#like. i have been working with this project in the back of my mind for over a decade

[prettyprairiestables]

June 27th, 2025

Dear Horse Enthusiast,

I would like to introduce myself at the start of my new model horse photography journal. This journal is intended for my own personal amusement, but also to share with others who might take joy in my miniature horse-related hobby as well.

To be honest, this passion of mine for horses is a relatively new and unexpected project that I never expected to become involved in. I am not a horse rider, nor do I personally own a horse. As a child, I had an old, blind horse named Sunshine, but she was the only horse I had ever had and cared for. She had a sweet and gentle temper and was a petite blonde with a coat that shone in the sun, even at her advanced age. I loved her so much, and she was my only love among the horses during my childhood. As I grew older and she passed away, I once tried bonding with my little sister's horse, but it bucked me off with a wild temper, and I haven't met a horse I loved since, except Sunshine.

As many years passed, I no longer thought much of horses, until I recently watched the TV series Spirit: Riding Free for the first time. This show has unexpectedly brought back a deep-seated affection for the love of a horse that I haven't felt since I was a child riding on Sunshine's back. It dredged up those old memories I once had of my horse, and now, after watching Spirit: Riding Free, I want to bring back a piece of Sunshine in my life by creating a toy model horse ranch and posting photos and videos of my gradual progress. It's a new hobby I'd like to see come to life over time, so I can look back on how much I've progressed. I'd love to share my journey with anyone interested.

It won't be anything impressive or grand to most people, I'm sure, but it will be mine and something I can be proud of with years of dedication to look back on. I welcome you to join me in this venture as I build my toy horse ranch/farm.

To tell a little about myself, I was raised on a farm and lived with my parents, twin sister, and younger sister. We lived outside of a small town in Kansas, and my grandparents lived next to us in their house on the farm as well. My father believed strongly in the importance of hard work, so he kept his daughters busy, helping to run the farm. From sunrise to sunset, we had to ensure that all the animals were fed and cared for. Chores took priority over school or education in my father's mind, so we were instilled with the idea that hard work was more important than focusing on grades.

I personally did not do well in school, nor did I have a positive educational experience. Grade school was a nightmare for me in a small town where the teachers were bullies, not the students. I was a reticent child growing up and didn't speak much, having very few friends. Teachers back then didn't like quiet students. They felt it disrespectful if their students did not speak up or respond to their questions. As a result, I was the student who was always in trouble, getting hit over the head, spanked in front of the class, humiliated, or sent to the hallway for punishment for not speaking or responding to questions.

However, I always felt a sense of love when I came home to my animals on the farm after getting off the school bus every day. My animals saved me from the troubles I had in school, and I have loved animals all my life. They are what keep me happy in the saddest parts of life, and I cannot live without the companionship of my animals, because they are a big part of who I am.

Now that I have lived my life in my mid-40s, I have been happily married for over 25 years, and I have three amazing grown boys who have all left the nest. I need something to do with my time, to be honest. And since I am a child at heart, this new hobby of mine might be a good distraction that I need while my husband is away at work. Ironically speaking, my husband is a teacher and has been teaching for many years now. He has never been a bully to his students, so he is nothing like the teachers I had as a child.

On a different note, let's see how far I can progress with my new horse ranch and farm. I know it will take a lot of time and money, sadly, so it will be a slow-going project. But just a few weeks ago, I started staining my horse fences and building horse jump rods for my horses.

I currently have the horse stable and the front part of the pasture set up, but I'm not ready to post pictures just yet because it still needs some minor adjustments. However, I should have something to show you by next week.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this and join in on my new adventure of creating a horse village/farm. I look forward to seeing what comes from it.

~Clara B.

[bewitched-hours]

Hi again, its me your one of ur fans of writing from you, sorry for being inactive this week bc of school, but i am here once again to request another polyship bc on matching skins, so can i please request a...

Yandere! Paycheck! Nyan and Tac Nayn x Depressed! Reader

Fluff abd some Angst for the reader's depression, Oneshot.

Plot: Where the reader is living a normal life while being sad and dull as if their colors were drained away by the reality. But as they went on about their life, Elliot and Chance both finds them interesting and stalk them as they felt bad that they did not felt happy or joy.

one day, they both decided to kidnap them and hanging out with them in space and even becoming a cat too (idk if thats how it works)

Anyways Ty and thats it

You don't need to apologize for anything, dw <3 /platonic But also- cat cat cat cat cat cat cat cat- (You always have the loveliest ideas for these two I swear) Content warning though(for once); I'm projecting my own experiences with depression in this and also mixing in what I've seen and heard of from friends so this might hit a little deeper than I intended to...

Reader get's She/They~

Life is just... Ugh...

You felt like everything became so... Dull...

You used to be such a cheerful and bright kid but reality just seemed to not tolerate that...

Now you were stuck dealing with a life you didn't even feel was worth living. Although you at least had some meds to help you start your days somewhat more colourful.

It wasn't much and you usually felt drained again pretty fast but you also didn't want to go back to therapy. Your insurance was already difficult to deal with the first time around.

You were alone. And by god did it feel awful.

No matter what you did, you were cold and felt yourself spiralling.

Even in the rare moments where you actually got yourself to cook for a night were usually spent telling yourself not to be self-destructive and focus at the task at hand while you had insults swirling in the back of your mind at every step.

You just couldn't do it right, you always make mistakes, why can't you just do it correctly?

You just wanted to escape...

And you almost would've gone for the easiest solution if you hadn't had your own otherworldly stalkers to swoop in to be your saviours.

You were oblivious to it but they've been watching your every move for a while, studying you and making secret visits to comfort you in your sleep.

Sure, it was strange when you stopped shivering in your sleep and sometimes would be half-awake when you suddenly felt warmth against your body but their appearances were so strange and illogical that you couldn't fathom it being real so you'd just go back to sleep mere seconds later.

They loved you.

They loved those rare moments when you smiled because a cat on the street was affectionate with you.

They loved when you came across their presents in your day-to-day life and couldn't figure out who they were from.

They loved watching you dance as you listen to music to drown out the voices in the back of your mind.

They loved how peaceful you looked when you slept.

They loved hearing those cute little noises you'd make when you spotted them but convinced yourself to just go back to sleep.

You were loved... And they'd be damned if they had to hide it any longer.

Waking up in the dark wasn't unusual so your groggy mind decided to ignore it until... You realized that you weren't in bed.

Actually, it wasn't even that dark. You just had a blindfold on for some reason and the surface beneath you was too comfortable to belong to your cold and dusty mattress.

You quickly sat up in confusion, pulling off the blindfold to reveal you were in a giant room. Once your eyes had adjusted to the darkness that was present, you realized it looked like it came from some sort of sci-fi movie but it was decorates with colours and objects that all spoke to your interests and brought you happiness.

It was a little creepy but you couldn't get yourself to scream. You had a strange mask over your mouth and nose that was surprisingly plush and even allowed you to breath better. You never thought you'd smell such clean air in your life.

Although, you couldn't take it off... No matter how hard you pulled...

Looking down to see what you were laying on, you found that it was a giant heart-shaped bed with pink silk sheets and half-transparent red curtains around it. More points to the creepy meter but you weren't chained up or anything so whoever kidnapped you clearly didn't think this through.

... But they did...

You shortly got up and decided to try the door, noticing it didn't have a handle and matched the sci-fi aesthetic. It honestly looked like it could be a sliding door or something but no matter which way you tried to pull, it didn't budge.

All it did was make a buzzing sound emit from a small keypad next to it. It didn't have any buttons though. Only a screen that said 'Voice recognition required'.

Great... You were still trapped but at least you could explore for a bit.

Let's see... No windows, lots of pictures and paintings, a LOT of plushies that looked like cats- How did they even know you liked cats so much??? You thought you hid it pretty well...

But not even a clock was in sight. You wondered if anyone even noticed you were gone... Maybe they did but they didn't care-

"Awake already~?" A smug voice ripped you from your thoughts as you turned towards the door. You didn't even hear it open...

Surprisingly, those sights of when you woke up and saw those cat faces were real after all... Because now one of them was walking towards you.

A strange cat-like being with a waffle body and a fedora, followed by another with a poptart body and a colourful visor... Were you going insane?

Your shock must've shown as the latter let out a gentle giggle. "You must be pretty confused but it'll all make sense soon! So please don't struggle and be good for us." He had such genuine adoration in his eyes that momentarily distracted you from your situation as you wondered if there was actual love being offered to you.

"You're so cute~ But we know not to rush things, don't worry. We'll take good care of you while you adjust and let those pesky memories fade. Then we can start making new, happier ones so you don't need to worry anymore~" The darker one was almost cooing, cupping your face when he got close enough and seeming a little surprised when all you do is flinch before allowing the gesture.

The more colourful of the two seemed happy at your lack of resistance. "You're so adorable already! I wonder how long you've been starved for attention but don't worry, you'll be spoiled plenty as long as you're good and listen to us!"

Why weren't you resisting? Were you that tired of your old life? Were you so starved for affection? Were you catching feelings for these creatures already even though all they had done so far is be gentle and praise you?

Whatever the reason, they allowed you to roam outside right away because you were behaving already.

And you saw why they weren't worried about you running...

You were in space. Literally.

You could see the stars and even Saturn in the distance as you approached the giant windows with fascination.

"We made sure the ship accommodated your body by sticking with earth's gravitational force for a start and slowly decreasing while your body changes and adjusts." The colourful one, who you learned was called Elliot, spoke in joy.

You didn't have the energy to question him but what did he mean by that? And how come your mouth felt so stretched out? was your tongue always this rough?

Your memories were already hazy, you must've been here for a while...

And it only got worse as time went on. Your bones would shift and melt in your body at a painful rate and you were often forced to take some strange pain killers that seemed to make it feel only uncomfortable but no longer painful.

Then, your skin would melt into itself and start growing fur. But at that point the pain was unbearable enough that Chance and Elliot allowed you to be put into an artificial coma until the procedure was done.

Once you awoke again, you could feel your brain struggling to remember much. All that was clear was your room and the guys who were taking care of you. Elliot and Chance, wasn't it?

When you had asked them, they mentioned your transformation was apparently a success and you were their mate.

Although confused, they explained the concept and you were oddly happy to agree. You even purred and pressed yourself up against them in a big hug, trying to leave your scent on them. That had them both flustered beyond belief.

Although... Leaving a brownie scent on a poptart and a waffle cat might have consequences if there's more of your kind...

Anything you'd like to request/ask? Check out my pinned post first and I'll be happy to write up whatever you want!

[the-irreverend]

The UnDess Knight Theory: What if Dess Holiday is Deltarune's Flowey?

As a fan of the Dessknight theory, I bet you must’ve been overjoyed to see antlers on the Roaring Knight. Surely this could only mean that she was alive and well in the Dark World, right?

Well, sorry to rain on your parade, but you’re right about the "in dark world part," but maybe not the “alive and well” part.

Yes, you read that title correctly. I here arguing with every fibre of sincerity and earnestness my autistic ass could muster that deer old Dess is in fact DESS-ceased (yes those stupid puns were intended).

I mean, hey, it wouldn’t be the first time a Toby Fox project featured a dead kid that got brought back as a husk of their former self and now goes around causing the apocalypse.

You probably think I’ve lost my sanity, and you are absolutely wrong! 

I never had any to begin with.

Because, as an inspiring leader once said:

But somehow and someway, it’s so insane that it JUST MIGHT WORK. And now I have the pleasure of explaining every moving part of that insanity to you, my fellow bitches, bros, and non-binary hoes of the UTDR community (Sk8 the Infinity reference lol).

As ridiculous as it sounds, the idea that Dess had died before the start of Deltarune and was brought to life via the Dark World is far from impossible. Just look no further than what became of everyone’s favourite Elderly Mutant Ninja Turtle.

The revelation that the Dark World has the power to bring someone back from the dead has galaxy-sized ramifications and implications for Deltarune’s narrative, and I’m sure this line from Ralsei may just prove to be one hell of a Chekov’s gun.

Pay attention to those eight words. PATTERNED AFTER THE MEMORY OF A LOVED ONE. This establishes two critical rules regarding how the dark world is able to revive people from the light world:

A) For a person to be brought back to life via the dark world, the dark world’s creator must have an intimate knowledge and relationship with the deceased

B) Unless that parameter is met, the process will not completely work, hence the reason Gerson was brought back as a shell of his former self (no pun intended... okay I lied it totally was).

So, how does this concern Dess? Why am I so convinced that December has truly left the land of the living (and was brought back to it)? And exactly who is bringing her back and why?

EXHIBIT A) THE KNIGHT

Now, when you think of cold, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For you, perhaps you think of the most unpleasant aspects of the winter season: the short days giving way to long nights; the barren, leafless flora that stick out of the natural landscape; or perhaps the unpleasant feeling of your body’s warmth being slowly gnawed and siphoned away by the frigid air.

For those who find winter to be less than jolly, the season represents death, decay, and the end of all things, and these aspects are perfectly embodied in the Roaring Knight themselves, not just in their goal (bringing about the end of the light and dark world) but also in their physical appearance.

I mean, if the jet-black body and the gaunt, skeleton-like physique don’t scream harbinger of death, then I don’t know what does. And there’s also the fact that you encounter the Knight in a winter setting!

These motifs and qualities really emphasize the themes of death and ending that are closely associated with winter and the cold in general. But the interesting thing about cold is that’s it’s not only associated with the end, but also with preserving things FROM the end: hibernating animals recusing themselves until the arrival of spring, refrigerated and frozen foods being safeguarded from rot and putrefaction, or the cryo sleeps of science-fiction keeping people perfectly intact for their journey through time and/or space.

This theme of preservation associated with the cold also ties in very nicely with the undead, as they're being preserved from death, albeit in a twisted manner, since they’re no longer what they used to be. Heck, we saw this in Undertale with Asriel and Chara, where they were both brought back as husks of their former selves, bereft of the warmth and humanity they used to have. As for who exactly would want to bring Dess back from the dead, who would be a better candidate than someone whose whole schtick is preservation and bitter cold?

EXHIBIT B (heavy emphasis on the B): CAROL HOLIDAY

The personality of Carol Holiday can best be summed up with these two words: PRESERVING PERFECTION.

Her mindset is a lethal combination of Asgore’s inability to let go of the past and Chara’s fanatical obsession to make everything as complete and/or strong as possible: from bronzing paper snowflakes at the expense of your daughter, to endorsing Asgore’s attempts at getting back with Toriel, to keeping her own home as if it were always Christmas.

And would know it, this also extends to what she has done to Dess’s room, or rather, what she didn’t do.

Much like how Asgore kept his house as it was when his family was at its happiest (even to the point of not removing things that had been there since Chara was alive), Carol keeps Dess’s room exactly as it was before she disappeared. People always store away the belongings of someone who died as a way of acknowledging that they’ve passed on and that they themselves are ready to move on, and Carol has demonstrated that the last thing she wants to do is exactly that.

For Carol Holiday, keeping Dess’s room like that is essential to preserving her memory, or more accurately, the fabricated reality that she’s still around, so much so that even the slightest disruption (i.e. a purple dinosaur looking to play some banging tunes for her girlfriend) threatens that.

Furthurmore, if you look at the Tenna’s flashback of the Dreemurrs and Holidays together in Chapter 3, you will notice that the first person to leave the scene is DESS, followed by CAROL which emphasizes how much of an impact Dess’s disappearance affected Carol, perhaps playing a role in shaping Carol into what she is now (not that it excuses her behaviour or anything).

It would be anything but out of character for Carol to use the Dark World’s power to bring back her lost daughter, and she isn’t the only character playing a role in it. She has an accomplice in her little Pet Semetery ass scheme. Someone who was also very close to Dess when she was alive. Someone who, just like Carol, is also very desperate to return things to the way they were.

EXHIBIT C) KRIS

After enduring the absolute gut punch that was Kris ratting out Susie and Noelle at the Holiday Manor, you probably must have asked yourself what Carol was doing for Kris that would inspire them to double-cross someone they care so deeply about? Perhaps it could be the revival of someone even closer to them.

Carol trying to resurrect her long-dead daughter would not only perfectly explain her rather interesting relationship with Kris but also why Kris wanted to work with them in the first place. At the end of Chapter 4, before Kris escapes through their bedroom window to meet up with Susie again, Carol (seeing how it was implied that she’s the mysterious caller) contacts Kris to tell them, “don’t forget Kris... you promised.”

It establishes that A) Kris had already been in cahoots with Carol even before the events of Chapter 1, and B) that this was something that Kris agreed to do (though I wouldn’t put it past Carol that she manipulated or even coerced Kris into this).

Working with Carol to revive Dess is more than just undoing a horrific tragedy; it's also a chance to atone for a tragedy that they feel responsible for.

Remember back in Chapter 2, where if you visit the bunker, you’ll find MK harping on Snowdrake for being afraid about going in the bunker, to which Snowdrake then brings up how Kris is also terrified of the bunker.

This coupled with how Dess’s guitar has code to access it, heavily imply that Kris was with Dess when she went into the bunker and not only that, but also witnessed whatever terrible thing happened to her, which would no doubt make Kris feel responsible for her demise (even though it wasn’t their fault). And as for the subject of Dess being an undead knight (and tell me that doesn’t sound absolutely wicked), well... there is this scene.

If you manage to beat the Roaring Knight and Kris is the only one left standing, the Knight will walk up to them and gently place their sword upon their shoulder, to which Kris will then kneel. And if you know your medieval/royal customs, you’ve come to the realization that the Roaring Knight is, well, knighting Kris.

Hmmmmmm, rather interesting how despite the fact this is the first time they’ve met each other, they’re showing each other respect as if they’ve known each other for a long time, because maybe THEY ALWAYS HAVE!!!!

CONCLUSION

Now, as I conclude this cute theory of mine, I will admit there is a lot that I haven’t factored in. I haven’t talked about what Dess being an undead Knight or Kris and Carol’s alliance to resurrect her has to do with the prophecy, the Roaring, the Snowgrave Route, the player, Gaster, and so many other things. And sorry to say, I can’t really give a clear answer for all of that, at the very least, not right now.

But despite that, there’s just too much evidence to ignore: from the motifs associated with the Knight, to what Carol stands for and what she has done in the wake of her absence, to her collaboration with her daughter’s closest friend.

It all lines up too perfectly, doesn’t it?

A grief-stricken mother desperately trying to bring back her late daughter with the help of her guilt-wracked best friend, no matter how much it damages themselves and those who are still with them.

BUT HEY, THAT’S JUST A THEORY!

A DELTARUNE THEORY!!!

THANKS FOR READING!!!!!!!!!!

[theotherrookie]

Willow was glad they were all on the same page and welcomed the change of topic. While she enjoyed hearing about all the ways Travis and Erica terrorized people growing up, she'd rather learn more about the brothers they had yet to meet and file that information away for later.

"I take it having conflicting interests doesn't represent a problem for you." Willow mused.

Erica grabbed the seats as she shot forward. "You can dance? That's so cool!"

"Erica, don't scratch the seats. We'd like to use this car again." Nevertheless, Willow found her double's enthusiasm endearing.

"No claws." Erica said, before she nodded again, "Yep, it's a thing. There are many kinds of elves, some harder to find than others. I just wanted a normal back because I had enough of having extra holes in my body."

The survivors just didn't get that the bullets only slowed down the special zombies. Her tail and ears were enough to satisfy her elven pride and set her apart from the others. She didn't regret the decision at all.

"But I guess that it had some use because that's kinda where some of my shadows come from." Erica added, leaning back again.

Willow was quiet as she messed with the radio again. They were getting close to their destination, they had to be ready to make their entrance.

It had to be handed to Rook that she was certainly showing great self restraint there. She could have attempted so many things to make the pocket far more creepy.

"Yeah, it'd be unnerving to be in here with that kind of background noise." she replied, "Especially since you're never truly alone. There are a couple of fellows in particular that you don't want creeping up behind you. Being constantly on the lookout for which noises you didn't make would be exhausting."

And dangerous, considering the aforementioned prisoners in question.

"I'm just salvaging the pieces, really." Rook added with a shrug, "Between the Brotherhood guys shoving an entire building in and this place being essentially abandoned for decades, it's like we're discovering it for the first time again even with the instruction manual available."

"Even I wasn't aware of its full potential." Veronica admitted, "Although, I'm sure all that energy will be put to good use."

Rook chuckled, "Like I could get any sassier."

"You can't?" Lucien had a coin flicked at him.

"Well, I don't mind the approval. I never exactly got much of a chance to share my interests, being told I'm good at things has the same effect bubble tea has on Lucien."

"I'm well over that. I'm into peach flavored drinks now." Lucien protested.

"Oh, I bet you are. But I'm happy for you guys."

Lucien gave her a skeptic look as they got ready to go again. At least he got a nice bag of gold out of this. It would cover for the small fortune he spent on retrieving his cuffs.

Veronica hovered by Antonio as he put the coin away for the time being. "Chick's magic trace is embedded in that thing. It can be tracked down, so I wouldn't be so quick to put it in a drawer, if I were you."

Not that she could have much of a say in the matter. Veronica knew her limits and for now she would feel satisfied knowing she got a chance to mess with Bill. It was harsh being the responsible parental figure, she never got a chance to mess around.

She put on her stern look as they approached, feeling like having fun a little longer, and let Rook go ahead to check on him.

"Ah, nothing much, we stopped by the gift shop." Rook replied, "We grabbed something for you too. I figured you might have some fun with it."

And she hoped she would get to join in again. It had been nice working together to reverse engineer Ratchet's gadgets. She would have liked attempting some other project.

A new portal opened nearby, ready to be used.

"I sure hope so. Things start going bad when we don't care anymore what happens to children."

"It must be quite interesting whenever you and the rest of your brothers meet up. With such a wide array of professions, you may never be at risk of running out of conversation topics." Willow chimed in. It was a touchy matter for Erica and she didn't want her to upset herself with the current topic too much.

"We have to take turns and there's just four of us!" The trick had worked perfectly. "Well, I didn't feel much pain as a zombie, but elves like me are just born with a hollow back. I don't know what it was for, it didn't really do anything. So I let Willow get rid of it."

"It was merely an aesthetic change that didn't interfere with Erica's magical affinity, as we have now confirmed."

"Yeah, it's no big deal." Erica reassured, "But I guess that's why we didn't know about it. I'm glad Rook met Russell, though. We wouldn't know all of you guys if she hadn't!"

"And for that, we're both thankful."

Erica nodded fiercely at Willow's words, before looking ahead. "I think I've seen this part of the city before."

Right on cue, Willow started giving out directions.

"I had to do it for my own peace of mind. Imagine dropping anything in here. The noise will bounce back and forth for days." Rook said, before eyeing Antonio, "And I had to think of my guests. After all, if you're too sassy while in the void, the void will eventually sass you back."

Luckily, there weren't signs so far of the pocket having any level of awareness. Perhaps its artificial nature meant it'd never fully go beyond reacting to the presence of those tied to it.

"Oh, I really panicked at first." Rook admitted, "Because I kinda sneaked in to see where mum was going and I got left behind. But then I just got bored of the panic and started poking around again. I guess it's just the effect this place has on you after you've been here for a while."

It did help that after a while it occurred to her she wasn't feeling hungry or tired. Not being directly affected by the passing of time while being in that glorified broom closet took part of the urgency away.

"Alchemy and herbalism are different disciplines. The ability to directly control the temperature and intensity of our fire is however a major advantage." Veronica replied, "I wouldn't mind sharing some of my knowledge on the subject. It can be very useful at times."

It wasn't just good for creating huge piles of precious items they could treat like Lego, after all. Rook was glad to see her gift was being appreciated.

"Anything for my big bro. But that coin you picked," She paused to point at it, "that's a lucky one."

She proceeded to pass more pouches around, even holding one up so it could be stored in the drone for the time being. They'd figure out a way to get it over to Simon's place later.

"Thanks, Leofric." She offered a second bag, "I can't wait to see what he'll make with these. It seems like he really likes smithing."

"I'm no expert, but I'll do my best with it." Lucien said, standing up, "Russell deserves to have something that shines at least half as much as him."

Rook rolled her eyes, "You guys are so mushy. I bet it's all those sweets you two eat."

Still, she was very happy for what Russell and Lucien had going for themselves. It was clear it made both happy and that was all that mattered.

"Well, let's catch up with Bill. He should be almost at the exit by now."

[topazy]

Teen spirt

Pairings: Carl Grimes x reader, Maggie Rhee x sister reader

Warnings: Swearing

Chapter: 7.03

Every time Carl climbs the fence and disappears deep into the woods, you fear he’s never coming back.

And this time is no different.

“Just keep Judith safe, and I’ll do the rest.” he presses a light kiss to your lips and then steps back. “I’ll see you soon.”

A bile of dread stirs in your belly as you walk the grounds of Alexandria, pushing the pram Judith is in to help her sleep. The thought of Rick returning soon and asking for his son made you feel queasy.

You wanted to sneak out and go to Hilltop to see your sister, but Carl argued that your healing wound would not only slow you down, but the smell of blood could possibly attract the dead, so Enid, who overheard part of your heated conversation, volunteered to go to Hilltop and check on Maggie while Carl was off on his own. Carl was going to kill Negan but had only told you that, so now it was down to you to cover for him.

While walking, you survey the houses and make note of all the ones still damaged from when the horde of walkers got in.

Sometimes at night you could still picture Ron’s face when you killed him. You didn’t regret saving Carl, but the price you’ve paid to save him has taken a small part of your soul. And if Carl’s plan failed and he died, it would have been all for nothing. You wished he had stayed in Alexandria or at least had let you join him. The fear of what the saviors would do to him if he exceeded kept playing on the back of your mind as well.

“Ma’am.”

Looking over your shoulder, you see Eugene walking in your direction and quickly wipe the fallen tears away. He has a somber look on his face and a cardboard box in his hand. Although he lied about being a doctor, Eugene had never actually hurt anyone. He just always seems afraid.

“Hi, Eugene.”

“Sorry to interrupt your morning routine, but I thought you might like to have these.”

Curious, you glance in the box and immediately recognize the flowers inside it. “It’s lilies.”

“I believe Deanna had been growing them before she died.”

Your mom used to always say lilies were the best choice of funeral flowers because they were a symbol of purity and innocence, and now you have a box full of them. You fight to blink back the tears welling in your eyes. “Do you want to help me and Judith with an arts and crafts project?”

—

Sitting cross-legged in the back garden of Rick’s house, you continue making a wreath out of the flowers, spray wire, and ribbons that you found while Eugene writes down notes. It was obvious he had been crying recently, but you didn’t want to bring light to it and upset him again.

“My daddy would have liked you.”

Eugene shakes his head, “not many people like me; I’m a coward.”

Not knowing what to say to the last part, you continue with your original thought, “you’re always polite, and he liked polite people.” You chuckle to yourself, “he once had a man thrown out of church during the middle of a service because he kept swearing. I could imagine his reaction if he’d met Abraham.”

“Most fathers are protective of their offspring.”

Offspring. He was just so weird at times. “He didn’t like Glenn at first and wanted him to stay away from Maggie, but he eventually approved. I don’t think he would have minded me and Carl being together since he saved his life.”

“How so?”

“He pulled the bullet out of Carl’s stomach.”

Eugene looks bewildered by this; you just presumed he knew the story since Abraham did.

“When the outbreak happened, one of my daddy’s friends, a man who worked for him on our farm, stayed with us, and so did his wife. He went hunting for deer and accidentally shot Carl. That’s how we all met. My daddy was a veterinarian, and… we got incredibly lucky. He saved Carl, and we got a whole new family that day.”

“Well, I think I would have liked him too.”

You smile; the small talk was a welcome distraction from the fear consuming your insides.

—

After you finish making the wreath, you place it over the small wooden cross you’ve stuck into the ground and go back inside to wash the dirt off your hands. Eugene left when you started to carve names onto the wooden cross; the older man seemed very uncomfortable when your hands began to shake and tears streamed from your eyes.

It was worse that you couldn’t admit how much danger Carl was in.

Olivia, who has been watching Judith inside the house, suddenly steps in front of you, flustered. “He’s here,” she whispers. “Negan’s here.”

Through the thin white curtain covering the glass on the front door, you can see Carl standing behind him and feel instant relief, but then the panic sets in. “Try and get him away from the house.”

You manage to make it upstairs before Negan knocks on the door. Damn it. You curse yourself for not managing to make it into the attic, but for now Judith was sleeping, so all you could do was hope Negan leaves soon.

—

Unfortunately, your plan to hide Judith from Negan didn’t work when he decided he wanted a full tour of Rick’s home. Luckily he seems to like small children and didn’t show any interest in harming her… not yet anyway.

Negan was crazier than you first thought; you knew he was violent and cruel, but the more you watch him, the more it seems like he’s actually trying to become Rick as a type of intimidation. He’s used Rick’s razor to shave and just prepared dinner for you, Carl, and Olivia. Occasionally he would refer to his bat, Lucile, which he used to kill Glenn and Abraham, as if it were a real person and hold it above his head, reminding you what he was capable of.

With a stupid grin on his face, Negan, who was sitting at the top of the table, kept looking between you and Carl, who was sitting across from you. “So this is the future serial killer’s girlfriend, I’m right, aren’t I? You two crazy kids are fucking.”

“They are just children,” Olivia says, disgusted.

“I didn’t mean literary,” Negan laughs to himself. “Although it’s not unheard of for teenagers to explore their sexuality. I presume Rick had his fatherly talk about the birds and bees with you?”

Carl’s cheeks turn red, and Olivia squirms in the chair beside you. You don’t react; you knew Negan was just saying anything he could to get a reaction. He notices your lack of reaction and uses his fingers to brush Carl’s hair out of his face, revealing the hole in his face where his eye should be.

“Have you seen his scar yet? It’s so repulsive, right?” Negan continues to stare at you. “Right?”

“I’ve changed his bandages plenty of times; it doesn’t bother me.”

“That is so fucking cool,” Negan says, sitting back in the chair. “You’ve got a badass girlfriend right here; she doesn’t care about shit. Which makes me think she knew about your little plan to kill me and my men.”

Olivia lets out a horrified gasp.

“No,” Carl deadpans. “I didn’t tell anyone.”

“Uh huh,” Negan takes his time to chew and swallow the piece of spaghetti in his mouth before continuing. “You’re Rick’s son. Somebody must have been bound to notice you were missing, even with your dad gone—hold that thought; we have a guest. Olivia, tidy this up. I’ll get the door while these two lovebirds think about their behavior.”

—

You frown, watching from the living room window as Spender sits with Negan on the chair on the porch drinking whisky. “What an asshole. I actually hope he leaves with him.”

“He’s a snake. Spencer just wants to undermine my dad,” Carl says while rubbing Judith’s back. “None of us are safe with him here.”

Olivia tries to keep herself busy by deep cleaning the kitchen. You were desperate to ask Carl what happened but didn’t want the older woman overhearing. Before you get the chance to ask, there’s a tap on the window. Pushing the curtain back, Negan motions for you to go outside.

Sharing a look with Carl, he hands his sister over to Olivia to join you, but when you approach the door together, Negan holds up his hand. “Just the girl.”

In an attempt to conceal your fear, you shove your shaky hands into the pockets of your jumper, step outside, and stand in front of them. The smug look on Spencer’s face infuriates you.

“A little birdie told me you’re the one who bruised up Spencer’s face,” Negan says a little too cheerfully. “It’s okay. I’m going to give you and Carl a pass for today since you’ve both brought me so much entertainment.”

“Yeah…”

“Well, damn it,” he laughs. “First you attack a fully grown man, then assist your serial killer-looking boyfriend in killing my men. Tell me, have you ever killed someone?“

“I…” tears spring to your eyes. Quietly you say, “I had no choice.”

Spencer finishes the last of the whisky in his glass and scoffs, “the children here have an attitude problem. They run wild. That’s what happens under Rick’s watch.”

“Spencer?” He looks up at you. “Shut the hell up.”

Amused, Negan laughs, “I’ll tell you something, the kids here have more fire than half the adults. I mean, shit, Carl killed two of my people because he wanted revenge.”

“Why did you let him live?”

“I admire his ruthlessness, although I am concerned the two of you will go on a killing spree.”

When Spencer laughs, you glare at him, “laugh all you want, but at least one of the children did something.”

He sighs, “and why would you say a thing like that?”

The words spill from your mouth before you can stop yourself. “Why? Negan has taken Glenn away from us! He killed him. He killed Abraham. They didn’t deserve to die! The man sitting next to you murdered our friends and our family, and you’re out here kissing his ass, even a child like me has more backbone than you.”

Negan lets out a wolf whistle and claps his hands while you storm back inside the house.

[concretejunglefm]

we've seen virgin Noah but what about virgin ruffilo... that old interview where he talks about doing his tattoo apprenticeship when he was 18 and just feeling *small*

need him working hard and desperate for approval. maybe you meet him when you're at the shop for a tattoo and see him in the corner practicing on fake skin, hair in his face, brow creased and sweaty... sweet thing

also just need his hands fingers rings inside me whatwhosaidthat

I have not been able to stop thinking about this, or virgin!ruffilo altogether, it makes my mind go a million miles an hour every time. Like, excuse me, why don’t we have the ability to just project thoughts? Because god, I’m gnawing at the bars of my enclosure over this—even more so after being shown this picture of baby Ruff today by @deathblacksmoke 💕

So just imagine,

You go to your usual tattoo shop. You’re setting up an appointment, going over potential designs, when you spot someone new tucked away in the back. A young guy you’ve never seen before—the literal definition of fresh meat, and just as you’re about to approach him, one of the artists flashes you a playful grin and says, “Be gentle with him.”

You just stick out your tongue with a click and a smirk, “When am I not?” before sauntering down toward him.

He’s focused on a piece of practice skin, tongue peeking out between his teeth, brow creased, eyes locked in concentration, but what catches your attention isn’t his skill—though his hands look steady enough—it’s the drawing and the clear reference photo beside it. Just a sketched outline for now, but already unmistakably Disney’s Ariel bound to a chair, her breasts framed between the ropes holding her in place.

He’s so absorbed, he doesn’t notice you until you reach over him for the drawing.

“Hey…” he starts, setting the needle down as he turns to face you—only for his eyes to widen when he realizes it’s not one of the other artists coming to tease him.

“Pretty,” you murmur, glancing between the drawing and the reference, a sly smirk curling on your lips. “Is this how you like all your women? Or just the Disney princesses?”

He swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he fumbles, “I was just… uh…” His voice is nervous, uncertain, and it makes you want to devour him. Such a sweet thing.

Your gaze flickers briefly to his hand, noting the abundance of rings he wears—immediately imagining how they’d feel inside you. His fingers, hesitant at first, growing more confident with every moan he draws out of you.

“No need to be nervous,” you assure him, laying a hand on his shoulder as you gently set the drawing back on the workstation, and leaning in close, just enough for your breath to ghost against his ear, you whisper, “You’d be surprised how many girls would be into that.”

[kanra-writes]

have you been a fan of content creators, only to get traumatised over and over again? have you witnessed your favourite streamers turn into the worst people under the sun? have you thought about getting back to watching content creators, but you're too scared to get attached to real people, because you know they will fail you?

well fear not, because i am bringing you a marauders content creators AU!

no, not everyone is a gamer, actually. but we do have:

James being the Golden Boy of YouTube and Twitch

Regulus being a hater on streams

Pandora making chemistry videos

Lily making daily vlogs

Evan doing taxidermy

and

Barty doing everything so Evan would notice him

Two chapters are out so far!

my credentials to write this fic under the cut:

- i have been watching CCs since i was like 12 (across three languages, mind you) - i was here for the DanAndPhilGames hiatus (i survived it!!!) - i was here for "basically i am gay" AND "why i quit youtube" - all of the lore for markiplier and jacksepticeye (also the rise and fall of septiplier) - i was here for the adpocalypse on yt (and now on twitch) - the whole drama between tati, james charles, jeffrey star and whoever else was in that clusterfuck - nikkie tutorials coming out (and also her "big reveal" video) - the whole "pewdiepie vs t-series" situation - the peak of 2020/2021 twitch - i was here for the discs and the tnt and the emeralds... - i was here when techno died - i was also a mod for a few twitch channels thank you very much - i was there for tronnor AND troyler - speaking of troye, i was there when troye sivan was still a youtuber - i was there for THE queerbait of 2020 (those who were there know what im talking about) - i was also there for the swatting of ludwig and QT - speaking of ludwig, i was there for his subathon - the massblocking that schlatt did....yeah - i witnessed the absolutely awful 2019 youtube rewind

tl;dr: do not cite the deep magic to me, witch, I was there when it was written

[zepskies]

Oh my God wow, thank you so much, friend!! 🥹 It's amazing to me that you set aside the time not just to listen to this, but to have so much thoughtful feedback to share about it! 💕

This was my very first time hearing your voice, and I feel the need to point out what a pleasant voice you have, Alex! And I do mean this in the most sincere way, coming from someone who can be very very picky about what voices to listen to. I know this wasn't the point of the podcast, but I had to let you know :)

ehehe omg thank you!!! 🥰 I used to hate my own voice in recordings, so that makes me feel better. 😂

That's such an amazing compliment!! 😭 You know I try my best to get the characters' voices and mannerisms right, especially Dean because he's living in my heart for such a long time. I tried really hard in Smoke Eater too because that was my first full AU story ever.

ahhhhhh I loved Yellowstone!! Haha I think the reason I didn't go that route is because I didn't want to outright copy the show, but maybe now that I've finished watching it I'll come back to the idea of a modern cowboy AU for Dean.

Awww I love that, of course you're included!!! 💗💗

First of all, I found it very interesting that despite your own heritage, you grew up with a white reader in mind. Just goes to show how predominantly a white person is and has been the main character in so much of media that that's what your brain defaulted to.

yuuuup, that's what it was. Plus in school I was always the minority, especially because the families that went to my school were much wealthier than mine.

I also thought your discussion about what makes an OC an OC and where a reader insert stops being a reader insert suuuper interesting. Because that's a genuine question! Where does a blank slate stop being a blank slate, and how much character do you have to give to the reader role in a reader insert fic for the story still to work, right? I loved to hear your take on it, especially where you said that writing reader inserts is basically like writing OCs without giving them a name. - I had never thought about it that way! But of course, you're right. Because a reader that is an active participant in a story can't be a completely blank slate. They have to be assigned certain traits, not necessarily body-wise but character wise - if you're doing more than a drabble, imo. For there to be dialogue and a story that feels full, that feels alive, the reader has to have some sort of character to be a character.

Oooh thank you! Exactly! I know people tend to think of "reader" as a blank slate. But that only works for a drabble imo. Even in a longer one-shot, let alone a series, that blank slate is just a flat character with no personality, like in an otome game or something lol. Ultimately I get frustrated reading those characters, so I prefer to write and read reader characters that make active decisions in the story and have a personality, even if it's not "what I would do." Because even when I'm writing a reader character, she might have aspects of "me," but overall she's usually not me. She's a character, whether I give her a name or a physical description or not.

Which brings me to my next point: projectability is always a thing of perspective and the ability to put yourself into someone's shoes. As far as fanfiction goes, the reader insert genre tries to make that as easy as possible by offering a mostly blank slate (that is very often white-coded, unfortunately, but that's not the point I'm trying to make in this paragraph). I have seen people complain more than once about the character!reader being unrelatable because of certain character traits and/or backstories that were assigned to them, and I wonder: people, where has your media literacy gone? Do they not teach to adapt to a person's perspective via literature in schools anymore? Must all media cater exactly to your every taste, down to each very nuance?

Yeah, it's often white-coded because white writers aren't typically thinking of other races/ethnicities, even when they write a "reader" character. 😅 Also why sometimes those reader characters are very not relatable to me on how they speak and act lol. (Though this could also be because there are a lot of younger writers out here now, so that could be more related to age and maturity.)

I've def seen those posts that have readers complaining lol. I also think that's the case of people who are either young or not used to reading normal books, just fanfiction. Because 2nd person in the literary world is actually really rare. I try to make my stories and reader characters compelling, but I wonder if my stuff actually appeals to the younger demo of readers now (early 20s and younger).

I love how you give personality to your reader characters, Alex. Especially when it comes to your own representation. You said in the podcast that you were worried about how the traits you assigned to your reader in the Midnight Espresso-verse would be received by your audience and that you received great feedback. I want to reiterate that by saying how despite myself not having the same background as you, I could absolutely relate to the plus-size aspect of the reader, as well as her love for cooking. You said it so beautifully in the podcast, that this version of the reader is one that came from the intent of Dean having a (Latino) girlfriend that nurtured him in the same way he nurtures the people around him, and I fully 100% could relate to that as well :) Which might be my very complicated and long way of saying: Please do not worry about how much the reader can adapt to the traits you're giving to the character!reader. If most character!readers have been predominantly white for the longest time and so so many people that where not white made it work, then so can we white folks when we are given a reader that does not fit all of "our" typical criteria.

I appreciate you so much for this! 🥹🥹 Yes overall I've gotten way more encouraging and fun feedback than I ever expected for the Midnight Espresso-verse, certainly for that first story. I came at it with the thought that some women would relate to the plus-sized aspects, while other Latinas might enjoy the ethnic representation. And non-Latinos could maybe enjoy exploring a different culture if they wanted to dive in. I'm really grateful that you did!! 💕 And yeah that mutual "nurturing" aspect with her and Dean was 100% my favorite part about creating their relationship. 🥰

Yeah, honestly even if she's more OC than reader at this point, I don't really mind. I've loved writing every story in the ME-verse. Of course I've gotten a lot of wonderful responses from other Latinos on that series, but overall it's been my non-Latino friends who have supported me the most on that series. 💓💓

It made me very happy to hear that you're seeing more and more diversity within the SPN fandom these days. I've spent most of my time in the PPCU fandom this past year and all across it, but specifically in the Joel Miller fandom, there have been too many racist instances. It's great to hear that it's going better in other fandoms!

omg really? How so racist? That's so icky, especially for Pedro and his characters since he's such a sweetheart and very open about the joys and struggles of being a Latino and an immigrant in Hollywood 😭

Which brings me to my next point - the anon request you got that led you to writing Unravel Me 👀 Wow. I haven't read it yet. It was on my TBR list anyway, but hearing you talk about how it came to be and how much thought you put into it (understandably so) it's now an absolute must-read for me. (Sort of unrelated but still related: I've seen your playlist covers for the story, and - wow??? A masterpiece??? Visually, I mean?! The EFFORT. I'll be speaking about this in a second, but I needed to mention it now in case I forget! Gorgeous!)

Aw thank you so much for putting it on your TBR! 🥰 Even though I'm not 100% sure it was ready to be posted, I've done my best, even knowing it was going to be so niche that not a lot of people would likely read it lol. Honestly that's part of why I created those playlist covers -- to try and hook people with the visuals to get them to read the series. 🤣🤣

Though I did do playlist covers for Break Me Down (Soldier Boy x Reader), Lost on You (Soldier Boy x Supe!Reader), and Between the City & the Stars (1940s!Dean x Reader). I just love playing with that template. 😆 But also the music playlist for Unravel Me was so fun to put together, I knew I wanted to create those posters for Side A and B. It's really just a bonus if they manage to hook people and get them excited for the next part of the series. 🥰💜💙❤️

Another point that had me thinking a lot was the question about how much of an immigrant's identity should be kept and how much should be adapted to the country they've moved to also captivated me. I know US politics in regards to immigrants are ""problematic"" atm to say the least, and it's been a widely discussed topic over here in Germany for years now as well, especially with the heavy influx of immigrants over the past years. I can't imagine how complicated it must be, figuring out a sense of self that both fits to where you live and still keeps the core parts of who you are and were before coming to said country.

Oh God, yeah. It's always been a hot-button issue in the U.S., but especially now of course. Interesting that Germany has seen a big influx in immigration too. But yeah, I really dove into studying that aspect of being bicultural when I started reading short stories by Sandra Cisneros in high school and college. She's Mexican American and her works explore, through her characters, the nature of “los intersticios (the cracks)”—those spaces between the different "worlds" she lives in for being bicultural—all in effort to figure out her own inner identity.  

It is complicated. It's affected my own sense of self, my relationships within my own family, let alone friends, etc. And everyone's layers are different, whether they're a first, second, or third generation immigrant family.

I want to wrap this up by saying how incredibly impressed I am every single time I hear/read about how you prep for your stories. I think you are by far the most in-depth fanfiction writer that I know. You put so much research into it, and not just for The Honorable Choice, but everything you put out. I'm struggling to find the correct words to properly express how admiring I find it, especially for a story like The Honorable Choice where you take on the perspective of someone of a different ethnic background than you.

Wow, thank you so much, friend. 🥹🥹 The Honorable Choice was such a fun passion project, and scary too! lol I'm a nerd who genuinely loves the research, especially bc I love history. But it was also because I respect the cultures of Native Americans too much to get it wrong. I did my best to represent the Lakota tribe in the late 1800s to the best of my ability while still giving an entertaining love story, so hopefully it was authentic. 💗

You are an inspiration, Alex. Truly. Thank you for welcoming me into the writing space when I came back. Thank you for answering every question I had, and thank you for the work you put into all of your stories. To you, to your talent, your inspiration and work ethic, and to many more stories to come! 🩵

You've literally made my entire week so much brighter and are making me blush, lovely!! If I could be any small support to you then I'm so glad to hear it. 💕 People did the same for me when I started my blog over here, and I'm actually really excited to share a (hopefully) fun writing event soon with you guys!!

Racial & Ethnic Representation in Fanfiction

[🎙️ Podcast Interview]

Hey, friends! Sandra and Kasey, the lovely hosts of @idlingintheimpalapodcast — the podcast for all things SPN and fanfiction — invited me back on the pod for an interview on a topic that's very close to my heart…

With @rubyvhs, we talked about the fun moments and challenges about reading and writing fanfiction that represents specific racial and ethnic cultures, being bicultural/multicultural, the immigrant experience, and much more.

I offered my own experience as a Latina POC writing in the fandom space, specifically Supernatural and The Boys (and adjacent Jackles fandoms).

Check it out here: ⤵️

Interview Timestamps –

(Plus fic recs, SPN writer/reader shoutouts, and more! Links to all the fics we mentioned are at each time stamp.)

2:54 – When did you start writing fanfiction, and when did you join SPN fandom?

⟡ You can check out my first author interview with Sandra and Kasey over here. We chatted about Dean Winchester and Jensen Ackles’ early roles, the best and worst seasons of SPN, the joys and pains of writing Soldier Boy, and much, much more. For all the timestamps of key moments, fic recs, and SPN writer shoutouts, see this post (you'll find the link to the video there too).

6:18 – What is your ethnic, racial, and cultural background? (And how me and Sandra bond over “food and family” ties between Hispanics/Latinos and Italians.)

13:05 – The immigrant experience in America, what you take with you from the “Motherland,” the struggles of bicultural identity, my personal experience being a second-generation child of an immigrant family, and Sandra’s experience as a first-generation child of Italian immigrants.

16:58 – What do you look for when you’re reading fanfiction? (Canon-compliant, AU, romance, etc.) Does the length of a story matter?

19:52 – Bonus: The merits of drabble writing vs. long-fic writing.

25:54 – Have you ever actively searched for fanfiction that represented your ethnicity? (Whenever I do, it’s like finding gold.) Plus, the challenge of writing reader characters, the “gray area” of writing reader characters like OCs.

32:38 – The inherent “bias” of reading and writing reader characters as White. The concept of diversity being “cool” in popular media, TV shows, and movies is still pretty new.

36:36 – Why I started writing reader characters that might have a specific body type, race, and/or ethnicity.

Examples:

⟡ Midnight Espresso – Dean Winchester x Plus-size Latina!Reader

⟡ If I Stay – Dean Winchester x Plus-size!Reader

⟡ 10 ‘Til Midnight – Professor!Dean Winchester x Plus-size Grad Student!Reader

⟡ Unravel Me – Soldier Boy x Afro-Latina!Reader

⟡ The Honorable Choice & Outlander – Cowboy!Dean Winchester x OFC

40:14 – The fun challenges: like giving Dean a partner who takes care of him as much as he takes care of others in Midnight Espresso.

45:28 – The BIG challenges: like writing Soldier Boy being himself with a “person of color” (POC) in this new series, Unravel Me. What even is a POC? Where do you start with Soldier Boy, the Sandra-proclaimed “bowl of fishhooks?"

51:38 – Is there ever an element of fear when you publicly post a story that represents your culture, which is something very personal to you? What happens when you get haters in the comments?

1:05:33 – When and how did you begin to break out of the “ingrained biases” in your writing? (AKA: Always assuming my own characters are White.)

1:08:04 – When did you decide to explore writing plus-size!readers?

1:13:20 – What has your experience been in writing a race/culture outside of your personal experience? The Honorable Choice and Outlander, a western AU where Dean Winchester falls in love with a Native American Lakota Indian. (Shoutout to @jacklesversebingo!)

Plus, the ethical responsibility to “do no harm” when you represent different cultures, and answering question of not only can I write this, but should I write this?

1:32:42 – What advice would you give a writer interested in writing about a culture outside of their own that they don’t have first-hand knowledge of? How can a writer avoid cultural appropriation if their goal is cultural appreciation? How important is a sensitivity reader/beta reader for this effort?

1:40:35 – Final thoughts on diversity and representation of culture in fanfiction, whether it’s your own or someone else’s:

“Write what you know. Write what you can research. Write what you’re interested in. Remember that words have power, so be careful how you use them.”

1:45:30 – Sandra and Kasey’s outro: The importance of representation and diversity in fandom.

I hope you enjoy the ride!~ 💜

💗💗💗 Shoutouts to some of my beautiful friends and lovely readers who've supported my attempts to explore ethnic and cultural diversity in my writing:

@luci-in-trenchcoats @lamentationsofalonelypotato @waynes-multiverse @rizlowwritessortof @roseblue373

@tofics @deanwinchesterswitch @deanbrainrotwritings @deansbbyx @waywardlatina

@supernotnatural2005 @wayward-dreamer @spnwoman @waywardxwords @mostlymarvelgirl

@chevroletdean (shoutout to your 500 follower fic challenge at around 19:52 😘) @siampie @bettystonewell @wvffles

@iprobablyshipit91 @my-stories-vault @littlesoulshine @thatonewriter15 @jessjad

@deans-spinster-witch @winchestergirl2 @kazsrm67 @chernayawidow @jackles010378

@jollyhunter @leigh70 @foxyjwls007 @beakaleak32 @alwaystiredandconfused

[jbaileyfansite]

Interview with Elle Spain (translation)

Jonathan Bailey, star of 'Jurassic World' and 'Bridgerton': "I am always looking for the next big challenge, the one that makes you feel like you can't do it"

We interviewed the British actor, who is about to star on 'Jurassic World: Rebirth' and just finished filming 'Bridgerton 4'. Jonathan Bailey embodies the more Mediterranean spirit of Martini this summer and invites us to break customs.

Jonathan Bailey (Oxfordshire, England, 1988) is a true gentleman. It could be a cliché, but it's true: in 30 years as a journalist, I have met few people as elegant, charming, polite, and capable of finding the perfect word at every moment. He is the perfect Anthony Bridgerton, of course; but he is also the brilliant and witty Fiyero from 'Wicked' and the thoughtful Richard II from Shakespeare. He is a man of a thousand faces, all pleasant and attractive; soon, we will see him as the paleontologist Henry Loomis in 'Jurassic World: Dominion,' alongside Scarlett Johansson.

It is going to be an exciting and successful Summer for Bailey, who has also starred in one of the coolest campaigns of the moment for Martini. The actor and the iconic Italian aperitif brand invite us to experience a summer 'Off Script', where we break established customs and take the plunge to do different things. This season should be a time for discoveries, unplanned joys, Martini Spritz, and spontaneity. And, precisely, spontaneity and freshness is what this British actor has in abundance.

We'll see you soon as the star of 'Jurassic World: Rebirth.' What does it feel like to be part of such a legendary franchise?

It's incredible; it's a movie that was a very formative experience for the people who went to the cinema to see it. 'Jurassic Park' changed the way we make movies, because of it we see extraordinary wonders. And I have had John Williams' score in the back of my mind for most of my life. Everything is brilliant: working with director Gareth Edwards, a disciple of Steven Spielberg, and with Alexandre Desplat, who was one of John Williams' favorite composers.... It couldn't be better, really.

And your next release will be in November, 'Wicked 2', which has a significant (and demanding) fan base. Do you feel pressure or do you see it as motivation?

The pressure and the motivation are very good and the anticipation is great. I am a big fan of 'Wicked' and I know Cynthia [Erivo] and Ariana [Grande], so we wanted to do our best. The amazing thing about a second movie is knowing that so many people loved the first one. Now there's less pressure and we enjoy more the fact that we are going to show them a deeper, more emotional, and more extraordinary vision of the second part of this incredible story. We will enjoy it more and with greater perspective, because the first one was a whirlwind.

You have portrayed very different characters, from Shakespeare to Anthony Bridgerton. How do you choose the projects you get involved in?

Something that I love about my career, and that I feel very privileged about, is that you get to meet incredible people as you progress, whether it's in an interview like this one or working with the Bridgerton family and all the amazing people who come in and out of the series, which has continued to grow. I'm always looking for the next big challenge, the one that makes you feel like you can't do it. Any interaction, no matter how small, is innovative. So for now, I'm going to enjoy a summer of Martini Bianco Spritz and spend a lot of time with friends, because it's been a while since I've done that. And we'll see what whirlwind I get into with the next job.

Is there any role that you haven't played yet, but dream of?

I am looking forward to receiving an incredible script about a gay man in my inbox, one that is amazing. And I loved filming 'Fellow Travelers' with Matt Bomer, but I feel there are so many stories and movies I grew up with that changed the way I saw myself in the world that I would like to contribute something more.

You have worked in theater, television, and now big film productions. Which medium do you find the most emotionally demanding?

They are all demanding in different ways. And just like everyone in all industries, there are small things in which I believe we are all innately strong and brilliant. When I finished 'Richard II', after 103 performances with an amazing company and an extraordinary director, I felt that I had overcome a challenge as daunting as it was rewarding. Perhaps the more academic a role is, like 'Richard II', the more you live it.

After so many years as an actor, what still motivates you to perform?

So many things... It excites me a lot to take people to the cinemas 50 years after Steven Spielberg created the summer blockbuster concept with 'Jaws' and to be part of a movie that will attract everyone. Taking your grandmother or your children to see a movie in the theater is really thrilling for me. I am motivated by knowing that I can tell stories that entertain, help, and nourish people; that make them have a good time. This motivation drives me to explore different characters and improve. I just want to keep learning so that, hopefully, people enjoy my work. My commitment will always be to give 150 percent, and I hope people can enjoy it along the way.

You are the image of Martini in its latest campaign. What values do you share with the brand? Which actor or actress, living or deceased, would you like to share a conversation and a Martini with?

It is a brand of Italian heritage that has incredible foundation and sophistication and great integrity. It is also completely nostalgic: there was Martini in my parents' cupboard when I was a child. We live in a time when we are stuck in our habits and this summer we are inviting people to make different choices, to step off the script, to create space to be instinctive and create memories in a different way. Martini sums up everything I love: gathering friends and family, enjoying amazing moments, and finding beautiful, natural spaces to sit, have a drink, and relax.

If you could share a Martini with any actor or actress, who would you choose and what would you talk about?

With Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn, at sunset. I would only say to them: 'Tell me everything.'

What if you shared it with one of your characters?

Particularly for Anthony Bridgerton, a moment away from family suits him well, although we would obviously invite Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). Also Fiyero, my character from 'Wicked': he is the embodiment of a Martini Bianco Spritz, dancing through life. He is effervescent, bright, and has a peculiar acidity.

And what would your perfect Mediterranean ritual be for an appetizer?

Riding a bike in the morning, having a delicious lunch, and around three o'clock stopping to find a virgin and natural place to discover, like a small cove. Then, having a Martini Bianco Spritz with friends, catching up, going for a swim, going out again and having another, perhaps playing backgammon.

Surely, Jonathan Bailey's perfect ritual could also be ours, don't you think?

Source

[a2zillustration]

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[[ All Croissant Adventures (chronological, desktop) ]]

[[ All Croissant Adventures (app) ]]

[ccelest1al]

web dev is enough to make a girl into a serial killer

[rebornofstars]

what if i did fan joy july again but with actual proper length fics this time. just like 5-7 or so

[becauseplot]

anyway yeah fr i miss ordo theoritas. i miss the theory crafting i miss the hugeass meetings before/after Big Lore Event to brief/debrief everyone involved i miss the chaos and confusion and laughter and teamwork. i miss the cellbit, bad, and phil (key-keepers my beloveds) being the heads of the ordo working together to untangle the mysteries to the island. they were hardly ever on at the same time bc schedules and time zones (WAILS) but in my head they had so many late nights down in the evidence rooms like this

just. yeah. yeahh.

[bigcats-birds-and-books]

Books of 2024: ALWAYS COMING HOME by Ursula K. Le Guin.

The people have Spoken, so I'll be reading this 618-page brick next! The cover page credits the author, an artist, a composer, a geomancer (??), and the author of the intro, so. I suspect I'm in for a Ride™. I am both Excited and Intimidated--will report back on how this goes!

[dawnthefluffyduck]

hey that's not supposed to be out there (uploaded wrong version at first haha whoops)

[joutsummer]

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