#Use For My Talent season 1 recap! | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

chuplayswithfire · 7 months

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Izzy Arc Thoughts, the post!

Having now watched the three episodes three times over (some of them more than that shhhhh), I still have a BUNCH of thoughts about the rest of the crew I want to percolate on, but I had some thoughts on Izzy that I finally feel confident in, as to what's going on in with his character since the end of season 1, and especially the arc he has between Impossible Birds and The Innkeeper.

Being upfront: I wasn't sure what kind of arc the show would do with Izzy and we still obviously don't know the full scope of it, as we have five more episodes to go, but it's definitely been intriguing in a way I didn't anticipate. I figured Izzy would continue on with his antagonistic role, and he still might, but it seems like D Jenks is having fun letting Con have a role with more emotional nuance than in season one, and seeing as that role has an impact on everyone else, I wanted to share my thoughts on what I think is going on with him in the episodes that we've seen so far. I also wanted to start my in depth analysis with a character I don't care about nearly as much (being honest!) as I do the rest of the crew, but who also has a huge impact on two characters I do care very much about, Ed and Stede. I'm planning to analyze Ed and Stede in each episode before we get eps 4 and 5!

This is a long post! It features many quotes directly , transcribed by me and taken from the captions by Max. I used a read more because the whole thing is over 6k in length and analyzes the dynamic presented between Izzy and Ed and Izzy and Stede presented in episodes 1-3 of season 2 of Our Flag Means Death. If the read more doesn't work, that is not on me, sorry.

Alright, so recap: when we left Izzy, he had lashed out at Ed for the person he was choosing to become and the manner in which he was expressing himself and his feelings - the blanket fort, the binging sweets, the singing for the crew, the sharing his feelings and asking to be called Edward, the encouraging a talent show, and then, the cleaning up and comfortably wearing a colorful printed robe of nice, soft fabric. (Quotes: "I should have let the English kill you. This, whatever it is that you've become... is a fate worse than death." "(growled) No. This, this is Blackbeard. Not some (breath) namby-pamby in a silk gown, pining for his boyfriend.”) When these insults get the aggressive reaction from Ed that Izzy associates with the version of Ed he prefers, he encourages him with a smile, hand cupping Ed's cheek, and choking out "There he is." Ed shoves his hand away, backing away with a closed off expression, and Izzy's smile dies and he closes the distance between them. He states what he wants from Ed, makes a threat, and walks away without waiting for a response. (Quote: "Blackbeard is my captain. I serve Blackbeard. Not Edward. Edward better watch his fuckin' step.”)

The next time we see Izzy, Ed has donned his leathers, made his face up with dark make up to look more fierce, and is cutting off Izzy's pink toe and feeding it to him. We know from episode 9 that cutting off toes and feeding it to people was a classic Blackbeard move. For Izzy, this is several things: 1) confirmation that Blackbeard is back, the one who would never let a threat stand and does a good maim 2) a punishment for said threat (Quote: "Threaten me again, ever... I'll feed you the rest. Understand?" "Y-Yes, Blackbeard.") 3) a confirmation that he has his boss back, that whatever Stede has done to his boss' brain is over.

We get confirmation of that third point when Izzy speaks with the crew as they're getting rid of Stede's books and possessions - "Blackbeard is himself again," with a broad smile. Later, we see Izzy abandon the crew on a small island, presumably on Ed's direct orders, as he waves goodbye to Bonnet's playthings - them - as they depart. Izzy has a gun as he stands beside Ed, and they're watching as Frenchie finishes the new flag and hoists it.

That's where we left Izzy in Season 1: standing besides Ed as Blackbird returns to being Blackbeard for a brand new era of being Blackbeard, greatest pirate who ever lived, terror of the seas.

And when we return to the show, that's kind of what we get. Edward is being Blackbeard and Blackbeard is the terror of the seas, a Wanted Poster with so many crimes they're covering both sides of the poster (and yeah some of them are very silly, what midwifery was Ed up to, exactly-), and yet, Izzy is not happy when we see him.

What I think the show works to establish in episode 1 is that what Izzy wanted back was the man he saw as the old Blackbeard, who wasn't afflicted by these feelings of love or softness or "weakness", which he views as something that Stede Bonnet inflicted upon Edward. We know that, because it's how he phrased it to Chauncey - that "[Stede] had done something to [his] boss's brain". He seemed to view these feelings as something akin to an infection from Stede, that was corrupting the Blackbeard he knew and respected to something less than. Izzy wanted the old Blackbeard back and he thought that when Ed took his toe and fed it to him, said he'd killed Lucius, all that I recapped, that he'd gotten just that. A return to his preferred normal, where everything makes sense exactly as he thinks it should. Ed back to normal, it's Blackbeard time, getting rid of the dead weight and all that.

Except that's not what he's gotten at all, and I don't think Izzy had fully grasped why prior to episode 1. He has suspicions, of course, but it takes him a while to build to a confrontation about it.

Because see, Ed switched from healthier coping mechanisms like crying, eating sweets, creative outlets, and talking to people about his feelings to much more acceptably pirate means of coping with his feelings - violence in the form of raids and drugs (rhino horn, which thought people joke about it being an aphrodisiac, has a variety of believed medical uses in Vietnamese medicine, treating ailments including hangovers, fever, gout and potentially terminal illnesses, like cancer or stroke). Raids and drug use should be totally acceptable means of managing your feelings as a pirate, except that Ed is going too far with them, pushing the crew to the breaking point and beyond. They're raiding every day, they're not taking breaks, they're not having days off, they're chasing down ships as fast as they can take them down and now they're going to be throwing away loot. Izzy is realizing that actually he has not gotten the Blackbeard he wanted and things are not great. He's also lost at least two more toes.

He and Ed have an early exchange - Izzy looking sickly, skin sallow, what appears to be hair dye or make up trickling from his hairline, Ed prepping and snorting rhino horn like it's cocaine:

Izzy: "The crew are lookin' a tad worse for wear.” Ed: "Did everyone get cake?" Izzy: "Yeah, they got cake." Ed: "Well they're, they're welcome to have some rhino horn. Just ground up a fresh batch." (snorts rhino horn) "Oh fuck! You want some?" Izzy: "No, not right now, no." Ed: "Well then, get back to work ya fuckin' lightweight!" [cut to Izzy among the crew] Ed voiceover: "Can't do the job, someone else will."

Throughout this scene, Izzy looks increasingly distressed as Ed does drugs - he looks his most distressed during the voice over however, his jaw flexing, his eyes watery.

This is what appears to have shaken him the most - the idea that he's replaceable, that Ed can and would get rid of him in favor of someone else. It's obviously incredibly distressing to Izzy, in a way that I genuinely don't think the loss of his toes was. Izzy clearly values his relationship with Edward - while in season 1 he definitely wanted a promotion and liked the idea of authority, of being captain, the fact that he was swiftly mutinied and nearly murdered seemed to put a kabosh on his ambitions, and reoriented him to staying at Ed's side. We know that Izzy at least believes that loyalty is important - we know that he thinks he's acting from loyalty when he tries to make Ed watch as his boyfriend (in Izzy's words) is murdered.

Izzy values his position with Blackbeard. He serves Blackbeard, respects him, was honored to work for a legend. And while this is supposition, he seems to have considered himself and Edward as having a close, intimate relationship that did not require words or confessions or honest expression of feeling, this kind of bond where words aren't necessary, because they're tough, manly men who don't need to express their feelings.

But.

Then we get this line. Then we get, "can't do the job, someone else will." Seven words, and they shake Izzy to his core, make him finally start questioning his until then unquestioned belief in the ways of the world and his relationship with Edward. It shakes him enough that he actually breaks in front of the crew, in a scene that's incredibly funny, but also leads to them extending him some genuinely unearned compassion, as they question the healthiness of his relationship with Blackbeard - even as Izzy is finally questioning if he has a relationship with Blackbeard.

Following his breakdown, Izzy has the crew bring the treasure above deck, but doesn't go through with making them throw it overboard. Instead, he takes those new doubts and brings them to Ed, pushing for a conversation where he is clearly for the first time in their working relationship expressing his thoughts on said relationship in word form.

Izzy: "The crew are refusing to part with any treasure." Ed: "Why?" Izzy: "Because it's fuckin' treasure." Ed: "Not good enough. (stops toying with knife, slides it in Izzy's direction.) And that's another toe. Take your boot off." (stands from seated position, walks over to Izzy.) Izzy: (starts by looking down at the ground, then slowly raises gaze to Ed's face as he speaks.) "Who am I to you?" Ed: “...What?” Izzy: “We’ve worked together for years. (sniff) You know me better than anyone has ever known me, and I daresay the same is true for me about you.” (a musical beat plays. Izzy lowers his eyes from Ed’s face, looking in the middle distance.) Izzy: I have (several second long pause) love for you, Edward.” Ed: (starting as Izzy is speaking, right after the word love) “Oh, come on.” (walks away from Izzy, circling around him.) Izzy: I’m worried about you. We all are. The atmosphere on this ship is completely poisoned.” (pause) “But if we could all just maybe (pause, swallow, visibly struggling with words) talk it through.” (musical beat) Ed: (slowly looks up) “As a crew?” Izzy: (face falls subtly, taking on a starker look of upset)

The scene transitions away, but let’s really dig into all of this for a second, because this is crucial. This is Izzy going from matters between us are unspoken but profound to I have doubts and I am verbalizing my thoughts in the hope that they will be assuaged. Izzy is expressing aloud his thoughts on their relationship for the first time, because as Izzy puts it, he thought he knew Edward better than anyone. He thought he understood him better than anyone else alive. Now, we know that Izzy doesn’t understand Edward already - we’ve known that he doesn’t actually see the person Edward all along, but this was made especially clear in episode 6, where his voiceover notes that he is “starting to suspect that Edward has no intention of ending Stede Bonnet’s life”, at a point in time when Ivan and Fang are confident the plan is off and everyone else seems pretty clear there’s a co-captaining effect going on.

The point is that all this time, Izzy has been acting from a place of assuming he knows Edward best of anyone in the world, that he understands him, that he can follow what’s going on with him and that they are intimately bound together, in this deep and unspoken love for each other that doesn’t have to be said allowed, but only has to exist, unacknowledged but deeply felt.

But then Ed said that he could be replaced. Then Ed said that he could find someone else to do Izzy’s job.

And this introduced doubt into Izzy’s mind, for the first time. This is what made Izzy verbalize all these things - what made him ask who he is to Ed, what made him state that he has love for Ed, that he worries for Ed, that he and Ed understand each other better than anyone else… because now he has to say them aloud, because he has to be reassured that these things are true.

That he is someone important to Ed. That Ed has love for Izzy and knows that Izzy has love for Ed. That Ed understands Izzy, that Ed knows that Izzy understands Ed. For years, he has thought that he and Ed understood each other in this profound way, that they alone truly knew the other, and he has to question if that’s true.

He’s being vulnerable, in a way vaguely akin to the vulnerability Ed offered in episode 10, and it clearly doesn’t land. He wants reassurance that this deep and profound love and intimacy he was so sure was there, is real, and Ed can’t give him that reassurance because it’s not true. Not in the way Izzy was so sure it was. Not in the way he ruined Ed’s life to believe.

Izzy finally decides to put himself out there, and all that Ed gets out of it is the echo of Stede Bonnet, and it makes Izzy’s face fall like a rock. There’s the answer he didn’t want: the relationship he believed he had with Ed is not there, and Ed is still, utterly, truly, fixed in his feelings for Stede Bonnet.

(and like just to clarify, I really don’t feel bad for Izzy here - he doesn’t have the relationship he wants with Ed because he’s never tried to really understand Ed, or listen to him, and he isn’t what Ed wants in a partner, but, objectively, Izzy does make himself vulnerable here, and he’s shot down, because Ed just doesn’t return his feelings)

Which leads us into the continuing scene. Ed goes to confront the crew about the atmosphere of the ship being poisoned, which everyone denies at gun point, leading Ed to shoving the gun under his chin and having a little conversation with himself, unsettling everyone around.

Ed: “I know who we should ask, ol’ Blackbeard. Hello mate. You think the vibe on the ship is poisoned? I don’t know, Blackbeard. Maybe a little toxic sometimes. Maybe it’s a bit uncomfortable sometimes. You do make the crew a little bit uncomfortable sometimes. They think you’re crazy. Well, I’m not crazy. I don’t feel crazy. I feel pretty fucking good actually.” (the camera is focusing on the faces of all the crew as he gives this monologue, gun still cocked under his chin.) Izzy: “Fucking End!” (Screamed at Ed’s back) Ed: (slowly turns to Izzy.) Crew: (Fang looking shocked and saddened. Frenchie shakes his head very minutely, looking at Izzy.) Izzy: “The atmosphere on this ship is (word drawn out) fucked.” (working his jaw, looking down and to the side as he says this.) “Everyone knows why.” Ed: (nods once, sets his chin, walks forward.) “Well I don’t. Enlighten me.” Izzy: (smiling with mouth shut, suppressing a laugh. Shrugs.) Your feelings for Stede fuckin’ Bonnet.” Ed: (Nods as soon as Izzy says Stede’s name. Shoots him in the leg.) Izzy: (cries out in pain drops, clutching his knee.) Ed: “Frenchie.” Frenchie: “Yes?” Ed: “Congratulations, you are now first mate.” Frenchie: “Oh, no. I don’t, I don’t think I’m qualified.” Ed: “‘course you are mate. You can start by cleaning up that mess.” (tilts head towards Izzy. Turns to rest of crew, onlooking.) “And the rest of you, you throw this shit overboard and get suited up.” (claps twice, turns away.) “We’ve got a record to break.” Izzy: (still groaning in pain.)

So that was a lot.

Izzy has realized, over the course of this episode, that his relationship with Ed is not what he thought it was, is not what he wants it to be, and that Ed is still and probably always will be, in love with Stede fuckin’ Bonnet. This is why Izzy decides to say what he believes to be true - that the atmosphere is fucked because of Ed’s feelings for Stede. It’s important that we know this is not actually true - while Ed being ghosted by Stede did start his spiral, Ed was able to stop that spiral with the help of community and reaching for healthy coping mechanisms. Ed spiraled again after Izzy intervened, insulting, threatening, and demeaning him as discussed in the recap, and the spiral isn’t about his romantic feelings - it’s about, as s2e3 The Innkeeper firmly establishes, his feeling fundamentally unloveable and monstrous. Throughout s2e1, Ed is clearly denying the crew days off and meaningful rest out of pursuit of as many raids as possible. He’s trying not to touch the ground, flying high both via drugs and adrenaline, and his exchange with Frenchie at the end of the impossible makes it clear he doesn’t want to stop.

It’s also very important, that throughout this entire thing, the only crew member Ed actually hurts is Izzy, who doesn’t actually object to losing his toes. Now, I’m on record for being one of the many people who think Izzy is actually glad that the toe scene happens - I don’t think he actually especially wanted to lose his toes, but, he was glad to get back the Blackbeard who would cut off toes, and I do think he felt there was a certain intimacy in being the only one experiencing violence. Izzy is a masochist and has previously expressed delight in being the subject of violence - was very happy to be choked by Ed in s1ep10 - so while this is not safe or sane, I do think it’s consensual, in the sense that Izzy thinks this is part of their mutual love, their unspoken but deep and crucially intimate togetherness that leads them to know each other on the deepest level.

And then Ed says he can be replaced. And then Ed makes it clear that even when Izzy is emotionally vulnerable, Ed’s heart is with Stede. And Izzy realizes, he doesn’t have that place with Edward that he thought he did. He doesn’t have that special relationship. This is not intimacy, for Ed. And Ed shooting him and turning away isn’t even the final nail in that door.

Because, in s2e2, Izzy is still alive. The crew has hidden him in the walls and are trying to preserve his life, even as Izzy screams for them to kill him and calls them cowards for not doing so. The crew is gathering medicine, preparing an amputation, figuring out what to do with Izzy to try and keep him alive, and Izzy wants them to kill him. (Quote: “Kill me you fucking cowards! Kill me -”)

I would say it’s because he’s realized the relationship he devoted his life too and considered sacred, the relationship he considers most valuable… is not that to the man he loves. Ed replaced him and pirate code says the first mate should kill him. The first mate (Frenchie) refuses to kill him. Frenchie is not much for that, and neither is JIm. Both of them, having experienced a better life and place of work when Stede was captain and Ed was their co-captain, are trying to preserve Izzy’s life the best they can. Jim especially clings to the memory of when life meant something on this ship, even Izzy’s life.

Which - this makes sense coming from Jim, and I think it’s why they chose Jim, because Jim wasn’t present for Izzy being captain or the mutiny. Jim has the least complicated relationship with Izzy aside from Fang, who is notably not present in any of the scenes to do with rescuing Izzy, despite having been clearly shocked and appalled that Izzy was shot.

Izzy, is not thrilled to be being kept alive, but the fact that Izzy is kept alive, means that Izzy has to process his feelings - and face Ed again, who, having shot Izzy, mourned and sobbed, has woken up, cleaned himself up, cleaned his space out, and decided to seek death.

From Izzy.

This, I think, is the second most crucial moment in Izzy’s arc and transition, because Izzy thought he was someone of incredible importance to Ed, and he also thought that he knew and understood Ed better than anyone, and that Ed crucially, understood him just as well. He thought that even without any emotional honesty or vulnerability, they knew each other more than anyone else possibly could.

He thinks that Ed knows him.

And Ed comes to him, and they have the following exchange:

Ed: “Morning.” Izzy: “My leg?” (looking down his body.) Ed: (laughing) “Yeah. Oh, no, that’s gone now. Up in Leg Heaven.” (sets the smelling salts down, turns to look down at Izzy.) Izzy: (looks up at Ed.) “Have you come to take the other one?” Ed: “I think one’s quite enough. I just popped down to say a proper goodbye.” (reaches behind him, draws gun. Izzy: (watches the gun, looks down from Ed’s face to gun and back as Ed cocks and loads it.) Ed: (looking at the gun, not Izzy.) “Had a dream about you last night.” (flips gun to offer the handle to Izzy.) “Take it.” Izzy: “Oh, fuck off. Fuck off. Fuck off.” (slaps at Ed’s hand, looking away from Ed.) Ed: “Hold it! Hold it.” (they are speaking over each other. Gets the gun in Izzy’s hand, directs it at Ed’s head. Looking at Izzy.) “I dreamt that ya killed me. Shot me right through the skull.” (moving the gun and Izzy’s hand, drawing it to his forehead, leaning closer. The camera moves between Ed’s face and Izzy’s.) Izzy: (smiles slowly then sneers.) “Good for you.” Ed: (blinks and nods slowly.) “It was good for me. It’s just what the doctor ordered.” (The camera moves from Ed’s face to Izzy’s showing him with that frown as Ed stands over him, leaving the gun in Izzy’s hand.) “Anyway, it wasn’t even like that.” (walks away from Izzy.) Izzy: (eyes tracking Ed as he walks away.) Ed: “Not in my dream.” (moves to stand at the foot of Izzy’s bed, back to Izzy.) “I was standing.” (inhales). “Just like this.” (Closes eyes. Spreads arms.) Izzy: (from his view, Ed is standing against the light, back open, arms spread. He blinks and raises the gun audibly.) Ed: (Swallows, holding his arms out.) Izzy: (smiles, sniffs audibly, dropping the smile as he clenches his teeth. Laughs harshly, mockingly, gun raised.) “Ohhhhh, ah, you scared, Eddie? Too scared - too scared to do it yourself? Ay.” (laughs) “Go on, clean up your own fucking mess. I’m not doin’ it. I’ve been doin’ it all my fucking life.” Ed: (looks down, disappointed. blinks.) Izzy: Fuck off. Ed: (nods, swallows.) “Farewell, old chum.” (whispered. He walks up the stairs and away from Izzy.) Izzy: (watches, shaking, nodding slowly himself, breath hitching.) Ed: (reaches the top of the stairs. A gunshot sounds. A creak. Ed lowers his eyes, looking down at something off camera. Nods. Exhales.) “I loved you” (a pause) “best I could.” The scene transitions from there, and the next we see of Ed, he is initiating plan two of suicide attempts: steering the ship into a storm and goading the ship to kill him or die with him.

But Ed’s deal is so many more posts from here. No, we’re focused on Izzy for the moment, so what did this whole exchange mean for him?

First, the thought that Ed had come to do more damage. That Ed was there for Izzy, that this was about Izzy. But it’s not. Ed has had enough of that. He notably does not apologize. Izzy notably does not seem to expect one. There is history here, and the last time they were in positions like this, the camera angle was flipped - Ed at Izzy’s right, a hand covering Izzy’s mouth, making him eat his toe and the idea that things could go as they had been, that the Blackbeard Izzy had schemed and tried to have a man killed over was back. This time, Ed is at Izzy’s left, with a gun, and he doesn’t touch Izzy except to hand over the gun.

This is where it’s so important that Izzy believed he and Ed knew each other best of all. Because in episode one, Izzy was getting worried for Ed, but it’s in episode 2, in this moment, as Ed hands him a gun, that he realizes Ed wants to die. And it’s in this moment that he realizes that Ed fully believes Izzy could. That Ed has taken these actions believing that they would lead Izzy to kill him. That Ed wants to commit suicide via Izzy, that he thinks killing Ed is something that Izzy wants, could want, could do.

This is Izzy, realizing that he and Ed don’t understand each other nearly as well as he thought. This is Izzy, realizing that Ed looks at him and sees a man who could and would kill him, when Izzy thinks that he couldn’t ever do that. This is Izzy, having the true final death knell on that relationship he believed they had, the intimacy he believed they had, the lack of a need for words. He thought all this time that he knew Ed best and that Ed knew him, and he doesn’t want to kill Ed - and he’s also hurt and angry and upset to know Ed genuinely thought he would. That Ed would come to him for this, because Izzy doesn’t think he could kill Ed, but Ed thinks he could.

In his mind, Ed should know that Izzy could never kill him, should trust him, should know without having to be told that it would never happen, but here’s Ed in the flesh, asking him to kill him.

It’s over, everything he thought was there.

And Ed? Ed did care about Izzy, in his own way, but every overture he made was denied, shot down, Izzy not interested in the bird guy, the ship, the clouds and how they contribute to a plan, the drugs, and like, Izzy is allowed to not be interested in any of those things - but these are the things Ed was interested in. These are the ways Ed tried to connect most recently, and Izzy shot them all down. To Izzy, there was a deep and intimate connection in spite of all of that. To Ed, every way he could connect with Izzy was shot down. He loved him the best he could, which wasn’t a way that could provide either of them what they wanted. Izzy had love for Ed, but that love could not be fruitful or nurturing to either of them, because it was unspoken and therefore ripe for misunderstanding.

Izzy stews down there in the ship, in his own thoughts, while Ed steers the ship into a storm and makes his last effort to die, to have it all end - to push the crew to killing him, or dying with him. And then he ties his leg up, makes his way above deck, shoots Ed in the arm to keep him from killing them all, and tries to kill himself instead, staring at Ed as he tries to shoot himself with the gun Ed wanted Izzy to kill him with. Despite the gun being aimed for the temple, he fails and falls back, leaving himself staring up as it rains on him, hiding any tears. Fang brings Ed down, and the crew gather together, Fang supporting Izzy’s weight, as Jim lifts a cannonball with a scream and prepares to bring it down on Ed’s head. Izzy watches without interfering.

EDIT: ADDED THIS SECTION:

A quick addendum: even though I watched episode 2 so many times, I didn't realize that Izzy tried to kill himself after Ed left the room! The gunshot that Ed hears is in fact Izzy trying and failing to shoot himself right then and there, in that moment that Ed departs. Izzy's forehead was so wet and the background of him falling back and water splashing was such that I truly thought that took place in the rain, and that he tried to shoot himself after shooting Ed. Thanks to @glamaphonic for letting me know. This does leave me even more certain that Izzy is motivated to do this because he has finally understood both that Edward wants to die, and that he and Edward never understood each other as well as he thought, which brings the last years of his life into question. He tried to kill himself, failed, and came up to stop Ed from bringing down the ship. It's not just that Izzy stews down there - as Ed departs, leaving Izzy behind, Izzy takes the shot. He tries and fails to kill himself, and wakes and climbs the steps to take the shot at Ed he couldn't before.

The next time we see Izzy is s1e3, The Innkeeper, when Stede crosses over to the Revenge and finds the crew amidst the wreckage. He’s eating a raw bird with the rest of the crew, and then is brought aboard the Red Flag. As Stede asks the crew about Ed’s location, Izzy watches him. He’s the only one not eating soup, hands tucked over his chest.

As Stede starts asking questions - dangerous questions for Izzy and the former crew of the Revenge - he walks over with a crutch.

Izzy: “Bonnet. Good to see you.” Stede: “Piss off, Izzy. I don’t wanna hear from you.”

Stede talks to the rest of the crew, as Izzy grimaces. Stede pays him no attention. The next time Izzy speaks up: Stede: “What about my painting? Why is it all stabbed up?” Izzy: (looking up through his hair, smiling.) “That was me.” Stede: (sighs and walks away without response.) Izzy: (blinks slowly, looking dismayed. We see him start to turn his head in Stede’s direction.)

Well, that seemed like someone trying to pick a fight, and disappointed he didn’t get one, too me. In Izzy’s mind, Stede is his romantic rival, the man Ed loves where he didn’t love Izzy, and, currently, also a threat, because if he keeps asking questions and reveals the mutiny, they’ll all be killed.

But Stede is one more thing. Stede is another dagger in Izzy’s heart, as we continue transcribing:

Izzy: “Don’t cry Bonnet. We just redecorated.” (has clearly been following Stede.) Stede: “I don’t mind, actually. I think the knives really help bring the place together.” (calmly stated before he walks away to look at the rest of the furniture.) Izzy: (drops his head, looking away as though trying to gather words.) Stede: (turns to look at Izzy.) “What’d you do with him? I know he wouldn’t have left by choice.” Izzy: (sniffles) I know you think you understand him. Stede: (interrupting) “He was either gonna watch the world burn or die trying, so which was it?” (leaning forward despite the considerable distance, still calm.) Izzy: (swallows, dips head. Starts moving forward, gritting teeth through words.) “Alright Bonnet. Have it your own way.” (stalking forward to Stede on his crutch.) “He went mad. He tortured the crew. He took my fuckin’ leg ‘cause I dared to mention your fuckin’ name.” (emphasis on the curses, slams fist when he says your name.) Stede: (in drawn breath, turns away) Izzy: “He was a wild dog, and we dealt with him like one.” Stede: “You sent him to Doggy Heaven.” Izzy: (stares in silence, head shaking. Flashes back to Ed laying in the rain, breathing out “Finally,” and laughing as Jim brings a cannonball down on him as Izzy watches. Stares. Turns to look away from Stede, face twisting. Shakes his head. Shuts his eyes. Breathes the word:) “No.” Stede: (turns to look back at him.) Izzy: “I could never do that.” (looks away, still not looking Stede in the face). “We deserved him on a beach (sniffles) left nature to do the rest. More than he would have done for us.” Stede: (turns away, breathing out.) Izzy: (continuing) “You and me did this to him. And we cannot let this crew suffer anymore for our mistakes.” Stede: (turns to look at Izzy) “Why would they suffer?” Izzy: “If your captain senses mutiny, she’ll kill us all. That’s pirate code.” Stede: (camera lingers on his face as he swallows.)

Doggy Heaven has a heavy meaning in this series, considering that Ed was supposed to send Stede to Doggy Heaven, and couldn’t because of his love for Stede. Ed couldn’t bring himself to kill Stede, but here is Stede, who Izzy views as a romantic rival, guessing that Izzy could kill Ed. Acknowledging that he, like Ed, believes that Izzy could kill Ed. Izzy, who thinks he couldn’t and wouldn’t and has love for Ed, and sees himself as loyal.

But Izzy did stand back as Ed was killed, and that’s why he reaches for dehumanizing language to defend the action - he calls Ed a wild dog and that they dealt with him like one.

(It’s the first time in the show that a white character makes a racist remark without immediate consequences. Before anyway says otherwise, yes it is always racist for white people to dehumanize a man of color. It is always racist to say a person of color is or was an animal or liken them to being an animal. He could have said that Ed was a danger to the crew in any number of ways but he reached for likening him to a creature less than human and yeah that’s a racist thing to do. I believe the show did not follow through with consequences for this action because it’s clear that Izzy is STILL trying to pick a fight with Stede.)

The commonality in all of these scenes with Stede are twofold. One, Izzy is trying to distract Stede from the truth of the mutiny and what the crew did (and the fact that Ed is still aboard the Revenge, left for dead [or as Izzy put it, for nature to do the rest]). The second is that Izzy is trying and failing to pick a fight - failing, because Stede won’t take him up on it. At all. Stede is not engaging with Izzy at this point outside of the practical matter of seeking information, and that’s all he has to spare for Izzy - he’s already told him to piss off once, and that’s as much energy as he spends on it, but Izzy comes at Stede antagonistically more than once - three times, actually, and I think it’s because if he has a fight with Stede, and Stede says all the things he’s thinking, about how awful Izzy is, how he’s a traitor, how could he have hurt Ed, any of those things, then Izzy can fight about it, and he can justify it to himself, and he can ignore the thought from now on, because it’s the same thought that Stede fuckin’ Bonnet is having, and those thoughts are worthless.

But Stede doesn’t give him that. Stede doesn’t give him a fight at all. Stede walks away from Izzy again and again and again and in doing so does not grant Izzy an out, an out that can ONLY come from Stede, because no one else is going to disagree with the mutiny.

Stede is the only one who could give him that fight, and Stede refuses. And Izzy continues to have to sit with his own thoughts and justifications and they clearly aren’t enough for him, because he’s continuing to push.

Izzy is also trying to protect himself and the crew, here. It’s very much about that. He is trying to keep himself and them from dying by being caught out for mutiny, but I think it’s interesting that it’s only here that he tries to take accountability for what he said and did to Ed, and it’s in service of avoiding what he’s actually done. Izzy says that he and Stede did this to Ed - this that resulted in, as he says, Ed going mad and torturing the crew and having to be mutinied and abandoned on the beach. Izzy needs Stede to feel equally responsible - so that Stede will help protect the crew, but also because I think Izzy is feeling guilty and has been, because he could watch Ed die, and he could hurt Ed, and he didn’t think of himself as that person, but he is and was, and thinking that he caused all of this himself is too much. Better to give some of it to Stede, and help the crew out as well as himself.

He had love for Ed, in his own way, and he thought they understood each other and had a partnership, but here’s Stede fuckin’ Bonnet, who only knew Ed for a matter of weeks, and understood him better than Izzy did and wouldn’t do the thing that Izzy did, and this is the final nail for Izzy, the thing he’s struggling with in this whole revelation that Ed didn’t have any romantic love for him, that there was no special intimate romance between them that didn’t need to be said or expressed or acknowledged with words or vulnerability to exist, because Stede takes one look at the situation and can summarize what happened. Stede knew that Ed would want to die, because you can’t actually burn the world down. You can say “burn the world or die trying”, but the only end result is dying trying.

And Izzy, I genuinely don’t think, understood that Ed wanted to die. Not until Ed offered him the gun. Not until Ed spelled it out. Izzy knew that Ed was fucked up over his feelings, but I don’t think he understood where they were leading.

But here’s Stede, and he did, and Izzy can’t take that, which is why once the truth is out and the mutineers are locked in the brig awaiting probable execution, Izzy tries to pick a fight one more time, even now that there’s nothing to distract Stede from.

Izzy: (hears footsteps and turns his head.) Stede: (comes to the brig, staring through the bars at Izzy, then the rest of the crew.) Izzy: (smiles) “Go on Bonnet, give me your worst.” Crew: (looks up at Stede slowly.) Stede: (Looks at all of them, silent and not visibly angry, somber. Tilts his head down, eyes closed. Opens his eyes, shoves against the bars and turns and walks away without a word.) Izzy: (Drops the smile. Stares forward into the distance, eyes visibly wet with tears, blinks several times).

So, clearly trying for a fight, wanting one, and continually being denied. Izzy is almost certainly grieving Ed, the relationship he thought they had, and also his leg, and Stede is the only other person here who would even possibly mourn Ed too, and Stede refuses to give him any response. Even when goaded, even knowing the truth, he has nothing to say to him. The next time Stede and Izzy are in the same room, Stede has concocted an escape plan, and doesn’t look at or speak to Izzy at all as he gives instructions and organizes the escape.

And when they have made it back to their ship, when they’re getting the wheel and rigging set for escape, they have a final conversation:

Izzy: (walks up behind Stede, who is watching the Red Flag.) “I just wanted to thank you for-” Stede: (walks away without letting him finish.) Izzy: (looks down, is left standing alone as live moves on the ship.)

Over the course of these three episodes, Izzy’s plot is realizing that he was fundamentally wrong about his relationship with Ed, his understanding of Ed as a person, and the depths of Ed’s feelings and despair. I think he’s also realizing that he was wrong about his relationship with Stede - he saw Stede as a romantic rival, and someone who hated him as much as he hates Stede, but given the opportunity to antagonize Izzy again and again, Stede refuses, because he doesn’t care about Izzy nearly enough.

Izzy has misunderstood the nature of his relationship as it were with both of these men, who are, and always were, predominantly, chiefly, and only, interested in each other.

#ofmd #our flag means death #ofmd meta #izzy hands #edward teach #stede bonnet #ofmd s2 spoilers

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babydollmarauders · 6 months

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MEDIA MANAGEMENT — JACK HUGHES (23-24 SZN PART 11)

au masterlist

y/ndevils00

liked by jackhughes, nicohischier, and 251,869 others

y/ndevils00 well… that was painful

welcome back to my post-game recap! if you don’t know who i am because you’ve been living under a rock, or you’ve been in jail (don’t do crimes unless you can get away with them), i’m y/n! or as my boyfriend calls me, ‘dove’! i work as the social media manager for one of the sluttiest teams (and maybe the worst this season…) in the National Hockey League: the New Jersey Devils!

let get into it! your favorite (or maybe least favorite. i wouldn’t blame you!) men from hell lost 4-6 against the patriotic old guys tonight…. i can’t say i wasn’t surprised

we had an absolutely scoreless (and sinless) first period on our end, transitioning into intermission down by 3!

but second period is when we really started heating up! we got FOUR lovely goals by THREE lovely people!!

starting with uncle Toffee!! who scored our first AND our fourth goal!! he’s been so queen girlboss slay recently! who knew he would be this good?! not me! i doubted him severely! (i cannot apologize for my previous thoughts about you uncle, i can only ask you to forgive me anyways because you took my DILH and i’m still recovering)

Timo the absolute Tank Engine got us our second goal of the night with his first goal of the season! and no penalties!! i feel like a proud mother to a usually extremely horribly behaved little boy 🥹

and of course, my favorite whore, my very best swiss, my least favorite kind of cheese; captain slut got our third goal of the night!! THAT’S MY HOE!! POP OFF! (he also got a penalty tonight but i’ve opted not to show that because he paid me $20)

and i could never forget to mention that my beautiful angel of a bad bitch, Rowdy, got an assist on THREE out of four of our goals tonight!! he’s only 3 points away from 20 points already!! THAT’S MY (baby)GIRL!

and third period is when we immediately went as cool as the ice they skate on… giving up three goals (including an empty netter to the oldest looking man alive)… we got no goals of our own and my sweet baby angel face bestie number 1 got a penalty for being too perfect 😔

all-in-all, let’s wish the boys luck against the sabres on friday because apparently they need it! i think friday’s enemy gave them some pretty good advice though and they should put it to use!

p.s. ikea baby and merc-dog are my exact reactions to how badly we played in the third

p.p.s. ovi… when i catch you ovi 🥊😑

tagged john.marino97, tofff73, tmeier96, nicohischier, jackhughes, lhughes_06, jesperbratt, and dawson1417

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jackhughes dove, baby, what is that abomination of a 5th photo?

y/ndevils00 my camera wouldn’t focus :(

jackhughes so why post it?

y/ndevils00 you don’t appreciate my talents

jackhughes i can assure you, i appreciate your talents plenty. photo taking is just usually not one of them

lhughes_06 gross

user29 did she just threaten OVECHKIN?! 😭

user17 i fear we may lose these updates after this threat 😪

jesperbratt what was i 😦 at?

y/ndevils00 i honestly couldn’t tell you— i was too busy wondering the best way to fit you in my pocket

john.marino97 i got a picture?!

y/ndevils00 you got an assist and no penalties!

john.marino97 but dawson got a penalty and no assists and still got a picture?

y/ndevils00 you’re not dawson, the standards for you are different

john.marino97 i’ve known you for 4 years and this is how i get treated? DAWSON HAS ONLY KNOWN YOU FOR 2!

y/ndevils00 you tattle on me, you deserve your treatment

dawson1417 she’s got you there, bud

tofff73 you doubted me?!

y/ndevils00 in my defense, i didn’t know you were chill like that

tofff73 jack has informed me that you cried at the trade, i forgive your doubts

y/ndevils00 @/jackhughes YOU’RE TELLING HIM MY SECRETS?!

jackhughes @/y/ndevils00 i wasn’t aware that you usually blast your “secrets” on your instagram story

user81 the random luke picture… y/n loves her smush 🥹

tmeier96 did you just call me a tank engine?

tmeier96 also, i’m OLDER than you!

y/ndevils00 that was a compliment! i’m saying you’re built!

tmeier96 you’re a funny little thing

y/ndevils00 also yes you are older— i said i FELT like a proud mother, not that i AM one. i already have one reckless child at home, i don’t want another

jackhughes @/y/ndevils00 she’s a cat.

y/ndevils00 @/jackhughes SHE IS OUR BABY

trevorzegras you love testing how far you can push before you get a warning for your behavior, don’t you?

y/ndevils00 i learned from you 🫶

trevorzegras you’re a cockroach

y/ndevils00 all i’m hearing is that i’m resilient and can live through anything

trevorzegras i hate you

y/ndevils00 you WISH you hated me— if you really did then you wouldn’t facetime me twice a week

nicohischier there are so many things i take issue with about my paragraph

y/ndevils00 is it that it’s not long enough? i’m sorry, i’ll make it longer next time!

nicohischier please DON’T.

lhughes_06 ya know, you were a lot nicer before i joined the team

y/ndevils00 oh good! that means i’m doing this right!

lhughes_06 doing what right?

y/ndevils00 tough love!

dawson1417 i didn’t do anything :(

y/ndevils00 i know, sugarplum!

dawson1417 they jailed me…

y/ndevils00 i can’t imagine how traumatic that must’ve been for you

dawson1417 oh it wasn’t that bad, you were in there too

y/ndevils00 yeah…. lindy put me there in 2nd intermission. he said if i wouldn’t stop chirping the capitals as though i was a player, then i needed to be treated like a player and get a penalty…. then i couldn’t get out because the game started again

dawson1417 you can’t skate, how did you get in?

y/ndevils00 i was betrayed

nicohischier @/y/ndevils00 i stand by it.

y/ndevils00 @/nicohischier YOU ALMOST DROPPED ME TWICE

nicohischier those were on purpose.

dawson1417 and how did you get out?

y/ndevils00 my knight in shining armor!

jackhughes @/y/ndevils00 i didn’t get you out?

jesperbratt i did!

jackhughes oh, yeah, that makes sense

#media management au!#media management series <3 #jack hughes #jack hughes x reader #jack hughes imagine #jack hughes fic #jack hughes blurb #nj devils #nhl imagine #nhl fic #faithlynn’s insta edits <3 #faithlynn’s writings <3

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gentlebeardsbarngrill · 3 months

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02/10/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Long Post is Long. Cast & Crew Sightings; David Jenkins; Matt Maher; Clowning; Rhys Darby; Rosie; Samba; Max Trolling Reminder; Coyote Vs Acme Cont'd / Articles; Watch Party Reminders for Feb 11; SafeSpaceShip; Art Director's Guild Nominee; We Need to Be a Lighthouse! Game; AdoptOurCrew Choose Your Own Adventure; Love Notes; Daily Darby / Today's Taika;

= Cast & Crew Sightings =

Well as you can imagine, the David Jenkins IG is the big news of today. The clowning forecast has gone up significantly. Dad posted one of the late-blooming SaveOFMD banners in NY and attached Elton John - Candle In The Wind to the post. This song has some very specific significance to our fandom.

Apparently back when we lost Lucius in Season 1, Chaos Dad posted this song to Nathan Foad. Src @cptn_brightsky's Twitter Post

Now ADD to that... David Jenkins ALSO added this picture of Matthew Maher standing in front of a saveOFMD flyer found out on the street.

NOW OF COURSE, we are all clowning, but I think as usual Chaos Dad is trying to give us info without giving us info since the fandom pays so much attention to every little detail.

@saltpepperbeard has a theory that I'm down to clown with until I turn blue in the face. Src.

So yeah, as always take the clowning how you will, but I'll be honest, this looks like great news to me. It really does. CLOWN ON MY FRIENDS.

= Other Cast & Crew Sightings =

Rhys Darby's going to be at The Bourbon Room Hollywood next Friday, 2/16 at 8 PM PT.

== Rosie ==

Since doing cute stuff just doesn't stop in the Darby houshold, tonight I wanted to make a special shout out to Rosie Carnahan Darby, Rhys' Wife who has been active the last couple days. First and foremost, she knit a little blanket and hat for Samba's baby!

Second apparently she's restocked the Awesomeness Comedy website with more Buttons McGinty books and Comedy Special DVD's in case you're interested.

Oh and by the way, Samba loves the blanket:

= Vico Ortiz =

Tonight Vico was out performing with Them Fatale Drag Kings at their last night at their home bar Redline! Just some shots from their IG stories, feel free to check out more.

== Max Trolling ==

Gentle reminder luvs, if you're going to IG, or Twitter to troll Max posts, let's try to remember not to post OFMD/Negative comments on any posts that are celebrating underrepresented groups. We want to support those groups. Please note however, if you'd done it previously and didn't know, don't beat yourself up! We all make mistakes, just please try to keep it in mind going forward! (If you can delete your previous posts, great, if not, again not the end of the world).

== Coyote Vs Acme Cont'd / Articles ==

Why Deleting and Destroying Finished Movies Like Coyote vs Acme Should Be a Crime

This article is from yesterday but this blurb was pretty damn specific so I wanted to make sure if you missed it you got to see some of the reasons why Max did cancel OFMD.

"Some of the company’s tactics post-merger were garden-variety ruthless, like eliminating 87 series from its streaming platform Max, so that they won’t have to pay union-mandated residuals to the talent that created already-existing programs or pony up funds to produce more seasons of existing ones (such as “Our Flag Means Death,” one of the company’s most popular and critically acclaimed comedies—canceled after just two seasons)."

= Watch Party / Event Reminders =

Feb 11: Q+ and AdoptOurCrew Season 2 Live-Rewatch Party

Times: 2PM GMT, 9 AM EST, 6 AM PST

Watch Party Hashtags:

#OurFlagMeansBBC

#OurFlagMeansRewatch

#SaveOFMD

#AdoptOurCrew

= Feb 11: Relax I'm From the Future Watch Party! =

Sunday February 11th, 1 PM PT. 4 PM ET, 9PM GMT

Watch Party Hashtags:

#PiratesFromTheFuture

#SaveOFMD

#AdoptOurCrew

== In Person Events: San Diego CA ==

February 11, 2024 at 4 PM at Maritime Museum of San Diego

Costumes & Cosplay Encouraged! Location: Maritime Museum of San Diego 1492 North Harbor Drive San Diego, CA 92101

Hashtags:

#SafeSpaceShip

#SaveOFMD

#AdoptOurCrew

= Art Director's Guild Award Nominee! =

Sorry, I forgot to add this one yesterday!

Ra Vincent - Nominee for Half-Hour Single - Camera Series. Src: @AdoptOurCrew and ADG

Check out the Design Presentation: OFMD_s2_art.pdf

== We Need To Be A LightHouse! ==

Have YOU heard of this awesome new Monkey Island Inspired Point and Click Adventure Game by @blueberreads and @eldawee? They've been working on it for months and it's FINALLLLLLLY HEEEERE!

These folks are so incredibly talented! Please go check it out here! https://dawee.itch.io/lighthouse If you're using a MAC OS you'll most likely need to download an executable at the bottom of the main page. Just FYI! If it prompts you with the "you downloaded this from the internet" error just click OK. I already started playing with it and I'm in love.

I pushed Ed and he asked if I wanna do something weird xD Okay no more spoilers, GO CHECK IT OUT!

== AdoptOurCrew Choose Your Own Adventure Game!==

In honor of the s2 watch party with Q! tomorrow, @adoptourcrew did a really adorable choose your own adventure game on twitter today! They did polls and let the majority pick which direction they wanted the story to go!

Since it was a lot of pictures I made a separate post so you can see the whole story: @adoptourcrew Choose Your Own Adventure here on tumblr. Please check it out!

== Love Notes ==

Alrighty lovelies. It's been another busy day. Lots of clowning, lots of hope, lots of emotional roller coasters. I hope you had a good time and generally it was more positive than negative. I have a lot I want to say, but my brain is still pretty foggy. So I'll make this short.

Sometimes when things go well, our brain gets excited and then they overcompensate when we calm down. It starts to think a lot more negatively because it had so much extra dopamine for a time. When that happens, little things can be really devastating. I just want you to remember that we all make mistakes and YOU, you beautiful imperfect being are not your mistakes. They hurt, and we learn from them, but they don't define us. Try not to listen to your brain if it's telling you otherwise. You are so very wonderful.

Anyway, I hope that makes sense.

Here's a picture I found today I thought really applied to all you wonderful people. Thank you to all the folks who reached out to me and checked in and sent me love when you knew I was struggling (there are too many to list and I don't know if you want to be tagged so please just know how much I appreciate you). I love you all so much, and I'm so lucky to how found people who make me feel like it's ok to be me.

== Daily Darby / Today's Taika ==

Tonight is once again animal themed. I wish I'd made that Taika gif last night for the lovebirds theme, but here we are.

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girlfriendsofthegalaxy · 6 months

Text

tuesday again 11/7/2023

three days until my birthday problems. i have been very busy with 1) prepping my costume for ren faire and 2) onboarding a new henchwoman to the evil lair, a talented little tabby we're immediately extending full health benefits to with no trial period

listening

good morning afternoon by rebecca sugar. if i had not already known it was rebecca sugar by the voice and the understated guitar, i would have known it was her by the gorgeous synthy chimey chimes. spotify

youtube

on my release radar playlist

reading

stop fucking using personally identifiable details in your passwords. also stop reusing your passwords and burner emails. especially if you're doing crime

A pivotal clue for validating the research into Apathyp/Fearlless came from the identity intelligence firm myNetWatchman, which found that [email protected] at one time used the passwords “геззи1991” (gezze1991) and “gezze18081991.” Care to place a wager on when Vkontakte says is Mr. Sherban’s birthday? Ten points if you answered August 18 (18081991). Mr. Sherban did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

watching

the 2006 anime BLACK LAGOON, we're going to yoink this from wikipedia bc it's serviceable enough

The series follows the Lagoon Company, a four-member team of pirate mercenaries smuggling goods in and around the seas of Southeast Asia with their PT boat, the Black Lagoon. The group takes on various jobs, usually involving criminal organizations and resulting in violent gunfights.

unfortunately i am genetically inclined to boats and ex-military boats. it is extremely 2006 in sensibility and animation choices. there are remarkably sophisticated and fun battle sequences, and a lot of ass but little upskirting. revy (pictured below) is a dual-wielding gunslinger who is simply the worst. horrible woman that gets space to have a bit of a messy complex character arc and have a messy complex time of it. her writing and character are quite good period, not just quite good for 2006. i adore her.

the second episode has our pirates take out a helicopter with a torpedo boat (no deck guns! they just use the torpedo!) in a way that made me stand up, lift mackintosh above my head, and hoot like a tusken raider.

youtube

this is about as violent as your average spaghetti western, and much like spaghetti westerns i don't think the series is always successful in using its setting to make points about grey morality and not like. shock for shock's sake? certainly one to look up trigger warnings for.

the why: now i have a bootleg chromecast i have been watching more things on my actual television, remembered "hey this exists on hulu why didn't i finish it several years ago". still not sure why i didn't finish this several years ago. i am pirating the second season, but it's the sub which is a shame bc i quite like the dubbed voice actors, but it's a nightmare trying to find a dub with subtitles. i rarely have the patience to fuss with my own subtitle files.

playing

turnip boy commits tax evasion, a 2021 game that was recently free on Epic. it is the studio Snoozy Kazoo's first game. i had a very strange time with this, bc the first fifteen minutes up to the first boss fight lulled me into a sense of complacency and then the minute i had to do something slightly complicated at the first boss fight (pay attention to my timing) i lost interest. i don't know if i will return to this, bc the humor didn't always hit for me (extremely online, but twitter online) and there's a major genshin update later this week.

youtube

making

new evil lair employee, phil (short for philip marlowe)

recap of tragic backstory: i had seen her Around for about a week or so, realized on friday night when i scared her out of the dumpster that she had something stuck to her, and didn't see her again until sunday night, when she was too lethargic to skitter away from the dumpster. she has a VERY gnarly wound on her left flank and leg, the urgent care vet thinks she got dragged or caught in something. it is healing remarkably well, all things considered, and it's not infected bc the thing stuck to her was some vetwrap. so someone at some point patched her up?

she is SO full of milk. i have not found the kittens but there are a Lot of strays in this neighborhood, so my hope is that some other momma cat has engaged in some kidnapping.

i have a formal vet appt on the 17th for mackie that ive added phil to, so we'll see about her heart murmur, if she has a microchip (unlikely) and getting her spayed after she heals up a bit more.

mackintosh is Fucking Pissed!!! we will do incredibly slow introductions and phil will probably live in the office/guest suite for. several months. i had not originally planned on adding another henchwoman so soon, but i do have the spare bedroom, the shelter wasn't doing intakes or clinic appointments until friday, and the wound. really could not have waited until friday. it was free cat.

#tuesday again #tuesday again no problem #Youtube

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artzychic27 · 9 months

Text

I just feel like blurting stuff

So, another au by yours truly. Nath used to compete in pageants and won many of them

He first started competing when he was six, just for fun

He got his hair styled a bit, his mom found a few nice outfits, and they didn’t expect too much… But then Nath ended up winning, so his mom signed him up a second time since it seemed like he enjoyed himself. Plus, she’s putting that money towards school, so… Yeah

Alix is the only non family member who knows about the pageants and refuses to let him live it down. But in private since he doesn’t want everyone at school knowing

He keeps his life as a Pageant King under wraps by going about his school life as his “shy artist” self and then wowing the judges with his amazing talent on the piano, cello, violin, harp, flute, and acoustic guitar (Evillustrator confirmed Nathaniel is good at music)

By the time he turned ten, he’s already won forty five pageants

With his victories comes a few people under the guise of managers trying to mooch off of his success, but Aya keeps them at an arm’s length. The pageants are quite enough and she doesn’t want her son’s face plastered on every ad

There are a few photos in a couple of magazines, but that’s just to recap the pageant, any celebrities who attended, and announce the winner

To balance school work and practice, Aya’s sister, Laney, home schools him when it’s pageant season, and her brother, Lance, helps him practice for the talent portion

The teachers know about him competing in pageants and slip him a few high fives when he returns to school after winning

His secret nearly gets out a couple of times when the class questions him about his hairstyle and why he’s gone for a few days during the school year, but he’s got a few excuses prepared thanks to Alix

Marinette: Why does your hair look so nice?

Nathaniel: Oh, so the class introvert isn’t allowed to look presentable once in a while?

—

Nino: Since when are you so good at the piano?

Nathaniel: Well, maybe if you paid attention, you’d know I have skills besides drawing.

Now he’s fifteen, won 97 pageants, and is ready for number 98

Also, his classmates have had enough. They went to know what he’s been up to for the past few years, becuase he’s definitely not telling them any time soon

They’ve tried going to Alix, but she’s remained tight lipped and won’t give into bribery

Everything eventually comes to light when Adrien’s been selected as a celebrity judge for the Adolescent M. Paris Pageant

Adrien invites the class along, barring Alix since she’s out of town visiting family and had no idea what they’re doing. They’re just walking around and venue, meeting some of the competitors who all look nervous for some reason because of who’s here

Alya: Wait, who?

Competitor 1: Only the actual threat here! Have you all been living under a rock?!

Competitor 2: I hear he’s playing the cello for this one, and he got his suit custom made from Milan. There’s real diamonds on it!

Competitor 1: That’s nothing. I heard he went to a private dentist to have his teeth whitened so much that the shade of white can’t be found on any color swatches.

Competitor 3: And he got his lips tinted.

Kim: Can we have a name, or-

Competitor 3: No! We do not summon him! I’ll be damned if that little weasel steals my crown again! Where the hell is my bronzer?!

Now the Akuma Class is intrigued, just who is this threat that has every guy on edge? Before they can ask around for a name, the competitors are all called to the stage, so they take their seats

And there on the stage, they find Nathaniel in the lineup

At first, they think, “Oh, he wants to come out of his shell and compete. He couldn’t have picked a worse time. He won’t stand a chance against whoever everyone is so threatened by. We should comfort him when this is over.”

To their surprise, Nathaniel acts as if he’s been doing this for years, walking with perfect posture and speaking clearly during the Q&A portion

During the intermission, they head backstage to get some answers

Nathaniel: I don’t know, because it’s kind of embarrassing. I just do it so my mom can put the prize money toward school. And did it really take you guys ten years to figure it out?

Akuma Class: …

Nathaniel: Right. Now if you’ll excuse me, I gotta get my cello.

Chloé: Wait! You’re the threat?!

Nathaniel: If that’s what everyone’s been calling me, then yeah. Look, I’m on about ten minutes, so I suggest heading back to your seats.

He only amazes them even more when he plays Paint It Black on his beautiful red cello

They’re not even shocked when he wins. Of course, one or two people take pictures to send to a mass group text, so Nathaniel had something to look forward to at school

He’s mobbed by guys asking for his number, popular kids inviting him to sit with them at lunch, and girls asking who does his hair, but he’s having none of that

They wanted nothing to do with him until it turned out he’s been in magazines and looks attractive without his dark clothes, so he wants nothing to do with them

He gives a few practiced responses to his friends congratulating him on winning and turns down Adrien’s Gabriel’s offer to model for the brand, and Marinette’s offer to model some of her clothes for her website

In his words, “My body’s not for sale.”

That doesn’t stop a familiar limo from pulling up to him

Gabriel: M. Kurtzberg-

Nathaniel: I NEED AN ADULT!

Gabriel saw the pageant from the comfort of home as a scout for the winner, and is now trying to get Nathaniel to model for his brand. He’s got a better chance than Bob Roth, that’s for sure. At least Nathaniel makes eye contact with him

Anyway, guys are still trying to pick Nathaniel up, and it’s getting really annoying, so he hides out in the basement during lunch hour where he meets Marc Anciel and prepares for shallow compliments

He just offers him an apple

Nathaniel: You’re not gonna try to flirt with me?

Marc: Well, someone’s full of himself.

Nathaniel: What? No, it’s just, every time I turn a corner, some guy is asking me out with roses and talking about how hot I look just because I won a pageant.

Marc: That was you? Wow, you are… Not what I was expecting. I was expecting a better haircut and designer clothes.

Nathaniel: Hey!… Thanks for treating me like a human.

Marc: No problem. Congrats, I guess? What is this, your fifth win?

Nathaniel: Ninety-eighth.

Marc: … You like AO3?

Marc and Nathaniel start spending a lot of time together, which gets some people’s attention, and they suspect he’s a gold digger, but Nathaniel shuts that down quickly and calls certain people hypocrites

Marc even introduces him to his classmates who aren’t completely starstruck by a 98-time pageant winner. They ask a few questions, but he doesn’t mind answering

One time, Juleka invites Nathaniel to the Liberty, because according to her, Luka wants to see up close how good he is at the violin. It leads to a competition where Juleka swears she saw smoke rising because of how fast they were playing

Anyway, it’s not long before Marc and Nathaniel start dating after Marc gets him to safety from some guy who refused to take a hint when Nathaniel said no to a date with him

That’s it

#SoundCloud #miraculous ladybug #miraculous #nathaniel kurtzberg #marc anciel #pageant king au #marc x nathaniel #mlb au #felt like blurting this #random post #akuma class

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lou-struck · 2 years

Text

Tamaki Amajiki x F Reader

Bridgerton! AU part 2

PART 1

Part 3

Warnings: The Patriarchy, mention of past trauma, insecurity. Fake Dating AU!.

~You and Lord Amajiki have struck a deal to occupy each other's time for the remainder of the season.

Word Count: 4k

Dearest Gentle Reader,

If life truly is a stage as one bard suggests, we all have our assigned roles. Some members of the Ton such as I do our best to report while others act on the knowledge they have obtained. Or at least they try to…

After the events of last night's ball, many young ladies and their Mamas are wondering the same thing about the newly returned Lord Amajiki. “Has his extensive time abroad washed away his ability to speak?” For he hadn't uttered a word over the course of the evening till being rescued by the likes of Lord Togata or the very least, his fair cousin Miss Y/n.

The young heroine charged straight into a crowd of blood-hungry Mama’s and was able to save the silent Earl from an unpleasant evening. But the pair's acquaintance was not short-lived. After a rather hasty exit from the three, The members of Lord Toagta’s party were seen stepping into the Earl's carriage.

Could this mean Miss Y/n has stolen the season's most eligible bachelor without so much as a dance? What other talents is this young lady in possession of?

You gulp as you read the last line on this morning's society paper. You knew that news travels fast in the Ton but this is getting a bit ridiculous. The ball was only last night, how could these accounts be published so quickly?

“Miss, are you feeling alright?” a maid asks softly freeing you from your thoughts. “You look rather pale”

Placing the parchment on the table your lips upturn into a kind smile. “Yes Daisy, I’m alright. I must still be a bit tired from the excitement of last night.”

Your response seems to satisfy her as she nods “I understand Miss, I’ll fetch you some tea to help you wake up a bit.”

Once you are once again alone in the sunroom to reread Lady Whistledown’s recap your head is spinning but the only thing you are able to make out on the page is ‘’Lord Amajiki’.

Did the conversation between the two of you really happen or has the oxygen deprivation from your now irreparable corset given you brain damage?

Daisy comes back into the room carrying a silver tray with your tea and a few pastries on it.

“Daisy, do you know where my cousin is this morning? He hasn't yet come down to entertain us with his account of the evening?”

“He left early this morning to go to the stables with Lord Amajiki,” she says placing a floral teacup in front of you You can see your reflection in the reflection of the liquid, it becomes clouded over as you pour a generous amount of cream into the steaming mixture.

You gently raise the cup to your lips and take a sip “I see, did he say when he would return?”

“I believe he said a few hours Miss, but as you know, the young Lord Togata is... Well…”

“Unpredictable?” you offer as she nods. “Will you join me?”

She looks around before placing her hand on the chair across from you, “I don't mean to intrude,”

“And you wouldn't be intruding, Besides, it's a bit lonely around when Mirio isn't here." Your words persuade her and she sits down across from you gently.

Daisy smiles and pours herself a cup of tea, "I suppose I have a few minutes she says quietly. "I do have to get the house ready for dinner this evening."

"I didn't realize we were having company tonight," you murmur taking another sip of your tea.

Daisy's eyes widen as she shifts in her seat. "You mean you don't know?"

"Know what?

"The Earl is coming tonight."

You nearly choke on your drink, "He's coming tonight? When did you find out about this?"

With lightning-fast reflexes, Daisy hands you a handkerchief while you collect your bearings. Once you recover you excuse yourself to walk about the gardens. Your head is lost in thought as questions pace through your still tired brain.

Does Tamaki still intend to help you out?

Does Mirio know about your arrangement?

What if the pair of them are pulling some kind of unusually cruel joke on you?

You feel as if you are floating through the day completely consumed in the cloud of your woe. It isn't till the last hairpin has scraped your scalp that you realize that your anxiously anticipated guest has arrived and you are expected to be downstairs to greet him as a member of the household.

Walking through the hallways you hear the sound of your cousin's animated storytelling from the Library

Poking your head around the corner you see the two of them clutching their glasses of amber-colored liquid as they seem to be catching up after a long time apart. Tamaki may not be the one leading the conversation, but the Earl looks at peace.

A small happy smile takes over his features as he nods along to Mirio’s stories. Suddenly his eyes shift and see your form in the doorway. His smile falters to a quick look of nervousness.

Upon noticing the Earl’s attention focused elsewhere your cousin notices you in the doorway. “Y/n, I'm glad you are able to join us. You remember Tamaki, don't you?” the blond says with a happy smile.

“How could I forget?” you answer politely turning to face the darker-haired man and giving him a curtsey “Thank you again for helping us out last night my Lord,”

“I-it was no problem Miss.” he stammers out quickly before turning his attention to the silver cufflinks on the sleeve of his indigo waistcoat.

With a soft clasp of his hands, Mirio gets your attention. “Well, since we are all here how about we head down for dinner."

With a nod, you follow the gentlemen out of the library and down the hall in awkward silence hoping that a meal would somehow manage to fill the void in conversation.

It does not.

Even Mirio's chatter falls victim to the gentle scraping and clanging of silver on porcelain. Between small bites, your eyes keep darting to the Earl who won't so much as look at you.

Perhaps he is no longer interested in playing a role in the farce he cooked up in the carriage last night. You don't blame him, maybe the prospect of attention of dozens of ladies is beginning to appeal to the young man after all.

While unsure of his intentions you are still determined to make it through your first season in the Ton in one piece. Skipping the festivities is out of the question, but if you focus on enjoying yourself then perhaps you can avoid the stress and heartache that looking for a suitor would bring.

You don't know if you are ready to go through all that again…

Shaking your head clear of the dark clouds infringing on the outskirts of your psyche you try to divert your attention to the meal on your plate. Your stomach is in knots but you find a bit of solace in moving its contents around to make it look as if you’ve eaten more than you had. Every once in a while you glace up from the porcelain at the Earl.

His knuckles are white around his fork and he flinches when your eyes land on him. He is quietly ignoring you and you feel a pang of hurt in your chest. What has happened between your agreement from last night to now that makes him act so coldly towards you. The silence is unbearable, you want so badly to excuse yourself and retreat into the safety of your room away from this awkwardness.

Just as you are about to do so the door a footman rushes in quietly and says something to Mirio in a hushed tone. He gives the two of you a smile and stands from his chair. "I'll be back shortly, there is a matter I must attend to."

He turns and walks out with the footman leaving you alone with Lord Amajiki. Once the coast is clear he sighs heavily and your brow twitches in annoyance.

"My Lord, you have scarcely said a word to me all night." you say suddenly "If you have no intention of following through with what we discussed last night then please let me know."

At your words a look of panic flashes across his face, "No!" he exclaims nearly jumping out of his seat causing you to flinch at the movement gripping the armrest of the chair defensively. "My apologies. I-i just can't get our conversation last night out of my head, I could scarcely sleep." for the first time this evening, you are able to get a closer look at his handsome face. The weariness of his features is apparent, he really does look like he had a restless night

You shift in your chair in shame, you had only been thinking of yourself, but this arrangement would impact the Earl as well. "I'm sorry, I was selfish. Causing you any harm was not my intention," you pause to take a breath noting the heat blossoming underneath your skin. "It was a foolish idea, I hope that the two of us may become friends."

"Miss y/n, please believe me. I still want to go through with the arrangement." he says comfortingly" I have been so worried that you may have changed your mind with this farce I didn't wish to make you uncomfortable."

The relief that courses throughout your body is palpable. You nod slowly at him, "This is what you truly want?"

"I do, and you."

"Very much so," you say quietly. "However, for this to work we need Mirio's support."

"My support for what?" a cheerful voice says in your ear. Turning your head you see Mirio's head on your shoulder and a mischievous smile plays on his lips.

You glance at Tamaki and his pale face and he nods at you before clearing his throat. “Mirio, the two of us have something we’d like to tell you.”

"Oh? is that so?" he moves around the table and back to his chair. "you have my full attention."

"Well..." Tamaki starts looking at you for a bit of support. You nod quietly as he continues. "Y/n and I were talking last night and we realized that we are in a similar predicament. As outsiders, we feel the Ton is ready to eat us alive. It seemed reasonable to suggest that we could help each other out and feign interest in each other until the dust has settled a bit."

"You would pretend to court?" your cousin asks with a blank look.

"Yes, only for the season," you say suddenly. "Mirio, what you have done for me this past month has been so generous. And I do intend to marry someday. But not this season, I want to enjoy all the festivities the season brings without having to be focused on fighting a dozen other Ladies and their Mamas for the attention of a gentleman." His features soften as he takes in what you are saying.

"I see. Y/n, I think of you as my little sister and as long as you are under my care you will never have to be forced into being with someone you do not wish to be with. But Tamaki, why is it that you want to do this?"

Tamaki clears his throat again. "After coming into this title and returning to the Ton I see just how bloodthirsty people get at the prospect of marrying someone for status." he looks at Mirio with a knowing look and fidgets his hands. "I-i have never liked being the center of attention, I need to do my duties and be active in society. But if I have to spend my evenings surrounded by vicious and pushy Mothers trying to shove their daughters in my face, I won't be able to bring myself to do so."

"If we can Convince the Ton that we are both interested in each other, we can avoid both these problems until we are ready to seriously look for a partner," you say confidently. "But Mirio, I want to know that you'll be on our side, we want nothing more than to blindside you."

Mirio places his hand on his chin and begins to think about what the two of you just said. This silence is full of contemplation and fear. you and Tamaki look at eachother then back to Mirio who has an unexpectedly serious look on his face.

"This plan is very...underhanded." he says looking you in the eyes. The corners of his lips turn into a grin "I like it."

You sigh in relief and go to hug your cousin. "Thank you Mirio, you keep saving me I don't know what I would do without you."

"You have to promise me something y/n," he says softly. "Don't let this get in the way of you being happy."

"I promise," you say squeezing him tightly.

With the weight of your arrangement off your shoulder, the rest of the evening goes on smoothly while Mirio helps the two of you prepare your strategy for the upcoming social events in the plush chairs of the study.

"Balls are one thing," Mirio says "but if you really want to make an impression you should go to the pointless little things together. Races, picnics, the works. Not only are you able to make more of an impression in the Ton, but you’ll also still be able to have fun.”

"I see," Tamaki says "the more attached we seem the fewer people will try to intervene." The little smile on his face at the prospect of peace makes your chest feel a bit funny but you ignore it.

"There is a picnic tomorrow down by the lake," Mirio instructs. "We should all go, after all, I am to play the part of your chaperone."

A little giggle slips past your lips "oh yes because the Ton would think it improper for a young woman to be left alone with a man in public." Tamaki's cheeks flush a bright red at your comment from across the room.

"You tease poor Tamaki, y/n." your cousin replies with a laugh. By the time the fireplace dies down the three of you have crafted a few plans for the upcoming social events you must attend.

After the earl takes his leave you prepare to head up to bed but notice Mirio stepping into his study. "It's a bit late to be working Mirio, can't you wait till tomorrow?"

He gives you a little smile, "Look at you always looking out for others, don't worry about me. I just have one little thing to look at then I'll retire myself."

He retreats behind the closed door leaving you alone in the hallway. The fatigue from the day catches up to you as you slip into your nightdress and lay down on your plush mattress and fall into a dreamless sleep.

The sunlight peers through your window as your eyes flutter open. The change between yesterday and this morning is monumental, there are no pangs of hopelessness and anxiety rattling through your chest since the Earl has confirmed his willingness to be involved in your farce. Today you will be able to go out into society on the arm of a bachelor.

The idea of not having to scamper about trying to stay out of the way of the marriage-minded wolves is peaceful now that others believe you have secured the attention of Lord Amajiki. You change into a simple light-colored frock that would be perfect for the picnic down by the waterfront. You imagine yourself soaking up the sun and sipping on lemonade and playing backgammon without a care in the world.

To say you are excited is an understatement. By the time the carriage arrives, you are practically springing down the steps like a Gazelle skipping a few at a time. Mirio is waiting for you just outside with a happy smile on his face

"Good Morning, y/n. You look to be in good spirits," he says extending a hand to help you into the carriage. He walks around to the footman wishes him a good morning and climbs inside as it beings to drive down the road.

"Good morning, is Tama~ Lord Amajiki meeting us at the waterfront?" you ask tilting your head in curiosity.

"Yes, he will meet us and then stay with us for the remainder of the day, I suggest the two of you take a stroll around the lakefront just to catch the eye of the Ton so you can cement your mutual attachment."

"A supposed attachment," you correct as your cousin smirks at you.

"yes, but the two of you may very well end up becoming attached to each other for real," he teases.

Your cheeks burn as you peek through the thick curtains of the carriage at the glistening water of the lake. "I doubt it. I'm sure that once the season ends everything will go back to normal. The Earl will have his peace and so shall I." Mirio looks at you for a moment quietly, the smile on his face drops in favor of a look of concern. The carriage comes to a stop and you stand abruptly. "If you'll excuse me," you say pushing open the door and walking out into the sunlight leaving him in the seat.

Looking around you see the familiar dark carriage belonging to the Earl Through the greenery. He steps out in a light-colored tunic and jacket. His eyes find your own and once Mario comes into view, he steps over quickly bowing to the both of you. Which you return graciously.

“Good morning Lord Togata, Miss Y/n.” He says softly giving you a soft smile that you return.

Looking around to see if anyone is in earshot you are satisfied that no one will hear what you have to say. “Are you ready to play your part Lord Amajiki?”

“ Just as one Bard suggests.” He answers holding out his right arm for you to take. You gently place your gloved hand under his arm and crawl your hand over the back of it just as all other ladies do in society when being escorted. Mirio follows behind you as a chaperone managing to find an acquaintance to chat with along the way.

Looking up at him through the wisps of your stray hairs you laugh, “ so you have looked into Lady Whistledown, I didn't take you for a reader of Gossip sheets.”

He looks a bit embarrassed as his eyes find the ground and his cheeks turn pink. “ I felt it was necessary to know what was being said about us,” he admits

"I'm only teasing," you say comfortingly "I'm afraid you'll find my cousin and I share the same sense of humor."

His eyes widen in shock as he turns to you. "Is it too late for me to back out of this arrangement?" The look of surprise on your face makes him laugh out loud with a gentle huff. "Now I'm the one who's teasing. You may soon find that I may not be the most extroverted gentleman in society, but I still do have a bit of Wit about me."

You laugh pleasantly and continue walking. It wasn't till the pair of you round the bend you realize that many noble women and men are glancing over at the pair of you. No doubt interested in the rather sudden partnership the two of you are displaying. Wanting to distract Tamaki from the attention you turn your attention back to him. "Well my Lord, I hope the two of us may learn lots about the other. Mirio told me that you are wonderful with a horse, perhaps the two of us shall go riding together sometime. I haven't your skill but I can get along just fine."

He sighs softly looking up at you with a smile that brightens his face. "I'm sure Mirio is exaggerating but I do love horses. The acquaintance of an animal can be much more pleasant than that of a human."

"I do agree, Animal's can't hurt you the way a person can," you say solemnly as dark clouds seem to appear out of nowhere. The once sunny sky turns bitter and rains down upon the Ton.

"Let's get under cover," Tamaki says taking your hand and pulling you towards an unoccupied gazebo. The pair of your run through the rain until you reach the dry shelter. You lean up against the white railing to catch your breath.

"w-we...we made it." you pant as the rain soaks through your frock. Goosebumps appear on your now hiver skin as the Earl looks at you in concern.

"You're cold," he says removing his tunic and draping it around your shoulders.

"You really shouldn't make a habit of lending me your clothing my lord," you say smiling up at him, the raindrops weighing down your eyelashes. "I may not give them back."

His warm hand lingers on your arm as he looks into your eyes. "That won't be a problem Miss, I can always retrieve them at your residence."

That feeling in your chest returns full force.

When did he get this close to you?

Unable to speak, you both stare at each other, taking in every detail of your rain soaked forms. His indigo hair looks nearly blank as it hands in wavy strands over his flushed complexion? His features are almost too much for you to take and you cast your eyes downward... only to realize his light tunic has become nearly sheer to the rainwater revealing his surprisingly strong physique.

"Room for one more under here?" a chipper voice says. You reluctantly pull your eyes away from the Earl's form. Mirio stands on the steps completely soaked from head to toe looking like a golden retriever. "I'm glad I found you guys, that rain was so unexpected."

"It really was," Tamaki mutters with his eyes downcast.

"You guys have caused quite the commotion, everyone is talking about your supposed infatuation with each other isn't this great!"

"They believe it?" you say simultaneously in disbelief.

He is all smiles as he clasps his hands together. "Absolutely, the two of you were getting along so well it left no room for doubt."

"that's wonderful!" the Earl breathes looking at you happily. "I think we can really do this."

"That's wonderful," you say with a tight-lipped smile that doesn't quite meet your eyes.

The rains ceases and the three of you rejoin the festivities, but you can’t shake the fog from your brain. Your silence is excused by Mirio, who believes you have tired yourself out. But the truth is you feel a sense of unease about this ruse of yours. Maybe it's working a bit too well.

As you retreat into your bedroom you pace the floor with military precision.

Why are you feeling so strange?

You hadn't done anything immoral with the Earl, but the thought of him makes you feel as if you've come down with a feverish heat. But there is something else, through the heat, there is this feeling of contentment and safety you haven't felt in months.

You know it's selfish but you wish that you could feel this way all the time.

Thank you so much for your patience with chapter 2. let me know if you would like me to continue this series.

Tagging: @sparklytamaki @hermaeuswhora @aprilshiraeth @disaster-they @tired-raven @tokyometronetwork @kingkatsuki

#bnha #bnha fluff #my hero academia #bnha x reader #mha x reader #tamaki amajiki #bnha x you #tamaki amajiki x reader #amajiki x reader #tamaki amakiji #amajiki fluff #amajiki tamaki #tamaki x reader #mha tamaki #bnha tamaki #tamaki fluff #bridgerton au #Among the Violets🌷

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goatsandgangsters · 1 year

Text

FUCK IT, I’M NOT WAITING, SHADOW AND BONE EPISODE 1 LIVEBLOG HAPPENING HERE AND NOW:

I was gonna wait until Friday Night because Friday Night is Special TV Night where I watch my Special Show with my Friday Night Quesadilla because I have Routines but FUCK IT! WHY DEPRIVE MYSELF. I’M DOING THIS NOW.

haven’t even opened netflix yet but the sheer adrenaline rush I have right now from Breaking Routine to do something Because I Want To, wow powerful stuff

let’s gooooo bitch I NEED TO SEE MY BOY MY SPECIAL BELOVED BOY I HAVE BEEN WAITING YEARS TO FINALLY SEE MY BOY show me MY BOY

I open netflix. it is an enormous picture of ben barnes’s face. I yell THAT’S MY MAN. I sit on my couch buzzing with adrenaline. I still have not hit play.

oh good I’m glad they’re re-using the ominous ben barnes voiceover from the very first season 1 teaser. but also I’m skipping the recap because DON’T WORRY I KNOW. I KNOW EVERYTHING

I love that they didn’t make me wait to see my Geriatric War Criminal :3333

THE MAP TRANSITION, YOU LOVE TO SEE IT!!!

oh damn, was NOT expecting to see the creepy 1899 boy seven minutes into the episode. I really thought they were gonna save the kaz backstory for like. deep into the season.

SKDHFGJSFDHG AAAAAND SHE’S GONE

okay I fucking love that they still managed to make the kaz flashback happen in a prisoner transport, just a totally different one, but I FUCKING LOVE THAT THEY FOUND A WAY TO KEEP THE LOCATION THE SAME. A++, VERY BRILLIANT, IT’S DIFFERENT BUT ALSO IT’S THE SAME also protective concerned jesper ;_;

I see the boy :33 trying to be all sneaky and enter this scene at the side of the frame :3333 trying to be all tricksy likE MY EYE IS NOT SO DEEPLY ATTUNED TO HIS DUMB SUNSHINEY FACE, LIKE MY GAZE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY SNAP TO THAT BRIEF CORNER OF THE FRAME, LIKE HE COULD FOOL MEEEEEEE you really thought if you kept out of focus I would not see bUT I SEE!! I SEE AND I SAW!! I SAW THE HIM. I SAW MY SPECIAL BABY BOY.

I’ll be honest here, I saw people theorizing way back when “oooooh what if nikolai hired them in season 1″ and I thought that was stupid and born out of this fandom’s Very Boring desire to try and Morally Justify everything the crows do because people are dumb and boring. part of me is Petty and Annoyed that there’s a win for the “noooooo the crows have to be my perfect sweet angels who’ve never done anything wroooooong” crowd

that IS some fucking Eye Contact tho, kazolai real, and THAT’s a win For Me

Petty Grievances Set Aside By How Fucking Perfect He Is, He’s So Good, He’s Immediately So Good, My Beautiful Boy He Is So Talented

I BELIEVED IN PADDY GIBSON FROM THE BEGINNING!! I HAD FAITH WHEN NO ONE DID!!!! I AM VINDICATED, AS I KNEW THAT I WOULD BE!!!!!!!!

And There Was Only One Art Nouveau Bed

shadow and bone showrunners have found the key to making me pay attention to malina scenes: include art nouveau furniture

(I do genuinely think they’re sweet, I Don’t Actually Mind, but I’m legally obligated to do a liiiiittle bit of playful ribbing :p)

wow that handcuff remark, Kazolai bondage when!!! i SAID WHAT I SAID

“this is my mommy’s fancy jewelry actually soooooo” god I love him. I love him so much. I love every second he is on my screen. I Knew It Was Going To Be Big Unhinged For Nikolai Lantsov Hours, But Somehow Even I Underestimated

genuinely, I’ve never understood why Kazper wasn’t The Behemoth Noncanon Ship Of This Fandom. but then again I’ve also never understood why this fandom HAS no popular noncanon ships. their one-on-one scenes this episode were fantastic

I am also no longer kidding about the Kazolai, this is already so much More than I was expecting, why the fuck do they have so much chemistry, this is unfair

The Ravkan Polycule Is No Longer Strictly Ravkan

“that line doesn’t work on me anymore,” Alina dearest it’s never been said on the show before

ANYWAY, THEY SAID MY DARKLINA SHIP TAG, LEONARDO DICAPRIO POINTING MEME

is it time for me to get on my soapbox about how I think that actually the Darkling is the most self-sacrificing character in all of the books (yes I have already written meta about that). dedicating 800 consecutive years to the same never-ending fight, waging the same battle on behalf of your people to the point that you lose your entire humanity and everything that once made you you? literal sacrifice of the self. who else in this series would fight a losing battle for 800 years. MAN IS MADE OF SELF-SACRIFICE AND THAT WAS BEFORE HE GOT IN THE TREE, anyway I should post that spicy meta on this some day

I’m on his side in Darklina Argument #1, you haven’t been in this fight very long girl. come talk to me in a couple centuries

PEOPLE TURNING ON ALINA AND VILIFYING HER IS A PLOTLINE I ALWAYS WANTED TBH, GIRL YOU ARE ABOUT TO LEARN THAT MORALITY IS JUST A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE AND WHO GETS TO TELL THE STORY

SKJDHFGKJSDFHG MAL PAID THE GUY FOR THE BROKEN POT oh he is such a sweetpea

oh the music when the twins are introduced is SUCH a fucking bop!!!

not gonna lie, I like Pekka’s vest. he’s being threatening and menacing and I’m just like mmmm nice vest. #priorities

OH RIGHT. WYLAN. I was so absorbed in everything Happening that I completely forgot about him, Something I Was Also Excited About

Wylan, honey, he’s wearing gloves, I think he can touch whatever bottles he wants (I am feelings about Concerned Kaz ;_;)

WHAT an entrance Nina!!

I laugh every single time they speak one of the fantasy languages and then switch back and the subtitles say [in English] TECHNICALLY NO, THEY ARE NOT

TWINS GOT A GOOD FUCKING MUSICAL SCORE!!!!!!! it’s no parson’s farewell bUT IT’S JAUNTY AND NAUTICAL AS FUCK

can’t wait for this bigoted otkazat’sya agitator with the fucking audacity to wear someone’s kefta get ripped to fucking shreds by nichevo’ya in approximately 20 seconds

YOU LOVE TO SEE HIM DO SOME VERY JUSTIFIED MURDERS!!!! BITE AND CHOMP AND KILLLLLLLLL

THEY PLEDGED TO FOLLOW ME WHEN I WAS ALIVE THEY TURNED WHEN THEY THOUGHT I WAS DEAD NOW I WILL COME BACK FROM THE DEAD AND LAY CLAIM TO WHAT I AM OWED!!!!!!!!! is what aleks meant to say in the universe where he gets written by black sails writers like he deserves

aaaaauugghhhhh the “this again” I JUST FUCKING THINK. THAT IF YOU HAVE LIVED. THROUGH MULTIPLE CENTURIES OF GENOCIDE. YOU’RE ALLOWED TO SAY FUCK IT, DO SOME WAR CRIMES, AND OVERTHROW SOME SHITASS FUCKIN MONARCHIES. I SIMPLY THINK YOU HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT TO DO THAT!!!!

cook up some dinner ???????????? oh darkling stans, we are memeing the fuck out of that one. aleks. honey. did you think that sounded cool. did you really.

like I said in the tags of the gifset the other day, their perception of nina must be so fucking funny. THE SPY YOU ALMOST MET IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, BUT DIDN’T BECAUSE SHE GOT KIDNAPPED BY MILITARIZED RELIGIOUS EXTREMISTS, JUST WALKS INTO YOUR SUPER SECRET MEETING SPOT IN A CUTE OUTFIT. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THAT.

nina honey he’s not the love of your life, you’ve known him for like a week and he wanted to kill you for at least a third of it, slow down

BRICK! BY! BRICK!!!!!!

IT BELONGS TO BASTARDS!!!!

I love this gaudy ass fucking coat so much, it’s so perfect

the only thing I love more than that gaudy perfect coat is the gaudy perfect bastard wearing it

I know I still have Seven More Episodes, but like. I do genuinely just want to watch this one again???? that was So Fun. also it took me an hour and 45 minutes because I kept pausing to write my thoughts. if they took two years to release Just This Episode, I’d be like YEAH THANKS THAT WAS GREAT, THAT WAS WORTH TWO YEARS, SATISFYING SEASON, 10 OUT OF 10, I’M FULL AND SATISFIED

#EP 1 VERDICT: FUCKING GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!#I don't Want to put this in The Tags but I want to tag it For My Blog so. oh well.#the main tags move at the speed of light (no pun in-fucking-tended) so. it doesn't really matter #grishaverse #shadow and bone #sab liveblog

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mothman-rewatches · 11 months

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Rewatch: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "The Puppet Show" (S1Ep9)

Summary: The school talent show proves to be more than the gang bargained for when dead bodies start turning up. Buffy finds herself racing against the clock to stop the killer before someone else winds up dead.

Written by: Joss Whedon, Dean Batali, Rob DesHotel

Directed by: Ellen S. Pressman

Aired: May 5th, 1997

WARNING: This post contains spoilers.

This episode has it all. Living dummies, demons, and shitty talent shows with Giles as the producer. Let’s jump in.

Recap: Giles is overseeing auditions for the talent show. Buffy, Xander, and Willow come and poke fun at it, but Principal Snyder overhears and forces them to join as punishment. One of the acts is a student named Morgan and his dummy Sid. Morgan is seemingly terrible at ventriloquism, until Sid starts cracking jokes on his own. The next day, one of the students is found dead in the locker room with her heart cut out. The gang discusses whether the culprit is human or demonic. Upon investigation, everyone concludes that there is something weird about Morgan, and when Buffy confronts him, she notices he’s really weird about the dummy. Xander takes the dummy, and while Giles and Willow do research and Buffy goes to investigate, it goes missing. Buffy finds Morgan dead, missing his brain, and is confronted by Sid. They put together that they are working on finding the same person. As it turns out, Sid was a demon slayer who was cursed to live in a dummy’s body until he defeats a brotherhood of demons that need a heart and brain every seven years to appear human. They try to figure out if there is any missing talent show participants, and Buffy finds Morgan’s brain, leading her to suspect Sid again. It is revealed that Morgan had brain cancer, and the demon needs a healthy brain. The demon turns out to be Marc, a magician in the show, who tries to kill Giles and take his brain. The gang and Sid stop him, killing the demon and freeing Sid.

Overall Thoughts: I was actually disappointed by this episode. It’s one of the episodes I remember watching when I was a kid, but watching it now, it doesn’t live up to its reputation.

Before we cover why I didn’t like this episode, I have to mention that this is Principal Snyder’s first appearance. I hate him, he’s an amazing character, but I hate him and that’s the point. Literally, I think Snyder’s creation can be summed up into the idea of having a human antagonist, other than Cordelia.

But this episode…god, I wish I could like this episode. I mean, the reference to Goosebumps, another show I grew up watching, should be enough. My problem with this episode is it’s reliance on “fake outs.” I’ve brought up that the show has relied on that trope a lot this season, but it’s somehow worse in this episode.

This episode has not one, but two separate fake outs. The first being the identity of the demon, which has three different twists. Initially, we are led to believe Morgan is the demon, and then we suspect it’s Sid not once but twice, before the identity is revealed. The second is minor, in which the writers try to make it seem like the demon will definitely go after Willow next, but it goes after Giles instead. It’s not interesting to watch all the different twists, and especially on past use of the trope, it’s old and boring. I wish they had gone about the storyline differently.

Fashion Corner/Costuming: No major comments for this episode, but I liked Giles’s cardigan towards the beginning of the episode.

Facts: Sid the Dummy is a reference to a ventriloquist dummy named Slappy in the Goosebumps franchise, with the two even looking similar.

This is the fourth episode of the season to not have vampires in it.

Quotes: ”My predecessor Mr. Flutie may have gone in for all that touchy/feely relating nonsense…but he was eaten.” -Principal Snyder

”Once again I’m banished to the demon section of the card catalog.” - Willow Rosenberg

Apocalypse Count: 1

Final Notes: Feel free to leave any comments, suggestions, or questions in the ask box!

#buffy the vampire slayer #btvs #buffy the vampire slayer s1 #the puppet show #mothman rewatches #rewatch

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artsyjesseblue · 2 years

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Sleeping Allura

There’s a scene in VLD, Season 8 Ep 10 (Knights of Light Part 2) that keeps sticking out to me with all sorts of red flags, indicating that there was more to come, but the rest was cut out. Not by the will of the very talented people who wrote, produced or animated this show. And I’ll prove my point below.

This time, it’s not a hard-evidence discussion on drawing flaws or animation issues. I rather base it on the logic of how movies, shows, anime, cartoons etc, are built.

(To recap the events, the Paladins traveled into Honerva’s mind, where they found out that she had been keeping the Old Paladins trapped. Together, they unveil what her ultimate plan was: she wants to find her perfect reality. At the end of this episode, all ten manage to escape Honerva’s mind by uniting to form Voltron. The present-time Paladins wake up in the real world, but Allura is collapsed on her chair, unconscious. This is the last shot of the episode. A dramatic violin music accompanies the scene.)

First, basic stuff:

— both Allura collapsed in her chair and the dun-dun-duuun violin orchestra finale (more about the music later) makes this a glaring cliffhanger, with the implied promise of a payoff in the upcoming episode(s).

— not to mention the desperate voices of the Paladins yelling “Allura, Allura!”, trying to wake her up. Cliffhanger with capital C.

— a more subtle observation: the color scheme and contre-jour effect create mystery and drama. Where can that lead to?

— why would someone pay the animation studio to make this scene, other than with the intent to continue it with some sort of reveal?

OK, now let’s move on to see what the “reveal” consisted of in the iteration of Season 8 we were presented with:

▶️ In the next episode, we are shown Allura in a hospital bed on Atlas, with the Paladins and Coran gathered around her, while she’s still unconscious. Coran scolds them with “I told you so”, etc etc. Nothing about what Allura experiences in her dream/coma/trance/whatever-this-is.

▶️ Later in the episode, Lance comes at her bedside with the classic “I need you,” and she finally wakes up. Honerva appears and says “the princess has awakened.”

▶️ Then we see Lance bringing a visibly grumpy Allura to the main deck of Atlas, where asked how she is feeling, she says “A little weak, but I’ll manage.”

▶️ Subsequently, the chase after Honerva unfolds, with the same information we were left off, which is: Honerva wants to find her perfect reality; and she will use Lotor’s mech to pierce realities.

And that was it. The big reveal of the cliffhanger. Huh?

We do not gather any new knowledge after this deep sleep Allura had gone through. Seems like a lot of wasted cinema time to concoct these scenes and pay an animation studio to do them.

OK, so here’s the common-sense question: Would you put your character in a deep sleep, make everything revolve around that event like it’s life-changing (including color schemes, musical theme), and then wake your character up to just say “I’m a little weak, but I’ll manage?” As a writer, producer, director, would you do this? Even a novice writer would not do that. It’s absolutely nonsensical. Maybe a child would write a third-grade essay like that.

To the ones that say the writers and producers did not know what they were doing, I say: they knew exactly what they were doing and someone else forced them to butcher their work. And the proof is the simple fact that this snippet of their work still exists in canon.

Simply based off of reading and watching movies and TV shows, I can tell you there are at least a couple of viable options for how a reveal should be handled after such a big suspense scene. 1) Either show the viewer what she actually experienced in her unconscious state. 2) Or make her recount in some way what she has seen, during or after a certain turning point of the story, as a final “mystery-solved” tension release. None of these two have happened.

And now on to more meta about the color scheme, music and some additional thoughts:

- Take a look at the red glow of the sky in the image I attached in the beginning, with Allura in her chair. The Dark Entity is red. Allura already followed the lead of the Entity all the way through Honerva’s mind for two episodes. It would make sense that she would still follow where the Entity drives her, if this is such an important cliffhanger. I do not believe they chose this red color because she was going to dream about picking juniberry flowers. Also, this red glow is not a pure, warm glowing red. It is a desaturated, muddied kind of red (and a dusty pink where the light hits through), fitting the color gamut of the Entity.

- Try to listen to the music background of this scene (again, for reference, S8E10, very last part). It is the musical theme used around Lotor scenes in S8. If you don’t believe me, try watching the scene where Allura sees Lotor in her dream in S8E8 - Clear Day and listen to the musical theme.

- Logical deduction: there were 10 Paladins when they punched out of Honerva’s mind at the end of this episode. Five are alive, five are deceased and exist only as “ghosts”. The ghost ones were trapped inside Honerva’s mind, but the real life Paladins saved them. They ALL pierce out of Honerva’s mind and are free. After that, we are left with only the real life Paladins. So, then, where did the ghosts go? (We eventually see the ghost Paladins at the very end of the series, bunched up together with Lotor as a farewell, and I hypothesized in a previous meta that they don’t belong there and that Lotor does not belong among them. We most likely were supposed to see the scene with the Old Paladins saying their farewell after this cliffhanger. Would make a lot of sense and would close the arc of the Old Paladins beautifully).

- Lotor tells Allura “Follow me!” at the end of her vision in the Clear Day episode. We never actually get to see her following him. It would make sense narratively for her to finally meet him in spirit now, as a closing arc for that path initiated in her visions. And who knows what they discuss. Important stuff, for sure, because she wakes up pretty worked up. Or maybe they discuss about picking juniberries (tongue-in-cheek). Oh, wait, he already told her stuff about juniberries in Clear Day.

- When Honerva says “The princess has awakened”, it makes no sense in the context in which it was inserted. So, listen: in the canon we’ve got, Allura is sound asleep, beauty-resting, she has no more visions (because we’re not shown or told about any). Everyone around her is freaking out. And here comes Honerva, who is also watching from a safe distance, stalking her through that Dark Entity. And they actually animate a scene in which she remarks that Allura has awakened. To what conclusion? Honerva was worried about her beauty sleep?

- OK, this last one is a bit more interpretative, but I’ll throw it in anyway. After Allura wakes up, she is escorted to the Atlas bridge by Lance, who looks kind of like “hey, I’m the nice guy, taking good care of her, but watch out, she’s a bit on the edge.” She looks um… dignified and angry I would say. The only hint that she might be a bit weak is Lance holding her protectively. A weakened state is usually when someone does not hold their spine and head straight. She walks straight as a pole, arms very close to her body, not in a relaxed manner for sure. Body language is important. And when she enters the bridge, she looks directly at Keith… Did he ever have anything to do with accusing Lotor of a lot of stuff in Season 6? What if Allura found out more in this little trip she had, and it’s going to challenge Keith’s initial assertions about Lotor?

This is all for now. I’m forever thankful to the #teampurplelion research and metas, which sparked my inspiration for writing this. This mini-meta of mine is a detail-focused analysis, based on a small part from @leakinghate ‘s work, “Seek Truth in Darkness”.

#voltron meta #allura #vld #i had to rewrite part of it because it didn’t save the first time #lotor deserved better #FREEVLDS8

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