#absolute classic crows move right there

[ravens-two]

PAC: How will 2024 be like for you?

This reading includes:

the general energy of 2024 for you

advice for the year

synchronicities and symbols for 2024

The extended reading includes:

the biggest blessings for this year

your elder futhark rune of the year

a little moodboard

Disclaimer: this is just for entertainment purposes, and as a pick-a-card reading it may not resonate for everyone.

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Pile 1

Knight of Swords, Ten of Pentacles, Knight of Pentacles

"Sometimes it seems that going is just too rough/And things go wrong no matter what I do"

Hello, pile 1, I get the feeling that 2023 didn't treat you that well. There's this feeling of coming out of chaos - the image you picked, your song, even the Knight of Swords seems to be fighting with a murder of crows. I truly get this sense that you come out of the old year almost battered and bruised, but absolutely fucking ready to make 2024 your year. Some of you are even a bit angry - it's that feeling right between anger and passion. I feel a sense of desperation here, it's like you need to get things right this time. For some of you I think that this is related to a relationship (be it romantic, a friendship, or even family), for others I think that this is more work/school related. The specific example that came to me is that you were supposed to finish your degree last year, but you couldn't for some reason and now you really need to whatever it takes to finish it. With the Ten of Pentacles here I see you being successful with whatever this might be for you, even if you have a lot of work ahead of you.

In general, this is a year for acquiring knowledge. If that's your thing I see you reading a lot, maybe even getting into the classics. Maybe that's something that you've always wanted to do, but never had the time. Even if you're not much of a reader I still get the feeling that you'll be reading more this year, it could even be for your job or school. For others of you I see you learning or mastering a language. I have a very specific message that someone is learning a language that is related to their family. It's like, maybe your family immigrated from Italy, let's say, and you never learned Italian, I see you learning it this year. No matter what this is about, this year is all about learning - practical things and life experience too! And I see you having a lot of experiences this year. I see that some of you are coming out of your shell and trying out new things. Going out more, making new friends, exploring new places, that sort of thing.

I also think that this is a year where you will be working on your goals. If you've been dreaming about a promotion or getting into a certain university I see you starting to plan for it and working towards your goals. The vibe is like moving on from the dreaming stage to the acting stage. If you're into manifestation this is also a message for that. Your manifestations are starting to become "real".

Advice: the biggest advice for you this year pile 1, is to put in the work. You need to find a way to keep yourself motivated (this is also a year of learning discipline) and do the work. It doesn't matter if it's hard or boring or that you don't feel like it. It's time to take charge of your life and do the work to become who you want to become. This even applies to relationships, you can't expect to have ride or die friends, for example, if you're not ready to be ride or die for them as well. I wonder if your rune will be Gebo, because this is definitely that give and take energy. You will get exactly what you put in. Take advantage of that pile 1. I also need to note though, that you shouldn't run yourself into the ground. Rest when you need to and take care of yourself. Also, eat well, pile 1! It's time to create better/healthier eating habits.

Synchronicities: clouds, the sun, the color blue, lipstick stains on glass, 15th of April, 111, 555, butterflies, pearls, snow, pine trees

Pile 2

Four of Cups, Three of Cups, Ace of Swords

"All the things that I ran from/I now bring as close to me as I can"

Pile 2, the biggest vibe for you for this 2024 is that you will finally be able to reframe your life and find joy in the little things. You are moving on from the dissatisfaction that comes from constantly imagining something better and learning to be present in the moment and appreciate things as they are. Instead of constantly looking to the side and imagine life as you wish it could be, you will start to love the life you have. There's a sense of being responsible for your own fate here. Like pile 1, if you want change you need to change. This seems more internal though. You are changing your way of thinking, your unconscious bias, working with your shadow basically. Honestly, I am really proud of you pile 2. This is so hard to do, yet so rewarding as well. This is also the year that you stop running. Instead of avoiding your problems/responsibilities you now know that you need to confront you or they will never stop chasing you.

I also see a big focus both on relationships and honoring your feelings. I think that instead of focusing on work like the previous pile, this year your focus is on building stronger relationships with your loved ones and spending time together with them. Enjoying life in the company of others basically. I actually heard the expression "dolce fare niente", which is basically "the pleasure of doing nothing". I think that this is also something that you are embracing. Being able to do nothing, just sitting with your loved ones and watch the world around you. I'm also picking up that one of your goals is spending less time on social media - and one of the advantages will be that you no longer feel the need to compare yourself and your life to other people.

When it comes to honoring your feelings, you will be able to enforce better boundaries, even with yourself. You will learn that if you don't feel comfortable in a certain situation you can leave. Allowing yourself to say no. Again, a year of change, self-development and self-care. Again, congratulations pile 2, this will be hard but so good for you.

Advice: your advice here is to keep an open mind. Don't be too quick to judge yourself or others and take the time to see a situation from various points of view. Your mind will be quite sharp this year and I feel like you'll need it. Be ready to receive divine inspiration. Again, open yourself to new ideas and different ways to see something. I see that some of you are artists, for those of you this is especially important for your art. If you feel like your art isn't "right" at the moment that's the problem. You need to study a different art movement, put yourself in another character's shoes, to turn your whole world upside down and re-learn how to function in it. Also, try to be as truthful as possible, because I get the feeling that any lies that you tell this year might come back to bite you in the ass.

Synchronicities: roses, the moon, the color red, lip gloss, moon charms, the sea, sunsets, tuxedo cats, angels, wings, 18th of June, 888, 434, carnations

Pile 3

World, Hierophant, Three of Pentacles

"No stop signs/Speed limit/Nobody's gonna slow me down"

Pile 3, no one can stop you in 2024. You know exactly what you want and how to get there. I get the feeling that this is a year of achievements for you. Some of you are finishing high school or university. Others are getting their first job or a promotion. Whatever it is, the effort that you put in the past year(s) is paying off and you are seeing the fruits of your labour this year. Your energy is very Capricornian, this might actually be your zodiac sign, but not necessarily. If you have a plan for something that you want to accomplish this year, I can tell you right now that it's probably going to be very successful. I'm even seeing that someone or a couple of people here might go viral? Or at least, you will be very talked about in your community/school/city. You will be known for something that you are doing/will be doing this year. You're getting recognition for your work basically. I advise you to check your natal charts, because I feel like your 10th house use being activated this year. 

I'm getting a very specific message that some of you are learning how to take advantage of a strong hierarchical system. I'm getting two very different things here. For some of you this seems related to activism. You're learning how to use the current power structure to do your activism and to make changes. It almost feels like you're exploiting it, but in a good way. For others, this seems more related to work, maybe even school, but it seems more like a workplace environment. And basically you're doing the same thing, you're using the rules to your advantage. Instead of feeling bound by them and wanting to "destroy" them you're finally learning how to get what you want by following them. This is really intriguing. For others, this is more about learning discipline, and how useful it can be for your life. Whilst for others it's about building a better relationship with power structures and people in power. You might have some trauma with people in power and you'll be making positive headway on it during this year. 

For those of you that are learning a skill - I actually got witchcraft for some of you - this year you're getting into the "classics". Basically what I mean by this is that instead of making things up as you go, you're going to try a different approach and try to learn the theory. Again, for the magick example, instead of experimenting and doing things your own way you might pick a up a book about the history of magick or about magickal theory. I also see that some of you are traveling as well!

Advice: pile 3, it's time to learn how to ask for help. You are not a burden to other people and must of the time they will actually be delighted to help you, because it means that you trust them and believe in their skills. Ask for help with personal things and also in your work! There's no shame in not knowing something or not being 100% sure on how to do something. I see that you guys are very perfectionist and you might have felt that you need to always rely on yourself, but that's not the truth. It can actually be beneficial for you to ask for help and to ask questions in your workplace. Also, pile 3, you also need to learn how to work in a team. I feel like you will be prompted to do this a lot this year, almost as a test. I know that you're super capable and maybe your work would be better if you did it all by yourself, but the truth is maybe you'll get something completely original and different by working with other people.

Synchronicities: rainbows, the color gold, marigolds, flower crowns, mushrooms, snakes, snake tattoos, 24th of August, September, fairy rings, fairies, 555, 222, the desert

Pile 4

Six of Pentacles, Eight of Swords, Magician

"You're not mean, you're just born to be seen"

Pile 4, I immediately get the feeling that you're very good at giving, but not that good at taking. It's almost like you feel guilty, as if you were never good enough, so you need to give much more than what you are allowed to take. This is what's changing for you this year. You'll start to realize that you are allowed to receive as much as you give, and start to have a better dynamic in your relationships. This could be due to childhood trauma or a toxic relationship that did some damage to your self-esteem. But, this year you'll start to see yourself for who you truly are. I also see you enforcing better boundaries and starting to say no when you really don't feel like/can't do something.

Be careful when signing any contracts this year, because you might miss something important that could potentially get you in trouble. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Also, don't let people pressure you into being generous. The specific example I'm getting is like someone approaching you and being way too nice, sharing a lot of life details and expecting you to do the same. Just because they shared those things, and they seem nice, it doesn't mean you have to do the same - especially if it gives you a weird feeling.

I also think that you have been feeling stuck in your life for a while now, it could be related to work or your health mainly. I see that some of you this is specifically about mental health. But, in 2024 you will begin to see that you aren't actually stuck. There's always something that you can change, even if it's your perspective on something. Don't let your intrusive thoughts dictate your life, this is especially for my people with anxiety and OCD. You aren't your thoughts. Your thoughts are not you. The first step towards freedom is being able to see the facts. You're taking stock of your life, of yourself, and taking the first steps towards freedom this year. I see that this is also going to be a year of big changes for you, pile 4. Like pile 2, this is mostly about internal changes. Just like I told pile 2, I'm very proud of you pile 4. Changing the way you think and see the world is not an easy thing.

Advice: the biggest advice for you this year is to get back your power. Realize that you are the only one who is in control of your life. Sure, we all operate under specific circumstances and those are difficult to change, but what you do in those circumstances is only up to you. Don't let anyone step over you or tell you that you are not good enough. That couldn't be further from the truth. Recognize your power, your skills, your beauty and don't let anyone take it from you. This is a year of gaining independence.

Synchronicities: solar eclipse, glitter, city lights, clocks, feathers, night sky, "sky full of song" by Florence + the Machine, 666, 888, 3rd of March, rain, heart charms

#pick a card #pick a card reading #pick a pile #pick a picture #pac #pac reading #2024 reading #tarot #tarot reading

[apomaro-mellow]

Mafia Part 1

For the occasion, Eddie was given one of his dad's old suits. It didn't quite fit as well but it would have to do for now. He tied his hair up in a bun and put a hat on top of it. Wayne was dressed similarly and it was like this that they entered the Marini home. Eddie couldn't remember the entire reason everyone was gathering. Could've been a birthday party for all he knew. But being in the main house meant good drinks and a chance to rub elbows with the folks up top. Which obviously meant more money.

Wayne finally let the leash off to go and talk with some of the older guys and Eddie got to go off on his own. He sat with Tonio, a man shorter than him despite being ten years older and Swirly, who looked like a breeze could knock him over.

"Why do they call you Swirly?", Eddie asked.

"'Cause when I stab guys I like to flick my blade around. It's my own personal touch."

"'Personal touch'", Tonio laughed. "You're just a classic narcissist."

"It's art."

"It's ghoulish."

"You wanna talk narcissism...", Swirly trailed off as he took a sip of his drink.

Tonio whistled like a rock falling down a well. He must know who Swirly was talking about.

"Who?", Eddie asked, preferring to stay in the loop.

"The little prince", Tonio sneered.

"Steve Harrington. The boss' son", Swirly provided a better answer.

"Harrington, huh?", Eddie said, just meaning to get a feel for the name but the others must have thought he was asking another question.

"The last boss had a daughter, just an absolute peach of a dame", Tonio said. "But she went and fell for this outsider, Harrington."

"He'd done some deals with us, but he wasn't family", Swirly said. "Until he married into it."

Eddie nodded, getting the picture. "So Steve Harrington should've been Steve Marini?"

"He could've been Giuseppe Alessandro Italiano-Magnifico. Won't change him", Toni nearly snarled, starting to spoil the air with a bitter scent before reining himself in. Eddie was eager to find out how someone so high on this world's food chain had earned the disdain of one of his underlings.

Eddie moved around a bit. Tonio and Swirly were basically footmen. Always in the streets, rarely in the room where the big decisions were made. Eventually Eddie came to a circle of young men closer to his age. Young bucks who were also looking to rise up. Some of them were already related by blood, cousins and nephews. Others were like Eddie, boys down on their luck, doing little jobs here and there for the money. But when you gave to the family, there was always the chance that you could be brought into the fold.

You could be sponsored.

Eddie had heard of it. Heard it could be a grueling process depending on who was vouching for you and for what. Wayne had been sponsored a few years ago. It had been an odd time when he didn't see his uncle as much as he'd been used to. But by the end of it, Wayne was able to invoke the Marini name if need be.

It was power. It was respect. It was everything Eddie wanted. They were seated at a table outside in the backyard where they could be louder. As they were wont to do. Sometimes the conversation switched to Italian, which left Eddie in the dark, but before too long it was back to a tongue he knew.

They started talking about what they'd do to be sponsored and then it turned to what they wouldn't do.

"What if they ask you to be celibate?"

"They're not gonna ask that."

"I heard they made a guy cut off his knot."

"Get outta here!"

"Nah, it wasn't just the knot, it was his balls too."

"They don't want eunuchs!"

"An alpha's only good for his knot anyway."

"What's a beta good for then?"

"Fuck if I know."

That caused both raucous laughter and jeers from the betas in the crowed. And just because Eddie had to be a pot stirrer, he spoke up.

"What about omegas?", he smirked.

"They got holes, don't they?", one alpha said.

"Everybody needs a warm body", a beta answered.

"If they're the right omega they can set you on easy street", another alpha, answered. He'd introduced himself as Tommy. Hagan, not to be confused with Tommy Corns who got caught holding up a pharmacy last year.

"The 'right omega' meaning your omega?", another guy piped up.

"He ain't Tommy's yet. He's still gotta woo him", a different one cackled.

"Aww, you sweet on someone Tommy-boy?", Eddie jabbed.

"I'm not sweet on anyone. Just got my target locked."

"On?", Eddie pressed.

"Who else but the best? Pretty soon, you'll all be calling me 'boss'", Tommy looked so sure of himself.

Ah, so he was after the cream of the crop. Eddie wondered how many of these guys were after Steve. Probably not many if Tommy was openly gunning for him.

Wayne found him and put an arm around his shoulders as he brought him back into the house. "There's someone I want you to meet. Mind yourself and don't get any ideas."

“What? Me? Ideas?”, he grinned cheekily.

“I mean it. We’re here to do our jobs and keep our heads down.”

Wayne brought him before a man in his late forties, thick, dark hair, graying around the edges. Next to him was a young man. Both were dressed in perfectly tailored suits. For a second, Eddie thought that he was being brought before a fellow associate. But he quickly realized these two were far above that. Especially with the way Wayne deferred to them.

Eddie was so caught by a scent that he almost missed what was happening. Lavendar and pine, wafting around him in a way that reminded him of freshly laundered linens.

It was during introductions that he realized. This was the omega everyone was talking about. Steve Harrington.

And he was looking at Eddie like he was a stray dog.

Steve looked him up and down. “You’re the Munson boy?”

“Sweetheart, I think I’ve got a few years on you to be called ‘boy’.” Eddie hissed when that remark earned him a pop on the head from Wayne.

“Please forgive my nephew. He’s not around polite company often.”

“If he’s yours Wayne, I’m not worried”, Harrington Sr. said. “I know in time he’ll prove himself to be loyal and a worthy addition to the business.”

While the older men talked, Eddie’s eyes were glued to Steve’s, who in turn hadn’t looked away from him yet. There was something behind those eyes and Eddie wanted to find out what it was. Eddie knew what it was like when people looked down at you. Steve was doing that, sure, but it was more than that.

It was almost like he expected something to happen. If Eddie were more bold, he would have made another comment. But he wouldn't dare do so in front of such a powerful man. Steve's father, James, could have had him killed with just an order. He wasn't about to antagonize his only shot at a not-shit life.

Eddie would have done so if he could've gotten to Steve one-on-one. But after that little meet and greet, Eddie was taken to talk to other men. And every glimpse of Steve he got, he was glued to his father's side.

Little prince indeed.

Part 3

#apo writes #stranger things #fanfiction #steddie #a/b/o

[mostlyvoid-partiallyflowers]

Okay I just speedran The Sunshine Court in like 12 hours. I will be rereading it soonly and giving more coherent thoughts but here’s my main takeaways:

- Thought #1: Holy fuck holy fuck holy fuck this book exists. I am on the floor I’m so fucking excited.

Spoilers below the cut

- I absolutely love that we get both Jean and Jeremy POVs. It’s great especially because Jean is an oblivious and traumatized and if we just see things through his eyes we would never get to see Jeremy PINING like an absolute icon. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it’s about the pining, the waiting, the yearning. I’m simple man, I like my books gay, angsty, and with tension you could cut with a knife. This delivers on all accounts.

- I love getting to see the end of tkm from Jean’s perspective. Getting to see him watch the Foxes v Ravens game was incredible. I’m a very big fan.

- Renee and Jean time! Renee giving Jean her cross necklace. I’m in tears, I’m dead, I’m on the floor. It’s not the right time for us 😭. Excuse me? I’m unwell.

- Kevin Day, queen of my heart! Getting to see how someone other than Neil canonically sees Kevin is an absolute treat for me. Jean’s weakness for beautiful men has become known. Me too Jean, me too.

- Jeremy, light of my life, I can’t believe you’re rich. At least your family sucks because I don’t think I could take it if your family was wealthy and nice.

- Jeremy + Jean meeting for the first time. Jeremy trying and failing to play with a yo-yo. I’d die for you. They are ADHD 🤝 Autism solidarity me thinks.

- Montana has a pro Exy team which is not at all plausible but I’ll let it slide because one Montana mention for the win and two the team is called the Rustics which is absolutely what we’d call a pro sports team if we had one. The only reason Montanan’s at large would commit to indoor lacrosse is that Kayleigh Day was Irish and so solidarity.

- Laila and Cat, my beloveds. The description of their apartment has me yearning for the same. They have a bay window with a window seat okay. That’s like in my top three desires for a home.

- Carboard cutout dog with a classic Nora pet name. I’ll love Mister B forever. I love how Jeremy keeps moving him around. I love how Jean hates it.

- Trans characters! Poly characters! Nonbinary characters! Nora, my birthday has come a little late but damn this was a gift!

- I am absolutely pronouncing Jean wrong in my head probably 70% of the time.

- I’m so fucking angry at the Ravens. My blood is boiling and I want to cry. Jean deserved better, Kevin deserved better, Riko deserved better. All the Ravens deserved better. I want to put Tetsugi Moriyama into a blender and feed him to the crows.

- Jean was 16. I’m absolutely incandescent with rage.

- Jeremy is so patient with Jean and I will forever love him for that.

- This book was a lot shorter time frame than I was expecting, mainly because I keep forgetting there’s going to be another one.

- The food control but is driving me crazy. It makes me so fucking mad. Let my boy eat. I want him to be happy.

- Jeremy has seen Jean looking 👀 ummmmmm hello? “More exclusively than you do, I think.” I’m on the floor.

- Laila buying Jean a sex toy?!? Oh my god. What would she even get him? I feel like he deserves a vibrating cock ring or something fun like that. That way service top™️ Jeremy Knox can use it on him when they finally get together.

- I love seeing Neil from Jean’s perspective. It’s funny how different he is from my perspective and Jean’s/everyone else’s. I’ve spent so much time thinking about him from Andrew’s pov that it’s weird seeing him through anyone else’s. Everyone is like this scrappy irritating son of bitch is gonna get what’s coming to him, and Andrew is like, well I can’t not fuck him.

- The second Jean mentions Drake to Neil. And then Neil immediately calls a hit out on Gr@yson. Neil, you will always be famous to me.

- Jean-Yves! I hope he starts using his full name again at some point.

- Elodie :(((((( I can imagine what Jean’s going through and I am so afraid for him. If he keeps pushing all these feelings down he’s going to break sooner or later, but probably sooner.

- Jeremy’s unconditional support of Jean has my whole heart. Jean has friends now. I’m crying.

#tsc #tsc spoilers #the sunshine court spoilers #the sunshine court #jeremy knox #light of my life #jean moreau #aftg

[thechaoticgoblin]

My take on the Bayverse Boys MOB!AU

Greetings from the woods!

This is something I’ve been working on for a while but always been unsure on posting. However, I’ve recently understood that we only live once so, why not try this?

Might become a series later on, who knows?

GENERAL

I am taking HUGE inspiration from Jade City and Six of Crows for this part, so stay with me on this.

- I’m team lab experiment. In my view it could very well be kept the way the movie has portrayed them. So, let’s begin with the principle.

- While I can see the turtles being hatched in the lab, I think Splinter wasn’t born there, but rather in a sort of pet shop but his reminiscence on that period in his life has always been kind of blurry. The only thing he remembers is that he was quite old by the time he was bought by a little girl named April and his father, becoming her pet. April has always been loving and careful with Splinter, and that he would always remember.

- At some point April’s father decided to start using Splinter for some of his experiments and that, once more, has been quite a blurry period in the rat’s life.

- The whole ordeal with the lab basically follows the bay!movies quite religiously until a certain point.

- One night, the four brothers ran out of the lair out of curiosity. It was on Halloween, the perfect night for them to get a glimpse of the outer world before being forced back into the sewers. Once out for what should have just been a small stroll out of their home, they all started to find new attraction for the world. The lights, the smells, the taste of the world above the surface was all too much for such small and inexperienced boys; but the most interesting attraction they found was a parade, the classic type you could find in the streets every mystical night of the year, with performers moving from one side to the other of the street. The boys ended up becoming part of it before even realising it. It could have been the best night of their lives, but none of the four boys knew that night would become their turning point.

- But it didn't take much for people to notice that they weren't children in costumes.

- the moment people understood, the boys were assaulted and it took all their willpower and strenght to get out of that situation, crawling back to the lair in tears and with bruises everywhere.

- the worse of them was Raphael, who someone had hit with a broken bottle, leaving a wound on the side of his face. He now has a scar, reminding him of that night.

- Of course, Splinter was furious for his sons' insubordination.

- he gave all four of them a different punishment, something he called the HASHI.

- But the thing is that Splinter learnt quite fast that he and his sons will never be accepted in the world, so he needed to find a way to ensure that, to some degree, his sons would be able to defend themselves. Did he find a book on martial arts in the sewers while sweeping the floor? Absolutely not.

- See, I like to think he came in contact with the Foot Clan by accident, in particular with Shredder.

- Let's say that the man was surveyign some of his men's activity down the docks and walked into splinter gathering food for his sons and himself.

- The man was flabbergasted.

- Now, Shredder isn's stupid. He knew about the experiements Sacks was making in the lab and, seeing a giant rat running around the docks, it doesn't take much for him to put 2 and 2 together.

- So he decides to take that opportunity.

- He approaches Splinter and the two -although with some reluctance on Splinter's side for obvious reasons- start talking.

- Splinter sees right then and there the chance to make himself and his sons not only able to fend themselves, but also a way not to live forever in the sewers.

- It takes a while for him to take a decision but he eventually sides with Shredder, joining the Foot Clan and learning from the man how to deal with a business.

- In a certain way, it was Shredder that introduced Splinter to the world of business.

- He also made sure Splinter and the turtles learnt martial arts

- Shredder is a patient man, after all, he will take what he wants, but he'll make sure that it will be done on his own terms, according to his needs.

- Splinter quickly rises in the organisation, becoming Shredder's collaborator. The old rat would go as far as to say he was friends with the man, much like the 2012 series,

- But I wouldn't be here to tell you this story if it had all ended well, right?

- Splinter finds out about Shredder true plans thanks to Donatello, who had learnt to hack into any computer and database. At first the boy had not understood, after all he had been little more than a hatchling back when he, his borthers and his father had been experimented on.

- but once he shows the rusults of his research to Splinter, boy, the rat is FURIOUS.

- cue fall out with Shredder (that is way too long to write about, but I will in the future. Maybe)

- After that Splinter splits from Shredder.

- His methods, quite different from the leader of the Foot Clan, made many men inside the organisation change their minds and side with him instead than with Shredder.

- So he quickly created his own business, always antagonising Shredder and the Foot.

- Splinter's whole persona changed after that betrayal, he doesn't trust anyone else after that.

- Apart from his sons and April, who he had met once more and with whom he has rebuilt a strong friendship, sometimes even referring to her as the daughter he never had.

- He led the organisation until a certain point before being assassinated by the Foot Clan.

- In his will, he had appointed Leonardo as his heir and successor, which wasn't very unexpected, but in truth the business has been somehow divided between the four brothers, in order to avoid any kind of bad blood between the four brothers.

Leonardo

You’ll never be half the man Splinter was.

- Leo was 15 when Splinter and Shredder had their fall out, at present he's 25 and main Head to the business since the moment Splinter died.

- He was actually the one who _found_ him dead in his office, and he still has nightmares about it.

- He has severe confidence problems because he thinks he'll never live up to the expectations that have been forced upon him, and if someone brings up his father in front of him, he WILL take it as a personal attack.

- His brothers secretly all think he has had it easier because he has always been Splinter's favourite,

- spoiler alert: he hasn’t.

- He had to set the example, being the one the others would look up to, he needed to be a second parent for his siblings, which sometimes led him to act like a dick to each one of them.

- Also, I don't think people point this out enough, but the man has an OCD so terrible he might go insane any moment if something isn't exactly as he wants it to be or if something goes in an unexpected way.

- In his mind, tho, outside he’s perfectly calm and collected.

- He's also the one who will opt for violence as a last resort, because killing isn't really his cup of tea, actually: it's too messy and he doesn’t like the dirty feeling he gets. Like, if a drop of blood falls on his jacket he'll be pissed. He much prefers leaving the reins to Raphael when it comes to it.

- What he DOES do is giving the order. There is nothing in the organisation that happens without his say so.

- Did I mention that he's a control freak?

- Literally nobody moves until he gives his command on an operation, whatever that is.

- He's also kind of spoiled, and he's not used to being told 'no.' He gets what he wants. End of story. And that applies to relationships too.

- Now, listen. He's lowkey the second-top-tear-gangsta-boyfriends, but he will always pick his family over anything or anyone. That is not up for discussions. You okay with it? great. You're not? the door's that way.

- That doesn't mean he doesn’t love, tho.

- I can see him having very few relationships in the past, all of them very serious ones, but he tries his best never to get his s/o into the business, because he knows things will get risky.

- After Splinter's death, he has cut off all ties.

- He can't, for the love of him, fall in love after that. Casual fuck? sure, why not. But love is off the table, because he knows that if he finds himself in the same situation he had been when he had found Splinter's corpse... Let's say that his mental state will only get worse.

Raphael

My kind of rebirth tasted like blood.

- Raphael just turned 25 rn, and while he and Leo can and will most likely bang their heads together in multiple occasions, he doesn’t mind that his brother is the actual lead of the business.

- ⁠He just cares to be respected and to be recognized as important in the business.

- ⁠He’s responsible for the dealing of weapons and in charge of taking care of the subjects that Leo thinks is right to eliminate for the wellbeing of the business

- ⁠Raphael used to have a very conflicted relationship with splinter, being the rebellious child that he is; but when his father died, Raphael developed severe depression and has been on meds for a few years.

- ⁠If you name his father, he’ll probably need to start therapy all over again, so please don’t do it.

- ⁠Anger issues stayed tho, and if anything, they worsened instead of getting better.

- ⁠He argues a lot with Leo when it comes to take action because diplomacy can’t be the solution to everything, sometimes you have to show that you’re stronger than others.

- ⁠But sometimes he takes things a bit too personally

- ⁠like that time when someone cheated on his brother and he wanted to hang them out the headquarters and kill the bastard who they cheated with in the worse way possible.

- ⁠he was told off, but he still managed to get the two involved in a severe accident and send them both to the hospital.

- ⁠did I mention that he’s fiercely loyal?

- ⁠Among his brothers, this man probably would rather die than betray his family.

- ⁠Does that include his s/o? it depends.

- ⁠If it comes down to choosing between his s/o or his family, meh…

- ⁠Blood runs thicker than water.

- ⁠He’s a passionate lover, always present when he needs to be, but it’s most likely that he will have jealous outbursts more times than he’s had breakfast.

- ⁠Fact is, he loves. A lot. He’s like a match burning. So either you understand that, and you burn forever, or he’s going to burn too quickly and the relationship dies.

- ⁠Now, everyone says that he’s in a toxic relationship

- ⁠I think so too, but not in the same way.

- ⁠I can see him being with this girl for something like a month or two and then problems starting.

- ⁠The thing is that this relationship at this point is hanging by a thread

- ⁠a very strong one, actually.

- ⁠They have a daughter.

- ⁠Raphael is the only one between his brothers to have a child (a legitimate one, at least), and he will kill for his daughter.

- ⁠Also, the child was born before Splinter died, and against all odds, he was happy to become grandfather.

- ⁠I think that’s important to mention that it’s extremely hard to have children with a mutant, so ofc everyone was happy

- ⁠but now he needs to figure out his relationship with the mother of his child

Donatello

Suffering feels religious if you do it right.

- Donnie has just turned 25 but his back feels like he’s 65

- ⁠Is actually the one who’s most mad about the succession after Splinter’s death and still feels kind of bitter over it

- ⁠responsible for the IS and trafficking of all sorts of information across the organisation and outside of it.

- ⁠Expert in hacking but also cyber security so he knows how to attack and defend on computing level

- ⁠has contacts all across the globe and can’t be bothered by anyone

- ⁠he suffer from severe anxiety but tries his best to keep it under control, no matter the amount of meds or weed that he consumes

- ⁠But still he will drink more coffee than water

- ⁠He also suffers from severe insomnia (same mate) and honestly? he can’t be bothered about it. (his brothers are trying to make him start an healthy sleeping schedule, tho)

- ⁠He had the most fucked up relationship with splinter and he grew up either being ignored or being mistreated, and that only made him lose more of his sanity than his life already had

- ⁠apart from Leo, with whom he has quite a conflicted relationship at times, he’s in good terms with Mikey and Raph, especially the latter since they are the “middle twins”

- ⁠Donnie is also in charge of the interrogations and torture (if it ever comes to it), but he’s very efficient at both

- ⁠As I said, everyone in the family has a twisted mind but he’s kind of the worse

- ⁠because he’s grown to be very reclusive of his feelings and so he has to let them out in some kind of way, right?

- ⁠Most of all, tho, he worries about the strategical and logical overview of the business and, even though he’s not in the best terms with Leo, he still is his right hand in making decisions that are pivotal to the organisation.

- ⁠Remember when I said that Leo is a control freak? this man too

- ⁠He also has a tendency to be pessimistic and paranoid so he has cams everywhere that he uses to make sure everything is good and all right.

- ⁠Will also do the same in relationships

- ⁠he has very low self esteem so he’ll never believe to be good enough for someone and that his s/o will cheat on him first chance they get

- ⁠so he takes precautions

- ⁠I can also see him being very hard to open up. He’s not shy, he’s just very hard to make him trust someone. He’ll think they want to try to get to him out of something they want and not because they’re really interested in him

- ⁠but when you do manage to get inside his ‘inner circle’ (it might take some time) he’s never going to let you go, be aware of that

- ⁠Still, the same drill applies to him too: will he ever choose his s/o over his family? unlikely.

- ⁠He’s not in a relationship at the moment but he doesn’t mind, he’s way too busy with work and with making sure his brothers stay out of trouble

- 100% has a scheming face (quoting Kaz Brekker)

Michelangelo

This darkness is my light.

- the baby of the family, how adorable

- ⁠He’s 24 and might as well be the one people underestimate the most

- ⁠He’s in charge of the communication department, and this man is good at what he does. Moves around the internal and external communication like a pro and he’s the top person you want to talk to when you have a problem

- ⁠except when he’s not in the right mood.

- ⁠This man can change his behavior in a matter of moments. Might be kind and smiling one moment and the next he’s going to hit someone with a hammer

- ⁠You have to pray he’s in a good mood if you ever want to ask him something

- ⁠The only one who can actually restrain his behavior is Leo. Mikey won’t listen to anyone but him and if you talk shit about his older brother he’s gonna throw fists.

- ⁠Don’t ever say anything bad about his family. He will hunt you down and make you regret your life choices.

- ⁠He’s the most loyal of his brothers. He will choose his family over and over again and there’s no way someone can make change his mind, no sir.

- ⁠He’s devoted to his family and yes, maybe he could make a few mistakes because he’s chatty most of the time, but he’ll make sure to fix everything to protect his brothers

- ⁠also he’s very protective

- ⁠He has ADHD and a dissociative personality disorder.

- ⁠He’s currently going to therapy but it’s not really helping, at least, that’s what he says

- he also likes gambling, he think he’s some kind of god of gamble. Legit.

-Has 100% played russian roulette or the knife game at least once

- ⁠He had a strange relationship with Splinter.

- ⁠His father loved him, and being the little one of the family clearly made him more in need of reassurance and affection, especially from his father

- ⁠But he also was overlooked quite a lot, at least by Splinter

- ⁠hence Leo becoming a sort of second father figure to him

- ⁠So while Leo is daddy’s boy, Mikey is his brothers’ boy

- ⁠Hence him being very protective of his older brothers

- ⁠Mikey has a lot of friends, like, A LOT.

- ⁠he knows how to read people and he knows how to manipulate them in the best way

- ⁠Be ready because this man takes pride in how well he can terrify someone or make them love him

- ⁠as about relationships,

- he suffers from erotomania (a form of delusional disorder in which an individual believes that another person is in love with them), so he’s being deluded one too many times but he’s had a bit of practice.

- ⁠He falls in love easily and hard, so he happens to often find his heartbroken because he can’t tell when someone is after him or after his money

- ⁠hence his brothers trying to teach him how to understand when someone is genuine or not

- ⁠he’s still learning

#tmnt bayverse #tmnt 2014 #tmnt 2016 #mob!au #mob!mikey #mob!leo #mob!donnie #not romanticising mobs #au #mob!raph #tmnt #tmnt headcanons

[cinamun]

the anon here that had something to say about jerri having a baby. first off jerri is always on the run from the cops, she is a “pimp” and doesn’t know how to embrace change. jerri’s mindset is still in correlation with her upbringing ie, constantly calling indya a bitch or a hoe when indya has moved passed her ways. how bout the thought of her calling her own child those names. jerri was scared of indya change because she didn’t want to lose the indya that she used to know. just because she “protected” her sister doesn’t make her valid enough to be a parent. example one the cops just popping up and taking the baby. has jerri been able to spend any real time wit her nieces and nephew ? that answer would be no. not to mention that she fraudulently hooked bishop up wit mercy ! mercy ain’t one of her hoes and she set her up for failure without even knowing it. suppose mercy got killed then what ??? she is not capable of having a child ! is she gonna teach that child to be a pimp or to get her money too ? not to mention she robbed her own brother in law !!!!..................the ghetto! i mean so yea I want all the smoke!

Oh nonny! There you are! I'm so glad you came back AND with an explanation of how you're viewing this here situation. Good thing you just didn't leave it at "that's ghetto", for obvious reasons.

You know how we do, let's get into it!

"first off jerri is always on the run from the cops, she is a “pimp” and doesn’t know how to embrace change"

Jerri grew up in the same environment her sister did; the streets, on the strip with pimps and hoes, boo. I would argue that Jerri learned the hard way to embrace change whether that was good change (released from prison) or bad change (not accepting her sister's new life).

"jerri’s mindset is still in correlation with her upbringing ie, constantly calling indya a bitch or a hoe when indya has moved passed her ways. how bout the thought of her calling her own child those names"

Come on son, Indya called ME a hoe when she woke up with wrinkles on her face. For both Indya and her sister this is a classic case of taking the sim out of the streets but not taking the street out the sim. Same goes for Darren. So where is this smoke for Indya and Darren?Calling each other bitches and hoes isn't the horrible behavior you think it is for Jerri and Indya. In most cases they are terms of endearment for them. Its just how they talk to each other. You absolutely will not understand that if you don't have some basic concept of street knowledge or lived experience (and I'm about to eat so i can't run it down for you friend).

Also, Indya will call the mail lady a bitch if needed but have you ever heard her call one of her daughters that? Even when she snatched Hope up by the elbow, she never once called her out of her name. Jerri wouldn't either, these are kids. One rule of the streets is let kids keep their innocence (operating opposite will get you killed).

"jerri was scared of indya change because she didn’t want to lose the indya that she used to know"

No, nonny, I wrote this part so let me eat right quick: She was afraid of losing Indya PERIOD. As in, losing her sister to a man (lots of patriarchal trauma in this story). Indya is all she has aside from mom and she hadn't quite embraced Darren so yeah she was scared. But not for the reason you think.

"just because she “protected” her sister doesn’t make her valid enough to be a parent."

What makes a person valid enough to be a parent?

"example one the cops just popping up and taking the baby"

Bro... I literally gave links to explain why Child Protection (an arm of the police) targets Black/LGBTQ+ families. Not saying Jerri is some upstanding citizen, but she's going to be a target for reasons Michelle Alexander so eloquently stated in The New Jim Crow. A book a I very highly recommend.

"has jerri been able to spend any real time wit her nieces and nephew?"

Define "real time".

"she fraudulently hooked bishop up wit mercy ! mercy ain’t one of her hoes and she set her up for failure without even knowing it. suppose mercy got killed then what ???"

Jerri created a singles profile for Bishop ( she was paid handsomely to do it), thought Mercy was a nice match, made the connection and dipped. Its business, never personal. Jerri doesn't just operate street shit, she has expanded her portfolio. Basically I am writing about someone who sells sex no matter what the medium. Because one thing adults are gonna do? Adults are gonna fuck. Its the oldest profession in the world friend.

"is she gonna teach that child to be a pimp or to get her money too?"

I can't tell if you're being facetious but.. of course not, on the pimp part. On the "get her money" part? No doubt. All young women should find the means to be financially stable without assistance. We stan an independent woman who got her own.

Always stay gracious, best revenge is yo paper.

(I realize "whew chile, the ghetto" is popular slang, however the way you used it earlier insinuated that hood folk shouldn't be parents and this post is still giving that energy. I don't think its a fair assumption to say hood folk shouldn't be parents. in fact, it gives Ron DeSantis energy and thats not a good look nonny)

#story stuff #long post #required reading

[soleillunne]

OKAY OKAY SO!! do you have any book recs?? i want to get back into reading, it feels like i've mostly been focused on writing these days

i have a bunch but most are fantasy!

the folk of the air trilogy - holly black

enemies to friends-ish to enemies to lovers, mc is a badass and the li is so in love (hes also a menace but mc kinda covers that lmao)

this is a 3 book series with a new series that just dropped that happens after the events of these 3 books

the order is: the cruel prince, the wicked king, the queen of nothing, stolen heir (the new book) but there are also books you can read in between (that i havent read myself)

by far the best book series ive read, i would sell my soul to read it again for the first time

circe - madelline miller

this is a story about circe, a godess (i think) from greek myth. the writing was beautiful, but since its myth, if youre not interested i dont reccomend

(same goes w song of achilles by the same writer)

shadow and bone & six of crows - leigh bardugo

(this one has a two season series on netflix too if youre interested)

shadow and bone - 3 books;

mc is so op honestly, she discovers magical powers early in the book and finds out shes grisha (ppl that have magical powers), but not just any grisha, shes a legend grisha, one of a kind

i dont really remember who she ends up with as its been a while since i read the books but one li is an ass while the other gives golden retriever vibes and i didnt like either of them /lh

six of crows - 2 books;

now listen, i didnt actually read these two books but in the tv show the two series are shown at the same time and i like the characters in this one more

badass gang, thats it. (look more info pls dont trust me)

the kane chronicles - rick riordan

percy jackson is so famous people forget this absolute gem right here.

the idea is the same as percy jackson, except this time its about egyptian gods instead (also techically mc isnt a child of the gods)

it has 3 books, with extra crossover books w pjo (that are also really good once you have the basics)

the midnight library - matt haig

i'm actually not sure what category this falls into.

mc has an accident and ends up at a library at exactly midnight, where the weird librarian tells her that this library is her life (of sorts). basically each book in the library is how her life couldve been like based on some decisions she made

and she keeps going to these other versions of her life by reading the books until she realizes hey, she wants to live, and goes back to her original life

not my favorite, but still an okay one

dune - frank herbert

this is a classic, but it was really good

i dont remember the details, all i really remember was that i had sth for the mc

fr tho its really good, give it a go if long books dont intimidate you

as for books to get into reading again, hmmm

cries okay so dont get mad but the cruel prince got me out of a reading slump

momo - michael ende

this book is so well written istg

mc is a child, first of all. and i dont mean like a teen i mean shes 8 max, shes a literal child but its okay bc there isnt that much action in this one

the main idea of the book is about how precious time is, but its told through such an interesting way. there are time thieves that steal other people's time to live, making it look like theyre helping people save time on mundane things, and momo stops them (not in an insane way i promise)

the secret garden - frances hodgson burnett

this is a classic, but dont let that fool you this is a really well written book

this one has almost no action in it btw

mc is also a child here (shes maybe 12 at most), she moves into the mansion of her uncle after her family dies where she starts to behave like an actual child instead of some spoiled princess/lh

so one day while going on a stroll in the garden area (?) bc no one is there to take care of her now, she finds a secret garden and decides hey since no one seems to care for this garden, this is mine now

also there are other children that she befriends along the way that help her w the garden

def recommend

extra;

anne of green gables (this is so long honestly i ended up just watching the series bc the fact that its 8 books intimidated me at the time - ill get to it eventually)

miss peregrines home for peculiar children (also same as above - i loved the concept tho and ill read it eventually)

percy jackson - a classic

Jayden's Rescue & Old Scroll - vladimir tumanov (these are techincally chrildrens books but theyre also great books so)

#i can give you other recs but theyre turkish and idk if they have eng translations #chitchat #Aly's Friends.[Mika✨]

[jeniffercheck]

I don't know if u care but Do you think that Shiv or Karolina are like big cinephiles or big readers or art/music purist fans? And is they are are they compatible. ?

Also what type of music /movies or books are their vibes? 🤔

i absolutely do care about this topic!!!!!! it's so long per usual i'm sorry, under the cut!!!

shiv to me is definitely a big reader, i think she's very well-read and i think it would be her main source of entertainment?? i don't think she would be snobbish about it and would read a lot of different things, and probably moves through books at a regular pace to just be able to read something and forget about it if she doesn't like it (certainly has the money to be a bookworm). she was reading a romance novel in one episode which honestly makes sense for her lmaoo.

shiv's movie tastes are much different, i think she would be pretty pretentious about movies in her adult age, mostly in part of her "rejecting" things that she might've liked earlier in her life?? i guess bc of the place we meet her, she's really trying to fit in to the boys club and i think that would bleed into her movie opinions for some reason 😭

and i think she has a horribly wretched taste in music but probably knows a decent amount about classical music due to her upbringing, AND whatever her weird and unusual knowledge about london grime would definitely weed its way into her music taste and i think that's something she would surprise karolina with for sure (shiv roy one year: hey i was sent vip for EDC, karolina: ???????)

karolina do have very specific headcanons about but i have no idea if they make sense since we just don't know a lot about her, but i do think she is a big cinephile but not super snobbish about it, like i think she has firm opinions and would argue for hours over a film but i don't think that's her one true hobby if that makes sense....like she's just karolina...idk 😭 i personally headcanon that her favorite movie is the matrix 🤭

i also see her really liking heavy music & i've said in another post that i can't find right now that i could really see her liking 90s alt/guitar babes like a heavy rotation of alanis, veruca salt, jewel, fiona apple, sheryl crow, etc. if anyone has seen the newsreader, i imagine her like that scene where helen comes home and just blasts heavy metal while she relaxes 😭

karolina reading...i'm not quite sure. i could see her reading a lot of nonfiction, and a lot of memoirs for some reason. definitely a lot of celebrity books, her PR brain probably goes crazy for the goss 😭

#i think they would both like art generically #shiv might know things about art in the way that wealthy people might be expected to #but i can't see her caring too much #i could see karolina having a favorite artist but not know THAT much about art #answered

[louisgamingblog]

Resident Evil 4 Remastered is a masterful crossover of action and horror

Picture this you're in the middle of nowhere, deep within a desolate countryside town somewhere in Spain. Eerie whispers in a foreign language echo through narrow alleys, he screeching sirens of crows, lurking from the trees, the unsettling creaks of decaying houses. Then out of nowhere a chainsaw building maniac bursts onto the scene, thirsty for blood. This is the world of Resident Evil 4 in a nutshell. A game that effortlessly straddles between heart pounding action and spine chilling horror.

So what makes this newer and updated version of the 2004 original classic such a masterful crossover of action and horror. Lets dive into the demented and twisted corridors of the game and unlock its secret formular makes it such a heart pounding and thrilling experience.

To begin with, perhaps Resident Evil 4's most effective feature is that is absolutely nails the delicate art of pacing. Its like Capcom are master chefs with 30 years in the business and they can perfectly craft a gourmet of suspense. The game very slowly reels you in giving you a confident sense of security as the first chapter begins. It builds up its ominous atmosphere gradually, letting the tension simmer for a little while before it reaches a boil. In the beginning you're navigating the dark and eerie outskirts of the quiet village. You hear unsettling noises, but you can not see anything, you wonder what horrors are lurking in the shadows. Then just as you begin to put your guard down, The intensity cranks up to the max, and you are hit with relentless waves of enemies and adrenaline pumping encounters. There is a roller-coaster of emotion and feelings that keep you hooked and alert from start to finish.

Moving onto the mechanics of the game, its combat system is another ace that it has up its sleeve. Resident Evil 4 does not just throw hordes of enemies at you and says good luck, it picks it specific moments where it'll hand you a diverse arsenal of weaponry and strategies that you can you use to your advantage for various scenarios. Some weapons and tactics suiting certain situations over others. The satisfying kick of a shotgun, the deadly precision of a well aimed headshot and the nerve wrecking decision to either fight your enemies in a wild show of gun and glory, take a conservative approach and pick them off one at a time from distance, or flee and run away all together, there are so many angles a player can approach the gameplay with each and all having benefits and detriments. Its a ballet of violence and survival. This balance in empowering the player while maintaining a constant undercurrent reminder of vulnerability and mortality is where the game hits the nail on the head. Despite the protagonist Leon Kennedy being a combat trained, strong and athletic special agent, we are made very much aware that he is not an indestructible superhero. In the situation you find yourself with him, he is a survivor, and every encounter is a potential dance with danger and death.

The iconic enemies in Resident Evil 4 play a crucial role in it's success. From the chainsaw wielding maniacs to the horrifying and grotesque Regenerators, each enemy is a nightmare in its own right, and require different approaches and weaponry to take them down effectively. Where as the chainsaw man simply requires him to be pumped with as much lead as quick as possible, the regenerator rewards you for having precise accuracy, by hitting the individual parasites scattered within different parts of their bodies. These enemies aren't just nuisance obstacles they are physical manifestations of fear and the game revels in keeping you constantly on edge. The dread of not knowing what abomination lurks around the corner is a constant companion, making every advancing step a courageous leap into the ominous unknown.

Gameplay and pacing aside, there has to be some serious acknowledgment to Resident Evil 4's atmospheric level design. The environments are not just backdrops, they are characters within the horror narrative. Whether you're navigating the eerily quiet settlements of the village, the decrepit medieval castle, a haunted island or an abandoned military factory, each location has it's own flavour of terror and threats that await the player. The tight and claustrophobic corridors amplify the feeling of being stalked and hunted, like you're going to be forced into a dead end, meanwhile open spaces give a sense of vulnerability like you're going to be ambushed by a large count of enemies. The world design feels like a haunted house and you're exploring its darkest corner with trepidation.

What truly sets Resident Evil 4 apart from other games within it's genre. giving it it's title of not only one of the best survival horror games ever, but also one of the best video games ever made, is its commitment to reinventing the survival horror genre. It does not rely solely on the jump scares and grotesque visuals. It creates an extremely immersive experience that seeps write into your soul. The chilling soundtrack, the subtle yet eerie ambient sounds and the very minimalist approach to storytelling, creates a perfect storm of horror. It's not just about what meets the eye first hand, its also about what you hear and what you feel. Every creak, every distance snarl, becomes a part of the narrative, building a truly unforgettable haunting atmosphere.

In conclusion, Resident Evil 4 Remastered is a masterclass and a perfect dovetail between the elements of action and horror. It takes all the best parts of the survival horror genre and infuses them with shots of adrenaline to create a concoction of a heart pounding gameplay experience with spinechilling atmosphere. Its more than a game ; its a journey into the darkest corridors of fear, where any bit of progression forward is a victory against the unknown.

#resident evil #horror #mystery #suspense #action adventure #spoiler free #atmosperic #video games #leon kennedy

[ryansbedroom]

My 2022 in a nutshell!

2022 has been a smorgasbord of ups & downs with the highest highs and lowest lows for all the right reasons.

January: I received a mini talking Oshawott plush that came all the way from the United States still in mint condition after 10 years! Then I built the LEGO 10290 Pickup Truck (which I could've done it months earlier so my grandfather would have an interesting reaction but it's too late now). I drove all the way to Milang so I could take a closer look at a coveted Lightburn Trailer! I even gave the seller some spares. Dad & I went saw The Addams Family 2 at Mainline Drive-In which closed its gates for the last time. I finally upgraded to a better phone; a Samsung Galaxy A25 which performs way better than my older one.

February: I got started on my Lightburn Trailer project by buying a vintage Campbell tail lamp still in mint condition with its original box! The Radio Rentals building on Main North Road in Prospect was demolished. Oreo released a special edition design themed to 'The Batman'. At Grill'd, I also tried their special 'Bruce Wayne Burger'. Bought LEGO's blue edition of the Fiat 500 just to take advantage of its differences.

March: At the Garden of Unearthly Delights which turned 20, me and a buddy named Vincent saw Unusualism starring Raymond Crowe. At Gluttony, dad & I saw Just Floyd which was a fantastic Pink Floyd cover band. I made my first Pikachu Waffle with the waffle iron I bought from Zing. Bought LEGO's 10298 Vespa 125 scooter and it only took a couple of hours to build! The house where my grandmother lived for more than 20 years in Greenock was put up for sale as she moved to a retirement estate in Nuriootpa. I had a wonderful time at WOMADelaid's 30th Year though I had to leave early at 9pm as I had work the next day. Dad & I saw Midnight Oil at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. This was (I think) the first time I saw a show there in 20 years!

April: Bought some goodies from the Comic & Toy Fair at the St Clair Rec Centre in Woodville.

May: I had lunch with Vincent at the Gilbert Valley Hotel in Saddleworth which had decor stuck in the 1970s! Coles at the Central Market closed its doors after operating for more than 50 years. Classic buses came for a visit at the St Kilda Tramway Museum and I had a few rides on bus 1540! The ANZ branch at Ridgehaven moved to Modbury after operating for many years.

June: Went to the Mega Toy Fair at Wayville and bought a few nostalgic things including LEGO's Highway Rig from 1986, a vintage Corgi ice cream van still in top condition and a bag of Dazzeland cups! Saw Top Gun: Maverick with my dad at Hoyts for the first time in LUX! The state's dine-in Pizza Hut in Marion closed its doors forever after more than 40 years. Dad & I went to the Gov in Bowden and saw Steve Hackett: Genesis Revisited (which was worth a two-year wait after they postponed touring due to COVID!) The TREG trailer factory ceased operations due to poor sales. But I've managed to grab a few maker plaques and have them coated.

July: Went to Brixpo at the St Clair Rec Centre which was bigger and better than before and bought that coveted FJ Holden Ute which was a 2014 Brickvention exclusive! Also had a wonderful night at Illuminate Adelaide. Had a bounce at the state's only Flip-Out in Smithfield which closed its doors after nearly five years. Saw Gorillaz and later; Synthony at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Both were absolutely awesome!

August: The ford on Mulkarra Street in Ridgehaven has been upgraded to a low-level bridge which should mean flooding will be very less likely during wet weather. The road & cycle safety centre in Ridgehaven underwent an upgrade including replacement of all the signs and new paths. Bought a few things at the Fisherman's Wharf Markets in Port Adelaide which (yet again!) closed its doors for the last time! Went to the Gawler Show for the first time in a few years. Then I saw KISS at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre with Vincent. I was so delighted to fill that space in my lifetime.

September: On my 32nd Birthday, I got the new LEGO Ferrari Daytona SP3 and the Chevrolet Camaro! I had a wonderful time at the Royal Adelaide Show and I was so glad it returned after a two-year absence due to COVID, only to be overshadowed by the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96! Several days earlier, I knew she wasn't going to last any longer. It was truly the end of a very ambitious era! Still, she was BORDERLINE LUCKY to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. Went to the Scott Creek Cemetery where Harold Anderton Lightburn's grave is just a few days after the 20th Anniversary of his death.

October: For the first time in only six years, I've been in a wave pool at Mildura Waves! And I even managed to take footage with my GoPro! We were originally going to travel to Wodonga to visit Uncle Tony & Aunt Heather. But however, the most-unexpected happened as Victoria and other parts of eastern Australia suffered major flooding, forcing us to change plans and instead, we went all the way to Wallaroo and then Port Lincoln.

November: I've taken footage of Hamilton's 'Sizzler' ride being setup for the first time in my life! Purchased both Pokemon Scarlet/Violet from EB Games. My mother turned 70 and I gave her a tin of Lindt Lindor balls!

December: Finally bought my first Knight Rider merch; Playmobil's Light & Sound K.I.T.T. from ToyWorld. I tried to attend the Civic Park Carols but it was too wet! Saw Avatar: The Way Of Water in 3D on XtremeScreen! Got great xmas gifts including LEGO's Atari 2600 model, a Pikachu-style Grilled Sandwich Maker and... A POWERED BICYCLE! Now I can ride to and from work without wasting petrol!

Other notable achievements: The former 'FLAG' semi-trailer (seen in Knight Rider) was found lurking in Arizona after 36 Years by the Knight Rider Historians! So both semi and trailer will be worked on which will take a few years! After 25 Years, Ash Ketchum has become the GRAND CHAMPION! However, it's now officially the end of an ambitious era as Ash Ketchum's epic journey came to an epic conclusion! Though I may still vow to stick to Pokemon to the very end!

We will remember: Queen Elizabeth II, Jason David Frank (a.k.a. the original Green Ranger), Olivia Newton John, Robbie Coltrane, Shane Warne, Meat Loaf, Peter Robbins (original voice of Charlie Brown), Emilio Delgado a.k.a. Luis the handyman, Taylor Hawkins, Gilbert Gottfried (a.k.a. Iago the parrot), Ivana Trump, Anne Heche, Coolio, Loretta Lynn, Jody Miller, Dietrich Mateschitz (Red Bull founder), Terry Hall

And that's about it for me. I would like to wish everyone on DeviantArt a very Merry Christmas and not just a Happy but BETTER New Year 2023! Don't forget to leave your comments below, subscribe and I'll see you all in the year of the National Railway Museum's 60th Anniversary!

#2022 #in review #in a nutshell #looking back

[broke-on-books]

THE END OF EPISODE 5 IM LOSING IT

"Just ask"

#LISTEN im not gonna do direct spoilers but OH MY FUCKING GOD #thats just SO FUNNY #WHAT THE FUCK YOU KNOW #absolute classic crows move right there #in that moment we were all jesper ahdiahrbabre #no but like its so ironic how hes shit at gambling but literally so lucky constantly #that and plot armor agdjahdw #no but i have no clue whats gonna happen next its so off the rails #s&b spoilers

[scalpelgall]

10 comfort movies for a night in :

1. Pride and Prejudice (2005)

Usually, when one reads a book and comes to love the story, watching the movie adaptation can be disheartening. Well I must exclude Joe Wright’s adaptation from this, the movie was conveyed beautifully and did justice to the original story, the acting was remarkable and clever with it’s own twist especially with Matthew MacFadyen’s way of portraying a manly and vulnerable Darcy making the whole audience swoon. This movie is a masterpiece just like the book.

2. Jane Eyre (2011)

I was moved as I’ve scarcely been before. This heart wrenching, captivating and stunningly mounted adaptation will make you wish it never ends. Both Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender played their roles brilliantly in a way to make you feel every bit of emotion the two characters are feeling. No matter the ending you’ll finish this movie with a heavy heart.

3. The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)

Alexandre Dumas’ classic tale of romance, adventure and revenge begins with friendships, betrayals and frustration all ingeniously played by the striking Jim Caviezel who did justice to both the innocence of Edmond Dantès and the shrewdness of the Count. I’ve watched this movie countless times and I can’t seem to get enough.

4. Little Women (2019)

Based on Alcott’s book about sisterhood, this adaptation will pierce you right in the heart. Beautifully acted and thoughtfully directed here is a movie as poetic as it is real, you’ll go from laughing to crying to laughing again while enjoying one of the most heartfelt and uplifting movie experiences of all time.

5. The Three Musketeers (2011)

An adventurous, daring and fun movie if you’re searching for something entertaining to watch. The action scenes are great and sometimes funny, I personally loved the chemistry between the characters and the movie themes vary between love, betrayal, friendship and duty.. Bonus point, Matthew MacFadyen portraying Athos is a blessing to the eyes!

6. Sense and Sensibility (1995)

Another Jane Austen masterpiece and one of my favorite movies ever. Touching, romantic, heart warming and brilliantly preformed by some of the greatest actors of all time, I recommend this adaptation especially for anyone going through a breakup.

7. Robin Hood (2010)

My favorite version of this story. The cinematics are amazing and the music and action scenes are outstanding. Loved the chemistry between Russel Crowe and Cate Blanchett, they are disarmingly fun to watch and absolutely moving at times. If you haven’t already watched this movie I highly recommend you to.

8. Becoming Jane (2007)

If you love Jane Austen and romantic historical movies as much as I do then this one’s for you. “Becoming Jane” is an imitation screen adaptation of an Austen-like novel that imagines the author's love life and how it affected her writing. Romantic, touching and heart breaking, I suggest you bring some tissues and start with watching the moving story of young Jane Austen’s love life.

9. Anna Karenina (2012)

From Leo Tolstoy’s bestseller straight to your screens, this is the emotional story of a passion that led two lovers to their fall. This modern, intoxicating and very much exciting adaptation explores the themes of jealousy, marriage, infidelity and society to make the viewer understand that sometimes sacrifices need to be made even if it costs one’s happiness.

10. Far From The Madding Crowd (2015)

Two worthy suitors and one scoundrel, guess which one Bathsheba Everdene picks in the end. This adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s novel not only empowers women, but also paints beautiful landscapes and deeply romantic scenes to make you swoon. I guarantee you that this movie’s gonna make you wish you were born in Britain 1870. 

(by @scalpelgall )

#pride and predujice #jane eyer #the count of monte cristo #little women #the three musketeers #sense and sensibility #robin hood #becoming jane #far from the madding crowd #period drama #top 10 movies #movie quotes #movies #matthew macfadyen #keira knightley #russel crowe #cate blanchett #jane austen #moviegifs #passion #northanger abbey #books and libraries #jim caviezel #alexandre dumas #leo tolstoy #movie review #favorite movies #books #joe wright #scalpelgall

[okay-j-hannah]

You Really Like Hugs

Preference 

Characters: Tenth Doctor, Eleventh Doctor, and Newt Scamander

Warnings: None... just that I would like a hug now 😂

Request: “Preference, 10th, and 11th Doctor and Newt Scamander with a mom friend reader who really likes hugs 💜” @memoirs-of-a-crow

~~~

Tenth Doctor

“I’m fine.”

“You’re always saying that.”

He limped about the console, a smug look on his face. “That’s because I’m right.” And when he caught the raised eye from his companion, he backtracked, “Well, usually right.”

(Y/N) peered at the way he held a stitch in his side – how he preferred to stand on one foot over the other. She mutely pointed at the set of chairs next to her, watching the smugness melt away.

“I really am fine.” He stumbled slightly on his way over to her.

“You keep saying it… but I’ll be the judge on whether it’s true or not.” She couldn’t help but scrunch her brows in a concerned way as she watched him struggle moving.

He kept his classic smile trained on his face as he stood before her, “Time Lords heal faster than you think.”

“And I’ll feel better if I know you’re okay.” She grazed his jacket and noticed him wince, “Move your hand; let me see.”

She didn’t look to see how he stared at her worried glance. He hesitated, not wanting to create more fear after they’d just escaped from it outside. But he reluctantly lowered his hand, revealing a film of blood on his palm.

(Y/N) gasped, a knot twisting in her stomach, “This is your definition of fine?” Her voice was angry despite the sadness in her face.

The Doctor didn’t like being the cause of it, “It’s not so bad. I’ve already started rapid healing.” He spoke quickly, moving to raise his dress shirt. There was a harsh red mark, slightly scabbed over and covered in dried blood.

(Y/N) had moved her hands to cover her mouth as he showed her the wound. And she kept her hands there regardless of knowing he was healing all right. The Doctor frowned, his eyes twinkling as he gazed at her.

“I told you I’m fine. Nothing a new shirt can’t fix.” His voice was soft now, no hint of smugness or exasperation. He knew what she needed without her uttering a word in response.

He held out his arms, twiddling his fingers. She lifted her scared eyes to his warm ones, “You always have me going half mad with worry.” And she fell right into his arms, holding him tight, “I couldn’t stand it if I couldn’t help you.”

Her hands bunched into his jacket, squeezing the life out of him. It made the Doctor smile, “You’re helping me right now.” He wound his arms more securely around her, grinning into her hair.

Eleventh Doctor

(Y/N) waltzed about the room, drinking and laughing. Everyone around took in her infectious smile and couldn’t help but join in with the party.

The lights were dim, the music raised to an almost uncomfortable level, and (Y/N) was having the time of her life. She twirled around, lifting her drink into the air and cheering towards the crowd of people gathering around her.

They egged her on, bouncing and dancing right alongside her – Amy was somewhere nearby dragging Rory by the arm. (Y/N) beamed, loving the atmosphere of everyone having fun.

Needless to say she was a fan of surprise parties.

The Doctor was under the entryway, observing from afar. He had a stupid little smile on his face as he watched his companion bob and weave through the crowd. He absolutely shined at the enjoyment in her eyes.

(Y/N) was always such a comfort to him, the longest companion he’s had yet. And it was about time he started returning the favor; she needed some more fun after the worry she had taking care of him.

Because that’s exactly what she did – she took care of him. What would he do without her constant fretting and annoying questions? Or without her chocolate chip cookies and welcoming hugs?

He needed to make sure she understood how much he needed her around.

It was almost startling how quickly (Y/N) danced her way over; he didn’t notice her leave the crowd.

“Doctor!” She yelled over the music, still keeping in time with the song. “This is one hell of a party!”

His eyes glittered, knowing full well that if his bowtie could twirl on its own, it would right now. “I’m glad you like it.”

“I love it!” And she flung her arms around his neck, pulling him close.

Though a fan of hugs, giving them frequently himself, the Doctor always paused before returning one from (Y/N). He saw them as an honor, a comfort, and it was always a skip in his heartbeats whenever he received one.

But he wrapped her up in his arms and lifted her lightly off the ground. A goofy smile plastered itself on his face, spinning her around once before putting her down.

“You are such a joy to be around, (Y/N). You absolutely deserve this.”

She graced him with a smile, “And you are such a charmer Mr. Fez Man.” And she settled against his chest, keeping him close. She was completely oblivious to how he rested his head against hers, closing his eyes and reveling in her loving embrace.

Newt

Newt stood there awkwardly in the corner, observant and distant from the rest of the dinner guests. He watched as his brother stole his best friend, capturing every ounce of her attention in laughs and smiles.

He kept his face unreadable, swirling a forgotten drink in his hands. He would never admit it, but he could do with one of (Y/N)’s hugs right about now. But apparently she was too busy falling for his arrogant, idiot brother.

Newt was never a big fan of parties, but made appearances for Theseus’ sake, and because (Y/N) enjoyed going out. She always wanted to check up on her friends and others she cared about.

Of course that’s why she was best friends with Newt – she was always checking up on him. She felt the need to take care of him and all the better because Newt was never good at making friends.

“Merlin, does he ever shut up?” (Y/N) came trailing over towards Newt, eyeing him suspiciously. He knew she was assessing how he was doing.

“My brother is fond of an audience.”

“Yeah, took me only four seconds to figure it out.” She laughed her glorious laugh and then quieted at the lack of response from her friend. But she knew exactly how to handle it, “I thought I’d escape and come over here. I’d much rather hang around you than Theseus any day.”

He couldn’t help but feel the corner of his mouth lift in a hesitant smile, “It’s not quite as lively over here.”

And she gave him a concerned look, waiting for him to meet her gaze. When he didn’t, she took the liberty to wind herself around him, wrapping her arms about his waist. She waited longer still until he returned the hug with light and shaky hands.

“I’m all right, (Y/N). There’s no need for hugs at a dinner party.”

She smirked into his chest, pulling away and feeling him drop his arms immediately. He always did that, trying to make sure he didn’t make her uncomfortable.

“You think that was for you?” she laughed, “That hug was for me. I knew you’d make me feel better.”

Newt flittered his eyes towards hers, gauging if what she said was just for his benefit.

“This hug, however, is for you.” She grinned, pulling him in again and giggling slightly into his chest.

He let out a slightly exasperated sigh, smiling despite himself. He wasn’t as cautious this time as he wound his arms around her shoulders.

~~~

Buy Me a Coffee?

Tag List:

@caswinchester2000 @aria253264 @bippity-boppity-boopa  @emilythezeldafan 

Remember to check out my tag list so you’re updated when a fic you like is posted on my blog! Tag List

#tenth doctor #eleventh doctor #newt scamander #tenth doctor x reader #10th doctor #eleventh doctor x reader #11th doctor #newt scamander x reader

[incarnateirony]

Genuine question re: death of CW.

I have a shitty memory and may be wrong, but didn't Chaos Machine have a Winchesters prequel that was Optioned (or something) on the CW?

Like, CW was involved in that somehow, right?

So what happens to The Winchesters now?

(before reblogging the OP, please check this expanded info reblog)

The WB and CBS are most likely to become minority owners. Nexstar will be majority owner. Whether this means 50/25/25, or like, 34/33/33 is unclear at this point. But what it does mean is that decisions on profitability/programming/etc will fall on Nexstar, but they can still maintain WB and CBS' properties. It'll just be... different.

It's hard to explain how this will be different. Right now the media speculation involves one of two extremes, which is either:

giving up on CW being a superpower for future streaming content airing like it was during the age of the Netflix deal -- and leaning into its collapsed demographics to become that "homey heartland" channel for the seniors which are its only remaining viewers outside of certain shows like AA (which actually retains CW's original intended demographic, but black teenagers have their own culture and bubble from young white adults and teens, and weren't as turned off by SPN's ending and other white-centric shows)

These shows have absolute garbage streaming value when they hit digitals, like Walker, who while running live barely performs better in stream than its 90s version rotting out there in the aether. Or Dynasty. These types of pieces used to earn CBS benefit by the licensing value internationally that Netflix bought in bulk but, without it, are hard to peddle out and find homes for, get plugged on partner stations without real purchase just to find somewhere to be, and just. Sit. There.

Obviously boomers and the silent generation don't stream a lot. So if they choose this path, then basically, CW is going to retire trying at the digital market, and most of its shows will be condemned to digital obscurity in the real modern market while being there for old people leaving their TV on falling asleep to AARP ads on their heating pad.

The other option in discussion, which I do consider less likely, is renovating the programming bloc aggressively to actually do what the CW claimed on the tin, and try to revitalize its young demographic for the longer term ventures of digital markets. The issue is, this won't profit Nexstar as much. Nexstar owns a bunch of classic stations it's going to try to keep relevant for as long as possible. Even if that means going against the standard set by ABC about 70 years ago that the entire industry has used.

They want people watching their local stations. They don't care if it finds international or digital success. Digital success is sort of like salt to demons to classic station owners. And they're not buying part of the WB or CBS, they're buying part of CW (the network that they air on their stations/affiliates). WB or CBS tend to get the majority profit off of streaming and licensing. CW rarely gets a lot of direct revenue from that, as much as its parent companies basically bankrolled it to host said content.

The latter may continue, but Nexstar as a decision maker is likely going to keep its classic, physical stations in mind to try to keep them relevant, even if that means more shows for gramma. This is why the Wincels are crowing "WE WIN YAH THEY'RE MODELING IT AFTER WALKER" which... isn't what that article says, it just uses Walker as the example of the catastrophic failure of CW in both live and digital markets currently, and of an aged-out demographic that would need entirely different advertising blocs to be profitable or even break even.

So the shows will still SURFACE on CW. But in this transitional period, Nexstar gets to decide what's profitable, how to format and market the shows, etc. The most likely way to positively influence this moving forward is to do *targeted* live watching, that is to say: Like support All American live. When Winchesters comes up, watch that live. Cut everything else out.

But they'll still air there. Nexstar is just going to make decisions based on what's live, due to their other investments elsewhere, which is a very interesting and bass ackwards method to be taking things in 2022, but one I can't blame them for because ironically, their cumulative station ownership regionally actually has higher value than the CW itself, so it's kinda like propping the network up on a stick, to prop their stations up on other sticks.

But if they take the more likely method of abandoning digital footprint to lean into the older demographics, this is more a bandaid on a gunshot wound. It'll stall things out for a couple of years. So maybe Nexstar will be smart. Maybe it will actually realize the best way to save its other investments is to lean into the younger audience and digital footprint and find some way to convert them into cooperation. We won't know.

But the Winchesters' episode order commitment will still be there, signed to the CW. Meaning if they ditch out, they still have to pay Jensen.

[joeygoeshollywood]

My 25 Favorite Films of 2020

Well, this was quite the crazy year, especially for movies. While many films that were slated to be released this year were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year still provided some laughs, tears, and thrills both in theaters and in the living room. 

(NOTE: Due to the delayed awards season calendar and postponed Oscar bait films that are unavailable to be seen before the end of 2020, this list will eventually be updated after having seen the following films: The Father, Minari, News of the World, Nomadland, One Night in Miami, Pieces of a Woman, Promising Young Woman)

Here are my 25 favorite films of the year:

25. Kajillionaire 

Quirky filmmaker Miranda July is back with her first feature in nearly a decade. Kajillionaire is a bizarre but captivating tale about a family of criminal grifters and how the daughter reevaluates her strained relationship with her parents after an outsider is welcomed into the fold. Evan Rachel Wood takes what could have easily been dismissed as a goofy caricature in Old Dolio (yes, that’s her name) and turns into a heartfelt portrayal of a woman whose lifestyle of freeloading dictated by her parents (played by Debra Winger and Richard Jenkins) becomes her own crisis. In many ways, Kajillionaire feels like a fantasy that keeps people asking, “What on earth is going on?” And this time, it’s for the best. 

24. Freaky

Revamping decades-old plots like the body-swapping antics from Freaky Friday can either result in a predictable failure or a surprising success. Thankfully, Freaky falls into the latter category. In this horror comedy, a deranged serial killer (played by Vince Vaughn) swaps bodies with his victim, a timid teen girl (played by Kathryn Newton). What makes the film work though are the dedicated lead performances, particularly by Vaughn, who is pretty convincing as young girl trapped in a grown man’s body. With a few good laughs and decent thrills, Freaky is worth the watch. 

23. The Outpost

The Outpost is an intense film about the real-life story of small group of US troops isolated by surrounding mountains in Afghanistan, under the constant threat of the Taliban, which ultimately comes to a head in the Battle of Kamdesh. The film captures the harrowing experiences of these soldiers with heart-pounding action sequences, which are fueled by a solid cast including Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones, and Orlando Bloom. 

22. Uncle Frank

Paul Bettany may be best known for playing The Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he should be celebrated as his title character in Uncle Frank, a touching dramedy set in 1973 about an NYU professor who returns home to his estranged family for his father’s funeral while his niece, played by rising star Sophia Lillis, idolizes him for teaching her to be her authentic self while he keeps his sexuality a secret. Bettany brilliantly balances the coolness of his stature with the internal agony that ultimately hits a boiling point, which is counterbalanced by Peter Macdissi’s fun performance as Frank’s happy-go-lucky lover who accompanies him back home despite his wishes. 

21. Hillbilly Elegy

Hillbilly Elegy was panned by critics over politics that had absolutely no role the film. Based on the best-selling memoir by J.D. Vance, the newest feature from Ron Howard shows the journey of a boy who despite all odds growing up in a poor family that constantly struggled with abuse and addition managed to get into Yale Law School and achieve the American dream. While both Gabriel Basso and Owen Asztalos hold the film together as the younger and older Vance in the present and flashback scenes, Amy Adams as the impulsive, irresponsible mother and an unrecognizable Glenn Close as the no-nonsense inspiring grandmother that turn Hillbilly Elegy into an acting tour de force. 

20. The Trial of the Chicago 7

Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin sits in the director’s chair once again in this courtroom drama about the real-life protesters who showed up in Chicago during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. With themes that resonate today, The Trial of the Chicago 7 benefits from its sharp screenplay, well-paced editing, and an outstanding ensemble cast that includes Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance, Yahoo Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jeremy Strong, Frank Langella, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Michael Keaton. 

19. Yellow Rose

Broadway actress Eva Noblezada makes her film debut as an aspiring country singer on the run after her mother, an illegal immigrant, is obtained for deportation. Yellow Rose presents a nuanced depiction of US immigration, but at the heart of it is a heartbreaking story of a young woman who struggles between putting her family or her dreams first. Between Noblezada’s powerful performance and solid original music, Yellow Rose hits all the right chords. 

18. Palm Springs

Move over, Groundhog Day. While the Bill Murray classic has largely monopolized the time loop film genre, Palm Springs gives it a run for its money. Andy Sandberg and Cristin Milioti star as the unlikely duo who are stranded reliving the same dreaded wedding day involving mutual acquaintances and their desperate efforts to escape the seemingly inescapable. The Hulu comedy stands on its own two feet for the good laughs, the chemistry between the two leads, and the film’s emotionally-grounded plot.  

17. Let Him Go

Kevin Costner and Diane Lane reunite on the big screen after playing farmer parents in Man of Steel to rancher grandparents in Let Him Go, although this time they are able to display their full acting chops. In this period dramatic thriller, they set out to find their only grandchild following the death of their son only to discover that the widowed daughter-in-law remarried into an infamous crime family. While both Costner and Lane tug at the heartstrings, it’s Lesley Manville, who plays the ruthless matriarch of the family, that really takes command of the screen. Ultimately, Let Him Go is all about family and the lengths one is willing to go to protect it. 

16. Unhinged

In a year plagued by the pandemic, Unhinged led the way to the revival of movie theaters back in August and perhaps in some ways it was meant to be the film to do so as the themes of a rage-fueled society and the lack of human connection carry weight. Russell Crowe stars, as the title suggests, as an unhinged psychopath whose road rage torments a woman and her adolescent son. Unhinged is the epitome of pure entertainment and is why we go to the movies. While it’s not quite the most sophisticated thriller of the year, it’s still one helluva ride. 

15. Emma

Anya Taylor-Joy has had quite the year with both highs (The Queen’s Gambit) and lows (The New Mutants). But it began before the pandemic with the release of Emma, which she stars as the iconic Jane Austen title character, a socialite who meddles in the love life of others while refusing to acknowledge her own shortcomings in that department. Supported with a strong ensemble cast, beautiful production design, and comedic charm, Emma is not to be missed. 

14. The Invisible Man

ln the era of remakes and reboots, very few are as good as Universal’s latest monster flick revival of The Invisible Man. Elisabeth Moss stars as a woman who believes she’s being haunted by her abusive ex-husband, someone she becomes convinced faked his own death and is stalking her without being able to be seen. Filmmaker Leigh Whannell, the writer behind the Saw and Insidious horror franchises, generates good thrills and high-wire tension with the help of high production value and a terrifyingly-good performance from Moss. 

13. Dick Johnson is Dead

Documentarian Kirsten Johnson filmed a beautiful, intimate tribute to her father Dick Johnson, who has been suffering from Alzheimer's in the final years of his life. However, instead of dreading his death, both daughter and father embrace it by having him acting out several scenes of his over-the-top demises. Dick Johnson is Dead may focus on the subject manner of death, but this documentary actually celebrates life and the laughs that happen along the way. 

12. The Wolf of Snow Hollow

Perhaps one of the littlest-known films of the year, The Wolf of Snow Hollow is not your conventional indie comedy horror flick. Writer/director Jim Cummings stars as an overly-heated police officer who attempts to get to the bottom of a string of murders in his small, snowy Utah town by what appears to be some sort of werewolf, though he remains unconvinced. Featuring one of the final performances from veteran actor Robert Forster, The Wolf of Snow Hollow uses its quirky sense of humor to stand out from the rest of the pack. 

11. The Gentlemen 

The Gentlemen is a fun, action-packed, crime caper from Guy Ritchie about the London turf war of drug kingpins. Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Henry Goulding, Michelle Dockery, and Colin Ferrell all round out the strong cast, but its Hugh Grant that really steals the show as the comedically manipulative Fletcher, whose only allegiance is to himself. If you like a stylish film with well-choreographed violence and a fast-paced plot, The Gentlemen should be your cup of tea.  

10. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Some of the best play-to-film adaptations are the films that feel like you’re watching a play, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is one of them. Produced by Denzel Washington, Viola Davis gives a transformative performance as Ma Rainey, known as the “mother of the blues” and the clash she had with a pair of White music producers, but she also butts heads with her trumpet player (played by the late Chadwick Boseman), who also has his own music ambitions. While Davis obviously gives other Oscar-worthy performance, it was Boseman who was able to show how incredibly gifted he was as an actor. And while the world lost him far too soon, at least his last role ended up being his greatest. 

9. The Kid Detective

One of the biggest surprises of the year was how good a movie starring and produced by Adam Brody was. Brody plays a washed up former kid detective who attempts to revive his once-celebrated career of solving mysteries by getting to the bottom of a murder in his hometown. The Kid Detective is a brilliant dark comedy from newcomer writer/director Evan Morgan with good laughs, plenty of plot twists, and a career-best performance from Brody, who proves he’s more than just the pretty face from The O.C. we all know him as. 

8. Mank

Citizen Kane is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made and Mank is a worthy tribute. Gary Oldman stars as the title character Herman “Mank” Mankiewicz, the Oscar-winning screenwriter behind the iconic film. David Fincher (The Social Network, Gone Girl) managed to capture the epic scale of the 1941 classic that would make Orson Welles proud. 

7. Soul

Soul is one of those rare existential Pixar films that goes beyond being children’s entertainment. Following in the footsteps of 2015′s Inside Out, Soul depicts what happens to the soul of a jazz musician who’s convinced his time on Earth isn’t over. While the universe created to explain how souls work and the plot that went along with it falls short of its emotions predecessor, Soul is still high-caliber among Pixar films and a great movie for both kids and adults alike. 

6. Another Round

Perhaps the greatest work from Swedish director Thomas Vinterberg to date, Another Round follows four unsatisfied middle aged men who decide to take a theory of task from a Norwegian psychiatrist, who concluded that maintaining a blood alcohol level of 0.050 will enhance their mental and psychological state. Mads Mikkelsen, who’s best known to American audiences as Hannibal Lecter in the short-lived NBC series Hannibal and the Bond villain in Casino Royale, offers a strong, nuanced performance as one of the four educators who embraces this drinking challenge in a film that provides an equal balance of chuckles, cringes, and emotional gut punches. 

5. I’m Thinking of Ending Things

From the crazy mastermind of Charlie Kaufman, the writer behind Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Anomalisa, his latest on Netflix is too a mind-bender. I’m Thinking of Ending Things is a surreal, zany, and at times disturbing examination of the human condition as the nameless female protagonist played by an incredible Jessie Buckley mulls over breaking up with her boyfriend (played by Jesse Plemons) while visiting his parents’ house. Accompanied with a stellar production design and a crazy-good performance from Toni Collette as “Mother,” Kaufman newest cerebral feature lives up to his iconic reputation of filmmaking. 

4. Da 5 Bloods

Spike Lee is one of the few genius filmmakers who is able to blend multiple genres together and his latest film is no different. Da 5 Bloods is an action adventure, buddy comedy, dramatic character study, and war movie all wrapped up into one about a group of Vietnam War veterans who return to the former battlegrounds to find the remains of one of their fallen soldiers as well as some treasure that they kept hidden years ago. With a strong ensemble cast that includes the late Chadwick Boseman, its longtime character actor Delroy Lindo who steals the show with his powerful performance. Da 5 Bloods is easily one of Netflix’s strongest films to date. 

3. The Assistant

One of the first #MeToo-era films, The Assistant offers the day in the life of a low-level female staffer of a production company who is haunted by the presence of her Harvey Weinstein-like boss (who never actually appears in the film). However, rather than depicting the dramatics of sexual misconduct, The Assistant uses the common subtleties and nuances of the workplace yet maintains the same tension and heartbreak. Anchored by the remarkable, devastating performance by up-and-comer Julia Garner (Ozark), The Assistant is as important as it is well-done. 

2. Sound of Metal

Riz Ahmed gives the performance of his career as a heavy metal drummer and former addict whose sudden battle with going deaf upends his life. Sound of Metal is an incredible experience that gives a rare glimpse in the American deaf community which is enhanced by the remarkable sound design that helps the audience actually hear what the musician is going through. It’s truly one of the most rewarding films of the year. 

1. The Climb

The Climb takes the generic “man sleeps with his best friend’s fiancé” storyline and turns it on its head. In his feature debut as writer and director, Michael Angelo Covino leads as the not-so-apologetic adulterer Mike and Kyle Marvin, who co-wrote the film, is the good-hearted Kyle who struggles to whether or not to forgive his best friend’s ultimately betrayal. Not only is The Climb is quirky and hilariously written, it’s a remarkably well-made comedy with some of the year’s best cinematography. Between a strong cast, a superb screenplay, and the extremely-high production value, The Climb is at the top of the mountain of 2020′s best films. 

#The Climb #2020 #Soul #riz ahmed #kajillionaire #Da 5 Bloods #Spike Lee #Pixar #I’m Thinking of Ending Things #jessie buckley #The Kid Detective #Adam Brody #Emma #The Queen's Gambit #Unhinged #Elisabeth Moss #Palm Springs #Netflix #ma rainey's black bottom #Chadwick Boseman #viola davis #Uncle Frank #Yellow Rose #Eddie Redmayne #joseph gordon-levitt #Hillbilly Elegy #Amy Adams #Glenn Close #Matthew McConaughey #Jamie Foxx

[gotnofucks]

Master of His Own Fate-2

Pairing: dark!Steve x Reader, dark!Bucky x Reader

Words: 4.3k

Warnings: Non-con/dub-con, smut, jealousy, spanking, 18+ ONLY

A/N: Probably gonna be a four-part series.

Part 1

MASTERLIST

+++++

Why did it feel like everyone had to do their shopping exactly when you had to? You’d bet it was not this crowed earlier. Or maybe it had something to do with the two super-soldiers flanking you that drew people in. You should have just ordered stuff online since this was super embarrassing. Steve’s hand was in the back pocket of your jeans and Bucky was on your other side, pushing the shopping cart with one hand while holding your waist with other. You’re sure you must have made quite a picture, a little woman sandwiched between them.

“Can you remove your hand?” You asked Steve under your breath and he looked away from the cereals he was perusing to glance at you.

“No” He answered and then pinched your ass for good measure. You jumped, your face flushing and you vowed to look at the floor until you left. You had no desire to see what other people thought about you.

“Why are they so colourful? Why can’t it be simple? There are too many!” Bucky exclaimed and you almost snorted. The cereal aisle was like wonderland for Bucky and you’d been walking back and forth here for 10 minutes now.

“I’m gonna go with this” Steve said throwing in a pack of Cap’n Crunch and you rolled your eyes.

“Then maybe Bucky can get Frosted Flakes and we can leave?” You suggested. Steve chuckled, leaning down to press an affectionate kiss on your head while Bucky took your advice and got Frosted Flakes.

“I’m gonna eat them off of you” He muttered in your ear and you bit your lip, flushing dark. You let them lead you around the store, checking off items off their list. It was so domestic you felt sick. This was not normal, and you unconsciously kept scratching your soulmark hidden under a wristband. You tried not to look at it if at all possible.

Bucky had stopped in front of the shelves containing condoms and quirked an eyebrow at you.

“Chocolate or strawberry?” He asked with a sinful grin and you wiggled until free of their holds. You had to bear their presence at home anyway, anymore and you’ll be smothered.

“We’ve forgotten the cheese dips. I’ll go get some while you finish here.” You said and turned away before they could say anything. You heard them chuckling softly behind you and willed your tears of frustration away.

Your life had changed drastically in the past few months since the night Steve and Bucky marked you as theirs. Try as you might, you couldn’t escape them, not when they are two of the most powerful and influential people in the world. You lived with them in their apartment at the compound now, and to say life was hell would be an understatement. Steve and Bucky have separate rooms but most nights you’re sandwiched between them in one bed since neither wants to spend a night away. You’d had more sex in these few months than people probably did in years.

You veered left into the sauces and spreads aisle, absentmindedly looking at the display. It wouldn’t matter what flavor you got, it would end up spread all over you and licked by your two lovers. You randomly took a jar off the shelf and were about to go back when you bumped into someone standing behind you.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” You apologized to the man behind you. His hand took hold of your elbow for a second to steady you before he stepped away and shook his head.

“It’s alright miss, not a problem.” He said with a small smile. You got a look at his face and your heart skipped a beat. He was a tall man with broad shoulders and dark hair, his genuine smile framed by a well-groomed beard. You saw his eyes dart to the jar in your hand and his lips twitched in amusement.

���I’d advise against this” He said pointing to the jar and you looked down at your hands in confusion. “While one may handle blue cheese, you don’t want to try its dip.”

You winced once you realized what you had picked and the man behind you laughed a little as he saw you put it back.

“What will you suggest?” You asked him. This was probably the only normal interaction you had had in a long time outside of work. It did help that this man was what some would call daddy.

“Oh, I am not a good cook. I just stick to the basics you know, less chances of messing up a dish.” He answered and handed you a classic cheese dip. You took it from him with a smile and thanked him. You lingered a moment, for some reason wanting to stay. It seemed like he had the same idea for even though he had picked his own jar, he didn’t leave.

“You, uh – you should get nachos to go with this. They have them on sale.” You said and internally cringed.

“Oh, alright then. Will you show me the way?” He asked and you nodded, leading him around as he followed with his cart.

“You new in the area?” You asked him since all locals knew the store layout pretty well.

“Ah yes, just moved here from Newton, Massachusetts. My name is Andy Barber” The man said and offered you a hand. Your smile vanished even as you mechanically accepted his hand and shook it. Andy Barber. AB. Like the initials on your wrist. Your hand squeezed around your wristband, your heart beating a mile an hour.

“Hey, you okay?” Andy asked and you realized he’d been speaking to you.

“Ah yes, yes I’m okay. Just lost in thought. Here we are, nachos.” You said and uselessly pointed at the display. You told yourself you were being silly, a lot of people with same initials existed. He may not even have a soulmark. Yet as you looked at him selecting his flavors, you couldn’t help but feel lighter than you had in months. You felt belonged, stupid as that may sound.

“So, you live around here?” You wished Andy would stop talking. The more he spoke, the more you wanted to stay and talk the rest of your life away with him.

“Yes, I am a doctor at the Avenger Tower.” You managed to say and saw his eyebrows raise appreciatively.

“Damn, that’s so cool” He said, and you couldn’t help but grin. “I am a lawyer, starting as a professor in NYU from next term.”

“Damn, that’s so cool” you mimicked him and you both breathed out a laugh. You didn’t realize it as you spoke to him that you were walking aimlessly with him around the store, telling him about the sites he absolutely must visit in New York and the best places to get coffee and hotdogs from. You had circled back to the spreads section and stood awkwardly facing each other.

“Uh, it may seem a little forward, but will you show me around the city?” Andy asked, fiddling with the cuffs on his shirt. You wanted him to take it off and see if your initials were tattooed in his skin like his were in yours. You were about to open your mouth when a hand wrapped around your waist from behind.

“There you are sweetie, you had us worried.” Steve’s words felt like a splash of cold water. For a few glorious moments you had forgotten your predicament, lost as you were in conversation with Andy. Your eyes met Andy’s and you saw him frown, his gaze narrowing on Steve’s arm around you and noticing how you tried to get out of it.

“I – uh, couldn’t decide so settled with the classic.” You showed Steve the cheese dip, but his eyes were fixed on Andy whose face was clouded with suspicion.

“Steve Rogers” He offered his hand to Andy, a useless introduction since most people recognized him with ease. You thought Andy would almost decline the handshake but, in the end, politely shook it.

“Pleased to meet you. Thank you for your service to the nation and the world.” His words were polite and yet there was a mistrustful edge to it. You hoped that he wouldn’t say anything and just walk away. You knew how Steve and Bucky could get about other men in your life, and right now you wanted Andy far away from here.

“Don’t mention it” Steve said preening and you took off his hand from your waist and laced your fingers together, trying to pull him away.

“We gotta go, lots to do back home. Thanks for the suggestion mister” You unnecessarily pointed at the jar again and tried to move back but Steve stood still. You were careful not to mention Andy’s name in front of him and you prayed with everything in you that this interaction would be over soon enough.

“Steve, you find her yet?” You closed your eyes in defeat and shame as Bucky walked from the other side and joined your little party. He closed in on you, hands cupping your face and drawing you in a deep kiss. You kept your eyes downcast, not looking at Andy and hoping the Earth will swallow you whole.

“Yeah, she’s was just having some trouble selecting the flavor until this gentleman here helped her.” Steve said and Bucky turned to look at Andy who was frowning harder than ever now. Andy’s eyes were searching yours, but you couldn’t let yourself meet his. Your shame and fear were profound and all you wanted was to leave.

Bucky’s eyes moved from Andy to Steve to you and he straightened, his arm curling around your shoulder, hand resting near your left collarbone just inches away from the scarred initials of him and Steve.

“Thank you, our girl here can be a little iffy when it comes to food” Bucky remarked affectionately but his emphasis on ‘our’ was not lost on either of you.

“Not a problem.” Andy finally nodded and took hold of his cart, ready to wheel it away. You almost sighed in relief, but your heart broke a little when he started retreating. Your eyes met for a brief moment and it seemed as if he would stop but then you looked away and he continued moving.

“What are we going to do with you Y/n?” Bucky muttered once Andy was out of sight. They didn’t care they were in a public place, both of them standing almost on top of you.

“I don’t know what you mean” You whispered and felt Bucky’s metal hand tighten over your arm. You hissed and tried to pull away but found your chin being raised up to face him with rough hands.

“Do you want another lesson on how to behave around strange men?” Bucky asked and your eyes widened, head shaking in negation.

“No, no Buck. Please, nothing happened. We were just talking” You begged, trying to convince him. You watched in horror as one of his hand outright cupped your left boob, fingers splayed so they pressed into the scars over your heart.

“You sure? I can show the whole store who you belong to my love.”

You were ready to start bawling when Bucky started fiddling with the neckline of your top, but it was Steve who saved the day. He gently pried Bucky’s hands from you and tucked you under his arm, pushing your head in his chest with a hand while the other kept Bucky away.

“Not here Buck, look at her. Honestly!” Steve started a swift walk towards the exit with you at his side and you couldn’t help but look back. It was one of those situations where you found the precious thing lost within a sea of garbage when you spotted Andy, his eyes not on you but your arm. You followed his gaze and suppressed a sob as you saw your wristband had shifted after your struggle with Bucky, bringing into view the initials that made your soulmark.

ASB: Andrew S Barber

You didn’t know his middle name but you couldn’t be any more sure of who your soulmate was when Andy’s eyes darted to his own covered wrist the moment Bucky shouted, “Steven Rogers and Y/n Y/l/n you both come back here this very second!”

Bucky was getting your stuff checked out, standing at the cashiers with his grumpy dad face on. Steve ignored him and continued dragging you away towards the exit. Your eyes watered and you tried to stem their flow so you could have one last glance at Andy without tears blurring your vision. You both stared at each other and just before you walked out the doors, even from the distance you saw Andy mouth a promise:

I will come for you

+++++

Fate was a cruel bastard, and you cursed your destiny as you lay curled in Steve’s lap after dinner. No one spoke much once you got home but you knew it was only a matter of time before shit hit the fan. You were wearing a short nightie, Bucky’s favorite and Steve’s hands were absently massaging you as he read through a new mission briefing.

“Wanda was asking about you again” Steve said, and you blinked at him. Just another thing you loved that they had snatched away from you. Wanda was obviously very suspicious when you announced you’ll be shifting from your apartment to Steve and Bucky’s since she knew you wanted to wait for your soulmate to show up. You would have confided in her had you not been aware of the damage your lovers could cause if displeased. Bucky had strictly ordered you to keep away from her until you were in control of your thoughts, which he was afraid Wanda would read. You had looked to help from Steve, who was softer out of the two, but he agreed with Bucky, “Better she not know anything than us having to eliminate her if she did.” They talked of death and violence with such ease it made your skin crawl.

“Can I see her now? I don’t think my texts are keeping her satisfied.” If only you could get a few hours away from their stifling presence maybe it would be more tolerable. The both of them clung to you like a babe to his mum, and your only respite were the hours you spent working.

“Do you think you’re ready to see her now?” Steve questioned you, finally looking up from his mission briefing. Before you could answer Bucky came behind you and plucked you from Steve’s arms like you weighed nothing and perched you in his own lap. Steve rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything.

“The better question would be if you think you deserve to see her.” Bucky commented, his hand fondling your behind under the silk nightie. You shifted under his touch and gaze, uncomfortable under the stern look.

“I’m minding my thoughts, I promise.” You whined and Bucky’s hand cracked against your ass suddenly. You squealed and he held you down with one hand, the second blow even harder than the first.

“You and I both know that’s not what I meant. I don’t like it when you act dumb.” Bucky snarled and you flinched as he raised his hand again. To your surprise, the slap barely had any force behind it and Bucky rubbed your ass softly as if in apology. You turned your face to peek at him and saw him and Steve locked in one of those silent eye contact conversations that you absolutely loathed. Steve was almost glaring at Bucky as if displeased and Bucky had enough grace to look a little ashamed.

“I wasn’t!” Bucky cried out suddenly, throwing his hands in the air and huffing. It was as if they were continuing a conversation that went from telepathy to verbal and your mouth parted in awe when Steve continued speaking too.

“You would have if I didn’t stop you.”

Your gaze moved from one man to another, confused beyond measure. In a flash Bucky was gathering you in his arms, holding you to himself like he was afraid papa Steve would take away his favorite toy.

“I know my limits Steve. She’s mine as much as yours. Stop it.”

You were sure if you tilted your head up you would see Bucky pouting but instead you observed Steve who was in classic captain pose with hands on his hips and disapproval on his face.

“Do you really? Because it sure seemed like you were about to strip her naked in a supermarket of all places.”

“I wouldn’t! I was teasing her.” Bucky said, his head buried in your neck. He took your hand and placed it on his head and you slowly scratched with your nails, making him purr in satisfaction. Steve didn’t look the least bit convinced and his eyes kept bouncing between you and Bucky. Finally, he heaved a deep sigh before getting up.

“She is sleeping in my room tonight.” Your head snapped up just as Bucky’s hold tightened around you in rejection of the idea.

“No, you can’t take her from me.” Bucky snapped and you resisted the urge to slap them both. It bothered you how they went on talking about you like you weren’t even present here.

“I’m not taking her away from you, pal. Just like she learns her lessons when she fucks up, so will you.”

Bucky didn’t look like he would want a lesson, but it didn’t seem like the first time they were having this talk because he said nothing more. He almost didn’t let you leave when Steve took your arm to take you away but finally relented.

“When can I have her back?” Yep, he was definitely pouting.

“When you learn that teasing is pinching her ass in public, not stripping her bare in front of strangers.”

+++++

It had been a while since there were two people in bed and not three. You stretched your feet out, glad to have some extra space. Even cuddled up in Steve’s massive arms, your thoughts returned to Andy. You had finally found him after years of searching, only to lose him on the same day. It was a cosmic joke to have you cross paths now when it was too late to do anything. Your hand unconsciously traced the letters on your wrist, a slight thrill running down your spine as you finally realized what and who these initials stood for.

It wasn’t just a legend anymore. They were right when they said that soulmates completed you. In those precious few moments you had spent with Andy, all your worries had fallen away. You both had built a bubble around yourself where the outer world was nothing but a distant blur and you saw only each other. Conversation didn’t sound strained and you felt so connected despite having just met. You wished you knew he existed a few months ago. How different would life have been then if you were laying in his arms and not Steve and Bucky’s?

You bit your lip when you felt Steve take your hand in his from behind you, his fingers too tracing the initials on your wrist. You stiffened and held yourself back from snatching your hand away. It was never a very good idea to resist when it came to them both.

“Bucky doesn’t know yet” Steve murmured in your ear as he tapped your wrist. You felt your heart drop in your stomach, your fingers curling in your palm. “He thinks it was just some man you were speaking to. His jealousy makes him sloppy and he doesn’t notice details.”

You were turned around to face him, your eyes locking on Steve’s which were a vibrant blue even in the dark. His hands played at the hem of your nightie, teasing it.

“I noticed of course. How could I not, I have never seen you smile the way you smiled at him” You didn’t seem capable of speaking or protesting when Steve’s hands slipped up your clothing and caressed your thighs and belly. His hands were moving but his eyes were fixed on you and try as you might you couldn’t look away. Slowly, gently like one does to precious cargo you were stripped, your body baring itself inch by delicious inch. The calluses on his fingers rubbed against your nipples and you let out a moan, your slick coating your walls and thighs. Your lips met his in a desperate kiss and you couldn’t help but make pathetic mewls as his tongue raced across your throat. He came to rest above your heart, tracing the scar over it. JBB and SGR

“How are these any different to those on your wrist?” He questioned as he entered you slowly, looking deep into your eyes like trying to search your soul. “If we carve your name on our body, would that make you look at us like you looked at him?”

You couldn’t answer if you wanted to, the heat of Steve warming your insides. You met in a familiar dance, bodies slapping, and moaning together until pleasure took over every cell in your body. Steve pulled out and released on your thighs, rubbing his essence in your skin, his breath warm on your cheek.

“I don’t think I need to tell you what will happen if I find you talking to that man again” It was not a question and you shook your head, tears travelling down the sides of your face and getting lost in your hair. “Good girl. We can forget it and Bucky will never know. Because if that happens, even I won’t be able to help you.”

You reminded yourself that Steve was just as much of a monster as Bucky was. He had taken you against your will too, and while he may as well be the lesser of the two evils, you could not trust him. You turned to your side, automatically curling into Steve out of habit when he held you. That is what this relationship felt like. A habit. It was a routine you were stuck in with no way out. You closed your eyes, seeking the escape of sleep and tried to sooth your broken heart over a love it may never find again.

+++++

Bucky was a terrible stalker and you wondered how he remained a ‘ghost story’ for all those decades. Steve had been hoarding you in his room for nearly a week and you knew Bucky was at his wit’s end. He wasn’t even pretending to hide anymore; he’d just stand across the med bay and ogle you like a roadway creep. You didn’t even know what to do, who should you listen to. Being caught in the crossfire between them is not fun.

You finally had enough and made your way over to him. You were a few feet away when he snatched you in his arms, crushing you to his frame and kissing you soundly. Pulling away, he put his forehead on yours and bit your lip.

“I’ve missed you baby.” He cooed and you sighed.

“Is that why you’re lurking here and scaring my nursing staff away?” Bucky nodded, pecking your lips once more before you moved away.

“I’m sorry about the other day you know. I just…lost control.” It was rare that he would apologize, and you were too smart to reject this small consolation. He will probably be kind and soft for the coming few days and you took what you can. You smiled at him, promising him you forgave him.

“I have just one public hour and then we can go home together. Sounds good?” You asked and Bucky’s smile was almost shy when he agreed. Sometimes you believed it when they say they loved you, but how can someone hurt whom they love?

“You asked me once what I see in you, but have you ever looked at yourself the way I look at you? Here you are, one of the most accomplished doctors working for the Avengers, and yet you give your time to general public to treat their common cold and flu. That’s what I see in you. Your kindness, that light, it guides me away from the darkness in me.” Bucky confessed and you looked away from him. He could be so sweet when he has to be. Both him and Steve. You wonder again if they could always be like that, will you be able to love them.

“I – uh, I’ll see you in an hour, okay? Wait in the common room for me.”

You watched Bucky go and returned with a perturbed mind. The hot and cold behavior almost gives you a whiplash. In the past few months, you have spent several nights crying, but just as many moaning in pleasure. Maybe it could have been easier if you’d given in and just accepted them, but love does not come by force. They can carve their names in your skin a hundred times over, and yet it won’t leave a mark on your soul.

Your assistant entered, informing you that general patients were waiting for you and you nodded. Tony gave you an hour free every day to treat patients outside the tower for free. You believed being a doctor your job should be more than saving just superheroes. One by one your patients trickled in, most with common diseases. Some you prescribed for additional testing; all costs covered by the Stark Industries.

“Your last patient ma’am”

You nodded to let your assistant know you heard her and entered the room. You were looking over a report as you entered, the door shutting itself behind you automatically.

“Hello, how can I help you today?” You looked up and the report fell out of your hand. Sitting in front of you was Andy Barber, his eyes crinkled at the sides due to the wide smile he supported.

“I believe I have a heart problem doctor. A beautiful lady stole mine.”

+++++

 Taglist is open for all characters

#dark!steve x reader #dark!bucky x reader #dark!steve rogers x reader #dark!bucky barnes x reader #dark!steve rogers #dark!bucky barnes #steve x reader #bucky x reader #andy barber x reader #andy x reader #soulmate au

[princessfbi]

18. Circus AU + 56. Awful First Meeting

18. Circus AU + 56. Awful First Meeting

GOD! Right off the bat we're coming to the feels.

First Lines:

The first time Eddie sees Buck, he's falling. Falling like a bird whose wings had been clipped from one swooping spiral into the next. A massive sparrow in the sky, cutting through air, and defying all gravity like he was the king of the trapeze.

Well, until he started to fall.

Which most definitely was not Eddie's fault.

Premise:

Eddie joins the circus as their new knife thrower. If it's sharp, small, and has a point he can land it on a target without even breaking a sweat. His signature move is being able to hit a target from the back of his horse, tossing a knife and making it seem like it's rebounding back towards him, jumping off his horse to catch it, and tossing into the center of the target. It's a skill that's gotten him quite a lot of attention and makes for easy money when there's a Ren Faire around in need of someone to do joust and horseback tricks. But it's a lonely life and he really should be concerned by how much he talks to his horse. So, when Bobby offers him a spot in their little family unit, the idea of being a part of a team again is too much for him to pass up.

It's nice. Everyone seems super friendly. Everyone except the animal wrangler, Buck, who for some reason hates Eddie's guts on sight.

Maybe because he yelled at him.

Definitely because he yelled at him.

But the trapeze isn't something to just mess around with and Eddie didn't know when he walked into the empty tent to see Buck pumping his legs that went on for days and swinging himself from one bar to the next, that he was at home in the weightlessness of the air.

Thankfully, the net caught him.

Too bad Buck's hands still shook even after he stormed away from Eddie. Too bad his heart was trapped in his throat and wouldn't fall down where it should be in his chest so he could breathe.

Too bad.

That's what Buck knew everyone was saying. Too bad for Buck. He was so good; a natural in the sky. Buck had been the main event with Maddie. The Buckley Siblings and their flying acrobatic event. But after a shady business man that tried to strong arm Bobby messed with Buck's ropes that resulted in Buck taking an almost fatal fall, he'd been grounded with a few broken ribs, a concussion, and a nearly shattered leg.

The shakes were something Buck pretended didn't exist.

He was just glad Bobby didn't throw him to the curb. Pity kept him around but Buck's ability to connect with animals gave him a job so he could be useful. Useful until he could get back in the sky and swinging with Maddie again.

He would.

If only the new hot guy would stop just barging into the ring like he owned it.

Additional Notes:

Chimney would be the ring master

Hen would be the elephant tamer but like under the guise of it being an educational purpose because all her elephants are rescues from abusive situations

Maddie and Buck were the classic running away from home to join the circus duo

Maddie has been doing silks until Buck is able to join her again

Chimney is obviously in love with her Chimney just thinks Maddie is like super talented

Bobby and Athena would be the owners

When Buck gets upset he climbs up and hides in the crows nest

Eddie's horse is named Delilah

Eddie is absolutely afraid of heights but his first kiss with Buck would be up on the rig

Send me two (2) tropes from this list + a ship and I’ll describe how I’d combine them in the same story.

#Ask game #Evan 'Buck' Buckley #Eddie Diaz #Circus AU #Buddie #Maddie Buckley #Bobby Nash #Chimney Han #Hen Wilson #Madney #anon #answered #my fic writing