InkAndIxia

They/Them 21

[inkandixia]

Off Script (temporarily paused)

Cecil Lancaster, better known as RipTide, is the city's protector. He always puts the safety of others above himself. One day, Cecil decides to take a day off and relax. He's not the only hero in the city, after all. But what happens when Vito Wright, known as The Iron Baron, challenges him on the one day he takes off? Will he protect the city? Or will he let other heroes handle the most powerful villain the city's seen?

Word Count: 1,274 words Cecil Lancaster, known as RipTide by the public, woke up with a groan. It was his day off, but he knew he would

Word Count: 1,218 words The Baron looked over his shoulder at the hero and chuckled, sending a wave of fear over the hero. Cecil was watchi

Off Script - Chapter Three Word Count: 1,305 words Cecil’s mind was at war with itself as he was paralyzed with the decision. Be the hero a

[inkandixia]

Still no writing but I have more book recs. Also I really want the shelves in the second picture.

The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden is the second book in ‘The Housemaid’ series and I loved it. The pacing was really good and I had no idea what to expect. We learn a lot about the new characters that are introduced in this book and the plot is amazing. Supporting characters really shine in this book. Frieda McFadden is an amazing author and I love her psychological thrillers.

The Housemaid Is Watching by Freida McFadden is the third book in ‘The Housemaid’ series and again, I had no idea what to expect. We learn a lot about the characters and get to know Millie even better and see her in a different light. There’s a page in the beginning of the book telling people that there are trigger warnings on her website. There are vague spoilers in the warnings but I think most people would benefit from reading them. This book is slower paced than the others but it works really well for the story being told. When it starts to pick up, it gets dark fast.

[conleches]

some fucking resources for all ur writing fuckin needs

body language masterlist

a translator that doesn’t eat ass like google translate does

a reverse dictionary for when ur brain freezes

550 words to say instead of fuckin said

638 character traits for when ur brain freezes again

some more body language help 

[bellero]

REBLOG TO SAVE A WRITER

[charlesoberonn]

Heartwarming story: Little girl doesn’t have to do anything to fund her dad’s surgery because his expenses are covered by his country’s universal healthcare.

[charlesoberonn]

Human determination: Man bikes 18 miles to work every morning because he wants to and not because he can’t afford a car and would be fired if he’s late.

[charlesoberonn]

Spirit of Brotherhood: Neighbors host housewarming party for elderly resident who doesn’t need help in paying rent because his pension is more than enough.

[hyperlexichypatia]

SO INSPIRING: Local middle school students bake dozens of cupcakes because their home economics class is doing a baking unit. Their school is fully funded with everything they need.

[blandandtasteless]

This feels like calibrating my normal detector

[inkandixia]

It’s been a while since I posted anything to do with Off Script. I haven’t had the motivation to write for a while but I have a few book recs for anyone that wants them.

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden is amazing. It’s the kind of book you don’t want to put down. I’ve seen a lot of people say the plot was predictable but it wasn’t to me. I guess because I don’t normally read this kind of book? There are four books in the series (The Housemaid #1, The Housemaid’s Secret #2, The Housemaid’s Is Watching #3, and The Housemaid’s Wedding #2.5 in order of release). There are several descriptions of SA, abuse, mental health struggles, and murder.

Spring Harvest by Rektok Ross has me constantly guessing where the story will go next. Another book that I don’t want to put down. The protagonist is extremely annoying but written really well and I think shows off how the protagonist isn’t always meant to be perfect. There are four books that you can read in any order, one for each of the seasons (Spring Harvest, Summer Rental, Salem’s Fall, and Ski Weekend). There are descriptions of bullying, blood, gore, and death (and probably more since I’m about halfway through the book but I’ll edit the post if I have to).

[sugaryewscythe]

just a reminder that this blog is run by someone who:

— is anti ICE & fascism — is pro-choice & feminist — supports trans & queer people — hates generative AI & capitalism — supports immigrants & people of color — is pro-environmentalism & social justice — supports palestine & all other territories unjustly suffering

[sticksandstans]

time and time again it astounds me that ableism is continuously accepted and encouraged in our society. people flood tiktok comments with "is he acoustic?" "is it restarted?". people are saying the r word again. non disabled people publically debate whether or not they think a disabled couple should be allowed to have children. conspiracy theories about helen keller having faked her disability or not existed at all are thriving. one of the most popular breakout actors hosts SNL and participates in a skit implying tourette syndrome is fake and an excuse to do and say terrible things. i don't know how much longer i can fucking take it.

[what-even-is-thiss]

Where’s the YA protagonist teen girl and her two boyfriends that are supposed to save us from this mess anyways

[what-even-is-thiss]

The dystopia books lied. The teen throuples aren’t coming to save us.

[what-even-is-thiss]

Save me teen dystopia love triangle

[what-even-is-thiss]

Teen dystopia love triangle save me

[tiktoks-for-dead-pope]

[dozydawn]

nimble, a border collie-papillon mix, wins the 12” class in the 2024 masters agility championship. the first time a mixed breed has won at westminster ever.

[ch40s0w1]

context explaining why the announcer is screaming, this is supposed to take a high level competitive agility dog 40 seconds

[sandersstudies]

This video makes me cry every time it’s on my dash and I can’t even iterate why.

Like the dog doesn’t even know it’s a competition and she’s made history. She(?) just is happy and knows she made her owner happy too.

[solely-ashes]

The face of a being with only a wind storm between their ears, moments before unleashing it unto the world

[toastyglow]

they weren't lying, that dog sure can nimble

[bs-fangirl]

Behind The Scenes Photos From Iron Lung

Clean and clear set photos from Gabriela Torres, Lead Scenic Artist, and Iman Corbani, Production Designer

Iron Lung BTS Photo Sets: 1st - 2nd (movie spoilers) - 4th - 5th (creature concepts)

[roboco-san]

the distortion of "there is potential profit we did not earn" as "there is money we lost" is fascinating and disgusting to me. "megamediaconglomerate lost $1,000,000,000 to piracy this year" is a flat out lie. it is not true. they did not have a billion dollars, that they now do not have. they felt entitled to one billion dollars, that they did not have, and still do not have. it's an infuriating perversion of the truth

[bananonbinary]

cant believe i lost $1000 when i told some guy at walmart to give it to me and he said no

[inkandixia]

Off Script - Chapter Three

Word Count: 1,305 words

Cecil’s mind was at war with itself as he was paralyzed with the decision. Be the hero and risk burnout and failure, or keep his day off and help in other ways? He’s already seen how he can help others without putting his health at significant risk, but other people had to get hurt for it. The decision felt impossible. Too caught up in his anger, Cecil swiped his, thankfully unlit, candle off the table, shattering the glass as it crashed to the floor.

Cecil immediately regretted what he did and grabbed his broom to clean up the mess. He knew he would have many regrets about people getting hurt when he took the day off, but he didn’t think it’d be this bad. It’s never-ending. These thoughts won’t stop until I get back out there as RipTide Cecil thought. He sighed as he finished cleaning up the mess, putting the broom back in its place. Could today get any worse?

Cecil sat on his couch and stared at the TV, zoning out instead of watching anything. He wasn’t thinking of anything, just trying to forget about The Baron. As he sat there, the news was following The Baron’s path. There was no more live footage after what happened with the helicopter, but they were reporting on his latest known location just as Cecil started to tune back in. They’re lucky he doesn’t target them next, Cecil thought. They were making themselves targets by reporting on his location. The helicopter was already destroyed. It wouldn’t be surprising if he destroyed the entire studio too.

Cecil shook the thoughts away. He shouldn’t think like that, especially about his enemy and innocent people. He sighed and leaned back on the couch, his head tilted back and his eyes shut. If this were how his entire break would be, it wouldn’t even be worth it. 

Cecil decided to find solace in his favorite meal. He ordered some soba and hoped it would arrive in a reasonable time, considering the circumstances. How could people live like this; constantly on edge, waiting for the next attack? How many people had to make emergency plans just in case?  As Cecil thought, he felt increasingly obligated to go out there and be the hero everyone needed, but he knew he couldn’t without risking his health. After all, Cecil has to win every time. The Baron only had to win once. Could he really risk that?

The amount of pressure Cecil felt was immense, almost overwhelming. Should he take breaks more often? Or try to deal with it and keep fighting? The decision felt impossible. A knock at the door brought him out of his thoughts. He went to the door, guard up, and was visibly relieved to see a delivery driver with his food.

“Thank you so much for coming out right now. Wait here a moment.” Cecil said as he grabbed his food. He set it on the table as he walked back into his apartment and grabbed some cash from his wallet. He took an extra $50 to tip the driver for delivering to him in such dangerous circumstances.

“Thanks, again. Have a nice day.” Cecil said, handing him the cash. The driver thanked him for the tip and left. Closing the door, Cecil was left alone again. It was getting hard to tell if that was a good thing or not, being alone. He never had time to feel lonely before. Is this how it felt? Usually, Cecil spent most of his day fighting and protecting everyone. Then, he’d come home and recover, leaving little time for food and self-care. He didn’t have time to think about how this was affecting his life. Now, it was all he could think about. 

As Cecil ate, he could feel the loneliness setting in. He had no friends, no one to talk to. He used to, but all his relationships faded with time as he grew up and became RipTide. Cecil thought back to his childhood.

He was always bullied for enjoying school, most others thinking of it as a chore instead of a passion. Even when he went out of his way to hide in the back of class and keep his head down, he still somehow had a target on his back. That all changed when he first discovered his powers in high school. He was being bullied, again, and was getting upset. Slowly, the weather around them started to change. The bullies and everyone around them were getting drenched in rain, but Cecil remained dry. From then on, people began pressuring him to learn how to control his powers and become a hero. 

Powers weren’t uncommon, but people were rarely as strong as Cecil. Most people had slight good luck or proficiency in finding things. People got lucky if they could peer into others' minds, but even then it was like looking through fogged glass. Cecil was something special, everyone told him, and he should use his powers for good. After all, sitting around like a ‘normal person’ would be a waste. Maybe that was the sentiment that made the pressure he felt so heavy; the fact that he was constantly told he had to be something one day. Cecil sighed, for what felt like the hundredth time. If he knew then what he knew now, he never would’ve become a hero.

Cecil changed the channel, opting for something more lighthearted. He decided to watch one of his favorite movies. It always brought with it a sense of safety and security, reminding him of a simpler time—a time when he wasn’t bullied, a time when he could just be a kid. He wished he could go back, but he couldn’t.

Cecil ate his Soba as he watched the movie, getting so lost in the plot that he forgot about The Baron entirely. Eventually, the movie came to an end and Cecil was yet again faced with the reality of his situation. He cleaned up after himself, a feeling of desolation washing over him. As time passed, he realized how closely he tied his identity to being RipTide and how he didn’t know who he was without that. 

It was then that Cecil decided to continue his day off, despite his prior hesitation, and try to find some hobbies outside of being a hero. He made a mental list:

Try things he loved as a kid

Look at things similar to what he loved as a kid

Try the hobbies of his favorite characters

It wasn’t much, but at least he had an idea of where to start. As a kid, he loved learning, so maybe he could find something new to learn about. He also loved sketching and painting. He could use the time he now had to get some supplies and paint. The first thing that came to mind was to paint how he’s feeling, and express his burnout. That’s what people resonate with, right? Feelings and a personal connection to the painting. 

He decided. He was making a trip to the craft store as soon as it was safe. Wait. Where was The Baron? Cecil rushed back to his TV, quickly changing the channel to the news. Luckily, they were still reporting on his last known location. The Baron was miles away, seemingly frustrated based on the word of locals calling in to report him.

“The Baron is reportedly exasperated, almost giving up.” said one of the anchors. Cecil was shocked. The Baron was about to give up? He was tired of looking for a fight that would never come? It almost didn’t seem real. Cecil knew The Baron better than people thought and he wasn’t one to give up. Was he also tired? Cecil quickly shook that thought away. Why was he sympathizing with a villain?

[inkandixia]

Off Script - Chapter Two

Word Count: 1,218 words

The Baron looked over his shoulder at the hero and chuckled, sending a wave of fear over the hero. Cecil was watching this all as it happened, hoping the heroes would be able to overpower The Baron or at least tire him out so he had no choice but to retreat. Of course, Cecil knew the chances of that happening were slim. The Baron was the most powerful villain in the city. There’s almost no way a group of heroes with practically useless powers against The Baron’s magnetism would come out on top, at least not without a long, hard fight. 

Before the other heroes could land a hit on The Baron, he launched forward, using his magnetism to fly further. He dragged the wood hero with him, sending him flying into a bookstore before he could counter the attack. The Baron was smirking as he heard the rest of the heroes come out of the shadows and demand he surrender or be arrested. The Baron turned around and slowly started stalking towards the heroes.

“You think you stand a chance against me? I don’t even know your names!” The Baron shouts, a cocky smile on his face. The heroes glanced at each other, obviously scared of The Baron and his capabilities. The Baron stopped in his tracks, looking between the heroes.

“I’ll give you one chance to walk away without a fight. I’m not here for you, I’m here for RipTide.” The Baron shouts, suddenly taking on a more serious tone. The heroes prepared for a fight, looking at each other once more before charging at The Baron. The Baron sighed and shook his head, almost like a disappointed parent scolding their child.

It didn’t take more than fifteen minutes for The Baron to put the rest of the heroes on the ground, effectively putting them out of commission for the foreseeable future. The helicopter was above the fight as the footage was broadcast live. Without warning, The Baron used his magnetism powers to slowly bring the helicopter lower before reversing the polarity, flinging it out of control. Suddenly the news cut back to the reporters in the studio.

The reporters looked slightly panicked before trying to disguise it and move on to the normal broadcast. They started talking about the weather and the traffic, but it was all background noise for Cecil. All he could think about was those heroes, hoping they were okay. Cecil sighed and cleaned up his trash before calling 9-1-1. He told the operator where the heroes were and to hurry. Eventually, ambulances showed up for them. 

The heroes were carted off in the ambulances, covered in dust, blood, and burns. Cecil looked out his window and silently wished the heroes a smooth, swift recovery. The Baron moved on to trying to bring him out of other neighborhoods. Cecil sighed in relief, knowing his identity and home were safe. As long as he had a safe home to come back to, he was happy—at least until he started feeling burnt out. 

That burnout, in a way, caused other heroes to be injured. No, Cecil thought to himself, I needed this day off. It was bound to happen eventually, right? Cecil tried to ignore the evergrowing guilt, weighing heavily in his chest. He leaned back in his seat, sighing as he tried to ignore the guilt. Cecil couldn’t help but feel conflicted like it was his fault the other heroes got injured, but he knew he had to prioritize himself for a change.

Maybe, Cecil thought, if he helped clean up the destruction left by The Baron, he wouldn’t feel so guilty. He’d be helping people without hurting himself or risking burnout. Cecil stood up and put his shoes on, grabbing thick gloves and trash bags on the way. He slowly came out of his apartment, looking around at his neighbors’ doors. Was this really how it felt? Cecil thought. To feel so helpless in a situation where your life was in danger, to feel like you couldn’t save yourself, it must've been paralyzing. 

Cecil walked down the steps and out the front door of his apartment building, looking around to be sure The Baron had left the area. Once he was sure, he put his gloves on, walked around, and picked up whatever scattered trash and rubble he could. He started near entrances to buildings, deciding those were most important to clear. He also picked up anything sharp like glass or metal to keep things safe for others who might leave.

Slowly, people started to come outside and watch what he was doing. Some people even joined in with trash bags of their own. When he noticed, he couldn’t help but smile. He loved the sense of community being built simply by cleaning up a shared space. More and more people started to join in and they all got to talking. Cecil was happy with the impact he was making. Even though he took a day off as a hero, he could still help his community and even help people meet. He was still making things better. The guilt slowly dissipated as people started smiling and laughing despite the surrounding destruction. 

The atmosphere quickly went from gloomy to upbeat. Someone even started playing music. This is what Cecil wanted, to help people feel safe and happy. Maybe he didn’t need to be a hero every day to achieve that. It was then that Cecil knew he made the right choice. Of course, there was still lingering doubt in the back of his mind, but that would go away with time. Now it was time to focus on what he achieved today, despite putting the costume aside.

As the crowd started to fill up their bags, someone offered to take it all in his truck since there were no dumpsters nearby. Yet another show of kindness and humanity when it was needed most. The cleaning went much quicker with other people helping. After an hour and a half, they cleaned up everything they could and there were several truck beds filled with rubble and other trash. Cecil, along with everyone else, said their goodbyes and went back into their homes, the truck owners driving to dispose of the rubble.

As Cecil sat down he couldn’t help as his mind wandered to The Baron. Where was he now? What neighborhood was he terrorizing? Were there other heroes to stop him? What if someone got hurt? With a shake of his head, Cecil tried to shake away the anxiety that came along with inaction. He couldn’t help his racing thoughts. If this was how his time off would be, maybe he was better off being burnt out anyway. At least that way he’ll know he did everything he could to help people until he couldn’t anymore. But with that came downtime, which brought on the anxiety he was feeling at this very moment.

Cecil sighed in frustration at his circumstances. He was at an impasse. If he helped as a hero, he was putting himself and everyone around him in more danger by risking burnout. If he didn’t he felt immense guilt and anxiety, almost enough to will him to put the costume back on. Cecil glanced at his closet, the temptation gnawing at him.

[inkandixia]

Off Script - Chapter One

Word Count: 1,274 words

Cecil Lancaster, known as RipTide by the public, woke up with a groan. It was his day off, but he knew he wouldn’t get a break. He never does. He plans these days off and villains just don’t care. Don’t they need a break too? If Cecil didn’t know any better, he would say the villains were all secretly working together to overwork him to death. He glanced at the hero costume in his closet, wondering if he should fake his death and get a regular day job. He would’ve kept his powers hidden if he knew he’d be signing up for constant battles and no time to relax. With a sigh, Cecil rose from his bed.

He looked at the costume hanging in his closet with contempt. He decided that today would be the day he prioritized himself. After all, he wasn’t the only hero in town. The others could handle a day without him. He got up and walked over to his closet, taking the costume off its hanger and tossing it in the corner. He sighed, his muscles relaxing as if a burden was lifted off his shoulders, and walked into his kitchen to grab a coffee before heading to Alfonso’s sandwich shop. Even though he knew he was taking the day off regardless of what happened, Cecil was still stressed out about any possible villain attacks. He tried to push those thoughts to the back of his mind as he sat on his couch and turned on the news.

He took his time drinking his coffee this morning, wanting to savor every moment of peace he had. Usually, he barely had time to drink half a cup before some villain attacked. Now that he was taking his long-deserved break, he took his time. Cecil couldn’t help the feeling of regret in his chest at the thought of sleeping in, wishing he turned off his alarm just once. As he finished his coffee, and put the mug in the sink, he saw it was 6:45 in the morning. Cecil threw on a jacket and his shoes, walking out the door to Alfonso’s.

On the way over, he was glad he kept his identity secret. Being recognized or hounded by the people to do something would ruin his day and force him back into the spotlight. He opened the door to Alfonso’s with a smile, breathing in the aroma of breakfast sandwiches and hashbrowns. He approached the counter and greeted the cashier, Alfonso’s nephew Chris. Cecil liked that the shop was family-owned and run. It felt more authentic than big corporations and the family wasn’t consumed by greed, keeping the prices reasonable.

“Morning Cecil. You look happy.” Chris said, already having his food in hand.

“Morning. I’m taking the day off.” Cecil said, handing over the money and grabbing his breakfast. 

“Good. You deserve it. Enjoy it while you can.” Chris joked. Cecil laughed with Chris, but the words struck deep. His break wasn’t forever. He’d have to be the hero everyone wanted him to be. Cecil pushed those thoughts away and left the shop with his breakfast. The walk home was almost too calm. But then again, Cecil was accustomed to chaos, so maybe the nearly unnerving peace was good. Cecil was cautious, but he let himself get lost in thought on the way home, relying on his subconscious to bring him home.

As he turned the familiar corner to his apartment, a crash from behind him brought him back to reality. It took all his self-control not to drop his food and sprint to the sound. He was so used to dropping everything to help everyone else, he wasn’t used to helping himself. After a moment, he started to run into his apartment building, his adrenaline-fuelled legs carrying him into the safety of what he called home. 

As he reached his apartment, Cecil rushed in and locked the door behind him, dropping the bag that held his breakfast on the floor. His legs shook as he felt the adrenaline pumping in his veins, leaning on the door to keep himself upright. His breathing was fast and shallow, his eyes were wide, and he was filled with a sense of terror he never felt before. He knew he could defend himself, but he needed this break. Outside, there was a loud, booming voice in the distance. He recognized the voice immediately. It was his rival, The Iron Baron, The Baron for short. 

“Where are you, RipTide? Too scared to fight? Come out here and face me, or hide away like the coward you know you are,” the Baron yelled, his smirk apparent. A few moments later, there was a loud crash, which Cecil could only assume was Baron landing on the street below. The Baron always loved theatrics. Cecil knew if he didn’t show up to fight The Baron after being directly challenged, people might lose trust in him as a hero. He also knew that it might bring the issue of overworking oneself to the spotlight. 

With a sigh, Cecil grabbed his breakfast and sat at the table. He did his best to keep his head down and focus on eating. As he ate, he couldn’t help the growing feeling of guilt in his gut. He could protect these people. He could make sure no one gets hurt. How many people would have to suffer because he decided to take the day off? He tried to push those thoughts away, but the nagging feeling was always in the back of his mind.

After he finished his breakfast sandwich, Cecil put the wrapper in the trash and looked out the window, wondering what he would find and if he would be able to continue his day off. When he looked outside, he was shocked to see the block was not on fire or destroyed. Instead, he saw a very exasperated and confused Baron looking around for a hero that likely wouldn’t come. Cecil couldn’t help but chuckle to himself at the sight. If this was all it took to get him out of commission I would’ve done this a long time ago. No, I should’ve done this a long time ago. With that, Cecil shut his curtain and sat on his couch to watch TV.

Cecil sighed, amused at how little it took to confuse his rival. He turned on the news, out of curiosity, and saw reporters asking “What happened to RipTide? Where is RipTide when we need him? Why did RipTide abandon us when we needed him most?” He rolled his eyes and scoffed. He’s not the only hero in the city. Why do they always have to rely on him? He needs a break, he’s only human. 

Before the reporters could continue their criticisms, the footage quickly switched to the street outside his apartment. The camera was obviously on a helicopter. Not only did the point of view make it obvious, but he could also hear it outside his apartment. If he had a mind to complain, he would. The footage showed a group of heroes hidden in the shadows, surrounding The Baron without him realizing. Cecil silently hoped everything would go well so he wouldn’t have to step in, his mind filled with dread. 

Cecil watched as the heroes started a strategic attack, attacking from the shadows. However, their powers weren’t beneficial against The Baron’s magnetism abilities. The heroes, equipped with wood-based, air-based, water-based, and sand-based powers, were practically target practice for The Baron. As The Baron felt wood wrap around his arm from behind, he smirked. This was his game now, and everyone knew it.