#which sucks! I don’t like having that view of gifts. possibly one of the oldest human social practices in all of history

[communistkenobi]

now that I haven’t lived with my parents for almost two years I’m starting to come to terms with myself as a full human being. and like idk I can’t really complain about my parents too much in terms of their overall parenting of me, I feel like I’m lucky in a lot of respects just based on the horrific shit some of my friends/family have gone through, but I feel like one consequence of how much my parents fucking hated each other for my entire life is that I feel like I have no reference point for showing affection or being emotionally considerate/vulnerable, those things tend to make me deeply uncomfortable and disempower me to do nice things for the people I love. I feel like I have to really concentrate and spend time on emotional reciprocity and spontaneous gifts/gestures of love. genuinely just kind of sucks how much my parents despise one another and how their constant fighting and days-long silent treatments over the course of 25 years has made me feel inadequate to the task of showing the people I care about how much I love them

[donutloverxo]

My moon and stars

**not my gif**

Please note that my work is not to be reposted or published anywhere other than my Tumblr or AO3 account without my permission. Reblogs are most welcome though!

Note - this is for @our-marvel-universe's birthday! I'm so sorry I'm late and that I'm bad at summaries.

Divider by @writeyourmindaway

Date posted - 26-08-20/Wed

Summary - Steve swoops in and saves your birthday with some stargazing and confessions.

Pairing - Steve Rogers x reader

Word count - 1386

Masterlist is linked in the bio!

You groaned as another person bumped into you, spilling a good amount of their drink on you. They didn't even bother apologizing, probably thinking that you're just a nobody, even though this was your party.

You had never had a huge birthday bash before or tons of presents, you were so naively excited when Tony told you he was throwing you one and inviting the whole city. You felt for some reason, they're here because they care for you or the super hero work you do everyday.

You couldn't be more wrong. Most of them didn't even know you. Your own family and friends, other than the Avengers had failed to show up. Now you could only look at the crowd of people and shake your head in disappointed.

Resisting the urge to punch Tony in his stupid face when he so smugly asked, 'You like the party?'

You would've, despite everything, but he wasn't here. He was gone on some stupid mission. Not that you cared that much. He wasn't yours, he didn't need to wish you a happy birthday or attend your party. You still couldn't help but hold out hope that you'd both stop dancing around each other.

No longer interested in the party where even the people you knew were completely drunk you made your way over to your favorite part of the compound.

You held on to your jacket a little tighter as you shivered, the wind messing up your fancy hairstyle. You looked up at the sky to see so many twinkling stars and beautiful colors, something you don't get in cities. You wouldn't trade this view for anything.

You instantly became alert when you heard someone stand behind you. You looked over your shoulder to see the man of your dreams, your captain, someone you had a hopeless schoolgirl crush on.

"Hey." Was all he said giving you a pathetic wave as you huffed.

Folding your hands over your chest you asked "Where were you? You didn't even tell me you were leaving. Not - not that I'd care why would I?" You stammered as you feared you had just accidentally revealed your deepest secret. "You're not that important Steve!" You yelled in an effort to backtrack.

He furrowed his brows before giving you a stupidly handsome smile, "I'm so sorry doll. But I'm here now. Tell me how I can make it up to you."

"Whatever. It doesn't matter." You said dejectedly as you turned around to lean against the railing and continue your stargazing.

"I just knew you'd be here when I didn't see you at the party.” He mumbled under his breath as he stood next to you. You could see him staring at you through your peripheral vision. “What’s wrong kid?”

You winced at the nickname. That’s what he thought of you, that’s all you’ll ever be to him. A Kid. Over the months, you had tried your best to act like an adult, taking some tips from Maria and Nat, to be cool and non-chalant, you doubted he’ll ever change his mind and think of you as a woman or a possible romantic partner.

You shook your head which only made him probe further. “Doll. You’re sulking on your own birthday. You can talk to me.” He assured you putting his hand over yours.

The warmth of his palms and his finger drawing patterns on the back of your hand felt so familiar and comfortable. You tried looked for his sparkly blue eyes best you could in the dark, his pupils blown wide.

“I used to think... I know this is childish but I thought - I don’t know people appreciated me putting my life on the line everyday. And that’s not why I do it obviously.” You had to clarify. You could pretend to hate him but you never wanted him to have a low opinion of you. “It’s just sad that no one sees the work that I do while you’re all so well known and beloved. It’s sucks to be a female avenger I guess” You shrugged.

He gave you an understanding smile and walked a step closer to you as you tried to calm your heartbeat. “I understand. It’s not childish. You deserve to be appreciated. And I can think of at least a couple hundred people who’re thankful to you. All the lives you’ve saved. You make the world a better place.”

“I don’t know how true that is.”

“Well you make my world better just by being here.” He argued.

“Steve,” You shook your head, “You can’t just say things like that! I’m not – it gives me false hope.”

“False hope?” He repeated cocking his head to the side. “I only ever speak the truth sweetheart. In fact I think it’s time for your gift.” He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to you.

You frowned as you tried to read the paper in the low lightening. “Oh... Steve.. you named a star after me?” You looked up at him to see him sheepishly scratch his neck. “That’s so romantic.” You sighed dreamily holding the document close to you.

“I asked around and Bruce told me I could do that. I could even get you a piece of moon but this felt more appropriate. I know how much you love stars.”

He rambled on about the whole process and how his assistant helped him, hoping you wouldn’t see notice how red he was. His gift wasn’t completely selfless. He had an objective, to make you his forever and ever. But he was too scared to ruin the relationship you two did have and lose a precious friend.

Bucky’s words echoed in his head ‘Real men can admit their feelings.’

He cleared his throat “I was hoping –“ he was cut off by your cool lips pressing against his, stealing his breath away. His hands naturally went to your waist to pull you closer to him, his taut body craving the warmth of your soft one.

You pulled away after a beat and blinked up at him. “Oh god, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think I thought...”

“No no I liked it. In fact I was hoping to do that.” His fingers traced the outline of your lips.

“Good.” You nodded not sure of what to say next. But it felt better to just not say anything at all and look back up at the beautiful sky in comfortable silence.

Until the whole team decided to ambush you from, you heard Clint and a drunk Tony sneaking up on you, they really weren’t as sneaky as they thought but you still humored them by acting surprised.

“What the hell girrrl? We’ve been looking everywhere for you. But then I was like we can just ask FRIDAY! So we did.” Tony grinned proudly as his words slurred.

You took the beer bottle away from him “Yeah I’m going to cut you off now.”

“What were you doing here though?” Clint asked and you said something about needing air.

Steve couldn’t help but stare at you as you talked to the rest of the team. Feeling a bit of jealousy and even frustration that they all had to interrupt the precious moment you both shared.

“Did you do it punk?” Bucky asked slapping a hand on his shoulder to get his attention.

“Uh yeah. I mean I didn’t – she did.” He replied lowly so no one else could find out just yet.

“Of course she did.” Steve frowned as his oldest friend clutched his stomach, laughing loudly at him. “After all these years you still haven’t changed.” He shook his head and all Steve could do was smile. “I’m happy for you.” He said and meant it, so proud of his friend.

When Steve was finally able to get you alone, glad that your mood had gotten considerably better, you even seemed to be a bit buzzed from the booze.

“You were right Steve.” You said holding onto his arm treating him like your own personal heater as the night got cooler. “Everyone who matters to me does appreciate me. Especially you.” You leaned up on your tippy toes to peck his lips before scurrying off to tell everyone about the star named after you.

Tags will be in the reblog! Click the link in the bio to be join the taglist or shoot me an ask/dm. Comments and feedback are really appreciated! ❤❤

[larryfanficwriter98]

Chapter Sixteen

"Mom I know you want us over this weekend, but it's so last minute and I'd have to talk to Harry about it." Louis said as he entered the house arms filled with grocery bags, his stepfather following close behind with more bags followed by the rest of his empty-handed family.

"Do you guys have plans or something? We can do it next weekend?"

"As far as I know we don't, but-" Louis trailed off hearing music coming from the studio, "Haz?!" Louis called out as he walked further into the house. Louis immediately recognized the song Harry gave him for Christmas playing in the studio. He set the bags down and headed to the stupid knocking gently before he opened it seeing Harry was asleep on the large beanbag with many journals strewn around the square coffee table across from the sofas. Louis stepped further into the room to lower the volume of the music playing then headed to Harry, but one of the pages in a journal caught his attention.

0928

You & I Strong Half A Heart If I Could Fly I Want to Write You a Song Change Your Ticket Drag Me Down History All of the Stars Perfect Dive A.M

Only one song title stuck out to Louis which was If I Could Fly. Louis set the journal down then looked over at Harry again.

"Haz." Louis said walking over to him running a hand through Harry's hair, "Haz." Harry hummed before he slowly opened his eyes blinking at Louis before he smile brightly.

"Sorry I guess I was more tired than I thought." Harry said as he rubbed his face as he shifted to a more comfortable position.

"It's okay. I did grocery shopping while I was on my way home. I thought we could do pizza or take out tonight."

"I was going to go grocery shopping you didn't need to."

"You won't let me pay any bills the least I can do is get groceries. You hungry? My family is here by the way."

"Yeah I'll um... I'll be out in a minute." Harry said looking around the room, "are they staying they night?"

"No, they were just in town and decided to join me grocery shopping and follow me here. They'll be leaving soon the girls have school tomorrow. I'll be out there." Louis kissed Harry's head then left the room, "Dan you don't have to put the groceries away I can-"

"I can do it too. Relax it's just groceries." Dan said making Louis roll his eyes playfully as he helped Dan. Harry came out of the studio a few minutes later stretching as he closed the door behind him.

"Hey ladies." Harry said

"Harry darling are you busy this weekend?" Jay asked

"Why?" Harry said

"Well I was thinking we all get together Saturday for a cookout at our house. I was hoping you and Louis would come down for the weekend. Come Friday stay until Sunday. I was also hoping you could invite your family."

"Oh. What did Louis say?" Harry asked looking at Louis

"I told her that since it was last minute, we would talk about it but I didn't make any promises or give any answers." Louis said

"Well then we shall talk and let you know tomorrow." Harry said looking at Jay who nodded satisfied

"We best get going girls, long drive back to Doncaster." After saying goodbye to his family Louis entered back into the kitchen to see Harry with a few menus on the island.

"What are we in the mood for?" Harry asked

"I'm in the mood to know about what you're working on in there." Louis said jumping on top of island

"I meant food wise." Harry said looking at him, "but if you must know it's a surprise."

"A surprise. A surprise for who? Me or the fans?"

"You mostly. Actually, I'm finished with it, but I haven't decided if I want to hear it all before the release date or not."

"I vote before."

"Maybe."

"How many are there?"

"About you? 10 out of 12, one is dedicated to my family and one is dedicated to the fans. I haven't gotten the order down yet, but the songs are finished, and the team likes it."

"One song then." Louis said, "wait. When's the release date?"

"It's a surprise, but not for another four months."

"A song biweekly leaving the last four a mystery. Please." Louis said wrapping his arms and legs around Harry, "come on Haz two songs a month."

"Maybe-"

"I'll give you a blowjob for every song if you sing them to me." Harry laughed shaking his head as he grabbed a menu and looked at the items listed

"Are we thinking Indian? Thai? Chinese?" Harry listed, Louis huffed jumping down and turning around to look at the menus on the island. Harry pressed up against his back and gently kissed his neck sweetly before he held up a few menus.

"How about pizza? I want something easy. I'm exhausted. Long day today."

"Of course. I'm sorry I haven't asked yet, but how was work? The rugrats being terrors today?" Harry asked rubbing his shoulders after handing Louis his phone and a few pizza places menus for him to choose from.

"Not so much that, but we had inspection today and since I'm the oldest employee I oversaw the tour and such. We passed so don't worry, but we got news on Annabelle." Harry stopped for a second before he resumed aware that Annabelle had suffered a seizure the day before after a minor fall that shouldn't have caused such a thing.

"Is she okay?"

"It's cancer. They had to shave her head, but good news is that it's a safe removal with a high chance of success. She's upset she lost her hair though, but her mom is looking at options."

"I'll donate it." Harry said immediately making Louis look back at him, "you and I both know she loves my curls. I'd cut it off for her and get a wig made."

"But...I love your curls too." Louis said looking at the long curly hair that fell past Harry's shoulders now

"It'll grow back and I'm not getting a buzzcut. Just short enough so she has a good 15-26 inches. Talk to her mother next time and just ask alright?"

"You'll leave enough for me to grab right?" Louis asked watching as Harry's eyes widen as he brushed, but he nodded

"Course." Harry said grabbing a random menu then his phone before he dialed the pizza place and ordered a large meat lovers.

****** Louis pulled into the driveway staring at Harry as he put a few duffle bags into the backseat of his range rover. He now has short hair about 2 inches off the scalp and despite already missing the long hair Louis could still see the hair curling. Parking the car in the garage for the weekend he got out and walked over to Harry.

"I miss the long hair, but you look amazing in short hair. Has your fans cried yet?"

"They don't know actually. I thought we'd take a picture together later or something. Also, I only need to get one more thing then we can get on the road."

"Alright." Louis said climbing into the passenger seat, Harry got into the drivers seat a few minutes later with two clear CD sleeves that he handed to Louis one had '0928' on it and the other had 'draft' on it.

"They want to push the special one forward, it's still in the debate area, but with me working on my next big album that'll I'll possibly tour with and it being mostly finished they want to start promoting it which means the surprise one has to be out. We are looking at a mid-2017 release. Either way I usually let my friends and family listen to my drafts. So, since Liam, Niall, and Zayn are going to be there I figured we can all listen together and the other one is for you. This one won't have any promo. It'll most likely be dropped in the middle in the night or afternoon randomly the day of release. So, before we set a release date, I wanted you to have the first finished copy then I was hoping I could ask Zayn to make a collage of photos for the album cover. Since it's a gift and not really an album I'll promote a lot." Harry explained seeing his confused face

"So, I can listen to them?" Louis asked as he looked at the song list in the finished album first

"You can. You can listen to them anytime you want. However not on the car radio. My phone has all of them on playlists you can listen to. They're not in order yet, it's still one of the things I have to do." Louis grabbed Harry's phone and a set of earphones, "Wait you're listening now?"

"Yes why?"

"Well I don't want to know if you hate it."

"Harry I couldn't hate anything you make. Look I can avoid some if you want me to. Just tell me what you don't want me to listen to and I won't."

"It's not that. It's just what if you make a face."

"Just focus on the road Harold." Louis said rolling his eyes as he out the earphones in his ears watching as Harry pulled into a gas station, "Get me tea?"

"Of course. Anything else?"

"A snack for the road that I promise to feed to you."

"You're a child." Harry said by his way of replying as he got out of the vehicle. Louis went to Harry's iTunes and went to the playlists clicking on the 0928 one first. He scrolled started from the first one which was Drag Me Down.

Louis was proud of himself as he watched his childhood home come into view, he had only cried twice. One time during Dive and another during the song he was listening to now which was All of the Stars which was the last one on the playlist.

"I hope those tears are good." Harry said as he pulled into the driveway watching at the front door swung open and Jay stood there waving and grinning at them.

"It's beautiful. You know it's beautiful. I don't know why you were so nervous." Louis said removing the earbuds to look at Harry who was blushing, "I love you."

"I love you too. Are you sure your mother won't let us stay in a hotel tonight?"

"Positive. Why?" Louis asked watching Harry blush more as he looked at Jay, "I had plans for when I let you listen to the songs for the first time ."

"What sort of plans?" Louis asked, "We can definitely have...plans...in my childhood bedroom you know." Louis said wiggling his eyebrows

"Not the plans I had planned." Harry said before he leaned over the middle console and pressed a soft kiss against Louis' lips, "For the record if you think I'm going to suck you off or let you suck me off five feet from your family you're insane and I will chop it off if you even try to get me hard."

"Noted." Louis said kissing Harry again then they turned and opened their car doors to get out. Harry grabbed their bags then followed Louis into the house greeting his mother at the door. Louis led the way to his old room and helped Harry put their stuff away before they joined his family downstairs

[gumnut-logic]

Parents

Title: Parents

Author: Gumnut

12 Jan 2020

Fandom: Thunderbirds Are Go 2015/ Thunderbirds TOS

Rating: Teen

Summary: Gotta love them anyway.

Word count: 4938

Spoilers & warnings: Episode tag for 3.20. Spoilers for Season Three, particularly 3.20.

Timeline: Directly after 3.20

Author’s note: This one is a weird one. It mostly wrote itself and what came out was odd.

I had to do some serious math on the brothers’ ages. Please see the notes at the end of the fic for details.

Many thanks to @scribbles97 for the read through and cheering and @thunderstorm-bay for the wonderful support ::hugs you::

Disclaimer: Mine? You’ve got to be kidding. Money? Don’t have any, don’t bother.

-o-o-o-

 “I can’t believe he did that!”

John looked up as his littlest brother stormed into the lab. Alan was still in his uniform and obviously fuming.

“Did what?” Apparently, his calculations would have to wait. He straightened in his seat and turned to face his brother.

“You didn’t see it?”

“See what?” Sometimes it took time to get to the point.

“Virgil cleaning my face in front of thousands of people. With his own spit.”

“Oh, that.” John fought the urge to roll his eyes. “That’s just Virgil, you know that.” He turned back to his workstation. He really needed to get these calculations done and sent to Brains. “Oh, and it is more like millions rather than thousands. An enthusiastic Tracy follower clipped the shot and posted it to social media. It’s got raving reviews.” He pulled up the post and flung the hologram in his brother’s direction before focussing once again on that argumentative variable.

“What?!”

John vaguely registered Alan glaring at the hologram and its attached comments.

“Cute? Adorable? Baaaaby Tracy? What the hell?!”

John had to smirk. “Yeah, well, your fans do love you.”

“My fans? What fans?”

That brought John to a halt. He looked up at his brother. “Your fans. The Spacey Tracy Tribute Troop.”

“What?!”

John arched an eyebrow at the shock on his brother’s face. “You can’t possibly tell me you didn’t know.”

But Alan’s stunned expression blatantly said he didn’t. John rolled his eyes. “Honestly, Alan. You have a whole array of fans who love you. And that moment with Virgil is at the top of the charts.”

“But it is so stupid!”

“Why?”

“Because only mothers do that to their toddlers!” Alan’s face was a little red.

“Well, perhaps you will consider that next time you stuff a hot dog in your face before a big presentation. That glob of mustard was visible from space.”

“He could have just told me.”

Patience. “This is Virgil we are talking about. How long have you known him?”

Alan didn’t answer that, because it was obvious. Virgil and of course Scott would always be defacto parents to the rest of the brothers. Hell, John had been twelve when they lost their mother, but he still valued having two older brothers during that time. He had always valued having Scott and Virgil to turn to for support.

His little brother deflated and threw himself into a chair in picture of utter dejection. “It sucks.”

“Really?” John stared at Alan. “Look at the shot and you tell me exactly what you see.”

Stubborn blue eyes looked up and narrowed on the hologram as it replayed over and over again. “I look stupid.”

John sighed. “Read the comments. None of them say you look stupid.” He threw up a few of the better ones. “If anything they say you look loved.”

Alan stared at him.

-o-o-o-

Alan Tracy didn’t remember his mother. She died when he was still a baby. He had stories and photos, but all his life it had just been his older brothers. They were the ones who saw him off at school, they helped him with his homework, they were the ones he went to for help and advice. He still remembered the night he discovered who Santa Claus actually was.

It was their first Christmas on the Island and nine year old Alan had been worried the big red guy would have trouble finding him out in the middle of the Pacific. So, despite the reassurances from both Scott and Virgil, he had set his alarm to wake himself up in the middle of the night.

Two am and he stumbled down the interior stairs of the new building. He could still remember the smell of new paint and wood stain and the slickness of the polished floor under his socks.

At first he had thought the voice was that of his father, but he knew his Dad was in New York for a special meeting. Scott had been rather loud in his argument against the his absence, but their father had left anyway.

Scott had been far from happy and Alan had given him a wide berth for most of Christmas Eve. Virgil had gathered them all for an evening movie, but even that had not fully dulled Scott’s expression. Not that his brother said anything. He just emanated unhappiness from the corner of the new lounge.

As he neared the main living room, he realised it was Virgil talking.

“Dad wouldn’t have gone if it wasn’t important.”

“What possibly could be more important than our family?” Scott’s voice had anger in it, but it wasn’t the angry of him yelling, it was more resigned and defeated.

“He’s doing this for Mom.” Virgil sounded like he was trying to convince himself. Paper rustled. “Hand me the ribbon.”

“Grandma is upset.”

“I know.”

“It isn’t right. This is our first Christmas here. He should be here.”

“Well, he isn’t, so we’ll make the best of it.”

“It isn’t fair to Alan.”

“He’s got us.”

“We’re not his parents.”

“May as well be.”

“Virgil.”

“You said it yourself. Dad’s not here. Mom’s gone. He’s got us. He’s got Grandma. Could be worse.” Another rustle and Alan moved closer to the edge and peered around the corner.

Virgil and Scott were surrounded by wrapping paper in the middle of the circular lounge. Several shapes sat wrapped to one side. On the other there was a pile of shopping bags. A rocket kit almost as tall as him sat in amongst them.

It was the rocket he had asked Santa for Christmas.

His brothers were wrapping presents. Virgil stood up and grabbed an armful of gifts and hauled them out of the sunken lounge and piled them up under the tree just beyond the piano.

What?

“What are you guys doing?” It burst out before he could think.

His brothers looked up, stunned expressions on their faces. “Alan?!”

“Virgil?” He eyed his eldest brother. “Scott?”

Virgil recovered first, Scott was still staring at Alan in shock.

“Hey, Allie, what are you doing up? Bad dream?” His brother put down the presents in his hands and walking around the lounge, headed in Alan’s direction.

“What are you doing?”

“Um...” Scott appeared stuck.

Virgil came up to him and put an arm around his shoulders. “We’re wrapping presents.” He squeezed a hug.

“But Santa...?”

Scott looked down at the wrapping paper in his hands. Virgil drew Alan close and walked him into the sunken lounge. He sat him down and took a seat beside him. “Well, I guess you’re old enough now.”

“Virgil.”

“Scott, he’s old enough.”

Alan frowned as his oldest brother’s shoulders slumped and his whole body sagged. He dropped the wrapping paper in his hands and sat down in defeat, running his hands through his hair. To be honest, that freaked Alan out more than anything. “What’s going on? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong, Allie. Scott’s just had a bad day and he’s tired.”

“Then why isn’t he in bed? Why are you wrapping Christmas presents?” He felt he knew the answer, but it couldn’t be right, could it?

“We’re on Santa duty.” Virgil’s brown eyes were wide and honest and kind of caring.

“Santa duty? But where is Santa?”

Sad blue eyes looked up at him. “There is no Santa, Alan. We wrap the presents and put them under the tree for you.”

Alan stared him. “What?”

“There is a Santa.” Virgil was glaring at his eldest brother. “Just not the Santa you think you know.”

“What?”

“Every year we choose presents and under the guise of Santa, we gift them to those we love. You are now old enough to gift presents to those you love, too. You can be Santa.”

Alan stared at him. “But what about the North Pole and the reindeer and the red suit and...”

“A fairytale.”

“Scott.”

“C’mon, Virg, he’s found us out.”

“He’s found out the truth. That we as a family give each other gifts because we love each other. We don’t need to glam it up anymore.”

“You lied to me?”

Virgil’s eyes widened, but then he sighed. “A little.”

“Why?”

Scott stood up, walked around the centre table and sat on Alan’s other side. “Allie, it’s a coming of age thing.”

“Why?”

Virgil answered. “Because it is sometimes nice to believe there is a little magic in our lives.”

Alan remembered the disappointment he felt at that moment and perhaps the loss of innocence, but of that night, the one thing that still stuck in his mind was the sadness in his brothers’ eyes.

Sure, Virgil was cheerful and positive, and even if Scott had been a little tired and grumpy, he was there and an hour later after wrapping first Gordy’s present, then one for John, he had gone to bed with the new knowledge and a sense of responsibility.

The hugs hadn’t hurt either.

Christmas morning had a little less urgency to run down to the main room and Gordon had to be clapped around the ears by Grandma for teasing him about the whole thing, but it had just become another part of growing up.

That his mother and father had missed.

He didn’t hold it against them. Mom, he never knew, and Dad had to make the sacrifices so other families didn’t have suffer the loss of a parent like they had, but it really just was another example of his two eldest brothers being there for him.

Which really sunk in when he was officially orphaned two years later.

-o-o-o-

Alan continued to stare at John.

“Do you have a problem with being loved?”

“What? Nooo.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I’m eighteen! They treat me like I’m still a kid!”

“You are still a kid.”

“No, I’m not!”

John held back the instinctive rebuttal and bit the inside of his cheek. “Alan, look at it from Scott’s point of view. He has been your guardian for eight years. Technically he is almost old enough to be your father. It has been his responsibility to look after you for even longer than that. That isn’t something that just switches off.”

“I’m not talking about Scott. I’m talking about Virgil. He’s not my guardian, but he treats me like he is.”

John’s lips thinned. “Don’t you ever say something like that to his face. In fact, don’t bother saying it in front of me again either. We’ve all made sacrifices, Alan, but none more than Scott, and Virgil isn’t far behind. You’d be better to recognise that and be grateful for what you have.”

Alan grumbled. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry. They’re great, it’s just...so frustrating.”

“Then perhaps it is your turn to show the patience that has been offered you all these years.”

-o-o-o-

In 2055 the world lost the brilliant entrepreneur, billionaire business man and founder of International Rescue, Jeff Tracy.

Eleven year old Alan Tracy lost his Dad.

He also lost a part of his biggest brother. Scott had been forced to sit idle in Thunderbird One while his father tackled the Hood. He hadn’t been able to do anything but watch the Zero-X explode in front of him.

The whole family had been shattered, but no more than its new head. Scott was driven wild, determined that their father was not dead. The world disagreed, the explosion had been too final, too definite, to be anything but fatal. But Scott refused to believe.

There were arguments. They tried to hide them from the youngest brothers, and yes, at sixteen Gordon was almost as under-aged as Alan. But the pair of them could hear Scott’s strident and commanding voice echo through the house, followed by Virgil’s bellowed contradiction.

The day Alan found Grandma crying in the kitchen was the last straw.

“Grandma?” Did his voice have to sound so small?

She startled and turned. Her eyes were red and wet and, oh god, there were tears on her cheeks. “Grandma? What’s wrong?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, dear. Umm...I’m just not feeling right at the moment. I’ll be okay.” She reached out and squeezed his shoulder, but the smile was so forced his heart broke.

“Is it because Scott and Virgil are fighting?”

She shook her head, but didn’t seem to be able to say anything.

“Is it because of Daddy?”

And there were tears running down her face and he found himself wrapped in her arms. To his shock, he found he was almost her height, her head resting easily on his shoulder. “It will be okay, Allie.” But her voice was sobbing.

Eventually, she straightened and her smile became brighter and she sent him on his way. Told him to go clean his room, in fact, but Alan had a better idea.

He found them facing off on either side his father’s desk. Holograms hovered over it and his two biggest brothers were glaring at each other through the flickering images.

“It is what Dad would do.”

“You are not Dad.”

“Somebody has to be.”

“Why?! Why Scott? Why can’t we be ourselves?”

“Because this is what Dad would have wanted us to do.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I do! I knew him better than you!”

Virgil took a step back, eyes widening.

Scott echoed his expression as if realising exactly what he had just said. “I didn’t mean that, Virgil. I’m sorry.”

Plaid clad shoulders straightened and squared. “Yes, you did. But regardless, International Rescue was his dream, not ours.”

“So you want to give it up? Just like that?”

“No! As I have said multiple times, we just need to do it differently! We’re down an operative. Gordon and Alan are not old enough to take their places on the team. Hell, they may not even want to! We can only do so much. Give John some time to find his feet, for goodness sake.”

“Time is something we do not have. People will die.”

“People will die anyway! I just want to make sure no Tracys are on that list!” Virgil was leaning over the desk, his big shoulders wound so tight, his shirt look fit to bust a seam.

Alan had intended to yell at them, maybe scream a little for what they had done to Grandma, but instead their words scared him and suddenly he had tears on his cheeks, just like Grandma.

“Allie?” Virgil caught sight of him and within a split second was kneeling on the hardwood in front of him. “What’s wrong?”

It took him a moment to find his voice but he found himself wrapped in soft plaid flannel anyway, big hands rubbing his back.

“You hurt Grandma.” It came out as a sob.

“What? What’s wrong with Grandma?” Scott was standing beside them, his stance immediately ready to go and fix whatever problem Alan was able to point him at.

Unfortunately he was part of the problem.

He pulled away from Virgil and turned on both of them. “You. Both of you. You made Grandma cry. All you do is yell and fight!”

Both brothers froze and his eleven year old heart beat an extra beat in just a tiny bit of triumph. Perhaps they would listen? “Since Daddy died, you’ve done nothing but fight. I hate it when you fight and so does Grandma. Gordon hates it too. He goes swimming to get away from it. I don’t even know where John is. Please stop.” His throat caught again and he almost strangled on a sob. “Please.”

To his horror he realised Virgil had tears in his eyes and that, of course, only set Alan off more. Once again he found himself wrapped in his big brother’s arms. Virgil’s chest rumbled with words, but Alan didn’t understand what he said.

When he surfaced, Scott was no longer in the room.

“Scott has gone to find Grandma, to make sure she is okay.” Virgil wasn’t letting him go and his big brother had red rimmed eyes. Virgil’s voice was little more than a rumble. “I’m sorry, Allie. We’ll try to do better.”

His brother held him for a long time. Eventually Scott and Grandma found their way into the comms room, John was called out of his hidey-hole and Gordon dragged out of the pool. There was much family talking, hugging, a little more crying, but ultimately they worked it out enough to keep going.

The arguments stopped.

Well, mostly. Virgil still brought them out on very special occasions. Usually when Scott was being a pig-headed moron which fortunately wasn’t very often.

Life went on as best it could.

But then Gordon had the hydrofoil accident.

-o-o-o-

There was silence in the lab after that. Alan wasn’t happy, it was obvious, but he didn’t say anything so John just let him stew a while. Let him take the next step in the conversation.

After all, these calculations weren’t going to calculate themselves.

He just made it into that comfortable zone where he knew exactly what he was doing and had to be done, the numbers flowing, the equations dancing to his tune, and...

“What was Mom like?”

John blinked. That came from left field. Numbers dissolved in his head. “What did you want to know?”

“You know, things.”

“Things? You’ve seen the videos.”

“Of course, I have.” Their father, Scott and the budding artist, Virgil, had made many home videos over the years. They still did, knowing exactly what could be taken away in a flash and without notice. So there was plenty of footage of their mother.

Virgil was the brother most often found delving into those files. John had done his fair share of watching late at night when the Earth so far below just didn’t give him what he needed. Eos knew those files well and often offered them without prompt when John was feeling down.

But Virgil was the one who had the most affinity for their mother. Not to devalue any brother’s grief, but as Virgil had been the closest to her, the most like her in both appearance and interests. Knowing her must have been like learning about himself, his art, his music and answering all those questions their father just couldn’t answer.

John had a few of those himself. He had no doubt Virgil had more.

“She was a lot like Virgil is today. If you’re asking if she would have wiped the mustard off your face, I can tell you right now, she did the exact same thing to me on multiple occasions.” It had been quite gross actually. Fortunately, he had learnt fast and removed the stimulus for such an action at an early age.

His musician brother had been fifteen to John’s twelve and Alan’s one year when they had lost their mother. Alan had no memory of her. Gordon at age six had been just old enough to know what he had lost but not really why. John swore that the close bond between Gordon and Virgil had been forged in those early years as their older brother had responded when Scott couldn’t, tied up with the ball of grief that was their father.

It had been a bad time, but they had struggled through it.

“She used to sing a lot. She and Virgil sang together every Christmas.” His brother hadn’t sung much since, the tradition lost to grief. “She was more open than Dad. Less of a stickler for rules, more willing to be flexible.” Their father was military and he fell back on discipline when at a loss.

Scott thrived under his father’s regime.

Virgil did not.

And his resemblance to his mother didn’t help in the slightest.

“Mom knew how to make Dad smile. She loved a good joke. Heh, I swear Gordon gets that from her. Once she put a jack-in-the-box in Scott’s lunch box. He nearly had a heart attack in the school cafeteria.”

“Why would she do that?” Alan frowned up at him.

“She believed in experience being the greatest teacher. She caught Scott boasting about his parents to another kid who was far less fortunate. About all their successes. She didn’t appreciate it and figured Scotty could come down a peg or two. She succeeded.”

“Wow. Scott did that?”

John snorted. “Scott was a kid as much as any of us once. He’d prefer you believed he sprouted fully formed, but no, he had to grow up and make the same stupid mistakes we did.” Half a smile. “He’s far from perfect, but he tries.”

“He certainly does.” Alan grinned a little fondly, but then his face fell and he sighed. “You’re right. I’m being an ass.”

An arched eyebrow. “I never said you were an ass.”

“No, but I am. You guys have been great. I couldn’t ask for more.”

“Except maybe a little less saliva?”

“Eww, yeah, Virg had garlic bread for lunch.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

John couldn’t help it, he burst out laughing.

Alan stared at him a moment longer before his face cracked too.

“Gotta love him anyway, I guess.”

A snort. “Yeah, we do.”

-o-o-o-

Gordon’s career was a fast one. Straight out of high school and into the Olympics. By the time he was eighteen, he had a gold medal hanging on the wall and had started his career in WASP.

Alan missed his fishy brother, but he was ever so proud of him. There had been talk of him joining International Rescue and activating the final Thunderbird once his training and tenure was done. Alan had seen his brother hovering around the slick little yellow submarine and Scott had been heard to wish for the full complement of Thunderbirds to finally be deployed.

The fact John was flying the ‘bird Alan wanted to fly more than anything was beyond frustrating.

Virgil was helping Alan with his physics homework when the call came through.

A familiar face flickered up on the holoprojector at the end of the kitchen table. “Aunt Val. Hey, how are you?” Virgil offered her a smile as Alan surfaced from under the details of pressure, torque, momentum and velocity that were required to tackle the problem at hand.

“Good morning, Virgil. Is Scott available?”

“Unfortunately, no. He’s out on a rescue. Can I help you?”

“Hey, Aunt Val.”

“Alan.” Her expression was grave and something in Alan’s gut twisted.

“What’s wrong?”

Beside him, Virgil sat up straighter. “What is it?”

The Colonel sighed. “I’m afraid I am the bearer of bad news. Your brother Gordon has been in an accident...”

And their world dissolved there and then.

Alan didn’t remember much of those early days. There had been frantic calls to brothers, John limping around because he had crashed to Earth too quickly for his own health. The fear in Scott’s eyes had been terrible.

The sight of his fish brother decked out in medical equipment.

The not knowing.

The terror.

Virgil holding him in the hospital corridor while Alan cried his eyes out all over his shirt.

Scott sitting at his brother’s bed, head bowed down to the sheets clinging to a limp hand.

John, vacant eyed, staring into nothing the night they thought they were finally going to lose Gordon.

Virgil crying in his grandmother’s arms.

Scott kicking a hole in Gordon’s door and making enough racket to wake up the dead.

Gordon answering the call and faintly scolding Scott to keep it down.

The hope that followed.

That first week, their lives froze. Everything stopped. School, IR, regular meals, everything. The outside world kept moving around them, ignoring their pain, but within their family everything stopped, narrowing only to the hospital and their desperately ill brother.

Once Gordon woke up. It started to move again.

Life slowly came back.

It became full of odd moments. Brothers in places he didn’t expect to find them. Gordon’s illness brought out aspects of Alan’s family he didn’t expect.

He had to say that the most unexpected was the day John walked into Gordon’s hospital room with his red hair spiked in all different directions. It was as if he had stuck his fingers in a power socket and sprayed gel into his hair at the same time.

Gordon had laughed himself silly and considering there had been tears half an hour prior, this was a major thing.

Apparently Gordon had dared him once to do it and John had saved it for a special occasion.

Alan made sure he took pictures for history’s sake.

Another day he found Virgil curled up asleep in the chair beside Gordon, his head on his brother’s pillow. The engineer was still in his uniform and covered in dirt. The hospital staff were going to have a fit.

Alan stopped in the doorway and Scott collided with his back with a “What?”

“Shhh...” And Gordon was holding up a very shaky and uncoordinated hand that clearly said ‘Leave him be.’

“What’s he doing here? He’s supposed to back at Tracy Island.” Scott’s voice was a worried whisper.

“B-bad rescue.” Gordon’s voice was as shaky as his hand. “Think he w-want to ch-check I’m ‘kay. Cos they weren’t.”

“Shit.” It was little more than expelled breath.

His big brother disappeared out into the hallway and a moment later they had the full story from John.

A boat. A teenage boy. And a flood. Virgil did his best, but there were limits.

They sat together until Virgil woke up, groggy and miserable. Scott took him out of the room and Alan was left alone with Gordon.

“I should been there.” His brother’s speech was patchy. The hydrofoil he had be travelling in had been at travelling at a ridiculous speed. When one of its foils collapsed, he was very lucky he wasn’t killed. There was a long, long road ahead.

“Wasn’t your fault, Gordon.”

“No, but should be there for him.”

As if that was the starting point. His brother picked himself off the ground and drove himself back to health. It took a lot of work and no small amount of pain, but a year later Gordon Tracy presented himself to the Commander of International Rescue ready for action.

It took another six months and Gordon’s birthday for his brother to be drunk enough to mention to Alan exactly what had happened that afternoon and what Virgil had said to him.

His fish brother held up his glass, grim and serious. “Our big bros are THE BEST.”

Alan smiled, hoping to god Gordon wouldn’t remember this conversation in the morning. The fact Virgil had come off a hell of a rescue, exhausted and upset, and flown in to see Gordon just to sing him a lullaby was baffling. But it had apparently done something for Gordon and for that Alan would ever be grateful.

-o-o-o-

“So what happens when we find Dad?”

John started, suddenly thrown out of old memories. “Uh, whatever needs to happen?”

“Do you think he will be okay? It has been so long.”

Eight years alone in space. “I don’t know, Alan.”

“How did we not work this out earlier? That capsule was sitting down there all that time. Dad has been waiting so long. He’s missed so much.”

John closed his eyes and touched his fingers to the bridge of his nose. “I don’t have the answers, Alan. I’m sorry.”

“I know.” His little brother swallowed. “It’s just that I can’t remember much about him anymore. He’s going to be a stranger.”

“He’s our father. We’ll make it work.” They had to make it work. The guilt was tearing Scott apart. Eight years. Eight long years just because they had missed one piece of the puzzle. Dad could have been home years ago.

The yelling had started again. Scott angry and hurt, Virgil battling to keep him on the straight and narrow and tackling his own guilt at the same time.

John felt the guilt, too. He had looked at everything after the incident. Everything. He had even combed space. Eos had been looking for their father from the day she joined him despite John’s heart telling him it was a lost cause, that Scott was wishing for the impossible, that it had been too long. She had been scanning for three years they still hadn’t found him. Until now, and from a clue that could have...should have been found so long ago.

“I wonder what he looks like.”

John closed his eyes.

“Johnny? You okay?”

“Don’t call me Johnny.”

He received a snort for that. “Yeah, well, I guess it will be good to save Dad and bring him home.”

A frown. “You guess?”

“Well, yeah, it will be great. But you are right.”

The frown deepened and he looked over at his little brother. “I right? With what? You’ve lost me.”

“Well, Scott and Virg are really the ones who’ve been there for me, you know?” Alan rubbed the back of his head. “So, like, they are the closest I have to parents. They were doing that gig even before Dad went missing.”

John stared.

His little brother didn’t notice. Instead he stood up. “Well, I guess I should get out of this uniform. Getting a little ripe, I think. Anyway, thanks for the chat, bro.”

And with that Alan bounced out of the lab as fast as he had bounced in.

John blinked and turned back to the calculations he had been trying to wrangle this entire time.

But the numbers ignored him.

Dad.

Scott.

Virgil.

If they found their father, things were going to change.

John frowned and rubbed his face.

Damn.

-o-o-o-

FIN.

 Notes on the Tracy brothers’ ages in this fic:

The conclusions I have come to are based on three things – Alan’s estimated age of 16 in season one, the number of years ago they lost Jeff as stated in season three and counting back using each season as a year with season one being set in 2060, and also the need for the eldest three boys to be adult at the time of the loss of Jeff in order to keep IR running and for Scott to take guardianship of the younger two. So my calculations with a few estimates thrown in are that in 2060 Scott is 31, Virgil 30, John 27, Gordon 21 and Alan 16. I know this is older than generally recognised for TAG and the only age I can be vaguely sure about is Alan’s but there is logic behind these calculations. It does merge it slightly better with TOS, so I think I’ve balanced the two.

Jeff was 24 when Scott was born. Lucy was 22.

Lucy died age 38 when Scott was 16, Virgil 15, John 12, Gordon 6, Alan 1. Jeff was 40.

IR started and they moved to the island when Scott was 24, Virgil 23, John 20, Gordon 14 (not an operative), Alan 9.

Jeff (aged 50) was lost two years later when Scott was 26, Virgil 25, John 22, Gordon 16, Alan 11.

In season three this would make Scott 33, Virgil 32, John 29, Gordon 23 and Alan 18 which is where this story is set.

I generally see Kayo as the same age as Gordon, but in this case she may be a little older, perhaps between Gordon and John.

(It should be noted that in most of my other fics I had the boys generally much younger, but with the canon mention in season three of Jeff having gone missing eight years ago, I have since had to recalculate things otherwise the boys would be too young to keep IR going. In Warm Rain, for example, Virgil is 24 and Kayo 20. This is not possible with the new information of Jeff being missing for eight years because Virgil would have only been sixteen when he disappeared).

[authorgirl1111]

Emperor’s Daughter Ch. 11

Part 1

Part 10

She receives the call next morning. Mr. And Mrs. Chase are dead.   “It’s fine” Natalie says. “You don’t have to come.” “Are you kidding?”  Cassie says. “When I was pregnant scared and needed someone to rely on, you helped me out, I’m not leaving you alone” “I’m not alone…” “Fair enough you have your brothers” Cassie says. “Besides I liked Mrs. Chase, I… I want my chance to say my final goodbyes as well.” “What about…” “Your family was practically my family nothing is more important then that” Cassie said then she stopped. “Unless you don’t want me there?” “Don’t be ridiculous, of course I do” “I’ll be there, we’ll be there.” ---     The drive there is long and tedious, and she has to stop every couple of hours, so she can cater to Brenda’s needs, not that she minds. It’s not Brenda’s fault she’s two years old. The drive let’s her contemplate, the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Chase. She was closer to Mrs. Chase then she was to Mr. Chase, but their deaths still filled Cassie with sadness. It wasn’t fair. Why did good people like the Chases have to be filled with so much hardships while people like her father got to dance around scot free? --- Natalie meets her on the front porch of the mansion and hurries out to give her a huge hug. Tears are falling down her cheeks and Cassie can’t help but cry too. “They were good people” Cassie says. “They didn’t deserve this” “No, no they didn’t” Natalie says. Together they head into the house. --- The funeral is a somber affair, Cassie’s head is down low, as she’s trying not to cry. Brenda is on her lap, not crying just staring ahead. Cassie strokes her daughter dark curls. As the sermon goes on. Cassie was asked to play at the funeral, and she plays a piece that reminds her of every loss she’s ever felt, mixed in with a little bit of hope that she will see him again. When the funeral is over they head to the grave yard where they witness the burial. Cassie’s never seen a burial before and she finds it hard to watch as they pour dirt over the coffins where Mr. and Mrs. Chase are being buried. It’s Natalie who keeps her calm during the burial. --- “How’s Apollo” Cassie goes quiet. She is sucking on an apple slice and her daughter is eating a carrot on the couch close by. “Cassie?” “We had a fight, he dumped me.” “So soon?” Natalie asked. “You two seemed fine a week ago…” “I don’t want to talk about it.” “But something happened” “He found out Brenda’s true parentage, and he got angry I never told him, he pushed for answers, I told him it was none of his business, and he kicked me out.” “Of your apartment?” “Of New York” Natalie’s eyes widened. “What? He can’t just do that can he?” “He’s an immortal being with unlimited power, trust me, he can not only do that, but he can do a lot worse.” “That son of a whoring bastard” “I don’t think…. His father is a bastard.” Natalie raises an eyebrow. “I should have told him the truth, I didn’t and I now have to reap what I sow.” “What are you going to do now, are you going to move back to Boston?” She shrugs her shoulders. “I don’t know” --- She stays long enough for the will to be released, Fredrick as the oldest get’s the house, and Natalie and Randolph get 50% each of what was left in the bank account. She can tell Natalie is both pleased and a little put out. She has just enough to buy a small house in Boston. She insists that she doesn’t want to live in the house, but Cassie can tell that it weighs on her mind that her father and mother didn’t leave it to all three of them. Randolph barely has enough to finish his degree something that can be heard throughout the entire house the last two nights she’s staying there. ---- She’s back home, and she resigns with the orchestra. And then everything goes to hades. She forgot her charm at her home, and she’s only 50% sure that this would have happened even if she had been wearing it. Nero found her. (She’d forgotten he lived in New York) (And she hates herself for forgetting that fact for a year and a half) “So, you’re, here are you?” Nero asks. He’s flanked on both sides by two guards. “Your father called a while ago, asking if I’ve seen you, said you’d been missing for some good two/three years. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw you at the recital, with a little child, I tried to find you a few days later, but it was almost as if you disappeared.” Brenda’s in daycare.  She breathes slightly, she may be able to resolve this simply without much problems. “It does make me wonder, who’s little girl was in your arms that night, as you were chatting up that sun god?” “A daughter of a friend” Cassie says. “Come now Julia” Cassie flinches at the use of the name she had long abandoned. “You don’t honestly expect me to be that stupid, do you?” “The name is Cassie” She says. “Julia Claudia ties you to a great family, the Julio-Claudian Line. A great Line, a line of emperor’s, a line of gods” “It’s a line full of murderers” “You’re letting modern history color your view” Nero rebukes. “That’s the thing when people damn your memory it allows people to say whatever they want about you.” “Sounds horrible” Cassie says. Nero nods sagely. The sarcasm going over his head as per usual. Cassie steps away trying to move around him but Nero stepped closer fencing her in. “What’s the harm of one dinner?” A lot, but she was surrounded by innocent people who could get hurt if she whipped out her imperial gold swords now. She’s led away and brought into his car.   --- “So, here’s my problem with you being in my city” I know of at least on person who would take issue with that statement. She thought to herself. “I tell your father you’re here, and he finds I’ve known you’ve been here for six months he’ll start a war in my city and I can’t have that.” Cause you’re a coward  Cassie thinks savagely. “I tell your father I just found you, and you tell your father you’ve actually been in my city longer then a few months, I’ll be considered blind and weak.” “What’ do you want?” “You leave my city and stay as far away as possible from my city, I’ll magically forget you were here, stay and I’ll go after the Chase girl.” Cassie’s eyes widened. “You touch one hair on her head-” “I’ll have her head, like your father had that boy I gave him.” Nero cut her off. “Such a cruel thing to do to a gift I gave him, think that’s part off the reason I didn’t tell him you were here.” “Don’t delude yourself” Cassie snapped. “You fear my father, you wouldn’t go near him unless you absolutely needed to…” Her eyes lit up. “Of course, the decennial meeting is coming up, you can’t risk him finding out, can you?” The three members of the triumvirate had a meeting every decade or so to determine how to proceed for the next ten years. When she had been around twelve or thirteen the members had all reconvened at her dad's palace. She hadn't much cared for the other two emperor's then, she still doesn't care for them now. Nero motioned with his hand and one of his guards had a hand at her throat pinning her down and had the other hand holding a sword ready to slice her neck open. Cassie activates her shield that’s hiding as a bracelet. It blocks the sword from reaching her neck and forces him to let go of throat. She brings up her foot and kicks him away. She pulls out her sword and takes her fighting stance. “That desperate to lose a guard member my lord?” She asked. “He may kill me, but from this angle I can still stab him through the neck before I bleed out.” “All these guards will willingly die for me” Nero said with a shrug. “Pull back, Vince” Cassie stands her guard for a while longer before she straightens her back. She turns and stabs the second Germani right through the neck. Who was crouched in a position to attack her. He bleeds out right on the floor. “Paul” Nero sighs pouting as though she just destroyed his favorite toy. “Such a waste, he was a good one.” “You wanted him to kill me” “Less messy, I can dispose of you more easily if you're dead.” “You disgust me” Cassie says as her sword shrinks back into it’s hair clip and her shield shrinks back into a bracelet. “I leave town, and if you ever come near me and mine again, you better watch every single thing you drink from then on, you sniveling coward.” “Such a waste, you could have been such a good guard.” With that Cassie stands and walks out of Nero’s palace. ---- “Are you ok?” “After killing that guy? Yeah Germani guards are usually people who have escaped the underworld, so chances are I just offed that which was already gone, I’m fine” Now if only her hands can stop shaking. Natalie sighs. “Were will you head off now?” “There is a state that my father always expressed distaste in, I’m hoping going there  will keep me out of father’s path.” Natalie sounds intrigued. “Oh yeah? Where’s that?” “Texas.” 

Part 12

[kakihoden]

(/ω＼)ﾟ.+(〃ﾉωﾉ)ﾟ.+°50 More Interesting Questions

Rules: fill this out and tag at least one person you’d like to know more about! Or just fill it out! Or don’t! Answer only some of them! Make up your own questions! “What kind of requirement is that”, you ask? A reasonable one! Who am I to tell you what to do? Anything goes!

tagged by @theempresskaizer​ and @incorrectmidc THANK YOUUU <3

1. What kind of food can’t you stand?: FISH, especially Fried Tilapia. I dunno. I loved fish as a kid, but now just the smell of it makes my stomach churn. Oh, and broccoli. GDI the first time I tasted it was traumatic :’D

2. If you could choose one minor inconvenience to never have to deal with again, what would you pick?: losing my pencils  -- for a person who draws often losing these babies is kinda ironic, isn’t it?

3. Have you got any useless talents?: Uhm.... I can sleep anywhere. LOL

4. If you could be really really good at one thing, what would it be?: drawing.it’s literally the oldest hobby i have so :/

5. Name a few people you think are extremely good-looking: real people?! okay, dumb question. i kinda view people’s faces as equal, but there are particular people who stand out.  i love looking at Eva Green and Angelina Danilova. my girl crushes :v

6. What was your favorite way to pass the time as a kid?: doodle doodle on the wall; wait for my mama’s angry call :’D

7. What is something you’re proud of?: uhm... I dunno. I don’t dwell much on myself on a positive light, so I haven’t really thought of the things I should be proud of. Unless it means something else? IDK lels

8. What’s one character flaw in people that you just can’t tolerate?: being self-righteous, or being too self-important. I tend to act cold towards people like these cuz duuuuuhhhh. I’d rather treat you like fart than say mean things cuz people like these aren’t really worth getting work up over.

9. Do you consider yourself to be more of a leader or a follower?: Back when I was a youthful optimistic fellow, I have, indeed proven myself able to be a leader, but now I just wanna be a follower. Energy-saving mode on unnecessary things :D

10. What kind of student are/were you?: When I was in high school, I was the overrated student. And it sucked because teachers placed high expectations against my will when in fact I am the lazy student who relies on stock knowledge to get through school life :v

11. Butterfly effect question! Has there ever been a seemingly minor decision you’ve made (at the time) that ended up having a profound influence on your life?:Yes.*blushes*

12. Name your most irrational fear/aversion: I used to run away at the speed of light at the sight of anything worm-like. >___<. I once accidentally touched a worm and it felt cold and slimy it was disgusting I literally threw a fit (LOL), but now I can tolerate them. Just... stay away within a one-meter radius D:

13. Are there any fictional characters you find especially relatable?: a looottt. 

14. If you drink, what kind of drunk are you? Alternatively, what sort of person are you at parties?: I don’t drink alcoholic beverages to the point where I get wasted. But let me tell you a story: when I was a kid, Mom gave me a quarter kilo of grapes. I finished it in one sitting, but I got drunk so I hit my head on the door knob when I tried to stand up. I wonder what kind of drunk I am now? AT PARTIES? NOOO... I just stay at corners and try to avoid having to party. It’s not the party that’s bad, it’s the socializing. :’D

15. Do you fall in love easily? Or does it usually take a long time for you to trust someone?: I fall in love with 2d men easily. And yes, it takes quite some time for me to trust someone nowadays, cuz I learned my lesson the hard way.

16. Would you rather have one close friend or 100 casual friends?: just one close friend is enough. I get tired of people quite easily.

17. Do you consider yourself to be more of a slob or a neat-freak?: *glances around my work area* Yep. I’m a slob alright. But that’s only when I’m too busy on something. Otherwise, you’ll often see me arranging my stuff here and there.

18. Describe a place (imaginary or real) that you would find incredibly cozy: a view of the sunset in a large window from a high place. and where a contrast of temperature is at its best <3

19. Do you have kids? If not, do you want them someday?: I’m not that fond of kids because the kids in my neighborhood are brutal. They call me pancit canton (instant noodle) because of my  hair :’’’’’’’’’D (I’m a 23-year-old bullied by 5-year-old kids)

20. What was your favorite book as a child?: I didn’t like reading, believe me. I learned to read quickly because I wanted to get away from books as fast as possible. LOL

21. Name one thing you just don’t get what all the hype is about: uhm... mobile legends and despacito :x srsly what are those 

22. Name one thing that you think is tragically underrated: what is. IDK...  ಠ_ರೃ

23. If you had to be glued to a person for a month, real or fictional (who you have never met), who would you choose?: I’d be with Hitsugaya Toushiro! (then will secretly glue us together again before one month ends LOLOLOLOL) Taichou! <3

24. What’s something you’d like the chance to do someday?: I want to travel a lot to old places. Ah... it’s a life-long dream :3

25. Do you typically speak your mind when you have a controversial opinion? Or do generally prefer to not rock the boat?: I’m a peace-loving person, and I’m weak at arguments so I keep my mouth shut and let my brain become noisy until my thoughts settle down instead of speaking up. 

26. What’s the dumbest fad you’ve been caught up in?: I live in a cave -- what even is the latest fad today

27. What’s something you thought was cool as a kid/adolescent, but now cringe at yourself for?:  I was low-key emo back then but it only manifested in my music preference because I was keeping up a good school image. Now when I look back at that “shiny and brilliant student” facade I wanted to smack my younger self in the head (btw, my music preference never changed). 

28. What’s a trait you consider to be very admirable?: Bravery. It can take you far if you have it. I admire brave people.

29. Is there a particular kind of item people always tend to give you as gifts? (For instance, people always get you things with ducks on them because you like ducks, etc.): I don’t receive gifts anymore (too bad, will you give me a gift? XD) but my godmother often gave me dresses and clothes, and blue items cuz she knew blue was my favorite :3

30. Do you speak multiple languages? Which ones?: I speak Filipino, English and not that fluent at Japanese (and currently taking a crash course at Bahasa Indonesia)

31. Would you rather live in the big city or the countryside?: I’d choose countryside in a heartbeat!

32. Has there ever been something you were certain you’d hate, but ended up loving?: none in particular. 

33. Do you mind being the center of attention, or do you prefer the spotlight to be on someone else?: I do not like too much attention. I do appreciate it when someone notices me but if I get too much of that, it wears me out.

34. Favorite holiday?: Christmas!

35. Are you a more go-with-the-flow type of person, or do you need to have things planned meticulously?:  there are days when I just go with the flow, but when the situation calls for it, I spend a night planning my days, especially trips. Yup.

36. Is there something you loved so much you wish you could forget it and experience it all over again? (A tv show, book, series–anything.): Final Fantasy Advent Children. I’d love to experience that doki-doki when I see Cloud in action <3 and my nightly walks back at the province. The moon-lit road home, the fireflies, the silence, the nature -- I’d love to go back there and spend a good vacation. Plus the residents are really friendly

37. What hobbies do you have?: Drawing, procrastinating, sleeping, procrastinating, reading manga, and did I mention procrastinating?

38. If you could have a superpower, but it was only mildly useful, what ability would you want to have?: what even -- then it’s not called superpower anymore, but rather just “power” LOLOLOL. I wish I could shut down my nose when someone farts XD

39. Something people are always surprised to learn about you: that I’m not actually intimidating and that I am indeed Filipina. 

40. Something that took you way too long to figure out: how to answer this. also, still trying to figure out how I’ll dissect my building. -_-

41. Worst injury you’ve had?: I fell down the stairs when I was a kid and it damaged my knees. Now both knees hurt during the cold season.

42. Any morbid fascinations?: I like drawing gore?

43. Describe your sense of humor: dark! as a result of my depression, my jokes tend to be categorized as black comedy LOL. Also perv. :v

44. If you had to be born in another era/place, which would you choose? I wish I was born in Japan, or renaissance England (^◇^；)

45. Something you are irredeemably bad at: time management (/ω＼)

46. Something that sucked but you’re glad you went through: College. Why the hell did I have to pick Architecture major of all things? But I learned a few things so okay.

47. Would you rather have a really godawful ugly tattoo in a place that is only slightly inconvenient to conceal with clothing (upper arm, thigh, etc.), or the coolest, most beautiful tattoo ever in the middle of your face? (Neither tattoo can be removed or concealed with makeup, and the ugly tattoo will deeply offend anyone who sees it.): ugly tattoo. I don’t like having stuff on my face

48. Are you more of an optimist or a pessimist?: I’m a pessimist irl. I’m actually a depressing human being hiding behind my drawings online ﾟ.+(〃ﾉωﾉ)ﾟ.+°

49. What would be the most flattering compliment someone could give you?: that I’ve inspired them. Ah truly a ray of light in this dark depressing life of mine (￣∇￣) .+°

50. Something you feel people often misunderstand about you: my silence. me being silent to them often means I’m mad, or brooding, or being a bitch. LOL NO. that’s just my face ᕕ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)ᕗ

tagging! @emigotchi @confused-tofu @rimalupin @arimii @pumpkingamelodge @spyroeden @midnightuglystepsister @midnightcindy @kseifert @oh-my-otome and you!

[arplis]

Arplis - News: Hook and Inciting Incident: The Power Couple of the “Must Read Now”

photo adapted / Horia Varlan

When I set out to write a “body of work,” I didn’t intend a “string of failed proposals” to define its completion. I had hoped to leave a legacy of, well, you know. Actual written novels.

Yet it was time to try again. From a fresh page, my cursor blinked at me; I cursed and blinked right back. Where to go from here?

My attention strayed to my bookcases—in particular, the way I’d organized them. The one on the left holds a couple hundred new and used novels that piqued my interest. I plan to read them someday.

The bookcase on the right holds a couple hundred new and used books that piqued my interest and which I’d promptly read.

It seemed worth my time to determine what made the books on the right “must-read-nows.” I don’t want one of my titles to languish on someone’s left-hand bookcase, where more urgent reads will find a way to slip ahead in line, and where the sum total of the sale is the $1.15 that was banked toward earning out my advance. A great read is certainly great whenever it is read, but “someday” may be dangerously close to “out of print,” a time when discussion, review, or word-of-mouth recommendation can no longer help drive sales.

It is important to be read. I want my novels to be in the right bookcase. How about you?

I assessed the books I’d gobbled as if choosing them for the first time: reading the back-cover copy, where I could find the inciting incident that would suggest the type of story, and then opening lines, where the prose had a chance to set its hook. Some results from my “right bookcase study” are below. Red type signifies what about each of them said I have to read this now.

For this exercise, I set aside one hook that can be particularly compelling—buzz—since it did not emanate from the work itself. The following examples hooked me all on their own, whether through opening lines that begged my continued interest, an inciting incident from the back-cover copy that raised a question to which I needed the answer—or, in some cases, both. I dove right in because I was hooked.

These examples will address a question from WU commenter Cheryl O’Donovan on my last post, “Identifying and Crafting Your Inciting Incident”, who asked whether hook and inciting incident are the same thing. The answer: sometimes. More on that at the end of the post.

More often they’re a power couple that can work to hook readers and keep their eyes trained on your pages. As with any relationship, it can succeed in a number of ways. Here is personal proof from my right bookshelf.

  The couple that stands united

In these first examples, the thematic tie between opening hook and inciting incident is so strong that one reinforces and magnifies the effect of the other. The opening lines provide a teaser for the questions that the inciting incident will later pose.

1. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

[This opening is from chapter one, after a prologue which begins, “It was predictable, in hindsight…”]

On December 7, 2059, Emilio Sandoz was released from the isolation ward of Salvator Mundi Hospital in the middle of the night and transported in a bread van to the Jesuit Residence at Number 5 Borgo Santo Spirito, a few minutes’ walk across St. Pete’s Square from the Vatican. The next day, ignoring shouted questions and howls of journalist outrage as he read, a Jesuit spokesman issued a short statement to the frustrated and angry media mob that had gathered outside Number 5’s massive front door.

“To the best of our knowledge, Father Emilio Sandoz is the sole survivor of the Jesuit mission to Rakhat. Once again, we extend our thanks to the U.N., to the Contact Consortium and to the Asteroid Mining Division of OhBayashi Corporation for making the return of Father Sandoz possible. We have no additional information regarding the fate of the Contact Consortiums’s crew members; they are in our prayers. Father Sandoz is too ill to question at this time and his recovery is expected to take months. Until then, there can be no further comment on the Jesuit mission or on the Contact Consortium’s allegation regarding Father Sandoz’s conduct on Rakhat.”

This was simply to buy time.

Honestly, I hate to cut off this opening, even here. The next paragraph is a doozy, and every single paragraph thereafter draws you deeper into this story’s frame. What continues to unfold on the page and the promise of what is to come create a winch that even while re-reading draws me in with renewed appreciation.

Opening hook: unique perspective, escalating intrigue, extreme personal and public stakes suggested, strong Q: What happened?

When a motley crew of agnostics, true believers, and misfits becomes the first to explore the Alpha Centauri world of Rakhat, their challenges lead to disastrous results, leaving only one survivor—and he, in the story’s opening frame, is too traumatized to tell the tale.

Inciting Incident hook: Just as strong for me, in all the same ways.

  2. The Girls by Lori Lansens

I have never looked into my sister’s eyes. I have never bathed alone. I have never stood in the grass at night and raised my arms to a beguiling moon. I’ve never used an airplane bathroom. Or worn a hat. Or been kissed like that. I’ve never driven a car. Or slept through the night. Never a private talk. Or solo walk. I’ve never climbed a tree. Or faded into a crowd. So many things I’ve never done, but oh, how I’ve been loved. And, if such things were to be, I’d live a thousand lives as me, to be loved so exponentially.

Opening hook: Unusual perspective through deep point of view, engaging character, voice.

Approaching their 30th birthday, sisters, best friends, and confidantes Rose and Ruby Darlen are the oldest living craniopagus twins. When Rose, the bookish sister, sets out to write her autobiography, it inevitably becomes the story of her short but extraordinary life with Ruby, the beautiful one—from obstacles they had no choice but to face together, to fundamental joys, to a deep and abiding love.

Inciting incident hook: Promises the same.

  3. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day in January of 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of 1974.

Opening hook: Powerful question raised, unusual perspective. 

In the spring of 1974, Calliope Stephanides, a student at a girls’ school in Grosse Pointe, finds herself drawn to a chain-smoking, strawberry blond clasmate with a gift for acting. The passion that furtively develops between them—along with Callie’s failure to develop—leads Callie to suspect that she is not like other girls. In fact, she is not really a girl at all.

Inciting incident hook: Same, and somehow written so it made me suck in a breath.

  The couple that supplements each other

In marriage as in life, an even stronger relationship can be built when each part of the power couple contributes something different to the whole. In these examples, opening lines and inciting incident hook differently, by raising their own yet equally compelling questions.

4. Lottery, Patricia Wood

My name is Perry L. Crandall and I am not retarded.

Gram always told me the L stood for Lucky.

“Mister Perry Lucky Crandall, quit your bellyaching!” she would scold. “You got two good eyes, two good legs, and you’re honest as the day is long.” She always called me lucky and honest.

Being honest means you don’t know any better.

Opening hook: Two engaging characters, voice.

After Gram dies, Perry L. Crandall, IQ 76, is left orphaned and bereft at the age of thirty-one. But when his weekly Washington State Lottery ticket wins him 12 million dollars, he suddenly finds he has more family than he knows what to do with.

Inciting incident hook: Unique perspective, strong story challenge for a (potentially) disadvantaged character.

  5. The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley

Late that night—on our last night—we lay in awe, mesmerized again by the Perseid meteor showers as they transformed stardust into streamers of light. They were an anniversary of sorts for us, a summertime event Elle and I both cherished, and we fell asleep on the widow’s walk of our old house, my beautiful wife curled up beside me, her head resting in the crook of my arm.

If only I’d stayed home in the morning—if only I’d looked over at Elle and realized nothing I could or would ever do was more important than keeping her safe. If only—Jesus—

Opening hook: Impending doom for lovers, that tortured “Jesus” in the second paragraph.

When a tragic accident leaves Elle brain-dead, Matt is devastated. Though he cannot bear losing her, he knows his wife, a thoughtful and adventurous scientist, feared only one thing—a slow death. Just before Matt agrees to remove Elle from life support, the doctors discover she is pregnant. Matt’s clear-cut decision becomes an impossible choice.

Inciting incident hook: Ripped-from-the-headlines relevance, life-or-death stakes, a quandary I must watch play out.

  6. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

In my first memory, I am three years old and I am trying to kill my sister.

Opening hook: Unusual perspective.

Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood, a role she has never challenged…until now.

Inciting incident hook: A character’s deep desire to live on her own terms, raises strong question, ripped-from-the-headlines relevance.

  The couple that compensates for one another

This power couple intuitively makes up for each other’s weaknesses. I found it interesting to note how powerful the hook and the inciting incident could be in their own right. In this first example, the inciting incident is fine, but does not necessarily promise a riveting read. The prose, on the other hand, is entertaining enough to make up for it.

Girls’ Poker Night by Jill A. Davis

Happy endings aren’t for cowards. I’ve been alive for how many years, and I’ve just figured that one out.

Opening hook: Voice. I want to hang out with this character.

When irreverent lifestyle columnist Ruby Capote falls for her boss, and he wants her to stop being quippy and clever and become the writer and the woman he knows she can be, Ruby turns to the support of her poker night friends.

Inciting incident: This one fell flat for me, having failed to raise a gripping question, but the opening lines were so inviting that I hopped aboard and read it through.

  Finding Jake by Bryan Reardon

My name is Simon Connolly. You may have heard of my son, Jake. Most people have, but they don’t know him. Not really.

As for me, they don’t know me, either. I’m not even sure why I’m still here. I can barely stand up, let alone venture beyond the front door. If I let such a simple effort beat me, I’m not sure what’s left.

This opening, from the prologue, is lukewarm for me. If I had read this opening alone, I probably wouldn’t have purchased the book. But wait till you read the inciting incident:

When stay-at-home dad Simon Connolly receives a text saying there has been a shooting at the high school, he is forced to wait at the rendezvous point with scores of other anxious parents as, one by one, they are reunited with their children. Their numbers dwindle until Simon sits alone. His son is the only child missing, inspiring Simon’s obsessive search for his son and deep introspection about this worthiness as a parent.

Inciting incident hook: Immediacy, relevance, life-or-death stakes, parent’s worst nightmare

This inciting incident was enough to span the lukewarm prologue and the backstory first chapter, which takes place eight months before Jake’s birth. Why? Because I. Had. To. Know. The readers who put it on the New York Times bestseller list seem to agree with me.

  Cheryl, here’s your answer

To answer Cheryl’s question, are the inciting incident and the hook the same thing? If you’re talking about a query letter, probably, because within its limited word count, and if positioned first, the inciting incident will raise the story question that hooks an agent’s interest. Make sure to carefully craft your inciting incident so that it raises a powerful question.

But take equal care with the opening lines of your manuscript, as their ability to lure the reader ever deeper will likely lead to an immediate desire to read.

In regard to your typical reader’s experience, though, the answer is no, they are not the same thing. The hook is what invites the reader into the story in the opening lines, and then keeps them reading until the inciting incident unfolds. That event will inspire the protagonist to set a goal, and the associated story question will take over, keeping the reader hooked until that question is addressed at the end of the story.

Like all things literary, hook is subjective, so I want to hear from you! Setting buzz aside, share one of your must-read-nows. Was it the inciting incident promised by the back-cover copy, the hook of the opening lines, or both that inspired you to dive right in?

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About Kathryn Craft

Kathryn Craft is the author of two novels from Sourcebooks, The Art of Falling and The Far End of Happy. Her work as a freelance developmental editor at Writing-Partner.com follows a nineteen-year career as a dance critic. Long a leader in the southeastern Pennsylvania writing scene, she leads writing workshops and retreats, and is a member of the Tall Poppy Writers. Learn more on Kathryn's website.

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Arplis - News source https://arplis.com/blogs/news/hook-and-inciting-incident-the-power-couple-of-the-must-read-now

[surveysonfleek]

730.

5000 Question Survey Pt. 46

4401. Do online relationships actually work? i find that they have! i know a couple that are happily married that met through tumblr. 4402. Did you know who Nora Jones was before the grammys? not sure haha. 4403. In Maine school teachers are being told by the board of education that cannot criticize the possible upcoming war in front of students because those kids with military parents were getting upset by it in a few cases. What do you think of this? i mean it’s best that teachers don’t force their political views upon their students in the first place if they’re still young. 4405. Should a convicted murderer have the same right to be on the organ donor waiting list as anyone else? it depends if they’re out of prison or not.

4406. Is there a difference between american rights and human rights? If so what is the difference? not familiar with american rights. 4407. What is the only completely instrumental album ever to be labeled as having explicit lyrics? no idea lol. 4408. Who would you rather put in a box and mail to abu dabbi, Tipper Gore or Hilary Clinton? idk much about either. 4409. What are your top three favorite comic strips? the only three i’ve read i guess lol. 4410. Can you name anything that sucks more than Creed? nickelback. 4411. Is eminem a genius? Why or why not? he’s a good rapper, i’ll give him that. 4412. Where is abu dabbi anyway? it doesn’t exist... i’ve heard of abu dhabi though lel. 4413. Where do you think woman are the most free from social pressure to please men, the US, Egypt or Japan and why? honestly have no idea. i’d guess usa. 4414. Is there a difference between crisps and crackers? crisps are potato chips... crackers are crackers lol. 4415. If you were going to download three movies that you wouldn't have paid for but you'll watch since they're free what would you download? i don’t download anymore i just stream. 4416. If you had a ferret what would you name it? weasel. 4417. What do you think of peta? i get that they’re standing up for a good cause, they way they execute some campaigns are questionable though. 4418. If you started your own music awards show what would be the three most prestigious awards you gave out and who would win them this year?What would your show be looking for in an artist? i would be too lazy to do this. 4419. Is there a difference between a musical artist and an entertainer? yes. 4420. How would you rank the following people, artist or entertainer? Wierd Al: entertainer. Britney Spears: entertainer. David Bowie: entertainer. Eminem: artist. Moby: artist. Marilyn Manson: artist. Tiny Tim: idk them. The Monkeys: not sure. The Sex Pistols: artist. 4421. Why does Polly Pocket no oonger fit into your pocket? i haven’t seen one in years. 4422. Would you eat a cereal called Mud & Bugs?Yes, there is such a cereal. i don’t eat cereal at all. 4423. If you were a mythical creature which one would you be? unicorn. 4424. What do you think of the new pregnant barbie (called happy family barbie)? haven’t seen it. 4425. What is one thing you know is a lie? idk. 4426. How is your soul today? still there. 4427. Are you into sci fi? not really. 4428. What's a 'poppet'? idk, a pet name for a young girl? 4429. How's the name Shane? not a fan. 4430. What is expected of your gender that you don't quite live up to? be interested in fashion i guess. 4431. Koolaid. ifr it'll dye your heair, try to imagine what it does to your stomach: Do people still dye their hair with koolaid? not that i know of. 4432. If you build it, they will come. What is it? who are they? idk lol. 4433. What would you never do to get attention? cause a scene in public. 4434. Should we try to control nature? somteimes we can’t. 4435. Who is the most powerful villain in the universe? world leaders. 4436. Invent a superhero to deal with that villain? no lol. 4437. Who are you desperately missing? my family. 4438. What gives you a feeling of perfection and peace? having everything done on your to-do list and just getting to relax. 4439. Are you already whole and complete or does something make you whole and complete? What? until i reach my goals, i am not complete. 4440. Do you prefer the word mankind or humankind? it’s whatever. 4441. Do you look good in yellow? not sure since i don’t own anything yellow. 4442. What do you want to win? satisfaction. 4443. What gives someone power? Who has power over you? Who do you have power over? yawn. 4444. What question do you really want to know the answer to: in general? what happens are we die. about yourself? will i ever be successful. 4445. The lamest Disney movie ever was: they’re all decent. 4446. One thing you thought you would never miss but do is: my childhood. 4447. In what ways are you a role model?In what ways are you a bad example? haha idk. 4448. How is your blood pressure? higher than usual apparently. 4449. What was our last horrble nightmare about? i forgot. 4450. Hey you. What do you say? what? 4451. What is your favorite waste of time (BESIDES this survey)? sleeping. 4452. How would you like to die? in my sleep. 4453. What are three words used in your area/dialect that many other areas/dialects wouldn't be familiar with? chat, ceebs, oath. 4454. What are the ages of the oldest and youngest person you've ever had sex with? i’ve only had sex with one person. 4455. What is the wierdest place you have ever woken up? nowhere. Did you remember how you got there? yes. 4456. How do you feel when your partner is talking to an ex? he doesn’t have an ex. 4457. Is there an unrequited (unreturned) love in your life? nope. 4458. What is the most expensive gift you have ever given? from recent memory an ipad. received? macbook or jewellery. 4459. List three traits that might help you to fall madly in love: sense of humour, kind, good looking. 4460. Do children like you? sometimes. depends on the kid. 4461. If you found your child's diary would you read it? What if you found the diary of one of your parents? probably not unless i was worried about them. for both. 4462. Have you ever stalked or killed a wild animal? nope. 4463. True or Fales. You are moody in the morning: true. woman first: i wish it were true. baby corn freaks you out: false. Life is fair: false. 4464. Name something you are now prepared to reveal about yourself that you weren't ready to talk about in the past? nothing. 4465. Name a talent someone has of which you are jealous: singing. 4466. What would you think if you met yourself at a aprty? it depends what kind of mood i’m in that day. i’d be forgettable if i wasn’t being social. 4467. What would you most likely complain about in a Hotel? cleanliness, temperature or the bathroom not working properly. 4468. Agree or disagree. men need to be treated like children: not always. it is possible to be in love with more than one person at the same time: agree. but not me personally. you often feel pressured by others: agree. couples should live together before marriage: personally agree. 4469. If you owned a restraunt what kind of cuisine would you serve? a world buffet of amazing quality dishes. 4470. Three words that describe your ideal day in bed are: netflix, cuddles, rainy. 4471. If you had a ticket for a month is paradise where would you go? the bahamas. 4472. All men like to hear: you’re right. All woman like to hear: you’re right. 4473. If you are a woman what is your most masculine or macho trait or ability? If you are a man what is your most feminine trait or ability? haha no. 4474. How would you feel attending the wedding of an ex? if we ended on good terms and i was invited then i’d attend in a heartbeat. 4475. Fiction or nonfiction. You can lie with a straight face: nonfiction. You pee in the shower: nonfiction. you prefer honesty even when it hurts: nonfiction. uncapped toothpaste causes problems: nonfiction. 4476. What is the longest lust can last? no idea. 4477. What would you like to experiance while blindfolded? idk. nothing. 4478. The most horrifying couple you know is: sofia richie and scott disick. wtf do they even talk about? 4479. Name three things you have experianced that would shock your parents: drugs, sex, that’s about it. 4480. The oddest thing you have ever put in your mouth is: turtle. 4481. Lie or truth. love is a battlefield: truth. you watch too much tv: lie. woman enjoy sex as much as men do: truth. you are often tired: truth. 4482. What is the craziest thing you've done for attention? nothing. 4483. Do you believe in using the silent treatment? sometimes, for me to clear my head. 4484. Your most embaressing thought: idk lol. 4485. Your most prejudiced thought: idk. 4486. A shameful moment for you: where i am in life right now. 4487. The biggest gamble of your life: literal gambling. 4488. What is your greatest weakness as a friend? i care too much. 4489. Yes or No. complaining is a release: yes. James Bond movies are sexy: no. You feel better when you have a tan: yes. You sometimes eat your boogers: no. If yes, that's okay. 4490. Do you sometimes enjoy being mean? sometimes. nothing too mean spirited though. 4491. Are you high maintenance? no. 4492. Would you rather assume the role of sexual student or teacher? what? 4493. How many lovers do you consider to be too many? idk. 4494. What fortune would you want to find in a fortune cookie? anything that would actually come true. 4495. Nothing says lovin' like: idk. 4496. Have you seen Bowling for Columbine? If yes what'd you think of it? no. 4497. Do you overuse the word genius? no lol i hardly say it. 4498. Are you proud of the history of your people? Why or why not? my country, no.  4499. Do you think about world destruction? it is what it is. 4500. What object could completely symbolize maleness? How about famaleness? no.

[arplis]

Arplis - News: Hook and Inciting Incident: The Power Couple of the “Must Read Now”

photo adapted / Horia Varlan

When I set out to write a “body of work,” I didn’t intend a “string of failed proposals” to define its completion. I had hoped to leave a legacy of, well, you know. Actual written novels.

Yet it was time to try again. From a fresh page, my cursor blinked at me; I cursed and blinked right back. Where to go from here?

My attention strayed to my bookcases—in particular, the way I’d organized them. The one on the left holds a couple hundred new and used novels that piqued my interest. I plan to read them someday.

The bookcase on the right holds a couple hundred new and used books that piqued my interest and which I’d promptly read.

It seemed worth my time to determine what made the books on the right “must-read-nows.” I don’t want one of my titles to languish on someone’s left-hand bookcase, where more urgent reads will find a way to slip ahead in line, and where the sum total of the sale is the $1.15 that was banked toward earning out my advance. A great read is certainly great whenever it is read, but “someday” may be dangerously close to “out of print,” a time when discussion, review, or word-of-mouth recommendation can no longer help drive sales.

It is important to be read. I want my novels to be in the right bookcase. How about you?

I assessed the books I’d gobbled as if choosing them for the first time: reading the back-cover copy, where I could find the inciting incident that would suggest the type of story, and then opening lines, where the prose had a chance to set its hook. Some results from my “right bookcase study” are below. Red type signifies what about each of them said I have to read this now.

For this exercise, I set aside one hook that can be particularly compelling—buzz—since it did not emanate from the work itself. The following examples hooked me all on their own, whether through opening lines that begged my continued interest, an inciting incident from the back-cover copy that raised a question to which I needed the answer—or, in some cases, both. I dove right in because I was hooked.

These examples will address a question from WU commenter Cheryl O’Donovan on my last post, “Identifying and Crafting Your Inciting Incident”, who asked whether hook and inciting incident are the same thing. The answer: sometimes. More on that at the end of the post.

More often they’re a power couple that can work to hook readers and keep their eyes trained on your pages. As with any relationship, it can succeed in a number of ways. Here is personal proof from my right bookshelf.

  The couple that stands united

In these first examples, the thematic tie between opening hook and inciting incident is so strong that one reinforces and magnifies the effect of the other. The opening lines provide a teaser for the questions that the inciting incident will later pose.

1. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

[This opening is from chapter one, after a prologue which begins, “It was predictable, in hindsight…”]

On December 7, 2059, Emilio Sandoz was released from the isolation ward of Salvator Mundi Hospital in the middle of the night and transported in a bread van to the Jesuit Residence at Number 5 Borgo Santo Spirito, a few minutes’ walk across St. Pete’s Square from the Vatican. The next day, ignoring shouted questions and howls of journalist outrage as he read, a Jesuit spokesman issued a short statement to the frustrated and angry media mob that had gathered outside Number 5’s massive front door.

“To the best of our knowledge, Father Emilio Sandoz is the sole survivor of the Jesuit mission to Rakhat. Once again, we extend our thanks to the U.N., to the Contact Consortium and to the Asteroid Mining Division of OhBayashi Corporation for making the return of Father Sandoz possible. We have no additional information regarding the fate of the Contact Consortiums’s crew members; they are in our prayers. Father Sandoz is too ill to question at this time and his recovery is expected to take months. Until then, there can be no further comment on the Jesuit mission or on the Contact Consortium’s allegation regarding Father Sandoz’s conduct on Rakhat.”

This was simply to buy time.

Honestly, I hate to cut off this opening, even here. The next paragraph is a doozy, and every single paragraph thereafter draws you deeper into this story’s frame. What continues to unfold on the page and the promise of what is to come create a winch that even while re-reading draws me in with renewed appreciation.

Opening hook: unique perspective, escalating intrigue, extreme personal and public stakes suggested, strong Q: What happened?

When a motley crew of agnostics, true believers, and misfits becomes the first to explore the Alpha Centauri world of Rakhat, their challenges lead to disastrous results, leaving only one survivor—and he, in the story’s opening frame, is too traumatized to tell the tale.

Inciting Incident hook: Just as strong for me, in all the same ways.

  2. The Girls by Lori Lansens

I have never looked into my sister’s eyes. I have never bathed alone. I have never stood in the grass at night and raised my arms to a beguiling moon. I’ve never used an airplane bathroom. Or worn a hat. Or been kissed like that. I’ve never driven a car. Or slept through the night. Never a private talk. Or solo walk. I’ve never climbed a tree. Or faded into a crowd. So many things I’ve never done, but oh, how I’ve been loved. And, if such things were to be, I’d live a thousand lives as me, to be loved so exponentially.

Opening hook: Unusual perspective through deep point of view, engaging character, voice.

Approaching their 30th birthday, sisters, best friends, and confidantes Rose and Ruby Darlen are the oldest living craniopagus twins. When Rose, the bookish sister, sets out to write her autobiography, it inevitably becomes the story of her short but extraordinary life with Ruby, the beautiful one—from obstacles they had no choice but to face together, to fundamental joys, to a deep and abiding love.

Inciting incident hook: Promises the same.

  3. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day in January of 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of 1974.

Opening hook: Powerful question raised, unusual perspective. 

In the spring of 1974, Calliope Stephanides, a student at a girls’ school in Grosse Pointe, finds herself drawn to a chain-smoking, strawberry blond clasmate with a gift for acting. The passion that furtively develops between them—along with Callie’s failure to develop—leads Callie to suspect that she is not like other girls. In fact, she is not really a girl at all.

Inciting incident hook: Same, and somehow written so it made me suck in a breath.

  The couple that supplements each other

In marriage as in life, an even stronger relationship can be built when each part of the power couple contributes something different to the whole. In these examples, opening lines and inciting incident hook differently, by raising their own yet equally compelling questions.

4. Lottery, Patricia Wood

My name is Perry L. Crandall and I am not retarded.

Gram always told me the L stood for Lucky.

“Mister Perry Lucky Crandall, quit your bellyaching!” she would scold. “You got two good eyes, two good legs, and you’re honest as the day is long.” She always called me lucky and honest.

Being honest means you don’t know any better.

Opening hook: Two engaging characters, voice.

After Gram dies, Perry L. Crandall, IQ 76, is left orphaned and bereft at the age of thirty-one. But when his weekly Washington State Lottery ticket wins him 12 million dollars, he suddenly finds he has more family than he knows what to do with.

Inciting incident hook: Unique perspective, strong story challenge for a (potentially) disadvantaged character.

  5. The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley

Late that night—on our last night—we lay in awe, mesmerized again by the Perseid meteor showers as they transformed stardust into streamers of light. They were an anniversary of sorts for us, a summertime event Elle and I both cherished, and we fell asleep on the widow’s walk of our old house, my beautiful wife curled up beside me, her head resting in the crook of my arm.

If only I’d stayed home in the morning—if only I’d looked over at Elle and realized nothing I could or would ever do was more important than keeping her safe. If only—Jesus—

Opening hook: Impending doom for lovers, that tortured “Jesus” in the second paragraph.

When a tragic accident leaves Elle brain-dead, Matt is devastated. Though he cannot bear losing her, he knows his wife, a thoughtful and adventurous scientist, feared only one thing—a slow death. Just before Matt agrees to remove Elle from life support, the doctors discover she is pregnant. Matt’s clear-cut decision becomes an impossible choice.

Inciting incident hook: Ripped-from-the-headlines relevance, life-or-death stakes, a quandary I must watch play out.

  6. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

In my first memory, I am three years old and I am trying to kill my sister.

Opening hook: Unusual perspective.

Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood, a role she has never challenged…until now.

Inciting incident hook: A character’s deep desire to live on her own terms, raises strong question, ripped-from-the-headlines relevance.

  The couple that compensates for one another

This power couple intuitively makes up for each other’s weaknesses. I found it interesting to note how powerful the hook and the inciting incident could be in their own right. In this first example, the inciting incident is fine, but does not necessarily promise a riveting read. The prose, on the other hand, is entertaining enough to make up for it.

Girls’ Poker Night by Jill A. Davis

Happy endings aren’t for cowards. I’ve been alive for how many years, and I’ve just figured that one out.

Opening hook: Voice. I want to hang out with this character.

When irreverent lifestyle columnist Ruby Capote falls for her boss, and he wants her to stop being quippy and clever and become the writer and the woman he knows she can be, Ruby turns to the support of her poker night friends.

Inciting incident: This one fell flat for me, having failed to raise a gripping question, but the opening lines were so inviting that I hopped aboard and read it through.

  Finding Jake by Bryan Reardon

My name is Simon Connolly. You may have heard of my son, Jake. Most people have, but they don’t know him. Not really.

As for me, they don’t know me, either. I’m not even sure why I’m still here. I can barely stand up, let alone venture beyond the front door. If I let such a simple effort beat me, I’m not sure what’s left.

This opening, from the prologue, is lukewarm for me. If I had read this opening alone, I probably wouldn’t have purchased the book. But wait till you read the inciting incident:

When stay-at-home dad Simon Connolly receives a text saying there has been a shooting at the high school, he is forced to wait at the rendezvous point with scores of other anxious parents as, one by one, they are reunited with their children. Their numbers dwindle until Simon sits alone. His son is the only child missing, inspiring Simon’s obsessive search for his son and deep introspection about this worthiness as a parent.

Inciting incident hook: Immediacy, relevance, life-or-death stakes, parent’s worst nightmare

This inciting incident was enough to span the lukewarm prologue and the backstory first chapter, which takes place eight months before Jake’s birth. Why? Because I. Had. To. Know. The readers who put it on the New York Times bestseller list seem to agree with me.

  Cheryl, here’s your answer

To answer Cheryl’s question, are the inciting incident and the hook the same thing? If you’re talking about a query letter, probably, because within its limited word count, and if positioned first, the inciting incident will raise the story question that hooks an agent’s interest. Make sure to carefully craft your inciting incident so that it raises a powerful question.

But take equal care with the opening lines of your manuscript, as their ability to lure the reader ever deeper will likely lead to an immediate desire to read.

In regard to your typical reader’s experience, though, the answer is no, they are not the same thing. The hook is what invites the reader into the story in the opening lines, and then keeps them reading until the inciting incident unfolds. That event will inspire the protagonist to set a goal, and the associated story question will take over, keeping the reader hooked until that question is addressed at the end of the story.

Like all things literary, hook is subjective, so I want to hear from you! Setting buzz aside, share one of your must-read-nows. Was it the inciting incident promised by the back-cover copy, the hook of the opening lines, or both that inspired you to dive right in?

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About Kathryn Craft

Kathryn Craft is the author of two novels from Sourcebooks, The Art of Falling and The Far End of Happy. Her work as a freelance developmental editor at Writing-Partner.com follows a nineteen-year career as a dance critic. Long a leader in the southeastern Pennsylvania writing scene, she leads writing workshops and retreats, and is a member of the Tall Poppy Writers. Learn more on Kathryn's website.

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