Lady in Red

I'm Roxanne Ritchi, KMCP Channel 8 news reporter, and this is my blog.

[singinghands]

((testing to see if I’m muted))

[reporter-in-red]

(( So here’s an idea. 

We know that Mattel has a history of making Barbies based on celebrities: movie stars, musicians, athletes, etc. What if they approached the @ever-so-humble Megamind to make a Barbie based on her? 

Roxanne would definitely want one XD ))

[rpmusings-galore]

                             I know this whole damn  CITY  thinks it needs you !

                                               [  But, not as much as I do…  ]

[dark-blue-mondays]

Meeting Minions

[finallyhadareasontowin]

dark-blue-mondays:

littlebluehybrid:

[’Credenza’? She’d have to look that word up. Like, she does have her handmade cellphone that she could look it up, but it can wait. Also, it’s not easy to navigate her phone one handed and as annoying as her brother can be, she’s not going to just leave him hanging in the middle of something so important.]

Hey. [She waves a greeting.The little fish aren’t quite what she was expecting. They aren’t as small as she had they would be and they aren’t just recolored duplicates of Minion either.]

I’m fine, but thank you. [Honestly, she would like to grab a soda and go sulk in the corner, but that would be rude. Instead, Aqua nudges Vycter, trying to prompt him to speak up or step closer to the tank.]

Finn and Hadd both fluttered their fins happily.  They were clearly both taking in the family, but it didn’t take them long to zero in on Vycter.  

“What’s your name?” Finn asked, swimming closer to eye level for the little blue boy in front of the tank.  

“Do you like to swim?” Hadd added before any of them even had a chance to answer, and eagerly joining his brother in swimming closer to Vycter’s level.  “We swim here in the tank but Minion says we can go in the lake this summer once the water warms up.”

“Have you ever been in the lake?” Finn asked, the questions coming quickly as the pair became more excitable.   

Finding himself nudged forward, Vycter is uncharacteristically shy; he was used to his mother’s Minion, of course, and nearly everyone else in the room, but the three new fish-like aliens were unfamiliar enough that he was quiet a little bit longer, looking back at Aqua and his mothers for encouragement.

By the time he warms up, with Finn and Hadd’s questions finished, the little boy gives a wide grin. “My name is Vycter,” he answers quickly, sounding proud of himself and nodding before answering the second question. “Uh huh, mother taught me.” Again he’s beaming with pride over the accomplishment, looking back toward Megamind quickly as she encourages him to continue.

With Vycter having taken over the conversation, she’s fallen back to stand next to Roxanne and Aqua.

“You get to swim in the lake?” Vycter sounds disbelieving to begin with; they were kids too, right? Why they were allowed to already when he hadn’t yet wasn’t fair.

[reporter-in-red]

So far, so good. Roxanne watched as Vycter talked with the two young fish, and while she knew nothing was certain yet, she had a good feeling about the way they seemed to be getting along. Growing up with a large, loving family, it wouldn’t be as critical for her son to have a minionfish as it had been for her mate, but having such a close friendship with someone could still make an importance difference in his life. 

She hadn’t missed the way Aqua was hanging back, though. Roxanne stepped closer to the young blue girl, and whispered, “Are you sure you don’t want to talk to them too?” 

[dark-blue-mondays]

Meeting Minions

[finallyhadareasontowin]

dark-blue-mondays:

littlebluehybrid:

reporter-in-red:

“Come on, sweetie,” Roxanne called, beckoning to Vycter as she made her way toward the car. “We need to get going. I know those fish are going to be just as excited to meet you as you are to meet them.” 

After she and Megamind had decided to accept Harrison’s offer, the reporter had fretted a little over how to hold the first meeting. She understood that being partnered with a minionfish was a key event in a blue person’s life, and she wanted to do it right. Sure, Megamind and Minion’s first meeting hadn’t been all that formal, but Megamind’s parents had been forced to give him to her at the last minute, as their planet broke apart around them. What if things were usually done differently? 

It had gotten easier when she’d started thinking of it like any other first playdate between her son and another child. She’d even managed to stop herself from dressing Vycter up like she’d originally planned; instead, she’d let him wear his favorite dinosaur T-shirt. 

If one of those fish is going to choose him, they’re going to choose him just as he is. 

[Aqua trails along after the group. So much fuss over befriending a fish person. It’s not like it’s the same thing as Megamind and Minion. Vycter isn’t getting what amounts to a twin brother. This is a friend and maybe another adopted sibling. It’s stupid and dramatic.]

[And yet she is still nervous for how this is going to go.]

Security at Megamind Inc had been prepared for the family to arrive, and they were quickly shown to the private elevator that lead up to Minion’s floor.  The elevator dinged as it arrived on the 25th floor, opening right into the seating area in front of the large tank.   

Minion did one last quick swim around Finn and Hadd before the doors opened, then straightened himself up like a proud papa.  The three fish were in the large tank, treading water front and center.  

“Welcome to our home,” Minion said, then looked to his spawn, hoping for the best.  

“My name is Finn.  Please come in,” Finn said politely, just as they’d practiced. 

“And I’m Hadd.  Would you like something to eat or drink?” Hadd offered, matching his brother’s tone.  

“There are some cookies on the credenza,” Minion offered.  And he fluttered a fin towards the side of the room.  “As well as a selection of drinks.”

On the ride up, Vycter is dancing from foot to foot, having insisted on being the one to push the button for the elevator. There’s an excited grin on the little boy’s face, picking up on both Roxanne and Megamind’s response to what was going on. He’s holding onto Aqua’s hand while the car heads up, nervous in his own way and wanting to stay close to his older sister.

When they arrive, Megamind keeps pace behind Roxanne and Vycter, letting them both take the lead and grinning on hearing the little boy’s excited babbling fall into surprise wide-eyed silence. Giving Aqua time to catch up, by the time her daughter has she follows the rest inside. “Thank you,” is her response to the welcome, pleased by Finn and Hadd’s polite greetings.

She’s keeping an eye on both children, and Roxanne, taking note of the look on Aqua’s face and giving the teenager a look of encouragement. So far her impression of both young minion-fish was favorable.

“Did you want anything?” Megamind redirects, including Aqua in proceedings too.

@reporter-in-red​

[reporter-in-red]

Roxanne approached the tank with a friendly smile. She wasn’t entirely sure what she’d expected the two young fish to be like, but she’d hoped that the children of any Minion would be polite and good-natured, and she was glad to see she’d been right. “It’s a pleasure to meet both of you.” 

She turned to Vycter and Aqua, watching their reactions. 

[dark-blue-mondays]

Meeting Minions

Minion had been fussing at his little spawn all morning.  As usual Finn and Hadd were more interested in antagonizing each other than getting their home ready for guests.  Viola was willing to clean up, but she rolled her eyes and grumbled about not wanting to be ‘part of a base servile class’ and peppering her mutterings with words like ‘proletariat’.  Sometimes Minion didn’t know what he was going to do with them.  

But that was at least part of why they were having guests over today.  

Zara had been surly about not being invited, but now that she was spending most of her time with Devin, Minion had been firm.  Her role as Devin’s minion was secure and now it was Finn and Hadd’s turn to shine.  The seating area for mammals had been prepared and the fish waited in their tank.  

Once the cleaning was done, Viola’s contribution was to roll her eyes and swim off to a quiet corner of the aquarium out of sight.  She would rather have been in her suit reading a book, but that would mean more interactions with the mammals than she was interested in or comfortable with.  No, she would much rather just avoid all this mammalian ridiculousness all together.  

Finn and Hadd swam in nervous circles, occasionally nipping each other with their teeth as they waited.  Their father had prepared them for this all their lives.  Both felt the pressure of having failed to bond with Devin, and both felt like this was their last shot to be proper minionfish to blue children as was necessary and proper.  

[finallyhadareasontowin]

The day Megamind had been anticipating, fairly buzzing in her eagerness for everyone to be ready and go, was finally here. She’d been distracted most of that morning, prepared long before actually needing to head out and having to find busy-work to occupy her time until then.

Tugging gloves on over now stained fingers from a ‘minor mishap’ her distraction had caused, she’s the first one to the car at first before Megamind turns away on her heel, going to find Roxanne instead. Passing the keys between her hands for something for them to do while she walked.

[reporter-in-red]

“Come on, sweetie,” Roxanne called, beckoning to Vycter as she made her way toward the car. “We need to get going. I know those fish are going to be just as excited to meet you as you are to meet them.” 

After she and Megamind had decided to accept Harrison’s offer, the reporter had fretted a little over how to hold the first meeting. She understood that being partnered with a minionfish was a key event in a blue person’s life, and she wanted to do it right. Sure, Megamind and Minion’s first meeting hadn’t been all that formal, but Megamind’s parents had been forced to give him to her at the last minute, as their planet broke apart around them. What if things were usually done differently? 

It had gotten easier when she’d started thinking of it like any other first playdate between her son and another child. She’d even managed to stop herself from dressing Vycter up like she’d originally planned; instead, she’d let him wear his favorite dinosaur T-shirt. 

If one of those fish is going to choose him, they’re going to choose him just as he is. 

[fuckyeahsciencepickuplines]

The limit of my love for you does not exist.

[finallyhadareasontowin]

@reporter-in-red

[fuckyeahsciencepickuplines]

According to the second law of thermodynamics, you're supposed to share your hotness with me.

[finallyhadareasontowin]

@reporter-in-red

[admiralfitzroy-deactivated20170]

sapphic moodboard : space

[finallyhadareasontowin]

@reporter-in-red

[setepenre-set]

Evil Queen Roxanne

[finallyhadareasontowin]

@reporter-in-red

[fuckboimemes]

Describe my muse in the shittiest way possible.

[reporter-in-red]

Yasher Koach

[finallyhadareasontowin]

reporter-in-red:

ever-so-humble:

“I did, Mom?” Vycter asks happily, staring at the light dancing in front of the group as he leans against Roxanne’s side. Being able to spend time together, all of them, was one of his favorite things at this age. More so with that time being special like this.

Megamind is smiling warmly, hearing that. Deciding then to reveal her own surprise later rather than pull attention away from the current moment. “Did you expect anything else?” she teases lightly in response.

Roxanne just laughed softly, and hugged her mate and children. 

While they were embracing, Minion made his way out of the kitchen. The fish had sometimes joined in their ceremonies in years past, and might join them on some of the next seven nights, but more often he and Matilda spent the evenings on hero duty, so that Megamind wouldn’t have to worry about being called away from her family on a special occasion. And tonight he’d had one extra duty - but a very welcome one. 

“Who wants some sufganiyot?” The fish cheerfully presented them with a platter of small donuts. It had taken him some experimenting to get the hang of frying them himself, but he’d had great fun coming up with different flavored fillings. 

“Me, Uncle Minion!” Sitting up straight all of a sudden and squirming free, Vycter leans across the table to try and grab one of the donuts for himself. Grinning happily up at one of the other members of his family as he does so, that same grin disappearing not long after when Megamind looks over, reminds him to be polite with one of her arms still around Roxanne. A huff and he sits back again. “Please?”

[reporter-in-red]

She playfully made a show of considering it then nodded. “Well . . . okay. But just one for now. We’re going to have dinner soon, and you can have more for dessert.” 

Roxanne scanned the plate herself, and picked out a sufganiyah filled with what turned out to be blackberry jelly. “Mmm-mmnh! Minion, you really outdid yourself this year!” she declared through a mouth full of pastry. 

“Hey, I do my best,” the fish replied with a smile. He hadn’t tasted any of the treats himself; while he enjoyed cooking for others, his alien piscine biology still limited what foods he could actually eat, and he’d learned the hard way over the years that sugar and yeast disagreed with him. “And speaking of dinner, it’s just about ready too.” 

[reporter-in-red]

Yasher Koach

[finallyhadareasontowin]

reporter-in-red:

ever-so-humble:

Mouthing the lines along with Roxanne, the memory of them after that first time was clear in Megamind’s thoughts. She’d taken the presented opportunity then to look into learning the language herself as much as possible. That, however, was something she was saving as a surprise for later, assuming she had been successful at keeping it from Roxanne’s discovery.

Vycter as well is paying careful close attention to the words the way he’d done the year before, reaching out then to try and get Aqua’s attention too, giving his older sister a wide happy grin.

Roxanne raised the shamash one more time, and lit the first candle on the left. The small yellow flame glowed in the dark Lair as she carefully set the shamash back to join it. 

With the ceremony complete, she went over to Vycter’s side, and sat down to admire the light with her family. “You did very well, sweetie. You two as well,” she added to Megamind and Aqua with a playful smile. 

“I did, Mom?” Vycter asks happily, staring at the light dancing in front of the group as he leans against Roxanne’s side. Being able to spend time together, all of them, was one of his favorite things at this age. More so with that time being special like this.

Megamind is smiling warmly, hearing that. Deciding then to reveal her own surprise later rather than pull attention away from the current moment. “Did you expect anything else?” she teases lightly in response.

[reporter-in-red]

Roxanne just laughed softly, and hugged her mate and children. 

While they were embracing, Minion made his way out of the kitchen. The fish had sometimes joined in their ceremonies in years past, and might join them on some of the next seven nights, but more often he and Matilda spent the evenings on hero duty, so that Megamind wouldn’t have to worry about being called away from her family on a special occasion. And tonight he’d had one extra duty - but a very welcome one. 

“Who wants some sufganiyot?” The fish cheerfully presented them with a platter of small donuts. It had taken him some experimenting to get the hang of frying them himself, but he’d had great fun coming up with different flavored fillings. 

[reporter-in-red]

Yasher Koach

[finallyhadareasontowin]

reporter-in-red:

ever-so-humble:

reporter-in-red:

Roxanne was busy setting the candles in place, but she noticed how intently Vycter was watching, and she couldn’t help beaming back at him. It looked like her wish to have him take part in the ceremony this year was off to a good start. 

With the candles ready, she clicked the lighter to life, and lit the shamash. The small white candle felt warm in her hand as she lifted it - a tiny piece of light and warmth on a dark night. She cleared her throat, much the way she did before speaking on camera, and began to speak the blessings in the low, musical voice she remembered her mother using. 

“Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam, asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanu l'had'lik neir shel Chanukah. Amein.”  

As soon as Roxanne clicks the lighter on, the Brainbots in the room dim to allow the candlelight the chance to take over and be the room’s primary light-source.

Something that has Megamind smiling more broadly, glad that that had gone off without any trouble. This night, with the significance it held to Roxanne, was one she hoped went smoothly, and seeing it start out that way is a confidence boost that it would continue as such.

Vycter, too, is continuing to pay close attention, though that effort is diverted when Roxanne starts speaking and he looks over toward her instead. It’s a brief break, however, a silent reminder to focus turning him back to the candles.

With the first blessing spoken, Roxanne continued. “Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam, she'asah nisim la'avoteinu bayamim haheim baziman hazeh. Amein.” She had translated the words for her wife and children the first time they had celebrated together, but from then on, she had always spoken them only in Hebrew. 

Now, holding the shamash high, she spoke the blessing for the first night. “Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam,  shehecheyanu v'kiyimanu v'higi'anu laz'man hazeh. Amein.”

That final line, “kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season”, was the one her mother had always emphasized the most. She had explained to her children (once they were old enough to understand) that the message at the heart of so many Jewish holidays was one of survival. 

“People have been trying to destroy us thousands of years,” Naomi had said. “King Antiochus tried, the Pharaoh tried, Haman tried, and so many others. But as long as there’s evil, good will rise up against it. Now Antiochus and his empire are long gone, and our people are still here, celebrating another Hanukkah.” 

Mouthing the lines along with Roxanne, the memory of them after that first time was clear in Megamind’s thoughts. She’d taken the presented opportunity then to look into learning the language herself as much as possible. That, however, was something she was saving as a surprise for later, assuming she had been successful at keeping it from Roxanne’s discovery.

Vycter as well is paying careful close attention to the words the way he’d done the year before, reaching out then to try and get Aqua’s attention too, giving his older sister a wide happy grin.

[reporter-in-red]

Roxanne raised the shamash one more time, and lit the first candle on the left. The small yellow flame glowed in the dark Lair as she carefully set the shamash back to join it. 

With the ceremony complete, she went over to Vycter’s side, and sat down to admire the light with her family. “You did very well, sweetie. You two as well,” she added to Megamind and Aqua with a playful smile. 

[reporter-in-red]

Yasher Koach

[finallyhadareasontowin]

reporter-in-red:

Roxanne was busy setting the candles in place, but she noticed how intently Vycter was watching, and she couldn’t help beaming back at him. It looked like her wish to have him take part in the ceremony this year was off to a good start. 

With the candles ready, she clicked the lighter to life, and lit the shamash. The small white candle felt warm in her hand as she lifted it - a tiny piece of light and warmth on a dark night. She cleared her throat, much the way she did before speaking on camera, and began to speak the blessings in the low, musical voice she remembered her mother using. 

“Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam, asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanu l'had'lik neir shel Chanukah. Amein.”  

As soon as Roxanne clicks the lighter on, the Brainbots in the room dim to allow the candlelight the chance to take over and be the room’s primary light-source.

Something that has Megamind smiling more broadly, glad that that had gone off without any trouble. This night, with the significance it held to Roxanne, was one she hoped went smoothly, and seeing it start out that way is a confidence boost that it would continue as such.

Vycter, too, is continuing to pay close attention, though that effort is diverted when Roxanne starts speaking and he looks over toward her instead. It’s a brief break, however, a silent reminder to focus turning him back to the candles.

[reporter-in-red]

With the first blessing spoken, Roxanne continued. “Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam, she'asah nisim la'avoteinu bayamim haheim baziman hazeh. Amein.” She had translated the words for her wife and children the first time they had celebrated together, but from then on, she had always spoken them only in Hebrew. 

Now, holding the shamash high, she spoke the blessing for the first night. “Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam,  shehecheyanu v'kiyimanu v'higi'anu laz'man hazeh. Amein.”

That final line, “kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season”, was the one her mother had always emphasized the most. She had explained to her children (once they were old enough to understand) that the message at the heart of so many Jewish holidays was one of survival. 

“People have been trying to destroy us thousands of years,” Naomi had said. “King Antiochus tried, the Pharaoh tried, Haman tried, and so many others. But as long as there’s evil, good will rise up against it. Now Antiochus and his empire are long gone, and our people are still here, celebrating another Hanukkah.” 

[reporter-in-red]

Yasher Koach

[finallyhadareasontowin]

reporter-in-red:

ever-so-humble:

reporter-in-red:

ever-so-humble:

Still pouting, he’s appearing to accept that, purposely avoiding looking at the bag. “Okay, Mom.”

Mumbling that last part, he looks up toward Roxanne, then grins suddenly. “Can we do the candles then?”

“We can if everyone’s ready.” She grinned right back at him. “Wanna help Mommy find everyone and bring them downstairs?” 

“Yeah!” Already walking several quick steps away, he pauses just long enough to look back at Roxanne over one shoulder before hurrying away to go find Megamind.

~

With the eager Vycter to help round them up, it didn’t take long to gather the rest of the Lair family. The last rays of the setting sun faded and the sky fell with the deep, heavy darkness that only a Michigan winter could bring. 

Flanked by a line of the blue-and-white brainbots, they gathered at one of the Lair’s huge two-story windows. A table had already been set up, and Roxanne now lifted out the menorah that her mother had given her when she first left home all those years ago. It was small, made of lovingly polished silver, and inlaid with a delicate design of blue glass. She hadn’t used it during the years she’d lived alone, but she’d held onto it all the same, remembering her mother’s story of how their ancestors had carried it, unbroken, all the way from Poland. 

Surrounded by her family like this, Megamind can’t keep the wide grin off her face as she looks over the group. Vycter’s chair next to Aqua, she’s seated while her little brother is leaning over the table, standing on the seat to add extra height.

Behavior that on other nights Megamind would have tried to discourage but right now she’s just as eager as her son to begin, even if for different reasons. Roxanne had mentioned wanting to bring out the menorah she’d grown up with before and though Megamind herself wasn’t surprised, she keeps an eye on Vycter and Aqua both, trying to direct Roxanne’s attention to the look on the little boy’s face as best as she could.

[reporter-in-red]

Roxanne was busy setting the candles in place, but she noticed how intently Vycter was watching, and she couldn’t help beaming back at him. It looked like her wish to have him take part in the ceremony this year was off to a good start. 

With the candles ready, she clicked the lighter to life, and lit the shamash. The small white candle felt warm in her hand as she lifted it - a tiny piece of light and warmth on a dark night. She cleared her throat, much the way she did before speaking on camera, and began to speak the blessings in the low, musical voice she remembered her mother using. 

“Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam, asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanu l'had'lik neir shel Chanukah. Amein.”  

[reporter-in-red]

Yasher Koach

[finallyhadareasontowin]

reporter-in-red:

ever-so-humble:

reporter-in-red:

ever-so-humble:

reporter-in-red:

“Because that’s how Hanukkah works,” she kept her voice patient. “You remember last year, don’t you? Mommy lights the candles, we say the special words, and then you get a present and we have a special dinner.” 

“… Every time then?” he asks slowly, not liking the sound of his having to wait a little longer. He’d been hoping that was just for last year.

“Every time.” She bounced him one more time, and then set him down. “Hanukkah isn’t just about food and presents, Vycter. The candles and the prayers we say are very special.” 

Still pouting, he’s appearing to accept that, purposely avoiding looking at the bag. “Okay, Mom.”

Mumbling that last part, he looks up toward Roxanne, then grins suddenly. “Can we do the candles then?”

“We can if everyone’s ready.” She grinned right back at him. “Wanna help Mommy find everyone and bring them downstairs?” 

“Yeah!” Already walking several quick steps away, he pauses just long enough to look back at Roxanne over one shoulder before hurrying away to go find Megamind.

[reporter-in-red]

~

With the eager Vycter to help round them up, it didn’t take long to gather the rest of the Lair family. The last rays of the setting sun faded and the sky fell with the deep, heavy darkness that only a Michigan winter could bring. 

Flanked by a line of the blue-and-white brainbots, they gathered at one of the Lair’s huge two-story windows. A table had already been set up, and Roxanne now lifted out the menorah that her mother had given her when she first left home all those years ago. It was small, made of lovingly polished silver, and inlaid with a delicate design of blue glass. She hadn’t used it during the years she’d lived alone, but she’d held onto it all the same, remembering her mother’s story of how their ancestors had carried it, unbroken, all the way from Poland.