Where Do We Go From Here? DEVORA - Fist Fight JD McPherson - LUCKY PENNY Fever Dolls - Gennifer Flowers Charming Disaster - Blacksnake Brandi Carlile - Mama Werewolf Dear Rouge - Facedown Julian Moon - Pomegranate Seeds Parker Millsap - Hades Pleads Gin Wigmore - Man Like That Ivan & Alyosha - Everybody Breaks Jake Wesley Rogers - Dark Bird (St. Lucia Remix) Dead Pony - Bullet Farm Young Rising Sons - SAD (Clap Your Hands) Ellen Winter - Mantras Eric Nally - Ruby Z Berg - All out of Tears molly ofgeography - Bowerbird Honest Men - I'm Okay Chappell Roan - My Kink is Karma Grace Womack - Yellow Cowboy Hat Wild Party - Chasin' Honey Caro Emerald - That Man JJ and The Pillars - Ink & the Ash Ceschi - Middle Earth (feat. Sammus) Lucius - Dance Around It (feat. Brandi Carlile & Sheryl Crow) JOSEPH - Good Luck, Kid Damn the Witch Siren - Claire Danes Animal Sun - girl in blue (remastered) Bitter Ruin - Leather for Hell Jamestown Revival - Crazy World (Judgement Day) Felix Hagan & the Family - Gene Kelly Katie Kuffel - Table Song HOUNDS - Shake Me Up Rocket Surgeons - Horns (Me-Oh-My Mix) Maisie Peters - Psycho niko+ - Ride Magic Sugar Coffee - Dogs The Secret Sisters - Silver Good Lovelies - Made for Rain The Wind and The Wave - Follow Your Heart Around Jackie Venson - When It's Right Sister Sparrow - Ghost Run River North - Wake Up Jessie Ware - Begin Again - Single Edit Muddy Magnolias - Devil's Teeth Kid Sistr - Little Sister Song Whitehorse - Manitoba Bound The New Respects - Hands Up Haunted Like Human - Run Devil Run Avi Kaplan - It Knows Me The Show Ponies - How It All Goes Down Valkyrik - Run Wild I Fight Dragons - The Devil You Know Trousdale - Do Re Mi Jade Bird - Uh Huh Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway - El Dorado Ahli - Pretty Nervous firekid - Die for Alabama K.Flay - Blood In The Cut Della Mae - The Way It Was Before The Modern Electric - All We Have Is Now Jeff Tuohy - Bourbon Street Don McCloskey - First In Flight Dawg Yawp - I Wanna Be A Dawg We Banjo 3 - Light in the Sky Mating Ritual - The Bungalow Rising Appalachia - Cuckoo Josh Ramsay - Blame It On The Beat Maggie Rose - Help Myself Philip Labes - Reasons To Never Date Again Miko Marks and the Resurrectors - Feel Like Going Home Pixie and The Partygrass Boys - Home The Scarlet Opera - Riot The Strike - Devils in the Canyon Devon Cole - Dickhead Autoheart - Lent Greta Isaac - You - Acoustic ZEE MACHINE - FCKSHTUP! Kathleen - Glass Piano CATTY - Deep End Sonny Cleveland - Nowhere Left for You to Run The Orphan The Poet - Feelin' Good (Could Be Better) Juniper Vale - Singing in the Rain CALYPSO - The Exorcist Lights - Voices Carry Burn The Ballroom - Crazy Logan Ledger - (I’m Gonna Get Over This) Some Day Myylo - Being Born Kinda Sucks Ripe - Settling Dorian Electra - Sodom & Gomorrah Paige Keiner & Spencer Jordan - and then you die!

Music: Best of 2023

This year I've been particularly active about trying to find new artists and then exploring their catalogs, and according to Spotify I've hit Like on over 1,000 songs (and purchased over 650, because frankly fuck Spotify). So, around the beginning of December, I thought it would be fun to try and pull together a Best of 2023 playlist, and three weeks later here we are!

These are not by any measures songs that were released in 2023, just songs that I, personally, happened to hear for the first time this year (well, including December 22, so that the playlist spans a full 12 months).

I also gave myself the restriction that I could only use one song by any single artist, which was easily the hardest part of making the list (although I would absolutely have run into different, equally hard choices otherwise). And then, because this is a fundamentally self-indulgent exercise, I dumped a bunch of second tracks by my favorite new artists, and a few other difficult last-minute cuts, into a "B-Side" playlist that's still half the length of the main one.

Anyway, here they are -- hopefully you'll discover something new, too!

(I'll make a second post later with the full playlist text including links to Bandcamp pages where applicable.)

[deucalionsdarcymoved]

CONGRATULATIONS ON NOT BEING KILLED! you’ve successfully made it to camp half blood, a greek demigod training facility located at the north of long island; you may also know it as camp parental issues. directed by the greek god dionysus and heroic figure chiron, the camp is the only safe place for half-bloods thanks to the magical borders keeping creatures out. demigods live in their corresponding parents’ cabin, though by no means are the gods obligated to claim their children as soon as they arrive at camp: there are some who have been overlooked by the gods. they are the UNCLAIMED – they stay in the hermes cabin, god of travellers, desperate to prove themselves worthy to their parents and hoping to find their parents’ glowing symbol above their head when they do.

will you be claimed? is your godly parent one of the twelve olympian gods, or are you perhaps a child of a minor god? with a camp invisible to mortals except ones that can somehow see through the borders, monsters and mortals can not enter unless permitted from the inside. here, you are safe from anything monstrous that intends on hurting you… and here, you will learn the essential skills to SURVIVE.

RULES

this is not a percy jackson group verse, but merely a camp for demigods. feel free to apply even if you haven’t read the books -- canon events from the books/movies don’t exist in this group verse.

please post a few bulletpoints for a bio once you’ve been accepted into the verse -- the only thing absolutely required here is how long they’ve been at camp, whether they’re a summer or year round camper and their relationship with their godly parent. whatever else you add is up to you.

FOR A LAYOUT OF THE CABINS, PLEASE CLICK THIS LINK. please note that hera, hestia and artemis are not eligible as godly parents as they are virgin goddesses; in athena’s case, her children are born in the same way she was.

there’s a limit of 4 canons per person but oc’s don’t count. also, kids of the big 3 are limited to 3 kids each due to their power & the fact that they rule over their own kingdoms. the only exception to this is for canon percy jackson characters that might want to join! i’m sure you can understand due to the 

the official group verse name is GLORY TO THE GODS – the tag for ic starters is gttgic, and the ooc tag for bios etc is gttgooc. please track them both!

if your character is taken and you’d like to join as a twin, please ask the person you’d be related to first. duplicate fc’s will not be allowed unless they’re twins.

this group verse is not first come first serve.

to apply, please submit the following: mun name / character name / character’s age / character’s godly parent if claimed / face claim

darcy deucalion / daughter of athena / carlson young. 17.

luke castellan / son of hermes & cabin counselor / jake abel. 20.

boniface ‘bo’ lacey / son of tyche / river phoenix. 18.

jonathan byers / unclaimed ( hades ) / charlie heaton. 16.

daphne blake / daughter of aphrodite / kat mcnamara. 17.

maya hart / unclaimed ( poseidon ) / sabrina carpenter. 14.

damian hatcher / son of hades / shiloh fernandez. 18.

thalia grace / daughter of zeus / kaya scodelario. 16

katie matlin / daughter of athena / chloe rose. 18.

octavia blake / daughter of ares / marie avgeropoulos. 17.

christina wendall / unclaimed ( athena ) / freya tingley. 15.

bellamy blake / son of ares & cabin counselor / bob morley. 20.

jonathan murphy / son of hades / richard harmon. 18.

cassia watson / daughter of nike / gigi hadid. 18.

stiles stilinski / son of hypnos / dylan o’brien. 18.

april small / daughter of aphrodite & cabin counselor / cara delevigne. 20.

rachel elizabeth dare / ORACLE OF DELPHI / madelaine petsch. 16.

griffin xavier / unclaimed ( nike ) / logan lerman. 15.

allison argent / daughter of nike / crystal reed. 18.

kira yukimura / daughter of zeus / arden cho. 17.

anya woods / daughter of athena & cabin counselor / karen fukuhura. 20.

ontari night / daughter of ares / madison mclaughlin. 16.

aaron grey / son of boreas ( hermes cabin ) / lucky blue smith. 18.

kara kent / daughter of zeus / melissa benoist. 16.

raven reyes / daughter of hephaestus & cabin counselor / lindsey morgan. 19.

casey newton / daughter of aphrodite / britt robertson. 18.

claire novak / daughter of ares / kathryn newton. 18.

clarke griffin / daughter of apollo & cabin counselor / eliza taylor. 18.

erica reyes / daughter of nemesis / gage golightly. 18.

nancy wheeler / daughter of athena / natalia dyer. 18.

sara lance / daughter of nemesis & cabin counselor / caity lotz. 19.

garry ‘eggsy’ unwin / unclaimed ( poseidon ) / taron egerton. 17.

steve harrington / son of apollo / joe keery. 17.

atarah shepard / daughter of nemesis / britne oldford. 16.

kaidan alenko / teacher / alfonso herrera. age n/a.

lucas friar / son of ares / peyton meyer. 17.

john mbege / son of hermes / lucien laviscount. 18.

allison reynolds / daughter of apollo / nicola peltz. 17.

[okay-j-hannah]

Tactless

Harry Potter : Prompt

Fred x Reader

Word Count: 3082

Warnings: heckidy heck heck it’s just so tender 😭 

Request: “Omg your Fred Weasley x reader fics are SO GOOD. Could you please write a Fred x Reader with prompts 18 and 38? Set when they’re still at Hogwarts if that’s okay. Thank you xx” @bnha-sero-hanta​

Prompts: 

18.  “Yes, it’s a questionable line of work, but I’m good at it.”

38.  “I guess I was wrong about you. You’re not so bad after all.”

A/N: Freddie has not been himself lately, and every time you meet something horribly embarrassing happens; what could possibly be making him so shy?

“Isn’t there a way for them to be more discrete about all that inventing nonsense?” (Y/N) questioned, trying to keep her attention on the essay in front of her.

Ginny looked over her shoulder to see her twin brothers broadcasting to a hoard of first years. It made her grimace and return to her quill and ink, “They’re just excited about the joke shop. I don’t blame them – we all want to make a little extra money.”

(Y/N) peered over to see them passing out toffees and sickles to the children, “Experimenting on innocents.”

“Why are you so against them building their career?” Ginny asked her, pushing her parchment aside, “They’re not hurting anyone.”

“Until they do.”

The first years stood around the stocky brothers, watching them explain how their candy worked. (Y/N) slumped in her seat, observing, and biting the inside of her cheek. She may be Ginny’s friend, but that doesn’t mean she has to agree with everything her siblings did.

“Hey, Weasley!” she yelled over, snorting when Fred popped a toffee into his mouth for demonstration.

The twins looked up and it was plain to see the slight fear that entered Fred’s face, his eyes widening. George was holding a bin to his side as he called back, “Yeah?”

“Do you always get children to do your bidding?” She crossed her arms and Fred’s face became pale at her staring at him, before he clutched at George’s bin and raised it to his face. He immediately started to vomit violently.

The first years all reacted audibly, taking several steps back; (Y/N) made a disgusted face, forcing out a scoff.

George thrusted a purple candy into his brother’s hand, evidently frantic to get him out of this awkward situation. And after Fred finished retching in the bin, he returned a strained look towards (Y/N), wiping his lip.

Ginny shook her head, “Tactless,” rolling her eyes.

“Puking Pastilles,” Fred mumbled towards her, swallowing hard, “A – A way to get out of class.”

“Oh, good,” (Y/N) replied, “And subjecting kiddies to this… vomiting exercise, will prove what? That they work?”

It appeared that Fred was lost for words; he may have been cured of the pastille, but he still looked pale and on the verge of being sick again.

“That they work for everyone,” George stated for him, “We’ve… we’ve only tested them on ourselves.”

“Well, I think exhibit A is enough,” she gestured towards Fred as the surrounding first years began returning the candies and sickles. “Joke’s on you, I guess.”

Ginny opened her mouth and smiled at her friend, “Ouch.”

The twins appeared defeated as their testing crowd dispersed. (Y/N) simply returned to her essay and laughed, “No witty comebacks this time.” She raised her eyebrows and felt Ginny’s gaze on her, “What?”

“Nothing,” she muttered, somewhat smiling, “You like to pick on my brothers a lot. I’ve never seen anyone shut them up quite like you do.”

“I’m going to take that as a compliment.”

Ginny nodded slowly and then whispered, “One might think you have an effect on them.”

“What?” (Y/N) set down her quill, splotching her last sentence, “You better be about to say that the only effect I have is in jostling their brains into a little common sense.”

A shrug was what she got in return, “I don’t know… you’re doing something though.” She nudged her head to what was behind her shoulder.

When (Y/N) looked, she noticed that Fred was still staring at her, ashen faced, but he promptly turned his head as George cleared the vomit from the bin with his wand.

“That’s not weird at all.”

It was Ginny’s turn to raise her eyebrows and laugh.

They continued with their homework until lunch where they walked to the Great Hall together, Ginny still acting peculiar about the events that occurred in the common room. It was like she couldn’t start any new topic that didn’t involve Fred’s name in the mix.

By the time they sat at the Gryffindor table, she was starting to get fed up, “Why does it matter so much that I support this joke shop? It’s a reckless line of work that doesn’t guarantee a steady income or good reputation.”

Ginny still avoided answering the complete question, “I can’t have you arguing with my family every time we’re hanging out.” She forked some potatoes as (Y/N) turned full body to her, squinting her eyes.

“You’re not telling me something.”

“What makes you say that?”

(Y/N) bit the inside of her cheek, “You’ve been bringing up your family all day, specifically the twins. Have I offended them in some way? Is your mum disowning me from Christmas dinner?”

“No, no,” she replied, trying to put less suspicion in her tone of voice, “I just… I can’t outright tell you. It’s kind of a special request.”

(Y/N) pushed her plate away, “You’re doing one hell of a job; no one suspects you at all.”

“I never claimed to be a good liar,” she snickered, urging her friend to eat something before quidditch practice. “Just that I have someone’s back in putting a good word in for them.”

“As in… there’s someone that wants to get on my good side?” She observed a platter of gingerbread cakes, selecting a particularly golden brown one.

Ginny took a sip of her pumpkin juice to give herself some time, “Maybe a little further than your good side.”

Taking a bite of the cake, (Y/N) licked her lips of the orange marmalade, “You’ve basically told me already, just give me a name.”

“You’re not gonna like it,” she smiled, giving her friend the eye, until her brows contorted. “(Y/N) – you’re bleeding.”

“Hm?” she swallowed another bite of cake and then felt a dribble run down, over her lips, “What the…”

A voice came running towards them, “No! Don’t eat the gingerbread – oh…” Fred appeared on their side of the bench, his eyes widening at the sight before him, “(Y/N) …”

She clamped a hand over her nose as a continuous stream of blood came flooding through her fingers. Ginny gasped at the realization of what was happening, standing, and pushing her brother.

“Give her the antidote!”

Fred fumbled with his pockets, stuttering, as George ran up behind him, “I’m… oh God – (Y/N) … I’m so sorry.”

She didn’t reply as she tried to stunt the bleeding with nearby napkins. Ginny pulled her hair back as George folded his arms and bit one of his nails.

“The marmalade,” Fred tried to continue, “It… it was another test.”

(Y/N) gave him a narrowed look, “You couldn’t get volunteers, so you decided to plant traps for unsuspecting students?” She sounded clogged up and numb.

Fred tried to unwrap a purple end of a sweet, accidentally dropping it in the process. (Y/N) slapped a hand on her knee in impatience as the blood began dripping off her chin and onto her shirt. Her insides boiled at the complete disregard of consideration.

But she couldn’t help but see the blush threading itself up his neck and to the tips of his ears. It was making his freckles stand out and the terrified look in his gaze. Fred Weasley never looked terrified. He always had a smirk on his face, his eyes were always smiling, and his hands never shook like that.

“Here, take this,” he mumbled, dusting off the purple candy from being on the floor, “It’ll make the bleeding stop.”

She gave him a skeptical look, “Forgive me for seeing that as questionable.”

He swallowed hard, holding the candy out further, “Yes, it’s a questionable line of work, but I’m good at it.”

(Y/N) resigned and stuffed the purple end in her mouth, feeling sudden clarity in her nose. The stream of blood now came in a slow trickle.

“Better?” Fred asked – and his face looked exceptionally genuine. The slant of his brow made her hesitate.

“Yes.” It came out more like a question than a statement, “Thank you.”

He nodded and tried at a painful smile, “I’m sorry about that.”

Ginny punched him in the shoulder, “You should be! My God, what was that?”

“Nosebleed Nougat,” George answered, clearly peering at his brother with the same concern and confusion that (Y/N) was. “Another joke sweet to…”

“Get students out of class,” (Y/N) finished, continuing to wipe her nose. “I still don’t agree with it, you know. And this…” she pointed at the gingerbread cakes, “Is not helping your case.”

Fred looked down at his shoes, “I’m sorry.”

“(Y/N),” Ginny smacked her friend’s shoulder, “Oliver’s calling the team over.”

Oliver Wood, the quidditch captain, was talking to Angelina, Katie, and Harry by the entrance hall. George pulled on his brothers arm, snapping him out of whatever trance distracted him. It looked like he wanted to say something else, maybe apologize further, but George yanked him away, talking to him in hushed tones.

“What is it with your brothers today?” She looked in the back of her water goblet to make sure all the blood was off her nose, “I feel like we’re just meeting under the worst circumstances today.”

“Tell me about it,” Ginny sighed, running a hand through her hair, “I can only do so much.”

(Y/N) stood to meet the team, but paused, “So one of your brothers wants to be on my good side.”

She sucked in her lips and gave her friend a sympathetic gaze, “I did my best, but they’re not exactly pulling their weight.”

“Okay, okay…” (Y/N) muttered, hands on her hips, “So one of the twins wants to… get closer to me – is that how you put it? Which one is it then?”

“Nope, I’m done meddling with other peoples relationships.” Ginny put up her hands, “You need to get to quidditch practice, and I need to finish Flitwick’s essay.”

“I can’t believe that one of your brothers likes me,” (Y/N) suddenly said, awe in her tone. “I’m completely horrible to them.” Ginny shrugged, forcing (Y/N) to continue on with her side of things, “There’s no way… is that why they’re always acting different around me?”

“(Y/N)!” came Oliver’s voice, “If we lose the game with Ravenclaw I’m going to blame your lack of participation in practice.”

She whined under her breath, “We are talking when I get back tonight.”

Ginny put a treacle tart in her mouth before waving and leaving the Great Hall. (Y/N) proceeded to follow the rest of the team down to the quidditch pitch, all along the way noticing how Fred and George appeared to be fighting with each other as they walked.

The pitch was cloudy with a slight breeze and there was still some tension between the twins. Oliver quickly noticed and tried to intimidate the distraction out of them. (Y/N) stayed quiet, observing from a distance, still questioning which one of the brothers supposedly liked her. It still baffled her how it could be possible with how much they argued, especially over something big like their career choice.

“Pull your act together, guys,” Oliver retorted, “We have to beat Ravenclaw with a fifty point lead if we want a shot at the cup.”

Fred shoved George away and laughed, tripping over something. (Y/N) came slowly behind them, finding that something had fallen out of George’s pocket while being pushed. It was a cracked vial of a greenish substance.

“Hey, you dropped something!” she called out, bending over to reach the bottle.

She saw out of the corner of her eye that the twins stopped at the sound of her voice. When they noticed what she was picking up there was panic immediate in their voices.

“(Y/N), don’t touch that!”

But she’d already gotten some of the liquid seeping from the cracked glass onto her fingers. They immediately started burning and bubbling.

“Ah! What is this?” She dropped the vial and tried to rub her fingertips clean, only to spread it onto the rest of her hands. Large angry boils were sprouting from her skin, red and painful.

“It’s undiluted bubotuber pus,” George yelled as they reached her frantic figure. “We were gonna use it for…”

“Nevermind that,” (Y/N) cried, now rubbing her sizzling hands onto her quidditch robes, “How do I make it stop?” She was starting to feel her eyes water with the rising pain.

Fred began his stuttering again, his hands shaking worse than they had at lunch, “You… we have to see Madam Pomfrey.”

Oliver came running over, clear frustration in his gaze, “And why, may I ask, are you three huddled over here ignoring practice?”

“(Y/N) got bubotuber pus on her hands,” Fred stated, helping the girl to her feet, “We need to take her to the hospital wing.”

“No, we can manage practice with only one beater, not zero. You take her; George can stay with the rest of the team. Get that sorted out, (Y/N), preferably before our match this weekend.”

Fred tried to steady his hands as he led the way back to the castle, “(Y/N) … I don’t know what to say.”

She attempted to hide the whimper that wanted to escape, cradling her boil covered hands. It was her turn to remain quiet.

“Everything keeps going wrong today,” he continued, watching her closely from his stance beside her. “I’m so sorry. I want to make it – it right, but…”

“Why won’t they stop burning?” she mumbled, clearly not listening as well as she could be.

Fred frowned, sympathy heavy in his face as he hesitantly, and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “Madam Pomfrey can fix it – George and I have been through the same thing.”

She now couldn’t help the tears that were starting to pool in her eyes, her hands were absolutely killing her.

“You’re going to be alright,” he said quietly, keeping his hand on her back, “You know I really am sorry. You were never supposed to get in the mix of all the experiments.”

They made a steady pace down the corridor and into the hospital wing, getting Madam Pomfrey’s attention quickly. She grabbed a number of potion as Fred led (Y/N) to a bed.

“They’ll feel a lot better after this,” Fred stated, taking a seat beside her, but sitting stick straight and staring at her injured hands.

A tear or two finally leaked onto her cheeks and Fred was itching to comfort her in some way, “Oh, (Y/N) don’t cry! I – this is all my fault.”

She sniffed and tried not to move her hands as she shifted to address Fred.

“You know, I thought you were a complete ass just this morning. But I’ve never seen this side of you.”

He timidly shrugged his shoulders and finally met her eyes, “It seems to only happen when I’m around you.”

(Y/N) started to nod her head, feeling the tears leave uncomfortable tracks down her face. She gave a watery smile and tried to wipe her cheeks on her shoulder.

“Here,” he muttered as he grabbed a handkerchief off the nightstand and held it to her face, “I’ve got it, if that’s okay.”

She gave him a look and contemplated. She noticed that familiar blush creeping up his neck, complimenting his freckles. His eyes became downcast again as he caught her looking at him.

“Sure, thank you.”

It seemed he wasn’t expecting that, but he reached over and wiped away the tear tracks as she peered at him doing so. She could visibly see him swallow hard, that slight fear inching its way onto his features.

“Are you alright?” she asked. “You look a little pink.” She couldn’t help but smirk a little.

Fred licked his lips, “Y-Yeah, you’re just… nevermind.”

“No, you have to tell me!” she smiled despite the pain. “I’ve been trying to figure you out all day and I’m not gonna believe Ginny until you outright say it.”

He flashed his eyes to her, “Ginny told you?”

“I don’t know… what was she supposed to not tell me?”

He turned his gaze to her pulsating hands and shook his head slightly, “You… you have a beautiful smile.” He didn’t wait for a response before he put his face in his hands, “I’m sorry, I know you hate me and what I do. I just… I shouldn’t have said anything.”

There was a major silence between them for a while. Fred subtly scooted away from her bed, intertwining his fingers on his lap. (Y/N) waited as Madam Pomfrey came hurriedly over to apply medicine and bandages to her hands. She felt immensely better afterwards but wished that Fred did too.

He looked like he was really beating himself up over it. It was like his cheeks were permanently stained pink.

“You know what, Fred,” she finally said after the long awkward silence, “I guess I was wrong about you. You’re not so bad after all.”

He could’ve snapped his neck with how fast he turned to look at her, “What?”

“How about this… if you stop experimenting your joke products on first years, then you can take me out in Hogsmeade.”

“But… but I vomited in front of you.”

She nodded her head and admired her bandages.

“And I gave you a nosebleed.”

“Yes, you did.”

“And I got undiluted bubotuber pus on your hands – I put you through pain!”

She raised her eyebrows at him, “Your point being?”

He finally cracked the first smile of the day, “You have every right to hate me. I messed everything up! I should have no chance with you.”

“Just because a few pranks go awry doesn’t mean it’s impossible for us to get along. Be something.”

“Why… why this sudden change of heart?” he was wringing his hands in anticipation, obviously never dreaming this moment would ever happen.

She bit her lip, “I think, for the first time, I’m actually seeing you. The one behind the Weasley twin persona.” That made him smile wider as she added, “I think I like him a lot more than the trivial prankster.”

“You like him?” he practically whispered.

“Now that I think about it,” she hummed, “I may have been a tiny bit in denial.”

The look on his face was almost comical – he appeared to be straining to not smile so broadly, “If you didn’t have mitts for hands, I would very much like to hold one right now.”

She laughed, something that pulled that grin out of him, “Keep it up, Weasley. We’re getting on the right track.”

~~~

Tag List:

@caswinchester2000 @aria253264 @bippity-boppity-boopa @andreasworlsboring101 @oncemorewithfeelingg

Remember to check out my tag list so you’re updated when a fic you like is posted on my blog! Tag List

[pherryt]

Werewolf Winterhawk Fic Recs

By request - I’m sure there’s more out there, here’s what I’ve read and enjoyed so far (plus 2 shorts that I wrote myself) that are currently completed.

Werewolf Au - aka - Actual Shapechanging of some kind

It's Dark and There are Wolves by @lissadiane Rated E, Wordcount 41k

It’s dark and there are wolves howling and the only thing standing between Clint and death by wild beast is the hand he’s got clutching his stomach where his guts are threatening to make an unwelcome appearance.

He really shoulda asked for more details when Natasha called him up and asked him to help Captain America search the Russian countryside for his long lost best friend who'd just tried to kill him in D.C.

The Good Boy Pizza Appreciation Society by yamyamyam Rated E, Wordcount, 16k

When Natasha quits for mysterious reasons, Clint gives up SHIELD for a cabin in the woods and a part-time archery job. This is the life, right? If only the life weren't so lonely. When a dog shows up at his back porch, it's like a dream come true.

Bucky's investigating rumours of a wolf-hunter preying on his pack. Instead he finds an archer who only seems to hunt pizza. What's really going on? And why can't he stop going back for belly rubs?

and when the cold wind's blowing by skoosiepants / @pantstomatch Rated T, Wordcount 7k

When he sees the wolf he thinks fuck it and thinks it’s probably a decent way for a moron like him to die.

or-

Clint gets snowed in with Bucky and his daughter over Christmas.

crying wolf out to the moon by @shatteredhourglass​ Rated T, Wordcount 3,300 

Clint decides it's a good idea to drag Bucky on a road trip on the day of the full moon. Bucky's too weak for Clint to deny him anything, even if it is in fact, a goddamn terrible idea.

a little hell by shatteredhourglass Rated E, Wordcount 7300

The clunky purple hearing aids are new, as are the sweeping, intricate patterns of black and purple ink escaping from under the rolled sleeves of his flannel, but it’s still him. Bucky could identity that soft mess of blond hair in his dreams - does, sometimes, his subconscious remembering that familiar lanky walk and off-kilter smile.

As Bucky stares he catches the belt loop of the girl’s jeans and tugs gently so she’s not in Tony’s face. She rolls her eyes but obeys with an air that suggests she’s just humouring him. A second later he turns and his eyes meet Bucky’s. His lips tilt up into a ghost of a smile, the smile Bucky’s been thinking about for the last two years.

He turns around so he doesn’t have to look.

Hold On To This Feeling by @flawedamythyst​ Rating: M, Wordcount 42k 

Hydra send their Asset to capture a promising young SHIELD agent so they can make him one of their tools, but the mission goes wrong as soon as the Asset recognises Hawkeye's scent.

Change of Pace by Pherryt Rated: T, Wordcount 13k

With Steve's help, Bucky had found himself a cabin in the middle of nowhere, continuing his efforts to relearn who he is and get back in touch with the wolf portion of himself that HYDRA had suppressed for so long. He doesn't expect to find his well deserved peace and quiet invaded by Hawkeye, but if he's honest with himself, Bucky doesn't mind the intrusion all that much.

He just needs to figure out what's wrong, and why Clint's really there.

Winter Puppy by Pherryt Rated: T, Wordcount 3500

Clint wants a dog, but Katie-Kate took Lucky with her to California and Tony and Steve said no.

What's a guy to do?

Lost & Found  by mariana_oconnor / @mariana-oconnor Rated: M, Wordcount 90k  

Clint Barton’s got a bag full of stolen money and a burning desire to stay under the radar. His old friends in the Carnival will be looking for him and they sure as hell won’t be happy. In a desperate attempt to stay off their radar, he ends up in Timely, a small town so far off the beaten track he’s surprised he even found it, and waits for Barney to comes and get him. Because Barney will be coming. Clint knows he will.

But there's something about the town. Maybe it's the strange wolf that watches him from the trees, and the way people finish conversations when he enters a room. Or it could be the bartender, Bucky, who decided to hate him on sight. Something’s going on in this small town, and Clint’s not sure if he’s jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Plus A/B/O

Wolf in the House by barton_lover Rated: M, Wordcount 82k  (note, check tags first)

Given everything that he has seen lately; gods, aliens, fucking Terminator like robots and more, Clint honestly shouldn't be surprised to stare at the large, three legged, white wolf with a silver metal human arm that had a red star on the shoulder dangling from its mouth. He really shouldn’t be surprised. In fact, Steve had called him about a month or two back saying that he and Sam had found Bucky, the supposedly dead best friend then turned ghost assassin Winter Soldier. Course that led to that huge fucking war. Now under house arrest, Clint tried to go to a normal life. Apparently normal was not going to stay with him.

And All My Instincts, They Return - by Politzania / polizwrites Rated E, Wordcount: 11k

As if being an omega lycan SHIELD agent wasn’t tough enough, the anonymous alpha Clint hooked up with for his heat also works for SHIELD and was just assigned as his partner for a challenging mission. Clint doesn’t know whether to blame or thank Coulson.

Bonus: Stucky

Through the Woods by  alby_mangroves / artgroves (artist), VenusMonstrosa (writer) Rated: E, Wordcount 64k (Also, some really freaking gorgeous artwork in here)

There’s a legend in Mansewood, nearly as old as the town itself, about a pack of werewolves that once lived in the forest. They say only one survives; a monstrous and snarling beast with fur like a blizzard and fangs the size of daggers. They say it guards the lands and all creatures in it, and no hunter has faced it and lived to tell the tale.

Steve doesn’t care about any of that. He only wants to know if it prefers T-Bone or ribeye, and would it please stop tracking dirt through his house? He just mopped the floor.

[queertazsecretsanta]

A gift for @katie-lynch-official, created by @aubreylikesgirls!

Some of that good good soulmate AU content for you, I hope you enjoy!! Primarily Blupjeans, with some implied Taakitz in there too.

~~

For as long as she could remember, Lup had had the name “Sildar” inked on the back of her neck. Taako made fun of her for it endlessly, but she thought that he couldn’t say much, not with a name like “Kravitz” on his own skin.

They talked often in those early years about soulmates - wondering what their soulmates were like, where they are, what they were doing. They talked about Taako’s a lot - a black marking meant your soulmate was alive, a white one meant they were either dead or not born yet, but Taako’s mark was gray. 

Neither of them had heard about something like that before, but they also didn’t really have anyone to teach them, about soulmates or anything else.

Time passed.

Taako and Lup grew up, and they succeeded at things - they were smart, and capable, and respected, and when they applied to join the IPRE, and later to join the exclusive mission of the Starblaster, they were accepted both times. The group was unusual, all of them, but Lup frequently found her eyes straying to one of them.

He had introduced himself as “Barry Bluejeans,” but when they had laughed, he had laughed, too, so Lup suspected it might not be his actual name. Barry, maybe, but not Bluejeans. It fit him just a little too well. 

And then the world collapsed, and it was just the seven of them, on a mission to save the multiverse they hadn’t even been sure existed. 

Lup thought she might find her Sildar on one of those new worlds - her ears were always open for his name, and she knew Taako was looking for Kravitz, too.

But, at the same time, she was looking at Barry. Sweet, awkward, funny, intelligent Barry, who made her feel warm, who made her laugh, who was maybe a little too interested in necromancy. He wasn’t her soulmate, her mark said that plainly enough, but there was still something about him that kept drawing her in.

After a few too many cycles, when they were starting to get discouraged, starting to feel like there would never be an end, they landed on a world that seemed to pride itself on status and reputation and propriety. The Light had been found by a wealthy family living in a huge mansion, and Davenport’s attempts to ask for it had gone… poorly.

“They’ll only negotiate with people of similar status to them,” he explained later that afternoon on the ship. “And, well, even if I’m the captain, I’m only a sailor in their eyes.”

“We’ll just have to fake it, then,” Taako said, waving off Davenport’s concern with an easy grin. “We’ve made shit up to get the Light before, I’m sure we can do it again.”

Davenport sighed. “Yes, that’s probably what we’ll have to do. Who do we think will be the most effective at that? I probably can’t go back, since they’ve met me already.”

“I’ll go,” Lup offered, raising a hand. “But I don’t want to talk to these assholes alone.”

“I think,” Barry said, not looking at any of them, “that I could also help.”

Lup raised an eyebrow. Barry wasn’t the theatrical type, and he didn’t usually volunteer for that type of mission.

“You sure about that?” Magnus asked, echoing Lup’s thoughts.

Davenport, though, looked thoughtful. “Yes,” he said, “I think you’ll be able to convince them, Barry, if you’re willing to do it.”

Barry nodded at him, and there was something steely in his eyes, a determination and a willingness to do whatever he had to, that took Lup by surprise.

“Excellent,” Davenport said, clapping his hands together. “Do you two need time to prepare, or are you able to go this evening?”

Lup grinned, deciding to put aside whatever Barry had going on until another day. “Ah, don’t worry about us, Cap’n,” she said, “we’ve got this.”

“Yeah,” Barry said, and his smile was a little bit more strained. “We’ll, uh, be fine.”

~~

“Hey, Lup?” Barry said a little later, as they approached the mansion. “Maybe, uh, let me take the lead on this one.”

Once again, his eyes were determined. “Yeah, okay,” Lup agreed, even though she desperately wanted to ask him what was going on. Now is not the time, she reminded herself. “I’ll just, uh, try to follow whatever you do.”

Barry nodded and took a breath, bracing himself before they walked up to the door and knocked.

As soon as a servant opened the door, Lup saw an immediate change in Barry. They had both dressed in some of their nicest clothes for this meeting, Barry even setting aside the jeans. He had looked awkward and uncomfortable in them, but she watched him straighten up and tighten his jaw, immediately looking like he belonged not only in the nice clothes, but in a house just like the one they stood in front of.

“Good evening,” he said, and there wasn’t a trace of nervousness in his voice. “We’ve come to inquire about the artifact this family recently acquired.”

The servant glanced between the two of them, and Lup did her best to match Barry’s pose and demeanor. It worked, apparently, because the young man nodded and led them inside. “I’ll go get Mrs. Willoughby,” he said, scampering off into the house and leaving them standing in a large sitting room.

“What is going on,” Lup hissed, unable to let everything Barry was doing slide without comment.

“I’ll explain everything later, I promise,” he said, smiling tightly at her. “Just… just roll with this, please.”

Before Lup had the chance to respond, a woman walked into the room, tall and regal and carrying the Light in her hands. “Welcome,” she said, nodding at both of them. “It seems word has gotten around, as you are the second people to come to me seeking this item today.”

Barry lowered his head in a half-bow at her, and Lup mimicked him. “You must be Mrs. Willoughby,” he said, smiling at her. “It’s wonderful to meet you.”

“And who might you be?” she asked, and Lup felt her heart drop.

They hadn’t discussed code names, and there was no way Barry Bluejeans was going to get them in this woman’s good graces.

Barry, though, didn’t seem phased. “My name,” he said, “is Sildar Hallwinter, and this is my partner, Lup.”

The world seemed to slow to a stop around her. Sildar. What were the odds that Barry would choose Sildar as a code name, and how had he thought of it so quickly? He didn’t know what her soulmark said - that was private information, only Taako knew hers, and she didn’t think any of the other crew members knew each other’s marks. So why…

Barry negotiated with the woman, Mrs. Willoughby, for a few minutes, but Lup wasn’t conscious of most of it. She smiled and nodded when it felt appropriate, followed Barry’s lead, and at the end, when they were walking away with the Light in his hands, she couldn’t quite remember how they had acquired it.

She was walking as if in a haze, and Barry obviously noticed, because he pulled her to a stop as soon as they were out of sight of the mansion. “Hey,” he said, “are you… okay?”

“Um, what do you mean?” she asked, trying to break free of the fog. It was a coincidence, just a weird coincidence, nothing to get worked up about. 

“You just seem a little… I don’t know, spaced out?” Barry said, rubbing the back of his neck, embarrassed. He was slouching again, and Lup found some comfort in that. “I know that was a little weird, and I’m sorry for not preparing you, but I don’t really… like doing that.”

“You were incredible, though,” Lup said, managing a grin at him. “You’re not an actor, though, so how…?”

Barry laughed a little, ducking his head. “Well, again, I don’t really like admitting it, but that’s… that’s how I grew up. In a house like that, with people like that.”

“Oh,” Lup breathed, and she could feel her heartbeat quickening.

“Yeah,” Barry shrugged. “The Hallwinters were a bunch of rich assholes, so I separated myself from them as soon as I could.” He laughed again. “Can you blame me for changing my name, though? Barry Bluejeans might be a bit of a laugh, but it’s miles better than Sildar Hallwinter, right?”

It was his real name. Barry’s name was Sildar.

Barry was her soulmate.

“Oh my god,” Lup said, her face heating up and a grin stretching across her face. “This is ridiculous, Barry, you are ridiculous.”

Barry blinked at her. “What?”

“Gods, I hope you were just too shy to say something,” she said, and then turned around and lifted up her hair, revealing the black writing at the base of her skull. “Fuckin Sildar, dude!”

She heard Barry’s sharp intake of breath, and when she turned back to face him, his eyes were wide and his cheeks were bright red. “Oh,” he said, “I, uh, didn’t realize that that might happen.”

“Don’t leave me hanging here,” Lup said, still grinning, her heart practically beating out of her chest.

Barry jumped. “Oh, right,” he said, and pulled his shirt away from his collarbone, where Lup was inked in small, black letters.

“You were just too shy to say something!” Lup said, practically shouting now, throwing her arms into the air. “Do you know how hard it was, looking for this Sildar when I just wanted it to be you?”

Barry hadn’t stopped looking at her with those wide eyes. “You… wanted it to be me?”

“Hell yeah I did,” Lup said, taking a step forward and putting a hand on his cheek. “Barry Bluejeans, Sildar Hallwinter, whoever the fuck you are, I am glad that you’re my soulmate.”

“Yeah,” Barry said, a smile finally creeping its way onto his face, “I’m glad, too.”

[tothemattresses]

2020 Reading Challenge - E-Book Edition!

According to Amazon, I have exactly 294 e-books currently sitting in my Kindle library. 

Granted, some of these books have been read and are being saved for a second (or third, or fourth) re-read, but when it comes down to it, that number is around 40 books, give or take. 

Which means I still have over 250 books that need to be read. 

And it’s not like I haven’t tried! There are plenty of titles that, when opened up, will go to the last place I left off - that being chapter 5, or maybe chapter 10. But sometimes life gets in the way. Or a sudden interest in another author. Or a new season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. But whatever the reason may be, it’s over 250 books that haven’t been read. Challenge accepted! 

For 2020, I commit to not buying any new books to add to my Kindle library (checking out books from the library is ok, because you’ve gotta support your local library!), and instead focus on the books I already have. So no addition of 99 cent books, or Kindle Unlimited books, or books that are suddenly 75% off. Only the books that I currently have. 

As the reading commences, and after the book is finished, I’ll update my list to indicate what has been completed, along with the date purchased, and a short review (or a reason I just couldn’t finish it at all). 

Below is the list for future reference - and to clarify my what my favorite genre is. Spoiler: it’s romance novels. 

Here we go!

Adulting: How to Become a Grown-up in 535 Easy(ish) Steps – Kelly Williams Brown

An Affair with Mr. Kennedy (Gentlemen of Scotland Yard) – Jillian Stone

All About Love (Cynster Book 6) – Stephanie Laurens

All Afternoon with a Scandalous Marquess: A Lords of Vice Novel – Alexandra Hawkins

Almost a Scandal: A Reckless Brides Novel (The Reckless Brides Book 1) – Elizabeth Essex

Alpha – Jasinda Wilder

A Duke’s Guide to Seducing His Bride (Chase Family Series- The Jewels Book 4) – Lauren Royal

The American Heiress: A Novel – Daisy Goodwin

When an Earl Meets a Girl (Chase Family Series- The Jewels Book 1) – Lauren Royal

The Andy Cohen Diaries: A Deep Look at a Shallow Year – Andy Cohen

Angel in a Devil's Arms: The Palace of Rogues – Julie Anne Long

Angel in Scarlet: A Bound and Determined Novel – Lavinia Kent

Anything He Wants & Castaway – Sara Fawkes

The Astronaut Wives Club – Lily Koppel

At Any Price: A Billionaire Virgin Auction Romance (Gaming the System Book 1) – Brenna Aubrey

At Any Turn: A Billionaire Romance (Gaming the System Book 2) – Brenna Aubrey

At Your Pleasure – Meredith Duran

The Awakening of Ivy Leavold (Markham Hall Book 1) – Sierra Simone

Badd Motherf*cker (The Badd Brothers Book 1) – Jasinda Wilder

Bare Ass in Love (Hard, Fast, and Forever Book 1) – Sasha Burke

Because of Miss Bridgerton: A Bridgertons Prequel (Rokesbys Series Book 1) – Julia Quinn

The Bed and the Bachelor (Byrons of Braebourne Book 5) – Tracy Anne Warren

Betrayal (Infidelity Book 1) – Aleatha Romig

Beware That Girl – Teresa Toten

Beyond Scandal and Desire: A Sins for All Seasons Novel – Lorraine Heath

The Big Bad Office Wolf (Kings of the Tower Book 1) – May Sage

Bittersweet (True North Book 1) – Sarina Bowen

Blame It on Bath: The Truth About the Duke – Caroline Linden

Bound by Your Touch – Meredith Duran

The Bride (Lairds' Fiancees Book 1) – Julie Garwood

Bridget Jones's Diary: A Novel – Helen Fielding

Burn (The Breathless Trilogy Book 3) – Maya Banks

Burning Offer (Trevor's Harem Book 1) – Aubrey Parker

Captivated by You (Crossfire, Book 4) – Sylvia Day

Captive of Sin – Anna Campbell

Cash: A Power Players Stand-Alone Novel – Cassia Leo

Catch a Wave: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson – Peter Ames Carlin

Catching Sin (Las Vegas Sin Book 2) – J. Saman

Catholicism For Dummies – John Trigilio

A Certain Age: A Novel – Beatriz Williams

Chasing Lady Amelia: Keeping Up with the Cavendishes – Maya Rodale

Checkmate: This is War (Travis & Viola, #1) (Checkmate Duet) – Kennedy Fox

Claiming the Courtesan (Avon Romantic Treasures) – Anna Campbell

Collide: Book One in the Collide Series – Gail McHugh

The Controversial Princess (The Smoke & Mirrors Duology Book 1) – Jodi Ellen Malpas

Crave: A Billionaire Bachelors Club Novel (Billionaire Bachelors Club Series Book 1) – Monica Murphy

Dating You / Hating You – Christina Lauren

Deal with the Devil (Forge Trilogy Book 1) – Meghan March

Desperate Duchesses – Eloisa James

Desperate to Touch (Hard to Love Book 2) – W. Winters

Destiny – Sally Beauman

Devil's Daughter: The Ravenels meet The Wallflowers – Lisa Kleypas

Dirty Sexy Inked (A Dirty Sexy Novel Book 2) – Carly Phillips

Dirty Sexy Saint (A Dirty Sexy Novel Book 1) – Carly Phillips

Double Down: Game Change 2012 – Mark Halperin

The Duchess Diaries: The Bridal Pleasures Series – Jillian Hunter

The Duchess Hunt (House of Trent Book 1) – Jennifer Haymore

The Duke and I (Bridgertons Book 1) – Julia Quinn

The Duke Is Mine (Fairy Tales Book 3) – Eloisa James

Duke of Scandal (Moonlight Square, Book 1) – Galen Foley

The Duke of Shadows – Meredith Duran

Duke of Sin (Maiden Lane Book 10) – Elizabeth Hoyt

The Duke's Holiday (The Regency Romp Trilogy Book 1) – Maggie Fenton

Dusk with a Dangerous Duke: A Lords of Vice Novel – Alexandra Hawkins

Edenbrooke: A Proper Romance – Julianne Donaldson

Elite (Elite Doms of Washington Book 1) – Elizabeth SaFleur

Entwined with You (Crossfire, Book 3) – Sylvia Day

Everything Is Perfect When You're a Liar – Kelly Oxford

The Fall of Legend (Legend Trilogy Book 1) – Meghan March

The Fight for Forever (Legend Trilogy Book 3) – Meghan March

A Fine Imitation: A Novel – Amber Brock

The Fix Up – Kendall Ryan

Flowers from the Storm – Laura Kinsale

For Everly – Raine Thomas

For the Earl's Pleasure – Anne Mallory

For the Record – K.A. Linde

Gabriel's Inferno (Gabriel's Inferno Trilogy Book 1) – Sylvain Reynard

Gabriel's Rapture (Gabriel's Inferno Trilogy Book 2) – Sylvain Reynard

Gabriel's Redemption (Gabriel's Inferno Trilogy Book 3) – Sylvain Reynard

Going Down Easy (Billionaire Bad Boys Book 1) – Carly Phillips

A Good Debutante's Guide to Ruin: The Debutante Files (The Debutante Files Series Book 1) – Sophie Jordan

Good Girl: A Rockstar Romance (Wicked Book 1) – Piper Lawson

The Good Luck Charm – Helena Hunting

Grayson's Vow – Mia Sheridan

Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian (Fifty Shades of Grey Series Book 4) – E.L. James

Hard As Stone: Heart of Stone Series #8 – K.M. Scott

Hard to Love – W. Winters

The Hardest Fall – Ella Maise

Hating The Boss – Natalie Wrye

The Heir (Windham Book 1) – Grace Burrowes

Heiress in Love: A Ministry of Marriage Novel (The Ministry of Marriage Book 1) – Christina Brooke

Heiress Without A Cause (Muses of Mayfair Book 1) – Sara Ramsey

Hello Stranger: The Ravenels, Book 4 – Lisa Kleypas

Her Forbidden Love Match (A Willow Cove Novel, #1) – Theresa Paolo

Her Husband's Harlot (Mayhem in Mayfair Book 1) – Grace Callaway

Hidden Gabriel: Formerly Winter Peril (Hidden Alphas Book 1) – Victoria Pinder

Highland Surrender – Tracy Brogan

Highlander Betrayed (Guardians of the Targe Book 1) – Lauren Wittig

His Favorite Mistress: A Novel (The Mistress Trilogy Book 3) – Tracy Anne Warren

His Virgin: A First Time Romance (His and Hers Book 1) – Vivian Wood

Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling – Bret Hart

Hollywood Dirt – Alessandra Torre

Hollywood on Tap (Sweet Salvation Brewery) – Avery Flynn

The Hotel – Lola Darling

House of Scarlett (Legend Trilogy Book 2) – Meghan March

How a Lady Weds a Rogue: A Falcon Club Novel – Katharine Ashe

How to Marry a Duke Vicky Dreiling

How to Ravish a Rake – Vicky Dreiling

How to Seduce a Scoundrel – Vicky Dreiling

If He's Wicked (Wherlocke Book 1) – Hannah Howell

The Imperfectionists: A Novel – Tom Rachman

In the Arms of a Marquess (Rogues of the Sea Book 3) – Katherine Ashe

In the Unlikely Event – L.J. Shen

In Total Surrender – Anne Mallory

An Irresistible Temptation (The Cavallo Brothers Book 2) – Elsa Winckler

It Had to Be You (Chicago Stars Book 1) – Susan Elizabeth Philips

It Happened One Midnight: Pennyroyal Green Series – Julie Anne Long

It Started with a Scandal: Pennyroyal Green Series – Julie Anne Long

It's Not You: 27 (Wrong) Reasons You're Single – Sara Eckel

Just Roll With It (A Perfect Dish Book 4) – Tawdra Kandle

Kaleidoscope Hearts (A brother's best friend romance) – Claire Contreras

The Kingmaker (All the King's Men Duet Book 1) – Kennedy Ryan

Lady of Desire (Knight Miscellany Book 4) – Gaelen Foley

The Last Arrow (The Medieval Trilogy Book 3) – Marsha Canham

The Last Summer – Judith Kinghorn

Lead by Example: 50 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Results – John Baldoni

The Legend of Lyon Redmond: Pennyroyal Green Series – Julie Anne Long

Legend (The REAL series Book 6) – Katy Evans

Let's Do It: A Journey's End Novel – Ann Christopher

Life with My Sister Madonna – Christopher Ciccone

Lily and the Duke (Sex and the Season Book 1) – Helen Hardt

Lord of Scoundrels – Loretta Chase

Losing It – Cora Carmack

Lost Without You (The Debt Book 1) – Molly O’Keefe

A Loving Scoundrel: A Malory Novel (Malory-Anderson Family Book 7) – Johanna Lindsey

Luck Is No Lady (Fallen Ladies Book 1) – Amy Sandas

Lucky (Elite Doms of Washington Book 4) – Elizabeth SaFleur

A Mackenzie Clan Gathering (Mackenzies Series) – Jennifer Ashley

Mad About the Earl: A Ministry of Marriage Novel (The Ministry of Marriage Book 2) – Christina Brooker

Maid for the Billionaire (Book 1) (Legacy Collection) – Ruth Cardello

A Man Above Reproach – Evelyn Pryce

Manwhore (The Manwhore Series Book 1) – Katy Evans

Marriage For One – Ella Maise

Masques of Gold (Casablanca Classics Book 0) – Robert Gellis

Melt For Him (Fighting Fire Book 2) – Lauren Blakely

Midnight Angel (Stokehursts Book 1) – Lisa Kleypas

Midnight Pleasures With a Scoundrel (Scoundrels of St. James Book 4) – Lorraine Heath

Mine (The REAL series Book 2) – Katy Evans

Mine Till Midnight (Hathaways Book 1) – Lisa Kleypas

Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel (Beau Monde Book 1) – Samantha Grace

More Than Charming (Book 3 Dashing Nobles Series) – JoMarie DeGioia

The Most to Lose (The Redeemed series Book 1) – Laura Landon

Mr. Corporate (The Mister Series Book 3) – JA Huss

Mr Imperfect: Lost Boys #1 – Karina Bliss

Mr. Mysterious (The Mister Series Book 4) – JA Huss

Mr. Romantic (The Mister Series Book 2) – JA Huss

My Lady, My Lord: A Twist Series Novel – Katherine Ashe

My Notorious Gentleman (Inferno Club Book 6) – Gaelen Foley

My Reckless Surrender – Anna Campbell

My Ruthless Prince (Inferno Club Book 4) – Gaelen Foley

My Scandalous Viscount (Inferno Club Book 5) – Gaelen Foley

The Nearness of You – Iris Morland

Never a Mistress, No Longer a Maid (Kellington Book 1) – Maureen Driscoll

Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro

No Good Duke Goes Unpunished: The Third Rule of Scoundrels (Rules of Scoundrels Book 3) – Sarah MacLean

No Mistress of Mine: An American Heiress in London – Laura Lee Guhrke

A Notorious Countess Confesses: Pennyroyal Green Series – Julie Anne Long

Notorious Pleasures (Maiden Lane Book 2) – Elizabeth Hoyt

Once a Soldier (Rogues Redeemed Book 1) – Mary Jo Putney

Once More, My Darling Rogue (Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James Book 2) – Lorraine Heath

One Last Time – Corinne Michaels

One Night in London: The Truth About the Duke – Caroline Linden

One Taste (The "One" Series Book 1) – K.A. Berg

One with You (Crossfire Series Book 5) – Sylvia Day

Only With Your Love (Vallerands Book 2) – Lisa Kleypas

The Paris Wife: A Novel – Paula McLain

Party Animals: A Hollywood Tale of Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll Starring the Fabulous Allan Carr – Robert Hofler

Perfect (Elite Doms of Washington Book 3) – Elizabeth SaFleur

The Phantom of the Opera – Gaston Leroux

The Pleasure of Your Kiss – Teresa Medeiros

Prince of Dreams (Stokehursts Book 2) – Lisa Kleypas

Princes at War: The Bitter Battle Inside Britain's Royal Family in the Darkest Days of WWII – Deborah Cadbury

The Princess and the Peer (The Princess Brides series Book 1) – Tracy Anne Warren

Princess Charming: A Legendary Lovers Novel – Nicole Jordan

Pulse: Book Two in the Collide Series – Gail McHugh

A Rake's Midnight Kiss (Sons of Sin Book 2) – Anna Campbell

Reason to Wed (The Distinguished Rogues Book 7) – Heather Boyd

The Rebel Queen (The Rebel Queen Duet Book 2) – Jeana E. Mann

Refining Felicity (The School for Manners Series Book 1) – M.C. Beaton

Reflected in You (Crossfire, Book 2) – Sylvia Day

The Revenge of Lord Eberlin (The Secrets of Hadley Green) – Julia London

Ripped (The REAL series Book 5) – Katy Evans

Rock Me (Bodyguard Bad Boys Book 1) – Carly Phillips

Rogue (The REAL series Book 4) – Katy Evans

The Royal Arrangement (The Rebel Queen Duet Book 1) – Jeana E. Mann

Royally Bad (Bad Boy Royals Book 1) – Nora Flite

The Rule Book (Rule Breakers 1) – Jennifer Blackwood

The Scandal in Kissing an Heir: At the Kingsborough Ball – Sophie Barnes

Scandal Wears Satin (The Dressmakers Series Book 2) – Loretta Chase

A Scoundrel by Moonlight (Sons of Sin Book 4) – Anna Campbell

Seduced By A Scoundrel – Olivia Drake

The Seduction of Lady X – Julia London

The Seduction of Lord Stone (Dashing Widows) – Anna Campbell

Shattered With You (Stark Security Book 1) – J. Kenner

The Shoemaker's Wife: A Novel – Adriana Trigiani

Shutdown Player: Game On in Seattle (Seattle Sockeyes Book 7) – Jami Davenport

Signed (The Agency Series) – Marni Mann

A Single Glance (Irresistible Attraction Book 1) W. Winters

A Single Kiss (Irresistible Attraction Book 2) – W. Winters

A Single Touch (Irresistible Attraction Book 3) – W. Winters

The Six Wives of Henry VIII – Alison Weir

The Sleeping Beauty Trilogy (A Sleeping Beauty Novel) – A.N. Roquelaure

The Soldier (Windham Book 2) – Grace Burrowes

The Stolen Mackenzie Bride (Mackenzies Series Book 8) – Jennifer Ashley

The Studying Hours: How to Date a Douchebag – Sara Ney

Suddenly You – Lisa Kleypas

Summer Heat: A Storm Inside Novel (The Wild Pitch Series Book 1) – Alexis Anne

A Summer Seduction (Legend of St. Dwynwen Book 2) – Candace Camp

Tangled Beauty (Tangled, Book 1) – K.L. Middleton

Tank (Blue-Collar Billionaires Book 1) – M. Malone

Tempt the Devil – Anna Campbell

Tempted to Kiss (Hard to Love Book 3) – W. Winters

That Woman: The Life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor – Anne Sebba

Thief of Shadows (Maiden Lane Book 4) – Elizabeth Hoyt

This Man (A This Man Novel Book 1) – Jodi Ellen Malpas

This Side of Paradise – F. Scott Fitzgerald

Three Nights of Sin – Anne Mallory

Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood – William J. Mann

To Beguile a Beast (Legend of the Four Soldiers series Book 3) – Elizabeth Hoyt

To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee

To Seduce a Sinner (Legend of the Four Soldiers series Book 2) – Elizabeth Hoyt

To Taste Temptation (Legend of the Four Soldiers series Book 1) – Elizabeth Hoyt

Too Distracting (The Lewis Cousins Book 3) – Bethany Lopez

Too Wicked to Kiss (Scoundrels & Secrets Book 1) – Erica Ridley

The Trouble With Being a Duke: At the Kingsborough Ball – Sophie Barnes

The Trouble with Dukes (Windham Brides Book 1) – Grace Burrowes

Troubles (Beekman Hills) – K.C. Enders

Truth or Beard: Enemies to Lovers Small Town Romantic Comedy (Winston Brothers Book 1) – Penny Reid

Twilight with the Infamous Earl: A Lords of Vice Novel – Alexandra Hawkins

Undisputed: How to Become the World Champion in 1,372 Easy Steps – Chris Jericho

Untouchable (Elite Doms of Washington Book 2) – Elizabeth SaFleur

Untouched – Anna Campbell

Victoria Victorious: The Story of Queen Victoria (Queens of England Book 3) – Jean Plaidy

The Viscount's Wicked Ways – Anne Mallory

Wallbanger (The Cocktail Series Book 1) – Alice Clayton

The Way to a Duke's Heart: The Truth About the Duke – Caroline Linden

We Two: Victoria and Albert: Rulers, Partners, Rivals – Gillian Gill

Well Hung (Big Rock Book 3) – Lauren Blakely

What a Duke Dares (Sons of Sin Book 3) – Anna Campbell

What Color Is Your Parachute? 2019: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers – Richard N. Bolles

When a Duke Loves a Woman: A Sins for All Seasons Novel – Lorraine Heath

When the Duke Found Love (The Wylder Sisters Book 3) – Isabella Bradford

Where Good Girls Go to Die: A Second Chance Romance (The Good Girls Series Book 1) – Holly Renee

Wicked Becomes You – Meredith Duran

Wicked in Your Arms: Forgotten Princesses – Sophie Jordan

Wicked Intentions (Maiden Lane Book 1) – Elizabeth Hoyt

Written on Your Skin – Meredith Duran

[zoesmultifandomblog]

Monster High Character Theme Songs;

1. Frankie Stein - Electricity by Ashley Jana

2. Draculaura - Best Friend's Brother by Victoria Justice

3. Clawdeen Wolf - She-Wolf by Shakira

4. Cleo de Nile - Stranger by Hilary Duff

5. Nefera de Nile - Sexy Naughty Bitchy Me by Tata Young

6. Spectra Vondergeist - Tell Me Something I Don't Know by Selena Gomez & The Scene

7. Howleen Wolf - Popular (from Wicked) by Kristen Chenoweth

8. Clawd Wolf - Dynamite by Taio Cruz

9. Deuce Gorgon - All-Star by Smash Mouth

10. Scarah Screams - Wide Awake by Katy Perry

11. Jackson Jekyll - Problem by Becky G

12. Holt Hyde - Fire Burning by Sean Kingston

13. Gillington "Gil" Webber - Drowning by the Backstreet Boys

14. Lagoona Blue - Queen Of The Waves by Barbie

15. Lorna McNessie - Brave by Sara Bareilles

16. Kiyomi Haunterly - Clarity by Zedd

17. Porter Geiss - Turn Down For What by DJ Snake feat; Lil Jon

18. River Styxx - Party Poison by My Chemical Romance

19. Sirena Von Boo - Daydreamin' by Ariana Grande

20. Jinafire Long - Gold by Britt Nicole

21. Heath Burns - Burnin' Up by the Jonas Brothers

22. C.A. Cupid - Love You Like A Love Song by Selena Gomez & The Scene

23. Operetta Phantom - Bad Reputation by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts

24. Twyla Boogie - Heart Attack by Demi Lovato

25. Skelita Calaveras - Hips Don't Lie by Shakira feat; Wyclef Jean

26. Rochelle Goyle - Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding

27. Abby Bominable - Hot n Cold by Katy Perry

28. Toralei Stripe - Va Va Voom by Nicki Minaj

29. Vandala Doubloons - Hurricane by Bridgit Mendler

30. Robecca Steam - Titanium by Sia

31. Ivana Sukurblud (OC) - Zombie by The Cranberries

32. Gigi Grant - Genie In A Bottle by Christina Aguilera

33. Whisp Grant - Dark Side by Kelly Clarkson

34. Catty Noir - Ordinary Girl by Clique Girlz

35. Ghoulia Yelps - Game Over by Alexa Vega

36. Meowlody and Purrsephone - Cheetah Sisters by the The Cheetah Girls

37. Gooliope Jellington - All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor

38. Amanita Nightshade - #Selfie by The Chain Smokers

309. Astranova - E.T. (Kanye West; Unedited Version) by Katy Perry feat; Kanye West

40. Elle Eedee - Lights (Dubstep remix) by Ellie Goulding

41. Catrine Demew - Worth It by Fifth Harmony feat; Kid Ink

42. Bonita Femur - Wings by Little Mix

43. Clawdia Wolf - Dear Future Husband by Meghan Trainor

44. Elissabat - Fancy by Iggy Azalea

45. Honey Swamp - Almost There by Anika Noni Rose

46. Jane Boolittle - Roar by Katy Perry

47. Desiryee Grimm (OC) - Find Yourself In You by Everlife

48. Marisol Coxi - Shoot The Moon by Clique Girlz

49. Slow Moe - Slow Down (Chew Fu remix) by Selena Gomez

50. Viperine - Shake It Off by Taylor Swift

51. Venus McFlytrap - Part Of Me by Katy Perry

52. Wydowna Spider - Black Widow by Rita Ora feat; Iggy Azalea

53. Mousecedes King - Turn Me On by Nicki Minaj

54. Madison Fear - Afraid by Vanessa Hudgens

55. Luna Mothews - Butterfly Kisses by Westlife

56. Iris Clops - One Last Time (Piano Version) by Ariana Grande

57. Invisi Billy - Ghost by Mystery Skulls

58. Gilda Goldstag - What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction

59. Casta Fierce - Trap of Love by the New Hex Girls

60. Avea Trotter - Falling Over Me by Demi Lovato

61. Garrott DuRoque - Happy by Pharrell Williams

62. Neighthan Rot - It Will Rain by Bruno Mars

63. Stefani Clawston (OC) - Monster by Lady Gaga

64. Ariana Screech (OC) - Love Me Harder by Ariana Grande feat; The Weeknd

65. Liliana Screams (OC) - Freak The Freak Out by Victoria Justice

66. Cana Bullah (OC) - Cannibal by Ke$ha

67. Harry Bile (OC) - Save You Tonight by One Direction

68. Teila Stiff (OC) - Style by Taylor Swift

69. Icktoria Muskice (OC) - Beggin' On Your Knees by Victoria Justice

70. Cringett Deadler (OC) - Forgot To Laugh by Bridgit Mendler

71. Deadgan Fainter (OC) - Lips Are Movin' by Meghan Trainor

72. Dewley Bondkinston (OC) - Illusion by One Direction

73. Pain Pailstick (OC) - Where Do Broken Hearts Go by One Direction

74. Vile Bo Ren (OC) - Steal My Girl by One Direction

75. Beim Pang (OC) - Half A Heart by One Direction

76. Deadman Bofine (OC) - Animals by Maroon 5

77. Scatty Ferry (OC) - Firework by Katy Perry

78. Stealthy Faust (OC) - Back In Black by AC/DC

79. K.C. Hunt (OC) - Teenagers by My Chemical Romance

80. Lucy Superstitious (OC) - Livin' La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin

81. Serena Rottenberg (OC) - Can't Blame A Girl For Trying by Sabrina Carpenter

82. Kieran Valentine - Break Your Heart by Taio Cruz

83. Johnny Spirit - Devil Went Down To Georgia by The Charlie Daniels Band

84. Victor "Sparky" Frankenstein - This Song Is A Curse by Frank Iero

85. Gory Fangtell - The Middle Of Starting Over by Sabrina Carpenter

86. Manny Taur - Can't Hold Us by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

87. HooDude Voodoo - Voodoo by Godsmack

88. Destiny Spook (O.C.) - That's What You Get by Paramore

89. Desiree Grimm (O.C.) - Let The Flames Begin by Paramore

90. Dallas Evil (O.C.) - Immortals by Fall Out Boy

91. Ishtar de Nile (O.C.) - Dark Horse by Katy Perry feat; Juicy J

92. Diana Catastrophe (O.C.) - Something's Gotta Give by All Time Low

93. Seth "Pharaoh" Ptolemy - Not Afraid by Eminem

94. Kjertsi Trollson - The Game is Over by *Nsync

95. Frets Quartzmane - Nightmare by Miley Cyrus

96. Finnegan Wake - Surfin' USA by the Beach Boys

97. Alana Bloodfierce (O.C.) - Perfect by Simple Plan

98. Adella Bloodrage (O.C.) - Nobody's Home by Avril Lavigne

99. Sofia Sharpeye (O.C.) - Damaged by Danity Kane

100. Aery Evenfall - Skyfall by Adele

101. Fawntine Fallowheart - A Forest by The Cure

102. Penepole Steamtail - Steam Machine by Daft Punk

103. Pyxis Prepstockings - Claire De Lune by Claude Debussy

104. Skyra Bouncegait - Fight Song by Rachel Platten

105. Bay Tidechaser - Kokomo by The Beach Boys

106. Isi Dawndancer - Only You by Yazoo

107. Batsy Claro - Supersonic by Oasis

108. Ari Hauntington - Ghost by Ella Henderson

109. Moanica D'Kay - Zombie by Bad Wolves

**The ones that say "(O.C.)" in both my Ever After High character theme song list as well as on the Monster High Character Theme song list are characters made by me or someone that I know and those songs were specifically picked for them. So please don't change the songs of any of the O.C.s

Thank You

[eurekaspringshq]

welcome to eureka springs, FINN ELLIS. NICK ROBINSON is now taken !! please send us a message within 24 hours to receive the link to the discord.

( nick robinson / 24 / cisman he/him. ) i heard that FINN ELLIS is a TATTOO ARTIST AT A TOUCH OF INK. they have lived in town for THEIR WHOLE LIFE. i also heard that they are extroverted and outgoing but also oblivious and fearless. there’s a rumor they STOLE A LARGE SUM OF MONEY FROM THEIR MOTHER'S BUSINESS AND BLAMED SOMEONE ELSE, but you didn’t hear it from me. ( katie, she/her,23, cst. ) **One of the Ellis Twins :)

[fuck-customers]

Pinpads

The amount of sheer stupidity we have to deal with on a daily basis when it comes to that one simple function - inserting your card into the pinpad - is absurd. Now I can't blame this one entirely on the customers - like all of our store's ancient, obsolete, haven't-updated-internet-explorer-since-2009 technology, run on wheezing IBM register computers that like to scream when you try to navigate through the point of sale too fast, our pinpads are equally crotchety and take several agonizing seconds to warm up. This is a process that during which, customers will inevitably cram their plastic into them with hasty impatience, and fuck up the delicate balance that exists within the specimen pinpadus finickus. So thus every transaction becomes a merciless game of red light/green light. "Wait-! Don't put your card in yet- okay now- oh no, you didn't put it in all the way, take it back out- oh, the chip malfunctioned? Insert it two more times, it won't let you swipe until it's gone through the unholy Rule of Three Ritual." Insert it a half a second too early - Transaction Not Completed. Pull it out half a second too early - Transaction Not Completed. These awful hunks of circuits are more hot and cold than the damn Katy Perry song. But these overeager customers are arguably preferable to the other brand. Those who, after inserting their card, have apparently transcended beyond this mortal plane and can't perform any functions even remotely related to pinpadery, such as, god forbid, hitting the "Ok" button. And then if it asks them to enter their pin?? A CONCEPT BEYOND COMPREHENSION! A PIN PAD! REQUIRING A PIN! "Hit okay again for credit", I say, as they're already inexplicably hitting the red button instead. "Oh, I thought it was red." IN WHAT REALM OF LOGIC DID THAT FEEL RIGHT TO YOU? What made you consider that the red X might NOT have something to do with cancelling the transaction? And of course, then there are those who opt not to use the buttons at all, and blindly squish their fingers on the screen, hoping to hit a touchscreen button that is so obviously not present. But God forbid they change their mind and decide to pay cash halfway through - cancelling the pinpads from the register causes the whole system to wheeze for approximately the amount of time it takes to reach the heat death of the universe - so I'm left with the alternative, which is leaning across the register to slam the red X because said dead fish customers are not capable of such a task, knocking over staplers and rewards cards as I go. Despite coming equipped with pens, and supposedly being fully functional for digital signing, the pinpadus finickus at our store does not perform such a capability. So we print audit slips, sometimes at break neck speeds to try to combat the inevitable - but oh no, that doesn't stop customers from racing us to grasp at one of the many ink pens on the counter, and trying to scribble on the blank screen that is giving no indication that a signature is being asked for. It's frankly a miracle that no lasting marks or damage have been sustained by the hell pads in the abuse these customers have levied on them. And then it is complete - in a dance that has taken anywhere between 30 seconds and ten minutes, the battle between customerus stupidis and pinpadus finickus is over, and I can wearily hand over the audit slip to be signed. Today, the customer stares at it blankly for a few seconds, before scrawling her signature in a cramped corner at the top of the receipt that is nowhere near the obviously indicated signature line. I sigh and put it in the drawer. The bright glow of the pinpad mocks me long after the customer has left, "APPROVED, THANKS!" being announced to the world in big block letters. The next customer comes up, seeing the screen, and jokes "Oh, lucky me, approved already!" and, I note with minor desperation that, at least my shift is almost over.

[hanablabbers]

If I showed my true colors, what would society think? Would they laugh, show pity, or read the ink? I'm exhausted from smiling every single day When I know the pain won't just go away. Every night I cannot sleep Because my thoughts run so deep. They went out for a stroll But got sucked into a black hole. My focus is no longer there, anywhere. I don't know why I'm like this, I swear. It seems like I'm just well-dressed. That just means how much I'm stressed. My friends all laugh and hang around. You don't need water to be drowned. This darkness beneath consumes my mind. It's like I'm living my life blind. On the outside I'm holding it together, But it's as unpredictable as the weather. "How are you?" "I'm fine." But the truth lies between the lines. It's like being on Mars and trying to breathe air. When they talk about the future, I don't really care. You say to suck it up and to be strong, But little do you know what exactly is wrong. My life is forever altered because of this. That cheerful 5 year old is who I miss. This is war; you either win or die trying. You speak the truth or continue lying. The changes were all so very subtle; I don't blame you for not seeing, But what you don't understand is that I'm a human being. The truth is you wouldn't last if this was in your brain, But I've found a way to numb the pain. I have to fight my mind every single second, But that's only because this thing had beckoned. I wouldn't ever choose to feel this way; these were the cards I was dealt. My only wish is that more people would understand how we felt. Sometimes a glimpse of wonder wanders on over, But it's as rare as finding a four leaf clover. Monsters don't live under our beds. They scream inside of our heads. Still I live with hope that one day I will win. I will defeat the monster that's under my skin.

© Katie Q. McKee

[allspark]

It’s time for our weekly Diamond Comics Shipping List! Check out some great titles IDW has in store for us next week like the conclusion of IDW’s Transformers continuity that began fourteen years ago with the final issue of Optimus Prime, Go-Bots, Judge Dredd, Dungeons & Dragons, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and much more! All coming your way for November 21st!

OPTIMUS PRIME #25

John Barber (A/CVR A) Kei Zama (CVR B) Casey W. Coller

END OF THE ROAD! The battle is over. Heroes have fallen. Worlds have died. Now Optimus Prime faces his final ordeal-as past, present, and future collide. Who will stand with him? And when it’s all over, who will carry the mantle of “Prime?”

GO-BOTS #1

Tom Scioli (A/CVR A) Tom Scioli (CVR B) Blank Sketch

Go-Bots have changed our way of life. Leader-1 is a self-aware fighter jet on a hostage rescue mission with his partner, Commander Nick Burns. Scooter is the personal transport and best friend to undergrad A.J. Foster. Turbo is Matt Hunter’s transforming race car in the hottest sport in America, Go-Bot Racing. Cy-Kill is the champion of the illegal, underground Go-Bot Fighting League. A sophisticated sci-fi epic from the visionary creator that brought you Transformers vs. G.I. JOE. They say they’re here to help us, but are they here to replace us?

•   From the creative mind that brought you IDW’s Transformers vs. G.I. JOE! •   Visionary creator Tom Scioli unleashes his imagination on the bizarre, absurd, and wonderful world of Go-Bots!

ATOMIC ROBO GREATEST HITS

Brian Clevinger (A/CVR) Scott Wegener

Scientist. Adventurer. Enemy to insane dinosaurs, evil AIs, and rock monsters alike. Atomic Robo does it all! Learn all about Tesladyne’s famous action scientists in two great stories: “Centralia” and “The Trial of Atomic Robo!” Fun for the whole family… as long as your family likes action, adventure, science, and did we mention insane dinosaurs?

•   Celebrating 10 years of Atomic Robo! •   The perfect starting place to get into the world of Atomic Robo!

DELTA 13 TP

Steve Niles (A/CVR) Nat Jones

Kick Ass writer and The October Faction creator Steve Niles takes the horror to space! Who knows what mysteries lie deep in the asteroid belt? When a mysterious, huge, and previously undiscovered asteroid looms over their ship, a small crew of blue-collar workers discovers a terrifying threat unlike anything they’ve ever seen. Now the crew must escape the asteroid, but even if they do, will they be able to escape each other and anything they bring back with them?

•   Advance solicited for December release! •   “Delta 13 is a Sci-fi Horror tale that feels familiar enough for readers to immediately recognize the peril that our protagonists face but also fresh enough to excite and unsettle.”-The Brazen Bull

DICK TRACY DEAD OR ALIVE #2

Lee Allred, Michael Allred (A/CVR B) Rich Tommaso (A/CVR A) Michael Allred

The pop-art event of 2018 continues! Dick Tracy begins the herculean task of ridding the city of its crooked cops and bizarre mobsters, but has he bitten off more than he can chew this time? The iconic comic-strip hero reimagined for the 21st century through a retro lens by the superstar team of Michael Allred, Lee Allred, Rich Tommaso and Laura Allred!

•   Bizarre villains! Crooked cops! Gunfights galore! •   Cover art and co-written by Eisner Award-winning superstar Michael Allred (Madman, iZombie, Silver Surfer, Batman ’66)! •   Illustrated by Rich Tommaso (Spy Seal, Dry County) with Michael Allred inks! •   Each issue features a “mug shot” alternate cover by Rich Tommaso! •   Ask your retailer about the “coloring book” variant cover by Michael Allred!

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS EVIL AT BALDURS GATE TP

Jim Zub (A) Dean Kotz, Steven Cummings, Harvey Tolibao, Ramon Bachs, Francesco Mortarino (CVR) Max Dunbar

The Baldur’s Gate heroes return to the city at last, but their time adventuring in Ravenloft and the frozen northern reaches of the Realms has changed them. Still, each of them must face great trials ahead before they’ll be ready to embrace their destiny. A new hero of the people roams the streets of Baldur’s Gate, and Minsc feels left behind despite his own legend. Can he reclaim his place as the city’s Beloved Ranger? Whatever happens, evil is going to gets its butt kicked most thoroughly!

•   Advance solicited for December release! •   Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition continues to grow each year, and the Baldur’s Gate video games have sold millions of copies around the world.

JUDGE DREDD TOXIC #2

Paul Jenkins (A) Marco Castiello (CVR A) Mark Buckingham (CVR B) John Gallagher

Acclaimed British writer Paul Jenkins takes his first shot at Judge Dredd! The death of a genetically modified waste worker has sparked anti-immigration fervor, leading to toxic sludge and widespread panic spilling into the streets of Mega-City One.

•   Cutting satire and gritty action from writer Paul Jenkins (Hellblazer, The Inhumans) and artist Marco Castiello (Star Wars)! •   Covers by Jenkins’ Peter Parker: Spider-Man teammate Mark Buckingham (Fables, Marvelman)! •   Painted variant covers by concept artist John Gallagher (The Flash, Supergirl)!

NIGHT MOVES #1

V.J. Boyd, Justin Boyd (A) Clay McCormack (CVR A) Chris Burnham

Noir meets horror as small-time Vegas hustler Chris Dundee finds himself tangled in a web of danger and the occult. He’s been on the wrong end of a pair of brass knuckles plenty of times, but this time he might be dealing with the devil himself.

•   Special extra-long first issue at regular price! •   From the mind of VJ Boyd, co-executive producer of S.W.A.T. and producer of Justified, comes a fantastic new noir-ish tale!

REAL SCIENCE ADVENTURES NICODEMUS JOB #5

Brian Clevinger (A/CVR A) Meredith McClaren (CVR B) Nicole Goux

It would be a dang shame if all that planning and heisting was for nothing and our heroes ended up captured. Or worse! Gosh, I hope that doesn’t happen. But, hey, this is the final issue and this isn’t an ongoing series and these guys don’t have a movie deal or an ’80s cartoon franchise to back them up, so anything goes!

•   Celebrating 10 years of Atomic Robo with the deepest dive into the history of his world yet!

TANGLED HAIR RAISING ADVENTURES #3

Katie Cook (A) Diogo Saito (A/CVR A) Eduard Petrovich, Rosa La Barbera

Two more tales from Corona await! Romance is in the air as Rapunzel and Eugene attempt to spend some quality time together in “Save the Date,” and Maximus and Pascal find themselves “Up a Wall.” It’s the last issue of a brand-new miniseries featuring all your favorites!

•   Final issue of a brand-new three-issue Tangled: The Series miniseries! •   Fan-favorite writer Katie Cook weaves two tales guaranteed to charm and delight! •   More Tangled: The Series stories coming in Spring 2019!

TMNT URBAN LEGENDS #7

Gary Carlson (A/CVR A&B) Frank Fosco (CVR B) Erik Larsen

Casey Jones’ daughter has been kidnapped. The Turtles blame themselves, and as the gravity of their situation threatens to tear them apart, Ralph seeks help from an old enemy who can tell him where the child is… for a terrible price!

X-FILES CASE FILES TP VOL 01

Delilah S Dawson, Joe R. Lansdale, Keith Lansdale (A) Elena Casagrande, Silvia Califano (CVR) Catherine Nodet

For 25 years, FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully have been shining their flashlights into the shadows, searching for the truth. In The X-Files: Case Files, faithful fans will discover stories that explore X-Files of the past and present by top talent from comics and prose! This first volume includes “Florida Man…” by Star Wars author Delilah Dawson with art by Elena Casagrande and Silvia Califano, and “Hoot Goes There?” by multiple Bram Stoker Award winner Joe R. Lansdale and Keith Lansdale with art by Silvia Califano.

•   Advance solicited for December release! •   “The weirdness is ratcheted up to 11…Feels like a ‘lost’ episode of the TV series and fits perfectly in The X-Files world.”-Word of the Nerd

  Join the IDW Hasbro Shared Universe related conversation here in our Comics Discussion and Reviews section and here for all other franchises, superheroes, or general comic book discussions! Not a member? Join our community by creating your own free account here! Or jump right into the live chat on our Discord server or our Facebook Group!

IDW Comics Shipping List for November 21st! It’s time for our weekly Diamond Comics Shipping List! Check out some great titles IDW has in store for us next week like the conclusion of IDW's Transformers continuity that began fourteen years ago with the final issue of 

[thefinishpiece]

Second Ice Age

“Katie, you know—you’re a warm girl and it’s a cold world.” She knows. How could she not? And what could she do? Nothing about anything. Things don’t mean anything these days anyway. Extinction is everywhere. All around her things are dying. “There aren’t as many birds now as when I was younger,” her father says. But his brain is demented, as they say, forgetting what it means and pretending it has seen things that have never been. She cries and he asks her why and she says it’s because of the birds. “They’ll come back,” he assures her. “Just a long vacation. Some people just want to stay on vacation forever.” People are not birds—nor the other way around. Birds have wings, they have ascent, ascending upward, all into those sticky skies where they cling to air, wind like glue, feathers like rubber, contested yet continuous in their glide. Whenever she gets down like this, there is a clay-caricature of a woolly mammoth she keeps hidden in her room—a great, big, haired beast her father has never heard of or seen, but what she assures him is a giant prize. Her little mastodon lacks the titan bones and husk of herculean-hair that a real one possesses, for it is clay—hard-fired to resemble glass, fakely presumptuous about never going extinct. Everything is hotter like a kiln, the world bubbling and hardening in its brute heat. So where is the glow? Where is the warmth? Everywhere she goes, a procession of funeral strings could be playing, and its dirge would not be misplaced. Everyone seems so sad—or drained, exhausted, maybe some even outraged. Society fluctuates in its mania and depression, never deciding if it wants to be in sorrow or in rage. Katie looks at people now and she can’t figure out their age, as young and young no more grow closer in appearance—stress is an incredible enforcer of time’s damage. Even the animals seem lethargic and careless. Deer wandering the streets; birds performing suicidal acrobatics against windows. Are they killing themselves by accident or do they know something we don’t know—or we refuse to acknowledge? Every species follows two paths: evolution or extinction. No organism alive or deceased has ever gotten the better of this system, playing its binary game to every final point and last move, never able to quite escape either oblivion or distortion. “We were once fish,” her father explains, staring away from her. “Then we got perverted in to monkeys. I don’t blame nature.” Katie nods while she cuts his nails, which have grown in to glaring grossness. She blames nature for everything. Her father would take care of himself if not for nature. He would not be weak and resigned. He would remember her name, at least. Just her name. Her father coughs, then continues, “I blame time. The King known as Time, he just wasn’t impressed by Nature’s trick. ‘Oh, you made these cells in to fish? Boring. What else can you do?’ So poor Nature, she had no choice but to keep going. Trick after trick. Trying to entertain this useless pervert.” Her father was a paleontologist. His condition broke his mind, however, his catalogue of skeletons and species disappearing like the ink of pages washed away by rain. What good was he then? What could he do then? If Katie had the money, he would have a caretaker. Someone completely committed to his every need, every habit relating to health and hygiene and happiness which he cannot conduct himself. But here she is, staring at his grimy fingers, hurtful reminders of how far from grace they both have fallen. It reminds her of landfills, those gigantic gorges of garbage, with volcanoes of trash, exploding sludge and fetid mist. Sunken suburbs and anorexic polar bears. Infested forests collapsing in waves of amber carcasses, more mud than tree now. Of bodies, decomposed but still moving, undead, unrecognizable—another species of sapiens, paler and gorier, leprotic cannibals and pariahs. But she loves her father. And she still remembers when she was an adolescent specimen, taking in every experience coming her way, joyfully following her father along on trips to dig-sites and museums, begging him to let her ride on a mammoth of her own. For whatever reason, her child-self could never understand what “extinct” truly meant. But her father gave in to her demands regardless, and he crafted her a woolly mammoth from prehistoric clay, and she has kept this relic her entire life. “Life as we know it,” her father declares. “Is all just a big impersonation.” All the world is fading away. Degradation. Degeneration. Damnation. Things don’t grow the same anymore. Katie is absolute about this. Her father is not speaking nonsense—there were more birds when he was young. There was more world… Anyways. Let them down easy, they always say. They must not have ever been down there then. In the abyss. In the deep. In the crushing darkness of worthlessness, denial, discontentment. Though Katie, to her character’s credit, has skin like a shell. She was not disturbed or disappointed. Just left out there, so to speak, feeling separate, like a ghost, where if she touched a wall she would faze through and totally vanish. Walls, walls, walls. Prison. Is there any difference? The evolutionary perspective claims it is “shelter”. But isn’t that the point of deception? To make you feel safe and secure enough to accept it, let it in, so it can poison you from the inside-out. Like a parasite. Don’t ever say nature doesn’t have a strategy. It’s just one designed against you. “The world is ending, and I can’t even get a fucking story published,” Katie lamented to her dearest friend once. “This is what—my eleventh rejection? By now, you think someone would just accept me out of mercy!” Katie did not sip but chugged her surly stout, nearly choking, its moldy molasses pouring down her throat like thick refuse. She wasn’t even fond of stouts, but they were strong enough to overlook bitter taste for rolling contentedness. And it did roll, suddenly, like an intoxicated train over Katie and she sucked in all the balminess from it, regenerated. “It’s not your fault,” her friend insisted. “Nobody cares about stuff like that anymore.” Katie nodded, stirring in her seat, but she vehemently opposed such a notion. She cared. And besides, she realizes it all already. Nobody writes anymore because nobody reads anymore. So why do entities of “publishing” still exist? Why are trees and forests and Gaia all ruined and raped for the sake of sporting thin slices of paper bound together, pages containing the same recycled sentiments and feelings already expressed a timeless many times over—sometimes in superior style and fashion—that people never look at anyway, propping these tomes of torn-tree on shelves of wracked-wood, these totems of destroyed life glazed over in tales of artificial life? Yet, Katie sticks to them, her leech-teeth searching for a hole of praise she can gnaw her way in through—if only to justify her own horrible and outdated life decisions. If only to save her father from thinking his daughter is more important than she really is. “Every fossil is a story,” he’d often say. “Left behind, in spite of all the damage; Life desperately trying to express itself despite Time’s objections.” And what is yeast? A limerick? Katie considered this as her belly fizzed, careful as it digested the drunken cream unexpectedly dropped upon it. Then she examined her empty glass, curved and sensuous, internally caked in leftover foam and spit. Humans and their utensils. Where are the gorilla beer glasses? The fish forks? Swan spoons? Wallaby wallpapers and barracuda bidets? Nonsense. We degrade the earth. We steal from it, all its gems and materials, to build ourselves butter-knives and cereal-bowls. As if touching our food with our hands is totally vile, despite how intimate it is to tongue and chew and swallow it all the same. But Gaia forbid, a single finger even grazes our food and suddenly it is tainted, infused with disease and perversion. This glass, in Katie’s hands, is an idol of immolation—the self-destruction of nature’s finest in pursuits of nature’s pettiest. Drink deep, it’s just the taste—and it won’t be here for you someday. Anyways. Why do so many people want to be writers these days? We float and electrify across the timeline, masters of plastics and robotics and quantum romance—so, why do we still think primitive language can impress? Why do we still think we have things to say? Is it not “the end of history” as some have proclaimed? Or was history only a short recourse humanity offered itself to convince itself it had any sense of processional meaning? Like we weren’t just repeating ourselves for repetition’s sake—we have been learning something this whole time, all the wars and disasters and conflicts, all for a lesson we needed to understand. And the moral of the story is…? It is that Katie, we know, is a sweet girl, but the world is cruel and indifferent. She feels so embarrassed about her profession’s plight she doesn’t even admit to people she is a writer. It makes her feel like she’s raising the dead—like she is some kind of necromancer, casting her spells of spellings, invoking her magic words of poeticism, trying to revive a revenant significance once meant across the world, all levels of society, now buried and rotted. Books used to mean something. They once had ideas and feelings in them that no other thing could express. The capability of reading and writing letters once broke society, shattered divisions, united visionaries, and liberated mankind from its ignorant, reptilian darkness. Now they are props. Picturesque decorations for pictures on profiles of people who never read a book but prefer themselves to be pretty and perceptive. Phooey. Insert something about elitism and cultural classism, and the dearth of intellectualism, and the fading ubiquity of meaningful connection and communication in exchange for consumerist delight and ego-sucking personas. Do these people ever look at themselves in a mirror? Redact the last question because it is so obviously rhetorical. Of course, all this is disdain. And as much as Katie complains about everything, raging against the machinations of society and its ever-evolving competition to outwit itself, she never once blamed herself for favoring dead arts, even if in the subconscious sea of her mind, the thought swims to remind her. Stomp it down, drown it out. Damn useless thing. Anyways. “Penguins are dying,” Katie’s friend announces. “It’s not just polar bears anymore but the penguins too!” Katie nods, walking along the sidewalk, intermittently avoiding people, objects, structures. No signs or forced-trees or pedestrians—she just wants a straight, clear path, and she doesn’t care how much careless temper she has to put into each and every one of her steps; so long as she never interacts with anything, she can pretend it isn’t there. Everything is dying, Katie thinks. But she doesn’t dare say it aloud for her friend is worried enough. “Cute little penguins, with their little furry flippers and little waddling walks, dropping dead!” her friend wails on. Why do people always refer to “cute” things as “little”? Are humans so insecure they must ensure nothing is bigger than them? Even things they enjoy, and which bring them happiness? Katie can’t say. She is still upset from earlier, another rejection reducing her self-esteem to rubble. Maybe there were too many others—too much competition. But then this must mean she didn’t stand out as special, that she can’t compete. Which means she would be inferior to others. She might as well just die then. In such an environment, you must always compete. Resources—including attention and printing space—are finite. With so many trying to win them, only the strongest and best prevail, while all others are either diminished to bottom-feeding or rendered extinct. The traits of Katie must not be good ones, or ones necessary to survive and prosper in the current environment, so Katie wonders why she still does it, when she knows she is lesser and weak. She should just let herself go extinct for the betterment of the whole. If only her sentences had been sharper, her metaphors more muscular, characters clearer, thoughts thicker, plots more prepared and propellant—maybe she would have survived, no matter the lash of scorn or climate of critique hurled her way by the harsh habitat she so dearly desired to dominate. If only she had been someone else besides Katie. Oh, poor Katie. Still woozy from her brew, she fails to notice a rising situation of noise, of shrieks and shouts, nearing. Until she stumbles into someone, their body shocking hers, and in a finale of all her angst and fears and failures, she screams at the person to watch where they are going. But much to her astonishment, the person ignores her. They are focused ahead, their indignation channeling along a long crowd of angry sound. Katie perks up. They are gathered in the streets and sidewalks and skies, hundreds of them, all their voices dinning to a chorus of rage and retribution, breaking out into discordant threats here and there, but all integrated in to their hatred of a common enemy. Without stopping, Katie enters them, weaving through the shaking bodies, wanting desperately to stop herself, but unable to control her drunk feet, which have riled themselves into a stupor-march. A primal fear overtakes her. There are signs and pickets, dressed in scornful slogans and homicidal images. Some people hide their faces in black hoods and masks, some of them carrying unmarked canisters and bats. They are yelling and crying, piercing the clouds with their fists, a fog of flares and sweat embattling their battalion. Nobody is happy to be here. Katie angles her arms anxiously, trying to keep away from people thrashing about violently, and stop herself from being crushed by the waves of people, quaking, moving like magma on their way, swaying between whims of rhythmic violence and uncoordinated compulsion. Helpless echoes of shattering glass and crunching metal almost become overwhelmed by the thunder of voices, fighting each other for control of the audio, striking Katie’s ears in dissonant shock. Her vision blurs, the temperatures of so many people vaporizing, bundles of unknown smoke and flashes from flares and sulfurous sticks. She weeps, her optics quivering in a heat they didn’t even know could exist. From her view, faint figures of chaotic color and fury spike themselves across the scene. Her brain responds to the action, nearly engorging her heart on the blood it was pushing in to it. All her senses heighten, causing smells of smoke and swells of shrieking to be that much more debilitating; her touch so sensitive she dreads collapsing should one of these bodies bounce into her.

“SAVE MOTHER EARTH!

LEAVE HER ALONE!

SAVE OUR PLANET!

LEAVE US ALONE!”

Held onto by a plastic pole, a recreated globe hovers above the crowd, which Katie recognizes to represent the Earth, but which someone has doused in gasoline, igniting it and bounding the whole world in flames. As she gazes at the emblazoned earth, hurtling above their heads like some sort of fiery god, descending to its death, a comet of destruction, she imagines what her father would think, if he could still think anything at all. He certainly would approve of the message, but being in the midst of their wrath, would he wonder if they had it all wrong? As they destroyed the monuments of plastic and steel which adorned our cities, crying havoc against their own kind, building replicas of earth from the very supplies it gives, then conflagrating their creations, a self-destructive sort of glory—if we’re going down, you’re coming with us. Katie, coughing, staggers against the impaling bodies. She is beaten in one direction, sideways, until she falls onto the pavement, her throat convulsing, still coughing incessantly. She should rise, but her chest is palpating, her throat trapped in its madness, her lungs seizing control of her whole body, insisting its concern is the most immediate. People charge forward, and Katie, on the ground, forcefully flails her body to avoid their hooves, maneuvering through the stampede with the frantic grace of a split-snake, parts nearly coiling to death. Katie can’t breathe. She continues coughing, her entire upper-torso vibrating in agonizing puffs, until she reaches for the frame of a nearby doorway, pulling herself in, crawling out from the crowd. There she is, in some unknown entrance, the languid lava of protest curdling passed her, slow and sinister, like a bunch of cold atoms going against their internal rules to bound into each other in violent velocity, without their cold vessel ever increasing in speed. Yet still it is hot. Katie doesn’t take any energy to consider the paradox of physics this protest puts on; instead, she ceases and gasps and waits until her air can revive, then she lay there, panting, scared, fallen. Just like an animal dying of starvation.

“DEATH TO CORPORATE WASTE!

YOUR POLLUTION IS OUR EXTINCTION!

DEATH TO THE HUMAN RACE!

YOUR POLLUTION IS YOUR EXTINCTION!”

Aren’t you all human too? Katie thinks, somewhat laughing to herself in exasperated amusement. Her throat still lacks lubricant, however, so another coughing episode comes. This time, as she removes her hand from her mouth, instead of the usual drool and gunk, there is blood. You must bleed for your art, some say. Those people must have never bled for anything. Anyways. Her father has another bruise. He has tumbled off his porch, hitting his head on its cement corner. He was always collecting these random bruises and sores. He’d become so clumsy lately. If he had a caretaker this wouldn’t happen. Katie regretted ever choosing to be a writer. If I had gotten a real job, she thought to herself, I could afford him a caretaker. She adjusts the bandage on the side of his forehead, where the skin had roiled up in purplish sickness, a grave of blood settling underneath. “Things like this happen in life,” he says. “On fossils, we are always seeing scars and bruises and damage they had sustained from life.” Maybe that’s why they’re fossils—if they had quit hurting themselves so damn much, they might have lived to last. His flesh looks like damaged fruit. Skin so soft your nails can puncture it without pressure. And if you snip its bruises, worms would bumble out. Katie knows it’s terrible to think of her father this way. But a body can be so grotesque—Katie does not make the rules, she does not control the cells. She is a poet—if she had it her way, everything would be beautiful and sublime. But her father looks like an old lime. “How was your trip today?” her father asks. “Did they accept you into their tribe?” Katie, half-heartedly and half-horribly, grins. “Yes. They adore me there. Soon, everyone will know me by name.” It’s the eleventh time she has lied to him. But he is always forgetting her lies—that makes it truth, right? Her father is happy, humming as he opens one of his reference books. On the page is a mammoth, tusks like white-spears, its mighty trunk curling in martial poise. He remembers all kinds of lizards and birds and fish, but whenever he sees a mammoth, it is alien to him. “What is this glorious thing?” Her father pleads for an answer. Katie, without even glancing, illuminates this mystery mammal, “It is a woolly mammoth. Mammuthus primigenius. Extinct.” She plods her sleeve on her eye, along with a deep breath, then travels to another room so he does not notice her cry. Anyways. “Katie, you know—you’re a smart girl and it’s a dumb world.” She only knows she knows nothing—at least, that’s what she’s thinking, trying to impress them, but they’re not listening anyway so here we go again, and Katie is quite certain this is the end of all things—at least, all things that matter��and within it all, the wherewithal to be without. The skies are overcast like roles overacted, and the trope-ish rain is hailing accordingly, mimicking accordion music as it minces against cement and steel. Oh, storms like the Tropics in a place this side of Cancer, so far from the nest of the horned goat you wouldn’t be remiss saying our signs got crossed somewhere. Somewhere deep, where plumes of sea-smoke and salted-magma overlay bubbles of empty liquid-heat, like terrene frosting on an aquatic cake. If Katie had been as good at advertisements as she was at adjectives—well, we wouldn’t be here, would we? If old cavemen had just left the wheel alone, forgotten all about its circular charm, and continued about their days walking everywhere and sleeping in trees and calling the big tigers mocking monikers and sardonic slanders—if they had just applied an ounce of erudite wit, acted a bit more pretentious, and stayed kings of trees and nothing else, none of this would be happening, and the earth would be forlain. “The Earth…” Katie muses. “Just a big rock of dead things. Just dusty, dirty, smelly, rotten carcasses.” True, the cells on your body shed and consume their own dead selves, perpetuating a cycle of incessant cannibalism. And even truer in the ecological realms of nature, where creatures compete against each other for who can be the fattest and scatologically superior—why, the nerve of nervous-systems! And anyways, Katie is disgusted with herself. So, she goes to a culture-club, a kind of underworld venue with secret stairs descending from the side of the sidewalk, underneath all the metropolitan kingdoms. Through a cerulean door with bumblebee doorknobs, a veneer of mold and music both cleans the city away while soiling the flesh in esoteric culture. In diagrams of species these are not primary or secondary or tertiary beings, this is a sliver aside the sphere, the outsiders ousting themselves in shadowy rooms, walls of maiden bricks and bandaged stages, a place not full of people but injuries, their shallow remains—scabs speaking stories, leaking in a basement without a closing refrain. Katie, she does not come here often. But oftentimes, they have others like her: artists, poets, rebels, thinkers, flies all drawn to this gorge of gaslight, where they share and sing and sorrow—in theory, though these days, a lot of pretentious posers have migrated here as well, much to Katie’s dislike, despite how some older patrons view Katie in a similar light. Even outside the circle, a cycle persists and circles back. It is not a home, but it is better than home. Katie, expelled from the world, yet welcome in this domain. “Katie, it’s been a while,” Darby beckons Katie to the bar, rooted in the corner so as not to disrupt the atmosphere of the scene. “If you’re here, it’s not good news. Here’s a kiss.” Darby pours Katie a concoction a fairy godmother might drink when her human goddaughter fails all her gifts and deserts the ballroom for a trailer-park, inhaling methamphetamine out of a glass slipper. “I gave her everything she needed,” Fairy Godmother recounts. “Except for what she really wanted.” Which was waiting for her in the stratosphere. But Katie is no Metherella, apart from feeling the pain of a pumpkin shrinking and plopping her ass-first on the unforgiving ground. And Gaia most certainly does not pity us. “Thanks Darby—” Katie gulps it, no cooldown. “You’re more constant than the seasons.” Darby salutes her beret, as unfashionable as it is, perhaps stuck in a phase of history she wished had never passed. But things do pass, eventually, a constancy of impermanence. Nature, the paradox it is, possesses quite a fetish for feasting on itself and not paying the check. “How is your father?” Darby asks. “Still my father. He hasn’t forgotten that part,” Katie replies. Darby smirks, then takes out a carton of cigarettes. “How’s the writing gig going? You famous yet?” Darby offers Katie a cigarette. They both get cloudy, the visible site of their smoke something that would insult any green-hearted environmentalist. Katie scans the room, not expecting anything, but just gathering a pulse. “I was rejected again. Well, not rejected. Just not what they’re looking for.” She eyes an acolyte of hipness in the opposite corner, lackadaisical in his chair. He has a plastic phallus with him, sleek and slim, against his lips, which without motion or feeling, rewards him a collection of infused-vapor, which he exhales brilliantly and lets dissipate almost instantly. She sneers at him while Darby rages. “We’re living with superficial heathens these days. Nobody consumes any real art anymore. Just plastic. They want to be entertained and be entertainment.” She is disturbed by the lack of creative and intellectual rigor present in current society, a far-cry from the cultivators of counterculture and promises of postmodernism she worships; they have been de-structuralized into dust, talking-points of a documentarian degree, unproductive—a joke of themselves, laughingstock tumbling lower and lower, dragging the whole fucking market down with it. Now everyone is a performer. They act affected and cannot be effectual. Bravo. “So, what do I do? What do we do?” Katie wonders aloud. “Is it our destiny to go extinct?” Extinction. Oblivion. Void. What kind of place is that? Who would want to go there? To be obliterated by the pragmatic programming of progression—by things having to be stronger, better, more efficient than anything that came before, as if stepping on the graves of ghosts and boasting you are still alive is somehow tantamount to achievement. Titans of timely distinction—all they must do is wait, for eventually they too shall be replaced, and in their fade, in obsolescent anguish, maybe they’ll recant how they behaved. Evolution and its many wings make a single bird feel grounded. Katie looks around the room, at ancient posters whose faces are unrecognizable, their phase of fame elapsed. Ripped and ruined, these legends of some other ago, plastered like decorations, peeling and pungent. Deteriorating. Decomposing. Is that what Katie wants? A glimpse of herself on some den-wall, where no one ever looks at her, as she gradually disintegrates, piece by piece, particle by particle, her lonely and neglected atoms recycled into the ether, reused for some other project of purpose, tentacles of the universe ever reeling its own edges inward even while it expands forever. Is Katie meant to be only a suction for the sake of sucking it all in? “What would you have done if you had done it differently?” Darby poses her question, suckling her smoke. “An alternate brain, alternate body—I would have been a ten-foot hulk, with big, bulging muscles, and nice bronze skin. I would’ve been a Hercules, and I would’ve rampaged across all the cheap bars and assholes in the world!” Katie laughs at the ridiculous image of her companion suddenly more than doubled in size, a demigod trampling society under her feet, a prize of masculine fervor and ferocious carnality. Darby is short, but in her daydreams, she is as tall as the son of thunder—as tall as endless legend! “If I throw a poem into the ocean, do you think it will stop rising?” Katie asks. Darby shrugs, “Don’t know… is it one of yours?” Katie nods, then Darby chuckles, “Oh, then it’ll probably rise faster to sink your boring ass.” Katie grins then finishes her drink. No gripes there. Her heckler, Darby, pours them both a shot of pure poison, and they clink their glasses in commemoration of Mother Nature. “Here’s to the hand that feeds us and the hand we’d like to bite—why’d you have to make us so short?” In the following silence, Katie simmers. It’s not enough to wash deep doubt away. Her absent success is a scar on her story. It’s a privileged thing that humans do not walk around naked or Katie would be exposed. Katie, you know—she repeats what they told her, replaying the scenario from her secret perspective—but you’re a blah blah blah and it’s a blah blah blah. Pfft. As if they were friends or something. Why don’t they just grow up and tell Katie the truth—that she’s bad at what she does. She inherited a bad trait, a bad dream. She is of a preposterous phenotype, a garish genotype. A type of organism with the only flaw in a place where it means life or death. It is mercy that she is bled out, unable to pass on her faulty genetics, because now she spares all future generations of her generic wrath, allowing only the others to go on, the ones who will live decent existences and have decent skills and decent meaning and just be choking on decency. If only Katie could select herself to be put out—to sacrifice herself—if only… But never has a martyr been made on purpose, only by accident. Only by accusations of others, not themselves. What a whirlwind. Speaking of, it is flooding in the downstairs. It does this occasionally, when there’s a torrential fever, as the foundation shifts and the building does not retain its fresh efficacy. Seeping in from the ceiling, waves of murky water, spoiling and staining. This must be why it always smells so moribund in here, Katie figures. “Oh shit, not again,” Darby sighs. “I’ll be back, let me go find Artie.” Once again, reliable as a ticking clock, Katie is alone. She prays the building collapses, burying her underneath rubble and sludge, so she may decay and be fossilized among the soured sediment. And a million years from now, when whatever posthumous species of sapien should remain, they can examine her remains, and from her bones reconstruct her failure as if it were more permanent than her herself. But we probably won’t make it that far. Not with our hubris so vogue and absolute. There is no interest in evolving. Mankind would trade Eden for Eschatology—and still bicker about the price. As if they were content with extinction, but only at the cost of knowing it was the cheapest and easiest route to take. Katie prepares her pile of inferior genes, awaiting salvation by sewage waste, but the building never falls. And when Darby returns, she is daft, ignoring the problem. “Eh, if it falls, it falls. Who cares?” Yes, who will care when all the engineers and scientists and technologists annihilate all the artists and musicians and actors, deeming them substandard to the collective body, a flaw which must be removed so that sapiens can truly prosper? When the world is sunk beneath itself, all its sores blistering, all its skies swathed over in rotted flies, lakes of fire and mountains of doom—when the Earth is punctured through its heart and blood blows across like a crimson wind of mortal malfeasance, suffocating—will those forsaken souls be asking for oxygen or poetry? I know, Katies muses, this is nature’s way of sorting itself out. If I must die so others can survive, then let me go. I’m jealous, really. But not upset. Here’s to your numbers. Here’s to your selections. Here’s to your children—we aren’t the only ones you raised. As the world turns, it pours and pours and pours. Anyways. Katie’s father has passed away. Like the faded spirits of old trees, old ruins of stones, old definitions of age come to binary resolution, Life switching from true to false. And who is who to say what is truly true? They bury him in a hole and before the coffin is sealed, Katie sneaks in a token of affection, a relic from past lives where her father knew the sky as blue and ice as frozen. A ceramic mammoth, taped-together with missing memories, clutching to his chest, a gift recycled and reborn, a new breath from old gas. There it is, and Katie tries her best to act simple and detached. Everybody dies, she thinks. This is how life goes. And suddenly she is offended by life—stricken by a furious fervor, her eyes encased in a dream of forests burning, skies suffocating in smoke, mountains upturned and rotted-out, drills and poisons and flames lashing in all directions, dissolving the earth square by square, node by node, until at last all is less than dust. Nature, which causes cells to deteriorate. Nature, which causes lives to end. Nature, which causes brains to fall apart. Nature, which causes… Or at least, in her visions, dreary and hazy as they are. Through tears and all that. Katie remembers the last time her father remembered anything. She was cooking their dinner and he came into the kitchen, miraculously holding her makeshift mastodon. His fingers touched the painted designs and deep-hues and traced along the clefts of trunk and tusk. “Mammuthus primigenius…” he muttered, breath looking for some semblance of meaning. “I—I gave this to you, didn’t I?” Katie tucked her lip in her teeth, struggling to stay afloat in composure. Inside, she was shaking worse than a volcanic eruption. “Yes, you did.” Katie walked over to him, her hands grasping his, both of them providing warmth to their precious figurine. As if the levied trauma of all those forgotten years suddenly broke free, her father sobbed, the greatest triumph of his life in this moment as he pushed through all the muck of his memory to remind his daughter how much he loved her—how much he adored and idolized his little creation, whom he thought of as so much better and kinder than himself. They embraced each other so fervently and compassionately, they dropped the mammoth to the floor and it shattered. But they didn’t care, not then. They’d repair it later. “Katie, you know, I—I…” her father mumbled off. “I know.” Katie whispered. She’d always known. Nature, which brings great love. And buries it all the same. Anyways.

[jwscrobbles]

Top 40 Songs Scrobbled for the Week Ending 4/27/2014

TW     LW                 ARTIST - SONG 1          2                     Foster the People - COMING OF AGE(1 week @ #1)

2         1                      Jennifer Hudson/T.I. - I CAN'T DESCRIBE(1 week @ #1) 3         3                     Jhene Aiko - THE WORST

4         6                      Beyonce/JayZ - DRUNK IN LOVE

5         7                     Gorgon City/MNEK - READY FOR YOUR LOVE

6         8                     Arcade Fire - AFTERLIFE

7         4                     Kenna/Childish Gambino - RELATIONS(2 weeks @ #1)

8         10                   Kylie Minogue - INTO THE BLUE 9         11                    Chromeo/Toro y Moi - COME ALIVE

10        5                      Kid Ink/Tyga - IZ YOU DOWN

11         14                   Paramore - AINT IT FUN

12         12                    Miley Cyrus - ADORE YOU

13         15                    Artic Monkeys - DO I WANNA KNOW? 14        9                    Washed Out - ALL I KNOW (2 weeks @ #1)

15         16                   Robert Glasper/Patrick Stump/Common - I STAND ALONE

16        13                    Jagwar Ma - COME SAVE ME

17         20                   Jason Derulo/2 Chainz - TALK DIRTY 18        21                    Ms Mr - THINK OF YOU

19       19                    Naughty Boy/Sam Smith - LA LA LA

20        17                    Lorde - TEAM

21         27                   Childish Gambino – 3005 22        23                   Katy B - WHAT LOVE IS MADE OF

23        26                   Fitz & the Tantrums - THE WALKER 24        18                   Ariana Grande - BABY I

25        31                   Neon Trees - SLEEPING WITH A FRIEND

26        30                    Aloe Blacc - THE MAN

27        32                   Phantogram - FALL IN LOVE

28        22                   Ellie Goulding - BURN (MAT ZO REMIX)(1 week @ #1)

29        36                   Coldplay - MAGIC

30        24                   John Newman - CHEATING(2 weeks @ #1)

31         25                   Empire of the Sun - CONCERT PITCH

32        29                   Drake/Sampha - TOO MUCH

33        37                   Jennifer Lopez/French Montana - I LUH YA PAPI

34        44                   Robert Glasper Experiment/Emelie Sande – SOMEBODY ELSE

35        28                   Disclosure/Sasha Keable – VOICES

36        33                  Eric Robeson/Marsha Ambrosius - N2U

37        41                   Mayer Hawthorne - REACH OUT RICHARD

38        40                   Bastille - POMPEI

39        34                   Lily Allen - HARD OUT HERE

40        48                   Bastille – POMPEI (AUDEN REMIX)

41       39                   Broken Bells - HOLDING ON FOR LIFE

42        45                   Shakira/Rihanna - CAN'T REMEMBER TO FORGET YOU

43        ---                    Calvin Harris - SUMMER

44        35                  Daft Punk/Panda Bear - DOIN' IT RIGHT(2 weeks @ #1)

45        38                  Kid Ink/Chris Brown - SHOW ME

46        43                   Beyonce - XO

47        42                    OneRepublic - COUNTING STARS

48        46                   Busta Rhymes/Q-Tip/Kanye West/Lil Wayne - THANK U

49        47                   Mayer Hawthorne/Kendrick Lamar – CRIME

50        50                    Sky Ferreira – I BLAME MYSELF

[camachameleon]

Cam’s Voltron Fic Rec 2/∞

VLD Fic Recs:  [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Here’s a Fic Masterlist for my other fandoms. ( ** =  favorites )

  **Beacon by glitteringconstellations (also on tumblr)

Word count:  43,288 (10/?)

Summary:  An emergency mission to answer a distress call wasn’t unusual. The urgency in Allura’s voice wasn’t necessarily unusual, either—she was very much of the mind that Voltron was obligated to answer every single distress call brought to their attention. Being the defender of the known universe came with a certain number of responsibilities, after all.

But seeing the pinched, pale look on both Allura and Coran’s faces when they converged on the bridge was unusual. "The universe is vast even in terms of those planets still yet beyond the grips of the Galra. But…. the distress call came from the Terra Firma Quadrant.”

Earth.

Comments:  Back to Earth AU. Reunion fic. This one occasionally flips pov to some characters on Earth so we get to see their reactions to the gang’s initial disappearance and then the realization that they are not alone in the universe. This fic is so different from the other Back To Earth ones I've read, all the little details make it feel so real. A song that I feel sets the mood for this fic is Home and It Goes On.

  don't go (i can’t follow) by My_King_And_Your_Lionheart

Word count:  10,670 (5/5)

Summary:  Keith’s shirt falls to the floor and Shiro gets so distracted by the ink on his skin that when he finally realizes Keith was trying to flip him, he’s already on his back. With the mismatched ‘Never tell me the odds’ pressed against his throat, Shiro thinks he could fall in love like this.

Comments:  Part 1 of the series blame it on the stardust which is partway through its second installment just pretending to know. This is a Sheith fic featuring tattooed!Keith. Also, my favorite part is the OG GARRISON TRIO AKA Matt/Shiro/Keith bonding bc they are my favorite friendship group ugh. Also Keith’s adoptive parents are super awesome like seriously I love them so much. This one ends with the start of season one basically, and Part 2 kinda picks up from there.

  i want your heaven and your oceans too by mothpoem

Word count:  11,622 (1/1)

Summary:  “Not—not that you’d be my rebound! I mean, you’d be helping me take my mind off of this guy, but to be a rebound, I’d have to have dated him first, I think, and he doesn’t even know I like him, so. You wouldn’t be a rebound. At worst, we become badass partners-in-crime with a grudging respect for each other, at best, we’re soulmates for life and this is fate trying to help us find happiness. So. Um.” Lance swallows and looks up at the Blade of Marmora soldier through his lashes. “What say you?”

They look down at their hands for a moment, fingers twisting together in deep thought. Then they’re pulling their gloves off, revealing pale, half-bruised knuckles of the human variation, and their mask is dissolving, giving way to big blue-purple eyes and an achingly familiar jet-black cowlick. “Who,” says Keith Kogane, in that low-pitched rumble that makes Lance’s stomach roil in the good way—holy fuck—“is this guy you’re trying to get over?”

Comments:  Lots of Lance whump. And obviously this is Klance endgame. I just love how far this goes before Lance finds out its not just some random bom guy. Lance is such a sassy guy when he’s in danger and it really comes out in this fic. Add in a heaping tablespoon of protective Keith and you’ve got yourself the perfect post-s4 voltron fanfic right here.

  Burn Break Crash by NaryCanary

Word count:  97,758 (17/?)

Summary:  When Katie "Pidge" Holt arranged a special road trip with her boyfriend that doesn't go according to plan, she somehow throws herself in an unexpected predicament and now must take responsibility for it. What is it she must do? Take Keith Kogane - an attractive, mysterious, arrogant guy from school - on the road with her across the country.

Growing up, Pidge was always taught to look both ways before crossing the street to avoid accidents. Nobody ever told her what to do if her life happens to go up in flames.

Comments:  Slowburn Kidge roadtrip AU. Background Shallura. This is a college AU that feels very raw to me idk. Like its not just all fluff and comedy, its also angst and comfort and thrilling in all the ways. The way their conversations flow and relationship develops is so natural and un-forced. This fic really made me like Pidge a lot more after reading. Even if you don’t ship it romantically, it really makes you appreciate the fiery, explosive bond between them. Platonic Kidge is also something I started exploring because of how much I loved the interaction with these two.

  **Entangled by Purpleneutrino (mackerelmademedoit)

Word count:  101,859 (12/12)

Summary:  When Keith found himself mentally linked to Lance of all people, he never thought that it would end in anything but irritation and misery on both sides. He certainly never imagined that it would be a useful asset in team Voltron's fight against the Galra Empire. Now if he can just keep his feelings in check, they might actually have a chance at defeating Zarkon.

Needless to say, when he'd wished for a 'bonding moment' with Lance, this wasn't exactly what he'd had in mind.

Comments:  Klance with eventual mature content. Whump for both parties in this fic, and lots of angst. Also super-protective-over-Keith Shiro, which is my fav. A warning that this is very slow burn. I mean look at that word count. It’s amazing tho bc we get so much of this goodness. I love Stuck-Together and Forced Co-Dependency Tropes and this satisfies both. These two are forced to show so much vulnerability to each other and get so much closer as a result.

  **Keith’s ‘Physical Contact’ Initiation Program by alisayamin (sh_04e)

Word count:  26,522 (6/6)

Summary:  Keith didn’t move and neither did Pidge. It was a little awkward until Keith finally said, “Maybe we could officially officiate this..?”

“What do you mean?”

“Fist me.”

Pidge recoiled and sputtered, “Keith, what the f-” She was cut off by Shiro’s bellowing laughter from the observatory deck.

With his straight face unchanged, Keith lowered his left hand with the stopwatch and lifted his right hand, fisted.

Pidge actually sighed with so much relief, “OH. You mean fistbump! Right.” She slapped her forehead to remove the very very wrong image her imagination drew for her, “Holy shit, Keith, we need to work on that but yeah sure, I’d be honoured to officiate your physical contact program whatever.”

Or

That one time Coran realized Keith was too distant and decided to make him undergo the 'Physical Contact' Initiation Program which then led to --> 5 times the paladins realized Keith was an actual cat.

Comments:  I. LOVE. THIS. STORY. ugh. Keith bonding with everyone through hugs and cuddles, man. That is all that needs to be said. Oh and also Keith whump plus lots of comfort. Also Matt&Keith bros and Pidge&Keith bros is life. And super-protective-over-Keith Shiro. LITERALLY EVERYTHING YOU COULD EVER WANT ALL IN ONE GLORIOUS FIC. But seriously in this one, Keith unashamedly knows he wants physical affection, he just struggles with how to ask for it.

  **Antidote by salineshots

Word count:  92,440 (11/?)

Summary:  Based very loosely off of @eyugho’s lovebug AU, which I love more than anything?? Thanks to them for starting this wonderful AU!

Keith's bitten by a lovebug, but this one doesn't make him all cuddly. Instead, every moment he spends away from Lance is physically painful for him, and every moment he spends touching him is really, really nice. That's frustrating enough already without Keith having to hide his massive crush.

Lance just wants to help, but he knows that Keith doesn't like to be touched. Also hiding a massive crush, because these two are horrible at communication.

Comments:  Slowburn Klance with so much Keith whump and comforting and supportive Lance. I really like this version of the Lovebug AU, especially bc it basically doubles as one of those Stuck-Together Tropes, and also they become super co-dependent on each other which is also nice because we get to see all their vulnerabilities and insecurities forced into the spotlight.

  Muzzled by Emls479

Word count:  5,181 (1/1)

Summary:  The blade of Marmora aren't the only ones with time altering technology. Days on the outside can be months within. Keith finds this out a little too late.

Comments:  This is more than a little dark and also I cried so watch out if you don't like hardcore whump on our boy keef who really needs more hugs.

  Yes, Sir by mikkimouse

Word count:  8,302 (1/1)

Summary:  “Are you all ready to get started?”

“Yes, sir!” twenty voices answered in unison.

Shiro’s stomach flipped at the words. Oh, no.

The soul mark on his right wrist burned, confirmation that his soulmate was one of the twenty people who’d just uttered the phrase.

Oh, shit.

Comments:  All 3 Works in this series are so great. Not just bc its a Sheith Soulmate AU, but also bc its just the perfect mix of funny, angsty and fluffy.

  VLD Fic Recs:  [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Here’s a Fic Masterlist for my other fandoms.