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leah-lover · 16 days

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Misunderstanding. Nika muhl x reader.

Jealous Nika.

You weren't a starter in your team but the coach knew you were what the team needed. Iowa was down 15 points to UConn and you only had one quarter left to win or your dream of winning march madness would be gone.

You didn't have a good relationship with your coach. You two had your differences. You disagreed often which left you on the bench. But tonight UConn was the better team. They had all their best players on the floor . They were comfortable both offensively and defensively. So when the coach came to you to sub you on you knew exactly what your role was. You were on the floor to make them as uncomfortable as you could. You had to disrupt their flow and help your team.

You were successful in the task you were given. You made UConn uncomfortable which allowed Iowa to score enough points to win the game and advance to the final. Despite your huge and impactful effort that helped your team win the game, you still weren't in your coach’s good graces.

You were again benched on the final which your team won but it didn't feel like a victory to you because you were hardly on the floor. As a result in the postseason you decided to request another School. It didn't matter which one all you cared about was being in a team that valued you.

It took a week for you to get the first offer. You were surprised when you saw that it was UConn who asked to have you. You must have made an impression after your last performance.

UConn’s legacy was mesmerizing, so you agreed to their offer as soon as they made it.

By 2 months you were in your new dorm getting ready to meet your new team.

You were very nervous at the beginning. You didn't want anything to go wrong. Your old relationships with your teammates were so bad you would rather retire than go through that experience again. Luckily, your new team wasn't that bad. You quickly bonded with a lot of your teammates like KK Arnold, Izzi and ice. You felt comfortable in your new home at the start of pre pre-season. The more comfortable you got the more flirtatious you got. You would make jokes about it and your teammates would tease you about it too. The victim of your flirtatious attempt was Izzi. You didn't do it so that you two would end up together, you just found it fun to flirt with her. Your flirtatious attempts were going on all season.

One day after a huge win, the team decided to go out and celebrate in a bar near campus. It was you, Izzi, Paige, nika, and ice. After a few drinks you all decided to head to the dance floor where you danced with Izzi. After a while you looked next to you only to find only you two left on the dance floor. Needing a break you decide to go out for some air.

“ I guess it got all hot for you in there too.” you say to Nika when you meet her outside.

“ No, not all of us were dancing like nobody was there.” she replied with an annoyed tone.

“ What is that supposed to mean?”

“ Nothing, just forget it. I am gonna go back to campus.” she says and leaves. Leaving you puzzled.

You go back inside and brush it off.

The next training sessions were strange. A hostile tension was filling up the atmosphere and it was coming from Nika. flashbacks of your old team were haunting you by the time a month went by. You thought that your future in this team would be just like your past.

At team bonding night, where you decided to watch a movie together. A huge fight started between you and nika. It all started by a snarky comment she made about the main character of the movie.

“ I just don't understand why people don't understand vibes and the right places to do stuff.” she says. You felt that that comment was directed towards you so you replied.

“ well some people don't overthink stuff and just do as they feel.”

“ I don't believe that. I think everybody calculates everything and they only do what is best for them.” she responded.

“ guys i am gonna call it a night i am tired.” said izzi interrupting your bickering with nika.

“ Me too.” says nika and she leaves abruptly.

What nika said was stuck in your throat so you followed her to the hall.

“ what the fuck is wrong with you.” you yell behind her.

“ Excuse me.” she says stopping in her tracks.

“ You have been throwing knives at me all the time. if you have a problem with me just say it and stop dancing around.”

'I don't have a problem with you, I have a problem with the way you act.’

“ And what way is that?”

“ i dont like that you are all flIrty and mushy with izzi if you want her do that in the fucking bedroom away from me.”

“ What the hell are you talking about? Izzi and I are just friends. That whole thing is a plan to annoy paige. We are trying to make her jealous. Plus why do you care ?.”’

After staying quiet for a while she says. “ Is there anything between you two?.”

“ No, there isn't. She likes paige. Why do you care nika?”

She leans her head against the wall and whispers something inaudible.

“ i can't hear you nika.”

“ i like you. Okay . the thought of you and izzi makes me so fucking angry.”

“ You like me.” you repeat in disbelief.

“ ever since you joined i had my eyes on you. So when you started doing your stunt with Izzi, the thought of you being with her angered me.” she says with a defeated tone. “ I never meant to hurt you, I just didn't know how to handle not having you.”

You approach her, lift her head up with your hand and cup her cheeks.

“ You look adorable right now.” you say which makes her smile.

“ Can I kiss you?” she asks

“ You better.” you respond.

You then both kiss. You couldn't believe how soft her lips were and how your bodies moved in sync.

“ Can I take you back to my room. “ she asks with a pout on her face.

“ please do.”

#nika muhl x reader #nika mühl #nika muhl #uconn wbb #uconn huskies #uconn women’s basketball #women's basketball #ncaa wbb #wbb

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mayullla · 2 years

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Title: His Name

Character(s): Scaramouche (Genshin Impact) Warnings/tags: Haunted doll au: Fem!reader, drabble, dark themes, sensitive themes, obsession themes, tw horror, violence, there is no romance in this au Note: Since Scaramouche drip market has been released~ here you go~!

Haunted doll au masterlist

"Don't touch me!" His shriek was painful to your ears, echoing. His face was cracked, so close to breaking and his eyes were hostile toward a small child that stared at him in both fear and worry.

That was all you remember from your dream when everything went black as something or someone held you so tightly. Your shoulder wet from tears all gone the moment you woke up that morning.

Scaramouche technically had one owner your grandfather recalled. A young man kind and artistic had grown interested in the doll on the shelf and bought him at a high price. Your grandfather had thought that this particular doll had found a true home but much like many dolls some return back to him. This was no different... except he came back a little cracked and a little broken.

Your grandfather wanted to fix the doll but it was difficult when he started to have horrible migraines when he was anywhere near the doll so in the end he placed it in storage and left. He thought that he could just come back and fix the porcelain doll when it calmed down and feels better again.

Who would have thought that it would disappear the next day as if it was hiding from him?

Your grandfather looked at the doll on the table as your mother started cleaning your face from the dust you collected on your face and clothes.

You went back there again it seems.

Your grandfather had noticed that you would sometimes disappear to the second storage room he rarely goes in unlike the first. The first time you went there you found a doll you nicknamed Childe. The next time you went there you found a doll he named La Signora long ago.

He went back there again hoping to find dolls that disappeared from his sight. Yet it seems they still wish to stay hidden from his eyes for all he found were empty boxes filled to the brim with dead shells of what was once supposed to be beautiful.

All he saw was a wall of black.

Yet it seems they have become rather curious about you. Seeing that you would come back always with another doll in your hands. They were curious about some more obsessed than others but they all follow the same path.

You were not looking, when your grandfather reached for the doll only to stop when he felt a sting on his finger. Pulling his hand away he watched as a drop of liquid fell to the floor leaving red.

So much resentment was already built up it seems. Any closer and he was sure that it would be his neck next.

"Grandpa?" A small innocent voice called out to him. Your grandfather's tired eyes looked at you who was staring at his hand.

"Hmmm? What is the matter?"

"There is red liquid on your hand. The same color as that time I tripped on my knees at the playground." You stated, walking closer to him.

"I see.. that must have hurt." Your grandfather's voice was solemn without a hint of worry but you didn't realize it as you continued to stare at the blood on his finger. Looking at your grandfather in his eyes you grinned "It hurt a lot!"

"It must hurt for you too." Your focus was back on his hand again, looking at his cut finger he wondered what to say but instead looked at the doll.

"So where did you find that doll?"

"Hmmm?" You looked at the doll that was on top of the table staring at you two. Watching you hop towards it your grandfather wondered what will happen. Grasping the doll placing it in your arms almost babying it. "I don't know... I don't remember." Your face squinted as if you were thinking hard about where you found this doll but your mind was blank.

"He is a very pretty doll."

"Yes... he is very beautiful."

"Do you know his name?" Your grandfather asked, this answer you must know when your face brightens.

"His name is Scawamosh!"

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bestworstcase · 1 month

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Summer from Mountain Glen backstory would also fit with Salem's recruitment pattern. Hazel -> Gretchen. Watts -> Penny project chosen. Cinder -> Glass Unicorn. A concrete reason for dissatisfaction with the system, albeit some (Watts) pettier than others. Mountain Glenn which were buried and commute blocked off. Yeah that would definitely qualify.

Small thing - apparently from Grimm Eclipse there's one voice line from Yang that amounts to "It must have been nice here once" - though I can't find the source of that quote. Which if Summer was from Mountain Glenn holds a completely different impact as a statement from a survivor's daughter decades later.

as the resident Watts Defender i feel obliged to trot out watts was from mantle again, ’cause i think greenlighting the penny project was more the thousandth cut in a death-by-a-thousand cuts situation; esp. because i don’t think being pissed about the penny project is all that petty, given the context of ironwood challenging this team to come up with “the next breakthrough in defense technology” and then picked the proposal for [checks notes] a costly prototype robotic child super-soldier that requires the partial surgical removal of someone’s literal soul to function and can therefore never be built more than once, let alone manufactured at scale. like imagine being watts.

ironwood: we need to innovate to remove men from the dangers of the battlefield, so i want all of you to come up with a proposal for the next big breakthrough in defense technology. watts probably: okay well, our combat AI is still too rudimentary to let the synthetic soldiers fight unsupervised, so i’ve designed a heavily-armored walking tank that can run faster than a car and jump dozens of feet into the air in order to keep our living officers safe on the front lines while dramatically improving our offensive capabilities against hordes of grimm. pietro: i think we should carve out a piece of my soul and put it in a robot to create one (1) nigh-indestructible synthetic super-soldier who we’ll design to look like an atlas academy student. ironwood: i pick the robot girl :)

like are you joking.

we don’t know for certain that the paladins were watts’ proposal but that does seem to be the implication and like—if that’s so then ironwood held on to that proposal for years after watts faked his death and eventually put ’em into production as the penny project neared completion, which… tracks with “you just stood atop it and called yourself a giant.” in the face of such egregious favoritism and interest in technological spectacle and novelty over practical solutions i’d probably quit in disgust too!

/tangent

but yeah summer being a mountain glenn survivor is intriguing enough that i’m a little regretful i didn’t think of it before nailing down her backstory for time does this adlscfj—although not enough to scrap my plans for it lmfao—it puts a real face on this historical tragedy that has been kind of looming silently over the story. and the face is the character who’s haunting the narrative from her secret place as salem’s general. very juicy.

oobleck looks at mountain glenn and sees lives that could have been saved—why weren’t they? what motivated the inaction, the choice to cut mountain glenn off, leave people to fend for themselves in the undercity? what kept people there, living in caverns with grimm nesting over their heads, rather than evacuate to vale? (your so-called free world.)

if that was summer’s childhood and she escaped and got taken in by the huntsmen academy system, raised in these values, how might she feel about vale? about beacon? about herself as a huntress? how sharply might she feel the dissonance between what huntsmen are supposed to be and the sacrifice of mountain glenn? is that what drove her to confront salem, a determination to not be complicit through her inaction? is that why she chose to stay? etc.

it also adds some really interesting potential layers to summer holding beacon and presumably participating in the razing of vale. like is this something she has enough moral qualms about to give her pause or is it an act of long-delayed retribution to her. juicy!

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typingcorgi · 1 year

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sanctuary; part i

pairing: joel miller x f!reader (no y/n) warnings: tw for mention of blood, mild gore, violence. no smut yet but honey have you met me? it's coming (and so is joel, and you, ey-ohhhh) word count: 1600 author's notes: canon divergent aka no ellie I'm sorry kids cramp my style

i feel like this is 80% character study and 20% plot, but these ideas have been gnawing at me like a hungry ass clicker and i needed to get them out of my brain and onto a google doc. please feel free to reblog, share, leave a comment, tell me what you like, tell me what you want to see more of, I'm so excited to be writingggg also not beta'd so here we gooooo if there is a typo I'm sorry but please understand i dumped this onto the internet and didn't look back

The car you drive is a target on your back. It’s a good thing your partner in crime is such a quick shot.

You’re not even a fourth of the way to Wyoming, yet you’ve outrun and outdriven more thieves than you can count. It’s unsurprising, considering the dismal state of the world. You used to think more often about what life was like before Outbreak Day. Before New York shut down, before subway cars crashed below Canal Street and even the damn rats seemed to have greater control over their faculties than most human beings.

You couldn’t get out of the city fast enough.

It’s been twenty years, and while the memory of it all occasionally haunts you like a looming ghost, most of the time, you’re just thankful to be alive. And whether you like to admit it or not, your survival is owed to the man you think of now as your companion, your partner, your…something.

You just don’t know what he is to you, even if your impact on one another is indisputable.

You’ve hardened. Where you have grown a thicker skin, you’ve softened his, even if just by the smallest amount. You can see it in the way his eyes linger on you for a moment too long when you return from a run with a fresh cut or bruising eye. You can sense it in the way he talks to you like he’s toeing the line between wanting to respect your autonomy and independence and knowing he might tear the goddamn city apart if he were to lose you.

At least, you tell yourself that. It’s self-indulgent and flattering, because while you’ve spent years learning how to exist in this new and unsafe world, your understanding of human interaction and behavior hasn’t completely gone to shit. And Joel Miller behaves like cares about you.

“Turn here,” he says as you approach what probably used to be an intersection, but now appears to be a blurred line of a dirt path. Most paths are like that now. The only clearcut routes from any place to another are the main highways and frequently used roads, but those are so closely monitored by FEDRA that you don’t dare to cross them. No, you and your partner opt for the scenic route to Jackson, if only to spare your lives.

That is, if you aren’t taken out by clickers or thieves or gang members first.

You don’t say anything, you just keep driving, eyes locked on the path in front of you. It’s late afternoon and you must be driving west—good, you’re headed in the right direction, at least—because the setting sun glimmers along the horizon, and while you’d normally find such a sight to be one of the rare moments of beauty in this fucked up world, right now it’s downright annoying.

His eyes are locked on the road, or at least you think they are. You can’t tell because if you catch a glimpse of him in this golden sunlight, you might actually melt behind the steering wheel. So you keep your focus on the path before you while the radio plays in and out of static.

And then it happens so damn quickly. Joel yells at you to watch out! And his arm stretches out toward your side of the car, and his hand is on the steering wheel, jerking the car in a sharp motion toward the left.

You brace yourself for then inevitable crash. The muscles in your legs squeeze and freeze until you collect your breath, exhaling while your hands tighten along the steering wheel.

“What the fuck was that for!?” You demand, the shock filling your tone with more anger than you intended. Joel doesn’t say anything back. His breathing is heavy, though slowing to a more normal pace, and he scrubs a hand over his features.

You turn back and see nothing at first. But as soon as you spot the culprit through the truck’s rear view mirror, you’re stunned.

“A fucking deer?” You ask incredulously, spotting a doe picking her way through the brush. “Really, Joel?”

He’s softening.

“Could have damaged the truck,” he contests, voice considerably lower. “We’re already taking the long way to Cody Tower. I don’t need any more setbacks.”

You scoff but say nothing, replacing your foot into the accelerator and continuing your trek along the back roads.

It’s dark by the time you pull over. You’ll have to refuel first thing in the morning, though the source of said fuel is to be determined. Siphoning gas isn’t hard, but it’s tracking down another functioning automobile with an oblivious operator that’s the hard part.

You’ve started sleeping in shifts. The bench seat in the back is about as luxurious a bed as you’re going to get in the middle of the apocalypse. Somewhere along the line, you’ve managed to collect a flimsy blanket that does little by way of insulation, but at least it’s comforting.

Joel locks the doors while you settle into the back. He’s caught your eye in the rearview and you feel your stomach twist. Every night goes like this—he lets you sleep first, and you usually agree because you’re so fucking tired, but because he’s too damn polite to wake you up, you end up sleeping uninterrupted. He sneaks in sleep when you’re on the road the next day and he thinks you won’t notice.

“You know what?” You say, climbing back over the center console and into the passenger seat. He’s taken the driver’s seat in case you need to make a quick getaway overnight. “I’ll take the first watch. You sleep.”

He shakes his head. “Not gonna happen.”

“Oh, really?” You arch a brow. “Because it seems like you need it. You look like shit, Joel.”

Now it’s his turn to scoff. “Excuse me if i don’t look my greatest at the end of the damn world.”

You hadn’t said that. Even when Joel looks absolutely exhausted, he still looks good. His rugged handsomeness isn’t lost on you, and for the first time all day, you actually look at him. You take him in. Moonlight catches along the graying ends of his unkempt hair, his wrinkles along the corners of his eyes are pronounced, and you eat it up like a woman starved. If you’re blushing, you’re thankful Joel can’t tell in the darkness, placing a comfortable distance between him and your growing vulnerabilities.

You hold up your palms in friendly defeat. “All I’m saying is I’m not tired yet. If you want the first round, I won’t complain.”

He doesn’t budge, though. And neither do you. You both wind up falling asleep in your respective seats once you are positive the other isn’t looking.

–

It’s not the clicking that wakes you up, though as soon as you’re half-conscious, you hear it right away.

Your stomach lurches. Fuck. When you’d pulled over hours earlier, you hadn’t noticed any semblance of life other than the deer you nearly ran over. But now, tired and bleary-eyed, you make out the deformed, eyeless head of something that used to be human.

There’s three of them, and they’re approaching your truck fast.

“Joel,” you urge, shaking his shoulder. “You gotta wake up. Joel, baby, we have to go.” The urgency in your voice hopefully outshines the petname you go with. You blame it on nerves, on the chance that this is the moment you and your partner actually fucking die. Baby. That is a choice. With any luck, Joel’s too drowsy for it to register.

He’s up like a shot, the strained, nearly silent cry from outside the truck jolting up into consciousness.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he mutters, starting the truck and slamming his foot on the accelerator. One of the clickers narrowly misses colliding into your door. There’s less than a quarter of a tank left, though if you both don’t get out of here in one piece, that really doesn’t matter.

“I need you to shoot them,” Joel says over the roaring engine. He twists and turns in an attempt to lose them, but they’re on your trail, ganging up on you with each passing step.

You don’t challenge him, but you hesitate. His pistol is in the glove box, untouched since the last time you got into a dangerous situation—probably a day or two ago; every violent clash starts to bleed and blend together with the last.

“You can do it,” he says, though his tone is more urgent than encouraging . “They’re getting close. The closer your target, the easier it is to hit. Just do it—now!”

There’s no more time to waste. The clickers are a half step behind the truck. One of them places its grimy hand on the truck, holding on for dear life, if only to take yours.

Joel shouts your name to shock any remaining fatigue from every cell of your body. You do it—you reach for the gun in the glove compartment, lower your window just enough to hang your arms out of the side of it, cock the gun, and shoot.

Three fires. Three clean shots, each of the clickers blown back onto the dirt ground. Blood splatters on the side of the truck, some speckles across your forearm. Joel audibly exhales through his nose.

He keeps driving until you run out of gas.

#joel miller x you #joel miller x female reader #joel miller x f!reader #tlou hbo #joel miller fic #tlou fic #joel miller x reader #no y/n

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toddhewitt · 2 years

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So you know how there are multiple fake deaths in Black Sails, and in an average show it'd be mostly for the sake of a plot twist but this is Black Sails so naturally it's more than that. The thing about fake deaths in this show, the thing that feels so true to me, so real about it, is that the impacts of it don't stem from the person who survived but from the people who love them. The impacts of both parts of this, the impact of assuming someone is dead and the impact of finding out they're alive. This is mostly relevant to Season 4 because in Billy's case it was the least impactful, which makes sense since the one person who grieved him is gone by the point Billy returns; and even then Billy's first words after he wakes are "get Gates" which, yeah. But in Season 4...

Silver's grief over Madi has him in pieces. He's conflicted, he's angry but the anger is weak, he's at his most vulnerable and uncontrolled we've seen yet. And then finding out that she's alive he has to both have suffered grieving her and make sure that he never has to suffer that again, and the new rage that comes out of that is so much more threatening and deadly. It's Madi's being alive again, not her death, which causes Silver to make the final choice to end the war.

Flint's grief over Thomas had been a major part of his motivations for so long, it's a fact of life that'd fueled his fire every day, and he couldn't even begin to imagine a world in which that death isn't true - we saw him struggle to piece together what he would do in that case when Silver asks him in 4.04, and he openly stated that he doesn't know what he'd do in 4.10, he was so lost in that seemingly hypothetical situation. We can only imagine how hearing that Thomas is alive made his entire world shatter around him. And as he walks towards that new truth, he begins to see it "as it existed before he first closed his eyes".

Madi was so hurt and so furious at Silver when she thought he'd killed Flint, but then she finds out that he sent Flint to be in chains for the rest of his life. That fate, specifically in Madi's eyes, might be worse than death. By their last shot together and by Flint's final words we know that this knowledge will forever haunt Madi, and Silver, and the space that's left between them.

It's very thrilling and refreshing the way this trope is used, the way it serves to show us that grief changes a person so much that when that grief is useless, the grievers don't know what to do with themselves, with these strong emotions that they've held inside them, and for that reason, the reversal of that grief changes them too. And I think it also has to do with death being certain, and so a grieving person must go (however slowly, however achingly) in the direction of acceptance - and when that death isn't certain anymore, the new options can seem so much more chaotic, vague, and terrifying in their uncertainty.

The only time a fake death happens and it doesn't have much bearing on the way the characters function is Silver's. Madi grieves, Flint's grief we don't really see besides a quick flash of anger, but nevertheless, they both continue on the same path they walked before. They focus not on their grief but on overcoming the difficulties that his death would pose for the war effort. When Silver returns, they're both happy, sure, but their choices and priorities remain unchanged. And that... there's a lot to think about there. This man - this man who was never truly invested in the war anyway, and was turned into an inhuman persona in service of it, who loved the people who lead the war more than he loved the war itself - is assumed dead, and the people he loves, who love him too, aren't swayed from their path; and it fits, of course, as at that point they are both more invested in the war than they are in him.

#mayatalks #black sails #black sails meta #this took me longer that i thought because english is complicated

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twistedtummies2 · 4 months

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Year of the Bat - Number 9

Welcome to Year of the Bat! In honor of Kevin Conroy, Arleen Sorkin, and Richard Moll, I’ve been counting down my Top 31 Favorite Episodes of “Batman: The Animated Series” throughout this January.

TODAY’S EPISODE QUOTE: “So, it wasn’t all for nothing.” Number 9 is…Beware the Gray Ghost!

This is one of the greatest and most renowned episodes of the Animated Series…but as of these recent years, it’s also become one of the most difficult to talk about. In some ways, this episode is even more profoundly impacting now than it ever was before. It’s funny, because the reason(s) for this, I’m sure, will be lost on many future Batman fans; they will never know just how big a deal this episode was when it came out, and how big a deal it is now in this given year. Thankfully, however, those points will not detract from the greatness of this story on its own terms, and a great story is exactly what it is. In this episode, Batman finds out about a series of bombings, committed by a mysterious villain simply referred to as “The Mad Bomber.” He recognizes the crimes as being almost identical, in every way, to the attacks of a fictional villain in a TV series that Bruce Wayne loved dearly as a child, “The Gray Ghost.” To try and solve the case, Batman gets help from the Gray Ghost’s original actor, an aging performer by the name of Simon Trent. Simon has seen better days, as the combo of his typecasting and other personal issues have led to him falling on hard times, and he’s grown bitter about the role that once made him a household name. Batman must find a way to not only stop the Mad Bomber, but reinvigorate Trent’s spirits, as he teams with the Gray Ghost himself to end the crime spree.

Much like the later “Legends of the Dark Knight,” this is an episode that essentially pays homage to Batman’s roots, but in a much more subtle way. I guess I can’t go any further without bringing up the big point: the voice of Simon Trent. It’s none other than Adam West: the original 1960s Batman. The creators of B:TAS were huge fans of the original Adam West series, and odes and homages to the show are sprinkled throughout, some more obvious than others. Trent’s character is one of the biggest examples, as his fictional foibles are a sort of exaggerated mirror of how West’s own career and life went after the 60s series ended. It goes even deeper than that, however: the Gray Ghost himself is a thinly-veiled parody of The Shadow, a character I’ve mentioned many times in the past, who was one of the main inspirations for Batman as a character. (The first Batman comic ever made was an outright ripoff of a Shadow story. No joke, look it up.) Even the villain of the piece feels more like something out of the Shadow than your typical Batman tale, let alone the silly sixties. It’s a double-homage, in a sense, to two great influences on the creators of B:TAS.

This is also what makes the episode hard to watch now: Adam West has been dead for only a few years now, yet, and Kevin Conroy’s passing is still even more painfully recent. You can’t watch this episode as a Batman fan without feeling a sort of pang, realizing not only the significance of two of the greatest Batmen in history onscreen together, but the fact that both are no longer with us. In a weird way, though, that makes the episode even more powerful, because of what the whole story is really about: nostalgia. The way nostalgia effects all three of the main characters in the story – Batman, the Gray Ghost, and the Mad Bomber alike – is a BIG part of this story. Trent is someone who tries to shun the past, who feels pained when he looks back, and has to come to terms with the fact the world has changed, and he has to change, too. He’s haunted by the role that made him once iconic, while also dealing with the issue of being seemingly obsolete, no longer sure of who he is or what his life has truly become. The Bomber, meanwhile, is the opposite extreme: without giving away who it is, it’s someone who clings TOO CLOSE to the past, and to the things they loved in youth, and that obsession drives them to toxic self-destruction, not to mention acts of cruelty and spite. It’s probably not a coincidence that Bruce Timm, one of the show’s creators – a fan of the 60s series – plays this character; a sort of self-parody in the form of the world’s most unsettling fanboy.

It's Batman himself who shows the value of nostalgia and the balance of where it needs to fall: he clings close to his past, as we know, and the Gray Ghost character and series is revealed to be no exception. But he doesn’t allow these things to rule him or destroy him. For people who grew up with Kevin Conroy and Adam West alike, this episode shows just what made both of them such special actors, and reminds us of why both of their respective takes on Batman were so interesting, while also providing a fascinating story that combines all kinds of tonal elements to create an intriguing and entertaining tale. But above all, it serves as a lesson in the dangers and the values of what we keep close in our memories. I think it’s fair to say that everything about this episode – it’s actors, it’s inspirations, and the series it hails from – will be a treasured, nostalgic memory for many years to come.

Tomorrow we move on with Number 8! Hint: “But they share my unique face! Colonel Whathisname has chickens, and they don't even have moustaches!"

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mae-i-scribble · 2 years

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Random thoughts about the orv epilogue part 3/????

Up this round: Yoo Joonghyuk’s status as a Character and how orv makes using characters as thematic stand ins work without sacrificing character integrity.

Going into this I am denoting yjh’s status as a “character” within the confines of orv with a captial C “Character” and talking about characters in general without the capitalization

If I were to discuss all the ways that orv uses yjh to discuss the larger themes of what characters mean to their readers, authors, and stories I would be writing a thesis paper and I am writing these at 2 am so the brain cells are not amassing to that high a level. The moment in the epilogues I will be focusing on is when yjh reveals his reasoning for why he needs to find kdj. “He still had something he simply had to ask Kim Dokja, that’s why... ‘what should he do to continue living on?’ That’s right. That’s what he wanted to ask Kim Dokja. Because that guy knew everything.” Yjh, who continuously seeks out kdj time and time again to determine what he should do next, trusting in kdj’s plans, of course kdj would be the first person he wants to ask about what to do with himself. Yjh has no idea what kind of person he is outside of the scenarios, but out of everyone he knows, kdj is the one he trusts to give him the clearest answer to that question that’s been haunting him. In a mushy gushy character sense, kdj is the person who gives yjh’s life meaning. In a thematic sense, the exact same is true, but because a reader decides what a character’s value is, above all else. Every person who reads a novel is going to come away with a slightly different impression of each character, and every individual reader will assign their own meanings to these characters. Because yjh and kdj exist as reader and character, kdj becomes the driving force behind yjh’s purpose.

One could argue that orv goes to great lengths to say the exact opposite: that characters exist in volumes larger than what is written down in any piece of fiction, that characters have agency from both their author and reader and can never be understood by the story alone. And to that I say, yeah you’re completely right. Those are major themes of orv, but it in no way reduces the thematic impact of the moments centered around the reader and character relationship, because both themes are expressed simultaneously. Case and point, the fight between yjh and kdj on reincarnation island, where yjh is furious that he is a Character to kdj and questioning how meaningful kdj finds their relationship, leading to the following exchange.

“⸢I’m right here, in this place.⸥

I know.

⸢Even then, you only chose to read and nothing else.⸥

….Because, that is our way of living. You acted, and I read you doing it.

Yjh is trying to assert his reality, the fact that he if alive and breathing and *here,* that he is not a Character, he is not someone to be read about and never acknowledged in person. He knows what kdj is doing and is almost begging the man to talk to him, person to person, only to realize that even now, kdj is choosing to “read” him via his thoughts. Kdj’s internal response “that is our way of living. You acted, and I read you doing it,” asserts that the foundation of their relationship exists in that character/reader dynamic. Neither character is necessarily proved wrong in their convictions, yjh declaration of who he is, just as he has been doing, marks him as not some mere story. Meanwhile kdj has long grown past using yjh’s status as a Character to define how he sees yjh, even actively pushing against seeing yjh as a Character but still recognizing that their initial dynamic when he knew yjh as words on a page will always be a core part of their dynamic. Furthering this point, the moment where yjh reflects on the purpose of his life as he is about to die at the hands of the outer gods. His narration says:

He must never let his companions know of his survival.

His absence must become their eternal hope.

...

Yu Jung-Hyeok instinctively realised that this was his conclusion.

‘This is the end I wished to see.’

It could’ve been a slightly more excellent conclusion.

If he had made a different choice back then, or maybe, if he chose to go down the better direction, then…. Yu Jung-Hyeok smiled bitterly.

In the end, he remained a regressor even until his final moment.

...

That was the summary of his life.

“I’m Yu Jung-Hyeok.”

At least a handful of people would be saved by his life.

There are a lot of things happening in these final moments of his, such as determining that his purpose was not to bring kdj back, but to become a beacon of hope for the companions he left behind. In thematic terms, he is saying how the purpose of the character is to be hope for even a single person, their summary is to be a saving force for a handful of people. However, much as in the first example, none of what yjh is saying feels out of character. He is the same person who regressed thousands of times just to save the world and his companions, he is more than assuredly a person who would conclude the purpose of his life is to give them hope at the cost of himself. Interspersed with the more thematically relevant thoughts are the thoughts of yjh the character, how even now, he still has the mindset of a regressor. And ultimately this is what makes orv hit as hard as it does, the way that the meta themes never fall out of place with its characters. Orv is a story built around its themes, such that every character’s arcs and history mold themselves in a way to cater to these themes rather than themes coming in at the last moment and drastically redefining a character. While I do think it can be more heavy handed than it needs to be, especially in the final chapter with hsy essentially explaining to the readers why orv has an open ending, I still believe this style of thematic storytelling to be incredibly well done and executed through the main trio in particular. Also my heart cries tears of blood rereading yjh’s final moments like this. Part 1 | Part 2 | ... | Part 4

#orv #omniscient reader #omniscient reader's viewpoint #orv spoilers #joongdok #yoo joonghyuk #yjh #kim dokja #kdj #han sooyoung #hsy #anyways crying screaming throwing up #this novel makes me want to claw my heart out but also go back to writing high school analytical essays #its a strange conundrum #my emotional posts will be more popular but my heart is here in the analysis #my shitty shitty 1st grade analysis #not that im blaming myself like i said 2am writing #MINIMAL effort is being put into this #i say as i had to physically restrain myself from adding citation markers

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man-down-in-hatchet-town · 10 months

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The Ghost of All My Yesterdays

(Pulp Musicals 3: The Ghosts of Antikythera Theory Part 1--The Reasonable Stuff)

So I've been thinking a lot about The Ghosts of Antikythera and the excellent rambling theory post (my favorite kind of post) @its-short-for-jackalope made a few days ago (you can read it here--seriously, if you haven't already, read it--it's got so many fun and interesting ideas packed in), and slowly building up my own theories about exactly what's going to go down the next time we see our beloved Pulp Quartet.

I think it'll all come down to Episode Three's theme, which I believe is going to be the Past, and our relationship with it.

Theory under the cut (sorry it's so long lol) (this post is just gonna have the more basic, grounded stuff. The real wild swings will come in a part two).

As several people have already remarked, "Antikythera" could refer to either a Greek island or the Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient Greek device that was found in an ancient shipwreck on that same island, and was once used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses. While anything's possible in a series that just featured one character transporting four others through time, I'm of the opinion that the device is more likely than the actual island to majorly feature.

But! I’ve previously written (here) about the supposed real-life story behind the Ellen Austin and her encounter with a ghost ship in 1881. The Antikythera Mechanism, meanwhile, isn’t discovered until 1901. I can think of two ways around this time discrepancy.

First of all, it's always possible that Matt simply... changed up the timeline. He's already played fast and loose with real world history--he aged John down to match the Stratfords, put the Stratfords in the middle of the Great Moon Hoax, and even stuck a giant-ass brick satellite up in the sky to forever change the nature of oceanic voyages. It’s easy to see him just moving the discovery of the Antikythera Mechanism up twenty years or so. However, there's still the problem that the Mechanism was discovered on a Greek island far from the Sargasso Sea, where both history and Pulp find the Ellen Austin. Which brings me to the other, in my opinion more likely, explanation…

What if the device is found on the ghost ship in 1881 and then returned to the Antikythera Island shipwreck at the end of the episode?

Matt has said that every episode of Pulp has a particular theme. Episode 1 was Imagination, Episode 2 was Friendship, and Episode Three is shaping up to be about our relationship with the past. We have Margaret starting to uncover her own history while all four characters must grapple with leaving behind the lives and people and years they knew. To the people of 1881, the Pulp Quartet have been quite literally living in the past, and now our gang have to figure out how to either get back to that time, or else let it go and march into the future. How can they cast away their intense ties to 1835, when they themselves are but a manifestation of that past reaching out into the future?

You know what else is a manifestation of the past reaching into the future? Ghosts. In "Behind Me", Rose talks about how the "ghost of all her yesterdays stands beside her," introducing specters as a metaphor for the impact of the past. As such, I think the Ghosts of Episode 3 are going to be both kinds—metaphorical ghosts of our characters’ yesterdays and losses, and then also actual spirits.

What if these titular Ghosts of Antikythera are just that? Spirits that, in a thematic parallel of our four protagonists, have been taken from their homes and their time. Perhaps the Antikythera Mechanism is haunted and the ghost ship's former crew it on a previous voyage. While sailing it to America, they meet disaster, most likely caused by the ghosts of the mechanism, leaving the Ellen Austin to find the ghost ship and confront the spirits. At the end of the episode, the evil is defeated and either our protagonists, the Traveler, or even the crew of the Austin (the least likely option) return the Mechanism to its watery grave, where it will be found again in twenty years...

(Part 2 can be found here.)

#Pulp Musicals #Pulp musicals episode three: The ghosts of antikythera #the ghosts of antikythera #samuel stratford #rose stratford #Margaret Cavendish #Sir John Herschel #pulp musicals theories

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exploringblackhorror · 6 months

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Beloved and the Slavery’s Hauntings of the Black Family

Reading Beloved as a 16 year old in a public high school in California was a formative moment for me. I had never learned anything in my education that focused on black narratives, and despite the horrors of the novel I became entirely immersed in my reading. It showed me how my blackness allowed me to understand and catch details that my nonblack peers missed, and I wonder what it must be like to have that advantage in every section of every class for your whole life. I’ll admit I was a bit anxious about watching the movie because of the horrific events that take place in the book. Upon watching, I think the book is more horrifying than the movie, maybe because I was already prepped going into the movie viewing.

The most prevalent theme in this story is slavery’s hauntings on the black family. Beloved, like slavery, separates a mother from her children when Howard and Bugler are forced to run away due to their sister’s violent tantrums. As Sethe and Paul D attempt to find joy in their present as freed black people, the traumas they endured during their enslavement stifle their relationship. Sethe’s traumas are materialized in the form of Beloved, who drains her of her life force. Their traumas have left them emotionally unavailable, yet they gravitate towards each other because no one else could understand their experiences.

Though the movie does capture imagery from the novel, I don’t think a work like Beloved from an author like Toni Morrison can be adapted and maintain the same impact without Morrison’s voice. Unlike in other works, Morrison as an author is as important to any of her writings as any character or scene is, so seeing the story retold felt thin. I also found many of the acting choices to be distracting.

I truly believe that the gender and racial ideologies stemming from the chattel slavery period are continuously reproduced in many interpersonal dynamics to this day. As a person born out of an abusive interracial relationship between my black mother and white father, I saw and experienced many of these legacies throughout my childhood and into my adulthood. I’ve also seen it reproduced in my extended family. In many black families, pain and suffering at the hands of relatives are pressured into being kept secret. I understand that in my grandmother’s time, familial connections literally meant survival, even if those connections had intense secrets and complications. Of course, there are people who have progressed past these dynamics, but that requires effort and compassion (in order to be allies) that many refuse. On the other hand, black people must come to terms with difficult experiences and acknowledge where the precedents for those experiences came from, which can be an excruciating process that many refuse as well. Though I love members of my family, as a person who struggles pretending I often feel like I have no space within it.

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cassidylea123 · 2 years

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So, the movies I've been watching lately are in my "1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die" book, and my goal is to watch all 1,001 of them. I've decided to write mini reviews about them as I watch them to get my brain working.

•Körkarlen [also known as The Phantom Carriage] (1921)

Directed By: Victor Sjöström

Plot Summary: on New Year's Eve, the driver of a phantom carriage forces a drunken man to reflect on his wasted life.

Where to Watch: YouTube

This is a beautiful yet haunting film. One could link this movie to both "A Christmas Carol" and "It's a Wonderful Life", as all three of these films show a ghostly figure showing a down and out man sequences of his life. This film tugs at your heartstrings. At first, you strongly dislike the main character, because it is clear that he is a mean and violent drunk who puts himself before others, even his own wife and kids. However, as the film continues and he is shown just how much of a monster he had become, he starts to come to terms with what he has done and wants to make everything right. There is one quote towards the end of the film that is especially impactful. After being shown just how much damage he has caused towards his wife and kids, he says, "Lord, please let my soul come to maturity before it us reaped". All in all, a great film deserving of a watch.

•La souriante Madame Beudet [also known as The Smiling Madame Beudet] (1922)

Directed By: Germaine Dulac

Plot Summary: an unhappily married woman devises a plot to get rid of her husband.

Where to Watch: YouTube

I will be the first to admit that I wasn't a huge fan of the film. I find that when I watch a truly good film, I am able to connect with the characters in some way. This did not happen to me with this movie. This film depicts a woman trapped in a loveless marriage to a truly insufferable man. However, just because I wasn't a huge fan of this film, doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't give it a try. One refreshing aspect is that the film is told from the woman's point of view, which wasn't often the case during that era. It also allows the viewers to feel empathetic towards the woman. While it is obvious that killing your husband is never the answer, telling the story from the wife's perspective allows us to see exactly why she feels driven to such desperate measures. I also feel that this is a movie that should be shown in any Women's History class, as it has feminist themes and was directed by a woman, which again was uncommon for that time period. Even though I wasn't a big fan of this film, I can still understand why it is widely celebrated.

•Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler [also known as Dr. Mabuse the Gambler] (1922)

Directed By: Fritz Lang

Plot Summary: criminal mastermind Dr. Mabuse sets out to run Berlin as a determined detective is keen on stopping him.

Where to Watch: YouTube

While one might think that an almost five hour long silent film is not for them, I encourage everyone to give this film a try. One of the reasons someone might be opposed to silent films is that they feel those films are outdated. However, I would argue that is not the case, especially with this movie. The idea of a criminal, master of disguise and a young, determined detective wanting to take him down is something we see quite often in modern day films. This movie is so worth the watch. It starts off slowly, but the intensity builds and builds as the detective finally starts to catch up to Dr. Mabuse. I never once found myself staring off into space or counting down the minutes until the movie was finally over. I was completely sucked in the entire time. I was so excited when it seemed like Dr. Mabuse would finally be brought to justice, but then I would get upset when he managed to escape somehow. I am very confident that you wouldn't be bored while watching this. Give it a try!

#silent movies #greatmovie #1001 movies #movie review #1920s #1920s art #the phantom carriage #french #french film #filmisnotdead

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imnotusedtobeingloved · 3 years

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A/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/N/O/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z

FROM THE CHARACTER ALPHABET WITH IVAR RAGNARSSON.

REQUESTED BY: @witch-of-letters

A - affection (how affectionate are they? what do they enjoy?)

At first? Not at all.

The only person he is used to getting affection from is Aslaug, so naturally you might earn a few sceptical looks from him if you try to get close.

Nevertheless he quickly learns how pleasant the attention of someone else can be, but tries to be subtle about it. He wouldn’t want to tell you upfront that he enjoys having you close or that he likes your touch, because he fears the rejection that might come with it.

In time, he would alert you with a little nudge here and there whenever he requires your tenderness.

Slowly but surely Ivar would get more daring, trying to innitiate the soft touches himself. If you don’t pull back, he’ll get more sure of himself and as soon as it is clear to him that you are serious about him, you’ll be the only person in Kattegat to recieve affectionate touches from Ivar without any deadly concequences.

What he loves most is either having his head placed on your chest or stomach, feeling you breathe and with your hands in his hair, or laying on the side, with you wrapped around his back.

B - bodypart (what’s their favorite bodypart on their partner and them?)

His arms.

His arms have been a replacement for his legs for all his life. Since he has to crawl everywhere until he has his crutches, they are well built and knowing that you love being wrapped inside them, makes Ivar love them even more.

Your legs.

He likes your legs because they are what he cannot have. He likes them because his are so flawed, and yet you choose to love them anyways. And he likes them due to their shape, the softness of your skin and how they look when you move around.

C - commitment (how quick are they to commit?)

Not that quick.

Ivar is reluctant, to say the least.

He needs to be 100% sure that you are commited to him, before he will make any kind of promises to you. It would be a long process full of selfdoubt, selfdeprication and fear of betrayal.

Ivar would also visit the seer and ask about a future with you by his side. The seers answers would be, as always, very vague (if he says something at all).

In addition to all those troubles, his brothers are in the midst of it. Ubbe and Hvitserk might be the only positive voices of reason at times (apart from Aslaug), while Bjorn would not really concern himself with it. Sigurd on the other hand would throw salt at Ivars mental wounds, saying you were only with him out of pity.

So the viking has no real option but to rely on you reassurance and your loving words. You’d probably have to spend months proving that you are serious about him, because he has been hurt and rediculed so many times before, but in the end it’s all worth it.

Once Ivar chooses to fully commit to you, he’s there to stay.

D - dates (what would dates with them look like? what would they plan?)

Ivar is usually not that much of a planner when it comes to dates.

Normally he is content with finding a secluded place to spend time with you, away from the crowds and far, far away from his relatives.

But if, for any reason, a special occassion should arise, he would definetely ask his brothers for help as much as he hates it.

He would send Hvitserk to distract you with requests and tasks all day, while Ubbe helps him set everything up in a little cabin in the woods. Ivar would ask Aslaug to have some thralls bring plates of food as well.

E - experience (how many relationships have they had before?)

Close to nothing, really.

Ivar did not have any experience with real love and he was very sceptical of it.

The few kisses and cuddles he may have had, have all come from the thralls his family owns.

Apart from that, he has not been interested in anybody, other than finding some attractive on the outside. Too often he had to find out the hard way that the insides of people where much more ugly than the exterior.

So in response to that Ivar mainly focused on his training and on becoming a better viking, until you came along.

F - family (do they want to start a family?)

Ivar would love to start a family.

At first, he is actually astounded that you’d bring it up.

For a long time, he could’ve never imagined someone wanting to have a family with him. To have a child with him (no matter if it’s your own or adopted). So when you suggest it, he is mindblown for a second, before he cups your face, telling you that it is what he longed for all along.

He would be ecstatic upon the idea of having an heir. Or two. Or more. But at least one is fair.

For him, it feels like everything is finally falling into the right place.

G - generosity (do they give their partner a lot of presents? if so, what?)

Exceptionally generous.

And you don’t even have to ask for them.

Ivar brings tons of goods and riches home from every raid, where you can pick whatever you like. He makes sure to safe the best pieces for you and keeps an eye out for suvenirs he knows you might love.

Should you require anything else Ivar has enough resources to get you everything you want from the market. Since Aslaugs rule in Ragnars absence, Kattegat has also transformed into an important trading center, will all kinds of diverse products.

Ivar sees to it, that you have anything you could possible require, even in his absence.

He spoils you, not gonna lie.

H - heaven (how would they react if they lost their partner?)

Ivar would never recover from the loss.

After everything that happened to his family, all the betrayals and the lies and the fights, you were the one thing to keep him going. You had been there for him everytime, no matter how hard it was. No matter how dangerous it got, no matter how exhausted you were.

But now?

There was nothing.

No one.

And no way to bring you back.

One of the things that scares Ivar most is how numb everything feels. There was nobody to be angry at. Nobody to blame, except for the illness that took you away. And against something like that, not even Ivar the Boneless could seek revenge.

He should have known when you confessed you love, that you were just another thing he had to lose. First it was his father, then his mother, then Helga and Floki and now... there was nothing left of him.

Still your face, your smell, you presence would follow him everywhere he goes.

And he’d beg you to haunt him.

I - i love you (who says the three magic words first and why?)

It depends.

The only way Ivar would say it first is if he is frantic. Either in a screaming match, or when you are close to leaving him.

When neither of those are likely though, this viking would most definetely wait until you’ve said it first. For a long time he does not even dare to hope that you will. He is still a cripple after all, no amout of love could ever change that and he fears the day you realize it. Ivar is so used to rejection that he tells himself it wouldn’t hurt if you left. But deep down he knows it would. That’s why he always hesitates in the very last second, drawing back.

He leaves the first ‘i love you’ to you. But when it comes, you’ve never seen him smile that big. He can’t believe his luck. Can’t believe that you truly choose him over anyone else.

Ivar will rarely outright tell you that he loves you and only chooses particular moments for it.

But that just makes it all the more special.

J - journey (how did they first meet their partner?)

Unfortunately, you met Ivar while his men were preparing for a raid.

You stumbled upon their camp and he questioned you, demanding informations. This way he could gather when the best time for an attack might be. But not only that. You captured his interest in a way he would not have expected.

There was something in the way you spoke and the way you carried yourself that made him hesitate. He supposed that was what it must have felt like for his father with that unlucky priest Floki killed in the end. But then again, in time, he discovered it wasn’t quite the same. There was something more that drew him to you, apart from curiosity.

And he intended to find out what exactly it was.

Who knows after all?

Maybe it was fate.

K - kisses (what are their kisses like?)

Ivars kisses are desperate.

Desperate for warmth, desperate for acceptance, desperate for belonging.

He puts his emotions into every kiss and there is no such thing as ‘just a peck’ with him. Ivar likes to feel needed. He likes showing you how much he loves you, rather than expressing it with words.

He’s also not ashamed to kiss you in front of an audience, frankly he does not care who sees it, because you’re the only one that counts (but he will stop should it make you uncomfortable). He does not fear that it might make him seem weak, that thought is pretty ridiculous to him.

If anything, he’s even more proud to be the one you want.

L - love language (what’s their love language?)

Ivars love language is physical touch closely followed by words of affirmation.

Ivar feels loved the most if he recieves physical touch. He senses that most people around him are too intimidated to get close, or are simply put off by his condition. As a result of that, he rarely gets affectionate touches or attention, which he craves dearly. Even more so since Aslaug is dead and Floki and Helga are both gone. It’s important to Ivar that his partner makes him feel appreciated this way, even if it’s just a hand on his arm at the table, or your fingers laced with his. Every little touch counts.

The second best way to make him happy is through words of affirmation. Words have great meaning to Ivar, so beware of saying anything hurtful to him, for it might stay with him for a lifetime. In time you may notice that especially Ragnars last words “happiness means nothing” are stuck in Ivars head. Words impact him greatly, and you may have to undo some of the damage others have caused in his mind, with a few well-placed strikes. Ivar will appreciate it if you reassure him of your love with the right words at the right time.

M - memory (what’s their favorite memory of the relationship?)

The morning after the first night spend together.

Back then he had no idea how it happened or how you did it.

You were still snoring next to him when he came to realize he didn’t just like you. He loved you. And while you moved around, hugging the fur close to your chest a thousand emotions had swirled in his head. He was confused, surprised and completely thrown aback about what you did to him. About how you made his heart beat faster and his limbs tingle with the need to draw you closer. He watched, until the sun tickled your skin, rousing you from your sleep and when you opened your eyes to look at him with that smile... you knocked the breath out of his lungs.

Whenever he thinks back to that morning now, you catch him with an absent-minded smile on his lips.

N - newborn (how would they react to expecting a child? how would they deal with the pregnancy?)

Ivar would be shocked.

First of all, he would question if the child is truly his, as it seemed impossible before. He wouldn’t have thought that he would ever get the chance to have an heir. So, once you’ve settled his doubts, he would be the proudest father-to-be in all of Kattegat.

But also the most anxious.

He heavily questions his ability to raise a child. Even he knows his father was not a really good example to look up to when it comes to raising children, or to being a husband.

So he seeks the not really helpful advice of his brothers, who all seem to go in completely different directions when it comes to kids. Hvitserk is clearly letting his nephews and nieces walk all over him, while Ubbe is acting like an overprotective hen. Bjorn seems deadset on training them and sending them out in the wild. And Sigurd? Ivar is not quite sure the man is a grown-up himself.

In conclusion: they all started fighting amost themselves while Ivar watched the mess unfold.

Clearly, his mother Aslaug would have been a much better option.

But if she is no longer around, Ivar will instead turn to Floki and Helga where he finally finds some words of wisdom and support.

Without a doubt the woman carrying his child will be protected at all times. This is a literal miracle to him and he would be devastated if anything went wrong with the mother, or the child.

Other than that Ivar finds great joy in the pregnancy. He loves seeing the mother grow with his child and he would be truly proud of his child for carrying on his legacy. Ivar’s love grows during this incredible months, even during all the moods and cravings.

Both, the mother and the baby will be incredibly spoiled.

O - oasis (what’s their favorite place to spent time?)

The pier.

He enjoys the location, especially on warm summer days.

He has many memories stored in his mind, of sitting out on the docks. It’s a place where he can clear his head and it also gives him an overview of everything that is happening around him.

Ivar also likes the calm view of the ocean, even though he’s terrified of the sea. He likes to imagine all the lands that await him on the next raid. The atmosphere helps him to resume his strategies and to gather his thoughts.

It helps him to visualize the terrain the next war will be fought on and the techniques his enemies might use.

You will find him there often, sitting and staring out to the sea until the sun fades away.

P - petnames (what petname would they give their partner?)

“My love.”

The words tasted absolutely ridiculous on his tongue, when he first said them. Almost pathetic. That is also what he threw at your head, when you first said it, but not in anger. It was... something else. Some thing you had to figure out first.

The way he put you off was so reluctant, that it didn’t fit. He liked it. You knew he did. And he knew you knew he did. And he hated it.

This, in turn, made you use the petname whenever you could, with a smirk on your face. Eventually he not only gave in, but started using it himself.

The first time he did you probably spit out your drink in shock tbh.

He’d grumble out of embarassement, until you’d reassure him. When he knows for sure that you actually love it, it’s settled.

It would become a habit.

Q - quiet (what do undisturbed moments look like?)

Peaceful.

In quiet moments Ivar can take a breath and let go of all that troubles him.

He likes taking you down to the beach on those rare days, lying next to you in the sand and relaxing for hours. In those moments all the fights, the wars and the arguments truly fade away. Sometimes they might creep into his mind, which you scold him for when he shares those thoughs absent-mindedly.

Apart from that, it is in those quiet times that you can truly find joy in the company of each other. There don’t need to be many words or actions to keep you happy, just the two of you alone will do.

R - rivals (how do they handle jealousy?)

Not too well.

If there is anyone making advances towards you, Ivar will be the first one to notice. Probably even before you.

He knows very well that you would not appreciate a bloodbath. And further than that, there are political figures that are better kept alive during those stressful times of war. So, no matter how much it bugs him, he would keep still for the time being, trusting you to tell them off (but you may notice the tick of his jaw, or the whitened knuckles when his fingers clench around the armrests of his chair).

If you don’t notice, Ivar will be sure to inform you and ask you to do something about it. He doesn’t voice his concerns about it very clearly, but he is afraid of you leaving him for another.

Though, should a situation get critical, even after you have made clear that Ivar is the one for you, you can be sure that Ivar wont let it slide.

Even if he has to make it look like an accident.

S - song (what song is a reminder of them?)

OCEAN EYES - BILLIE EILISH

I've been watchin' you for some time

Can't stop starin' at those ocean eyes

Burning cities and napalm skies

Fifteen flares inside those ocean eyes

Your ocean eyes

No fair

You really know how to make me cry

When you gimme those ocean eyes

I'm scared

I've never fallen from quite this high

Fallin' into your ocean eyes

Those ocean eyes

I've been walkin' through a world gone blind

Can't stop thinkin' of your diamond mind

Careful creature made friends with time

He left her lonely with a diamond mind

And those ocean eyes

No fair

You really know how to make me cry

When you gimme those ocean eyes

I'm scared

I've never fallen from quite this high

Fallin' into your ocean eyes

Those ocean eyes

Da, da-da, da-da

Da-da-da, da, da

Da, da, da, da, da-da-da-da

No fair

You really know how to make me cry

When you gimme those ocean eyes

I'm scared

I've never fallen from quite this high

Fallin' into your ocean eyes

Those ocean eyes

T - token (what kind of object would be the proof of their love? a ring? a necklace? something completely different?)

Ivar can, as a prince and as a king, buy you anything you want.

So he goes a completely different way.

He would try and make you something himself. Something that wouldn’t bother you during the day while tending to your tasks, but also something that would show everyone around you that you are taken.

And something that would remind you of him.

Ivar has noticed you fiddle with the pendant of his necklace often enough.

The viking takes is upon himself to make a twin to the mjolnir hanging from his throat. He would spend ages drawing out the form and details of the hammer, making sure everything looks perfect. He would also use much more expensive material than his own was made of and would insert fitting gemstones if possible.

Ivar works through days and nights to complete his work and smiles like a child when he can finally hand it to you.

It would turn out so beautiful that you would never want to take it off.

U - unique (why did they choose their partner? what first attracted them?)

The thing that first drew him to you was your personality.

Ivar likes looking at pretty features and bodies, yes. But in a way, doesn’t everyone?

Physical attributes don’t mean that much to him. That he may find a body pleasing to look at has nothing to do with feelings. It is more about an aesthitic. About a facade.

What really interests him is your behavior and your mannerisms. How you talk and behave when nobody sees you and how you move when the great hall is filled with people.

Ivar is first attracted to you because of your habits and your character. The unique tells when he catches you lying, or the characteristic twitch of your mouth, when Bjorn shares a story around the dinner table.

V - vulnerable (how vulnerable do they allow themselves to get?)

He is a tough nut to crack.

Ivar is not the type to be vulnerable around others.

He is not always proud of it when he loses his temper, but he absolutely hates it when he has to cry. Not particularily because he sees it as a weakness, but because he despises the whole feeling of it. He hates the helplessness that settles in and the pityful looks everyone carries on their faces when tears are shed.

He does not like to cry in front of you, even when you are close. You will often have to force him to lean on you and let you comfort him. At the beginning he dislikes doing so, but quickly notices that it helps.

He starts to appreciate your help and your knowledge when you assist him to get his mind back on track and give him a perspective he might not have thought of (though there is rarely a way he does not come up with).

X - xfactor (what’s one of their special talents they try to impress with?)

His mind.

While his brothers might be honest in saying that they consider him their equal despite his disability (which he is already sceptical of), Ivar is very aware that that does not count for everyone else around him.

Not even for you.

So he tries to impress you with what he does best. Ivar is intelligent and an incredible strategist on all fields. He will use his smarts and his witt to catch you attention (and maybe even aks you for advice, even though he already has the perfect solution).

Y - yin & yang (how does having their partner around change their behavior?)

It changes quite a bit.

Ivar becomes calmer when you’re around. More patient and less heated. Apart from that he puts great value on your opinions, even of you are not familiar with all of his strategies.

The times of war are stressful even on a bright mind such as his. It makes him agitated when you’re parted and he trends to get nervous when he can’t keep an eye on you.

Since what happened to his mother while he was not around, he fears that the same fate might come for you if he is not on guard at all times. That, in turn gets him easily frustrated when you can’t join him where he is going.

Needless to say, his men are glad when you are present.

Ivar becomes more relaxed, witty and even pleasant at times as soon as you are near.

Z- zen (how calm are they during arguments?)

Not very calm, even though he tries to keep his cool.

He tends to let his frustrations out, wether that be through screaming or trashing something.

This viking does not hold back.

And we all know Ivar is already intimidating enough when he is not in a bad mood.

But usually, all of that doesn’t happen around you. Between the both of you arguments rarely arise. You are pretty much on the same page and definetely act as a team.

Though, of course, it can’t be that easy all the time. When an argument between the two of you arises Ivat tries to reason with you. The man is used to things going his way, so it might be quite a struggle to go against him at first. He tends to get louder, as a way to emphasize his reasoning, but will quickly try to shut it down if you tell him that it upsets you.

He’ll try to explain his situation and get a grip on your view at the same time, until you reach an agreement both of you are happy with, which he does not do with anyone but you.

#ivar x reader #ivar imagine #vikings imagine #ivar the boneless #ivar vikings #ivar fluff #ivar ragnarsson #ivar x you

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multimetaverse · 3 years

Text

HSMTMTS 2x06 Review

Yes, And was a messy ep that brings us to the halfway point of the season. Let’s dig in!

Tonight took some big steps towards the Rini breakup. The conflict isn’t quite earned as they did too much too quickly in making Ricky overbearing; to go from Ricky supporting Nini going to YAC and them singing love songs to each other just 3 eps ago to Ricky now accusing Nini of changing because she didn’t get pineapple on her pizza just doesn’t work. Largely that’s because it’s clear that the writers are working backwards from an outline that requires Rini to be broken up before the finale.

The Rose song is great and Olivia’s vocals are wonderful as always but again it’s not quite earned. The lyrics make it seem like Nini thinks Ricky is holding her on a pedestal and holding her back when that’s not what we’ve seen on screen. Ricky and Nini went through a lot as they were finding their way back to each other and they learned not to see each other through rose coloured glasses and while Ricky was sad that Nini went to YAC he was supportive and respected her wishes, notably the only time he admitted how much he wanted Nini to come back to Salt Lake was after Nini had already made up her mind to return.

Rini was always going to break up both because writers struggle with writing happy or stable couples and because Tim became enamoured of Rina after writing 1x05 and will want to explore them at some point. Tim’s claimed that he has future seasons all planned out but I’m skeptical that he’s really thought out how to keep Ricky and Nini and Gina on goodish terms with each other for the remaining 2 seasons of the show while also not completely closing the door on the Rini endgame the show’s been aiming towards since the pilot.

It’s clear that Ricky has unresolved issues from his mom effectively abandoning him which are impairing all his relationships. And while it’s true he could try calling Lynne it’s the parents job to reach out and she is obviously fine living her life without Ricky. Not sure how much closure we can get with Lynne when she comes back in 2x09 but I hope we at least get an apology on her part.

Yet another ep of Gina going through it. That flashback to Gina tearfully telling Ricky that she wouldn’t have ‘’given up on us’’ if she hadn’t moved certainly paints Ricky’s behaviour this season in a worse light. I do hope the show doesn’t take the cowards way out and have Ricky being too stupid to realize that Gina had romantic feelings for him. Though again we run into the problem that these emotions aren’t fitting the story. There really wasn’t an ‘us’ for Gina to fight for, she and Ricky had only been hanging from 1x05-1x08 and never actually dated or went on dates. Also by this point Gina should be questioning her feelings for Ricky and whether he’s worth it; it’s not like he’s done anything nice for her this season like getting her chocolates for Valentine’s Day.

Still Gina did make some strides tonight. She finally opened up to Ashlyn which seems to have lifted a weight off of her shoulders and makes the decision to stay in Salt Lake. She also brushes off Ricky wanting to be improv partners which leads to her accepting EJ’s offer which led to a sweet callback to them being wonderstudies. I’m glad she’s not going to Louisiana but it does mean we were robbed of a HSMTMTS/Secrets of Sulphur Springs crossover.

Kourtney and Howie are finally together. I’m glad they didn’t waste time dragging this out. Kourtney’s confession was very in character and I liked the earlier hufflepuff dragging. As an aside I wonder if say 10 years in the future, shows will still be making light hearted unqualified references to Harry Potter or will J.K. Terfling have completely destroyed the goodwill the series has by then.

Lily continues to act as if she’s in Glee working for Sue Sylvester to take down the One Directions and honestly I’m here for it. I especially liked that she stole some of the condiments on her way out of Salt Lake Slices. Antoine seems alright, the espionage bit was funny. Seems like Salt Lake City would be a pretty shitty place for a French student to study.

EJ remains underused especially since this is his last semester as a student. His Gaston answer was surprisingly thoughtful and hinted at him getting over Nini with Gina as he sat down next to her. His may I have this exercise was just the right amount of smooth and goofy.

Ashlyn had a good ep, she killed Home, Julia has a great voice. And she stood her ground with Gina but was also there for her and managed to help her decide to stay. Loved her line that she was still part Caswell.

Mike Bowen is sweet, thoughtful, and rocking that beard? Must have been hard for Miss. Jenn to let him go but ultimately she made the right decision as it would just be too messy to date the parent of one of your students.

Lots of funny little moments this ep; the camera panning to the exit sign during Gina’s confessional, the group chat with Miss. Jenn and the real group chat without her, Seb hula-hooping with wild abandon.

Looking Ahead:

Well we’re now at the official halfway mark of the season. It’s been an uneven first half, lots of pacing issues, and clear signs of the covid pandemic impacting production. Disney + has announced that future seasons of Disney + originals will be released on Wednesdays from now on so we have that to look forward to for S3 and S4.

Carlos uploading the Rose song will inevitably lead to disaster. Nini is very right to tell Kourtney not to let Ricky know, the lyrics paint him in a very bad light. The song gives us more context for why Lily said to Ricky that his gf needed some space in the trailer. I suspect Lily will end up being the party crasher that Ricky re-evaluates in 2x12, I don’t think Tim is going to keep Lily as a one dimensional antagonist this entire season.

Ricky said in 2x01 that he’s never breaking up with Nini again and I think that’s true because Nini will break up with him. I think it comes before 2x12, maybe them exploring an old haunt in 2x08 is where it happens though the description for 2x11 also sounds like it could be hinting at a Rini breakup.

Well we now know what one of the secrets rising between Gina and Nini will be in 2x10, Nini was already jealous of Gina and Ricky in S1 and I doubt she’ll enjoy hearing that Gina confessed to Ricky in 1x10. Since Gina has already confessed to Ricky it makes it less likely that her speaking her truth in 2x12 is related to her and Ricky.

EJ and Gina doing the morning announcements starts next ep, that should be fun. Especially since Mazzara is aware of EJ’s feelings for Gina. There’s a pretty clear path to end the season with Portwell or at least set it up for S3. EJ already likes Gina, the announcements help bring them closer, Gina starts getting over Ricky and realizes that EJ puts her first, maybe Mazzara helps one or both of them at the cast party, and Gina shares her truth and confesses to EJ. So far the show hasn’t done anything it can’t pull back from but sooner or later the writing will have to commit one way or the other. One thing I’ll say is that it’s already clear that making EJ a senior was a big mistake and I expect it to cause a lot more problems for the show in the remaining two seasons.

There’s also a path for Ricky and Gina to get together but that seems less likely given the clear mess Ricky is right now. Seeing his mom in 2x09 probably helps a bit but it’s hard to see how any relationship Ricky gets into won’t swiftly crash and burn. There’s also the matter of when exactly Rini break up, if it’s too late in the season then there wouldn’t be time to jump right into Rina. There’s also the matter of the unexpected facetime call he gets in 2x10 and the party crasher he re-evaluates in 2x12. Even if they’re not linked it does suggest there will be some curveballs in Ricky’s story and at least the party crasher info suggests there’s some non Rini or Rina related twist being planned for Ricky in 2x12.

Until next week Wildcats

#HSMTMTS #Rini #Rina #Portwell #Ricky Bowen #Gina Porter #Nini Salazar-Roberts #EJ Caswell #HSMTMTS Reviews

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anime-corner · 3 years

Text

Clearing It Up

A/N: I'm not so sure if I did well with this one. But!! I still hope you like it, anon! Also, this might have the lowest possible word count that I've made. By the way, really sorry for taking so long, classes have been draining me and.. yeah. Keep safe, everyone!

Sawamura stood with sweaty hands as he looked at you, mouth agape. Oh, how did it even come to this?

• • •

It had been a couple of weeks ever since he asked for your best friend's help to ask you out. Of course, he made sure you wouldn't notice. But, what he didn't know was how perceptive you are, taking note of how your friend would always make up an excuse for you to head home alone or the sudden closeness with the captain. You thought that they probably wanted to keep their relationship a secret, so you shrugged them off and just decided to wait until your friend told you about it. Until they were ready.

But it didn't come. You were still left in the dark. Weeks turned into a month and you were starting to wonder if she even thought of telling you. It confused you, even until now.

"Where are you going, (f/n)? Aren't we supposed to head home together today?" You asked her just as she was about to head out of the room.

"Uh, I… I-- the girls and I have practice today. Yumi-chan told me during lunch. I'm really really sorry, (y/n)-chan. I promise we'll walk home tomorrow!" She shut her eyes, bowing down. You only chuckled at her, patting her on the head.

"It's fine, (f/n). But, you didn't have to lie to me if you're going to meet up with Sawamura-san." You said as you headed outside, stopping when you heard (f/n)'s voice.

"I-I'm not…"

"Yumi asked me if you changed your mind about joining them at the batting center." You turned your head over your shoulder, a smile on your lips, "Well, I should get going. Have fun."

The hallways were quiet and abandoned, not a student left inside their rooms to clean, it was as if everyone finished earlier than necessary. Like it was all staged. Only when you left the building were hushed voices from a distance could be heard, more likely from the clubs situated outside. As you turned right after passing the school entrance, you were greeted by a figure leaning on the bricked wall. His gaze was on the device in his hand before turning to you when he heard footsteps nearing his location.

"Oh? Sawamura-san." He perked up, body straight and eyes staring into your (e/c) ones.

"(y/n)-san." He spoke, hands sweating from nervousness. Today was the day he decided to tell you what he feels. He can't back out now like he did numerous times before because of the same nervousness he feels right now.

"If you're here for (f/n), she'll be down in a minute." You stated

"No, wait. A-actually, you're the one I was waiting for…"

"What?"

"It's, I mean… How should I put this… I-- can you give me the chance t-to ask you out? On a date?" It was quite a sight, seeing the captain of the boys' volleyball team stutter out the words he wanted to say. It wasn't in his character and not once did you see him the way he is now.

"Eh? But don't you like (f/n)? Why are you asking me?" That caught him by surprise. Everything he planned to say was immediately thrown out of the window.

"What? No, I---"

• • •

That's right. The reason why he was in this situation right now was because of him. You misunderstood his interactions with your friend and thought he liked her. If only he made it clear from the start and listened to his friends and fellow teammates' advice to not do anything stupid, then the both of you wouldn't be discussing this right now, with him trying to explain that it wasn't (f/n) living rent-free inside his heart and mind, and with you trying to understand the boy who was doing his best to find words to describe and explain everything. What was there to explain again?

'Don't mess this up, Sawamura! She already thinks that I like you. Not really, I'm not quite sure if that's what she's thinking. But, as I said, don't mess it up!' He remembered the text message he received just before you came into view.

"It's not her…" It was hushed, only within his hearing range. You thought that he just realized the feelings he has for your best friend as you didn't want to be in the middle of a war between confusing feelings.

"I'll head home now. Good luck, Sawamura-san." You began to walk away when a hand gripped your wrist. It wasn't tight enough to hurt but just right for you to stay.

"I s-said it's not her. You're the one I like, (y/n)-san!" You froze. Despite him stuttering over his sentence only once, the way he said it gave an impact on his words that made you listen when he began listing things about you, "You're nice and beautiful and overall amazing. I know that you furrow your brows when you're thinking too much or that you hum every time you think that you're alone. Everything about you caught my attention and so, here I am, telling you that it's not (f/n) that's on my mind. It's you."

"What about (f/n)? And those past weeks that you were together? Surely you weren't just toying with her, right?" You asked, not sure how to respond with the facts the dark-haired captain stated about you. Hell, you didn't even know you did anything when thinking.

"I asked her to help me in asking you out. I have liked you since last year and I didn't know how to approach you without stuttering or getting distracted by you since we aren't that close two begin with." Sawamura confessed, eyeing your expression for any negative reactions from revealing his plan, "So I asked (f/n)."

"I see…"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'I SEE'!!? GIVE THE GUY A CHANCE WILL YOU, (Y/N)?!" (f/n) popped her head from in between the metal gate, her hands on the bars. Her sudden appearance shocked the two of you, turning both of your heads towards her.

"(f-f/n)?"

"Aish! I messed up, didn't I? W-well, it was your fault that I decided to intervene and be the best wingman-- er, woman for my boy, Daichi!" She pushed her hand through the bars, finger pointed at you, "Who in their right mind says 'I see' to a confession huh!?"

"I didn't mean it like that." You pout and at that moment Sawamura was glad you weren't looking in his direction as he was a blushing mess the second his eyes glanced at you when you answered. But he spoke too soon when you glanced at him. Then came the fluttering feeling inside you that you tried so much to push away.

He cleared his throat after he attempted to calm down, "S-so (y/n), will you give this guy a chance?"

After a few seconds dwelling on it, you gave the third year a gentle smile. That fluttering feeling, you concluded, was maybe the same feeling he was feeling, "Alright, Sawamura-san. I'm looking forward to it."

"I won't let you down!" He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. A bright smile on his lips and eyes shimmering with excitement for the next day.

If I showed you the reasons why I fell for you, would you also fall for the reasons why you should fall for me?

"So (y/n), what do girls like?" You choked on your food the moment he asked his question.

"W-what?" You answered after recovering. He shot you with a smile, opening his mouth as his gaze turned towards the sky.

The two of you were eating in front of the gym while the others present were practicing. You asked them to join the two of you but they declined.

"You know, the things girls like. I want to impress someone, kind of. I really like this girl and I thought that giving her stuff that girls like would be a nice way to build up the courage to actually confess." You blinked twice, humming in response. Closing your eyes as you leaned back, your arms as support, you replied with a thoughtful look.

"Well, not everyone likes the same things. For example, some girls would like make-up or parties. Some like playing basketball or being one with the guys. The others just like being alone reading a book while listening to music," He nodded, though you couldn't see so you continued, "It depends on what kind of girl you like. It's a big plus if you're already friends with her since I'm positive that friends share almost everything about them."

"Hmm… How about what you like? I'm pretty sure whatever she likes is the same as yours." You nod, giving him a thoughtful hum.

"Well, if you put it that way-- wait, are you saying that I'm generic?!" You point at him accusingly, feigning a hurtful look at what he was implying.

"Hey, I didn't say anything like that!" You both laugh it off, the other members finding your interactions amusing, "So c'mon, what do you like?"

"I guess I like bush clovers and hydrangeas. And I like to read sometimes, when homework doesn't get in the way," You laugh to yourself, shaking your head. Sugawara's gaze stayed on your figure, "Little kids are cute too, so I like them by default. Oh, and I like watching you play volleyball!"

"Even if I don't get to play?" He raised an eyebrow at you.

"You're a part of the team right? So whether or not you're playing, I'll still come and watch."

"Spoken like a true fan!" He laughed out loud, his voice being music to your ears, as cliché as that sounds.

"Now you're just teasing." You pout, crossing your arms.

"Well, thanks for that (y/n)! I'll head back to class first so I could think of a few things I need to get for her." He gave you a soft pat on your shoulder before stretching his body.

"Right. Good luck with her then! I'm sure whoever she is must be pretty lucky if the Sugawara Koushi's out to get her heart!" You encouraged him despite the growing pain in your heart.

Class dragged on slowly, the walk home was even slower than that. The reality that you gave your crush an advice that would surely impress the girl he likes into winning her heart haunted you. But that's what you get for keeping your feelings from him for six years. A sigh escaped your lips, wondering what'll change starting tomorrow morning.

• • •

It was quiet when you arrived at school the next day, heading inside the building half an hour early like usual. Opening your shoe locker, a note slipped out of it. Picking it up, you noticed the message was actually a passage from one of your favorite novels. A sad smile graced your lips, wishing you weren't just someone to be practiced upon.

“I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who’s ever lived: I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough.”

You pocketed the note, exchanging your outdoor shoes with your uwabaki. Once done, you walked off towards your empty classroom. Sliding the door open, your eyes caught sight of a single bush clover flower on your desk and on closer inspection, another note was attached around its stem.

"You are sunlight through a window, which I stand in, warmed. My darling."

It was starting to hurt you now. But you shrugged it off, having a whole day ahead of you. And you certainly didn't want to spend it by thinking of your feelings for him.

Lunch came as you buried your head beneath your arms. You have forgotten to pack your food before you left home, probably because you were dreading this day. You groaned before raising your head up when someone called for you.

"Hmm? Sorry, what is it?" Turning, it was a classmate of yours whom you often talked to.

"This guy from another class came by and asked me to give this to you." He passed you the plastic wrapped bread, placing it on your hands.

"Oh uh, thanks. Do you think you recognize the guy?" You asked, already having a name and face in mind.

"Yeah, I think it was--"

"Oi Sho, come on! We've got basketball practice, remember?!" Another classmate interrupted, standing just outside the door.

"Ah right, sorry (l/n). I gotta go." Shokichi waved goodbye, rushing off towards his teammate.

"It's fine!"

Looking down at the melon pan in your hand, you noticed another note attached to it, 'Is giving out snippets going to be his thing for the girl he likes?'

"In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

You shake your head. Whatever his plan was, it was working. You just hoped that girl would feel the same thing you're feeling once Sugawara shows just how much he likes her.

"Geez Koushi… Don't play with my heart like this if you're just going to love someone else." You whispered to yourself, a sad smile gracing your lips.

• • •

The bell signalling the end of the day rang as you cleaned up your desk, stuffing it inside your bag neatly. That was when you noticed something slip out of one of your notebooks.

Picking it up, your eyes widened at the object in your hand. It was a photograph of you, one you didn't remember when it was taken. You were sitting on the grass by the park, back against a tree and attention on a book in your hand. The words 'At the back' caught your attention, written in a small recognizable penmanship.

"I wish I knew how to quit you. But in vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

You carefully placed it in between your notebooks, making sure it wasn't ruined. Even if he did this out of practice, you wanted to treasure it.

Leaving your classroom and walking down the hall, you passed by the gym. Voices called out to you, turning your head to be met by Nishinoya and Tanaka. Behind them were the other second years; Narita, Kinoshita and Ennoshita.

"Oh hey, you guys needed me for something?" You asked, stopping in front of them.

"(l/n)-san, will you please follow us inside?" Tanaka pleaded, hands clasped on yours as Nishinoya was on his knees, hugging your waist.

"Hey baldy, don't make it sound so weird!" Kinoshita scolded, arms crossed and brows furrowed.

"Honestly, we're just here to make sure you don't do anything stupid." Ennoshita said, pulling the two away from you by their collars.

"I… don't really have a say in this, huh?" You sighed, scratching the back of your head.

"Either way, they'll just drag you in." Narita commented.

"Alright, lead the way then!"

Entering the gym, you were met with the figure of Sugawara Koushi. The two second years pushed you closer to him before leaving the two of you all alone. You guessed that they were hiding behind the closed doors, with presumably the rest of the team.

"Koushi, what's going--" You began but was cut off when Sugawara suddenly exclaimed.

"I like you!" His eyes were shut as he bowed down, hands outstretched waiting for you to take them.

"Huh? Is this still part of your plan to confess?" You stated, gaze on anything but him, mostly due to you trying to calm your heart from exploding and the words you wanted to say from spilling, "Because if it is, I think Noya and Tanaka aren't the best choice in inviting her to talk."

"I guess. But it did get you to come, right?” You chuckled, shaking your head.

“Of course she does!” His smile returned, even larger than before.

“Suppose so. Though, I’m not quite sure if your plan would work on her…” Sugawara's smile turned upside down, worry painted all over his face.

“What do you mean--”

“Hey, don’t get me wrong. This is cute and really endearing but like I said, I’m not generic and she probably doesn’t like the same things as me.” You pointed out making Sugawara chuckle.

“S-so, you mean..”

“Fine, I believe you. Well then, good luck with her tomorrow, Koushi!” You turned to leave, waving your hand lazily.

“Wait, where are you going?” He questioned making you stop.

“Home?” You tilted your head to the side a bit, “Why? Do you still need me for practice?

“Practice?” He stood there confused, “I wasn’t using you for practice, (n/n)!”

“I like you, (y/n). The girl that I was talking about was you all along.” Sugawara laughed out loud, realizing what you were thinking of all day, “If I had known that you would have misunderstood everything I did as practice, I would have told you right from the start!”

“Now you’re just telling me that I’m stupid.” You huffed, a pout on your lips. He chuckled, walking towards you before ruffling your hair.

“My plan did work. I like you, I really do also, if you’re going to be stupid, at least you’re my stupid!” He hugged you, making sure you wouldn't be able to hit him after what he had said.

“Koushi! That’s insulting!” You struggled to free yourself.

“But, what do you say?” You stopped as you looked up at him, a blush settling on your cheeks.

“Koushi--”

“I like you too…” Just then, a message popped up from your phone. Trying to fish for the device while being engulfed in a hug, you noticed that it was from the guy in front of you.

“You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how.”

You felt soft lips on yours, just sitting there, unmoving. Shocked, you kissed back after a few seconds, eyes slowly closing as he pulled you closer, if that was even possible considering the little distance left between the two of you. The action only lasted for a minute when two second years decided to interrupt.

"WHOO!! SUGA-SAN, GET SOME!!!" Both of them shouted, before flinching when they felt their captain behind them.

"NOYA! TANAKA!" Daichi shouted, hands on each of their shoulders.

"I swear, these two…" You heard Sugawara whisper to himself, earning him a giggle from you. He smiled afterwards, kissing you on the forehead, holding on to you tightly.

You've been with me since the beginning. Now, I want to see the end with you, a ring on your finger and a lifetime ahead of us.

Azumane Asahi has always been quite the scaredy-cat but when you enter the room, or at least within his field of vision, he runs away instantly. The two of you had always been friends but with the rapid beating of his hearts, the butterflies in his stomach and the blood rushing to his cheeks, he’s afraid he might say something wrong and make you hate him.

To say that you were liked was an understatement. You were as well known as Shimizu, confessions coming in from the left and right. And with every rejection, Asahi’s confidence drops, more so seeing as you two were friends. He wanted to tell you but the words wouldn’t come out of his tongue, stumbling and stuttering. So, he’s only option was to run, hide and escape the possible embarrassment.

• • •

"Asahi-san, you should stop and just tell her!!" Nishinoya bounced around the ace who had a sad look on his face.

"He's right Asahi. You can't hide forever, you know. If you do, then someone else would just snatch up her heart for himself." Sawamura commented, arms crossed as he closed his eyes.

"(l/n)-san also has been asking about you and she looks pretty upset." Shimizu joined in the conversation, informing the small group about what happened earlier today.

"S-she does?" Asahi's frown worsened, his eyes lingering at his feet.

"See? I told you this would happen." Sugawara crossed his arms as well, sighing in dismay. He had told the ace for the hundredth time this week that avoiding her would only be bad for him.

"What do I do now? She probably hates me. No, I c-can't have that!" Asahi panicked, hands clenched on either side of his head.

"Alright big guy, you've got us! So stop worrying already!!" Tanaka patted the giant, a grin on his lips as he thought of a plan, "How about this?"

The group of six huddled closely, earning strange looks from the rest of the team, "What’s going on?" They only shrugged in reply.

• • •

The next day, a smile was on your lips, humming a tune as you skipped through the semi-crowded hallways. Today was going to be a great day, you could already feel it. Suddenly, you bumped into something. Looking up, you realized it was Azumane Asahi. A nervous feeling washed over you as you backed away a bit.

“Asahi! H-hey! Long time no see!” How many weeks has it been since you last saw Asahi? He had been avoiding you for who knows what reasons and the reassurance his friends would give you wasn't helping at all. You wanted to confront him about this but seeing as you couldn't even catch a glimpse of him, you decided to just let him be until he was ready. You just wished you knew what you did wrong.

Apparently, today was that day, “(y/n), can we talk after school?” He rubbed the back of his neck, as equally nervous as you.

“Huh? Oh, uh, sure..?” You answered with uncertainty, “I’ll wait for you outside of class then?”

“Y-yeah. See you then?” You nodded as the two of you parted. You both talked. That's right. ‘Today’s going to be a great day.’

The clock ticked slowly but, you hadn’t noticed. Everything made you busy, the school works, group activities and a few confessions in between the ten minute breaks you had every after class. Finally, the bell rang, you packed your things inside of your bag, waiting outside of your class as planned. A few squeals could be heard from the floor below, you thought it must have been one of first years’ or second years’. But the voices grew louder, it honestly irritated you until a familiar voice called you.

“(n/n)!” Your eyes widened at the owner, breath caught in your throat.

“Kazu! What are you doing here?!” You walked up to him, slapping his arm playfully. A pout on your lips as he only chuckled.

“I told you I’d come and get you right?” He ruffled your hair to which you groaned in frustration.

“B-but won’t you get in trouble?” You asked, ignoring all the whispering that surrounded you two.

“Nah, I actually bumped into your vice principal and asked if I could just fetch you.” He replied before bending down a bit to match your height, “Also, did you notice his--”

“We don’t talk about that here!” You immediately shut his mouth with your hand, eyes gazing around to check if the official was around. A gave out a sigh of relief when you made sure that he wasn’t there before you stiffened when a familiar voice ringed in your ears. You didn’t know why but the tone itself was enough to almost break yours. Almost.

“(y-y/n)?” You and Kazuto turned your head to the side and saw Asahi with the second and third years behind him.

“Oh right! I’ll meet you down in a bit, I just need to talk to Asahi about something.” You averted your attention a bit, gesturing towards the tall male.

“Hmm? Alright, I understand!” He slightly nudged you, winking. You madly blushed at this, fully knowing what he was talking about.

“I-it’s not like that!” He gave the third year a look, muttering along the lines of ‘good luck’ or something else.

“Sorry about that, Asahi. He likes to mess with people a lot.” You nervously let out a laugh, noticing his teammates walked farther away from the two of you.

“It’s fine…” He muttered just enough for you to hear.

“So, what do you want to talk about?” His eyes wandered around, noting that only a few were left roaming the halls before calming his nerves.

“Ah… that’s…” It was silent after that, not quite sure how to start it off.

“Come on Asahi! We already talked about this!” One of them shouted before being muffled by another. You weren't sure who but you were certain that it was Tanaka who yelled.

“Support team?” You asked, a giggle escaping your lips.

“Kind of.” Asahi chuckled, already embarrassed by the situation he's in, “Anyways… Don’t be mad but the thing I wanted to say was sorry. For avoiding you during these past few weeks.”

“Oh that. You don’t have to apologize for that. I mean, I honestly thought that I did something wrong.” You uttered, clasping your hands behind your back.

“No, you actually did nothing. It was all me. I was just scared and decided to run away instead of facing it.” You furrowed at his words, questions running around your head. But the only ones you were able to ask was these.

“Scared? You don’t have to be when you’re with me. Why would I be mad about this?” He inhaled, closing his eyes, mentally preparing for your response.

“Because this is just half of the reason why I avoided you… I like you, (y/n). B-but, you’ve got a boyfriend… Maybe that’s why you keep rejecting their confessions-- Ah! It’s fine though, I understand and I--”

“You’re rambling…” You stated, noticeably seeing him freeze.

“Sorry.” He admitted, a sad smile on his face as he lowered his head, “But I’ve seen both of you for a few days now and I got to say you two look great together.”

“He’s not my boyfriend, Asahi.” You announced to him, staring into his dark brown eyes.

“Y-you’re-- He’s not? What about the holding hands then? O-or your interactions with one another? I’ve actually heard a lot about you two.”

“Then you should know that he’s my brother.” His eyes widened at the information. Maybe he could have asked you first before he avoided you.

“If that’s the c-case then… Can I ask you out? On a date?” He questioned, hoping you would say 'yes'.

“Sure!” You beamed, failing to hide the smile on your lips. Not like you wanted to hide it in the first place.

“Are you sure?” Asahi did a double take, surprised that his thoughts were answered, “You’re not afraid of what people will think?”

“I’m sure. So, tomorrow?” You nodded, setting up a date for the two of you.

“Y-yeah!” You began to walk away when he responded.

“Oh, and Asahi,” You stopped after taking the first few steps down, “I like you too. I don’t care what people think because I know that all of it isn’t true. Well, see you!”

“See you…” He whispered to himself, celebrating inside his head. He finally had the girl he liked for so long.

• • •

“So?” Your brother asked as soon as you entered the vehicle.

“Alright… Maybe it was like that.” Kazuto cried victoriously to himself, punching the air and accidently hitting the roof of his car. He paid no mind to it, he was happy after all.

“I knew it! Wait ‘till mom finds out about this!” You groaned loudly, thinking how your day started happily and ended with you annoyed.

Suddenly your thoughts were filled with images of Asahi and his confession, you blushed as Kazuto teased you. You didn't mind, you were looking forward to tomorrow and the days after that. And hopefully, the coming years after.

You make me become the best version of myself, someone who doesn’t care about his own insecurities and who doesn’t take others’ opinions to heart.

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crazyorjustdepressed · 2 years

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Authors note: I’ve been an avid reader of fan fiction since I was a young teen and have always wanted to post my own work but don’t know if people will enjoy reading what I have to write. Here’s something that I had started writing but didn’t finish cause I was so busy with work, but if you could read and leave a like or comment to let me know what you think would be greatly appreciated!

Written during Halloween

re: okay i just came up with this idea while watching the second to last Run!BTS episode since they were talking about ep. 33 with the zombies and they mentioned if they’d do another episode in a haunted house. Of course my first immediate thought was to put my head in the gutter so this is my kinda creepy, sexy, halloween smut, enjoy!

I’m so excited for tonight. When my manager told the staff and I that BTS was going to be coming to our haunted house this year I legit let out an ‘Eee!’, I got some weird looks from it but whatever, it’s just a habit when I’m happy. And boy am I happy, I’ve got quite a big role to play in tonight's special haunting. My manager Carl said BTS’s staff wants to really scare them so I’m supposed to come out in the beginning and snatch two members and take them away. I’ll have to take them to a room in the basement while the rest of the members complete the haunted house in order to find them. Right now I’m finishing the last minute details of my costume makeup as I’m playing a sexy psychotic serial killer. It’s giving harley quinn meets bellatrix black. I have on a short black dress with a puffed out skirt, almost like a maids costume but the bodice is a black mesh corset. I have on dark red fishnet stockings (i actually bought white ones then dyed it red) and black stilettos with red bottoms. I put my hair into high pigtails with a couple front pieces hanging out and I sprinkled in some red glitter. As for my makeup I paled my face and added heavy eyeliner for what Carl calls the ‘evil eyes’. I look in the mirror as I apply my red lipstick and smack my lips together.

Just then Carl walks in, “You ‘bout ready for the show?” I smile at him in the mirror before turning around. He always insists that we’re performers putting on a show but it’s not like we’re Hamlet.

“Yeah I just need you to add the blood for me.” I say walking over to him holding the bowl of fake blood and a glove.

“This is my favorite part” He says, slipping on the rubber glove. I roll my eyes as I watch him dip his hand in the bowl. “Alright close your eyes”. I close them and wait for impact. I flinch when Carl first flicks blood on my face a couple times before he says I can open my eyes again. He continues to flick blood around my entire costume and body to make it look like I really just brutally killed somebody.

“Oh you know what would be a cool idea is if you left a bloody streak on my arm.” I say to Carl holding up my left arm.

He ponders for a moment and nods his head, “Like this?” He wraps his bloody gloved hand around my forearm before letting it slip, adding such a great detail to my character.

I smile up at Carl, “Thanks! I think that definitely completes the look I’m going for”

“Good” He peels off the bloody glove and tosses it in the trash by the door. “Let’s get going then, it’s about startin’ time”

I nod and follow him out the door but not before grabbing my prop for the night, a very large and sharp knife. Oh I can’t wait to use this.

***

I listen from my hiding spot as Carl explains and a staff member translates to BTS the jist of tonight's haunting. How we’re allowed to touch them, some members will be taken(by me), they aren’t allowed to punch or physically harm our team, and most importantly he tells them the theme for tonight. It’s basically like a haunted house and escape room combined. In order to save who I’ll take hostage the rest of the boys must find clues and complete a series of tasks. I hear the boys express some of their concerns to each other.

“Really? They can touch us? Aish, that’s going to be so scary.” J-hope says.

“Yah, what about the part where some of us are going to be taken away?” Jin counters. A couple of them hum in agreement.

“I’ll protect you hyung” Yoongi says to Jin.

“Me too. I’ll keep hyungs safe, I’m not scared.” Jungkook tells everyone. Aww I silently coo to myself as they get ready to enter, JK will always be there to protect his hyungs. TT o TT

I hear the background music pick up and then I hear the sound of footsteps coming closer and I stay silent and waiting as they pass by me into the main entryway. I’m not able to see much, the light casting shadows in my direction, I just see the broad backs of those standing in the back of the group. The heavy metal doors shut behind them locking them inside and now the show officially begins. I start to get giddy but I wait for my queue. Just then a blood curdling scream sounds out, I see my friend Tiffany run in front of the group holding a flashlight and covered in blood stains herself. I slowly creep out as she starts talking, “Help! Help me!” She runs to one of the boys up front and grabs a hold of them. “She’s still here, we need to get out!” I can see them all a bit more clearly now, I’m still in the shadows but I’m closer to where Tiffany stands. She backs away from who she touched which I can now make out as Jimin. “Will you help me?” Tiffany softly asks with a wobble in her voice.

“Namjoon hyung what’s she saying?” Jimin asks, looking towards where he stands near the back.

“She’s asking us to help her escape,” Namjoon answers. “She says there’s someone here.”

J-hope let’s out an ‘ohh’ in understanding Namjoon steps forward a little in the group and addresses Tiffany, “We’ll help you, what’s your name?”

Relief floods Tiffany’s face as she exclaims, “Oh thank you, thank you! I’ve been so scared.” She starts to actually tear up a bit. God I have to remember to compliment her on her acting skills. I check to see if the knife is still strapped to my thigh, it is, and I get into place, ready to pounce.

“What’s your name?” RM asks again.

Tiffany wipes her eyes and looks at the group, “My name's Tiffany.” and gives them a small wave. All the boys let little ‘Ahs’ and softly say hello. This is it. Show time. I leap out of the shadows brandishing my knife holding Tiffany as I stand behind her.

“Oh isn’t it my favorite playmate. Why did you run away from me darling, did I not give you attention saving you for last.” I giggle deliriously until my gaze rests on our guests in front of us. “Who do we have here?” I tilt my head at them curiously and make eye contact with each member just for a second. I stare at Namjoon last knowing he understands English the best and he seems to be whispering quick translations to the boys. I let a sinister smile overtake my features and lean in to Tiffany more, “You’re so kind to me baby,” I pet her head soothingly. “Here I thought you ran off but you just wanted to bring your friends to play with us didn’t you?” I coo at her, pretending to praise her for delivering me more victims. She nods her head obediently, her lip slightly trembling. I hear Namjoon quickly translating for the others as I turn my steely gaze onto Taehyung since he’s known to be able to keep a stoic expression. I lick my lips as I stare into his eyes, “But you’ve been a bad girl... and they look far more fun.” My eyes flick to Jin and Jungkook and then I suddenly break out in a loud maniacal laugh releasing Tiffany. “I do love new toys.” I smile sadistically and push her so she’s stumbling into the boys. J-hope and Jimin catch her. The lights go black and I slip back into the shadows quickly slinking to the back of the room. The lights begin to flicker and I know I have to make the grab now. I strap the knife back to my thigh and lung at the two closest to me. I grab the backs of their shirts and drag them into the dark corridor behind me. It was a little difficult since they’re obviously much taller and stronger than me but I managed. Once they’re in the hallway I close the hidden sliding door that instantly locks so none of the boys can get in until they’ve found the clues. I take a second to breathe, getting into character again and turn around to face who I’ve just taken captive. I can’t help my breath hitching a little as I’m maybe not even two feet away from Kim Namjoon and Jeon Jungkook. Oh my God. Of course I had to snatch my bias and my bias wrecker. It’s going to be so hard not to swoon while doing my job tonight, lawd give me strength.

I quickly shake those thoughts and launch into my act, “I’m so happy to have new friends to play with.” I caress Jungkooks face and giggle as his mouth is agape. “Just follow me, all my favorite toys get to stay down here.” I say but neither one makes a move to follow. I slip my knife out from under my skirt, stepping forward and pointing it at Namjoon and Jungkook. “Aww don’t be scared,” I smile, “Just do what I say and you won’t get hurt.” I lick along the side of my knife as I lock eyes with Namjoon.

“Let’s just go along with it, she can’t actually hurt us anyways.” Namjoon tells Jungkook.

My gaze flicks to him as he speaks, “I know hyung, this is just a little weird.” I smile at him and take a step closer.

“We’ll come with you, okay?” Namjoon says to me.

“And you?” I say focusing on Jk.

“Yes.” He answers me. I smile at them both and motion with the knife for them to walk down the spiral stone staircase first as I follow behind them.

As we’re walking down I talk out loud, “We’re gonna have so much fun!” I clutch the knife to my chest as I pretend to think about it. “And to think I was almost going to spend the night alone,” I gasp, “Oh how tragic that would have been! Good thing you two came to help this damsel in distress” And I let out a series of laughs, almost as if I had told the funniest joke in the world, even slapping my knee in glee.

“Hyung, is she really sane?” Jungkooks asks. I have to refrain from letting out a small laugh at Jungkook’s question to Namjoon but I don’t want them to know that I understand the Korean language. Carl said it was so it could add to the creepy factor, but one of the main reasons I’m the Evil lead is actually because I’m fluent in Korean, in case one of the boys starts to freak out while being held captive I can then speak to them and calm them down.

“I don’t know Kookie, I hope so.” It’s quiet just for a second before he adds, “She might be crazy but she’s kind hot.” Jungkooks hums his agreement.

I feel my cheeks heat but have to bring myself back as we finally reach the bottom of the stairs. “Just follow me, I know you wanna play with me too!” I sing the end and giggle skipping past them, lightly swinging my knife in the air. I start to hum the tune of ‘Ring Around the Rosie” and even twirl in the hallway as I lead them to the room at the end. I swing my arms out, pointing with the knife again for them to enter the room. “Okay boys, this room’s for us.” I smile sweetly at them as they quietly enter the dark room. I let them take a moment to observe their new surroundings, they’ll be down here for a while after all since they have to wait for the rest to complete tasks while getting scared shitless by my other co-workers. There’s not much in the room except for green lights attached to the sides of the walls, a table in the corner with a pitcher of water and some cups, two wooden chairs sat together and a stool placed in front of them about five feet apart. As I step inside the room I shut the door behind me and I also hear the locks click into place.

I smile clutching my knife and walk towards the two very handsome men I’m supposed to keep here for an hour. “Take a seat.” I sternly say and slightly shove Namjoon so he sits down and he lightly taps Jungkook to do the same. “Good boy.” I say, faintly swiveling my knife on his chest and I notice him visibly gulp. Should I take my act down a notch? Am I being too much? I step away from Namjoon and walk over to the table and bend down to pick up the pair of loose ropes. I hear a quick intake of breath and a quiet “shit” while I pick it up and then a quiet “Hyung” followed by a groan. It takes me a moment to think and I finally smirk to myself as they probably got a neat little view of my white silk panties underneath my dress.

I spring back up and strut over to them showing them the ropes, waving them in front of me. “Look I’ve friendship bracelets!” I cackle and smile sweetly at them, “Here let me put them on for you.” I walk behind Jungkook first. “Hands.”

“Oing?” Is his cute response. Aghaldjfksd, it’s taking so much for me to not break character and cry at how adorable he is. I don’t care that he’s two years older than me, he is baby and I must protec.

Namjoon leans over to whisper to JK, “She’s asking you to put your hands behind your back”.

“Ahh,” He hesitates for a moment then exclaims “OK!” before thrusting his hands behind him.

“Good boy.” I gently pet him on the head and then quickly move on to tying his hands together. I had to practice this knot so many times that I could probably do it with my eyes closed, but I’ll tell you one thing, there ain’t no way they’re getting out of these until they’re cut free.

#bts smut #namjoon x reader #jungkook x reader

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crimeculturepodcast · 3 years

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Hispanic/Latino horror movies

In honor of Hispanic Heritage month, this week we talked about horror movies out of Latin American and Spanish speaking countries. There were some we couldn’t get to so here is the full list:

Spain

The Devil’s Backbone (2001)

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%

Audience Score: 89%

Google Score: 85%

IMDb: 7.4/10

Critics Consensus: Creepily atmospheric and haunting, The Devil's Backbone is both a potent ghost story and an intelligent political allegory.

Description: “Set during the last years of the Spanish Civil War, The Devil's Backbone is a Spanish gothic horror movie that follows Carlos, a young orphan boy who is deposited at Santa Lucia School among several other children who have been displaced by the conflict. Though he finds friends in the professor and the head mistress, he is plagued by a wandering spirit with a link to the violent caretaker's secret past.”

Trivia: The movie, which he wrote in college and was in development for 16 years, is strongly inspired by Del Toro’s personal memories, especially his relationship with his uncle, who supposedly came back as a ghost. It is also included among the "1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die" edited by Steven Schneider. Although filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is Mexican, this film is set in the Spanish countryside (largely filmed in Madrid) that’s why it’s on the Spanish list. The Devil’s Backbone has all of the impactful elements of spirituality, horror, and the supernatural that come up again and again in Del Toro’s work. This film has been referred to as the “brother film” of one of Del Toro’s best known works, Pan’s Labyrinth.

[REC] (2007)

Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

Audience Score: 82%

Google Score: 85%

IMDb: 7.4/10

Critics Consensus: Plunging viewers into the nightmarish hellscape of an apartment complex under siege, [Rec] proves that found footage can still be used as an effective delivery mechanism for sparse, economic horror.

Description: “Late-night TV host Angela and her cinematographer are following the fire service on a call to an apartment building, but the Spanish police seal off the building after an old woman is infected by a virus which gives her inhuman strength.”

Trivia: The movie was filmed chronologically in real locations (no sets were built for the movie). The actor’s were never given the script in its entirety and didn’t know what was going to happen to their characters until the day of filming. The movie is also a big inspiration for the horror survival game Outlast.

Considered The Blair Witch Project of zombie movies, REC had a lot of competition in the found footage style (it came out the same year as George Romero’s Diary of the Dead and the first Paranormal Activity movie). It more than holds its own among them, so much so that an American remake called Quarantine came out the next year. Director Jaume Balagueró keeps the movie disturbingly real and doesn’t fall prey to jump scare after jump scare.

Veronica (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

Audience Score: 49%

Google Score: 80%

IMDb: 6.2/10

Critics Consensus: A scarily effective horror outing, Veronica proves it doesn't take fancy or exotic ingredients to craft skin-crawling genre thrills.

Description: “During a solar eclipse, a teenage girl and her friends want to summon the spirit of the girl's father using an Ouija board. However, during the session she loses consciousness and soon it becomes clear that evil demons have arrived.”

Trivia: Based on the true story of 18-year-old Estefanía Gutiérrez Lázaro. I won’t go too far into it because we may do an episode on it in the future but if you want spoilers, watch the movie (if you dare).

Directed by Paco Plaza (same as REC), the possession theme is done over and over again in horror but this movie is a terrifying and fresh take.

The Bar (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

Audience Score: 55%

Google Score: 75%

IMDb: 6.3/10

Description: “In bustling downtown Madrid, a loud gunshot and two mysterious deaths trap a motley assortment of common urbanites in a decrepit central bar, while paranoia and suspicion force the terrified regulars to turn on each other.”

Directed by Álex de la Iglesia, it’s labeled as a horror-comedy. You can watch it on Netflix.

Who Can Kill A Child? (1976) - Tells the story of a happy couple, two English tourists who decide to vacation on a secluded island in the Mediterranean. There they discover – almost too late- that the island has been taken over by a group of murderous children.

The Baby’s Room (2006) - Featured on Six Films to Keep You Awake at Night. A new family renovates and moves into a grand old house. Nervous first-time mom installs a baby monitor but hears mysterious sounds on the other side. Once they install a high-tech video baby monitor, what they see chills them to the bone.

Sleep Tight (2011) - Apartment concierge Cesar is a miserable person who believes he was born without the ability to be happy. His self-appointed task is to make life hell for everyone around him, a mission in which he has great success. It has big home invasion/stalker vibes.

Timecrimes (2007) - A man accidentally gets into a time machine and travels back in time nearly an hour. Finding himself will be the first of a series of disasters of unforeseeable consequences. It sounds like a “Happy Death Day” type of plot (but proceeding it by a decade).

Thesis (1996) - Angela is doing her thesis on the effect of violence in the media when she discovers a snuff film. This discovery leads her down a dark path where she must confront her greatest fears and question everybody around her.

Witching and Bitching (2013) - One article I read said it perfectly, “What Shaun of the Dead did for zombies and What We Do in the Shadows did for vampires, Witching & Bitching essentially did for the cinematic depiction of witches, albeit on a less visible scale.” Great pick if you’re looking for something a bit more lighthearted.

Mexico

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Rotten Tomatoes: 95%

Audience Score: 91%

Google Score: 90%

IMDb: 8.2/10

Critics Consensus: Pan's Labyrinth is Alice in Wonderland for grown-ups, with the horrors of both reality and fantasy blended together into an extraordinary, spellbinding fable.

Description: After the Allies invade Nazi-occupied Europe, a sadistic captain sends a troop of Spanish soldiers to flush out rebels,bringing his new wife and her daughter along on his exploits. While his family resides in the countryside, he leads his men on a murderous rampage, much of which is witnessed by his step daughter. In an effort to escape her reality she plunges into Pan's Labyrinth, a mystical world at the border of her own.

Trivia: Guillermo del Toro is famous for compiling books full of notes and drawings about his ideas before turning them into films, something he regards as essential to the process. He left years worth of notes for this film in the back of a cab, and when he discovered them missing, he thought it was the end of the project. However, the cab driver found them and, realizing their importance, tracked him down and returned them at great personal difficulty and expense. Del Toro was convinced that this was a blessing and it made him ever more determined to complete the film. Del Toro also repeatedly refused offers from Hollywood producers, in spite of being offered double the budget, provided the film was made in English. He didn't want any compromise in the storyline to suit the "market needs" (he even did the English subtitles himself). The film received 22 minutes of applause at the Cannes Film Festival and in 2007, it became one of the few fantasy films ever nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Oscars. It’s another on the list "1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die" edited by Steven Schneider with The Devil’s Backbone. It was on more than 130 top 10 lists in 2006. It is also the 5th highest grossing foreign language film in the US.

The Similars (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes: 95%

Audience Score: 49%

Google Score: 75%

IMDb: 5.9/10

Critics Consensus: A smart homage to genre filmmaking, The Similars is a fun and frightening film that balances socio-political issues with aplomb.

Description: A monstrous, once-in-a-lifetime thunderstorm strands passengers in a remote bus station outside Mexico City in 1968. As they listen to the radio, they realized that the storm has spread all over the world. As they look at each other, they also realize that everyone’s faces are slowly changing, and not for the better.

Trivia: The film used make-up and special effects techniques never before done in Mexico. Director Isaac Ezban was influenced by B-movies of the 50s and 60s as well as TV shows and movies like “The Twilight Zone”, “The Thing”, and “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”.

We Are What We Are (2010)

Rotten Tomatoes: 72%

Audience Score: 48%

Google Score: 77%

IMDb: 5.7/10

Critics Consensus: We Are What We Are is elevated horror that combines family drama and social politics, with plenty of gore on top.

Description: After a family patriarch dies, his survivors are tasked with continuing the rigid family rituals that involve hunting meat, preparing it for consumption, and eating it. The “meat” in question is human flesh, since they’re a family of cannibals. With two detectives hot on their tail, the family of cannibals strains to maintain their family traditions in a modern urban environment.

There was an English language remake in 2013 (86% on Rotten Tomatoes) with Wyatt Russell and Odeya Rush (Lady Bird, Dumplin’, and Goosebumps)

We Are The Flesh (2016) - A joint French-Mexican production released in Spanish as Somos la carne, this post-apocalyptic nightmare involves a brother and sister who roam the land desperately seeking food until a kindly old man takes them in under the condition that they help him renovate an abandoned building. Oh, and they also have to have sex with one another while he watches. And after he breaks their will by getting them to do that, he makes them do all sorts of other things. This film was one of only four in Mexico to receive a “D” rating—which is reserved for subject matter that is considered extremely disturbing and/or pornographic.

The Witch’s Mirror (1962) - An abusive and cheating husband kills his wife so that he can be with his mistress. The woman’s godmother was a witch who originally tried casting a spell on a mirror to protect her from domestic violence, but the spell failed. Still, she is able to bring the woman back from the grave, and the two witches set out to destroy the evil woman-beater.

Here Comes The Devil (2012) - A married couple lose their children while on a family trip near some caves in Tijuana. The kids eventually reappear without explanation, but it becomes clear that they are not who they used to be, that something terrifying has changed them.

Chile

Downhill (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes: 60%

Audience Score: 22%

Google Score: 43%

IMDb: 3.5/10

Description: Deeply upset by the passing of his best friend, a professional BMX rider accepts to partake in a race in Chile. Everything goes as planned until he stumbles upon a man who is infected by a mysterious virus and becomes the target of local assassins.

Trivia: Filmed in 13 days

Post Mortem (2010)

Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

Audience Score: 61%

Google Score: 70%

IMDb: 6.5/10

Description: In Chile, 1973, during the last days of Salvador Allende’s presidency, an employee at a Morgue’s recording office falls for a burlesque dancer who mysteriously disappears.

Aftershock (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes: 39%

Audience Score: 24%

Google Score: 61%

IMDb: 4.8/10

Critics Consensus: Aftershock hints at an inventive twist on horror tropes, but ultimately settles for another round of mind-numbing depravity that may alternately bore and revolt all but the most ardent gore enthusiasts.

Description: In Chile, a group of travelers who are in an underground nightclub when a massive earthquake hits quickly learn that reaching the surface is just the beginning of their nightmare.

Trivia: Horror icon Eli Roth wrote and stars in this film.

To Kill A Man (2014) - An attack on his daughter leads a mild-mannered family man to take revenge on the vicious street thugs who have tormented him and his family for a long time.

Columbia

Out Of The Dark (2014) This is in English

Rotten Tomatoes: 24%

Audience Score: 22%

Google Score: 77%

IMDb: 4.8/10

Description: A family moves to Colombia to take over the operation of a manufacturing plant, soon they learn their new home is haunted.

Trivia: Starring Julia Stiles (10 Things I Hate About You, Dexter) and Scott Speedman (The Strangers, You)

The Squad (2011)

Audience Score: 53%

Google Score: 82%

IMDb: 5.3/10

Description: After a secret military base ceases all communications, an anti-guerrilla commando unit is sent to the mountainous location to discover what exactly happened. The squad expects to discover that the base was attacked and taken over by guerrilla units, but instead find only a lone woman wrapped in chains.

Trivia: In one scene where the actors are shooting guns, one actor accidentally picked up a real gun instead of the prop and fired a real shot (no one was hurt).

Cord (2015) - On a post-apocalyptic world of never-ending winter, a sparse cast of outsiders live underground. Due to their unsanitary conditions, sexual contact has become dangerous. Masturbation has become the paradigm of sexual experience and an array of low-tech devices with this purpose has come into existence. In this bleak reality, a dealer of such machines a sex addict make a deal: she will allow him to experiment new devices on her body in exchange of pleasure. Soon however, their relationship goes out of control.

The Hidden Face (2011)

Rotten Tomatoes: 80%

Audience Score: 72%

Google Score: 86%

IMDb: 7.4/10

Description: Shattered by the unexpected news of their irreversible break-up, an aspiring orchestra conductor is puzzled by his girlfriend's mysterious and seemingly inexplicable case of disappearance. But, can he look beyond the facts?

Trivia: There is a Turkish version of this movie and a 2013 remake out of India called “Murder 3”

At The End Of The Spectra (2006)

Google Score: 83%

IMDb: 6/10

Description: A young woman who has become agoraphobic due to a traumatic incident is holed up in her apartment, she begins to suffer from hallucinations, paranoia and an obsessive neighbour.

Trivia: There is a Mexican remake called “Devil Inside” and there were once rumors of an American remake starring Nicole Kidman but that’s the end of that.

Uruguay

The Silent House (La Casa Muda) (2010)

Rotten Tomatoes: 68%

Audience Score: 37%

Google Score: 63%

IMDb: 5.4/10

Critics Consensus: Shot in a single take, The Silent House may be a gimmick movie, but it's one that's enough to sustain dread and tension throughout.

Description: A girl becomes trapped inside a house and becomes unable to contact the outside world as supernatural forces haunt it.

Trivia: The plot is supposedly based on a true story that occurred in the 1940s in a small village in Uruguay. With a budget of just six thousand dollars, it was filmed using a handheld high-definition digital single-lens reflex camera (the Canon EOS 5D Mark II), 2 handheld lamps, and a couple of lightbulbs over a time period of just four days. The claim that the movie was filmed in one continuous take are suspect. The Mark II camera can only record up to 15 minutes of continuous video at a time. Uruguay's official submission to the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 84th Academy Awards 2012.

Monos (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%

Audience Score: 85%

Google Score: 69%

IMDb: 6.9/10

Critics Consensus: As visually splendid as it is thought-provoking, Monos takes an unsettling look at human nature whose grim insights leave a lingering impact.

Description: On a faraway mountaintop, eight teenaged guerillas with guns watch over a hostage and a conscripted milk cow. Playing games and initiating cult-like rituals, the children run amok in the jungle and disaster strikes when the hostage tries to escape.

Trivia: Moises Arias (Hannah Montana) and Julianne Nicholson (I, Tonya, August: Osage County) most of the other actors had never acted before. The movie draws inspiration from Lord of the Flies. Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider. It was selected as the official Colombian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards.

Peru

The Entity (2015)

Google Score: 66%

IMDb: 4.3/10

Description: A group of students decide to study 'reaction videos' and are led toward an old film, hidden in the archive room of a cemetery. It appears that everybody who has witnessed the film has met an untimely demise under suspicious circumstances. When the students view the footage, they discover first hand, what the demonic spirit is capable of. Fulfilling the ancient curse of a woman cruelly killed during the Spanish Inquisition.

Trivia: The Entity has been billed as Peru's first 3D horror film and to have been loosely based on true stories. Review websites Flickering Myth and Nerdly commented that the movie suffered from being too overly familiar to pre-existing works (Blair Witch, The Ring).

The Vanished Elephant (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

Audience Score: 72%

Google Score: 88%

IMDb: 6.5/10

Description: Crime novelist Edo remains obsessed with what happened to his fiancee Celia after she disappeared during an earthquake. When an enigmatic woman brings him photos that may help him solve the mystery, he senses he is being drawn into a dangerous game.

The Secret Of Evil (2014)

Google Score: 65%

IMDb: 5/10

Description: Video footage depicting a supernatural encounter is all that remains of a filmmaker and his crew who disappeared while exploring a haunted house.

When Two Worlds Collide (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

Audience Score: 69%

Google Score: 93%

IMDb: 7.6/10

Description: An indigenous environmental activist takes on the large businesses that are destroying the Amazon.

El Vientre (2014)

Google Score: 81%

IMDb: 6.1/10

Description: Silvia, a beautiful 45-year-old widow, is obsessed with having a child and finds in attractive but naive Mercedes the perfect candidate to bear it. Silvia kindly offers her a job and a room in her house, and then manipulates her into seducing a young man named Jaime. They soon fall in love and Mercedes becomes pregnant. Silvia will do anything in her power to keep the baby, even if it means leaving a couple of bodies behind.

Argentina

Terrified (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes: 77%

Audience Score: 65%

Google Score: 82%

IMDb: 6.5/10

Description: Paranormal researchers investigate strange events in a neighbourhood in Buenos Aires.

Luciferina (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes: 83%

Audience Score: 25%

Google Score: 69%

IMDb: 4.6/10

Description: Natalia is a nineteen-year-old novice who reluctantly returns home to say goodbye to her dying father. However, when she meets up with her sister and her friends, she decides instead to travel the jungle in search of mystical plant.

Francesca (2015)

Audience Score: 67%

Google Score: 73%

IMDb: 5.3/10

Description: Two detectives track a serial killer who has been targeting the impure. To catch him, they'll have to solve the case of a girl who went missing 15 years ago.

Cold Sweat (2010)

Rotten Tomatoes: 75%

Audience Score:

Google Score: 58%

IMDb: 4.8/10

Description: The movie follows Román, who stumbles upon his ex-girlfriend Jackie, who has somehow gotten caught up in a torture cult run by two sadistic, old men. The aging political radicals have managed to put Jackie’s life in incredible danger. But when Román and his friend try to help Jackie out of her confines, the elderly psychos prove to be more than meets the eye.

Penumbra (2011)

Rotten Tomatoes: 50%

Audience Score: 26%

Google Score: 75%

IMDb: 5.5/10

Description: A woman desperate to find a tenant for her decrepit apartment apparently finds the perfect candidate, unaware of a sinister plot involving an imminent eclipse.

Venezuela

The House At The End of Time (2013)

Rotten Tomatoes: None

Audience Score: 72%

Google Score: 91%

IMDb: 6.8/10

Description: Dulce encounters apparitions in her house and unleashes a terrible prophecy. Thirty years later, Dulce, now an old woman, returns to unravel the mystery that has terrorized her for years.

Trivia: Winner of the Audience Award at Gävle Horror Film Festival 2016 (Sweden). Not only is it Venezuela’s highest-grossing horror film, it’s also the most distributed film from the country. By August 2016 it was announced that the American studio New Line Cinema acquired the rights of the film to make a remake for the American public. Hidalgo is still at the wheel so its chances of success are high.

Ecuador

Cronicas (2004)

Rotten Tomatoes: 71%

Audience Score: 77%

Google Score: 80%

IMDb: 6.9/10

Critics Consensus: An unsettling and absorbing cautionary tale with John Leguizamo playing an unscrupulous TV reporter who uses the medium to further his own goals.

Description: Reporter Manolo Bonilla (John Leguizamo) goes to a jail in Ecuador to interview Vinicio Cepeda (Damián Alcázar, Narcos, Narnia), a hit-and-run driver whose crime incited a riot. After Cepeda tells him he knows where a murderer called the Monster of Babahoyo buried a young female victim, Bonilla posts bail in the hopes that he'll learn more about the crime. Bonilla finds the girl's body, but, as he nears the scoop of his career, it looks as if Cepeda might be withholding some key details.

Trivia: Inspired by a true story? As well as being both a Cannes and TIFF favourite, Cronicas is the official submission of Ecuador for the 'Best Foreign Language Film' category of the 77th Academy Awards in 2005, it was produced by Guillermo del Toro and Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) This is John Leguizamo’s first film in Spanish. He said he felt awkward talking in Spanish while acting, like he didn't know the language.

English Language Horror

The Silent House (2011) This is in English

Rotten Tomatoes: 43%

Audience Score:

Google Score: 72%

IMDb: 5.3/10

Critics Consensus: Silent House is more technically proficient and ambitious than most fright-fests, but it also suffers from a disappointing payoff.

Description: Sarah is working with her father and uncle to renovate an old family home to prepare it for sale. Long vacant, the house has no utilities, forcing the trio to rely on battery-operated lanterns to light their way. Sarah becomes separated from her relatives and soon finds she is trapped inside the cabin, with no contact with the outside world. Panic turns to real terror as the young woman experiences events that become increasingly ominous.

Trivia: Elizabeth Olsen (Wandavision) The plot is based on a true story that occurred in the 1940s in a small village in Uruguay. Contrary to the marketing's claim that the film was shot in one uninterrupted take, the entire movie was actually shot to mimic one continuous real-time take, with no cuts from start to finish, as a result the time span of the film's plot is exactly 86 minutes. It was shot in roughly 10 minute segments then carefully edited to hide the cuts.

Night of the Living Dead (1968) - This along with the rest of the Dead series are the work of George A. Romero, whose father is from Cuba.

Ash vs. Evil Dead - I love the Evil Dead movies and although this series wasn’t perfect (I’m sure die-hard fans will say it's far from it), I still think it kept to the heart of the main story. Bruce Campbell is obviously perfect and the addition of Lucy Lawless is amazing, it’s really Puerto Rican actor Ray Santiago that steals the show.

The Others (2001) - Directed by globally renowned Spanish director Alejandro Amenábar, The Others starring Nicole Kidman is a Spanish gothic horror movie that combines elements of the supernatural, psychological, and mystical. It focuses on the strange events that occur at the estate of a woman and her young children, plagued by spirits in the aftermath of WWII. It has the distinction of being the only English-language Spanish movie to be given the Best Film Award at Spain's national film awards, the Goyas. In total, the movie has seven Goya Awards, including for Best Director. Although it might not read as particularly “Spanish,” it was produced, written and filmed all in Spain, shooting in Cantabria, Northern Spain and Madrid.

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