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gingernut1314 · 11 months ago

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Companion

Speedwagon x F!Oc

Summary: While living with Elise's aunt, Elise and Speedwagon are inseparable. They do not go long without seeing one another and when Elise hears knocking at her window one night, she finds him standing there.

Warnings: friends to lovers, talk of blood, mostly just fluffff, can be read after pt. 1 of Survive, takes place during JJBA part 1

Word Count: 2K

Setlist: Speedwagon x Elise

A/N: because I want Speedwagon and Elise to interact again so I had to write this because they are too cute.

Tag list: @cinnbar-bun @lostfirefly

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A commotion outside of Elise’s window had her pausing in the brushing of her long, white hair. She turned to look towards the drawn, forest-green curtains as a muffled string of curses floated to her ears. Curses followed by silence and then a gentle, composed knock on the glass.

Elise rose from her vanity, carefully placing the brush down only to pick up the candle sitting there. She made her way through her room as the knock sounded again and then--

“Elise…Elise, it’s me.” The familiar sound of Robert Speedwagon’s voice called to her. She was quick to throw back the curtains blocking out the moonlight to find him clinging to the tree branch that grew too close to her window.

He smiled brilliantly at her, reaching for his signature bowler hat tip it her way in greeting.

Elise couldn’t help the smile that pulled to her lips. A smile she kept oh so small and toothless despite her utter excitement.

Over the two months she had been living with her aunt so far, Speedwagon had been her companion. They did absolutely everything together. They would go on walks around the city, would sit out in secluded fields to eat lunch and play Button Whizzer, Graces, and Picking Plums. He visited her while she studied music with her aunt, who had grown fond of the boy herself, bringing with him treats for their breaks.

“What on earth are you doing?” Elise asked as she opened her window, which stuck here and there, requiring her to pull her strength to the surface to shove it free. “Did we not just say our goodbyes only an hour ago?”

“These streets are not as good companion as you.” Elise only felt her cheeks flush further at such comments.

“I’m sure the streets have much more interesting things to say.” Speedwagon rolled his oak brown eyes, scooting down the tree branch he sat on carefully so he might be able to lean his hands on her window sill.

“You have the most interesting things to say. I would not know about that Hungarian countess who supposedly bathed in the blood of virgins like some sort of vampire if it weren't for you.” Elise huffed in light amusement at his ability to remember things she had said.

No one had ever cared to listen to such strange facts before, much less remember what she had said, so Speedwagon’s eager want to listen to them had unsettled her off at first. Still unsettled her on occasion.

“Is that all you have come here to do? To remind me of what wonderful company I am?” Speedwagon’s smile only grew, his face growing closer as he leaned all but into her room.

“I would say that is a good enough excuse to visit you if any.” His words left Elise speechless.

He would come all this way just to tell her that?

What such sickly sweet ridiculousness. But as ridiculous as it may have seemed to Elise, she could not help the warmth filling her heart. A warmth she had been feeling grow and grow with every moment she spent with him.

Had she been more knowledgeable in her own emotions, she might have been able to identify what exactly she was feeling, but she could do no such thing and ignored the feelings as best she could.

“And…I brought you these.” Speedwagon spoke again, pulling Elise from her flustered silence to find a small, brown paper bag in his hand.

“What is it?” She asked, leaning her hip against the window sill so she could peer at the bag more easily.

He only gestured for her to take it and she was quick to obey. She slowly opened the bag to find small, yellow and pink, sugar-covered candies within. Elise gasped, looking back up to Speedwagon who was still watching her with those kind eyes of his.

“Pear drops! But how did you get these at this hour?” Elise exclaimed. On the way home back from the park, she had complained to him of how she had been utterly craving the sweet candies. Speedwagon gave a shrug, his smile turning all too impish.

“A magician never reveals their secrets.” He said with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

“You are a magaican now?”

“No, but how exhilarating would it be if I was?” Elise couldn’t help the small giggle that escaped her lips. A rare sound that had only been beginning to show its tune since their becoming friends. A sound she hadn’t made in a long, long time.

“You would make a for a good magician I believe.” Elise spoke, her chuckles subsiding as she reached into the bag for two of the pear drops. Speedwagon gave a bellowing laugh, slapping his thigh at the thought in exaggerated humor.

“No. Hardly. I’m too brustish for all that.” Elise huffed in disagreement, popping one of the drops into her mouth before extending the other out to him. Speedwagon held his palm out and Elise placed the candy into it, her fingertips sparking at the touch of his callsoused skin against hers.

“You are as graceful as they come.” This only made Speedwagon laugh once more as he chewed on the bit of soft candy.

“I think you would be the only one in the entirety of England to think such a thing.” Elise hummed in listening as she went for another drop.

“Perhaps.” She handed him another as she chewed her own. “My aunt is performing at the opera next week. She has secured me and you a ticket.” Speedwagon’s happy-go-lucky tune shifted. Shifted to frustation and near anger and something else she could not quite place.

“She bought me a ticket? Why would she--”

“Not bought. The director she is performing for offered to give her a ticket for a friend and she merely asked for two. It is no problem.” Elise shrugged, not seeing what he was worrying over.

“No prob--Elise, that opera hall will be full of lords and ladies and all sort of rich folk.” Elise bit into her next pear drop, chewing the small portion as she scanned his features over, slow and calculated. She saw him all but flinch at such a look, a deep frown pulling at his usually smiling lips.

“And?” She asked calmly, making Speedwagon gape in his frustration.

“And? And they will not want to share a space with street trash like myself.” Elise frowned sharply at this, her green eyes turning icy at the thought of such a thing.

“You are not street trash.” She all but hissed, angered for him.

“No? Elise--I should not even be speaking with you. I should not be visiting you at all manner of the day and night because I am no lord who can--” Elise felt her blood boil at his ramblings. An anger that had her reaching between the space between them to press a single finger to his smooth lips, shushing him.

“Stop that.” Speedwagon all but froze at her touch, his eyes wide in shock and his cheeks beginning to flush in a soft dusting of pink. “You think me in the same standing as some lord? Hardly. My father is a doctor.”

“Can doctors not be lords?” Speedwagon asked against her finger, voice coming out the slightest bit muffled.

“Maybe but mine is no such thing. He chose a field where the coin is little unless you are the best of the best. He was foolish to choose it.” Elise’s hissing tone never once ceased, especially when it came to discussing her father.

“He was foolish to become a doctor? Isn’t that a noble profession?” Elise rolled her eyes at Speedwagon’s quick change of tone--a teasing tone no less. She yanked her finger away from his lips and crossed her arms over her chest.

It wasn’t very hard to find the disappointment welling in his eyes at her touch leaving him.

“Nobel it may be, it is still an utterly horrid path to take. If my father had any true brain he would go to the Americas.” She stated matter-of-factly.

“The Americas? Why would he go there?” Elise pulled a hand from its position to swiftly poke a finger into his chest, causing a small ow to spill from his lips.

“Because it is said there is gold within every inch of its soils. Gold so pure it’s liquid.” Speedwagon only chuckled at her, taking hold of her wrist in his hand to pull her stabbing finger from his chest.

“And what would one do with liquid gold?”

“Be more rich than any lord or lady that will be in attendance of that opera. They would be a king.” Speedwagon’s small smile turned right back into a frown at the mention of the opera.

“I am a thug, Elise.” His voice grew quite, like he was confessing his most dastardly sin. Elise shook her head with a scoff. She cared little about any of that.

“So? They do not need to know that. Why would they even think that when looking at you?” Speedwagon cocked an eyebrow as if he was shocked she did not know why they would see it.

“I am dirty.” Speedwagon challenged.

“You can bath here.” Elise countered.

“My hair is shaggy.”

“I like it as it is, but we can style it.”

“My clothes are in tatters.”

“We can fix them. I have grown rather handy with a needle.” Speedwagon stared at her narrowly, thinking up what else he could say that she would not be able to counter.

“I am busy then.” Elise sighed, beginning to yank her wrist from his hold.

“You do not wish to go with me, I see that now. Fine. I shall drop the subject. Thank you for the--”

“Elise,” Speedwagon stressed, reclaiming her wrist in his calloused hand. “Of course, I want to go with you. I would go anywhere with you.” Elise felt her slight anger subside. Felt her heart begin to rapidly beat against her chest like some drum. “I just--I do not want to ruin your reputation and chances at a good future by being around me in such a setting where anyone could see.” Elise shook her head once more at the absurdity of it all.

“You will not ruin my reputation by going to the opera with me,” Elise said on a release a breath. “I do not want to go without my hero.” She said, her voice going quiet as she watched him. Speedwagon’s beautiful smile threatened to pull at his lips once more at her shyly said words.

“...I guess you are right. What kind of protector would I be if I did not go with you to keep you from harm?” Elise offered him another small smile, patting his hand which still held her writs.

“Exactly. It is your duty so you must go.” And finally, that brilliant smile was back on his lips. A smile that let Elise know everything would be okay. “We will talk more about this tomorrow if you wish.” He nodded in agreement, moving his hand so that he could hold her fingers, raising her knuckles to his lips.

“I will wait patiently till then.” He said, pressing a soft kiss to her skin. Elise’s heart felt like it would beat right out of her chest at the touch. One he had done so many times during so many goodbyes and hellos.

Elise swore she would never get used to it.

“Thank you for the pear drops.” Speedwagon nodded, ever so slowly releasing his hold on her hand.

“Of course. I hope your dreams are even sweeter than such sugared candies.” Elise huffed once more in amusement.

“Do not get into too much trouble.” Speedwagon carefully stood up on the tree branch, flashing her that charming smirk of his as he tipped his hat her way once more.

“You know I can’t make any promises.” And like that he was hopping back down the tree, slipping once in a near heart-stopping moment before his feet found the cobblestone street.

He gave her one last wave before walking off into the night, leaving Elise feeling oh-so lonely without him.

#speedwagon x oc #speedwagon x f!oc #elise pendleton x speedwagon #elise x speedwagon #speedwagon #robert e.o. speedwagon #speedwagon fic #oc #orginial character #elise pendleton #jjba part 1 #jjba part 1 fic #jjba fic #jjba

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sminny-wew · 2 years ago

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Old art from last year. I had wanted to join in on Sonelise Week 2022 but I got weighed down with other priorities and executive dysfunction. The prompts I drew were Storybook (SATBK with Elise as Guinevere), Kiss (Sonic kissing Elise’s hand), Cosplay (Sonic as Jonathan Joestar and Elise as Erina Pendleton from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure), Headcanons (demiromantic asexual trans guy Sonic & asexual questioning Elise), and Swap (species swap lol)

#sonic the hedgehog #princess elise #princess elise the third #sonelise #sonic x elise #artsy fartsy

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jakesuit0 · 3 years ago

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It Came From the Nightosphere Review

And we kick off season two with a Marceline episode! Marcy usually gets left out of season premiers and finales. It’s also Rebecca Sugar’s first time storyboarding an episode, being promoted from her first season job as a storyboard revisionist. Sugar is one of the most popular writers on Adventure Time and in the cartoon industry as a whole. She helped bring the series, and Marceline as a character, to new emotional heights here. Seriously, this episode absolutely slaughters season one’s offerings. Also credit to veteran storyboarder Adam Muto who co-wrote the episode with Sugar.

Marceline opens up to Finn surprisingly quickly after just becoming friends with him. She is a little embarrassed, but sings a sad song about her daddy issues. They could have had one more Finn and Marceline episode to develop their relationship first, but I can see Finn being a safe place for her to open up. The Fry Song, the first of Rebecca Sugar’s famous songs, is an iconic banger. Marcy sings about her dad eating her fries. I think this incident is supposed to be representative of her dad’s self centered behavior. Her father, despite not needing to eat, ate her daughter’s fries when she was still a human and needed to eat. This happened right after the apocalypse when food, especially treats like fries, were rare.

Rebecca’s original draft of the song, which you can find Rebecca singing on Youtube, was much sadder. Marceline sings about her father leaving her. Considering we see a very young Marceline with her mother in “Everything Stays” and “Obsidian”, we know he was not around then. Either he left her to handle his duties in the Nightosphere, or Elise banished him to protect Marcy from him without ever telling her.

Marceline’s poodle Schwabl is seen in Marceline’s house for the first time. I wish Schwabl appeared more often, especially in episodes that are set in Marcy’s house like “Memory of a Memory”, “Marceline’s Closet”, “I Remember You”, and “Ketchup”. The writers have admitted they kept forgetting to put him in episodes. They usually don’t forget details like that! I do prefer Phil Rynda’s more zombie-like versions of Schwabl in his concept art.

We unfortunately don’t ever see many flashbacks of a younger Marceline interacting with her dad (outside of very brief scenes in “Memory of a Memory” and “Marcy & Hunson”, as well as the probably mostly non canon “Marcy’s Super Secret Scrapbook”), but you can tell Marceline has a history of longing for and not getting her dad’s approval and understanding. I really wonder if this episode is the first time she’s seen her father since the flashback in “Memory of a Memory" or not. That was a thousand years ago, so probably not? Marcy’s song bums Finn out. In his naivety, he summons Hunson Abadeer, hoping for a reconciliation. He has good intentions, but it is disrespectful to force this reunion onto his friend. He definitely would not have pulled that crap after his run ins with Martin Mertins.

Marceline's dad, Hunson Abadeer, is actually not named yet. He is referred to as “Lord of Evil” in the credits. His design is great and so is his voice, like Demon Cat, another creepy villain. But, Hunson easily dethrones him as the best villain so far. It’s unbelievable he didn’t recur more. I would have been trying to give him an episode once a season like they did with Lemongrab and Magic Man for a while.

Abadeer is voiced by Martin Olson. Martin (wait was Finn’s dad Martin named after Olson?) is a personal friend of Pendleton Ward’s. He was a writer on “Phineas and Ferb” and is the father of Marceline’s voice actress, Olivia Olson. How often do people get to play characters that have the same relationship in the story as in real life? Olivia described the voice sessions with her dad as a lot of fun. This is the second teenage goth chick who has daddy issues with her evil father that Olivia plays. But, the Lord of Evil is much more intimidating than Dr. Doofensmirtz.

We learn some new bits and pieces of Marcy’s mysterious backstory. Marceline is half demon and her axe bass is a family heirloom that she repurposed into her iconic axe bass. The axe being an heirloom, and a line from Hunson in “Daddy’s Little Monster” implies that Hunson had parents. Even though its canonicity is in question, “The Enchiridion/ Marcy’s Super Secret Scrapbook” (written by Martin and Olivia-full circle!) mentions Hunson being one of the primordial monsters seen in “Gold Stars”. Could Golb or one of the monsters be the one to have created and/or raised Hunson ? Did one of them make the axe? Or, maybe it came from Marcy’s mom’s side of the family. This episode doesn’t reference Marceline’s mom, or explain how her demon side fits into her status as a vampire. It leaves us with many questions about her backstory, some to be answered later.

Marceline is understandably upset at Finn’s actions. Hunson Abadeer steals Marcy’s axe bass and goes to suck the souls of Ooo. I like how this gives Finn and Marceline the same goal of tracking down Abadeer, but divergent motivations. Finn cares about saving the denizens of Ooo from Hunson’s soulsucking. Marceling cares about getting her axe bass back. Marceline doesn’t give a shit about any of the people her dad soul sucked. It’s funny how she just finds Hunson sucking Finn’s soul out “embarrassing”. She’s cold. I’m glad that her moral code is still shaky as being friends with Finn for a few weeks or months should not be enough to make her that much more empathetic.

The episode has multiple continuity nods. It features multiple returning characters, species, and locations. The writers said they did this to help make the episode feel big and important, which it is. The show is finally getting more use out of its supporting cast for cameos, like Lumpy Space Princess’s great bit in the climax. Hunson’s encounters with the soft people, Marauders, and penguins are all funny.

Hunson calls Gunter the most evil creature he’s ever encountered. This works well as retroactive foreshadowing for Orgalorg. Ice King has a hilarious cameo too. I wish this wasn’t the only interaction between Ice King and Hunson Abadeer. They both have deep connections to Marceline’s backstory and are father figures to her. Hunson does not suck Ice King’s soul. Does he know who he is? Simon is the one who summoned him to take care of Marceline after he left her in “Everything Stays”, afterall.

Finn and Marceline catch up with Hunson Abadeer. After sucking more souls, he grows to be giant. This allows for a very dynamic fight between Finn and the Lord of Evil. This is Finn’s most powerful enemy yet, but he is still determined to defeat him. After Finn stabs him, Hunson peels his face open and we see what he looks like on the inside. Circumcised Hunson’s head’s design looks even more rad, especially with the soul sacs. Finn slices the tentacle he’s holding onto. Gory stuff!

As Finn and the axe bass fall, Marcy skips over Finn to catch her bass. Finn should have been killed falling from that height! Finn plays Marceline’s song to distract Hunson Abadeer. This humiliates Marceline. Hunson finally feels bad when he sees how he has hurt her, showing that he does care. He and Marcy are able to reconcile. Finn did end up helping in the end! Finn uses this as an opportunity to slice open Hunson’s soul sacks to free the souls and then banish Hunson back to the Nightosphere. Finn has a great line calling Abadeer a “sick freak”. Finn recognizes how disturbing that guy is! He says he’ll see him in the Nightosphere, which works as good foreshadowing for season four.

Marcy is rightfully upset at Finn for violating her privacy. I’ll let it slide since Finn did it to save Ooo. Finn’s error was putting Ooo in danger by summoning him in the first place. She’s also mad that Finn stabbed him. Earlier, she wasn’t offended at Finn’s aim to kill Hunson. She just told Finn he literally can’t kill him because he’s deathless. Now, we see Marcy showing some care for her dad’s wellbeing. An emotionally exhausted Marceline swings her axe bass towards Finn. She almost cut off his arms!

This is the first episode to not have Jake play a major role. He gets no lines. I like how Finn suddenly having a pocket isn’t explained until the last second. He farts in Finn’s pocket, a perfect ending. Jake’s still so scared of Marceline that he has to hide in there! I love how this lets Finn get to go on an adventure with a different character. At least Jake no longer thinks Finn’s under Marceline’s spell. He must have found out that he didn’t really kill Marcy in “Henchman” off screen.

Grade: A

#adventuretime #finn #marceline

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gunterfan1992 · 4 years ago

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Season One of “Adventure Time”: Short Episode Reviews

At the start of 2021, I had this idea to write up a book wherein I reviewed every episode of Adventure Time, condensing my thoughts down into a few paragraphs. It seemed easy enough at the time —I could knock a season out in a week, no prob, I thought — but it turns out it was quite the challenge. Part of this was the difficulty of boiling everything down into a few coherent paragraphs that didn’t just repeat the ideas that “This episode is wacky. This episode is bad.” (I was also dealing with untreated ADHD, so that probably didn’t help.) Even though it was a hurdle, I still got through seasons 1-4, and I thought I’d post my reviews here. Maybe one day I’ll do something with ‘em, but for now, enjoy!

Season 1, Episode 1. “Slumber Party Panic” (692-009)

Airdate: April 5, 2010

Production Information: Elizabeth Ito and Adam Muto (storyboard artists); Tim McKeon and Merriwether Williams (story writers); Larry Leichliter (director), Patrick McHale (creative director), Nick Jennings (art director)

Synopsis: Princess Bubblegum accidentally resurrects a violent mob of candy zombies, which leads to Finn doing the unthinkable: He breaks a royal promise to Bubblegum.

Commentary: It is always a delight to remind people that Adventure Time—a show that would go on to win a slew of prestigious awards and be lauded by critics as one of the smartest kids show that has ever been made—begins with Princess Bubblegum “add[ing] three more drops of explosive diarrhea” to a scientific mixture with which she hopes to bring the dead back to life. This elision of a macabre topic like the resurrection of the dead with a poop joke is in many ways emblematic of the sort of humor upon which Adventure Time was built, and while “Slumber Party Panic” might not be the season’s best episode, it does a solid job introducing the odd, madcap energy that would allow the show to flourish in its youth.

The plot to “Slumber Party Panic”—storyboarded by future series director Elizabeth Ito as well as eventual showrunner Adam Muto—was hammered out well before the show’s mythology was set in stone, and so some of the more hyperbolic plot points from this episode (e.g., the dramatic revelation that candy citizens explode when scared, or the fact that the Gumball Guardians are also the nigh-omnipotent Guardians of the Royal Promise, who can stop and reverse time itself) had to be ignored in later seasons. Nevertheless, the main characters’ personalities are all firmly established, allowing them to play off one another in a way that does not feel forced or misguided; Jeremy Shada and John DiMaggio, in particular, have excellent chemistry, breathing whimsical life into Finn and Jake right off the bat. All things considered, “Slumber Party Panic” is a fun entry and a solid preview of the silliness that was to come. (3.5 stars)

Season 1, Episode 2. “Trouble in Lumpy Space” (692-015)

Airdate: April 5, 2010

Commentary: “Trouble in Lumpy Space” is a Ito-Muto production that introduces us to Lumpy Space Princess, the loquacious and dramatic drama queen who was destined to become one of the show’s breakout stars. A sentient blob of “irradiated stardust,” Lumpy Space Princess is an alien valley girl parody voiced by none other than series creator Pendleton Ward himself, and this episode does a commendable job illustrating the character’s immaturity and her ridiculously inflated sense of self-importance. This makes for good entertainment in and of it itself, but what really bumps this episode up a peg is the vocal delivery of the cast. Adventure Time always excelled when it came to its voice acting, but in this episode it is obvious that in this episode Jeremy Shada, John DiMaggio, and Pendleton Ward had extra fun playing around with their ridiculous “lumpy space” accents.

Aesthetically, this episode is quite the sensory experience. Lumpy Space itself is a hauntingly beautiful alien dimension of dark magenta skies and purple, pillowy clouds; it is a right shame that the show very rarely made use of this unique environment, considering how pleasant it is to look at. The episode’s soundtrack is also deserving of recognition, with much of the background music—especially the vapid pop tune that plays while Finn, Jake, and Lumpy Space Princess hitch a ride in Melissa’s car—recalling the elastic hyperpop that electro-wizzes from PC Music produce. The tunes add an extra dimension to the whole experience, helping to sell the idea that Lumpy Space is a silly but alien otherworld. (3 stars)

Season 1, Episode 3. “Prisoners of Love” (692-005)

Airdate: April 12, 2010

Production Information: Adam Muto and Pendleton Ward (storyboard artists); Craig Lewis and Adam Muto (story writers); Larry Leichliter (director), Patrick McHale (creative director), Nick Jennings (art director)

Commentary: Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Ice King! Beginning the series as a cartoonishly incompetent antagonist, Ice King would grow into one of the show’s most well-developed characters. While “Prisoners of Love,” being the character’s debut episode, sees the Ice King still in his one-dimensional “wicked wizard” stage, there are hints even at this early juncture—like the character’s dramatic insistence to pluck out a yogurt chip from his trail mix, or his spasmodic attempts to play the drums—that the Ice King is more than just a textbook baddie. Is he evil? Judging by his actions, it often looks that way, but there is also a deep sadness to him that makes even his worst behavior somewhat pitiful.

But as pathetic as he may be, Ice King’s lecherous habit of kidnapping princesses is completely unacceptable (Princesses, Adventure Time would like to remind us, should never be married against their will), and by episode’s end, Ice King receives his just desserts—a feminist-fueled kick to the face, courtesy of Finn the Human. The moral of the story is clear: Poor old Ice King might just be lonely, but that does not excuse him for acting like a frost-bitten incel. (3.5 stars)

Season 1, Episode 4. “Tree Trunks” (692-016)

Airdate: April 12, 2010

Production Information: Sean Jimenez and Bert Youn (storyboard artists); Tim McKeon and Merriwether Williams (story writers); Larry Leichliter (director), Patrick McHale (creative director), Nick Jennings (art director)

Commentary: “Tree Trunks” introduces the audience to the eponymous character, voiced by Polly Lou Livingston, an eccentric octogenarian with a pronounced southern drawl whom Pendleton Ward knew growing up in Texas. Despite Tree Trunks appearing as a sweet old pachyderm, much of her dialog is riddled with double entendres and subtle sex jokes that go over the heads of children, and as such, she is something of a divisive character in the Adventure Time fandom: While some viewers find her hilarious, others find her decidedly off-putting. In this episode, however, storyboard artists Sean Jimenez and Bert Youn strike a decent balance between the character’s funny and creepy sides (case in point: The scene wherein Tree Trunks, in the gawdiest of makeup, tries to seduce an evil monster with her “womanly charms and elephant prowess”). The major exception to this overall balance is the episode’s decidedly morbid conclusion, which features Tree Trunks exploding after tasting the crystal apple. This was perhaps the show’s first non sequitur ending, and almost certainly left an indelible imprint on the minds of viewers young and old alike. (3 stars)

Season 1, Episode 5. “The Enchiridion!” (692-001)

Airdate: April 19, 2010

Production Information: Patrick McHale, Adam Muto, and Pendleton Ward (storyboard artists and story writers); Larry Leichliter (director), Patrick McHale (creative director), Nick Jennings (art director)

Commentary: According to the annals of cartoon history, the initial storyboard for “The Enchiridion” was whipped up by Ward and his crew members to prove to Cartoon Network that Adventure Time could be developed into a full-fledged series. This was almost certainly a stressful task, which necessitated that Ward et al. dissect the pilot, determine what elements worked, and then infuse those elements into a new storyboard. As a result of this “open art transplant,” there are quite a few analogs between the pilot and “The Enchiridion!”—e.g., the wacky dancing, the dream sequences, the ridiculous language—but this episode does a solid job of emulating the style of the pilot without wholesale duplicating it.

In terms of plot, “The Enchiridion!” is a fairly predictable adventure story, but it is one with enough clever variations that prevent the whole affair from dragging or being too boring; standout scenes include Finn and Jake having to deal with granny-zapping gnomes, and the D&D-inspired reverie in which Finn is tempted to slay an “unaligned” ant. The episode is further buoyed by several fun guest stars (including Mark Hamill, Fred Tatasciore, and even Black Flag’s Henry Rollins) that sprinkle a little additional energy on top of the whole thing. Given the exuberant fun of the episode and the way it easily introduces us to supporting characters like Princess Bubblegum, it is intriguing why the producers did not choose “The Enchiridion!” as the series premiere. That question aside, “The Enchiridion!” is one of the season’s stronger episode and an excellent place to start if you want a crash course in what made early Adventure Time so unique. (4 stars)

Season 1, Episode 6. “The Jiggler” (692-011)

Airdate: April 19, 2010

Production Information: Luther McLaurin and Armen Mirzaian (storyboard artists); Tim McKeon and Merriwether Williams (story writers); Larry Leichliter (director), Patrick McHale (creative director), Nick Jennings (art director)

Commentary: “The Jiggler” opens on a fun, hyperactive note, with Finn singing “Baby,” a catchy song coated in layer upon layer of sweet, crisp autotune. But soon after Finn and Jake discover and “adopt” the titular creature, the affair quickly devolves into a cartoonish snuff film of two dullards accidentally torturing a wild animal; the whole thing is made worse by the high volume of bodily fluids excreted by the Jiggler. Thankfully, Finn and Jake are able to return the Jiggler to its mother before it keels over, but this victory is undermined given that the whole situation was Finn and Jake’s fault to begin with. Perhaps it is best to view all of this as a cautionary tale: No matter how cute a wild animal may look, you probably should not take it home and make it dance for you. (2 stars)

Season 1, Episode 7. “Ricardio the Heart Guy” (692-007)

Airdate: April 26, 2010

Production Information: Sean Jimenez and Bert Youn (storyboard artists); Tim McKeon, Adam Muto, and Merriwether Williams (story writers); Larry Leichliter (director), Patrick McHale (creative director), Nick Jennings (art director)

Commentary: “Ricardio the Heart Guy” introduces the titular villain, the brainy-but-sleazy heart of the Ice King voiced to perfection by the sonorous George Takei. Given how arrogant the character acts even before his true intentions are revealed, it is not much of a shock that Ricardio is a rotten egg, and this lack of mystery drags the whole episode down to some degree. Nevertheless, Takei’s histronic performance injects into the episode a funny sort of melodrama, with is further reinforced by Casey James Basichis’s sparklingly dark score, which mixes in elements of opera alongside the usual chiptune blips and bloops to emphasize Ricardio’s pretentiousness. (3 stars)

Season 1, Episode 8. “Business Time” (692-014)

Airdate: April 26, 2010

Commentary: On the surface, “Business Time” is but a silly parody of corporate culture that sees Finn and Jake become the veritable CEOs of an adventuring firm. It is a silly little set up, and the show has good fun poking fun at business-speak and the deleterious effects of rampant corporatization. At the same time, by relegating Finn and Jake to the sidelines near the middle of the episode, “Business Time” does itself a disservice by focusing not on the wacky shenanigans of the business men, but rather on the mundanity of Finn and Jake’s “managerial life.” It all comes together in the end, when Finn and Jake are forced to jump into the fray and destroy the Business Men’s vacuum robot, but the noticeable lag there in the middle of everything throws the pacing of the episode off.

But while “Business Time” might not be the strongest first-season entry, it has gained respect in the fandom for being the first episode to underline that the Land of Ooo exists in the far future after some sort of nuclear holocaust. In an interview with USA Today, Ward explained that this was a natural development that he had never planned: “[When] we did [the] episode about businessmen rising up from an iceberg at the bottom of a lake … that made the world post-apocalyptic, and we just ran with it” (X). Considering how major the post-apocalyptic trappings would become to the show’s mythology, it is a bit startling to learn that it was added in on a whim. Regardless, it was an inspired choice that added a tinge of sadness to the story of Finn and Jake. They were not just frolicking in some fantasy world; they were frolicking in the ruins of our world, long after nuclear war had devasted the planet. Is it bleak? Absolutely! But this bleakness contrasts nicely with Adventure Time’s colorful surface, resulting in a deeply rich ambivalence. Not many shows—let alone children’s shows!—have managed to fuse such extremes into a workable whole. (3.5 stars)

Season 1, Episode 9. “My Two Favorite People” (692-004)

Airdate: May 3, 2010

Production Information: Kent Osborne and Pendleton Ward (storyboard artists); Tim McKeon and Merriwether Williams (story writers); Larry Leichliter (director), Patrick McHale (creative director), Nick Jennings (art director)

Commentary: Almost all the first-season episodes that we have considered so far have placed a heavy emphasis on comedy. The point of these episodes is to make you laugh, and anything beyond that is gravy. “My Two Favorite People,” in contrast, may be the first that is grounded on a solidly emotional foundation, and while the episode is very funny, it is primarily interested in telling the poignant story of two brothers and a gal they both like. If anyone has ever found themselves caught up in a love triangle—whether real or, as in the case of this episode, imagined—Jake’s actions, although immature, will likely feel relatable. It is a cheesy cliché, but the story’s strength is that it all feels so real (which I recognize is a funny thing to say about a cartoon dog and his unicorn-rainbow beau).

“My Two Favorite People” is the first episode that really features Lady Rainicorn as a mover of the plot rather than just a fun side character, and it is a wonderful showcase for her. While a handful of later installments—namely season four’s “Lady & Peebles” and season eighth’s “Lady Raincorn of the Crystal Dimension”—would try to highlight Lady, “My Two Favorite People” is arguably the character’s funniest episodes, thanks in large part to her use of a universal translator, which allows the other characters to understand her. To some, a device such as this may seem like a cop-out, but storyboard artists Kent Osborne and Pendleton Ward cleverly preempt this criticism by making the device’s only useable setting one that gives Lady the voice of a great-great grandfather. Lady’s “old-man voice” is an episode highlight, and it makes many of the character’s lines (e.g., “Come on my darling! Wrap your legs around me!”) both hilarious and unsettling. (4 stars)

Season 1, Episode 10. “Memories of Boom Boom Mountain” (692-010)

Airdate: May 3, 2010

Commentary: During the production of season one Ward exerted considerable effort trying to shepherd the show’s crew in a coherent direction, all the while responding to critiques levelled by dozens of Cartoon Network executives. Many of these critiques were contradictory, and in the process of creating something that he was proud of while also appeasing everyone around him, Ward very nearly went bananas. The experience provided the bedrock for “Memories of Boom Boom Mountain,” and to anyone who has been given the arduous task of pleasing a whole slew of prickly critics, the episode will be immediately relatable.

In terms of the show’s budding mythology, “Memories of Boom Boom Mountain” is notable because it firmly establishes that Finn was adopted as a baby by Jake’s canine parents, Joshua and Margaret. This plot point was likely guided less by worldbuilding and more by humor (perhaps playing on the whole “raised by wolves” idiom). Nevertheless, this decision would have major ramifications for the show’s overarching narrative. Finn’s nature as the only human in Ooo was no longer a silly afterthought—it was now a mystery. Just who is Finn the Human, and where did he come from? These questions would linger for seasons, finally culminating in season eight’s touching miniseries Islands. (4 stars)

Season 1, Episode 11. “Wizard” (692-020)

Airdate: May 10, 2010

Production Information: Pete Browngardt, Adam Muto, and Bert Youn (storyboard artists); Tim McKeon and Merriwether Williams (story writers); Larry Leichliter (director), Patrick McHale (creative director), Nick Jennings (art director)

Commentary: “Wizard”—co-storyboarded by Pete Browngardt, an artist who storyboarded on Chowder and The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack before creating the divisive Uncle Grandpa for Cartoon Network—is an absolute bonkers installment that throws logic out the window by giving Finn and Jake magical powers. It is a plot setup almost guaranteed to be fun, and you can tell that the writers likely a good time coming up with increasingly asinine magical powers (e.g., “endless mayonnaise”).

But underneath all the distraught dust motes and captivating new hairstyles, “Wizard” also has a degree of depth, reading like a biting commentary on higher education-industrial complex in the United States. It does not seem coincidental that the strategies employ by Bufo’s scam wizard school are strikingly similar to those used by predatory colleges, which offer students a worthless degree alongside thousands of dollars of debt. The parallels are made stronger when it is revealed that all those whom Bufo has tricked are reluctant to upset the oppressive status quo, because they believe “newfangled thinking will get [everyone] killed”; this eerily mirrors those who downplay the student loan crisis, arguing that “that’s just the system works.” Finn will have none of this, however, and by episode’s end, he—channeling his myriad wizard powers and the vigor of “youth culture”—proves that if a system is broke, it has got to go. Maybe we could learn a thing or two from that. (4 stars)

Season 1, Episode 12. “Evicted!” (692-003)

Airdate: May 17, 2010

Production Information: Sean Jimenez and Bert Youn (storyboard artists); Adam Muto (story writer); Larry Leichliter (director), Patrick McHale (creative director), Nick Jennings (art director)

Commentary: “Evicted!” is considered a classic by most Adventure Time fans for one simple reason: It introduces the audience to Marceline the Vampire Queen. This iconic undead rocker chick managed to steal the spotlight whenever she appeared in an episode, and eventually she became one of the show’s more well-regarded characters. Given all this, there is some irony to the fact that in her debut, Marceline is the antagonist who steals our heroic duo’s beloved Tree Fort. Marceline is therefore similar to other season one baddies in that she tests Finn and Jake’s patience before engaging them in direct combat. But Marceline is set apart from other foes in how Finn and Jake defeat her—namely, that they do not. In fact, she pounds them into the ground almost effortlessly! Besting Finn and Jake is no easy task, meaning that while “Evicted!” might showcase Marceline’s nastier side, it nevertheless does an excellent job emphasizing how much of a badass she is; this goes a long way in explaining the character’s huge popularity.

But Marceline alone cannot an episode make. Luckily, “Evicted!” is further bolstered by several excellent design choices, including a bevy of fun background critters whipped up by character designer Tom Herpich, a slew of colorful background designs courtesy of Ghostshrimp and Santino Lascano, and a killer soundtrack. Regarding the latter, the stand-out tune is inarguably “House Hunting Song,” a comically overblown ballad detailing Finn and Jake’s arduous quest to find a new place to live. The song, sung mostly by Ward with a few lines delivered by Olson, is an emotion-laden earworm guaranteed to wiggle its way into your brain. (I mean, how can you not love a song that blames the murderous tendencies of vampires on simply being “burnt out on dealing with mortals”?) It very much is the blood-red cherry on top of everything, which helps to make “Evicted!” one of the season’s strongest episodes. (5 stars)

Season 1, Episode 13. “City of Thieves” (692-012)

Airdate: May 24, 2010

Commentary: “City of Thieves” is a workable if somewhat forgettable mid-season entry. The episode’s main strength is its titular setting, a bizarro municipality where theft is the law of the land. Unfortunately, the city is nothing more than a silly plot device, and the episode itself never really rises above “fine.” (2.5 stars)

Season 1, Episode 14. “The Witch’s Garden” (692-022)

Airdate: June 7, 2010

Production Information: Adam Muto, Kent Osborne, and Niki Yang (storyboard artists); Tim McKeon and Merriwether Williams (story writers); Larry Leichliter (director), Patrick McHale (creative director), Nick Jennings (art director)

Commentary: If you think the idea of Jake sassing Ooo’s cattiest witch is funny in and of itself, wait until you see this episode’s visuals. From Jake’s grotesque but silly “manbaby body” to the abject horror of Gary the Mermaid Queen, “The Witch’s Garden” is replete with several memorable character designs that make it a satisfying entry. (3 stars)

Season 1, Episode 15. “What Is Life?” (692-017)

Airdate: June 14, 2010

Commentary: Giving Finn and Ice King a son is not a move that I thought Adventure Time would ever make, let alone in the first season, but here we are. The bouncing baby boy in question is actually a clunky robot named NEPTR, voiced to sadsack perfection by comedian and musician Andy Milonakis. If you had told me prior to this episode that Milonakis could give a sentient microwave a sense of pathos, I would have never believed you, but in “What Is Life?” he does a commendable job conveying NEPTR’s pitiful nature. As for the episode itself, “What Is Life?” is a solid entry that introduces viewers to several recurring characters (one of whom being Gunter the penguin) while offering us a peek into the Ice King’s sad, lonely mind. (3 stars)

Season 1, Episode 16. “Ocean of Fear” (692-025)

Airdate: June 21, 2010

Production Information: J. G. Quintel and Cole Sanchez (storyboard artists); Tim McKeon and Merriwether Williams (story writers); Larry Leichliter (director), Patrick McHale (creative director), Nick Jennings (art director)

Commentary: “Oceans of Fear”—storyboarded by Cole Sanchez and J. G. Quintel, the latter of whom would go on to create Regular Show for Cartoon Network—is in an interesting installment that establishes Finn’s fear of the ocean, reminding the viewer that even great heroes will be forced to deal with irrational phobias at some point in their life. The character designs in this episode are quite amusing (with the standout being Finn’s grotesque “fear of the Ocean” face), and Mark Hamill, as always, does a wonderful job, using his trademark “Joker voice” to give the Fear Feaster a delightful air of villainy. But as with “Business Time,” many of these elements are upstaged by the episodes’ post-apocalyptic trappings. In fact, when I watched the episode for the first time, I paused it in several places, asking to myself, “Is that a wrecked battleship? Is that a bombed-out tank? Why are there ruins of a city underwater?” It is an understatement to say that this episode is positively littered with rusted debris and centuries-old detritus that testifies to Ooo’s traumatic history. For eagle-eyed fans hoping to piece together Adventure Time’s mysterious mythology, this episode is an absolute hoot. (3.5 stars)

Season 1, Episode 17. “When Wedding Bells Thaw” (692-013)

Airdate: June 28, 2010

Production Information: Kent Osborne and Niki Yang (storyboard artists); Tim McKeon and Merriwether Williams (story writers); Larry Leichliter (director), Patrick McHale (creative director), Nick Jennings (art director)

Commentary: One of the first episodes to team Ice King up with Finn and Jake, “When Wedding Bells Thaw” is a goofy lampooning of bachelor parties and the institution of marriage in general. Although the episode ends on a fairly predictive note (spoiler alert: Ice King tricked his fiancée into marriage), seeing Ice King get along with our heroes is charming, and in many ways it presages the Ice King’s future character growth. The episode’s strongest part is the short dialogue-free montage near the middle depicting Finn, Jake, and Ice King getting into all sorts of “manlorette party” shenanigans; this sequence is made all the stronger by Tim Kiefer’s chiptune score, which enlivens the party with a burst of synthesizers and electro-drums. (3 stars)

Season 1, Episode 18. “Dungeon” (692-013)

Airdate: June 28, 2010

Commentary: If there is one episode that feels like the entirety of Adventure Time’s first season distilled down into 11 minutes, then it would be “Dungeon.” An episode replete with outrageous monsters and wacky action, “Dungeon” is a high-energy installment that pays homage to the sprawling world of table-top gaming; indeed, it is not hard to imagine storyboard artists Elizabeth Ito and Adam Muto reaching for a D20 or a well-worn copy of the Monster Manual whenever it came time to block out a new scene. Stand-out moments from this episode include Finn’s encounter with the Demon Cat (famous for having “approximate knowledge of many things”), his visitation by a “guardian angel,” and the deus ex machina ending that see Princess Bubblegum swoop in to save the day. (“Get on my swan!”) And amidst all the silliness, “Dungeon” even manages to sneak in a sweet little message tucked snuggly in between all the wacky monsters about the importance of recognizing your weaknesses. (4.5 stars)

Season 1, Episode 19. “The Duke” (692-023)

Airdate: July 12, 2010

Commentary: For most of season one, the audience is presented a version of Princess Bubblegum that is bright, effervescent, and totally nonthreatening; the monarch, it seems, is as aggressive as a marshmallow. But in “The Duke,” this all changes, and we finally get to see the princess’s darker, authoritarian side. Unhinged Princess Bubblegum is quite a sight to behold (as is the sight of green-and-bald Bubblegum), but it adds another layer of to the saccharine sovereign, setting her up for substantial character development a few seasons down the road. (3 stars)

Season 1, Episode 20. “Freak City” (692-008)

Airdate: July 26, 2010

Production Information: Tom Herpich and Pendleton Ward (storyboard artists); Tim McKeon and Merriwether Williams (story writers); Larry Leichliter (director), Patrick McHale (creative director), Nick Jennings (art director)

Commentary: “Freak City” introduces the audience to Magic Man, a deranged and flamboyant Martian wizard known for meaninglessly harassing the citizens of Ooo. Although the character’s backstory would be fleshed out in later seasons and eventually come to play a major part in the mythology of the series, this episode was storyboarded well before these developments were dreamed up, meaning that here, Magic Man functions as a simple (albeit funny) villain-of-the-week whose nihilistic tendencies clash wonderfully with Finn’s optimistic worldview. Finn is so used to dividing the world up into “good guys” and “evil guys,” but his run-in with Magic Man is proof that morality is far more confusing than he would like to believe. The main problem is that Magic Man is not really evil: He is clinically insane—a violent psychopath—who does not care about his actions impacting others. No climactic fight or eleventh-hour pep talk is enough to fix him.

On top of this rather weighty consideration of morality and mental instability, “Freak City” contains another, more straightforward message about the power of teamwork and how people should work as one to overcome common problems. Storyboard artists Pendleton Ward and Tom Herpich have quite a bit of fun taking the idiom literally by forcing Finn and the other denizens of Freak City pile on top of one another to function as a single, grotesque being that is capable of fighting Magic Man. While “Freak City” loses some points for espousing rhetoric that folks who are depressed can simply will themselves out of their funk, it makes up for these deficits elsewhere with its character designs—ranging from the inside-out bird to the two-headed monster that Finn groin-strikes—which are all bizarre in the best, most creative way possible. (3.5 stars)

Season 1, Episode 21. “Donny” (692-018)

Airdate: August 9, 2010

Commentary: A rather forgettable protagonist and only a smattering of memorable lines make “Donny” the season’s weakest link. The episode does get points for introducing us to “whywolves” (“Creatures possessed by the spirit of inquiry—and bloodlust!”), but they are not enough to completely save it from mediocrity. (2 stars)

Season 1, Episode 22. “Henchman” (692-021)

Airdate: August 23, 2010

Production Information: Luther McLaurin and Cole Sanchez (storyboard artists); Tim McKeon and Merriwether Williams (story writers); Larry Leichliter (director), Patrick McHale (creative director), Nick Jennings (art director)

Commentary: While “Evicted!” depicted Marceline as an apathetic asshole, “Henchman” starts to soften the vampire queen by showing that her evil exterior is an elaborate facade, and that deep down she is really just a prank-loving trickster—or, as Finn puts it, “a radical dame who likes to play games.” This might seem nothing more than a subtle tweak, but it does wonders for Marceline’s characterization; by episode’s end, as Finn and his vampiric “master” chat quite cheerfully in a field of strawberries, it is clear that the writers are setting up Marceline to become a legitimate pal to Finn and Jake, rather than just an avatar of chaos who drops in every once in awhile to shake things up. This was a wise decision, as it provided Marceline with the chance to grow into a hero in her own right with whom the audience can happily cheer along.

Since “Henchman” is predicated on Marceline pranking Finn, storyboard artists Luther McLaurin and Cole Sanchez have a great deal of fun mocking up outrageous scenarios that seem evil at first glance, but are revealed to be quite benign. Perhaps the funniest of these situations is Marceline raising an army of undead skeletons only to throw them a concert, and the vampire queen’s demand that Finn kill a little dimple-plant, which looks like a cutie before it turns into an Audrey II-esque abomination from John Carpenter’s darkest nightmares. (4 stars)

Season 1, Episode 23. “Rainy Day Daydream” (692-002)

Airdate: September 6, 2010

Production Information: Pendleton Ward (storyboard artist); Tim McKeon and Merriwether Williams (story writers); Larry Leichliter (director), Patrick McHale (creative director), Nick Jennings (art director)

Commentary: “Rainy Day Daydream” is a beautiful representation of creativity in its purest form. Channeling his love of multilevel video games and Dungeons and Dragons, solo storyboard artist and series creator Pendleton Ward uses the pretext of Jake’s imagination affecting reality as an opportunity to bounce from one ridiculous plot point to another to great effect. The whole thing feels like an exercise in jovial spontaneity, and while “writing the story as you go” can sometime result in disjointed or sloppy final products, here Ward makes it work, using the approach to illustrate the almost limitless potential of imagination. Another strength of the episode is the way it throws dozens of ridiculous obstacles at Finn and Jake without the aid of equally ridiculous visuals; in fact, almost every hindrance in the episode is invisible to both Finn and the audience, and we only learn what is going on thanks to Jake’s narration. The fact that this approach works and is not boring is a testament to Ward’s skills as a storyteller and dialogue writer. (4.5 stars)

Season 1, Episode 24. “What Have You Done?” (692-027)

Airdate: September 13, 2010

Commentary: In addition to providing us with another glimpse of Bubblegum’s dark side, “What Have You Done?” also serves as an interesting meditation on morality and preemptive punishment. As earlier episodes have confirmed, the Ice King is a creepy little deviant, but is it right for Finn and Jake to imprison him without a cause? This is a real legal question, and the show handles it in a surprisingly sophisticated way, concluding more or less that the writ of habeas corpus must be preserved. Of course, this is all undermined to some degree when we learn that the Ice King actually is to blame, but thanks to some quick thinking on the part of Finn, our heroes are able to save the day without having to turn to the carceral powers of the state. (And people say Adventure Time is not sophisticated...) (3 stars)

Season 1, Episode 25. “His Hero” (692-026)

Airdate: September 20, 2010

Commentary: Who is the greatest hero ever? If you answered, “Finn!” it is obvious that you have yet to see “His Hero,” for the correct answer is Billy, of course! Lou Ferrigno guest stars in this episode as the aforementioned defender of Ooo, enlivening the character with his distinctive voice. As for the episode itself, storyboard artists Kent Osborne and Niki Yang—with an assist from the ever-dependable Adam Muto—produce some of their best work this season, filling each scene with witty dialogue and zany shenanigans. Arguably, the episode’s pièce de resistance is the short montage of Billy’s past achievements, which plays alongside a song, sung by Muto, extolling the hero’s greatness; energetic and wacky, the song in many ways typifies the “chaotic heroism” that defined the show’s first season.

Like many other first-season episodes, “His Hero” ends with a counterintuitive “anti-moral,” stressing that while a commitment to non-violence might seem subversive on the surface, it is actually an ineffective way to make the world a better place; instead, the episode argues that direct physical action—i.e., beating the snot out of monsters and bad guys—is necessary if heroes want to save people from oppression. This may all come across as contrarian silliness, but I would argue that it is profoundly radical, rejecting “common sense” ideals about peace that really only help those in positions of power. (Side note, if the kids who grew up watching Adventure Time turn into a bunch of revolutionaries, I think we will know the cause.) (4 stars)

Season 1, Episode 26. “Gut Grinder” (692-024)

Airdate: September 27, 2010

Production Information: Ako Castuera and Bert Youn (storyboard artists); Tim McKeon and Merriwether Williams (story writers); Larry Leichliter (director), Patrick McHale (creative director), Nick Jennings (art director)

Commentary: Much like “Ricardio the Heart Guy,” this episode suffers due to a lack of a solid mystery; from the start, it seems obvious that Jake is not the one responsible for the robberies. Furthermore, the reveal that Sharon is the one behind the robberies comes with almost no dramatical weight, since we have no idea who she is. The whole thing is forgettable, which is a shame given that this is the season finale. (2 stars)

(Huge shout out to @sometipsygnostalgic for reading over these a few months ago and offering feedback. Also, I want to thank @j4gm for posting his “Slumber Party Panic” review, which made me remember these write-ups!)

#adventure time #atimers #season 1 #season one #reviews #finn #jake #finn the human #jake the dog #marceline #pb #bubblegum #princess bubblegum #marceline the vampire queen #ice king #pen ward #pendleton ward

26 notes · View notes

theangriestpea · 6 years ago

Text

Crowned : one

Summary: Two blonde princesses, two dark-haired princes, and one plotting marquess. Lily is in love with a secret admirer. Shanna doesn’t want to ascend to the throne. Jughead wants to spend the day writing poetry. Sweet Pea would rather be out on his horse. And Reggie just wants to be king. <ao3> <masterlist>

Pairing: Sweet Pea x OC, Jughead Jones x OC

Word Count: 5k+

Warnings: none!

Part One: Betrothed

“Shanna, Lillian, I have an announcement.” The King said with a broad smile. The two blonde girls looked up from their plates. Shanna had a mouth full of food as Lily was picking up a piece of meat with her fork.

His eyes glittered with excitement, “as of a week ago, you are both of age. And you know what a princess’ duty is when they become adult women.”

Lily dropped her utensil as Shanna nearly spit out her food. They knew this was coming, but not this soon.

“Shanna, I have promised your hand to Prince Forsythe of the Southside Kingdom.” The King said, observing the displeased look on her face with amusement. “And Lily, you will be marrying Prince Sweet Pea, also from Southside. This is to help solidify the bond between our two kingdoms. Our alliance is rocky at best and in order to prevail against any future war with Greendale, then we will need a combined army.”

Lily sat back in her seat at the news. “Really daddy? Arranged marriages? Isn’t that a little barbaric?” She was less than happy to be marrying the boy that she merely only saw as a friend and nothing more.

Shanna went back to eating, trying to ignore the disgust pooling in her stomach. “It is barbaric. I’m not marrying Prince Jughead. He’s a weirdo.”

“Shanna.” He said, his voice sharpening, “it’s not a negotiation. This weekend there will be a royal announcement during the annual summer ball. All of the nobilities in Riverdale will be there. Including your betrothed.”

“Okay but why does Lily get the cute one? They’re both princes.” Shanna grumbled as she stabbed a carrot angrily.

The King tried not to roll his eyes at his oldest daughter. “Because Prince Forsythe is the heir to the throne. Since you are the first born, you will marry him. Why are you protesting this so much? You knew this was inevitable.”

“I thought you’d hand me off to Reggie, not Jughead. Duke Mantle was driving a pretty hard bargain.” Shanna replied. Of course she had known she wouldn’t get to choose who she married, but the Mantles had been trying for the throne for years now.

The King snorted, “Please. The duke’s son was never a contender for your hand. Everyone in the kingdom knows how he treats that boy. I can only imagine how he’d treat you.”

Both girls let out sighs of relief. It had been rumored in the Northside Kingdom that one of them would be married out to Reginald Mantle and the thought made them both want to vomit.

A silence befell them. Shanna and Lily merely picked at their food while their father ate normally. They were both too angry to have their fate decided for them at the young age of eighteen.

Bile rose in Lily’s throat as she couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that she’d never find out who had been leaving her little love notes around the castle. How she’d never be able to marry someone that truly loved her and not just for her status. She quickly stood up, leaving in a rush before vomit could escape past her lips.

Worried about her sister, Lav jumped up and followed after her. The King let out a disappointed sigh, continuing to eat his meal in silence.

Shanna quickly caught up to her sister, having just emptied her stomach into one of the many potted plants in the hallway. “Lils,” She said softly, pulling Lily’s hair back out of her face as she leaned over the large pot. “We’ll figure this out. We always do.”

Lily sniffed back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. She just felt so overwhelmed from the news, not knowing how the rest of her life was going to play out. “I got another letter today.”

“You did?” Shanna asked curiously, having not known that. The past few months Lily had been finding love letters addressed to her by an anonymous writer. “What did this one say?”

The younger princess sat back on her heels and took a deep breath. “That my eyes shine brighter than the emeralds in my tiara.”

Lavender held back a gag. “That’s so cheesy.”

“It’s so sweet!” Lily said, burying her face in her hands. “And now I’ll never get to be with him. I’ll be stuck with…with Sweet Pea the rest of my life. You know he doesn’t have the capability of writing love letters. He doesn’t have a romantic bone inside of his giant body!”

“Romantic? No. But sexy? Yes.” Shanna said with an amused look, “can’t imagine Jughead being any good in bed.”

Lily shot her a frustrated look, “how would you even know what good sex is? You’re a virgin.”

Shanna stiffened before she shrugged, “I can imagine. And the chambermaids say that the younger prince is much more…endowed.”

“Lavie, just because you want to be with a man that warms the bed of every of-age woman in the two kingdoms, doesn’t mean that I want to be.” Lily replied, clearly aggravated.

“I don’t want to be with him!” Lav protested, “I don’t want to be with anyone! I just want to be able to live my life without some man telling me how to do it.”

Lily pulled her hands away from her face and sighed, “Jughead wouldn’t tell you how to live your life, Lav. He’d let you rule as an equal.” She seemed almost disappointed that she wouldn’t be the one by his side instead.

Lav helped Lily up, grabbing her upper arm gently to get her back on her feet. “You know I don’t want to rule, Lils.” She said in a quiet voice. “I just want to ride Persephone off to some neutral land to just live out my days in peace with someone I love. No more corsets that are so tight that they crack my ribs. Or dresses so big that I can’t even sit down comfortably. Or only being able to eat certain foods with certain utensils. If I want to use my soup spoon for ice cream, then I can because no one is hovering over me telling me that it’s wrong and improper and that I’m less of a lady for doing so. And Christ, no more crowns!”

Lily offered her a sympathetic smile. Lav had always complained about becoming queen. She didn’t want the load of responsibility of hundreds of lives on her shoulders. However as first born it was her fate to ascend. Lily on the other hand, wouldn’t mind it so much. She had a knack for leading people. More so than her sister did.

“I know, Lav. Maybe if we find who wrote the notes, we can just run away together.” Lily said with a small smile.

Lav shook her head, “That’s your fantasy, Lily. Not mine. Thanks though.” She let out a sigh. “Let’s get some sleep. We have our fittings tomorrow for the stupid ball.”

|\/\/|

“Introducing Princess Shanna Elizabeth Owens of North Riverdale and Prince Forsythe Pendleton Jones the Third of South Riverdale.” The royal announcer’s voice boomed over the crowd as a Lav and Jughead stood arm in arm at the top of the grand staircase. They descended slowly in time to the soft music that played. On their lips were forced smiles for appearances as photographers took their pictures.

Their engagement had just been announced. Lavender felt like she couldn’t breathe under the choke hold of her corset. Jughead was just trying to keep his mind off of a certain other princess.

Once they were at the bottom, the spotlight moved back to the top. “Introducing Princess Lillian Elise Owens of North Riverdale and Prince Sweet Pea Jones of South Riverdale.” They repeated the walk down the staircase. Although Sweet Pea clearly had the most difficult time of keeping a smile on his face. More than once it slipped into a look of annoyance. Settling down was not something he wanted to do any time soon.

The four took their places on the dance floor. A new song played, one upbeat enough so that they could glide around in well-timed circles. Shanna did her best to not look totally bored, using her muscle memory to keep in step with the prince. Jughead noticed how distracted she seemed, especially when she laid eyes on Duke Mantle’s son. Her bright eyes seemed to darken considerably in an emotion he didn’t know her well enough to discern.

Lily was looking up at the dark prince who stood over a foot taller than she did. Unlike Shanna, Sweet Pea wasn’t bothering to hide his boredom. He hated dancing, he hated balls. The only thing they were good for was getting to bed a beautiful girl in an equally beautiful dress. The young princess’ eyes were focused on him but he could tell her mind was elsewhere. She was smiling but it wasn’t genuine. Clearly she wasn’t happy about their engagement either.

In fact, none of them were.

All four of them had been lectured on the importance of this alliance. The Southside needed food for their people. They needed funds for their army and to repair damaged roads as well as old buildings that needed renovation. Jughead had a duty to his kingdom as the next ruler. The Northside had money. Money that would fix all of the Southside’s problems.

The Queen of Greendale had been threatening war with the Northside for ages. The tension and strife between the two kingdoms was palpable. What the north had in money and riches, they lacked in manpower. They needed soldiers that were expertly trained in combat and soldiers that were capable of teaching their techniques to their own. The Southside offered that.

The Northern King had two daughters and the Southern King had two sons. It was an easy solution to both of their problems. The bad blood between royals was quickly drained.

The dance ended and both couples separated maybe a little too quickly. The girls both curtsied in mock appreciation for their partners. Lav made a beeline for the punch bowl that she knew to be spiked. It was Marquess Mantle’s signature move at any Northside ball.

Prince Forsythe moved to Lily, a soft smile on his face. “May I have this dance, Princess Lillian?” He asked, holding out his hand to her. Lily gave him a tentative look before grabbing his hand, nodding her head. She wasn’t sure why the first born prince would want to dance with her.

Deep down Lily wanted to go hide in a dark corner and try to look over the crowd to figure out who had been writing her notes. She didn’t care if it was a commoner or a member of the guard. She just wanted to be with him.

Jughead took her out back onto the dance floor and grabbed hold of her hip in his free hand. He held the other hand up so they could get into position to follow the music. He led her gracefully, letting her twirl in time with him.

His eyes glanced at the glittering tiara sitting neatly on top of her fair hair. “The emeralds of your tiara are shining very brightly under this light.” He said in a tone that only she could hear. She wore her green jeweled tiara in special hopes that her admirer would notice and say something. She had hoped and prayed that he’d make himself known. Suddenly it had all become clear and her swollen heart seemed to burst.

The man writing her beautiful poetry on embossed parchment was the same man set to wed her sister. She stopped dancing abruptly, pulling out of his reach. Jug watched her curiously, having wondered what her reaction might be to his compliment.

Lily picked up her dress so it was a few inches off the floor before bolting away from him, through the crowd of dancers, and out of the ballroom. Tears pricked her eyes but she willed them not to fall until she was alone and out of sight.

Meanwhile Shanna was drinking her cup of alcoholic punch. She was right in guessing that Reggie was going to spike it. He was so predictable. Her eyes moved to the towering figure next to her. His dark hard had to be gelled neatly in place to keep from getting into his eyes. Her mouth suddenly went dry.

She quickly found her nerve and quelled the butterflies in her stomach. “Poor Lily has to marry a troll.” She said, loud enough for Prince Pea to overhear her. He turned, eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Too bad Jughead has to marry a dwarf.” Was his reply, making her huff indignantly. Before she could say anything back, Marquess Mantle walked up to them.

“Your Highness, may I have this dance?” He asked with a petulant smile on his lips. He glanced at the prince as if to size him up. Sweet Pea let out an annoyed snort before going back to his drink.

Shanna took his outstretched hand, allowing him to guide her to the dance floor as a slow song started. She held back a groan as Reggie put his hands on her waist, pulling her close to him.

“Don’t you think this is a little inappropriate, my Lord?” Shanna asked, not even hiding her disdain as her hands went to his shoulders. “I am engaged to Prince Forsythe now. Or did you forget?”

Reggie just smiled, something cruel and sinister that made her stomach drop and heart jump with anxiety. “For now, Princess, but you forget. I know your secret.”

She tried pulling away from him but his grasp on her was too tight. “Reggie, you’re not telling the king what we did. You’re not telling anyone. You promised.”

“Right, I promised.” Reggie said, his tone alluding to the fact that his word had just been a joke to him. “You promised me the crown.”

“Please, it’s not my call.” Shanna said, trying to act like she wasn’t trying hard to get away from him. “My father decided that the Mantle heritage was best left out of the royal line.”

The young lord didn’t seem too pleased to hear that. His hands tightened around her. Shanna was sure that the only thing keeping her skin from bruising was the tough exterior of her corset. The steel boning protecting her delicate flesh from his biting touch.

At the refreshment table, Prince Sweet Pea seemed to notice the distress the princess was in. He watched carefully, his dark pupils honing in on how tense Reggie’s hands seemed to be.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Reggie hissed between clenched teeth. “The King thinks some Southside trash Prince is better? A Jones?”

Sweet Pea had come behind Reggie, overhearing his insult to him and his brother. He wasn’t really a Jones, not by blood. The King and Queen had taken him in at a young age. Still, the Joneses were family to him and he did not make light of someone insulting them or the kingdom in which they ruled.

“Excuse me, Lord Mantle, but I believe that trash prince is going to be King of Riverdale while the best you can ever hope for is the title of Duke.” Sweet Pea said proudly as he stood to full height. He used the handful of inches in difference to his advantage.

Reggie, wanting to save face, quickly let go of his captive. “Your Highness, I didn’t know you were right there.” Shanna took a step back, giving Sweet Pea a look that was a mix of relief and aggravation. She was sure she could have handled it herself.

“I was going to ask the princess if she knew where her sister was.” Sweet Pea said, lying. He had seen Lily run off during her dance with Jughead. He assumed Jug just confessed his feelings or something sappy like that. His romantic antics made Pea nauseous on numerous occasions.

“Lily’s not here?” Shanna asked as she looked around. “I thought she was with Prince Jughead.” Sweet Pea watched as she ran to the other Jones boy. He was speaking with a few other Lords, pretending to be entertained by whatever drivel they were going on about.

Sweet Pea looked at Reggie, glad that she had gone. “If I catch you speaking like that about my brother, your future king, or my kingdom again, then I’ll make sure your family is stripped of their sovereignty.” He said in a low, serious voice. His frame loomed over the somewhat shorter boy with a fiery look in his eyes. “And if you lay a hand on a princess like that again, I’ll do something even worse.”

Reggie looked flabbergasted as Sweet Pea turned around and went to find perhaps a conquest for the night. It wasn’t often he was this far North. Most of the women here were new to him. He could use another notch in his bedpost.

Meanwhile Lav was interrupting Jughead, “Prince Forsythe, can I please speak with you privately?” She asked, trying to not feel too much concern. Jug nodded towards the men he was talking to before allowing Lavender to pull him away.

“Thanks for that. I was pretty sure they were about to torture me with more advice on how to keep a mistress.” Jughead said, wondering what was up but also knowing it couldn’t have been that serious.

She gave him a frustrated look, both at the thought of him having a mistress and him not taking her concern seriously. “Where is Lily? You were dancing with her, where did she go?”

Jughead shifted his weight in an attempt to quell his nerves. The girls were very close, if she had perceived that he hurt Lily in any way then she’d probably lash out at him. Not that Jughead couldn’t take some verbal abuse, he would just rather not make a scene on the night of their announced engagement.

“She ran through the double doors halfway through our dance.” Jughead stated calmly, looking off into the direction where his favorite princess had disappeared too.

Lavender’s brow furrowed as she stared at him, “she ran? What did you say to her!?” Her voice raised enough to cause a few nearby nobles to give them curious looks.

The prince let out a soft sigh, “I merely said that the emeralds in her tiara were shining very brightly.” He didn’t know if Lily had shared his notes with her sister, but he had assumed that she had. It wasn’t a secret how close they were. They weren’t exactly known for having a lot of friends outside the castle.

Shanna’s hazel eyes widened, “you…you?!” She stammered, trying to put together the pieces of information she was receiving. Jughead was the one writing the notes? How?

Suddenly anger overcame her and she shoved him, “do you have any idea what you’ve done?!” She said, her heart swollen with pain for her sister. “You can’t tell my sister you want her when you have to marry me!”

Jughead didn’t budge, her force not nearly strong enough to set him off balance. He frowned as he looked down at her. He hadn’t realized how his admittance would affect either of them. Clearly he was wrong in outing himself. “I’ll make it up to you,” He said, confusing the reason for why she was so upset.

“Don’t make it up to me,” Shanna said in a low voice so no one else could hear her, “make it up to her.”

With a twirl of her dress she was turned around and marching into the direction where her sister had gone to. She knew exactly where she was hiding.

Lav went to a cupboard in the kitchen that they used to hide in when they were young to get away from their nanny and now more often times, their father. She could hear her quiet sobs behind the door.

She opened it slowly, peeking inside to see Lily with her knees up against her chest, crying so hard that her shoulders were shaking. “Lils.” Shanna said softly, crawling in with her and shutting the door back so they’d have privacy.

“It’s him.” She mumbled into her arms, “He’s the one that’s been sending me notes. I can’t believe it. I found him and he’s engaged to you.”

Lav couldn’t sit next to her because of how narrow the space was. She sat in front of her instead, in the same position with her knees up. “I know.” Lav said softly, “it was cruel of him to tell you. I made sure to tell him so.”

Lily was quiet for a moment, “no, I’m glad he did. It is better than guessing for the rest of my life.” She sniffed back snot that had built up in her nostrils, playing with the hem of her dress to distract herself. “What are we going to do?”

“You know I don’t care about Jughead, Lily.” Shanna said cautiously, “I don’t want to marry him any more than you want to marry Sweet Pea. He can write you all the love letters he wants, it doesn’t hurt me. Sometimes…I just wish someone cared about me like that. Then again that would make this all that much harder so it’s probably better that no one does.”

Lily wiped her eyes, hoping to fix her running makeup in the process. It didn’t help much. “Do you think…dad will reconsider?” She asked, “Maybe he’ll let me marry Jughead?”

Shanna was quiet, thinking it over. “I don’t think so.” She said truthfully, causing more tears to fall down her sister’s face. “Because I’m first born. I have to be queen. I don’t want to be, you know how shit of a leader I am. But…he’s a traditionalist. I don’t think there’s any use in even asking. He’ll just get mad. Maybe even call the whole thing off, in which you’d never get to see the prince because he’d be king of an enemy state again. I’ll have to marry Reggie. Please…God please, do not make me marry Reggie.”

“I wouldn’t do that to you. You know that.” Lily replied with a frustrated sigh. “So you don’t care if me and Jughead…”

She shrugged, “do what you want. It’s not like I love him. I’d share anything with you. Even a husband.”

A ghost of a smile made its way across Lily’s lips.

|\/\/|

Shanna walked into the royal stable, letting the servant know that she’d be going out for a ride to clear her head. Her knees still hurt from being cramped into the cupboard with Lily almost all night. They spent the time hidden away from guests, giggling and talking about their future dreams that didn’t include their betrothed.

All she could think about was how much her sister must be hurting. It caused her to toss and turn all night as she tried desperately to find a solution. She didn’t have much success in thinking of anything.

The princess looked up, seeing the black head of a stallion peeking out from over a stall door. He snorted softly when their eyes connected. “Oh? Who are you?” She asked, the dark thoughts disappearing from her mind as she walked up to him slowly, not wanting to startle him with her excitement.

“Did daddy buy me a new horse and not tell me?” She asked, reaching out to let him sniff her hand. He leaned his head out further, and Shanna put her hand delicately on his snout to pet him. “Maybe an engagement present? What’s your name, huh?”

“His name is Hades. And he’s not your present. He’s my personal horse.” A sharp voice came from behind her. Shanna’s hand didn’t leave the horse as she looked over her shoulder to see the tall, dark prince. He looked strange in fitted jeans, t-shirt, and old boots. He looked the opposite of royal, in fact.

Hades made an annoyed noise when Shanna pulled her hand away from him, as if he missed the contact immediately. In contrast, Shanna was wearing full riding gear. Tight pants, jacket, a nice pair of boots, hair braided back, and even a pair of riding gloves hanging out the back of her pants.

Sweet Pea refrained from letting his eyes sweep over the skin tight pants that showed off her rear perfectly. He also didn’t look at how small her waist seemed in the way the jacket was tailored to fit her form…at least he tried not to. “I’d rather you not touch him.”

She gave him an offended look, “please. He wanted me to touch him, practically begged me to come over and get him a pet. Didn’t you, Hades?”

Hades seemed to nod his head, much to Sweet Pea’s chagrin. Shanna grinned. “You just wanted attention from a beautiful girl, huh?”

Sweet Pea forced his way between them. Hades nuzzled his back between his shoulder blades, making him to take a step forward closer to the princess. She gave him a skeptical look. “I didn’t peg you for an animal guy.”

“I’ve raised him since he was a foal. I watched his mother give birth to him. He’s not just some gift my father gave me because I bitched about wanting a pony.” Sweet Pea said angrily.

Shanna’s eyes hardened. “Are you trying to say I don’t care about my horses?”

“They’re just trophies of wealth to you.” Sweet Pea said hotly. “You and every other royal girl in the kingdom across the continent.”

“Excuse you, but you don’t know a thing about me.” She snapped angrily, “you don’t know my feelings towards my horses in the slightest. I may not have watched Persephone being born, but she is my everything. How dare you insinuate that I only see her as a toy and not a living creature, you stupid troll!”

She stormed over to the stall a few doors down, opening it and leading out a pure white horse. Persephone forced her head into Lav’s arms in an attempt to comfort her. She wrapped her hands around the horse in a gentle hug. “Looks like Dooley got you ready for me already.”

“You don’t even saddle your own horse?” Sweet Pea asked condescendingly. Shanna shot him another angry look as she led the white beauty out of her stall by her reigns.

“I do. Sometimes the stable hand gets wind that I’m coming and does it for me to get in my good graces. I’m future queen. Something like that goes a long way in my kingdom.” Shanna replied, her voice hotter than fire as she mounted Persephone.

Sweet Pea got the necessary tack needed to go for a ride himself. “I bet you don’t even know how to ride properly.”

Shanna looked down at him from on top of her horse. “What to bet?” She asked, her voice blossoming with a dark threat that was looming over Sweet Pea’s head. A threat he couldn’t ignore.

“A race.” Sweet Pea suggested, putting the saddle blanket on first. “To Sweetwater River. Winner has to clean the loser’s horse stall.”

“Fine.” Shanna said, having never been able to back down from a bet. “I’ll be waiting outside for you. Then we can start.” She guided her horse outside the stable doors, listening to the sounds of Sweet Pea mumbling incoherently to his steed as he saddled him up.

A few minutes later Sweet Pea joined her, lining Hades with Persephone. The two horses eyed each other, nickering at one another happily. The riders looked at one another, begrudging the fact that their horses seemed to be getting along a little too well.

“On the count of three.” Shanna said before counting down. Once she hit one the two dug their heels into their horses, sending them into a gallop.

The two raced neck in neck. Naturally Hades had more power being male, but Persephone held her own. At least, until three quarters of the way through, she started pulling back.

Shanna knew she wasn’t tired. She had raced her like this before against other horses for fun. She could easily make this trek. However, her mare insisted on slowing down despite her urging her to keep going.

Sweet Pea made it to the edge of the river, slowing down his horse and turning him around to see his opponent. The white mare trailed behind the black stallion. She shook her head and let out a whinny as she got to the river.

Displeasure ran across Lavender’s face. Her eyes narrowed in frustration. “That wasn’t a fair race. She wouldn’t run.”

“Don’t be a sore loser.” Sweet Pea replied in a bland tone. “Just admit that I’m the superior rider.”

“I’m not admitting shit.” Shanna spat back, turning Persephone around to be in line again with Hades. The horses nickered to one another once more. “Persephone, stop fraternizing with the enemy.”

Sweet Pea scoffed as he motioned for Hades to start the walk back. He started at a slow place to help him cool off. Shanna followed after him to do the same. “Want me to brush him down too since I’m cleaning up his shit?” She grumbled after him.

“I’m not letting you touch my horse.” Sweet Pea replied, not even turning his head to look at her. “You won’t do it right.”

Shanna reached over and pet Hades’ rump defiantly behind Sweet Pea’s back. “I know how to take care of a horse, you ass. God, I can’t believe my poor sister is stuck with you.”

“Yea. Too bad Jughead will never care about you.” Sweet Pea said back, successful in his attempt to hurt her. No, her husband would never care about her. Not in the way he cared about her sister.

Sweet Pea heard her sniff and looked back at her, “you going to cry now?”

“Shut up!” Shanna snapped back at him, pulling Persephone away to take a different path back to the stable. “You’re insufferable!”

Once alone Sweet Pea leaned over, rubbing Hades’ neck affectionately. “Don’t go catching feelings, boy.” He warned him. “That mare is nothing but trouble.”

((Top image by @the-gargoyle-queen ; bottom image by @lilhemmo))

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marjaystuff · 3 years ago

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Elise Cooper Interviews Maisey Yates

Rodeo Christmas at Evergreen Ranch, “Gold Valley” book 13, and The True Cowboy of Sunset Ridge “Gold Valley” book 14, by Maisey Yates both have an underlying theme of overcoming grief. In addition, each book has a novella that also touches on grief. There is a range of feelings that are present in each: hope, joy, despair, anger, and understanding. As with all her books, Yates is the master of banter between the characters. Whether making the reader laugh or cry they feel they are a fly on the wall as they listen to the characters’ conversations.

Rodeo Christmas at Evergreen Ranch has best friends, Jake Daniels, and Callie Carson, agreeing to a marriage of convenience. What makes this book fun is that all the Daniels family is front and center. But the plot focuses on the cousin Jake and Callie. She shows up at his ranch with a marriage proposal. To fulfill her dreams of riding a saddle bronc, she needs her inheritance. And to access that, she needs a husband.

After losing his parents, along with the other Daniels’ children, in a plane crash, he refuses to get attached, believing that once he loves someone, he will lose them. So, he decides to just exist and not feel. Callie also has feelings of loss, because she feels she is her parent’s replacement to Sophie, the daughter they lost to an illness before Callie was born.

The True Cowboy of Sunset Ridge features Jake’s brother Colt Daniels. He also has issues with grief and loss; besides his parents he lost a good friend on the rodeo circuit. He agrees to have a one-night stand with Mallory Chance. But the small town epitomizes the saying “it’s a small world,” after he turns out to be her landlord and related by marriage to her brother, Griffin. Mallory became a mid-wife after having a still-born birth and has now decided to move closer to her brother. She wants a fresh start, especially from her live-in boyfriend of fifteen years who is a man-child. Colt and Mallory become close when they decide to work together to tend to a newborn. This baby, his goddaughter, was left with him by the mother who wants a fresh start.

Both books have a solid romance with interesting characters. These books are page-turners as readers take a journey with the characters. Family loss, grieving, and finding love are themes that have great meaning.

Elise Cooper: You explore grief in both books?

Maisey Yates: A lot of my stories have conversations with grief. Funny, but my books that deal with heavy grief tend to win awards. In case, you want to know, I did write these books prior to having a real adult experience with grief, when I lost my mother. One of the books was written while my mom was in hospice. One of the wonderful things about writing is the healing process. I know I can deal with these horrible things that come up after a death and put them in my stories. For me, grief is a good vehicle to push my characters to the edge.

EC: There is a lot about rodeos in Rodeo Christmas at Evergreen Ranch. Do you like them?

MY: Yes! I enjoy going to rodeos. My goal is to get out to the Pendleton Round Up rodeo in Oregon. It is a week-long celebration of western heritage that includes parades, concerts, a night pageant, shops, and of course rodeo events.

EC: How would you describe the hero, Jake Daniels?

MY: Very broken and protective. There was a thread that called my heroes “disasters in Stetsons that are in need of therapy, not a relationship.” I thought no way. These are fictional characters who need love and are afraid of commitments because of something that went on in their life. He is brave, vulnerable, and caring.

EC: How would you describe the heroine, Callie Carson?

MY: Stubborn, determined, sassy, a tough cookie. She is a straight-talker, honest, spirited, and strong. When I was writing her, I thought about one of my favorite books growing up, Caddie Woodlawn, a historical western. Caddie Woodlawn is a real adventurer. She'd rather hunt than sew and plow than bake and tries to beat her brother's dares every chance she gets. At the end of the book, she is more receptive to those feminine qualities of cooking. At first, I was disappointed, thinking she caved. But when I read it again as a teenager, I understood why she embraced some feminine qualities. I like my heroines to have a journey going from Tomboy to woman. Callie realizes she does not have to give up her interests, nor does she have to reject the idea of femininity to be strong.

EC: Callie saw with the Daniels’ family how she too could be feminine and strong?

MY: You are referring to the book quote, “Sammy, was a flurry of motion, hair, and diaphanous fabrics. Police Chief Pansy was the female counterpart to Ryder, with Rose, the youngest, most stubborn, and outspoken. Iris, the oldest of that sibling group, was maternal, but with a dry, quiet wit that snuck up out of nowhere. They are people who know their own minds but are all different. They show her, she can be different, but also strong.” Callie also noticed that Rose was a lot like her, a spirited tomboy about her own age. Pansy was tough as nails and very spirited. Iris was softer and more traditional. Sammy was an earth mother. Callie found it fascinating to by surrounded by all these different kinds of femininity.

EC: What were the roles of Jake and Callie’s parents in the book?

MY: Jake and his family addressed grief from different angles. Jake lost his parents, while Callie’s parents were still hurting over losing her sister Sophie. Her late sister was a shadow over Callie just as Jake’s parents were a shadow over him. They are not there, but in a sense are there, affecting everything Jake and Callie did.

EC: Please explain the quote, “Take the shrapnel out, heal the wound.”

MY: Jake had issues. He is hanging on to what is infecting the wound. The wound is kept festering because he feeds it so it can never heal. Jake doesn’t want to let go of the pain because he sees it as keeping him safe where he does not have to move on. He does not want to be happy because he fears it can be taken away so the wound will reopen.

EC: The True Cowboy of Sunset Ridge had an ex-boyfriend, Jared, who was mean. I thought you would have him come back to Mallory and have Colt react.

MY: I wrote that scene where Colt punches him in the face. I took it out because I did want the plot to quit being about Jared. He should not have any more space in her life. For me, she told him to F off, so she was done with him. Instead, I wrote a scene about her dealing with a client emergency. This way Mallory was able to grow and address her own issues. I basically bait and switched myself.

EC: How would you describe Colt?

MY: A control freak and alpha male. Artistic. He crafted wood, which is how he expresses himself. He also plays the guitar. My husband and family are all musicians. The scene where Colt picks up the guitar at family gatherings is what our family does. I unintentionally reference and admire my dad and husband. I project them onto my heroes.

EC: How would you describe Mallory?

MY: Smart, a work in progress. She has a strength in work, but not so much in her personal life. She is loyal, persistent, feels she must prove herself, and wants to save people.

EC: What about the relationship?

MY: With Jared, he was more of a habit. She did not love him. It was dysfunctional, one-sided, and created low self-esteem. She grew and matured, while he never did. It fostered the worst parts of each other. They were co-dependent.

EC: What about the relationship with Colt?

MY: He is supportive. He thought they were matched together because of fate. They both helped each other with their own issues. I think at times he is more vulnerable than she was.

EC: How about the sibling relationship between Mallory and Griffin?

MY: They had a good home life, but with different parental experiences. She felt very overshadowed by him. She saw him as exceptional. I think some of it is older child versus younger child. She idolizes her older brother and sees him as better than her. Mallory has a little bit of hero worship and a little bit of jealousy.

EC: What about your next books?

MY: In March 2022 will be the book written with my author friends: Nicole Helm, Jackie Ashenden, and Caitlin Crews. It is titled Sweet Home Cowboy and comes out in March 2022. Four Hathaway sisters had grown up apart, but they agree to move to Jasper Creek, Oregon, to revitalize their grandfather’s farm. It is very humorous.

In May 2022 Unbridle Cowboy, in the “Four Corners Ranch series” has hero Sawyer Garrett becoming a single dad to tiny baby June. He needs to find a woman to be a mother to his infant daughter. He decides to do it how the pioneers did: he puts out an ad for a mail-order bride. Accepting is Evelyn Moore. She can't believe she's agreed to uproot her city life to marry a stranger in Oregon. But having escaped one near-disastrous marriage, she's desperate for change. This series will have some cross-over with the Gold Valley and Copper Ridge series.

In June 2022 Ruby McKee Comes Home will be published. Ruby McKee is found abandoned on a bridge as a newborn baby by the McKee sisters, she’s become the unofficial mascot of Pear Blossom, Oregon, a symbol of hope in the wake of a devastating loss. Ruby is on a quest for the truth about her origins, but it uncovers a devastating secret. It will have a romance, a little bit of mystery, and family.

THANK YOU!!

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humanprincescar · 8 years ago

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Closed 20's au with blacks-flawed-beast.

Years had passed since they had danced. Now married, Scar had just become an attorney. Years of schooling prepared him for his first case. He stood in the lobby of the courtroom, waiting for his client and mentor. His hair was short and combed back. He had worn a black suit with a green tie wth a black shirt underneath. "Where are they?" He muttered, obviously nervous. His client was a widow of a man who was killed in their home. The police were called after a large clamor was heard and when they came, they saw the man Jeffrey Howard, with multiple stabs wounds on his body and his distraught wife, Elise Howard, standing over the body in absolute horror. The police took her into custody. Authorities were notified that there was a witness who saw Mrs. Howard kill her husband and she was put on trial as a result. His mentor was Marie Pendleton, the woman that showed him the ropes of the trial. She was sitting this one out and letting Scar do his first case. @blacks-flawed-beast

#objection!au

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foodfanaticarchive · 8 years ago

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JUGHEAD + EXTENDED FAMILY. under read more are the names in jughead’s extended family that i've seen appear in all the comics i’ve read + a small few headcanons on them ! now , i’ve only read so much & i’m still working my way through more comics every day. who knows if this covers it all or if jug has more family but i will keep this list updated as needed as a reference for myself & anyone else who may find it useful. know some last names of these family members have never been given therefore some will be listed with no last name & some cousins don’t have parents who ever make appearances so they’re listed alone. all ages on cousins are just my assumptions. familes are are grouped together in the order of the direct relation to the parent , their spouse ( if any ) , then their children ( if any ).

MOTHER’S SIDE.

herman wilkin* / uncle ( *this is his original last name given in 1970s , when he was assumed to be a paternal uncle to bingo. in 2006 when that wilkin boy was reintroduced it was made clear he was a maternal uncle to bingo. this retcon presumedly means wilikin is no longer uncle herman’s surname but , then again , if it didn’t change that then maybe willie just took his wife’s last name. no one knows. )

wilma wilkin / aunt

william “willie” wilkin / uncle

woodrow “bingo” wilkin iii / cousin , same age

FATHER’S SIDE.

iris jones* / aunt ( *only my assumption of her last name , as she was not shown to have a spouse. )

jenny / aunt

fredrick / cousin , younger by maybe 13 - 14 years

elise* / aunt

edward “ed”* / uncle ( *unclear on who is the relation to jug’s dad. i assume elise is his sister but if ed is his brother then , possibly , their last name could be jones. )

estelle / cousin , younger by maybe 8 - 11 years

william “billy” / cousin , younger by 11 - 13 years , twin to bobby

robert “bobby” / cousin , younger by 11 - 13 years , twin to billy

nathan jones* / cousin , same age , identical cousin to jughead ( *assumed last name as it’s never stated & his parents are never shown in the comics. )

paul “souphead” jones / cousin , younger by maybe 6 - 7 years

forsythe pendleton jones sr.* “grandpa jones” / grandfather ( *i assume this is his name , as jughead’s father is forsythe p. jones jr. & jughead is forsythe p. jones iii )

“grandma jones” / grandmother , first name not shown

HEADCANONS.

while close to his father’s family , jughead sees his mother’s side of the family far more often. his mother’s side live in a town not far from riverdale known as MIDVILLE where his redheaded cousin bingo , who reminds him a lot of his best friend archie , has his own band “the bingoes”. he & bingo get along fairly well & when they have their get togethers will sometimes jam. jughead has once stood in for their drummer when he was sick & bingo will often mention how much owes him for that. jug , however , is nonchalant about the favor & will say he was happy to help & that bingo can call on him to be a substitute drummer anytime he needs. he’s very fond of his wilkin relations.

his uncle herman on his mother’s side , while he does techincally live in midville , will bounce from riverdale & midville often. he owns a joke shop in riverdale & is often trying to invent things that he will then often go to jughead to be a human tester for. it’s a bit worrisome when jughead comes home to his uncle herman but , if anything , the man is entertaining.

on his father’s side it’s a big family. his grandparents , kind people they are , once lived in riverdale but now own a farm a ways out of town. his grandmother is always happy to overfeed her big grandson. his aunt iris often stays with them , taking care of them usually , & is known to be stuck up , pretentious , & usually complaining. he doesn’t like to say it out loud but she’s probably his least favorite aunt. his aunt jenny is also quite pretentious & spoils her son , his cousin fredrick , rotten & constantly brags about him. she’s quite insensitive about remarks on looks & jughead assumes that she might be his mom’s least favorite sister - in - law as she’s told his dad she never wants aunt jenny visiting them. his aunt estelle is overly affectionate & very loud with little concept of personal space while her husband , ed , is a smaller , quieter man. their eldest daughter , estelle , is affectionate like her mom but much more like her sweeter & quieter father. their young twin boys , however , take much after their mother in being extremely loud & bugging. they often are getting into trouble somehow.

the only cousin not far younger than him on his father’s side is his cousin nathan though jughead has a sour dislike for nathan as nathan is almost completely identical in physical appearance to jughead. when nathan visits riverdale , though jughead has told him many times not to visit , even jughead’s closest friends will mix the two of them up. the problem with this is that nathan , according to jughead , “ruins his reputation” when in town due to the fact he’s an overly flirtatious womanizer. when people see nathan & the girls from in town they assume it’s jug with the girls & later accuse jug of secretly being a romancer. what jug can say he finds good about nathan , though , is that he is quite good at giving presents.

paul , or “souphead” as everyone knows him , infuriates jughead often with the kid’s wit being nearly as sharp as his. when jug tries to watch his younger cousin the kid meddles casually into plans that jug is often caught off guard in & end up making a fool of jughead. most in the family , though , assume that souphead is only the way he is because of how much he’s made jug out to be his role model. aside from already looking like a small version of his elder cousin souphead has affectionally modeled his nickname after jughead’s , acts like jughead , & even dresses almost identical to jughead. as infuriating as jughead finds souphead to be he does realize that the boy idolizes him which gives him some affection to his younger cousin.

#🍔 〉 * ⋅ &. ━━━ hc. be who you are not who people think you are.#🍔 〉 * ⋅ &. ━━━ abt. that’s what the ‘s’ stands for.#long post //#i mean its under read more but still its long im sorry to all the ppl who run into this on mobile lmao #i had to get this all out before i got lazy #most of the family on his dad's side is all from just this one issue in the second series that i have #its like issue 55 of the second series & him & his fam go on a roadtrip to a little family gathering at his grandparents #& its all his dad's side so. souphead & nathan arent there but i just assume they're on his dad's side idk #well souphead ik is on his dad's side actually bc his last name IS jones its really just nathan that im assuming #anyway his family isn't like....huge but its not small either #ref

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scienceblogtumbler · 5 years ago

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Super-potent human antibodies protect against COVID-19 in animal tests

A team led by Scripps Research has discovered antibodies in the blood of recovered COVID-19 patients that provide powerful protection against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes the disease, when tested in animals and human cell cultures.

The research, published today in Science, offers a paradigm of swift reaction to an emergent and deadly viral pandemic, and sets the stage for clinical trials and additional tests of the antibodies, which are now being produced as potential treatments and preventives for COVID-19.

“The discovery of these very potent antibodies represents an extremely rapid response to a totally new pathogen,” says study co-senior author Dennis Burton, PhD, the James and Jessie Minor Chair in Immunology in the Department of Immunology & Microbiology at Scripps Research.

In principle, injections of such antibodies could be given to patients in the early stage of COVID-19 to reduce the level of virus and protect against severe disease. The antibodies also may be used to provide temporary, vaccine-like protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection for healthcare workers, elderly people and others who respond poorly to traditional vaccines or are suspected of a recent exposure to the coronavirus.

The project was led by groups at Scripps Research; IAVI, a nonprofit scientific research organization dedicated to addressing urgent, unmet global health challenges; and University of California San Diego School of Medicine.

“It has been a tremendous collaborative effort, and we’re now focused on making large quantities of these promising antibodies for clinical trials,” says co-lead author Thomas Rogers, MD, PhD, an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Immunology & Microbiology at Scripps Research, and assistant professor of Medicine at UC San Diego.

An approach that’s worked for other deadly viruses

Developing a treatment or vaccine for severe COVID-19 is currently the world’s top public health priority. Globally, almost 8 million people have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection, and more than 400,000 have died of severe COVID-19. The daily toll of new infections is still rising.

One approach to new viral threats is to identify, in the blood of recovering patients, antibodies that neutralize the virus’s ability to infect cells.

These antibodies can then be mass-produced, using biotech methods, as a treatment that blocks severe disease and as a vaccine-like preventive that circulates in the blood for several weeks to protect against infection. This approach already has been demonstrated successfully against Ebola virus and the pneumonia-causing respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV.

Potent patient antibodies block the virus

For the new project, Rogers and his UC San Diego colleagues took blood samples from patients who had recovered from mild-to-severe COVID-19. In parallel, scientists at Scripps Research and IAVI developed test cells that express ACE2, the receptor that SARS-CoV-2 uses to get into human cells. In a set of initial experiments, the team tested whether antibody-containing blood from the patients could bind to the virus and strongly block it from infecting the test cells.

The scientists were able to isolate more than 1,000 distinct antibody-producing immune cells, called B cells, each of which produced a distinct anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody. The team obtained the antibody gene sequences from these B cells so that they could produce the antibodies in the laboratory. By screening these antibodies individually, the team identified several that, even in tiny quantities, could block the virus in test cells, and one that could also protect hamsters against heavy viral exposure.

All of this work—including the development of the cell and animal infection models, and studies to discover where the antibodies of interest bind the virus—was completed in less than seven weeks.

“We leveraged our institution’s decades of expertise in antibody isolation and quickly pivoted our focus to SARS-CoV-2 to identify these highly potent antibodies,” says study co-author Elise Landais, PhD, an IAVI principal scientist.

If further safety tests in animals and clinical trials in people go well, then conceivably the antibodies could be used in clinical settings as early as next January, the researchers say.

“We intend to make them available to those who need them most, including people in low- and middle-income countries,” Landais says.

In the course of their attempts to isolate anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies from the COVID-19 patients, the researchers found one that can also neutralize SARS-CoV, the related coronavirus that caused the 2002-2004 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Asia.

“That discovery gives us hope that we will eventually find broadly neutralizing antibodies that provide at least partial protection against all or most SARS coronaviruses, which should be useful if another one jumps to humans,” Burton says.

“Rapid isolation of potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies and protection in a small animal model” was co-authored by 30 scientists including lead authors Thomas Rogers, Fangzhu Zhao, Deli Huang, and Nathan Beutler, all of Scripps Research. The corresponding authors were Devin Sok and Joseph Jardine of IAVI, and Dennis Burton of Scripps Research.

Funding was provided by the National Institutes of Health (UM1 AI44462), the IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP 1170236, OPP 1183956, OPP 1196345/ INV-008813), the John and Mary Tu Foundation, and the Pendleton Foundation.

source https://scienceblog.com/517307/super-potent-human-antibodies-protect-against-covid-19-in-animal-tests/

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gingernut1314 · 11 months ago

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Meet the Oc: Eloise Pendleton

*Slight Spoilers for part 4*

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A/N: I can't draw to save my life so I used picrew to help me out! Here is the link! I did draw the Stands cause I can only draw animals....not well but I can do it better then humans oof.

This will also be updated as I continue to write for and flush out this character!! (also does this spoil some things for Elise....maybe....but Eloise is my baby and I wanted to put her out here so I could start writing little things for her)

Setlist: (Full "Eloise Pendleton" Playlist)

Wicked Game

Dichotomy (Intro)

General Knowledge:

Name: Eloise "El, Ellie" Pendleton

Birthday: May 1st, 1984

Nationality: British-American

Family: Elise Pendleton (mother), DIO (father), Jonathan Joestar (father/Uncle), Erina Pendleton (Aunt), Joseph Joestar (Cousin/adoptive father), Suie Q Joestar (adoptive mother), Holy Kujo (adoptive sister--cousin??), Jotaro Kujo (cousin??), Josuke Higashikata (adoptive half-brother....cousin?), Giorno Giovanna (half brother)

Lives in: New York

Personality: shy until you get her to open up (then she's very talkative and bubbly), anxious, people pleaser, doesn't try to be too obnoxious/loud, BIG daddy's girl (cause Joseph is the #1 girl dad), kind-hearted, holds a burning anger inside of herself she has learned to keep deep, deep down but will still burst out when she's pushed too far, self-sacrificing tendencies for her loved ones

Likes: Animals, fruit, music, being around others, loud/crowded places, loud people (reminds her of Joseph), picnics, Disney movies

Dislikes: rude/unkind people, mentions of Dio or her mother, mushrooms (mushrooms on pizza especially)

Looks: was born with light brown hair, then pure white hair when stand manifests, golden-brown eyes (Dio's genes), the biggest RBF known to man despite her personality, looks a lot like Jonathan, three moles lining the cure of her lip (left side), Star birthmark on left shoulder, 5'2

Love Interest: Okuyasu Nijimura

Stand: Burning World (based on the song "Wicked Game")

Burning World (Form 1): A giant ball of fire (like those zoomed-in pictures of the sun). It gives off an eerie silence, like in the vacuum of space

Garfield (form 2): named after the Garfield cartoons/comics is in the form of a cat whose fur is made of fire

Tweety (form 3): named after Tweety Bird, it is in the shape of a tufted titmouse with firey feathers

Queenie (form 4): named in inspiration of the Evil Queen's raven from Snow White, this form is in the shape of a large raven made of fire

Lucy (form 5): Named after the cat, Lucifer, in Cinderella, this form is in the shape of a cougar made of fire

Abilities: Control over fire (created or from an outside source). Can shift into 5 different forms and can only use one form at a time. Switching forms drains Eloise's strength, especially during battle. Garfield & Tweety are more docile and are more "pets/spies" then anythings else. Queenie/Lucy are used for attacks. Forms 2-5 are limited in power. Form 1 is where all of this Stands power is. Burning World's abilities consist of fire control as well as the ability to burn time away for an individual (if perfected, groups of people). This time burn can be for just a few seconds or it could be years--this attack weakens the opponent's strength depending on how long they are exposed to it. Burning World can also burn away at the fabric of time to "peer" into the past or future.

Background Info.:

Eloise's mother believed her to be pure evil and feared she would be just like Dio if not worse.

Due to this, Eloise's mother left her on the streets of Cairo in the daytime in hopes she would burn away like a usual vampire would. She didn't and Eloise's mother left her there to die.

An older couple found Eloise and took her in until Joseph Joestar found her with them. He took her back with him to New York and raised her as his own ("keeping an eye on her in case she turns out to be like Dio" is what he told people who knew of Eloise's father)

Joseph insists on Eloise going with Jotaro to Morioh in hopes that they would be bond as well as in hopes she might grow to be more independent so that she isn't left lost when he dies. He also hopes that she can become friends with Josuke since they are close in age

Initially doesn't like Josuke cause he hates turtles/other like animals but the more she hangs out with him the more she grows to enjoy him

Is instantly taken with Okuyasu because he's loud and a goofball and always takes extra care to make sure she is involved/invited

Eloise gains her Stand when a Stand User Keicho created attacks her. Her hair changes color after this.

#eloise joestar #eloise x Okuyasu #jjba #jjba part 4 #elise pendleton #dio's child oc #jojos bizarre adventure #jjba oc #my oc #dio brando #joseph joestar #okuyasu nijimura #josuke higashikata #jotaro kujo #jjba part 4 oc

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full-imagination · 6 years ago

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June McKinney Parks

Carolyn June McKinney Parks, 89, went to be with her Lord on June 25, 2019. She passed away peacefully with family by her side at the Care and Wellness Center of Whitestone; a Masonic and Eastern Star Community in Greensboro, NC, after several years of declining health. June was born December 12, 1929, at home in Greer, SC. She was the daughter of the late William Hoyt McKinney and the late Kathleen Glasson McKinney. She was an only child. June, “Mama” as she was affectionately called, was a member of the First Baptist Church of Spartanburg. She graduated from Wellford-Lyman-Tucapau High School where she excelled in her studies and was inducted into the National Beta Club. June also enjoyed being a counselor at Camp Pinnacle and loved to lead the arts and crafts projects with the young campers. In 1950, June graduated from Limestone College in Gaffney, SC with a Bachelor of Science Degree. During her time at Limestone, June joined several intramural sports teams – varsity volleyball, basketball, and field hockey. She also participated in horseback riding, often competing and winning first place ribbons. During her senior year at Limestone, June was President of Cooper Dorm, Vice President of the Athletic Association, member of the Alpha Delta Sorority, stage director of the Limestone Follies song and dance group and was honored with the superlative of “featured senior.” She taught Biology in Reidville, SC, Math and Science in Pendleton, SC, and Physical Education at Pine Street Elementary School in Spartanburg, where she retired in 1989 after 31 years. She was beginning to teach the second generation of students. She often talked about her wonderful days of teaching. June also played tennis for the city league. Being a teacher allowed June the ability to take her daughters to their various after school activities and she was constantly on the go. June was a member of a couples’ Bridge club for 25 years. In her later years, her favorite hobby was watching and recording classic old movies. Surviving are her daughters, Debbie Parks Little, and her husband Mike, of Gibsonville, NC; and Katherine Parks Gorrell of Idaho; four grandchildren, Elliott McKinney Gorrell, Graham Reid Gorrell, Elise Grace Gorrell, and Avery William Gorrell; and a step-granddaughter, Pamela Ashleigh Little, and a step-grandson, Michael Andrew Little, both of Lyman, SC, and four great-grandchildren. The family would like to say a special thank you to the wonderful caregivers Mama had during her later years; Leigh Ann Audsley, Sharon Hocker, Marge Gilliland, all of Spartanburg, SC, and Anne Ramsay Compton of Hendersonville, NC. Additional thanks for care to June from the staff of the Care and Wellness Center of Whitestone; a Masonic and Eastern Star community where June resided for nearly five years. A memorial service honoring her life will be conducted at 1:00 PM Saturday, July 6, 2019, at Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel, 2075 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29307. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Park, 1955 Cannons Campground Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29307. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 4600 Park Rd., Charlotte, NC 28209. Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel from The JF Floyd Mortuary via Spartanburg Funeral

#Spartanburg Funeral #Funeral Consultant #The JF Floyd Mortuary

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hopelesswxnderers · 7 years ago

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My favourite fcs to have played against my muses. If anybody can give me any of these, I will give you anything!!

Annalise Lytton (Charlotte Spencer fc) - Callum Turner or Colin Morgan Aiden Spirit (Aidan Turner fc) - Eleanor Tomlinson or Jessica Lowndes Cleo-Rose Harris (Jenna Coleman fc) - Billie Piper or Pearl Mackie Mila Nolan (Adelaide Kane fc) - Bradley James or Sofia Black D’Elia Elise Novakovic (Candice King fc) - Michael Trevino or Paul Wesley or Chris Wood Cameron Brody (younger Aidan Turner fc) - Eleanor Tomlinson or Lenora Crichlow Eleanor Middleton (Alexandra Park fc) - Matthew Daddario or Tom Austen Grace Emerson (Indiana Evans fc) - Luke Mitchell or Brenton Thwaites or Phoebe Tonkin Paige Henderson (Merritt Patterson fc) - Tom Austen or Alexandra Park Nathan Grace (Colin Morgan fc) - Katie McGrath or Jenna Coleman Claudia James (Claire Holt fc) - Caleb Ruminer or Paul Wesley Una Hudson (Sophie Turner fc) - Natalie Dormer or Rose Leslie Sofia Bannister (Sophie Cookson fc) - Melissa Benoist or Meghan Markle Adam Reynolds (Bradley James fc) - Katie McGrath or Johanna Brady Finn Nolan (Nico Mirallegro fc) - Jodie Comer or Sofia Black D’Elia Aaron Willis (Ian Somerhalder fc) - Kat Graham or Candice King Raven Jackson (Pearl Mackie fc) - Jenna Coleman or Diane Guerrero Phoebe Pendleton (Jodie Comer fc) - Nico Mirallegro or Jack O’Connell Mercy Trevino (Seychelle Gabriel fc) - Luke Pasqualino or Jessica Sula Joshua Wright (Luke Pasqualino fc) - Freya Mavor or Seychelle Gabriel Indiana Daniels (Jessica Lowndes fc) - Jessica Alba or Katie McGrath Summer Lytton (Sophie Skelton fc) - Colin Morgan or Kaya Scodelario Faye Hudson (Rhiannon Fish fc) - Douglas Booth or Brenton Thwaites Kit Harris (Sean Teale fc) - Freya Mavor or Jessica Sula Luisa Carmona (Ana De Armas fc) - Poppy Drayton or Hannah Murray Portia Black (Freya Mavor fc) - Sean Teale or Ashley Benson Lydia Fisher (Faye Brookes fc) - Bhavna Limbachia

#wanted; opposite #indie rp #open starter

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marjaystuff · 3 years ago

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Elise Cooper interviews Catherine Bybee

An Unexpected Distraction by Catherine Bybee shows why she is a master storyteller who writes formidable characters. Readers get to catch up with her past heroes and heroines: Claire, Cooper, Sasha, Neil, and Gwen. But anyone who has not read her should considering the great mix of suspenseful drama, action, and romance. With each new installment the series gets better and better.

As with the other heroines in the series, Jacqueline (Jax) Simon is a badass woman. They all are put in dangerous undercover situations by the private investigation security company they work for. Having overcome the corrupt boarding school that basically raised them these women, Sasha, Olivia, Claire, and Jax have skills that would make James Bond jealous.

In this story, Jax returns to her native England after receiving a call from her brother. He needs help figuring out why their parents split up and their dad has moved in with him. The parents are being very secretive about their marital problems. Through her own investigation, Jax discovers that her being sent off to the German military school, Richter, has something to do with her parents’ marital problems. With the help of her current boyfriend, Andrew Craig, Jax’s brother’s best friend, they infiltrate Richter hoping to find if it’s returned to its bad ways, training the children there to be spies and assassins while blackmailing the parents to look the other way.

Along with the action are relationship stories. Jax must overcome her feelings of abandonment by her parents. Because she has never had a close relationship with her mother, they both must have heart-to-heart chats about their feelings. In fact, many times throughout the book Jax says to her mother, “you did not know, because you never asked.” Jax also has come to realize she has feelings and is attracted to Andrew. He is not intimated by her skills with guns and spy technology and is very supportive.

When finished, readers will be disappointed because the gripping story has ended and at this time there is not another book in the making. Anyone who enjoyed this book should contact Catherine to continue the storyline, especially since it appears that the ending was a bit of a cliffhanger. Let Catherine know if there should be more books in the series by contacting her at https://catherinebybee.com/contact/.

Elise Cooper: How did you go about finding the idea for this story?

Catherine Bybee: Overall, the previous books, “The Bride Series” prompted the espionage writing for this series. Neil, the head of McBain Security and Solutions is a character I kept alive in all the books. The challenge of any series is making sure each character has a different focus; although, there are similarities between them. My heroine, Jax, highlights the other side of what happened at the Richter School. She was not being groomed to be an assassin and was there because her parents wanted to keep some secrets. They wanted to keep her isolated. By the way, sending children off to a boarding school happens a lot in Europe even though it is a foreign concept to Americans. Jax seemed to avoid the controversy and focused on receiving an exceptional education.

EC: In the beginning this book highlighted Claire versus Sasha?

CB: Claire is Sasha’s “Mini-Me.” She is not as hard, jaded, and worldly as Sasha. To find out about Sasha’s life people might want to read the whole “First Wives Series.” It explains the reason Sasha turned out the way she did. She is more reserved and more of a loner than Claire. She cannot sit still and even in this book works solo. Both Claire and Sasha are very competitive, which is seen in the books when they participate in obstacle courses.

EC: You are speaking about the Camp Pendleton Mud Run and skydiving out of an airplane?

CB: Yes. The Mud Run used to be open to the public, before Covid. I did dive out of an airplane when I was in Hawaii a couple of years back. My friend and I did it tandemly with a professional. I checked it off my bucket list so it is not something I will do again.

EC: Are Neil and Sasha co-equals?

CB: Even though it is Neil’s team he never treats anyone as an employee. Claire becomes a daughter to him with Jax as his stepdaughter. Throughout this series, as well as all my series, the family is those chosen not the ones born into. For example, Jax and Claire are sisters of choice and are close.

EC: How would you describe Jax?

CB: She did not have a very good actual family life although she does redeem her relationship with her mother. She is wounded and feels neglected. She is the epitome of the poor little rich girl, very aware of how privileged she is. She was never a troublemaker but made sure while at school the skills were learned. She is sassy, loyal, daring, witty, traditionally English, and resourceful.

EC: How would you describe Andrew?

CB: He is a different type of hero than the others in the series. Andrew is a pencil pusher. Upper crust British, determined, traditionalist, thoughtful, and a good listener.

EC: How about the relationship between Andrew and Jax?

CB: He is the perfect man who her parents would have picked for her, but the opposite of what she thinks she needs. I made sure he did not have a life in her world. I wanted to show how men can be supportive of women who are like Jax. He never felt emasculated and was willing to be a part of her life. At first, Jax is standoffish because her parents wanted someone like him for her. Sometimes children need to come to grips that their parents are not always wrong. As they get to know each other she is surprised that she is attracted to him. The challenge for me was to have them fall in love without it feeling forced. He is good at making her think it is her idea and then gets what he wants from her.

EC: What role do Jax’s parents play?

CB: They are the type that had children because that is what was expected. They are reserved, uppity, and never appreciated or understood her. They always underestimated her. I based it on a personal level for me because my parents underestimated me my whole life.

EC: The ending was up in the air?

CB: I did not look at it as a cliff hanger but that the series came full circle. If there is a next book, I could explore how the school groomed these children and taught them to be assassins. Because most of my readers thought the ending was a cliff hanger, I guess I will have to write another book. I do not want to reinvent the wheel with a new espionage series when I have so many rich characters to play with. I would love to hear from people as to what they think about a fourth book in this series, https://catherinebybee.com/contact/.

EC: What about your next book?

CB: In June 2022, will be a kind of a women’s fiction book. The new series is called “The D’Angelo’s” and is titled When It Falls Apart. It takes place in Little Italy, San Diego. It is based on my real life where I had to deal with an aging father, while at the same time piecemealing my life back together because of my own tragedies and issues. The heroine, Brooke Turner, has always had a complicated relationship with her father. But when his health takes a turn for the worse, she drops everything to care for him. What Brooke doesn’t anticipate is the unraveling of her long-term relationship and a cross-country move to San Diego’s Little Italy. She will have a romance with Luca, a single father.

THANK YOU!!

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gingernut1314 · 1 year ago

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JJBA Oc Masterlist

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Guide:

⏳ = Coming Soon 🖋️= Ongoing ✔️ = Competed 🧨 = NSFW 📚 = Series 🎟️ = One-shot 👒 = Headcanon 🏷️ = Drabble

Elise Pendleton (Part 1-3) 🧛‍♀️

Meet the Oc

Survive 📚 🖋️

Ever since Elise Pendleton fell through the ice that had formed over the lake behind her family home, all she has ever wanted to do was survive. Her survival came in many forms, but the new addition to the Joestar household has caught her eye and her very soul and she is determined to have him. Dio Brando x F!Oc x Robert E.O. Speedwagon

Eloise Joestar (part 4) 🐦‍🔥

Meet the Oc

#my ocs #jjba oc #elise pendleton #elise pendleton x dio brando #jjba #jjba part 1 #jjba part 2 #jjba part 3 #jjba fic #gingernut navigation

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cinnbar-bun · 11 months ago

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GIIIINGERRRRR STAAAAHPPPP OH MY GODDDD I LOVE THIS NEW CHAPTER AAAAAAAA OH MY GOSHHHH VTTVGBGBYB THE THE THE AND THE VTVGVGVGVGBG *smacking you aggressively*

Girl not the threat of breaking wrists I cannot why was I simultaneously laughing and gasping 😭😭 Elise you are my beautiful princess with a disorder wtf is wrong you (affectionate) derfgtgtbyb

Follow pt. 2

Dio Brando x F!Oc

Summary: Elise has been following Dio around Liverpool for weeks. A stalking that has not gone unnoticed by him.

Warnings: light stalking, canon typical violence (pushing, threats of death and harm), name-calling

Word Count: 1.9K

Setlist: Dio x Elise playlist

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Tag list: @cinnbar-bun @lostfirefly

Elise followed Dio.

She had been following him for weeks now, watching his every move.

She needed to know him. Needed to figure out just the right way to introduce herself to him.

Elise couldn’t just walk up to him. No…no that would be utterly preposterous.

So she kept herself in the shadows as she followed him through the city of Liverpool, keeping far enough away she could always turn and pretend to be minding her own business.

Elise noticed he hardly talked to the city boys constantly surrounding him. Boys who shouted every word they spoke and shoved each other around like a bumbling collection of barbarians.

Dio remains voiceless. Calm. His every step was filled with a confidence that seemed to come to him oh so naturally. A confidence that poured from his very aurora. Confidence that only heightened that power Elise saw shimmering in his golden eyes every time she caught a glimpse of them.

The only time she ever saw him speak was when that Joestar boy was mentioned. Then he had much to say. Such belittling and harsh things. Things he used in comparison to his achievements.

However, as soon as those oafs that followed him around like a herd of mutts began to agree and raise him up, Dio would go silent again. Silent despite the storm raging within his golden eyes. Eyes so full of hellfire and loathing it almost always stole the very breath from Elise’s lungs.

Even in his wrathful moments, he was beautiful.

As the clock struck five, Dio’s swarm of oafs dissipated and he began his trek home as he usually did. Elise was quick to follow behind, keeping further away than she had been in the city, seeing as the way home was a mere road surrounded by a few trees and grassy planes.

Elise had just made it to the beginning of the pond the path wound around when a gaggle of giggling girls rushed past, knocking into Elise. Her handbag had hardly hit the ground before she grabbed the nearest girl in an iron-like vice. The girl gave a pained screech at the grip Elise had on her.

“Let me--”

“You best watch where you are going.” Elise grit, willing her green eyes to sharpen into deadly blades.

“We were just having a bit of fun.” The girl said with a roll of her eyes, going to yank her wrist from Elise’s hold only for Elise to double down in her grip, pulling her closer.

“Shall we have some more fun then?” Elise asked, voice growing ever colder. The girl’s eyes widened as she fought to gain her wrist back. Her friends called her name in question but Elise’s grip never gave in. “How about we play a game? I will give you, oh let's say to the count of three to apologize for being so utterly careless and if you do not apologize I will break your wrist.”

“W-what? Let me go!” The girl shrieked, a noise that grated on Elise’s every last nerve.

“As soon as you apologize,” Elise said, her grip growing tighter and making pain flash high in the girl's eyes. “One…two--”

“Okay! I am sorry! Let me go!” The girl screamed just as her friend came over, ready to defend her. Elise let her go and the girl clutched her wrist to her chest, whipping around to rush away.

“What just happened?” One asked, as the girl bumped into her in her fearful panic.

“Nothing. Let us go home.” The girl rushed off, and with a quick glance towards the glaring Elise’s way, her friends rushed off after her.

Elise huffed in her utter irritation, finding Dio had disappeared from her sight during all that hubbub. She reached down, swiping up her handbag from the dirt path. Her journey home continued as she wiped the dirt and dust it had collected off.

“Did that poor, stupid girl truly deserve all that?” A smooth voice asked her as she began passing by a collection of trees.

Elise paused.

Her heart began to beat rapidly in her chest. Her stomach twisted.

She knew that voice. A voice she had only heard from afar before but one she had committed to memory.

When she turned her eyes to gaze upon his majesty, her heart all but stopped in her chest.

Dio Brando stood there, leaning against the rough bark of one of the trees beside the path. His golden eyes, ones she had wished and prayed to look upon her were trained intently on her now. Golden eyes that were all too calm and guarded as they took in her features.

“And you would not have done the same had such an immature thing disrespected you as such?”

“No. I would not have.” Dio responded quickly, pushing himself off the tree in such fluid grace Elise had never seen before. Elise’s breath caught in her throat as he grew closer, leaning down so that those sharp golden eyes of his could bear directly into her own. “I would not have given her a countdown before snapping her wrist in two.”

Elise’s heart restarted in a flurry. Her cheeks heated and her lips parted on a shaky inhale of breath.

Dio smelled of labdanum and vanilla. Warm and sweet and slightly woodsy. It was a scent that filled Elise’s very soul. A scent she would not soon forget and one she was already calculating in her head which shops in the city might sell.

“As I should do your own for following me as you have been.” Elise blinked at his statement. Not at the threat of harm her way but--He…he knew she had been following him?

Of course, he knew.

She must be as dimwitted as those girls who had run into her to think he would not catch her in the act.

“I assure you, I have not done so out of any ill will,” Elise spoke, her voice growing quiter in her growing embarrassment.

“Oh? Is that so?” Dio’s smooth voice questioned. Elise kept oh so still as Dio began circling her like a predator would do its prey. “Tell me; you are that pesky Pendleton girl’s sister, correct?” Elise felt her eyes prick in anger at the mention of her younger sister.

“I am.” She said, unable to keep her voice from sharpening the slightest bit. “And you are that bleeding heart Joestar’s adopted brother.” Dio paused just behind her. She could physically feel that hellfire which burned in his eyes all put seeping out of him.

“You understand I do not believe you wish me no harm. Not when your dear sister is fraternizing with my dear brother.” Elise could feel the brush of his breath against the shell of her ear as he spoke. It was a ghost of a touch that sent her body buzzing and heart fluttering all over again. “You following me for three weeks makes me believe Jonathan must have had his sweetheart tell you to do so.”

“And what would they have me do exactly?” Elise asked, her voice coming out as a mere whisper.

“You tell me.” The sudden grip Dio had around Elise’s wrist pulled the smallest sound of shock from her lips. Had her whipping around to face him and all his stunning glory. Face the bloody threats he was stabbing into her with those sharp eyes. “Shall I give you to the count of three before I snap your wrist or should we skip right to it?”

He looked heavenly.

Oh just how divine he looked standing over her like this. Looking at her like he wanted to murder her.

Power.

It was just a show of all the strength he held at his command and Elise needed to be under its protect.

“If you must know,” Elise said, some how having the will to find her own voice against her storming heart and drying mouth. “I have been following you because I cannot help it.” Dio’s eyes narrowed, his grip tightening.

“What?”

“I…I saw you when I moved back home. I could not sleep and went for a walk and--” She took another shuddering breath in as she thought back to that night. To Dio walking under the moonlight looking like some fallen god. “If--if I may be blunt?” Dio’s golden eyes scanned over her features, still guarded and ready for whatever attack he had expected before. Eyes which now held--uncertainty in them. Confusion as to what she was going on about.

“Go on then.”

“I feel in my heart you are destined for something more. Something I wish to aid you in.” Dio continued to watch her in that angered confusion. Continued to try and find her motives.

“And how would a sniveling girl like you do such a thing when I need no aid besides the aid I give myself?”

“I have been known to…dabble…in fourtune telling.” Dio let her wrist go in a bellowing laugh. A laugh that Elise found herself enraptured with.

“You have wasted my time, girl. Fortune telling.” He continued to laugh. He laughed so hard a bit of his usually pristinely kept hair came undone, falling across his forehead.

Elise kept still. Kept quiet as she watched him. Because even when he showed mockery and unbelieving, she had seen the look in his eyes. A look past his anger that showed that need to know. To have his future secured in such a way.

“That Joestar boy is holding you back somehow. I’ve seen it and you are working to rid yourse--” Before Elise could finish her thought, Dio grabbed hold of her cheeks with his hand in a bruising hold, baring his rising anger into her.

“You will cease your jabbering.” He all but roared in her face, his anger escaping its cage and spewing forth like some raging river. “You will cease your following of me or I shall do more than break your wrist. I will take you over to that pond just there and hold you down until you cease to exist.” Elise’s breath halted in her lungs.

Biting cold water invaded her mouth and eyes and nose and throat.

Breathe, breathe, breathe! Her body commanded yet could not obey.

Dark, cold hands crept their way closer and closer to her.

Clawed hands.

Death’s hands.

Survive, survive, survive!

Dio shoved Elise back as he released her. A push hard enough to send her falling onto her rear, her breath growing ever more heavy in her chest and tears burning at her eyes. Tears that had nothing to do with the small hurts blooming over her skin.

The sun cast a golden halo around Dio’s wrathful form.

God.

He was a god.

He had the power to keep her safe from death’s cold hands and the power to guide those very hands to find her throat.

And Elise could not help but adore him. Need him. The small love she had been harboring for him only grew with every hissing word and harsh promise he made.

Dio watched her for a moment longer, looking as if he was trying to wrangle back his anger before continuing on his way home. Elise stayed down in the dirt and watched him go. She watched him until he had long since disappeared from sight.

Elise pulled herself to her feet once the fear coursing through her veins subsided. Once her breath evened out and her eyes stopped burning. She brushed her blue dress off before following down the path he had taken home.

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#moots #moots fics #GINGER HEHE GIRLLLLL #elise pendleton #gingerrrrrrrrr #you cannot do this to meeeeeee

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gingernut1314 · 1 year ago

Text

Survive pt. 1

Dio Brando x F!Oc

Summary: Ever since Elise Pendleton fell through the ice that had formed over the lake behind her family home, all she has ever wanted to do was survive. Her survival came in many forms, but the new addition to the Joestar household has caught her eye and her very soul and she is determined to have him.

Warnings: slight, more platonic Speedwagon x F!Oc, canon typical violence (injuries/death by childbirth, murder, broken arm, near drowning, mention of blood)

Word Count 2.7K

Setlist: Dio x Elise playlist

A/N: So this is kind of more backstory for my oc so it's heavier on the oc than anything else really buuutt if you choose to read I hope you enjoy and expect more of this to come!

↞ to Survive Masterlist | Jjba Masterlist | JJBA Oc Masterlist | Request Rules | Blog Navigation ↠

Tag list: @cinnbar-bun

When Elsie Pendleton was born, she tore her mother so badly that she nearly died. Had her husband not been a renowned doctor, she might have bled to death then and there.

But the damage had been done.

A year later, when her sister was born, there was no hope of saving their dear mother. Lady Pendleton had been a husk of her former self all throughout this pregnancy, having been unable to fully recover from Elsie’s birth. The coming of their new daughter had been the unfortunate end of her.

At the age of six, Elsie fell through the thin ice covering the lake behind her family’s estate while skating around with her younger sister, Erina. Her father had warned them not to, the cold of winter only having just shown its fangs that season. The ice wasn’t thick enough to venture out and play, yet Elsie had done so anyway.

The water had been biting against her skin. Water that filled her mouth as she screamed and thrashed as the heavy wool of her clothes dragged her further and further away from the light.

Her lungs burned as they tightened in her chest, screaming out for a single breath. Her vision blurred and blacked in the corners.

She was dying. Drowning.

Erina had only stared down at her. Had screamed yet did nothing to try and save Elsie. Did not try to grab her or even run for help.

Their tutor had been making his way home after another grueling session with the girls when he spotted Elsie fall through. He had just dove in to grab her when the numbness of the cold waters set into her skin.

He had pulled her from the water, disciplining shouts falling from his lips the moment his head met air. He had thrown Elsie to the ice, which tore into the skin of her hands and knees, as he continued his hissing reprimanding.

Elsie shivered and sputtered, scrambling to her knees as she turned to look up at her tutor.

The sun had cast behind him like some sort of heavenly glow, making him look oh the more imposing. All the most strong.

He had power. He was powerful. He was powerful enough that he could get the girls in trouble with a few simple words to their father. He was powerful enough to save Elsie.

Death had come for Elsie in that lake. Had grabbed hold of her throat and pulled her further into the darkness and yet her tutor had been strong enough to keep the reaper at bay.

She never wanted to be that close to death ever again.

She was determined to survive, no matter what it took and she knew in that moment this man would be that survival.

As Elise had watched her tutor walk off in a raging storm, Erina began her nerve-grating sobbing once more.

“Your--your hair.” Elise had brushed her off and rushed after their tutor, but she knew what her sister had been so upset about the moment she caught sight of her slowly drying hair in her mirror.

The once golden locks, which she shared in color with her sister, had been shocked into a pure white.

White like the snow outside. Like bones and teeth. Of the death her tutor had saved her from.

It was a physical showing of her icy will to survive.

A year went by and Elsie became the ideal pupil. She was quiet during instruction. She did her work and excelled at it. She did not roughhouse with her sister as she once did. Did not run about the halls as she once had.

Erina continued in her childish ways and it drove their tutor utterly mad. He turned to Elsie in those moments. He spoke to her of the irritation Erina grew in him. Spoke to her about how he wished Erina would think before she did. How he wished she would shut her mouth and never again speak. How her behavior was going to drive him from their home.

Elsie wouldn’t have that.

No. No, not one bit.

Her tutor was her savior--he would keep her alive and protected. Erina was threatening that safety and in turn, threatening Elsie’s very life.

That night Elsie lashed out at her sister.

At first, her sister thought Elsie had finally come around and was just playing as they usually did, but when Elsie threw open the window to Erina’s room and shoved her out of it, her sister knew it had been in nothing but cruel malice.

Elsie had found her sister lying on the ground, arm bent at an angle it shouldn’t have been, and screaming her pain to the world.

Fear had been in her eyes as Elsie descended upon her, grabbing her by the collar of her night dress and yanking her close to her bared teeth. Elsie shook her sister as if to shake some sense into her, rattling her broken arm and causing all the more pain to radiate through her little sister.

“You are a child. You act like a child. You will stop these childish musing or nothing in this world will stop me from dragging you back through the manor to find a higher window to throw you out of.” Elsie had hissed down at her sister, a look so wild it pulled Erina’s mind far away from the pain in her arm.

This wasn’t her sister.

This body before her was not her sister.

It hadn’t been her sister for months, Erina gravely realized. Her sister had gone into the ice and this creature had crawled its way back out.

Erina fell back to the ground once Elsie let her go, her screams having turned into mere whimpers of pain as she watched the creature’s face twist into that of utter panic and fear. Watched the creature cry out and rush back into the manor, looking for help.

Erina kept as far away from whatever sort of hellish creature her sister had become as best as she could. She became quite--reserved. She kept her eyes averted from all and began taking long walks through the countryside just to keep herself out of her own home. Walks that even led her onto the bordering family’s lands, a boy with jet black hair and a nobel will catching her eye.

And it was enough to keep their tutor around. Enough to make him happy and in turn make Elsie happy.

At the age of eleven, Elsie witnessed the murder of her tutor.

They had been making their way back home after her tutor had brought her on a venter to examine some unique flora a museum in London had found when their carriage had been stopped. A gang of unseemly men had dragged them onto the cobblestone street, now covered in the blood of her coachmen.

Elsie had been unworried. Had hardly let out a single scream because she knew her tutor would save her.

He was strength. He was power. He was--begging for his life. He was begging for his life and in turn offering Elsie up to keep it.

His pathetic pleas had been silenced by the sharp edge of a blade slashing through his vocal cords.

Weak. Powerless.

He had never been strong enough to protect her. To keep death from knocking at her door, looking to claim her soul.

Fear had turned her mute. Had made the hands digging into her skin an afterthought.

She was going to die.

She didn’t want to die.

Couldn’t die.

Death was cold. Death was--was--it was the unknown it scared Elsie down to her very soul.

Elsie needed to survive but how would she manage that now that her savior had been slaughtered right before her eyes?

When the vile men had their fill of the killing and pickpocketing of Elsie's former tutor, they turned their gaze onto her. Had just begun to pull at the gemstones around her neck when a black bowler hat came flying through the air. The brim flashed silver in the lamplight before it cut through the vile men like they had been made of butter.

Elsie tracked the hat, her fear lessening and lessening as it mowed down man after man before returning to its master.

Awashed in golden lamplight, the boy grinned down at her, placing his hat back onto his head. He offered her his hand and she took it in moments, her skin pricking at the feel of his skin on hers.

savior.

Strength, power.

He held more strength than her tutor had. Held the power that he needed to win out against these vile men her tutor had been unable to win.

This boy was her savior--her survival.

He would slaughter any man that tested him, she could see it in his dark brown eyes.

She could also see his eyes filling with a sense of unease the longer he looked into her own.

Somehow, Elise knew he could sense her overwhelming need to survive and the fact she would do anything to keep her life intact. She knew that as soon as he saw it in full, he would leave her without someone to keep death far far away.

And Elsie couldn’t have that.

Elsie had been quick to pull tears to her eyes that spilled over her cheeks in a cold stream. She let a whimpering sob fall from her lips as she attacked her savior in a hug.

“Oh, that was utterly terrifying.” She cried, burying her face in his chest. “Thank you. Thank you. You saved my life.” She felt the boy's unease melt away at her tears, a hand coming up to rub her back in soothing circles.

“Least I could do for a lady.” She pulled her head away from his chest, looking up at him with her watery green eyes so full of the fearful emotions she knew in her gut she should be feeling. The ones she had felt when she thought she had been about to die.

“You must let me do something for you--reward you.” He shook his head, grabbing hold of her shoulder to pull her away, but Elsie’s hold on his black jacket only tightened.

“I don’t need anythin’ from you--”

“Then tell me your name? I could not possibly go on without knowing the name of my valiant savior.” The boy’s chest seemed to puff in pride at her words.

“The name’s Speedwagon. Robert E. O. Speedwagon.” Elsie smiled bright up at him.

“And what a handsomely fitting name for such an honorable man.” Robert had half-heartedly brushed her off again.

“Eh, it was nothin’.” He said, glancing about the dark street at the chaos that had been wrought within. “Maybe I ‘ought to walk you home? Why a pretty lady like you is traveling down this street is beyond me--can’t have you gettin’ into any more trouble now.” Elsie was quick to latch onto Robert’s arm, pulling another whimper to her lips.

“I fear I live a two-day travel from here. We were heading home when--” Fresh tears sprung to her eyes. “Oh--oh god! What horrors.” She cried, burying her face back into his chest.

Speedwagon instantly wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight to keep her from gazing upon the bloodshed of the night. And how safe she felt. She never wanted to leave his arms.

“It is alright now. I’ll keep you from harm.” His words filled her heart with a warmth her tutor had once made it feel. A warmth that let her know death would be a small thought in the back of her mind whenever he was around.

“Thank you…could you--could you please walk me to my aunts? She lives here in the city. She can make sure I get home.” Speedwagon nodded, beginning to guide her away from the scene.

“Of course.” Speedwagon walked her all the way to her aunt's house, who had been more than happy to invite Elise and Speedwagon into her home.

Her aunt offered to pay him generously but the boy had declined, declaring it wouldn’t be right to take advantage of a poor girl and her handsome aunt. He had just been doing what he felt in his heart to be right.

Before he left, Elsie was sure to walk him out. She hugged him and placed her initialed handkerchief in his pocket. A handkerchief with the gemstone lines necklace she had been wearing moments ago.

He had shown up the next morning to see her off under the guise of making sure she got out of the city with no trouble.

And out of the city she did and oh how her protected heart had started to wither. She made it home in two days time and begged her father to let her go live with her aunt for a while.

She begged and begged every day for weeks. Her aunt would teach her piano and art. Nothing more, she promised. Nothing more her father needed to be aware of of course.

He caved in after she started locking herself in her room. She refused to eat, drink, sleep. She shut her curtain so no light would seep into her room and finally, her father agreed to let her go off and live with her aunt for a years time. Only a years time

Elise knew she would change that time limit.

Speedwagon visited her every chance he got, bringing her flowers and sweet treats and Elise couldn’t have been happier. Couldn’t have felt more needed and protected.

At the age of twelve, Elise Pendleton saw him.

She had just moved back home from living in the West End of London with her aunt due to the agreement she had made with her father a year ago. Elise had been planning and planning of ways to get back to London to be around her savior once more.

Oh the overwhelming itch she felt to get back. The panic. It was enough to make her appetite turn. Make her nights sleepless.

Elise took to taking nightly walks. Ones she hoped would tire her mind out enough that she would stop thinking of danger and death. Danger and death she was ever closer to, being oh so far away from the person who had kept her safe from thugs and murders.

She thought of the man who had saved her from Death’s clunges. Thought of his dark brown eyes, always so full of honor. Of his mane of blond hair which he had been starting to grow out. Of his bravery in the face of danger--his will to keep her safe.

Robert Speedwagon was everything she needed in a protector and yet as Elise’s green eyes spotted him, glowing in the silver light of the moon and stars above, all thoughts of the gentle street thug flew from her mind.

He looked like an angel. No--no he was too beautiful for such a lowly life form.

He looked like a god.

Elsie had heard her sister whispering to their father of the boy the Joestars had taken in when she thought Elsie wasn’t listening. Of a boy as evil as the devil himself and just as cruel.

His supposed evil was shown on the three moles on the curve of his earlobe. Elise had taken an interest in the occult a long while ago and knew those marks were seen as evil by most.

But they were marks that also showed tremendous luck.

He was utter luck--he was power.

Elise watched him walk over the grassy hills that made up the border between her family's land and his adopted family's. He walked with grace--purpose. His blond hair was slicked back, not a single strand out of place. His eyes, which she could just make out from this distance, were a sharp gold. Eyes she prayed and prayed would turn her way to gaze upon her trembling form.

He was her salvation. Elise felt this in her gut.

She knew he would keep death far, far away from her soul.

And her soul also knew, without even having to speak with him, that he would only grow stronger and stronger. So strong no man on this earth could ever dare to challenge him and Elise needed that protection.

As Elise watched this god-like boy disappear over the grassy hills she made a vow to herself.

Elise vowed that she would do anything for him--be anything. As long as she had his protection, she would be his.

Elise Pendleton vowed she would be Dio Brando's one and only love.

#female oc #Elise Pendleton x Dio Brando #jjba fic #dio x oc #dio x female oc #speedwagon #robert e.o. speedwagon #speedwagon x oc #speedwagon x female oc #jojos bizarre adventure #jojos bizarre adventure fic #oc backstory jjba #dio brando #DIO #DIO jjba #jjba part 1 #jjba part 1 fic

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