#(But I really really didn't like those movies and I don't want to be unpleasant on the subject.)

[greypetrel]

I see you've been asked several already, so for the Tolkein asks: whichever question you want to answer most, but haven't been asked c:

Hi Mo! :D

Thank you! The temptation to answer all the questions left was there... But I don't want to pester you with basically an essay, so I'll select a few x°D

Edit after writing it: *it's still an essay* Oops.

2. If you were the Middle Earth race that your personality most matches, which would it be?

I'm a Hobbit. Definitely a Hobbit. No love for being on centre stage, will eat six meals per day (listen, snacks are important ok), is very comfortable at home, but resourceful when needed. I miss the love for gardening, my thumb is very black and I have little interest for plants that I can't eat because what's the point. But Bilbo in the book dreaming while camping in the cold of a cozy afternoon spent reading with the kettle on the fire speaks to my soul.

10. Favorite performance by any actor in the Tolkien film projects? Bonus: What's your favorite scene with them?

Bernard Hill as Theoden always gets me. He's just the right level of intensity, melancholy and grieving because he's old and feels like he hasn't accomplished anything. The tenderness and the respect he has for Eowyn as his beloved niece AND a wise woman he can be happy leaving his kingdom to (Eomer goes with him to a potentially suicidal mission. He's saying, to me, that his heir is HER, not him). And his speeches are all-!!! The Pelennor Field's one always have me shivering. The words are nice, sure, but his acting was just great. All of the Rohan part is just peak casting and great. Miranda Otto did a stunning job, her singing the mourning song haunts me. And THAT SCENE where Karl Urban just screams himself raw when he finds apparently dead Eowyn. I still don't know why exactly it was cut from the cinematic version, it was a pity.

Andy Serkis. I am appalled that he doesn't appear in more movies because honestly find me any other person who would have delivered a Gollum in the same way. (and please Hollywood cast him in more diverse roles, make me see his face, he's GOOD, give him a chance)

Since no one named him: Sean Astin as Sam. REALLY. The way he can go from grumpy and pouty to bright and happy seeing Frodo and absolutely EPIC. He's a whole journey by himself. Favourite scene: I can tell you the PO-TAY-TOES scene by heart, mimicking Gollum as well. But his speech at the end of Two Towers.

And also. Not a favourite because it's down for lines that are not so good, but... I know it's highly unpopular, but I really liked Morfydd Clark as Galadriel. She's not Cate Blanchett, and she's not supposed to be. That's still Edgy!Galadriel that she plays, she's younger and still hot-headed and please read the book and find out that Galadriel is not an ethereal lady, she's a Noldorin and she can and she WILL kick your ass. Clark does it, she has the right look for it. (her lines could have been better? Yes. I still think she did good with what she had.) (I'm all for edgy and angry, more human-like elves, and thought I know it's flawed, but I liked Rings of Power.)

12. Tolkien's work contains a lot of interesting themes: devastation of war, things lost that cannot be restored, rebirth/renewal, holding true to one's companions even when it is darkest, and others. Which is the most important to you?

I'll try to be brief here, I could fill a dissertation over this.

But mainly:

“It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going, because they were holding on to something. That there is some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for."

This.

The fact that no matter how dark it is outside, there's the promise of light and joy at the end of the tunnel. Hope in spite of everything.

And the fact that it doesn't matter where you come from, it doesn't matter who your ancestors were, how tall are you, how much your people has been involved in a situation before. You are valuable, your help is not in vain, there's some good you can do. See: Pippin's arc. Going from fool of a Took, basically a baby thrown in a world so much greater than him... And standing up to the situation, in the end, just because he wants to help, even if he's scared. His taking the Palantir and talking to Sauron, in the end, is one of the biggest assists given to Frodo... and he's the member of the Fellowship that had the least reasons to be there, the least experience and knowledge to help the mission. In the end, he's just as useful as everyone else.

#ask game #tolkien twenty questions #petrel replies #... Tolkien has been my hyperfixation since I first saw the first movie at 9 #in case it wasn't plenty clear #(on “Badass Noldorin Galadriel”: I know Cate Blanchett does it in the Hobbit movie.) #(But I really really didn't like those movies and I don't want to be unpleasant on the subject.) #(I'm glad if you -reader- enjoyed them! I envy that you did!) #(unfortunately for me it wasn't so and to preserve your love I won't engage in any The Hobbit trilogy discourse)

[jahnavisurenda-21]

Hazbin Hotel||Alastor X Reader||Calming Afternoon

The weekend has just begun, and all my other outdated plans will just have to schedule themselves at my convenience. Food just seems to brighten the day, even in the most unexpected times.

It was an especially hot summer noon in hell, This wasn't a place where sinners were really into gardening, or watching cherry blossoms while they sip some green tea, it was unpleasant.

Unpleasant enough, to make Alastor cancel all his radio shows for the day, he told you, "I know my dear! Someone with style, and flare needs to make this hellish afternoon a little bearable but, you see my dear this sun has made me quite unmotivated to put the pen to the paper or sit at my office desk!"

You were a little disappointed, at his decision because you looked forward to his audios to add to your collection you had one for rainy day audios, comfort audios, he did those only for you, and some audios when you just wanted to hear his voice. Those audios always set the mood right.

Sometimes you would play them on repeat while drinking a can of soda, or drowning in caffeine when you just didn't feel like yourself.

Alastor picked up your sudden shift of mood, "My dear I promise to make you another audio, I'm working on that one for almost a week. It almost feels like a brag more than anything!" Alastor looked at you, "All though It flatters me immensely knowing you enjoy these audios more than those silly books you read, and that noisy picture box!"

You got excited, something he had been working on? For a week? You resisted yourself to ask more questions, Alastor would simply smile more wider than he usually did.

Sometime in the late afternoon, Alastor was looking at you with a disapproving look, "No, my dear, I must disagree I don't enjoy eating this lazy type of food it certainly gives no quality to the food. Nothing better than a homecooked meal."

Alastor, However, did cook the sweet dessert so ward or distract you from the sun and it felt even better when he shared it with you. Alastor had discarded the heavy coat and casually crept towards you where you lay you were flipping through a new romance book.

He should be asking you, where were you getting those books?

For the evening you were relieved to see some rain had cooled the land, and Alastor was stroking your hair, as he watched a movie you picked out on the picture box.

He was delighted to how these few hours had passed in your company, you were pleasant as always, he missed your voice. And was almost glad he feed you homecooked meals and prevented a day of lazy food.

The rest of the night you spent with each other where you talked about the things that happened over the week, what you intend to do, and to your excitement Alastor had created a meal prep plan for you, so you could enjoy.

Alastor is really good at cooking, it's like adding proportions to the meal flows in the blood, he teaches any recipe you particularly like. But he also loves it when you put in that extra effort to put together a good Lunch, or dinner. It's different when he eats your meals.

#lovestories #romance #alastor fanfiction #alastor hazbin hotel #alastor the radio demon #alastor x reader #beauty #alastor x you #hazbin hotel alastor #hazbin hotel fandom #foodie #food #recipe

[mcflymemes]

MISCELLANEOUS SENTENCE PROMPTS *  collection #7

if you want to stop by and finish this conversation, you're welcome anytime.

you really believe your little story's gonna make a difference when there's a gun to our heads?

it was dreadful of me to even suggest it.

one day you'll meet someone and it'll literally take your breath away.

i thought somebody stole it.

so it's always just about sex, then?

welcome to new york!

you really are something.

i'm ready to be done with this.

oh, i'd like that.

and i thought i performed the perfect murder.

we're not together.

we made history today.

how does a man get shot from the front and have the body land here?

we've been over this before.

the whole country is watching you. they just don't know it.

be careful with that thing.

there are only bad options. it's about finding the best one.

i'm starving.

here. buy yourself a personality.

i'm gonna leave this coat in the car.

i took this meeting out of respect, because i wanted to say no to your face.

what is it about me that you find so irresistable?

it's gonna haunt you for the rest of your days.

you won't be alone.

i've been in love. i went down the rabbit hole.

i really have to stop buying into this bullshit hollywood cliche of true love.

remind me never to play poker in this town.

no one will think less of you.

you know what i discovered?

you can walk away.

my ears pop in an elevator.

let me clear your head up for you. i had absolutely nothing to do with the crime.

in your condition, i should call the police.

i knew you could do it!

why do i get the feeling this is the first real commitment you've ever made?

you have a boat?

if we wanted applause, we would have joined the circus.

maybe i'll give it to you.

this is what i do. i get people out. and i've never left anyone behind.

you know i love you, don't you?

you got a gun on you?

i'm trying to explain something that is not explainable.

you've been checking up on me.

i really don't have any choice.

i would like you to bullshit me.

could you do me a favor?

you are trespassing. get down from the sign.

this is the best bad idea we have.

what, you guys going out now?

sometimes a man has to be big enough to see how small he is.

whatever i hear, i won't believe.

would you order me something while you're there?

why in the shit would we do that?

i saved myself.

i wouldn't qualify for that.

i don't remember having a good time.

don't fucking shoot anybody.

i'm just doing my job.

this is your last warning.

are you trying to make me mad?

why are you telling me this?

then why the hell did you agree to do it?

do you want to live here?

you've got a good ear for music.

what an unpleasant surprise.

i hope you were watching carefully.

no, we're just friends. we're messing around a little bit.

brace yourself. it's like talking to those two old fucks on the muppets.

i've been poor my whole life.

how's someone supposed to make a living here?

how the fuck have you managed to stay out of prison for a year?

how are you doing today?

i'm not here to pry into your personal life.

how keen of you to notice.

who's the target audience?

i'm tired of the way they look at me.

now if we get separated, i'll know where to meet up.

i like this side of you.

you say one more word, and i'll cut you down right here.

i'm not gonna kill you. not like this.

we did suicide missions in the army that had better odds than this.

you want me to be honest with you?

i didn't know, but i'm always glad to hear that.

you'll fit right in.

give me your pants!

i forgot to add the iced tea.

why don't they ever make a movie about what happens after they kiss?

where did you find that? i've been looking all over for it.

#rp starters #rp memes #rp prompt #rp meme #rp musings #roleplay memes #roleplay prompt #roleplay meme #writing prompt #askbox meme #ask memes #rp asks #ask meme #inbox meme #inbox prompts #inbox prompt #rp inbox meme #rp prompts #sentence starter #sentence starter prompt #sentence starters #mcflymemes #misc

[epickiya722]

I always hear ppl say stuff abt how horrible Ms Kacchan was, how Izuku was tormented by him.

But the thing is that we never really saw it happen, or does the little that we saw really indicate that. And i kinda want to explain why

So, as of the two times that Katsuki himself admited the reason why he has bullied Izuku, one of the major things that drove him to do it, was so Izuku would leave him alone. Acting alongside his fear, and his inferiority complex.

His plan was for Izuku to fade away from his life, to stop affecting him the way he did, ever since he saw what "Deku" started to represent in young Katsuki's head. He wanted his bullying to push him away as far as possible.

But Izuku, ever the mr. "Never give up" guy, continued to chase after him, bc it has never been in his interest to stop being Katsuki's friend. Being close to his symbol of victory. So he had to continue to act like that, until Izuku got the message that he didn't want him close anymore, that he didn't want him standing in his way.

By the pieces of dialogue from the two guys that hung about with Katsuki, that was a time he reacted badly, and more outlandishly than he normally would. And if we even look back at that time, when the class was making fun of Izuku, he didn't laugh.

He didn't find it funny that he had to be presented with anything that would bring out his fear again. That was an actual serious matter for him, specially bc Izuku was planning to apply to the same school he wanted to go, to the same course no less.

If you want to consider that one manga for the HR movie to be canon too, their day to day lives in MS seemed to be basically Katsuki ignoring him, though occasionaly acting like a jerk.

He wanted to push Izuku away, not around. Bc he wanted most of all, for those feelings to not be a problem for him anymore.

Honestly, yeah, I agree with all this.

Katsuki, although a jerk, I have major doubts he actually enjoys being one.

This is why I pay attention to details because as you said, running back to season one, you can see Katsuki not laugh at Izuku. You would think he would, but he doesn't. If anything, he looks guilty and sad.

I think that was a point of Katsuki's life when he's trying to figure out why he acts the way he does around Izuku, why he doesn't want him around. Of course, he figures it's because "I hate him and he looks down on me". At that time, he probably subconsciously (?) was wondering there had to be more to it. Then, UA happened. His environment and people changed.

While I'm sure his middle school class found him unpleasant, no one ever really told him as such.

The most they have done was say "Hey, Katsuki, that was too far" about the swan dive comment.

At most, all Katsuki ever did was when he did see Izuku, he pushed him and called him names. But I don't think he actively seek him out to bother him. Katsuki was a bully, but I don't think he was a bully to search for someone to bother them all the time.

The only time in middle Katsuki did seek him out was after he found out Izuku was applying to UA. Again, as you said, he wanted to push Izuku away.

By that point, Izuku while he still cared about Katsuki, still idolized him, doesn't follow him. Let alone talks to him. He left Katsuki alone. I don't think he followed him around in middle school. Elementary school years, yeah. But middle school? Doubt it.

If he did, Katsuki would have known Izuku was applying to UA. Izuku would have told him if he wanted to. But, as I said in another post, he doesn't push Katsuki to acknowledge him or be nicer to him. He distanced himself.

Overall, yeah, Katsuki bullied Izuku to push him away. Said so himself. He was afraid of losing him. Izuku sometimes thinks before he acts, he's too selfless and careless. So he took the choice to drive him away before he can lose him.

#kiya answers #bnha #mha #boku no hero academia #my hero academia #bakugou katsuki #midoriya izuku #bakudeku #bkdk

[dollsonmain]

Had another brain go nyoom moment while I was trying to brain my way through making that cabinet on the underside of the doll bed yesterday and I was thinking about how I've never really been allowed to show emotions.

My parents didn't want to hear it if I was unhappy.

The military does not care if you're discontent. You can go talk to the pastor (my unit didn't have a pastor, we had a rabbi) but what if you're not religious?

That Guy wants nothing out of the people around him but adoration and compliance. On the occasions I've cracked, it's been unpleasant.

I've gotten to a point where I can't watch movies or TV shows because they're emotionally overwhelming, and at the same time I'm deadpan because I don't know how to express those emotions.

I was excited for the Barbie movie and thought maybe I'd like to see it but apparently it's emotionally taxing so it's not for me.

I wonder what it's going to be like if I ever get to a point where I can have emotions again.

It's going to be ugly.

[withlovelunette]

Animal Arbiter writing update #1

You can find the WIP intro here!

I wanted to talk a little bit about the concept behind this wip and how I first conceptualised the idea, since I'm generally a pantser who develops ideas based off of vague vibes and vivid imagery, which can often make it difficult to figure out a proper plot. I figured maybe others might stumble upon similar hurdles, and I wanted to share my process for solving it while sprinkling in some excerpts here and there!

Content warning for talk about birth, pregnancy, and murderous intent.

So this project started off as a short story about a woman giving unassisted birth alone in a bathtub. The woman in question has a complicated relationship with her pregnancy and the "mother" role, and had partially hoped that the child would have been a stillborn so she could just... Not think about it.

I’d quit smoking far too late into the pregnancy, so part of me expected—hoped, even—that I’d killed the fetus inside me. I didn’t even go to the hospital. I thoroughly believed I had willed that thing dead and I’d be better off saving everyone the trouble by pushing the corpse out of my body all alone in a bathtub. I just wanted to get it over and done with and move on with my life.

Because of this, she'd been sabotaging her own pregnancy for a while, but when the child still manages to be a successful birth, the woman develops a sense of superiority over such an accomplishment, practically glorifying her own child as a miracle despite her initial (unpleasant) plans of how to get rid of it.

As strained cries pierced the silence and echoed off of the bathroom walls, I felt frozen in place. I gripped onto the walls of the bathtub to hoist myself up and lean forward. The tub was slippery from all the blood. The whole thing looked like a crime scene ripped out of a horror movie, a passage of death devoid of any sanctity. I loomed over the sobbing thing like a grim reaper, watching it helplessly thrash around in my own blood. If I’d truly wanted to, I probably could’ve killed it and gotten away with it. Accidents happen all the time during unassisted births, it was practically a statistical guarantee.

I think the excerpt above (which I've shared here before) was when I really figured out what kind of character I was dealing with, and I got kinda intrigued by it, I guess? ^^; A lot of my characters emerge from extreme characterisations like these, because I enjoy peeling back the layers to figure out exactly what kind of person would form thoughts like this in the first place. My drafts are usually just me trying to figure out my own characters, because I usually don't really know them when I write them for the first time.

One of those layers involved figuring out exactly why someone this determined to get rid of a child would decide to keep it. The rationalisation behind this decision ended up being a very vital part of the character I'd say.

When I picked up the delicate thing and held it in my arms, I hesitated to follow through with such a morbid plan. The successful birth of this child seemed like such an anomaly that it was practically a miracle, as if the thing had such a tight grip on the promise of a future that it defied death and willed itself back to life. (...) I didn’t love her immediately either, but I considered the birth of that child to be proof of some hidden strength in me that people refused to acknowledge. I created this defiant of death.

And that's more or less how I conceptualised Nora Gaarder, the narrator of the story! From here, I didn't really have a plan to add anything to the story, but I did find myself circling back to it pretty often because I had a constant urge to fill in the blanks of how she ended up in this position and what had shaped such a person, which is what led me to the decision of expanding upon it and making it a longer story.

I think what intrigued me the most with the story concept was the idea of birth, creation and motherhood juxtaposed with death, murder and detachment, but I didn't really have a plan or any sort of plot in mind for it. I then had the idea of adding a second character to the story who somewhat mirrors Nora's story, and this would become the basis for Anette, the 14 year old girl Nora has to look after over the summer. Without going too much into anything too spoilery, Anette's circumstances and Nora's circumstances kinda run parallel to one another, and as Nora uncovers more about the town she temporarily resides in, the more she realises the similarities between herself and Anette.

My brainstorming mostly consists of asking why? to just about anything and building off of that. Why is a woman giving birth alone? Why is she contemplating to kill it? Why did she decide to keep it? How did she end up here? etc. I can do this with more visual ideas as well by asking myself what the circumstances behind the imagery are, whose perspective depicts the imagery, and so on. The conflict in this particular story is very internal, which is common in short stories in general, so I've looked for ways to externalise the conflict as well, which, in this case, is Nora figuring out what the town is hiding from her.

Anyways, I won't make this post too long or rambly, but I hope it was somewhat enjoyable to read! I might be a bit spotty with posts for a while due to semester work, but I'll try to be responsive to any asks or messages if there are any! :,)

Tag list: @oliverferrie @jaydewritesfiction @coffeeandcalligraphy @annlillyjose @phantomnations

Let me know if anyone would like to be removed/added to the tag list for writing updates and additional content for this wip!

#original post #my writing #animal arbiter #writing update #writeblr

[dimplecki]

Tides are turning - chapter 3

Masterlist

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Fem!hunter, Sam winchester X Fem!hunter 

Rating: R (violence, death, language, light smut)

Summary: When Sam died the first time, Dean brought him back to life. He didn't tell me about the deal he made with that demon until Sam forced him to tell me. We all knew that Dean only had one year left to live, and we all tried to prevent that from happening. The second time Sam was attacked by a demon close to Lilith and fought against it. he lost.

One year after Sam’s mysterious death weird things start happening and I realize things are not as they seem.

Authors Note: this story takes place post season 3(with the exceptional flashbacks to the past), Sam died midway through s3 and Dean never went to hell. we experience the story through the eyes a female hunter who went to Stanford with Sam and joined Sam and Dean in their revenge quest after jess’s death.  she is Deans girlfriend but there are things happening with Sam as well.

| Chapter 3

Today is Tuesday morning and I decided to give myself a day off from work.

I dialed Ben's number.

"Good morning, you" Ben's voice answered. “Where exactly are you?”

"So, listen" I said with a stuffy nose and faked a cough. "I'm not coming today. I'm sick."

"You don't have to try to work me with that shit. I'll cover for you. You decided to be lazy?"

I laughed. "Yes. I'm sure you'll find a way to manage without me."

"The new boss will complain about you tomorrow. She’ll surely want a note from your doctor for not coming."

"Fuck the new boss. I miss Jake."

"Yeah, me too. He had a cute butt."

"Yeah …he really had." I said in a dreamy voice. "Speaking of ass, how's Drake doing?"

I turned on the TV. I have two whole days without having to watch 'Doctor Sexy' involuntarily.

"I broke up with him."

"What? Really? Well done! I have to say I didn't like him. When?"

"You've said that about nine hundred times." He chuckled softly. "Yesterday, we fought for the thousandth time, and I told him to take his things and get the fuck out from my house." Ben's voice was slightly regretful as if he didn't want to do it at all.

"Wow, Ben. Good on you, I'm proud. Don't be sad about it. Want to go out for coffee after you get off work?" I suggested. I had no intention of sitting and rotting at home all day, even though it sounded tempting.

"Can't. I have a date."

"Already?! You're quick to get back into the single world, benny."

"That's me. What about tomorrow?" He suggested.

"Sounds great." I said, slightly distracted by the movie 'Alien' that was showing on channel 4. Here went the next two hours of the day.

"Okay. Get well soon."

I laughed. "Thanks." I said and hung up.

I loved those times Dean was away for a few days. I obviously missed him, but it's nice to have your own space for a little while after living with someone for so long. It also gives you time to appreciate their presence.

It was late afternoon; I organized my purse and was about to go to the mall with myself and a lot of cash when there was a knock at the door. I walked towards the door and opened it. Oh, great.

It was Mr. Connors, our landlord in charge of collecting the rent. A real pain in the ass.

Connors is an aging man with scruffy beard and raggedy clothes that looked like they were cut straight from the sheep and sewn onto his body. And he always stank of cigarettes.

"Mr. Connors." I said with a fake smile, "What brings you here?"

I calculated the date. We don't have to pay rent until early January.

"You're not inviting me in?" He said in his husky voice, smiling back.

I gestured him inside. He walked in and I closed the door behind him. He stood facing me with his hands behind his back.

"I can help you?" I asked him, crossing my arms.

"I wanted to ask you a question, if it's... not too cheeky." he said quietly. "Your partner, Dean, right?"

I nodded.

"Where's he at?" He asked, smiling that same unpleasant smile of his.

"He left. He'll be back in two days. Why?"

"Where to?" he asked in an elusive voice. I didn't like his curiosity. I remained silent.

"He's got a brother. Sam, if I'm not mistaken." He continued, his voice getting lower with each word.

I raised my eyebrows. Connors never knew Sam. Dean and I moved here months after he died, and we sure as hell didn't mention his name in Connors' presence.

"What about him?" I asked, my heartbeat starting to speed up. This conversation is getting weird by the minute.

"Where is he?"

"Deep in the grave. Mr. Connors, I'm in quite a hurry, so if you don't mind—"

"You tell me the truth." He cut me off, his smile wiped off his face as he came closer to me.

I took a step back and was about to yell at him to get the hell out of the house when his brown eyes sank into their sockets and two black circles appeared in their place.

He pounced on me and nearly knocked me to the floor when I quickly moved aside and ran straight upstairs. What the hell is a demon doing in my house?!

I glanced over at our entryway rug, which has a demon trap painted on the underside. It wasn't there. He quickly followed me, and just as I finished climbing the stairs, he grabbed my ankle and knocked me all the way back down. My face and legs hit the stairs, I felt immense pain in all parts of my body.

He towered over me while I was still on the floor and punched me straight in the face.

"What you want?" I asked angrily, feeling my heartbeat pumping all the painful places over my body. His black eyes were inches away from mine and I could feel the stench of cigarettes way too close.

"Where are they?!" he asked, almost yelling; and punched me again. I tasted blood in my mouth.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Sam's dead!" I shouted, trying to get him off me but to no avail. He was much stronger than me.

"If you don't tell me where they are, I'll kill you." He threatened quietly. Suddenly my cell phone rang.

I took advantage of his distraction and kicked him, throwing him off me. I ran back to my room and ignored the pain in my whole body, grabbing Ruby's knife, which was in the drawer next to the bed.

He came up a few seconds after me and I jumped him with the knife in my trembling hands, pressing it to his neck. He went still.

"If it's not going to be me who kills you, it's going to be somebody else." he said, panting heavily.

I stabbed him right in the heart with the sharp knife, sounding a furious scream. Mr. Connors, or the demon that had taken over his body, dropped to the floor with a thud.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

((It takes a while, but I knew that eventually I would fit in here, even though I'm not really a normal girl.

It's been a month since I started college and I've already started making friends here and there, even though they didn't really interest me. Studies went well, I had something to do instead of resenting my life. It was starting to feel good.

I took the cell phone out of my pocket. 3 missed calls from mom. I ignored them. Ever since dad died, mom and I didn't get along - to put it mildly.

She didn't want me to be a hunter, she was afraid that what happened to father would happen to me. I couldn't blame her, but she didn't understand that you can't just walk away from it. I will never live a normal life again.

Our paths diverged. I rarely spoke to her, and only out of guilt. I knew that the fact that I went to university made her happy, and every now and then I emailed her my projects to give her some peace.

I went to my regular spot in the grass, the best place - not too far from the crowd, not too close. I took an apple out of the bag and slowly gnawed on it, then I saw him again. This tall guy, there was something about him that I just couldn't quite put my finger on.

He was hanging out with a friend; they talked a bit until he went his way and sat down on the grass exactly where he always sits - a few feet away from me. This time he did nothing - didn't read a book, didn't eat, didn't listen to music. Just sat there staring. His constant troubled look was familiar to me; from myself. Like you can never really be calm.

I decided to gather up the courage and approach him - what could happen? I've never been shy, and now is not the time to start. I stood up and approached him, sitting down next to him.

"Hi," I said with a smile. He looked at me, and his eyes shone turquoise with the sunlight. "I'm sorry if it seems strange - but I just wanted to say - you have a really beautiful smile."

He smiled, blushing slightly and seemed to be somewhat relieved - as if I had distracted him from something bad he was delving into.

"Thanks," he replied sheepishly. "I'm Sam." He held out his hand for a shake.

"Diana." I shook his hand. It was strong and big. "So... is it okay if I take a picture of you? I'm learning photography," I explained with slight excitement, touching my camera inside the bag.

"Um," he laughed, slightly embarrassed. "Okay. But don't post it anywhere, okay?"

"Sure, it's just for practice," I promised, bringing the camera closer to my eyes. It is obvious that he is not used to being photographed, and he did not exactly know what to do with his hands.

"Just act like I told you a really funny joke," I instructed him. He smiled slightly and that was enough for me to capture the picture I wanted. "Excellent!"

I put the camera back in the bag.

"Are you new here?" He was interested.

"Actually yes, I started studying a month ago." I replied.

"Welcome. I'm in the second year of law." Now that he was smiling directly at me, I felt something soften inside of me.

"So, it seemed like something was bothering you. Not that it's any of my business, but if we're talking..."

Sam laughed with a kind of misery. "It's nothing, just family stuff."

"Oh, I know a thing or two about screwed up families." I replied. If only he knew how much I understand dysfunctional families. I wish I could tell him. I wish I could tell somebody.

"Bet you a million bucks that's not even close to my family?" he asked in an amused tone, but his eyes were heavy with a burden.

"It's a bet." I replied, winking at him with a smile.))

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For a few seconds I just stood there, shaking; staring at Mr. Connors' corpse, paralyzed with fear. I couldn't think and I didn't know what to do now. Blood began to pool around his body on the floor.

This is not the first time nor the tenth time I killed a demon. But the way he was looking at me, the weird questions he was asking about Sam, him coming into mine and Dean's house to look for us... it honestly scared me.

I jumped over Connors' dead body and ran down the stairs. I had to call Dean. My cell phone was on the dresser in the kitchen. I grabbed it, ignoring the missed call and dialing Dean's number with trembling hands.

Dean answered after four rings.

"Hey babe," he said from the other line.

I had no time to waste.

"Dean, there's a dead demon in our house." I said quickly. I felt the pain in my face and all over my body pumping under my skin.

"What?!"

"He possessed Mr. Connors', he tried to kill me, he said more would come - Dean, what the hell? I don't know what... how..." I said fearfully, trying to catch my breath.

"Calm down, are you alright? Do you want us to come home?" He said in a reassuring tone, but I could hear the concern in his voice. I heard him talking to Bobby in the background for a few seconds and then he was back on the line. "Okay, Dee, don't call the police and don't do anything. We'll be leaving in half an hour."

"Okay." I said, taking a deep breath and sitting down in one of the chairs by the table. I already felt a little calmer.

"Be ready if there are more, okay? Kick their asses."

I smiled and closed my eyes.

"Yeah. Thanks, Dean." I replied and he hung up. I leaned back in my chair and massaged my sore knees. There's a dead man's body lying on the floor in my room, and I'm not going near it.

I wondered what we were going to tell the police. That he tried to rape me, and I stabbed him in self-defense? I doubted they'd buy it. What really bothered me were his questions. Why did he ask about Sam? Doesn't he know he's dead? Who sent him?

After a few minutes of sitting motionless I tried to get up. A mistake. My whole body ached.

I dragged myself slowly towards the mirror, to check for damage.

A busted and bleeding lower lip, a swollen and red bruise above the eyebrow and three more cute scratches, one under the chin and two on the cheek. I didn't even want to check my body. I knew that the bruises were mainly on my left knees and lower back.

I wanted to lie down and rest, but I didn't dare go up to the bedroom, so instead I placed myself carefully on the sofa and lay there with my eyes open. I knew I wouldn't be able to fall asleep, fearing another demon would come and kill me in my sleep. I clutched Ruby's knife to my chest, holding it desperately like a lifeline and laid like that for what seemed to be forever.

Dean and Bobby arrived around 9pm. He opened the door, and I was so relieved I almost didn't care anymore.

I ran to him and hugged him, climbing on my tiptoes as high as I could to bury my head in his neck. Dean quickly loosened the hug and looked into my eyes.

"Does your knee hurt?" He asked.

That was our code question. Our secret way of making sure I'm still Diana and he's still Dean. We used to ask this every day, but over time it dwindled. The correct answer wasn't in words; It doesn't matter what I answer, I have to wink while doing it.

"In fact, very much so." I said and winked with my right eye. It was a bit ironic, given that my knees really hurt from the fall.

Dean breathed a sigh of relief and hugged me again. "Are you okay?" He asked.

I nodded over his shoulder, and we loosened our embrace. I turned to hug Bobby and Dean began to look around the house.

"Where is he?" Dean asked.

"In the room."

Dean wrinkled his nose and turned towards me.

"You had to make a mess in our room?" He sighed and shook his head. "I see you two had a nice talk." He noted, pointing to the bruises on my face. I rolled my eyes and the three of us went up to the bedroom, standing around the body.

Mr. Connors's blood had already filled half the room. fabulous.

"What did he want?" Bobby asked. Dean examined the body and crossed his arms.

"He..." I hesitated. I didn't know how to say it. "He was looking for Sam."

Dean looked up at me, eyebrows raised.

"Sam?" He repeated. I nodded my head and shrugged. I didn't have the faintest idea what was going on, just like Dean.

"So, what do we do? Shall we go to the police?" said Bobby.

"We can tell them he tried to rape me or something, and I stabbed him in self-defense." I proposed the idea I thought of earlier.

Dean shook his head.

"You'll have to testify and everything. We don't need this shit." Dean went silent and thought for a few seconds, scratching his head. "He doesn't have a family, does he?"

I shook my head.

"Then we'll take him to his apartment and let someone else find him. We'll wipe him of fingerprints." Bobby suggested.

"That's an idea. Bobby, help me carry him. Dee, start cleaning up the blood and then we'll come help you." Dean commanded.

Bobby coughed and it sounded something like 'bossy', but I'm not sure. Dean picked him up by the head and Bob by the legs, and they started carrying him out of the house.

When everything was clean, and the body was in its place I sat down on the couch tiredly. Dean said goodbye to Bobby and sat next to me, examining my bruises, and furrowing his brows.

“You look terrible.”

"Thank you very much."

"Did you ice it?" he asked, pointing to the bruises on my face.

"No." I answered him and let out a small sigh of pain as I tried to change position on the couch. My back sent streams of pain through my entire lower body.

Dean sighed and got off the couch. I smiled to myself. He returned a minute later, holding a towel with ice inside it. I liked that Dean showed concern for me. He pressed the frozen towel to the bruise above my eye. It was cold against the hot wound, and it felt soothing.

"Great, now we're a match." Dean said pointing to the scab on his lip from a few days ago, and gestured to my own freshly busted, bleeding lip.

"That demon was looking for you too, you know," I said, closing my eyes as Dean move the towel to the cold side. "I thought he was going to come to you after he killed me."

"And then you ganked him." He said and smiled for a few seconds, then his face turned serious again. "So, what's the story?"

"He came into the house, we talked, all normal, and he mentioned you. Then he mentioned Sam. Then I found out he was a demon, he knocked me down the stairs, started beating me and asking me where you were. I got away and stabbed him. He said more would come."

I said all this in one breath. I remembered the phone call that, in fact, saved my life.

Dean paused to take in what I said for a few seconds.

"You know, I really had a feeling that someone was following me the last few days," he finally said.

Turns out we were both being followed. I didn't feel it, by the way. Dean gently moved the towel towards the bruise on my bottom lip.

"What the hell did he want? Doesn't he know Sam's gone?" I said and my voice sounded muffled through the towel.

Dean buried his head in his free hand and massaged it tiredly.

"I don't know. Let's just go to sleep, okay?"

We went to sleep with Dean's hand wrapped around my waist and holding me close. He fell asleep a long time ago, and I was exhausted but I couldn't stop replaying what happened today in my mind. I didn't even dare to think about the most logical conclusion that could be drawn from this whole story.

I finally gave up and focused on Dean's breathing on the back of my neck, falling asleep a few minutes later.

#dean x reader #sam x reader #spn fanfic #dean winchester imagine #sam winchester imagine #gabby writes

[cookinguptales]

I am so incredibly on deadline, but man. I cannot stop thinking about the way I cried so hard I made myself sick when DC announced the New 52 and the erasure of Oracle. She was the only one I had. The only goddamn one.

Comics had been important to me up until that point, and so had the fandom. I'd put in my time just like any other young nerd, and I loved those characters just like anyone else. And I'd put up with... god, I'd put up with a lot. The thinkpieces about how Oracle's sheer continued existence was sexist. (Because no one would let a male superhero stay "broken".) The fans telling me that a disabled superhero was outside the realm of believability, but I guess all the flying aliens were fine. The deep inaccessibility of the events themselves.

Like... I remember the first time I went to a comic book convention. It was NYCC -- a big one, though a lot less big than it's become. I was so excited to have Gail Simone sign my copy of Birds of Prey. I was even cosplaying Oracle in my wheelchair. And... she had to come out of the booth to sign it. The booth itself was completely inaccessible.

(Ah, yes, the double whammy of thick-ass carpeting and super-high tables. Tale as old as time. 🙃)

And then DC announced that Babs would no longer be disabled going forward. And when a Birds of Prey movie eventually came out, a thing that would have made me cry with happiness back when I was 10 years old and getting CT scans, 15 and going to physical therapy, 18 and just learning how to use my cane for the first time -- when that movie finally came out, Oracle, the disabled heroine who had started the team and been its leader for over a decade, had been completely excised from the plot.

Do you know what that feels like? To have the only person who looks like you removed from continuity -- and to have most people in the community you grew up in, the community you loved, act like that was a good thing? Do you know what that does to you, when you've already been internalizing messages your entire life about how no one wants to see disabled people, no one wants to hear us, no one wants to be around us, no one wants to love us?

Like... we're the possibility that keeps people up at night. But that's my life. That's always been my fucking life, and it always will be. It's not a scary what-if, it's a what-is, and I don't have the privilege to ignore the possibility of it just because it's sad and scary and unpleasant.

And people were telling me that people like me had no place in fun or in heroism or in the kind of fantasy escapism that everyone else gets every fucking day. I don't get to see people like me being strong in movies. I don't get to see people like me being protagonists. I certainly don't get to see people like me being loved. And like. God, that really fucks you up!

And then you have one fucking character, and they're not only taken away from you -- they're announced to be gone in a "phew, glad that's over!" kind of way. And everyone is so fucking glad that they get the "real" Barbara back. The strong one. The sexy one. The heroic one. The one who can walk.

Fuck the Barbara who can walk! She was strong and sexy and heroic when she used a wheelchair, and she meant everything to me because I didn't have anyone else. And when she was taken away from me, all I was left with was a fandom saying she was better this way. That no one wanted a broken cape anyway.

I'll tell you, I was right back in that booth that I couldn't enter because no one had considered that a real wheelchair user might want to be a part of things. I was right back to feeling like everyone would be happier if people like me just went away forever.

God, that fucking sucked.

I know that Barbara Gordon is more marketable when she's able-bodied. Media still doesn't really know what to do with a female character who isn't traditionally sexy. There's a reason why the only other famous wheelchair user in comics is an old-ass man. (Who gets up and walks all the time using his mind powers anyway.) And god knows that female wheelchair users rarely get to be thought of as traditionally sexy.

And like... I know. I know that no one's out here buying the doll in the wheelchair. No one's buying the action figure with wheels. I know people don't want characters like me.

Of course I know that.

But god. God, she was so important to me. Even if able-bodied people didn't get it, she was so fucking important to me. She made me feel like I could do anything. More importantly, she made me feel like it was okay when I couldn't do things. She made me feel like I could be important to people even when I couldn't do all the same things they could.

Fuck.

I do actually agree that The Killing Joke was sexist and that it never should have been canon. But I was 21 when Oracle was "fixed", and she'd been disabled since before I was born. Regardless of how it happened, it was an extremely established character trait. And there was no reason why they couldn't have just changed how she became disabled when they rebooted the universe. Why not just have her get hurt while she was saving someone? Or maybe give her some kind of congenital illness that didn't prevent her from wanting to save people?

But no! They took the worst of both worlds! They kept TKJ canon and they healed her! They just gave her PTSD over it. Fucking christ. Way to blow your cover. This was never about misogyny or the sexy victimization of female characters. This was about getting rid of the icky wheelchair and making a legacy character hot and marketable again.

Like I guess I never will be.

I still feel weird and unwanted whenever I think about it, honestly. Some of the conversations I had with other fans in that period will haunt me forever. Hell, some of the conversations I had with DC writers back then still kind of fuck me up.

When the Birds of Prey movie came out, they really talked up how diverse it was in interviews. And as a queer disabled woman, I really came to realize which diverse parts of me were still too fucking diverse. And when I read Harvey Guillén's statements about how important Blue Beetle will be, about how the script made him feel so seen, I'm happy for him. I'm happy for all the kids who will finally see faces and families and upbringings just like theirs when they watch that movie.

Because I know he's right. It's so important to see people like you. To see the possibility of a happy ending for someone like you because you've seen it modeled on the big screen in front of you.

I know he's right because I know how it felt when that was taken away, and fuck. It still hurts. I'm 32 now and it still fucking hurts. I'm shaking thinking about it, a little bit. That sounds dumb, but it's true.

When I think about how many years of my life I wasted feeling broken and useless and unlovable. When I think about how I felt ashamed to exist in public because I'd been told just how little people wanted to see me. When I think about how -- I mean, it's still a reflexive action in me. To make myself smaller, more invisible, to tell myself I can't expect people to slow down their lives to make room for a person like me. I actively work against it every day, but it's a thought process that never really goes away.

Because it didn't come from nowhere.

I don't know. I don't know. I probably am going to go see Blue Beetle. It'll be the first time I've given DC money in over ten years. But... I do want people to see people like themselves onscreen. I do want to encourage diversity. I do want to prevent anyone from feeling the way I did when they made Barbara Gordon get up and walk.

I just wish I could still feel the way I did when she didn't. Like there was the potential for something super in me, too.

Ugh. Fucking DC. I don't miss you! You still suck.

#cw: #dc #comics #disability #ableism

[cantquitu]

Chris Pine on Don't Worry Darling and "spitgate" in Venice for Esquire, 1 March 2023:

"When he’s alone in the sauna, Pine will stretch or listen to a podcast, but because I’m here, we talk about his last big moment out in the world: the seemingly quite nutso Don’t Worry Darling press tour, consumed soap-operatically by a diversion-craving populace when the film premiered in Venice last September. “If there was drama, there was drama,” Pine says of the shoot, but for the record, “I absolutely didn’t know about it, nor really would I have cared. If I feel badly, it’s because the vitriol that the movie got was absolutely out of proportion with what was onscreen. Venice was normal things getting swept up in a narrative that people wanted to make, compounded by the metastasizing that can happen in the Twittersphere. It was ridiculous.” He speaks well of Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles (“a sweet guy”), loves Florence Pugh—whom he first worked with in 2018’s Outlaw King—“to fucking death,” and maintains that nobody spat on anybody in Venice.

And those photos of Pine spacing out during that Venice press conference, the ones people turned into memes imagining him rethinking his every life choice, trying to astral-project his consciousness away from the torture chamber of the Darling promo cycle? “All the memes I saw about my face in Venice made me fucking laugh,” he says, especially the one captioned “me on an important zoom call watching my cat throw up on the sofa.” But he swears all he was doing was admiring the ceiling of the Palazzo del Casinò, jet-laggedly. “Sometimes the question’s not that interesting,” he says, “and you just fucking zone out, and you’re looking at a ceiling because it’s really pretty.”

The runaway narrative around Darling meant nobody talked about Pine’s magnetically unpleasant turn as a midcentury-modern cult leader, recasting his natural charisma as something toxic and threatening for a movie about retrogressive masculinity. It’s the latest of many Chris Pine films in which he simultaneously embodies and interrogates an old-school idea of movie manliness, squaring the past with the values of the present.

It was the waning days of summer and the Venice Film Festival was in full swing. The warm sun was setting on a perfect Italian evening, and the cast of Don't Worry Darling was finally premiering their anticipated film. After months of rumors—cast feuds!, "Miss Flo!", Harry and Olivia!—the Aperol spritz was flowing and things were looking up. And then, Harry Styles entered the same row in the theater as Chris Pine, leaned down towards his costar as he edged toward his seat and...did he just hock a loogie at Captain Kirk???? The Internet erupted.

Now, many months removed, Chris Pine sat down with Esquire—check out our March 2023 cover story—and gave us the lowdown on what really happened in that moment. Did Harry spit on him? Were they feuding? Was it an accidental walk-by spit? Or was it some secret exchange that only celebrities could understand? In our newest episode of Explain This, streaming above, Pine confirms that Harry did not, in any way, spit on him as he passed. He continues, adding, "Harry's a very very kind guy."

But Pine does admit, he sees how the fire spread. "I was on the plane with my publicist, who says I look like Rachel from Friends [with my current hairstyle], we're flying back from Venice. And I'm sleeping, having a great time on the plane. I love planes," he begins. "And she wakes me up, in a, you know, in a state. She says, 'We have to craft a message about what happened in Venice.' And I'm like 'About what?' 'About Harry spitting on you.' Which I have no idea what happened. She showed me the thing. It does look, indeed, like Harry spitting on me. He didn't spit on me."

Turns out, it was just a joke between Styles and Pine that was shared. As Pine says: "I think what he said, is he leaned down, and I think he said, 'It's just words, isn't it?' Because we had this little joke, because we're all jetlagged, we're all trying to answer these questions, and sometimes when you're doing these press things, your brain goes all befuddled, you know, you start speaking gibberish, and we had a joke like, 'It's just words, man.'"

So there you have it. It's just words, man.

#chris pine #venice film festival #don't worry darling #esquire

[facelessxchurch]

SP Merch Review

I'm an artist, if there is anything art-related going on with SP of course I will have something to say about it.

It's long, it includes pics and it's under the cut. Enjoy.

Ok, started off with the video bc apparently I love to torture myself.

"But it occurred to me, with the amount of control I exert over all things Skulduggery I would not be entirely comfortable handing someone else that level of control, so I realized-oh- I'm going to have to do it."

^^^^That quote not only sums up why the merch looks the way it does, but this is also why there is no SP movie yet.

"Pins that I have designed, keychains that Jaime [pin maker] has designed"

That explains why the keychains are so much better than the pins

"Booksmarks that Laura has designed"

oh no D:

"I never liked wearing anything intented for the mass-market I always preferred the cult, which is what Skulduggery Pleasant has become."

He does sound like an entitled rich kid AND a gatekeeper at the same time here. Amazing. Also, massive cope here for SP not having become as successful as he wanted it too. And if he means cult like cult-classic than no. If he means cult like cult, then yes. Later on, he goes on about those pins and stuff being little identifiers to find each other and he makes it sound very exclusive and omg people with low self-esteem and the desire to feel like one of the special few are gonna love this.

But he is right, the SP stuff it kinda cultish. It has no more mass appeal but it has a few very dedicated fans that are gonna eat up all things SP no matter what.

_____________________

I'm reading the intro text and this actually does read like he wants to start a cult.

"There are people who exist in this world only because of Skulduggery Pleasant."

Yeah, people do find each other bc of shared interests, SP ain't special in that regard. Also, suspecting that this text was probably written by Landy himself makes reading it even more of an acid trip.

Now to the art related reviews.

Skulduggery and Valkyrie Enamle Pins

2/10

Fuck these are ugly. What's going on with Skulls mouth? He be like OMO he looks lost. Meanwhile Val has no eyebrows and forehead for days plus her outfit could do with a little more detail.

The shape of the actual pin is not only ugly AF (at least make it symmetrical or something for fucks sake) it also gotta be unpleasant to the touch with how spiky it is.

For a fix, honestly just let Jaime (pin maker) do them in the same style as the "Shadow and Bone" ones bc these are freaking gorgeous.

[here is a link to the pins]

If you want something more in the noir-ish style of SP you could also shade the faces like in the mini artworks the old SP books used to have at the beginning of each chapter instead of leaving them completely blank. I can't find pics of that online but it was like a darkest dungeon kinda style.

Tote Bag

?/10

This one has no pic yet but it's supposed to be just covered in SP quotes. No extra points to creativity here, but I don't know what it looks like, so I have nothing much to say yet.

Midnight Hotel Keychain/Bag Charm

8/10

Once again, no points for creativity. Hotel/Motel keychains are pretty popular and Vograce even has their own category for it. But it looks pretty amazing. The pic of the hotel looks good, love the gradient on it, the font is gorgeous. I'm also really digging the silver and blue colours. The only thing that needs to go is the mini skull charm bc it's ugly as fuck.

Hibernian Cinema Keychain/Bag Charm

9/10

Oh, I really like this one! I haven't seen a lot of keychains in ticket form and I think this old school ticked design looks quite quaint. Again the pic of the cinema looks good and the font fits perfectly, the colours harmonise and are pleasant to look at.

Mini Skull Charm

0/10

I hate this. Landy drew this in 5 seconds in MS Paint, didn't he? I showed this to my mom and she insists it looks like a sad little ghost no matter how much I try to explain to her it's the top half of a skull.

Bookmark

1/10

That one point is just a pity point for the effort.

That skull looks like it was traced from a photo by someone who doesn't even know what the word 'line dynamic' means. The random texture on it makes it look dirty and its grin is derpy AF. The colours clash with each other, especially the yellow of the 'kind of' looks way too saturated and out of place. Visually it's just a mess. Also the colours are kinda too dark, especially the blue. The red colours need more contrast between font and book colour. Rule of thumb, if you print it tends to turn out darker than expected.

Plus the fonts(s) are weird. They don't seem to fit SP, instead they make me think of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"??

Not a critique point but bc Tanith likes to read it would have been cool if her sword would have been leaning against it. What also would have been cool, different book stack bookmarks for different characters. With their own quotes and colour schemes.

Here is an example of a bock-stack-quote from the LitPinsAndCo website.

The colours harmonize and the fonts are different but they all fit to each other. Simple but nice book design. It's just pleasant to look at.

I tried to do a REALLY QUICK quick fix to show you what I mean. Added detail to the skull, lightened the colours and tried to harmonize them with a gradient map set to colour with lowered opacity.

Still doesn't look great, but I refuse to spend more than 5 min on it. But you get my point, right?

Stickers and Magnet

?/10

There are no pictures for these either. I would have really hoped at least the page would actually be complete prior to launch :/ on the other hand, I don't like waiting so I actually do prefer quick over complete.

Conclusion

I'm not going to pledge to the Kickstarter personally since I don't actually want any of the items. You know me, I just want nasty boi stuff.

The only ones that turned out good were the ones designed by a professional. Since neither Landy nor Laura are artists I don't understand why they insisted on making official merchandise designs. This is just an ego trip for them again, isn't it?

You know this is the kinda shit I mean when I say Landy is the biggest weak spot of SP. His own ego keeps getting in the way. Laura is just as bad and probably enabling him. I also feel that with this he kinda wants to self-validate himself and 'prove wrong' those that kicked him out of animation school/people that said he is a bad artist.

He needs to let go of his ego and let the professionals take over when he is out of his depth.

#SP Merch #skulduggery pleasant

[thenightling]

The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country: Glass House issue 3 Review:

I just read The Nightmare Country: The Glass House issue 3. I still occasionally mess up the title because there is a Witcher comic called House of Glass. Anyway, it's just kind of... unpleasant. I try to force myself to read it but I'm not enjoying it. It's not as bad as the first Nightmare Country but it's not a nice story. It's decidedly unpleasant. It has that edgy 90s style that got boring by 1998. The Corinthian is the only semi-likable character and that's saying something. That was sort of my problem with The House of Whispers back in 2018. The House of Whispers wasn't terrible but that one was kind of boring where the only points of interest were Anansi (the Spider trickster God) and The Corinthian and how The Corinthian handled those abusive parents. The portrayal of Lucien is just awful. Not only is it flat but the character "Voices" don't feel right. Though The Corinthian is enjoyable his language, his use of words, it doesn't match any previous version of the character. It's very articulate but it doesn't feel like there's a personality in the dialogue. Everyone talks the same. That was a complaint I had back when Caitlin R. Kiernan was writing The Dreaming (1996-2002). Except with her everyone spoke like a cheap 80s action movie character, tossing around the the f word and trying to sound edgy. They don't do that here. In here The Corinthian is relatively well spoken but no one has a truly unique voice, a individual's way of talking. Every character should have their own "voice" a chosen vocabulary, or style of speaking and I'm not seeing that here. It's hard to get into the story when everyone talks exactly the same way except Lucien who... comes off like a self-righteous jerk. It's a bit like Simon Spurrier's version of Lucien in The Dreaming (2018) but not really Lucien of The Sandman by Neil Gaiman. Lucien pretty much shows up just to tell The Corinthian that he asked Daniel what he do if The Corinthian steps out of line and Daniel apparently said he'd unmake him. That's great, you conspire to unmake the only character actually doing anything in this story. Thank you for being completely useless, Lucien. The Corinthian and Lucien both bring up some very good points. The dead girl whose ghost is now residing in the form of a cat (I couldn't be bothered to remember her name) The Corinthian tells Lucien "Did you know she doesn't even like cats?" and Lucien says something to the effect of "The Dream Lord would not have turned her into a cat if she didn't like cats." This does make a valid point. I know Daniel is different than Morpheus but Daniel does share a lot of his traits and memories and Morpheus would never create a raven from someone unless he knew that person would prefer to be a raven than the mortal they had been.

It feels like DC shamelessly tried to make an expansive story out of something that didn't really need or deserve it, such as bringing Thessaly in after the events of Dead Boy Detectives as if to go "See, i is a shared universe!" Yeah, that only works if the stories being connected are... you know... good... This is better than The Corinthian: Nightmare Country in regard to the pacing but it still has that ugly, sadistic, and weirdly dull "gritty" 90s comic book style. I don't know if I can continue reading it just to review it. It's that unpleasant for me. It's not the worst thing I've ever read but I have little reason to want to continue reading it.

#The Sandman #The Sandman Universe #Nightmare Country #The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country: Glass House #The Sandman Universe Nightmare Country Glass House #Nightmare Country: Glass House

[wonderfuldeath]

.o| Happy New Year. |o.

Jin x Reader

Warnings : Winter, Fluff, Love, Angst

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

"So, you won't be able to go home?

- Unfortunately not. You know that I can't miss this event. ”

Your lip rolls under your teeth while you take a deep breath. Of course you knew it was an opportunity he couldn't miss. But in doing, it frustrates you. You couldn't spend Christmas together, or even your birthday. And now you were going to have to make a cross on the new year. Your eyes close and you take a breath of air, just so as not to look unpleasant. You knew why you signed, but it was still frustrating. Your fingers tremble against the burning phone against your fingers, while it remains silent for a few seconds.

"- Are you crying?

- Sorry, I just thought... I thought we would spend the new year together.

- I'm sorry, but because of the contract... I'll be there the next day, I promise. ”

A bitter laugh it was not his fault if he had a good career, which took the most of his time. The problem certainly came from you, everyone said it anyway. Stop complaining, thousands of people would like to have your place. And you feel your lower lip trembling like your fingers. You were probably a little too emotional, because of the stress. One of your hands passes through your hair, and you apologize, in half voice. Disappointment cannot be hidden, but it is not very serious. Your acquaintance told you all the time, it wasn't his fault if you were too emotional. They were surely toxic people, or who were jealous at the very idea that you were with him. But they didn't realize the frustration. It was always like that: frustrating. The men, he was never at home, always on the move.

"- Are you still there?

- Yes. Excuse me. What are you going to do?

- The schedule has not yet really been announced. ”

You scrape your throat, shake your head. You know that he would have preferred to be at home, show himself in public and have to be away from his loved ones, no one really wanted to. Yet you can't help but blame him, a little. You know that you won't feel it any more, that when he went home and took you in his arms, you would even forget this unpleasant feeling. A long breath, to finish calming down while you look at the food on the table.

"- You're not going to cry all night, aren't you?

- No Jin. Of course not. But... I would have preferred you to be there.

- I would catch up, I promise. ”

His little voice is sorry, helps you a lot to just smile. You put your fingers in your hair one last time, just to end up calming down while you spin around yourself, he couldn't see your actions, and maybe it was so much the better.

"- What do you plan to do tonight?

- I don't know, maybe a movie night, with a meal.

- It seems... Good. Can't you go out with friends?

- You mean, those who think I'm with you for the money? Or those who absolutely want me to introduce you to them? ”

Once again, guilt takes you in the chest. He was for nothing if you had friends who wanted to enjoy your boyfriend. But sometimes, selfishly, you hoped that Seokjin would hate his career and tell you that you were going to live on a deserted island, just him and you. But reality hitting you every time again, being separated from the members was a torture for him, and you could not snatch him from his life now. So you stay with your frustration and loneliness. The reproach seems to touch a little more, and you hear it sigh. It was rather rare for you to really argue, but when it happened, it was always moments of pure anger.

"- I'm sorry to be an artist.

- You always take it like that. I can't do anything if I'm just me and my friends are just them.

- I don't want to argue this evening. Have a good evening. ”

Frustration, you stutter, but the phone cuts off and you blow by letting the device slide on the work surface. And finally you spend your evening on the couch, feeling guilty for not being up to the task. Many people were right, anyone could not live a life with famous people. And you really thought you could be the kind of person who could do it. But frustration accumulates and doubts persist. To finally leave you there, in your loneliness and your films. And you sigh.

"- Are you there? ”

Your eyes get up, as he puts down his jacket, tenderly, before joining you in the kitchen. He has a moment of hesitation. Seventeen hours, he had taken his time to return home. And you breathe, but make no comment. You let him take you in his arms, smiling at his warmth.

"- Happy New Year.

- Happy New Year. ”

His tender lips kiss your cheeks, and you turn for a real embrace, letting him gently squeeze you against him, closing your eyes. You were a privileged person, a person who would still come to see him again, even if he was busy, or call, even if he was tired.

"- What are you going to do as a resolution this year?

- I don't know yet, maybe, to stop complaining?

- Oh, because you're complaining? I never paid attention. ”

And you laugh, look at him with sparkling eyes, while he smiles at you too. Of course, you would still be frustrated, sometimes. Angry and next new year, he would still pass behind cameras. But you knew at the end of yourself, that it was worth it. So too bad for people.

This year, you would completely dedicate it to him. Because he was Kim Seokjin, and when there's Jin, there is always a risk.

#kim seokjin x you #kim seokjin x reader #bts x reader #os #bts os #love #angst #fluff #bts fluff

[dick-the3rd]

@exhausted-pigeon you taunted me now deal with the consequences.

I don't really have one interpretation of him, I have several.

Do you know that post that says that comics are a bit like ancient myths, and how a character may have many sides, depending of what story is being told? Yeah, this is mostly how I approach comics, with only one difference, comic characthers aren't immutable, so they can change and evolve.

You see, a comic book character exists beyond the pages, it exists on the popular imaginary, it exists on movie adaptations, tv series, animated series, games, and so on, and often those media interact with each other, see Harley Quinn, for example, who was created for the animated series but later was properly introduced to the comic universe. And why this is relevant, you might ask, because, well, the character doesn't exist as a hard and well defined character, it exists as several interpretations.

For me, as a fan and not a DC writer, is useless to find who is the Real Jason, he doesn't matter for me. Several writers have written and published their interpretation of Jason, and sometimes contradicting each other, so instead of trying to find a coherent narrative of who is Jason Todd I rather accept there are many, and then I play with them depending of the situation and the story I want to tell.

For me, there's the Angry Jason, the Jason who didn't forgive Bruce and never will. This Jason is more violent with his methods, more ruthless on the streets, he isn't afraid to face Batman or any other bat. He does what needs to be done, and has no intention of playing by any rules that not his own. He's unpleasant to be around, and more often than not the only thing he shares with the kid who died is the memories, because even the name Jason Todd is foreign to him.

I have the Broken Jason too. This Jason awoke in a world that moved on without him, and had nothing to cling on except his name and his memories. This Jason is angry too, but he's also hurt. He lashes out because that's the only way to make sure he's going to make a difference this time. His violence it's not because he wants to punish the world, he's violent because he's afraid of the clock ticking against him. He wants to make as much difference as he can before he dies again. He wants to accept the family back because he didn't had that the first time, and he wants to know how it is, to have a safety net and people to have his back.

I have the Grieving Jason. This Jason mourns for the kid who died, and who lives this second life to make sure that kid never die again. He's his own protector. He is violent because if this is what it takes to stop it all, then he'll do it. He doesn't hate Batman and doesn't think there's anything to forgive, Bruce did the things he thought right, and it wasn't enough, so Jason himself will fill in the voids. This Jason is more melancholic, his death was something that changed him so deeply that he is no longer the same person as before.

I have other Jason's too, altought not by name. I have a Jason that never really changed, and he is the exact same Jason as before, but it's easier for everyone to pretend he's not. I have a Jason that only needed a bit of time to understand things. And I could keep going forever. For me, all those Jason's exists in the comics, it's just a matter of highlighting certain characteristics.

The most permanent interpretation of Jason that I have is actually more of a set of values I consider the core of the character. I think he's a very emotional person, who cares too much and has hard time letting people go, even after they do him harm. I think he has his own moral code, that may vary depending of the interpretation, but always include saving people rather than punishing the agressor. I think he has a hard time separating justice from revenge, and when he does he has a even harder time deciding which path to choose. I think he's a bit too dramatic and likes to act like he's the main character in the story. I think he's too brave for his own good.

I hope this makes sense

#characters change #just realized i never returned to the point lol #what i meant by that is what those interpretations aren't fixed. they often bleed into each other #and while characters actions are more... set on stone character motivations aren't #so. for example. jason choosing not to kill anymore could be seen both as #1) he wants to make peace with the family and therefore he agrees to their rules #2) if he keeps killing he won't be allowed in gotham. so in this case it's more of a practical decision #so if he thinks he can get away with the kill he goes for it #3) he changes his mind about killing lower people and saves it for only extreme cases. like the Joker #anyway i think this is too long already #but this is pretty much how i see all of comic characters #OH BUT ALSO #this doesn't mean people can't be wrong about him #because there is interpretation and there is blatantly ignoring and disregarding mostly of the things stablished about him #interpretation is about seeing how far you can push canon while staying on believable #not ignoring what you doesn't like #jason meta #i think? #jason todd

[jaelijn]

I had this rant in my drafts for a few days thinking about not ever posting it, but I just saw *yet another* post of this kind, so f* this.

I hate how much fandom and tumblr has informed me that it's cool to hate on the Avatar-the-blue-people film series because the first film is "ssoooo cringe and hahaha there is noooo fanfic haha because it's soooo bad even though it is one of the highest crossing films hahah" and "AtLAB is soooo much better". Like: WHY is it necessary to shit on people's enjoyment when it does nothing to hurt you? It's not the funny "gotcha" you think it is. It's just mean-spirited. Like sure hate on companies and big name creators, but have you thought about what this does to people *just like you* who just happen to enjoy a thing?

It's grown to a point that I don't even want to mention I enjoyed it even a little bit, never mind admitting how much I loved it back when the first one came out. And yes, it has issues - which big film doesn't? But it was such an eye-opener in terms of scifi - not only in terms of how FUCKING GOOD scifi could look on screen without being all "spaceship tech and battles hehehe ooohehehe" but also in terms of what a full alien ecosystem could be. I still have the movie poster hung up. I own the artbook. And the soundtrack. There are literally no other films I can say that about.

It was massively influential for my taste in scifi as well as my way of writing alien landscapes and I felt seen for the way in which my love for nature transcends any care I have for humanity as a species.

Anyway I have been to see part II and love it no less and if not for this stupid nonsense you'd think tumblr'd be all over it - like they have made such strides from the issues of the first one.

It's a story of a family that isn't defined by blood. Of belonging even when you're different. Of loving and protecting nature. There's a heavily neurodivergently coded character who explicitly has epilepsy (and a FEMALE one at that). There's no shortage of strong women without the need to make them... act especially male. There's significantly less white-savourism than in the first one. There's a culture that has a heavily sign-language based conversation style that is completely normalised. It looks *amazing*. The soundtrack is fantastic. It's become an ensemble cast. It's opened up the world even more.

Is it trope-y as all hell, very unsubtle in its message and is its plot flat (and/or repetitive from the first one)? Sure. But the same is true for literally every action/super hero movie, and everyone seems to love those. (And at least in terms of repetitiveness some is definitely intentional - as in relevant to the story! - parallels).

Is it fairly amato- and heteronormative? Yeah. But again, that's pretty much every media.

Is there a significant amount of violence and death - also yes. But to me it's the brutality of a war film - it's supposed to be brutal, it's supposed to be unpleasant and raw in places, whereas a lot of violence in movies otherwise feels to me like I'm supposed to enjoy it.

There are probably other ~~problematic~~ things, and if not in the film then with the people or businesses involved, sure. And I'm not dismissing them. I'm not saying it's perfect. But unlike other media I could mention, as far as I'm aware, it's not an active instrument in a hate campaign, and yet all I see is criticism and I have no one to talk to about it IRL and, following this tumblr attitude, no one I really want to admit to that I like it on here, either.

Anyway. I'm ranting. But if a movie has the power to make me cry from beauty as well as pain, make me lose myself in awe and shake with incandescent rage, have a sheer RANGE of emotional responses, I can't honestly pretend I didn't enjoy it. Just let people enjoy it.

#jaelijn talks #and honestly... it's SO BEAUTIFUL #like if nothing else give it that

[dark9896]

Should have...[Zapp x Reader]

Buildings rising and falling in slow motion. So many people dead or dying. And they both needed to help defend this shelter from the hostile beast in front of them. Zapp looked over, his lover best be watching him right now.

Except their neck was bleeding profusely. Zapp stopped, everything around him darkening. He couldn't get to their side fast enough. Was he really going to be helpless and forced to watch [Name] die in front of him? On this night? Was this really the incident that he couldn't do anything to help them?

Zapp sat up, sweating. His first instinct being to look for any sight of blood or you. When neither showed up his panic grew.

Then he heard the toilet flush and calmed right down. Good, you were still here. When you settled into bed, Zapp wrapped himself around you. He refused to admit it, but he was a bit unhealthily attached to you at the moment.

After his incompetency and need to show off lost your voice, he didn't want to mess up anything else in your life. This silence from you was his fault, if he wasn't such a show off....maybe you'd still...

Zapp was rubbing your back in slow circles. It was so easy to fall back to sleep like that.

You weren't sure how you managed to talk Zapp into taking sign language courses, but you were deeply appreciative that he would a least try.

You weren't sure why he was so insistent on stick by your side. Walking down the street was no more dangerous now then before, yet Zapp was stuck to your hand. It wasn't really unpleasant, it was just weird behavior for Zapp specifically.

Then again, ever since you lost your voice, Zapp had been a bit clingy. He only ever seemed to want to go out when you wanted to. Never out to clubs or anything like that. Movies, burgers, occasionally the arcade. Only ever places he could be by your side or watching you like a hawk.

It was weird as could be, especially in terms of Zapp. You wanted to bring it up, but Zapp would ignore every note you passed, or dismissed it with an admittedly weak excuse. He didn't want to talk about it whatsoever.

You were relaxing on the couch and sipping at a case of cheap beer with Zapp. The two of you watching an old movie. Zapp was closer to being drunk than you were. You thought he was trying to be frisky, except he was caressing your face slowly. Pulling you to face him then brushing his knuckles across your cheeks.

The tears welling up in his eyes were a dead give away that he wasn't thinking like that.

"I'm sorry." His voice was thick with tears already, "I did this. You got hurt because I didn't act."

Zapp did scoot closer, leaning in as if he wanted to kiss you. But he rested his forehead against yours.

"You should be able to yell at me. To tell me those stupid crazy jokes. And ....and.."

You reached up to Zapp's face, rubbing your thumb through his tears. You were a fang hunter too, accidents would happen.

Zapp grabbed your hand, "Don't. You know it was my fault sexy. I shouldn't have been showing off like that. You would still have....your....voice....if....if I..."

Zapp broke down crying. His arms wrapping around you, pulling you into a tight hug. This was his fault.

#bbb #kekkai sensen #kkss #blood blockade battlefront #zapp renfro

[pigsiescribe]

Magical Girl Reject 5

"What did you want to show me?" Mehri asked tentatively. Meghane had insisted there was something really important she needed to see and had practically dragged her into the largest restroom stall before locking the door.

In a brief flash of light, Meghane transformed. Her clothes made Mehri think of those really decadent ice cream sundaes on the internet; ones overflowing with marshmallows and sprinkles and cookies and lollipops. Her eyes had a manic spiral on them, and her hair was two different colors going down the middle. Wait--she's a magical girl?!

"Name's Riot Girl," she introduced herself rather smugly with an exaggerated flourish. "... This is a sort of, 'show me yours, I'll show you mine,' situation." Meghane clarified when Mehri continued to stare at her.

Mehri took a moment to weigh the pros and cons. It's not like Meghane/Riot Girl could expose her without exposing herself. But she wasn't even sure if she COULD transform. She hadn't even attempted it since her syringe turned black and Bobbin stopped talking to her. The best conclusion she came to was her powers must have been made null and void. Then again, what if this was just her powers changing? She had heard of that sort of thing in stories.

"Don't laugh," she muttered before clasping her syringe. The transformation took only a second, but her clothes were VERY different now. Originally, she looked something like a pink, Lolita-style nurse with little red-and-white pills dangling from the hem of the skirt, ace bandages around her forearms, and a heart on her apron. Now, she was wearing an oversized purple hoodie with broken heart in the center, weird stitching patterns, ace bandages around her wrists, and a black pleated skirt with black-and-white pills dangling from the trim.

"Shivers~" Riot Girl's manic eyes looked even more manic at the sight of Mehri's transformation. "So, what can you do?"

"I-I don't know," Mehri admitted lamely.

"Then let's test it out on somebody."

"Who?"

"Does it matter? It can be whoever you want it to be."

That sounded a little dark, but then again, Mehri had experimented on a random dog she found in a storm drain (that turned out to be a classmate). "I'll think about it."

"Okay. See you at lunch then." With that, Riot Girl turned back to Meghane and made a brisk exit.

We're lunch buddies now? Mehri absentmindedly dug around in the pockets of her hoodie. There was something like hard plastic. A boxcutter?! She quickly stashed it back into the pocket and transformed to her normal self. Last thing she needed was being caught bringing weapons to school. Whatever; she needed to go to the library to check out the next book in a series.

***

"Hey, Mehri," Henri combed his fingers through his hair and leaned against the bookcase like some protagonist in a romance movie. Mehri stared straight at the spines of the books.

"Hello, Berry Boy."

"Berry Boy?"

"Yeah. Your last name means 'raspberry.'" That was something Mehri's mother told her. "So you're a Berry Boy."

"Well, what does YOUR last name mean?" He snapped.

"Noor means 'divine light.'" She didn't even have to look at him to know he was making that forced smile with his eyebrow twitching. Mehri's mom had called the school about Henri and his flirty advances that Mehri very clearly turned down. Legally, there wasn't anything they could do to keep Henri away from Mehri. After a rather heated discussion, the staff agreed to keep an eye on the two. That meant Henri could only be kind and pleasant towards Mehri. Honestly, she was starting to enjoy being as unpleasant as possible and seeing how long he would tolerate her. He's either really desperate for that $20 or he hated to lose.

"How... Fitting." Henri took a deep breath and went back to his smooth tone of voice. "Listen... There was something I wa--"

"Hold on." Mehri put a hand to her stomach just in time for it to grumble. "I'm hungry. I'm going to the cafeteria."

"Why are you always hungry when I want to talk to you?!"

"Well, see, living things need to eat." Mehri explained sarcastically. "I'm a living thing, so I need to eat. I COULD resort to cannibalism, but instead, I'm going to eat the food in the cafeteria. Less of a hassle." With that, she turned on her heel and left.

When she arrived at the cafeteria, Meghane flagged her down, two bags from a local sandwich shop in front of her. Did she seriously have that stuff delivered? Was it allowed? Mehri sat next to her cautiously.

"Chicken salad sandwich and sweet tea for you," Meghane handed her a bag, "and BLT with soda for myself." She started unpacking her bag. "Have you decided who you want to experiment on yet?"

"Not really..." Mehri glanced inside her own bag. "This is a lot of food." Was it some sort of backhanded jab at her weight?

"Fuck diet culture," Meghane replied playfully. "If a girl's hungry, a girl should eat what she wants." There seemed to be the same amount of food in her own bag. Maybe she was one of those girls with a high metabolism. "Anyways, think of someone who's really pissed you off. If your powers do something bad, well, they deserved it. If your powers do something good, well... That's it, I guess. You did something good."

"I... don't know if anybody deserves something bad to happen to them."

"Oh, c'mon. There's assholes at this school every ten feet. SOMEONE must have gotten on your nerves."

Just then, someone bumped into the back of Mehri's head, causing her to choke on her sweet tea. When she looked up, Asabi, Reagan, and Leticia sauntered by with their trays. Meghane smirked at the look in Mehri's eyes.

"Ooh~ that's a scary look. They must have REALLY pissed you off. Why don't you tell me what they did?"

Like a dam slowly crackling before it bursts, Mehri slowly revealed more and more details about the trio's relationship and how she was both caught in the middle and treated like a dog; expected to come when called and just do what she's told. Meghane listened to every word, throwing in an occasional reassuring words.

"Leticia probably can't feel good about her body if she's not making fun of other people's. I mean, it's none of her business what you eat or what you weigh. She's not your doctor."

"Funny how Reagan talks all that shit and doesn't do a thing about anything. She's like a chihuahua."

"Gregory's probably got the biggest stick up his ass I've ever seen. He could probably feel it from the back of his throat and pull it out his mouth."

Finally, Meghane asked: "So which one are you going after first?"

"What?" Mehri had completely forgotten the point of the talk.

"C'mon~ after the way they treated you? They deserve EVERYTHING that comes their way."

"I... I only go after bad guys. They may be jerks to me, but they aren't, like, BAD bad guys." Mehri trusted the trio had good qualities, even if she couldn't think of any at the moment. After all, there was good in everybody, right?

"Okay," Meghane glanced up at the ceiling for a moment, nibbling on a potato chip. "What about that one guy; Didacus Melbourne? He's only 13, but he's been in and out of juvie since elementary school, practically. I've heard the only reason he hasn't been expelled is because his parents are loaded. They just keep paying money to make the problem go away. Would it be so terrible if something bad happened to HIM for once?"

Mehri knew who Meghane was referring to. Didacus never bullied Mehri directly, but she had seen him do some pretty nasty things, like trashing a classroom after a girl dumped him. She couldn't think of one positive contribution he's ever made to the school.

"He's huge though," Mehri reminded her. There was no way she could ever go one-on-one with him.

"I'll be there for you," Meghane assured her with a sly smile. "Just tell me when and where."

#original story #original characters #magical girls #mahoucore