#my second to last option in the nominees

[12thperigeeball]

Hi! I'm so sorry to bring this up but I have some questions/concerns about this year's voting process. I know that this is the first time we have tried this out in two brackets and the first time tumblr has had polls but I have 3 things to bring up.

1. We (currently) have 3 very clear leaders and no one even close to their votes in each category, why not let that stand if it remains like that until voting closes?

2. I'm worried not enough people will remember/see the second poll since they voted already and many aren't used to having two poles. I personally almost didn't even see that there were going to be two rounds until a while after I voted and won't be around much the rest of the weekend since the ball is over. I never would have know. (Also many don't know characters by name only so will there be accompanying pictures?)

3. If we are lengthening the voting can we maybe lengthen the Yule Ball itself to the whole weekend? That way it gives people more time to join in, especially weekend workers. Nominations can still end Sat at midnight, but maybe we could even have voting occur on the theoretical Sunday as an actualy event in the ball that people can react to.

Hi anon! No worries, we're happy to help clarify things.

So first and foremost, I do want to clarify that the voting process this year is a cumulation of different decisions that all three of us have discussed and agreed upon, based off of last year's voting concerns of the community and our experience with the ball theme voting process this year.

One major issue that I know concerned people last year was cheating - and our Google forms runs on an honor system. Doing a no sign in required voting form with no results showing has been the way the ball has worked for ten+ years now, but we can tell when the times have changed and the community asks for more accountability.

Secondly, one concern we heard from the ball them voting from earlier was the amount of options and the votes being more spread out. If you have 200+ votes but the 'winning' option only has 50, then that's an issue, isn't it? And when you toss in the option to see results without having to vote for a nominee, well, that skews things as well. A trade off for accountability, but one we can work with. We did feel like the second round of voting went much smoother than expected and still got an incredible amount of engagement from our user base! We were pretty worried it wouldn't, but it proved otherwise.

So, to answer your questions directly: 1) It has been two hours since voting began (from the time of receiving this ask + writing it. It is now 12 hours since receiving the ask as of posting). In previous years we've seen nominees come out strong out the gate and then fall behind as the process went ahead (in the past 10~ hours we can see that starting to happen now). Making a call about letting votes stand at this time would be putting the horse before the carriage, without factoring in our desire to reduce cheating as mentioned before. Our attempts to reduce vote fixing is our main priority. Also, as of 12PM 12/17/2023, our current queen and couturier winners are 'see votes', lol. Not logging names/emails and showing results have to have a trade off somewhere, and the trade off will require a round 2 of votes.

2) This was also a concern of ours, but our previous ball theme voting rounds and the amount of participants on tumblr itself has assuaged our fears of it being missed. I know having two polls isn't the norm, but we feel confident that we will still get a great turnout as we did before. We try our best to spread the poll around by reblogging it multiple times so people can see it during different times of the day. As for the not knowing characters by name - that was one of my biggest concerns with tumblr polls too! I believe we should be able to attach pictures to poll posts above or below the poll to help as a visual guide, howeverrrr it will stretch the post out significantly. It's something we're still considering the best possible way to show this without clogging dashes from constant reblogging.

3) This is a pretty good idea and one I have already been considering recently! The two day format has been a holdover from the Taima days and while none of us have ever stopped people from continuing to post or rp past the ball dates and never require people to role play out the nominations, the dances, or any other aspect, it still does limit how much time people have. The logistics of it may mean some more thought of course, because we try very hard to be considerate of the holiday by having the ball happen the weekend before Christmas, so we may have to adjust the ball happening earlier in the month to give users a larger cushion to enjoy themselves. You know, convention logic for four days instead of two! We'll keep you guys updated on this for next year, so feel free to let us know how you guys feel about this idea.

[sounds-of-some-day]

America Ferrera getting nominated for Barbie, but Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig not is just 💀💀💀

Sandra Hüller should have gotten that spot for Zone of Interest, but at least she got nominated for Anatomy of a Fall. Unfortunately, she won't win lead actress, even though she absolutely should.

For a second I forgot they go alphabetical by last name and thought Cillian got snubbed when they didn't announce him after Bradley. My heart dropped.

Bradley and everything Maestro is a tragedy of a nomination, but wholly expected. Yes, Mulligan acted circles around Bradley, but the whole thing was badly written and overacted. None of it felt like real people. Whole thing felt like watching a stage play. The movie should have been snubbed solely for the crime of making Leonard Bernstein boring, as well as the most heterosexual portrayal of a queer man ever put on film. (I have a lot of feelings about this movie in case you were wondering.)

But, most importantly, we now have three time Oscar nominee (and hopefully soon Oscar winner 🤞) Robert Downey Junior. Love him so much I don't even care if he has the best performance this year. He wants a little statue of a gold man for his mantle, so I want him to have one. Lol. (But also his performance *was* really good!)

Anyway, pretty much what people expected with few surprises outside Ferrera and actually the Killers of the Flower Moon song for original song was a nice surprise. I feel like we can already say who's going to win in almost every category (sadly Best Actor is tighter than I would like 😞). It's kinda a shame because there were definitely some other exciting options. Sad to see All of Us Strangers get shut out, but not surprised.

(Also it's a shame that none of Rachel Zegler's songs from Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes were allowed to qualify. Ridiculous rule in my opinion.)

[mediaconsumernightwriter]

What’s More Important: Celebrity or Being Nice?

I went to watch Banshees of Inisherin for the second time today. All because of one scene. I needed to watch that scene in a theater again (though I had watched it at home twice already) and fortunately my cinema was still showing it. For 5€ on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, promotion on all the Oscar nominees until the ceremony.

The scene in question is one where Colin Farrell’s character (Pádraic) gets drunk and accuses Brendon Gleeson’s character (Colm) of not being nice anymore. It has made the rounds on TikTok. It is more than that to me, though. It proposes an existential question: what is more important, to be remembered in 50 years for your accomplishments or to be remembered by the people that surround you for “being nice”?

The whole movie centers around this question and I think answers it quite plainly, if not in its story, then in its abundant usage of the word “nice” in its script. It’s there from beginning to end. Pádraic is described as nice for the whole of the movie (until he breaks) by everyone who knows him. Colm is only described as such by Pádraic in this scene, in the past tense (“You used to be nice”). A lot of what he does is described as “not nice” actually.

Let’s talk about both options the way they do in this scene. Colm makes the case for celebrity, for being remembered for your music, your paintings, your poetry. Leaving art to be remembered by the future generations, like he appreciated Mozart after two centuries. Of course being celebrated in 50 (or, let’s say 100, because I hope I’m still alive in 50) years would be a very good thing, having made such an impact in the history of humans that you are remembered by millions after you and all your loved ones die.

But, while watching this scene for the first time, the answer was so obvious it startled me. I want people to remember me for being a good person, like Pádraic. I found myself agreeing with him no matter what he said, because in my heart I felt that it was right. The fact that “niceness doesn’t last” didn’t scare me. I wanted to be remembered as “nice” to the people around me. I wanted my mother to remember me as nice, my dad, my friends, people I encounter at the grocery store. I try to be the least annoying person a service worker will encounter that day. To me, all that Pádraic said was ultimately true.

You know what doesn’t last? Us. What good does remembrance do to a dead body? How many artists we remember today lived and died in poverty? How many people who made art, who accomplished something in their lifetime, do we not remember anyway? But the people we love are here now and we are here now and we should strive to be the best people we could for the people around us.

[hellredsky]

Let’s talk about Oscar’s noms!

It’s that time of the year when we all remember that movies exist and some are nominated for the Oscars. For me, it’s the time when I rush to try to watch every movie nominated, think I haven’t watched enough movies, just to face the truth that I actually watched a lot of them but forgot. The Oscars haven’t been so focused on prizing movies lately, they are more about the cringe and controversy, and it makes me sad a little bit. In the last few years, important movies and achievements have been obscured by stupid celebrity controversy that is just for rating or who knows at this point. So I think my best way to actually express what I feel about movies (besides ranting the entire show while only having like 2 options to vote to, cause I didn’t watch the rest), is to talk about them in written or video form. 

 Ok, let’s talk about movies! 

I will keep this movie talk short and sweet, cause I will avoid spoilers and I just want to write how I feel about these films. 

 Starting with “All Quiet in the Western Front”, a German and US movie also nominated for best international movie, directed by Edward Berger, is a very raw look at war and how can destroy your spirit in seconds. I really loved the way it portrayed the ingenuity of the young soldiers at the beginning, compared with them at the end. No spoilers, but the end is so good in my opinion cause I thought it won’t go to the extreme point I was thinking about, and it did. It surprised me by the end. A little bit slow, but well crafted.  6/10. 

Next on my list is “The Banshees of Inisherin”, directed by Martin McDonagh, it is my option for best picture, but I’m sure it’s not going to win. The movie is a bizarre tale of two friends who fade out of friendship in an abrupt and strange way. There is a full video essay by Ryan Hollinger analyzing this movie, who I really loved as a take and way to interpret the movie and some of its characters. For me, the movie was a ride and show me strong and stubborn characters with their own struggles and justifications for why all this went that way. I have no idea how much I can say without spoiling the experience, but the performances and characterization are the core of the movie. 7/10. 

Next, “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once”, directed by the Daniels. Strong and amazing movie. For sure the top 2 choices to win the Oscar. It is a very well-crafted movie, using intriguing visuals and editing bits to communicate what it wants to show the audience. It doesn’t shy to the silliness and still uses it as a solid point for the main core message of the movie. For sure my favorite monologue involves a cliff and rocks. It is a ride, it is emotional under all the sci-fi multiverse weirdness. Just so good and fun. 8/10 

The last of the best picture nominees that I watched is “Top Gun: Maverick”, directed by Joseph Kosinski. I didn’t vibe with it. At all. I was expecting to know more about the newcomers, seeing more of how they bond as a team and how the mentor steps aside to actually help the new leader shine and guide everyone. Instead, it was a lot of nostalgia (which I don’t feel about Top Gun), recreations of iconic scenes, 2 great editing scenes, good sound mixing, and Tom Cruise running (which made me laugh, don’t ask why). I barely understood their motivations and actions, contrasted with how they showed to be. It was like the script was contradicting itself to get to the “cool” scenes, but not involving the characters in their totality.  One comment I got was that it was an amazing experience in theaters and just looking at the cool stuff and the cool bodies(?), which is fine. But for me, it lacked weight and I expected to push the new crew forward and I barely even met them. 4/10.

The other movies I want to talk about are the animation category. I watched 3 of the 5 nominated to this category and, as much as I know which one is going to win, it will be a really good surprise if my option got the award instead. 

 Let’s start with the obvious one: “Turning Red” by Disney studios. We all know it, it’s Disney. What else we could say? Well, a lot actually. Turning Red is a very solid movie in general. It happens to be animation, which is a great medium to tell this cool story cause it uses its visual media and malleable storytelling to express how characters perceive the world and portray the message in a interesting and fantastic way. Not gonna lie, I’m biased cause I was a kid in the 90s-00s when this movie is pulling their visuals and references, and it touched my inner kid’s soul. But it has a great message for future generations and is also a great piece to help millennials, like me, to heal a bunch of unsaid things. 6.5/10 

Next is “Sea Beast”, a Netflix joint. This movie has cool concept art and I’m pretty sure there is lore here that wasn’t used in the movie I’m sad about it cause the visuals of the world are very rich. But the story only allowed them to show so little and never compromised on distinguishing their characters from other similar characters in similar journeys. In the end, it was very predictable and its message was too on the nose. 5/10.

Last in this category is “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”, also a Netflix production and my choice for a winner. I went to this movie knowing a lot about Pinocchio, about the original story, about all its adaptations, and, obviously, the comparation with the disney one (the true one). This movie is gritty and extreme at times. Cause it is animation as a medium, not as an “only for kids” or “less category” film. The movie shows raw emotions and scenes about war and experiences of exploitation, duty, and what means to be good in the end. It is sad and has a bittersweet ending, like many of Del Toro’s movies, and it also challenges the media with great stop-motion animation. The design of most things is just THE BEST I’ve seen in a while. The designs of the blue fairy are just a delight. 8/10.

And that’s it for now I guess. I’ve watched other movies that weren’t nominated but were part of other awards, and there are some I wanted to watch that I couldn’t do before the ceremony. In any case, I’m happy that I’m back writing about movies and will try to do more often. I will not make this blog only for movies and tv shows rants and reviews, but those are one of my favorite things to watch and talk about, so bare with me. Let me know which movies did you watch and if you are watching the Oscars too. I would love to read your takes on all of these films and more. 

Read you later!

[backstage-bucknell]

Bucknell Theatre Counts Down to Break

By Katie Schadler and Abby Campion

Bucknell at KCACTF

By Joseyln Busato 

This January, I and a group of other Bucknell students will be attending the Region 2 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The event will take place in downtown Pittsburgh and on the Point Park University campus. At this festival, students with a passion for theater will have the opportunity to participate in competitions, attend workshops led by Point Park faculty and professionals, watch invited productions from other universities, and make connections with like-minded students and professors.

This will be my second year participating in the festival, along with many of the other students planning on going again this spring. The group attending is spread over class year and discipline, majoring from sociology to Italian, political science to biology. Accompanied by the students will be two Bucknell Theatre professors, Anjalee Hutchinson and Bryan Vandevender. At the conference, we have the option to participate in as many or as few activities as we choose. Last year, some of the students chose to audition for as many opportunities as possible, many of them eventually getting to perform for audiences. For others, just being in a new place surrounded by friends and good art was an amazing experience itself. I loved getting to attend some of the many workshops and classes last year; my favorite was probably the British dialect workshop, in which we all practiced speaking in an accent and learned about the pronunciations of certain words and phrases. Some other standouts were the stage combat class, where I got to fake-punch my friends in the face, a class examining Chekhov techniques and how to embody different levels of emotion, and a musical theater dance course with a Broadway choreographer. 

Some of the students attending the conference will be competing at the regional level in acting, dramaturgy, musical theater performance and directing competitions. Last year, Bucknell brought home gold in two of these divisions; the school was represented by Nabeel Jan, who won first place in the directing competition, and Zoe Wilson, who won first place in dramaturgy. Both students moved on to compete at the national level in Washington D.C. Several others were nominated to compete in the Irene Ryan’s Acting Competition for their performances in previous Bucknell productions. This year, the Irene Ryan’s nominees include Reid Fournier, Tseday Robinson, Kieran Calderwood, and Madison Buckley. These students will prepare two monologues and a scene with a partner to perform for the competition. 

I’m so excited to say that I will be participating as a scene partner with one of the nominees in the competition, as well as just being in attendance at the festival again this year. I have so many good memories from the conference last year and so many people that I love coming with me. It was a fantastic experience getting to work with professionals and learn in such a laid back environment surrounded by friends. We did everything together, from getting dinner to watching and critiquing performances to being totally vulnerable (and probably looking a little silly) in some of the classes. I loved getting closer to the Bucknell students and staff on the trip, but also some other students from different schools as well! There was one night where we invited some fellow attendees from Wooster over to our hotel room to play board games and talk; some of the Bucknell students on that trip still keep in touch with them to this day. They even made it out to see Gross Indecency and The One Act Play that Goes Wrong last year. I’m looking forward to potentially seeing them again at this conference!

As my final year at Bucknell is slowly nearing its end, I’m grateful that I am able to attend this trip and spend time with people that share my love for theater, in a place that celebrates the art form in all of its facets. I can’t wait to make more memories and enjoy all of the many different workshops and opportunities the festival offers. I know that those few days will be a blast. I am so excited to see what this year’s festival has in store, and so thankful to the Bucknell Theatre Department for allowing students to take advantage of opportunities like these. 

Directing Cocktails with Maya Gurung 

Maya Gurung, sophomore double major in economics and theatre, will be directing her first show this December. Her initial love of theatre began as a shy third grader after she watched the production “the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” and immediately became obsessed. She took a few acting classes, having her debut on the stage in her junior year of high school in “Mamma Mia.” While at Bucknell, she has acted in the first-year show, Cocktail Theatre, Forum Theatre, and landed a lead role in the recent MainStage Men on Boats. This was not only Maya’s first major show but her favorite one yet, as she appreciated the physical quality of the show and loved working alongside such a supportive cast and passionate director, Anjalee Hutchinson. 

Maya claims that her love of acting, whether that be theatre or film, originated from her love of watching it. As a quiet person, many of Maya’s family members and friends would not expect her to be involved with theatre in her free time. Nevertheless, Maya sees the stage as a place to break out from her shell. She enjoys the excitement of assuming a different character and overall, describes the experience to be quite freeing.  

At the end of the fall semester, Maya will be directing her first Cocktail Theatre performance. For students unfamiliar with the concept, Cocktail Theatre is a ten-minute, 2-3 actor play that acts as the “final exam” for students taking a Bucknell directing class. The class is a semester-long, project-based course where students select a play, research that play, and eventually individually direct that play. While still having class time to collaborate with fellow students taking the class, this means having the solo opportunity to plan a set, select actors, and design all of the blocking for the show. In essence, the student director is given the creative liberty over all of the little details and decisions.  

For Maya’s final project, she is directing a Cocktail play called “Birthday Beer.” Not wanting to spoil too much, Maya says that she selected this play because of its light-hearted rom-com nature, filled with energetic, action-packed scenes. Ultimately, Maya wanted to choose a show that would be fun for her audience to watch. 

Already in the rehearsal stage, Maya and the cast have already begun blocking the scenes and navigating the nuances that come with putting on a movement-heavy, prop-heavy show. Given how much the Bucknell theatre department emphasizes boundaries and consent while they work, Maya has implemented this practice into her own directing through check-ins before each rehearsal to gauge the other actor’s comfort levels with where they are willing to be touched that day. This element of comfort on stage is especially important in a two-person play, as sharing the stage with only one other person can become much more intimate work.   

Being her first time directing, the greatest challenge is watching her ideas come out in ways she would expect or want but remaining flexible to prioritize what’s best for the show, even if she feared annoying her actors from the number of changes she would enforce. Additionally, she found that her role required her to make challenging decisions, such as selecting actors, even when she could envision so many auditioners fitting the role. 

Even just a few years ago, Maya would have never seen herself directing anything but looking back, she realizes how much she has been directing in her head as a viewer this whole time. It has been so rewarding to watch all of the pieces gradually take shape and come to life. Even while dedicating around eight hours per week to Cocktail Theatre–whether that be the in-class time, rehearsals, and the outside planning as a director–Maya says it never feels like work. Outside of Bucknell Theatre, Maya is a member of the Offbeats Acapella Group, an usher for the Weis Center, and a TEAM mentor. Look out for more details on Maya’s along with other Cocktail Theatre plays that will be debuting this December!

Upcoming God of Carnage Auditions

Bucknell Theatre’s next mainstage production is Yasmina Reza's God of Carnage. The production will be presented in the Tustin Studio Theatre February 23-26. 

Preliminary Auditions: Tuesday, November 14 starting at 6:00pm in Room 54 or Coleman Hall 

Callbacks: Wednesday, November 15 in Room 23 of Coleman Hall

Auditions are open to the entire Bucknell community. We are looking to audition Arab, Asian, Black, Latinx, Multi-Racial, Native, Pacific Islander, South Asian, and White performers of all abilities.

Audition Sign-Up and additional information about auditions can be found here. 

An online audition form should be completed prior to auditions. The form can be accessed here. 

Auditioners are strongly encouraged to read the play prior to auditions. You can access the full text here.

If you have any questions about the auditions, production, or rehearsal process, please contact director, Dr. Bryan M. Vandevender (bmv003@bucknell.edu).  

We look forward to seeing you at the auditions! 

Bucknell Departments of Theatre, Dance, Film and Media Studies co-host New York City Student & Alumni Brunch 

November 19th, 2023 from 10am - Noon

Students, Faculty and Alumni from Bucknell's departments of Theatre, Dance, Film and Media Studies are cordially invited to a Networking and Social Brunch in the heart of New York City during the weekend before Thanksgiving! Join us for a wonderful opportunity to meet up with fellow Bucknellian artists from across the years, many of which are working in the business! This year's event will be held at the elegant Elsie Rooftop in Manhattan to accommodate the growing number of attendees this event has attracted over the years. Let's celebrate together and kick off the season! 'Ray Bucknell Theatre & Dance! 'Ray Bucknell Film & Media Studies!

For more details and/or to register please go this link: https://cvent.me/eYMxWZ 

Recollections & Reflections by Bob Gainer, Professor Emeritus (1985 to 2009)

I was hired was hired in Fall 1985, when there was no Department of Theatre, only a very vibrant Theatre Program headed by English Department Prof. Harvey Powers for over 35 years.   Elaine Williams, Assistant Professor of Scenography, was also on the hiring committee.

Then a momentous change occurred in 1986:  Harvey, Elaine and I proposed and got approval from Bucknell to launch a new Department of Theater.  This was swiftly followed in 1987, by the University’s blessing to initiate a new Dance Program, which was integrated into the newly formed Department of Theatre and Dance.

So, from 1987 onwards you can look back to see how new theater & dance faculty and professional staff were hired that dramatically impacted the development of our department over 36 years, both in terms of curriculum and theater and dance productions.   

I was hired to teach several levels of acting, a directing course and to tutor advanced-level projects for senior directing/acting students.  My position also included the direction of plays for the Mainstage Theater season, initially, two play productions each year. This changed when other faculty directors were hired, as well as when more dance performances were added to our department’s artistic season.

I have been asked to pinpoint some of my favorite aspects of teaching over my 24 years at Bucknell.   I most relished how young people’s potential creativity could be released and given a platform for developing their psycho-physical instruments and imaginations in service to sharing playwright’s stories with our community – dramas with universal themes written over centuries of human history.   I would like to think that this somewhat romantic pedagogical mission to both stimulate and encourage young actors and directors as both interpreters and potent agents of dramatic action, was realized both through my courses and well as in the process of directing 27 mainstage play productions, performed in either the Powers or Tustin Theater spaces.    Let me also add that my own creative development as a director was informed by my fruitful & exciting collaborations with my professional colleagues in the areas of design and dramaturgy.   Yes, I’m certain that the one reality that hasn’t changed in the department since I retired:  the making of theater as a collaborative process. 

I must also add that my years of service in the roles of both Chair of the department or Director of the theater program were also particularly gratifying and rewarding.  I experienced how these administrative roles could really create an environment in the department that fostered respect and enthusiastic support for one’s colleagues’ individual teaching, creative scholarly projects, work environments and collective endeavors.   

I have been also asked whether I might have any perceptions about how the department has changed since I left in January 2009.   The most meaningful response that I can offer here is look at what has uniquely occurred over these past 15 years: The Women’s March; the Pandemic; the growing dangers of Climate Change, the African-American community and other minorities being targeted by both law enforcement and systematic bias across our nation, Women’s rights and LGBTQ rights continually under attack, the rise of White Nationalist and other Hate Groups, our U.S. Constitution and related democratic institutions and Rule of Law under serious threat, Voting Restrictions becoming more prevalent, Books being banned, etc.   How can there be any way that the current Department of Theater and Dance can be the same as it was during my earlier years?   I will always look forward to being a witness as to how the department of theatre and dance’s curriculum and performance work strives to reflect the challenges of living an ever changing & difficult world.  Only Bucknell’s current department of theater and dance faculty, staff and students can choose to reflect whether and how the arts might address these exigent realities – year by year!

Follow us on all social media platforms: 

Facebook: Bucknell University Department of Theatre and Dance

Instagram: @bucknell.theatre

Don’t forget to take care of yourself, take care of each other, & take care of art:)

[iloveabunchofgames]

January 2023 Game Awards

#JakeReviewsItch Game of the Month Archives

Around here, the start of a new month brings an important tradition that I'm making up right now: Stealing game award categories from old magazines or Web sites, and then giving those awards to the Itch.io games I reviewed over the last month. I think it's going to be a very hot feature.

This month's plagiarism is brought to you by the 2001 Nintendo Power Awards (minus platform-specific categories like "Best Nintendo GameCube Graphics"), found in volume 156, pages 116-123.

[Editor's note: Probably should have taken a closer look at the magazine before committing to this. So many categories! Aaa!]

Best Overall Game: 10s

I played 1s, 2s, 3s, and 4s this month, but I didn't give out a single 5/5. The closest I got was 10s.

Best Overall Graphics: A Hole New World

It looks like a really good-looking NES game, but better.

Best Opening Sequence: A Hole New World

It looks like a really good-looking NES game, but better.

Best Music: 2000:1: A Space Felony

It's all public domain classical music, because that's what the 2001: A Space Odyssey soundtrack was, and that was a great soundtrack! It was so good it was prominently displayed on a shelf in a store in A Clockwork Orange, another movie with a great soundtrack filled with classical music. Game developers, movie directors: This stuff is free. You can just take it, for free!

Best Sound: 10mg: Sealed Estate

The second you notice that you're never in danger, this game falls to pieces, but up until that point, the sound design did a nice job of convincing me that there might be a scary threat on my tail.

Best Voice Acting: 2064: Read Only Memories

This game is packed with words. There are hours and hours of voice acting, and just about all of it is good to great.

Best Driving Game: 10 in 1 game-a-week bundle!

There's a little top-down driving/drifting thing in here that's not completely objectionable. "Best" doesn't always mean "good."

Best RPG/Strategy Game: 9 Till Void

Think several moves ahead, or charge forward and worry about the consequences later. Either way, it's a good time.

I know there weren't a lot of either on Nintendo systems in 2001, but lumping RPG and Strategy into a single category was a weird choice, Nintendo Power. (Golden Sun won, with Paper Mario and Pokémon Crystal as runners-up.)

Best Puzzler: A Good Snowman Is Hard to Build

I wrote a pretty harsh review of a Sokoban-like earlier today. It's nice to be reminded that this kind of a game can be quite good.

Best Sports Game: 10s

Well, duh.

Best Sequel: 2000:1: A Space Felony

I'm counting this as an unofficial 2001: A Space Odyssey sequel, and if you have any objections to that, I'll see you in robot space court.

Best Revival Game: 1993 Space Machine

Development was nearly complete in 1993. The team broke up over some teenage drama. One of them found the old disk 22 years later, and it was finally released in 2016. Decades in the making, and the result is a top-notch space shooter.

Best Replay Value: 1993 Space Machine

A shop with more weapons than you could ever afford in a single run is great incentive to go back and try old levels with a new loadout. Multiplayer and absurd difficulty options are there for those who want them.

Best Use of a License: Unity

This category is meant to be for integration of a licensed intellectual property. (Nintendo Power gave it to Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader. Runners-up: The Simpsons: Road Rage and Batman Vengeance. I understand wanting to praise one of the most highly acclaimed Star Wars games of all time, but if you can't even come up with three serious nominees, maybe cut that category.) Considering how many Unity splash screens and launchers I saw this month, I have to give it up to the license that is empowering so many indies to get things made, even if I'd rather not play some of them.

Best Build-Your-Own: 1993 Space Machine

You put the guns on the space ship.

Most Innovative Game: 10s

I've said this a lot in the last few weeks, but Tennis + Rogue + Shooter. It shouldn't work! It works!

Best Minigame: A Mortician's Tale (Cremation)

Slicing corpses and draining their blood is the obvious choice, but I gotta go with the one where you grind up the bones and dump 'em in an urn. I might not be the target audience for this game.

Best Multiplayer Mode: 1993 Space Machine

Hard to judge since I haven't played any of these games with another person, but I'm confident I'm picking the right one. I'm curious about 10s with a second player, but I believe that's versus only; not co-op. That's not what I want out of 10s.

Best New Villain: 2064: Read Only Memories (That one bigot)

James Stephanie Sterling as the giddy leader of a hate group is a sickening monster, as a bigot ought to be.

Best New Character: 2064: Read Only Memories (That one bigot)

Please don't read this as encouragement to attack minorities in real life. Read it as encouragement to mock bigotry. Don't let would-be followers take would-be leaders seriously.

Most Difficult Boss: A Hole New World (The bosses I couldn't reach)

The harpy at the end of Level 4 nearly broke me. I can only imagine what's waiting in Levels 5 and 6.

Cutest Character: A Good Snowman Is Hard to Build (Licorice Dots candy with rubber hose arms and legs)

A little blob thing that builds snowmen and hugs them? I don't know if that's safe for the snowmen, 'cause even from a safe distance, it's melting my heart.

Best New Weapon/Item: 2d flight simulator (Reverse engines)

Is the plane supposed to be able to stop in mid-air and fly backwards? Probably not, but technology like that could really disrupt the air travel market.

Best Secret/Unlockable Character: 10 Flights of Ballooning

Even though its movements are copied from the regular character, taking control of the man-eating fish from Balloon Fight pleases me.

Weirdest Title: 6 pack of craft games

Sorry, a completely normal dating simulation that is definitely sweet, innocent and normal. I know you were campaigning hard for this award, but you didn't count on a collection of not six pieces of software, most of which are not games.

Best In-Game Text/Dialogue: 2064: Read Only Memories

I wish a more critical editor had been on staff. Regardless, the absurd amount of text/dialogue is generally strong enough that no other game this month comes close.

Coolest Box Art: 2 9 0 1 / / FREELANCER

A chaotic CGA nightmare. Love it.

Most Overlooked Game: 9 Till Void

I don't know who's overlooking them. I looked at all of them. None of these games have broken out into the mainstream, have they? I'm going to trust my gut and say, uh, look at 9 Till Void.

Strangest Concept or Plotline: 4-LEGGED-HEROINE

COVID lockdown delivery dog can't stop running into stacks of tires.

Best Way to Amaze Your Friends: 1977: Radio Aut (Do it yourself)

Follow real-world activist Peppino Impastato's example. Dedicate your life to social justice and freeing civilians from Mafia rule.

Best Game URL: A e r o c r a f t

The arguments in the comments section are gloriously embarrassing.

Most Frustrating Moment: 1,000 Heads Among the Trees (Going the wrong way)

The game gives hints about where to go and what to do. Ignore them. Except the ones that aren't misleading. You need those.

The Hardest Job In All of Gaming: 2064: Read Only Memories (Completing it in a single, seven-hour stretch)

Going through personal stuff and also having a migraine that day didn't help.

[jkatnayc]

[andypantsx3]

statistically significant | 7 | bakugou/reader

length: 23,490 words | 7 chapters

summary: You’re the scientist who developed a neural net to model the value of assists. Now that your work is feeding into the hero rankings, pro hero Ground Zero has a bone to pick with your results.

tags: romance, enemies to lovers, sexual tension, reader-insert

warnings: aged up characters, eventual smut, m/f threats of violence, problematic behavior

One month later

The Hero Awards certainly did not disappoint the second time around.

Though you’d spent the last few months in the company of some of these heroes, you couldn’t help but linger on the sidelines as they stalked their way down the walkway, staring in awe. As before, they were decked out in their absolute best, glimmering in jewel toned dresses with daring cutouts, or carving dashing profiles in well-fitted suits. Reporters and fans swarmed the sides of the red carpet, roiling like a pot reaching an agitated boil.

Their excitement was so palpable it hung heavy in the air, absolutely contagious. Maybe it was the fact that you knew some of the heroes up for awards tonight personally, but the potential of the evening simmered under your skin, a soft but constant hum of frenetic energy.

Or maybe some of that was due to the fact that this year, you’d been able to convince your boss to shell out the extra cash for the full dinner option. No longer would you need to smuggle snacks into your dress--this evening, you were a solid professional.

Which was a good thing, really, as the dress in question was not altogether any more secure or supportive than your dress from last year. You’d tried to angle for a thicker fabric and a little more of a conservative design, but several people had aired opinions on your choices over the course of the last few weeks, and you’d ended up in a thin swathe of delicate fabric that was really quite pretty, if you did say so yourself, but would support a grand total of maybe two popcorn kernels.

“You’re looking awfully forlorn over here,” someone chirped by your ear.

You startled, whirling to find Mina behind you, looking rosy and radiant in a form-fitting dress only a few shades lighter than her skin tone. Tiny pearls and clusters of glittering pink diamonds were stitched carefully into the fabric, winking at you as she moved, as bright as the conspiratorial grin she wore. She looked absolutely fabulous--she was one of the people who’d bullied you into the snackless gown, and you could begrudgingly admit that the girl had taste.

“Is it because a certain hotheaded blonde isn’t here yet?” she asked, a pink eyebrow going up.

You flushed. “Mina--oh my god, no. Not everything is about him, you know.”

She idly inspected a nail, looking supremely unconvinced. “Someone should tell him that, then.”

You huffed a laugh. The last time you’d been at the Awards, you’d said as much to him yourself. But a year later, the message was still not exactly being received.

“I’m actually thinking about dinner. I’m literally starving,” you complained, trying to divert the subject.

Mina nodded sympathetically. “I have a six pack and I still had to suck in to fit into this shit.”

As if on cue, your stomach growled sympathetically. You weren’t proud of what it was going to be like when you were finally unleashed on that multi-course dinner, but god it was gonna be worth it.

Several shrieks went up in the crowd of fans behind you, and you looked over your shoulder in alarm. Your pulse relaxed slightly when you realized it was just another pro sauntering down the walkway, but then the lights flickered off ashy blonde locks, and your pulse jumped violently. You jerked in surprise.

Mina didn’t even try to suppress her snort as you turned around fully, eyes pulled like a magnet to Bakugou as he stalked down the red carpet. Even looking like he would rather be anywhere else, and moving briskly over the carpet like he was going in for a kill, he still looked better than he had any right to. The charcoal of his suit--stitched with deep ruby flowers so dark they were almost black--brought out the piercing scarlet of his eyes, and your heart leapt into your mouth when those eyes cut over to meet yours.

His expression didn’t change, and he kept moving, but you flushed all the way from your head to your toes at the intensity behind his look.

Mina made a disgusted noise. “You’re both like a dog with a bone.”

You glared at her accusingly. “We literally just looked at each other.”

She clicked her tongue. “Please, he all but just pissed on you to mark his territory.”

Before you could reply, she called out, catching sight of Kirishima, and seized you to drag you over to say hello.

You let Mina drag you around for the next half hour, making polite conversation with her high school friends, a couple of friends from other agencies, and one fashion journalist who Mina had converted into a weekly drinking buddy. Mina kept the conversation light and easy, and you enjoyed yourself for the most part, though you almost passed out when a very distinct head of green curls materialized over her shoulder and then Midoriya Izuku--better known as the number one hero Deku--was smiling at you eagerly.

Things got even weirder when he appeared to not only already know who you were, but knew a great deal about your work, enough to ask some very detailed questions about your training model software that was going into production a couple months from now. Mina had the gall to cut into the conversation to call you both huge nerds, though she’d directly benefited from the model herself.

The conversation was unfortunately cut short when a calloused hand flung itself in front of your face and a rough voice sounded from over your shoulder. “Stop sticking your nose in my fucking business, Deku.”

You whipped around to find Bakugou glaring over your head at his former classmate. His hand closed around your shoulder and dragged you closer to him.

“I was just asking about her model, Kacchan,” Midoriya said patiently. “It’ll be great to be able to compare my movements directly with some of the other heroes in almost real time! Ojirou’s been trying out some new fighting forms and I was thinking I should try to adapt them to work into my shoot style--”

“Just because you couch it in nerd shit doesn’t mean you’re not trying to spy on me, fuckstick,” Bakugou said. “Stop poking your nose into my relationship like the town fucking gossip.”

Midoriya flushed a little, looking slightly chastened when you turned back to him in question. He gave you an embarrassed little smile. “I did want to meet you for reasons other than your model. Kacchan’s been my friend since I was little, and I wondered what kind of person could interest him so much he wanted my perspective on your work--”

“Shut the fuck up,” Bakugou demanded, but he wasn’t fast enough.

You perked up in interest. “He asked you what?”

Bakugou bristled like a cat being dangled over a bath, but Midoriya was paying him no mind. “Right after the last Hero Awards, he’d done all this research and he asked me about whether your model results lined up with some of the personal analysis that I was doing--”

“Deku,” Bakugou’s fingers tightened on your arm, growing alarmingly warm. “If you don’t shut the fuck up right now I’m going to punch all of your teeth straight down your throat and into your stomach.”

“Kacchan,” Midoriya protested, but he was interrupted by a call on the overhead for everyone to start taking their places in the theater interior for the awards to begin.

Bakugou used the distraction to pry you away from Midoriya. In the blink of an eye, he’d gotten you across the theater and was corralling you towards the Miruko agency tables, looking like he’d sucked on a lemon. You stifled a laugh. You’d wondered a couple months ago exactly how and when he’d figured out you were quirkless, and he’d once asked if you thought you were the only one who’d done their research.

If things were anything like you were starting to suspect, your demands that he do better at the Hero Awards had apparently aroused his interest in more ways than one.

You and Bakugou hadn’t exactly settled on formal terms for your relationship yet, and he still more often than not answered any of your interest with the assertion that you were the one with the crush on him. But this was more evidence--beyond the mysterious coffees that showed up at your workstation almost every morning--that your interest was more intensely reciprocated than he was willing to own up to.

By the time you’d settled at a table and been flanked by a grinning Mina and Kaminari, the awards were getting underway. They were thrilling to watch, something you’d had to miss out on last year when you needed to sneak out with a giant hole in the front of your dress. The heroes you’d worked with this year raked in an insane number of awards, and their elation was palpable, so thick you could almost taste it in the air. The pair of men with satyr horns were named the Best Rookie Duo, Miruko was awarded Takedown of the Year, and Kaminari clocked the Fastest Fight Win for a battle last month in which he’d rendered a villain with an aluminum quirk insensate only seconds into the fight.

A very unfortunate match up, you thought.

Mina nabbed an award for Fan Favorite, and in almost no time, it was the moment that you’d been nervously awaiting since nominations had gone out. You’d cheated, doing your own calculations behind everyone’s backs just to get a clearer picture of what his chances were, and you rather liked his odds, but there was always a chance it wouldn’t go how you thought. But this was the moment that Bakugou was up for Most Valuable Hero.

You barely heard any of the words the host was saying as he trotted out the names of the nominees, detailing some of their key accomplishments. He covered Bakugou's latest slew of assists and rescues, stats that made you feel kind of weirdly warm and proud, and then your ears strained for the syllables you’d hoped to hear.

And then:

“The winner is...our explosive number six, Ground Zero!”

It took everything in you not to leap out of your seat in joy, though something like a strangled squeal managed to escape you. Bakugou gave you an evaluating look as he got to his feet, stalking up on stage with his usual intensity.

As soon as he was up there, it struck you that allowing him time for an acceptance speech was maybe not a great idea. Graciousness was not exactly a strength of his.

“Obviously I’m the most valuable,” he growled into the mic. The stage lights glinted off his hair and teeth, making him look slightly more predatory than usual. “I didn’t need you fucks to tell me.”

A choking noise could be heard from Kirishima’s seat a couple tables over, and Mina put her head in her hands.

“What’s important is that I’m number six now and it only took me a month,” Bakugou’s head swiveled in the direction of Midoriya and you suppressed a groan. “Don’t get fucking comfortable. I’m gonna wipe the floor with every one of the top five, and next awards you’ll all be kissing my ass.”

He didn’t seem like he had much more he wanted to say, which was an incredible relief as both the host and nearby security looked about ready to wrestle him offstage.

He leapt neatly down from the stage, and when he made it back to the table, he didn’t take his seat again. Instead, he grabbed your arm, hauling you out of your seat, and then he was pulling you down the aisle and through the door to the reception area.

He pulled you past the snack table and you thought he was steering you towards the stairwell again, but at the last second he took a sudden turn, shoving you through a door into the women’s powder room. You didn’t even have enough time to formulate a question before he had you backed up against the wall, your shoulders hitting the cool stone at the same time his mouth hit yours.

His kiss was hot and demanding as always, and you lost yourself in it easily. He trailed a line of burning kisses down your neck and over your shoulder, making you shudder and shake when he lingered too long over any particular spot.

It was hard to think past the press of his body on yours, but you tried your best to formulate words.

“Katsuki--it’s--we’re in the women’s room,” you panted, embarrassed by the fact that even as you spoke, you were clutching him closer. “This is--what are you--? S-someone’s gonna come in.”

Bakugou broke apart from you just long enough to level a searching glance around the room and--spotting what he’d been looking for--hefting the trashcan in front of the door with a forceful kick to stop it shut.

“There, nerd. Now stop fucking complaining,” he rasped, immediately attaching his mouth back under your jaw. You shuddered.

“What the fuck has gotten into you,” you demanded, seizing a fistful of his blonde hair to pull him back from where he was leaving what felt like a very deep bruise over your collarbone.

He leveled you with a burning, red-eyed stare. “Like you don’t fucking know.”

You looked at him in question. “...I actually don’t.”

He tried to lean in again but you gripped his hair harder. “What? You can’t just keep throwing me up against walls, especially here. What is it with you and shoving me into weird places at the Hero Awards?”

Bakugou growled. “If you don’t shut the fuck up and let me do what I want, I’m gonna burn throught this dress too.”

You froze up, then glared at him accusingly. “I literally write the code that processes your rank. If you ever wanna come within sniffing distance of the top three, you won’t touch a single thread of this dress.”

The hands on you grew hot, but not hot enough to burn. Bakugou slid a calloused hand over the curve of your waist, thumb brushing the underside of your breast.

“God, the fuckin’ attitude on you,” he said, almost reverently.

You felt your face warm under his scrutiny as he leaned closer. “You wanna know what's gotten into me? I wanted to melt that entire fucking thing off you last year. You were so fucking mouthy, such a little brat to me. Wanted to rip your dress off and fuck you right in the stairwell until you forgot you’d ever even heard of numbers.”

You shivered. Bakugou smirked, eyes darkening, leaning back in to bite under your jaw. You realized you’d lost your grip on him and willed your fingers to cooperate again.

“I fucking won that stupid award because I let you boss me around. I've waited an entire year. Now you’re gonna let me do whatever I want with you.”

Your legs went out from beneath you but Bakugou was already there, catching you under your thighs and hauling you up onto the countertop between the sinks. Your back brushed the mirror, glass cold under your shoulder blades.

“Y--you know, if you actually want to be number one, you can’t make speeches like you did,” you babbled nervously as he filled the space between your thighs. “Your public approval rating is part of your ranking, right? It’s weighted right below rescues…”

Bakugou paid you no mind, fingers already searching over your back to find the zipper to your dress. He yanked it down with little ceremony, seizing the front of your bodice to pull it off of you.

“I don’t need to be fucking nice if I’m the one saving the day,” he announced imperiously, leaning down to capture a nipple with his mouth.

Your hips jerked, and he pressed a hand to your thigh, holding you back down against the counter. Dimly, you registered that the words were familiar. “N--not--ah!--not this again.”

Bakugou didn’t deign to respond, instead doing something absolutely mind-bending with his tongue. You swore loudly, catching a fistful of his jacket. “Fuck, Katsuki!”

A hot palm slid up your thigh, gathering up the soft material of your skirt until he could slip a hand underneath. Calloused fingers trailed over your core with obvious intention. You inhaled sharply when he pressed them into you, leaning up to cover your mouth with his again.

Bakugou had you squirming wildly against him in barely a minute, snorting when you tried to get a hand on his zipper.

“Want me that bad, nerd?” he asked, pressing forehead to yours in an oddly tender move.

“If you don’t hurry the fuck up I’m gonna finish things myself,” you threatened, though Bakugou did not look at all as if he believed you.

He helped you get his zipper down, taking himself in hand, but he stopped just as he brushed your entrance, leaning forward to bite another kiss into your mouth.

“Now it’s time for you to make good on your end of the bet,” he growled, a smirk growing over his features. “You’ll tell me I’m the best and I was right all along.”

You stilled underneath him, disbelieving. “Are you--are you fucking serious.”

Bakugou pressed forward, just enough for you to feel the pressure of him on your clit. You fought down a noise like a whimper. Damn him.

“I jumped two ranks,” he said. “You’ll tell me I’m the best if you want me, nerd.”

“I am not gonna beg for you like this,” you announced, though it sounded a little more like a question than you had wanted it to.

Bakugou brushed his thumb over your clit again and little sparks danced over the corner of your vision. “Mmm, you’re gonna scream.”

You felt something like a tension snap inside you. Fuck it. He was so annoying but holy shit if he wasn’t the hottest thing you’d ever encountered. If he needed his ego stroked, well it wasn’t nearly as much as you needed your own stroking.

You grit your teeth. “Ugh, fine--just--you’re the best, and you were right all along. Now will you please--”

You didn’t even get to finish before he was sinking into you, narrow hips fitting flush with your thighs. You swore at the feeling of fullness, and then he was moving, picking up into a frantic pace. He leaned forward, sealing his mouth over yours to swallow all the little noises you were making. It was mere minutes before you were shivering underneath him again, moving your hips to meet his, desperate for more, Katsuki, more.

“Ah fuck--so fucking good for me,” he grunted against your mouth, giving a particularly hard thrust, and that was all it took to unravel you.

You stifled a scream in the thick fabric of his jacket, arching up into him. He cursed and followed after you with a few more short thrusts, crushing you against the counter when he let his weight go slack.

You panted underneath him, catching your breath while your fingers slowly unclenched themselves from the hem of his suit jacket. Bakugou rubbed his face in the hollow of your shoulder, radiating smug satisfaction.

“That wasn’t so bad, was it, nerd?” he rasped, biting down lightly where he’d left the hickey earlier.

You pulled back, looking into his face again. He looked far too pleased with himself, but he was so handsome like this, all messy hair and a kiss darkened mouth. Your irritation with him fizzled out a little.

He flashed you a predatory grin. “You said it yourself--I'm the fucking best.”

You rolled your eyes, though you couldn’t stop your hand from coming up and tangling in his hair. “Shut the fuck up.”

Bakugou, predictably, did not look as if he was going to shut the fuck up at all. So you took matters into your own hands, and leaned in and kissed him again.

[gucciwins]

Three Time

The one where Harry, Atticus, and Y/N celebrate. 

Word Count: 2,988

A/N: Hello friends, this is a little continuation to my story Adore You.  Harry is now a three time grammy nominated artist and i think that is beautiful. This is something short and i really do hope you enjoy it. 

There is a lot that happened this year that she never saw coming. 

First, a worldwide pandemic that would keep everyone locked indoors and having to wear masks. Secondly, Harry's Love on Tour getting rescheduled to 2021, but even that isn't looking good now. And lastly, being in Los Angeles in November as Harry is filming a movie as the lead male actor. 

Ever since Fine Line was released in December, time seemed to fly by for them.

Harry was overjoyed at how loved Fine Line was by his fans. He was getting support left and right. He was a humble man, never letting it go to his head, always saying he couldn't do it without the help of the people on his team. 

There have been rumors flying around speculating Harry having a girlfriend, a famous songwriter, but they have learned to ignore it. Harry doesn't feel the need to address his relationships because it's theirs. He would love to shout his love for Y/N to the world, but as long as she knows, he's content. 

They celebrated their one year anniversary in Italy for a week before flying back home, they would have stayed longer, but they missed Atticus too much to do that. As soon as they got home, it felt like everything changed. Not between them, but with the world. It was madness to see a lockdown, fear had spiked, but safety was a priority that they took seriously. Meaning they had to take it day by day.

Ever since the worldwide lockdown in March, Harry discussed staying in Los Angeles with Mitch and Sarah for a few months. Atticus was quick to agree, but Y/N really wanted to go home. Harry reminded her it was better to be surrounded by a good group of friends than to be distanced from everyone in London's separate homes. She was quick to agree after. 

Y/N didn't mind it much after; they all always helped each other out. There was also a lot of music playing, as well as creating. Harry said they might just have to get Mitch to release a quarantine album, which got Harry hit in the head with a pillow. 

The one who was taking this the hardest was Atticus, missing Anne and Gemma, who was back in London. He missed going to the park to play, he missed running around free, and honestly, she did as well. They would go hiking and on walks, but it was not as open as before. 

This is why, by June, they returned back home to London, and after a week of quarantine and negative test results, they went on the journey to visit both families. Y/N separated from them to visit her mother and step-dad even though Harry tried to convince her they could go together, but honestly, as much as she loved Anne and had started to see her as a second mother, she really needed a hug from her own. She promised Harry and Atticus she would see them the day after as she was coming to see Anne and they would stay the week with her. 

During this time, Y/n started knitting, something she learned at a young age but would only do when she was stressed. She began teaching Atticus, but he could only keep still for a little bit before he had to run off and do a new activity. She knitted socks, hats, and blankets for their family and friends and shipped them off to them. Y/N even made Atticus and herself the JW Anderson Cardigan. It was a lot of work, but it came out lovely. Harry made them do a little backyard photoshoot because he loved it so much.  

Harry had even surprised her when he told her it would be on the cover of Vogue. She was in shock, but she never stopped hugging him, telling Harry how proud of him she was. The day of the shoot was gorgeous, she had to remind herself to breathe a few times, or she would have passed out. Atticus was in the shoot with Gemma and Harry as they did a family shoot to surprise Anne. Harry kept asking her if she was enjoying it, and honestly, her smile said everything. That she was proud of him, that he was doing fantastic but most importantly, that she loved him. The skirt had a lot of filthy thoughts floating through her head, and she really hoped they'd lend it to Harry if she told him everything she wanted to do with him, specifically her under that skirt touching him. 

Harry had her join for a few photos, Lambert pulling out a surprising look just for her. Harry promised these photos were just for them, even if he wanted to have them put one in just so the world could know how much he loved his family. 

It's November now, and they are in Y/N's Malibu home, which they have been staying at since October. Harry has started filming "Don't Worry Darling," in Olivia Wilde's film. It was surreal when they found out; she couldn't be any prouder. Staying in her home was an easy choice; not many knowing where she lives, only a few friends, and Atticus loves having the beach so close even if it is a little too cold to go in now. 

Y/N and Atticus can't go to set due to safety and regulations, but Harry calls and facetime them every time he gets a break in his trailer. He lets them know he misses them, but he really loves everyone he's working with. That the cast is incredible and kind. Harry would not stop teasing Y/N for her reaction when she saw the wedding ring on his left hand. It made her stop mid-sentence. Husband Harry is something she wishes to one day get because Dad Harry is an angel to his sweet son. 

Harry has recently gone back to filming as it was postponed for two weeks because someone on set came out positive to make up for the lost time they started filming on weekends, which bummed out Atticus. Still, Harry quickly told him it wasn't his choice and that they would watch movies of his options as soon as he was back. Atticus loves Y/N a lot, but he's never going to love anyone more than his dad, even though Atticus does push Harry second sometimes. 

More times than not, Harry will get home and find Y/N and Atticus napping in a new place of the house; the last time was outback in a little tent Y/N set up with fairy lights and had many pillows and blankets to stay warm. Harry was quick to climb in and wrap his arms around Y/N, who quickly woke up due to his cold hands, but he apologized quickly with kisses. She's a sucker for his kisses.

Every moment together is special for them. 

Atticus called her 'Mum' a week ago and ran off, feeling embarrassed would not talk to her all day. Which was hard to do, seeing that they were the only three people in the house. Harry saw how sulky she was and talked with Atticus because neither would tell him what happened. Harry was surprised when Atticus told him what he said, but he was mostly filled with joy and a bit of fear. A fear that she could leave any day and not only would he be left heartbroken but so would his son, but he knows Y/N and the love she has for them. She's here forever, she might not say it, but her actions say enough for her. How she tucks in Atticus to bed with a kiss and an 'I love you.' Asking Anne and her mother on first time parenting tips when she thinks Harry isn't around. How much she cried when he got a scrape on his knee for the time in her care. There isn't anything stopping her from leaving, but she stays because she loves all she has. In the end, Atticus apologized for not speaking with her, and she hugged him and cuddled him all night long. Harry told Atticus that Y/N wasn't his mother, but she loved him like one and that it was okay with him if she called her that. Y/N was fearful of being a mom, but she loved Atticus like her own; even if she hadn't watched and cared for him since he was born, she was here known and would do so for as long as Harry and Atticus let her. 

November 24th, a long-awaited day for artists in the music industry. Harry has to be on set at 11AM today, meaning they will be watching the live stream together. Jeff is with Glenne and is on facetime with Harry. He has his phone perched up against a candle. Harry is sitting in the middle, Atticus to his left and Y/N to his right. He's in sweats and a plain white tee, not needing to be dressed up, seeing as it only is nine in the morning. 

The live stream is an hour-long. Y/N truly forgets how many categories they have until she watches. They woke up at eight am, had pancakes for breakfast, and spoke of their daily plans letting time go by them, allowing them to enjoy breakfast together as they do each morning. 

Atticus can barely sit still, just wanting to hear his daddy's name being called. Harry is surprisingly quiet, just sitting back with his arms crossed as the live stream goes on. Honestly, Y/N is the only one showing emotion. She cheers as she hears HAIM and Phoebe Bridgers get nominated. She itches to grab her phone to shoot them a congratulations message but fears she'll miss something, so she just gives herself a silent reminder to do it after. 

Sharon Osbourne had just begun to say the nominees for Best Comedy Album, and Y/N knows what is coming up soon. She isn't even listening to the nominees, just waiting for her to name the Best Music Video nominees. 

As soon as she says, "Brown Skin Girl, Beyoncé," Y/N feels Harry's hand on her thigh tighten, and she feels for him. His nerves must be out of the roof, but he tries his best not to show it. Y/N shuts her eyes tight, putting her hand over his to let him know she's there for him. 

When she hears the words "Adore You, Harry Styles," she feels her heart speed up. She opens her eyes wide and looks at Harry; his face is blank. Atticus is running circles around the couch, just cheering and yelling nonsense. Jeff and Glenne are cheering from the phone. 

Harry lets out a big smile when he finally meets her eyes. "Adore you did it, angel." She whispers.

He nods. "That's unreal. To hear my name." 

She leans in to give him a quick kiss as they settle back down, ready to listen for the upcoming categories. Megan the Stallion is starting the new section of categories, and Y/N isn't sure how to feel because she won't be able to take it if they don't name Harry again. 

"Best Pop Solo Performance, Watermelon Sugar." This time they all break out into cheers as soon as they hear them call Harry's name after Dua Lipa's. "Watermelon Sugar" had been a hit from the day of its release. Now it has been nominated for a Grammy feels unreal to Harry. Two nominations, he would have never believed it. 

Y/N's buzzing waiting for Megan to announce Best Pop Vocal Album. Harry is now leaning forward, knowing this is another category he could potentially be nominated for. 

"Fine Line Harry Styles" As soon as she hears those words, the tears start running down her face; he did this. His album was nominated. Harry can't stop smiling as Atticus hugs him tight around his neck. He lets out a small chuckle as he sees her tears. He pulls her in, kissing her head repeatedly, smiling at Jeff's congratulations but mostly basking in the joy of three nominations and that he has the opportunity to share it with those he loves. 

Harvey Mason JR. is here once again to announce the general field categories. Harry and Y/N nod along as the names of the nominees are called out. Jeff let out a cheer hearing HAIM nominated for album of the year. Y/N sighs, not hearing Harry being nominated but continues ready to hear Adore You for record of the year. Only it doesn't happen. Harvey Mason JR. bids everyone goodbye, and just like that, it's over. 

Jeff breaks the silence, congratulating Harry before hanging up. Harry sits back with Atticus in his lap, a big smile on his face. 

Harry is happy. Extremely happy, this has always been a dream of his, one he never knew would come true. 

His second album got him three Grammy nominations. Atticus has no clue what these awards mean, but he's happy just seeing Harry and Y/N happy.  Atticus climbs off Harry's lap, kissing Harry and Y/N's cheek, saying he's going to his room now. 

Harry turns to look at Y/N, and the smile she had has now left her face, and now she sits there, lost in thought. This worries Harry; she was fine moments ago. He's got to go soon, so he needs to figure this out now. 

"Honey, you alright?" Harry places his hand on her thigh, and she looks at him, nodding. 

"Fine." She kisses his cheek. "Really happy for you." 

Harry knows she is, but there's something else. "Spill." 

She sighs, knowing nothing gets past him. "You weren't named for any general category. I'm proud of the three you got, but I was sure you would be at least nominated for record of the year." Awards don't mean much to Y/N anymore, but she knows how important this is for Harry. "I'm sorry, ruining your mood." 

"You didn't. Thank you for caring so much." His smile is sincere, and she knows he wouldn't lie to her. 

"It's okay," Harry tells her, wanting her to repeat it with him.

"But Harry," He puts his hands on her cheeks to get her to stop and look at him. 

"Honey, it's okay. Three nominations are amazing, and I couldn't be happier." 

"I know," She deflates. "3-time Grammy Nominated Artist Harry Styles has a nice ring to it." She smirks, noting the blush on his cheek. 

"Dork." He leans in to kiss her nose. 

"Fine Line is still my favorite album, you know, from everything released, named number one." 

"You're just saying that." 

Y/N shakes her head no, "Of course not. Yours is the one album I had on repeat the most. My Spotify wrapped will prove just that." 

Harry snorts, "You're too much." 

He pulls her in to lay on his chest, her arms snake around his waist. They hold each other tight. 

"I'm proud of you," Harry whispers in her ear. 

Y.N leans back, but Harry's hold is tight. "I did nothing; you just got nominated. For your second album, you deserve all the praise today." 

"Honey, will you let me continue." Harry laughs. 

"Sorry, H." 

"I'm proud of you because, without you, this album would have never been finished. I would have never had the inspiration to finish Adore You. Would have never had the idea to make a fake island and promote it without ever adding my name to it. I would have never thought to film using a CGI fish, as my friend in the story. I would have never had the released "Lights Up," the song that started this new era for me but most importantly, I would have never found love. A love that is bigger than me that fills me with so much joy. A love that leaves me scared. A love that will forever keep on growing." Harry smiles as he wipes away her tears. 

Harry loves Y/N with all he has. This album was his, but it was also hers. It's what truly brought them together. 

"You made me cry, you jerk." She says, laying her head in the crook of his neck.

Harry laughs. "I just poured my heart out to you, and I'm the jerk." 

"I love you." Harry grins. That's all he wants to hear. "I'll love you, today, tomorrow, forever for as long as you let me. 

Harry can't contain his happiness and needs to show her. He connects their lips. It's a hard, fast kiss full of passion. They pull away because their smiles don't let them continue much. 

"You've got to go." Y/N reminds him as he continues to press kisses all over her face and neck. 

Harry settles down, smiling down at her. "I know." She leans forward, kissing him quickly. "We'll celebrate more when I get home tonight." 

"Three nominations, wow!" Y/N says, standing up. "We're in for a long celebration once we get Atticus down to sleep." She wags her eyebrows at him.

Harry very quickly gets the hint. "I can't wait, honey." 

Atticus comes bouncing down the steps giving his dad a kiss goodbye, walking him to the door, barefoot. Y/N follows Harry, giving her one last kiss goodbye as he walks to his car. 

As he gets in and pulls out of the driveway, he sees Y/N and Atticus waving goodbye to him. Harry has a big smile on his face that no one can see. He's thankful to now be a 3-time Grammy-nominated artist, but what he is most grateful for is getting to be the person who gets to love Y/N and Atticus forever.

Thank you for reading! This was just a small little piece for a beloved piece I wrote. If inspiration strikes, I shall be revisiting this story. 

Please let me know what you thought!

[qqueenofhades]

I was already distressed about the political and social situation in the US, and then this happens. Are there any examples of societies that fought back against fascism and won, without civil or international war breaking out? Surely there must be some success stories in history. How did other societies overcome fascism, are there lessons to be applied to our current situation? Please tell me we're not doomed, because I have no hope for the future.

Sigh.

Okay.

I’ve been through... a lot of the stages of grief by now. That is, rageposting on tumblr, venting to my friends via text, drinking, crying while drinking, lying on my bed and staring at the ceiling, feeling the crushing weight of certainty that we’re all screwed and nothing matters, crying while talking to my sister, crying generally, lying in bed some more, and am currently still in bed while writing this, but am struggling to put on my internet historian aunt hat and offer some comfort to the stricken masses.

First off: This is bad. I’m not even going to pretend this isn’t bad. We all knew RBG had cancer again, but it was pretty fixed in our minds that she would somehow manage to hang on until after the election. 45 days before the biggest presidential election of all time, in the middle of this year, when names including Ted “Zodiac Killer” Cruz and Tom “Time for Roe vs. Wade to go, block federal funding from being used to teach about slavery, send in the military to crush the BLM protesters” Cotton have already been floated as some of her possible replacements? With Trump and McConnell determined to work as fast as possible to steal this seat as brazenly as they can, because they are literal fascists who don’t care about their own example (Merrick Garland was nominated in FEBRUARY of an election year and McConnell held it up for being “too close to the election?”)

Ugh. Anyone who doesn’t get that this is bad or acting like people are overreacting doesn’t get what’s at stake. And when, as we’ve said before and are saying again now, the future of everyone who isn’t a white straight rich Republican man in this country depends on an 87-year-old woman with cancer for the fourth time? Something’s wrong here. RBG’s death did not have to leave us in this total existential panic, and oh yeah, maybe this could have ALL BEEN AVOIDED AND WE COULD HAVE ALSO HAD THREE (3) NEW LIBERAL JUSTICES SECURING PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATION FOR A GENERATION IF SOME OF YOU HAD JUST FUCKING VOTED FOR HILLARY CLINTON IN TWO THOUSAND AND FUCKING SIXTEEN.

(Why yes I am still mad about that, I will be bitter until the end of time that we were consigned to four years and counting of this completely avoidable nightmare because of apathy, misogyny, and Leftist Moral Purity TM, but we’re talking about the future and what can still be done here, not what’s in the past.)

Anyway. Here’s the bright side, which admittedly sucks right now, but it’s been the answer all long:

VOTE.

You have to fucking vote, and you have to fucking vote for Biden/Harris. Everything that we’ve been talking about is no longer a hypothetical; it’s happening right now. This is not just some Awful Worst Case scenario, and it’s not somehow being spouted by privileged white liberals ignoring the struggles of the masses. (Viz: that awful fucking text post with its simpering self-righteousness: “are you punching nazis or just telling oppressed people to vote blue?” I hate that text post with a fiery passion and it’s the exact kind of morally holier than thou leftist propaganda that wouldn’t surprise me if it was generated by a troll farm in Krasnoyarsk.) My dad is disabled and lives on Social Security. Trump’s second-term plan to end the payroll tax takes SSID out by mid-2021, so... I guess that’s my dad fucked then. I’m a gay woman with long-term mental illness, no healthcare, no savings, no current job, and a lot of student debt. My sister has complex health problems and relies intensely on publicly funded healthcare programs. All my family have underlying conditions that would put them at worse risk for COVID (age, asthma, immune issues.) These are just the people IN MY HOUSEHOLD who would be at risk from a second Trump presidency. It says NOTHING about my friends, about all the people far less fortunate than us, and everyone else who IS ALREADY DYING as this nation lurches into full-blown fascism. That is real. It is happening.

Here’s the good news and what you can do:

Democrats are fired up and mad as hell, and they’ve already donated $31 million between the announcement of RBG’s death last night and today, and that number is climbing every second.

You can help by donating to Get Mitch or Die Trying, which splits your donation 13 ways between the Democrats challenging the most vulnerable Republican seats in the Senate. That also has raised EIGHT MILLION BUCKS in the less-than-twenty-four hours.

You can donate RIGHT NOW to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, vote if your state offers early voting, request your mail-in ballot, or hound everyone you know to ensure that they’re registered.

You can call your US Senators (look up who they are for your state, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE REPUBLICAN OR YOU LIVE IN A SWING STATE OR ARE UP FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2020) and phone the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 to voice your insistence that they respect RBG’s last wishes and refuse to vote on any Trump nominee until after January 2021.

The other good-ish news is that I woke up to an email from the Biden campaign this morning about how they’re well aware of this and they’re already on it. BUT WE CANNOT COUNT ON EITHER THEM OR THE SENATE DEMOCRATS TO BE ABLE TO STOP IT. Because Joe Biden is not president and the Senate Democrats do not have a majority, if the Republicans manage to rush a nominee and a vote and all 52 GOP senators vote for that nominee, hey presto, tyranny by majority, a SECOND stolen Supreme Court seat, and a 6-3 hard conservative majority for the next generation. Even if Roberts or Gorsuch sometimes defect on procedural grounds, Kagan, Sotomayor, and Breyer (who is also 82 and thus ALSO might soon be replaceable, thus resulting in an EVEN WORSE ideological swing) would be outnumbered on everything. This is terrible. I’m not even gonna pretend it wouldn’t be.

BUT:

If Joe Biden is elected with a Democratic Senate and House, IT MATTERS. It gets us off the fascism track, it gives us the ability to make progressive law and have it enacted without going to die in Mitch McConnell’s Kill Stack, it gives Biden the executive authority to nominate liberal judges and change Trump’s worst outrages on day 1, it stands as a huge example of a nation managing to reject fascism by democratic process, and while yes, we’d still have a terribly rigged Supreme Court, Democrats would control all the other branches of government and be able to put safeguards in place. The other option is outright fascism and the end of American democracy for good. This may sound alarmist. It’s not. It’s literally what the situation has ended up as, as all of us who were begging people to vote for HRC in 2016 saw coming all along.

So yes. That’s what you need to do, and what WE need to do. We need to make as much goddamn noise as possible, protest, contact elected representatives, make sure everybody pulls their weight and ferociously fights the promised attempt to ram through a new justice before Election Day, all that. But even if that does happen, THEN WE NEED TO FUCKING DONATE, ORGANIZE, AND VOTE FOR JOE BIDEN AND DEMOCRATS UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT. ALL OF US. NO EXCUSES. NO MORE TWITTER LEFTIST ECHO CHAMBERS. NO MORE. THEN, EVEN WITH A RIGGED SUPREME COURT, WE WILL ALL BE SAFER ON NOVEMBER 4TH AND CAN TRY TO FIX WHAT’S BROKEN.

The stakes are just too high to do anything else.

May her memory be a blessing, and a revolution.

[miraculousandbts]

BTS | AMAs

P.S. The story is in y/n's perspective. Just because I wanted to.

Summary: You get your first big nomination, but you just had to stumble into a very handsome stranger.

Pairing: OT7 X Reader (Platonic)

Genre: Fluff

Word Count: 2.2k

Warning: Reader’s train of thought goes crazy every once in a while. I feel like this should be a warning.

I was hugging my manager and jumping in circles with her, as a way of expressing my happiness. Ashley was not only my manager, but also one of my closest friends, always supporting me and believing in me since the start. Both of us were ecstatic with the news, and this was our way of showing it. Aside from jumping, we both were also screaming very loudly. I had never been so thankful for having a house near the forest area without neighbours.

Oh, wait! I never introduced myself; how rude of me. (Yes, I was thinking about the Thea Stilton books...) I'm y/n, a singer and songwriter. I live in LA. Me and Ash were just watching the American Music Awards nominations, and we just couldn't control our excitement when they took my name. This was my first nomination for an award. It wouldn't be that big of a deal for an experienced artist or someone who has been in the industry for long, but I'm still a rookie, debuting only two years ago.

Me and Ashley finally calmed down when a very startled guard came in and told us that we screamed so loud that he saw bats fly away from deep inside the forest. We sheepishly apologised, and decided to go to sleep. I had been recording a song the whole day, while she had been busy with manager duties, so we both were exhausted. I had actually known her for the last four years, and she often stayed over. So often, in fact, that my guest room had become 'Ashley's Room' very quickly.

After bidding each other happy good nights, we both went to bed in our respective rooms, falling asleep speedily.

*****

Taylor was applying my makeup, while I sat in the stiff makeup chair. This had been going on for the past hour, despite me telling her that I wanted light makeup and a simple dress. Instead, she and my stylist Ben decided to go against my wishes for once. Ben had prepared an extravagant dress too fancy even for a royal ball, and I was thankful it wasn't pink or blue or yellow; I absolutely did not want to look like a princess, that just wouldn't be me. Taylor kept on applying a little too much makeup on my face for my liking. She was very talented, so at least I was sure I wouldn't look bad.

Right now, she was working on my eye makeup, expertly putting on eyeliner and...something. I'm not good with this stuff. Taylor's assistant, whose name I always forgot, was painting my nails. I looked at her working. She was a pro at this. She smoothly glided the brush over my nails, effortlessly painting them purple, and then decorating them. She used as less materials as possible, knowing I hated it when even my nails felt heavy; my face was enough.

After two more hours of torture, I was finally ready. I looked breathtaking, but if I had an option, I would still go with something lighter. After another hour of sitting in the limo, we were finally there.

I got out, and there were cameras in my face. All I saw were purple blotches, because the camera men couldn't use their brains enough to shut off the flash. Or maybe those cameras didn't have an option to shut off the flash.

Anyway, I struck a few poses, blew some kisses, and walked ahead. And then I saw Dan. He was a reporter for such gigs, and I often did short interviews with him. He wasn't like the others; he didn't ask about rumours or made new ones, he didn't ask controversial questions to increase their channel's TRP.

I gave him a grin and walked towards him.

"Hey, Dan."

"Y/n! Looking beautiful as always."

"Oh, you flatter me." I kept a hand on my chest.

"Okay, stop with the over dramatics, girlie." You grinned.

He motioned his cameraman to start recording. I tuned out the whole introduction, and focused when he asked me a question, the said question being how was I feeling about being here even though it hadn't been long since my debut. "It's all thanks to my fans. I love making music, and I believe that if you do something with true passion, you will be successful. I guess this is destiny's way of showing me that what I'm doing is right. And not gonna lie, it feels like I've been feeling like I'm on a sugar rush since the nominees were announced, because of the adrenaline."

After some more questions and smiles, I finally went in.

I was too focused on not tripping on my own feet because of the long dress, so the first thing I did after entering was bump into someone. Great! I wasn't even surprised anymore, knowing how I was. "I am so sorry!" I looked up with wide eyes, only to meet kind brown ones. It took me a second to register that he wasn't alone, six other men behind him. They seemed familiar. I could tell they were from east Asia. I glanced at all of them, and then looked at him, apologising again.

"It is okay." He had a cute accent to his English, and I internally smiled, not only because of his accent, but also because he wasn't mad. I must've smiled in relief, because he looked amused. Now that I was looking at him properly, he was handsome, with a capital H. Little round face, pretty eyes, cute boop-able nose. And then he smiled. And then I died. It was the cutest smile I had ever seen!

Thankfully, I wasn't the kind of gal who would stand there checking him out. All of this took me a second, and I excused myself after thanking him.

*****

"Oh, hey!" I heard a smooth deep voice as soon as I sat down. I looked to my side and found one of the friends of the man I had bumped into earlier. I was right, my brain didn't forget. I smiled a small smile. "Hey."

Extending my hand towards him the old fashioned way, introduced myself. "Y/n."

He shook my hand, seemingly unfazed by my apparent childish behaviour. "Kim Namjoon, more commonly known as RM."

That's when it clicked. RM. K-Pop. BTS. My eyes must've widened; I was always terrible at hiding my emotions. "Everything okay?" He brought me out of my stupor. "Uh, yeah. Just, when I stumbled into one of you guys before, you all seemed familiar, I just couldn't place your faces anywhere." I replied honestly. "Oh." He simply leaned back into his chair and nodded.

"So, in which category are you nominated?" He continued.

"Top social artist. You?"

"Same. It'll be a four year streak for us if we win again."

"Ooh, really. Well then, I hope you win."

"Don't you want to win?"

"Coming here already feels like a dream. I don't think I can handle the adrenaline if I do win."

"So basically you want us to win for completely selfish purposes, huh?"

You both laughed at that remark, and continued making small talk for a while. Then he said he had to use the washroom. I hummed in his direction, and as soon as he got up, I saw the guy I had ran into in the chair next to his.

He had noticed Namjoon getting up too, so he was looking on my direction. He grinned at me, and sat in Namjoon's chair. "Hello."

"Hey."

"I am sorry. My English is not that good. Only Namjoon speaks English." He sheepishly rubbed his neck. "Why are you apologising for that?" I was genuinely curious. It was okay to not know perfect English. Even though I was a native English speaker, I still made mistakes. Everyone did. And the said language wasn't even his first language. "At the entrance, I wanted to talk."

"Oh. Well, You should have, I don't judge because of stuff like this." He smiled at that. "I will introduce you to them." He gestured to his band mates who were very engrossed in the show. Before he could do that, I interrupted him. "Hey, sorry. I haven't been in the industry for long, and I've only ever heard your guys' name, so...I only know RM and V? Is that right? So, yeah, I don't know your name."

I cursed at myself internally. Way, to go y/n! So damn awkward. He must've sensed my hesitation, because all he did was offer me his hand. Ooh, the old fashioned way. Good to know I wasn't the only one.

"Suga."

"Y/n." I shook his hand. Namjoon came back at that moment and him and Suga said something to each other in Korean. Wait, Suga? That does not sound right. Oh, right! It must be his stage name.

And then I facepalmed. Literally. I didn't think before my hand met my forehead. I must've made a pretty loud smack, because both of them were now looking at me like I was some weirdo. I sighed and slowly hid my face in my hands. "These kind of things always happen to me..." I mumbled.

I looked up when I heard them chuckling. I pouted, but I knew they could see the relief on my face that they didn't think of me like I was demented. "Don't worry, we've been living with these guys for the past eight years, these kind of things don't faze us anymore." Namjoon gestured to the other guys, who were still oblivious to their surroundings, absorbed in the performances.

I let out a breathy chuckle at the fact that they were so openly dissing their own friends. Namjoon, by now, was seated in the chair in which Suga was previously sitting in.

"So, I refuse to believe that Suga is your real name. And I would rather be literal friends with you guys, rather than two artists who just know each other."

"Yoongi. Min Yoongi." The way he said it reminded me of how Geronimo Stilton introduced himself. 'Why my brain has to go down completely random memory lanes is beyond me...and why am I thinking about a kid's book series?'

Within the next hour, I had been introduced to the other guys, and all of us were conversing about anything and everything. Seokjin was very happy that I was loving his dad jokes, Hoseok was a little too excited about my proposal of shooting a dance cover on one of mine or their songs, Jimin, Taehyung and me got along very well, as we were all the same age, and Jungkook had offered to teach me boxing, after I expressed my wish to learn it.

All in all, I was getting along very well with them. They were fun to be with, and it was absolutely adorable how they sometimes got flustered over their mistakes while talking. After the fun night ended, I congratulated them on their win, and went home, completely exhausted.

*****

"Noona!" Jungkook was the first to notice me. With wide eyes and a happy grin, he came to hug me. I had decided to surprise the boys by coming to Korea. Right now, I was standing in their dance studio. Even after four years, we were still going strong. It felt like now I had four elder brothers, two twins, and a kid. '...that was a terrible reference...god, please tell me what is wrong with me.'

Soon, all the boys came to hug me, though I tried running away to avoid their sweaty hugs, but Jungkook held me at one place, while I tried to squirm away. I should've just waited in their dorm.

"Kookie!" All I got in reply was a mischievous giggle. He really was a baby. Later that day, a collaboration between us was confirmed, and I couldn't have been happier.

Geronimo Stilton and Thea Stilton might be kids’ books, but they’re still the best!! Change my mind, I dare you.

[rennyforpresident]

Renny’s BBSim: First Boots Week 1

Welcome to a new, exciting season of Biiiiiiiiig Brother!

This season, 16 former first boots will move back into the Big Brother house to try and redeem their previous legacy. These houseguests have been itching to get back in there since they were last voted out. Let’s bring them in!

@ashleaevans @bathroom-sand @kaysarswhore @kayysarridha @kelleekim @lahallucinations @maxdoesbb @misshoh @music-obsessednerd @nerdphobic @nomwastaken @pawn2393 @phylisisley @remember-caltoru @rennyforpresident @shaolinbynature

Welcome! Now that everyone is in the house, people are starting to get to know each other, and alliances are beginning to form

Once everyone is in the house, @misshoh and @nomwastaken pull each other into the bedroom and solidify a final 2. Both of them get good vibes from the other, and know they’ll have each other’s backs. From there, these two GET TO WORK

The next alliance to form is these five. @rennyforpresident pulls @remember-caltoru and @nomwastaken  and @kaysarswhore into the bathroom and quickly says “this is it, this group here. We were the first to walk in, and we’ll be the last to walk out!” Of course, @misshoh walks in to see what her ally @nomwastaken is doing, and walks in on the creation of the alliance. By default, she gets pulled in and The Fearsome Five is born.

The next alliance to form is @phylisisley‘s idea. She knows @shaolinbynature has a good head on her shoulders, and trusts her unconditionally. The feeling is definitely mutual.

Noticing that @kaysarswhore is already a part of the Fearsome Five, @nomwastaken and @misshoh form an alliance within an alliance and get her on their side in a three-person deal. They call themselves the Royal Family.

@kaysarswhore​ in the DR: “In this house, there needs to be a queen! And I fit that role perfectly *wink*”

T

The final alliance is created by @nerdphobic! He pulls the five of them into the storage room and says “This is it! This is the energy I need!”

@misshoh in the DR: “I have had THREE different alliances fall in my lap tonight. There’s no way I’m gone first!”

@pawn2393 gives the new alliance the name of The Block Destroyers, not caring if no one gets the reference

Once all of that has calmed down, the houseguests head to the backyard for their first HOH competition!

Julie: “Hello houseguests! I hope you’ve all been getting to know each other! Tonight, for the second time in BB history, the first Head of Household will be decided by a vote! Whenever you’re ready, please write down the name of the person you want to win HOH.”

After voting, the winner is announced.

All with zero votes

@nerdphobic in the DR: “no one from the Block Destroyers had my back? Wowwwwww, good to know I can trust this alliance early on.”

@phylisisley in the DR: “I’m glad no one voted for me. I need to make sure the target isn’t on my back, and exposing my social game this early isn’t good at all.”

With one vote each

@rennyforpresident in the DR: “I kind of wanted to win, but I’m confused as to who was my one vote? Why me?”

@maxdoesbb: “I’ve talked to like three people tonight? Who voted for me?”

Which means the election comes down to three people

With 3 votes

@nomwastaken in the DR: “I’m not shocked I got so many. I mean, I’m in four different alliances. I voted for @misshoh of course, and I assume it was reciprocated, but who else voted for me? The options are endless! *laughter*”

The only two houseguests left are @music-obsessednerd and @kelleekim. 

By a vote of 4 to 6, the new HOH is...

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@music-obsessednerd! You are the first HOH of the season! You have secured your safety for the week and earned the right to nominate two of your fellow houseguests for eviction.

After a lot of gameplay, strategizing, and ass kissing, @music-obsessednerd has made her final decision

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@music-obsessednerd: “I have decided to nominate you @kayysarridha and you @maxdoesbb. This season is really hard in particular, because we’ve all played before, but no one knows how we play. I nominated the two of you because I think you’re the biggest wildcards. I don’t know much about you, but I hope this week you prove that you deserve to stay and fight for the veto! Good luck to you both.”

@kayysarridha in the DR: “Nominated week 1 yet again. Man, why do I keep coming back if I keep getting put on the block! What is it like to be safe? What does that feel like?”

@maxdoesbb in the DR: “I’m not going to panic, because panicking is what got me out last time. I’m gonna play the game the way I know how, and I’m gonna fight!”

On a season of first boots, NO ONE wants to be the first to go. The veto is critical right off the bat.

@rennyforpresident @phylisisley and @pawn2393 are drawn to participate. @kayysarridha uses her houseguests choice to choose @phylisisley; does that mean they’re aligned?

@phylisisley in the DR: “I mean, I’m not opposed to using the veto if I win. What’s the harm in one more ally?”

After 45 minutes, time is UP!

@rennyforpresident spelled “CALTORU”. That is not a word!

@remember-caltoru from the bench: “That’s my gig! Get your own shtick you bitch!”

@rennyforpresident laughs it off and throws some mayo at @remember-caltoru playfully

@maxdoesbb spelled “UNDESTAD”. That is not a word.

@maxdoesbb in the DR: “I was trying to spell UNDERSTAND, but I couldn’t find the letters! Dammit!”

@phylisisley spelled “HELLO”. That is a correctly spelled 5 letter word! You are currently in the lead! Which means

@kayysarridha spelled “COLLABORATION”. That is a correctly spelled 13 letter word! You are currently in the lead! Which means

@music-obsessednerd spelled “UNDERWEAR”. That is a correctly spelled 9 letter word. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to take the lead. Which means

It all comes down to @pawn2393. You spelled...

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CARBONATED. That is a correctly spelled 10 letter word. But it’s not enough!

@kayysarridha! You have won the first Veto of the season! 

Of course, @kayysarridha will use the veto on herself, but who will go up in her place?

At the veto ceremony

@kayysarridha: “Because I have vetoed one of your nominations, @music-obsessednerd, you must now name a replacement nominee.”

The new nominee is...

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@music-obsessednerd: “I’ve seen you scurry around this house trying to make deals with everyone except me. It looks like we have a rat in the house, and until you learn to behave, rats go on the block. Sorry, but that’s the way it has to be. I am nominating @kaysarswhore“

@kaysarswhore in the DR: “Yeah, I have deals with people, but I’m playing Big Brother. Clearly some of us aren’t. What a fucking coward.”

Right after the veto ceremony, @kaysarswhore makes a disparaging remark about @music-obsessednerd.

@kaysarswhore under her breath: “What a fucking joke. This bitch doesn’t know how to play this game at ALL”

@shaolinbynature overhears, and jumps in to defend his friend. Naturally, chaos ensues.

@shaolinbynature: “You’re mad because you got caught! You’re mad because you think you’re so great that no one in Big Brother can compare! Grow up!”

The two continue to fight, while @music-obsessednerd watches from upstairs, completely unbothered.

@music-obsessednerd in the DR: “It was nice to be defended, but I really didn’t care. I was just annoyed that I couldn’t go downstairs and get a snack to eat while I watched them”

Well later on, @music-obsessednerd did have her snack, and she made some for the rest of the house too.

Akin to the legendaric ways of Jun Song, @music-obsessednerd made pizza rolls for everyone in the house, and even made some vegan ones for the people who prefer things natural.

At the meal, @misshoh makes a scene. She starts throwing her pizza rolls at other people, and by the end of the hour, everyone is covered in pizza sauce. 

@nomwastaken pulls her aside afterwards and nearly rips her head off. “What the fuck is wrong with you?? You need to clean up this mess, my game isn’t sinking because you wanted to play with your goddamn food”

Shooken by her ally, @misshoh apologizes to the whole house at once, and gets let off the hook for her antics. 

In the days leading up to eviction, @pawn2393 feels a change in the wind. He knows he’s not top dog, but he’s starting to think he might be on the bottom of the totem pole. So, naturally, he gets to work.

By Thursday, he has three more final2 deals and 5 more promises to keep him safe next week. Will the intense gameplay come back to bite him in the ass?

Now that it’s Thursday, the moment you’ve all been dreading has come. Who will walk out of the house first for the SECOND time?

Arisa: “Hello everyone! The powers that may be (the person hosting this goddamn sim) have decided to bring me on to host this season! Because Julie is, um, going through some stuff right now! Yeah, going through it!

Anyways, it’s been an exciting first week! @music-obsessednerd, how does it feel being the FIRST HOH of the season?”

@music-obsessednerd: “Amazing! I knew under no circumstances was I going out first, so I’m glad everyone trusted me enough to vote me into power! Hope I didn’t screw it up for anyone!”

@kaysarswhore and @maxdoesbb roll their eyes

Arisa: “ @ashleaevans, how is life in the BB house? I heard you were a have-not this week!”

@ashleaevans: “It was a DISASTER! Slop SUCKS! I just wanted some goddamn pizza rolls and @misshoh took them for granted! I cannot wait to become HOH and eat some real food.”

Arisa: “I hear it every season! Now, unfortunately, one of you will be leaving the BB house tonight. But first, the two nominees have one last chance to sway your vote.”

@kaysarswhore: “I came here to play BB. I have loved this game from the start, and I wanted to come in here, guns blazing, ready to fight. If you want to punish me for that, go ahead! But you’ll be losing out on a valuable ally and someone who’s always willing to shake up this house. I don’t think I can say the same thing for @maxdoesbb. Regardless, play hard, and show this game the respect it deserves!”

@maxdoesbb: “Hi guys! Please don’t vote me out first again! I truly don’t know if I can handle that. Last time I was in the house for less than a day, and I really just want to prove to you all that I can play BB! Give me that chance, and I hope we have a great summer together!”

Arisa: “Alright, it’s time. Let’s get to the vote.”

The vote starts off with 1 vote for @kaysarswhore and 2 for @maxdoesbb. People just don’t have a good read on him, and don’t think they can trust him.

After that, one more vote is cast to evict each of our nominees. @phylisisley casts a surprise vote to evict @kaysarswhore, saying “she thinks she’s the queen of this house? Well there can only be ONE, and that’s me.”

What might look like a standard backdoor might not be; @music-obsessednerd thinks she has the votes in the bag to take out the person she deemed a rat, but what she doesn’t know, is that the house has a blindside in the works. The rest of the votes are unanimous

Arisa: “The votes are in. Remember that when I reveal the name of the evicted houseguest, they will have one minute to gather their belongings, say their goodbyes, and exit the Big Brother house.”

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@music-obsessednerd and @ashleaevans sit in stunned silence. @phylisisley knew the plan, but threw a hinky vote anyway, and manages to play it cool when the results are read.

Arisa: “ @maxdoesbb come on out!”

Arisa: “We are SO disappointed to see you walk out of the house first. How are you feeling?”

@maxdoesbb: “Honestly? I think BB just isn’t in my cards! *audience laughter* It was a tough week and a rough start, and I just wasn’t able to bond with anyone. People were telling me I was safe and not the target, but I guess the lying started early!”

Arisa: “What about @kaysarswhore? I mean, she got pretty publicly called out? Why do you think they kept her?”

@maxdoesbb: “People probably think the only deal she has is with them! Once they start connecting the dots, her ship is sunk. That kind of game isn’t sustainable, so it’ll be fun to get to see her downfall later on.”

Arisa: “Who are you rooting for? Did you make any friends in there?”

@maxdoesbb: “Absolutely! I hope @ashleaevans takes it. At the very least, I wouldn’t be mad if @music-obsessednerd wins either. I know she put me up, but I only want to lose to the winner! *audience laughter*”

Arisa: “We are so sorry to see you go, but it was lovely having you!

Now that the biggest bullet is bitten, who will go next? Find out next time. From outside the Big Brother house, I’m Arisa Cox, and remember, someone is aaaaaaalways watching!”

I CANNOT BELIEVE JODI WAS THE FIRST OUT I’M SO SORRY

I am also VERY ready to see what y’all do, some of this gameplay is MESSY already

[celiabowens]

mid year book tag

I was tagged by @tartts (thank youuu), so here we go.

Best book you’ve read so far in 2020:

I’d probably go with A Memory Called Empire. I’ve read some other great books, but it’s the one that keeps sticking with me the most. Anyway, it’s a space opera following the ambassador of a tiny planet who finds herself caught up in political intrigue. I’ve ranted about it plenty here. 

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2020: 

In which I’m shocked by the fact that I haven’t...read sequels so far? Didn’t expect this at all. I think the only book I could use is more of a companion novel and it’s River of Stars by Guy Gavriel Kay, which is sort of an alternate history (based on Chinese history) with very little fantasy elements.

New release you haven’t read yet, but want to:

I’ve read most of the new releases I was interested in from January-June, but I have one: The Empire of Gold, which is the last book in the Daevabad Trilogy! It’s a cool political/historical fantasy trilogy inspired by Middle Eastern mythology.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year:

Honestly there’s a lot (why is everything coming out in October?!), but listing my top five:

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue 

Black Sun (this is probably the most anticipated one, if I don’t like it I’m gonna cry shclhv, it’s an epic fantasy set in Pre-Columbian Americas featuring crow mythology, I’m hype)

The Once and Future Witches

The Burning God (just prayers for Kitay)

Unconquerable Sun

Favorite new author (debut or new to you):

I’d say Arkady Martine (author of A Memory Called Empire), but in order not to repeat myself, I’ll go with Nghi Vo, the author of The Empress of Salt and Fortune. (Very hype for Vo’s 2021 release, a retelling of the Great Gatsby featuring a lgbt cast and Vietnamese magic.)

Biggest disappointment:

It’s between Autonomous (rant here), A Ruin of Kings and The City in the Middle of the Night? I read the latter in order to read all the Hugo awards nominees for best novel and it didn’t go well lmao. 

Biggest surprise:

A Cathedral of Myth and Bone by Kat Howard (a collection of short stories focusing on women reclaiming their agency with some clever reuse of myth and hagiography) or This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone.

Book that made you happy:

Pretty much any book I loved? But also my rereads of The Night Circus and The Golem and the Jinni.

Newest fictional crush/newest favorite character:

I’m not sure I have one? Unless Hades from Lore of Olympus counts, then Hades. 

Book that made you cry:

I sobbed throughout the last two chapters of The Lions of Al-Rassan lol. It’s also the only time I’ve cried for a book this year so there’s no other option.

Favorite book to film adaptation you saw this year:

I haven’t seen any, I think. I rarely watch movies at all (besides animated ones) so there’s a good chance I won’t see any this year.

Most beautiful book you’ve bought or received this year so far:

Cursed one, it’s probably the hardcover of The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock, but the book turned out so bad that it started an inside joke with a friend (in which a “dead mermaid signal” book is a scam). I haven’t bought many physical copies of books this year and I generally go for cheap over beauty so.

Book you need to read by the end of the year:

Pretty much all the new releases I’ve already listed above (and others), but among the books I already own I’d say The Empire of Gold, Provenance by Ann Leckie and The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel.

I don’t really know who to tag so if you reached the end of the post consider yourself tagged! (but I’d be curious to see @willowyhanyu and @awesomousse do this one 👀)