#AND THE FIRST PART FEATURES NO ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS WHATSOEVER

[casscainmainly]

A Deep Dive Into Why Cass Threw Dick Out A Window

If you've been here long enough you've probably seen or heard of this moment, which is super hilarious and iconic. It's mostly discussed in reference to Dick and Cass' relationship. However, in my opinion Cass throwing Dick out a window had very little to do with her opinion of him, or even of Barbara; it has more to do with her understanding of romance and love. I briefly touched on this in my gender/sexuality post, but I'm going to explain more in depth my interpretation of how Dick functions in Batgirl (2000) as a whole. (This moment is very open to interpretation though, this is just my opinion!). So let's try to answer Dick's question: what was that all about?

Love, Language, and DickBabs

While Puckett's run is notable for not having Cass date anyone, romantic love does play a role in Cass' early understanding of the world. It's the impetus that spurs her to write: in issue 2, she sees a wife read a letter from her deceased husband, and her reaction affects Cass so strongly she immediately starts trying to write. (She also kisses the husband on the cheek earlier, which may or may not be a crush). Romance, and the ability to communicate your love, is a fundamental part of Cass' desire to learn language.

So we have Cass, who has experienced neither love nor language, living with Babs, who's in a relationship with Dick. This telephone conversation in #4 (the issue where a metahuman changes Cass' brain into understanding language) again links romance to communication. Dick and Babs are talking on the phone, unable to see each other but understanding each other perfectly; Cass and Babs, on the other hand, live together and can't understand each other at all.

"She can't talk, so it's not all that different [to living alone]." Babs is telling an eavesdropping Cass that her inability to speak prevents her from love and connection - a love and connection symbolised by one of the first romantic relationships Cass is consistently around, Dick and Barbara.

Dick as an Ideal

There's a debate whether Cass likes Dick or not because half the time they're friendly, and half the time she's punching him or throwing him out windows. This disparity makes sense if you consider that Cass strongly associates DickBabs with communication, understanding, love - very idealised notions - but she does not associate Dick as a person with them. Her interactions with Dick (sans Babs) are cute and normal - Batgirl #29 and Nightwing #81 feature some very adorable Dick-Cass moments, with no real tension whatsoever.

It's only when Cass sees Dick in a romantic light (as in associated with Babs) that she makes him into a symbol.

Cass often tries to copy Babs, thinking it's the 'correct' thing to do - in DC First: Batgirl/Joker, she goes after Joker because that's what Barbara did; later in Horrocks' run she'll wear Barbara's outfit. In a way, Cass' affairs with Tai'Darshan and Kon - as much as I do think Tai'Darshan was genuine attraction - is another way to 'copy' Barbara. In #42, Cass stares at a picture of Dick and Babs while asking if Babs likes boys. Obviously Cass knows the answer is yes, but see what she asks next, and how Barbara responds:

She shifts from 'like' to 'love', and Babs responds that she 'care[s]' about him. For Cass, whose arc in Horrocks' run is about parsing out the nuances of attraction, understanding the difference between like, love, and care is incredibly difficult. She struggles to separate familial from romantic (Bruce in #50) or romantic from platonic (Kon, and in somewhat the reverse way Steph). In this conversation, Cass comes to associate Dick with like, love, and care - DickBabs becomes not just a symbol of romantic love, but of any connection whatsoever.

The Old Costume

I've discussed elsewhere that Cass wearing Babs' old costume in #45 is a representation of her desire to be 'girly', and how she associates girlhood with someone other than herself, discarding her own costume for Babs'. But putting on a costume is not the only prerequisite for being a 'girl'. In Babs' speech to Cass, she emphasises being sexually attractive to men, with her final comment being about this "particular look Dick used to give [her]". For Cass, visual language is incredibly important; putting on Babs' costume is not about being or feeling like a girl, but about being perceived as one. Dick is symbolic of the perceiver: the one who can essentially 'grant' women their femininity.

But Cass is disgusted when Tim calls her hot, which adds to her confusion - why should Dick being attracted to Babs make Babs happy, but Tim (who's not a sibling at this time) perceiving her like that grosses her out? Cass' inability to feel good - to feel 'feminine' - through the male gaze is another sign, to her, of her failure to be a woman.

Which finally brings us to issue 46...

That Ableist Kon Comment

Cass finds out Dick breaks Babs' heart and then starts hallucinating on a drug. One of the things she hallucinates is Kon saying "who wants to date a cripple? Ain't that right, Nightwing?" and Nightwing responding "not me--at least, not anymore."

For the first time, we get to the heart of why DickBabs mattered to Cass: it was an example of a disabled person in a loving, romantic relationship. It goes back to that phone call in #4, where Babs implies that Cass is hard to care about because she can't speak. The Kon comment suggests Cass has carried that with her all this time, trying to find proof that she can be loved, no matter her disability. DickBabs showed her it could be done - the break-up shows her now that it can't be done.

Dick's hallucination mocks her disability: "look at her--she can't even read!" Attributing this mockery to Dick (whose real-life counterpart, unlike the other hallucinations, has never said anything remotely like this) shows that this 'Dick-as-ideal' is intrinsically tied to Cass' self-worth.

Honestly this whole post stemmed from me thinking about this one panel. There is no real reason, from Cass' view of Dick as a person, for her to think he's brave and noble and kind (more so than anyone else). But it's in the DickBabs context - that Dick seemed to love, wholeheartedly, a disabled woman - that makes Cass think this way. And now that DickBabs is broken up, it shows that she, too, is rotten to the core; that someone like her cannot be loved.

And so when Dick shows up, she throws him out the window.

Conclusion

In this moment, Cass isn't just reacting to Dick breaking up with Barbara, she's reacting to what it means to her. If Dick can't stay with Barbara, then that means Cass, as another disabled woman, is also unable to be loved. This all leads up to #50, which features another Cass punch to Dick's face, but more importantly is when Bruce and Cass reconcile through Cass' first language. It's a confirmation that though her verbal skills may not be fully developed, she still can communicate, and she can love and be loved.

I don't think a lot of the ideas I touched on here are fully developed, or conclude cleanly. For example, how does Cass' 'failure' to be a woman relate to her inability to be loved? Is she able to have a stable romantic relationship? There are lots more questions, but the role Dick specifically plays in Cass' understanding of romance is probably not going to develop further. I just think it's interesting how Horrocks uses the Dick-Babs relationship to explore Cass' identity.

[ddlydevotion]

Jackie and Jack Kennedy both being enamored with you…

a/n: read part one here ⋆₊˚⊹ ࿔⋆!! As soon as I heard the lyrics "I'm possessive, it isn't nice" in the song below, I instantly thought about them and knew I had to write a part two.

currently listening to: Lay All Your Love On Me by ABBA

The two of them have a habit of calling you by a shortened version of your name. Similar to the way that Jack would call his sister Rosemary, Rosie.

As I mentioned in my first post, you expected Jackie to be infuriated with the wandering pair of eyes and hands that Jack had when it came to you, but you couldn't be more surprised when she didn't seem to mind. If anything, the both of them are just as touchy. The only difference is that Jackie's affection can be deemed as friendly by the people around you.

Yeah, her settling her hands on the plush of your hips and squeezing as she passes by you is totally platonic. Her longing gaze definitely isn't, though.

They know the relationship the three of you share isn't conventional nor is it easy on you emotionally. Sure, the three of you share an undeniable love for one another but at the end of the day - they have each other. You aren't married to either of them and the terms boyfriend and girlfriend seem far too childish for what it is that the three of you share. It's easy for you to get in your head about it and question your actions, but they're always there to bring you back down to Earth.

There's no point in asking them what is this? what are we? Because they'll look at you as if you're clinically insane. The three of you have shared some rather...intimate moments together & they've explicitly told you that they love you and you're asking what is this?

"whaddya mean what is this? You're ours, that's what it is. And we're yours."

did you read that in Jack's nasally boston accent because I know I did.

Don't even try to get romantically involved with anyone else, that person wouldn't be able to compare in the slightest. Not romantically nor sexually. You'd constantly be reminded about the fact that your spouse isn't able to meet the immensely high standards that the Kennedy couple left you with. Oh you poor thing, your boyfriend got you roses instead of tulips? Jackie would've remembered that tulips are your favorite. Your boyfriend called late to wish you a happy birthday because of "work"? Well, Jack never let work get in the way of his time with you...

Like, I said, don't even try to date anyone else. It won't end well.

Constantly being seen at galas and fancy political dinners right beside the couple. Jackie uses the large crowds as an excuse to guide you through the venue by your hand. There's photos of the two of them leaning into your space while engaging in hushed conversation over the dinner table, Jackie complimenting your cherubic features while Jack affirms her sweet statements as he occupies himself by playing with your delicate fingers.

"oh it's true, darling, you do look beautiful. C'mon, you know it's true don't get all shy on us now."

They've made themselves incredibly easy for you to depend on. It wasn't long before you started calling them & only them when you need somebody to cry to. You know that they'll calm you down with zero issue whatsoever. Jackie will smooth your hair over before leaning down to press her pink lips to your temple, furrowing her fluffy eyebrows in concern while cooing at your trembling form. "I know, honey, I know. It's okay, we're here now." Jack will show just as much comfort. He'll cup your cheeks in his strong hands, pressing a wet kiss to your smushed lips but not before murmuring:

"oh don't cry, sweetheart, it'll just make me and Jackie sad. You don't wanna see us sad d'ya? Hm?"

Going on boat rides and walks on the beach together at Hyannis Port. You have your very own room at both properties in Hyannis Port and Palm Beach. They gave you your own room because they didn't want anyone growing suspicious. If it wasn't for the risks that'd come with such a decision, they'd just have you stay in their room full time with no need for you to have your own bedroom. (you kinda already do spend all of your time in their room but nobody knows so shh).

sooo many letters expressing your love for one another being shared between the three of you.

get ready to be Jackie’s muse when it comes to her photography. She loves taking photos of you and Jack together, and photographs of the three of you standing in front of a mirror so that everyone is visible.

If you don't already know how to ride horses, Jackie will take it upon herself to teach you. The gentle manner in which she brushes the horse's manes and the way she softly coos at them to settle down makes your heart melt.

She loves playing with your hair any chance she can get and puts your hair into different styles to busy herself while the two of you talk. If your hair is short (like mine), she'll put a pony tail in the very center of your hair and giggle because "you look like a little radish!" If your hair is long enough to braid, she'll teach Jack how to put your hair into braids.

keeping Jackie company when Jack is at the office and accompanying her to go visit him.

Spending time with their children and offering a helping hand when the time calls for it. After the birth of their baby, Jackie immediately wants you in the room with her and has you hold the baby. She gleams up at you as she watches you cradle the newborn, taking notice of how gentle you are. A tired smile spread across her lips when you immediately dashed towards her as soon as you were let into the room, your focus strictly on her at first - making sure she was okay. It was only until after you checked on her that you turned your attention towards the baby.

They're constantly inviting you to accompany them on trips/European getaways. Jackie's knack for photography shines even stronger and her entire camera roll is filled with photos of you & Jack laid out in the sun together, Jack hand feeding you dinner because he's an obsessive freak, and you smiling at the camera like your life depends on it while you bask in the Tuscan sun.

copying Jack’s strong accent because you cannot mistake where that man is from, you knoww he’s from Boston.

“Oh, I do not sound like that.”

Taglist: @bluelancergirl @vixenihy @h-l-vlovesvintage @bobbykennedyswife @darcyspirits @romanticismboop @divinedelusional @fortheloveofjos @summerrivera777777 let me know if you’d like to be added!

dedicated to @unmarlou once again 🌷💌!

[emerald-polaris]

Just a Little Something About Higuchi

(This analysis has probably been mentioned somewhere before, if so then feel free to link the op.)

I have a whole google doc dedicated to research of the real-life authors of bsd, and Higuchi Ichiyo is one of the authors I've recently researched and gathered information on. (This is purely just for fun so I can make comparisons with the bsd character, analyse them, understand their references and learn more about the real authors, etc.)

Higuchi Ichiyo was known to have had one romantic interest throughout her life, that person being Nakarai Tosui, her mentor while she was working as a teacher at Haginoya Academy.

(Wikipedia and this source also states that she had a fiancé prior to this named Shibuya Saburo, but he broke off their engagement shortly after Higuchi's father passed away. However, there isn't much information on this that I could find, so I'm just gonna skip this detail.)

Nakarai taught Higuchi the basics of writing popular fiction, and she ended up falling in love with him without even realising. However, Nakarai did not return her feelings and merely treated her as a younger sister. Higuchi eventually revealed her feelings for him, to which she was rejected by Nakarai himself and the rest of her peers at Haginoya Academy. Additionally, there were also rumours about the two of them that had spread around, particularly that Nakarai and Higuchi had been sleeping together. As a result, Higuchi would leave Haginoya in order to save her career and reputation.

Due to this failed romantic relationship, Higuchi's novels ended up centering around or featuring the theme of tragic and unrequited romance.

Now for bsd Higuchi...

Higuchi is known to have romantic feelings for Akutagawa for unknown reasons. Given that their real-life authors never interacted whatsoever, it confused me at first as to why Asagiri had implemented this part of her character, but after researching her, it makes more sense.

This is a small theory that I have for Higuchi based on the real author:

At the moment, no one knows about her romantic feelings for Akutagawa as she hasn't told anyone. Obviously, this is for her own privacy but possibly also to protect herself, given that she is working as a Port Mafia agent.

Basically, based off the real Higuchi, I assume that one day, if she were to ever reveal her feelings for Akutagawa, then she'd be rejected by Akutagawa himself and the rest of her coworkers in the PM. In consequence, she'd just leave as a result. (Albeit, she did almost reveal her feelings for him in chapter 88.)

If she ever does leave, then this will most likely deal a devastating blow on her financial status, as we know from chapter 41 that she lives with her unnamed younger sister. And, I'm assuming that she was forced to (or forced herself to) join the PM to support the two of them financially, given that their parents are also unknown, but this is just me rambling and theorising.

Asagiri needs to give us her backstory to confirm this, but given that Tachihara's was only revealed recently, then it might take a while for Higuchi to enter the spotlight. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Sources

Information about Higuchi and Nakarai can be found here, and the rumours about them can be found here!

[yestolerancepro]

Tolerance project Extra Perfect Day' by Lou Reed: the making of rock's most earnest and enduring ballad

Introduction

Hello and welcome to a special blog devoted to a Valentines Day hope your all feeling loved up on this special day.

When we made the Tolerance film one of its key themes was family and relationships and that key theme was shown through the love story between Robert played by David Smith and Julie played by Claire Abbot thank you both for your excellent performances.

So what songs did we use as our romantic themes for the Tolerance film Richard Hellawell the director of our film chose 2 songs to feature in the Tolerance film the first was Perfect day by Lou reed and its the song that this blog will concentrate on.

Perfect Day and the Tolerance film

The Director Richard Hellawell chose the original version of the Lou Reed song Perfect Day originally released in 1972 as part of his classic Transformer album produced by David Bowie and Mark Ronson.

The song is heard twice in the Tolerance film Its first heard in the beginning of the film as Claire Abbot is introduced as Julie A DJ on the radio wishes her a happy birthday, its heard again in the closing credits.

Most of the article you are about to read comes from the Gold music website with extra bits added by me taken from previous blogs where I have written about the song Perfect day most notably Happy Valentines day from the Tolerance Project and Thank you for the Music creating the Tolerance film soundtrack.

Also I would like to thank the writer Justin Lewis as his book Don’t Stop the music helped me out as well

Oh it's such a perfect day, I'm glad I spent it with you."

Lou Reed's low-key, optimistic, and earnest ballad about spending a casual, but perfect day with his partner is arguably his most enduring.

Given the nature of rock 'n' roll artists at the time, and his previous outlandish experimentalism with The Velvet Underground, 'Perfect Day' was a bit of an anomaly for Reed.

Even though 'Perfect Day' in on the surface a tender portrayal of a lovely day out, the song has been opened up to debate about its real meaning still to this day.

Featuring on his David Bowie-produced 1972 album Transformer, 'Perfect Day' is no doubt the first song that springs to mind when people mention Lou Reed.

But who wrote it? What is its real meaning? Has anyone else covered the song? Here's all you need to know about 'Perfect Day'

Who wrote 'Perfect Day'?

Lou Reed wrote the lyrics to 'Perfect Day', the slow, piano-based balled which details a typically amorous day out with his partner.

Drinking sangria in the park, feeding animals in the zoo, cosying up to a movie at the cinema later that night - they're all sweet moments that sounds like the plot to a romantic movie in itself.

Reed penned the lyrics after spending a lovely day together in New York City's Central Park with his then fiancée (and later wife) Bettye Kronstad.

The songs lyrics flit between seemingly simple, conventional devotion to his partner in "Oh, it's such a perfect day, I'm glad I spent it with you," to Reed's true feelings about himself in "You made me forget myself. I thought I was someone else, someone good."

Towards the end of 'Perfect Day', Reed sings - in his sombre, pensive tone in which he sings throughout - the lyrics "You're gonna reap just what you sow," which he repeats on several occasions.

This line alludes to St. Paul's letter to the Galatians 6:7 in the New Testament, which reads: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

Biographer Victor Bockri wrote that the lyrics to 'Perfect Day', whilst romantic and uncomplicated also hint at Reed's own conflicts with his sexuality, heavy drug use, and impenetrable ego.

Was 'Perfect Day' about Lou Reed’s relationship with drug abuse?

Many people in the years since the song's release believe that 'Perfect Day' is not about his partner, but instead about his own love affair with heroin.

Asked by the NME in 1973 about the song's true meaning, Reed replied: "That's a lovely song. A description of a very straightforward affair."

Once the earnest ballad was included on the soundtrack to 1996 film Trainspotting, these questions arose once again as the song's popularity was rejuvenated.

The song's historic misinterpretation meant that Danny Boyle chose 'Perfect Day' to play whilst the film's central character Renton - played by Ewan MacGregor - overdoses on heroin.

In 2000, Reed again suggested that interpretation was "laughable", stating: "No. You're talking to the writer, the person who wrote it. No that's not true. I don't object to that, particularly...whatever you think is perfect."

"But this guy's vision of a perfect day was the girl, sangria in the park, and then you go home; a perfect day, real simple. I meant just what I said."

How did David Bowie come to produce the record?

David Bowie was a huge fan of The Velvet Underground - their visionary songwriting, their relationship to Andy Warhol, and how they occupied the space between rock music and contemporary art.

Regularly covering 'White Light/White Heat' and 'I'm Waiting for the Man' in concerts, Bowie insisted he the band were a major influence on him and how he became Ziggy Stardust.

After befriending Lou Reed in 1971, after a show at London's Royal Festival Hall, the pair immediately hit it off and reportedly started a sexual relationship.

Tony Zanetta, the producer of Bowie's 'Diamond Dogs Tour' in 1974 introduced him to Reed that year and said: "They, I think, got along pretty well."

"Lou was the really smart-alecky, sarcastic New York guy. But I think he and David were pretty cautious of each other. It was almost like the beginning of a romance. They were kind of sizing each other up."

In awe of Lou Reed and his previous work with The Velvet Underground, Bowie wanted to make him a solo star so took on producing duties.

Bowie's guitarist in The Spiders From Mars, Mick Ronson, co-produced, worked as a session musician on the album Transformer, and wrote the accompanying string arrangements.

Klaus Voorman, the life-long friend of The Beatles and frequent John Lennon session player also played bass on Transformer.

Was 'Perfect Day' a success when it was released?

Perfect Day' was not in fact released as a stand-alone single, instead it was the B-Side to the album's biggest hit at the time, 'Walk On The Wild Side'.

Of course, since its inclusion on cult phenomenon Trainspotting in 1996, it helped rejuvenate Lou Reed's mainstream popularity.

Off the back of its renewed success, 'Perfect Day' was picked to be a benefit single for UK charity Children In Need the following year.

In 1997, an illustrious roster of artists contributed to the re-recording, including Tom Jones, Elton John, Bono, Emmylou Harris, opera singer Lesley Garrett, The Lemonheads' Evan Dando, The Pogues' Shane MacGowan, Dr. John, M People's Heather Smalls, Joan Armatrading, and even both Bowie and Reed who were behind the original.

The charity single went to number one in the UK charts for three weeks, and raised over two million pounds for Children In Need.

Heavily promoted on BBC television for over 2 months the single started life as a promo film to Celebrate of the corporation’s diversify of the many artist featured in the song it will provide a first UK number 1 for not only for Lou reed but also Shane McGown Dr John Emmylou Harris Heather Small Brett Anderson and Laurie Anderson no relation  

Has anyone else covered 'Perfect Day'?

Because of its touching sentiment to a casual, intimate day out with a partner, 'Perfect Day' has been interpreted by a handful of artists since its initial release.

The former First Lady of France, Carla Bruni, has covered 'Perfect Day', along with Kirsty MacColl and Evan Dando together, soul legend Al Green has recently offered his spin, and even Susan Boyle has recorded a rendition.

But it was New Romantic pop rockers Duran Duran whose cover appealed to Lou Reed the most, who even admitted their version was better than his, sort of.

Talking about their cover in a later interview, Reed explained: "They'd been very cooperative with me. They sent me the tape and I thought it was great. I don't dislike pop stuff, I love pop stuff, I just don't particularly do it."

"So when I said it's better than mine, it's better than mine as pop. Mine isn't, I guess what you would call you pop. But I thought they really trying to do a nice thing with it from their point of view."

What about about the album Transformer comes from

The Transformer album cover uses a photo taken by Mick Rock at one of Reed's concerts in London. The shot is washed-out with heavy contrast, the result of a printing error. Rock also printed a clear version of the shot, but Reed liked the washed-out version, so that's what they used for the cover, which became a classic image of Reed.

The Transformer Album also rates highly with the Ultimate classic rock website landing in at Number 2 in their list of the best Lou Reed and Velvet Underground albums behind the Velvet Underground album with Nico from 1967 this is what they say about Transformer

Six months after his solo debut, Reed released his masterpiece. With assistance from new pal David Bowie and critical elevation thanks to the Velvet Underground's growing reputation, Transformer reinvented Reed for the glam age while rarely shifting from his base. "Walk on the Wild Side" was his only charting single, a stroll through Reed's beloved New York City. Like on Lou Reed, a handful of unused Velvet Underground songs are here. But it's the sparkling production and great songs – "Vicious," "Perfect Day," "Satellite of Love" – that light the LP. He'd recoil from its success for the rest of his career, as this became one of only two Top 30 albums Reed logged, but Transformer is a steadfast highlight.

Read More: Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground Albums Ranked Worst to Best | https://ultimateclassicrock.com/lou-reed-velvet-underground-albums-ranked/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

To read a review of the transformer album from the far out magazine click here

Lou Reed - 'Transformer' album review (faroutmagazine.co.uk)

Pictures

Claire Abbot as Julie from the Tolerance film screengrab taken from the video with thanks to Ian Medley

The man himself

Lou Reed with David Bowie

Walk on the Wildside single cover

Children in need single cover

I would love it see what I did there ha ha lol if after reading this blog and you like it to consider giving a donation to the Tolerance project you can do that by clicking on this link thanks

[arnold-layne]

list of banned games? more like list of game recs

[m2ok]

Simon “Ghost” Riley Headcannons

Simon Riley X M!Reader

A/N: the man, the myth, the legend. His time has come and he won’t be spared from my gay agenda.

I’m so sorry y’all, but he would not be easy to get with. I think the only way you’d be able to even attract him was if you were part of the 141 task force.

It would take a very long time to even be his friend. He’s not a very trusting person especially of new people, and he would be wary of you at first. He’d do a thorough background check himself to make sure you wouldn’t comprise the team.

It would start with him trusting you as a teammate, just as he does the other men. Eventually you’d lead up to some light banter with him through comms on missions, dumb little jokes exchanged that neither of you laughed at but still found amusing.

I think it would take legitimate years to get to the point of dating him. He’d be very hesitant about getting into a romantic relationship with you. He’s just been closed off for so long it’s not something he ever put much thought into.

Not gonna lie I think he’d be in denial about his sexuality. I don’t think he would be homophobic because I genuinely think he does not care about that kind of thing, but I think he’d have trouble coming to terms with himself liking other guys.

The beginning would definitely have its issues. I don’t think he would be a cold or uncaring lover, I mean he’d have to care for you very deeply to even entertain a relationship, but he would be terrible with communicating anything.

He doesn’t really understand his own feelings so trying to navigate that and your own would overwhelm him at first. Lots of late night talks about how you should go about this and how to make the relationship work.

When things finally settled down and you fell into a nice rhythm he’d start with the actual romance aspect of your relationship.

Absolutely no pda whatsoever, but alone in one of your rooms? He’d be all over you. He hasn’t felt human touch that was soft and kind and gentle in so long and now that he finally has it he finds it hard to let go.

He likes holding you in his arms, completely engulfing you with himself because he wants to protect you and he knows that if you’re wrapped up in him nothing can harm you.

Since he’s not great at communicating he would talk through his actions. He would make you a cup of tea/coffee in the morning just the way you like it, he’d wash your clothes when he did his own just to help you out a little, bring you water if he noticed you hadn’t had enough that day. Just small, simple things to show you that he loves you.

Please tell him you’re proud of him, that he’s come so far and that he’s a good man. He loves words of affirmation especially from you. He grew up never really getting that so now he subconsciously craves it as an adult. He just wants to know he’s doing a good job.

I don’t think he would outwardly blush or get flustered, but he’d feel it inside like his heart beat would get louder and he’d look away from you.

Showed you his face before he showed the rest of the team. You were probably just lounging around one night, cuddling on the couch with your legs in his lap and his hands on your thighs. Talking about whatever you did that day when he’d reach up and just pull it over.

He was nervous that you didn’t like what you saw since you were quiet for a good number of seconds, and he immediately started preparing himself for you ending the relationship.

So when you reached over and cupped his face like he was made of porcelain he was shocked. Eyes all wide and staring into yours as you took in every feature of his face. The few freckles, the scars, the light stubble, even his little dimples. You were committing all of it to memory.

“You’re so….” You were at a loss for words and that once again terrified him. What if you decided after looking at him long enough that you didn’t like him?

“Pretty. Handsome. The most breathtaking person I’ve ever seen” he’d absolutely melt in your arms. Wouldn’t let you go for the rest of the night.

He’s not a good kisser. I’m so sorry but this man is so out of practice and awkward with it. He’s a quick learner, though, and he’d catch on to what you like quickly and adapt to that.

Loves kissing you. Doesn’t even have to be on the lips, though that’s one of his favorites. Foreheads kisses are also on the top tier list for him especially if you’re shorter than him. It’s just easy access.

If you’re taller than him he’ll grab you by the collar and yank you down to kiss your forehead anyways. Either way it’s getting a lil smooch every hour on the hour.

Before you came along he thought he would just stay in the military until he eventually died, but with you being around he found that he has more to live for now than just his job. He wants to settle down with you eventually, though not anytime soon.

He wants to live in a nice little house with you far away from civilization. I think this man would thrive with a small farm. It would keep him busy everyday and give just a bit more purpose to his life, plus I don’t think he’d do well with no work to do after he leaves the military.

I cant see him being extremely good with woodworking like Price is, but I think he’d be able to do simple things like shelves, maybe a night stand or a small cabinet.

I think if he took up any sort of woodwork it would be whittling. I can see him sitting outside on the porch, in an old beat up wooden rocking chair carving a little animal out of a piece of wood and his favorite pocket knife. The little critters would be all over your house and he’d carve the both of you out of your favorite animals to keep on the table.

All in all I think it would take a very long time to get with him and to fully adjust into a relationship, but once it does he’s just a gentle, loving man.

As always, requests are open.

[elli-is-beth]

Not So Berry Challenge: Extended Edition

@lilsimsie​ created the original version of this challenge, as I’m sure you all know. I love her content and her challenge, but I really wanted to extend it to include game features and packs that have come out since the original was posted in 2017. So here I give you the thirty-generation Extended Not So Berry Challenge.

Description of the Original Challenge: 

Do you like the rainbow? Do you like the idea of playing with berry Sims but hate berry Sims? Do you want to mess around with aspects of the game you’ve never used before? Boy, do I have the challenge for you!

Welcome to the Not So Berry Legacy Challenge, a ten generation legacy with a focus on bright colors and new experiences. 

Basic Rules:

Each heir must represent the color of the generation (i.e. hair, makeup, clothing), but brightly colored skin is not necessary (these aren’t actually berry Sims, that’s the joke). Of course, this is optional but a big portion of the fun.

The colors of the spouses don’t matter as they aren’t part of the challenge. Unless otherwise stated you can do whatever you please with them. 

Money cheats can be used, but not excessively. Suggestion: use freerealestate for your first home, but no cheats afterward.

You may live wherever you please unless something is specified in the rules of a generation.

Every generation is supposed to complete both the career and aspiration of the heir unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Keep the lifespan on normal.

If you play this challenge and want to share it with us, go ahead and post with #notsoberry so we can see!

My good friend @alwaysimming​ and I kind of created this challenge on accident, but I think it turned out pretty great. We wanted to make something that forced us to play with parts of the game we’ve never explored before. Hopefully you’ll have fun too. You can follow our gameplay on @mintiphresh​ and @lea-fey​ (pronounced “minty fresh” and “leafy”)!

Obviously, I get that thirty generations is a super ambitious challenge. I’m the kind of person who tends to play the Sims 4 the same way over and over again, though, and I wanted something that would push me outside my comfort zone and get me playing with all the aspects of the game that I haven’t explored yet. I hope it can do the same for you!

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The first ten generations of this challenge are the original ones. Generation eleven and onward are my own.

Generation One: Mint

You’re a mischievous scientist that really loves the color mint. You’re career driven but still make time for silly pranks and outings with your closest friends. You love luxury and want the best for yourself and your family.

Traits: Vegetarian, Jealous, Materialistic

Aspiration: Chief of Mischief

Career: Scientist

Rules:

Master scientist career and complete Chief of Mischief aspiration

Master mischief and logic skills

Complete elements collection

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Generation Two: Rose

You had everything you desired as a child but you were always longing for more. As an adult you have a hard time committing to relationships as you’re so focused on your career. If we had a workaholic trait in The Sims 4 you would have it. You have absolutely no parental instincts whatsoever but you still love your child with all your heart.

Traits: Hot Headed, Snob, Romantic

Aspiration: Serial Romantic

Career: Politician

Rules:

Have only one child

Master the politician career and complete Serial Romantic aspiration

Master charisma skill

Leave someone at the alter (an interaction available during a wedding)

Get married for the first time as an elder

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Generation Three: Yellow

Growing up you never had a close relationship with your parents and spent the majority of your time alone in your room obsessing over space. You just really love space. You’ll do whatever it takes to get to Sixam no matter the cost.

Traits: Clumsy, Ambitious, Loner

Aspiration: Nerd Brain

Career: Astronaut

Rules

Master rocket science and handiness skill

Master astronaut career and complete Nerd Brain aspiration

Must build a rocket ship and visit Sixam

Enter the secret lot in Oasis Springs (requiring max handiness)

Never have any close friends or relationships other than grandparent from Generation 1 until the grandparent dies

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Generation Four: Grey

You always felt that you were different. While the rest of your family was busy messing around in the lab, you just wanted to be outside playing basketball. You’re very good at sports and you dream of becoming a professional athlete. To make up for your nonexistent relationship with your parents you want to be there for your own children as much as possible. Oh, and you love to sing.

Traits: Active, Slob, Music Lover

Aspiration: Bodybuilder

Career: Athlete

Rules

Master singing, parenting, and athletic skills

Master athlete career and complete Bodybuilder aspiration

Have three failed relationships before finding spouse, marry a neat Sim

Be good friends with all of your children

Have family movie night with your spouse and children every Sunday

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Generation Five: Plum

You’ve always been good at anything you tried. It’s hard to choose a career, so why not try a few? You work as a doctor for much of your life, but as an adult realize that your true dream is to become a professional dancer. You quit your job and join the entertainer career. Basically: you’re an indecisive oddball.

Traits: Genius, Noncommittal, Dance Machine

Aspiration: Renaissance Sim

Career: Fast Food, Doctor, Entertainer

Rules

Master dance and two other skills of your choosing, achieve at least level eight in six skills

Complete Renaissance Sim aspiration

Get divorced and then later remarried to the same Sim

Must live in at least three different worlds over the course of your life

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Generation Six: Orange

You’re the black sheep of your family (but with orange hair) and you were raised in a hectic household. You’ve always wanted to cause mayhem, but you’re just really bad at being evil. You enjoy breaking into your neighbors’ houses and eating their food. You really love baking and spend the majority of your spare time eating sweets.

Traits: Evil, Self-Assured, Glutton

Aspiration: Public Enemy

Career: Criminal

Rules

Master baking and charisma skills

Master criminal career and complete Public Enemy aspiration

Must live in a ‘needs TLC’ apartment for entire young adult life

Have twins, but only those two children (you may cheat for this)

Insist on being evil (claim to be criminal mastermind) but nobody believes you, not even your own children

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Generation Seven: Pink

You grew up poor and are living paycheck to paycheck working in the business career just as your parents did. You long to write romance novels but are too afraid to quit your steady job to follow your dreams. You’re very practical and you know the chances of making it as a writer are slim, so you stay working at your nine to five. As an adult you finally decide to pursue your dreams. You’re a hopeless romantic, but your unflirty nature makes it nearly impossible to find love.

Traits: Neat, Unflirty, Creative

Aspiration: Best Selling Author

Career: Business

Rules

Complete postcard collection

Master writing and wellness skills

Complete Best Selling Author aspiration

Have a well-maintained garden

Quit day job as an adult to pursue dreams (mid-life crisis much?)

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Generation Eight: Peach

Your parents always taught you to follow your dreams. You’ve always wanted to be a detective. You’ve always wanted to be a comedian. Well dang it, you can do both! Detective by day, comedian by night, you can do anything you set your mind to.

Traits: Foodie, Lazy, Goofball

Aspiration: Joke Star

Career: Detective

Rules

Marry a co-worker

Must play an instrument

Master gourmet cooking and comedy skills

Master detective career

Must live in a different world than the one they were raised

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Generation Nine: Green

You were caught hacking by a major tech company that then offered you a position in their firm. You know Penelope Garcia from Criminal Minds? That’s you. You’re dedicated to your work, but that doesn’t stop you from going out and having a good time. You’re the kind of person that will be at a party at 3am and then at work at 6am.

Traits: Squeamish, Geek, Cheerful

Aspiration: Computer Whiz

Career: Tech Guru

Rules

Master mixology, video gaming, and programming skills

Master tech guru career and complete Computer Whiz aspiration

Must accept every invitation to parties/outings with your friends

Have at least five good friends and five enemies

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Generation Ten: Blue

You have the perfect life. White picket fence, loving spouse, beautiful children. But why do you still want more? You have a one time secret affair and will regret it for the rest of your life. Afterward you pour your soul into raising your children and fixing your marriage. You never admit the affair to anyone and dedicate your life to being the perfect parent.

Traits: Gloomy, Perfectionist, Family Oriented

Aspiration: Super Parent

Career: Critic

Rules

Adopt at least one child

Master the photography, cooking, and parenting skills

Master critic career and complete Super Parent aspiration

Must marry high school sweetheart and stay with them until you die

Have a one time secret affair

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Generation 11: Lavender

Your parents showered you with attention while you were growing up, and it shows in how much you need other people’s attention now. To combat this, you strive for properness in all your interactions with others and are very focused on self-improvement. You choose to pursue a culinary career because of your memories cooking with your parents, but also because you crave the structure it provides—when you’re thinking about food, you’re not thinking about yourself.

Traits: Bookworm, Proper, Self-Absorbed

Aspiration: Master Chef

Career: Culinary

Rules:

Be disliked by at least five sims by the time you die using only arguing interactions

Master culinary career in the chef branch and complete Master Chef aspiration

Master the cooking, gourmet cooking, and baking skills

Make every kind of jam

Marry a Cheerful sim

Always choose parenting interactions that positively affect manners

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Generation 12: Black

With a parent who was so focused on manners and propriety, you always felt stifled growing up. Now that you’re an adult, you’re going out of your way to be exactly the opposite. You eat out of dumpsters, you swipe things from the Landgraabs, you break up relationships just to dump them and move on. Your only goal is to be everything your parent told you not to be, even if that means focusing more on breaking hearts than keeping a steady job.

Traits: Freegan, Kleptomaniac, Insider

Aspiration: Villainous Valentine

Career: Barista, Salaryperson, Politician, Criminal

Rules:

Complete Live Fast aspiration as a teen

Age up to adulthood with the Irresponsible character value trait

Never be married for more than three sim days

Have three children with three different sims

Earn most of your money by stealing

Complete Villainous Valentine aspiration

Woohoo in every type of woohoo location

Master cross-stitch skill (what? Even villains need a hobby)

Change your career at each life stage, starting as a teenager

Live in starter homes and starter apartments your whole life

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Generation 13: Teal

You always knew that your parent’s life choices were rather… questionable, but growing up you learned to ignore that part and just enjoy having your parent and siblings there. Now, that laidback attitude has continued into your adult life, and you want nothing more than to relax on the beach with your friends and family. Too bad you also have to worry about things like bills. At least as a conservationist, you’re still focused on the ocean and beaches you love.

Traits: Cheerful, Child of the Ocean, Family-Oriented

Aspiration: Beach Life

Career: Conservationist

Rules:

Live your entire adult life in Sulani

Master conservationist career in the environmental manager branch and complete Beach Life aspiration

Host a kava party at least once a week and earn gold

Master the parenting, charisma, and fishing skills

Complete the fish, sea shell, and underwater photo collections

Find the Heart of Sulani while scuba diving

Woohoo at the waterfall at least once

Have your spouse die in a tragic accident when you’re an adult and marry a mermaid after you finish grieving

Be good friends with parent, siblings, children, and grandchildren

Earn gold on a family reunion event as an elder

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Generation 14: Brown

With a conservationist for a parent, you were doomed to be environmentally conscious. You’re zealous about recycling and living off the land, and your biggest cause is animal rights. That’s why you moved out to the country to take care of as many animals as you can on your farm, though you still commute into town to run a veterinary clinic. You prefer the company of animals to everyone except your spouse.

Traits: Animal Enthusiast, Recycle Disciple, Hates Children

Aspiration: Country Caretaker

Career: Veterinarian

Rules:

Marry someone who is either a Dog Lover, Cat Lover, or Animal Enthusiast

Have only one child and don’t let your relationship bar go beyond acquaintances until that child is an adult

Have five pets in your household at all times, keep bees, and own at least one chicken, cow, and llama

Feed at least one chicken a golden treat in your lifetime

Adopt at least one stray pet

Own and befriend Patchy the Straw Man

Live your entire adult life in Henford-on-Bagley, and use the Simple Living and Wild Foxes lot challenges

Befriend at least two birds, two rabbits, and two foxes

Master gardening, veterinarian, and pet training skills

Befriend the creature keeper

Complete the village fair ribbons collection

Unlock all business perks for vet clinic and complete Country Caretaker aspiration

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Generation 15: Forest

As a child, you only really got attention from one of your parents. Growing up isolated on a farm with only animals for company, you sometimes struggle to relate to others. Your other parent gave you one thing, though: a love for the environment. Longing to get back to your family’s roots, you move back to Sulani as an adult and throw yourself into saving the environment and digging deep into your culture.

Traits: Maker, Green Fiend, Child of the Islands

Aspiration: Eco Innovator

Career: Civil Designer

Rules:

Earn all badges in Scouts

As a teen, run errands for the Henford-on-Bagley locals every weekend

Live your entire young adult life in Sulani

Only start to have a relationship with your parent as an adult and never become close friends, but be best friends with your other parent

Marry the first person you date, but get divorced before you become an adult

Achieve a green eco footprint in your neighborhood

Master civil designer career in the green technician branch and complete Eco Innovator aspiration

Master fabrication, handiness, and juice fizzing skills

As an adult, meet your soulmate at the romance festival and marry them on the spot

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Generation 16: White

You come from a long line of environmentalists, but you don’t really care about that. Your only real goal in life is to have as many friends as you can, which happens by being nice and approachable. Maybe that means hiding some of your more intellectual or embarrassing hobbies and interests, but who really cares about that? All anyone needs to know about you is you’re the nicest person they’ll ever meet

Traits: Cat Lover, Lactose Intolerant, Outgoing

Aspiration: Friend of the World

Career: Social Media

Rules:

Complete Admired Icon aspiration as a teen

Be crowned prom royalty

Attend Foxbury University with a degree in the sciences, but drop out before you graduate

Own at least two cats over the course of your life

Master social media career and complete Friend of the World aspiration

Become at least a two star celebrity and always have a good reputation

Attain and keep People Person lifestyle

Master video gaming, robotics, and DJ mixing skills, but only practice in the safety of your own home

Build a Servo (robotics)

Have at least two children

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Generation 17: Mustard

Growing up in the spotlight shadow of your parent did NOT help your social skills, that’s for sure. You struggle with the most basic things like introducing yourself to people and getting to know them. Somehow you always seem to embarrass yourself. Maybe that’s why you turned to risk-taking and adventure—the mountain won’t laugh at you when you stumble over your own name.

Traits: Adventurous, Bro, Socially Awkward

Aspiration: Extreme Sports Enthusiast, Mt. Komorebi Sightseer

Career: Freelancer (Programmer)

Rules:

Meet high school best friend/future spouse through chess club

Never accept social invitations and only attend events or festivals with your spouse or a sibling

Have no close friends beyond family and spouse

Master fitness, rock-climbing, skiing, and snowboarding skills

Achieve gold on a mountain climb excursion to the top of Mt. Komorebi

Attain and keep Outdoorsy and Adrenaline Seeker lifestyles until you’re an elder

Complete Extreme Sports Enthusiast AND Mt. Komorebi Sightseer aspirations (can be done at the same time)

Complete the Simmies collection

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Generation 18: Royal Blue

You spent your childhood all over the slopes of Mt. Komorebi, and that love of the outdoors stuck with you. What didn’t stick was your parent’s awkwardness—you were always so frustrated that you couldn’t host parties and have friends over, but now that you’re an adult, there’s no one to stop you. You can party the night away and wake up the next morning for a sunrise hike. Anything’s possible if you just decide to do it all perfectly, right?

Traits: Loves Outdoors, Party Animal, Perfectionist

Aspiration: Outdoor Enthusiast

Career: Gardener

Rules:

Vacation with your family in Granite Falls at least once each as a young adult, adult, and elder

Summon a ghost by telling a ghost story around a campfire

Master gardener career and complete Outdoor Enthusiast aspiration

Master herbalism, gardening, wellness, and at least one extreme sports skill

Complete the insects collection

Visit Sylvan Glade in Willow Creek and the Deep Woods in Granite Falls

Earn gold on a Weenie Roast event

Attain and keep Frequent Traveler lifestyle

Host and earn gold on one event per sim week for your entire adult life

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Generation 19: Scarlet

Used to getting whatever (and acting however) you wanted, adulthood hit you like a vending machine. You were always a bit of a wild child, but as a teen and adult you find yourself lashing out at anyone who doesn’t go along with exactly what you want. Sticking to romantic relationships is difficult, but even though you struggle to articulate it sometimes, your kids mean the world to you.

Traits: Childish, Erratic, Mean

Aspiration: Big Happy Family

Career: Interior Decorator

Rules:

Complete Drama Llama aspiration as a teen

Age up to adulthood with the Uncontrolled Emotions character value trait

Earn gold on a keg party for your young adult birthday

Master painting, comedy, and mischief skills

Master interior decorator career and complete Big Happy Family aspiration

Never intentionally increase your parenting skill except for taking care of babies and toddlers

Get married as a young adult, but get divorced after your children are born and never remarry

Have exactly three children

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Generation 20: Gold

Even though you knew they loved you, with your parent running all over the place your whole childhood you often felt like you only had your siblings to care about you. Watching your parent fail gave you a strong drive to achieve, and your goal in life is to make a name for yourself that gives you a completely new image. Fame is hard to earn, but if anyone can do it, it’s you.

Traits: Dog Lover, Overachiever, Loyal

Aspiration: World-Famous Celebrity

Career: Simfluencer, Style Influencer

Rules:

Complete Goal Oriented aspiration as a teen

Age up to adulthood with the Responsible character value trait

Attend university and graduate with an A in an arts degree

Join a secret society and keep that secret from your whole family

Always have at least one dog

Master media production and entrepreneur skills

Take your whole family out for an outing every weekend

Move to The Pinnacles as an adult and have the Celebrity Home lot trait

Have a butler for the entire time you live in The Pinnacles

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Generation 21: Silver

You never wanted fame, but with a global superstar for a parent, you didn’t have much choice. You’d be very happy if you didn’t have to deal with anyone, honestly. Relationships are too messy. You’d rather just stay tucked away in your studio, painting away by yourself. And when tragedy strikes at home, you seclude yourself even more, nearly cutting yourself off from everyone in your life.

Traits: Neat, Gloomy, Noncommittal

Aspiration: Painter Extraordinaire

Career: Own a retail store

Rules:

Live in a tiny home your entire adult life

Have at least one sim, either a partner or a child, die from a Murphy bed on your lot

Never find a long-term partner

Never have close relationships with your children

Sell your art from your studio to make a living (not by selling it to art galleries or collectors)

Master painting skill

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Generation 22: Magenta

You spent a lot of your childhood doing your own thing while your parent was at the studio, and you found out you’re really great at just about everything you try. Studying different cultures (*ahem* occults) and worlds helped you ignore the fact that you never traveled as a kid. You’re the type of sim who can go from singing to programming to archeology without missing a beat, and that flexibility serves you well in your career as a Secret Agent.

Traits: Unflirty, Overachiever, Proper

Aspiration: Archeology Scholar, Jungle Explorer

Career: Secret Agent

Rules:

Never leave your home world except for school before you’re a young adult

Take your family for “vacations” in Selvadorada (that turn out to be just another work trip, but this time with pretty views)

Thoroughly explore the Belomisia Jungle and its temples

Master archeology, selvadoradian culture, singing, programming, and handiness skills

Master secret agent career and complete Archeology Scholar and Jungle Explorer aspirations (can be done at the same time)

Be friends with at least one werewolf, vampire, alien, and mermaid

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Generation 23: Chocolate

When you were a kid, you always thought it was cool that your parent knew so much about occult sims. You spent your childhood traveling around with your parent while they carried on their secret agent business, and you thought you’d seen everything, but on your young adult birthday, you wander into the wrong part of the world and get stopped by an unfamiliar werewolf. How are you supposed to attain your dream of running a restaurant in this state?

Traits: Glutton, Loyal, Romantic

Aspiration: Werewolf Initiate, Cure-Seeker

Career: Own a restaurant

Rules:

Complete experimental food prints collection

Earn all restaurant perks

Complete Werewolf Initiate and Cure-Seeker aspirations

Explore the Underground

Fall deeply in love while still a werewolf and agonize over whether you should tell your significant other or not

Take the cure before having your heir (though you can have other children before then)

Master cooking and herbalism skills

Always have a full romance and friendship bar with your spouse

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Generation 24: Ruby

No one ever said you weren’t down for adventure. Well, actually, everyone said that, because you’re incredibly lazy. There’s one thing you’re good at, though, and that’s breaking hearts. OCCULT hearts, to be specific. Growing up with stories of your parent’s time as a werwolf gave you a fascination with occult sims, especially what it’s like to woohoo with them. It’s not bad if they’re not human, right? Just don’t tell your spouse or kids. Not that you care, but they’ll probably leave you, and you really need that income—the military doesn’t pay that much. Your spouse will just think you’re turning over a new leaf when you’re wanting to “adopt” some VERY NORMAL children.

Traits: Art Lover, Lazy, Evil

Aspiration: Grilled Cheese

Career: Military

Rules:

Get married within one sim week of becoming a young adult and have at least one child with your spouse

Have secret affairs with a vampire, an alien, and a werewolf

Have an occult child through at least one of those affairs and keep them in your household

Complete secret Grilled Cheese aspiration and fill your home with paintings of grilled cheese

Master cooking, painting, and charisma skills

Keep the tragic clown painting in your home

Grow a money tree and quit your job while you’re an adult

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Generation 25: Lemon

As a kid, you loved your younger siblings, but there was something a little off about them. You really struggled to make friends with other kids your age. If you have a computer in front of you and some Voidcritters posters on your wall, though, you’re as happy as you can be. You love video games, and even though you gave up your dream of being a Voidcritters streamer to pursue a more practical job in engineering, you’ll always have a special place in your heart for all things tech. Unfortunately, video games aren’t actual companions—to combat your social anxiety, you strive for inner peace in your free time, hoping that balance inside will alleviate the awkwardness outside.

Traits: Ambitious, Socially Awkward, Good

Aspiration: Inner Peace, Self-Care Specialist, Zen Guru

Career: Video Game Streamer, Engineer

Rules:

Complete the Voidcritter cards collection before becoming an adult

Keep high relationships with your siblings as adults

Master video gaming, programming, and robotics skills

Master video game streamer career as a teen and engineer career as an adult

Complete Inner Peace, Self-Care Specialist, and Zen Guru aspirations

Have an at-home spa and dedicated gaming room

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Generation 26: Cream

You always felt out of place in your geeky, technophile family. You? You’re more musically gifted. Though your parents don’t really understand you, they let you chase your dreams of being a music teacher, and sometimes that means letting you throw yourself into your work and ignore everyone else. You need a lot of attention and support, but luckily you find a kindred spirit in your music-loving partner. Now, your goal is fame and you’ll do whatever it takes to get there, even if that means going to some *blood-curdling* extremes…

Traits: Music Lover, Creative, High-Maintenance

Aspiration: Musical Genius

Career: Education

Rules:

Complete Creative Genius/Artistic Prodigy aspirations as a child

Master education career and complete Musical Genius aspiration

Marry a sim with either the Music Lover or Creative trait

Start a club focused on musical skills and meet at least once a week

Become at least a three star celebrity

Master violin, piano, pipe organ, guitar, singing, dancing, media production, and DJ mixing skills

Become a vampire after you’ve had at least one child

Spend your new-found free time practicing and writing songs

Reach at least Rank 3 as a vampire

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Generation 27: Tangerine

Your parent was always too busy for you as a kid, and that’s something you’ll make sure doesn’t happen to your own child. In fact, there are a lot of things you’re never going to put your child through: practically living in music studio, eating quick meals because they don’t have time to cook, feeling alone all the time. You bring your kid with you everywhere. And since you’re always on the go, that really is EVERYWHERE. Ever since you moved to the city, you’ve been in love with its fast-paced, artsy lifestyle. You want the best, you want your child to have the best, and San Myshuno is the place to find it.

Traits: Foodie, Adventurous, Dog Lover

Aspiration: City Native

Career: Freelancer (Fashion Photographer)

Rules:

Move out of your parents’ household as a young adult and live in San Myshuno for entire adult life

Master singing, cooking, parenting, and photography skills

Win a karaoke contest

Get invited to the circus, the opera, and an underground concert

Complete the snow globe and city poster collections

Learn how to make every meal sold by the San Myshuno vendors

Complete the City Native Aspiration

Only have one child

Earn gold on a baby shower, a toddler playdate, and a sleepover event

Drop everything to help your child with every school project they bring home

Keep a full relationship bar with your child, and later with their spouse and your grandchildren

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Generation 28: Violet

You’ve lived the life people dream about: a parent who was supportive of everything you did, an early start in a notoriously difficult-to-enter career, and so many diverse cultural experiences that you can hardly remember what your own culture is supposed to be. Such a lovely world to be a well-adjusted adult in, but one thing’s missing. Though your parent taught you everything else you need to know for life, their relentless focus on YOU meant they couldn’t model one of the most important things—romantic love. It’s the one thing lacking in your life, and you’ll do anything to find it.

Traits: Cheerful, Genius, Paranoid

Aspiration: Soulmate

Career: Acting

Rules:

Start going to Drama Club as a child

Age up to adulthood with three positive character value traits

Become at least a three star celebrity

Date a fellow celebrity, but break up with them before things get too serious

Use the wishing well to wish for love and accept whatever the consequences are

Earn gold on every type of wedding event

Master the acting career and complete the Soulmate aspiration

Master acting, singing, guitar, violin, and piano skills

Chase away paparazzi every time you see them

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Generation 29: Sage

If there’s one thing that fame gets you, it’s literally any material item you could possibly want. You grew up in luxury, and you want to keep that standard of living. So even though you prefer more varied and creative hobbies, you pursue a soul-crushing law career. The time spent slaving away over books and reports and courtrooms will all be worth it every night when you come home, curl up on your front porch’s rocking chair, and knit the evening away.

Traits: Materialistic, Loves Outdoors, Maker

Aspiration: Lord/Lady of the Knits

Career: Law

Rules:

Attend university and earn a degree in language and literature

Master the law career and complete the Lord/Lady of the Knits aspiration

Get the sweater curse and watch your first long-term dating relationship go down in flames

Master knitting, gourmet cooking, fishing, and flower arranging skills

Knit matching beanies for your entire family and take a family picture with them on

Take at least one family vacation each as a young adult, adult, and elder

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Generation 30: Charcoal

You learned one thing from your parents, it’s that money is NOT worth all the time spent working a horribly dull job. Despite your parents’ pleas to “get a real job” and “grow up,” you have your heart set on your childhood dream of exploring the supernatural world and being a paranormal investigator. What a great way to do good, help people, and maybe steal some of their things while you’re there!

Traits: Slob, Geek, Kleptomaniac

Aspiration: Spellcraft and Sorcery, Purveyor of Potions

Career: Freelancer (Paranormal Investigator)

Rules:

Live in a haunted house in Forgotten Hollow for entire adult life

Be friends with at least five ghosts

Master medium, pipe organ, and vampire lore skills

Become a spell caster 

Have just one familiar at a time

Learn to cast all spells and brew all potions

Complete the magical artifacts collection

Complete the Spellcraft and Sorcery and Purveyor of Potions aspirations (can be done at the same time)

Get the Curse of the Night Wraith at some point in your life

Have a baby with Father Winter

Have at least one living cow plant at all times

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I hope you enjoy this challenge! Definitely don’t feel like you have to do it all in the same order or use all thirty generations. I think I put them in an order that makes sense for story progression, but use this however it would fit your own gameplay best!

Thanks for checking this out! 

- Elizabeth

[aajjks]

The fanclub: Q/A session (1 year anniversary special) PT 01/03

[gif not mine, found it on Pinterest, credits to owner]

note. WOHOOO MOTHERFUCKERS ITS THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIINNNN!!! WHOOOHOO!!!

warnings. INAPPROPRIATE TALK, SEX MENTION, tattoos, alina is DONE., CHAOS!!!

“Ha you guys.. it’s been a year since you started this fanclub for Y/N, our classmate... aren’t you proud?” Alina, the youngest out of the bunch starts the conversation, her tone chirpy, full of enthusiasm as she crosses her leg, sitting on the spinning chair.

Her gaze was set on the the group of boys who stared at her with no interest whatsoever. Alina rose her eyebrow at the group, when suddenly Taehyungs deep voice boomed across the huge club room. “What the fuck jungkook, stop fucking kicking my legs!?” Taehyung was as expected, ignored by the younger male who was now busy chewing on a bubble gum.

Their female fellow watched the scene in front of her with amusement, It was quite the scene, actually. Their leader, Kim Seokjin rolled his eyes at the duo and cleared his throat, finally tearing his gaze away from the two, to look forward at the girl, smiling softly he crossed his arms, beginning to speak.

“Yeah... actually yes. We do feel this weird kind of pride, not going to lie. We were the first one to do so... yeah... it’s definitely something we’re proud of, for sure.” The oldest male is careful with the choice of his words. Trying his best to not sound smug, but the slight smirk on his lips is enough to uncover the truth.

“Yes. I’m so proud, I can’t believe it’s been an year already. It feels like yesterday, we have always loved and adored Y/N so much that we almost didn’t realise that our fanclub turned an year old.” Namjoons dimples are visible on his face, the lad has a smile of satisfaction accompanying his handsome features as he finishes his sentence. Yoongi just nods along and Jimin has a huge smile plastered on his face. “Cool!!!! So you all know why we’re here today.. right?” Alina begins to speak once again.

The boys pass her a knowing look,

the girl smiles softly, a mischievous glint present in her eyes.”Of course you would, it’s your guys’ most favourite session of all time!” Laughing, the bunch just watch her with stoic faces until she finally stops, clearing her throat, Alina begins once again. “Hmm, lets start our q/a session 2021! WOHOOO!”

And before she could start her maniac laughter again, seokjin took the cue. “Okay we’re ready! Start, alina!” As she nods, The club quickly adjust their postures and the faint sound of arguing from Taehyung and Jungkook comes to a halt.

“Okay so, the first question is... oh it’s juicy, are you open to the idea of having a poly relationship with s/o?” Alina, puts the piece of paper down and focuses on the faces of the club members. Their smiles falter a bit when, “NO.” The sound of no comes in a harmony. “what. Bu- Okay Alina, next question!” This time namjoon cuts the girl off her mid sentence, forcing a smile. “Whatever,” picking the paper again, her eyes focus on the question.

“question number two is... oh it’s a cute one!! What's your favorite spot to kiss y/n?” Alina’s cheeks redden a little bit when she finally looks ahead at the boys. “Oh it’s definitely the lips and neck for me” Taehyung speaks almost immediately, a dirty smirk playing on his lips as he answers. “Hmm the cheeks!” Jimin giggles at the thought while speaking. “Y/N has beautiful hands....” namjoon is lost in a daze of his own thoughts, “ahh... well... eyesss?” Yoongi couldn’t help but blush.

“N-Nose? Every part of their body?” Jungkook stuttered so cutely that it made Alina’s heart clench, “actually their pretty forehead.. it’s romantic.” Jins face was illuminated with a lovesick smile. Hoseok takes his time to respond. “hmm… tummy?” He could feel the members gazes on him. Alina smiled in awe.

They were quite the romantics. Lucky you, She thought, picking up the paper again, she cleared her throat. “Okay… third question is…what's your favorite way to spend time with y/n?”

“Actually… you know I like to spend my time staring at Y/N’s face while they tell me- US… about their day or literally hear their melodious voice…” Hoseok answered as all of them nodded in agreement.

“Wow… okay.. if you had the chance to confess your love to y/n how would you do it? (letter, text, speech, gifts)”

“I’d get their whole face tattooed on me… actually I already have… haha…” jungkook giggled. They all turned to look at him in surprise.

Jungkook had already gotten a tattoo of you? Jimin scoffed in jealousy. “Eh whatever… I’d give Y/N lots and lots of gifts… and shower them in kisses!!” “You know alina… I have my dear beloved Y/N’s handwriting tattooed on my back too, do you wanna see?” Jungkook wiggled his eyebrows.

A smirk played on his lips.

“Do you?” Alina felt so jealous of you, but admired how lucky you were. “I-I no… I’m good!” She laughed, it was forced. “Your laugh sucks especially if it’s forced.” Yoongi rolled his eyes.

“I’d confess my love for my sexy Y/N by fucking them hard and raw..” taehyung shrugged.

Alina’s cheeks could burst. Taehyung really had no filter when it came to you. “BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!!”

“You are so disgusting.”

“TRUE!! LEARN TO APPRECIATE THEM IN DIFFERENT WAYS OTHER THAN SEX YOU ASSHOLE!”

Alina didn’t even get a chance to continue as the room roared with argument noises, coming from the one and only. “Oh well.. let me know when y’all get done… it’s time for me to go and stalk eunwoo I’ll be back when it’s break!”

[yasume]

Adore you

Requested @officialhangezoe

Timeskip Kenma Kozume + Fem! Reader

warnings: fluff, fluff, fluff, and the pain I have because Kenma isn’t real. Probably ooc but I hope you enjoy this :)

In which Kenma’s fans begged him for a couples’ stream for Q&As. The reader ends up making Kenma laugh and smile which shocks the viewers <3

You rarely made an appearance on Kenma’s streams/videos. Not that he was ashamed of you, it was actually the opposite.

He adores you.

Kenma just preferred to keep his private and social life separated. He also didn’t want to make your relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend to feel like a business relationship.

Fans would beg for your appearance, wanting to see more of the woman who claimed Kenma’s heart.

It didn’t sound like a bad idea whatsoever, it’ll be nice to have you in his stream. Not only can he spend quality time with you, he can enjoy the things that make him happy.

With Kenma’s following moving onto 10 million, he can thank his fans by having you right beside him. After all, if it wasn’t for you and the fans, he doesn’t know what else he could’ve done.

KODZUKEN live! Q&A featuring Y/n :)

“Hey guys, I’m here with Y/n, my girlfriend (hello) and to celebrate our milestone of 10 million we’ll be having a Q&A. So you can ask more questions about Y/n, me, or the both of us that you want to know. This is a thank you for all the support you’ve given me and I’m grateful for that.

Instantly the chat started blowing up, they just had so much to ask about your relationship and how you’ve been. Questions were pretty easy to answer like:

“How long have you been dating?”

With a smile, you answered the question “We’ve actually been dating for almost 4 years now. It’s crazy how time went by so fast.”

That cracked a smile on Kenma’s face, and his fans noticed and were happy at the sight of that.

“Who confessed to the other one first?”

Kenma responded this time, lying his hand onto yours. “Y/n actually confessed first, she wrote me a love letter and it was pretty cute.”

“I actually still have it too.”

A blush instantly appeared on your face, of course you knew that Kenma can be blunt sometimes. Although it’s just some stuff he says that catches you off guard. Internally you were screaming because soft Kenma soft Kenma soft Kenma <3

As each questions get answered, the fans couldn’t help but notice how touchy he is with you. It started off with small smiles then hand touches. There was no doubt how much he truly adored you.

Hours into the stream, coming to a close, here was Kenma lying his head onto your shoulder as you read the questions and comments.

“Koduzken, what does Y/n do that makes you fall in love all over again?”

Sitting up straight, Kenma fiddled with his hands looking at the ground. Oh how this felt like highschool all over again, but he had to do it. For you, and his fans waiting.

“When Y/n always checks in on me after a stream, saying “Are you okay?” Or “Here’s some snacks” and just waits for me after streams, I can’t help but fall in love with her repeatedly. It’s the thought that she would always be here for me that warms my heart.”

As he progressed in speaking, your eyes were widening, tears were forming as you turned around to face him.

Kenma slowly opened up his arms for you as you moved closer to him. Wrapping you in his arms.

“Normally I wouldn’t do this on streams, but, I love you Y/n.”

“I love you too.”

Parting away from the hug, the both of you watched as the comments flood with praises and other things regarding the romantic scene.

Everything was great, Kenma couldn’t help but feel happy that someone like you was here with him all this long.

“Thank you all once again for being here on today’s stream. I’ll see you next time.”

[therealvinelle]

Vinelle (and muffin since I know they'll see this too~!), I don't know if you guys have made a post ranking the Twilight books and why (including Bree and L&D if applicable) but I'd love to hear your opinions! (also if you could rank the Twi movies from least worst to most worst and why that'd be awesome too! 030 hi key love your rants on the movies and would love to hear y'alls thoughts more on them)-Sw

You’ve caught us out, anon.

And thanks to you, we spent last night watching Breaking Dawn Part 2 so we could rank it. @theoriginalcarnivorousmuffin hadn’t seen it at all, while I half-remembered it from years ago. A terrible time was had because that movie was unwatchably bad.

Since this ask was sent jointly, our answer was co-written.

So, without further ado, movies first:

1. Twilight

This is a bad movie, but it’s recognizably a movie. The scenes are connected, there are things it did well, and we could tell you what the plot is. The awkwardness, for instance, is very well done. The weaknesses are glaring, the main one being that the film never sells us on the characters of Bella and Edward, nor on their relationship, relying instead on the audience knowing they’re in love because- well, they’re in love.

Diving deeper into Edward and Bella, there’s an understandable explanation for this. Edward of the books is terrifying, and I don’t think there’s a translation to screen that could have kept the romantic atmosphere surrounding him that we see from Bella’s point of view.

Bella can listen to Edward eating Biology and how he explains that it means how much he loves her and not blink. An actual audience hearing that dialogue will have second thoughts.

Right out of the gate, Twilight has a very difficult task: Salvage Edward Cullen while still producing a somewhat recognizable character who will take the same actions (or near the same actions) that Edward Cullen did in the book.

In the effort to make Edward palatable but save some of his original character he loses his more terrifying lines (as well as his hilarious ego) but becomes weird, awkward, and vaguely creepy. Edward Cullen of the films is that weird, friendless guy in your high school who you feel kind of bad for but don’t want to eat lunch with.

Bella faces a similar transformation. Bella’s insecurity is completely removed (or else the screenwriters somehow failed to notice it). As a result, we get this strange antisocial girl who is too cool for school because she’s a stuck up bitch.

Between Edward, this creepy guy who sits next to her in Biology, and Bella, this girl who enters school too good for everyone else, we see no reason why they would ever be interested in one another.

In an attempt to make these characters likeable they made them both unlikeable and boring. The film series as a whole never recovers from this (indeed, the quest to make Edward look good keeps leading to stranger and stranger places). 

It also forgets to explain why the Cullens live among humans, they’re attending high school… because. It’s a movie that explained to us all those terrible 2010 era memes and “still a better love story than Twilight”. And frankly, those memes were great, better than the movie. Case in point.

Everything is weirdly blue, which is atmospheric but also makes everything and everyone washed out. Everyone is super pale, so you have Mike looking just as vampire-y as Edward. However, it’s recognizably a movie. It introduces the characters, recognizes that the audience needs to be informed of things that are important to the plot, and most scenes are in some way connected to the plot. This is more than can be said for the other films, which is why it lands the top slot.

2. Eclipse

Eclipse earns its second place by process of elimination. The remaining three were worse. Eclipse also features Edward being cuckolded mercilessly, which is hilarious. Oh, and Victoria playing Riley, that was another beautiful scene.

Apart from that it’s just a deeply boring, borderline unwatchable movie.

Special shoutouts go to:

The opening scene of Riley getting turned, a ridiculous and poorly executed scene that served no purpose for the movie whatsoever.

Rosalie dropping her backstory without any context, Bella walks up to her and Rosalie launches into this horrific story for no particular reason. Both her and Jasper’s backstories could have been cut, as they served no purpose to the story and felt really thrown in there.

The many, many redundant scenes. The Victoria chase that ends with the Cullens and Quileutes squabbling could have been cut entirely. So too could the Seattle subplot with the newborns and Bree.

It’s a movie that isn’t about anything in particular, so it throws subplot spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. It dutifully regurgitates the Jacob/Bella/Edward love triangle while also trying to convey that Bella’s about to lose her mortality, while also trying to introduce suspense and excitement with the newborns. It fails to execute either of these, and it also fails to tie them together.

3. New Moon

The movie that wanted to skip itself.

This movie had two jobs, show that Bella is depressed when Edward leaves and convince the audience of Bella and Jacob’s strong friendship. And apart the rotating shots and the occasional Stewart voiceover, the former becomes one of those “just stay with us on this one, guys” failures, and the second is failed on every level. Jake and Bella are much closer at the beginning of this movie than they were in canon, and a montage of Bella hanging out with her buddy is just that, it’s a montage of Bella hanging out with her buddy. It speaks volumes that Stewart’s voiceover has to remind us she’s depressed and Jacob is helping her heal, because there’s no indicator on screen that this is happening.

This, in turn, makes Bella/Jake as weak and unconvincing as Bella/Edward was in the previous movie. We just have to take on faith that these people are important to each other because that’s what we’re told.

There’s also the wolves, who are completely butchered. In the books, there’s this great mystery with bears in the woods, there’s Bella wondering why Laurent ran off, there’s build-up, then when we find out what’s actually been happening it’s a satisfying explanation, all the pieces come together really nicely. This is not the case in the movie. Meeting the pack is just weird in this context, because we never wondered who they were. Bella is randomly invited to breakfast, we meet Emily with the scarred face who won’t ever have a line again, and that’s it, these characters don’t become important to the movie in any way. It’s a pointless scene that could have been cut, much like so many other scenes in these movies.

Apart from that, the Volturi scene from the books is butchered so I hardly recognize it, and Alice, Carlisle, and Edward’s characters are assassinated to an impressive degree considering they were barely in the movie.

It was hard to watch.

It lands third place because somehow, Breaking Dawn was worse.

4. Breaking Dawn Part Two

I’ll just list the positives: the intro was very pretty and promised a better movie. It was also long, which we appreciated because it took away from the movie’s runtime. (This is not at all an exaggeration, a lot of the time watching all five movies was spent looking at the remaining runtime and groaning.) The Tommy Wiseau sex scene in the sex cabin was uncomfortable, but the fact that it would have fit perfectly in The Room made it funny. The Romanians were genuinely, unironically, great, because of all of Carlisle’s trashy friends, these were the only ones the movie didn’t try to convince us weren’t trashy.

This movie ranks above Breaking Dawn Part One because of the things listed above.

Apart from that, something all of these movies, but especially the last four, suffer from is that they don’t have plots so much as they have a check list of things to put in the movie before they can call it a wrap. This movie is the worst offender of that, and it’s made worse by the film’s expectation that the people are fans who already know what’s happening, and therefore don’t need anything explained. I’ll explain what we mean by that.

We get Bella waking up a vampire, and absolutely nothing is explained. If you don’t know what happened in the last movie then fuck you. Bella then goes hunting, we get the hiker, we get the mountain lion, she goes back to meet Renesmée, finds out Jake imprinted on her daughter, we get the sex cabin, the handwrestling with Emmett. The Charlie problem is introduced (poorly), only to be solved a scene later with emotional payoff that had absolutely no buildup. All of these things, and the rest of the movie as well for that matter, feels like we’re just crossing items off a list.

Since the audience is expected to already know the story, the story only bothers to explain about half of what’s happening, if half. Who’s the lady living with Charlie? If you don’t know, don’t worry because it’s not important anyway. When did Kate and Garrett fall in love? If you don’t care, that's understandable, because they’ve barely interacted in the movie. Who are the Amazonian women? Do they have names? Don’t worry about it. Did Alistair actually leave, if so did that have an impact? Well, Bella stared at a window for a few seconds.

Every so often the characters will start quoting the books, and it’ll be completely out of place because these movies veered off course long ago. Carlisle references his great friendship with Aro, a friendship that was only briefly mentioned at the beginning of the second movie. Aro randomly starts talking about how scary human technology is.

All of these scenes feel like Marcus is telling the story, he’s just listing events waiting for the story to be over, and forgets a lot of pertinent details because he doesn’t care enough to remember them. There’s no effort to tie these scenes together, no effort to build up to anything.

There’s also one significant failure, and this is a failure shared by all five films, but it affects the plot (I use the term “plot” loosely) of this movie which is why it gets a special shoutout here. Vampires in these movies look human. The fact that Bella has to ask Edward is Gianna the secretary is human says it all, because in the books you know instantly, there’s not even a question. This makes the Charlie subplot ridiculous, because Bella looks and acts the same as ever. She had a trashy makeover, maybe, but she’s still Bella. Watching her get human acting classes after we watched her act perfectly human is just silly. Now, we’re all for suspension of belief, but this movie just pencil drew a moustache on her and the audience is supposed to go “My god, Bella, I didn’t recognize you!”

We then get to the atrocious fight scene, which was somehow worse than I remembered. It was also oddly long for a giant fake out. This scene took significant run time and it turns out to have 0 effect on the plot. And when we get back to the real world, the tonal shift is extreme. You can’t go from Jane being choked, dragged across the snow and face eaten by a wolf to her standing around chilling. We could have skipped it entirely, just had Alice touch Aro’s hand, and he goes “Ah, I see, cheerio.”

The end credits were pretty funny, “here are these random characters with bit parts in previous movies, isn’t this nostalgic?”. Nice try, movie. The fact this came after an extended clip show of the great romance of Edward and Bella, through blurry montage images that failed to be convincing in their original films let alone this one, just made it even more hilarious. Hope you didn’t completely ruin the director’s career, though honestly you should a bit.

5. Breaking Dawn Part One

As you can probably tell by the above entries, the fact that this is the worst one is really saying something. All the movies were hard to watch, but this one required pure strength of will to power through.

The big issue is that Breaking Dawn shouldn’t have been split in the first place. However, it was, and that meant that we got a movie that was almost entirely filler. (Followed, somehow, by a movie that was also largely filler.)

We get everybody preparing for the wedding. What do Mike and Jessica think of Bella and Edward getting married? What’s that, you don’t care? Well, now you know anyway. We get the full wedding, as in the whole fucking thing, including the afterparty. We get Bella and Edward traveling to their island, and there’s filler in the filler where they go clubbing in Rio. We then get every minute detail of the wedding night followed by every minute detail of the honeymoon.

There’s fanservice, and then there’s this. This was live action fanfiction.

NOTHING that in any way is relevant to the story happens, the closest we get is Irina looking stoned. Too bad the Denali’ refusal to help out in Eclipse was cut from the last movie, in fact I’m not sure they were mentioned at all previously in these movies (I think maybe Edward had a one-line reference in Twilight?) so this means nothing to people who haven’t read the books.

We then get to the pregnancy arc, which could have been Rosemary’s Baby but is instead as outrageously boring as the first half of the movie was. The director must have realized as much, because he gives us Jacob’s alpha plot that should have been cut from the movie (yes, I know it was in the books, but the thing about adaptations is that things have to go. For the record, I think Meyer should have cut it too). That subplot was straight out of an anime, by the way. Jacob claiming his ancestral rights as alpha while listing off his titles and the soaring music, was… every shounen anime, ever. Complete with the shitty voice acting.

It was a soul-crushingly boring movie.

-

Something that screws over the last four movies is that they were made to feed the fangirls, and generate revenue because the producers knew the fans were coming to watch the books they liked come to life, so they just had to throw scenes from the books and into the movies and let the magic happen. This is a terrible way to adapt something.

Special shoutout too to having to watch Taylor Lautner run around shirtless in four out of five movies. That was very uncomfortable and none of us needed that in our lives, Lautner included.

Super special shoutout to the fact that we disagree with nearly all the casting.

And this isn’t the post for that, but all of the characters were butchered. Some more than others, and some more insidiously than others. It’s the big things, like Carlisle’s character being turned on its head since he thinks all vampires are damned, exactly the opposite of what he thinks in the books, and the little things, like Jasper and Bella being buddies who bicker fondly in New Moon. 

Then the books:

1. Midnight Sun

HANDS DOWN. This is easily our favorite thing to come out of the entire Twilight franchise.

Edward is every kind of crazy at the same time, all the time, and it makes every single sentence packed with delirious entertainment. Reading this book is having a stroke, a psychotic episode, and watching five different true crime shows all at once. We adore every letter of it. (That’s no exaggeration, we even laughed about Edward capitalizing “Son” when Carlisle refers to him as “son” in conversation.)

The book was more than we’d dared to hope for, one of those rare books that makes you go “This was written just for me.”

2. Twilight

The one that started it all.

Vampires are wonderfully creepy. Things like Bella staring at Carlisle acting like the mundane town doctor shortly after learning just how old he is, Alice explaining how vampires kill all, and the uncanny valley perfection of the Cullens all add to the otherness of these vampires, and the general atmosphere of the book.

The love story is convincing. Edward seen through the eyes of Bella is wonderful, the red flags are there but if it weren’t for the books that followed we wouldn’t have decried the ship the way we do.

3. Eclipse

Breaking Dawn is the more interesting book, but Eclipse has less things we outright don’t like. We get to know all the characters better, Edward and Bella are their usual beautiful selves, and it’s overall peak Twilight.

4. Breaking Dawn

Would have ranked much higher, we like what it did. Without it we wouldn’t be in this fandom now, as it brought so much amazing content. The baby plot is fine by us, Carlisle’s friends are great, the Volturi confrontation is a beautiful, if bleak culmination of preventable events. There’s a lot of great stuff in this book.

Unfortunately, and there’s just no diplomatic way to put this, so I’ll just come out with it: there’s too much Jacob.

He no longer had a reason to be in the story, given the way Eclipse ended he had every reason not to be in it. In spite of that we get an entire third of the book from his point of view, and then damned if he’s not shoehorned into the last third as well. He added absolutely nothing to the story, he was just there taking up space and being possessive of a toddler. His POV section was tough to get through, and his presence in book three was just painful. He should have been cut.

5. New Moon

This was the book we had to power through. There are some very good things in it, most notably the Volturi scene, but the Muffin and I enjoy Twilight for the vampires, and that makes Laurent and Hallucination!Edward the highlights of the part of the book where Edward is gone.

There’s also the fact that Jacob isn’t a very compelling character. He has to carry the book now that the Cullens aren’t doing it, and he simply isn’t up for it.

-

Yes, we’re aware that these books are ranked according to how much Jacob is in them. We don’t even hate him, not at all, it’s just that he’s boring.

(That being said, the books at their worst are better than the movies at their best. Jacob narrating his perfect playdate with Renesmée would still be preferable to… I’m trying to think of a good scene from the movies. Hm, nevermind.)

As for The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner and Life and Death, only I have read Bree Tanner and I don’t remember it well enough to give a proper assessment. I was bored with the OCs, though, bored to tears, throughout that book I was itching for Victoria and the Cullens. We have not read Life and Death, but we’re offended by its existence so it ranks bottom.

[shinidamachu]

yo asking someone to make a wish so half of their heritage is gone forever is fridge horror-level wtfness (thnx TV Tropes).

of course RT and Sunrise chose not to focus on it, and in mythology people do give up divinity or humanity for romantic reasons, but specifically in Inuyasha it was like ‘despite your demon half you can still live a good life’ as if he has some disease 🤨

like I get in history people have had to hide their heritage to survive war and avoid being shipped off to their death or lose their rights, but to ask someone to permanently discard half their heritage and presumably hide their origins until death is tragic as fuuuuuuuuuuu

It's not even that they chose not to focus on it, is that they deliberately portrayed it as this grand romantic gesture from Inuyasha’s part and for a part of the audience, it truly was. But then again, this backfired for people like me, because it only served to proof how desperate Inuyasha really was to fit in.

Poor guy was literally planning on using the jewel to become a full demon just the day before. Then, at Kikyo’s request, he agreed on doing the exact opposite with little to no deliberation other than “what will be made of you, Kikyo?” I can only assume he was afraid her feelings were conditional. That if he had said no, she would have called it quits.

Imagine the same situation, but this time Inuyasha has a support system to lean on. Prejudice against half demons are still a thing, however he has his parents, his friends, a place to belong. Would he still have said yes in order to live with Kikyo? I honestly doubt it.

You see, Inuyasha hates being human. Not in the sense of saying he hates it, but liking it in secret. He actively hates it. And I can’t stress enough that we don’t actually understand how rightfully entitled he is to hate it.

We know how a human body feels like, we’re used to have a human body. Inuyasha is only human once a month. The majority of time he is a half demon. That’s what he is used to. Even worse: put yourself in his shoes. If you were to lose half your strength, half your sight, half your hearing and speed every single New Moon, you'd curse that night too. 

Not to mention the sheer vulnerability of being emotionally and physically exposed, of not being able to protect yourself or the ones you care about and becoming a "burden” when he takes pride of being the (un)official guardian of the group. No wonder he felt so hopeless he made a point out of staying up all night. And this is what Kikyo was asking him to feel like every single day for the rest of his existence so their life together could be easier, with the aditional quicker of forever losing the features that marked him as his father’s son. You know, the man who died saving him and his mother.

Every single character that got close enough to find out about his night of weakness quickly became aware of how much he despises it. Now, we don’t know the exact duration of Inuyasha and Kikyo’s relationship, but here are our options: Kikyo didn’t know about the New Moon and that Inuyasha hated turning into human or she did know and decided to go for it anyway.

Considering that the latter option is straight up awful, I’ll just assume she simply didn’t know. What does this say about their relationship? If they were an item for a considerable period of time, how come she didn’t know about such a fundamental thing about him? Especially when people who weren’t even his love interest were aware of that fact pretty early on? What was it worth all that time together if they didn’t use it to have meaningful interactions and get to know one another? If Inuyasha was keeping secrets from her and if she wasn’t interested in learning them?

On the other hand, if their relationship was indeed short lived, that could justify the lack of knowledge, but a different issue raises: if they didn’t have time to collect basic information about each other, how am I supposed to believe in their love? How am I supposed to view the decision to erase his demonic side and live together as anything other than reckless, impulsive and thoughtless? How am I not supposed to see it as mutual convenience, a mean to an end? How am I not supposed to think they are acting out of lonileness and desire to fit in? How am I not supposed to think that if literally anyone else had given them the same options they would have taken it? 

A New Moon would have happened in at least one month, tops. That’s not love. That’s a thirty days affair. It could have grown into love, if given the chance, but the pairing seemed more interested in the life they ideolized for themselves than in each other.

I don’t think Kikyo meant it as an ultimatum or that she was disgusted by his demonic attributes. She wouldn’t have approached or kissed him as a half demon otherwise. But I think it’s hard to deny that she wasn’t necessarily fond of them either, since she jumped at the opportunity to get rid of them first chance she got, with no remorse whatsoever. As if it was a bonus. This allowed with the fact that the prejudice against half demons is an allegory for racism and that she used from false equivalence to make the point that both her and Inuyasha were in the same situation puts her in a bad light.

Inuyasha was isolated by people because of his heritage, something he couldn’t change without resorting to intrusive, traumatizing and permanent magic, which Kikyo herself suggested he did. Kikyo isolated herself. People loved her because of her status and she was a privileged woman in comparison. She could have dropped everything since she was unhappy living like that, but she spontaneously chose her duty and powers over love and an ordinary life. And as much as I disagree with her choices, I can at least respect and understand them. What I can’t do is feel sympathy for her when the consequences of said choices catch up with her.

The narrative doesn’t give this problem much focus, it treats it in a much more subtle way. For instance: the jewel only being destroyed by the right wish, paints wishing for Inuyasha to become human as wrong and selfish, with the potential to be catastrophic.

That being said, Inuyasha didn’t hate being a half demon, on the contrary. What he hated was being ostracized over it, so he decided to take matters on his own hands and, when he was free to choose between using the jewel to become a full demon or a human, he went the full demon route because he knew living as human would made him miserable. But the desire of being a full demon was a facade. What he so very clearly wanted, all along, was to be accepted the way he was. That’s why he had no trouble letting go of that goal to pursue the exact  opposite: there was no attachment to it. Full demon or human, he longed for a place to belong. If Kikyo was offering that to him, of course he would have taken it, even if becoming human was far from being the first choice.

Compare that with Inuyasha finally giving up from becoming a full demon, realizing he didn’t have to change at all, that he had a place to belong and people who loved him not despite of what he was but because of it, that he could be accepted as a half demon. Compare that with Inuyasha ending up with the girl that always encouraged him to be himself, with being comfortable enough around her to follow his instincts and embracing his canine mannerisms rather than shutting them down, which he didn’t quite did with Kikyo... The message is clear:

Kikyo should never, in any circumstance, have asked that of him. The implications of it were really bad and on paper it was a win-win situation for her because getting rid of the jewel to become an ordinary woman was something she already wanted. He was the one with the short end of the stick, sacrificing everything without the same level of compromising from her part.

And Inuyasha should never, in any circumstance, have accepted this deal. As his love interest, Kikyo should have been the very first persond advocating for him not to change. If the feelings they had for each other truly were love, then she should be the one helping him getting to terms with himself while he does the same for her, not legitimizing the absurd idea that a part of his essence was less worthy of existing than the other, that he should have be the one to change in order to fit in, rather than the people who oppressed him.

Thematically, even if subtle, the narrative did a decent job out of showing the audience how fucked up the whole thing actually was. What it failed to do was making Inuyasha and the others realizing how wrong it was and holding Kikyo accountable for her actions by making them talk about it.

Because God forbid Kikyo gets vocally told she was wrong (even though she often is) and God forbid Takahashi give Inukik the tiniest bit of substance and relationship development.

[thepenguinclub]

Hi, and welcome to my writing blog! My name is Meredith, but you can call me Mac or Penguin. I use she/her pronouns.

A little bit about me. I'm a minor, I have two dogs and a cat, I'm aromantic asexual, and I don't know if you could tell or not, but I really like penguins.

My ao3 is here, my main is here, and if you're here for my writing, you're in luck because that's all I post on this blog! As well as asks or any bonus information that has to do with said writing. My writing tag is #penguin writes.

This pinned post also operates as a writing masterpost, so that'll be under the read more. Have a good rest of your day. :)

Sanders Sides:

Name 'Verse

My ongoing oneshot series. This world is an afterlife au that also happens to be a zombie apocalypse au, and everyone does their best to thrive.

It's ongoing, but isn't my top priority so updates are sporadic. The good thing, though, is that everything is a self-contained oneshot, which means there are no cliffhangers. Even the multichapter works are only grouped for efficiency, not because they have an overarching plot.

Featuring romantic LAMP, romantic dukeceit, familial dark sides, platonic creativitwins and more. This series gets it's own masterpost, isn't that neat?

AO3 series ~ Masterpost

Teacher Virgil

My ongoing oneshot series in the universe that holds genius!Virgil, who ends up using his genius to teach a class of high schoolers. He also meets his soulmates. And helps out his students in many different ways.

All can be read as stand-alones and while the first part is Virgil-centric, the others are more focused on the oc high school students that Virgil has a major effect on, so he is a main character in those installments, but the other sides aren't. Still, they'd sweet and the ocs are to die for so I wouldn't knock it 'till you tried it.

AO3 series ~ Masterpost

#cuteboyfriendchallenge

A oneshot in a tiktok format, centering around romantic LAMP. What it says on the tin. It's very fluffy.

The oneshot: AO3 ~ Tumblr

Extra info: AO3 ~ Tumblr

And You Said We Couldn't Act.

A oneshot for Day 7 - Free Day of Analogical Week 2021. Centered around, you guessed it, romantic analogical. Also very fluffy. Virgil and Logan keeping their relationship a secret because they are Petty and the shenanigans that happen later.

AO3 ~ Tumblr

Their Society

A oneshot framed like a story idea, describing a universe where people can be powerful, powerless, or. Definitely read warnings for this one. No romantic relationships defined, a lot of this is up to interpretation.

AO3 ~ Tumblr

The Ups and Downs of Everyday Life

A simple oneshot centering around Virgil. Platonic c!Thomas & Virgil, platonic Patton & Virgil. There is a dog. Starts out angst-ish, ends with hopeful-ness. Inspired by this post.

AO3 ~ Tumblr

you're a peach, darling

A oneshot focusing on platonic dukexiety, from Remus' POV. Remus is a prince who doesn't want to be a prince, Virgil is a nomad who loves his life and his freedom. Angst, mostly, with a hopeful ending and hurt/comfort there at the end. Background romantic dukeceit, background romantic Roman/Logan/Patton.

AO3 ~ Tumblr

until parted by death

A short oneshot that sounds angsty and probably should be but is in actuality one of the fluffiest things I've ever written. Romantic prinxiety, Good Friends Janus and Logan, Virgil being anxious and then not, weddings, the whole shebang. Does contain main character death but there is -100% angst attached.

AO3 ~ Tumblr

the diner

A short oneshot that was a writing exercise and an excuse to write a lot of descriptions. Platonic DLAMPR, Janus POV. It's a good character study I think.

AO3 ~ Tumblr

this is nice! something's probably wrong.

A very very short fluff fest that has no angst whatsoever just some sleepy boys. Enjoy. Romantic LAMP, Virgil POV.

AO3 ~ Tumblr

floriography

Virgil vs. mental health, told through the language of flowers. There is nongraphic self harm, and a constant struggle with depression, but I'm quite proud of it and as long as the warnings don't bother you, I recommend. Brotherly Virgil/Remy, background romantic Remile, Virgil & Emile, Virgil & Janus, background platonic DLAMPR but the other sides don't make big appearances unfortunately.

AO3 ~ Tumblr

Merlin:

In a World of the Same, You're Different

A oneshot from Merlin's point of view, which is the point of view of someone cursed to be a dragon. And he'd really like to be left alone. The beginnings of romantic Merthur, it's heavily implied. The Knights of the Round Table are besties. Angst then fluff, hopeful ending.

AO3 ~ Tumblr

Harry Potter:

Happily Ever After

A oneshot that covers seven years of birthday presents from Harry to Draco. I'd say it's 90:10 fluff and angst, and my longest posted HP oneshot to date. Drarry.

AO3 ~ Tumblr

the monster's gone, he's on the run (and your daddy's here)

Harry drops out of the muggle world in order to find himself, and finds four children instead. His response? Guess I'm a dad now. Boogie woogie woogie. Small instances of angst but it's mostly fluff with a little bit of crack treated seriously in there. All platonic relationships between Harry and his kids.

AO3 ~ Tumblr

just a normal boy, with a normal life

A Harry Potter Miraculous Ladybug AU. Why? Because I can. Harry as Ladybug and Draco as Chat Noir. Developing relationship. It's a cute oneshot, what can I say. Platonic Drarry with some appearances from various friends.

AO3 ~ Tumblr

it's raining, it's pouring

This is soft and chill Drarry. No dialogue, short oneshot. Just them existing and being in love.

AO3 ~ Tumblr

dancing with our hands tied

My only current Jegulus work, this is a short oneshot that explores an AU where Regulus is a prestigous dancer and James is smitten. Open ending, allows the reader to continue the story. Implied/Developing Jegulus, mentioned other characters (Sirius, Dorcas, Evan).

AO3 ~ Tumblr

eras

My one and only chaptered work for HP so far, this is a canon divergent retelling of the entire HP series through the lense of Taylor Swift albums. Nothing super specific, but each chapter is a year of Harry's life as he grows up and develops along with the vibes of TS albums.

Chapter updates are whenever I get them done, so sporadically. Please be assured, however, that this fic will be finished, even if it takes me years (I do not plan on it taking me years).

AO3 ~ Masterpost

[love-little-lotte]

Ranking the Bridgerton Books

I know I should write this in my book blog, but frankly, I have no idea how to make another section for it, and I'm too lazy to research. So, I'm writing here. Please bear with me.

Recently, I read the Bridgerton books by Julia Quinn. You might be familiar with the first book since it was adapted into a popular Netflix series by Shonda Rhimes. I binge-watched it back in December, and I have to say... not a fan. I guess I just find it too cheesy and annoying. Plus, the actors who portrayed Daphne and Simon had no romantic chemistry whatsoever.

But I'm not here to talk about the TV show. I'm here to talk about the novels! This is actually not my first time reading the books. Well, not exactly. I've read six out of the eight novels when I was in high school, I believe. I found the books when I was in high school as it was in the library (please don't ask me why my high school library has smutty novels in it, I have no idea who's in charge - they had Fifty Shades of Grey for a week but they eventually removed it from the catalog when they learned what's it about, but I digress). As a fifteen-year-old girl, the series hooked me.

If you're not familiar with the books or the Netflix series, here's a short synopsis: Set in the Regency era, the Bridgertons are one of the most influential families of the ton. The books follow the love stories of the eight Bridgerton siblings, alphabetically named Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth.

I didn't read it in chronological order back then, though. I just borrowed any available Bridgerton book in the library if there's one. You might think I was too young to read a romantic novel like that, but I guess I was mature enough to understand it.

Rereading it now that I'm twenty-two (cue Taylor Swift!), my heart's not in the same place. I was more skeptical with the writing, the story, and, most especially, the characters. But, really, I'm not that heartless, so I will cut the author some slack. Quinn wrote this at a different time for a different audience. It's not that long ago, but you'd be surprised how fast things change.

However, even though I have major criticisms, I cannot stop reading them. There's something about the novels that put me in a chokehold. Despite everything, I was able to enjoy it overall. This series is the definition of "guilty pleasure."

Anyway, here's my ranking of the Bridgerton books! I only read the eight main ones, which means I didn't include novellas of any kind. Also, as a fair warning, I might discuss spoilers and whatnot, so please beware. And do keep in mind that I'm writing my opinion, so if you don't agree, well... tough. I'd like to hear your comments, though, if you have any.

#8 - An Offer From A Gentleman (Book 3)

Honestly, this was probably one of my favorite Bridgerton books when I was younger. A Cinderella retelling? Come on! As someone who loves fairytales and forbidden romances, this was supposed to be heaven. However... it was not.

Benedict may be my least favorite Bridgerton brother. No, scratch that - he is my least favorite Bridgerton out of all of them. He's whiny and creepy and I was plainly annoyed with how he keeps asking Sophie to be his mistress in the novel. This was not the gentleman I imagined when I was younger. I might have liked him more in the first few parts, but as the story progressed, he became too childish and obsessive. Sophie, on the other hand, was all right. She's definitely one of my favorite Bridgerton heroines. She was tough but kind in her own way. I wish she had a better partner than Benedict, but I guess they suit each other in the end.

I just detest the climax and the ending of this book. It was too comical - and not in a hilarious way. I guess the same could be said for the entire novel. This was so, so different from the rest, to be honest.

Overall Rating: 3/10

#7 - On The Way To The Wedding (Book 8)

Fun fact: this is the first Bridgerton novel I read. And even then, I wasn't a huge fan of it. Just like An Offer From A Gentleman, the climax was a bit silly but more in a soap opera level than comical.

The biggest factor why I didn't like this was the characters. They were all so bland. Especially our hero and heroine. Gregory is the least featured Bridgerton in the novel, so I don't really know what to make of him at the beginning of the novel. In his book, I learned that he was a good guy - and that's all. Maybe he's too young and naive when it comes to romance (which is endearing, I have to admit), but he has no interesting personality whatsoever. Lucy, the heroine in this novel, was the same. She was described as pragmatic and sensible, which perfectly sums her up. Also, she's a great friend to Hermione (whose last name is Watson, by the way, and you can't tell me otherwise that this isn't a Harry Potter reference - Hermione Granger and Emma Watson? If that's not a reference, well, that's a very crazy coincidence, but I digress again). Gregory and Lucy's story was average - not bad, not good, just so incredibly dull.

The fun parts started way too early. It was difficult to find intrigue in the middle and end bits. The second main conflict, which happened near the end of the book, was truthfully not that good and was just obviously a ploy to keep things longer. You'd think that the Bridgerton novels would end the series with a bang. Alas, it did not.

Overall Rating: 4/10

#6 - To Sir Phillip, With Love (Book 5)

Eloise finally gets her turn in her own love story. She used to be one of my favorite Bridgertons, but when she got her own story, she was reduced into a plain girl. Gone was the feisty and outspoken Eloise we knew from the previous books.

Maybe it's because she's paired up with one of the most insufferable Bridgerton heroes, Sir Phillip. Just an inch away from Benedict, Sir Phillip maybe my next least favorite character. And it annoys me so much that Eloise gets to fall in love with someone like him.

It actually started pretty well. Before the events in the book started, Eloise and Phillip had already been corresponding for a year through letters. Phillip was on the lookout for - not a wife - but a mother for his two unruly children, and he thought Eloise was perfect for the role. He's a terrible father, but the book tries to convince us that it's not his fault because he had a bad upbringing by his own father (a recurring theme in the Bridgerton books - four heroes are plagued with different daddy issues). Eloise tried her best to turn things around, and of course, she eventually did, but I just really hate Phillip's initial intentions for seeking out a wife. He gets better in the end, sure, but I still really don't like him. At least the book wasn't short of excitement, else it would've been rated a bit lower.

Obviously, my favorite part in this book was when the Bridgerton brothers stormed into Phillip's house. He got what he deserved, truly.

Overall Rating: 4/10

#5 - The Duke and I (Book 1)

Now, this is the most well-known story in the Bridgerton literary universe, thanks to the Netflix series. I know I've said that I wasn't a fan of the series, but really, the Netflix writers and producers deserve all the gold in the world because they managed to transform this novel into something exciting.

Daphne and Simon had their moments, that's for sure, but as a couple, they were just so... meh. I liked their relationship at the start when they were still pretending to be courting. But as soon as they got married, everything interesting about the two of them sizzled out. And please don't get me started with how Daphne "took advantage" of drunk Simon. Thank God the show fixed that.

Despite my mixed feelings, this was a decent start to the Bridgerton books. There's really nothing majorly wrong about this novel (except for the aforementioned "taking advantage.") It laid out the future characters well. Lady Whistledown was also great. Thinking about her made me miss her because she wasn't featured in the later novels (you'll soon find out why).

Overall Rating: 5/10

#4 - It's In His Kiss (Book 7)

Since Eloise was stripped away from her feistiness when she got her own love story, I was obviously worried for Hyacinth. Thankfully, she didn't change! She was still the same tactless girl in the previous books. And for that, she gets to be my champion as my favorite Bridgerton.

This is the first time I've read this book, and oh, I'm surprised with how exciting it was. Hyacinth's hero, Gareth, perfectly suited her. Gareth was able to tame her impulsiveness, while also proving to be a good romantic partner for her. I loved that he could match her intellectually, too. It was never a bore whenever they have one of their silly banters. Lady Danbury was also featured more in this novel. She's one of my favorite side characters. As Gareth's grandmother, she was determined to bring him and Hyacinth together.

Maybe the only criticism I have in this novel is Gareth's issues with his father. I find it really weird that most of the heroes' problems are with their fathers. It just seemed lazy writing, in my opinion. But oh well, Gareth was interesting in his own way and that's perfectly fine.

Overall Rating: 6/10

#3 - Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Book 4)

I have a feeling that this is Quinn's favorite Bridgerton book. In this book, it's Colin's turn to find love. Colin is featured in several of his siblings' stories - in fact, in almost all of the books, he had an important role to play.

I love Colin and Penelope's story. Long before this book, they already knew each other. Penelope was Eloise's best friend, and she's almost always in the Bridgerton household. Colin has been forced by his mother for God knows how long to dance with Penelope every time there's a party. But it was only now that they became closer. Unbeknownst to Colin, Penelope had been in love with him for half her life, even though he didn't particularly care for her. Penelope speaks for all of us who know about unrequited love all too well.

Furthermore, this is the novel where they finally reveal who was behind the Lady Whistledown column. Yes, viewers of the Netflix series who are not familiar with the books. This is the part - and not in the first book! I'm so mad that they revealed Penelope as Lady Whistledown in the first season of the series, when in fact it's much later than that.

However, that's also one of the lowest points of this novel for me. Lady Whistledown's identity reveal was a bit anti-climactic. A little bit laughable, even. Also, also, also: I hated Colin's reaction to Penelope's secret. He didn't have to be angry and jealous of her, but ah well, whatever makes for conflict. Nevertheless, I love both Colin and Penelope because they had so much character and depth. Quinn was certainly biased when she wrote this.

Overall Rating: 8/10

#2 - The Viscount Who Loved Me (Book 2)

Remember earlier when I said that I cannot stop reading the books because even though I knew it wasn't that good, it was still highly enjoyable? Well, I'm really talking more about this book, to be specific. I think I've read it in less than 24 hours because of how much I love it. And yes, Anthony and Kate had their obvious flaws, but oh God, they were so perfect together. I can't help but imagine Jonathan Bailey from the Netflix series as Anthony when I was reading it. I swoon, all the time.

This used to be my favorite Bridgerton novel, but that's only because I haven't read my new favorite until recently. Anthony and Kate's story was just oh-so good and intimate and romantic. Kate's also my favorite heroine in the entire Bridgerton literary universe. She was headstrong and loving. She's unafraid to put the happiness of her family first.

In so many ways, Anthony was the same. He assumed the role of Viscount Bridgerton when he was only eighteen when his father unexpectedly died. Since then, he overlooks the family's estates and well-being. Yes, this is one of those "daddy issues" stories I mentioned earlier, but this one was kind of done tastefully. He didn't wish to fall in love but everything changed when he encountered Kate. He didn't mean to be attracted to her, but here we are.

Anthony and Kate had so much understanding between them. I agree Anthony was a bit of a dick when Kate asked if they could have one week to get to know each other before consummating the marriage (worse things have been said by Benedict and Phillip, though), but in the end, I can't deny that I truly love them together.

Overall Rating: 8/10

#1 - When He Was Wicked (Book 6)

*blushing furiously* So what if I put the smuttiest and steamiest novel as my top choice?! What about it? Oh, but really, though, I can't stop reading this. Francesca is one of the least known Bridgertons in the books, just like Gregory. I didn't know anything about her, except that she's quieter than most of her siblings. It was also first mentioned in Romancing Mister Bridgerton that she had already married but was sadly widowed after two years.

Michael was Francesca's late husband's cousin and best friend, which makes him her best friend, too. He has been secretly in love with Francesca since the first moment he laid eyes on her but was unable to pursue her because she's with his cousin John. In addition, I'd like to say that Michael is my favorite hero in the Bridgerton books. He's very charming and wicked, and really, my knees buckle at the thought of him.

Long after John passed away, Francesca and Michael reunited. Francesca was looking for a new husband because she desperately wants a family, while Michael... well, Michael was still in love with her. There was undeniable passion and intimacy between them, and it was hard to stay away from each other. I seriously have a thing for men secretly pining over women they love. That's got to be one of my favorite tropes.

However, the book itself was a bit longer than necessary. While I understand Francesca's hesitations in marrying Michael, it could've been shortened because it felt draggy by the end. Her constant changing of minds was a bit annoying, and yeah, it was probably a ploy to lengthen the novel.

Additionally, I was a bit skeptical at first of how they're going to treat their relationship, especially since Francesca was truly in love with her first husband. But it was done so nicely. Francesca and Michael never forget about John, even in the end. I loved what John's mother said to Michael in a letter at the end, "Thank you, Michael, for letting my son love her first."

I guess I love their story more than the other couples because both were already mature and experienced. Just like everyone else in this romantic series, Francesca and Michael belonged together. The entirety of Chapter 19 is proof of that.

Overall Rating: 9/10

***

Overall, the Bridgerton books are quite entertaining, despite being a cheesy and sappy series. I admit that I feel quite lonely and bored now that I've finished all eight of them. Ah well, there's always the possibility of rereading them!

[human-hetalia-imagines]

☆ Rules & Information ☆

This is a blog dedicated to doing imagines surrounding my original human au. Here’s a description for each character's place in the au and rules for requests — I’ll be adding more characters as I get more comfortable writing for them.

*I did change the names of some characters so that they would reflect the countries they come from

*Also: this shit long, so strap in and get ready

☆Rules for Imagines☆

I’ll do imagines, or a bullet point list of up to 6 characters at one time, or a written scenario for up to 3 characters

I’ll also do nyos and genderbends of each character (ngl, I simp after nyo!America), their placement in the au won't change.

I include South Italy and Prussia in the axis, and Canada in the Allies

I’ll write fluff, smut, angst, and everything in between

I absolutely won’t write: incest, explicit sexual assault or excessive gore

The only time I will do romantic/sexual imagines for the characters who canonically have the physical appearance of people under 18 is if you explicitly state that you want them aged up, or if the reader is also underage. If you request adult x minor, I will discard your ask & invert your rib cage.

☆Rules for Matchups☆ 

Before submitting, check if they’re open or not, they won’t always be due to not wanting my page cluttered with them

When requesting, include personality, interests, dislikes, any pets you have, fun facts about yourself, and possibly clothing style

Don’t bother to include physical features as those will not be taken into account when pairing you up with someone

Include whether you want the matchup to be romantic, platonic, or one of each

☆Character Au Placements☆

North America

America | Alfred Jones, age 19

A young man that's cheerful and strong, with a strong sense of justice. He often can't read situations and has a habit of ruining the mood, whatever mood that may be. While he’s usually labeled as “incompetent”, he’s attending college (or university, depending where you’re from) to obtain a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering. He plays as the pitcher on his college’s baseball team, able to throw a devastating fastball. He lives in a two bedroom apartment with his twin brother, Matthew. He had a crush on Amelia Earhart when he was younger, and it’s something that Matthew teases him about on a weekly basis. 

Canada | Matthew Williams, age 19

On the surface, he's an easygoing, softhearted and gentle young man, around his twin brother and close friends, however, he can be quite sassy, nearly bordering on rude on occasion. He's in his first year of college for a degree in statistics. For the college, he plays as the Center on the hockey team, where he lets out steam on his opponents. He has a pure white rag-doll cat named Kumajirou that follows him around his and Alfred's apartment. He curses regularly in french. 

United Kingdom 

England | Arthur Kirkland, age 23

He's either a quick-witted, sarcastic and stubborn man, or the paragon of a perfect gentleman. He enjoys reading, writing (although he doesn’t show anyone his stories), and embroidering. He’s gotten so skillful at it, that he has a well-traversed Etsy shop. He’s currently in his last year of getting his Postsecondary Education degree and a minor in linguistics. When he was a teenager, he was a delinquent, going to loud concerts, fighting, dyeing his hair wild colors, and smoking. While he says he’s over it, he still keeps various CDs of OK Go and The Rolling Stones, as well as band t-shirts. It’s something that his 3 older brothers refuse to let go of.

Baltic

Estonia | Eduard von Bock, Age 19

He's a graduated honors student who has avoided many problems with wit. Usually in front of people he acts calm, logical, and businessman-like, but in private he’s actually pretty chill, albeit a bit quiet. He’s awesome with technology, and works part-time at his college as an IT advisor while he studies to get his Quality Control & Safety Technologies degree.

Latvia | Raivis Galante, age 15

He’s a boy who has been through quite a bit, making him an introvert, easily intimidated, and kind of a crybaby. He’s in his first year of high school, but due to him having an anxiety disorder, he does it digitally. The only problem is that he strives to have friends who are close to him and care for him unconditionally. He secretly likes to read cutesy romance novels from the young adult section.

Lithuania | Toris Laurinaitis, age 19

He's a patient, shy, and gentle person who has the ability to become pretty serious when he needs to be. He works as a librarian assistant while he decides between a degree in social work or education. He, unfortunately, usually over-thinks his decisions too much, causing him to have anxiety attacks. When he’s not working, he’s typically just dragged around by his close friend, Feliks, but he has a good time nonetheless.

Nordic

Denmark | Mathias Køhler, age, 19

He’s a genuine sweetheart who often accidentally always yells. While he is kind, he’s also a bit thick-headed, although he always has the best of intentions. He considers himself to be very close to his friends, especially to Lukas, although the other man’s opinion on the matter is about the opposite. He attends college for a master’s degree in, surprisingly enough, Business Administration. When he isn’t studying, he enjoys clinging to his friends and drinking. He has the habit of playing online video games with Alfred and Gilbert for way too long at a given time. He also gets oddly competitive over his degree with Tino. 

Finland | Tino Väinämöinen, Aged 20

He's a gentle, cheery young man with a tendency to like the more simplistic things in life. He seems very mature, yet can be childlike. He loves relaxing in saunas, especially with his close friends. He has a small Maltese pup named Hanatamago who attends dog shows. When he’s not attending dog shows, he does online college for a masters in Medical Assisting. 

Iceland | Emil Steilsson, age 17

He’s a mysterious boy with a cool exterior and a hot interior, being a bit easy to provoke with teasing. His older half-brother often insists that he was ‘born in his emo phase’. He taught his pet puffin (geniously named Mr. Puffin) a lot of profanity in Icelandic, Norwegian, and English. He attends high school, which he is absolutely over. On a side note, even though Lukas is his half-brother, he often refuses to have any connection to him whatsoever in public. 

Norway | Lukas Bondevik , age 18

He is, like his half-brother, very introverted. However, he is considerably more cold to strangers, but to his close friends, he can (sometimes) be very sweet. He just recently finished highschool, but intends on going straight into college for an Applied Data Science degree. He practices Modern Paganism, or Wicca, as his religion. 

Sweden | Berwald Oxenstierna, Aged 21

He’s a guy with an intimidating air who doesn’t talk much. On the inside he’s playful, but it doesn’t show at all and he just seems intimidating. He works as a carpenter after he went to a trade high school, a job that he greatly enjoys. Other than that, he likes decorative arts and being a part of debates on his free time. While he can create furniture out of wood scraps without any blueprints, he can’t put together IKEA furniture to save his life. 

Eastern Europe

Belarus | Natalia Arlovskaya, age 19

While she can be extremely possessive over her older brother and sister, she means well. She openly looks up to both of them, as they are the only two people in her life that have remained constants. She lives with both of them in a house and works part-time at her sister’s flower shop. She’s also a part-time online student with a pursuit of a criminology degree.

Russia | Ivan Braginski, age 21

He has the simplicity of a country bumpkin, an easy-going personality, and the cruelty of a child, all mixed together. Coupled with his personality traits and the fact that he’s well over 6 feet tall, he constantly (and accidentally) gives off an intimidating air. He attends college for a Avionics Technology bachelor's degree. Deep down, he’s incredibly passionate about ballet, more specifically Russian ballet, his favorite being Don Quixote, with Sleeping Beauty as a close second.

Ukraine | Katyusha Braginskaya, age 24

Ivan and Natalia’s older sister who always recklessly gets dragged into their messes. She's an absolute sweetheart who strives to make the people around her happy, even at her own expense. She can be very emotional. She owns a flower shop where she let’s her younger siblings work part-time while they go to school.

Central Europe

Germany | Ludwig Beilschmidt, age 20

He's a young man with an overly serious personality and a pessimistic nature. He's very by-the-book and has a pet peeve for a lack of cleanliness. He attends college for mechanical engineering and dorms with Feliciano and Kiku. His older brother, Gilbert, regularly breaks in and hangs out with them. His hobbies are reading, making sweets and taking walks with his dogs (that live with Gilbert). He’s in a garage band with the three aforementioned guys. He does, however, want to be a soldier like the other members in his family. Unfortunately, due to an injury to his leg that he sustained as a kid, he can’t. 

Hungary | Elizabeta Héderváry, age 26

She’s a sweet, reliable woman with a bit of a boyish streak. For a career, she works doing maintenance on a farm that belongs to a close friend, Basch (Switzerland). In her free time, she likes riding horses, going hiking and practicing instruments, one of which is the tekerőlant. She has a young child, Julian (Kugelmugel), from a previous relationship with her ex fiance, Roderich (Austria). Thankfully, things are civil between the two.

Liechtenstein | Lili Zwingli, age 15

She’s the darling, adoptive younger sister of Basch (Switzerland). She has a big heart and helps out on her brother’s farm wherever she can, and because she spends so much time on the farm, she’s gotten decently close to Elizabeta. She enjoys feeding, brushing, and cuddling her two angora rabbits on her free time, as well as knitting. Sometimes she’ll submit her bunnies to be participants in rabbit shows (Cocoa has 1 and Cinna-bun has 3).

Poland | Feliks Łukasiewicz, age 19

He has a fierce anxiety towards strangers, and upon a first meeting, he'll act very shy. Once he gets used to someone, he'll act goofy and a bit childish, clinging onto his closest friends. He attends college for a degree in fashion design and marketing. He is also very opinionated. He often drags his friends to Francis’ patisserie for cute aesthetic pictures. 

Prussia | Gilbert Beilschmidt, age 24

He comes off as rude, loud and self-centered, but he’s actually incredibly sweet and loyal almost to a fault. He’s catholic and takes his religion seriously to the point of keeping a cross necklace with him nearly all the time. While he wanted to join the army like the rest of his family, his albinism keeps him from being able to. Because of this, many members of the family see him as the Family Disappointment™, causing a strain between him and them. Unrelated, but when Ludwig lived with him, he caught Gilbert trying to play all three parts of Suite en trio, Op. 59: I. Serenade by himself with all three instruments at 2 in the morning.

Switzerland | Basch Zwingli, age 25

He’s an intimidating man with a soft heart. He owns a farm that has been in his family for generations, and it’s a job that he’s greatly proud of and fiercely protective over. He has technically adopted Lili as a daughter, but they both view each other as siblings. Regardless, Francis has still referred to him as a DILF before. He doesn’t understand what it means, and Elizabeta has assured him that he doesn't want to. On a more pure note, he enjoys attending rabbit shows whenever there’s any in the area, and has encouraged Lili to participate in them with hers.

Africa

Seychelles | Veronique Bonnefoy, age 17

She’s a southern country girl with a big heart. She's a bit sloppy and has the tendency to laze around when the weather gets warmer. She often laments over her being lonely to her friends, especially to Alfred and Matthew. She enjoys cooking, singing, and dancing. She takes after her brother figure (technically adoptive father), Francis, being a bit of a romantic herself. She’s in her senior year of high school, and is excited to be done with it. Once she ate pizza rolls in front of Francis and he almost cried. 

Asia

China | Yao Wang, age 19

He’s a (mostly) easy-going person, if not a bit of a hermit. He works as a waiter currently, but attends several courses in hopes of getting his food-handlers permit to, one day, open his own authentic Chinese food restaurant. He lives with his 5 other siblings, all of which jokingly refer to him as “grandpa” due to how often he complains about back pain and makes acupuncture appointments every 2 weeks. When his 6th sibling, Kiku, moved out for college, he was pretty salty. In his free time, he mostly plays Mahjong the practices the Érhù. He’s unabashedly likes and collects cute things such as small charms and plushies.

Japan | Kiku Honda, age 19

While, at first glance, he seems quiet and serious, he can actually be quite goofy and irresponsible with his money, buying anime memorabilia and American comic books. It’s something that one of his roommates, Ludwig, lectures him about quite a bit. His other roommate, Feliciano, sees nothing wrong with it. He attends college for a degree in animation. He enjoys messing with machines and drawing.

South Korea | Im Yong Soo, age 16

He’s a hyperactive young man with strong aspirations when it comes to schooling. He shows the upmost respect to strangers and his elders alike, but when he’s around friends and immediate family he tends to be more loud and silly. He’s currently knee deep in the K-pop wave sweeping the world and practices idol dances on tiktok. 

Taiwan | Mei Xiao, age 18

She is a strong-willed, fashionable young woman, but she's also said to have become more of a nervous type in recent times, unable to stop worrying. She has the tendency to be a bit smart-mouthed with a somewhat quick temper. Other than that, she has a sweet and cheerful disposition. She lives with all of her siblings (China, Japan, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Korea, and Thailand) and works as a hostess as a restaurant while she takes a break from schooling. 

Mediterranean

France | Francis Bonnefoy, age 24

He's someone who does things at his own pace and has an abundance of affectionate expressions for friends, family, and strangers alike. He owns his own patisserie which has become increasingly popular as a spot for dates and hipsters to eat cute, artfully made sweets and drink aesthetically pleasing coffees and teas. He loves culture and the arts, as well as paintings and clothing.

North Italy | Feliciano Vargas, age 20

He's a cheerful guy who can be a little bit of a crybaby. While he relies on his friends a lot, he deeply cares for them. He's attending college for a fine arts degree where he shares a dorm room with Ludwig and Kiku. He enjoys painting, singing and designing clothes. Also, while only a few people know this, he can play both acoustic and electric guitar. He’s in a garage band with Ludwig, Kiku, and Gilbert

South Italy | Lovino Vargas, age 22

He constantly starts arguments and fights, however he’s also a bit of a coward. He has the ability to be hardworking, but often doesn’t out of laziness. While he’ll never admit it, he’s quite the hopeless romantic, striving to find someone who will love him despite his flaws. He’s in college to obtain a bachelor's in agricultural studies with a minor in history, but absolutely refused to share a dorm with his younger brother, who he often teases about choosing to get a ‘useless art degree.’ He enjoys gardening, dancing, and playing the acoustic guitar in his free time. He also likes sketching, but due to feeling insecure, he never shows people his work, or even tells them that he does it.

Spain | Antonio Fernandez Carriedo, age 24

While he can be oblivious and even insensitive, he’s a generally friendly person with a cheerful deposition. He works as a bartender in a decently popular bar in the downtown of his city that’s within walking distance of his house. When he’s not working, he enjoys playing the flamenco guitar and practicing dancing. Since he’s very sociable, before work, he typically stops by Francis’ pastry shop to talk to him as he closes up.

Also, did you know that, in canon, Feliciano can play electric guitar and Ludwig can play the drums?? What I’m saying is: punk garage band w/ Kiku on vocals. Thank you for coming to my TEDtalk.  

[perseusjackson-jasongrace]

His Blood Runs Gold I

Percy is a God: Part I

Masterlist for the next part and more of my stuff

Y’all already know what this is!!!!!!!! But if you don’t then click this to find out. And i hope you enjoy Percy as a god cause i definitely do ;) *shivers*

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We were warm and shivering,

and young and ancient,

and alive.

-We Were Liars, E. Lockhart

Time is non-existent anymore. Percy should be twenty this year but now that he has ichor flowing through his veins, he can be 102 or 5. He has done things Homer would write epic poems about. If he were around at the dawn of time Ovid would have happily dedicated the Metamorphoses to him. But today Percy Jackson has been a god for three years and he has never felt more mortal in his life.

“Percy my boy, what are you doing here?”

“Hello Father, Camp Half-Blood is throwing a campfire in my honour and I thought it’d be rude not to show my face.”

“Very noble of you son. I remember back in my day the Greeks–“

Percy zoned out, tired of hearing how people bowed down to all these stuffy Olympians. The camp threw a celebration every year on the day he got immortalized and in return he reinforced the borders and blessed every demigod before they leave at the end of summer. He doesn’t know if he’s doing a good job, he doesn’t even know if what he does is making a difference, but he doesn’t know how else to give back to the camp and the people that saved his life again and again; who loved him and fought next to him and oh gods followed him into battle.

He’s never had the chance to talk to Chiron, who’s always busy with this demi-god and that satyr, and this nymph. He barely gets the chance to talk to all his old friends– between the new campers wanting to hear his stories and the general chaos of end of summer camp-life. He thanked the powers that be–what a jarring thought that he was one of those powers now– that he managed to find days in-between to see Annabeth and Grover.

He smiled to himself as he remembered the last time he saw Annabeth. She had been moving into her own apartment to start her third year at the University of New Rome. To his unsurprised delight she had chosen archaeology as her major but somehow slipped Latin and Ancient Histories into her schedule. He had helped carry bags and bags filled with books up to her room and they spent the day setting her up and making sure everything was in its place before she started the year.

Their relationship had progressed so softly, so slowly, Percy sometimes felt like he had imagined the year they had as a romantic couple. After he became a god they managed to go on a few dates, some interrupted by hothead immortals and revengeful monsters, and some blissfully alone. But once Annabeth started university and Percy was called again and again to help with this problem and that, it became a hassle to set up dates and figure out when to meet. They didn’t grow apart, so much as grow between. And although he missed the softness of Annabeth, he had gained a friend who knew him more deeply than any being alive– he was eternally grateful for that, and he couldn’t hate what they lost out on.

“Son, are you listening?” Poseidon pulled him from his thoughts.

“Yes father, it really was a great time for you. I have to go now, but Iris message if you need me.” And without waiting for a reply Percy strode out of Olympus and into the streets below.

He considered snagging a car but decided against it, since you couldn’t very well drive into Camp Half-Blood. Instead he walked into the ocean and let the current take him all the way to Long-Island, till he could smell the strawberries on the ocean wind and hear the echoes of camp games and reedpipes.

He stepped onto the beach, loving the soft sinking impressions he made in the sand. After his blood turned gold he realized he could walk on the sand and make no footprints whatsoever. The idea scared him so much he sunk under water and cried for three hours. How could he leave nothing behind? How could he have no imprint? It was Tyson, riding on his rainbow hippocampi who found him and showed him how to balance his weight; showed him how to step into the sand and not on it. When his footprints reappeared once more, he hugged his brother so hard if Tyson weren’t a cyclops his ribs might have cracked.

So Percy walked up the beach and through the strawberry fields, taking the time to breathe in the forest air, the fruit breezes, and ah the smell of chaos.

“JACKSON!” Connor Stoll yelled.

And with that single announcement Percy was home.

The day was spent in good spirits: racing with various campers up the wall and avoiding every deadly thing it spat at you– even if he couldn’t really die; then eating in the dining hall and getting to travel between tables without getting glares from various houses or Chiron; laughing as all the food turned blue just for him.

When it was time Percy walked with some of his friends; Clarisse who grew to be a steady, if raging fire, by his side, and Connor Stoll who is now the oldest of the Hermes kids since Travis left for college, and of course Will who above everyone reserves the right to make sure his friends were protected.

In a moment of vulnerability, he broke down on Percy’s immortal shoulder and wept. I don’t want to bury anymore of my friends Percy. I don’t want to be tending to them as they die in my infirmary. I can’t do it anymore. For him, Percy double, sometimes in moments of obsessiveness, triple checked his border defenses.

Now the little group walks around the perimeter of the camp and talks softly and contentedly as Percy knocks against the shimmering force, leaking power into the hollow spots.

“How is everyone at camp?” He asked.

“Fine, nothing has changed much. Ever since the Giant War it feels as if everything has calmed down to a lull. I’m wary it’s the eye before the storm but gods-dammit we deserve a break.” Connor answered.

Percy hid the rage of that truth but let the ache of those words settle in his bones. He simply nodded at Connor and turned to Clarisse.

“Are there any new campers who need to be protected?”

“Only a few, a lot have moved to New Rome over the last years.” There was a bitter edge to her words, caused by the sting of loss.

“You cannot blame them for wanting a life that is not concentrated to three months of safety.”

“I know,” Her nostrils flared, she kicked the rock in front of her. “I know. It just sucks that there’s so few of us now.”

“Maybe we can see about hosting annual games at each camp over the summer?” He suggested, careful to not step where the cracks spidered underneath him– even if the labyrinth had collapsed there was still the chance something tunneled beneath.

“I think that’s a great idea.” Will piped up, “Maybe then I can convince Nico to stay for more than one week.” He rolled his eyes, but the glimmer of happiness in them gave away his annoyed pretense.

“I will talk to the Praetors over there and let you know.”

“Thank you, Percy.”

They turned to face him.

He stared at them for a moment, studying their faces. Even now, all these years later it was jarring to see the signs of growth in their make-ups. He couldn’t say aging, they were barely hitting their twenties, gods Will was still a teenager, albeit not for much longer; but it was weird to watch as they grew up, watch as time changed their features, changed them.

Clarisse, who used to be a spitfire of rage and fierce protectiveness was now, more a well-kept hearth. She was still full of flame, but it was contained, and her fierce was warm instead of scorching.

And Connor, who had been attached to his brother at the hip, was all grown up. Travis was three years into a degree and Connor, although a prospective honours student, had forfeited college until he could figure out what he wanted to do. He was the sole head of the Hermes cabin, but somehow, he kept up the mischief as if the two were still together. The shenanigans are some of Percy’s favourites to hear around the campfire.

And Will, who is dating Nico di Angelo. The two were often running between the camps, though Nico more than the child of Apollo. It was Will, Percy thought, who brought the camp together, more than anyone. And Will, who in the process had lost the most. For him, Percy would continue to be here every year, would continue to help if they called when they were in trouble. Because he too was tired of seeing his friends die. Tired of seeing his friends mourn.

“It’s almost time for me to go but I wanted to say,” He fought to choke back the rising wave of emotions, “I wanted to say thank you. For keeping my home safe. And thank you for being my friends.”

Their hug lasted many moments, ribbons of friendship passing between them. And when Percy walked back into the sea, he was glad no-one could tell the difference between tears and ocean.

Friends, the word echoed in his head. So few and far between since he became a God. It was not that people feared him, they just became… wary. They fell into that space in-between, where one wrong move could plunge them into fear. When he first turned divine, he counted on his fingers how many friends he had, and if he didn’t have enough digits, he deemed it a good day. Now he can count with aching clarity all the people who loved him, and still have fingers to spare.

Annabeth asked him once if he regretted taking up Zeus’ offer, if he regretted turning his red blood gold.

He hadn’t answered her till three weeks later, over a three am phone call.

I don’t regret it, he had said, because I know I can help this way. I know I can protect my family and friends better this way. And when the phone had gone dark, he had whispered into the void of his room– an alcove of coral far, far, far underwater– I don’t regret it, but I’m so lonely. The tears at that admission did not stop flowing for many hours.

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Tags (If you want to be added to the tag list just let me know, all my channels of communication are open):

@thepersonyourparentswishyouwere

@lesbian-peanuts

How are you feeling?? Cause i got 6K words for this fic and i don’t see myself stopping any time soon. Give me your thoughts young ones!!!!

[amerie-wadia]

a figment of my worst intentions

what really happened during kiara’s kook year that made kie establish the strict no pogue-on-pogue macking rule (inspired by betty by taylor swift) → read on ao3.

but if i showed up at your party

would you have me? would you want me?

would you tell me to go fuck myself

or lead me to the garden?

in the garden, would you trust me

if i told you it was just a summer fling?

i’m only seventeen, i don’t know anything

but i know i miss you. 

Kie had been working up the courage to tell Sarah for months—she had been working up the courage to tell anybody, somebody for years. For her whole life.

It was never the right time and it never seemed to be the right person either.

For a while, Kie wasn’t sure. Nobody in the world had ever talked to her about what it actually meant to be anything other than straight. ‘You just know’ didn’t really cut it either. Because she didn’t ‘just know’ what any of it meant. Sure, girls had always been beautiful, but just because she thought girls were beautiful didn’t mean she was sexually or romantically attracted to them.

“She’s so cute,” her mom would comment as she looked over Kie’s shoulder at her Instagram feed.

“Yeah, she is cute,” Kie would respond half-heartedly because obviously her friends were cute but her mom also shouldn’t be commenting on girls’ bodies. Kie was trying to teach her to put less of a focus on her looks, but it never seemed to work. And sure, her friend was cute, but her mom thought so too and that had to mean something.

“She’s so hot,” Sarah said one day as they lay sprawled across the couches in Sarah’s bonus room. Megan Fox was hot, everybody thought so. It wasn’t weird to think she was hot and Sarah seemed to agree too.

And Kie thought girls were beautiful. So many girls.

She never really thought about what it would be like to kiss them or touch them and she never thought about having sex with them.

Granted, she didn’t think much of sex at all. Sarah talked about it all the time, but Kie didn’t get the big deal was.

One night, after Sarah had been going on and on about how her new boyfriend was really good at going down on her, Kie decided to look it up, as she’d been too embarrassed in the moment to ask Sarah what she meant by it. One Google search lead to another and Kie was scrolling through a porn site. The thought of it alone was enough to make Kie want to hide under her covers forever and never face another living soul. It felt dirty and wrong and every instinct told her that this was exploiting women and she needed to close the tab. But she scrolled because the article she’d read had been weird and she had never heard of some of the words and body parts that supposedly she had. So she scrolled a little farther.

And dicks were gross. Like abominably gross. They looked wrinkly and slimy and the thought of letting one touch her, letting one come near her mouth, made her feel stiff and scared and small. How did anybody want to touch those? Maybe with the right guy it would be different…

But nothing about the women grossed her out. The images were hot and Kie knew she was supposed to react that way to them. Thinking the women weren’t gross didn’t mean she thought they were hot either. It just wasn’t grossed because she had looked at herself a million times naked or in the mirror when she got out of the shower. There was nothing shocking or revolutionary about seeing naked women. It was a little hot, though.

Finally, she clicked on a video and instantly wanted to scream when the intro music blared through her bedroom. She turned the volume all the way down and paused the video for a moment just in case one of her parents came knocking at her door. Nobody came. She hit play.

She scrolled through the video, not quite ready to actually watch it yet, until it came to the part she had searched for. The guy doing that was much less scary and much sexier. She understood the appeal of that. Maybe having sex wasn’t as scary and gross as it had always seemed. Until he stopped doing that and started pounding into the girl. Nothing about it turned her on whatsoever. But the video barely showed anything but an entirely too zoomed in image of the grossest action

Kie had ever seen in her life. She closed the video and decided that was enough for the night.

The next time Sarah talked to Kie about sex it made both more and less sense. Sarah seemed to think that all of it was hot, not just the part where the guy went down on her. She told Kie that she had never done the other part—the real part—but that she had always been excited about it. Kie didn’t know how to say she had never felt excited about that, but quickly the conversation moved back to their history homework and that was that.

Kie had so many more questions but she wasn’t ready to ask.

Freshman health class was an absolute joke. The district had a strict abstinence-only policy and her health teacher gave them a quick sex run down where she mentioned the word condom only once but STD and unwanted pregnancy like ten times each. Kie was more confused when she left than when she had gone into class that day. Sarah hadn’t been paying any attention to the presentation and then proceeded to heavily make fun of it during lunch. Kie laughed along with her jokes, even though some of them she didn’t quite understand.

In typical North Carolina fashion, there was LGBT sex education—let alone straight sex education.

Not that Kie was inherently curious about what it meant to have sex with girls. But it should at least be offered. There had to be some secret lesbian or bisexual girls in her grade who were just dying to know what they were supposed to do.

Kie didn’t understand a lot of sexual attraction, wondered sometimes if she was just young or immature or weird. She wondered for quite some time if maybe she was asexual. Occasionally though, she got a really strong urge to touch herself and it made her question it even more. She didn’t understand what any of the sexualities actually meant and what they entailed.

The only thing that made sense was that she was nowhere near ready to have sex with anybody yet.

Her first kiss came too soon, sooner than she wanted or was ready for. It was weird and fast and when his lips left hers the space between her lips and her nose felt slimy and sticky. She touched her lips for a moment, thinking there had to be a trail of spit leftover from his own but when she pulled her fingers away there was nothing. He was grinning across the circle of people but Kie felt trapped under all their stares and shoved the empty beer bottle in Sarah’s direction.

Sarah was absolutely giddy and Kie wished she had never told her friend that she’d never actually kissed anybody before.

The guy was in her Biology class and he had always been such an asshole. She never in a million years would’ve kissed him if it wasn’t for Sarah.

“It’ll be fun, I promise. And even if the kiss is bad you get it over with and then when you actually meet somebody you want to kiss you’ll know what to do.”

It had made sense when Sarah explained it that way and begrudgingly Kie sat crisscross applesauce beside Sarah on the shag carpet floor. Luckily, the bottle didn’t ever land on Kie a second time. Sarah had fun and when the game was over she had found herself a new beau. Kie decided it would be best not to remind Sarah that she was still technically in a relationship.

Sarah wanted to stay past curfew so she could talk to the guy so Kiara had to call home and convince her parents that she was already over at Sarah’s house. Sarah did a good impression of Rose from the quiet solitude of the bathroom and Kie’s mom seemed to buy it. They stayed way too late, late enough that there were only a few people left and things were getting awkward. Rafe had to come pick them up since neither Sarah nor Kie could drive yet. That was even more awkward.

Kie filled them each a glass of water from the kitchen and managed to make it upstairs to Sarah’s room with about two-thirds of the water still in the cups. Sarah had two sips and then spilled the rest on the hardwood floor. Kie drank her entire glass and then pulled off her jeans and tossed them in a ball on the floor. Sarah was still in her party dress but had crawled into her bedsheets as if she didn’t care. Kiara took of Sarah’s wedges and threw them down by her jeans.

She borrowed a pair of Sarah’s pajama shorts and then crawled into the bed beside Sarah.

“What did you think of Topper?” Sarah asked in a slurred mumble of letters that Kie needed a moment to piece together.

“He was okay,” she said quietly, tying her hair into a bun on the top of her head, wishing she had her bonnet and also her retainer at home. She was still drunk enough that neither mattered all that much in the moment.

“I think I could fall in love with him, really Kie,” Sarah hummed. Kie didn’t know how to respond to that because Sarah was dating Chris and Topper was kind of a dick. Not kind of, he was a total dick.

“Was the kiss really that good?” Kie asked because it was the nicest thing she could think to say. Sarah turned, shoving her hands under the side of her face and looking across the bed at Kie.

“It was the best kiss of my life. I mean, the things he can do with his tongue,” she squealed. Kie shushed her gently so Sarah wouldn’t wake her dad and Rose in the next room. Sarah just laughed as a flush rolled across her cheeks and she bit down her bottom lip. She was looking past Kie as if she could see Topper standing in the doorway behind her. “He’s so hot.”

“I guess.”

“Come on, Kie. Don’t act like you can’t see it.”

Kie really didn’t see it. Sure, Topper was the only boy in their grade who had abs—which he never shut up about—but Kie didn’t get the big appeal with abs. There were other and better features that were way hotter than abs. Eyes, for a start, held so much emotion and were beautiful. Hair was hot too, when it was styled right. Arms and hands were even hot sometimes. But abs just looked like Legos and Kie had never cared much about them.

“He’s okay.”

“Name somebody hotter,” Sarah challenged, smirking like she had stumped Kie.

“I don’t know,” Kie mulled, nobody in their class was all that hot.

“Seriously, you have to like somebody,” Sarah whined, and then in a much softer tone, “you never talk to me about boys. Don’t you trust me?”

“Of course I trust you. You’re my best friend.”

“Then tell me what boys you think are cute.”

Sarah was really close and her cheeks were flushed and she was grinning and—oh. Oh, fuck.

Kie wondered for the first time in her entire life what would happen if she just leaned in and pressed her lips against somebody else. She only let herself wonder for a moment. It was stupid. It didn’t mean anything. She wasn’t sexually attracted to Sarah, she just wanted to know what it would be like to kiss her. Not kiss, just touch Sarah’s lips with her own. To just lean in and see what happens.

“The guys in our class are so stupid and half of them don’t even wash their hands when they go to the bathroom.”

“Kie,” Sarah whined, giggling in her drunken state, “They don’t really have to wash their hands anyway. It’s not like they have to wipe.”

“They have to hold it in their hands, Sarah.”

“But like, not the pee part.”

“Ew,” Kie squirmed, laughing herself as Sarah erupted into a fit of giggles.

“They wash their hands when they shit.”

“Not all of them,” Kie argued, knowing for a fact that she had seen one of the boys come out of the bathroom with a mysterious brown tint on his fingertips. “Trust me.”

“Whatever, Kie. I know you like somebody and I’m gonna find out who it is. Just you wait,” she trailed off as a yawn overtook her. Her eye lids fluttered and suddenly she was scooting closer to Kie and rested her head in the space between Kie’s collar bones and her head. Sarah was warm against her exposed skin and pieces of his hair tickled the bottom of Kie’s chin.

Something in Kie’s stomach tingled. Something lower than her stomach tingled.

It didn’t mean anything. Kie was just lonely and the touch surprised her. It was nothing.

Kie thought maybe she should reach out and wrap an arm around Sarah or something. Sarah seemed content and Kie thought it might also make the entire thing feel too intimate and weird. She didn’t want to give Sarah the wrong idea. Sarah pressed a kiss to her cheek and then rolled back over to her side of the bed.

“What about Zach?” Sarah asked as she tugged the sheets back up around her.

“He’s gross,” Kie answered because Zach truly was gross and often wolf-whistled at girls in the hallway.

“Damon?”

“He farts all the time.”

“Okay, what about Eddie? Eddie is like the nicest guy ever, tell me you don’t think he’s cute.”

“I don’t think he’s cute.”

“God, Kie!” Sarah exclaimed, pulling the pillow from underneath her head and slamming it against Kie. Kie laughed because it was easier than continuing the conversation. “I’m gonna figure it out.”

“Go ahead.”

Kie tried her best not to think about the few seconds when she pictured leaning in. She would erase it from her memory or wash it down through her system with the alcohol and pee out its memory in the morning. It was a one-time thing and there was nothing to dwell on or over think about it. And, she hadn’t actually kissed Sarah or really even thought about kissing. She just wondered if Sarah would lean in at all or if she would pull away. A science experiment, really.

Until it wasn’t a one-time thing.

Until she thought about what it would actually feel like to kiss Sarah.

Until she thought about the parts of her body that tingled when Sarah curled up beside her.

Until Sarah would run up to her in school and sling an arm around her shoulder or hold her hand as they walked down the hall to class or played with her hair when she was bored in class and didn’t want to listen to the lecture.

And Kie started to realize that it absolutely was not nothing.

And that it wasn’t just Sarah. Sure, it was mostly Sarah. But it wasn’t just Sarah.

It was girls. It was girls at school and at the grocery store and at the Wreck and online and everywhere she went there was so many beautiful girls. And it wasn’t nothing at all.

Kie decided it was okay for her to admit out loud—out loud in her mind not with her words—that she liked girls. That she didn’t like boys at all, not even a little bit, but that she liked girls. She watched lesbian porn and didn’t looked away or skip through. She let herself think about girls in bed at night or in the shower. She never let herself think of Sarah because she couldn’t make it weird.

She really didn’t want to make it weird.

Which was hard because Sarah was a very touchy person and a very flirty person. With everybody, not just guys or her latest boyfriend. Sarah was always touching her or telling her how cute she looked and sometimes when Kie did something stupid Sarah would laugh and then cup Kie’s cheek and tell her how sweet she was. It felt like flirting and Kie had to repeat like a mantra over and over and over again that Sarah didn’t know what she was doing.

Kie was desperate to say this new—not so new—revelation out loud. Telling it to her parents felt way to formal. Telling it to anybody but Sarah felt like a betrayal.

But saying it out loud meant she could never take it back.

And what if she wasn’t actually a lesbian? What if she just didn’t understand what she was feeling and she had confused finding girls beautiful with being a lesbian? What if she finally kissed a girl and it felt awful? What if she went through the trouble of telling the entire world she was a lesbian to find out she was straight all along. She could be straight…

But Sarah wouldn’t judge her, probably not. It was probably going to make things weird between them, Sarah probably wouldn’t be so handsy with her anymore. But then she would stop pestering Kie about finding a boyfriend and they could talk about girls and guys together.

Everything was going to be okay, all she needed to do was find the right time and she would tell Sarah.

The right time, Kie decided, was going to be after Sarah’s birthday that way if things did get weird it wouldn’t ruin Sarah’s special day.

But then everything did go weird and suddenly Sarah was posting a snapchat story of a birthday party that Kie definitely hadn’t been invited to and the entire world came crumbling down.  

The first thing Kie did was make a mental list in her head of every time she had ever been drunk. She could remember all of it—had never been drunk enough to actually forget things or blackout—and she had never come on to Sarah or mentioned her feelings for girls. No conversations, so brush of her lips on Sarah’s forehead. She didn’t think it was obvious. Sarah had never acted like Kie freaked her out at all.

Sarah and Kie were best friends.

But Sarah’s snapchat story had birthday balloons and they were drinking champagne and Sarah drank a shot from Topper’s belly button and Kie had never been invited.

Sarah hadn’t fucking invited her.

As the walls shattered and the floorboards beneath her feet sunk into the sand, Kie let her fury consume her and she dialed three little numbers before she could even think twice. She knew Sarah’s address by heart and the call was quick.

Kie never understood what went wrong. She never did anything, she retraced her steps and mulled over every word. Sarah hadn’t even acted weird, didn’t distance herself from Kie leading up to the party of anything.

“You bitch,” Sarah had cried the next day in school when she marched right up to Kie. “You called the fucking cops on me?!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kie said with a stone-cold façade, shoving past Sarah because the thought of Sarah actually being mad at Kie right now was enough to make her blood boil.

How dare Sarah not invite Kie to her birthday party. How dare Sarah feel entitled to anger.

They didn’t say another word to each other and Sarah avoided Kie like the plague. Kie was angry, even more angry than she was sad for a while. And then she was all sad and completely lonely and found herself hanging out with Pope, JJ, and John B because there was nobody else and she couldn’t handle having feelings for another one of her friends ever again.

“If I’m going to be part of the Pogues,” she announced one night after JJ had suggest they formally invite Kiara into their stupid ‘HMS Pogue’ club that apparently revolved around fishing and surfing, “then we have to make something clear.”

“What’s that?” Pope asked, taking a sip of his beer and flicking JJ’s hand away when JJ tried to tilt the can so it spilled all over Pope’s face.

“Absolutely no Pogue-on-Pogue macking.”

JJ pretended to fall over so his back crashed into Pope and he threw a hand dramatically over his forehead as if he was in true distress.

“Break my heart, Kiara, why don’t you.”

“Shut up, JJ. I think we can do that,” Pope agreed, even though she ended up putting JJ in a head lock. He smiled at Kie though and she knew he would at least be respectful of it.

“That’s fine by me,” John B agreed too.

“Dealio,” JJ whined as he tugged at Pope’s grip until the other let him free.

“I’m serious.”

“We hear ya.”

Everything was good for a long time. The guys flirted with her here and there but never anything serious and nobody ever bothered her. And then John B kissed her and that was weird. Kie had never thought of him that way. She loved the guy, he was one of her best friends, but he was far from her type and luckily, he seemed content with just being friends.

And then she started dating Sarah and the first thing Sarah said to Kie was that she was a ‘shit talking bitch’ and Kie wanted to bury John B in the sand and let high tide have its way with him because how dare he defend Sarah fucking Cameron right in front of her?

And how fucking dare the Pogues trap her on a boat with Sarah fucking Cameron?

“I mean, really,” Kie asked softly, hesitantly, when the weed had subsided her anger and the darkness concealed her fears. It seemed like the only time and space in the universe where it was safe to ask about that night. “What did I do?”

Sarah was quiet for a moment, eyes red and wide but Kie could tell she was still sober enough to think properly. Sarah sighed and looked away for a moment.

“You liked me.”

Shit. Fuck. Maybe she had let it slip or maybe she had been a lot more obvious than she thought or—

Sarah kept talking and Kie realized Sarah didn’t mean ‘like’ as in romantically but ‘like’ as in platonically. It was confusing as hell but it was a lot easier of a conversation so Kie went with it.

She was still mad but she admitted to Sarah that she had called the cops when they were laying side by side in bed that night. Sarah laughed and called her a bitch, but in the flirty and carefree way Sarah had when they had once been friends. Kie decided that maybe they could be friends, but she had to stop thinking of Sarah when she was in bed at night or in the shower. She could never in a million years lean in or even think about leaning in.

So when Pope got high for the first time and told Kie he was in love with her, she went with it. Not at first. It wasn’t what she wanted and she wasn’t going to pretend to love somebody she didn’t. Especially when that somebody was Pope—the kindest, most thoughtful, wonderful boy in the world who actually washed his hands when he went to the bathroom and held in his farts like a gentleman. Pope was the absolute last person in the world she would ever want to hurt.

But he was also safe. She loved Pope, so maybe one day she could learn how to be in love with Pope. When he kissed her there weren’t sparks but it wasn’t gross and it didn’t make her feel small and stupid.

She knew it was a mistake. She knew it was selfish. But she did it anyway. She clung to Pope when she heard the news that Sarah and John B had drowned. He held her tight and cried against her neck and kissed her forehead. She held on to his shoulders and shut her eyes and wished it was Sarah who was holding her instead.