#like i know east coast makes no sense but it has east coast vibes

[quickhacked]

bones please spare some isaac facts...tell me about the vibes and lore and everything you want. also what's his fave blood type to drink if he has one perhaps..(i'm taking notes)

HEHEHE THANK YOU SM i have so much to say about this man. but also he hasn't existed for very long in my brain yet so there's still many things missing from his lore currently. but here is a start for you :^)

isaac is a couple centuries old by now and from a (currently unnamed) bloodline that's a bit different from other bloodlines. all vampires have double fangs, their puncture fangs which are the regular ones they use to draw blood with, and their venomous fangs, which only come out when they want to change someone. for isaac's bloodline, the venomous fangs are a lot smaller which makes them less painful to extend and the process is quicker; but at the same time, even the smallest mistake in dosage could kill a victim rather than change them. this is why his bloodline is very small in comparison to others and changing a human into a vampire is always done in a big ritual rather than on impulse, to make sure they get the right dosage. this is how isaac was turned into a vampire :(

his bloodline is also more likely to have their feral sense (uncontrollable mode in which they hunt for blood until they're no longer feral) activated which is why they have to feed regularly and CANNOT miss any meals unlike other bloodlines who can usually miss a meal or two. their feral sense can sneak up on them without a warning and it will cause them to go feral until either their hunger or their "urge" (something vamps get sometimes when they want to change other humans. it's like a vampire ovulation) is sated. this is why many vampires of isaac's bloodline are pretty rich or important people who have other vampires working for them to provide them with enough blood so they'll never go feral by accident

isaac is VERY different from his bloodline though. he grew up in a modest family somewhere in the east of the united states and after he was turned he hid himself away in an old abandoned chapel for many many years, feeding on wildlife and the occasional unfortunate soul who wandered too far into the woods. he ended up hunted down by heavenly, my other oc for this story, who is a vampire hunter but at that point was still very young and on his first ever vampire hunt without his father; heavenly was unable to kill isaac and let him go, after which isaac moved to jericho :]

jericho is a big city on the west coast of the united states and it's essentially a vampire hub, in the sense that the government knows about the existence of vampires but isn't telling the general public but the general public tends to also know about the existence of vampires but it's also not uncommon to come across people who've never heard of them. but at the same time it's also not a huge shock to find out that vampires exist. and in jericho there's many of them and it's like a safe haven for them. am i making sense here

anyway isaac runs a church in jericho now! it's less used as an actual church and more just a homeless shelter and general shelter and community center and food bank AND blood bank all in one, for humans and vampires alike, and he's a very important member of the community he lives in :^) he really wants to help people and improve lives despite the reputation of his bloodline

it's at the same time pretty dangerous for him to be in such a lively place because if he misses a meal even once he could go on a murderous rampage. but it's a risk he's willing to take, knowing he's making a difference and not wanting people to lose their stability in life because he decides to leave or something like that

i don't have much for the story yet but the idea is that heavenly shows up in jericho give or take 2-3 decades after first meeting isaac and they reunite :^) heavenly ends up helping isaac with the blood shortage crisis and also ends up as his personal blood bag because he's a freak and a weirdo who likes getting his blood sucked by vampires. and also he's gay for isaac. and i get him. me too

[articalextraordinaire]

hi guys, sorry for dying lmao. anyways... do you guys want some ninjago ethnic and cultural headcanons??? (theyre almost all east/south/southeast asian btw // srry if u wanted more central/western asian rep.. caucasus dont count theyre too european /hj)

Arin: y'know the fact that there's like a ton of different tribes in papua new guinea? yeah, maybe one of those but i don't wanna be disrespectful so i'll do more research first before fully commiting. other thoughts are timorese or other indigenous groups from/near eastern indonesia.

Sora: look at those cat ears and try to tell me that she is NOT japanese. just- cmon man. plus, imperium is like a futuristic imperial japan or a futuristic version of that time the tokugawa family was in charge and locked down the country.

Lloyd (as well as the entire FSM bloodline): either tibetian or bhutanese. FSM just gives some budhist vibes so yeah. this isnt going to be about religion but religion does kind of affect ethnicity and culture so it does have a very minor role in making these headcanons. nepali works too but nepal is kinda nore hindu so yeah..

Kai and Nya: indomalay. mostly the indo part.. like- cmon, fire and water, indonesia is an archipelago with a shit ton of volcanoes (philippines too but we'll get there, sandali lang muna ;) ) i cant get into specifics cuz im not too well-researched but yeah. also, vibes 👌

Zane: siberian or he's from one of the islands extremely north of japan that japan and russia keep on disputing over. purely because of geography and ✨vibes✨

Cole: mixed black latino-filipino. as a filipino myself i wanted to make someone filipino =). since a lotta people were making cole black, i thought that i might as well make him mixed <3. plus, the philippines is also a former spanish colony so it just makes sense. if you want a more specific country, either colombia or the dominican republic are cool. not very well-researched on the different latin american countries so if anyone wants to tell me the most appropriate country for cole pls let me know 🥰.

Jay: umm, i sorta have a dillema over this. im thinking either korean or he's from somewhere in the gobi desert like mongolia or inner mongolia (its a province in china btw). korean bc the entertainment and beauty industry as well as the student and work culture kinda fit him. but somewhere in the gobi desert is nice bc the desert is where he grew up. maybe he's korean but grew up in a mongolian-chinese environment but yeah, im not too sure about him 🤷‍♀️. im leaning more towards korean but yeah, not sure.

Wyldfyre: i um... this was very hard. first of all, she's not gonna be asian since i couldn't find a good enough area in asia and well, im pretty sure she's not from ninjago so she doesn't have to be asian. so, i got maori in northern new zealand but 1. i know nothing about the maori people 2. it might be disrespectful to portray them like that. and 3. er, the geography is kinda off. where she grew up looks very desert-y and volcanic. i think a more suitable reigon is in south america towards the coast like peru or chile but um i know even less about the those reigions than new zealand. plus, it has the same first 2 problems i listed earlier. (yes im ignoring her clothes for these headcanons srry guys my brain loves topography too much) TLDR; idk man shes too hard to sort out lol. it adds more to her mystery and chaotic energy anyway so yeah.

if u know more abt latin american countries, pls give me pointers so that i can have more accurate headcanons for cole and wyldfyre. i can do my own research for kai, nya, and arin but any help with that is also very much appreciated 👍. peace ✌️

(this is what happens when u become a geography nerd... im not at my full potential yet bc my latin american knowledge and all of africa knowledge sucks. but yeah. bye fr this timeee)

[95jezzica]

Your replies are closed, so I'll send this as an ask instead. I strongly agree with your idea of "Canon-Canon Nyo Nations", where the male and female characters represent regional cultures within the same country instead of making the female nations a "dream universe" gimmick. Expanding on this idea, what do you think about OCs who represent regions of the same nation? I would think it's a logical next step because 2 characters per country still wouldn't be enough to represent all regional cultures.

[Picture ID: Jamtland send an additional ask which says: "Whoops, I forgot to include this part in my first ask about "Canon-Canon Nyo Nations". What are your ideas for which regional cultures the female Nordics would represent, and what would the differences between them and the male Nordics? Picture ID End].

Oh yeah, sorry, the replies are still turned off. I have a post which seems to summon a lot of hateful idiots, so eventually I got too annoyed by it and turned off replies.

For the rest I will preface my answer with the fact I saw you're also Swedish on your profile, but I'll likely leave some extra information for any non-Swedes who might also read this, since I mostly use Sweden as an example. Also, fair warning to everyone: Long Post. [Below "Read More"].

For simplicity sake I've also choosen to just call nyo!Sweden Svea, and our canon-canon Sweden for... Well, Sweden.

Now, I personally don't make a lot of OCs unless they're humans or I'm making a human AU. (For an example I made Finland some "AU Parents", because I got REALLY tired of people always making Finland the orphan with no other family). With that said making OCs for regions and the likes is obviously still valid.

I also agree 2 personifications are too few for many countries, but I also understand why Hima wouldn't want to draw 3-100 characters for every country. Identity within a country is complicated too, because it depends a lot on who you're talking with as you describe your own identity.

If we take myself as an example. If I was talking with someone from another country I'd probably just say I'm European and/or Swedish, and perhaps mention I live on the west coast if they ask and/or seem more familiar with Swedish geography. If another Swede or Nordic asked I'd probably mention I live pretty close to Gothenburg - and if they live nearby I might go into more details, because my lil' hometown is small enough that there's no chance even other Swedes has heard of it unless they live somewhat close/have family in the area anyway.

My point is that it'd be difficult to make a representation for all kind of national-/regional-/state- identity within a country.

However, if we once again take Sweden as an example, I think (hws) Sweden would likely represent a lot of the middle/pretty far up in the west coast. Think the old Goths, and/or possibly Dalsland, Värmland, Dalarna.

Dalarna has the bonus of having a strong identity of their own in their region, and all three are placed close to (irl) Norway. It'd make sense how (hws) Norway and Sweden got to know each other early on then, but also how they might have met (hws) Denmark early.

Svea at the other hand is someone I view more as being further north-east, likely the literal ol' Svea, and someone I headcanon to have been among the first Swedish personification(s) to get into contact with the Finnish personifications.

It's weird though, because neither Sweden nor Svea really gives off "Stockholm vibes" (sorry non-Swedes/Nordics, I have no idea how to describe what "Stockholm vibes is) - but then again they are all based on Japanese stereotypes about the Swedes, so I guess it makes sense. x)

Another possibility I can imagine is the Swedish personifications in modern days being divided into something like this:

[Picture ID: A map of real life Sweden cut into three parts. From up to down: Norrland in strawberry red, Svealand in autumn leaf yellow, and Götaland in bright sea blue. End of Picture ID].

... with perhaps an additional personification for the far north and south. However, we have to keep in mind a lot of the far north of real life Sweden's lands would still be in the ice age early on and/or simply not be Swedish - and parts of what today is the real life far south Sweden would be with Denmark instead.

[Picture ID: An edited version of the previous picture, now with almost all of Norrland and the far south of Sweden faded out, since they weren't part of real-life Sweden at this point. Only a small part of south-east Norrland remains, now coloured and part of Svealand. The names are now also edited to say "North Swe" instead of "Norrland", "Svea" instead of "Svealand", and "1p!Sweden" instead of Götaland. End of Picture ID].

The picture above is a quick edit made by me and should by no means be used as a picture of research, so obviously not exact accuracy or anything, but it's a rough estimate of what (irl) Sweden would have looked like very early on, and also roughly what I headcanon (hws) 1p!Sweden and nyo!Sweden to represent/have represented respectively.

In history the Svea people more or less forced a union with the goths, but I headcanon (hws) Svea had absolutely no interest in working with the humans leaders and basically dumped all the responsibility and work on our (hws) Sweden instead. While Sweden was forced to work more closely with royals and leaders, Svea set to truly live like their people. That's not say say (hws) Sweden didn't interact with the "common people" at all, because he's a rebellious shit in his own right, but he was still forced to take on a lot of the responsibility and work with his leaders.

It didn't help that once Christianity was brought up in Scandinavia together with a less favourable view of women, 1p!Sweden no longer had a real choice than to take on the work. I think (hws) Svea moved back in with Sweden around the time Christianity became more common in Sweden (the lands and people), too. Partly because she felt guilty over having just dumped all the work and responsibility onto (hws) Sweden, but also because it was safer to live with someone she viewed and could claim as her brother. Svea would also have started out to (secretly) help Sweden out with work around this time, which only became official closer to modern days.

For the rest of the Swedish personifications I don't have a clear picture of what they'd look like, but the personification of "south-south" Sweden (in old days more viewed as "east Denmark") is likely around the same age as Denmark, Sweden and Svea, while the personification of Norrland is much younger than the rest of the Swedish personifications. I'd say (hws) Norrland likely didn't pop up until the Swedish population grew much bigger in the north and the Sami people were pushed further and further out in their lands by the Swedish population.

.

(cough). So I know I've basically only covered Sweden so far, but this post is already getting ridiculously long, so I will cheat a bit and refer you to @ifindus for Norway's regions instead. xD

[Again, art and OCs of the Norwegian regions made by @ifindus .]

Findus fully uses OCs for the regions to be fair, so I'm not entirely sure what I would make nyo!Norway represent since I really like Findus' OCs. x') . Maybe nyo!Norway could be more specifically the Oslo area? Because Oslo Norwegians are very different from Norwegians in the rest of Norway.

As generalization I'd say most of the Nordics probably have at least 3-5 personifications though, with one of them being the nyo. For an example Denmark might be divided into Jylland, Syddanmark, Sjælland, Hovedstaden - or it'd go a bit more detailed like cutting up Jylland in North & South like most maps.

(The Faroe & Greenland would obviously also have their own personifications, btw).

.

Hope this was helpful, and sorry I didn't get to cover them all in the post! x)

If inspiration hits me I might make another posts with the rest of the Nordics in the future. \^w^/

[what-if-nct]

Places in the US NCT Could be from

Taeil: Maryland, like from a beach city in Maryland. Like he just gives me east coast beach town vibes. Like a coastal boy but he's humble.

Johnny: Of course Illinois, where he's from but hear me out. Cleveland, Ohio.

Taeyong: Oregon, just a quaint north west boy not a big city, just small town in Oregon.

Yuta: Las Vegas, Nevada, I don't know why I just see him being from Vegas

Doyoung: Vermont but moves to Massachusetts for school and work. Refuses to go New Jersey.

Kun: Massachusetts, went to Harvard but decided to branch out and go to Yale Law, yes Connecticut was branching out. And he settles down in Connecticut with a psychiatric practice. Moved to New York as an editor for Esquire magazine for a year after Law School though.

Ten: lived in Reno, Nevada for a portion of his childhood and spent his teens in LA. Will never go back to Reno.

Jaehyun: New Jersey, yes he lived in Connecticut but like he has strong New Jersey vibes. Maybe even Rhode Island.

Winwin: Salt Lake City, Utah. A big city in the middle of nowhere is just his energy.

Jungwoo: Laguna Beach, California, he gives strong Orange County vibes. specifically Orange County probably worked in a surf shop.

Mark: Sacramento, California its just somewhere the little brother in a 2000s Disney channel show would be. And that's exactly what Mark is.

Xiaojun: New York, but upstate New York, like Syracuse or Buffalo not a big city but not a small town just right in the middle.

Hendery: Florida, specifically North Florida either Gainesville or Ocala. Maybe Tampa in central Florida. Definitely not South Florida but maybe the Keys. Strong Florida Man vibes.

Renjun: Virginia, somewhere that looks very colonial but also similar to a quaint small town like Stars Hollow in the Gilmore Girls, but there's a slight tinge of southerness, the cusp of the south.

Jeno: Texas, no I will not elaborate he looks like he's from Texas. Definitely not Houston, Austin or Dallas well... maybe Dallas. But for sure Fort Worth or Arlington.

Haechan: Louisiana, I can't explain it something about him just screams Louisiana, not New Orleans though but Baton Rouge.

Jaemin: Hawaii, I can just see him being born and raised in Hawaii and loving it and respecting Hawaii's land and traditions and fitting in so well.

Yangyang: North Carolina , he has strong feral southern energy. Maybe Raleigh but definitely not Charlotte.

Shotaro: Atlanta, Georgia, he is a southern boy, that is all I have to say. Just a sweet southern boy who you want to make cornbread, collard greens, and sweet potato pie for.

Sungchan: Pennsylvania, just look at him. he looks like he'd be from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, lived in the suburbs and goes to Penn State.

Chenle: Washington, DC that's where the president lives, Chenle's the president. But Originally from Fairfax, Virginia and he just moved a little up toward DC.

Jisung: Seattle, Washington, I can just vividly see him in Seattle, it just makes sense for him.

[thespiritoflife]

Exchange Love story ~

My initials: MI

My preference: men

YOUR Love Story:

- first meeting:

I'm sensing somewhere you can see the horizon.

Like by beach or by the bay/port area.

The sun is setting.

It can be any typical, regardless of what day of the week.

I hear, "unexpected miracles in everyday life".

Like you never expected something amazing on such an ordinary day.

It could be, you leisurely strolling by a park or plaza and just end up enjoying the sunset by the water.

Intuition is not letting me share more, like it's a blurry image of colliding vibrant colors from there.

"Don't ruin the surprise", said my intuition.

So I'm not sure if there would be a local outdoor event that you happen to stumble upon or what.

The vibrant colors remind me of balloons and confetti.

I'm not allowed to divulge further than this aspect.

- first impression of your person:

Two words: "Pleasant surprise".

This person is like a breath of fresh hair for you.

Like, you could have been so tired from working all day.

Like an unexpected friendship.

You thought, "this person seems interesting. Okay, let's be friends." without you ever realizing that this person will be so much more for you in a few months after your first encounter.

Could be a bit taller than you.

Someone you didn't expect to know about a niche interest of yours.

Like, "Wait, you actually know about (insert topic)?! No way!!! I'm into that too!!"

I'm sensing this person ends up unexpectedly complimentary for you.

Like, you wouldn't even realise that you've fallen for this person.

I'm hearing the song, "Never Knew I Needed" by Neyo.

It's from the Princess and Frog movie.

That movie might be something you've watched before.

It's actually giving me that vibe. You two.

Like you work hard day in day out, so searching for Future spouse isn't really your main priority.

Also, I'm getting this person carries their outfit well.

A great body line. Like they wear the clothes, and not the clothes overwhelming them.

Not exactly strict brand conscious person, but they dress well.

Even on regular outfits, they're quite fashionable.

Also, you two might have a bit of a height difference.

Also age. And culture(?) not really sure of you're from two different foreign cultures or what. Like it could be, one of you is from the west coast, the other one is from the east coast.

Finally, your person is quite eloquent with their way of speaking.

- relationship dynamics:

Chaotic fun. Those two words came out so naturally.

Like you both know when to work hard and when to play hard.

But one of you might be anxious attachment style and the other is a bit more detached and tends to need space when overwhelmed.

I'm hearing, work on your communication skills if you want this to be a lifetime thing.

"Don't let the past override the great things in front of you."

That message was significant.

So one of you might be the jealous type, as the other is a bit pragmatic.

But both parties are wiling to put in the work to make the relationship work.

But yeahhhhhhhh, if the anxious person is feeling insecure, put their pride aside and please communicate.

"Be bigger than your anxiety". Message for the person that's anxious and insecure.

- personality:

Your person seems to be more grounded and mature.

Kinda no nonsense and pragmatic.

But they know how to have fun, especially around you.

It's giving, "(Insert FS'name) is only like that around (Y/N)"

Like they show their soft side only in front of you.

Example: they don't listen to other people's opinions and guidance, but for you, they'd drop everything and be open to hear you out.

Like that. I find it sweet that you two work hard and play hard in your individual careers. But when it comes to your relationship, ego and pride has no place in there because both of you are willing to make things work out.

You two know you are endgame. So you both are willing to do what is necessary for the relationship and each other.

- Moodboard :

Photos aren't mine. Searched in from Pinterest.

As much as I wanna give a NSFW details, my intuition was like,

"NOPE DON'T RUIN THE SURPRISE!!! SHHHHHHHH!!!"

I'm like, "Dang it!! That good huh??"

And my intuition last response was...

I do hope you enjoyed this!

Your Future spouse really don't want me to ruin the surprise.

OH MY GOOOSH THIS READING IS SO GOOD AND IT RESONATES SO MUCH, WTF GIRL HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?? have you been in my mind lol? IT RESONATES SO MUCH ESPECIALLY THAT WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT ANXIETY (cause i am anxious person as hell) I LOVE IT. MY PERSON SEEMS SO CUTE AHH IT MAKES ME SMILE AND MY HEART WARM AHH😭😭❤️❤️ I LOVE IT SO MUCH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT LONG READING. and i love these pics!! they're so cool❤️❤️🌸🌸 thank you once agaaain

FIRST MEETING

well, first of all, I have a feeling that it will happen when you least expect it. I know it sounds cliché, but it will be true. love will come to you when you won't look for it. I think it will take some time before you find him, BUT, you will definitely find him one day!🩷

and how will you meet him? I don't know why, but I immediately thought of two options, either through social medias/dating apps or through a mutual friend? even both options can be correct. you will definitely have mutual friends.❤️🫶🥰

I think that when you meet him, you will immediately be attracted to him. damn, you'll immediately think he's so cute. but I have a feeling that you won't really believe that he would want you too, honey I have a message for you from the Universe: you are beautiful and if others can't see it, that's their problem.

ok i feel like he will notice you later BUT.. you know that quote she fell first but he fell harder? exactly the same will apply to both of you.😍

it will take time to get together, to get to know each other better, but it will be worth it.

It is possible that he will have a younger sibling who will adore you

FIRST IMPRESSION OF YOUR PERSON

As I mentioned before, you'll think you're out of his league. But YOU WON'T BE. He will make you a little nervous, you will feel shy around him, but that is what he will like about you, that you are very cute.

You will have butterflies in your stomach with him. Ahh.🥺🥰

I have a feeling he'll be a lot more confident than you. He will be very happy to give you compliments and boost your confidence when you feel down. He will want to make you laugh, to make you feel safe with him.

I still have a picture in my head of a man wearing a blue shirt, light clothes. He dresses stylishly but comfortably. And he will smell very nice, you will love his perfume.

I don't feel like he'll have a beard, nor that he'll be older than you. He will be around your age, maybe 1 year older.🤔

Sports! Yes, this man loves sports. He will definitely have a nice body, athletic. He will like to take you out into nature, and he will want you to feel healthy. He will also be an animal lover, he will possibly have a dog.

RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS

I think that you will also have a big height difference between you, he will be much taller than you.

I think this man will want to protect you, he will be overprotective.

He will be the whole world to you. You will feel safe with him. I don't see any serious problems here, but maybe he will still want to go out with his friends and you would prefer him to be with you... he will really have a lot of friends.

I see a couple where the girl is sitting on the guy. You are that couple, it will be immediately visible in public that you are dating. You won't be doing PDA, but you will be hugging, holding hands, and looking at each other.🥺🥺🩷

PERSONALITY

As I already mentioned, he is a man who is funny, you will always laugh with him. He is the type of person who will provide all the fun at a party, for example. But what not many people know about him is that he is quite clingy, but you won't mind. Oh, I see bedtime cuddles here, it's so cute. He will still want to hug you and sometimes he will tease you, but in a good way. He will love you, I know that. And I see lot of texts here he will send you random memes.😅😍😩🩷

NSFW:

Long gentle sex. Long foreplay. Orall. I don't think you will practice quick sex, you will want to enjoy sex. He will be more experienced in this area than you and you will find it sexy!

Have a lovely day/night and I really hope you liked my reading! 🩷❤️

[darraghoconnors]

[ paul mescal | 27 | cis male | he/him ] Hey, look! It’s [DARRAGH O'CONNOR] at [MYSTERY QUEST ESCAPE ROOMS]. Did you know they [WORK] there as a [CHARACTER ACTOR]? I guess they’re from [DUBLIN, IRELAND] and have been in town for [FIVE], living in [SUTHERLAND PARK]. I also heard they’re a little [HOTHEADED], but also very [SOCIABLE] which definitely makes sense. 

tw teen pregnancy, death, abandonment

RAPID FIRE.

Full Name: Darragh O'Connor.

Nicknames: D, Dar.

Pronouns and Gender: He/Him, Cis Male.

Birthday: March 19th, 1996.

Birth place: Dublin, Ireland

How long have they been in Vermont: 5 years, as of Nov 2023.

Sexuality: Bisexual.

Neighborhood: Sutherland Park.

Occupation: Character Actor @ Mystery Quest Escape Rooms / Amateur Boxer.

Family: Aishling O'Connor (Mother, deceased), Murphy Doyle (estranged birth father), Cormac Doyle (half-brother), Cian Doyle (half-brother), Caoimhe Doyle (half-sister).

OVERVIEW.

-- Darragh was the only son of a single mother who struggled for most of her life. Aishling O'Connor became a mother for the first and only time at seventeen years old, and was ill-equipped to handle it after being cut off by her family for deciding to go through with the pregnancy.

-- Despite growing up in uncertainty, for the most part Darragh had a happy childhood. They didn't have much, but they had each other.

-- As far as schooling went, he never displayed much of a natural apt for it. He found classroom settings too restrictive and there was no specific academic subject that held his interest. The only days he would definitively be guaranteed to show up at school was when he had P.E. or football.

-- After a number of calls from his principal and run ins with other mothers on their council estate over fights and scrapes Darragh found himself involved in, his mother enrolled him in a local boxing club when he was ten, and it fostered an interest in the sport that has stayed with him through adulthood.

-- He found something of a father figure there in his coach and trainer, Tom. The discipline of the sport kept him on the straight and narrow, even though there were some run ins in his teenage years with the Garda for being present in robbed cars and where drug deals were occurring.

-- Darragh's whole world shifted on it's axis at his mother's death when he was seventeen years old, and then again a few days later at her funeral when he discovered that his biological father was both alive and well and a man that had three other children who were all older than him and a wife to boot.

-- This news rocked the foundation of everything he thought he knew about himself and his ma, and made him question every word she had ever spoken to him. As soon as he turned eighteen, after a few months of staying with the family of his best friend, he set off travelling rather than having to share a city with a man who knew of his existence and chose to ignore it entirely instead.

-- He initially moved to Australia with two school friends who aspired to do the same and lived/worked there for just under a year and a half before deciding it wasn't for him. Leon and Karl stayed on, while he set his sights on the next continent he would search for some semblance of a new start.

-- The United States were next and after spending a few months on the west coast, Darragh eventually found himself in East Haven, Vermont and decided to settle down there a while after deciding he liked the vibe and the people there .

-- To this day, he still keeps a pretty rigid training regime when it comes to boxing and devotes most of his free time to training / improving his skills in the ring as well as taking on amateur fights.

-- To make ends meet, he works as a character actor at Mystery Quest Escape Rooms. He loves to scare the shit out of people where possible and has been known to be a little generous with hints if he watches a group particularly struggle.

SORTA FUN FACTS.

Has heard every variation of his name pronounced incorrectly. His favorite is Darg. "And what's a Darg when he's at home?"

His official boxing stats as of Nov '23 are 9 matches and 9 wins (4 of which are by KO).

Was supposed to be due on St, Patrick's Day but was born 2 days after his due date, which he's grateful for because he likes his birthday being just about him.

Of his half-siblings, he's only met his half-sister and that was just once. It did not go well and there's been no contact since.

Has been known to lie when asked can he speak Irish if he thinks it can benefit him to pretend to.

CURRENT CONNECTIONS.

roomate of @sasika-lg

cheated on his ex with @scottienolan, semi-complicated

fan of @pruexcassidy's radio show

frequent flyer to the ER @norasinclair works at

friend of @thesarahruiz

friend of / thinks @samxbradford is the best dj in the bizz

SPECIFIC WANTED CONNECTIONS.

former roommate/maybe someone who let him crash with them when he first moved to EH.

recent ex-gf that he cheated on.

a current roommate would be fun.

an older male that he lowkey idolizes / wants to be like.

weed buds. 🍁

would dig someone he was formerly super tight with that now hate each other (reason can be plotted!)

a best friend. probs the only person he would make a sincere effort to make time for.

co-workers! get litty at the escape room lmao

former co-workers?? pretty open ended, i imagine he did some bar work to get by when he first got here but then made the switch because the hours didn't suit his training

gym-buddies. he practically lives there.

exes. he's def a difficult person to be in a relo with so could have ended on varying terms from good to bad. feel free to come hurt my feelings.

hookups, fwb, usual jazz.

GENERIC WANTED CONNECTIONS.

connections wise he’s pretty much an open book right now, but some baseline ideas that can be springboarded off are:

friendly.

a best friend / ride or dies / close friends / childhood friends from ireland / pseudo-siblings / friends / drunk friends / new friends / former roommate / people he knew from london / people he met on his travels / people who were in aus at the same time as him / people who he only gets along with and vice versa when drinking is involved.

romantic

flirtationship / friends with benefits / one time hook ups / tinder matches / unrequited crush (can be either way) / exes on good terms.

antagonistic.

enemies / former (best) friends / exes on bad terms / frenemies / rivals / negative influence / people who don’t fuck with him.

[gay-flyboys]

Weekend WIP Game

Rules: List your WIPs below (if you only write one fic at a time, feel free to include future WIPs/ideas!) then answer the following questions. Then, tag as many people as you have WIPs (or more).

Thanks to @happiness-of-the-pursuit for the tag!

1. WIP List:

True Colors Shine in Darkness and in Secrecy

Flower Soulmate Au

Rust (in editing)

(Not) Threesome

Coach Alex

Diabetic Alex Au

2. Which of your WIPs is currently the longest?

True Colors! I have about 33k posted and 1.6k written for the next chapter, but it's not even halfway done. Of just drafts/unposted, Rust, sitting pretty at 16k words for a one-shot.

3. Which WIP do you expect will end up the longest?

True Colors, easy. I'm expecting it to end somewhere around 80-90k with the rate I'm currently going at. But, Rust is part of a bigger series, and I have no idea how long that will run.

4. Which WIP is your favourite to write/the most enjoyable to write? Why?

I haven't started yet bc I'm saving it for nanowrimo but the (not) Threesome fic is fully outlined and is calling out to me literally every day.

5. Which WIP do you find the most intimidating to write? Why?

Not intimidating but writing Flower Soulmates has been. Challenging. I want so desperately for everything to make sense and flow and it's probably the most serious, and it's going to be a lot bigger than I initially intended for it to be. That is a little overwhelming sometimes so it's been sitting for a while.

6. Which WIP do you experience the most self-doubt about. Why?

Uhhh all of them? I don’t tend to trust myself or like my fics until like a week after their posted tbh

7. Which of your WIPs will you seek out a beta/sensitivity reader for? Why?

I have a few on Rust just bc of the sheer length of it. I'd prob at least get a consultant for the Coach au bc it's in a spot I don't know much about (NYC + Law school heavy) so I want to make sure I'm not offending everyone on the east coast. Also Flower Soulmate is so special to me that I'm going to want someone to pick it apart with a fine-toothed comb.

8. Have any of your WIPs been struck by the curse of writer's block?

TRUE COLORS I'm so sorry everyone who follows it. Something about the chapter I'm on being the most uhhhh lined out for me without much wiggle room killed my creativity. Also the flower soulmate au for a bit. Again, it follows canon so like. Sticking to the word of the book is a little boring

9. Which WIP has your favourite OC? Tell us about them?

The only named OC is currently in (Not) Threesome. He's been my baby since I was 16 (so 6 years now). He started off as a SPN OC literally so I could write a silly little one-off about him helping Dean figure out he's bi, and now he just vibes and I love him. His name is Dio and he's a WHORE (affectionate).

10. Which WIP is the sexiest?

True Colors. Literally a rewrite of all the RWRB sex scenes. It's literally nothing BUT sex.

11. Which WIP is the angstiest?

Probably Flower Soulmates. The whole concept revolves around soulmate injuries, and while nothing non-canon happens to the boys, it does follow canon typical angst. Basically none of the others do that. They're pretty fluffy or sexy and that's it.

12. Which WIP has the best characterisation (in your humble opinion)?

I have to say True Colors only because I'm reeeallllyyyyyy trying to keep the characters book accurate. It's an expansion of the book, so I've been paying close attention to how they talk and act and making sure they're as close as I can get.

13. Which WIP has the best scene setting (in your humble opinion)?

None of them have a particularly fun setting lol, I'm not much off a world builder. I think that Rust and it's following fics are going to be really fun, though.

14. Which WIP have you worked the hardest on?

True Colors literally only on the basis of how long it already is and how long it will be.

15. Which WIP do you have the highest expectations for? Why?

True Colors and Flower Soulmates. True Colors bc it's my most watched and I keep comparing it to the books. Flower Soulmate because of everything I've explained above.

16. Do you dream about any of your WIPs?

I don't remember any of my dreams so maybe! Couldn't tell ya.

17. Do any of your WIPs have particular complexities that your other fics don't?

Flowers is just heavier than the rest, True Colors I feel needs to be correct to the book. Diabetic au I feel good about bc it's personal experience but having to deal with medical accuracies and also another version where Alex has a service dog and all that shit entails.

18. Which WIP is the funniest or has the most humour?

I think Rust is generally pretty funny and I think the Coach au is going to be fun when I get to it

19. Do any of your WIPs contain outside POVs or a deep dive on a character other than the main ship? How are you finding that process?

Not especially? (Not) Threesome does feature an OC of mine who we learn a bit about but it's still from a familiar POV, so like. Doesn't count.

20. Tell us one thing we don't know about one or more of your WIPs.

Diabetic Alex au has two major, distinct parts. There's a 5+1 of mundane diabetic bullshit bc I felt like the only diabetic RWRB fics glamorized and made diabetes this massive fucking thing when it's not. The other is a rewrite featuring Peter, Alex's diabetic alert dog and how that changes everything from the get go (Philip is a fuckwad, spoilers). Also that this whole idea was how @inexplicablymine and I became friends

I don't think I have enough ppl to tag tbh but @affectionatelyrs @inexplicablymine @user-anakin @hypnostheory @read-and-write- and anyone else who wants to <3

[boeswhore]

Hi s! Congrats again on 1.7k! May I please have a ship? Tbh idk how to consolidate a description of myself. I’m apologizing now. This is as consolidated as I can be. I’m a sun june born Gemini and moon and rising scorpio so I’m all the crazy and chaos.

I’m 5’4” ish. Dark brown curly hair but I have bleached highlights so I’m fake blonde withy natural roots. Green eyes. Eyebrow game strong ish. Pretty light skin despite living in Arizona lol. Very expressive face. I hated my hair growing up but I learned to love it and properly take care of it. Reasons I’m a sucker for curls.

Also a fruit cocktail according to my grandma since I’m mixed with a whole lotta stuff. Reasons I relate to turning red more than expected. Also why I screamed when Raya was announced since Southeast Asia doesn’t get a whole lotta representation. A giant family on all sides I know of. Also family in 13 states. They’re crazy but I love them. I’m the self proclaimed black and rainbow sheep.

My style isn’t very consistent tbh. Like one day I could be in my pop punk/emo clothes but the next in super bright and colorful east coast prep vibes clothes. But then I have a variety of clothes to disneybound in. And Disney and other pop culture shirts and such. I wear pretty much whatever I want. My sweatshirt collection hit 50 finally. I think. I live in my Birkenstock’s during the summer and my various boots in the winter. Also for games. I collect loungefly and similar fandom purses. Mostly tangled and Disney.

Hobbies besides hockey: arts and crafts (so many mainly - watercolor, stamping and embossing, printmaking (making stamps and stencils and such), drawing, cricut machine, card making, etc), bullet journal (art/junk/mindfulness journal and planner), music (will elaborate), Disney (tangled and turning red), crime and medial and first responder shows (greys, station 19, castle, the 9-1-1s), horror, coffee and tea, self care, writing (duh), milkshakes, and traveling.

Main hockey teams: flames, kraken, Canucks, devils, avs, canes. But I love various players on teams throughout the league. The sh*t list: Pittsburgh, Edmonton, TB, Boston, chi town.

My music tastes gives me whiplash. Disney, pop punk, show tunes (selective but six is queen), metalcore, pop, emo and other similar genres, bimbocore, alt, indie, more subgenres than even I can remember. I have a record player and my vinyls are only albums I’m willing to listen all the way through. I love(d) going to concerts. I’m a flower princess. Glitter, sequins, flower crown. Top artists: set it off, grayscale, ice nine kills, Taylor swift, scene queen, as it is, with confidence, the summer set, and softcult.

24 almost 25. Seattle native, uni outside Philly, currently a desert queen in AZ. Energetic ball of chaos. Unhinged. Vibes of: Mabel pines, rapunzel, like half of the castle cast, dug form up, april and Amelia and Meredith with a dash of Arizona from greys, mei and Abby and Miriam from turning red. Sarcastic and slightly dark and definitely self deprecating sense of humor. Chronic migraines with anxiety, adhd, and insomnia thrown in. I put my heart and soul into everything I love and do.

Thank you again and I am very sorry for how long this is but anything shorter won’t capture my true self. You can ask ally lol. You are absolutely amazing for reading all of this and for hosting this event. 😘 stay fabulous

hihi m, i love you so much always 💗

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ─── ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

i ship you with matthew tkachuk !

i read that you love curls hair part and my mind immediately went to him once i saw you like the flames ! the style you have goes so well with matthew. this guy has no solid outfit plan, he’ll be dressed up so sophisticated one day and literally look like he just rolled out of bed the next day but i can see you both having complimentary outfits ! i can see him living in sweatshirts so that makes the two of you as well ! when it comes to hobbies; he would love that you know the rules of hockey and would love for you to come root for him during each game he plays !also i know he would be so supportive and sweet over any art make ! omg i can also see him crafting with you and both of you having like little competitions on whose work is better (obviously yours duh) but it will legit become his favourite past time hobby as well, just creating all of these art works (you’re so freaking creative it’s insane) he would also love that you don’t like oilers since the battle of alberta and all so that’s also a plus side ;) definitely lots of concerts together, i can see him belting to disney music with you ! when it comes to ur migraines i just know he’s super caring and will try his best to comfort you and get you anything you need ! overall, the cutest couple in my eyes <3

[sfarticles]

Things are heating up — so get out that grill

Check out my latest column https://www.mainlinemedianews.com/2023/05/12/things-are-heating-up-so-get-out-that-grill/

Grilled vegetable platter A bounteous assortment of grilled ­vegetables served with a citrus-kissed vinaigrette makes for a casual and fabulously charry spread. (Courtesy of America's Test Kitchen)

Just the other day I was thinking, the gas grill needs to be brought out from winter’s hibernation, and the propane tank filled so it is ready for dad’s arrival from Florida. For three months a year, he enjoys grilling, especially those juicy burgers he makes by hand.

I have the perfect Father’s Day gift for him, “The Outdoor Cook” by the editors of America’s Test Kitchen (2023, America’s Test Kitchen, $29.99).

(Book Cover: Recipes and photos courtesy of America’s Test Kitchen)

Whether you are using a charcoal, gas or flat-top grill, fire pit or smoker, the book has you covered with 150 recipes to prepare the entire feast outdoors; main course, sides, bread, and desserts included. As we approach Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer and grilling season, the book will ignite your desire to get the fire and fun with family and friends going. Whether it’s a fast weeknight dinner or a soiree with the gang, “The Outdoor Cook,” provides the recipes to help make you a grill meister. What is it about cooking over a flame? Is it the sizzling sound, the aroma, or the smoky flavor of what was cooked? Perhaps it is all of the above…. tantalizing all of your senses. Other reasons…It doesn’t heat up the house, easier cleanup, and allows you to enjoy the outdoors with friends and family.

From smoked loaded nachos, grilled BBQ smokehouse burgers, grilled garam masala chicken, Kansas City-style BBQ ribs, paella for a crowd (the featured dish on the book’s front cover), no-knead Dutch oven bread, to glazed rotisserie pineapple with salted rum butterscotch sauce, and the recipes below (are you hungry yet?), you’ll find dishes for every meal component. Find the recipe for grilled French toast here:  https://bit.ly/41sSKiZ

If you are in the market for outdoor cooking equipment there are reviews of grills, griddles, planchas (flat griddles that fit on top of a gas or charcoal grate), rotisseries, pizza ovens, smokers, and other cookware.

What I found helpful is learning how to convert recipes using different outdoor cooking methods plus gas and charcoal fire setups. The section, “Fuel for the Fire” is a primer on types of charcoal, wood, wood chips/chunks, and how to best use the fuel with confidence, resulting in the perfectly charred protein or vegetable.

Did you know….

·       The first Weber grill was made from half of a metal buoy

·        The grid-like marks made on food from grilling is quadrillage

·        Pittsburgh-style steak is charred on the outside and rare on the inside

·        Hamburgers internal temperature measured with a food thermometer should be 160 degrees

·        To keep meat from sticking to the grill, pat the meat dry and then apply oil to the meat

·        Tongs should be used for turning a steak over

·        Barbecue comes from the Spanish word barbacoa

·        New England has the fewest BBQ restaurants per capita

·        May is National BBQ month

·        Ellsworth B.A. Zwoyer, from Pennsylvania invented the charcoal briquette in 1897

New England Clambake

The headnote says, “Why This Recipe Works” Clambakes on the beach are a beloved rite of summer all along the East Coast. But if you can’t get to the shore, this grilled clambake captures all the smoky flavor and party vibes of the traditional version—with no shovel required. Because you’re working with a limited size cooking surface, cooking in two stages is key. The brined ears of corn, garlicky kielbasa, and par cooked skewered potatoes go over a hot fire first and then wait patiently while the split, buttered ­lobsters and the clams cook over more moderate heat. Use potatoes ­measuring 1- 2 inches in diameter; if your potatoes are larger, quarter them and increase the microwaving time as needed in step 2. You’ll need four 12-inch metal skewers.

New England Clambake This grilled clambake captures all the smoky flavor and party vibes of the traditional version. (Courtesy of America's Test Kitchen)

½         cup table salt for brining

4          ears corn, husks and silk removed

½         teaspoon plus ⅛ teaspoon ­pepper, divided

1½      pounds small red or yellow potatoes, unpeeled, halved

4          tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, divided, plus extra for serving

¾         teaspoon table salt, divided

2          (1¼- to 1½-pound) live lobsters

1          pound kielbasa

2          pounds littleneck clams, scrubbed

Lemon wedges

1. Dissolve ½ cup salt in 4 quarts cold water in large pot. Add corn and soak for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours. Before grilling, remove corn from water, pat dry with paper towels, and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon pepper.

2. Toss potatoes with 1 tablespoon melted butter, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon pepper in bowl. Microwave, covered, until potatoes offer slight resistance when pierced with tip of paring knife, about 6 minutes, stirring halfway through. Drain, then toss with additional 1 tablespoon melted butter. Thread potatoes cut side out onto four 12-inch metal skewers.

3. Split lobsters in half lengthwise, removing internal organs. Using back of chef’s knife, whack 1 side of each claw to crack shell. Brush tail meat with 1 tablespoon melted butter and sprinkle with remaining ½ teaspoon salt and remaining ¼ teaspoon pepper.

4A. For a charcoal grill Open bottom vent completely. Light large ­chimney starter filled with charcoal briquettes (6 quarts). When top coals are partially covered with ash, pour evenly over grill. Set cooking grate in place, cover, and open lid vent completely. Heat grill until hot, about 5 minutes.

4B. For a gas grill Turn all burners to high; cover; and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes. Leave all burners on high. (Adjust primary burner as needed to maintain grill temperature of 325 to 350 degrees; if using 3-burner grill, adjust primary burner and second burner.)

5. Clean and oil cooking grate. Grill kielbasa, corn, and potatoes until ­kielbasa is seared and hot throughout, corn is lightly charred, and potatoes are brown and tender, 10 to 16 minutes, flipping and turning as needed. Transfer kielbasa to cutting board and vegetables to serving platter as they finish cooking and tent with ­aluminum foil.

6. Lay lobsters, flesh side down, and clams on grill. Cook until clams have opened, and lobsters are cooked through, 8 to 14 minutes, flipping lobsters and brushing tail meat with remaining 1 tablespoon melted butter halfway through grilling. As lobsters and clams finish cooking, transfer to serving platter with vegetables, ­preserving any juices that have accumulated inside their shells. Discard any clams that refuse to open.

7. Slice kielbasa into 1-inch pieces and transfer to ­serving platter with lobsters. Remove skewers from potatoes. Serve with lemon wedges and extra melted butter.

Open Fire: Prepare hot single-­level fire in open-fire grill. Set cooking grate at least 6 inches from coals and flames and heat grill until hot, about 5 minutes. Proceed with step 5. Serves 4

Philly-Style Cheesesteaks

The headnote says: “Why This Recipe Works: With a plancha on your grill, you don’t need to travel any farther than your backyard to enjoy a Philly cheesesteak. Its flat surface gets the beef and onion beautifully browned and ­provides plenty of room for shingling slices of cheese over separate mounds of filling for easy portioning. The best cut of beef for a homemade version of this iconic sandwich is skirt steak: Its thin profile and open-grained texture make for easy slicing, especially when the steak is briefly frozen first. As for the cheese choice, we’re partial to melty, gooey American cheese, with a little Parmesan mixed into the meat to add a welcome sharpness. If you’re a provolone loyalist, by all means substitute that for the American cheese. Top these sandwiches with chopped pickled hot peppers, griddled or sautéed mushrooms or bell peppers, sweet relish, or hot sauce. You will need a cast-iron plancha measuring at least 20 by 10 inches.

Philly-Style Cheesesteaks With a plancha on your grill, you don’t need to travel any farther than your backyard to enjoy a Philly cheesesteak. (Courtesy of America’s Test Kitchen)

2          pounds skirt steak, trimmed and cut with grain into ­3-inch-wide

            strips

2          tablespoons vegetable oil

1          onion, chopped fine

¼         cup grated Parmesan cheese

½         teaspoon table salt

⅛         teaspoon pepper

8          slices white American cheese (8 ounces)

4          (8-inch) Italian sub rolls, split lengthwise, toasted on grill if desired

1. Place steak pieces on large plate or baking sheet and freeze until very firm, about 1 hour.

2. Using a sharp knife, shave steak pieces as thin as possible against grain. Mound meat on cutting board and chop coarse with knife 10 to 20 times.

3A. For a charcoal grill Open bottom vent completely. Light large ­chimney starter three-quarters filled with charcoal briquettes (4 ½  quarts). When top coals are partially covered with ash, pour evenly over grill. Set cooking grate in place, center plancha on grill, cover, and open lid vent completely. Heat grill with plancha until hot, about 5 minutes.

3B. For a gas grill Turn all burners to high; cover; and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes. Center plancha on grill, cover, and heat for 5 more minutes. Turn all burners to medium-high.

4. Heat oil on plancha until just smoking. Add meat and onion in even layer and cook without stirring until well browned on 1 side, 4 to 6 minutes. Stir and continue to cook until meat is no longer pink, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer meat mixture to colander set in large bowl. Drain excess moisture from meat.

5. Return meat mixture to plancha (discard any liquid in bowl) and add Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Heat, ­stirring constantly, until meat is warmed through, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium (if using gas).  Divide mixture evenly into 4 individual portions the length of rolls. Shingle 2 slices of American cheese over each ­portion. Cover and let cheese melt, about 1 minute. Center rolls cut side down over each portion of meat. Using spatula, scoop under each portion of meat and flip meat and roll to create filled sandwich. Serve immediately.

Flat-Top Grill: Turn all ­burners to medium-high and heat griddle until hot, about 10 minutes. Leave all burners on medium-high. Clean griddle and proceed with step 4, reducing heat to low in step 5.

Open Fire: Prepare medium-hot single-level fire in open-fire grill. Set cooking grate at least 6 inches from coals and flames, place plancha on cooking grate, and heat plancha until hot, about 5 minutes. Proceed with step 4. Serves 4

Grilled Vegetable Platter

The headnote says, “Why This Recipe Works A bounteous assortment of grilled ­vegetables served with a citrus-kissed vinaigrette makes for a casual and fabulously charry spread. The vegetables are even better at room ­temperature than they are hot, so you can easily make this ahead, if you like. It makes an excellent starter to keep everybody happy at the ­outdoor table while you continue to grill up more goodies, or you can easily customize the platter with add-ons to make this the centerpiece of your meal. The ­burrata is a great start; its creamy insides will mingle with the ­vegetables on guests’ plates. Also consider additions such as crusty bread slices toasted on the grill, marinated olives, marinated white beans, high-quality tuna packed in oil, and/or grilled lemon halves to squeeze over whatever you please. If burrata is unavailable, sliced fresh mozzarella makes a ­suitable substitute. ”

Lemon-Basil Vinaigrette

2          tablespoons lemon juice

4          teaspoons Dijon mustard

2          garlic cloves, minced

½         teaspoon table salt

¼         teaspoon pepper

6          tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

¼         cup chopped fresh basil, plus basil leaves for garnish

Grilled Vegetable Platter

2          red bell peppers

1          red onion, cut into ½-inch-thick rounds

4          plum tomatoes, cored and halved lengthwise

2          zucchini, ends trimmed, sliced lengthwise into 3/4-­inch-thick planks

1          eggplant, ends trimmed, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick rounds

3          tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

½         teaspoon table salt

½         teaspoon pepper

8          ounces burrata cheese, room temperature

1. For the lemon-basil vinaigrette Whisk lemon juice, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper together in bowl. Whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in oil. Stir in basil and season with salt and pepper to taste. (Vinaigrette can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature and whisk to recombine before serving.)

2. For the grilled vegetable platter Slice ¼ inch off tops and bottoms of bell peppers and remove cores. Make slit down 1 side of each bell pepper, then press flat into 1 long strip, removing ribs and remaining seeds with knife as needed. Cut strips in half crosswise (you should have 4 bell pepper pieces).

3. Push toothpick horizontally through each onion round to keep rings intact while grilling. Brush onion, bell peppers, tomatoes, and zucchini all over with oil, then brush eggplant with remaining oil (it will absorb more oil than other vegetables). Sprinkle vegetables with salt and pepper.

4A. For a charcoal grill Open bottom vent completely. Light large ­chimney starter filled with charcoal briquettes (6 quarts). When top coals are partially covered with ash, pour evenly over grill. Set cooking grate in place, cover, and open lid vent completely. Heat grill until hot, about 5 minutes.

4B. For a gas grill Turn all burners to high; cover; and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes. Turn all burners to medium-high.

5. Clean and oil cooking grate. Grill vegetables until skins of bell peppers and tomatoes are well browned and onions, eggplant, and zucchini are tender, 10 to 16 minutes, flipping and moving vegetables as necessary to ensure even cooking and transferring vegetables to ­baking sheet as they finish cooking. Place bell peppers in bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let steam to loosen skins, about 5 minutes.

6. Remove toothpicks from onion and separate rings. When cool enough to handle, peel bell peppers, discarding skins; slice into 1-inch-thick strips. Arrange vegetables and burrata attractively on serving platter with lemon-basil vinaigrette. Garnish platter with basil leaves. Serve warm or at room temperature. Serves 4 to 6.

Stephen Fries, is a newly retired professor and coordinator of the Hospitality Management Programs at Gateway Community College, in New Haven, CT. He has been a food and culinary travel columnist for the past 14 years and is co-founder of and host of “Worth Tasting,” a culinary walking tour of downtown New Haven, CT. He is a board member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals. Stephen@stephenfries.com For more, go to stephenfries.com.

[grimroth]

Watching the new Wednesday show, and Jenna Ortega’s portrayal of  Wednesday is absolutely amazing but also the only thing of value in this show so far. I’m only completed up to episode 3 and I find the show to be...anti-bingeable? I watch an episode and need a moment and a comedy palate cleanser.

Anyway:

Wednesday, the character, is delightful. She’s the right mix of hyper-competent in some areas while being incredibly unskilled in others. Namely: emotions. That’s very teenager to me. I also think Wednesday dealing with teenage angst and rebellion makes sense--while the Addams are  an incredibly functional and loving family (in other adaptations, at least. Don’t quite have the read on them in this series yet) a certain amount of teenage turmoil is expected.

I have no interest in any of the side characters, but I thought I would at least like Enid? Since she was in the previews while these seemingly critical male characters were not. Apparently she had some scenes later if the shippers are anything to go by. We’ll see. Meanwhile, Bianca has also underwhelmed me which is a shame because I really wanted to see her more in the narrative. Except for the fencing scene. My brain which has Utena seared into it LOVES a good fencing scene.

Also, I have little interest in the mystery and I only care because Wednesday cares. 3 episodes in and Wednesday is supposed to be a threat to the school in some supernatural manner, but I can only see her being a threat due to her violent shenanigans. Which she could very well control herself over if she wanted to.

There’s some weird vibes surrounding race that I’m not sure if I can articulate in any meaningful way right now. I do think the east coast and the Puritans are a bit over represented when it comes to narratives about oppression. Considering that the Addams are leaning more into their Latin heritage in this adaptation, a story in California  dealing with Spanish colonization could of had some interesting potential.

(I know California doesn’t have the traditional “spooky” aesthetics. But we have the Winchester Mystery House! Redwoods! Plenty of hills and mountains to plop a spooky school into!)

Normally I wouldn’t harp so much on 3 episodes, but it’s 3 episodes...out of 8. But I don’t know, maybe there will be something cool as hell in ep 4 or beyond.

And, like I said previously, I am very here for Ortega’s Wednesday. It’s everything surrounding her that’s been underwhelming.

[broke-on-books]

Hey where do you guys think Crystal Cove is, my mind had it vaguely near Florida but like any possible location i can think of makes absolutely no sense

[arsonforcharlie]

Hello I'm here to weigh in on the amalgamate the states idea. What if we amalgamated them into one state, one large state with a decentralized government, that held elections based on popular vote rather than an electoral college outdated racist demographic information, and which updated its core tenets every 20 years to reflect the change in generation. And also had term limits on people in office such as to be no longer than 2 five year terms?

I mean it's just a thought and it would still be far from perfect.

But I live here and I don't know it just feels....better.

But also like, I do want the list of the ten amalgamated states you made.

okay so fair warning i'm canadian and also a bit stoned atm so you need to promise to not make fun of me for not knowing shit about your states, their names, your history, or my fashion sense. but here's my proposition to fix things as someone with no political power who doesn't live in your country. (to determine which old state capital becomes the new state capital, i propose a gladiator fight to the death and every old state sends their strongest warriors. that's open to negotiation tho.)

Minimichiowisconsindillinois- tbh i made this one just to piss off my ex since he said everyone living there would hate that idea. eat it, beard. this is a nice little centre state. it feels like a satisfying size. i originally devised it to be just states that were touching the great lakes but that IA one there really squares it out nicely.

East Topland- tbh i don't know too much about these states. it seems cohesive, though, and i think new york on the land has a lot of forest so if The OG Crew wants to start shit they'll have a buffer.

The OG Crew- i know these are not the only states that were like the starter states. east topland got some of those, i think. but these are the states that feel, to me, like they're the first states that started this whole deal out in the first place. if you would like to edit your history books to say i'm right, that would be a decent thank you for sorting this whole mess out for you

The Nothing States- these are the states i generally don't know a lot of stuff about. i think they're yeehaw states in some parts. but i have friends in at least two of them i think so i don't want to make up stereotypes because they will call me out because they don't care how stoned and canadian i am. rude. adding montana there on the end is a bit aesthetically displeasing but we need to keep the etsy sellers who sell prints of the shape of your state with a heart cutout in business so this leaves some tempting options.

New Oklouissippansexas- i am also keeping spelling bee judges in business. this also feels like a cohesive chunk. like i assume they vibe. plus when they have pride people can make t-shirts saying "New Oklouissippansexual" and that's gotta be a job creator.

The Midmidst- a very cool name for the middle of the country that i mostly drew because a purple stripe up the middle is nice. colorado gets included because we're not getting a straight line anyway so might as well give them, like, something

The Midwest 2- because it always bugs me that the midwest is so far east so it's fixed in this patch update. these places have a lot of empty space of various varieties, i think, and i feel it's important to have that all grouped together in one convenient state

Flo Rida- the same state but we do specifically rename it to honour flo rida and legally it has to be pink on every new map. this is self-explanatory

WETBOIZZZZZZ- for some reason when i originally did this calculation i thought it would be funny to name all the west coast states WETBOIZZZZZZZ. i still do tbh that owns. i think the west coast states all have a chill vibe, so i feel like they could probably be a state with a very strong identity before we meld all the people. WETBOIZZZZZZZ is obviously a party state but, like, a relaxing party, and i think it rules

Not Part Of The US Any More- hawaii can do whatever it likes- it can be part of whatever state it wants, or it can just leave america altogether because of, you know, everything. we're taking alaska since that just makes natural sense. again, no further questions needed

so there you go, 10 states (well, 9 states and one amerexit) that i could grow to respect

[nitewrighter]

I’ve been lurking around your blog trying to find all the Cinderella posts, but it’s been difficult bc I’m on mobile and for some reason I can’t see “common tags” on ANY blog when you click the “search in blog” function, so I don’t even know if the Cinderella story HAS a tag but. I just wanna talk about how much I love it for a second?

Your narration style genuinely feels like YOU are the narrator, and we’re sitting in the lounge or study of a lovely cabin mansion in the woods and I’m a fourteen year old who’s begged a story off of my favorite older cousin, who’s fun and doesn’t give a shit and cares more about the story than the Way they’re telling it. It makes it more fun and casual and I think it harkens more to the way oral fairy tales would’ve been told back when they were more often oral rather than written. And in the same vein you reflect modern times in how you tell it, along with the humour while (as another ask pointed out) retaining the feel and time of the story. It’s actually facinating and makes it SO MUCH fun to read.

And I love the takes you have on the story that make the characters both recognisable but also unique and different enough to be interesting, and also fills in a lot of plot holes people lovingly look over in the og stories. And also how you characterised the fairy godmother is so amazing sjdbdjdbd like she’s normally matronly, motherly, and mature and wise and dignified and this is more like “you’re the “loser” main character in an early 2010’s disney channel movie and you dress in soft colours and you’re sweet and your best friend is the emo/goth loner with a weird sense of humor, ripped shirts and lots of eyeliner whos rly only here for the people and it’s SO FUN. I love the vibe of her. It’s so different

In the vein of fairy tales using children as currency, I would happily give my first born child for you to continue this series, or if you’ve already started doing that, directing me to a tag or master post where I can read more. (I read the intro and the two parts linked on it. Idk If there’s more? Looking is Very Hard on mobile >:| ) thank you so mcu for writing

Oh gosh! This was so flattering to read! I mostly just tag it under Cinderella, I didn't really think to call it something like I had the "Fightin' Daphne AU" a couple years back... "Cool Rat Girl Cindy," maybe?

The Fairy Godmother as the Quirky Alt/Goth Best Friend in a Disney Channel Original movie... oh my god... I can see it.

Honestly what inspired my take on the Fairy Godmother was a Blindboy podcast I heard a couple years back where they had an Irish folklorist on the show, and at one point the folklorist says, "You know, honestly, I feel like leaving gifts for the fairies is like paying protection money to the mafia" and that kind of stuck with me. I'm Irish on my mom's side so I'm very into the concept of "Do Not Under Any Circumstances Fuck With The Good People Under the Hills" so I thought it would be fun to have a fairy godmother who's like, a fairy godmother, but I also like scrappy characters so the concept of a Fairy Godmother who's kind of flying by the seat of her pants was appealing as well. I think like... one of the thing that makes Cinderella a hard tale for people to get through--certainly what makes it a hard tale for me to get through--is how you get so pissed off at how Cinderella is treated, the injustice of it all. Like in a lot of film adaptations, stretching it out often leaves you with like... 75% of the movie being Cinderella being treated like shit. I kind of liked the idea of the Fairy Godmother kind of having all that anger and spite that we, the audience, have on Cinderella's behalf. And there was also this one post about people on the east coast being "Kind but not nice" and I really loved that concept so that went into my Fairy Godmother as well.

[eregyrn-falls]

I am just now realizing the carnival in the Stan twin kids comic is based off a real area called Asbury Park

(ffffffffuuuuccc... I got a long ways into an answer and it disappeared. Let's try this again!)

OKAY. Sorry, Anon, you get the info-dump!

I think that the Carnival in the Lost Legends comic is likely not based on a standing attraction, but rather on the kind of seasonal carnivals that would visit resort towns in the summer. The Freak Show is set up in a tent, and doesn't seem like a permanent attraction to me.

Overall, I think that Glass Shard Beach is a combination of several different resort towns along the NJ and MD shore. I don't think it's actually based on one in particular, but borrows elements from several. Alex Hirsch commented, I think, on going to Ocean City, MD when he was a kid? (That’s my recollection, although I can’t find a quote right now?) I'm not sure whether any of the board artists or background artists may have had their own memories of particular Jersey shore towns; or whether they were just googling for references and came up with a grab-bag.

But let's go over the probable inspirations for Glass Shard Beach!

First, a visual reminder:

So, Glass Shard Beach has an amusement pier that sticks out into the ocean, perpendicular to the beach.  I... am not really sure what’s going on with the lighthouse.

See, from Asbury Park on south, all of the barrier islands / resort towns are flat as a pancake.  But GSB has always had hill and cliff elements to it -- like the cave in which they find the Stan o’ War, or the cliff shown in the comic.  And the lighthouse is clearly sitting up on a hill (it’s not ON the pier, but  beyond it).  If that is found anywhere along the Jersey shore, it would be to in the north. (I’ll get to that more soon.)

I have to read this as the shoreline curving out to the north beyond the pier, and the lighthouse is located up there.

Anyway.  On to the contenders!

Asbury Park, NJ:

Asbury Park does have an amusement park along the beach/boardwalk, but not on the pier sticking out into the ocean.  That is occupied by a building, the Pavilion.

Seaside Heights, NJ:

South of Asbury Park, this is the one with the big amusement pier, Casino Pier, that sticks out into the ocean:

The pier is shorter in the final pic (and I don’t know if the ferris wheel has actually been turned 90 degrees, or if that’s a trick of the angles in other photography), because Superstorm Sandy did a number on this pier a few years ago. You might have seen some of the photos of the wreckage of the roller-coaster, as it was very photogenic.

Wildwood, NJ:

ALSO has a big amusement pier that sticks way out (if not actually into the water; I don’t know, maybe when the tide is higher?), with the big ferris wheel providing a focal point.

Another thing people often point to for Wildwood is the famous Haunted House:

And even more tellingly, the Dante’s Dungeon attraction on Morey Pier:

Compare in the Lost Legends comic:

Ocean City, MD:

It’s not really the same kind of “sticks out into the ocean” amusement pier.  But, the boardwalk in Ocean City MD does have its own famous Haunted House attraction:

Here’s a look at how all of these relate to each other:

(Seaside Heights is located on the coast due east of Toms River. And, not pictured, Ocean City MD to the south, across Delaware Bay.)

I can understand why some folks want to point to the ultra-kitschy resort towns like Wildwood as a “location” for Glass Shard Beach.  Me, I’ve always figured it was located in the north -- possibly north of Asbury Park. 

First, because of the discussion above about how you can’t get cliffs on the barrier islands in the south.  And second, because of the strong north-NJ/New Yorker accents of Ma and Pa Pines, and Stan.  Once you get south of around Toms River, that accent really starts to fade.  Long Beach Island, in the middle there (marked Beach Haven) is the dividing line between where New Yorkers came for the summer, and where Philadelphians came.  So because of the Pines’ accent, I figured they must be from the north.

But Glass Shard Beach definitely has to be on a barrier island, because:

This COULD be a sunrise.  But:

If this is a sunset (which it has to be), then their swing-set must be on a playground located on the bay, not the ocean.  To get a sunset over the water in NJ, you’ve got to be on one of those barrier island bays. (The dock with the Stan o’ War makes more sense on the bay, as well.)

Anyway, we’re getting kind of far afield of the original ask, there!  But yeah -- I don’t think the Carnival in Lost Legends was based on a specific attraction in a specific town.  I think it was based more on the vibes a lot of the boardwalk-town resorts had.  But I DO think the Wildwood Dante’s Dungeon inspired the HELL attraction!

[musette22]

Drunk in Boston

Pairing: Chris Evans x Sebastian Stan (Evanstan)

Word count: 2.4k

A/N: A week or so ago, I saw this post. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, so I decided to write a ficlet, a little Evanstan AU. It’s a bit late maybe, since Christmas has already been and gone, but it’s still technically the holidays so just indulge me? :p 

Also, I hit 3k followers this week, so this is also a sort of thank you to all you amazing, wonderful, beautiful people for getting me here. Love you all as much as I love these boys as much as they love each other 💘 Hope you enjoy!

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

It’s 3 p.m. on 17 December, and Chris is a little bit drunk. Maybe even a lotta bit.

In his defense, he is currently in Boston for a bachelor party and they did just do a tour of the Samuel Adams Brewery. It’s not like he makes a habit of daytime drinking. Not this much, anyway.

Chris stumbles out of the bar that’s attached to the brewery, surrounded by a dozen or so old school friends, all of whom are in a similar state of inebriation, when they pass the gift shop and a familiar image catches his eye. Chris stops in his tracks. On closer inspection, what he saw turns out to be a photo, displayed in a stand outside the shop, of a park in Concord near where Chris grew up.

No, not a photo.

A postcard.

He plucks the card from the stand, swaying on his feet a little as he peers at it. In the image, the park is covered in snow, much like it would be right now, and stamped across it in a red, gothic font are the words ‘Happy Holidays’.

Instantly, Chris is hit by a wave of nostalgia. No doubt the feeling is heightened by the alcohol – he always tends to get a little sentimental when he’s drunk – but it’s not just that. It’s also the fact that Chris and his friends have been reminiscing about the good old days all afternoon as well as the sudden, depressing realization that despite all he’s achieved in the past decade or so, his happiest memories are probably those of childhood Christmases spent in Concord.

These days, Chris lives in on the West Coast. He’s kind of a superstar now, after all, and superstars live in LA – everybody knows that. Chris doesn’t usually let himself dwell too much on how lonely he is there, or how he misses the comforting accents and the real winters of the East Coast. Tonight, though, whether because of the booze in his system or the ghosts of Christmas past, he allows himself to feel the stab of homesickness.

Without conscious input from his brain, Chris finds himself buying the postcard. When the cashier asks him if he’ll be needing he stamp, too, he hesitates. “Yeah, why not,” he decides, on a whim. It’s a Christmas card, after all, and Christmas cards are supposed to be sent.

There’s just one slight issue with his plan, Chris realizes as soon as he puts the borrowed pen to the card.

He’ll need an address to send the card to.

Frowning, he taps the pen against the counter, thinking as hard as his beer-addled brain will allow him, but the only address he can think of off the top of his head is that of his childhood home, back in Concord. But… that would be weird, right? He has no idea who’s been living there, since his parents sold the house after the divorce. Then again, Chris tells himself, this could be his good Christmas deed. Sending a postcard to a total stranger just to wish them happy holidays, that’s totally in the Christmas spirit, isn’t it?

With a decisive nod of his head, Chris puts his pen to paper and starts to write. It’s just a few lines, because there’s only so much you can say to a total stranger, but when he signs off with his initials, he feels good about it. He asks the cashier for the nearest post box, which happens to be just outside the building, so he thanks the guy and heads outside.

Pulling his pea coat tighter around him against the glacial December air, Chris spares the card one last look, and drops into the post box. It feels significant, somehow.

He doesn’t get time to dwell on it though, because the moment his friends spot him, he’s immediately and enthusiastically subsumed back into the group and dragged on to the next boozy destination.

Three drinks on, Chris has forgotten all about the postcard.

***

On the morning of 18 December, Sebastian Stan opens his postbox to find a postcard with a photo of the park near his house on the front, and a hastily scribbled message on the back:

Hey,

I used to live in your house.

I’m drunk in Boston, and it’s the only address I know.

Happy Holidays,

C.E.

Even after re-reading the message three times, Sebastian is none the wiser as to who sent it.

It makes sense other people used to live in the house Sebastian’s been renting, but unsurprisingly, he has no clue who they were. It was only last year that he’d decided to relocate from New York to Concord, craving a change of pace and more peace and quiet than the Big Apple had been able to offer. He’d visited Concord on a research trip for his third novel the year before and had immediately taken a liking to it. So when, after asking his estate agent to put out some feelers in the area, the guy had found him this beautiful place to rent within a day, Sebastian had taken it as a sign.

It’s a big old house – more appropriate for a family than a man living alone, perhaps – but Sebastian can afford it, and it has a lived-in vibe that makes it feel intimate, somehow. Its location on the edge of a large park, peaceful apart from the joggers and young families that frequent it, suits his needs perfectly, too. Despite being a successful author, Sebastian prefers to keep himself to himself. He’s not one for ostentatious book tours or photoshoots, doesn’t believe in social media beyond its promotional potential, and he’s found that he blends in perfectly in this picturesque little town.

In addition to being a private person, however, Sebastian is an inherently curious one.

It’s why he became a writer in the first place, and it’s also why the random, slightly mysterious postcard instantly fascinates him. Someone who decides to send a Christmas card to the stranger living in their childhood home has got to be an interesting person, Sebastian figures.

Unable to resist the temptation, he finds the landlord’s number and presses call.

“The initials C.E.?”

“C.E., that’s right,” Sebastian repeats patiently. “I received a postcard from someone with those initials who said they used to live in this house and wished me Happy Holidays. I’d like to thank them for the card, maybe tell them they’re free to come by the house anytime, if that’s something they’d like.”

“Well,” the landlord says, clear hesitation in his tone. “I wouldn’t usually give out this kind of information, especially not about this particular person. But seeing as he approached you first, I guess it should be alright…”

Chris Evans.

Famous Hollywood actor Chris Evans used to live in Sebastian’s house. The house he’s renting. Whatever.

The point is, Chris Evans sent him a postcard. Sebastian would be lying if he said that knowledge didn’t make his heart beat a little faster. He isn’t one to get star-struck, normally, knowing full well the rich and famous are people just like anyone else, only with an added layer of expensive, sparkly veneer.

Chris Evans, though. Well, let’s just say Chris’s blue eyes, his dazzling smile, and his chest – god, that chest – had helped along Sebastian’s gay awakening considerably, all those years ago.

So even though he realizes what he’s about to do could be considered slightly unethical, the next number Sebastian dials is that of his agent. There’s no harm in asking if there’s any chance she could use her industry connections to pass on a message to Chris Evans, surely?

“Chris Evans?” his agent repeats blankly. “The British radio DJ or the actor?”

Sebastian huffs out a laugh. “Actor. Definitely the actor. Why would I want to send a message to a British radio DJ?”

“Why would you want to send a message to the actor?” she shoots back. “Apart from the obvious, of course.” 

Touché.

Once he’s explained the situation to her, his agent hums thoughtfully. “Alright, I’ll admit that’s pretty amazing,” she says. “As it happens, I know someone at CAA who owes me a favor. I’ll see what I can do.”

Sebastian thanks her warmly, and then he waits.

***

That afternoon, Chris gets a phone call from his agent.

“Thank you for the postcard,” she reads aloud. “If you're ever in the neighborhood, you’re welcome to stop by the house and have a look around, for old time’s sake. Happy Holidays, Sebastian Stan.”

“Sebastian Stan?” Chris asks, eyebrows shooting up. “The author?”

“Oh, you know him?”

“Well, no. Not exactly. I’ve read one of his books, though, the one that’s shortlisted for the Pulitzer price, I think? He’s very good.”

His agent hums. “If you say so. Do you want me to pass a message back to him?”

Chris opens his mouth to say yes, then closes it again. “Actually,” he says, making a spur-of-the-moment decision, “I’m still in the area so I think I’ll just pay him a visit. Do you think you could you cancel my flight back to LA this afternoon?”

His agent grumbles at him for a bit but eventually concedes, though not before she’s made Chris promise he’ll be back in LA on Tuesday, for the Christmas special he’s due to appear in. Fun.

For a few moments after he’s ended the call, Chris stares out of the window of his hotel room. It’s snowing again, big flakes fluttering down from the sky, slowly turning the grey, slushy roads white again. He wonders if Pulitzer-finalist Sebastian Stan likes to make snow angels in the backyard too, like Chris used to do.

Putting his phone between his shoulder and his ear, Chris starts to put his things in his overnight bag, and calls an Uber.

It’s almost twilight, by the time the cab come to a stop in front of the house. Chris thanks the driver and steps out, booted feet sinking into the freshly fallen snow. It’s piling up quickly, he notices distantly.

It’s odd, being back here, after everything that’s happened since he moved away, so Chris gives himself a moment to just stand there, in the middle of the deserted street, taking in the sight of house he grew up in.

The house that holds countless memories, many of them good, some of them not so much. His first dog and his first kiss. Scraped knees and snowball fights. Raucous laughter and hissed arguments.

The house looks the same but different.

Chris walks up to the front door, snow crunching under his boots, and rings the doorbell.

***

Chris Evans is on Sebastian’s doorstep.

All blue-eyed, bearded, gloriously muscled, six-foot-something of him.

“Uh,” Chris says, blinking at him in something like surprise before his gaze sweeps up and down Sebastian’s body in a blatant once-over. “Sebastian Stan?”

“Oh wow, you actually came,” Sebastian blurts by way of reply.

Chris’s eyes widen. “Oh, I’m sorry, I just thought- ‘cause you said-”  

“No, no, it’s fine,” Sebastian interrupts. “I did say that. I just- I guess I wasn’t expecting you to really turn up – or not this soon, at least. But it’s no trouble at all, I live alone so it’s nice to have a visitor. Especially, y’know. You.” Forcing himself to stop talking, Sebastian runs a hand through his messy hair and wishes he’d worn something better suited to meeting one’s celebrity crush. “Sorry,” he says, smiling sheepishly. “Let’s try that again. Hi, I’m Sebastian Stan.”

“Chris Evans.” Chris smiles back warmly as he shakes Sebastian’s extended hand. “It’s lovely to meet you.”

“Lovely,” Sebastian repeats, holding Chris’s gaze. There are tiny flecks of green mixed in with the blue of his eyes, and his lashes would put any Maybelline model to shame. It takes Sebastian longer than it should to remember to let go of Chris’s hand, but fortunately, Chris doesn’t seem to be in any rush either. Huh. Sebastian clears his throat. “Would you- would you like to come in?”

“I’d love to, if you’re putting out,” Chris replies. There’s a beat, and then he freezes, eyes widening in horror. “If I’m not putting you out – not- not if you’re- I wasn’t, I didn’t mean- oh my god, Chris, stop talking you meatball,” Chris groans covering his face with a large hand. His next words come out a little muffled. “I am so sorry. Just ignore me. I have a horrible hangover, I promise I’m not usually this much of a disaster.”

Sebastian laughs, equally charmed by Chris’s helpless chattering as he is by the blush coloring his cheeks, just visible above the line of Chris’s well-groomed beard.

“You’re fine, I’m not easily offended,” he assures him, stepping aside to let Chris into the hallway. “I can take a lot.”

Oh.

This time, it’s Sebastian’s turn to wince at his choice of words, but when he tentatively glances back at his visitor to see if he noticed, he stills. The look on Chris’s face instantly makes him forget all about feeling embarrassed.

Still standing by the door, melting snow forming puddles around his feet, Chris is watching him intently. There’s something curious in his gaze, something sharp and searching.

It makes Sebastian’s breath catch in his throat. He swallows, resisting the impulse to avert his gaze, play it off as a joke. Instead, he makes himself stare right back. Lets the tension build, lets it simmer and crackle as it stretches out between them, growing stronger with every second they spend looking at each other in heavy silence.

“That right?” Chris asks finally, his voice a low rumble that settles in Sebastian’s bones like smoldering embers. Chris takes a careful step forward, slowly, giving him every chance to back away.

Sebastian stays where he is. 

“Mmm,” he hums, catching his bottom lip between his teeth and biting down lightly, experimentally, on the soft, plump flesh. When Chris’s eyes flick down to his mouth instantly, homing in on it like an eagle on its prey, Sebastian decides to take a chance.

“Tell you what,” Sebastian says huskily, stepping closer under Chris’s dark, watchful gaze. “Why don’t you give me a tour and show me which bedroom used to be yours-” he comes to a halt right in front of Chris, looking up at him through his eyelashes, “and maybe you’ll find out just how much I can take, hm?”

For a moment, Sebastian holds his breath, praying he read this thing right and didn’t accidentally sexually harass a virtual stranger – but then Chris growls and surges forward, and Sebastian knows his gamble is about to pay off.

Big time.

Merry Christmas to me, Sebastian thinks wildly, just before Chris claims his mouth in a searing kiss. After that, he stops thinking altogether.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

[dangermousie]

Rhapsody in Blue! First off, this ep has one of my favorite lines. Rygel to John: “Hail, Prince of the Obvious.” EEEEEE!

It’s the little things that stick in my mind with this ep: Aeryn in John’s undies (not that way, alas) and his demanding to know what she is doing in them as they are ‘mine.’ And her asking ‘Is your name Calvin? Then they aren’t yours.’ Heeeee. (Did Crichton pack a spare pair in his ship? Where did they come from? Also, how did she get them?)

I also love seeing him still so excited about new things: that half-vegetable-half-animal thing, for one. I love his sense of wonder, not crushed yet.

And then there is the intro scene. If we can focus past the half-naked, wrapped in satin sheets, and horizontally-necking John Crichton…mmmm....arms!

Aside from the fact that his gf has a really pottery barn lame taste in furnishings, and that John’s proposal technique needs work (hello, you were going to propose to her in bed? Take her out for a romantic stroll, at least :P) you know what strikes me? The vibe between them.

John was serious with Alex. As serious as one could be, seeing that he wanted to propose to her. And he was clearly a sweet, nice guy. But. Not only is Alex quite bland (and once again, blonde and a certain-type. Sort of like Gilina and his other non-Aeryn types), but there is no sense of urgency or passion or love bordering on madness, ‘beyond hope’ that he has with Aeryn.

Nowhere near it.

I was especially struck by how she said they needed a break because he would be on East Coast and she on West (5 hour flight, basically). And he thinks it’s too much of a distance to make the relationship work, for it all to survive, and he acquiesces with only a bit of a wistful moment. A long distance relationship in the same country is probably too hard to make work! For John! The one who will later be willing to bend time and space and not comprehend the meaning of giving up when it comes to Aeryn. Alex tells him she is leaving him for West Coast and he is fine with it. Aeryn is leaving for much more than that: time, space, death, and yet he will always follow, refuse to give up and give in. It’s so clear that being with Alex, like being on Earth, was nice and sweet but did not tap into 1% of his capacity for passion, and love, and pain.

Of course, the Delvians make him see Alex again, who in her imaginary form is incredibly annoying. To give her credit, if she was real, she’d probably react differently, though who knows. Crichton didn’t think she was behaving oddly.

But hey, first things first! You are NOT allowed to mess with John’s mind, freakos! No way, no how. Seriously. This is like a precursor to all the pain, to the fact that John will not be able to maintain the privacy and integrity of his mind, but COME ON. STOP IT. This is the beginning of all his mind and body violations and you see his rage and terror.

I do love his bitter question of what they are going to do with him next: “So what now? Kill me? Cage me? Teach me tricks?” Oh John. Just you wait.

Farscape is generally not kind to religion and this ep highlights it.

I really do like the fact that most of this ep focuses on the relationship between him and Zhaan. I love that Farscape was so good at fleshing all the relationships, not just the romantic ones, and was capable of having these complex, complicated relationships between members of opposite sex without bringing artificial UST into it. Zhaan and John never think of each other this way, nor will they ever. But the love and affection between them? Is real.

And John has always felt close to Zhaan because she was so much more patient with him than the rest, at the start. But he shows his unique John-style ability to forgive and to love despite the past or darkness or anything. That is such a John trademark, isn’t it? And I think the root of Zhaan’s strong, if entirely platonic, love for John is really born in this ep. He did more than saved her life. He saved her sense of self and sanity. No wonder she does what she does in SoD.

And how in keeping with the show that he doesn’t save her through toughness and machoness but through being vulnerable and allowing her an emotional anchor and you can tell he’s terrified as hell.

Hmmmm, what else?

I love that when the Delvians send all these illusions to befuddle and confuse them, Crichton is the only one who doubts, however ineffectively, and however limited the doubt is (later Crichton would be much harder to convince). But even here, possibly he doubts more than Aeryn or Rygel or D’Argo because ever since coming to the UT, he’s been a stranger in a strange land and everything is new to him, unknown, so he has to approach everything analytically.

I also like how unity isn’t fun for Crichton (or at least it starts out fun but not for long) but painful and scary. There are no easy solutions and ways out, are there? Not even so early on.