#I now need some fan art of her and Ethan together trying to one up each other in bad dialogue

[mishwanders]

My new favorite resident evil line is Moira Burton saying “Go jump on a dildo boss!”

[songtoyou]

Chapter Four: Mission Hills - Part Two

Would You Call That Love

Pairing: Chris Evans x Raina Morrison (OC)

Rating: PG to PG-13 (Might be 18+ for some chapters)

Description: There was always that one person Chris Evans tended to turn to when he was not in a committed relationship, Raina Morrison. He could confide in her about things going on in his life that he did not feel comfortable talking to his family or close friends about. Chris and Raina were able to establish a way to openly communicate with one another, but also being respectful of the other’s time and needs. It was the only constant “relationship” he had, but without all the nonsense of trying to build a life together. A “friends with benefits” situation. However, what happens when Chris starts rethinking his “relationship” with Raina and if either are willing to pursue something more?

Chapter Rating: 18+

Warnings: Sexual content (oral with female receiving)

Word Count: 2,934

Author’s Note: We are still in 2014. It dives deeper into Chris and Raina’s friendship and how it became sexual. The next chapter we will return to the present time. This was partially proof-read. 

Feedback is always welcomed. If you want to be tagged, please let me know.

Sadly, I do not know Chris Evans or anyone in his family and this is just a fictional take on his life. I do not permit this fic to be reposted on other platforms.  

Updated for grammar and punctuation edits.

As Raina had expected, sex with Chris was amazing. He knew exactly what to do when it came to pleasuring a woman. The fact that he could go back and forth between being soft and sensual to dominating and rough was mind-blowing. Raina was sure she had blacked out a couple of times because the orgasms were so intense. For Chris, he could not remember the last time he came so hard. He made sure to give it his all when it came to giving Raina pleasure. He was not going to half-ass anything. 

The two were in post-coital bliss—however, both knew that it would not be able to last. Neither wanted to leave the bubble they created and enter the real world. The world where they had to be mindful of how they acted around each other. The world where they were always expected to keep their guard up and be cautious. The world where everything came down to PR and playing a role the media and fans tacked them. 

“I don’t want this to end,” Chris spoke up suddenly.

Raina turned her head, so she was looking at him. “What do you mean?”

Turning on his side, Chris stared at the woman next to him. He loved her. He genuinely loved her. “This has been incredible. Part of me doesn’t want it to be a one-time thing. But the sensible part of me is scared that this might ruin our friendship.”

“It isn’t,” Raina confirmed to help put Chris at ease. She could tell his anxiety was trying to take control and make him feel guilty. “Nothing is going to come between us, Chris. Us having sex…well, I don’t know about you, but it felt natural. It felt right. There was no awkwardness. I felt safe and relaxed with you. I don’t want this to end either. However, I don’t think either of us is ready to be in a relationship. You just got out of your relationship with Minka. My breakup with Ben wasn’t that long ago either. We’re too fragile right now. Plus, after today, we both have to go back to work. We won’t have the proper foundation to really build a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship.”

“I know. You’re right. So, what do we do?”

At that moment, the two friends came up with a plan to forge ahead with a friend with benefits relationship. Both knew it was risky. However, Chris and Raina were willing to take on that risk. 

“We will have to establish some guidelines to follow. I am not going into this without any security. For example, never being judgmental can one of the guidelines, along with being open with communication,” Raina suggested. “We don’t have to have everything sorted out now. I think it would best to take this slow and make sure we have everything needed in place before we officially go forward with this notion.”

“I concur,” Chris agreed. 

“What time is it?”

Chris turned to check his phone. “A little after 3 a.m. Do you think everyone is still out partying?”

“Knowing this crew, probably,” said Raina as she got out of bed and put on a pair of boy shorts and a tank top. “I’m going to go check if Mercedes is in her room.”

When Raina left the room, Chris proceeded to look through his phone. A couple of new posts in the group text with his Avenger coworkers; all wished him a happy birthday. He replied with a quick thank you and told them he would see them all soon. 

“Her room and Tara’s room are still empty,” Raina shared as she entered the room. Looking around, she saw Chris’s clothes scattered all over the floor. “I think you should head out before they see you. I don’t…I don’t want them to know that we…I want to keep this between us.”

Chris sat up to lean his back against the headboard. He understood where Raina was coming from. “I hear ya. Don’t worry; I won’t tell Scott about tonight. I can picture him freaking out and giving me a lecture,” said Chris getting out of bed to put on his clothes.

When he was dressed, he followed Raina out of the room and to the front door. 

“What time do we need to meet up for Top Golf?” asked Chris as he leaned against the front door.

“Our reservation is at noon,” Raina reminded him. She pulled Chris in for one last hug and said, “Happy Birthday, Chris. I hope that tonight was special for you. And I mean the whole night, not just the part where we…you know.”

“Well, that part might be my favorite,” Chris declared with a cheeky grin and gave Raina a soft kiss on the lips.

“Sleep tight, Evans.”

“Nighty night, Raina.”

October 18, 2014

Four months had passed since Chris’s birthday party in Vegas. It was also the last time Chris and Raina were intimate with one another. Chris had finished filming the second Avengers movie back in August and took some time off to spend with his family. Raina was still touring around the world with her new album. After finishing up the European leg of the tour, she was in for a much-needed break. 

Before Chris and Raina were to head to China for the Mission Hill Pro-Am Golf Tournament, the singer would spend some time in Boston with Chris and his family. He picked Raina up at the airport that Saturday and headed to his mom’s house for dinner. 

“Is your mom making her spaghetti? I have been craven it so bad, you would not believe,” said Raina as Chris drove from the airport.

“Yeah, she’s got it all ready. How are you craving it? You were just in Italy?” Chris pointed out.

“Your mom’s spaghetti is just better,” declared Raina.

“That is true.” 

The drive from the airport to Lisa’s house did not take too long due to the abundance of conversations between the two friends occupying their time. Chris shared his experience at the Toronto Film Festival, where he debuted his first directorial feature film, ‘Before We Go.’ “I know my movie isn’t perfect, but I am happy with the final product. The film is supposed to be simplistic and about these two characters forming a friendship throughout the film. I…I get scared that people are going to have these high expectations and get disappointed if it doesn’t live up to them,” Chris admitted to Raina.

Raina let out a quiet sigh. She knew Chris would display his anxiety about the film. He was a perfectionist and, like most people, cared about what people thought of him and his art. 

“Chris… you’re going to have so many opportunities to show the world what you can do. You put yourself out there and stepped out of your comfort zone. Not a lot of people are willing to do that, but you did. So, stop worrying so much. Don’t read the reviews from critics. They don’t matter. All that matters is if you are happy with the end product.”

“I am! I worked fucking hard on that film. Everyone did. And I am proud of it,” said Chris as he pulled into the driveway of his mother’s house.

“Then that is all that matters,” Raina replied as she got out of the car with Chris following. “Like, seriously, if I stressed over every album review or placement on the charts, I’d never get anything accomplished. 

When Raina stepped to the front door, it flew open with Lisa standing with her arms wide open ready to embrace the younger woman and her eldest son.

“My babies!” exclaimed Lisa. She wrapped her arms around Raina in a tight hug. “Come on inside. Everyone is in the kitchen. Kids! Chris and Raina are here!” 

They could hear the sound of Miles and Ethan’s footsteps as the boys ran from the kitchen and tackled Chris to the ground. “Okay, okay. You gotta let me up, kiddos. Go tackle Raina,” Chris ordered. 

Ethan ran towards Raina for a hug. “Oh, my goodness. What happened to my little Ethan? You’re so big now,” she acknowledged as she scooped Ethan up into her arms. 

“Did you bring us presents, Auntie Rai?” Ethan boldly asked as she sat him down to then pick up Miles

“Presents? Is that all I’m good for you guys?” Raina teased. Of course, she brought presents for the kids. Raina had no siblings of her own, so she did not have any nieces or nephews spoiled. Chris was more than happy to share. 

“Come on, kids. Let’s head to the kitchen and get some ready for dinner,” Lisa instructed. 

“We’ll open presents after dinner,” said Raina as she put Miles down and walked into the kitchen. Both boys following close behind and never leaving Raina’s side. 

After being engulfed in hugs from Carly, Scott, and Shanna, the family sat down to dinner. While the surname Evans was rooted in Irish, the family was 100-percent Italian in their mannerisms: always talking with their hands, very boisterous, loud but pleasant, and happy. Their energy was infectious and endearing. 

“I can’t believe how big Stella has gotten. She was so tiny the last time I saw her,” Raina spoke to Carly while the little girl smiled and reached for food on people’s plates.

Conversations flowed, along with the wine for the adults. It was a nice setting for Chris to see. He loved his family and was grateful to have this moment with his best friend.  

When Chris and Raina left Lisa’s house, the two continued to work together to develop proper guidelines both would adhere to protect their friendship from any fallout. 

Raina opted to include that both would need to be transparent with one another. 

“Overall, we have to be honest with one another. If you or I feel like there is an issue that needs to be brought up, we have to say it. We can’t keep it inside and let it fester,” suggested Raina as she lounged on Chris’s bed in his home.

“Agree. I think we also need to include a guideline about not being judgmental. Like, if I am dating someone or if you are dating someone, neither of us can act like an asshole towards one another or the other’s partner at the time,” Chris replied with his suggestion. He had just taken a shower, so he was only wearing sweats, no shirt.

“I 100% agree,” Raina nodded. “I would like to include that we are open about what is considered off-limits and what is acceptable when it comes to our preferences and likes during sex. I don’t mind being adventurous,” she added suggestively.

Chris let out a boisterous laugh. “I always knew you were a big slut,” he teased.

“Well, you are a slut too, sweetie. But that is okay. I’m not judging you,” joked Raina. She always loved riling Chris up a bit.

“What have you done that is out of the box, sexually?” Chris asked. He desperately wanted to know. It was not like he and Raina had never talked about sex. In fact, he tended to be incredibly open with Raina when it came to talking about sex. She was willing to share her sexual history with him. 

“I really don’t mind giving up control to my partner. But I can be dominant if need be. I’ve told you all this before,” Raina admitted honestly. She knew she could trust Chris to keep her secrets. She had no shame in telling him her sexual fantasies. “What do you provide especially for your…concubines?”

“Concubines? Throwing out the big words, are we.” 

“You’re one to talk, Mr. I-Incorporate-SAT-Words-In-Every-One-Of-My-Sentences. Tell me, do you have a world of the day calendar posted next to your bed? You make sure to check every day, Mr. Thesaurus?” kidded Raina. “No, but seriously, what are holding back from me, Mr. Evans?” she asked while climbing on top of Chris’s lap. It did not take long for Raina to begin grinding against him while trailing kisses up his neck to ear.

“You really do love taking control, don’t you, little girl,” Chris pointed out as he rubbed his hands over Raina’s ass. “But here is something you don’t quite get…” he said and immediately flipped Raina onto her back. 

With Chris hovering over Raina, he took her hands and put them above her head. “I like to be in control,” he declared and captured her lips with his. “Let me show what I can provide you. Don’t move those hands, now,” Chris instructed and began taking off Raina’s leggings and underwear. 

Chris was not going to rush this, but instead, was willing to be patient and prolong providing Raina pleasure for as long as possible. When it came to giving a woman head, Chris was a pro. However, with Raina, this was more intimate and would take their friend with benefits agreement to a whole other level. He teased her clit, then would trail kisses up and down her inner thighs. 

When he finally began using his tongue, Raina jerked and gasped. “Oh my God! That feels so good.” Chris had to hold Raina down by putting one of his large hands on her stomach. It took all of Raina’s self-control to keep her hands put and not grab Chris’s hair. 

“I need to come!” Raina shouted after Chris inserted a finger and began pumping in and out of her. 

“So soon,” he teased and continued pumping, this time adding another finger. “Nah, not yet, sweetheart. I’m not quite done tasting you.”

October 21, 2014

It was sad saying goodbye to the Evans clan, especially when they began crying. He was worried that Chris and Raina would not be around to trick or treat with him. 

“Hey buddy, I will be back before then to celebrate Halloween together. I promise we will go trick or treating,” Chris consoled his youngest nephew.

“Can Raina come with us?” the little boy asked.

“Heck yeah, I’m coming tricking or treating with you guys,” confirmed Raina, to which Miles replied happily by jumping for joy and hugging her tightly. 

The flight from Boston to Dongguan, China, for the Mission Hills Golf Club Tournament was thirty-five hours, including two layovers, one at JFK Airport and another at Heathrow. Raina was happy not to have to take the trip alone. She and Chris were accommodated with first-class tickets, so traveling the long distance came with perks.

“Hey, thanks for agreeing to stay a little longer in Boston for Halloween. The kids really adore you. I know you must have planned on seeing your dad while you got some time off,” Chris uttered as he got comfortable in his plane seat. They finally boarded the plane on their second layover.

“It’s no problem. I talk to my dad all of the time, so he’s doing alright,” said Raina and added, “He has actually…began dating again.”

Chris already knew this as George had asked him for dating advice. George had asked Chris not to mentioned it to Raina as he worried it would upset his daughter. Chris understood and kept his mouth shut. 

“I mean…that is a good thing…right? He’s getting back out there…moving on…healing… that’s good. You’re good with it, right?” Chris rambled on nervously. The last thing he wanted for Raina to be upset or in a bad mood for the duration of their trip.

“It’s weird. The whole thing is weird. I don’t really want to talk about it. I shouldn’t have brought it up. I gotta use the bathroom,” mumbled Raina and got up from her seat.

“Raina, don’t be upset,” Chris interjected.

“I’m not upset. I really do have to use the bathroom because I drank all that water during the last layover,” she said, making her way to the bathroom.

As Chris waited for Raina to return, he asked one of the flight attendants for a Dirty Shirley, his travel companion’s favorite drink, and Stella Artois for himself, along with some snacks. He also pulled out his laptop and looked through his movie library to see what would be good to watch. Chris ended up choosing one of his favorite Disney movies, Robin Hood, which was also one of Raina’s favorites. 

When Raina returned to her seat, she saw the set-up Chris and was given her Dirty Shirley. The deliciously sweet drink definitely helped lift her spirits. 

“We have about eighteen hours until we land in China, let’s just get drunk and watch Disney movies for the time being,” Chris suggested, and he raised his beer to toast with Raina. 

“You’re such a sweetheart, Evans. I can’t deal with you sometimes.”

The two friends drank and ate some snacks while making it through three movies before eventually falling asleep. When the plane finally landed in Dongguan, China, both were ready to put on their “game face” for the week. It was business as usual with PR events and gatherings. 

Chris and Raina were not worried about rumors spreading within their respective fandoms about the two being at the same event; they were used to it by now. During the actual Mission Hills golf tournament, Raina and Chris would purposely stand close to one another or walk side-by-side with their arms around each other at parties. Both knew they were playing with fire, but in the end, Chris and Raina were having fun and enjoying being with one another.

They were two touchy-feely friends on the surface, but behind closed doors, they were so much more.

[rebelsofshield]

Far Far Away Comics: 9/23/20-10/12/20

Oh wow. Look what I did. I missed several weeks of Star Wars comics again. I promise this shouldn’t be a pattern. Hopefully. We’ll see.

Anyways, here are multiple weeks worth of Star Wars comic reviews featuring every major series that IDW and Marvel are releasing right now.

Star Wars #7 written by Charles Soule and art by Ramon Rosanas (Released on 10/7/20)

After a stellar conclusion to his first arc, Charles Soule moves forward with his second major storyline in Star Wars with a showdown between a scattered rebellion and a new Imperial enemy.

With the Rebellion still recuperating after its routing at Hoth, Leia tries desperately to not only reconnect with the disparate Alliance groups but also strike back at the Imperial forces hot on their tail. Unfortunately for Leia, Commander Zahra leads the Imperial fleet tasked with this mission and she has a bone to pick with the former Alderaanian princess.

Charles Soule has more than shown that he excels at writing villains. His takes on Darth Vader and Kylo Ren have become character defining story arcs and even some of his best work on Poe Dameron came in the exploration of the hapless First Order Intelligence Agent Terex. Now, Soule gets to introduce a new antagonist of his own making and she’s pretty stellar. Commander Zahra is introduced as not only a calculating and cunning Imperial naval commander, but also one that has a cruel streak to her and a need for vengeance. Her past connections to a Wilhuff Tarkin display an unexpected but consistently menacing take to this classic Imperial officer. It makes for a surprising and engaging issue even if it mostly amounts to an extended flashback to catch us up to speed on Leia’s newest nemesis.

Thankfully, the match up should prove interesting. Not only do Leia’s actions at the Battle of Yavin give Zahra a personal vendetta, Soule also positions Leia in a role where she can demonstrate her skills as a military commander. It puts the Rebellion and the Empire on close to equal footing which is a fun spin on a story that could have easily felt like a retread of Kieron Gillen’s outstanding “Hope Dies.”

Ramon Rosanas takes over for Jesus Saiz this issue and while his work doesn’t have the detailed flair of the comic’s usual artist, his pencils live up to the visual style established by the series. He particularly excels at large scale action scenes displaying expansive fleet combat with a sense of size and scoped. His characters prove slightly less impressive with a tendency to draw characters in the same stern mood throughout.

Overall, Soule and Rosanas have set up a strong follow up to the series’ standout first arc and set up one hell of a confrontation to come. Let’s see some blaster bolts fly.

Score: B+

Star Wars Adventures #1 written by Michael Moreci and Nick Brokenshire and art by Nick Brokenshire and Ilias Kyrias (Released on 10/12/20)

Yup, you read that right. Star Wars Adventures is starting fresh with a shiny new #1. The reasoning for this isn’t quite clear for as far as I can tell, the series is operating with close to the same status quo as it has been from the start. Offer two all ages stories of adventure set in the Star Wars universe with lots of colorful art. Even the stories feel like a neat continuation of the ones we were getting in  our pre-Covid reality. Regardless, new numbering or not, Star Wars Adventures remains its same charming self. Bursting with energy and good natured enthusiasm, it’s still one of the best Star Wars comics out there.

The meat of the issue follows a story of Finn, Poe, and Rey set between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. Any story following the sequel trilogy trio is appreciated and Michael Moreci crafts an enjoyable little tale of Finn and Poe trying their best to assist Rey in her new steps into Jedi training. Of course, being Star Wars, things never go as easily as planned and soon the crew run a foul of some pirates. It’s definitely fun to get to see some of our three heroes together and one can’t help but wish that maybe the adventures of Rey, Poe, and Finn could be a regular feature. Ilias Kyrias’s pencils are sure to be controversial with their overly stylized proportions and character designs, but they make for a unique looking story and capture some of the energetic action of the piece with a cartoony flair that feels right at home with the Adventures mission statement. It’s not going to be for everyone, but it hardly needs to be.

The one tangible difference between this volume and the previous is that the fun but static “Tales from Wild Space” has been replaced with a different back up feature, “Tales from Villainy.” As the name would suggest, these are shorter and more serious stories focused on the various members from the Dark Side. This week, we begin with an appearance by Darth Vader written and drawn by Nick Brokenshire. The result is a fun, well-drawn little bit centered on Vader’s role in the Battle of Hoth. Brokenshire renders Vader with a PG rated wordless intensity and the result is fun and dynamic even if there isn’t a lot of dramatic meat to chew on.

Score: B

Star Wars Adventures: The Clone Wars Battle Tales (Released on 9/30/2020) written by Michael Moreci and art by Derek Charm and Philip Murphy

Over its unnaturally extended run, Star Wars Adventures: The Clone Wars Battle Tales proved to be a surprisingly entertaining little tribute to the fan favorite animated series. With a gorgeous looking frame story by Derek Charm and creative clone centric anthology stories, Battle Tales was both colorful and surprisingly smart, often times telling stories that felt surprisingly more consequential than the standard Adventures outing.

Unfortunately, its finale ends with a bit of a whimper. It’s not that this final outing by Michael Moreci, Derek Charm, and Philip Murphy is bad. Not by any means. It’s just as colorful and delightful as any other Adventures comic. But that ultimately proves to be its biggest disappointment. After several issues of meeting and exceeding the expectations of a standard Adventures script, writer Michael Moreci more or less falls back to familiar tricks. It’s fun to see Obi-Wan and Commander Cody team up with ice Ewoks to fight General Grievous, but it’s not something particularly new to this brand and it doesn’t expand on the clone’s understanding of the Jedi like the previous issues have. It’s fun and Moreci seems more than content to leave it at that.

After weeks of build up, the finale to the Battle Tales frame story ends with little fanfare. There’s not much of a conclusion to speak of and lacks the artistic or storytelling fun of some of the previous Adventures mini-series heights like Vader’s Castle.

I still would recommend this series to any fan of The Clone Wars, but not as emphatically as I may have a few weeks back. There’s definitely joy and explosions to be had, but in the end, they turn out to be the familiar kind. As odd as that is to say.

Score: C+

Star Wars Bounty Hunters #5 written by Ethan Sacks and art by Paolo Villanelli (Released on 9/23/20)

Bounty Hunters is back for more face slamming violence, cool character designs, and questionable choices.

With Boba Fett, Vance Beilert, and Boba Fett all locked together in a close quarters space ship, the truth of their mission to Corellia all those years ago is finally out and it turns out it was a bit of a mess all around. Sure, Nakano’s act of mercy may have been the first act of chaos, but Vance Beilert’s inexperience and Fett’s bloodlust lead to the thorny crime war that they all find themselves involved in now.

It’s a smart idea, but it all feels a little cluttered. Ethan Sacks’s script looks to not only give us the full truth of the disastrous Corellia job, but also flesh out Nakano Lash’s past and also wrap up the double crossing bounty hunter beatdown that has dominated this arc so far. As a result, it all ends up feeling a bit confused and there often isn’t much of a clear thread to carry the reader through. The continued presence of violence against women as a central plot point to this series also can’t help but feel off putting at this point. Sure, Bounty Hunters is a brutal book, but when you have two issues in a row of new female characters killed off and imperiled pregnant women, it begins to feel in poor taste.

Thankfully, Paolo Villanelli is there to distract us with some gorgeous art and brilliant fight sequences. Villanelli along with colorist Arif Printo still manages that magic trick of providing dynamic action sequences that feel violent and energetic without ever losing detail or clarity. The smackdown between Vance and Boba Fett is particularly satisfying, with both hunters employing all members of their arsenal for some great panels of punching, slashing, and blasting.

It can’t all just be cool fights though. Bounty Hunters is going to have to really start digging into its characters and fix its creeping misogyny if its going to be a must read comic, but as it stands, this a book best rifled through. Look at the pictures, wince at the fights, and put it back.

Score: C+

Star Wars: Darth Vader #6 written by Greg Pak and art by Raffaele Ienco (Released on 10/12/20)

Darth Vader’s been bad. Well, not the right kind of bad. Turns out that failing to turn your son to the Dark Side and running of on a personal crusade to discover the truth about your deceased wife, isn’t the best look for a Sith Lord. And Ol’ Palpy sure ain’t happy.

Greg Pak and Raffaele Ienco provide some interesting personal consequence for Vader after the over the top and sometimes emotionally clouded first arc. With Sidious’s apprentice once again letting him down when his assistance is most needed, the Emperor unleashes a painful and total punishment. The resulting issue is a brutal and humiliating stripping away of the life that the former Anakin Skywalker has built for himself. Palpatine looks to make Vader rebuild himself from the ground up if his place in the Empire is to continue. It’s a simple read, but one that carries big consequences for the character down the line and some smart connections to The Rise of Skywalker. (Maybe Pak can help us make sense of that mess.)

Raffaele Ienco turns in his best work to date here. Ienco draws a creepy as hell Palpatine and his take on Mas Amedda feels both intimidating and appropriately slimey. Ienco also manages to nail Vader’s emotions here. The awkward sad face mask from issues past is stripped away and some smart framing and posing makes for a Sith who has clearer emotional depth while keeping the violent menace of his character.

This issue itself may be rather simple, but it sets up an exciting second arc for the series and even some long lasting emotional implications for our broken and battered Sith anti-hero. Let’s see how this burns.

Score: B

Star Wars Doctor Aphra #4 written by Alyssa Wong and art by Marika Cresta (Released on 9/30/20)

The second volume of Star Wars Doctor Aphra continues to disappoint. The decision to revert back to Aphra’s tomb raiding roots is a smart one and Alyssa Wong is undoubtedly a smart writer to spearhead the character’s next chapter, but four issues in and this comic is still sputtering out the gate. Maybe I have just too high of expectations for this character given how stellar Kieron Gillen and Simon Spurrier’s writing was for the last several years, but something about this latest volume is failing to connect.

It may be that after four issues the majority of the characters are failing to really congeal into anything substantial. We finally get some backstory on Just Lucky that adds a bit more drama to his betrayal last issue, but it still feels too little too late. The numerous hidden agendas throughout the first several issues may have done more harm than good as it kept the characters too distant and now that we know their true goals, the circumstances are too chaotic to really get a sense of person.

Aphra herself also feels like a bit of an afterthought here. While previous Aphra stories have certainly been full of big action and big ideas, they still came around to being morality stories about our lonely, morally bankrupt title character. I’m not clear what Wong is trying to say about Aphra here. In fact, at times she feels like something of an afterthought.

There are some bright spots though. Wong’s spooky approach to space archaeology still feels eerie and inventive in all the right ways, and one can’t help but wish that maybe she had leaned into it harder and delivered a Doctor Aphra cosmic horror comic.

Marika Cresta’s pencils prove serviceable. Her character designs are for the most part still largely unimpressive even if she gives surprising life to some of the Tagge henchmen. Like Wong though, Cresta is best served by all things ancient. Whether it’s old spaceships or ancient tombs, Cresta brings eerie and sometimes beautiful detail to the galactic old world.

Now if only Doctor Aphra could get its mind off the past and more into the brains of our main cast.

Score: C

[deathvalleyqueen]

Trivia Tuesday

From this post.

Creators: give a “behind the scenes” look at one of your works. This could be things that got removed or changed, the origins of ideas/details, whatever you like!

Fans: share bits of trivia from canon and challenge others to create something based on that trivia - fic, art, or something else!

I was tagged by @kunstpause​ to do this and buckle up... cuz we are getting... like metaish... I think with this... or symbolic... IDK we are talking over arching themes! 

I am putting this under a cut because it’s long... I ramble... but FIRST... tags... 

cuz I think I know some people who would love a reason to lore dump, no obligations as always and I know I waited soooo late but what does things like days of the week matter?

Tags: @lobanhart​ @pd3​ @nightwingshero​ @risenlucifer​ @hopecountyink​ @shallow-gravy​ @tomexraider​ @faithchel​ @clutch-wept​ and anyone else who wants to play along.

The Importance (and hindrance) of Siblings 

So one big thing you will see through out the whole story that I am telling over MJ’s story before the Collapse and Grace’s story after during New Dawn, that the story really centers around the relationships of three sets of siblings and those who are in their lives because of that. I really love Charmed... not gonna lie... so this may be a little heavy on the echos of the Power of Three in places... don’t judge me -.-. 

The Seeds

These three guys are really the glue that holds the plot together really, I mean... hell they are the only Canon characters after all. I was always really fascinated by their particular power dynamics, with Joseph the middle child (and really with the least of offer in way of skills or assets) being the one who really holds control of the other two and the effects that has on their lives. Adding in MJ and the past and history there does add interesting layers but the crooks of it remains the same. Joseph is the one that still hold all the cards for a lot of years. It takes a lot for the other two (and Faith) to break away in the end. Their troubles as a family sets the tone for the whole piece really and I wanted to really build a relationship between Jacob and John (as I feel Jacob would almost relate to John more than Joseph idk... the trauma perhaps?) because I wanted that but never got it *pouts*

The MacKennas 

Now, while all the MacKennas play important roles in the story, the important ones in the long run (besides Colin...he is barely a MacKenna for his betrayals) are Mac, Sean and obviously Mary Jane. They are actually far closer than the Seeds, and this is because they did in fact spend their whole childhood and much of their adulthood with their lives intertwined. Unlike The Seeds, MJ hold all the cards when it comes to power in this sibling group. This comes from one big reason, MJ asserts her dominance over her brothers. While they could all physical take her out, Mary Jane is smarter, faster and holds more power with in the Project than any of them because of the sway she has over John. These three are particularly close because of MJ being tormented by Colin as a child and Mac and Sean were the closest in age to him, so they often protected her. That is role they both still hold. Their relationship is kinda meant to foil the Seeds a bit... 

The Seeds 2.0

Let us take a moment to appreciate the fact that John... has three girls... (and Archer but he is still a wee child) there is some level of karmic justice for John with this... I really feel it lol. 

But Lilith “Lily”, Rosalie “Rose” and Grace Lynn... ah... the babies, the ones who redeem the Seed family... and take out old Hipster Jesus and want to try and help Ethan see the truth. These three girls... and they are really babies come ND. Lily is 24, Rose is 20 and Grace is only just 18, hold their own and take charge in serious ways. Grace grows up away from Lily and Rose so a lot of what is planned at this point is the girls trying to learn about each other and how their strengths really do play off each other and if they worked together they would actually be able to achieve their goals and then some. But they are stubborn girls, very stubborn and have tempers on them something fierce. 

also originally there was only going to be Lily and Grace...and one point in time I had twins planned as well that were going to be named Asher and Archer, but I ended just keeping Archer... cuz poor MJ don’t need more kids. 

These three... more than the others are where I take a lot inspiration from charmed... particularly like early seasons 1-3 charmed..

The New Dawn Story is End Game

In the the way I have things planned, is I want to boil the story down to a story about this family... that has a lot of really wild things happen to them (a lot of it their own doing) and actually see someone from that line try to fix it and bring things full circle. I was so disappointed with the end for the story of New Dawn. It felt hollow and like it gave me no real closure. So that’s really why I ended building on my original plans which was only to really write some kind of semi plotted, not really plotted write this by the seat of my pants thing... into well... this is whole world now with OCS abound and my friend @cornfedcryptid​ ‘s oc Ellie plays a huge part in the world...and we are honestly having a blast plotting this and working on it. 

I mean, for me, coming from someone who has been writing fantasy for some time coming back into more of a real world type story... it’s very freeing creatively (which you would think it would be the other way around) 

[kaz3313]

001 BATIM 003 Summer - rnm (I don't often see you talk about her lol)

Thank you for the ask! It’s 

OOOOOOOOoooo Summer!

You are right I do not talk about her nearly enough, even though she’s somewhere in my top 5 favs (top 3 counting only characters from the show)! Also I’m kinda talking about comic book Summer and show Summer (s)

So, as I stated up top, love her but when I started watching the show I didn’t like her too much (she was okay but I thought she was going to be flat stereotypical teen girl)But that was beginning season 1 (which she was a side character) and then Season 2 came along and I said “Hell yeah, she cool” and I started really loving her as a character! Wasteland Summer was also cool to see and I was sad to see her frozen with not much more exploration on her character.

Hmmm as much as I ship and love to do so…I really don’t with Summer. The one universe in the comics where she’s a lesbian I totally support and I low key ship the crackship with the car. Other then that though I think she’s doing well on her own. I personally don’t ship her with Ethan since based on what’s seen not really compatible (of course when did I care compatibility-Eh I just don’t see enough substance for em). I’ve seen a few arts with her and Jessica which is cute but not really my taste either.

Now to non romantic relationship-

Well I feel like her and Rick get along well in the end, whether that’s good or bad I’m not sure, but I really enjoy her relationship with Beth? Like at first it sucked, it really really sucked. But I feel as though it got progressively better (especially the end episode where they’re shopping and doing daughter mom things). I hope to see the relationship in the next season and even her to grow a stronger bond with her dad as well (since that ones been shaky too. Honestly she doesn’t have stable relationships with anyone platonic and romantic which Is sad)

Unpopular opinion…

Hmm a lot of people show her as badass (which I love me some good ol fighten Sum Sum) But some people, when doing so, make her exactly like Rick. Now I’m not disagreeing she has some parallels to him (she definitely does especially showcased in season 3) but I think people need to remember she IS a different person. She CAN be a genius and strong and whatever but she will approach situations with her own twist! I also see (in fics mostly) them blow Summer off completely or make her stereotypical teen (doesn’t talk to anyone about anything ever, always grochy, and if does appear in said fic is just on her phone) which is an interpretation that I don’t care for.

Hmm, again explore more her relationship with her family (asside from Rick since I think that has been showcased in Season 2 and 3 a lot). Maybe even her teen/school life since she doesn’t blow off school as much as Morty does.

Fav friendship, hands down her and Morty. I feel like, at times, the top can work really well together (although not always- but that’s the complication with relations thier not always perfect). I also hope in future eps she makes some cool alien friends or something. I think that would be fun!

Crossover ship? Ehhhhh? Her and Wendy from Gravity Falls? I saw it once (or twice?) in fic/art and they seem pretty decent together. They would make a nice couple and also I think they’d also be pretty good friends! Yeah badass red heads unite!

BATIM!!!! Oooooooo boy! Also I’ll be doing lil more descriptions for the characters then RnM one since your less familiar with these characters 😊

Fav character, that is tricky. Staying strictly to canon game Wally (pure janitor boy) or Bertrum (local narssarsist finds someone who’s got an even bigger ego and now thier partners or AKA the octopus ride). I like Wally because throughout the whole game he’s got tapes and they’re always nice and cheerful which is a nice lil break (or poik(perk) as he’d say) from the horror and darkness. Also the whole probable he’s Perfect Boris just makes him better (I love Boris). And Bertrum; well for one he’s an annoying cool mini boss, I like that both him and Joey had big egos but he had one AND he seemed like a decent guy, cool design in general, and he’s got his motavations figured out Joey gipped him and now Joey’s gotta pay. As for everyone’s interpretation and also my personal hc? All of them! Even that bastard Joey!

No least fav’s. Some times I don’t like certain people’s interpretation of a character but I really like them all. If I had to pick one I’d say Allison since I felt in cannon she was a bit bland. But really in cannon we didn’t have much to go off of many of the characters.

Fav ships (in no particular order btw and one more then said but whatever)

Henry X Joey (like how can you not ship the protagonist and antagonist? Doesn’t every fandom do that? But honestly why else would you come back to mean bosses’ studio after 30 years if you two hadn’t dated or at least had a lil but more then a friendship. Also angst train woot woo). 

 Sammy X Suzie (ahhhh. I love em so much I just hsjaownjw. And it’s almost cannon and SO MUCH ANGST POSSIBLE HEHEHHE) 

 Tom X Alison (cannon but very cute). 

 Wally X Shawn (bring me the pure boys! Honestly this ship is kinda ‘random’ but also is a lil popular and has a toooonnnn if cute HC’s.). 

Ink Sammy X Projectionist Norman  (I love inky angsty boys!)

Lacie X female OC ( I love when she has a noice girlfriend)

Who do I find attractive: hmmm not really anyone (in game)Like Inky Sammy buff so I guess him.

Who I’d marry: ghanakjsjsks??? Idk! No one?

Best Friend: preink-Wally, no questions. Postink- Boris (so still Wally) because I’d just hide in the safe house and play cards.

Random thought:

Unpopular Opinion: Sammy, Henry, And Joey are all around same age and they grew up together. Idk if it’s unpopular but I’ve seen a lot of times Sammy is younger then the other two.

Cannon OTP: Samsie isn’t cannon? Maybe? it’s definitely alluded to but the only thing cannon cannon is Thomas X Allison so I guess by default them. 

Non Cannon: Wally X Shawn please and thank you

Badass character: based on cannon,Bertrum? Like I said he’s a heck of boss fight. Maybe Henry cause he’s had to dealt with everyone’s crap. Projectionist because he literally fist fights the ink demon. Based on personal hc Lacie.

Epic Villian: Idk if he counts as epic but Sammy was an interesting villian. I feel like he should’ve been explored more (so does the rest of the fandom) but I feel like straight up trying to sacrifice

Pairing I’m not a fan of: I used to not like Sammy X Wally but now I think it’s kinda cute. Maybe Wally X Norman just HC they have a more father son bond but I’ve seen some stories where it’s not the case sooo, it really does depend on people’s personal story. I also don’t care for Alice X Bendy (but some content of them is cute and I still enjoy some of it).

Character I feel like they screwed up: Sammy they didn’t do to much with even though he had a lot of potential. Same with Allison and Thomas who were kinda just bland especially Allison.

Character I identify with: when hc I project a lot on Wally but i don’t identify with anyone imparticular.

Character I wish I could be: I’m going to take this as if I could be one of the toons (and not in game toons, since I’d be trapped and I’d rather not) Boris. Who wouldn’t want to be a wolf who just eats all day. Or Edgar (spider boy) because he’s so cute!

[themosleyreview]

The Mosley Review: Best Film of 2018

Another year has passed and man was it a good year with some great films. Now I know I missed a good number of them, but I saw the ones that interested me. This list comprises of the best films that either wowed or moved me. Now I try to keep these lists at 10 films, but this year I'm adding one extra slot. If you want the full review of each film then click each title. Now without further ado, here's my list of the best film 2018! First up......

Blockers: It has truly been a while since we've had a fresh idea come to the teen sex comedy genre and this one was what the genre needed. It was genuinely funny in so many ways and unexpectedly heartfelt and sweet. The sight gags were truly fantastic and hilarious especially the "kiss the car moment". I loved the chemistry each parent had with their teenagers and the over all message of growing up and acceptance. American Pie was of my generation and this film was for this generation and I still loved it.

A Quiet Place: If there was a list of the best trailers of 2018, then this film’s trailer would win. Originality is key to the horror/sci fi thriller and the fact that director John Krasinski tapped into that with a genius idea was truly surprising. Known for comedy, it was a great switch to see his more dramatic side. I loved the family story that surrounded the constant threat in the world and it made for some of the most thrilling moments on screen once certain family members were alone. I truly was on the edge of my seat the entire film and I had one of the rare theater experiences where I was in a full theater and nobody made a sound. No crinkling of rappers, whispering or cell phone usage. Everyone was engaged completely. Man I loved this film.

Hereditary: I love the resurgence of slow burn horror films. Not all have mastered it yet, but the ones that do are truly special. This film was creepy and heartbreaking in so many ways. If it was just a family drama then it would be great, but with the addition of the horror element it becomes a masterpiece. The whole cast delivers great performances, but Toni Collette was unbelievably fantastic and I hope she gets nominated for Best Actress. She was so real and gut wrenching when tragedy hits her. This was truly the best horror film of the year and it should not be missed by anyone.

Incredibles 2: Why did it take 14 years until we finally got a sequel to one of the best original animated superhero films?! Well the wait was worth it because Pixar delivered once again. Not only does the family get more challenging drama sprinkled into their lives, but things get kinda scary. I loved every sequence with Elastic Girl, but Jack Jack stole the entire film with his fight with the raccoon. Every year Pixar delivers with their original stories and it was about time that my favorite Pixar film got the sequel it deserved. PLEASE don't make us wait another 14 years for Incredibles 3!  

Blackkklansman: I love Spike Lee. He is and will always be one of the most powerful voices in the black community and in cinema. To see his take on one of the most dangerous and awesome true stories was truly exciting. I did have a hesitation about seeing the film because at times racism related films can be a too aggravating, but I gave it a chance and loved it. It was a story that needed to be told on the big screen and with all the powerful messages. The performances were great all around and I loved John David Washington and his chemistry with Adam Driver. The pair were excellent apart and together. The ending of the film was a strong political and social message that was heard loud and clear and I loved the film all the more for it.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout: Again and again this franchise gets even more intense with its fantastic storytelling and astounding action sequences that are breathtaking. The reason why these films are still loved is because the action is real and gritty. Tom Cruise keeps this franchise fresh and as Ethan Hunt he hasn't stopped being great. From start to finish the connections to past films and the twists were truly amazing and I loved the rivalry between Tom and Henry Cavil's character August Walker. This was an espionage epic and another definition of how to keep your franchise fresh.

Bohemian Rhapsody: It is very rare to do a film about an influential band right and I think that's the reason why we don't see films like this anymore. The ultimate challenge was presented to do a film on possibly the greatest band England and the world has ever seen and will ever know. I was so happy with the results of this magnificent film. So much care and heart went into the making of this film and immortalized Queen and Freddie Mercury while showing respect to his memory. Everybody wants the deep, dirty and dark side of a person's life, but that wasn't the important part of the film. It is rightfully addressed, but it doesn't consume the film. This was a love letter to Queen and to all the generations of fans that were there from the beginning, who grew up with Queen and for the new ones just discovering them now.

Avengers: Infinity War: 10 years of a serialized film universe has finally come together in what is to be known as one of greatest technical achievements in storytelling and filmmaking. All this time the powers behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe have taken risk after risk and it has paid off each time. Now this film brings almost all of the characters we know and love and puts them together in a cohesive story that spans across the globe and stars and it keeps the grounded feel that has been consistent throughout each film. The action was fantastic it was truly breathtaking to see a film of this scale to be the first film shot entirely in IMAX. The moment we started losing characters was truly heartbreaking and a communal tear was shed for one in particular. I loved this film and I can't wait for Endgame.

A Star is Born: It is the one story that has been told countless times and a film that has been remade 3 times prior and I have to say that this is the best version. The music in the film was fantastic and the way that the live performances were shot was expertly done. I felt as if I was onstage with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. The two of them delivered outstanding performances and Lady Gaga has shown her acting chops before, but this was on another level of excellence. Their bond throughout the film was the heart that kept beating steadily and when it breaks, it breaks your soul. I loved this film so much and I haven't stopped listening to the soundtrack to this day.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: If there's one character that has had more reboots than anybody else, its Spider-Man. The entire franchise has been rebooted and plagued with 3 bad films and luckily the character was saved by the MCU handlers. Now comes the story of a new Spider-Man and my god was it astounding. The visuals alone were groundbreaking and pushed what can be done in animation to the next level. The story was a perfect introduction to a fan favorite Miles Morales and a worthy origin story for him. This film exceed all my expectations and blew the doors off how origin stories are made. This was a crowning achievement in filmmaking and storytelling and will be one of the most influential story for children of all ages and race. Such a masterpiece.

And now the moment is here. The best film of 2018 is......

Black Panther: I have waited with baited breath for the moment that the first black superhero in comic book history would finally get his own film and it finally happened. Not only did the film fully bring to life the hero, but also his world and the heritage with the African nation. The colors and art style exploded off the screen in every frame. Wakanda was finally brought to life with such skill, love and respect. The film had many themes of family, ancestoral history, but at its core was a social commentary on growing up in 2 different worlds. One in America and one in Africa. The many similarities between T'Challa and Killmonger were great and although both world views were different, both were righteous in their beliefs. Killmonger had a point in the fact that Wakanda is far more advanced than any nation and the technological advances should be shared and used for domination. He was kinda right, but wrong in his execution. He made for one of the best villains/idealists and it was one Michael B. Jordan's best performances. Chadwick Boseman has always been a class act and he becomes T'Challa in this film and I loved his journey. Winston Duke stole the film as M'Baku and he is one of the best characters the MCU has. Black Panther is the film that encapsulates everything that is good in the MCU and its story is the most influential and gives the black community a hero we can all learn from and root for. This film is a cinematic staple that will not be forgotten and deserves every accolade it receives.

And that's it people! That is my list of the best films of 2018! What a great year for film and I can't wait to see what 2019 has to offer. With the upcoming slate, I think my list will be harder to make come next January.

[gokinjeespot]

off the rack #1242

Monday, December 24, 2018

 I was hit by a spasm of back pain on Saturday like the ghost of Christmas Past. That'll teach me for being such a Scrooge this time of year. I try not to be naughty but being nice is such a pain in the pants. I am slowly recovering under the gentle ministrations of Santa's Helper. Being around family and friends is better medicine than any pain pills I could take. My brother and sister-in-law hosted a brunch yesterday and seeing everyone together laughing and happy soothed me greatly. Just holding baby Oliver and making him smile eased my back pain.

 I saw the Ottawa premiere of Aquaman thanks to my Jee-Riz partner Chris, who won passes from the comic book store Myths, Legends and Heroes. I can sum up how I felt about the movie in one word; wigs. I wish they had spent some of the Atlantis special effects budget on better wigs for the actors. Arthur's dad's toupee was glaringly obvious. I've seen better hair on Cosplayers than Nicole Kidman's wigs. It looked like Amber Heard/Mera was wearing a wig at times but even when it looked like her real hair the colour red they chose was too unnatural looking. The movie's saving grace for me was Jason Momoa. He makes a great Arthur/Aquaman. I'm glad I didn't pay to see this one.

 Ugh. Stan Lee tribute covers. Terrible marketing idea.

 Dead Man Logan #2 - Ed Brisson (writer) Mike Henderson (art) Nolan Woodard (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). A couple of things really annoyed me this issue. Sin, the Red Skull's daughter, acted like a spoiled brat. It's not a stretch to foresee the villains losing at the end of this 12-issue story. Then we have Forge repairing a machine that can get Old Man Logan back home. They actually go there and he doesn't stay. I'm for super heroics as much as the next nerd and maybe I'm selfish, but that irked me to no end. Old Man Logan has been whining about getting home ever since he showed up in this timeline and now he wants to stay to prevent all the super heroes from being killed by all the super villains. There isn't even a guarantee that is what happens in the future. And why don't they use the machine to fix things? Man I hate time travel. I really like Mike Henderson's art but this looks like another travelling super heroes versus super villains battle every issue, and that's not very interesting to me.

 Defenders: The Best Defense #1 - Al Ewing (writer) Joe Bennett (pencils) Belardino Brabo (inks) Dono Sanchez Almara (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). It's the big Defenders reunion to save Earth. Old Man Dr. Strange, Hulk, Namor and the Silver Surfer have to sidetrack The Train in order for Earth to survive. It's a bit complicated and I'm surprised that you didn't really need to read all the one-shots to get what's going on. I mean all those scenes where the stabby killer in the bed sheet is killing aliens isn't even mentioned in this story. So what was up with that?

 Marvel Knights #4 - Vita Ayala & Donny Cates (writers) Joshua Cassara (art) Matt Milla (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). Here's where they explain why all the super heroes have forgotten who they are. T'Challa/Black Panther is featured in this issue that ends with him discovering the lair of villains. I'm wondering how the bad guys retained their memories.

 Old Man Hawkeye #12 - Ethan Sacks (writer) Francesco Mobili (art) Andres Mossa (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). That was a very satisfying ending. What a great prequel to the Old Man Logan story where Clint and Logan go on a road trip. This is where Clint loses his sight for good. I loved the last page epilogue showing Clint tracking down someone who will help him to continue to fight the bad guys despite his blindness.

 Runaways #16 - Rainbow Rowell (writer) Kris Anka (art) Matthew Wilson (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). Reading this Christmas special is better than getting a lump of coal. Having Doombot as a dinner guest made this a treat. I wish he was a regular member of the team.

 West Coast Avengers #6 - Kelly Thompson (writer) Daniele Di Nicuolo (art) Triona Farrell (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). The good guys have been captured by the bad guys: Satana Hellstrom, M.O.D.O.K., The Eel and Madame Masque. Kate is still free however and she's not going to abandon her team mates. Too bad she gets waylaid on her way to rescue them. Her captor is a complete surprise, which will make the next issue a hoot.

 Thor #8 - Jason Aaron (writer) Mike del Mundo (art) VC's Joe Sabino (letters). This is an awesome issue with Thor fighting the Angelus. It ends with an ex-Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. being paid a visit by the Black Panther. I like how this book is being tied into The Avengers.

 Season's Beatings #1 - Jason Latour (writer) Greg Hinkle, Chris Brunner, Veronica Fish & Mario Del Pennino (art) Rico Renzi, Jim Campbell & Veronica Fish (colours) VC's Travis Lanham (letters). I should have realized from the cover that this was a Deadpool Christmas Special. If I had known, I would have bought a pair of socks from the Dollar Store with the $4.99 US that this comic book costs. Unless of course, you're a big Deadpool fan or West Coast Avengers fan or even an X-Force fan. They're all in here too. Plus Squirrel Girl and Doctor Doom. Come to think of it, this is an everything but the kitchen sink gift for a Marvel Comics fan who will get a few chuckles out of it.

 Freedom Fighters #1 - Robert Venditti (writer) Eddy Barrows (pencils) Eber Ferreira (inks) Adriano Lucas (colours) Deron Bennett (letters). This is some heavy duty patriotic poop right here. We start this 12-issue story in 1963 America that is ruled by Adolf Hitler and his "ratzi" party. The original Freedom Fighters meet to plot a resistance attack on a war robot factory. Things don't go well for the good guys. Jump forward to 2018 and the surprise appearance of the New Freedom Fighters; Black Condor, Doll Woman, the Human Bomb and Phantom Lady. All we need is Uncle Sam. Robert Venditti holds nothing back showing the Germans as ruthless racists. The art is really well done so I will give these Golden Age heroes a chance to see how they fare in modern times.

 Middlewest #2 - Skottie Young (writer) Jorge Corona (art) Jean Francois Beaulieu (colours) Nate Piekos (letters). A new character named Jeb is introduced who helps Abel get out of a bind. Jeb reminds me of the first time we meet Gandalf. Abel's quest continues and we find out a bit more about the symbol on his chest. I predict he'll meet his mother down the road but unlike the talking fox, I won't be travelling down it with him.

 Cover #4 - Brian Michael Bendis (writer) David Mack (art) Michael Avon Oeming (Owen art) Zu Orzu (colours) Carlos Mangual (letters). This issue is a great example of how a comic book can tell a story with words and pictures. I felt like I was watching a TV show or a short film. Brian, David and Michael work together seamlessly

 Hardcore 1 - Robert Kirkman & Andy Diggle (writers) Alessandro Vitti (art) Adriano Lucas (colours) Thomas Mauer (letters). Yeah man, it is. Agent Drake is a drone pilot but what he controls are other human beings. A new nanotechnology allows him to take over and move a remote body for 72 hours so he can complete wetwork missions. It's really cool. The big problem arises when the guy who invented the tech comes back to reclaim it from the government. That guy is not asking nicely. I like this concept and the predicament that Agent Drake finds himself in at the end of this issue. Therefore, this goes on to my "must read" list.

 Klaus and the Crying Snowman #1 - Grant Morrison (writer) Dan Mora (art) Ed Dukeshire (letters). This $7.99 US one-shot tells the tale of how Sam the snowman helps Klaus save the Earth from murderous aliens. I loved how they wove in Norse mythology. You'd think a crying snowman would be doomed in the end and you'd be right, but fear not, 'tis a happy ending.

 Betty & Veronica #1 - Jamie Lee Rotante (writer) Sandra Lanz (art) Kelly Fitzpatrick (colours) Jack Morelli (letters). The BFFs are back with a 5-issue mini that starts off their senior year of high school. I know that these slightly more mature Archie Comics want to draw in a new audience but Betty dating Reggie? Sacrilege. A few other things bothered me storywise that turned me off even more. Betty drinking a spiked punch without noticing? C'mon. Then there's the art. I didn't like the interiors compared to the nice cover that Sandra drew. I expected my girl Betty to be treated better than this.

 Catwoman #6 - Joelle Jones (story & art) Laura Allred (colours) Josh Reed (letters). The finale of "Copycats" is a quick read so I read it twice. The first time was to see how Catwoman deals with the evil Mrs. Creel and her pumped up on drugs son. The second time was to see Catwoman in action and to savour the beautiful art and layouts. I wish Joelle Jones would do a Betty & Veronica mini.

 Extermination #5 - Ed Brisson (writer) Pepe Larraz (art) Marte Gracia (colours) VC's Joe Sabino (letters). I tolerated this time travel tale because of the amazing art. I wish Pepe Larraz would do a Betty & Veronica mini. If you thought that the mutants being exterminated was a real threat then you haven't been reading X-Men comic books for very long. This story puts the young X-Men back in their own time and all is well again. The big surprise comes on the last page and I'm thinking "oh geez, here we go again".

 Domino #9 - Gail Simone (writer) David Baldeon & Michael Shelfer (art) Roberto Poggi (ink assist) Guru-eFX (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). Soldier of Fortune part 3. The ladies are asked to kill Longshot. Haven't seen him in a while. Might not see him for long though, since he's supposed to bring about the end of the world. This is interesting because both Domino and Longshot have the same super power. Who's luck is going to run out first?

 Firefly #2 - Greg Pak (writer) Dan McDaid (art) Marcelo Costa (colours) Jim Campbell (letters). Mal and Zoe are being hunted by a gang of thieves and the Alliance. Darn tootin' there's going to be shootin'. I have been watching Nathan Fillion's new cop show The Rookie and I quite like it.

 Batman #61 - Tom King (writer) Travis Moore (art) Tamra Bonvillain (colours) Clayton Cowles (letters). Knightmares part 1. The "what the!?" appearance on the last page of #60 is explained here as a new story starts. I knew something was hinky when I saw the string of pearls around the dead body of Martha Wayne in the alley. I thought we were in an alternate universe and we sort of are but it came as a complete shock when what was going on was explained. Arkham Asylum is getting a new inmate. At least he's new to me unless I want to go back and read Batman #38.

[theonyxpath]

Dystopia Rising: Evolution illustration by Jonothan Reed

  Every once in a while, I need to take a week’s worth of this blog and do kind of an Onyx Path Publishing primer.

Just go through our history, who we are, and how and why we do what we do. Usually this sort of “Who the Hell is Onyx Path?” blog is necessitated by external forces; by an influx of questions or misapprehensions here or on other bits of our social media.

And this is no exception.

This installment is brought to you by the letter V and the number 5, in fact.

The recent release of White Wolf‘s Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition (v5) has increased the number of folks stopping by here – hi, nice to see ya! – and with WW planning to continue to push further into new venues and media, I’m not thinking we’re going to see less folks confused by who we are and how we relate to White Wolf and V5.

And it is totally understandable that who we are and what we do is not obvious, particularly if you are used to the way the original White Wolf operated as a business. So, first I’m going to talk about Onyx Path‘s evolution through the last six years, and then end with reminding folks that our new Kickstarter campaign for our new game Dystopia Rising: Evolution starts on this coming Wednesday.

So, if you’re an long-time reader and know all this, please feel free to skip down to where I remind folks that our new Kickstarter campaign for our new game Dystopia Rising: Evolution starts on this coming Wednesday.

    Scion: Hero illustration by Enzo Lopez

    Okay, everybody else, skootch closer and I’ll tell you a tale. It’s a longer than usual blog post, so get comfortable.

In 1991, a gaming company called White Wolf published a ground-breaking tabletop RPG called Vampire: The Masquerade. It was massively influential and popular. More World of Darkness game lines came out every year, then other game worlds like Trinity and Exalted got lines, and the original WW kept expanding and then contracted big-time. In an effort to spur sales, the World of Darkness was ended in accordance with all the prophesies presented in the various lines, and a New World of Darkness set of game lines began publication.

Unfortunately, while the initial sales of the core rulebooks for each New World of Darkness line were huge, the overall trend of declining sales was not stopped. In an effort to keep publishing and also to evolve into the electronic games market, White Wolf merged with an Icelandic MMO (massive multi-player online game) company named CCP, and began work on a World of Darkness MMO.

For too many reasons to go into here, but maybe I will someday, eventually the project stalled and CCP laid off a lot of the US office, which meant they laid off most of the original White Wolf staff. (Later, the WoD MMO was canceled).

Which is where Onyx Path enters the story.

Onyx Path, that is, not me. I entered the history of WW many years earlier and had, in fact, been with White Wolf for years before Vampire: The Masquerade came out, and was responsible for all the visuals (art, layout, printing) for every project we created. As the WoD MMO was ramping up and our TTRPG publishing conversely was slowing down, they asked me to come over to help with the MMO. While the herculean efforts to make it were occurring, a few of us also put together a side project and convinced CCP to OK its publication.

That project was a special return to TTRPGs: an omnibus edition of VtM celebrating the 20th anniversary of its publication, which is now known as V20. Even with relatively little outreach and selling it from our own webpage, it did pretty darn well.

Even more importantly from my point of view, it reminded me how much I loved making game books.

So when the big layoffs came, I was faced with watching folks who I had hired into WW, some of them more than a decade before, and who had devoted that time to the company, lose their jobs. For me, it was time to go, but I wanted to not just go but to return to TTRPGs and not as an employee, but with my own company.

Thus, in 2012, Onyx Path Publishing was born!

With the feedback from V20 indicating that there were a lot of folks still interested in WW‘s Intellectual Properties (IPs) as TTRPGs, Onyx Path negotiated licenses to create new TTRPG books for the World of Darkness, Exalted, and New World of Darkness game lines. Onyx Path bought outright the Scion, Trinity, and ultimately Scarred Lands game lines that had been originally created and published by White Wolf from CCP.

It was never my intention to try and be the new White Wolf, even if there weren’t still people at CCP who needed to approve what we were doing with the license and might be a tad miffed if I started announcing that. You see, by the time I left, I was WW‘s creative director and responsible for not just visuals but every phase of creating our games. I knew the pitfalls we had fallen into previously and intended Onyx to follow a different Path.

With that in mind, we started with PDFs and then very quickly added physical book Print on Demand (PoD) versions as well via DriveThruRPG.com. The advent of Kickstarter enabled us to create Deluxe books and later books that were traditionally printed in other ways. Getting those books to backers was a challenge, but we kept on with fulfillment shipper after shipper.

Structurally, Onyx Path worked off of the Developer/Writer/Editor to Art Director/Graphic Designer book creation track that we had perfected during the WW days. Our processes were those processes, because that was what the folks I was working with and I knew best. And those creative folks were mostly developers and writers from the olden times of WW, along with some newer folks who were fans of those days. It was great to make books with Justin Achilli, Phil Brucato, Ethan Skemp. and many more folks again, as well as artists I hadn’t worked with in over a decade.

We followed that path of creating new projects for the WW IPs and in a few years I was able to add some new game worlds by working with creators on more of a partnership basis. Thus were Pugmire and Cavaliers of Mars brought onboard. So we had the licensed IPs from WW, these creator-owned lines, and the game lines we owned. I was able to hire some folks on as full-time staff, like Mirthful Mike Chaney as art director and numero uno layout artist, and Rose Bailey to help our developers.

Other than them, though, everyone else was (and pretty much still are) freelance contractors, most of whom have other full-time jobs and create what they create in their “spare time”. Despite that, their devotion to their game lines has been amazing and very gratifying. And while we hammered through a lot of challenges with deadlines, Onyx still published some amazing books and games, revitalizing WoD with our 20th Anniversary lines, Exalted with its 3rd Edition, and 2nd Editions for the Chronicles (New World) of Darkness.

    Exalted 3rd Hundred Devils Night Parade illustration by Melissa Uran

    Hold it. Something realllly important happened right at the point we started those 2nd Editions.

CCP sold all of what remained of White Wolf to a Swedish computer game company called Paradox Interactive, and they spun off a new company called…White Wolf! And why not, they bought the name along with all the IPs, after all.

We talked, we tweaked processes to work with how they needed them to be, and we continued with our Tabletop RPG licenses of the WW IPs. Current White Wolf is a lot more hands-on than CCP, as befits a company that want to build those game lines into RPGs plus other venues like computer games and other media like TV and movies. They have a lot more feedback for us on our licensed projects with them, they helped us rebrand the New World of Darkness into the Chronicles of Darkness to better differentiate the lines from WoD, and then, and then…and then they created the latest edition of Vampire: The Masquerade in-house: V5.

So, to be clear: until we started working on V5 Chicago By Night, we at Onyx Path really didn’t contribute anything to V5 directly. WW wanted it to be their baby, and we totally respect that as creators ourselves.

Continuing our clarity moment: we do not own WoD, Chronicles of Darkness, or Exalted – White Wolf does. We can’t OK your screenplay based on your Mage game, we can’t fire that guy who looks like Dracula at WW, and we pitch to WW book ideas for the game lines we have a license for, but they are the ones that OK them so we can work on them. We are one of what they hope to be hundreds of licensees, and WW is at the hub, licensing.

With the way WW is working with licenses, we at Onyx Path may or may not know about another one of the licensees, but we don’t know who is working on a license from White Wolf until WW tells us. We aren’t involved with who gets a license, who they or WW hire to work on a project – we only call the shots on the projects we’re creating under the WW license.

As of this writing and for as far into the future as I can see, Onyx Path is independently owned by your Uncle RichT, and I continue to look at building Onyx to last as a publisher forever, basically. It is a challenge, as we don’t have a safety net of a parent company or investor we can fall back on, so I’m very careful about how and where we expand.

With what I hope is some ongoing strategic thinking, evolution of our company continues.

We currently have four full-time staff members: myself, Mirthful Mike, LisaT in our business office, and Mighty Matt McElroy as our Operations Manager. Rose Bailey left early this year and has already produced about 14 zillion games you can get in on through her Patreon and on DTRPG.com.

Before Rose left, we were already evolving how to work with our developers and writers. We had changed and raised our pay rates, and then began to look at the challenges faced by our freelance creators. While it was obvious that trying to make the old WW processes work just wasn’t ultimately going to get us where we needed to be, we needed to be in a position where Onyx Path could provide more hands-on mentorship for our developers.

First, I lucked into being able to create a role doing just that with Eddy Webb, who had been involved with Onyx Path since the beginning, but now he was set to be our first full-time freelance developer “at-large”. In other words. Eddy was going to work with those developers who needed another dev to cover some of the very diverse responsibilities their position encompasses.

As Eddy and I were working out just what this new thing entailed, Matthew Dawkins approached me wanting to be more involved with Onyx Path. So he became our second of these contracted but full-time devs. And then, with Rose leaving, she suggested an outstanding editor who was kicking ass to step up, and Dixie Cochran became our third development overseer. Meanwhile, I talked James Bell, who has huge customer service experience, into running our Kickstarters full-time.

When you see a game line start to move forward with more and more timely releases, when you just have a blast being part of one of our Kickstarters, when you listen to our weekly Onyx Podcast for more news and insight into what we’re up to; these are the folks doing that.

As a company ethos, we believe that everyone should be able to enjoy and be represented respectfully in our projects and social media, and that, in the words of Buckaroo Bonzai, “we don’t have to be mean”.

I realize that this runs counter to a lot of the internet, but within our social media we do try to live up to that.

Just to come back to the evolution of Onyx Path in terms of our business, we are still working to license to other companies our existing game worlds for a variety of new projects that allow folks to enjoy those worlds in other ways, and to obtain licenses to other worlds that we think can be transformative TTRPG experiences as well as a lot of fun to play.

In fact, our new Kickstarter campaign for our new game Dystopia Rising: Evolution starts on this coming Wednesday.

We continue to offer PDF and PoD versions of our projects on DriveThruRPG.com, and at least our fiction so far on Amazon and the Nook store. Because we have been able to forge excellent relationships with Studio2 Publishing and Indie Press Revolution for post-Kickstarter sales, we have been able to start offering our physical products into retail channels in a way that is healthy for our business model. Studio2 is also able to put the books they handle for us onto Amazon, so you will see more and more of our projects there.

Just look below for even more venues for our projects.

Finally, because we actually do think of the worlds we create as springboards from which we can create art, we’re very proud to be working with several groups of folks who are dedicated to gaming as a therapeutic tool to help people around the world. Our friends at the Bodhana Group and iThrive are out there trying to make the world a better place. There is no doubt in my mind that gaming, and particularly roleplaying games specifically, has changed many lives for the better. I’ve just heard so many stories over the years about just that, and I’m proud the worlds we’ve created have made a difference in the real world.

    Promethean: The Created 2nd Edition Tormented illustration by Vince Locke

    OK, That’s who we are and what we do. You can all sit back now, lecture-time is over.

Oh yeah, please don’t forget that our new Kickstarter campaign for our new game Dystopia Rising: Evolution starts on this coming Wednesday. (And there’s even more info in the Blurbs! section below).

Finally, always remember this when you think of Onyx Path Publishing:

Many Worlds, One Path!

  BLURBS!

KICKSTARTER:

  Dystopia Rising: Evolution art by Mark Kelly

Our next Kickstarter will be for Dystopia Rising: Evolution starting on Wednesday the 22nd at 2pm EDT.

Dystopia Rising is a post-apocalyptic roleplaying game that quickly grew into a live-action sensation. Now, Onyx Path is pleased to update the live-action setting with Dystopia Rising: Evolution, a tabletop roleplaying game that presents a fresh and exciting take on the post-apocalypse genre.

Dystopia Rising: Evolution will be powered by Onyx Path’s Storypath system, and includes all the rules you need to play as a survivor in the post-apocalypse, including rules for creating characters for up to 24 different Strains, variations on humanity that survived the Fall. It also has details on the powers of faith and psionics, along with advice on running action-adventure stories, webs of personal intrigue, or procedural investigations. And, finally, dozens of antagonists, including a variety of zombies and raiders to use in your series.

Throughout this Kickstarter campaign, we will be posting complete previews of the Dystopia Rising: Evolution manuscript as backer-only updates.

  ELECTRONIC GAMING:

As we find ways to enable our community to more easily play our games, the Onyx Dice Rolling App is now live! Our dev team has been doing updates since we launched based on the excellent use-case comments by our community, and this thing is both rolling and rocking!

Here are the links for the Apple and Android versions:

http://theappstore.site/app/1296692067/onyx-dice

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.onyxpathpublishing.onyxdice&hl=en

Three different screenshots, above.

  ON AMAZON AND BARNES & NOBLE:

You can now read our fiction from the comfort and convenience of your Kindle (from Amazon) and Nook (from Barnes & Noble).

If you enjoy these or any other of our books, please help us by writing reviews on the site of the sales venue you bought it from. Reviews really, really help us with getting folks interested in our amazing fiction!

Our selection includes these fiction books:

Vampire: The Masquerade: The Endless Ages Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

Werewolf: The Apocalypse: Rites of Renown: When Will You Rage II (Kindle, Nook)

Mage: The Ascension: Truth Beyond Paradox (Kindle, Nook)

Chronicles of Darkness: The God-Machine Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

Mummy: The Curse: Curse of the Blue Nile (Kindle, Nook)

Beast: The Primordial: The Primordial Feast Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

Vampire: The Masquerade: Of Predators and Prey: The Hunters Hunted II Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

Werewolf: The Apocalypse: The Poison Tree (Kindle, Nook)

Werewolf: The Apocalypse: Songs of the Sun and Moon: Tales of the Changing Breeds (Kindle, Nook)

Vampire: The Requiem: The Strix Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

Werewolf: The Forsaken: The Idigam Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

Mage: The Awakening: The Fallen World Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

Vampire: The Masquerade: The Beast Within Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

Werewolf: The Apocalypse: W20 Cookbook (Kindle, Nook)

Exalted: Tales from the Age of Sorrows (Kindle, Nook)

Chronicles of Darkness: Tales of the Dark Eras (Kindle, Nook)

Promethean: The Created: The Firestorm Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

Demon: The Descent: Demon: Interface (Kindle, Nook)

Scarred Lands: Death in the Walled Warren (Kindle, Nook)

V20 Dark Ages: Cainite Conspiracies (Kindle, Nook)

Chronicles of Darkness: Strangeness in the Proportion (Kindle, Nook)

Vampire: The Requiem: Silent Knife (Kindle, Nook)

Mummy: The Curse: Dawn of Heresies (Kindle, Nook)

  OUR SALES PARTNERS:

We’re working with Studio2 to get Pugmire out into stores, as well as to individuals through their online store. You can pick up the traditionally printed main book, the Screen, and the official Pugmire dice through our friends there!

https://studio2publishing.com/search?q=pugmire

    Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books? Try this link! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Onyx-Path-Publishing/

Here’s the link to the press release we put out about how Onyx Path is now selling through Indie Press Revolution: http://theonyxpath.com/press-release-onyx-path-limited-editions-now-available-through-indie-press-revolution/

And you can now order Pugmire: the book, the screen, and the dice! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=296

SPECIAL W20 and M20 SALE! Huge savings on our Deluxe printing overruns until 8/31! ONE WEEK LEFT!

https://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Deals-and-Specials/

    DRIVETHRURPG.COM:

    This week we are responding to the many, many messages asking for V20 Dark Ages Journals! So expect those to go live on our RedBubble store on Wednesday!

    CONVENTIONS!

From Fast Eddy Webb, we have these:

Eddy will be speaking at Broadleaf Writers Conference (September 22-23) in Decatur, GA. He’ll be there to talk about writing for interactive fiction, and hanging out with other writers who have far more illustrious careers. http://broadleafwriters.com/3rd-annual-broadleaf-writers-conference/3rd-annual-broadleaf-writers-conference-speakers/

Eddy will also be a featured guest at Save Against Fear (October 12-14) in Harrisburg, PA. He’ll be running some Pugmire games, be available for autographs, and will sometimes accept free drinks. http://www.thebodhanagroup.org/about-the-convention

  Dixie Cochran will be at High Level Games Con in Atlantic City October 12-14, running a Women in Game Design panel, Eddy’s RPG Developer Bootcamp, and possibly making a surprise appearance at another event!

    And now, the new project status updates!

DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM FAST EDDY WEBB (projects in bold have changed status since last week):

First Draft (The first phase of a project that is about the work being done by writers, not dev prep)

M20 Book of the Fallen (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

C20 Novel (Jackie Cassada) (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)

M20 The Technocracy Reloaded (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

M20 Victorian Mage (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

Trinity Continuum: Aberrant core (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)

Tales of Excellent Cats (Monarchies of Mau)

Scion Companion: Mysteries of the World (Scion 2nd Edition)

City of the Towered Tombs (Cavaliers of Mars)

Night Horrors: Nameless and Accursed (Mage: the Awakening Second Edition)

Heirs to the Shogunate (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Witch-Queen of the Shadowed Citadel (Cavaliers of Mars)

  Redlines

Deviant: The Renegades (Deviant: The Renegades)

Spilled Blood (Vampire: The Requiem 2nd Edition)

CofD Dark Eras 2 (Chronicles of Darkness)

V5 Chicago By Night (Vampire: The Masquerade)

  Second Draft

WoD Ghost Hunters (World of Darkness)

Tales of Good Dogs – Pugmire Fiction Anthology (Pugmire)

Aeon Aexpansion (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

C20 Players’ Guide (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)

In Media Res (Trinity Continuum: Core)

Wr20 Book of Oblivion (Wraith: The Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition)

Lunars: Fangs at the Gate (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Changeling: The Lost 2nd Companion (Changeling: The Lost 2nd)

  Development

Signs of Sorcery (Mage: the Awakening Second Edition)

Hunter: the Vigil 2e core (Hunter: the Vigil 2nd Edition)

Fetch Quest (Pugmire)

CofD Contagion Chronicle (Chronicles of Darkness)

Dystopia Rising: Evolution (Dystopia Rising: Evolution)

Night Horrors: Shunned by the Moon (Werewolf: The Forsaken 2nd Edition)

Changeling: The Lost 2nd Jumpstart (Changeling: The Lost 2nd)

Adventures for Curious Cats (Monarchies of Mau)

  Manuscript Approval:

  Editing:

They Came From Beneath the Sea! Rulebook (TCFBtS!)

Dog and Cat Ready Made Characters (Monarchies of Mau) (With Eddy)

  Post-Editing Development:

Scion: Hero (Scion 2nd Edition)

Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)

Trinity Continuum: Aeon Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)

Ex Novel 2 (Aaron Rosenberg) (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Exalted 3rd Novel by Matt Forbeck (Exalted 3rd Edition)

GtS Geist 2e core (Geist: the Sin-Eaters Second Edition)

M20 Gods and Monsters (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

Night Horrors: The Tormented (Promethean: The Created 2nd Edition)

Guide to the Night (Vampire: The Requiem 2nd Edition)

  Indexing:

    ART DIRECTION FROM MIRTHFUL MIKE:

  In Art Direction

Dystopia Rising: Evolution – Working on banners for the KS. Art is in for the video and KS page.

VtR: Guide to the Night

M20: Gods and Monsters – Leblanc already has sketches in.

Geist 2e

The Realm

Trinity Continuum (Aeon and Core)

Ex3 Monthly Stuff

Ex3 Dragon Blooded – Sketches and color roughs continue to come in and even some finals from Gunship.

  Marketing Stuff

  In Layout

Scarred Lands Trilogy Novels – Converting to PDF and PoD.

Fetch Quest – New cards contracted…. will be in by September 15th. KS backer shirt out.

  Proofing

Scion Hero 

Cav Talent cards

PTC: Night Horrors: The Tormented

  At Press

Changeling: The Lost 2e – incorporating errata and getting it ready for indexing.

Monarchies of Mau – Printing. Dice and buttons printing.

Scion Origin – Errata review and incorporation.

Cavaliers of Mars – Finishing printing.

Wraith 20th – Prepping the Deluxe files, still poking printer for cover specs.

Monarchies of Mau Screen – Printing.

Cavaliers of Mars Screen – Printing.

Wraith 20 Screen – Printing.

Scion Dice – At fulfillment shipper.

  TODAY’S REASON TO CELEBRATE: Today is James Marsters birthday, and so let’s wish a great one for Spike! Arguably the best of the bads from Buffy, and role model for thousands of Vampire: The Masquerade characters!

[atlas-of-a-human-soul]

Hometown girl (E.D.)

Request: could u do an ethan imagine based off the song Hometown girl by zhu? 

A/N: here it is, hope you like it anon :)

Warnings: cursing, angst

Word count: 1500

You'll never be my hometown girl There's nothing like her in this world

When we first met, she was sunshine mixed with a little bit of rain. This girl had a smile that could light up the whole world, and she did...she lit up my world. At first, I watched from a distance, scared she'd reject me. Girls like that don't come around very often and in comparison, I was nothing special. My fears kept me away for a few months, but my treacherous heart won and guided me in her direction. She was so sweet when I approached her with her cute smile and dimples I've never noticed before.

I'm tired of the get around girls Ain't nothing like my hometown girl

We spent all our time together. She was wild and truly lived like every day was her last. She challenged me in way I never though anyone could. I grew as a person every day I spent with her. I knew right then and there that this is what love is supposed to be. Love is supposed to help you become someone better, something more than what you were when you first met. She made me more creative, more outgoing, more happy...God she made me so happy.

You told me you were cool with kickin' it In my crib, in my pool, we be dippin' in But some days you would look at me so different (Ooh, why?)

It was hard for us to stay connected when I was in LA. I missed her to the point where I felt I was losing my mind. She was my sunshine, things without her would get too dark, my thoughts too loud. She knew that too, it's why she moved here with me. We needed a bigger place, so we bought a house. I made sure it had a pool, because I knew she loved swimming. For a while there, everything was normal again. We'd play video games, order food and watch Netflix, prank Grayson, lounge in the backyard with some music and swimming. I was happy again. I thought she was too. Her smile was fading, her eyes were tired. She started going out and coming home late. I'd wait up for her, because I was worried, but that only started fights. I looked at her with the same passion and care as I did before, but the look in her eyes changed. I don't think her looks were intentionally cold, but her eyes lost that spark. She didn't confide in me, she wasn't clingy anymore. I loved when she was clingy, because it meant she needed me. I know I need her, so why is she not here anymore?

Is it because I'm in the music biz? Or you don't wanna love me when I'm just strugglin'?

I worried it was the fans that got to her. The things they say and do honestly get too much, even for me. I saw she deleted all her social media..is it because of me? Maybe I became a little too difficult and needy for her to enjoy spending time with me. Maybe my sarcasm drove her insane. Maybe it was the sleepless nights and staying in that made her lose interest. But why didn't she say something to me, if it was? She was a badass girl, fearless, free and fun. Did my struggles disgust her? Did my love for her feel like chains that bound her to me? She was there with me when I was up on cloud nine, but when I fell, she disappeared too.

But you still tell me that you're my hometown chick, why?

I'm missing someone else This will never be the same But I blame it on myself Because I can't make you change

I tried to talk to her, ask what happened. She claimed she was the same girl she always was and nothing's changed. I knew she was different, I missed who she used to be. She made me feel like the only man in the world, but now I felt like I was nothing to her. The sunshine she used to give off was covered with a cloudy sky, and instead of a little rain, there was a fucking hurricane. I wanted to help her, help us, get back to who we were, but I couldn't make her change. She's the only one with the power to do that now.

You'll never be my hometown girl There's nothing like her in this world I'm tired of the get around girls Ain't nothing like my hometown girl

The girl before me wasn't the one I fell for. She became basic, a party girl, just another girl that cared about material things in this world. What happened to the girl that worshiped nature and art? What happened to my New Jersey girl next door? The girl in my bed wasn't her.

I can't remember when we last expressed All the feelings in our hearts that we possess Even though we're making love, it's not passionate (Ooh, why?)

I don't remember the last time she said I love you. I don't even remember the last time I did. It's been a long time since we've even fought. In a way it showed neither of us really cared about any of it anymore. The love we had was turning to dust, the fire between us long put out. Even when we made love, if felt...automatic..like we were two machines just doing our job. There was no passion, no lust, no excitement, no love...just sex. It's like we were two people staying together on a principle. My hands were craving her warmth, my heart her love, but I didn't feel it anymore.

You keep on running back into the past Tying to hold on to my love, but you can't make it last forever

I knew she tried to keep us together. She stopped her late night outings after I told her I wasn't sure where we stood anymore. She tried to fight for us and I appreciated it..I did. For a moment it felt like she was back. It felt like her empty smiles brought back the sun and the clouds have gone away, but it didn't last. Her eyes betrayed her emotions. I felt like maybe, somewhere in there she did love me. On the other hand, it also seemed things got too difficult once we got to LA. This wasn't her scene, my lifestyle didn't match hers. Was she trying to be more like the girls here because of me?

So I must confess

I'm missing someone else This will never be the same

She tried, so did I, but it didn't feel the same. She changed too much, maybe I did too. In the end we were standing next too each other, two hearts beating for one another, two hands longing for each other's warmth. We still slept in the same bed like we were lovers, our legs intertwined, our lips close enough to touch. No matter how we tried, things weren't the same. I still missed who she used to be too much. I missed who we used to be, who she used to make me.

But I blame it on myself Because I can't make you change

You'll never be my hometown girl There's nothing like her in this world I'm tired of the get around girls Ain't nothing like my hometown girl

In the end, I think it was my fault, really. I took something beautiful and destroyed it. I was being selfish when I brought my only source of light into the darkness of LA. It's funny how they call it the city of lights, but all it does is snuff out lights. It took her light and made her dark. She became a girl that I never would have payed attention before. She was different..for a girl who wore her heart on her sleeve, she became emotionless. There was no anger, no sadness, no joy or resentment. She never even appeared bored as she sat on that plastic chair near the garden window watching the pool water wrinkle under the light summer breeze, that at least would have been something. For all the presence she brought to the room she might as well have been a store-bought mannequin. I did that. I destroyed my hometown girl. The best thing I could do for her was to let her go, so I did. For the first time in what seems like forever I saw her smile again. Her real smile, not the fake one devoid of all emotions. It broke my heart to know that the smile on her face showed again, now when she was walking out of my life forever. I hope her sunshine comes back as bright as ever and her hurricanes stop desolating everything in her mind. I hope my hometown girl shows up again and raises hell. I know she will, just sucks that I won't be there to see it.

[informedinterest]

MCSM - a more Real..

Author’s Notes;

  (Sl; Ligh  implied

          t

         abus

         e)

Setting: Change to an ice 

land   

(A excessive 

    place   To keep the characters from being hateable from the             ,offset)

      Several          Char          had to be edited       slightly

The

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e

Ston

e,

Gabriel,

Magnus,

Eligard,

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   By

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Defeated

   the

   Ender

  Drag

      on

     Trac

          in

          g

         the

        word

          s

        wi

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         hi

          s

        fi

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             l

             d

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            e

           going

             Now

              ,

                ‘’

            Shifted

           fro

           m

          th

          ei

            r

         perch,

            in

          Brigh

           t

           Light

            in

            g

            Of

Day

Gil,

loung

 in

 g

wi

 t

 h

 a

 cop

 y

 of

‘Gabriel and

a Guide

  to

defense,’

     Jess

     e

     Olivia

     +

     Axel

     Drap

     p

     e

     d

     wit

      h

    ‘Log

      ist

      ics

      fo

      r

      th

      e

     Loose

     assorted,”

        By

     Magnus

     Aiden

     a

      wkward

                  ly

       Propp

      e

      d

      Wi

       t

        h,

   “Action

    ali

   zatio

     n

    fo

    r

    th

   e

   il

begotten

~Eligard

   and

    hi

    s

    pre

    viou

    s

  dis

   card

    ed

   “Evaluation

    E

    valati

     on

      of

    Happ

     ine

     s

     s

     ,”

     By

    Soren,

    some

      where

   “Aw,

     I was going

    to

   read

    that

      ,”

    Petra

   (newly

   Reach

    in

    g

    for

   On

    e

   of

  the

 many

 stuffed

  book

 shelves

  wi

    t

    h

   “Tr

     e

      e

   Car

       e

     You

       r

    Guide

       to

      th

      e

     Geo

  phenomen

     a

     l

    ,”

    ,

  “

  ‘Iv-

   and the many uses of Po

     -‘

   (The book

    so scruffed into its corner

    that that’s all that could be

     re -

         ,

     An

      d,

        +

    “Adventure;

      Where

           to

         find

         ‘em

           ,

            ”

      “Not

        if

      we’re

      going

        to

     mak

     e

     it

     to

    th

     e

  con

  ve

   n

   tio

   n

   ,

   ”

  “Besides

     don’t

      you

    al

    ready

     hav

     e

   tha

      t

   c

   op

    y,

    ,“

 “Yeah

   but

    it’s

    a  

 go

  od

re

 a

 d

 ,

 ”

“Besides

it’s different from the

traveling

edition

   ,”

“Trav

 el

  i

  n

  g

edi

t

io

 n,”

 ,

Axel

sniffed

 ,

Lukas,

“C’mon

  five

  min

  utes don’t want to be

  late,”

 “Con

  v

  en

  t

   io

   n

   s

   ,”

   On

    groun

     d

    Jesse

       get

        t

        in

        g

       hi

       s

      pe

      t

      boar

     Reube

      n,

       for

       th

       e

       trek

       To

      be greeted by what seem

    e

    d  

      like 2 million Quest’N

     ‘answers

                posters

        with Gabriel‘s

            face

          posted

             on

              it,

          “This

              is

             th

             e

           bes

            t day

           of

            m

            y

            lif

            e,”

           While the others were there to roll

         the

             i

             r

           eyes

            except Lukas

            “leave

               it

              be,

               “

            “If it was anyone else

              -

           I’d have to

          carry them off the

          floor

           to,”

            ,”

           A

        “riv

         al

          ,”

       Te

        a

       m,

     Cordial

     en

       ough

      wit

      h

     Luk

     as

   “Tell

    Ethan

        I

      said

     hell

      o,

        “

     Not so much

      with

       th

       e

      rest of

     them

     “Our

   Invention

       Is

     Goi

        ng

         to

         be

       Grea

          t,

          ”

        “Our

          s

         wil

          l

          be

         great

           er,”

           “What

              got

                in

                 to

                 th

                 e

                 m,

                  “

                  ,

             “Ivor

             fan boys

                 ,”

               Axel

               Shrug

    ged,

“Oh

speak

  of

 the

Devil,

You might have some company as

 Ivor

  fan

 club

 le

 a

d

 e

 r,

Pet

 r

 a

  ,”

 “oh,

 The

  m

 agai

 n,

 ”

“Wh

 o

Cou

 ld

 n

 ’t

 al

  l

 t

 h

 e

books

 he’

 s

Written

abou

  t

 po-,”

 Fad

 in

 g

Into

com

fort

able

not

hing

As they made it to the

 bu

 i

 ld

zon

 e

And

 Olivia

  start

   e

   d

  draw

   in

   g

  u

  p

 sta

  t

 istics,

  for

  th

  e

 build

So you wouldn’t mind

  coming with me

 and

  helping me

   find him,

    would

      you

    Jess

     e,“

    ,

 “Um,

   Ye

   ah,

  Su

   re,

   We

  should

     be

   done

  here

  right,

 Lukas

    “

 Jesse

 yelle

  d

 u

 p

t

o

Lukus

 Who

  gave

  hi

  m

  a

thu

 mbs

  u

  p,

 And away about

 Olivia who is staying behind to talk to some

   planners

“So what’s up with this

   Ivor

   guy

  a

  gain

    , ”

  I th

 “I’ve

 always

  be

   en

  m

  o

  r

  e

 in

ter

es

t

e

d

i

n

Ma

g

n

u

s,

I mean all the

scientific

 . .

stuff,

Realiz

   in

   g

  he

 had

 inter

  ru

  p

  t

  e

 d

  ,

  ”

Slyily

smili

 ng,

“Iv

 or

 is

 a

kno

wn

 st

 u

 d

  i

 e

 r

 of

plant

 s

 an

 d

the

 ir

essence

    ,

    “

   “An

apothecary,”

   “Not

   Quite

      ,-“

   “Huh

      I’d

    though

      t

     we

       ’

      d

     m

      e

      et

     h

      i

     m

      h

      e

      r

      e,”

   “Let

    me

    go

  chec

    k

   “Jesse

     stay

    here,”

    Please

    “ what

       are

       you

      doin

       g

      her

      e?

      “

    Iriat

     te

     d,

   “Mr.

   Ivor

   sir,

    I

  was

 hoping

  to

 give

 this

  to

 you

 be

 fore

the

sho

w,”

“Yes,

Yes-

Actual

  ly

glancing

  at

 th

 e

thin

 g

Mouth

 agape

 at

 th

 e

“Withe

  r

 Skul

  l,”

She

he

 ld

 in

h

 e

 r

h

a

n

d

s,

“ This

    is

..perfect,

   thank

    you,”

  “Hel

    p

   your

   sel

    f

   to

   t

   h

   e

  di

   a

  monds

    in

   th

   e

 ches

   t

 o

 ve

  r

ther

   e,

   “

“Sir,

 thes

  e

  aren’t

 diamonds,

   these

    are

 moissanite,

     .”

 “Maybe

     we

    should

     te

      l

       l

     hi

     m

    “Wh

       y,”

    “Because

       thes

          e

       migh

          t

         b

         e

      im

      por

        t

       an

        t

        t

        o

       h

        i

       m,

        ”

       “Don’t

        wanna

        mess up the

        show,”

          ,

       Petra

          &

      Jess

       e,

     Mak

       in

       g

       it’

     ba

       c

       k,

      an

       d

    Me

      e

      t

      in

      g

    A

     xl

      e

     the

      re,

     “ Axel

       wha

         t

       ar

        e

       yo

        u

       doi

        n

        g

      h

      e

       r

      e

       ,

       ”

       “Oh hey,”

       Munching on

         a bowl

          of

        pret

         ze

           l

           s

       “guys,

       Gabriel

         stop

         pe

        d

         by

        our

        buil

        d,

       sai

      d

       it

     was

    “Clas

     s,

     and

    gav

      e

     me

   “this

      ,

    [Sev

      eral chains with the words

       “back

         stage

        pas

         s

         e

         s,

         ” etc

         hed

          on

         th

         e

          m

         ,”

        “ Luk

           as

         wen

          t

          t

          o

         giv

         e

        yo

        u

      you

        r

        s

      J

     ess

       e,”

    “Gill

       is

     geek

       in

       g

     Out

    over

  Ga

   briel,

  Olivia’s

    tal

    kin

    g with some

    Pl

     an

      n

     e

     r

     s

     ,-

    “

   “Oh

    hey

   Petr

    a,

   I requested

    one

     for

     you,

    Though don’t think you need it since you’re a

    distributor

    an

    d

   al

    l,

   ,”

 Petra

  smil

    in

    g,

   sly

    ily

   tak

     in

     g

   ou

    t

   he

    r

“dis

 trib

  u

 tor,

  ”

 tag,

“Anywa

     y

  we

   can

   ’t

    sto

    p

     t

     o

      tal

     k

     no

     w

    a

     x

     l

     e,

     “

 “Hav

    e

   t

   o

  r

  e

 tur

  n

som

  e

th

  i

 n

 g

 to

 on

  e

  o

  f

 th

 e

guest

 s

 ,

 ”

 ,

“That

woul

 d

  be

 his

Room

,”

 Jesse asked quickly as Petra lightly pushed him forward (from be

   hind,

   as he slid on

     ward

      s,

       “Yeah, t

         ‘The door clicked

        sh

         u

          t behind

         th

         e

         m,

        A flight o

         f

       stai

        r

       s ,

     “Well,

       this

        is,

      ambitious

           ,

           “

        “Are you

         kidding

       having to build

          stairs

      all the way down in

         ice,”

         ,

        “ I had no idea that Ivor was such a

           builder

            architect

            ,

            ”

        “ It’s a shame it’s so

         Dark in here,”

        light

           ing up a

          light,

           As they made it through what

         see

         med to be

        big

        book

        shelves

         ,

        The li

       ghts

      flick

       ed

       on

     sud

     den

     ly

    Jesse  

   gras

    ping a

   han

   d

   on

  her

   mouth

  (For no

   part

   icular

   re

   a

   s

   o

   n

    ,

“ Nice

    to

   see

    me

   again,

     no,

     no,

      “

    ‘B

     e

      en

      a

      lon

     g

     tim

      e,’

      ,no”

      “FI

       nally

       out

       of your

      sh-“

       “Mr.

        Ivor,

         sir,

          “

      “Aagh,”

          ,

        Petra

        pe

         eping into the

        dar

        k

        nes

        s, of the

      di

      m,

        ly

        li

        t,

     dun

      g

      eo  

      n,

     “I’m

      her

       e

      to ask you about the

     dia

       Pe-

     moissan

       it

       e,

       yo

        u,

       gav

         e,

        me

             ,”

            -

        “It’s

          ,

          ”

       “Get

        Out

         ,”

       “But-“

      “Get out before I call

           security,”

           ,

          Petra

         Slink

          e

          d,

       Jesse

      follow

         ing

       quietly

       after

          ,

       “Well

        at least

        we got

        our

        an

        sw

        er.

         Come’ on let’s go join the

        others

         before the

           show

           st

            arts,

          “Jesse,

            I was lo

            ok

             in

             g

            all

           over

            for

            you,

             -“

          Lukas

          “Axel

         already

          ,told

            us

             ,

          ”Course

  he

 did,”

gruff

   ly,

  just

   as

  pana

   l,

Ivor

  “Finally out of the dark

 nes

   s of

  your

shadow

  ,”

“Now how about

            a real monster

and we’ll see how we measure up

   .”

“Ivor,

 th

   is

 really

  isn’t

  th

   e

  plac

   e,

   -

  or

  th

  e

  tim-

    ,

    “

   A

Compartment

 Reveal

   in

   g

   th

   e

Components

  for

   a

Wither

   ,

 Ivo

  r

 ad

 d

 i

 n

 g

 th

  e

 last

  par

  t,

   a

 “Wither

  Skull,”

    the

   Withe

      r

     Skul

      l ,

      th

      e

      On

       e

     Petra

        -

      The audience burst into applause as it st

      arted

    mo

      v

      in

      g believing it to be part of the

   show,

    Gabriel,

       tak

        in

        g

       out

         a

       wooden

        sword

        The

      Crowd

      Disperse

      as the

      Wither

      start

        e

        d

     at

      tack

       ing

     th

     e

     m,

   “Ivor

      That’s

    Eno

      ugh,

      Turn

       this

      thing

       of

        f,

     Lukas

   Confronted

     “Oh,

      I will

    One o’

     Soren,

      Once,

        hey

         it’s

         not

        work

         in

         g,

         Ivor pressing the button panicking

        ly,

      “Hey, guys

     what’s going

           on,

             “

          Axel

            joi

            ni

            n

            g

         th

          e

          m,

        at the cleared out

        con

        vent

         i

        on,

      “Ivor’s

       gon

       e

       Off

       the

      Wal

      l

     s

     And

   made an invention trying to

    kill

   every

    one,”

    Gill

   repli

   “Co

      ol

       ,”

    “ an

      d

     destroy,”

     “ Why won’t

       this

     stupid

      wire,”

      “Hm,

       Wire

         ,”

      “Axel

          ,”

       Oli

         v

         i

        a,

      “ I mean there was a

        wire on

        the

       table,”

       “Axel,

        what

        hap

         pen

           e

          d

          t

           o

          t

          h

           e

          w

          ir

           e,

       “Well,”

         Axel

        flush

         ing,

        “I um

         I

          took

           it,”

         “AXEL!!”

         “What they did say take

        whatever

         you

        wa

         nt

          ,

         ”

  “Wher

     e

     is-

     it-

     I used it to add

       another light display to the

            statue

            c-

            thing,

            “Well you

             might

  want

to get it

 now,”

Backing away from the

destruction

 on

  stage that seem to get

 eve

   r

 clos

  e

   r

    Stepping

      ove

       r the

   woo

   den

   sw

   ord

   The

  remote

   next

 dis

 regar

 d

   ed

   i

   n

frustration

  As they were driven back to the

 statue

  cr,

“Got

   it

   ,“

 “Hand

      it

    Gill

      ,

      ”

    Gil

       l

     Pas

      sin

      g

      i

      t

     to

    wh

     o

    gave

      to

   Jess

    e

   who

  Brok

   e

   it

 dow

 n,

   whil

   e,

   Olivia

   whisper

    ed

  instructions on how to

   put it

    together to Aiden

   Whil

    e

   Axel

      +

   Olivia

    play

     ed

   dis

   trac

   t

    io

     n

    “Done,”

      Tos

      s

      ed

      up

       to

     Lukas,

      Who

      went

        to

     pres

      s

       th

       e

    but

     to

     n,

   Only for

   Ivor to

   sn

   atch it out of his hand and do the

  Honor,

   And,

    It

 Didn’t

  wo

    r

    k,

  “So

 Losers

     ,”

    A

 Leather

 Jacket

  Rush

   e

   d

   by,

  “ Ethan,

       if

     you’re

      not

     goin

      g

      t

      o

      b

      e

    hel

     p

    fu

    l-

   ,”

Lukas

           snapped

             but they were already

      long

        gone,

        Trail

         ing

        afte

         r

        the

        m

        To the

      Edge,

     Ivor

    hauling

    Gabriel’s

  unconscious

     form,

  “I

    want

     e

    d

 to see him

   humiliated not

 dead

    ,”

  Gabriel

   stirrin

    g by the

  Edge,

Talkin

g

  to

 “Gill,

  you

  need

     to

    tak

     e

    t

    h

     i

    s

 emble

  m,”

Tak

  in

  g

  it

 ou

  t

  of

 his

coat

  ,

 “Fin

 d

  th

  e

 other

  s

   -

   ,

   ”

  Pas

  sing

   Ou

     t,

   And

    Gil

      l

    Run

     n

   ing off in the opposite direction with the

 wheel,

   It’s flashing a

    slight blue at Gill’

             s

             tou

            ch

           Befor

            e

            a

           brow

            n

          dot,

           around

          th

          e

        ri

       m,

      Mak

       ing a small

    streak

    pa

     t

     h,

     ,

    Shifting with the

  users

   stance to point in a

   certain

 dir

  ec

  t

  io

  n

Tak

 in

 g

Of

 f

Af

te

r

it

A

Broken

 Crate

 r

Wi

 t

  h

 h

  i

  m

  a

   s

   K

    i

    n

    g

    ,

    It was

   nearly

   im

   po

   s

  sib

   le

   to

 m

  a

   k

   e

   it

   t

    o

   h

    i

   m,

“Mag

    nus,

Ga

  bri

   el

 Sen

   t

   Us,”

 “ Gabriel

     huh,”

    Magnus

     hol

     ding up the

      tr

       in

      ke

       t,

     Before

        throwing him down the pile

          he’

           d

          jus

            t

         struggle

           d

           t

          o

        cli

          m

          b,

         On

         top of

         Gil

            l

        Who’d

         bee

         n

       s

        u

       p

         por

      t

       in

        g

       hi

      m

  “This.

      is

   point

    les

     s.”

   “He

      ’s

  Insane,”

    Jess

      e

  Admit

     t

    ed

 dejected

    ly,

  Shar

    in

    g

    a

   lo

   ok

   wit

   h

 Axe

  L

  ,

“Then

  we

sh

 ould

 mo

  ve

  onto

   the

   nex

    t

    one-,”

    Axel

   shook

     his

    head,

   “ We

    need

      to get

     this

    done,

    We’re

    stay

     in

     g

   he

     r

    e

   go

    on

   ah

   e

   a

  d

  ,”

Lukas

Speech

 less,

Before

Going

 On

ahead,

Aidan

 Wi

 t

  h

 h

  i

 m,

“Hm,

 Of

course

  I’ll

  go

 with

 you,”

Eligard

   far

 mor

 e

Co Operative,

 Soren

    “I

 should

   stay

    out

     he

     re,”

    Whe

     n

   The

    y

  got

   to

Soren’s

 hous

  e,

 “Soren and I .. didn’t leave things off

too

 go od

  last time

   I- we

   spoke”

     ,

   “It

 would

    be

 better

     if

  you

  go,

Soren, not so much..

.

   Having

    taking

       to

      knit

      ting

        a

       lot,

      And

  docu

  ment

    ing his

   rare

    animal

     fin

      dings

      Not p

       l

       ease

       d

       to be distur

       b

       ed

        b

        y

       t

       h

       e

       m,

     How

      eve

        r very excited to see

     Reuben,

       Jess

         e

          ’s

          pe

           t

           pi

           g,

          “Animal

           s,

             lovely

          creatures

              ,

             Don’t

             betray you

             and take your

             th

              ings

               ,

              I’ve seen

                 a few

               of course

             - but to see it

                   bonded

                     with

           a

       human,

           ,

         You

         must

          tell

          me

          the

          tale,

          Sitting with

          Soren

           and having

            tea

            I found

            Reuben

             (That

            ’s his

             name)

                           at the

                           place

  we

 built

 our

                       treehouse,

   ”

While

 So

 ren

                           knit

          Re

            ub

            en

             a

            ti

           ny,

        Sw

          ea

         te

          r,

        “Now

          back

            to

            the

           point,

             we

            could

             reall

              y

              use-

            appreci

               ate-

                ,“

            Soren’s

             fac

 e

chan

 g

  ing at his

change

  in

 words,

              “you

                 r

              he

               l

              p,

              ”

             “I want-

            to help you

            I really do,

              “

              Soren

               insist

               e

               d,

              “But the Order

                and

                   I, didn’t

                leave things on

                good

                terms,

  Hesitatin

   g,

 Cou,

 “Would  

   Reuben be

   t

    here,

       “

    Jess

     e

    Nod

    ded

    “And you’d be helping a lot of

      animals-“

    “Fine-

      I’ll

     go,”

      ,

   Jesse

    em

   er

    gi

    n

    g

  wi

    t

    h,

 Soren

  Only to find

    Aidan

  an

   d

   Eligard

     No

  �� Long

      er

     ther

      e,

    “They  

      went

     ahead

         to

         th

          e

       Temple

          ,”

       Lukas

        whis

         per

          ed

           Swa

            pp

             in

             g

           stories

          wi

            th

           Luk

            as  

 on

 th

  e

 w

   a

   y

   as        

    he

    le

     ad

    t

    h

     e

     m

      b

       a

       c

       k

        to

        th

        e

      Te

      m

        ple,

       The

      only

      thing

       left

      after

       th

        e

     Wither’s

     rampage

      “And

       our

       tree

      house

        is

       ri

       gh

         t

      ov

        e

        r

     th

      e

      r

     e,”

   Lukas

   poi

    n

    t

    e

    d

  ou

    t,

 Petr

 a

 sho

 w

  in

  g

  u

  p

  w

   i

   t

   h

   I

   v

   o

   r,

  And

  things

  clearly

   went

  down

    hi

     ll from

    th

    er

    e,

  Ivor,

  im mediately

   taking charge of the whole

  op      eration

 as        Soren

watch

e

d

Irr

iat

 e

 d

  o

  n           th

  e

   side

    lin

    e

    s,

Goin

  g

 t

  o

 g

 e

  t

Mag

n

u

 s

 with

t

h

e

sp

ar

e

tim

e

,

“Who

dares-

So

r

e

 n,

 “

 Dro

 pp

  ing the explosive behind his back as he went to

cuddle

Soren,

 who

 star

 e

  d

 blank

 l

 y,

“Soren,

 ‘how you been

  cute

   pig,

   Always

    a sucker for

    (cute

    animals,

       so

      how,

          “

      Holding up the emblem

      intimi

      datingly

                Sw

       “Al right,

        oh right,

        ,sure

            “

         Mak

            in

            g

            it

           b

           a

          c

          k

          t

          o

         t

          h

          e

                   Temple,

          to

        he

        ar,

      “It’s

      Done!”

      Soren

       raisi

        ng

         an

         ey

           e

         bro

          w,

          at

           leas

            t,

            “This will

 de

 activate

    the

   Wither

   storm,

     “

    “Once

        in

      walking distance so

       of

     course,

        ,”

     Shoving

        th

         e

      devic

         e

       of

         f

       on

     Lukas

      Who

      went

        to

       suit

        up

       as well as the rest of

      them,

 At the moment

arrived,

   “I’ll watch

     Reuben

    for

    you,

     “

  Soren

   Offe

    r

   ed

   Reuben

  Could take

       a pretty

    mighty

  pun

    ch,

   but saf

  er

 no

  t

  to

  risk

    it,

 “Sure

 Reuben

   likes

   you,”

   As

   he

  went

  through

      Sl

       ici

       n

       g

     Thr

      ou

      g

       h

      th

      e

     Wit

     her

     Spawn

    ed

    hord

    e,

   The

  Wither

   storm

   falte

     r

    in

    g  

    an

    d

   fall

    in

    g

  Com

     in

     g

    ou

      t

Rescuing those that the  

   Wither

    storm

      had

      cap

       tur

        e

        d,

       Inc

        Lud

          in

          g

        Gab

          r

          i

          el,

          Wi

           th

          Fro

           s

          t

          bi

          t

         e,

         Only

           for

             it  

             to

            star

 t

mov

 in

  g

 ag

   a

   i

   n,

   In

  three,

   “Run!”

    Luk

    as

    Wa

      rn

      e

      d,

     They ran, castle destroyed,

         and forced to find shelter in a

     cave

     “This never

       would’ve

      happened,

       “

      “Magnus please for once in your life shut your

     accursed

     mouth,”

     Soren

      snap

     p

     e

     d

 worriedly,

 “Eligard help me attend to

  Gabriel’s

   frost

   bite

     ,”

     -

  Into the Night

“Ivor,

 I can’t believe

  so such a fool

  hardy

   plan!”

  Wak

  in

  g

 up

Lukas

 an

 d

           dis

            turb

            i

           n

           g

          th

          e

       other

        s,

      Goin  

        g

       ou

        t

        t

        o

       ,

                  “I should’ve

                    stood up

                for

                m

                 yself

                 a

                  long time ago

Ivor

       Give me that

        in fernal device,”

      “ it need

        s

       morganite

         ,”

      “You use

       d

       dia-

      mond,

         ”

          as argument broke out

          Lukas,

            Petra coming behind

            Lukas after being treated

        for

         minor

          frost

         -burn

         Sm,

        “Looks like I actually

       wi

         ll have use of that

     mor

     ganite,“

  Petra crossed her arms clearly haven’t forgotten the abrasive

      behavior

        ear

         lie

         r,

      “Pl-

       huc

       ke

       d

     Morganite

      at

     h

      i

     m,

    “Yo

      u

    should

     pro

     bably

     destroy

      it

     fo

     r

   goo

   d

m

 easur

  e

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 End

[gruumpy-cat]

The Art of Being Nonchalant (Or Not) / Chapter Two

A few days after my birthday, James and Fred came over for a training session with my grandad. The three of us were the only remnants of the once glorious Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Which is not to say that it won’t be glorious again if James had any say in it. He just had to practically rebuild the whole team with new people.

My parents were away training, both of them had matches coming up. Mum was still fighting with Orlov since he apparently gave an interview for Witch Weekly claiming he had some ‘concerns about certain members of his team’ when asked about relationships between players from opposing teams and how that affects the play. According to mum, the journalist was obviously fed the question before the interview by Orlov’s manager.

Dad once again managed to hex Rita Skeeter. He banned her from doing one on one interviews with him but yesterday the whole team was being interviewed together and she implied dad was having an elaborate affair, a whole other family somewhere in Norway he supported and kept secret. Apparently, the Healers at St Mungo’s still haven’t been able to put her nose and face to the way they used to look. Dad claimed temporary insanity due to being hit in the head by a Bludger during practice right before the interview. It was his favourite excuse. He was lucky he had a horde of fans. It was kind of cool that he had an arch nemesis, even if the nemesis in question was just an unscrupulous journalist.

Grandad was in his study finishing up a chapter of this secret book he was writing. He wouldn’t tell any of us what it’s about but his book club apparently supported him. They met once a week in Mrs Jameson’s cottage nearby. She was the go-to person if you wanted to hear the latest gossip. Useful lady.

It was a dry and sunny day, perfect for Quidditch. There was no point in wearing robes so we all started out in shorts and T-shirts but as it got hotter, the boys took off their shirts. If they were hoping that would distract me, they were wrong. Honestly, the male body is not that special. Though they were nice to look at. But, I’ve already seen them numerous times, either during practice or when we went swimming so I kept myself in check and kept my eyes on the Bludgers.

James and Fred were currently practising Quaffle passes while doing their best to dodge the Bludgers I sent their way. It was hard to keep up with two Bludgers without another Beater so I got hit a couple of times already, but the Stormwind flew like it read my mind and I managed to stay on my broom every time I was hit.

There was a Bludger coming from below so I did a one handed Sloth Grip Roll and sent the Bludger Fred’s way. It was a little trick grandad taught me last summer. Fred’s eyes were only on the Quaffle instead of following what was going on around him so it hit him in the back.

“Fuck, Quinn, what the hell? Are you trying to murder me?” Fred yelled at me while James was desperately trying to dodge both Bludgers at once because it seemed they both decided to attack only him. I flew over and hit the one that almost got him in the head. Fred was stretching out on his broom to ease his back pain which proved to be a very misguided idea because I almost knocked him out cold instead of the Bludger that was aiming for his torso.

“Merlin’s saggy balls! You boys better start dodging those Bludgers so I don’t have to constantly save the two of you!” As I said this, the Bludgers stopped mid-air. I turned around and saw that grandad was standing in the middle of the Pitch with his wand out and his pipe in his other hand. He was wearing his sunglasses so I couldn’t read his expression.

“Freddie, if it were me in the air and not Quinn, you’d be lying in a hospital bed right about now. And you, James, you need to stop throwing the Quaffle high all the time, you’re fucking predictable. Quinn, start fucking hitting that Bludger like you mean it!” grandad was yelling this as he paced around. I noticed Ziggy on the roof. He looked like he just ate a bird or something.

Oh, yeah, there it is. He coughed and a white feather flew out of his mouth. How nice.

Suddenly, a Bludger was flying towards me and I had to block it with my left arm instead of my bat because it came way too fast. Ouch. I was going to be covered in bruises after this practice ended.

Grandad was yelling again with his wand out pointed at the Bludger that hit me, “When I’m fucking talking you don’t fucking zone out!”

Fred and James were laughing at me. I threw them a dirty look and twirled my bat in what I hoped was a menacing way. Merlin, grandad sure liked to yell when he was in his coach persona. He was still doing it.

“All three of you – warm up laps around the Pitch! I don’t want to see you stop until you’ve done twenty. I’ll be watching from over there,” as he said this he pointed to an old oak tree off to the side. It was the same oak tree James and I used to climb when we were younger and pretended to go on adventures. We even built a small treehouse with grandad’s help. It was still there but I couldn’t remember the last time we were up in it.

We all came down and left our brooms leaning against the white walls of my house. I took my water bottle and drank almost half the bottle in one go. It was getting too hot for my liking.

The boys already started on their laps without me so I had to run a little faster to catch up. As I ran up to them, Fred turned to squint at me, his dark auburn hair falling into his eyes. He smirked at me.

“How are the knickers I got you?” James started laughing at his question but soon stopped because it was hard to laugh and run at the same time. At least in grandad-approved pace.

I stuck out my tongue at Fred, “I think I’ll wear them for every match this year! They really show Gryffindor pride!” The knickers he was talking about were his birthday present for me.

To tease them a little bit I sped up my pace and drew my shorts a little lower, showing the scarlet and gold knickers with the words ‘Daring Gryffindor’ proudly displayed. Turning around to see their faces, I heard grandad yelling, “Stop fooling around!”

I slowed down to catch my breath so the boys were running alongside me again. James was strangely silent, his face red from the sun and the running, but Fred was still joking around. I don’t get how he had the energy with all the running.

“Nice bum!” he snickered, “I can see why Al has been moping around being all depressed and shit –“

“I’ll hit you with a Bludger when we’re finished with laps,” I growled at him, “and I’ll tell Ethan you hero-worship him!”

James finally found his voice, “Yeah, let’s not talk about my brother. I’ve had enough of that from Lily,” he said with a pained expression as he ran his fingers through his hair. He looked at us with a devious smirk, “Besides, the two of you really need to work on your stamina!” and he sped off, Fred rushing after him, leaving me to be the last one in what was now a race. Unacceptable.

I cursed both of them under my breath as I struggled to catch up. Then I cursed their long legs and contemplated which spell would be the best to make them shorter. As I came within throwing distance from Fred, I jumped on his back and tackled him. We went down but not before he managed to catch James’ ankle and dragged him down with us.

Our laps officially over, we were lying in an out-of-breath heap on the floor, limbs tangled. I couldn’t move since almost all of my extremities were under some parts of James and Fred.

“You really are trying to murder us, right?” James asked between breathing in huge gulps of air. I couldn’t stop myself from laughing and then Fred started laughing and soon all three of us were laughing and nobody noticed my grandad until he loomed over us, blocking the sun.

“What, in the name of fucking Merlin, were you thinking, you bloody crazy child?” I didn’t even have to look at him to know his face was contorted in a weird grimace between angry and amused.

I started to answer, “I –,” another laugh erupted from me before I could finish. James and Fred were still guffawing. “I couldn’t let them fucking win, could I?” I hollered.

Now grandad was in stitches.

“Up, you fools, and get on your brooms!” and he was back to yelling. Good old grandad. Scratch that, good old coach Jones.

When all of us were in the air, grandad gave us various flying exercises to work on, the toughest being able to fly upside down while either catching and passing a Quaffle or hitting a Bludger. After the flying exercises, he charmed different obstacles for Fred and James to go through and score while I had to practice precision shots with a moving target, the target being my grandad. He was bloody hard to hit, it was like he was under a dodging charm or something. When I’ve hit the Bludger so many times that I couldn’t hold the bat anymore, he insisted I do it all over again but with my left arm. This time I didn’t manage to hit him at all and with every failed hit I got angrier and more frustrated. Stupid left arm.

“That’s it, I’m done!” I let out a scream of frustration as I flew to the ground, jumped off my broom and threw my bat, nearly hitting a squirrel running between two trees. James flew down next to me still holding the Quaffle and Fred was hovering above us. Grandad calmly got off his broom but I could see he was mad.

“You’re done? You are not fucking done! How do you expect to get on a fucking team when you give up at the first obstacle?” he was fuming, “You’re willing to tackle bloody Freddie over there because you couldn’t let the two of them win in what wasn’t even a competition, but you whine about this? Not fucking happening!”

I was so angry I could’ve hexed him if I had my wand with me. I didn’t care that he was probably right. Before I could grab my bat from the ground, James put his hand on my shoulder.

“You’re being stupid,” he said and I felt a little bit of my anger dissipate. I was being stupid and I was mostly angry at myself.

Grandad took off his sunglasses and I could see he was frowning. “Right. Now really listen to me, all of you,” as he said this he looked up at Fred and motioned for him to come down.

He continued, “The scouts don’t care about who you are. They don’t care about your family. What they do care about are fucking skill and teamwork. And those two things are the only fucking important things in Quidditch. And whining won’t make you more skilled,” he looked pointedly at me. Seriously, I whine one time and now I’m the poster girl for whining.

“So. Quinn, you’re going to fucking lift weights and box and practice your left arm until you can hit me in the head with a Bludger with your eyes closed using that arm. It’s not going to be easy and it’s not going to happen soon. But I know you can do it and don’t you dare fucking tell me again you can’t do something.”

I nodded. He didn’t look convinced. I waved my hands in defeat, “Okay, okay, fine! Stop looking at me like that!”

Grandad just rolled his eyes and put his sunglasses back on. “James, you need to perfect your rolls,” he said gruffly, “but I’m impressed by the quality of your passes if I disregard the predictability. What’s your scoring percentage?”

James looked very pleased with himself with a huge grin on his face. Getting a compliment, even one masked with criticism, from my grandad was almost unheard of. “Ninety per cent, Mr Jones, but I’m trying to make it ninety-five.” Unlike my parents, grandad never told my friends to call him by his name.

I could see Fred was getting bored. His interest wasn’t in playing professionally. No, fearless Fred, which sounds like what could be his superhero name, had his eyes set on an Auror position. But that didn’t stop him from being on the Gryffindor team and if that meant summer practices with my demanding grandfather, then Fred was going to practice.

“Are we done?” I asked, squinting up at my grandad, shielding my eyes with my hand. After flying and running around for almost the whole day I felt like I could eat three Hippogriffs.

Grandad looked us over with an amused look and said, “You’re done for today, yes.”

We were storing the Quidditch equipment in my parents’ shed and I could feel the sweat trickling down my back. “I can’t wait to jump in the shower, I’m completely soaked from practice!”

“Really? We didn’t notice,” James said as he gestured at the T-shirt clinging to my body uncomfortably, sharing a significant look with Fred who was grinning wildly.

“You should get soaked more often,” James continued, “it might be the only way for Fred to actually see some womanly attributes.” Fred threw the previously discarded dirty T-shirt he picked up from the floor at James’ head.

“Hey, I’ve seen plenty!” he exclaimed with an offended face.

We started walking back to the house. James said teasingly, “Plenty? Mate, you haven’t been with anyone since we found your crazy ex-girlfriend in a broom closet with that Ravenclaw guy, what was his name?”

Fred grudgingly replied, “Mark, fucking Mark Colton. And Julia wasn’t crazy.”

I whipped my head around to look at him as I opened the door of my house. “What? But that was more than a year ago! You need to get laid,” we stepped in and I poured myself a glass of water, “Julia was batshit crazy, though, she wore a sweater with your face stitched on it, who in the seven hells does that?”

“I had a sweater with her face…” Fred trailed off, making James grimace and shake his head.

“But you never actually wore it! She got it for you. Of all the girls in Hogwarts…” I rolled my eyes. “I’m going to Floo Romano’s and order pizza and then I’m finally getting clean. You guys can use any of the other bathrooms.”

After a hot shower, we were hanging out in the living room, waiting for the pizza guy to Floo. I was actually sprawled over the sofa, my legs on James’ lap, while Fred was lounging on the armchair.

“Merlin, everything fucking hurts! Why do I even play Quidditch? I don’t think there’s a part of my body that hasn’t been hit today,” I groaned as I moved my left arm. That Bludger really got it.

James looked at my arm with a worried expression, “Your arm okay? You got hit pretty bad, let me see.” He inspected my arm with tips of his wand. When he tipped a particularly sore spot I yelped and withdrew my arm. He raised an eyebrow. “Obviously not okay. I’ll fix it,” he waved his wand and muttered some spells and I felt a little less achy.

“Thanks,” I said with a grateful smile, “it’s a good thing you took that emergency Healing course.” His mum made him take it when he got the Captain spot so he could deal with possible small injuries during practice. Fred was endlessly teasing him about being a Mummy’s boy but he didn’t mind when James actually healed him a couple of times. Hypocrite.

“You got any beer, Quinn?” Fred asked.

I nodded and motioned to the kitchen, “It’s in the fridge. Bring me one, too.”

“James?”

“I’ll have some.”

At that moment my fireplace lit up with green flames and a lanky boy, who I vaguely recognised as a fourth year Slytherin appeared with the pizza I ordered earlier. I got up, paid for the pizza and set the two boxes on the coffee table.

“Bye,” the boy awkwardly waved and yelled, “Romano’s!” disappearing into the green flames.

Fred yelled from the kitchen, “Quinn!”

“Yeah?”

“You’ve only got Guinness!”

“So what? It’s the only beer my grandad drinks. Bring it over!”

He came back with three bottles, “Thank Merlin the food is here, I was just about to start eating my own hand!” he exclaimed. “Didn’t your grandad ever hear of lunch?”

“He heard about it, he just chose to ignore it,” I said as I took a swig from the bottle. For grandad, Quidditch trumped food. James was already eating a slice and Fred looked like he was about to eat three slices in one go.

We devoured the pizza quickly and sat around, drinking beer. We each already drank two bottles and were now just sipping on the third ones.

I nudged James with my foot and he looked at me, “What?”

“You better find me a good enough Beater, Captain,” I stretched out, “today was officially the Bludger-torture day.”

“You’re telling us! We nearly died from your hits,” Fred exclaimed. He was very dramatic at times.

James had a thoughtful look and was running his fingers through his hair, “We do need a whole new team. Lily mentioned something about trying out for Seeker but I have no idea who would fill out the other positions.”

I frowned at that. We needed to win the Cup again this year. It was our last chance to get picked up by the scouts.

“There must be people who play well. Fred, why doesn’t your little sister try out?” I asked. Roxanne was possibly the best Quidditch player after James and Fred in the Weasley family, at least judging from what I’ve seen during the few summer games we all played. That girl saved almost everything that was thrown at her.

He snorted, “Roxy? She’s a bloody idiot who doesn’t want to participate in something that promotes a rivalry between the Houses. I don’t know where she gets these ideas but I’m suspecting Aunt Audrey. She’s always going off about how the House system in Hogwarts needs to be dismantled.”

James groaned in frustration, “Don’t remind me. But Lily also said Scorpius mentioned a girl in Gryffindor who’s a good Chaser. I think her name was Wendy something. He’s family friends with her but I have no idea who she is.”

“Doesn’t sound familiar,” I shrugged, “let’s hope she comes to tryouts.” I turned my head towards Fred and smirked at him, “So, Fred, you conveniently ignored my comment about you needing to get laid.”

“So, Quinn, how about you butt out of my romantic life?”

“Who the hell mentioned romance?” I took a sip of my beer.

Fred stared me down with narrowed eyes and said, “I did.”

I made a face at him, “But come on, really –,”

James interrupted before I could badger Fred more, “How about we meet up in Diagon Alley a day or two before school starts and we can buy school things and go out later? And find Fred his ‘romance’,” he quipped with a grin. Fred just shot him a dark look.

“Great idea! I’ll owl Dom and Ash later, they better be up for it,” I said.

Fred’s eyes went wide, “Ashley? You’re asking her to come?”

I looked at him with a perplexed look, “Uhm, yeah? That a problem?”

He violently shook his head, “No problem, none at all.”

James looked as confused by this as I was. I guess Fred was just weird sometimes. As far as I was aware, he was friendly with Ash. They played some kind of a drinking game together which involved drinking whenever someone said something in some movie they both liked at my birthday party and got pretty smashed.

“Where’s Ethan?” Fred asked looking around like he expected Ethan to jump out behind the sofa.

“I think it’s hilarious you’re probably more interested in hanging out with my brother instead of getting laid. What kind of a teenage boy are you anyway?”

He laughed at that and drank the rest of his beer, “I’m a perfectly normal teenage boy, thank you very much. But Hit Wizards are so cool! I wonder if he’d show me some of the offensive spells they teach them during training?”

“He’d probably be open to using one of them on you if you asked him nicely,” James said jokingly and had to dodge a Guinness bottle cap Fred threw at him for his troubles. “Did you find out what happened the other night?” he asked me.

I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly, trying to act cool but remembering Ethan covered in blood and the reason why was not cool, “Yeah, he nearly killed a guy in a knife fight. Well, a duel but someone disarmed him so he had to use a knife as a last resort.”

Fred looked like he wouldn’t mind a knife fight. He probably wouldn’t if it meant he’d put away a dark wizard or two.

“I didn’t know they used anything other than magic!”

“They have combat training in case they can’t use wands. Their knives are goblin-made and imbued with magic that allows them to penetrate most shield charms,” I responded, “At least that’s what Ethan told me when I asked him about it.”

“Wicked!”

James was absentmindedly tracing patterns on my leg. “What’s up with you today? You’ve been strangely quiet,” I said to him.

“What? Oh, nothing.”

“Not nothing, tell me,” I sat up and scooted over next to him. Fred had a worried look on his face and I wondered what the hell they weren’t telling me.

I poked James in the shoulder a couple of times, “Tell me, tell me!”

“Can we bring Al with us?” he asked, “He really has been moping around.”

“Bring him where?” I was confused. Why were they even asking?

“To Diagon Alley?”

“Why wouldn’t you bring him?”

They both groaned at that. James rolled his eyes and took a swig of his beer. Fred said, “He has this crazy idea he can win you back. The fact that Scorpius is cheering him on doesn’t help.”

I howled with laughter and nearly fell over from the sofa. “I’d like to see him try so yeah, bring him along, I don’t care.”

They shared an amused look between them. I could imagine Fred was going to tease Al mercilessly the next time he saw him.

It was already dark outside by the time we finished a game of Exploding Snap.

“I’m bored,” Fred complained while James was shuffling the cards. “Let’s do something fun!”

“We could go down to the pub?” I suggested as I got up from the sofa and waved my wand to clean out the mess of empty bottles and pizza boxes.

Fred grinned at me, “Yes! We haven’t gone out in a while.”

“Let me just grab some jeans and we can go,” I said and went up to my room. As I rummaged through my closet looking for some clean jeans I heard a crack and voices from downstairs. Finally finding the jeans, I quickly changed into them and went to my bathroom to make sure I looked at least like I wasn’t an undead member of the Others’ army. Happy that wasn’t the case, I went back downstairs where I found James and Fred, but mostly Fred, trying to talk Ethan into coming down to the pub with us. Luckily, this time he at least wasn’t covered in blood.

“Hey!”

“Hey little demon,” Ethan greeted me with the peculiar pet name he always called me. He said it was because when I was little I was screaming all the time just because I could so he took to calling me a little demon.

I was tying my shoelaces as I looked up at him, “You coming, then?”

James grinned at him, “C’mon mate, we haven’t hung out properly since forever!” Fred was just nodding along happily. I guessed he didn’t want to appear too excited. Not sure he succeeded since Ethan was looking at him with a slightly weirded out expression.

“I was supposed to go for a pint with a mate from my squad. That okay with you?”

I shrugged, Ethan’s friends were usually cool, “Yep, let’s go!”

We walked for about ten minutes chattering about this and that until we came to the Flying Thestral, the local wizarding pub. It was surrounded by long abandoned, dilapidated Muggle buildings. To Muggles, the pub appeared as just another old building and the wizards and witches as homeless people.

There was quite a crowd. Ethan walked in the front and greeted someone standing by the door. We walked up to them and I got a good look at what I could only describe as the absolutely hot epitome of badassery. Ethan’s friend was in a long black leather cloak with dark blond hair falling into his eyes. He casually flipped his head to remove the bangs and I could see a scar running down from his ear, over his cheek and ending close to his mouth. The scar just added to his overall appeal. He was as tall as Ethan and just as muscular, though I guess that was in his job description.

Ethan turned around and started the introductions. “Everyone, this is Logan Anderson. Logan, this is James Potter,” James nodded at him but Logan’s eyes found mine, “and Fred –,” Ethan was cut off before he could introduce Fred. Logan moved closer, still looking me in the eyes.

“And who is this?” he stared at me and I enjoyed the attention. I could see Ethan already regretting his decision to come with us.

“That, mate, is my baby sister,” he said as he put a firm hand on Logan’s shoulder and turned him around to enter the pub. Which didn’t stop Logan from turning his head and winking at me with a sly smile. I grinned at him. Fred was next to me muttering something to himself about Hit Wizards and knives and James followed behind me.

As we entered the pub I realised why the crowd was there. A Quidditch match between the Montrose Magpies and Puddlemere United was being displayed in the centre of the pub in the form of a miniature Pitch. The players were just coming out of the locker rooms and the pub erupted in cheers from both sides. James put an arm around my shoulders so I’d have an easier time going through the throng of people to the bar table Ethan found us. Each table had an even smaller Pitch so you could watch the match without having to cram your head trying to see what was going on between all the people.

“First round’s on me!” Logan yelled over the cheering and went off in the direction of the bar. The rest of us were a little squished together in the crowded space so James’ arm was kind of trapped around my shoulders. I didn’t mind because it meant that whenever somebody passed behind us it was mostly James that took the brunt of the impact.

“I forgot there’s a game today,” he said watching the players lift off the ground. Ethan was busy checking out a witch who was just passing. He wasn’t that interested in Quidditch. He never even played for the Slytherin team while he was in school. Fred was trying to get him to show him one of his knives.

Logan came back with his wand out levitating the drinks in front of him. As he stood himself next to me he waved his wand and the drinks settled on the table. James scooted a bit to the side so I could have a little more room. The Magpies scored and there was a collective ‘boo’ from most of the pub. It seemed Puddlemere had the larger number of fans tonight.

“Who are we rooting for then?” Logan asked as he drank his beer, “I’m a Catapults fan so I’m not really invested.”

I snorted at that and he looked at me sideways with a raised eyebrow, “Not a fan? What’s wrong with the Catapults?”

Shaking my head I said, “Nothing’s wrong with them but you really love the underdog, don’t you? They’ve been having really bad luck these past few seasons. Though Rhys Reynolds is one of the best Beaters in the world right now.”

“You play?” Logan asked as he lit a cigarette with a Zippo lighter. I could see an elaborate tattoo which started on his hand and disappeared under his sleeve but I couldn’t decipher the design.

“Quinn is a Beater on our House team,” James responded instead of me. He was already almost finished with his pint. I was halfway through mine.

Logan wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and said in a low voice, “There’s something incredibly hot about a woman wielding a Beater’s bat.”

As Logan said that, James downed his drink and yelled, “Another round?” Everyone nodded their heads and he went off. Puddlemere scored two times in a row and I couldn’t hear anything above the cheering noise for a while. James came back with both beers and Firewhisky shots. He put his arm around my waist so he could come up behind me to his place at the table.

Ethan was finally paying attention to the match, “You think Khan will retire soon? He’s almost fifty!” he asked as Riz Khan scored another goal for Puddlemere. He was one of dad’s biggest rivals.

Fred looked thoughtful, “I heard mum say he’s probably going at the end of the season. Something about his ligaments.” Looking at miniature Khan play, you would think he’s in his prime. His passes were impeccable and he had a real knack for reading the opposing Keeper.

“Dad will be devastated when that happens,” Ethan sighed, downing the Firewhisky shot and eyeing the crowd.

“Really? I thought he’d be happy,” Logan said with a bemused look.

Ethan shook his head, “No, he thrives on competition. I don’t know what he’d do without some kind of a rival.”

“Isn’t your parents’ match coming up?” James asked. Ethan and I both groaned and rolled our eyes at the same time as he said this.

“Merlin, don’t remind us,” I said as I finished my beer and put the glass on the table, “dad’s been talking about re-enacting their first match since they’re actually playing on the twenty-fifth anniversary, if for nothing else then to give Rita Skeeter something else to write about instead of his supposed mistress.”

Fred looked interested, “Re-enacting? Why?”

Ethan laughed at that, “You don’t know the story? Our parents met during the first match they played against each other,” he sipped on his beer, “Dad crashed into mum in order to stop her from catching the Snitch. She still caught it so she snogged him in front of the whole crowd as a victory celebration.”

James was tapping his fingers on my waist in tune to the Puddlemere anthem that the pub was playing. We were all a little bit drunk at this point. I could see a pretty witch from the next table throwing him looks but he was more interested in the game.

“And the rest is, as they say, history,” I finished Ethan’s story. He was now openly flirting with the girl he was eyeing before, the rest of us forgotten.

Logan leaned closer so I could smell his cologne, and asked in a husky voice, “Do you snog opposing players after a match, Quinn?” he took a drag from his cigarette and flicked the ashes away as he continued, “Or people in general?”

Before I could answer, James, who was actually following the game, yelled, “Fuck!” along with almost everyone else in the pub. I turned to look at the miniature Pitch which was replaying what happened just seconds before. Three things happened at almost the exact same time, the Magpies’ Beater hit a Bludger towards Riz Khan who dodged it and scored, but one of the Puddlemere Beaters was hit in the head instead just as the Magpies’ Seeker crashed into him and caught the Snitch, both of them plummeting to the ground, the Beater breaking the Seeker’s fall. There was an audible crunch.

“Is he alive?” Fred asked the question everyone was thinking. Mediwizards hurried onto the field and obscured the view of the injured players. After a couple of minutes filled with uncertainty, the mediwizards gave the thumbs up and levitated the injured players off the field. The faint voice of the commentator could be heard saying that they were both alive but needed immediate transfer to St Mungo’s.

The pub owner yelled over the crowd, “Next round is on the house! Let’s celebrate the fact that no one died!” He turned up the music and with the match over people started dancing. Fred went over to the bar to get us the free drinks.

Ethan came back looking dejected. We downed the dark green Serpentgin shots Fred brought over.

“No luck tonight?” I asked my brother.

“She just wanted me to introduce her to James, you interested, mate?”

James looked over at the girl in question and frowned, “I’ll pass.”

Ethan shrugged and said, “Your loss.”

I don’t think anyone else heard James mutter something that sounded like, “Not really.” I must have heard him wrong because of the loud music.

Logan moved even closer than he was before, flipped his head over to the part of the pub where people were dancing and said, “Let’s dance.”

With a huge yawn, James looked at everyone and said, “I’m so tired. Are you guys tired? You must be after that gruelling practice. Ethan, you look like a vampire!”

Ethan’s eyebrows shot up but he just smirked. Fred was quick to jump on the tired bandwagon. I couldn’t deny my whole body felt like I was run over by a Hippogriff. I just realised I was mostly standing up because James was partially holding me up.

“Sorry Logan, we’ll have to do this some other time when I’m not falling off my feet,” I tried my best to throw him what I considered my seductive smirk. I think it worked because he winked at me.

“Looking forward to it, Quinn.”

We partially walked and partially stumbled back to the house. I realised that James still had his arm around my waist but if he didn’t I was pretty sure I would’ve just sat down next to the road and waited for someone to either carry me back home or kidnap me.

When the house came into view I could see that there was a light on in Grandad’s study. The curtains weren’t shut and there was he was hunched over his typewriter.

Ethan opened the doors and we all crashed in the living room. Fred was lying down on the fluffy carpet. Ziggy came strutting in. He looked at us judgingly.

Grandad came in from his study. “You lot up for a drink? No? Lightweights!”

I had no capacity to answer him. I was busy thinking about tonight. Something was bothering me.

“James?”

“What?”

“Why didn’t you go off with that extremely hot girl earlier?”

“I don’t know, Quinn.”

[mangled-dreams]

Dealings with a Devil (Part 6)

Dealings with a Devil (Part 6)

Reader X Darkiplier

You, Reader, have made a deal with what you believed to be a fantasized version of your favorite YouTuber’s alter ego, Darkiplier after he’d visited you in a dream. You believed Darkiplier to only exist in your dreams and on Markiplier’s YouTube channel, but by some impossible way he’s real and he intends on collecting on your debt to him.

Walking around your hotel room you lay out your clothing for the day and make sure your snacks are carefully packed away in your laptop bag. Of course there will be food at the convention, but it'll be over priced for very little. An unforgiving pattern at large events in general.

After showering and dressing you gather up your portable phone charger, cord, and your all access badge given to you by Mark. Your badge allows you access to the restricted areas as well as into the venue without paying. You have reserved seating for panels you want to sit in on as well as the panel that Mark and the others will be on later in the afternoon.

Hearing a knock at your door you walk over and open it, greeting Mark with some level of surprise. “What are you doing here?” you ask not sure what he'd need to come to your hotel room for. Not that you don't like spending time with him, you just doesn't know what the man could need from you just an hour before the convention.

Mark chuckles and holds out a plain white tube to you. “I wanted to tell you know I did a thing.” he says sitting down on the arm of the couch. You raise a brow in question. “Open the tube.” he tells you, watching you cautiously open the tube. “It's not a bomb.” he jokes earning a laugh from you.

“I dunno... there's something shifty about you, Mark.” you tease back tilting the tube so that the content slips out into your hand. You set the tube down and unroll thick card stock paper in your hands more than confused. Was it a limited edition poster for the convention? As you unroll the poster your eyes widen. This isn't something Mark had made, this is yours! This is the poster you'd made for him as a gift.

“Mark, w-what does this...?” you look at him, seeing the joy in his face.

“So the guys and I were talking, arguing, about who's poster was better.” Mark says standing up and takes the poster from your hands. “With your permission, we want to sell them at the convention; kind of like a competition. Sean and I got a wager going on about who can sell out the quickest.” Mark tells you trying to gauge your reactions.

“What?” you shout, a little freaked out at the thought of such a large volume of people, physical people seeing and potentially buying your art work. “Ah...” your speechless. Obviously Mark seems to think your art is good enough to display and sell, but... “I... I don't know what to say, honestly. I mean, I'm honored, but at the same time I'm so scared of having so many people looking at my work right in front of me. It's different on the internet. I mean I don't see anyone on the net, but ah...I did give them to you as a gift without restrictions...” you say rubbing the back of your neck. He seems so excited about display and selling the posters.

“We won't be keeping the money past paying for the posters.” Mark tells you earning a confused look from you.

“What?” you ask a little but more than confused.

“The money from the posters will go back to you, what ever we make it'll be up to you what happens to it. You can keep it, give it to charity, refuse it... You deserve to have a little bit of publicity. You art is amazing, and I'm not just saying that. The others agree with me.” Mark says earnestly. You look down to your poster then to Mark again.

“You seem so sure of this.” you tell him a little weakly. Mark grins nodding his head.

“I'm so sure of this. Even Chica agrees with me.” Mark says earning a little bit of laughter from you.

“Well, if Chica agrees.” You say softly. You both talk a few minutes more and reluctantly agree to a trial run for the first day which sends Mark over the moon. You laugh, watching the goofball jump up and down encouraging you to believe in yourself before he leaves telling you he'll see you at the convention. You laugh bid him goodbye before gathering your things and take your leave. Sure, you're not completely confident in the prospects of your art being bought, even if it is backed by Markiplier and his A-Team, but it makes you feel better.

From your vantage point behind Mark and off to the left,  you can see just about every one's sections. Sean is set up directly across from Mark, Ethan and Tyler on either side of Mark, and Wade and Bob are just a few booths down. You assume they try to get their booths next to each other if possible for just discussion and comedy reasons and so far, it's been enjoyable. There are periods where the flow of people slows down but for the most part it's been busy, busy, busy!

Your computer on a small table to your left, your tablet in hand as you do a few quick sketches of Sean at his booth. His expressions so amusing to watch as he interacts with his fans. Glancing up you spot him looking at you with a raised brow. You laugh and twist your computer screen, blowing up a small doodle enough for him to vaugely see. He gives you a look that says “not bad” before turning to a young woman that had walked over to his booth.

You turn your computer back to face you, minimize your page, and look at Sean again. He's turned, looking at a few things on the wall behind him, his wall of merchandiser as he talks with the girl. You sketch the scene, barely registering that Sean is now smiling quite largely and pointing directly at you. Your pen hand pauses and you look around, seeing if there is anyone directly next to you. Mark is talking with a ground of fans, glancing at you with curiosity.

You shrug your shoulders, but before you can dismiss the odd actions of your new found friend a voice calls out you to.

“Are you Dream Maker?” the young woman from Sean's booth asks, in her arms are a mountain of posters tubes and plushies. You wonder how she's going to make it through the rest of the convention like that before your handle on Tumblr brings your attention back to her face.

“What?” you ask a bit confused.

“J-Jack said you made his poster, oh wow! I see one for Markiplier too!” she says with a dreamy look in her eyes. You blush, glancing at the poster to make sure she's looking at the right one. She is.

“Ah, y-yes. I made the posters.” you say setting your tablet and pen down. You stand up and move to the empty corner of  Marks' table.

“You have to be Dream Maker, then! I know your style anywhere! It's so awesome to meet you in person! I didn't even know you were going to be at the convention! I would have told my mom! She  loves the dreamscape you made me! I have it hanging in the living room.” the woman says before her words finally click with your head.

“Holy mother of fucks!” you gasp earning a few curious glances from the people around you. “Ashlynn! I, damn, girl, I didn't know you lived in LA!” you say happily. Now you can finally put a face to the user handle slash best customer.

“Yeah! I knew you'd be in LA, but I didn't know you'd be here!” Ashlynn says setting her things down. You smile at her.

“It was kind of a surprise to me too, but hot damn, it's good to meet you in person!” you say brightly.

Ashlynn pulls out the poster she just purchased from Sean's booth and holds out a silver pen to you. “Will you sign this for me? I thought I saw something that reminded me of your art work at one of the other booths, but then I saw your poster at Jack's booth and I just knew it! I asked him about the poster and he said that you were actually here!” Ashlynn says as you slowly take the pen from her.

“Y-yeah, I mean I made these for the guys as gifts, but then Mark came to me this morning and suggested selling them. I...I kind of just went with it.” you say laughing softy.

“That's so boss!” Ashlynn says smiling big. “I just...I never thought I'd meet you, you're a lot prettier than I had imagined.” You're not sure to take that as a complement or an insult so you remain silent. “I mean, not that I thought you were ugly, but I kind of imagined you'd be in sweats and a sweatshirt with alike a mess bun.” You laugh at that one.

“That's actually what I very similar to what I look like minus the sweat pants. I'm not a fan of socks, shoes, or pants in general.” you laugh. You converse with Ashlynn for quiet some time before wondering around the convention center together. You talk about your interests and converse with some of other artists, collectors, and entertainers before going back to Mark's table.

“Oh, there you are. Hey, our panel will start soon so we're going to head over to Hall B.” Mark says in greeting. You nod.

“Oh, gotcha. I'll be over shortly, I'm a little hungry so I was thinking to snag a few minutes to munch on some grub.” you say watching Mark nod.

“There'll be a seat waiting for ya when you arrive.” Mark promises as someone near the marked off doors calls for him. Mark waves to the person, nods, then tells you, “See you in Hall B.”

“Wouldn't miss it for the world.” you tell him with a wink before he chuckles and runs off. You turn to Ashlynn, noting her shocked expression. “What?” you ask a little off put by her expression.

“Dude, are you two dating?” she asks bending the ear of a few passerby.

Your face flames red. “No! Mark is just a friend, if that. He's just really personable.” you say not sure if you'd want to date the man. Sure, he's charismatic, charming, handsome, funny, sweet, caring...there is very little you can fault him on, but there isn't that spark that makes you want to jump him. “Here's what I mean; I don't know him all that well. He's very nice and I find him adorable and funny, but that's not all you base a relationship on. I respect him as an artist, as an entertainer, and as a human being. Once you get pass the face he's such a huge star, he's just a person with troubles and history.” you say, not meaning to sound like a rehearsed speech, but it's the truth.

You hate people blowing things out of proportion. It is possible to have a normal friendship type of relationship between woman and men. That is what you have with Mark and his friends. Whether the friendship will stand the test of time, which you doubt, has yet to be seen.

“Whoa, did you practice that in the mirror?” Ashlynn asks smirking at you.

“I wish. I could never that made that up beforehand. I'm a decent artist, but not a very good liar.” you say sighing. Ashlynn bids you goodbye and you go to gather your computer and tablet. Everything else you can replace, but it'd be difficult to replace your artwork saved to your laptop. Reaching for your water bottle you pause, there is a dark red, almost black rose sitting next to your bottle. There is no note or even a card, simply a rose.

Standing up you pick up the rose and look around. No one is watching you with intent interest and other than a few people stopping to look at the merchandise hanging up there isn't anyone that catches your eye.

“What a pretty rose, for such a lovely Lass.” you heard what sounds like Sean, but the tone is darker, distorted in a way.

“Oh, God, you scared me.” you say spinning around to see a AntiSepticEye cosplayer standing behind you. Placing a hand over your heart you close your eyes and take a deep breath. “Wow, your costume looks so authentic.” you say wanting to touch by know better. “That must have taken you hours to do.” you say admiring the realism with the slit around his throat. This cosplayer really, you mean, really looks like Sean.

“Oh, it took ages.” he responds smiling at you. His smile unsettles you a little and you take a step away from him without thinking about it. “I heard you're the girl to talk about regarding the posters.” the man says motioning to the poster to your right. You don't follow his gaze.

“Oh, ah, yeah, but I'm not the one selling them. You'll have to talk with Mindy over there if you'd like to buy one.” you say having an inkling this man is not a Mark fan. “JackSepticEye has his own version if you haven't see it. It has Anti on it too.” You tell him looking over to Sean's booth. He too has left for Hall B.

The Anti cosplayer nods, his eyes focused on your face. He smiles and you get the feeling it's meant to be reassuring, but it has an edge to it that doesn't sit right with you. Like when you see Dark... Actually, now that you really analyze your gut feeling this is the exact same feeling you get when Dark is around. It's the feeling of the Void. Is this truly the AntiSepticEye?

“Aye, lass, but I wished to commission a piece from you.” Anti says looking to the rose in your hand.

“Y-you do?” you ask trying to sound causal and failing. “I am currently taking commissions, but you have to make a submission for one. T-there is ah, a lot that I don't do and based on your desired overall look I give you a price and a timeline.” you say trying to stay in your business mode. Anti nods, his hand reaching out to brush a stray hair behind your ear.

“That sounds fair. How do I submit a request?” Anti asks stepping closer to you, crowding your space. You stare up into his eyes, watching as they change from blue to a possessed demon black.

“E... E-mail.” You tell him noticing for the first time he seemed to flicker around the edges of his frame.

Anti smiles at you, this one seems to be genuine and non-threatening as he reaches passed you, his chest brushing momentarily against your own before pulling away. “Expect a message from me lass, but as I had said before, such a pretty rose for such a lovely lass.” Anti says fixing your hair slightly, his hands making quick work of securing the rose.

“Ah...thank you...” you manage in a slight daze. If this is the real Anti, that means the reality of the alter egos doesn't just apply to Mark.

Anti smirks, leaning down he presses a kiss to your cheeks, and leaves. You watch him go, unsure if what just happened actually just happened. Your attention is pulled away when one of the event photographers calls out to you. You talk with the photographer dressed as Princess Peach before running off to Hall B to watch the panel, barely making it in time for the introductions.

Part 7

[artificialqueens]

TROIKA (Trixie/Alaska feat. Katya) Prologue/9- Spoky

A/N: In the end, it’s just RPF. @veronicasanders & @fryshook, cheers comrades.

Summary: You can’t choose who you fall in love with and sometimes it’s inconvenient; it’s challenging, cumbersome, difficult and pushes you in directions you previously thought impossible. This is a story about negotiating love when everything you thought you knew about family, relationships and sex proves to be insufficient.

TROIKA

“What happens if you fall in love with an individual, but that individual is more passive? He’s a bottom. And you’re also more passive. You’re a bottom. What you need to do is, break up . ‘Cause you know what you want, and you know how you want it, and you know that he’s not going to do it how you want it.”

- Willam Belli, 2013, 00:56-01:20

May, 2017

“Thank you,” Katya said as he stepped into the silver space.

“Not at all. Which floor?”

Katya glanced up from his mobile phone and smiled at the middle-aged woman who’d held the elevator, seeing him approaching.

“Top, thanks,” he said and smirked at his inner dialogue. Top, thanks. Not that many guys fought him on that one, not in West Hollywood anyway. Well, they hadn’t really fought him on it in Boston, either.  

The woman nodded in response, pressed the button and sighed heavily as she leaned against the elevator wall, closing her eyes.

“Rough day?” Katya asked as he stuffed the mobile back into his pocket. The woman looked worn out, carrying three bags of groceries and a backpack that belonged to a Spiderman-fan.

“You could says so,” she said and chuckled through her nose.

Bing.

The elevator stopped at the second floor and a young, blonde girl jumped in through the slowly retreating doors.

“HA! Made it!” she announced victoriously, slightly out of breath and pointed at the woman with her index finger. She couldn’t have been older than six. Her hair was tied up to a messy ponytail that swung from side to side as she twirled around in the small space in her bright yellow glitter jellies. As she turned, she noticed Katya in the corner and got embarrassed. Shyly, she retreated next to the woman, who Katya guessed had to be the mother.

“Yes, to the second floor,” the woman said. “I thought you were supposed to beat me to the top?”

The elevator doors started to close slowly and the girl grabbed the spiderman backpack, throwing it sassily over her shoulder.

“No. I meant second,” she said and studied Katya discreetly through the mirror. The woman rolled her eyes but didn’t argue, clearly used to the child’s antics. “That’s a girl’s bracelet,” the girl said then, eyeing Katya’s wrist carefully as the elevator twitched to move again.

Katya glanced down at his wrist and chuckled. Trixie had forgotten the pink, plastic trinket into his car almost a month ago and he hadn’t had the chance to return it before today. He’d grabbed the thing from the backseat of his car before making his way to the apartment complex and decided to wear it, rather than stuff it into his backpack, thinking that the chances of him forgetting to return it were smaller that way. He fondled the jewellery affectionately, adjusting the lock against his pulse point and smiled at the girl.

“Yes, I guess it is,” he agreed.

“But you’re a boy,” the child said immediately, squinting her eyes as if trying to identify whether her gendering was accurate or not.

“Ethan,” the woman said emphatically and looked down at the child scoldingly.

The child, Ethan, pursed his lips together and crossed his arms across his chest, covering the flower print of his light purple t-shirt. He never stopped staring, though.

“I’m sorry,” the woman apologised Katya. “They’re very interested in gender.”

“No, it’s alright,” Katya grinned, looking at Ethan and feeling a tiny bit jealous of their freedom and confidence. He wished he’d grown up in a similarly progressive time, in a society where a third pronoun was a possibility, but things had been a little different thirty years ago. “You’re right, I am a boy,” Katya said to Ethan, “- but sometimes, I’m also a woman,” he added cryptically, as if letting Ethan into a secret.

Ethan looked at Katya skeptically at first but as the elevator binged for a sign that they’d reached their destination, they huffed as if coming to a conclusion.

“Yeah, I get that,” they said, nodding compassionately to Katya before storming out, their hands spread wide as if flying, their lips pushed forward to make convincing airplane sounds.

Katya turned to look at the woman, who was now staring at him openly.

“Thank you,” she said seriously. “They don’t get to meet a lot of adults like them.”

“No, thank you ,” Katya praised as they stepped to the hallway, hoping that the woman knew what he meant. Thank you for providing a safe space for a child like me, thank you for letting them be what they are, and most importantly, thank you for not being ashamed of them.

Katya nodded his goodbye as they parted ways and could still hear distant, cheerful airplane sounds echoing in the hallway as he paused behind Alaska’s door. Meeting Ethan had left him slightly unsettled and while he was excited for his meeting with Trixie and Alaska, somehow he felt unbalanced, as if something wasn’t quite right. He shook his head and knocked, determined that the feeling was fleeting, nothing that a cigarette couldn’t sort out. Luckily, it took Alaska just a moment to answer his summons.

“Hey girl!” Alaska greeted as he opened the front door and let Katya into the apartment.

Katya pulled the other man into a brief greeting hug, took notice of how good he smelled and took another exaggerated whiff as he squeezed the man closer.

“You smell divine! Just hold me as I dry hump your leg, would you?”

“You’re confusing me with Willam, again,” Alaska snorted, barely hiding his amusement as he slithered out of Katya’s arms. “But I’ll take a hello?” he added with a flirtatious tone and cocked his eyebrows suggestively at Katya over his shoulder as he led him further into the organised chaos he called home.

“Hello,” Katya drawled and grinned widely, eyeing around in Alaska’s apartment.

Unlike Delta Work’s notorious label as a messy queen, Alaska’s similar reputation had nothing to do with his behaviour on social media. The apartment was clean, but there was clutter on most surfaces: jewelry, makeup, photos, art, drag queen merchandise, post-it notes, postcards – some of which he’d clearly received through the post whilst others sat tightly in the protection of their plastic sleeves. Katya dropped his backpack on the couch, next to the embroidered pillow that read STUN in pine green, and turned to Alaska.

“Seriously though, dire nicotine deficiency, it’s either a cigarette or a panic attack. Choose wisely.”

Alaska chuckled and placed the mug Katya hadn’t noticed him holding on the coffee table.

“You know where the balco-”

Alaska’s sentence was cut short by a knock at the door.

“That’s Brian,” Alaska noted and turned to walk back to the front door, leaving Katya hovering next to the sofa, baffled. He couldn’t recall a single instance of Alaska referring to Trixie as Brian, not one, and yet, the name had rolled through Alaska’s lips with complete ease. The two must’ve gotten close while working on their project. The thought caused a tiny sting of jealousy in Katya’s lower abdomen, but he quickly buried it underneath other unimportant feelings and thoughts. After all, he was here now, they’d invited him over to talk about the project, there was no reason to feel left out. He took couple of steps to his right, for a better view of the hallway and the front door.

Katya followed with interest and slight confusion as Alaska opened the door with a rushed “Katya is here” instead of a “Hello” and let Trixie into the apartment. The pair nodded to each other but no hugs or verbal greetings were exchanged between them. It was odd, but Katya didn’t have time to analyse the interaction further as Trixie noticed him in the living room and rushed over.

“I thought you’d decided against transitioning, Mr. Dolezal,” Trixie mocked as he pulled Katya into a firm hug, sending him into round of giggles.

“Yes yes, against genital snippety-snappety,” Katya agreed enthusiastically, “but look at this skin!”

“Very Pocahontas,” Trixie nodded in approval. “I hope its spray tho’. I’ve put my money on lung cancer, not every fricking subtype of melanoma.”

Katya screamed and flung his fists in the air excitedly. He hadn’t seen Trixie in over three weeks and while they hadn’t stopped texting, being in the actual presence of his best friend felt somehow soothing. Katya’s socially constructed reality felt little more balanced, interesting and manageable in a close proximity to Tracy Martel. He still wanted his cigarette, though.

“Thanks for the reminder. I need a smoke break,” Katya announced, glancing at Alaska briefly for permission to use his balcony. “It’s the least I can do for Tracy’s retirement fund.”

“I’ll be sure to bring that up when they ask for a character reference.”

* *

Katya closed the balcony door behind him and took a seat at the rattan bench next to Trixie. The sun was starting to set, discreetly painting the sky with hues of orange over the still dominant baby blue. It was hot, though. One of the hottest days yet and Katya pulled at the collar of his t-shirt to stretch it out. The leg of his shorts was rubbing uncomfortably against his damp thigh and he felt momentarily jealous of Alaska, who didn’t seem too bothered by the heat in his white tank top and jeans.

“Kim never sweats,” Trixie chuckled. “It’s so weird. Once we were in New Orleans and I swear you could’ve cooked eggs on the sidewalk and this guy is just there, chilling, while the rest of us are on the verge of dehydration, smelling like rotten cabbage.”

“You trying to tell me something?” Katya asked, cocking his eyebrows as he lit his cigarette. The first inhale worked as a lasso that pulled most of Katya’s disoriented thoughts into a some type of, if not organised, then at least contained pile.

“I’m used to your rank,” Trixie brushed him off, spreading his legs wider as he slid slightly lower on the bench to get more comfortable. Katya couldn’t not to notice how his shorts got tighter at the crotch, trapping his dick into a very evident bulge.

“It’s genetic,” Alaska said, catching Katya’s attention.

Alaska was leaning to the balcony rail, his hands crossed over his chest loosely. The pose reminded Katya of Ethan in the elevator. The look that Alaska was giving him, though, Katya couldn’t place. It was curious and simultaneously somehow judgemental, criticising? Alaska glanced quickly at Trixie’s crotch and back to Katya, giving him a discreet but teasing smile. Katya just grinned, not even slightly embarrassed that he’d been caught appreciating Trixie’s current posture.

“Genetic?” Trixie asked, turning to look at Alaska.

“Yeah, like, I read somewhere that the Koreans have like, less sweat glands or something, so they don’t smell like the rest of us.”

“You’re kidding,” Katya snorted.

“No no, I’m not. Google it.”

“I’ll add it to the list of things to google the next time I’m having an existential crisis and need to make sure the world is actually relatively real,” Katya said through laughter before taking a long drag of his cigarette and inhaling deeply. He blew the smoke slowly up towards the ceiling and from the corner of his eye studied Alaska, who was smoking his cigarette in shallower breaths. Alaska’s style reminded Katya of the type you saw in some European movies where less than half of the smoke was inhaled after the initial drag while the rest was released in an extravagant puff. It was somehow sexier, maybe little extra, very drag. In conclusion, suited Alaska perfectly. “So, you guys wanna tell me about this project of yours?”

The relaxed atmosphere on the balcony shifted after the question. Trixie corrected his position to sit more straightforward while Alaska started to absentmindedly massage his shoulder. Katya glanced to Trixie whose gaze was directed at Alaska under his slightly wrinkled brows. He was rubbing his right index and middle finger against his thumb in small circles, a sign of which Katya recognised as Trixie’s subconscious habit while nervous. The pair was looking at each other in silence and Katya frowned. They had invited him over to talk about the project, but didn’t want to talk about it?

“I think I want a beer,” Alaska said suddenly and Trixie was quick to jump on the train.

“I think there are couple of Stellas in the fridge.”

The speed in which Trixie stood up and stepped towards the door made it obvious that he was trying to escape the situation. Katya was getting more confused by the second.

“It’s fine, I’ll get them,” Alaska drawled, stumped his half smoked cigarette into the ashtray and wiggled his way around Trixie to get to the balcony door.

There were two things that struck to Katya as the two competed in what seemed to be a race out of Katya’s uncomfortable presence and questions. One, Trixie seemed curiously knowledgeable about the alcohol contents of Alaska’s refrigerator and two, the ease in which Alaska opened the rainbow striped jar placed on the windowsill next to the balcony door told of a well internalised habit. Almost subconsciously Alaska had pushed aside the ceramic lid with his pinkie, grabbed one of the white balls between his index and middle finger like a Go stone and popped the thing into his mouth before leaving the balcony, not once even glancing at the jar itself as he had been staring at Trixie.

As Alaska disappeared inside, Trixie was left hovering in between the balcony door and his earlier seat and Katya couldn’t recall a time he’d ever witnessed Trixie quite as tense. Possibly in Australia when they’d almost gotten arrested? The Barbie was shifting his weight from left to right and was clearly at loss on what to do next. Trixie’s discomfort felt alien to Katya. He’d thought they were beyond these type of encounters but apparently, he’d been wrong.

“What’s in the jar?” Katya asked, hoping for the mundane question to break the strained charge.

“Mints,” Trixie answered instantly, still staring after Alaska, “I would think,” he rushed to add as a hasty afterthought whilst turning to Katya, as if suddenly realising that he wasn’t supposed to know. “I would think mints.”

Katya looked up to Trixie, puzzled. He could think of two reasons why one might want a mint after a cigarette, neither of which made very much sense in the given situation, so he dismissed the oddity as one of Alaska’s quirks. Something was bugging him, though. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it as the trepidity Trixie practically radiated made him feel ill at ease, blurring his thoughts.

When Trixie had called him two days ago to arrange the meeting, explaining that he had something he wanted to talk about, something new and exciting and slightly out of his comfort zone, something that involved Alaska, Katya had gotten excited. Whatever the two had planned  was bound to be hilarious, but also professionally executed, and Katya was here – H. E. R. E. Here. – for it. It had been months since Trixie had first mentioned that he was working on something with Alaska and absolutely refused to spill any of the details. Katya had tried probing Alaska for some information as well, but the man had acted like Helen Keller without a pencil. He felt a little honoured that they’d finally decided to include him, whatever the project was, but the awkwardness and secrecy was driving him slightly mad.

“Come on man, he’ll get them,” Katya said and pulled Trixie back onto the sofa from his shorts leg.

Trixie complied with ease and took a deep breath.

“Fuck man,” Trixie swore quietly and brushed his palm against his knees. “I’m just trying not to fuck this up.”

“What exactly is there to fuck up?” Katya asked, but knew that he wouldn’t get a straight answer.

When Trixie didn’t reply at all, however, or even recognise that Katya had said anything, Katya started to think that maybe, just maybe, it would’ve been more productive to stay at home tonight. He could’ve watched the latest season of Game of Thrones instead, as it seemed like Alaska and Trixie were not going to get anywhere. He leaned his elbows against his knees and thought about Ethan. The confidence of the kid intrigued him.

“I met this kid today,” Katya said not quite certain why he was telling the story.

“Kid?”

“Yeah,” Katya nodded. “Curious little thing. I thought they were a girl at first but then the name was Ethan, so I think non-binary.”

“He introduced himself to you?”

“They,” Katya emphasised, throwing Trixie a judgmental look with cocked eyebrows. Trixie lifted his hands up in mock surrender and pursed his lips. “No, the mom called them that. Or like, I assume she was the mother.”

“Huh.”

“Yeah.”

Katya turned his gaze to the yard where a group of young teenagers were fighting over a inflatable dolphin. They weren’t being incredibly loud, or maybe they were just too far for him to hear, but the flirtatious play he could see them engaging in was disturbingly heteronormative. They boys would steal the toy and take it into the pool, into which the girls couldn’t possibly enter because of their hair or makeup, possibly both. So they would guile one of the boys to help them to steal the toy back, and so it went, back and forth, like a very peculiar mating dance. Ethan would probably have to pick a side eventually.

“They were – was?” Katya asked Trixie who just shrugged, clueless. “Were,” Katya decided. “They were wearing these yellow glitter jellies-”

“-that you wanted?”

Katya laughed out loud before singsonging: “Yes, God! And like this purple tee and I- I think I was kinda jealous of their confidence.”

Trixie hummed and nodded as a sign that Katya should go on, that he was listening.

“I don’t know, man,” Katya said and grinned. “Like, meeting them was just like…” Katya paused to look for a word.

“Nice?” Alaska suggested and drew Katya’s attention up from the young, lekking teenagers.

“Yeah,” Katya grinned, meeting Alaska’s eyes. “Nice.”

Trixie grabbed the green Stella Artois Alaska was holding out for him and took a sip.

“I’ve got some weed, if you’d like?” Alaska asked Katya, once again leaning against the balcony rail. Katya chuckled through his nose and shook his head as he lit a second cigarette.

“Nah man, I’m good.”

* *

Katya threw a used napkin on the empty pizza box and leaned his elbows against the dinner table as he lifted his gaze up to Trixie and Alaska on the other side. Trixie was munching on the last slice of pizza, paying clearly no attention on Alaska, who was talking vividly about something Katya hadn’t heard a word of since, well, since the beginning really. He assumed it was something to do with drag, purely based on the excited glimmer in Alaska’s eyes, but he wasn’t really listening. Instead, he fixated on the incredible ease in which Trixie reached over Alaska to grab his beer, to wash down the pieces of pizza he was currently chewing. Trixie had finished his own bottle ages ago and now failed to return the stolen bottle back to Alaska, placing it instead next to his empty one. The exchange reminded Katya of his father who was in a habit of stealing his mother’s red wine on occasion, if she didn’t finish it quickly enough.

“So, spill,” Katya interrupted Alaska without apologies. “And for the record, I know that both of you are capable of coming up with ideas worthy of the Vienna Academy of Art rejecting young Adolf, but I’m open for anything consensual and unanimous,” Katya said sternly as he leaned further into his elbows. He was determined to get to the bottom of this damn project the other two had been avoiding for the past two hours.

Trixie and Alaska exchanged yet another uncertain look between them, as if once more confirming with each other that Katya was to be let into the secret. Katya wanted to roll his eyes but restrained. No idea, however tentative, could be that fragile. Had they fucking met him? Truthfully speaking, he felt like he should’ve been slightly offended that they kept going back and forth with their decision to include him.

“Look,” Katya sighed. “I get the impression that this thing of yours might be a little out there, even for me. But listen, we still have Bob the Politician as the current fucking reigning. As long as it’s not another United Airlines joke, or a rerun of the RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 76 skit, because both of those were badly executed, mama, and I’m talking some serious BFA offensive to be edgy bullshit, I think we should break some PC boundaries – or bones, if it comes to that.”

Trixie blinked at Katya’s words and Alaska bit her lip to prevent a laugh.

“God I hope we don’t break any bones,” Alaska muttered quietly and Trixie threw a disapproving look at him, trying hard to hide his amusement.

Katya watched, intrigued, as Trixie swallowed the final pieces of the pizza, wiped his mouth to the back of his palm and faced Katya with a rather un-Trixie-like seriousness.

“There’s no project per se.”

Katya’s enthusiasm was taken down a notch.

“No?” he asked, now completely confused. “Don’t tell me, you’ve collectively decided to stop the music industry and retire to Baan Souy at Pattaya?”

He reached over the table to offer a hand in solace to Trixie. “I know you want to support your singer-songwriter sister here,” he said solemnly and glanced briefly to Alaska, “- but it’s not your time yet, you still have some good years in you.”

Alaska chuckled lightly as Trixie pressed the feet of her palms into his eye sockets and leaned his elbows to the table, groaning loudly.

“I could-” Alaska started but was immediately cut off.

“No,” Trixie said firmly and sat back up. “I’m doing this. I need to do this.”

Alaska nodded and successfully avoided Katya’s questioning eyes.

“Katya,” Trixie said seriously, too seriously, and Katya had to grin. There was bound to be a joke, it would just take some time for Trixie to crack.

“We’re not retiring. We’re dating.”

Katya was looking at Trixie straight into the eyes and had to admire the raw talent in which he embodied the character. Trixie’s words came across completely sincere, as if he was entirely convinced of his own words, with no trace of the practiced script whatsoever. It was Meryl Streep level artistry. Katya glanced at Alaska, who was still avoiding his gaze and thus he turned back to Trixie, who was now pursing his lips together like he always did when expecting an unfavourable reaction or bad news from his manager.

“You’re kidding,” Katya said and realised that now she too sounded serious, too serious. He rewinded back the previous two hours: the odd non-greeting when Trixie had arrived, the avoidance of the project as a topic of discussion, Trixie’s familiarity with Alaska’s refrigerator’s alcohol contents, the stolen bottle of Stella Artois, even the mints in the clay rainbow jar on the balcony made suddenly sense; Trixie had always hated kissing people who tasted or smelled like cigarettes. Trixie and Alaska in a romantic relationship made about as much sense as the Trump Presidency; just because it seemed too absurd to be true didn’t mean it wasn’t real.

“I wish I was, because your face is a fucking picture right now,” Trixie snorted, but his voice didn’t quite reach the lighthearted tone he was clearly aiming for.

Trixie was nervous, Katya realised. He was apprehensive of Katya’s reaction and was waiting for his reply, possibly even his approval? Holy Mary and Jesus’ twelve Apostles in alphabetical order, they were not joking. Trixie Mattel, Katya’s co-patient from RuPaul’s seventh group therapy session, was, if her word was to be trusted – like, who knew, she could’ve been on any kind of drug possible! Katya swallowed the idea. Trixie Mattel was the least likely of them to be high in this situation and currently, according to her words, dating Katya’s all time favourite drag superstar from RuPaul’s best friend race.

Katya turned to look at Alaska who was now looking at him calculatingly, as if trying to figure out what was going on in his head. What was going on in his head? Katya didn’t even know himself. He was shocked, and confused, and a little disappointed that Trixie hadn’t told him earlier. How long had this been going on? He figured he should probably also feel happy for the pair, but he was too busy feeling shocked and confused to be able to branch out.

He turned his eyes back to Trixie, who looked slightly worried. What was he expecting Katya to say? Surely there was nothing he could say that would somehow affect the situation? Was Trixie expecting him to be upset? Why? Just because Alaska was Katya’s favourite, and admittedly hot as fuck, that didn’t mean that Katya would be upset. Hell, even if the game at Hey Queen had been just a joke, Katya had picked Tatianna over Alaska to kai kai with! It had been Trixie himself who had picked Alaska, not Katya, and… A small lightbulb lit in Katya’s head, very similarly to the scenes one might see in the 1990’s cartoons. Trixie had picked Alaska… The self-proclaimed high femme with a rainbow collection of “BOTTOM”-labelled baseball caps had been chosen by the country cowboy for a mutually satisfying coupling. Now, it certainly wasn’t the politest, or even the most relevant question. But it certainly was the first one Katya’s brain jumped to and before he could prevent himself, he had blurted it out:

“But, who tops?”

Trixie groaned in frustration and hid his face to his arms against the table.

“Funny you should ask,” Alaska drawled slowly as he reached to gently massage Trixie’s neck, an amused grin decorating his lips. “We were kinda hoping that you would.”

___________

A/N2: Thoughts?

[wiremagazine]

CALM DOWN, IT'S THE MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS WITH OUR FAVORITE DIVAS, DIVOS & FRESH NEW ARTISTS!

By DJ FR8-O

The world's most unpredictable awards show just threw us another curveball. Hosting this year's hottest night in music is comedian and actor Sebastian Maniscalco. Yeah, never heard of him either, but the outspoken Italian is ready to bring the laughs and the chutzpah back into the VMAs. Joining him will be all our favorite divas, divos and fresh new artists who've been dominating our playlists over the last 12 months. This year's ceremony is going to be a battle of the pop princesses with both Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift snatching 10 nominations each. Who will take home the most Moon Persons is yet to be seen, but here are my top picks.  

BEST NEW ARTIST Ava Max Billie Eilish H.E.R. Lil Nas X Rosalía

Lizzo It may seem like Lizzo just came out of nowhere and went straight to the front of the class, but she's been schooling her fans since she was 14 years old. In an industry that puts so much pressure on image and tries to hide flaws with photoshop and camera tricks, Lizzo celebrates her curves and literally puts it all out there. Her confidence is only overshadowed by her talent, with a stream of hits and sold-out shows over the past year.  

BEST COLLABORATION BTS (featuring Halsey): "Boy with Luv" Lil Nas X (featuring Billy Ray Cyrus): "Old Town Road (Remix)" Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello: "Señorita" Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber: "I Don't Care" Taylor Swift (featuring Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco): "Me!"

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper: "Shallow" As if she wasn't jaw-droppingly gifted all on her own, no one has ever brought the on-screen chemistry as Gaga and Cooper did in the big-screen blockbuster A Star is Born. The heat was so intense that it raised suspicions of the two being more than just co-stars. While those rumors have since been squashed, I still get a few raised hairs every time I hear their duet from the diva's Oscar-winning film.

BEST POP 5 Seconds of Summer: "Easier" Cardi B and Bruno Mars: "Please Me" Billie Eilish: "Bad Guy" Ariana Grande: "Thank U, Next" Khalid: "Talk" Taylor Swift: "You Need to Calm Down"

Jonas Brothers: "Sucker" Everyone has their opinion of what makes a great pop song, or in this case a great pop video, but I'm sure you would agree that Nick soaking in a claw foot tub and Joe tied up in his underwear would be somewhere at the top of the list. Not only does this earworm bury deep into your brain with its throwback vibe and razor-sharp hook, but watching these guys all grown up and having more fun than ever makes this clip as timeless as the track. Did I mention the bathtub?

BEST HIP HOP 21 Savage (featuring J. Cole): "A Lot" Cardi B: "Money" DJ Khaled (featuring Nipsey Hussle and John Legend): "Higher" Lil Nas X (featuring Billy Ray Cyrus): "Old Town Road (Remix)" Travis Scott (featuring Drake): "Sicko Mode"

2 Chainz (featuring Ariana Grande): "Rule the World" Is there nothing that Ari can't do? It's hard to tell who the actual guest artist is on this track, but are we really surprised? Even during her early days on "Bang Bang," she managed to hold her own with two powerhouse divas. Now it looks like she's the one bringing the noise.

BEST R&B Childish Gambino: "Feels Like Summer" H.E.R. (featuring Bryson Tiller): "Could've Been" Alicia Keys: "Raise a Man" Normani (featuring 6lack): "Waves" Anderson .Paak (featuring Smokey Robinson): "Make It Better"

Ella Mai: "Trip" After a 13 year absence from the show, the R&B category is back! Maybe it's because of the genre's resurgence into mainstream music; but whatever the reason, it's opening doors to a whole new pool of talent that may otherwise be overlooked, like this incredibly gifted and well-deserved artist.

BEST LATIN Anuel AA and Karol G: "Secreto" Benny Blanco, Tainy, Selena Gomez and J Balvin: "I Can't Get Enough" Daddy Yankee (featuring Snow): "Con Calma" Maluma: "Mala Mía" Rosalía and J Balvin (featuring El Guincho): "Con Altura"

Bad Bunny (featuring Drake): "Mia" Watching this video reminded me of growing up in Miami, and showing up at the impromptu house party that someone hosted while their parents were away. Of course, Drake never showed up to any of them, but of all the nominees, this one captures what everyday Latin life is really about, minus all the half-naked women.

BEST DANCE The Chainsmokers (featuring Bebe Rexha): "Call You Mine" Clean Bandit (featuring Demi Lovato): "Solo" DJ Snake (featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna and Cardi B): "Taki Taki" David Guetta, Bebe Rexha and J Balvin: "Say My Name" Marshmello and Bastille: "Happier"

Silk City and Dua Lipa: "Electricity" Music trends will come and go, but classic house will never go out of style. These guys took the essence of "Show Me Love" and "Finally" and weaved it into a track that's as fresh as it is nostalgic. Throw in Lipa's sultry vocals weaving a hypnotic melody and you've got yourself a dance anthem that no one can resist.

VIDEO FOR GOOD Jamie N Commons and Skylar Grey (featuring Gallant): "Runaway Train" Halsey: "Nightmare" The Killers: "Land of the Free" John Legend: "Preach" Lil Dicky: "Earth"

Taylor Swift: "You Need to Calm Down" It can't be a coincidence that this category debuted the same year as this track. In a time when LGBTQ lives are being attacked – physically and politically – on the daily, it's refreshing and inspiring to see an artist take a stand and put her influence where her mouth is. Not only is the track brilliantly written, but I haven't seen that many LGBTQ icons together since the Tony Awards.

BEST DIRECTION Billie Eilish: "Bad Guy" (Director: Dave Meyers) FKA Twigs: "Cellophane" (Director: Andrew Thomas Huang) Ariana Grande: "Thank U, Next" (Director: Hannah Lux Davis) Lil Nas X (featuring Billy Ray Cyrus): "Old Town Road (Remix)" (Director: Calmatic) LSD: "No New Friends" (Director: Dano Cerny)

Taylor Swift: "You Need to Calm Down" (Director: Taylor Swift and Drew Kirsch) Okay, I know what you're thinking, "this queen must be a huge T-Swift fan, so he's voting for her in every category." Quite the contrary, actually. I've always been pretty lukewarm when it comes to the country-turned-pop singer, but any director that could wrangle that many divas in one video shoot and not end up on the nightly news deserves a trophy.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS DJ Khaled (featuring SZA): "Just Us" (Visual Effects: GloriaFX, Sergii Mashevskyi and Anatolli Kuzmytskyi) Billie Eilish: "When the Party's Over" (Visual Effects: Ryan Ross and Andres Jaramillo) FKA Twigs: "Cellophane" (Visual Effects: Analog) Ariana Grande: "God Is a Woman" (Visual Effects: Fabrice Lagayette at Mathematic) LSD: "No New Friends" (Visual Effects: Ethan Chancer)

Taylor Swift (featuring Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco): "Me!" (Visual Effects: Loris Paillier and Lucas Salton for BUF VFX) I'd hand over the award for this vid just for the visual of a smoldering Brendon Urie alone, but if you've seen the clip you know the allure is more than just his pretty face. Reminiscent of a modern Moulin Rouge, the screen oozes with splashes of color, action and special effects galore, from start to finish.  

BEST ART DIRECTION BTS (featuring Halsey): "Boy with Luv" (Art Directors: JinSil Park and BoNa Kim (MU:E) Ariana Grande: "7 Rings" (Art Director: John Richoux) Lil Nas X (featuring Billy Ray Cyrus): "Old Town Road (Remix)" (Art Director: Christian Zollenkopf for Prettybird) Taylor Swift: "You Need to Calm Down" (Art Director: Brittany Porter) Kanye West and Lil Pump (featuring Adele Givens): "I Love It" (Art Director: Tino Schaedler)

Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello: "Señorita" (Art Director: Tatiana Van Sauter) In a world where videos are trying to be bigger, brighter and bolder than the last, it takes a good eye to keep things in the background simple and let the singers take the spotlight. Subtlety is an art in itself, especially when it's meant to help a love story unfold before your eyes. My only note is that we need to see more of Shawn in his Calvin Klein's next time.

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY FKA Twigs: "Cellophane" (Choreographer: Kelly Yvonne) LSD: "No New Friends" (Choreographer: Ryan Heffington) Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello: "Señorita" (Choreographer: Calvit Hodge) Rosalía and J Balvin (featuring El Guincho): "Con Altura" (Choreographer: Charm La'Donna) Solange: "Almeda" (Choreographers: Maya Taylor and Solange Knowles)

BTS (featuring Halsey): "Boy with Luv" (Choreographers: Son Sungdeuk and Quick Crew) K-pop isn't exactly on heavy rotation on my playlists, but I must give credit where credit is due. Sure, the competition shows some beautiful moves of their own, but this vid is all about color, dancing, and more dancing. Don't ask me what they're singing about, but I could tell they were having fun while singing it.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR Cardi B Billie Eilish Halsey Jonas Brothers Shawn Mendes

Ariana Grande This may seem like I'm playing faves here, but if you take a look at all the work the other nominees have put out in the last year together, they still don't add up to the number of albums, singles, videos and collaborations Ari has checked off her to-do list. While it may not have been ground-breaking, and there's no doubt this award will actually go to Billie Eillish, no one can argue that this diva has put in more blood, sweat and tears this year than any other artist in the biz.

SONG OF THE YEAR Drake: "In My Feelings" Ariana Grande: "Thank U, Next" Jonas Brothers: "Sucker" Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper: "Shallow" Lil Nas X (featuring Billy Ray Cyrus): "Old Town Road (Remix)"

Taylor Swift: "You Need to Calm Down" Yeah, I'm going there again because this is an anthem we all need to hear and remember; not just this year, but for many years to come until the tables are turned, the planets are realigned and the haters finally take their seats for good.

VIDEO OF THE YEAR 21 Savage (featuring J. Cole): "A Lot" Billie Eilish: "Bad Guy" Ariana Grande: "Thank U, Next" Jonas Brothers: "Sucker" Lil Nas X (featuring Billy Ray Cyrus): "Old Town Road (Remix)"

Taylor Swift: "You Need to Calm Down" The same goes for the video! While others might have tried to battle hate with hate, Swift chose instead to take the high road, celebrate our community, shine a spotlight on some of our favorite LGBTQ icons and hold an honest mirror up at those with narrow minds. One little music video won't change the world overnight, but if it can inspire a new generation to think differently than the one before them, then that's something to get excited about.

The 2019 MTV Video Music Awards will air live from the Prudential Center in Newark on August 26th at 8 p.m. ET.  

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Issue 17.2019

[theonyxpath]

I could certainly use some pax right now. Lots of stuff going on and ugh… still feeling kind of yucky, but trying to force whatever this is to get it over with by PAX Unplugged starting this Wednesday (for us). Lots of vitamins and NyQuil! Whoooo!

But even if I’m a walking mess at the con, we’re going to have a great crew there in Booth #650, and doing demos. If you are going, here’s a map for our booth:

And it’s possibly the fever, but watching James Bell do most of the heavy lifting and pulling things together for the Changeling: The Lost 2nd Edition Kickstarter has been kind of strange. Very, very glad to both have someone to take all that over from me and to have him doing it so well and adding some cool elements I never thought of to the mix. But odd to see someone else do what I’ve done for, what?, five years now?

I’m like a ghost over here watching it come together. Whoooooo, James, whoooooo!

Very much looking forward to all your reactions tomorrow at 12 noon EST, Tuesday the 14th, when this Changeling: The Lost 2nd Kickstarter goes live! Here’s a clue: for every thing, there is a ______.

    W20 Changing Ways art by Brian LeBlanc

    Hey! If you are playing “Santa Paws” this year, may we suggest you pick up some copies of Pugmire for your pack of kiddies? Ask your Friendly Local Game Store to order it now so you get it by the holidays, or go direct and order from Studio2 or Indy Press Revolution (contact info below in the BLURBS! section).

It’s the perfect game to get your family and friends involved in our wacky hobby!

      W20 Changing Ways art by William O’Brien

    So this is the long form essay. Feel free to hit THE BLURBS! section below!

A few weeks ago, or a few months – the NyQuil, y’know – I posted about our developer focused creative teams and how we are both driven by the teams and have been evolving how those work. Developers are the project leads and for many years we followed the WW-style of having developers that were responsible for the entire game line. They would be “show runners” or “head writers” in other creative industries. Today, I’d like to go back through the dim mists of time to when I first started Onyx Path, and kind of show how our present system got to where we are.

We really have to go back in time a bit further, to the scary and shadowy CCP days. (Don’t worry, they are just memories now, and can’t hurt you).

There were only a few of us still working on tabletop RPGs, and I was more of a cheerleader and advocate than actively working on products, and our freelance pool of developers and writers had shrunk dramatically as the release schedule was reduced to a trickle compared to the three products a week pace of years gone past. Then came our work on what was supposed to be a one-off anniversary RPG book: Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition.

Eddy Webb and I had convinced the bosses to let us run a “Transmedia” department for CCP based on the success of V20, and we actually had a tabletop RPG release schedule and everything, as well as some projects we were working on for the EVE teams. Because of how we were budgeted, we were actually the only part of the US office making money, as everybody else was part of the spending on the late, lamented, WoD MMO.

So naturally, the Transmedia Group became just a happy memory in the midst of mass-layoffs.

But before I jumped ship in the face of those layoffs to start-up Onyx Path, we had begun to work with a variety of freelance writer and developers again. It was these folks I needed to continue working with for the projects now being created by Onyx Path. Some were experienced from the WW days, some had only developed a couple of books. Eddy had to step back because CCP wanted his full attention on the MMO, so we scrambled to cover the projects we thought he’d develop, and Justin Achilli stepped up for our new V20 books.

In addition, because of our long relationships, I was able to bring Ethan Skemp in on W20, Phil Satyr Brucato in on M20, and Rich Dansky in on Wraith20. The classic developers on their classic lines, was my thinking.

Ethan had to duck out though as he landed a new gig in a different computer game company, and Stew Wilson stepped up. He was the first of the new developers who were actually fans of the old developers for WoD. This sort of “second generation” of developers was already a thing with Exalted 3rd, and CofD (or nWoD as it was known then) with Rose Bailey and others developing, and it seemed both natural and cool that we had this sort of legacy of creators working together.

My expectation was that the newbies would learn from the experienced devs the ins and out of our processes, which were almost identical to those used at old WW, which worked well for us to a large extent, but I was wrong. The diffused nature of our virtual office was, and is, such that institutional knowledge doesn’t get passed on at all in the way I was used to from the WW days. Once we realized this, Rose began to help out our devs, and eventually her position was solidified into that of Development Producer – a term we stole from the computer game biz for a person that helps enable creators to succeed with their projects.

With Rose in place to help, we were able to better respond when our “elder” developers began to step back or away for various reasons. New developers were brought in, but now we had the experience and the leeway to select our devs with an idea for how they might be able to fit into the way we do things and who are more in tune with our company ethos. We were also able to draw from a much wider and varied pool than the folks I knew at the beginning of Onyx Path, and that variety of input, backgrounds, and experiences makes for richer projects.

We’re not perfect, and we’ve brought on developers that we needed to stop hiring for projects for a variety of reasons. We do try and offer assistance before that decision to stop working with them is made, but there are just some situations we can’t salvage.

So you see, the entire history of project creation at Onyx Path is one of evolution.

Together with ideas from our developers and writers, we expanded and redefined our developer and writer payment rates and schedules early this year, and are experimenting with “floating” experienced developers who can assist the other devs in a hands-on way. Generally, we’re finding that the lone developer in the ivory tower with their cadre of writers may not be the best set-up for creating tabletop RPGs these days.

For some projects, a vision developer and a production developer may be a valid method of dividing the essential duties, for others perhaps a triad of a spearheading logistics developer and two devs freed up to focus on the writers, or maybe a systems dev and a setting dev, and sometimes having one developer is just the right set-up. We’re now at the point of being able to look at a project and try and provide a creative solution to creating it, rather than being stuck with looking for the one solution from a decade, or more, ago that will work for every problem now.

Ultimately, we’ve been extraordinarily lucky to work with some absolutely amazing folks and we want our internal processes and project set-ups to enable them to shine, so we keep evolving them in ways we hope will make that happen. We’re not at the destination, we’re still on the journey. Still on the path.

Many Worlds. One Path.

  BLURBS!

KICKSTARTER:

Right now, Tuesday the 14th at noon EST is looking good! If things get weird, we’ll fall back to Thursday the 16th. See you there!

Next, our Trinity Continuum Kickstarter will start in early January – since it makes no sense to start a KS mid-December!

  ON SALE NOW:

As we try and find ways to enable our community to more easily play our games, the Onyx Dice Rolling App is now live! Here are the links for the Apple and Android versions:

http://ift.tt/2zjnD0c

http://ift.tt/2hhT5Fk

This morning there were already multiple tweaks applied in the Update that were brought about by feedback from our community! Thanks, folks!

    ON AMAZON AND BARNES & NOBLE:

We’re delighted to announce the opening of our ebook stores on Amazon and Barnes & Noble! You can now read our fiction from the comfort and convenience of your Kindle (from Amazon) and Nook (from Barnes & Noble). Our initial selection includes these fiction anthologies:

Vampire: The Masquerade: The Endless Ages Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

Werewolf: The Apocalypse: Rites of Renown: When Will You Rage II (Kindle, Nook)

Mage: The Ascension: Truth Beyond Paradox (Kindle, Nook)

Chronicles of Darkness: The God-Machine Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

Mummy: The Curse: Curse of the Blue Nile (Kindle, Nook)

Beast: The Primordial: The Primordial Feast Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

  And here are six more fiction books:

Vampire: The Masquerade: Of Predators and Prey: The Hunters Hunted II Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

Werewolf: The Apocalypse: The Poison Tree (Kindle, Nook)

Werewolf: The Apocalypse: Songs of the Sun and Moon: Tales of the Changing Breeds (Kindle, Nook)

Vampire: The Requiem: The Strix Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

Werewolf: The Forsaken: The Idigam Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

Mage: The Awakening: The Fallen World Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

  Andand six more more:

Vampire: The Masquerade: The Beast Within Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

Werewolf: The Apocalypse: W20 Cookbook (Kindle, Nook)

Exalted: Tales from the Age of Sorrows (Kindle, Nook)

Chronicles of Darkness: Tales of the Dark Eras (Kindle, Nook)

Promethean: The Created: The Firestorm Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

Demon: The Descent: Demon: Interface (Kindle, Nook)

  And even more books are now on Amazon and the Nook store!:

Scarred Lands: Death in the Walled Warren (Kindle, Nook)

V20 Dark Ages: Cainite Conspiracies (Kindle, Nook)

Chronicles of Darkness: Strangeness in the Proportion (Kindle, Nook)

Vampire: The Requiem: Silent Knife (Kindle, Nook)

Mummy: The Curse: Dawn of Heresies (Kindle, Nook)

    OUR SALES PARTNERS:

We’re working with Studio2 to get Pugmire out into stores, as well as to individuals through their online store. You can pick up the traditionally printed main book, the Screen, and the official Pugmire dice through our friends there!

http://ift.tt/2w0aaEW

    Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books? Here’s the link to the press release we put out about how Onyx Path is now selling through Indie Press Revolution: http://ift.tt/1ZlTT6z

You can now order wave 2 of our Deluxe and Prestige print overrun books, including Deluxe Mage 20th Anniversary, and Deluxe V20 Dark Ages! And Screens…so many Screens!

And you can now order Pugmire: the book, the screen, and the dice! http://ift.tt/1pOsnTb

    DRIVETHRURPG.COM:

Appearing on Wednesday on DriveThruRPG is the Advance PDF for Arms of the Chosen for Exalted 3rd Edition!

Take up the panoply of legendary heroes and lost ages, and awaken the world-shaking might of their Evocations. Before the dawn of time, the Exalted wielded god-metal blades to cast down the makers of the universe. In an ancient epoch of forgotten glories, Creation’s greatest artificers forged unimaginable wonders and miracle-machines.

Now, in the Age of Sorrows, kingdoms go to war over potent artifacts, scavenger princes risk everything to uncover relics of the past, and the Exalted forge great arms and armor on the anvil of legend. These treasures are yours to master.

Discover the mystical power of the five magical materials and the secrets of creating your own Evocations. Wield weapons of fabled might and don the armor of mythic heroes, making their puissance your own. Claim Creation’s wonders: the miraculous tools of the Chosen, living automatons, flying machines, hearthstones, and more. And unleash the mighty warstriders, titanic god-engines of conquest and devastation, to once more shake Creation with their footfalls.

      NOW on DriveThruCards, the Pugmire Card Set One (Trick, Condition, and Initiative Cards) are helpful visual aids for your Pugmire gaming fun! http://ift.tt/2zC3kuY

Enhance your Pugmire game with this set of player aid cards! These helpful visual aids make your Pugmire gaming easier! Lay them out next to your sheet for ease of reference during play, and to keep track of what you can do, what affects your character, and when they get to act.

Set one contains one card each of every trick in the game, as well as every condition. It also has a set of initiative cards to track player and non-player character actions during combat. Sets two and three (covering artisan and shepherd spells) coming soon!

      What dark secrets do the eldest vampires hold? Find out in Thousand Years of Night for Vampire: The Requiem! PDF and physical book PoD versions available on DriveThruRPG.com. http://ift.tt/2sV8lZR

You may think that with a multitude of people coming, going, dying and running away, we’d be tired, done, or ready to give up. Instead, I find myself restless, looking for the next thing.  There’s always a next thing, and I for one am not yet ready to die.

– Elder Kincaid, Daeva Crone

This book includes:

• Detailed instructions on creating elder vampires, including how to base chronicles around them

• A look into the lives of elders, how they spend their nights, who they work with, and why including their roles in both their clans and covenants

• New Devotions, Merits, and Rituals for elder vampires

• The kinds of creatures that pose a threat to elder vampires, including Inamorata, Lamia, Sons of Phobos, a new elder conspiracy, and more!

      Is a life of running and hiding a life worth living? We say yes. There’s always something between the running and the hiding, and those moments of grace make it all worthwhile.

The Huntsmen Chronicle Anthology is a perfect companion piece to Changeling: The Lost, 2nd Edition. These stories spin tales of the Lost, of those abducted and enslaved by fairies. Those who escaped, but whose captors will stop at nothing to find them. These fairies summon forth the Huntsmen, primordial hunters who understand nothing but pursuit and capture. The Huntsmen are unstoppable monsters, and the Lost can only look to each other for respite, rare comfort, and rarer trust.

The Hedge has parted and you can get the Advance PDF of The Huntsmen Chronicle Fiction Anthology for Changeling: The Lost 2nd Edition at DTRPG.com! http://ift.tt/2z4uZnU

        For over 20 years, the artists of Mage: The Ascension have conjured spirits and constructed hypertech that can transform reality on a whim.

Within this retrospective, those artists and images depict the ever-changing face of magick. From the debut edition to the twenty-first century, this book explores the people behind the pictures, the process of putting such books together, the story behind Mage’s Tarot iconography, and more.

Featuring the artwork of Echo Chernik, Joshua Gabriel Timbrook, Michael Gaydos, Mark Jackson, Leif Jones, Michael Kaluta, Steve Prescott, Alex Sheikman, Christopher Shy…and many, many more.

The Art of Mage: 20 Years and More has manifested on DTRPG in PDF and physical book PoD versions! Here: http://ift.tt/2iwP1Rr

      A Land Where Legends Walk

Drawing enthusiastically on Greek mythology, the revised and re-imagined Scarred Lands nonetheless retains its place as a modern fantasy RPG setting. This is a world shaped by gods and monsters, and only the greatest of heroes can expect to be counted among them. The most populous continent of Scarn, Ghelspad, plays host to vast unexplored regions, hides unsolved riddles from ancient cultures, and taunts adventures with the promise of undiscovered riches hidden among the ruins of older civilizations.

Yet the myths of the Scarred Lands are relatively recent events. The effects of the Titanswar still ripple through the world, and the heroines and villains of many of these stories are part of living memory, if not still living.

The Award-Winning Fantasy Setting Returns

Scarred Lands has been a favorite fantasy setting since the release of the Creature Collection for the d20 System in 2000. In subsequent years, over 40 titles were published for Scarred Lands, making it one of the most fully supported fantasy RPG settings ever and the premiere product line of Sword & Sorcery Studios.

Available in both 5th Edition and Pathfinder compatible versions! PDF and PoD formats available NOW!

http://ift.tt/2fEO9YJ

http://ift.tt/2fELqyx

  Heroes, Villains, and Others in Between! 

This tome is a revision of the original book by the same title, originally published for use with 3rd edition rules for the world’s most popular roleplaying game. In this revised edition of The Wise & the Wicked, all the same characters have returned (and we’ve added some new ones, too!), for use with the Scarred Lands Player’s Guide. 

Champions of Gods and Titans 

The Wise & the Wicked introduces a rogue’s gallery of the Scarred Lands’ movers and shakers, characters who carry out the will of the gods or the fallen titans. These non-player characters can be friends, enemies, or simply convenient resources for the player characters in your game.

Inside, find villains such as King Virduk of Calastia, the Black Dragon, along with his wife, the beautiful (and black-hearted) Queen Geleeda; the Grand Vizier to King Virduk, the wicked warrior-mage Anteas; and the sinister general of Virduk’s northern armies, Archduke Traviak the Steel-Fisted. At the other end of the spectrum, meet the gracious Lady Ariniel, the Swan Knight, champion of Madriel; Kimer the Shatterer, bearer of the Earth Sword of Scarn and tenacious foe of the titanspawn of the north; and King Thain the Just, the Aleking, ruler of Burok Torn. And many others beside!

Here you’ll find a fascinating compendium of characters from the Scarred Lands, but easily transported into campaigns set elsewhere. In addition, find multiple appendices full of new magic items and artifacts, class archetypes and prestige classes, new feats, new creatures and races, and more.

Available in Pathfinder and 5th Edition versions! PDF and PoD formats available NOW!

http://ift.tt/2zdVHXS

http://ift.tt/2zeEpd8

          From out of the Dreaming, the C20 Jumpstart: Yours To Keep PDF and PoD are now live on DTRPG.com: http://ift.tt/2fmlF3s

There is magic hiding everywhere. You just need to know where to look.

You are a changeling, a faerie soul hiding in a mortal body, fighting the chill of Nightmares and the oppressive weight of Banality with the pure creative power of Glamour. You have lived many lives, but the story of this one? It outshines them all.

In this hidden world, knights in steel and leather clash sword to sword outside the homecoming dance, dragons fly between skyscrapers, and fantastic castles rise from suburban lawns. A world of magic, intrigue, and adventure, and now that your fae side has awakened, it’s your world too.

“Yours to Keep” includes a rules and setting overview, as well as pre-generated characters and a complete introductory scenario for Changeling: The Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition. It’s perfect for jumpstarting a new Changeling chronicle!

        CONVENTIONS!

  This month, the Onyx Path crew including Rich, Matt, Lisa, Neall, Dixie, and Meghan will be at Booth #650 at the first ever PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia, November 17-19. http://ift.tt/2kBzmfv

  In December, Matthew Dawkins, Dave Brookshaw, and Eddy Webb are going to be at Dragonmeet in London. https://www.dragonmeet.co.uk/ Expect plenty of playful class warfare as these three mix it up, represent Onyx Path, and generally redefine the term “hooligans”.

  Planning ahead for 2018, we’re heading back to Midwinter Game Convention in Milwaukee, January 11-14, where we’re going to be bringing a big crew of many of your favorite Onyx Path designers and we’ll be running demos and making some special announcements at the show!  http://midwintergamingconvention.com

    And now, the new project status updates!

DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM ROLLICKING ROSE (projects in bold have changed status since last week):

First Draft (The first phase of a project that is about the work being done by writers, not dev prep)

M20 Gods and Monsters (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

M20 Book of the Fallen (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

C20 Novel (Jackie Cassada) (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)

Deviant: The Renegades (Deviant: The Renegades)

  Redlines

Hunter: the Vigil 2e core (Hunter: the Vigil 2nd Edition)

They Came From Beneath the Sea! Rulebook (TCFBtS!)

  Second Draft

WoD Ghost Hunters (World of Darkness)

Tales of Good Dogs – Pugmire Fiction Anthology (Pugmire)

Exalted 3rd Novel by Matt Forbeck (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Night Horrors: The Tormented (Promethean: The Created 2nd Edition)

Monarchies of Mau (Monarchies of Mau)

  Development

Signs of Sorcery (Mage: the Awakening Second Edition)

SL Ring of Spiragos (Pathfinder – Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)

Ring of Spiragos (5e – Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)

Scion: Origin (Scion 2nd Edition)

Scion: Hero (Scion 2nd Edition)

Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)

Trinity Continuum: Aeon Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)

GtS Geist 2e core (Geist: the Sin-Eaters Second Edition)

  WW Manuscript Approval:

  Editing:

Ex Novel 2 (Aaron Rosenberg) (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Pugmire Pan’s Guide for New Pioneers (Pugmire)

Dragon-Blooded (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Kithbook Boggans (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)

The Realm (Exalted 3rd Edition)

  Post-Editing Development:

Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition, featuring the Huntsmen Chronicle (Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition)

  Indexing:

    ART DIRECTION FROM MIRTHFUL MIKE:

In Art Direction

Cavaliers of Mars – Art meeting this Tuesday for sure!

Ex3 Monthly Stuff

Scion Origins

Ring of Spiragos

Changeling: the Lost 2 – Graphics done- KS ready.

Trinity Continuum – Splats for core book with Mr Jones, sending multi-cover single piece of artwork to illustrator.

Pugmire – Vinsen’s Tomb

Ex3 Dragon Blooded 

  Marketing Stuff

  In Layout

Beast PG

Pugmire/Scarred Lands Community Content

Pugmire Artisan Cards

Book of Freeholds

DtD Enemy Action – Going to Josh

  Proofing

Wraith 20 – Second layout proof being worked on by designer.

Pentex Indoctrination Manual – Second proof.

VtR Half Damned – Second proof.

W20 Changing Ways – First proof.

  At Press

Beckett Screen – Shipped to shipper.

Scarred Land PGs & Wise and the Wicked PF & 5e – With US customs. PDF and PoD physical book versions on sale at DTRPG.

Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition) – Deluxe Edition cover and Screen in the works. Waiting for Deluxe cover proofs.

V20DA Jumpstart – PoD proofs ordered.

Prince’s Gambit – Print and Play version updated. Getting specs from printer.

M20 Cookbook – Layout waiting for errata.

CtL Huntsmen Chronicle Anthology  – Layout waiting for errata.

V20 Beckett’s Jyhad Diary– Finishing Backer PDF errata gathering.

C20 Ready Made Characters – Out to backers.

Ex 3 Arms of the Chosen – Advance PDF on sale Weds on DTRPG.

  TODAY’S REASON TO CELEBRATE: Over the weekend in the US we had the Veterans’ Day holiday. Thank you all for your service.

[funface2]

Guy Fieri Knows How to Laugh At Himself. That’s Why He Has Instagram’s Best Meme Account. – Esquire.com

Guy Fieri is many things. A restauranteur, he opened his first venue in 1996. A TV personality, he anchors the Food Network’s Friday evening lineup stalwart, Diner’s, Drive-ins, and Dives. “Triple D,” as he and fans call it, filmed its first episode in 2007 and 12 years and 30-plus seasons later, Fieri is preparing to head out for two weeks of shooting. “We’re getting thousands upon thousands of requests at a time,” he admits. “In the beginning, I’d be calling my friends like, ‘Hey, have any of you ever been to Syracuse?”

On the same network, the star also hosts Guy’s Grocery Games and Guy’s Ranch Kitchen and has appeared in a dizzying amount of one-offs and specials. Fieri has released a handful of books; some of them related to Triple D, others are collections of original cookbooks. And most recently, Fieri—AKA the Mayor of Flavortown— has emerged as must follow on Instagram, where he shares increasingly hilarious memes and leads a fanbase with an unparalleled love for knuckle sandwiches.

Below, Esquire caught up with the Fieri to discuss a decade of Triple D, Diplo, “the food revolution” in America—and how the memes get made.

Esquire: Your Instagram presence brings great joy to the Esquire office. Do you enjoy posting and interacting with fans?

GUY FIERI: I gotta tell you, I love when the fans get so excited and the emojis start coming out [in the comments, where knuckle sandwiches are particularly popular] and people laugh at me. People laugh at me like, how do you do these?! Man, you’ve got to be able to laugh at yourself.

You’ve been super imposed onto a poster for Once Upon a Time … In Flavortown, a tuxedoed member of the Flavortown Abbey Cast, and donned Walter White’s cap for a Breaking Guy series. Do you have a favorite meme you’ve posted?

I loved all of the employees of Flavortown. And, I mean, boy I am bad at the computer. Clip art is about as far as I can go. But my team, we’ll do this back and forth and [coming up with concepts and captions] is this whole game. Everyone is trying to one-up each other. That’s what makes it so fun. And once we started to find our ability to take it even further, it just opened the floodgates. And the fans are having a great time with it. It’s not a meme, but I’m trying to get t-shirts made with the knuckle and the sandwich [emojis]. I’ve had a tattoo on my arm of knuckle sandwich for the last 20 years—so I just want the cartoon knuckle and plain Jane sandwich.

That is just one of very many tattoos you’ve collected. Which means the most to you?

I lost my sister to cancer eight years ago. And I designed a tattoo of her and had it done. My mom was never a big fan of tattoos but I showed up to the burial and had it already done on my forearm, and I had made t-shirts of the tattoo. She’s shrouded in a veil of dragonflies and all the chakras are behind her and it says namaste, which is an important word in our family. It changed my mom’s entire attitude about tattoos. It was probably two or three years later, on the anniversary of my sister’s passing, that my mom went and got her own tattoo of a dragonfly. Never say never.

How old was she when she got that tattoo?

How much do you want me to get my butt kicked by my mom. I think I’m supposed to say she’s 57… [Laughs]

“We’re so congested with so much information, it’s nice to be able to do something on a Friday night that people can sit around together as a family and watch and go, Hey, you know what, next time we go to Vancouver, we’re going to check this out,” Fieri says of why he loves hosting Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.

Tony Carrera

You have over a million followers. And while most accounts with that large of a following struggle with some pretty mean comments, your section stays pretty clean.

People know me by now. I’m not a negative energy person—and I’m not into negative. But, how do I handle when people write negative things? I don’t really pay attention to it. And that’s probably because I got into it a little bit later in life. I was set on who I wanted to be as a person, raised by great parents, and [I] have a fantastic wife.

You’ve been the Mayor of Flavortown for a while now. How did that begin?

I never said, Hey, you know what? I’ve got a great idea. Let’s make a mystical place; we’ll call it Flavortown and it will be real funny. There’s no way in hell anyone could be that whacked to make anything up like that! That started as a one liner. [While filming,] I said, ‘This pizza looks like a manhole cover in Flavortown.’ A week later, [director of photography] Anthony Rodriguez holding up a donut and says it looks like a steering wheel, to which I replied, ‘Yeah, in Flavortown!’ After the show aired, we were walking down the boardwalk in Atlantic City and someone goes, ‘I’m on my way to Flavortown!’ I look at Anthony and I’m like, ‘Was that from the show?’ 12 years later, it’s still this growing, developing, funny thing. Now people are residents of Flavortown and people are sending me street signs of Flavortown.

You recently teamed up with another enthusiastic Instagrammer: Diplo. I noticed you were featured in his “So Long” music video for his song with Cam.

He’s the best isn’t he? God. You know what makes him so good? What you see is what you get. And I’ve been around him and there has been just clamoring fans going nuts, and he stands there and talks to them like he’s known them for 25 years and they all decompress. They know he’s not going to walk away. Talk about knowing how to breathe it all in. And then, on the other side, you realize just how masterful he is at the same time. But yea, in the street cred with my kids and my kids’ friends, things went up a notch with that.

Social media wasn’t around when you opened your first restaurant. Does it make the job of a restaurant owner easier?

Maybe people had MySpace—but even that was 10 years [after we opened]. We had to do a lot of TV advertising, radio advertising, and it cost a fortune. Folks now have a much better shot at sharing who they are. Obviously, when you can also be on Triple D or any of the great travel shows that the Food Network does out there, it gives you a chance to touch millions. They can, without question, be life changing.

“When we first started the show, if you would have asked me, I would have said, ‘I’ll do this for a couple of years and then it’ll probably be over,” says Fieri, “because there’s not that many places.’

NBC NewsWire

30-plus seasons into Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, has your team got a pretty strict system in place?

The system is called shoot it, get it done. But I’m very picky. I want to make sure that we have the right place. And as soon as it feels rushed, then it doesn’t feel as good. This is a very fun time for a family or for a restaurant or a community. When Triple D shows up, it means that there is going to be some really great exposure and there’s going to be some great adventure that people are going to get to be a part of. A lot of people are counting on this being done the right way. Have there been locations that I wish we could have shot? Without question. Are there reasons that we can’t? Yes. I mean, I get every heartbreak story in the world of people needing me to go to their location. We try to listen to them all.

It’s a lot of pressure, I imagine.

People thank me all of the time. And I say, well, hang on a second. I appreciate you thanking me, but you are the ones that made your restaurant. You are the ones that are doing this amazing job. You are the ones that are this unique family that have been running this for a hundred years. I thank you. I thank you for letting me come here and talk to you, because this is what we want. We’re so congested with so much information, it’s nice to be able to do something on a Friday night that people can sit around together as a family and watch and go, Hey, you know what, next time we go to Vancouver, we’re going to check this out.

Certainly no one starts a show expecting to go into their 30-something season. Do you love Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives differently than you did when you began filming?

When we first started the show, if you would have asked me, I would have said, ‘I’ll do this for a couple of years and then it’ll probably be over, because there’s not that many places.’ But we’re in the middle of a food revolution, which is awesome. I mean, [my generation] lived through that era of the ’80s and ’90s of mass-produced food. It wasn’t an experience. I lived in France when I was 16—I was an exchange student—and the whole focus at school was what was for lunch. And the whole focus when you went home was what was for dinner; sitting down enjoying dinner. Talking and taking in courses, all this stuff. When I see [that] coming here in this food revolution, I’m thrilled. And to be the guy who gets to chronicle it, I mean, it’s like being on the edge of the big stories.

“We’re in the middle of a food revolution,” says Fieri. “…And to be the guy who gets to chronicle it, I mean, it’s like being on the edge of the big stories.”

Ethan Miller

You film at multiple locations per day. How hard is that one your body?

I’ll give you the little secret: I don’t—I can’t—eat it all. Don’t get me wrong, I want to. They sometimes have to pry it out of my hands. They grab the Pho bowl out of my hands and everybody starts eating it. So I have a real regiment about when I eat, what I eat, how I eat, how much I work out. I bring my gym clothes. I’m no fun on the road! I drink my vegetable juice in the morning. We actually bring the juicer with us. I have my Americano. We shoot a location. As soon as I get back, I go to the gym. I’m in bed by nine o’clock. And I have to do that, because I have a real responsibility. This is their one time that they’re going to be on The Food Network.

Triple D is just one of your shows. You also have Guy’s Grocery Games and Guy’s Ranch Kitchen, plus a whole fleet of restaurants and a handful of books. Do you ever miss just cooking?

Oh geez. It’s the thing I still love the most. I’ve told my wife many times that it’s going to end up, at the end of the day, with us going to live down in some country—maybe even in the United States—and on the days that the restaurant is open, I’m going to put the red flag out on the front porch. Food will always be my center.

Madison Vain Madison Vain is a writer and editor living in New York, covering music, books, TV, and movies; prior to Esquire, she worked at Entertainment Weekly and Sports Illustrated.

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