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ask-missparker · 8 days

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I thought I had you figured out | OUAT AU Series 🌙

Summary: The curse has broken, yet both sides of the family are torn apart once again. One half in the enchanted forest and the other in FighterTown, what else can go wrong?

Pairing: Nikolai x Mia, Liane x Ethan, Jeremy x Cole

Platonic Pairing: Joshua & Bella

Timeline: Post--Don’t Give Up On Me fic & Present Day fics

Season: 2

~~~~~

A/N: I got inspired by a concept, I always had for Mia in the MCU as she isn’t much of a sleeper anymore after she gets her own upgrade from normal human to mutant. And with the recent rewatch of clips and my own sleepless nights, it only seems fitting. One of theses days I gotta stop traumatizing my OCs I swear 😂 BUT NOT TODAY!

Note: You guys can keep going with the tale and see who they meet in the forest fic. Or what’s happening in The Town fic hehe

———

~Flashback~

In the early morning air, the coldest temperature would bring the cozy atmosphere within small home. It was pouring outside, which made everything feel more colder than expected. It's been 2 weeks since the daring adventure and their wild saves.

It was good. In two weeks they were gonna be going to a ball, dancing and drinking the night away.

But the couple wasn't in peace, yet. They couldn't quite get a good deal of sleep.

She stood in front of the bathroom mirror, her hands rested on the sink behind her as she let out a sigh. Her sleeping curse was gone but still, she held nightmares of being trapped in a blackened room filled with deep fire, no windows or doors, just a narrow hallway.

Side effects of the sleeping curse.

She was in her thoughts when a pair of arms wrapped behind her humming and kissed her shoulder. She smiled tiredly, leaning into his chest and kissed his cheeks.

Nicholas has known about Amelia's nightmares for a while now, cursing his brother and that stupid curse, as he tried to calm her worries. He had his own nightmares. Dark thoughts and fears in those nightmares, he didn't care to admit, yet he knew that she knew about them. As she would hush his worries, let him cuddle in her arms and just listen even if he didn’t reveal everything.

He breath her in natural scent and sighed, pressing kisses to her hair as he said, "I got an idea."

"I am not staying up again until midnight." She joked looking over her shoulder, pressing the dark bangs out of his face.

"No, I mean, it could work. My mother, she used to light a candle, telling me they catch the nightmares and let the person.."

"..sleep in peace. My mother used that trick with my father during the Ogre wars. Do you think it will work?"

"Let's hope..if not, we can always take a few shots and wish our troubles away."

"You're hilarious."

The two of them headed back to the cozy atmosphere of their bedroom, as Mia lit a candles for the both of them. She knew her fiancé tends to have nightmares of his own, despite him not voicing them, so she decided it was a fair gift.

It was silent agreement to do this for a couple of days at a time, in hope of making their nightmare turn into forgotten memories.

He rested his head on his pillow watching her lighting the candle next to the nightstand, then nuzzling in bed beside him. The warm of the covers and bright light of the tiny fire brought a gentleness in the air. A comforting feeling to whip away the fears.

Two candles to catch the nightmares, as they fell back to sleep...

~End of Flashback~

---

..she shot up, awaken from the slumber after that nasty fall. Liane groaned rubbing her shoulder, looking over to find the teens, Nikolai and Jeremy surrounding her.

They weren't in the town hall anymore, but in The Enchanted Forest.

Jeremy was awake already, rubbing his neck from the hall trying to awaken his friends.

"Alright get up." Jeremy said, shaking them awake as the teens groaned and muttered 'let us sleep', "You two can sleep once we return home."

That caught Bella and Joshua's attention, waking up and looking around at the sight around them. Bella was silent drinking the world she just entered as Joshua said, "..uh, didn't Cole say that the forest was a wasteland? This doesn't look like one."

"Aye. Whatever we are, my husband lied about it, and we need to get out of here soon." Jeremy respond, helping them stand.

Liane puffed up her purple collar, following the four of them, keeping an eye on the kids. Nikolai asked if the others were okay, telling them that they needed to find shelter and a plan to get home quick. He also knew that their spouses are going to kill 'em! He led the path, pushing past a few bushes and trees in awe of the forest.

It was greener than he last remembered, yet some leaves were dry and rougher than others. It made the path look bleak. And foggy, despite the sunlight shining through the trees. Jeremy chuckled soaking in the bushing and semi-fresh land, meanwhile Liane touch the trees and snapped her fingers as it evoked magic from her palm.

Bella slump the book that was inside her backpack taken back by all the greens and dry oranges that filled her eyes. She read the book, or least the chapters that mattered to her, but she never expected to appear inside the words of the book itself. It was a wonder.

However she felt an off priming subject within their surroundings. Joshua felt it too, a hollow feeling he knew all too well, the forest felt alone and quiet.

Too quiet for their ears.

Joshua has spent his years alone, on the run and trying to adjust to figuring out who he was. He knew the hollow feeling, the quietness and hard times that follow behind it. All those sleepless nights, he was always told he was different and misunderstood. And when he thought he found some kind of peace, he was thrown into a world wind of situations such as this one.

He liked to think he doesn't need anyone, that he can figure out things on his own, because that's all he ever known.

But standing here in the woods, he feels less confident, unsure to admit it or not. He was only in this world for not even an hour before he was sent away in hopes to protect him from the curse.

"Up ahead! A pot of land." Jeremy shouted taking the young boy out of his thoughts.

"You sure it's safe?" Bella asked, following her uncle.

"Half of this land is dead, so it's the best thing at the moment."

"Doesn't sound promising."

"Hey, I'm trying here."

"Whatever you say."

Bella looped her arm around Joshua, telling him to pick up the pace as they followed the adults. Nikolai could tell his son wasn't in the best shape, it concerned him. Hell, he could tell his niece wasn't either. Like something was bother her, yet she refused to admit what it was. Liane was in a daze, rubbing her shoulders as her eyes fell on her daughter trying to ponder what was going on in her mind.

Nikolai bumped the blonde's shoulder and asked, "You alright?"

"Define alright.." She replied with a light smile.

"Well you woke up from a sleeping curse a while back and now we're stuck in the forest after a nasty fall from the hat."

"Yeah, right..the curse, not proud of it. Wh-when we fell and I was knocked out cold, I was dreaming..and now I'm awake."

"Uh, that's how sleeping works."

"Funny. I'm serious, I was dreaming but it was a weird one, like I was in a room and then..the corners were on fire. But not my fire.."

"Ooh. I see, it wasn't a dream..acted like a nightmare."

"Y-yeah! It turned into a nightmare, I was in this happy colorful room and then poof fire! Wa-wait, how did you..?"

"It's the side effects of the sleeping curse, it goes away with time. Mia had it..I once had it."

"Oh. Damn..when does it go away?"

"Depends on the person. It took Mia months, meanwhile it took me weeks."

Liane nodded silently remembering a certain redheaded princess she put under a sleeping curse and whines in embarrassment at the thought. Nikolai noticed the look on her face and sighed, knowing this must've been karma for the blonde.

Soon enough, they took shelter at the pot of land, which appeared to be an old campsite. They found swords laying around, pieces of clothes hanging on clothes line, bow and arrows and even a few dead bodies. Some were just their skeletons.

"Gross." Liane muttered stepping accidentally on a meatless hand, cracking a bone.

"Cool." Bella added with a smirk, earning a glare from her mother removing a scarf from the clothes line.

Joshua plucked a sword from the dead guy on the ground and grinned, "Sweet. You think he got money too on him?"

Liane gasped in disgust, "Ah no! Yuck, put that down. Both of you!"

"Not a chance." Bella said finding a satchel on the ground too.

Jeremy smirked holding back at his laugh at Liane's facial expressions while the kids collected items. Nikolai noticed there were no food nor water nearby, deciding him and Jeremy would go out to get some. Joshua perked up, wanting to go to but his father said otherwise.

"I'm not a kid, you know." Josh muttered standing up from the ground, lazily flipping the sword.

"You're 16 and somewhere you don't know. Think again." Nikolai responded before walking over.

"Hey! I can handle this, it's a walk."

"I know that but I need someone to watch the girls."

"Then have Jeremy do it."

"Not when Liane is dazed and Bella is barely talking. I need you to do this for me."

"Bella can handle herself. And so can-"

"Joshua Christopher Nolan, that's enough. You stay here."

That seemed to silence the young brunette, having never heard his full name before until now. He nodded then walked back to his post, sitting on one of the benches watching Liane rest and Bella examine the items she found. Joshua noticed Bella giving him a small squeeze on his shoulder, a little stunned herself.

With that men walked out of the campsite without saying a word. Jeremy had a lot on his mind but he knew he had to say something, even if it sounded humorous.

So, after a moment, the blonde spoke.

Jeremy looked over his shoulder as he followed his oldest friend saying, "That was harsh."

"He kept pushing." Nikolai replied with a sour look on his face, but his friend could tell something was deeper than that.

"And? Look, Nik, we're all stressed here but he wanted to help."

"He is helping. He's watching over the girls. I need him to watch over the girls while we get supplies."

"Why? More hands could be a lot more helpful."

"BECAUS—because, I need him safe. I know theses woods, anything can help and I can't return home knowing he let him get hurt."

"He—Joshua has lived without you for years, he won't..w-what is going on?"

"I lost him twice already, man..I won't let it happen again."

"The first time wasn't your fault."

"And the second time?"

"Nik.."

"Sorry. I don't want to fail as a father..like I failed as his friend."

Jeremy gave Nikolai a smile that said 'you won't'. His friend half smile at that, still feeling the weight over his shoulders but kept moving forward. Hell, Jeremy was trying to balance his feelings here, his niece and nephew were here, basically unskilled and his husband was back in their world probably freaking the heck out.

Better yet, drinking until he returned.

---

With the two adults gone, leaving one dazed and half alert, Bella was secretly losing it. Her mother was in and out of sleep, tired and a little dizzy, and Bella blames herself. If she hadn't told her to go to the diner, she wouldn't have ended up in the hospital in a small coma, under a sleeping curse.

Liane was still in her daze having tried not to fall asleep once again, but failed to do so. She was napping instead meanwhile Bella and Joshua were on watch time. It wasn't so bad.

The two friends chatted a bit, letting the other know what was going on in their heads. Bella admired how stiff her friend was acting, as she fit just as out of place as he was. However she was more in awe of the wonders in the land.

It was way different than the books.

She lean against the tree and said, "It feels like a dream..."

"Seriously?" Joshua asked with humor in his tone, holding down his gun for safety reason.

"Well yeah. Let's face it, I would have liked it in a different circumstances but still..you don't seem that excited."

"I..I am. It's cool, but we're out of our wheelhouse here, Belle..what if we don't make it back in time."

"In time for what?"

"I don't know. Maybe something weird happens in the town and we're not there to see it."

"That's what our parents and uncles..and well, aunts are there for. We just need to keep a level head."

Joshua smiled at that, "Yeah, you're right, it would be nice to see the ponds and forest life here..or visit the lake our parents escaped in once."

"You read the book?" Bella replied jokingly around a bit, "I thought you said you don't read."

"Maybe I read a little..and the book was right about one thing."

"And what would that be?"

"Our parents being protective and..a little dramatic."

He pointed over to Liane half asleep with her face on the wooden table, snoring away flinching her nose a bit and humming a tune. She was sorta humming Taylor Swift in her sleep. That cause Bella to snort and quietly chuckle.

"Yeah you're right about that.." Bella responded but was cut off mid-breathe as the tip of a sword rested against her neck.

Her eyes darted to the fair blonde women with a floral headband, blonde locks, a ashy blue dress and a dark lavender coat to match.

Joshua's eye widen in shock as he raised his hand held gun and scoffed, "Lay down your the sword, now."

His eyes whipped around to notice anyone else came along, catching the eye on a figure rushing behind him over to the benches. The figure carried herself was grace and pondering eyes, dark red hair and a sliver lined skirt to add to her look. She held in her hand a dagger inching over to them.

"Not another step." Joshua declared, darting his gun between both the blonde and redhead.

The redhead scoffed, facing her dagger in front of the brunette as she held a smirk. But her eyes were fixed on Liane.

Bella glared trying to inch her neck away from the blonde who faced her, with a dumbfounded look plucking her sword a little closer.

Yup, they were in trouble.

----

🔈Thanks for reading. That’s what I got! Comment down below with ideas and reblog your thoughts

Keep it going with any fic ideas! 🎥 It could be flashbacks or present day, I’ll love to see what you guys come up with

🏷️ Tags: @missstrawbs2001 @purpleprincessonfyre @meiramel @gcthvile @rickb-chaos @gaminggirlsstuff @wizzzardofoz @cherrysft @thechoooooosenone @luna-d-marsh and etc

#danielle campbell #once upon a time au #i need sleep #sleeplees night #agents of shield fanfic #agents of shield oc #ouat s2

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tampon-on-the-sidewalk · 2 years

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Eurovision Semi Final 2 Facts to share During the Postcards!

My post for Semi Final 1 did so well, I’ll do it again for the 2nd! Unless otherwise noted, the artists had some involvement in the songwriting process.

1. Finland- The Rasmus- Jezebel The band formed in 1994 and has achieved global fame with their song In The Shadows, a career spanning 9 albums. This is the first song with guitarist Emppu Suhonen after founding member Pauli Rantasalmi left. Desmond Child, known for writing many Bon Jovi songs(among others) and most recently Kings and Queens by Ava Max, co-wrote the song.

2. Israel- Michael Ben David- I.M- 25 years old, he is the second oldest of 6 and won X-factor in Israel with Netta as his coach. He went to a performing arts school and also worked as a singing waiter.

3. Serbia- Konstrakta- In Corpore Sano- 43 years old, she has been performing since age 19. She was a frontwoman of a band until her solo debut in 2019. Her stage name is inspired from her major in Architecture. The song title, as well as some lyrics, are in Latin.

4. Azerbaijan- Nadir Rustamli- Fade to Black- 22 years old, he started his musical career in 2017. He won The Voice in his country in 2021, then was internally selected to compete in Eurovision. First artist this year with no involvement in the songwriting process.

5. Georgia- Circus Mircus- Lock Me In- Formed in 2020, they are circus academy dropouts turned musicians. They were internally selected. I couldn’t find much info on the song itself, or what their involvement in the writing process was.

6. Malta- Emma Muscat- I Am What I Am- 22. Daughter of the heads of a clothing company, and a classically trained pianist. Musical debut in 2016.Emma originally planned on sending a different song before a last-minute change.

7. San Marino- Achille Lauro- Stripper- 31 years old, he competed in Italy’s national final three times before competing and winning San Marino’s this year. Known for his controversial songs and staging choices. Made recording debut in 2012.

8. Australia- Sheldon Riley- Not the Same- 23 years old, competed in X-Factor Australia, The Voice Australia twice, and America’s Got Talent before winning Australia’s National Final. He made his recording debut in 2018. Eurovision has been his dream ever since seeing Conchita win in 2014.

9. Cyprus- Andromache- Ela- 27 years old, She participated in The Voice of Greece in 2015. Made her recording debut in 2017. Not involved in the song writing process.

10. Ireland- Brooke- That’s Rich- 23 years old, she was in several musical productions in highschool including Fame, Mama Mia and Sister Act. Finished 3rd in The Voice UK in 2020.

11.North Macedonia- Andrea- Circles- 22 years old, she was discovered on social media by a producer. Lived in New York as a child, and inspired by Gospel, R&B and Pop-punk. Hayley Williams of Paramore is her main inspiration. Made her recording debut in 2020.

12. Estonia- STEFAN- Hope- 24 years old, he endered the national final 4 times in total since 2018. He won The Masked Singer Estonia.

13. Romania- WRS- Llamame 29 years old, started as a back-up dancer and part of the Pro TV Ballet before making his solo debut in 2020. He was nominated for 2 awards.He was part of a boyband in 2015.

14. Poland- Ochman- River- 22 years old, he was born in Massachusetts to a Polish family. Was Prince Charmind in his school’s performance of Cinderella. Went to Poland for Music University. Won The Voice Poland in 2020 on Michal Szpak(2016 representative)’s ream.

15. Montenegro- Vladana- Breathe- 35 years old, she studied music theory and opera. Degree in Journalism. Recording debut in 2003, was internally selected. She is editor-in-chief of an Online fashion magazine. The last time Montenegro was in the ESC was 2019.

16.Belgium- Jeremie Makiese- Miss You. 21 Years old, he joined his church choir at a young age. In 2021 he won The Voice Belgium, and was internally selected. Influences include Michael Jackson, James Brown and Aretha Franklin, as well as Stromae. He is a proffessional footballer.

17. Sweden- Cornelia Jakobs- Hold Me Closer- 30 years old, daughter of The Poodles’ lead singer. Entered Melfest 2021 as a songwriter. Made recording debut in 2018, but her tv debut in 2008 on Swedish Idol.

18. Czech Republic- We Are Domi-Lights Off- Formed in 2016, they met at the Leeds College of Music in the UK. Dominika Hasova, the singer, is Czech-American(born in NY) while the other two, Casper Hatlestad and Benjamin Rekstad, are Norwegian. The latter two are music teachers.

#eurovision #esc #eurovision 2022 #esc 2022 #eurovision2022 #esc2022 #semi final 2 #eurovision semi final 2

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gluevah · 1 year

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(Long text post but there are photos at the end!)

So, I've been interested in reborn dolls/reborn babies for years. Since I first learned about them I thought it was amazing how real they look, and how much work the artists put into these dolls to make them look as real as possible. I had often thought about how much I'd like to have one, but I dismissed that idea because I assumed I'd never be able to afford it, and I told myself I wasn't into dolls anyway.

Recently, I decided to look on one of the few legit websites that artists and collectors alike can sell their reborn dolls, and I was surprised to see several dolls that I thought were very cute, and also listed at a price I could afford. I made an account, added a few to favorites, and just generally enjoyed "window shopping" until I saw a little reborn baby that I just fell in love with. She was just so pretty, and I decided that I'd talk to Jeremy about buying her. Not because I need his permission, but because he is afraid of dolls.

He tolerates my American Girl dolls, but finds them a little unsettling, but baby dolls creep him out something fierce so I didn't want to bring one into the house without at least talking to him about it. He agreed as long as I promised to keep whatever doll I got in my plush room/keep it away from him so he doesn't have to see it. Which is fair, if he collected like...centipedes or whatever I'd want them to be kept away from me too lmao.

So, I bought her. And, what luck, she arrived safely the day I went to visit my sister! So I got to unbox her and see her before I left.

Her name is Amelia Lorraine, Mia for short 🥰 Her artist included a lot of generous gifts with her, lots of cute outfits! She is weighted in her body, head, arms, and legs, so that she feels like a real baby when held. She weighs 6 pounds, is 19 inches long, and has lovely rooted mohair.

I don't role-play with her, really (nothing wrong with doing so, it's just not my thing), but I love holding her and dressing her up 🥰

I know reborns are a bit of a divisive subject; people either really like them, or find them extremely creepy. There doesn't seem to be much in-between! So, I will be diligent in tagging reborn doll posts. If you don't like reborn dolls, please be sure to block the following tags: #reborn dolls #reborn babies

I may add other tags once I'm more familiar with how reborns are tagged on tumblr, but I'll always use those. If you follow me (or otherwise come across this post) and you do like reborn dolls, I'd love to see yours if you have one!

#reborn dolls #reborn babies

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whileiamdying · 2 years

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The 10 Biggest Cannes Film Festival Premieres to Look Out For

A gaudy Elvis biopic, a tender family drama, the latest from the director of Mad Max: Fury Road, and much more.

BY RICHARD LAWSON AND REBECCA FORD

MAY 17, 2022

BY ANDREAS RENTZ/GETTY IMAGES.

The landmark 75th Cannes Film Festival kicks off on May 17, beginning a nearly two-week parade of what is hopefully the best in international cinema. As the success of last year’s Cannes breakout Drive My Carshowed, the festival can be an invaluable launchpad for a film’s world-domination campaign. What will be the standouts this year? Vanity Fair’s chief critic, Richard Lawson, and senior awards correspondent Rebecca Ford have picked 10 films they think could hit big—or, at least, could be most worth buzzing about.

Armageddon Time

For director James Gray’s fifth appearance at Cannes, he’s brought a more personal coming-of-age story set in upscale Queens in the pre-Reagan ’80s. The Focus Features film is inspired by his own childhood, when his parents moved him to the private Kew-Forest School (Donald Trump was an alumnus), and follows a 12-year-old and his best friend as they hatch a plan to escape their confines. Four of Gray’s previous films—The Yards, The Immigrant, Two Lovers, and We Own the Night—debuted at Cannes, though none won any awards. As we continue to see filmmakers dig into their childhoods (the Romaeffect, if you will), Gray’s turn—which stars Anne Hathaway, Anthony Hopkins, and Jeremy Strong—promises to take us back to a specific time and place while exploring issues that feel timely today. —R.F.

Broker

After he won the Palme d’Or in 2018 for his exquisite, heartbreaking family drama Shoplifters, Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda switched over to French and English for 2019’s warmly received, if under-seen, The Truth. Now he’s traveling to South Korea for Broker, which is about so-called baby boxes—places where infants can be dropped off anonymously by people unable to care for them. It sounds like subject matter that Kore-eda, such a caring and yet unflinching filmmaker, will handle with signature nuance. And the cast! The film features Song Kang-ho, now forever Cannes famous for starring in Parasite, and Bae Doona, one of the biggest stars in Korea. It’s hard to repeat a Palme d’Or win, but Kore-eda’s film at least has the makings of an indelible festival favorite. —R.L.

Crimes of the Future

There’s been plenty of buzz for David Cronenberg’s first film since 2014’s Maps to the Stars. The visceral body-horror film, which will be released by Neon this summer, is set in a future in which the human body has begun to change due to the synthetic environment of society. Cronenberg, who’s stated that the film is “a meditation on human evolution,” reunited with his muse Viggo Mortensen, who stars as a performance artist who uses these new developments in his art; Kristen Stewart and Léa Seydoux also star. The film is likely to push audiences’ comfort levels (Cronenberg recently said the film was too racy for “conservative” Netflix), but hopefully in a good way and not in a “booed in the Palais” way. —R.F.

Elvis

Baz Luhrmann doing a big, splashy Elvis Presley biopic is about as quintessential as a Cannes out-of-competition premiere gets. What’s more, the film features both Tom Hanks doing a zany accent as Presley’s menacing svengali, Colonel Tom Parker, and a potentially huge star-making turn from a mostly untested actor, Austin Butler, in the title role. Will Elvis be the stuff of awards glory, like Bohemian Rhapsody was just a few years ago? Will it be a garish, gregarious oddity befitting of Luhnrmann’s oeuvre? We’re dying to find out—as are many people here in Cannes. Elvis has been among the most speculated-about films ahead of the festival, and not just because everyone is curious to finally see the movie that gave Hanks COVID. —R.L.

One Fine Morning

Cannes mainstay Mia Hansen-Løve is taking no time off. Last year she debuted the critically beloved Bergman Island at the festival; this year she’s returning to her native French for a romance starring Léa Seydoux. That actor, one of the stalwarts of the festival in recent years, plays a woman caring for her ailing father who begins an affair with an old, already taken friend. That premise sounds somewhat run-of-the-mill, but the ever-sensitive and clever Hansen-Løve will likely turn it into something more. —R.L.

Showing Up

It’s a solid bet that a Kelly Reichardt and Michelle Williams team-up will be a worthwhile viewing experience. The duo, who previously collaborated on Reichardt’s Wendy and Lucy, Meek’s Cutoff, and Certain Women, reunite for the filmmaker’s first Cannes main-competition film, which sees Williams playing an artist on the verge of a career breakthrough. Reichardt’s 2019 film, First Cow—about the bond of two men trying to survive in the 1820s Northwest—won best film at the 2020 New York Film Critics Circle Awards and landed on the National Board of Review’s list of the top films of the year. Showing Up, which will be released by A24, is expected to be more comedic than much of her previous work—and hopefully, the next step toward wider recognition. —R.F.

The Stars at Noon

It’s been a shame that French filmmaker Claire Denis hasn’t had a film in the official competition at Cannes since her 1988 debut, Chocolat. That changes this year, with The Stars at Noon, a romantic thriller following a mysterious English businessman and an American journalist who work together to escape Nicaragua during the Nicaraguan Revolution. Originally planned to star Robert Pattinson (who worked with Denis on High Life), the film now centers on performances by Joe Alwyn and Margaret Qualley, with an interesting supporting cast that includes Danny Ramirez, Benny Safdie, and John C. Reilly. —R.F.

Three Thousand Years of Longing

George Miller hasn’t made a movie since 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road, which took Cannes by storm that year and eventually landed 10 Oscar nominations and six wins. His latest, also debuting out of competition, will be very different in scope and experience, described as a more dialogue-driven film that stars Idris Elba as a djinni who offers three wishes to a scholar (Tilda Swinton). Miller has dabbled in various genres throughout his career, from fantasy-comedy (The Witches of Eastwick) to animation (Happy Feet), so I’m interested to see what he does with this fantasy romance, as it’s so mysteriously described. —R.F.

Triangle of Sadness

We could give you the more high-minded reasons why we’re excited for Ruben Östlund’s new film. Such as how it will be interesting to see the Swedish director’s follow-up to his Palme d’Or–winning The Square, and how Östlund has been a must-see filmmaker since his masterful Cannes hit Force Majeure, one of the best movies of the previous decade. But honestly, we just want to see Harris Dickinson as a pampered model who winds up on a yacht with a scheming Marxist captain played by Woody Harrelson. That sales pitch is enough for us. Movies about yachts should probably always premiere at Cannes, where those unconscionably expensive seacraft are ever visible in the marina and floating ominously out in the bay. We hope Östlund gives them, and their owners, the what-for. —R.L.

War Pony

When the actor Riley Keough and the producer Gina Gammell began hanging out with Franklin Sioux Bob and Bill Reddy after Keough met them on the set of 2016’s American Honey, they were fascinated by the two men’s stories of living on a Native American reservation. Those men have now channeled those experiences into the screenplay for War Pony, which Keough and Gammell direct. Set on a Lakota reservation in South Dakota, the film follows a young man and a young boy scrambling to make their way amidst grinding poverty. If handled well, the film—which features a cast of mainly Indigenous first-time actors—could be something in the vein of The Rider, Chloé Zhao’s 2017 Cannes breakout that takes a docudrama approach to a community little seen on film. Or War Pony could be more Sean Baker–esque, wild and antic and yet rooted in crucial realism. Either way, we’re intrigued. We’re also curious to see how Keough fares behind the camera, just as a huge movie about her grandfather is set to premiere on the Croisette. — R.L.

#vanity fair #cannes 2022 #richard lawson #rebecca ford

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babygirlizz · 3 years

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izzie’s favorite movies and tv shows of 2020 (aka the worst year ever)

another year, another movie and tv show review. this year has, to put it simply, sucked. 2020 has been so terribly awful that sometimes the only light you can see are the absolute bangers of movies and tv shows that came out this year. with that being said, some of the movies and tv shows didn't come out in 2020. if the are mentioned in this post it is because they either: had a season come out this year, i found them this year, or they became popular this year.

SPOILERS: it may not come as a surprise but just in case you didn't realize, there will be many spoilers ahead, read at your own risk.

tw // death, suicide, drug use, mild adult language. if any of these things might trigger you, i strongly urge you not to read this post.

there is no specific order of these shows and movies, i'm just writing as they come to mind. if you enjoy any of these movies or tv shows, or if you have any suggestions for me, please let me know!

TV SHOWS

1) Santa Clarita Diet

Okay, so I know this show doesn't have anything to do with 2020. But, I found this show in 2020. I put it off for a while, thinking it wasn't my style of a show, but boy was I wrong. I loved this show. Sheila Hammond (Drew Barrymore) is a normal suburban wife and mom. She is a real estate agent with her husband Joel (Timothy Olyphant). She struggles with the fact that she isn't very adventurous. This all changes when she throws up an insane amount at a house showing. She then finds herself craving adventure, and craving human flesh. Yeah, she's a zombie. Not only is this show super hilarious, but it also shows the growth that they have with their characters and their family. I'm also team Abby (Liv Hewson) and Eric (Skyler Gisondo).

2) Outer Banks

So, I'm from NC. And, watching this show at first bothered me because I can very obviously tell this show isn't actually filmed in the obx, and the geography isn't exact, but once I got past that, I loved it. John B (Chase Stokes) is a teenager that lives in the poor side of the outer banks. He has a friend group called the Pogues which consists of JJ (Rudy Pankow), Pope (Jonathan Daviss), and Kie (Madison Bailey). They absolutely hate the Kooks, which are the rich kids. A while after John B's dad gets lost at sea, presumed dead, the group finds some evidence that may solve the mystery, and make them rich. In the process, John B falls in love with a Kook names Sarah (Madelyn Cline) whose father Ward (Charles Esten) may have a little more to do with the mystery than he let on. Through friendship, murder, and secrets, the gang may just figure out what happened to John B's dad.

3) Love, Victor

Alright. I loved loved loved Love, Simon. I also really loved the book "Simon vs. the Homosapien Agenda." So, when I heard about this show, I was so excited. Victor (Michael Cimino) is a teenage boy that moved to Creekwood with his family. He meets Felix (Anthony Turpel) who lives in his building. He also meets Mia (Rachel Hilson) and they begin dating. But, he also meets Benji (George Sear). While trying to get used to a new school, new friends, and a new relationship, Victor finds himself questioning his sexuality. With the help of Simon (Nick Robinson) and his friends, Victor finds it in himself to finally come out, and he admits his feelings, for Benji. This is such a good show, but I was so upset when season 1 ended on a cliff-hanger.

4) The Haunting of Bly Manor

The sequel to The Haunting of Hill House. Now listen, haunting of hill house was an absolute banger. When I saw that Bly came out I nearly died. I was so excited. But, I was alone in my apartment and also a lil bitch. So, I had to wait a week until I was home with my family to watch it. Now, I was so excited to be scared, and there were a few jump scares and ominous moments, but this season was more centered around the story line of Dani Clayton (Victoria Pedretti) and her new life in a foreign country. When seeing an ad for a live in job as an au pair. When she gets there, she meets the two young children she’ll be looking out for and the other workers of the house, including the gardener, Jamie (Amelia Eve). Throughout her stay at Bly she begins to notice weird behaviors from both children and by the end of the series she sacrifices herself for the children. Sadly, this story is being told by Jamie who Dani had fallen in love with during her stay at Bly. Now I was somewhat upset about the lack of horror, but was still very intrigued and drawn in by this series.

5) Julie and the Phantoms

Alright, at first I was not gonna watch this show. I thought it looked a little too young and childish for me, but everyone was talking about it on twitter so I had to. I. Love. This. Show. This show centers around Julie (Madison Reyes). Julie is a teenage girl who, sadly, lost her mother. The one major thing she shared with her mom, was their love for music. Since her mothers passing, she gave up music. This is until, dead musicians from the 90′s show up in her garage. Luke (Charlie Gillespie), Alex (Owen Joyner), and Reggie (Jeremy Shada) all tragically passed away in the 90′s after eating bad street hotdogs. When Julie finds their CD in her garage, she decides to play it and they come back in ghost form. But, only she can see them. With their help, she finds her confidence to play music again. Also, she has to find away for them to stay because they’re slowly disappearing.

6) Derry Girls

Bitch. I love this show. And yeah it didn’t come out in 2020. Shut up. I found this show recently after watching the cast on the holiday special of the Great British Baking Show. I loved the actors so I had to watch the show. This show focuses on Erin (Saoirse-Monica Jackson) a 16 year old girl that lives in Derry, Northern Ireland in the 90′s. Alongside her is her cousin Orla (Louisa Harland), her two friends Clare (Nicola Coughlan) and Michelle (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell), and Michelle’s English cousin James (Dylan Llewellyn). During these years, a lot of people in Ireland struggled, especially because it was during wartime. Even thought this show isn’t focused heavily around the war, it’s amazing to see these teens live a fulfilling life while struggling with the state of their country, and the lack of money that their families have.

7) Elite

HA. This show did have a season in 2020 so leave me alone. But bro, I love this show. At first, I didn’t watch it because I thought I could only watch the dubbed version in English, which I hate. I hate dubbed shows they look so weird. But, once I found out I could watch this show in Spanish, I fell in love. But, sadly, theres too damn much to talk about in one little post. It’s crazy. But basically it just follows the lives of teens in high school that are trying to survive. And no, not in the “I’m surviving high school,” sense. No, people be getting murdered.

MOVIES (tbh i didn’t find a lot of movies good this year lmk which movies u liked this year and maybe i’ll like them!)

1) All the Bright Places

After the death of her sister, Violet (Elle Fanning) is devastated. She closes herself off, and has her parents get her out of doing school work that involves working with others. But, as time goes on, they realize she may need to start to move on. Violet then meets Finch (Justice Smith) who is enamored by Violet. He suggests they do a project together. While finding and visiting some of the smallest wonders of their state, they begin to fall for each other. While you are focusing on Violet and her mental health, you tend to miss some of the signs that Finch’s mental health isn’t great either, but by the time you do, it could be too late.

2) Dangerous Lies

Hmm. This was weird for me. I had only ever seen Camila Mendes in Riverdale, and honestly, not a fan. So, Katie (Camila Mendes) and her husband Adam (Jessie T. Usher) are struggling with money. Katie decides to take a job working for an elderly man, and eventually gets her husband hired there as well. Unfortunately, he dies, but for some odd reason, leaves the house and all of his fortune, to Katie. As they get comfortable in the house, they begin to uncover some very weird and dangerous lies.

3) The Devil All the Time

Ok. Iconic. You got so many hot men in this movie. Bill Skarsgård, Sebastian Stan, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson. C’mon now. That’s crazy. But, this story is so long and in depth that I wouldn’t even know where to begin. This movie is a bit disturbing. It involves murder, sexual assault, killing of animals, and so much more so if that’s an issue for you please do not watch this movie. It was also quite long, but it was still good.

4) After We Collided

Okay just listen. I was that teenager. I read wattpad stories and was, embarrassingly, addicted to After. This was not a great movie per say, but it was After. This is a sequel to the movie After. This movie centers around Tessa (Josephine Langford) and her recovery after her breakup with Hardin (Hero Fiennes Tiffin). Theres sex, alcohol, bad acting. The whole nine-yards. But c’mon, they’re so cute together.

5) To All the Boys p.s. I Still Love You

Okay it was a good movie. I enjoyed it. This movie focuses on Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and her boyfriend Peter (Noah Centineo) and their relationship post the first movie. But of course relationships aren’t super steady, and John Ambrose McClaren (Jordan Fisher) shows up. Yeah, John Ambrose, from her letter. They become closer and Lara Jean has to decide who she wants to be with. Spoiler, it’s Peter. BOOOOOOO justice for John Ambrose McClaren, he deserved better.

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girlactionfigure · 3 years

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Thanks, Jew haters: you make the case for Israel

Antisemites have always been dense, but their stupidity has been limitless in recent weeks

Jeremy Corbyn infamously said that Jews don’t get irony. But watching what’s happened in the world lately, it’s the antisemites who lack this particular attribute.

There are calls for jihad in London, and Jews are hunted in the cafes of LA. They’re taunted on the streets of NY and beaten in the car parks of Toronto. They’re harassed in Miami and cursed in Belgium – all in the name of freeing Palestine. And I am left baffled and bemused.

I find myself wondering, do the lunkheads in London who drive through Jewish neighbourhoods calling for the rape of Jewish women from the windows of cars draped in Palestinian flags think that this convoy will cause IDF soldiers to cower in Jerusalem? Does the bigoted German who dreams of a Judenrein Palestine think that an Israeli town empties each time he kicks a Jew in the tuchus as he waits for the train?

I know, of course, that antisemites are, on average, as sharp as marbles, yet I can’t help wondering how the minds of the brave, brave freedom fighters in Los Angeles calculate. Do they imagine that every sushi platter upturned on an LA sidewalk sprouts an orchard in Jaffa? Or perhaps every time a Persian Jew sports a black eye, the stock of an Israeli startup plummets?

I’m super curious, because I’ve seen hundreds and thousands of shares and RTs of Bella and Gigi Hadid’s posts and, let’s be honest, that incredible role model Mia Khalifa did hit us hard with her “My Nazi wine is older than your Apartheid state” tweet. So I quickly checked the news, but the Azrieli towers and the walls of Jerusalem were still standing, baruch Hashem.

More: Here

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rockislandadultreads · 3 years

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New Fiction: Domestic Stories and Women’s Fiction

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

Sometimes all you need is one person to really see you. Piper Parrish's life on Frick Island—a tiny, remote town smack in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay—is nearly perfect. Well, aside from one pesky detail: Her darling husband, Tom, is dead. When Tom's crab boat capsized and his body wasn't recovered, Piper, rocked to the core, did a most peculiar thing: carried on as if her husband was not only still alive, but right there beside her, cooking him breakfast, walking him to the docks each morning, meeting him for their standard Friday night dinner date at the One-Eyed Crab. And what were the townspeople to do but go along with their beloved widowed Piper? Anders Caldwell’s career is not going well. A young ambitious journalist, he’d rather hoped he’d be a national award-winning podcaster by now, rather than writing fluff pieces for a small town newspaper. But when he gets an assignment to travel to the remote Frick Island and cover their boring annual Cake Walk fundraiser, he stumbles upon a much more fascinating tale: an entire town pretending to see and interact with a man who does not actually exist. Determined it’s the career-making story he’s been needing for his podcast, Anders returns to the island to begin covert research and spend more time with the enigmatic Piper—but he has no idea out of all the lives he’s about to upend, it’s his that will change the most.

Super Host by Kate Russo

A deeply funny and shrewdly observed debut novel about being lost in the very place you know by heart. Bennett Driscoll is a Turner Prize-nominated artist who was once a rising star. Now, at age fifty-five, his wife has left him, he hasn't sold a painting in two years, and his gallery wants to stop selling his work, claiming they'll have more value retrospectively...when he's dead. So, left with a large West London home and no income, he's forced to move into his artist's studio in the back garden and list his house on the popular vacation rental site, AirBed. A stranger now in his own home, with his daughter, Mia, off at art school, and any new relationships fizzling out at best, Bennett struggles to find purpose in his day-to-day. That all changes when three different guests--lonely American Alicia; tortured artist Emma; and cautiously optimistic divorcée Kirstie--unwittingly unlock the pieces of himself that have been lost to him for too long. Warm, witty, and utterly humane, Super Host offers a captivating portrait of middle age, relationships, and what it truly means to take a new chance at life.

To Love and to Loathe by Martha Waters

The widowed Diana, Lady Templeton and Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham are infamous among English high society as much for their sharp-tongued bickering as their flirtation. One evening, an argument at a ball turns into a serious wager: Jeremy will marry within the year or Diana will forfeit one hundred pounds. So shortly after, just before a fortnight-long house party at Elderwild, Jeremy’s country estate, Diana is shocked when Jeremy appears at her home with a very different kind of proposition. After his latest mistress unfavorably criticized his skills in the bedroom, Jeremy is looking for reassurance, so he has gone to the only woman he trusts to be totally truthful. He suggests that they embark on a brief affair while at the house party—Jeremy can receive an honest critique of his bedroom skills and widowed Diana can use the gossip to signal to other gentlemen that she is interested in taking a lover. Diana thinks taking him up on his counter-proposal can only help her win her wager. With her in the bedroom and Jeremy’s marriage-minded grandmother, the formidable Dowager Marchioness of Willingham, helping to find suitable matches among the eligible ladies at Elderwild, Diana is confident her victory is assured. But while they’re focused on winning wagers, they stand to lose their own hearts.

Under the Southern Sky by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Recently separated Amelia Saxton, a dedicated journalist, never expected that uncovering the biggest story of her career would become deeply personal. But when she discovers that a cluster of embryos belonging to her childhood friend Parker and his late wife Greer have been deemed “abandoned,” she’s put in the unenviable position of telling Parker—and dredging up old wounds in the process. Parker has been unable to move forward since the loss of his beloved wife three years ago. He has all but forgotten about the frozen embryos, but once Amelia reveals her discovery, he knows that if he ever wants to get a part of Greer back, he’ll need to accept his fate as a single father and find a surrogate. Each dealing with their own private griefs, Parker and Amelia slowly begin to find solace in one another as they navigate an uncertain future against the backdrop of the pristine waters of their childhood home, Cape Carolina. The journey of self-discovery leads them to an unforgettable and life-changing lesson: Family—the one you’re born into and the one you choose—is always closer than you think.

#fiction #womens fiction #chick lit #domestic fiction #family stories #friendship #to read #Book Recommendations #reading recommendations #booklr #books to read #tbr #library #public libraries #book picks

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d-criss-news · 4 years

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(First of two parts)

LOS ANGELES—In one scene in Ryan Murphy’s new series, “Hollywood,” Darren Criss’ director character, who is trying to make his first film in the 1940s when racism was still pervasive and “white-passing” was common, makes a confession: “I’m half Filipino.”

To most viewers of the show which will premiere on May 1 on Netflix, that statement may seem innocuous. But to many Filipinos who will hear those three words, that’s a big moment to hear a major character in a mainstream show declaring his Filipino heritage. Especially in that era, and even today, when there are still talents who pass themselves as white out of “career necessity.”

“Identity and terminology—it’s a new concept that I’ve had to learn,” admitted Darren, who is himself half Filipino and half white, in a recent exclusive interview via video conference. He has proudly acknowledged his Filipino heritage in the past and once addressed a controversy on this topic when he was misquoted.

“It has always been an interesting point of conversation that I’ve gotten more familiar with in the past two or three years,” the multitalented performer said. “Because I have a public profile, I have to worry about the term ‘white passing.’ It was something that I was not familiar with because I guess I never really felt that way.”

In Darren and Ryan’s riveting follow-up to their “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” which netted Emmy and Golden Globe Awards honors, including historic best actor wins for the former, it’s post-World War II in Tinseltown.

The limited series follows a group of actors and filmmakers, including Darren’s Raymond Ainsley, as they try to make it in Hollywood, where the unfair systems and biases across race, gender and sexuality are still very much in place.

It was a time when the likes of Anna May Wong (the first Chinese-American film star), Hattie McDaniel (the first person of color to win an Oscar) and a closeted Rock Hudson dealt with many obstacles. The drama also occasionally pivots around Golden Tip Gas, based on a real gas service station in Hollywood which had pump jockeys who “serviced” celebrities, many of whom were hiding their sexuality.

Darren’s Raymond is an upcoming director, fresh out of film school, who is dreaming of making his first film. Although he “passes” for white, the half-Filipino filmmaker Raymond aspires to broaden the stories that Hollywood tells.

While the eight-episode series tackles the sexism, racism and homophobia of the ’40s, “Hollywood” intentionally features revisionist history, including “a beautiful fantasy, a happy ending”—in the words of Jeremy Pope, who plays Archie Coleman, a “colored” screenwriter also trying to make it.

It’s all in keeping with what Ryan said to Darren over dinner when they planned their next project after “Versace.” The prolific director-producer wanted a “young, hopeful period piece.”

The entire cast is terrific, an engaging mix of new and veteran actors. Aside from Darren and Jeremy, the show’s roster includes Patti LuPone, Jim Parsons, Dylan McDermott, Michelle Krusiec (moving as Anna May Wong), David Corenswet, Laura Harrier, Samara Weaving, Holland Taylor, Jake Picking (as Rock Hudson), Queen Latifah, Mira Sorvino and Rob Reiner.

In this mix, most of the characters are somehow involved in “Peg,” a movie which Darren’s Asian-American director is trying to make, against all odds. Darren, who was eager as an actor to explore what it means for somebody who passes as white, reflected on the topic.

“I just was always Filipino and white,” Darren began talking about the issue. He was at his home in LA, self-quarantining with his wife, Mia. “I was always both. I never thought about it as a concept that you could be passing (as white). That it was a concept that could somehow give one more access to things than others.

“I started realizing that maybe there are inbuilt unfortunate prejudices that restrain those people from opportunities that they should otherwise have.

“I feel the survivor’s guilt more recently than ever. Because you think of a lot of any historically marginalized people. If you have this access card, how do you use it in a way that can be advantageous for the other part of you that represents the marginalized group?

“Doing these interviews made me think about how Ryan has a very similar construct, which is being a young gay, closeted kid in a small town in Indiana. It’s an incredible amount of adversity to overcome personally and socially. So, once he grew to accept this and made it part of his strength, he got to a point where he could break through barriers perhaps by way of him being a man, perhaps by way of him being white.

“Ever since he broke through those barriers, he’s been using his position to be an advocate for the queer community, women, people who have been marginalized in any way, shape or form.”

After apologizing for stepping away from his desk to open the door for someone, Darren continued, “Similarly, Raymond has been doing that. Like Ryan, Raymond has been fueled by the things that he used to be scared of, or have shame of. He has turned it around, and owned it to make sure that he can use that as fuel for his sort of social justice crusade.”

Darren, who grew up in San Francisco with a Filipino mom and an American dad, pointed out, “That is a very different scenario than what I grew up with, obviously. I grew up in a predominantly Filipino community in the Bay Area. It was a part of my life that I always felt supported.

“When I was in high school, with a lot of Filipino kids, when they’d find out I was Filipino, they would be like, ‘No way!’ It’s the kind of thing that I always loved. I’d be more willing to shove my white background aside in order to tell people I was Filipino. I’m very lucky that my scenario was different.

It’s the kind of thing that I always loved. I’d be more willing to shove my white background aside in order to tell people I was Filipino. I’m very lucky that my scenario was different.

“Ryan wanted to show that very unique story, because being half anything is a very unique identity. Not struggle, but a constant question. Anybody who’s half or mixed race will tell you that everyone’s experience is different.

“That was a part of me in the same way that Ryan likes characters who have a queer narrative or women who have a narrative of being mistreated because they were older, or people of color. I was just a small piece of a large puzzle that contributed to the types of people that were trying to push the needle forward. In Ryan’s mind, it would have been a shame to ignore the fact that I was half Asian.”

“Hollywood,” shot in LA’s landmarks from Paramount Studios to the iconic Musso & Frank Grill, also marks the first time Darren serves as an executive producer of a major production. “I’ve produced stuff in so far as I had a theater company and a production company out of college,” he clarified. “But that’s a very loose title. It was just me and my friends putting on a show. It doesn’t have the same flash on it that a Netflix show does. I’m also the creator and exec producer of my show (‘Royalties’ on Quibi).

“I finished that show, then I went straight into ‘Hollywood.’ I was on postproduction for ‘Royalties’ at the same time I was shooting ‘Hollywood.’ It’s been probably one of the most packed, overworked years of my entire life.

“Ryan was very gracious to include me with that title. He was receptive to my feedback, but for the most part, I stayed back and let Ryan do his thing.

“He called me early on saying, ‘Do you mind if I just do my thing on this?’ I was like, ‘No, of course not. This is your project. I’m just grateful and lucky to be a part of it.’”

(Conclusion tomorrow)

#darren criss #inquirer.net #hollywood #press #royalties #april 2020

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vagrantblvrd · 4 years

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Got any jeremwood ideas rattling around your brain? I've been craving battle buddies (lately, but also always), smooches ideally

You know, friend? I’ve had Battle Buddies in the back of my brain a lot recently and like nothing for them to do? But then in the shower this morning I had an Idea.

These two idiots working for their respective agencies or units and have the Worst Bosses whether through sheer incompetence or design. (Laziness or greed and not their problem if some asshole agents/operatives bit it on their watch. Hell, might be for the best if they do, if the WB is corrupt or working for the Enemy whoever that is.)

Ryan, well he’s in a Bad Place because some missions that Went Wrong and his name’s not worth much in their world anymore, right? Everyone thinks he’s either the worst kind of jinx with how many missions/operations go to shit when he’s around or he’s on the Enemy’s payroll. (Whoever that may be.)

Jeremy?

Young and stupid and got into some shit he shouldn’t have and it was this or jail and for whatever reason this seemed like the better deal. (Tell that to his scars or nightmares or shortened life-span whenever that shitball mission that gets him killed way before his time rolls around, though.)

They’re both stuck where they are and (more or less) resigned to it.

Ryan’s got Plans, though, on how to get out of his situation. Intel and Secrets he’s been gathering for years hoping to expose the people behind whatever gave him a bad reputation. (He spins it like that in his head sometimes, tries to make it about himself and not the others, the good people he’s known, who got killed by these assholes because otherwise he might abandon the long game he’s been playing for years and go in guns blazing. (OR the equivalent.)

Jeremy’s got an idea or two, but they keep reassigning him or the people he trusts to help him and he’s not sure what the safest way to do this is anymore. (Oh, he’s not worried for himself, but Matt and Trevor? Yeah. Big, big worries about those two assholes and how easy it would be for them to have “accidents” if he fucks up, so. Yeah.)

ANYWAY.

Their bosses have been working them hard for a few months (months, years, it all blurs together you know?) and they get some downtime before a Big Mission.

Conveniently (Plot Reasons) they’re in the same city at the time, because of course they are. Last stop coming back from a shitty mission to go to HQ to brief for the next shitty mission and their flight isn’t until the next day or something along those lines. (PLOT REASONS.)

Ryan gets a message telling him to meet a contact who might be able to help him with his own secret mission at a shady club somewhere. Jeremy – fuck.

He just wants a drink, and if he runs into someone to spend the night with that’s a bonus. (All this stress from the last however long and knowing he’s probably going to be dead by the end of the week, and why the fuck not, right?)

SO.

They both end up at the same club (PLOT REASONS) and Ryan’s contact never shows, so he just. Fuck, he’s already there and the diet soda’s flowing and just.

He doesn’t even know, is the thing.

Doesn’t want to go back to the shithole he’s been staying at because it’s bugged to high hell and it’s always entertaining to people watch. (Entertaining and keeps his skills sharp, two birds and all that.)

After a while he notices this one guy, right? Short as hell but there’s just something about him that makes you forget that – might be the fact he’s about to get into a fucking fight with some asshole hassling a couple of women. (Young, college age or thereabouts and looking around for the bouncer who’s been MIA for a while now.)

No one else seems willing to get involved, deescalate things or back the short fucker up, so Ryan tosses back the last of his drink (and fuck, fuck, don’t do that again because oh, God, the carbonation,) and goes over to help.

He doesn’t catch what the drunk asshole says – music’s too loud and there are people all over the fucking place – but he hears the short guy laugh. This bark, really, sounds like he’s heard the best damn joke ever – and hauls back and decks the drunk asshole without dropping that bright, friendly smile of his.

Fucking goes for it, you know? Perfect form and in the back of Ryan’s head he knows it’s weird to be hung up on that, but he’s too busy watching the short bastard turn to handle the drunk asshole’s friend to be bothered by that. (Also, making his way through the crowd to help, all “Pardon me,” and, “Passing through, don’t mind me, ladies,” and so on.

By the time he reaches the short bastard (of course it’s Jeremy) Jeremy’s taken care of two more assholes and all that’s left for Ryan to do is trip the last idiot running into the fight so he falls on his face and just kind of stays there, too drunk to realize what just happened and overall just dumb.

Jeremy’s got all this adrenaline running through him and turns to face Ryan, thinking he’s just another asshole (he’s not wrong on that one, but Ryan’s a different kind of asshole, so…) and Ryan gives him this dumb smile and holds his hands up.

“Whoa, hey,” he says, and he’s laughing a little because Jeremy looks like he’s about to go for his damn throat. “I was going to lend you a hand with these idiots, but it looks like you have everything under control.”

Jeremy stares at him because what? After a moment what Ryan says actually registers and he looks around at the drunk assholes picking themselves up off the ground (or helping their buddies who Jeremy knocked the fuck out) scurry off with their tails between their legs.

And then it’s mutual staring because Idiots, and the women Jeremy helped clear their throats and thank him before wandering off.

More staring?

Jeremy looking Ryan over like hey, okay, not bad on the eyes, and he doesn’t seem like an asshole? Meanwhile Ryan’s like oh, no because Jeremy’s also not hard on the eyes and it’s been a while for him and how do social interaction with someone who’s not a contact or target or WB?

Thankfully Jeremy is less of a human disaster (not by much, but it’s enough) and they wander off to a quiet table somewhere. Ryan gets another diet soda and Jeremy gets his drink and they chitchat for a while, Jeremy getting a wee bit tipsy and Ryan getting a wee bit more oh, no because Jeremy’s nice and funny and laughs at Ryan’s dumb jokes even though they’re both well aware how terrible they are?

And then!

Just when they’re about to maybe get around to the your place or mine bit of the conversation, they both notice some Shady Dealings going on.

Too well-trained not to notice, and Ryan’s like well, shit and makes up some lame excuse to go check on things, not knowing he beat Jeremy to it by mere seconds.

Ryan goes all Sekrit Agent/operative with the stealthily following/eavesdropping whatever while Jeremy does the same. (Due to Plot Reasons they don’t spot one another right away because Plot Reasons.)

The stalking continues long enough for them to realize some serious shit is going down – maybe ties into their respective missions, maybe not.

Shenanigans in which they lose the guy’s they’re tailing and round a corner to run into one another and don’t recognize one another at first, just think they’re baddies?

Some hand-to-hand Sekrit Agent fighty stuff until Ryan manages to pin Jeremy (height/weight advantage or something, and Jeremy’s still got that alcohol slowing his reflexes and just, yes) and then Ryan’s like - !!! because it’s the guy from the club?

Jeremy totally gave him a fake name – old habits and Ryan still doesn’t believe anyone would be so cruel to name their kid Rimmy Tim, but whatever.

ANYWAY.

Jeremy is likewise !!! because what are the odds, right? (Ryan also gave him a fake name, and no one names their kid Reggie or whatever, but the hell does he know?)

Some Suspicion because what are the odds, indeed. Also, their respective situations and career choice make trust a hard thing to earn and all that, but before they can get too deeply into the do they or don’t they of trusting one another the actual baddies find them.

Thought they were being followed and better check it out, and anyway, there’s the usual shootout/hide behind cover and snark back and forth before one of them gets a flesh wound and they manage to escape.

Go to some cheap motel – God knows wherever they’ve been staying isn’t safe or secure – bugged to hell and who the fuck knows what else – to patch one another up. Offer some truth – sekrit agent/operatives and (technically) on the same side and the baddies are definitely NOT on their side and too much Good Guys NOT to look into things even if they’re on their own?

And wouldn’t you know it, they both know where to get their hands on the weapons gear they’re going to need to deal with things in the city and it’s just.

The two of them working together – and totally flirting because there are no rules tonight, you know? They’re probably (definitely) going to get themselves killed doing this and no WB breathing down their necks and their next mission probably would have killed them anyway.

Super competent sekrit agent/operative stuff with the track jig down the baddies and finding out what they’re doing (weapons trades or national secrets, something blah, blah, blah,) and being all oh no, that’s hot when one of them shows their competence or does some cool sekrit agent/operative thing?

Also bantering and realizing that while this is the worst idea either of them has ever had, it’s also the most fun?

(Which is sad because wow, they’ve wasted a lot of their lives working for assholes, but whatever.)

Before they go in for the climactic fight or whatever, they’re like, fuck it and kiss because might as well at this point, right?

Probably going to die, and if they don’t it’s not going to hurt. (They were thinking about the whole one-night stand thing before the sekrit agent/operative shit happened, so yeah.)

Action scene like whoa in which there is shooting and yelling and (flesh wounds on Ryan and Jeremy’s part because I’m a sucker for those, sorry friend) and one of them being held at gunpoint, because of course they are.

The thing where their eyes meet and the one being held at gunpoint by the Head Baddy (Jeremy, it’s totally Jeremy) is all “Do it,” or “This isn’t your fault,” or something else the Good Guy always says in this situation? And Ryan starts to lower his gun because he can’t let the HB kill him?

And just when the HB is all gloaty mcgloaterson, Ryan whips out a throwing knife and gets him in the throat, saving Jeremy’s life and making the HB super dead.

The !!! moment of realizing wow, he’s not dead? And Ryan being like wow, it actually worked? Neat! And then the two of them staring at one another like what now?

Which, of course, is when the sekrit agents/operatives who have been watching HB and their cronies this whole time show up.

Geoff and his idiots and just. The fuck did you two do? (~Ruined months of work on Gavin and Michael’s part, since they’ve been working on getting HB and their people with the weapons trade/national secret thing and goddamn, what the fuck you two?)

Ryan and Jeremy being all ??? while Geoff’s people swarm the area and get shunted off to a little gray room somewhere for debriefing/interrogation thinking they’re really fucked this time? Sit there for hours and hours and hours. (Chitchat and banter and try not to think about what’s going to happen to them now.)

But of course not. (Because Plot Reasons.)

Geoff sweeps in with Jack and they have a nice chat about things.

The shit Ryan and Jeremy did with HB and their people, and their respective situations with their agencies/units and what do they say about working for Geoff instead?

“Uh,” and “What?”, and “Are you high?”

Because look.

No way their respective agencies/units are going to let them go knowing what they do, right? Shady as hell and corrupt and they’d rather see Ryan and Jeremy dead than let them tell anyone what’s been going on. (Have been trying for a while, actually, but they’re stubborn bastards.)

Geoff rolling his eyes and asking them if they’d like to work for him if he helped them take care of their respective agencies/units because he’s had his people looking into things since Ryan and Jeremy stumbled into their operation and the things they found, you know?

Still.

Best deal they’ve been offered – and who knows, they might live through it – so they say yes.

Geoff is delighted because he’s been meaning to deal with their agencies/units but hasn’t had the time with other shit going on. But with them on board it’ll go faster, or something?

Whatever.

Jeremy won’t do it unless Geoff gets Matt and Trevor out of his agency/unit – which he does because they’re useful bastards. (Also, like hell would he have left them there once he found out what was going on.)

Ryan’s own people (the ones still alive) were out of the line of fire before now, so he’s good to go.

Geoff (who doesn’t realize what he’s done, but when he does? ALL the regret) introduces them to Gavin and Michael and everyone else and it’s pretty much a disaster in the best way.

They get teamed up because everyone's impressed with what they managed to do and all that. Work together for a few months with the flirting and banter before they finally go on a date-thing?

Like.

Flirting’s easy, comes with the territory, but actual FEELINGs and whatnot are complicated and stupid hard. (...that’s what she said.)

Takes a close call to make them realize they’re wasting time better spent NOT being dumbasses (and maybe one of the others says as much) and then it’s some blurted invitation to coffee or burgers or whatever and this date...thing.

It gets ruined, of course, because enemies from their past pop up and shoot at them and then shenanigans? But they smooch somewhere in there and get other the awkward stage of being them and not knowing how to do FEELINGS and like. Save the day, but also smooch, idk, you know how these things go.

And then everyone makes fun of them for forever for not figuring their shit out before then, and also a lot of death-defying shenanigans and explosions and sekrit agent/operative fun-times???

#ragehappy #jeremwood #battle buddies #anon #prompt fills #technically not a fic #vagrant fic #sekrit agents aus #Anonymous

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zalrb · 4 years

Text

Loss

OK I finished it! It’s all up in this post:

“I’m not suggesting this lightly---”

“Well, I hope not. You’re talking about messing with our best friend’s mind.”

Caroline gave Bonnie a dejected look from across the large living room boasted by the Salvatore Boarding House. Damon, predictably, had set up camp at the bar while Matt paced in circles and Jeremy and Tyler sat on opposite sofas next to their respective girlfriends. Noticeably absent from the gathering was Elena, who was back at the Gilbert House, Googling recent animal attacks.

“It’s for her own good, Bon,” said Matt.

Bonnie shook her head. “We don’t get to make that decision for her. You sound like---” Bonnie stopped herself, gritting her teeth.

“Like me,” said Damon. “She was about to say you sound like me.” He took a sip of bourbon. “It’s the most I’ve liked you, Donovan, glad to see some balls on ya.”

“Oh shut up, Damon,” Caroline snapped. “We invited you to this meeting as a courtesy.”

“And because you have the biggest living room,” said Tyler.

“Well since I am here, let me just break it down for the intellectually impaired,” said Damon, moving away from the bar to the centre of the living room. “Stefan has been MIA for seven months. My research indicates he is way, way off the deep-end, he shows no signs of slowing down and oh, that’s right, he’s the personal attack dog of a thousand year old Original psychotic vampire who thinks Elena is dead! Besides one breathy late night phone call five months ago, Elena has no leads but she’s so wrapped up in the whole I-hurt-when-he-hurts-I-breathe-when-he-breathes puppies and rainbows love story she has with my annoyingly self-sacrificing brother that she keeps looking. She’s gotta let it go.”

Jeremy sighed. “I hate to say it but he’s right.”

Bonnie turned sharply toward him and he raised his hands in the air. “I don’t like agreeing with him but, Bonnie, it’s your senior year. Elena’s senior year. And she didn’t even show up to registration because she hijacked Damon’s trip to Kentucky. How is she supposed to graduate, go to college if she doesn’t even show up to class?”

“She’s obsessed,” said Matt quietly.

“So your solution is to compel her?” said Bonnie.

“Just compel her to stop looking for Stefan and live her life, not compel her feelings away,” said Caroline quickly. “I wouldn’t do that to her or to Stefan.”

“So that makes it better? This is her mind. Her memories. Her emotions. When did we get so okay with messing around with people’s lives like this?”

“Kinda late to sing that tune, isn’t it Bon-Bon?” said Damon.

Bonnie ignored him. “Jeremy, don’t you remember how angry you were when you found out that Elena took away your memory of Vicki?”

“I didn’t understand why she did it then but seeing her like this now…” He shook his head. “I get it.”

“But you said that it didn’t really work, you said there was a---”

“Hole, yeah I know. But it still helped and I owe it to Elena to help her as much as I can. She’s my sister.”

Bonnie buried her head in her hands. Caroline stood up from the couch and walked over to her, bending in front of her, holding her wrists.

“Bonnie,” she said gently. She waited until Bonnie raised her head to look at her. “Remember when we would talk about graduating, getting out of Mystic Falls, becoming college roommates?” Caroline smiled sadly. “Elena was going to be an English major, I was going to study journalism, you --- always helping people --- said you would study pre-law?” Bonnie bit her bottom lip. “All of us have gone through so much this past year. You and I have both died. Every other week there is someone who is trying to kill us. But we can still have that dream. We can still go to college and live our best lives but Elena needs to live hers for it to happen.” She sighed. “And Stefan would want her to, you know that. He wanted her to flourish, he wanted her to be happy. We’re doing what he would want us to do.”

“Stefan wouldn’t want us to compel her,” said Bonnie quietly.

Caroline pushed her mouth to the side. “Maybe sometimes the ends justify the means. But we all have to be on board. All of us agree or we don’t do it.”

Bonnie said nothing for a long time, looking from Caroline to Jeremy to Matt to Tyler, studying their expressions, their silent pleas. Imperceptibly, she gave her head a nod. Caroline closed her eyes and exhaled, standing up.

“OK so when should I do it?” said Damon.

“No,” said Bonnie. “Caroline has to do it.”

Caroline looked at Bonnie, her lips parted in shock. Bonnie stood up now too and looked Caroline square in the eye.

“If you are so sure that this is the right thing to do then you have to be the one to do it, Care. I won’t agree to it any other way.”

Caroline swallowed hard. “OK,” she gasped. “OK. I’ll do it,” she said a bit firmer.

Elena picked up her mug to take another sip of coffee only to realize that she’d finished it. It had been her fourth cup and if she had one more, she would try to jump out of her own skin.

She’d been up all night, scouring the internet for animal attacks all over the U.S., calling Sherriff Forbes for leads. It was hard to track Stefan when Jeremy and the others had made it virtually impossible for her to leave Mystic Falls to actually go where her research led. Bonnie wasn’t strong enough to do an Isolation Spell on the entire town but she was getting close.

There were still a few ways she could try to get out of town and today she was going to exhaust all her options.

She didn’t blame them. Not really. Elena knew what she must look like to the people around her --- obsessed, unhinged, stuck. It was difficult to explain that she had to continue searching for Stefan because she had to find him. To stop would be to give up and to give up would mean to live a life without Stefan in it and she knew she could do that, she knew her world didn’t begin and end with him, he’d been instrumental in showing her the importance of living rather than simply existing, thriving instead of merely surviving, but a life without Stefan in it wasn’t her life, not really, not since they’d met in the school hallway.

If she never found him, she could go on but she’d never be able to move on, any and every happy moment would be tinged with grief and that would be her life: perpetually incomplete. Like life after her parents and before him.

There was a knock at her door and when she turned around, she saw Caroline in the entryway, Bonnie a little behind her with her arms crossed.

“Hi,” said Caroline gently.

“Hi,” said Elena.

The memory of their last conversation, argument really, echoed in the silence between them.

“I didn’t come here to fight,” said Caroline, stepping into the room. “I’m sorry about how our last … talk went. I know you think I don’t understand why you’re so intent on finding him but I do. I get it.”

Elena nodded. “Thanks.” She looked past Caroline to Bonnie who was quietly chewing her bottom lip.

�� “Hey, Bon.”

Bonnie smiled in response but said nothing.

Caroline cleared her throat, taking another step into the room. “Elena, I---” She looked at the duffle bag on Elena’s bed. “Why are you packed?”

“Going to New Orleans,” said Elena, standing up from her desk and closing her laptop. “Frequent animals attacks in odd places, abnormally high, drained blood. I booked a ticket and my flight leaves in a few hours.”

“What about midterms?” said Bonnie. She stepped forward now.

“I’ll just make them up when I get back, I guess,” said Elena, shrugging as she gathered all the information she collected in the past few days.

“Elena, it’s the midterm! You can’t miss all of them.”

“Bonnie, honestly, school is the last thing on my mind right now.”

“Wait, how did you get this information?” said Caroline. “Damon?”

“No, your mom,” said Elena.

Caroline closed her eyes and sighed. “I told her to stop feeding you information.”

“She’s helping me.” Elena opened the duffle bag and put the laptop in it. “The only one who’s helping me,” said Elena.

“It’s false hope,” said Caroline delicately.

Elena’s eyes flashed. “You know, Caroline, I thought you above all people would be on board with me trying to get Stefan back,” said Elena. “Stefan has been there for you when no one else has.”

Caroline furrowed her eyebrows, hurt. “You think I don’t know that?”

Elena shrugged. “Well you’re definitely acting like you don’t.”

“I’m doing what Stefan would’ve wanted, Elena,” said Caroline.

“You don’t know what he would’ve wanted.”

“I know how much he loved you.”

“Loves,” Elena corrected harshly.

“Right, loves,” said Caroline, nodding. “And the way he loves you, he wouldn’t want this for you, he’d want you to move on.”

“He wouldn’t have wanted me to give up!”

“You are giving up, you’re giving up on your life and that’s doing everything Stefan stood against,” said Caroline. “You can’t tell me that that isn’t true.”

“And this is how I know you don’t understand why I’m looking for him,” said Elena. “I’m not giving up on my life, Caroline, I’m trying to get it back on track! And for that I need Stefan back.”

Elena picked up her duffle bag, passing Caroline to get to the door but felt a tug on the strap. She turned around, Caroline was holding onto the other handle, her expression sad but determined.

“What are you doing?”

Caroline pressed her lips together. “I love you,” she said. “You’re my best friend and I won’t let you just let you waste your life away.”

Elena sighed, frustrated. “I’m not wasting ---” then she tilted her head, confused. “What do you mean you won’t ‘let’ me?”

Caroline didn’t say anything but didn’t break her eye contact with Elena. After a few seconds, realization dawned and horror struck Elena. “Caroline…” She shook her head, mouthing wordlessly. Elena appealed to a teary-eyed Bonnie. “Bonnie?”

“I’m sorry, Elena,” she said. “But it’s for the best.”

Elena tugged uselessly, desperately on her bag. “No, you can’t!” she yelled. “You can’t compel me to forget him!”

“I’m not, I’m not,” Caroline assured. “Elena, I would never do that to you. But you can’t keep on like this!”

“He’s out there, Caroline, waiting for me! He called me---”

“You don’t even know if it was him!”

“IT WAS HIM! And I told him to hold on, I told him hold on to how much I love him and you’re going to make me a liar if you do this to him, if you do this to me!”

Bonnie spoke. “Elena, it was five months ago---”

“So what? Why does the time matter? When Jeremy died, you went to the witches to bring him back, are you telling me if it took longer than it did you would’ve given up?”

“Damon will find him,” said Caroline.

“And I should be there when he does!”

Elena let go of her duffle bag and rushed toward the door only to be blocked by Jeremy, a pained expression on his face. Her lips parted in shock.

“I just want you to have peace of mind, Elena,” he said. “I can’t stand back and watch you watch your life pass you by.”

She opened her mouth to argue when Matt appeared and Elena felt another wave of betrayal break over her body. “This is the best thing for you,” she said.

Elena backed away, her eyes brimming with tears.

“If this were me, you know you’d do the same thing,” said Jeremy softly. “Because you did. You wanted to help me. And I just want to do the same.”

Caroline touched Elena’s shoulder, guiding her body so Elena could turn around and face her. She put her hands on either side of Elena’s head. “Look at me,” she said softly. “Look at me, it’s going to be OK. You’re going to be OK.”

Elena sniffled as Caroline focused, her eyes dilating. “You’ve looked for Stefan for six months, you’ve put everything on hold, you’ve shaken every tree, turned over every rock, you’ve searched for him with everything you have and you’ve come up empty.”

Caroline smiled and stroked Elena’s hair. “You can stop now, you can rest. You know Stefan would’ve wanted you to move on with your life, that he would’ve wanted you to find peace and you’re beginning to because you know you’ve done everything you could. You still love him, you will always love him, never forget him but he’s gone. And … … he might not come back. But it’s OK. You did your best and you know that he loves you just as much as you love him.”

A tear dropped down Bonnie’s cheek. “This is wrong.”

“She’ll never know,” said Jeremy.

“I hope not.” Bonnie sighed. “Let’s just all hope that she forgives us if she ever does find out what we did.”

It was the second Senior Prank Night of the year. As per tradition, the juniors got their vengeance on their upperclassmen around homecoming and the seniors retaliated before the holiday break. Elena joined Matt, Caroline, Tyler and Bonnie in sneaking into the school and did her part in crazy-stringing lockers, booby-trapping washrooms and spray-painting walls. She had no joy in it though. She knew she should, she could feel her mind urging her to have fun but all she could do was imitate the feeling for the sake of the people around her. It had been a little over a month since she’d stopped looking for Stefan and it was fine. She was fine. She’d done all she could and it was time to let it go, time to move on, she knew that and yet she couldn’t bring herself to actually feel that.

She still called Damon every week to see if he had any leads. Most times he didn’t pick up, which angered her but she did nothing to force him to talk to her. Because she was done. She loved Stefan but she was done. She had a life to live. And she was living it. As best as she could anyway. Her nights were spent looking out her bedroom window, sometimes she’d cry and sometimes she’d just simmer in her melancholy.

She wasn’t right.

She didn’t know why, but she wasn’t right, she was sad and she was frustrated. With herself. With her friends. With life. It was inexplicable, incomprehensible. Stefan being gone hurt in a way that made sense to her --- everything got her hopes up: if she heard or felt a swish of wind, she hoped it was him speeding up to her. A creak in the house made her wonder if he was coming up the stairs. In class she wondered if he’d just show up and sit next to her, smile the way he always did before opening his notebook. And each time he didn’t show up her heart ached and she could explain that. But she did all she could to bring him back, she did her best --- and it was that. That thinking. It was like an intrusion in her mind, in her heart … it didn’t feel like it belonged to her but she didn’t feel any kind of urgency to refute the thinking, and it was maddening.

Outside of her room, she kept up appearances, played pool in the Grill with Bonnie and Matt, Tyler and Caroline, went to the Timberwolves games, did homework sleepovers, all with a smile on her face because everyone expected her to be happy

a passing frown or an eyebrow furrow was met with intense observation from the rest of the group and they seemed collectively relieved when Elena smiled again. They wanted her to be … better. And so she was. Better. Out there anyway. But at the window, she could feel whatever she was feeling even if it didn’t really make sense to her.

Elena spray painted unintelligible scribbles on the bathroom mirrors when Bonnie walked up to her.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hi,” said Elena, happily surprised. Things had been awkward between them for a few weeks now. Like many things lately, Elena wasn’t quite sure what had happened to put a distance between her and Bonnie but for the past month it was as if Bonnie was afraid of being alone with her and even when they all hung out as a group, Bonnie barely said more than a few words to her.

“You seem to be having fun tonight.”

“Oh yeah,” said Elena, shaking the spray can. “This is, um, this is great.” She nodded her head reassuringly. “Having a blast.”

“Really?” said Bonnie, tilting her head. “You’re really fine, Elena?”

Elena furrowed her eyebrows slightly, searching her best friend’s face.

She opened her mouth to speak when Caroline came in.

“I swear to God it’s like I have to do everything myself. What’s the point of boobytrapping Mr. Clarkson’s office with a bucket of water balloons if you can’t even get the bucket to stay on the door until the morning?”

She stopped when she saw Bonnie and Elena staring at each other. “OK what did I miss?”

Elena shook her head. “Nothing,” she said. She couldn’t tell Bonnie anything anyway, it would ruin everything. “I’m just going to get more crazy string from the car.”

“’Kay,” said Caroline. “Meet me and Bonnie in the gym.”

“Got it.”

She waited for Bonnie and Caroline to leave the bathroom, giving herself a moment with the reality of her feelings before walking out into the hall. She pushed open the double doors and bumped into something solid.

“You’re supposed to be dead. What are we going to do about that?”

“Klaus,” she gasped.

Stefan woke up, a dull ache in his neck. He was momentarily wrongfooted, staring at the ceiling of a truck, until he remembered that Klaus and Rebekah had taken him back to Virginia. To Mystical Falls. To Elena. No. She’d stayed away. She hadn’t tried to find him. He hadn’t called her since his moment of weakness six months ago and every time Damon seemed to be closing in on their trail, she wasn’t with him. She’d moved on. There was no reason for him being back!

“Oh, he lives,” came Rebekah’s sardonic voice.

“What happened?” said Stefan, sitting up.

“You took a beating,” said Rebekah, bored. “My brother’s been breaking your neck all afternoon. Quite the temper.”

Stefan started to stand. “Why did he bring us back to Mystic Falls?”

He can’t know. He can’t know she’s alive, he can’t. Elena had let go dammit!

Rebekah rolled her eyes. “You can stop playing dumb now. It didn’t take him long to figure out what you’ve been hiding.”

Stefan tried to control his panic. “I’m not hiding anything. I’ve done everything Klaus has asked me to.”

“No, you just failed to mention that the doppelganger’s still alive.”

The panic seized Stefan’s heart, his bones. Stefan felt himself begin to tremble with adrenaline. “Where is Klaus now?”

“With any luck, ripping that cow’s bloody head off.”

In an instant, Stefan rushed at Rebekah, forcing her out of the truck and slammed into the pavement. He grabbed her by the shirt. “WHERE IS SHE?”

Rebekah smiled viciously. “You really do love her, don’t you?”

Before Stefan could react, Rebekah sped upward and pushed him against the truck, punching him in the face. She picked up a crowbar, putting its hook behind Stefan’s neck and pulling him toward her so he could see her devious delight.

“Consider me jealous,” she said, and she drove the crowbar through his stomach.

Elena was terrified. Confused. Her mind a whirl as Klaus clasped onto her arm and marched her through the hallways toward the gym. Where Caroline and Bonnie were. She couldn’t bear to lose them too. She tried to resist and pull away in the other direction.

“If you’re going to kill me, just do it!”

Klaus shook his head, laughing. “Not until I know I’m right about the hybrids. But I do have ways of making you suffer.”

They made it to the gym where Caroline and Bonnie are setting up pranks with the basketball nets. Elena’s eyes widened.

“Caroline---”

She couldn’t get the word ‘run’ out before Caroline took Bonnie by the hand and tried to rush toward the exit only to be stopped by Klaus.

“Tsk tsk, now we’re not going to have any of that. Any funny business and I’ll compel you to tear the witch’s heart out of her chest, do you understand?”

Elena shook her head frantically. “No, don’t!” she yelled.

“I don’t believe I was talking to you,” said Klaus to Elena while staring at Caroline. He raised his eyebrows.

“I understand,” said Caroline, through gritted teeth.

“Excellent!”

“Why are you even doing this?” said Elena. “They don’t have anything to do with what’s going on!”

“On the contrary, they’re here to make sure you behave,” said Klaus. “Although I have other reinforcements to ensure such obedience.”

“Other rein---”

And then he came in. Stefan. In the flesh. Elena saw him enter the gym and something inside of her shattered. She clutched her chest and started to cry, sinking to the floor, clutching her head as she heaved.

He wasn’t gone. He was here. Alive. Overwhelming happiness was met with extraordinary shame. Relief clashed with guilt. She wanted to run to him, go to him, touch him and feel him being there, feel him being real, crush him against her body, bury her face in her neck and she wanted, with equal intensity, to run away in embarrassment, not embarrassment, disgrace. She didn’t know how or why but she knew in her bones that she felt like she’d failed him utterly and more than that failed herself because she hadn’t loved him the way she’d known how to, the way he’d loved her. And it was killing her.

“This wasn’t the reunion you were hoping for, I’m sure, Stefan,” said Klaus. He regarded Elena, mildly intrigued.

Stefan’s mouth twitched as he fought the impulse to hold Elena, embrace her in a way that kept her in place, kept her together, but his expression remained impassive.

“Elena means nothing to me anymore. I don’t care what her reaction is to seeing me.”

“You’re not as good a liar as you think you are, I’m afraid,” said Klaus. “Even I find myself somewhat chilled by her response to your presence. It’s oddly … primordial.”

Bonnie looked at Elena, horrified, and then turned to Caroline. “What’s happening?” she said urgently. “Why is she acting like this?”

Caroline shook her head. “I don’t know, I – I made sure, I –”

Klaus clapped his hands together and laughed delightfully. “Oh, now I understand,” he said. He looked to Caroline. “You compelled her.”

At this, Elena’s sobs quietened even though she still gasped to breathe. She turned her shuddering body toward Caroline.

“W-w-hat d-do you mean?” she gulped.

Caroline shook her head. “Elena…”

“You’re new at it,” said Klaus. “So you don’t understand the loopholes. You have to be very specific with compulsion when it comes to erasing emotions and not just things that happen, you know. What did you say?”

Caroline opened her mouth but didn’t answer, her eyes on Elena’s face. “I’m sorry,” she mouthed.

“Come on, love, don’t be shy, share with the rest of the class.”

Caroline sighed, closing her eyes.

Bonnie spoke up. “She told Elena she knew she did her best to find Stefan and that it was time to move on.”

The words were like a punch to the gut for Elena, winding her, putting pieces of her mind, her emotions in place while bringing forth new, fiercer, baser feelings of betrayal and anger and profound sorrow.

“Ah you see that’s what it is,” said Klaus. “You put her at war with herself, she just doesn’t know why. I bet all this time, she’s been inexplicably sad.”

Finally, Caroline spoke. “What do you mean?”

“Well you should’ve simply told her that she tried her best to find Stefan but you told her she knew she did when deep down, she must’ve known that wasn’t true. You couldn’t trick her into believing something she fundamentally didn’t believe when the wording indicates it’s her responsibility to believe it.”

Klaus looked at Stefan, marvelling at the conflict passing over his face, at the relief that the woman he loved more than life itself, the woman he believed loved him with such intense earnestness hadn’t, in fact let him go, and at the gut-wrenching regret that because she hadn’t let him go, she was in danger and would remain in danger.

“They’re quite romantic, you know,” said Klaus. I bet that the hope of finding Stefan alive was what kept Elena going all those months she searched for us.

And you took that away from her. You’ve tortured them in a far more involved way than even I could devise, Caroline, kudos.”

“It wasn’t just Caroline, it was all of us,” said Bonnie quietly.

“All of us?” said Elena, her eyes blazing with an unfamiliar rage.

Bonnie bit her lip. “Me, Care, Jeremy, Matt, Tyler, Damon … we all had to agree, Elena, I am so sorry.”

“We didn’t mean to torture---”

“But you did,” she whispered. “You did and look at where we are.”

#stelena #stefan salvatore #elena gilbert #the vampire diaries #dobsley #stelena drabble #drabble #stefan x elena #elena x stefan #tvd #paul wesley #nina dobrev #stelena fanfiction #fanfiction #angst

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thehellishtrinity · 4 years

Note

Uh I think before they got rid off Virus? Thanks for wanting to do this BTW you're the best

((np my dude!! sorry for the wait gfjs, now without further ado, summary under the cut! be warned, it’s pretty long))

I believe where you left off was:

Script confronts Virus about taking over Muse and attempts to chase him off. However, his plans go awry when Virus uses Script’s check (remember, Script’s check is mind control and Virus’s check is copying other people’s check) against him. Virus brainwashes Script by implanting fake memories into his brain, making Script think that he’s spent his whole life with Virus and that Virus is his closest friend. Unintentionally, these fake memories of being close to Virus leads Script to actually develop a crush on Virus. (part 2)

Hayden (from sassytictac) and Math (from immadeofmath) try to confront Virus to chase him out of Muse’s body. It also doesn’t work because the damage dealt to his body doesn’t affect him, but rather Muse. So Virus uses the opportunity to knock Muse’s conscousness out effectively.

Then, Firewall (from ask-the-overworked-firewall) sends Page an invitation to meet. Script warns Page not to go because he thinks Firewall is bad news (he saw Firewall attack Virus and was scared by it because, again, he’s brainwashed and doesn’t know Virus is a virus) but Page goes anyways. Firewall tells Page the situation about Virus and how Basically Things Are Fucked. Page goes home and has a sad breakdown then gets his shit together and gets to work.

I think Page gets chase out of the sector, my memory of this is very hazy and I’m having trouble finding the corresponding posts. I think Virus and Page end up battling, but Page loses and barely makes it out alive. He flees to Firewall’s place and recovers there until he’s at his full strength.

Then Page returns to the sector, ready to take Virus on again. When Page first arrives, he finds the sector protected by Virus’s defense wall. So he gets to work on taking it apart. When he finally cracks the code, he’s granted access back into the sector! And there he is met with Virus! Virus tries to get him to leave using Script’s check, but Page made himself immune to the influence of checks so it doesn’t work on him. He and Virus battle until finally Virus forces Page to the ground and kills him with a bolt of lightning.

Surprise! Page isn’t dead! He used his check (Page’s check is the ability to alter SQUIP code without there being any consequences. Basically coding without limits, who needs to remember coding rules?? Not Page) to make himself functionally immortal. They fight endlessly with Virus killing Page and then Pagecoing back to life. The tide turns when the anons manage to distract Virus and Page whips out the broken code of Muse and Script. Incomplete Muse and Script join the battle and manage to knock Virus out. Page restores Muse and Script’s code and banishes Virus from the sector.

Act 1 ends here.

Act 2 begins with the trinity still coping with the aftermath of dealing with Virus. Muse and Page both have nightmares and PTSD, basically. Script is dealing with heartbreak because he was in love with Virus, despite his memories of him being fake. It’s tough.

An anon gives Muse an M!A where his fears are personified. Naturally, Muse’s fears take the shape of Virus. Fear!Virus terrorizes Muse for ten asks, revealing that his real name is Deimos. Deimos eventually fades into nonexistence but before he does, he calls Muse out on his cowardice, saying that Muse’s pride and inability to reach out to others is affecting the ones around him. This gives Muse a lot to think about.

Time passs. Muse begins to start preparing for something but he won’t say what. He trains, trying to level up his physical powers for an unnamed threat. Meanwhile, Page receives an M!A that allows him to know everything that Muse does. He learns that Muse knows Virus will be returning, because Virus has many failsafes. He has code left all over the SQUIPweb that can hep ressurect him in the event that he’s killed. Muse cannot say anything about this explicitly because Virus left an unremoveable collar that physically makes him unable to say anything about Virus’s plans. (more on what was mentioned) M!A ends and Page loses all of the knowledge he gains. Script and Muse approach him again to get him back in the loop, with Script doing much of the talking because Muse cannot.

Then, the trinity are approached by a pair of anti-virus programs. They are called Melissa and Wally, or the twins for short. The twins claim that they are hunting down Virus and that according to their latest radars, Virus was last seen in the sector. The trinity are skeptical, of course, because they are unsure whether they are being deceived or not. In order to prove the truth of their statement, the twins bring out the body of Rowan, Rich’s Squip. Rich’s Squip Rowan has been MIA for a very long time and no one knew what happened to her. The twins explain that she was attacked by Virus and they’ve been working on patching her code up to try to recover her.

In the meantime, Muse is up to mysterious shenanigans again. He reaches out to an unknown person for potential help regarding the Virus issue. In the meantime, Script starts to dream more and more. He spends a lot of time asleep, just dreaming random fantastical dreams of a strange person with long hair and a sharp smile. This will be important later.

Muse reveals to Page and Script that he’s been contacting someone who could help, but the price of their help is very high. Page and Script are doubtful but they decide that they are at enough risk already, they may as well take the deal. The mysterious person turns to the anons for help, telling the anons through a message to send in M!As of any kind.

The person uses the M!As to crack a hole in reality and manifest on the blog. (The logic behind this is that M!As can inherently alter reality, so the person piggybacked on that capability and altered it for their own purposes.) The person reveals himself to be Muse from the Reverse World. Also known as Remy. Remy is from the April Fools Event where the Reverse World duo took over the blog. The Reverse World is an AU where Muse is the virus instead and virus is the SQUIP he’s infecting. Basically, the squips are viruses and the viruses are squips. Remy quickly reveals that he can break the fourth wall. The reason for this is that Remy’s check is knowledge. He has infinite knowledge of all things and is thus aware of his status as a mere character on a Tumblr blog for Be More Chill. Remy also reveals that the price of his help is being given a copy of Page’s check because Page’s check is honestly kind of OP. Also the twins are still there and they don’t seem to like Reverse!Virus a lot (we will call him Dov).

Remy kicks his plan to help the trinity off with having Muse train with Dov. His reasoning is that it will make Muse stronger and make him stop cowering before Virus’s presence. At the same time there are mysterious sightings of an unknown program manifesting in the sector, but the program usually disappears before anyone can detect it. This will be important later.

Remy gathers the trinity up for a planning session. They go over what they know about Virus already: mainly that he can’t die, somehow always knows their plans, and is very strong. Remy reveals the reason Virus cannot die is because he has these things called anchors everywhere. Anchors are small backup versions of Virus that can activate when the most recent Virus perishes. It’s functionally the same Virus resurrecting over and over again. These anchors are spread out in hidden pockets of the SQUIP network and are incredibly hard to find. Remy offers to deal with this issue by gathering the anchors for the trinity and storing them in one convenient location: Muse. Now, all the trinity needs to do is figure out how to destroy all of the anchors.

Next, Remy addresses the issue of Virus’s supposed omnscience. The reason why Virus always knows what they are planning to do is because he is connected to Script and Muse’s memories. Thus, whatever they know, he knows. To address this issue, Remy states that he will be wiping Script and Muse’s memories of the planning session when it’s all over. Thus, the responsibility of executing the plan falls mostly onto Page. To these ends, Remy states that he will be modifying Page’s power capacities to make him stronger because he is not strong enough at his current level to stand a chance against Virus.

Finally, Remy gifts the trinity with a knife embedded with Remy’s code. This is a special knife because it can destroy Virus’s current body in one blow. It can also be used to destroy Remy. It can only be used once, so Remy advises the trinity to use it well. Planning taken care of, Remy launches his plan into motion. Page, Muse, and Script all shut down from the overload and things go into chaos for a while. Jeremy passes out from the pain. The sector goes black.

While the sector reboots itself, Remy ressurects Virus and invites him to a dance. It is then revealed that along with the deal Remy made with the trinity, Remy also made a deal with Virus. He programs a temporary host for Virus to use and tells Virus that the host will not last long, so he will have to find a real SQUIP host soon enough. Remy then bids Virus good luck and leaves Virus with a parting gift: Virus can no longer access the checks that he copied from the trinity. While Virus deals with that, the trinity reawaken and the sector goes back online. Virus resolves to hide in the void for the time being.

The trinity are all fine! As promised, Script and Muse no longer recall a thing and Page has custody of the Special Virus Killing Knife. The twins are also mysteriously missing but that’s a topic for later.

Page asks Muse to check his code, intending to get the Virus Anchors out of the way and destroy them while things are still peaceful. Unfortunately, things are not that easy and apparently no one can touch Muse when they approach with the intent of modifying his code. Muse literally, uncontrollably, teleports away whenever it happens. Page correctly concludes that Remy pulled some type of tick on them. Thus, presenting the first problem: how to destroy the anchors in Muse’s body. It’s unsolved for now.

In the meantime, Virus is chilling in the void and answering asks when he wants to. He reveals a little bit about his creator, expressing not the most friendly behavior towards them. We also get a glimpse at a brand Virus has been tattooed with. It’s the mark of Virus’s creator. Then, we are introduced to a new character! Their name is Maii and details about them are a bit vague but what’s important is that they are on Virus’s side.

Back to the trinity, Script has somehow gotten worse. His heartbreak and pining over Virus as led him down a new path of questioning his self worth and realizing that he feels alone despite his friends being around him. He’s depressed, bois. He recognizes that his feelings for Virus are fake but he cannot let him go because being with Virus makes him think that he’s happy. He also goes off about realizing his memories of Virus are fake but the emotions that developed are real, because to him those memories were real to some extent.

Things with Muse aren’t so hot either. Muse is passing out at random intervals and waking up to a blurry figure calling him. He’s also getting hella headaches. On the flip side, the corruption of Virus’s temporary host is also getting to him and he too is passing out. Curiously, when Virus passes out he seems to see a hazy hallway that looks oddly like the trinity’s home... A new member has also joined the Virus team! Her name is Hierophant and she appears to have influence over dreams…. hm…..

Page hasn’t been idle either! He’s been up to mysterious shit. Muse catches him working on something but Page cannot tell him what it is he is doing because Virus will know if Muse knows. Muse is incredibly frustrated with this but he can’t do anything about it. After time, Page finishes the mysterious project he’s been working on and states that he hopes it never has to come to use.

Time passes yet again. Script dreams endlessly. In fact, it seems as if he’s always sleeping, like he doesn’t want to do anything but sleep. It gets to the point that Script starts confusing dreams and reality.

And then one day, Script wakes up. Or maybe he falls asleep? He can’t tell anymore, there’s no difference to him. He gets ready for his day and heads to the kitchen. Virus walks in shortly after, telling him that it’s time for his shift with Jeremy. Script and Virus banter a bit. Things are nice.

While answering asks, Virus explains why the trinty are so fundamental to his plans. The reason being, of course, that they are just the right type of SQUIP that he needs to use to achieve his goals. The goals themselves are still quite vague…

Script also has a conversation with Muse about being careful of Virus’s oncoming advances. Or maybe it’s a dream? Unsure. People are also unsure if things are dreams or reality. We see Virus with Hierophant, telling her that he entrusts a not stated task to her. Hierophant claims to be ready for the task, and we see her weilding puppet strings that appear to control what looks like Page.

Meanwhile, anons start to speculate that Virus has taken over Muse again. They are correct. Virus has indeed taken over Muse again and is holding him hostage in Muse’s mindspace. Think of this as the equivalent of taking your emotions and shoving them into a mental jar, except your emotions are a Squip’s consciousness.

And that brings up to where we are now in the story!

#squip #be more chill #plot #reference #ask #long post #i hope that helped!!#sorry its so long ghfsfa #i tried my best to describe things as shortly and as clearly as possible #didnt realize how much ive had going on on this blog unitl typing this thing out #haha #Anonymous

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mostlysignssomeportents · 5 years

Text

2019 Hugo Award finalists announced

The 2019 Hugo Award nominees have been announced; the Hugos will be presented this summer at the 2019 World Science Fiction Convention in Dublin, Ireland.

Normally, I find that I've read and reviewed a huge slice of the year's finalists, but this year is different; I've done a lot less reading lately, partly because I wrote two books in 2018 and partly because the new EU Copyright Directive ate my life for about 10 months in the past year.

I was a little sad to be so far behind the curve when I saw the new list, but then I realized that this meant that I had a bunch of really exciting books to add to my to-be-read pile!

One notable inclusion: the Archive of Our Own fanfic archive -- a project of the Organization for Transformative Works (for whose advisory board I volunteer) -- is up for "Best Related Work."

Congrats to all the nominees!

Best Novel * The Calculating Stars, by Mary Robinette Kowal (Tor) * Record of a Spaceborn Few, by Becky Chambers (Hodder & Stoughton / Harper Voyager) * Revenant Gun, by Yoon Ha Lee (Solaris) * Space Opera, by Catherynne M. Valente (Saga) * Spinning Silver, by Naomi Novik (Del Rey / Macmillan) * Trail of Lightning, by Rebecca Roanhorse (Saga)

Best Novella * Artificial Condition, by Martha Wells (Tor.com Publishing) * Beneath the Sugar Sky, by Seanan McGuire (Tor.com Publishing) * Binti: The Night Masquerade, by Nnedi Okorafor (Tor.com Publishing) * The Black God’s Drums, by P. Djèlí Clark (Tor.com Publishing) * Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach, by Kelly Robson (Tor.com Publishing) * The Tea Master and the Detective, by Aliette de Bodard (Subterranean Press / JABberwocky Literary Agency)

Best Novelette * “If at First You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again,” by Zen Cho (B&N Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog, 29 November 2018) * “The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections,” by Tina Connolly (Tor.com, 11 July 2018) * “Nine Last Days on Planet Earth,” by Daryl Gregory (Tor.com, 19 September 2018) * The Only Harmless Great Thing, by Brooke Bolander (Tor.com Publishing) * “The Thing About Ghost Stories,” by Naomi Kritzer (Uncanny Magazine 25, November- December 2018) * “When We Were Starless,” by Simone Heller (Clarkesworld 145, October 2018)

Best Short Story * “The Court Magician,” by Sarah Pinsker (Lightspeed, January 2018) * “The Rose MacGregor Drinking and Admiration Society,” by T. Kingfisher (Uncanny Magazine 25, November-December 2018) * “The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington,” by P. Djèlí Clark (Fireside Magazine, February 2018) * “STET,” by Sarah Gailey (Fireside Magazine, October 2018) * “The Tale of the Three Beautiful Raptor Sisters, and the Prince Who Was Made of Meat,” by Brooke Bolander (Uncanny Magazine 23, July-August 2018) * “A Witch’s Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies,” by Alix E. Harrow (Apex Magazine, February 2018)

Best Series * The Centenal Cycle, by Malka Older (Tor) * The Laundry Files, by Charles Stross (most recently Tor.com Publishing/Orbit) * Machineries of Empire, by Yoon Ha Lee (Solaris) * The October Daye Series, by Seanan McGuire (most recently DAW) * The Universe of Xuya, by Aliette de Bodard (most recently Subterranean Press) * Wayfarers, by Becky Chambers (Hodder & Stoughton / Harper Voyager)

Best Related Work * Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works * Astounding: John W. Campbell, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard, and the Golden Age of Science Fiction, by Alec Nevala-Lee (Dey Street Books) * The Hobbit Duology (documentary in three parts), written and edited by Lindsay Ellis and Angelina Meehan (YouTube) * An Informal History of the Hugos: A Personal Look Back at the Hugo Awards, 1953- 2000, by Jo Walton (Tor) * www.mexicanxinitiative.com: The Mexicanx Initiative Experience at Worldcon 76 (Julia Rios, Libia Brenda, Pablo Defendini, John Picacio) * Ursula K. Le Guin: Conversations on Writing, by Ursula K. Le Guin with David Naimon (Tin House Books)

Best Graphic Story * Abbott, written by Saladin Ahmed, art by Sami Kivelä, colours by Jason Wordie, letters by Jim Campbell (BOOM! Studios) * Black Panther: Long Live the King, written by Nnedi Okorafor and Aaron Covington, art by André Lima Araújo, Mario Del Pennino and Tana Ford (Marvel) * Monstress, Volume 3: Haven, written by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda (Image Comics) * On a Sunbeam, by Tillie Walden (First Second) * Paper Girls, Volume 4, written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Cliff Chiang, colours by Matt Wilson, letters by Jared K. Fletcher (Image Comics) * Saga, Volume 9, written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Fiona Staples (Image Comics)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form * Annihilation, directed and written for the screen by Alex Garland, based on the novel by Jeff VanderMeer (Paramount Pictures / Skydance) * Avengers: Infinity War, screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo (Marvel Studios) * Black Panther, written by Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole, directed by Ryan Coogler (Marvel Studios) * A Quiet Place, screenplay by Scott Beck, John Krasinski and Bryan Woods, directed by John Krasinski (Platinum Dunes / Sunday Night) * Sorry to Bother You, written and directed by Boots Riley (Annapurna Pictures) * Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, screenplay by Phil Lord and Rodney Rothman, directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman (Sony)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form * The Expanse: “Abaddon’s Gate,” written by Daniel Abraham, Ty Franck and Naren Shankar, directed by Simon Cellan Jones (Penguin in a Parka / Alcon Entertainment) * Doctor Who: “Demons of the Punjab,” written by Vinay Patel, directed by Jamie Childs (BBC) * Dirty Computer, written by Janelle Monáe, directed by Andrew Donoho and Chuck Lightning (Wondaland Arts Society / Bad Boy Records / Atlantic Records) * The Good Place: “Janet(s),” written by Josh Siegal & Dylan Morgan, directed by Morgan Sackett (NBC) * The Good Place: “Jeremy Bearimy,” written by Megan Amram, directed by Trent O’Donnell (NBC) * Doctor Who: “Rosa,” written by Malorie Blackman and Chris Chibnall, directed by Mark Tonderai (BBC)

Best Professional Editor, Short Form * Neil Clarke * Gardner Dozois * Lee Harris * Julia Rios * Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas * E. Catherine Tobler

Best Professional Editor, Long Form * Sheila E. Gilbert * Anne Lesley Groell * Beth Meacham * Diana Pho * Gillian Redfearn * Navah Wolfe

Best Professional Artist * Galen Dara * Jaime Jones * Victo Ngai * John Picacio * Yuko Shimizu * Charles Vess

Best Semiprozine * Beneath Ceaseless Skies, editor-in-chief and publisher Scott H. Andrews * Fireside Magazine, edited by Julia Rios, managing editor Elsa Sjunneson-Henry, social coordinator Meg Frank, special features editor Tanya DePass, founding editor Brian White, publisher and art director Pablo Defendini * FIYAH Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction, executive editors Troy L. Wiggins and DaVaun Sanders, editors L.D. Lewis, Brandon O’Brien, Kaleb Russell, Danny Lore, and Brent Lambert * Shimmer, publisher Beth Wodzinski, senior editor E. Catherine Tobler * Strange Horizons, edited by Jane Crowley, Kate Dollarhyde, Vanessa Rose Phin, Vajra Chandrasekera, Romie Stott, Maureen Kincaid Speller, and the Strange Horizons Staff * Uncanny Magazine, publishers/editors-in-chief Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas, managing editor Michi Trota, podcast producers Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky, Disabled People Destroy Science Fiction Special Issue editors-in-chief Elsa Sjunneson-Henry and Dominik Parisien

Best Fanzine * Galactic Journey, founder Gideon Marcus, editor Janice Marcus * Journey Planet, edited by Team Journey Planet * Lady Business, editors Ira, Jodie, KJ, Renay & Susan * nerds of a feather, flock together, editors Joe Sherry, Vance Kotrla and The G * Quick Sip Reviews, editor Charles Payseur * Rocket Stack Rank, editors Greg Hullender and Eric Wong

Best Fancast * Be the Serpent, presented by Alexandra Rowland, Freya Marske and Jennifer Mace * The Coode Street Podcast, presented by Jonathan Strahan and Gary K. Wolfe * Fangirl Happy Hour, hosted by Ana Grilo and Renay Williams * Galactic Suburbia, hosted by Alisa Krasnostein, Alexandra Pierce, and Tansy Rayner Roberts, produced by Andrew Finch * Our Opinions Are Correct, hosted by Annalee Newitz and Charlie Jane Anders * The Skiffy and Fanty Show, produced by Jen Zink and Shaun Duke, hosted by the Skiffy and Fanty Crew

Best Fan Writer * Foz Meadows * James Davis Nicoll * Charles Payseur * Elsa Sjunneson-Henry * Alasdair Stuart * Bogi Takács

Best Fan Artist * Sara Felix * Grace P. Fong * Meg Frank * Ariela Housman * Likhain (Mia Sereno) * Spring Schoenhuth

Best Art Book * The Books of Earthsea: The Complete Illustrated Edition, illustrated by Charles Vess, written by Ursula K. Le Guin (Saga Press /Gollancz) * Daydreamer’s Journey: The Art of Julie Dillon, by Julie Dillon (self-published) * Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana: A Visual History, by Michael Witwer, Kyle Newman, Jon Peterson, Sam Witwer (Ten Speed Press) * Spectrum 25: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art, ed. John Fleskes (Flesk Publications) * Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – The Art of the Movie, by Ramin Zahed (Titan Books) * Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth, ed. Catherine McIlwaine (Bodleian Library)

John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer * Katherine Arden (2nd year of eligibility) * S.A. Chakraborty (2nd year of eligibility) * R.F. Kuang (1st year of eligibility) * Jeannette Ng (2nd year of eligibility) * Vina Jie-Min Prasad (2nd year of eligibility) * Rivers Solomon (2nd year of eligibility)

Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book * The Belles, by Dhonielle Clayton (Freeform / Gollancz) * Children of Blood and Bone, by Tomi Adeyemi (Henry Holt / Macmillan Children’s Books) * The Cruel Prince, by Holly Black (Little, Brown / Hot Key Books) * Dread Nation, by Justina Ireland (Balzer + Bray) * The Invasion, by Peadar O’Guilin (David Fickling Books / Scholastic) * Tess of the Road, by Rachel Hartman (Random House / Penguin Teen)

https://boingboing.net/2019/04/02/dublin-worldcon.html

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