#that reminded me of the jurassic world theme

[seahorsepencils]

ummm life is exhausting so I’m doing another Bramwell rewatch

#but also #her father just played a song on the piano #that reminded me of the jurassic world theme #so now I'm like 'what about dinosaurs' #ooh what about eleanor bramwell on a dinosaur island #that should be a thing #bramwell the lost world au? #wait #is eleanor john hammond? #idealistic to the point of ignoring reality? #bramwell #jemma redgrave

[thesugarclubs-blog]

Say You Do - Bucky Barnes x OC

warnings: tfatws-bucky, friends with hidden feelings, tension, pure fluff

word count: 8k

WP: https://www.wattpad.com/1338893019-say-you-do-jayden

Masterlist

Jayden twirled around her freshly-made cookie smelling kitchen, humming the theme song to Jurassic Park to herself as she pulled the hot baking sheet from the oven. Her blonde waves flowed freely over the shoulders of her oversized stolen grey hoodie. It was her favourite day of the week, finally. Well, sort of. Her neighbour and forced best friend had cancelled their weekly movie night the week prior and had promised to make it up to her. 

Having a superhero as a friend came with its perks and its downfalls. One was the cancellation of plans when the world needed saving. She didn’t mind and wouldn’t have it any other way, but the disappointment still crept in each time. 

She placed the still warm cookies on a white ceramic plate and slid it onto the counter next to the mountain of other snacks that she had ready, a soft smile gracing her pink lips. 

Just as she was checking that everything was ready and to Bucky's liking, hoping with everything in her that he'd be able to make it this time because she missed him, the ding of the elevator outside her door was loud enough to alert her. 

She sprung into action, hurriedly opening the door and catching the super soldier with a baby pink sticker in his hand raised and ready to place it on her door.

Jayden let her gaze wander down to his hand and the sticker that he was still holding.

"A pink hibiscus flower?" she asked with a little smile on her lips.

"Yes. It reminded me of you, so I convinced Sam that we need to go back to that shop before flying back home. He wasn’t very happy, mumbling mean things the entire time. But he’ll get over it. He always does." Bucky's eyes were fixed on the hibiscus sticker as well, a slight blush on his cheeks.

"Why did it remind you of me?" Jayden now raised her gaze and when Bucky tilted his head upwards as well, their eyes met. Something sparkled in his ocean blue ones, but she couldn't tell what it was.

"The hibiscus is a symbol of positivity, joy and cheer. Thought that was fitting." Bucky answered, his lips curling up in a shy but visible smile.

“You’ve obviously forgotten what I’m like before coffee,” she teased.

“I tried to block it out,” he rolled his eyes jokingly, both of them chuckling.

“You’re still gonna come over later, right?” Jay asked, seeing how exhausted he seemed, preparing herself for his refusal as he sighed deeply.

“I…” Bucky just couldn’t let her down, no matter how tired he was, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”  She smiled softly when he suddenly reached out and stuck the pink flower sticker on the tip of her nose.

"Hey, that's not where it belongs" Jay scrunched up her nose looking at the very amused Bucky in front of her. His normally stoic and no-nonsense kind of expression that seemed to be permanently etched on his face softened and a smile formed on his lips. A smile that was only reserved for a few select people and she was happy that she was one of them. Because when he smiled warmth bloomed in her heart. That smile was her own personal sunshine.

With a shrug of his shoulders, the super soldier backed a couple of steps down the hall, smirking and sparkling his ocean blue eyes at her, "You’re rarely awake when I get home, and this way it keeps its sticky-ness for when you put it in your photo album that you keep under your coffee table." 

Jayden narrowed her eyes, "Hey stop snooping around my apartment!" 

"It's not my fault you take forever in the shower, I had to amuse myself somehow while I waited for you to be ready," he quipped, resulting in the tea towel in her hand being flung at him, pulling a genuine laugh from his chest, "nice sweater by the way." 

Her tongue swiped her bottom lip as she crossed her arms over her chest with a smirk, "Thanks, I stole it from this old man that lives in the building."

Bucky tsked, opening his apartment door, "Stealing from old men... I should have you arrested."

“Would you visit me in prison?” Jayden asked, batting her eyelashes, “smuggle me in some contraband?” 

Bucky tilted his head as he thought about it, leaning in his doorway with his arms folded across his chest. The leather of his jacket pulled tight across his biceps and Jay’s gaze lingered there until Bucky clicked his tongue. 

“If you were good,” he replied with a tired but cheeky grin. He pushed off into his apartment with a wave of his hand, “I’ll be right there, don’t start without me.” 

Jayden threw him a salute, matching Bucky’s grin as he disappeared behind his closing apartment door. 

“Remember, comfy clothes or no admittance!” 

“Yeah, yeah,” she heard, followed by Bucky’s soft chuckle echoing across the hall.

"Oh and Bucky?" she now yelled in the empty hallway. His door was almost closed, but she heard it open again and his head appeared behind the door frame. She needed to chuckle, he looked like an alerted meerkat.

"Yes, my favorite sweater-stealing neighbor?" he asked before winking at her. There they were again: the butterflies in her stomach.

"I've made your favorite cookies. You know, the chocolate chip ones from my Grandma’s recipe. So make sure your sweatpants are flexible enough." she smiled at him while swirling the tea towel around so that it was resting on her left shoulder.

Bucky's eyes widened slightly and Jay saw his tongue licking over his bottom lip. This swift movement made the butterflies in her stomach flutter and she had problems ignoring the heat in her lower belly. 

"Give me 20 seconds to change. Don't eat them without me!" he responded, before disappearing into his apartment. Jay could hear loud noises from it as if he was running through the main room and bumping into some furniture.

She looked cross-eyed at the sticker that still sat on the end of her nose and huffed out a chuckle and removed it, tapping it between her finger and thumb as she went back inside and retrieved her album from under the coffee table.  She flicked through the pages, photographs of her family, her friends, and Bucky…all interspersed with stickers of all shapes and sizes, each one representing a promise kept.

Finding one of her favourite pictures of Bucky, where he scowled like the grumpiest little shit she’d ever seen, she smiled to herself before sticking the pink flower over the top of the image so it looked like he was wearing it as a hair clip.  Satisfied with her devilry, Jay headed back into the kitchen to check over the snacks one last time.

Hearing heavy footsteps in her hall, she looked up to find Bucky in a pair of gray sweatpants and a black t-shirt, his silver dog tags imprinting on the fabric from the inside. His feet were clad in a pair of green dinosaur socks that Jay had given him last Christmas which he swore to burn after Sam and her had spent 10 full minutes cackling at the expression he made when he opened his present. The man that looked so tough and hard on the outside was wearing dinosaur socks.

Jayden pursed her lips suppressing a smile, "Look at youuu in your cute little dino socks, adorable." 

She couldn't help but chuckle at how Bucky's eyes narrowed as he looked down at her bunny slipper clad feet and lifted his gaze back up with a raised brow. 

"Really Harper? Have you seen your feet?" 

"You got a problem with my bunnies, Barnes?" she challenged with a smirk. 

He raised his hands in mock defense, shaking his head with a laugh. "Me? I could never, you look adorable in them." Jayden proudly smiled and shimmied her shoulders with a giggle, "I know." 

Their friendship had stemmed from small neighbourly quips at each other in the hallway into actively bullying each other. It was one of those things that she wouldn't have accepted from anyone else besides him because they each knew that it came from a place of friendship. Sam had said a few times how they fight like an old married couple, and Peter once asked Sam if they were flirting or fighting. But that was just how their friendship was. 

Sure, on occasion Jayden had imagined what his lips felt like, or what it would be like to walk down the street holding his hand. To keep up those late night chats they had, laying next to each other in her bed. The pesky butterflies crept into her chest once more, igniting a soft smile to dance at the corners of her lips. 

"Earth to Jay, hello..." Bucky's voice pulled her out of her head and she turned her hazel eyes to meet him. "You okay?" 

"What? Yeah of course!" She chuckled nervously, shaking her head, "Can you grab the snacks from the counter? I'll get the movie set up since you can't work my TV."

“Sure thing,” Bucky smiled, “and I tried okay? Not my fault you bought the most complicated TV to exist.” 

“You literally press two buttons to get Netflix up, Buck.” 

“Two buttons too many,” Bucky grumbled. “And don’t steal my favourite blanket,” he added as he left her to the TV and moved to retrieve the snacks. 

Jayden laughed and decided not to tell him that it was a little too late for that. The knitted blanket was still laid over her bed where it had been tangled with her duvet for the past week like it always was whenever Bucky went away. 

She went to fetch it once the TV was set up, laying it neatly over the armrest on Bucky’s side of the couch and ignoring the warmth that flooded her at the thought of it holding his scent again.

"What about 'Jurassic Park'? Since you’re already wearing those cute little dino socks. Whoever gave you those really has good taste." she snickered.

Bucky rolled his eyes a little at her, before answering: "Sure. If they don't have any movies about annoying little bunnies, we can go for the dinosaurs." 

"You won't regret it, I promise. Also, the music is great. Gives me goosebumps every damn time." Jay said with a little too much excitement, making Bucky laugh when he returned with his hands full of snacks. As soon as Bucky settled next to her on the couch she placed the bowl of chips on her lap and pressed play.

"Is it even realistic? Recreating dinosaurs? From blood within a mosquito?" the brunette man asked with furrowed brows before turning to grab the plate full of chocolate chip cookies he’d set on the coffee table. 

"You tell me, Mr. Dinosaur. You're over a hundred years old and still walking around my apartment very alive. What mosquito did they use to recreate you?" Jay giggled, but she stopped the moment she saw Bucky's shoulders tensing and halting his movements. He turned his face her way, looking at her with slightly widened eyes.

"Sorry... I didn't mean it like that," she added with guilt written all over her face. 

Suddenly Bucky's face changed and he burst into laughter. Jay furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. Then she heard him hum within his laughter, "You should see your face. All concerned and sorry and that shit. I’m messing with you, little bunny. But don't call me a dinosaur again, or this old man won't share the cookies with you."

"NOT FAIR!" Jay exclaimed before showing him her best theatrically exaggerated pout.

“Anyway,” she continued, not able to hold even a pretend pout for long around him, “you’re the science nerd. Do you think they could do that?”

He sat back with the plate of cookies in hand sliding one her way. 

“I actually read something about that,” Bucky hummed.  “They’ve tried to recreate the genome of a woolly mammoth but the DNA is too old and degraded. They’d need to create an artificial womb too because an elephant’s womb isn’t close enough to…”

“Oh my God shut up already!” Jay whined in mock distress.  “My brain’s leaking out of my ears!”

"Don't be so dramatic, Harper."

Jay fake yawned right in his amused face, "You're a nerd, Barnes." 

He snatched the remote from her hand and turned up the volume.

Soon they were engulfed by the familiar melodies and Jay snuggled herself deeper into the couch.

Jayden looked Bucky's way every so often as the movie went on. Watching his reactions to them was probably her favorite part of movie night next to simply enjoying his company. 

In those moments, he wasn't the hardened shell of a man who had been ripped away from his life at twenty-eight and forced to fight and kill. He wasn't Sergeant Barnes or the Winter Soldier, he was just Bucky.

Her Bucky.

Her grumpy but incredibly sweet and selfless neighbor turned best friend.

At one point when she was watching him, that soft smile that seemed permanently plastered on her face when he was around grew on her lips once more, Bucky looked over and caught her hazel eyes. His brows furrowed and he looked over her features with confusion. 

"What?" He mumbled in the middle of a bite of one of her cookies. 

 Jayden let out a giggle and shook her head, "Nothing..." 

As he reached forward and grabbed the remote, she couldn't help her eyes as they wandered to the stretch of his t-shirt around his biceps and she didn't even notice that he'd managed to pause the movie. What was wrong with her tonight? It was never this hard to push these thoughts away. 

"Jay..." Bucky uttered quietly. 

"What?" She snapped her gaze back to his face, noting the slight concern hidden behind his ocean blue eyes. 

"Talk to me, you seem off tonight," he nudged her knee gently. 

Jayden breathed out a chuckle, "I'm not off, I'm just... happy your home, safe," her lips pulled into a straight line and she turned her eyes down as she fiddled with her fingers, "you don't usually see this part of when you get home from missions..." she admitted quietly.

Bucky huffed out a sigh beside her and Jayden wiggled a little closer, her head falling against the back of the couch. She leeched Bucky’s warmth as she pressed alongside him. 

“Talk to me, sweetheart.” 

“It just takes me a while, usually, once I see the sticker and I know you’re home… I kinda, I don’t know, fester in it. Every so often I have to remind myself that you’re just across the hall, sleeping it off and I guess having you here right now, so soon after— I’m not used to it. I’m happy you’re here… with me. And now I’m rambling— fuck sake.” 

“Hey, I like it when you ramble,” Bucky chuckled, “and I’m happy I’m here too. If it wasn’t always the middle of the night when I get home, you know this is the first place I’d come, right?” 

Jayden nodded, plastering on a smile as she rested her head on Bucky’s shoulder and grabbed the remote to press play. 

“Pass me a cookie,” she mumbled as the classic music started up again, squeezing Bucky’s arm in thanks when he handed her two and pressed a kiss to her head.

It wasn't unusual for him to kiss her on her forehead, there was even a time when he’d kissed her on the cheek, it was the first time he'd tasted her cookies. The elation lighting up his face that day as he pressed a mouth to her dimpled cheek and left a few crumbs behind as he tried to chew the cookie off was still seared in her mind. 

But this kiss got to her. Maybe it was because it came after being open and vulnerable with him instead of avoiding this topic to relieve him of carrying another burden, worrying about her when his shoulders already bore so much weight. 

She willed the sting of tears welling in her eyes away when Bucky whispered a quiet "I'm okay, I'm here" with his lips brushing over the skin of her forehead tenderly before backing away and slumping back against the couch, the warmth radiating from his close body a comforting reminder that he is indeed okay and there with her.

Bucky's eyes were fixed on the screen again, where the characters were currently facing a much too aggressive Tyrannosaurus Rex. 

"Every time..." Jayden started, before swallowing the lump in her throat. "... every time you're gone for a mission I’m concerned you're not coming home. With all those aliens and bad guys out there. I know you’re a super soldier and very skilled in everything that you do, but still. When I hear movements in the hallway I always hope, even pray, that it's you returning from your mission safely." 

It had taken her a lot of courage to speak out these words in front of him. Tonight something felt different, although she couldn't point a finger at what exactly. From the corner of her eye, she could see Bucky grab the remote control and pause the movie again. Then he turned his face towards her, studying her features for a few seconds.

Jay had an inner debate to crack a joke to lighten up the mood, but before she could even open her mouth, he spoke. 

"I will always come home. I might be battered and bruised some days, but I would never forgive myself if I miss a movie night with my favorite neighbor." 

There was that smile again. The one he had reserved just for her. And the moment she saw it, the concern in her heart was washed away and she couldn't feel anything else other than happiness and warmth.

“Can I ask you something, Jay?” He said, his face serious.

Jay swallowed and nodded, sure that he could hear her heart beat out its rapid rhythm. If she’d been paying more attention to him and not the way his hand fiddled with the edge of the blanket she’d have seen the devilish twinkle in his eye.

“Would you rather be eaten by a velociraptor or a T-Rex?”

“What?!” She asked, her brows drawn in confusion.

“I was thinking probably T-Rex ‘cause it’d take fewer bites,” he smirked and with that he pulled his arms inside his shirt and screeched like a dinosaur, scrabbling at the blanket as if he were trying to attack her.

"How are you gonna get me with those short arms, Buck? You can't even clap." 

Jay jumped up, running towards her bedroom knowing full well she had no chance against a super soldier and war veteran. The screeching came closer as she cackled her way into her bedroom, Bucky not even a foot away from her.

Jay jumped up on her bed but before she could grab a hold of her headboard, Bucky had already circled her waist with his strong arm, making it impossible to escape. 

"Gotcha."

"Cheater."

Bucky gasped dramatically, "I would never!" 

Before Jayden could answer, Bucky flung her body over his shoulder pulling giggles from her chest effortlessly. The smell of his musk filled her nose as she wrapped her arms around him from upside down, feeling the outlines of his sculpted stomach beneath her fingers. Every nerve in her body ignited and her brain suddenly felt fuzzy with romantic thoughts of him once more. 

Her body was flung easily and softly back onto the couch, with Bucky's hand cradling her head. He towered over her, his blue eyes tracing her features as their gazes locked. He brushed a strand of blonde hair off her forehead and smirked at her from above. 

"I win," he quipped. 

"You cheated, super soldier," Jayden answered quietly, trying to calm her pounding heart.

She watched as he smiled at her, his dimples showing themselves. 

“I improvised,” he countered. “There’s a difference.”

Jayden sat up and rolled her eyes as Bucky sat back down beside her, watching her from the corner of his eye. “What on earth are you planning in that brain of yours?”

She grinned, discreetly stretching out her fingers before launching herself at him, attacking his sides until he was a giggling, writhing mess beneath her. 

“I was thinkin’,” she began, as he caught his breath, “that you should know better than to let your guard down, Sergeant.” 

“And here I was thinkin’ I was in my safe space,” Bucky countered, nudging her softly. 

His expression was still playful, blue irises sparkling, the happy lines at the corners of his eyes deep as he flashed her his usual lopsided smile. She loved him like this when the burden of being who he was seemed to lift and most of his worries was how many cookies he could eat. Proven right then as he shoved another in his mouth, humming happily. 

“You wanna order dinner? You can’t live on cookies.” 

“Watch me,” Bucky mumbled around his mouthful.

"Buckyyyyyyy." Jayden whined. He was staring right into her hazel eyes, grabbing another cookie and placing it in his mouth. It was provoking but still adorable. Almost childish. 

Jay loved to see the shell of the strong and resolved soldier crumble in front of her every time he took a step into her apartment. As if she was the only one with which he could be his true self. The nerdy, funny and sarcastic Bucky. The one that ate way too many cookies, complained about it the entire day after, but still would do it exactly the same the next time. 

"Jshsai 'hen yu hngri" he mumbled with now one and a half cookies in his mouth, but Jayden couldn't understand a single word.

"Stop speaking with your mouth full of cookies!" she snickered and slapped his vibranium arm playfully. 

"Just say when you're hungry and we can order dinner," he repeated after opening his mouth a little and sticking out his tongue to show her that it was empty this time.

He laughed as Jay shook out the sting from her hand, a disgruntled frown on her face.

“I’m hungry,” she grumped, pulling out her phone.  “What are we eating?  Chinese?  Thai?  Moroccan?”

“Chinese,” Bucky mumbled around yet another cookie, “and don’t look at me like that.  I have a fast metabolism.”

Shaking her head with a chuckle Jay clicked on to the app and ordered their usual Chinese food.

“It’ll be thirty minutes,” she confirmed.

Bucky made a face, but then smiled, "I don't think I'll ever figure those damn phones out, but ordering takeout without having to talk to someone?" He held his hand to his heart with a happy sigh, "Best invention of the modern age."

Jay giggled, stretching out on the couch beside him, "Can't argue with that."

She blinked at the TV screen, "Oh, shit, we forgot to pause the movie!" The credits were scrolling across the screen.

Bucky smirked, pulling his arms back into his sleeves, "Bucky Rex couldn't reach the remote!" He growled, making Jayden collapse in a fit of giggles.

She smiled and shook her head as she caught her breath, "You're ridiculous, but you're cu- that was cute."

Jayden, what is wrong with you?

She felt the heat at her slip-up creeping up her neck and she was sure her face was just reaching tomato red as he looked back at her with a bashful smile on his lips. 

"Jay, would you mind if I take a quick shower while the food gets here? Actually try to wash that mission off, you know?"

Jayden shook her head and gestured to the bathroom, "S'all yours, I'll get plates and everything ready," she bounded off the couch, and didn't make direct eye contact with him as she grabbed the emptied bowls and made her way toward the kitchen. 

She could feel Bucky's blue eyes following her movements through her apartment, walking behind her as he brushed past her and went into the bathroom. Jayden leaned both her hands onto the counter and closed her eyes, huffing out a breath. Why was this so hard tonight? 

The bathroom door creaked back open and Bucky's head poked back out, "Hey Jayden..."

Sucking in a sharp breath, she smiled once more and turned around to meet his eyes. 

"Thank you, for tonight..." his lips pulled into a thin line and he looked down to the floor, "I uh, really needed this after that mission and you... you really came through"

“You’re welcome,” she answered easily. “We can do this anytime you need to relax.” 

Bucky grinned at her before closing the door again, then the sound of the shower turning on was able to be heard.

Meanwhile, Jayden leaned against the counter with a groan and ram her hands over her face. This is so hard! Every time I look at him or he gets close, my heart feels like it’s going to explode.

She nibbled at her lip, turning to watch the bathroom door like it was going to miraculously tell her how to deal with her feelings. 

The faint sound of Bucky humming echoed from the bathroom and Jayden sighed with a quiet chuckle, resigning herself back to her task of getting plates. 

Bucky was her best friend. He was goofy despite his hardship, soft when he wanted to be, smart as hell, and — not that she would ever dream of telling him — the light of her fucking life. And the thought of ever letting that slip? Terrifying. 

The shower shut off before she could dwell on it anymore, and she listened simultaneously for Bucky emerging and their takeout arriving. Bucky appeared first as she was setting plates and cutlery on the coffee table. His damp hair glistened and his squeaky clean skin glowed as he padded back into the living room smelling of her raspberry shampoo. 

“Better?” She asked as he flopped back on the couch, yanking her down with him. 

“Mhmm,” he hummed, the sound vibrating from his chest and setting her body tingling as he hugged her tight, “thank you.”

"You smell pretty... fruity!" she chuckled in his ear, while he was still holding her close. 

"I know. I like that smell on you, so I feel honored to have a part of you on me now." he whispered back mischievously. His arms let go of her small figure with gazes locked. Something shimmered in the depth of his ocean blue ones. She had seen it earlier today as well.

A drop of water dropped off of a slightly longer strand on the front, trailing down his forehead and into his eye. Bucky blinked several times while grimacing his entire face. 

The weird tension between them was gone when they both burst into laughter. 

Keep it together, Jay! He's your best friend. A hot one. But your best friend. You don't want to ruin this by acting weird today.

Her hormones were driving her crazy today for no reason. Damn hormones.

Bucky must have noticed the shift in her brain because where his normal tense crease in his brow sat returned for a brief moment, his eyes raking over her features. The butterflies in her stomach turned into a tornado as he reached for her his hand coming dangerously, well as dangerous as this gentleman could be, to her cheeks. He tugged gently on a strand of her hair, pulling back and holding up a bright blue ball of fluff from her knitted blanket. 

A grin spread across his features, "you could make a wish with this," he chuckled, sucking all of the air out of her chest. She loved the sound of him laughing, even when it was the deep low rumble he had just let out. 

"It's not an eyelash," she quipped through a shaky breath. 

Bucky shrugged, "I'm deeming it so, c'mon darlin, close those pretty eyes and make a wish."

So she did.  Jay allowed her eyes to flutter closed and wished for the one thing she’d never say out loud.  She opened her eyes again to see Bucky staring at her, his head slightly tilted, and a soft expression on his face.

“What did you wish for?” He asked.

“Ha, like I’m gonna tell you!” Jay snickered, smacking the back of her hand gently against his chest.

“Some best friend you are,” he grumbled with a playful pout.

“Yeah, you just remember that the next time you want some cookies baked,” she retorted, laughing at his look of feigned horror.

“Bunny please, I’m beggin’ ya!  You don’t gotta be so cruel!” He whined.

Jayden sat up straighter, trying to look as serious about her threat as she could before she crumbled back into laughter, "As if I could ever deny those puppy eyes!"

He cackled then tackled her, tickling her as they tumbled off the couch, Jayden laughing more as she squirmed under him. 

A sharp knock at the door made them both freeze, Bucky hovering over her as she panted. Had half an hour really gone by that fast? As one, they both swallowed, the air sizzling between them before another knock broke them from the moment.

"C-coming!" Jay called out as Bucky moved, standing and holding out his hand for her.

She placed her hand in his and felt like every nerve fiber in her body was shocked at the contact. He tightened his grip on her as he helped her get to her feet, a sea of blue once again locked on her hazel eyes. Jayden whispered a thanks and beelined her way towards the door trying to calm down her racing heart. 

She took the takeout bags and thanked their delivery person, turning around and shutting the door with her foot. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Bucky following her movements. All the while, Jayden set the bags down on the free spot on the coffee table without so much as a breath in Bucky's direction. 

Kneeling in front of the table she tucked her legs under her as she settled in her spot before opening up their takeout containers. 

"Jay, are you ok?" Bucky asked as he sat down on the floor next to her. 

"Mhm yeah no no I'm fine, I am starving though. Aren't you?" she raced out.

She watched as Bucky narrowed his eyes at her, before nodding once and turning his attention to the food in front of them.

"I'm always hungry," he finally answered, busying his hands as he helped her unpack the food. 

Smooth, Harper, real smooth she thought to herself, grabbing the remote from under some boxes. She flipped through Netflix until she found the second Jurassic Park movie, turning it on without consulting her friend. He'd said when they started things that he trusted her to show him things the way she thought was best and she took that responsibility seriously. 

"Ok so, I know we didn't totally finish the first one but you didn't miss much, just the ending bits, but you should be fine enough to understand the second one," Jayden rambled, still keeping her eyes on the table or on the TV, anywhere but meeting his gaze.

“I’m sure it’ll be just as chaotic as the first one was,” Bucky mused as he opened a packet of soy sauce and poured it over his rice. “Did you get those crunchy roll things?” He stirred up his rice and swallowed thickly. They were so close earlier. So so close. 

“Is the hot actress in this one too?” Bucky asked as Jayden passed him the carton he was looking for. She arched her brow and Bucky thanked her with a grin, wiggling his own eyebrows playfully. 

“The blonde one? Laura Dern?”

“Yeah.” He nodded, suddenly hopping up and heading to the fridge. Jayden watched as he grabbed two beers, flicking the caps off with his left thumb. 

He handed one down to her as he settled back on the floor, a little closer than before. 

“No. But this one has Julianne Moore. I think you’ll like her.” 

Bucky hummed, eyeing her with thought. 

“We’ll see,” he replied, shoving a crispy roll in his mouth with a shrug.

"You liked Laura Dern?" She asked fumbling with her chopsticks as she tried to clamp down on a bite of noodles. 

His eyes flickered from the screen to her. That mischievous grin returned to his features and she couldn't help but laugh with his cheek chimpunked full of crispy roll. Bucky swallowed with a nod, "why wouldn't I? She's blonde, brilliant, feisty, funny, kind..." His voice trailed off as he took a bite of rice, "reminds me of someone I know." 

Jay's eyes widened for a moment looking from the screen to him just as a piece of shrimp from her chopsticks flew onto the table. He couldn't have meant her... right? She stammered as she moved to pick up the meat from the table, her cheeks turning a bright shade of pink as she tossed it back into her container and stared back at the tv. 

"You okay over there?" His voice suddenly behind her as he scooted back onto the couch, "Did you forget how to use chopsticks between now and the last movie night?" Bucky teased.��

She turned to glare at him, only earning herself one of the scrunched nose laughs she loved so much. 

"There she is," he muttered taking another bite of rice.

Picking up a piece of water chestnut Jay squinted a little to aim and then flicked it towards Bucky’s face.  His hand whipped up and he caught the veggie missile with his chopsticks half an inch before it would have splattered against his face.  He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows before popping the water chestnut into his mouth and crunching it.

“Cocky little shit,” Jay grumbled.

“You love it,” he sassed back.

“You wish,” she muttered, rolling her eyes. “Shut up and watch the movie,” but she couldn’t help smiling at Bucky’s happy and carefree expression.

"As you wish," he murmured, smiling when she raised an eyebrow at him. "What?"

"Did you just quote the Princess Bride?" 

He blushed a little, "Maybe?" 

Jay smiled to herself. He'd pretended to hate it when they'd watched it, but she figured that was just a remnant of the era he'd grown up in. 

"I might have watched it again, on my own," he admitted, putting his empty container to the side and moving to the couch. She almost didn't hear the last bit, "Three more times."

She couldn't help the laughter that bubbled up from inside her, her head falling back against the couch cushion behind her. Pure joy rang through her at the picture of Bucky sitting at home watching The Princess Bride and very likely, as he's done with other movies they've watched together more than once, mumbling the words with the actors. 

"I told you you'd love it," she smiled, "why didn't you tell me? I love that movie." 

"Next time I feel like watching it I'll come get ya, promise. Watching movies is better with you anyway."

Jayden tilted her head to the side and met his glinting blue stare, "I'm holding you to that" 

A comfortable silence fell between them as she continued eating her food and Bucky went back to snacking on the cookies. She wasn't sure how he did it, but a small part of her was jealous at the amount he could eat. Her eyes flickered over him, being careful not to draw his attention away from the screen. He really was pretty, even when he was exhausted. Jayden knew he was trying to hide it but at this point, there wasn't much she didn't know about Bucky Barnes. 

Lightly, she jabbed her elbow into his calf and smirked, "Save some of those! Or just don't tell Sam and Peter that I made them. They'll be so mad at me if you eat them all!" Jay breathed a laugh. 

Bucky shoved another one into his mouth and shrugged, "What cookies?" he grumbled with a playful smile.

Jayden rolled her eyes and got up, situating herself back onto the couch beside Bucky and stealing part of the blanket from him. 

“You are such a brat, you know that?” She laughed. “I’m going to have to start hiding some of the cookies so they can have some too.”

Bucky looked over at her with wide eyes. “You wouldn’t…”

“I would. They like them too, and you like to hog them.” 

Bucky frowned slightly. He always thought Jayden’s cookies were special. They reminded him of his mom’s cookies from when he was young. 

Jay sighed. “Are you really going to give me the puppy eyes?”

Bucky turned and rolled onto his back, placing his head right in her lap. “Jay…”

“Don’t think you get to act all adorable and I’ll give you everything, Barnes. I don’t even know how you do that. This big, burly man and you turn into a pussycat at the drop of a hat.” 

Bucky giggled, all sleepy, a yawn stealing his laugh as his eyelashes fluttered closed. 

“Only for you, my little bluejay.” 

“Sweet talker.” 

Bucky grinned up at her, scrunching his nose before getting comfy. 

“Shush now, I wanna watch this one properly.” 

“You’re almost aslee—“

“Shush.”

She held back the laugh that would've escaped her seeing his ridiculously serious face as he shushed her, shaking her head as she tried to calm herself at his proximity.

It's no wonder I'm in love with this goof, she thought to herself gazing over his features. He tried holding back another yawn but she saw him and held back a teasing smirk when he glanced up at her again with a pink tinge to his cheeks.

"You can sleep if you want," Jayden offered. Settling her back comfortably against the couch and fumbling with where to put her hands before letting one rest on his hair and dropping the other to her side. 

His voice was quiet as he answered with stubborn determination.

"Nope. I'm wide awake." 

"Okay." 

They fell quiet knowing that he would fall asleep anyway.

Jay had finally settled the hammering of her heart as the movie continued. She hadn't realized that her fingers were combing softly through his hair until the sound of the T-rexes roaring jolted her out of whatever trance she had fallen into. Her body froze as she glanced down at Bucky and as she figured, he was completely asleep. 

His lips were parted slightly and the soft snores coming from him only made her smile. She appreciated the small smattering of freckles that danced along his cheeks and the few that painted the bridge of his nose. God she was in love with him. 

"I'm not sure when it happened," she whispered barely audibly, her eyes flickered to the screen as terror ensued before moving her eyes back to him hoping she hadn't woken him up with her voice. Jay felt like this was going to be the only time she'd ever get the chance to tell him and even if he was sleeping she hoped it would relieve some of the ache her heartfelt every time he left, "I don't know if it was when you came back tonight, or when you steal this blanket and leave it smelling like you..." her voice trailed off, "or that you trust me enough--" she faltered for a moment, "--even after everything you trusted me into your life..." 

What was she doing? Her cheeks warmed with the idea of him. The way his nose scrunched when he laughed or really smiled, how the slightest touch of his fingers on her skin lit her on fire and at the same time gave this overwhelming sense of calm to her body... she had spent so much time working out in her head if he felt the same way and deep down she hoped he did. 

"You snuck  your way into my heart...and I'm not sure when it happened or how it happened, there's too many moments," she paused taking a deep breath, her fingers still mindlessly combing through his hair and her other hand feeling the gentle rise and fall of his chest as it rested on his side, "but somewhere along the way I fell in love with you..." Jayden's voice was barely a whisper at this point but it felt good to tell him how she felt, even if he was fast asleep in her arms.

Jayden let out a quiet sigh, still moving her fingers through his hair as the movie continued. 

There was no way he would ever return those feelings.

Bucky turned his head suddenly, looking up at her. Her heart jumped into her throat, had he heard everything?! 

Without breaking eye contact, Bucky tugged her hand away from his hair, pulling it till it was in front of his face, and his lips placed a soft kiss on her palm.

He almost looked scared for a moment, before he spoke. "I didn't think you felt the same way," he paused, licking his lips while he continued to look into her eyes, "But, I love you too."

Jayden sucked in a shaky breath, blinking her hazel eyes at him, unable to break their eye contact. He could have moved or coughed, or something to let her know that he was awake and listening to her. Anything to let her know that she was making a fool out of herself and confessing things that shouldn't be said out loud. She felt like her heart was about to explode out of her chest, the sounds of the movie fading completely away as those words left his perfect lips. 

"Bucky..." Her voice came out quieter than intended but she didn't really know what to do with herself. 

Maybe she had fallen asleep too and this was all in her head. Had he really returned her feelings or was it some sick joke from her subconscious? Perhaps he was just saying that as to not make it awkward and was getting ready to bolt out the front door. 

Bucky shook his head, and sat up, scooting closer and hesitantly taking her hands in his, "Jayden I - I was," he let out a small breath and looked down at their entwined fingers, "a shell of a person when I moved into this building," his voice had a small shake to it, causing Jayden to give his hand a small squeeze, urging him to continue. 

"I was lost and alone... Until the day you knocked on my door," Bucky breathed out a laugh and looked up once more, his blue eyes glistening with the threat of sadness, "You brought sunshine and hope back into my otherwise bleak and terrifying life... Of course I fell in love with you," he admitted, bringing a hand up to cup her cheek, tracing a small circle into her skin with his thumb.

Jayden felt tears threaten to fall from her eyes, making them sting. Her heart was pounding hard enough that she knew he would be able to feel it beneath his touch. “Y-you love me?” She couldn’t help but ask, her voice just a whisper. 

Bucky only smiled at her as he gently wiped an escaped tear from her cheek. “Of course I love you. I love you so much my heart could bust, my little blue jay. It aches for me to leave you every mission I do. But I am always racing to get back here to you.”

“I don’t— I can’t—“ 

“Sweetheart,” Bucky murmured, hauling her onto his lap with a soft “c’mere.” 

Jayden melted into him, her face tucked into his neck. 

“We’re idiots,” she sniffled, her body shaking with Bucky’s as he laughed, rich and rough with sleep. 

“I’m an idiot, not tellin’ you sooner.” 

“When did you know?” She asked, meeting his gaze — steel blue and full of tender adoration. Her fingers moved to trace his jaw, thumbing at the dimple in his chin. 

“That first time you suggested the sticker system,” he admits, “I couldn’t believe— I couldn’t believe someone other than Sam cared enough to know I was home safe and yet there you were. This gorgeous woman, greeted me with the most beaming smile every time she saw me, baking me cookies and— God, Jay. I had fuckin’ butterflies over you every time. Me? Butterflies!” 

Jayden sighed, content as she studies his strong features, lined with sleep and love for her.

"Say it again please." She begged. Voice low and thick with emotion and tears.

Jayden's eyes were committing every little detail of his face to her memory, she wouldn't allow herself to ever forget this moment. She wanted it on constant repeat until her last breath.

His ocean eyes were sparkling waters as his face broke out into a smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling and she could have done anything just to see that smile light up his face all the time.

Both his palms lifted to rest on her face, thumbs brushing back and over her skin as he pulled her closer and she felt him take a deep breath before focusing his gaze back on her eyes and whispering softly in the few inches between them.

"I. Love. You."

Her hands rested against his chest, feeling the way his heart thundered under her palm only sent hers into a frenzy. She dipped her head, pressing her forehead to his, her eyes sliding closed, "again," she whispered only to hear the words roll off his tongue like a prayer once more. 

Bucky chuckled softly, "I love you, my sweet Bluejay." 

Jay's fingers dug gently into the hard muscle of his chest and for once she didn't wonder what he would feel like under the weight of her touch. His breath fanned across her face as he pulled back gently, his eyes a bright shade of blue and the flecks of silver in them glittering back at her, "I really wanna kiss you right now," he admitted, the corners of his mouth quirking up slightly, "can I kiss you?" 

She sucked in a breath and barely had time to nod her head before his lips were pressed against hers, slotting perfectly together like the missing piece to the puzzle of her life. It was tentative at first, slow but sweeter than anything she could have imagined. He tasted like chocolate with a bite of the cinnamon she claimed as the secret ingredient in her cookies. Her cookies had never tasted better than how they did on his lips. 

He pulled back gently, his hand pushing back the long tendrils of her golden hair behind her ear, "that was..." 

"I love you," she blurted in a whisper, remembering that she hadn't said it back in the frenzy and plea for her lips, "I don't know how much of what I said you heard, but I think I've loved you since the day I found the first sticker on my door." 

The corners of his mouth quirked up again as he dipped his head and pressed his lips to hers, "The bluejay," he whispered against her gently. 

Jayden nodded her head, her hands skating up and around the back of his neck to play with the hair at his nape. His arm snaked around her waist holding her firmly against his chest. "The bluejay," she repeated. 

She leaned in to kiss him again, allowing herself to melt into the man before her. The stubborn, flirty, goofy man that bared himself to her with no regrets. He was hers. Her Bucky. Something she never thought would be possible and yet...

She was always unequivocally his.

#one shot #marvel imagine #marvel oneshot #marvel one shot #marvel au #marvel fanfiction #marvel fanfic #marvelous #bucky barnes #bucky barnes au #bucky barnes oneshot #bucky barnes one shot #bucky barnes fanfic #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes imagine #james bucky barnes #hidden feelings #friends to lovers #friends with hidden feelings #bucky barnes fluff #collaboration #writers #fanfic writers #fanfiction writers #fanfic authors #fluff

[crixusniko]

Some different crossovers.

Bruno the Kadabra. 2023. Pokemon/Encanto crossover. Firstly, Bruno is a touching character, secondly, he reminded me of my favorite psychic type, just as thin, can seem sinister and is considered a harbinger of trouble, but in fact he is not without charm. Thirdly, Nintendo for 16 years: "Not a word about kadabra!"

Anzati Hunter D. 2016. Star Wars/D: Bloodlust crossover. I think it's rather stylish.

Lysandre Cafe. 2022. "Do you want to be with those who give or those who take?". Idea of a crossover with "Menu" (I can't vouch for the accuracy of the quote, as I watched the film in my native language, but its theme, in my opinion, suits Lysandre)

I, Mewtwo. 2014. Crossover with "I, Frankenstein" made for fun.

Fuji's Monster. 2023. Mewtwo as Frankenstein's monster from "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" movie. "Have you thought about the consequences of what was started by you? Who am I? Do you think I'm evil? You hardly know how much love and affection is in me, and hardly believe how much hate is in me. And if I can not meet one sense, I am completely give myself for other!"

Rose Red. 2013. Sabrina's youth associates for me with S. King's "Rose Red", that's why I wanted to draw her like this. 

Bonding. 2015. Mewtwo and Indominus Rex. Crossover with "Jurassic world"

I did it 35 minutes ago. 2016. Mewtwo as Ozymandias from "Watchmen", just for fun as a perfect ending for "Mewtwo strikes back"

Guilty! 2014. «I was weak. That's why I needed you... Needed someone to punish me for my sins...» Professor Fuji as protagonist in "Silent Hill" game series. Crossover is based on SH 2, but totally AU. 

#crossover #pokemon #star wars #kadabra #sabrina pokemon #lysandre #mewtwo #count dooku #the menu

[clarktooncrossing]

Giraffe's Eye View | Prehistoric Planet REVIEW (and Rant+)

Hey there people of today and robots of tomorrow! It is I, Clark, here with a fun fact about myself.

I.

LOVE.

DINOSAURS!

Granted, so does everybody else on the planet, but how can you not? They've been a part of our imagination for so long, an enigma of time we can never fully understand, a chapter of a long forgotten history when titans trekked across the planet, and the inspiration for hundreds of great movies, television shows, video games, comic books, and theme park rides! Ask anyone and they'll tell you the exact moment they fell in love with dinosaurs. For some it was seeing the original Jurassic Park in cinemas back in 1993, shaking in their seats as the T-Rex erupted from its enclosure! For others it was when catching reruns of Walking with Dinosaurs on TV, rooting for Big Al as he desperately tried to survive a harsh world. Maybe Barney stole your heart when you were younger, following him into the Land of Make Believe where he'd remind you that any dream is achievable. Or maybe you're into really obscure crap like Hallmark's made-for-TV movie Dinotopia, the 90s cartoon Denver the Last Dinosaur, Phil Tippet's stop-motion short Prehistoric Beasts, any of the follow ups to Walking with Dinosaur, there's so much dinosaur media out there that it'd take me 65 million years to cover them all! It's why today I'll be covering just one.

I remember how frustrated I was when I first saw trailers for Prehistoric Planet. Not because it didn't look good. On the contrary, it looked incredible! The effects felt like the natural evolution of Walking with Dinosaurs, crafting creatures as realistic as one can make'm. On top of that it featured narration by David Attenborough, the main man behind Planet Earth who can somehow say 'arse' without making it sound silly. Not only was he narrating over footage of breathtaking beasts, he was narrating over a score by Hans Zimmer! Y'know, the guy behind the music of The Lion King? Yeah, that guy! No doubt he was brought over by Jon Favreau, the Iron Man and Elf director turned this show's Executive Producer. If I were to guess, he brought all of the knowledge he accumulated while working in Simba's Pride Lands to the time of ancient reptiles. Unlike that piece of Hakunah Makaka though, I was actually excited for this! So what was the problem?

Apple TV+. This show was exclusive to a platform I didn't have run by a company I barely tolerate. It was bad enough they were hording all the Peanuts specials and Wolfwalkers, but now this? Why did everything I enjoy have to be taken by Steve Job's Apple Store of Doom!? For that matter, why was this service even called Apple TV+? Heck, why does every streaming channel end with a plus now? Disney already annoyed me when they named their service that instead of something more creative like 'The Disney Vault' or 'The Digital World of Disney', now every other company was trying to ride their coattails. Just wait, when we're inevitably charged for going to a public bathroom, they'll call the program Toilet+! In any case, my salvation came via a Pizza Hut gift ad given to me by my family last Christmas. After using the $25 gift card to buy one pizza, the Hut's app offered me a month free trial of Apple TV+. Having a real 'screw it' moment, I elected to try out the free month.

Which is pretty stupid in hindsight considering I got Wolfwalkers and the other two Cartoon Saloon movies on DVD that same Christmas and I already owned Blu-Ray copies of the classic Peanuts Holiday specials. Remember folks, I never said I was smart, I only said I liked dinosaurs. As such, what did I think of this show?

Happy to say; it delivers what the trailers promised. This show is what happens when you mix Walking with Dinosaurs with Planet Earth, Attenborough's narration being a highlight as per usual. He brings a level of class to anything he's commenting on, even a Deinocheirus taking a massive dump. Insert obligatory Jurassic Park joke here.

AND FOR ANYBODY JUMPING AHEAD: NO! THE SHOW ISN'T CRAP. THIS IS JUST FOR A JOKE!

It's also to help illustrate a weird point about this show: they do not shy away from the dino love-making or crap-taking. It's Dinos After Dark! Granted they showed this kind of stuff back on Walking with too, but it was just as disgusting there. Especially since the Deinocheirus eats where he poops. If you're thinking of enjoying a tasty bowl of popcorn while enjoying this, I'd recomend you wait until after Episode 3 aka Freshwater.

Those of you who have seen the Planet Earth series will recognize the naming convention here. Instead of going through the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous to see how dinosaurs evolved over time, this show sticks to the late Cretaceous while showing how far stretched the dinosaurs war. A pack of Secernosaurus struggle to find water in dunes made out of gypsum, we find out the Tyrannosaurs could beat you in a swimming contest, a troupe of triceratops are forced underground, one episode even sees how dinosaurs survived the cold.

I was actually super eager to see this episode, as a friend and I argued over the logistics of over-grown reptiles surviving in a snowy landscape. A quick Google search revealed that these early drafts of birds were indeed warm blooded, so I could totally buy them enduring the cold. Even if they couldn't, it looks freak'n cool! Pun intended, of course.

Really my one complaint about this series is how tame it is. When you watched Walking with Dinosaurs, or really any nature documentary, it's hard to guess what's going to happen. Will the baby antelope escape the hungry lion's claws? Will that one panda find a mate before the season's over? Will future generations have the privilege of ever seeing a rhino again? Most importantly, how did the people holding the camera get these magnificent shots? One cameraman working on Planet Earth had to live in a literal mountain of crap for weeks while filming cockroaches. Thinking about it gives makes my skin crawl. Even then that's nothing compared to the massive undertaking that is filming snow leopards. Not to say I want any people producing this to be in actual danger, but the Walking series at least simulated this aspect by having the creatures interact with the camera. Saliva would coat the lens after a T-Rex roared at it, it'd be knocked over after a adolescent Indricotherium charged at it, that sort of thing. This makes what's happening on screen feel natural. Here it all feels too choreographed and planned. There's no real edge. Still, I'd take this over any of the newer Jurassic Park movies any day. This doesn't make it feel my braincells are being smothered with a pillow before getting repeatedly kicked in their metaphorical crotches.

In conclusion, dinosaur lovers will surely love this. The effects will leave you speechless, David Attenborough's voice is a welcomed boost of nostalgia, and the variety of dinosaurs on display should satisfy any paleontology fan. That is assuming this all is accurate, which is getting harder to judge these days. Just wait, come tomorrow some bone-digging bozo is gonna say T-Rex was actually more of a giant woodpecker or somethin'. Until that happens, take a trip back and enjoy watching how life survived this Prehistoric Planet.

By the way, wanna read more rants against streaming services? Then check out my review of Spy x Family to see me complain about Hulu while gushing over how cute Anya forger is. Until then, may the glasses be with you!

NEXT TIME ON GIRAFFE'S EYE VIEW...

#clarktoon crossing #giraffes eye view #dinosaurs #dinosaur #prehistoric planet #apple tv+ #streaming #rant #review #tv review

[dragonsandwolvesohmy]

Okay... controversial opinion. I don't care for Maisie Lockwood. I don't. Am I the only one? Honest opinion, here, guys.

(warning, long-ass thoughts, and more cussing, below.)

I understand her purpose- a clone baby in the series about science cloning dinosaurs and everything. Natural progression of science- which, terrifying. That kind of gene manipulation is wack. (Do people even still use that besides me?) However. However, it's not new. May I remind everyone of Dolly, the clones Sheep? She was cloned in '96, cloning living beings and all isn't new, so Maisie's purpose is... lemme say odd? I guess? I mean, I get it- the dinosaurs were one thing, they had to spell out what they'd been implying all along with the, essentially, resurrection of the dinosaurs. Basically- look, humans and dead people too! Which, again, wack.

When people die, they should be there. I say this as having lost friends when I was young, parents when I was young, grandparents when I was older, knowing and supporting those who've lost someone in my life- grief fucking sucks. Would I love to have more time with those I lost? Fuck Yeah. Would I be willing to clone them to possibly get it? Fuck No. Maybe it's just me, maybe it's because I haven't lost a child, but the idea of cloning a replica of someone dead is fucked up. Which, point of the movie. Dinosaurs, an extinct species, are one thing, people are another. Not because one is an animal, one is a human- no. Because extinct species could be helpful and beneficial to the world. (I mean this in the context of endangered animals, plant life, marine biology, etc.) But that's another thing altogether, I'll get off my soap box.

Sorry, got a little off-topic. Maisie Lockwood. It's not the whole fucked up thing of being a clone of someone dead- to be frank, I don't give a damn whether she was a clone or not. I don't like her, because I don't feel she was useful to the story. That's my main point above with the whole dolly thing. I get it was a natural progression of the story's science. I do. I just feel it was... not worth it?

I feel like all of Maisie's character and story arc could've been cut out, and I wouldn't miss it, essentially. I came for the dinosaurs, I stayed for the dinosaurs, I got too much Maisie Lockwood, I feel. I love Claire and Owen's domestic- ness, I like the idea of them as parents- loving them as adoptive parents, fuck yeah adoption!- but Maisie? Feels... not forced, not awkward, just not right? Idk how to explain, I just don't care for her or her story arc. I feel it detracts from what Jurassic Park/World was originally all about. Dinosaurs.

The locust plot, Blue's baby, the original trio (I am here for Alan, Ellie, Ian.) the idea of the dinosaurs in everyday life, containing them, rescuing them, illegal breeding, Biosyn in general and especially Wu's trouble with what he's doing with the locust- all of. It's grounds for a good fucking movie. And what's there, just kinda hanging around, being a center focus- Maisie Lockwood. I know there needed to be some resolved questions and whatnot from the previous movie about her, but to be honest? I didn't really care. I could've got one or two throw-away lines and been satisfied. I remember watching the previous one and being like- uh? okay? Maisie's a thing? I guess? I didn't get why she was so important then (other than, you know, her major plot points, which I feel could've been better utilized. By, say, having other characters fill in, and not use her story at all- sorry) and I still don't get her importance.

There's a theme in the Jurrasic franchise of having a kid in each movie, Maisie filled the spot I guess. But I would've loved to see a character already known, someone with purpose. Claire's nephews, significantly older now, maybe? A cameo by the original kids from the original Jurassic Park? Ian even mentions his children- why couldn't it have been one of his grandchildren in the mix, like his daughter was in 'Lost World, Jurrasic Park'?

Maybe I don't like Maisie because she was underutilized, or maybe it's because she was overused. I came for dinosaurs, I got Maisie Lockwood instead. I just... Didn't care for her. Gimme more dinos, less Maisie. Parent Clair and Owen? Sure, sure, have them adopt literally any other child, and they could've filled the same purpose of Maisie, without the drama of the whole clone of a dead person drama that took away from my dinos.

I feel like if I read the books, Maisie Lockwood would be more integral, more important, maybe I would've even liked her a whole lot. In the movies? I just felt like I was missing something the whole time. and that something was more dinos, less Maisie.

Book readers, think I would feel different about Maisie if I read the books? I don't mind the cloning topic, honestly, I just felt like the movies went 'of shit, throw this in too, don't wanna forget that'. I just feel like Maisie's whole topic belonged in a spin-off, in its own movie, and not taking the spotlight from the dinosaurs.

Maybe even her own show like Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous, focusing on human cloning and all, with dinos in the background. Instead of how unbalanced the movie felt trying to do all the dinos we wanted, and still unload the human clone story arc too.

#jurrasic world #jurassic park #jurrasicpark #jurassic series #jurassic world dominion #maisie lockwood #fallen kingdom #personal opinion #personal thoughts #maybe i should read the books #might care more about maisie if I do

[awesomejustgotawesome]

JP6 was kind of weird. At first I was thinking while it's an okay film it's easily the worst JP film simply because, aside from maybe a couple tiny moments with dinosaurs, nothing about it feels like a Jurassic Park film. Like the 4th & 5th films feel like they belong, but this one felt so out of place. The first half of this film just had that typical modern blockbuster feel to it, and not the tone that's unique to JP. It got a bit better once they were all at the facility place but still none of it felt like it belonged.

But then after thinking about it for a tiny bit, it's also because damn that story was truly garbage. Like, aside from the 3rd film, each one builds off the other and continues the story/aftermath of the previous one. But this one just jumps to something new for literally no reason. Like instead of fully continuing the story of the dinosaurs all of a sudden there's this new evil corporation doing stuff with locasts. Like fuck off. What does that have to do with anything.

I feel like this film completely throws away all themes the previous ones had and built up to just do that. Like even the whole military storyline the new films introduced is just absent from here, why couldn't that have been the story? Like aside from the characters which were completely fine, this film's writing was just really crappy.

But it turns out the person that wrote it with Colin, who already isn’t great, is a writer whose only other film is Pacific Rim: Uprising. Which is one of the worst movies to ever exist. So, yeah there’s the reason hahah. It’s a real shame this film will make money and therefore someone else might hire this writer, and Colin, again.

Speaking of characters though, I did like Owen and Claire being Maisie's parents, honestly the only time I've found them interesting. They’re still mostly boring characters with zero chemistry, but it’s slightly better. And when all the characters meet up it just felt awkward, interesting characters interacting with meh characters lol. But yeah the original actors were really good together, it was nice to see that.

Also really funny little thing but I forgot what Dodgson’s first name was and so the whole film I assumed this was a relative of his, like a brother, because he looks nothing like him. But it’s the same character. And I was then curious why they couldn’t get the original actor and it turns out he’s in prison. But then the question is, why not just make this character Dodgson’s brother? Like just based on the actor I assumed it was that anyway. It feels like such an obvious decision to make but it’s no surprise they didn’t. Or just have a new character, because come on, nobody cares that they have Dodgson here.

Reminds me of Godzilla vs Kong, how the one character was Serizawa‘s son, but it wasn’t noticable and I honestly didn’t realize until seeing the name on wikipedia afterwards, and he had almost no impact on the story or anything before dying meaning he could have been replaced with anyone and had no reason to be related to Serizawa. That still annoys me hahah.

But yeah this was pretty bad. That entire locust storyline was so freaking pointless and had absolutely no reason for being. Like if it was them just continuing the military program or something, that’s reason enough for the original characters to get involved and protect the dinosaurs. Or maybe if BioSyn was built up over the past two films it would have made more of an impact, like this was their plan all along. But it just comes out of fucking nowhere. It’s SW9 all over again. And on top of that this film lacked everything that made the others feel like a JP film. Instead of making it about the dinosaurs, like all the other films in the film series about dinosaurs did, it just tells a new story about an evil company making locusts. The 5th film sets up an ending quite well, and they just ignore it almost completely to do that. For what reason?

Like it starts with dinosaurs being around the world, then the dinosaurs are only there to be dinosaurs attacking them, then it ends with the dinosaurs being around the world. Fucking what. Just how this film’s story wasn’t about dinosaurs is so baffling. How do you mess that up? How do you make a dinosaur movie not be about dinosaurs? How?

It’s a shame but at least it wasn’t as bad a sequel as it could have been (like PR: Uprising haha). But gods does it come very close. Honestly the characters, the original three at least, save it from being that bad. They’re still interesting enough even when placed in a terrible story. But it barely felt like an ending to the series because they decided not to finish a lot of the story told over the past 5 films so they could tell a random new one.

I had no hope it would be as good as the first two, but I thought it would at least be as good as the newer two. Just baffling.

#matt babbles #jurassic world dominion #maybe on a second viewing I’ll feel differently about somethings #which often happens #but yeah this was bad #I would hope the writers of this film never write another movie but that’s not gonna happen #hopefully they never write a film in a film series I love again at least hahah #but that's not gonna happen

[im-no-jedi]

Hiii! How bout some soft asks? 7, 10, and 30? 💕

ahhh thank you friend! 😊

7. What color brings you peace?: bright sunny yellow and icy blue. anything on the yellow and blue spectrums are lovely, but those two are my favorite, and I always feel happy and calm when I see them 😌

10. What’s something you’re excited for?: next week, my family is going to an auto museum! it’s not just for cars though… apparently they also have a bunch of old animatronics and other similar things, including stuff from Disney! and the best part… they have a place called Jurassic Gardens that’s literally a bunch of gardens with working dinosaur animatronics, themed like Jurassic Park!! I’m SUPER excited to check it out! \o/

30. What reminds you of home?: this is so cheesy, but I can honestly say, I feel the most “at home” when I’m at Disney World. it’s such a wonderful, whimsical place, and I always get super happy there. it feels more like home to me than my actual home. also, having my family there makes a difference. I’m sure I would enjoy going there no matter what, but being there with my whole family is the best part 🥰 and there are specific places there that feel the most like “home” to me. specifically:

the queue for Space Mountain (specifically the Star Tunnel section✨)

all of Tomorrowland

Spaceship Earth

The Land pavilion at Epcot

the Japan pavilion at Epcot (especially at night)

Hollywood Boulevard at Hollywood Studios

Galaxy’s Edge

the entrance gate of Animal Kingdom

the entire Dinosaur ride area

the whole Pandora area during the night

💙💙💙

#I’m sure there’s more Disney spots I’m forgetting #there’s so much there y’all LOL #about moi #freesia-writes #ask

[disneyanduniversalnews]

10 Things you HAVE to do at Universal Orlando Resort Hotels

If you are looking for picturesque views, phenomenal dining options, pools that will transport you and your family to full vacation mode, and oh yeah some Universal Orlando Resort theme park perks, too? Well, you're in luck because half of the fun of a Universal Orlando vacation can be found at the eight unique and impeccably themed hotels throughout the resort.

Since I'm such a fan of all of our hotels, I thought I'd gather up ten of my favorite things to do at each Universal Orlando Resort hotel (Universal's Endless Summer Resort- Dockside Inn and Suites or Surfside Inn and Suites, Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Universal's Aventura Hotel, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel).

With eight hotels that all offer something different, it was no small feat for me to narrow this list down to ten! I say explore as many of our hotel offerings as possible during your visit, but for now...

Embark on a Rum-Tasting Journey at Strong Water Tavern.

This experience at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort is an educational blast- you'll be paired with a Rum Captain (coolest job title ever) who will host a tasting of several different rums and teach you about their flavor nuances. Even if you're not a rum-fan, I recommend trying this out or just sitting at the bar and enjoying one of the other great signature cocktails.

2. Bowl a strike at Galaxy Bowl

Well, at least try to bowl a strike. How many hotels have a literal bowling alley in them? Let alone one as cool as you'll find at Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Whether you're staying at this hotel or not you should definitely plan a bowling excursion during your Universal trip.

3. Make a splash at your hotel pool.

What's a vacation to Florida without a day spent at the pool? Each of the hotels deliver their own great pool experience (Cabana Bay Beach Resort even has a lazy river)! be sure to check out our guide to the pools here and don't forget your sunscreen.

4. Get adventurous with the sushi at Orchid Court Lounge & Sushi Bar.

Sushi with a view is the most succinct way I can articulate the magic is this restaurant in Loews Royal Pacific Resort. The sushi menu is vibrant and inventive, the cocktail offerings are one-of-a-kind, and you'll be enjoying it all with a view worthy of the word "Paradise" as the restaurant overlooks the lush and tropical vibes at Royal Pacific.

5. Attempt the Kitchen Sink Challenge at The Kitchen in Hard Rock Hotel.

Think you have what it takes to eat a burger, side of fries, one fried pickle, and a giant slice of The Kitchen Sink Cake in thirty minutes? Even if you can't, I bet it'll be a delicious experience trying.

6. Enjoy gelato on the harbor.

Get yourself a cup of gelato from the Gelateria and soak in the relaxing ambience of the harbor at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. You may even end up having to pinch yourself to come back to reality and remind yourself you're not actually in Italy.

7. Grab a rooftop drink and bite to eat at Bar 17 Bistro.

Take in one of the best views throughout all of Universal Orlando Resort at Bar 17 Bistro, located at the top of Aventura Hotel. Sipping on a Volcano View with a view of Volcano Bay is an unmatched experience.

8. Level up your vacation with one of our themed kid's suites.

Whether the kids in your group are into dinosaurs, Minon's, or music, there's a kids-suite for them! The different kids' suites throughout Universal hotels will really have you sleeping when the action is with the Future Rock Star Suites at Hard Rock Hotel, Despicable Me Kids Suites Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, and Jurassic World Kids Suites at Royal Pacific Resort.

9. Sample all of the exclusive drinks the hotels have to offer.

If you're at Universal Orlando Resort's newest hotel, Dockside Inn and Suites, grab some of the Wet n' Wild-inspired specialty cocktails by the pool. More of a beer drinker? Enjoy the specialty craft beers at Sunset Lounge in Dockside or head to Jake's American Bar at Royal Pacific Resort to try out their menu of specialty beers. Pro-tip for your time at Jake's - all of the Team Members have made-up names there! Be sure to ask your server why they picked theirs.

10. Treat yourself to some pampering at Mandara Spa.

You deserve it! This spa at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel has a ton of options for you to relax and bring your vacation to another level of pure joy and bliss. Besides, after all that roller coaster riding you've been doing in the theme parks, you've earned yourself a massage.

Ok, now I'm at 10 and I knew I'd have to fight the urge to make this list longer! Let me know in the comments below your favorite Universal hotel activities.

[grapenehifics]

Chapter 46

(Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/40473339/chapters/109691697)

Merry Christmas! If this were a TV show this would be the bottle episode because everything takes place inside Obi-Wan and Satine's apartment. So, we've got Bo-Katan and Korkie showing up for the first time, rather than just being talked about, which I think is great. I am a huge canon Bo-Katan fan. I was a very devoted BSG fan and Katee Sackhoff was my girl!

We get the gut-punch out of the way early with a reminder that this is still less than a year out from Anakin's accident and so it's the first Christmas Obi-Wan and Anakin have spent together since Anakin's return...and in typical Anakin fashion he's too busy opening his stocking to really notice ;)

Record albums: I struggled with finding holiday-themed albums that Obi-Wan and Satine might conceivably own. The Boston Pops/Art Fielder one is in there as a John Williams reference, and the other two are the closest I could get to 'prog rock goes Christmas' which turns out really isn't a thing. (Shocker.) It's not one of Chicago's better albums - or Jon Anderson's, for that matter - but it's the best I could do.

While I'm on the subject, a note about anachronisms and video games: I combined available songs from Rock Band 1, 2, and 3 - plus some songs you can only get if you pay extra for them - into one mega edition of Rock Band that doesn't actually exist. This chapter also had a Twitch joke in it that I nixed after belatedly remembering it's supposed to be set in 2012.

Two sisters calling each other 'mule' and 'nag' is from A League of Their Own, a movie Satine and Bo-Katan could conceivably have seen together and bonded over.

I, personally, am more of a Mario Party person, just because there are a couple of games in there I can (sometimes) win. Mario Kart, I just go around in circles, usually backwards.

Finally, the payoff for the crockpot! We'll actually see him cook in it later, too.

It's cute that Satine thinks Obi-Wan will be able to listen to anything through his new earbuds when he goes jogging with Anakin. We all know Anakin will see this as prime time to talk Obi-Wan's ear off.

"Cruel, but good word usage" is from Lost World (a.k.a Jurassic Park 2). Ian Malcolm's daughter calls her babysitter a troglodyte because she doesn't have Sega.

The drummer for Def Leppard does indeed drum professionally with only one arm! He was in a car accident and had one amputated.

It is in fact a legal requirement on Christmas morning that something will run out of batteries. I don't make the rules.

I am also bound and determined to make any character played by Ewan McGregor, in any setting, a good if reluctant singer. I had a Moulin Rouge PHASE.

It is entirely self-indulgent but the entire conversation about Go Your Own Way just makes me, personally, laugh every single time.

It's kind of a running joke that Anakin's cultural knowledge stops at around 1990, so he's very familiar with Peanuts animated specials and 1970s metal bands and, like, nothing else.

[bitchslapthatboy]

Comfort Films (For When It All Becomes Too Much)

Because sometimes all you can do is curl up in your comfiest clothes with your coziest blanket and forget the world for a while.

Sabrina (specifically the 90's version): Okay, maybe I'm just a slut for Harrison Ford, but this movie is like one of those dreams you never want to wake up from. Just soft and serene like slowly waking to the sound of La Vie En Rose playing on the street below and a soft breeze drifting through open windows and gauzy curtains. Simply put, it reminds me of what it means to dream.

The Aristocats: Speaking of Paris, or at least the aesthetic, this little animated work of art looks like an impressionist painting come to life. Granted, there are some definite problematic (and down-right racist) themes, but the beauty and the simplicity of this film is just *chef's kiss*. It's my go to when I need a little nostalgia and feel the need to mourn the loss of that childlike wonder that we all carried with us once upon a time.

Ever After: I've always been a sucker for a good princess story and this one is the best you could ever ask for. Drew Barrymore and Angelica Huston shine in this cinderella tale and it just puts a smile on my face every time I see it. Lighthearted and wonderful but never dull, nothing else will ever compare.

The Addams Family (1 & 2): Speaking of Angelica Huston, if you're in the mood for something a bit more macabre, you can never go wrong with the 90s version of the famed family. Unlike the remake a few years back (it was total and utter shit, by the way, but that's a story for another time) it is perfection incarnate and will undoubtedly make you want to change your last name to Addams and find a severed hand to snap along to a jaunty tune.

The Princess Bride: Arguably the most quotable movie (possibly ever?) on the list, The Princess Bride is my trusted favorite for days when I need a good laugh and a soft smile. Growing up, it was what I watched when I was sick and I cannot wait to one day play it for my kids when they're home sick. I think Carey Elwes said it best, "There's a shortage of perfect films in this world, it would be a shame to damage this one."

The Sound of Music: Ridiculously long and utterly beautiful, how can you not fall in love with the story of the Von Trapps? Not even mentioning the fact the Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer are extraordinarily captivating throughout the whole of it.

The Princess Diaries (1 & 2): Speaking of Julie Andrews, I must have seen the princess diaries a thousand times growing up. There was a time, during the pits of my depression, that I would watch these movies every day. It's such a comforting and wonderful story that just resonates with every little girl who ever dreamed of being a princess. And if there was ever a perfect sequel, this one was it.

P.S. I sob every time Breakaway plays in that one scene.

Indiana Jones (any of them): Whenever I'm craving adventure, I watch Indy. Maybe it's got something to do with Harrison Ford, maybe they're just really good. All I know is that I would give everything to team up with Dr. Jones for an adventure. And though Raiders is probably one of my favorite movies of all time, I actually would choose The Last Crusade as my favorite of the saga. But that said, they're all wonderful... even the fourth one which gets so much undue hate for the aliens but really was just as fanatical as the arc of the covenant melting people's faces off or some scary guy reaching into someone's chest to pull out their hearts (not gonna lie, that one scarred me for life). Either way, I love them all to pieces.

Honorable Mentions: The Goonies, Lilo & Stitch, Pretty Woman, Jurassic Park, Meet The Robinsons, Mamma Mia, Clue, & Gone With The Wind

So get yourself a cup of tea, find your fuzziest pair of socks, and just float for a while in someone else's story. It's all gonna be okay, I pinky swear.

#comfort #fluff #the princess diaries #indiana jones #the sound of music #the addams family #the aristocats #ever after: a cinderella story #Sabrina #the goonies #lilo and stitch #pretty woman #jurassic park #meet the robinsons #mamma mia #clue #julie andrews #harrison ford #anne hathaway #christopher plummer #the princess bride #angelica huston #drew barrymore

[hinatas-sunshine]

Synopsis: Things you do as a tradition with Kageyama, Hinata, Yamaguchi, and Tsukki before they have a game!

Genre: Fluff ✨

A/N: Thank you guys so much for continuing to read my stuff and reblogging it! It means the world to me! You guys are free to send requests if you’re reading this! Love you guys & KITHES ❤️

Kageyama:

• Listen when you became a first year manager you didn’t think you’d end up dating a player

• You were a hard working manager and did everything you could for the team from baking them good luck cookies to helping them practice anytime

• Now as a third year - you are a pro at everything you do! And your boyfriend loves seeing you invested in what he’s doing all while doing what you want too

• You still have to keep Kageyama from arguing with Hinata - and Yams will most likely freak out a little

“Kageyama- time out!”

“Hinata you too!”

• Ah yeah you and Yams were a power team in the end, One that Hinata and Kageyama would never try against

• Kageyama will always find a way to help you and show that he supports you, it’s his way of showing he cares

“Y/n do you need help?”

“No she doesn’t she has me.”

• He got a little jealous if anyone helped you because he says it’s his job

“Tobio-Kun, I got it you can get back to practice.”

“But y/n-“

“I promise I got it.”

• He will listen - especially because he always wants to play better.

• and he does! But he believes it’s because of your good luck tradition

• that being you two holding a volleyball together and him pressing his forehead against yours, taking in a deep breath before kissing your forehead and getting on that court!

“Get a room.”

“Nice one Tsukki!”

• He’s on full game mode on the court because he knows you’ll always be there watching him

• You definitely get really into the game, while your boyfriend sticks to death glares you stomp around like a mad woman freaking out - YUP HE WOULDN’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY!

• During time outs - if he’s getting frustrated you hold him while everyone talks through a plan it definitely calms him down so everyone lets it happen without a word

• When they take a win though he would most definitely be on his way to give you a smooch 😳

• and you would also text a picture of the boys to their senpai’d once the game is over

Daichi, Suga, Asahi: 🥺🥺🥺🥺

• The 2nd years definitely watch their games too you would know because Noya and Tanaka make kissy noises at you and Kageyama all the time

• You two end off the night by talking about the other teams and their plays while walking to his house to spend the night getting a good rest

“So you think he’s cutest setter?”

“I only said he made ONE good set!”

Hinata:

• You have been his friend since middle school!

• You never knew much about volleyball but listened when he spoke about it just to help him out and because he was cute

“Wait hold the ball like this y/n! See perfect!”

• From THAT hand contact you literally were glowing as red as a neon sign

• You two did start dating in your first year though when you ran into him in the hallway because he was running late to practice he wasn’t he just wanted to beat Kageyama

• When him and Kageyama got into a heated argument - you were there to help him practice and let’s just say your setting to him in the past payed off in the end!

• you had to pry Hinata off of Kageyama when they fought and calm him down - it was one of the only times you saw him angry

• But when things were back to normal you would watch the boys bicker endlessly back and forth - you always decided against getting caught between that so you and yachi were bff’s and ignored it unless it got out of hand

• You go to all of his games and he’s beaming with happiness!

• you also go with him to try to calm him down when he has to “go to the bathroom” but he’s actually nervous

• you almost peed your pants when Ushijima toward over both of you

“Suga he looked like he could kill me!”

• Yeah Suga had to save both you and Hinata when you would get scared of the creepers in the bathroom

• Before his games you like to help him prepare by making him work on receives until you go to the stands

• And after every point he makes sure your watching and you always are! Your standing on your seat with a fist in the air cheering.

“I need one of those.”

“One of what Noya senpai?”

“A girlfriend. 😔”

• After every winning game you’d wait for Hinata while his bouncing around and he hugs you until you can’t breathe

• Post game tradition is to get ice cream together and talk about how well he did!

You praising him always makes him so soft he’ll literally turn so red

Yamaguchi:

• You were a photographer and he met you when he was practicing alone one night and you were taking pictures of random things

• You asked if you could take some pictures of him and he was shy but said yes

• You often went to their games to get some pictures for your school and for memories

• You definitely have an ugly picture of Ukai only you and the team know of

• Don’t leave your camera unattended because you will find Tanaka, Noya and Hinata vlogs after

Tanaka: Welcome back to our channel!

Noya: I wanna hold it!

*Hinata making a 😗✌🏼 face before Noya is fumbling with the camera and shows him doing a rolling thunder*

Yamaguchi: Hey! Is that y/n’s camera!”

*the oh shits and no’s before the video ends*

• Yams takes your camera and takes pictures of you when you don’t notice

“I look like a potato!”

“You’re my potato! ❤️”

• You also have a bunch of pictures of Him and Tsukki after games when you three get dinner together

“I don’t wanna be a third wheel!”

“You won’t y/n!”

• Yes your boyfriend loves his best friend more and his best friend is snarky abt it

“Nice one Tsukki.”

• yeah the boy looked at you smirking

• it was just fun and games though, Tsukki appreciates you for caring abt Yams

• your pregame ritual is you spend as much time as you can hugging Yamaguchi - and you whispering sweet things to him

• When he steps on the court, he turns a little red hearing you scream like a mad woman

Your friends: Y/N can you calm down-

• You scream 10x’s louder as the ref gives you a dirty look

• When he feels particularly upset with himself you’re always there to reassure him that he works hard and he does everything is his power

• you also know you have to give him time but he’ll come around and you’ll give him the praise he needs

“Y/n, Daichi said he appreciates your cheering but not to anger the refs this time.”

Tsukki:

• You guys started dating after you met in your first year class

• You two sat in the back and one day you noticed the boy was miserable and not wearing his usual headphones so you offered him your backup pair - he gladly accepted

• You had both became fast friends and then lovers in no time

• You guys spent lunch with Yamaguchi and spoke about anything

• Tsukishima went away for practice camp and talked to you about everything and how Yams went off on him to which you respond:

“As he should 😗”

• You talked him out of bad moods if he had a rough day after practice - and just held his hand while you two listened to music while walking home

• Kageyama and Hinata were nice to you so you took a liking in them unlike your boyfriend

“Tsukki don’t be such a mean tutor!”

“But y/n-“

• Yeah he got jealous when you helped Kageyama figure out a problem on his worksheet so he was even more stern on Kageyama sorry Kags 😔

• He DOES NOT let you go to his games

• His pregame tradition with you is usually a song recommendation, more specifically a song that reminds you of him - he just waits for you to add it to you two’s playlist

• and he texts you after he listens to it 🥺

Tsukki: why’d you add the Jurassic Park theme song?

Y/n: it reminded me of you 😳😉☺️👉🏽👈🏽

• You also make him a bento to eat because you know he forgets to eat sometimes especially on game days

• Now it’s your time to shine! You throw on a glasses hat and hoodie and make your way to his game

• He notices you right away. How? Because that’s his hoodie dummy ❤️

“Y/n.”

“Yes? I mean... am not y/n I uh-.”

• you were a bad liar especially when it involved lying to your boyfriend

• But you didn’t understand why he didn’t want you to see him play because when you did you had sparkles in your eyes just watching him

• Tanaka definitely elbows him to make him see your starry eyes .... he turned really red

• He takes you home and you two spend the rest of your time sleeping and having a breakfast date the next morning while you chat about all the things going through you two’s heads

• and he finally allows you to go to games!

“Y/n you got here so late-“

• Yeah you were standing there in one of his jerseys and face paint ❤️

• you weren’t aloud to go anymore-

#haikyuu x y/n #haikyuu #haikyuu!! #Haikyuu x reader #Kageyama Tobio #kageyama x reader #Kageyama Tobio x reader #kageyama x Y/n #hinata shoyuo #hq hinata #Hinata x reader #hinata shoyo fluff #hinata shoyo x reader #hinata shoyo x y/n #hq yamaguchi #yamaguchi tadashi #Yamaguchi x y/n #haikyuu yamaguchi #yamaguchi x reader #tsukishima headcanons #tsukishima x you #tsukkishima kei #tsukishima x reader #tsukki x reader

[bluebellravenbooks]

The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge

This is one of the first books that I bought after moving to Oxford some two and a half years ago; I started it a few months ago, but then got sidetracked. Now I finally got back to it and finished it in as many sittings - this was an unexpected page-turner that made me crave a good fossil-hunting trip to the Jurassic coast. (Soon.... Soon.) Trigger warnings for death, some Victorian macabre stuff and crippling sexism (nineteenth century, duh - although don't worry, the heroine does snap and go completely feral in the second half of the book).

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What's going on: On the Origin of Species has been published only a few years ago, and the scientific world is still reeling and arguing. Faith's father is a priest and a natural scientist, caught in the middle of this debate. A scandal forces him to accept an invitation and flee with his family to a dig on a remote island; however, this does not save them for long, and things start going south soon after their arrival. Faith is clever and knowledgeable, but used to being the daughter, snubbed and ignored in everything that she finds interesting - even by her remote, obsessed father. But when tragedy strikes, she is finally angry and desperate enough to act.

What I liked:

Overall a very solid read: good pacing, vivid descriptions, believable characters

The setting and themes of the book are quite compelling; I don't think I've seen it done before. Really makes you crave to go on that seaside walk looking for fossils and imagine those crowded lecture theatres hotly debating what is now long-established scientific fact, then still exciting and frightening

Faith is a great protagonist with lots of brains and pent-up rage, and both a light and a dark side

It's a bit painful to read, but the topics of gender inequality are really well-explored

The ending was very satisfying and brought the book from 4.5 to the full 5 stars for me

What I didn't like:

The title and the cover are waaaaay too spoilery

I found the first half of the book a bit difficult to go through, just because of all the pain and humiliation on the protagonist's part, but it does flow well and pay off afterwards

Overall thoughts:

I really enjoyed this - a good plot, believable characters and a cool setting with lots of topics to explore. It reminded me a lot of A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan, which was also a great read, but that one disappointed me in the ending so I didn't follow up with the rest of the series. Highly recommended to anyone with interests adjacent to any of the themes of this book, or just looking for a well-paced read.

#booklr #books #reading #book review #book recs #frances hardinge #the lie tree #natural history #science #academia #my pictures #original post

[frankendykes-monster]

Space Jam: A New Legacy is content to be content.

The original Space Jam was a calculated marketing exercise. Michael Jordan was the biggest sports star of the nineties, and Space Jam capitalised on Jordan’s brand potential while also allowing the athlete to refashion his own narrative into a family-friendly mythology. Space Jam packaged Jordan for a generation, smoothing the wrinkles out of his story by presenting a wholesome family man making an earnest transition from basketball to baseball.

It also helped Warner Bros. to figure out what to do with their Looney Tunes characters, which had largely laid dormant within the company’s intellectual property vaults. There had been a conscious effort to revitalised the company’s animation with shows like Tiny Toon Adventures and even Animaniacs, but those classic and beloved cartoons were a merchandising opportunity waiting to happen. So the logic of the original Space Jam was clear, it was an excuse to tie together two potentially profitable strands of intellectual property.

Space Jam itself was something of an afterthought. The movie struggles to reach its ninety-minute runtime. It often feels like the production team have to utilise every scrap of film to reach that target, with extended riffs focusing on Bill Murray and Michael Jordan on the golf course and with a lot of the improvisation from the voice cast included in the finished film. The movie’s ending comes out of nowhere, and Space Jam struggles to hit many of the basic plot beats of a scrappy sports movie.

The movie itself was immaterial to the success of Space Jam as a concept. After all, the film only grossed $250m at the global box office, enough to scrape into the end of year top ten behind The Nutty Professor and Jerry Maguire. However, the film’s real success lay in merchandising, with the film generating between $4bn and $6bn in licensing and merchandising. Key to this was the success of the six-time platinum-certified soundtrack which remains the ninth highest-grossing soundtrack of all-time.

In some to trace a lot of modern Hollywood back to the original Space Jam. So much of how companies package and release modern media feels like an extension of that approach, the reduction of the actual film itself to nothing more than “content” that exists as a larger pool of marketable material. After all, the unspoken assumption underlying AT&T’s disastrous decision to send all of their blockbusters to HBO Max was the understanding that HBO Max itself was often packaged free with company’s internet. Movies would no longer be their own things, but just perks to be packaged and sold as part of larger deals.

In the decades since the release of Space Jam, the industry has become increasingly focused on the idea of packaging and repackaging intellectual property. It has become increasingly common for films to showcase multiple intellectual properties housed at the same studios. Simple crossovers like Alien vs. Predators or The Avengers now seem positively humble when compared to the smorgasbord of brand synergy on display in projects like The Emoji Movie or Ralph Breaks the Internet.

Interestingly, as Disney have steadily securing their intellectual property portfolio with additions like Pixar and Lucasfilm and Marvel Studios and 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros. have becoming increasingly bullish about showcasing the depth and breadth of their bench. The LEGO Movie imagines a wide range of properties consolidated under one brand. Ready Player One depicted a pop culture user space lost in nostalgia for properties and trinkets. However, those movies also managed to tell their own stories, even as they grappled with the weight of brand synergy pushing down on top of them.

Space Jam: A New Legacy has no such delusions. It understands that it does not exist as a story or as a feature film. Instead, it has distilled cinema down to a content-delivery mechanism. The plot of the movie finds basketball star LeBron James sucked into the “Serververse” and forced to ally with the Looney Tunes in order to play a basketball game with the fate of the world in the balance. However, while the original Space Jam ran a brisk and unfocused ninety minutes, A New Legacy extends itself to almost two hours. There is always more content to repackage and sell, after all.

A New Legacy slathers its cynicism in nostalgia, directly appealing to a generation of audiences who have convinced themselves that Space Jam was a good movie and a beloved childhood classic. A New Legacy is built around the understanding that the original Space Jam walked so that it might run, counting on the audience’s nostalgia for the original film to excuse a lot of its indulgences. After all, it would be a betrayal of the franchise if A New Legacy wasn’t a crash and vulgar cash-in. In many ways, A New Legacy does what most sequels aspire to do, scaling the original film’s ambitions aggressively upwards.

As with the original Space Jam, there is layer of irony to distract from the film’s clear purpose. In the original Space Jam, the villainous Swackhammer planned to abduct the Looney Tunes and force them to play at his themeparks. The implication was that the characters did not want to be sold into corporate servitude, stripped of their own identity and rendered as crass tools of unchecked capitalism. The irony of Space Jam lay in the fact that the entire movie was a variant on Swackhammer’s themepark and the Looney Tunes were dancing to that theme anyway as Daffy puckers up and kisses the Warner Bros. stamp on his own ass.

In A New Legacy, a sentient algorithm – Al G. Rhythm – is cast as the movie’s primary antagonist. The film gestures broadly at a satirical criticism of the modern film industry, with Al G. Rhythm shaping and warping the future of movie-making by suggesting things like computer-generating movie stars and producing a constant array of recycled intellectual property. A New Legacy recognises the machinations of Al G. Rhythm as unsettling and horrifying, with throwaway jokes about the theft of ideas and the violation of privacy, but the villain largely serves as a smokescreen to let the movie have its cake and eat it.

After all, A New Legacy revels in Al G. Rhythm’s plans. LeBron James is turned into an animated figure and dumped into classic Looney Tunes shorts like Rabbit Season and The Rabbit of Seville. The film understands that while the audience might be afraid of the algorithm, they also yearn for it. After all, it isn’t Al G. Rhythm who structures A New Legacy so that the film spends an extended sequence touring the company’s beloved intellectual properties.

A New Legacy is really just an investors’ day presentation that celebrates the sheer amount of content that Warner Bros. own. It’s not too difficult to imagine the film screened investors before the Discovery deal, as proof of just how many viable franchising opportunities existed within the copyright of the company itself. It’s a weird and unsettling showcase, in large part because it feels like that warning from Jurassic Park. The studio were so obsessed with whether they could do a thing that they never stopped to consider whether they should.

The film’s middle section includes a whirlwind tour of the properties owned by Warner Bros. After Bugs “plays the hits” with James, the two set off on an adventure to recover the other Looney Tunes from other beloved Warner Bros. properties. Some of these advertisements make sense: Daffy and Porky are living in the world of Superman: The Animated Series, while Lola seems to have found the Wonder Woman from the Bloodlines animated films. Others make much less sense in a movie aimed at kids, like the Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote hiding in Mad Max: Fury Road or Yosemite Sam living in Casablanca.

Of course, it’s debatable how much of A New Legacy is aimed at kids, as compared to the kids of the nineties. Its target market seems to be kids in the late nineties who never grew up, because they never had to. Elmer Fudd and Sylvester are hiding out in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. Granny and Speedy have taken refuge in the opening scenes of The Matrix. While the original Space Jam featured odd pop cultural shoutouts to things like Pulp Fiction, at least that was somewhat contemporaneous.

To be fair, there is no art driving these choices. Many of these references serve to point the audience towards established properties. It is a sentient recommendation algorithm for HBO Max and a handy way of stoking audience interest in upcoming projects like The Matrix 4 (December 2021) or Furiosa (June 2023). It is a helpful reminder that Superman: The Animated Series has been remastered in high definition to stream on HBO Max. Foghorn Leghorn even rides a dragon from Game of Thrones to remind viewers that the show is streaming on HBO Max and that there are prequels coming.

It’s all very bizarre, but also strangely lifeless. The climax of the film finds the inevitable basketball game played in front of a crowd of familiar pop culture icons drawn from a wide range of sources: King Kong, The Iron Giant, Batman ’66, The Wizard of Oz, The Mask and many more. It feels very much like a surreal power play, a company showcasing the depth of its own vaults at a turbulent time in the industry. It leads to weird moments, like Al G. Rhythm even quoting Training Day, perhaps the film’s most unlikely draw from the “Warner Bros. Intellectual Property Vault.”

The most revealing aspect of the movie is its central conflict, with Al G. Rhythm cynically manipulating LeBron’s son Dom. Dom is convinced that his father doesn’t understand him, that his father is unable to see that his skill lies in video game coding rather than old-fashioned basketball. Rhythm is able to create a schism between father and son, using Dom’s code and his anger to attack and undermine LeBron James and the Looney Tunes. It’s a very broad and very archetypal story. There are no points for realising that Dom eventually comes around to his father and accepts that Rhythm is a villain.

However, it signals an interesting shift in these sorts of narratives. Traditionally, these sorts of generational conflicts played out between fathers and sons, with fathers presented as antagonistic and sons presented as heroic. The original Star Wars saga is built around Luke Skywalker trying to wrestle and grapple with his father Darth Vader. In Superman II, the eponymous superhero is forced to confront Zod, a representative of his father’s generation and the old world. Even in Batman Begins, Bruce Wayne is set against his surrogate father figure Ra’s Al Ghul.

The metaphor driving these sorts of stories was fairly simple and straightforward. Every generation needs to come into their own and take control of their own agency within the world. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi ends with Darth Vader dead and Luke staring out into the wider universe. Times change, and each generation has an obligation to try to create a better world than the one left to them by their parents. In the conflict between parents and children, it has generally been children who have prevailed.

However, in recent years, the trend has swung back sharply. It’s notable that the villain in Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens is an errant child who doesn’t properly respect his parents, and that Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker ends with order restored when the protagonist takes the name of the beloved heroes of the older films. Shows like Star Trek: Picard are built around the idea that kids need their older generation of parents to swoop in and tell them how to properly live their lives.

A New Legacy is an interesting illustration of this trend. The movie ends with a reconciliation between LeBron and Dom, but it is very clearly on LeBron’s terms. Dom is manipulated and misled by sinister forces, and his father has to save him while realigning his moral compass. Father knows best. It demonstrates how the underlying logic of these stories has shifted in recent years, perhaps reflecting the understanding that perhaps the older generation won’t surrender the floor gracefully.

As with Ready Player One, there’s a monstrous Peter Pan quality to A New Legacy. It is a film about how the culture doesn’t have to change. It can be recycled and repurposed forever and ever and ever. At the end of Space Jam, Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny parted ways. There was an understanding that the two worlds existed apart from one another. However, A New Legacy ends with the collapse of these worlds into one another; the “Serververse” manifesting itself in the real world. As LeBron walks home, Bugs asks if he can move in.

Of course, with HBO Max subscription, the audience can take Bugs home anytime they want

#long post

[weirdlyfitting]

Forgive me for being so late eheh, I couldn't figure out who's who or what's what from the list plus being busy irl BUT HEY! Finally I can join this countdown!

Ok so I'm gonna do like from day 1-recent

Favorite Character

Darius Bowman & Kenji Kon

TBFH I LOVE ALL CAMP FAM CHARACTERS. They all had great character development plus clear motivation on why they did what they did. Those stuff got handled so well and ugh it made me so hard to choose ahaha.

Anyway, I love Darius because he's such a dino nerd. Plus his "never give up" spirit that inspired me as the audience to stay strong when things do fall apart. He's such a precious boi 🥺

And then Kenji. *sigh I hated, HATED this boi since he got introduced. But then as the eps kept going, I realized that he's just a teen that made mistakes and learn from them. The scene in S1 ep 6, when the kids were doing kayak river thing and Kenji told Brooklyn to stop bothering Sammy? Yeah, that's when I doubted my hatred . In S2 I started to actually love his character! He's just so....dumb and innocent lmaooo. The thing is for a comedic character I loved how he also has depth and development :D

Favorite Friendship

CAMP FAM! (Darius, Ben, Kenji, Yaz, Sammy, Brooklyn)

First they're uh- reminded me of the losers club from IT *cough Ben and Eds *cough- especially

Anyway the dynamic and chemistry are awesome! I really hope in S3 there will be more deep convo like in S1 ep 7 (at the monorail, before Ben's near death fall). Them bonding with knowing and understanding each other's feelings is just 🥺😥😭💞

Favorite Ship

Dave & Roxie

Hmm I'm not into shipping but the closest that I really had interest with are Dave & Roxie and Darius & Brooklyn. But Dave & Roxie is just so cute and fun lol. Like the cool uncle and aunt that genuinely cared even if yes, they did made a lot of mistakes while doing it.

Favorite Funny Scene

S1 Ep 3, when Ben was the one who drive the gyrosphere (idk if this spelled right lmao) and Kenji being the passenger

There are many memorable funny scenes but THIS ONE was the first ever scene that made me wheezed (looking back, I used to think that CC wasn't that good oop- so yeah doubted it but hey look at where I am now!). Kenji's face and Dave and Roxie just "smile and wave" I remember holding my laugh so no one can get disturbed (the first time I watched CC was at night time lol)😭🤣

Favorite Sad Scene

After I rewatch S1, I changed my mind on Ben's near death fall and choose the convo in the monorail.

This isn't really a sad scene but to me when rewatching it, it made me cry. Like seriously real tears what-

"now that it's over, what are the odds if we'll see each other again", everyone is silent then Jurassic World/Park theme played YO I STARTED TO FEEL SO EMO ESPECIALLY WITH THE THEME PLAYED 😭

And then "My dad used to say this place was Allosaurus in the bag of chips" gosh when Darius' voice cracked it broke me- yes I crieeeeeed

Favorite Episode

S2 Ep 8

Ugh this episode and finale is much much better than S1 (it's not that I hated s1's finale it's just s1 was wayyyy more depressing man :( ). Camp fam is together again and Darius completed his arc here (he has serious guilt issue since Ben's fall and I'm glad it got resolved here). This episode was sooooo fun with the actions! And the cliffhanger? I was terrified of what'll come next, but overall I really really enjoy it ahaha 😁💖

And bonus : Kenji learned to ride a motorbike made me so happy when the first time I watched it. I relate so much because that time I was learning to ride one too haha.

Favorite Quote

"We're not GIVING UP! I get it. It's scary. This wasn't how today was supposed to be. Things aren't always going to go your way. Life is messy and sometimes, things fall apart. But that's okay. Because when that happen we pick up the pieces and keep going. And we never give up!" -Darius Bowman, S1 Ep 4

Ahh since I hear it I used this whenever I had a bad day and so many negative thoughts going in my mind. This quote is my comfort quote along with what Tulip said to One-One in The Unfinished Car from Infinity Train 💕

Okay so that's all for now. What's left is free space + season 3 airs! I'll use my free space for making edit from these lists and if I don't have time maybe I'll try to share my s3 review? Idk but I'll make sure I'm on time for the last list ;)

#jurassic world camp cretaceous #camp cretaceous #jwccs3countdown

[semisgroupie]

Haikyuu & the song they use to turn you on HCs

Warnings: has NSFW themes, there are some timeskip! spoilers

Characters this part contains: Karasuno Team (including: Ennoshita, Kinoshita and Narita. I plan on including Kiyoko, Yachi, Coach Ukai and Takeda in another part)

A/N: all pairings are X GN!Reader! This idea just popped randomly into my head when I was listening to music one night to help me go to sleep and I really enjoyed writing this so I hope you all enjoy it too! This is going to be a little series thing of headcannons!

Sawamura Daichi: Pony — Ginuwine

Have y’all seen magic Mike? Bc magic Mike is nothing compared to magic Daichi

I just imagine that one night y’all were sitting watching Magic Mike and you were drooling over the strippers in the movie and he catches your reaction and goes “well I’m gonna show them” in his head

So one night after work you open the door and find a note telling you to go to the bedroom so you go and sit on the bed and just hear Pony start playing

You’re really confused and then the door to your bedroom opens up again revealing a Daichi in a sexy cop uniform, wearing his police cap and twirling his work handcuffs around in his hand

He does a little strip show for you and let’s just say you’re glad you don’t have to go to work the next day because you spent all night riding his pony

Koushi Sugawara: LIKE I WANT YOU — Givēon

You two would be having a little makeout session and once it starts getting more heated Suga will grab his phone

Of course you’ll be confused bc you’re straddling him and this guy is on his phone

Before you question his actions Like I Want You starts playing

He chose this song bc one night when you two were out clubbing this song played and it just led to a really fun night (if you know what I mean)

Safe to say the song had the same effect on you as it did that night

Azumane Asahi: Love On the Brain — Rihanna

He remembers one day you were playing this song while you were cooking and the way you were swaying your hips just drove him wild

He added the song to his playlist IMMEDIATELY after seeing you dance to it

One day you’re helping him organize his designs and he has his playlist on shuffle

He grabs his phone and looks for the song, once he finds it he grabs you close and plays the song

He puts his hands on your waist and sways with you to the song whispering in your ear how much he enjoyed seeing you dance to it the other day

Yuu Nishinoya: Earned It — The Weeknd

He is beyond prepared for this moment

I mean he actually has a playlist named “Songs to Have Sex to w/ Y/N”

I wish I was joking

He always plays this song when he’s in the mood bc it just reminds him of you

And it reminds him of 50 Shades and he likes that movie

So whenever this song plays he’ll drag you to the bedroom and seduce you there

Ryūnosuke Tanaka: Can’t Get Enough of Your Love — Barry White

This man wanted to spice things up and change things up to turn you on

So he did what any guy in his position would do

He asked his sister

To fuck with him she told him to put on some Barry White or Lou Rawls or any singer with a deep voice

So what does he do? He finds “the perfect song” by Barry White and plans to play it when you come over

You come over and once you open the door to his room and he starts playing the song

You look at him while Barry White is speaking before actually singing in the song and Tanaka’s on the bed in his boxers laying like “paint me like one of your French girls”

You try so hard not to laugh because he really did try but a few giggles slip out

He quickly stops that by throwing you onto the bed and shows you not to laugh at his antics ever again

Afterwards he’s like “you don’t like deep voices like his?”

Chikara Ennoshita: Drunk In Love — Beyoncé

Hisashi Kinoshita: I’ll Make Love To You — Boys II Men

Kinoshita is a passionate lover

He’s used to being put on the back burner so every chance he gets with you he wants to make you feel like you’re the only person in the world

Especially intimately

He refuses to refer to sex as just sex with you it’s “making love”

Since he has this song in his playlist he plays this every time to get you in the mood

Kazuhito Narita: Slow Motion — Trey Songz

One day when you two were driving home you had the AUX and this song started playing

He saw your reaction and how you kept looking at him when this song was playing so he kept it in mind and added it to a special playlist

So every time you get stressed out over assignments or anything he plays this song and helps you destress

Or whenever you two come back from a little dinner date he plays this song and shows his appreciation for you

Tobio Kageyama: You’re The First, The Last, My Everything — Barry White

He has played volleyball highlights thinking it’ll get you in the mood

He texts his sister for help... yes he also tells his sister about your sex life

She sends him this song to mess with him and poor baby believes this will do the trick

When you are getting ready to lay down in your shared bed he plays the song on your speakers and just looks at you

You don’t know how to react so you two are just looking at each other

“Does this turn you on?” “Not really, I don’t want to hear another mans voice when I’m trying to have sex with you”

You two get past this moment and enjoy each other

You make a playlist for him with better music

Shoyo Hinata: Feeling Myself — Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj

Like Kageyama he has also played volleyball highlights thinking it’ll turn you on

He still keeps contact with everyone from Karasuno so he texts Noya for some help

Noya tells him this is the song to help out

When you get the chance you better thank Noya because it helped a lot

But during the middle of sex all you hear is “tired of the ads?”

Like you are a professional volleyball player and you can’t afford Spotify Premium?

Kei Tsukishima: Redbone — Childish Gambino

At first he was gonna let Jurassic Park play in the background

And you’re just like “no, you’re with dinosaurs all the time”

He goes through his playlist and after a while he finds this song

He remembers one day you blatantly said you’d have sex to this song

Once this song starts playing he throws his phone to the side and starts kissing your neck to get down to business

Tadashi Yamaguchi: Ride — SoMo

You two send playlists to each other every once in a while

One day you accidentally sent him your sex playlist

He kept it saved and couldn’t keep the first song on the playlist out of his mind

He texted you one day to meet him in the bedroom

Once you walked in you heard this song and he was laying on the bed in his boxers

Once you two made eye contact he winks at you and says “come on, let’s do what the song says”

A/N pt2: sorry this took forever to make, I had writers block (I blame my haircut for that). I hope you all enjoy the first installment of this series! Thank you for checking this out

— Dee <3

#haikyuu!! #haikyuu #haikyuu x reader #hq x reader #hq!! #haikyuu headcanons #hq headcanons

[omegatheunknown]

AEW ALL OUT 2021

In which, not to get ahead of myself here, AEW puts on one of the best major wrestling shows in several years*, following the simple yet effective principle of giving the people what they want and sending everyone home happy and hungry for more.

- The incredibly 'Nitro' ending of the go-home Dynamite, which ran a little long on the 'heels beat everyone up and strut around like assholes almost too in desperate need of comeuppance' bit, short of garbage raining into the ring, did actually increase the heat for both promoted matches. Again, not rocket science, but executed perfectly. Catharsis was on the card, and catharsis went over several times Sunday. - Again, it's time to move on from the Casino theme, shuffling the deck and drawing suits really only detracted from the Battle Royale and seemingly always throws the production crew a curve. If they haven't hammered it by now, it's not going to happen. - Bit unhappy about the PAC/Andrade situation, but still over the moon with Andrade's promo style and Chavito being unhelpful at best.

*Pre-Card

Best Friends and Jurassic Express v The Hardy Family Office and The Hybrid 2 (**) - Not usually much to say about a loaded-up multiteam boondoggle, particularly when the show has yet to begin, but there were some moments worth sitting up to take notice -- there's a lot of talent in the ring, even if Jack Evans/Angelico aren't going to be more than mid-level mooks, little matchups with guys like Luchasaurus and Chuck Taylor are opportunities for innovative/weird spots. - Really this match exists to show-off Jungle Boy, play his theme song twice, and work him in to the aforementioned spots. I don't rightly know what Jungle Jack's ceiling is, but it sort of feels like he's plateauing, at least this version of himself. - Dan Lambert thing is interesting in that it doesn't seem to easily lead to something obvious... I mean who are Scorp and Ethan Page feuding with by proxy here, the concept of contemporary professional wrestling? Orange Cassidy and Kenny Omega?

*Main Card

Miro (C) v Eddie Kingston for the TNT Championship (***1/2) - 'Redeem Deez Nuts' T-shirts now available -- and made immediately redundant now that Miro has graciously redeemed Eddie's nuts. - Imagine looking at Miro, listening to Miro talk, and not really being able to figure out this guy is money. Also imagine panicking when he took a little while to find his groove in AEW. 'The Redeemer' is both entertaining and terrifying, and this match delivered heavily on the promise of two big fellas smacking together repeatedly. - Not only does Eddie's arsenal of power moves target Miro's neck, he may also be quite difficult to put in the full reclined camel clutch. Or he'd quite literally snap in half. It didn't come to that. - Weird heel turn by Bryce's attention span and the overall weirdness of the finish is all that kept this from being an excellent match, otherwise this was a tremendous curtain jerker and started off a dangerously fun run of pure adrenaline.

Jon Moxley v Satoshi Kojima (****) - The stakes were nebulous, the build was abrupt, yet this was a fantastic match and tremendous showcase for an underappreciated great who has been more or less just toiling for a bunch of years as a NJPW Dad. Same deal for Nagata, and I assume Tenzan is the same, Taka Michinoku even -- let's see it. - I have to assume the Cozy Lariat might have put Mox down, but Kojima otherwise played the hits (Koji Cutter, Piledriver, Brainbustaaaa) in a big way and Moxley once again proved he's become a very well-rounded wrestler who can match the intensity of just about any former IWGP champion. - More to the point-- KAZE NI NARE -- out of nowhere, too. Or out of nowhere to those not paying attention to the whereabouts of Minoru Suzuki (Right, he's just over here to fight Daniel Garcia and not Mox?), which I guess is to my own peril. Wow, though. Surprise Number 1- a complete surprise, and a welcome one. Let's have it.

Dr Britt Baker, DMD (C) v Kris Statlander for the AEW Women's Championship (****) - I love Kris and her best friends but she didn't have a prayer of dethroning Britt. She got one promo, several weeks ago, and though she did make a meal of Hayter and Rebel, the chase has been abrupt and not given much discussion, other than Mark Henry and whomever else acknowledging what is extremely evident -- Statlander is stronger than she looks, and she looks really strong. They've got her doing Cesaro-level 'modify your grip while holding your opponent's entire weight' nonsense, and it's amazing and scary. - Even with the reign of the good doctor not being credibly threatened, this was an excellent match that demonstrated the continued growth of the competitors in the women's division, even as it underlined that their storylines remain undercooked and perfunctory: Orange Cassidy whipping off his shades to urge Stat to get up was a beautiful moment. Britt's Panama Sunrise, also, too sweet. Statlander eating shit on her 451 and her pendulum moonsault was properly brutal, as were Britt's curb stomps. Really great match between these two. - Again, if they had bothered to write anything into this story, such as Kris' alien physiology making her immune to the lockjaw or something... actually, maybe that's a terrible idea. it's an idea. Undefeated challenger is defeated, on to the next for Dr Britt. Statlander and OC should tag against some of the boys.

The Young Bucks (C) v The Lucha Bros for the AEW World Tag Team Championship(*****+) - Can't not mention the insane entrance lined up for Fenix and Penta. It was bewildering, it was enchanting, it was aggressive, it was hype. It also reminded everybody how very badly we all wanted the Lucha Bros to win. The crowd has been setting new peaks with their volume since Punk showed up, but things were absolutely thunderous and ecstatic at the end of this match. Absolutely valid response. I yelled on the couch. - Nick's facial hair was a bigger tell that it was time for the Bucks to lose than anything else about this build. There's literally nowhere to go from there -- they've done the hair, the bandanas, the kicks, the animal print, the dangly earrings -- peak visual heel for this time and place. - Sincerely thought this was going to be too much of a full sprint spot-fest (the PWG-esque circle of trading blows is not really 'my thing') but even so they kept finding gears, and ramping and ramping and adding blood and brutality along the way. Even a bit of levity, with the tacked up sneaker, followed by the sincerity of Penta throwing himself in harm's way to protect his brother. Immense match, I think you'd have to go back to the Bucks vs the Addiction and MCMGs Ladder War to find a more thrilling tag team gimmick match. - If there's a single flaw to be found it's in the production not really settling on wide angles for simultaneous action at the start of the match. They figured it out. - Rey Fenix is the best luchador in the world.

Women's Casino Battle Royale (**1/2) - If nothing else, this really shows off that they now have a surplus of women's wrestlers who deserve time to hang in the ring. Unsurprisingly, the match picked right up when Thunder Rosa and then Jamie Hayter got to the ring, with additional props to Tay Conti and Jade Cargill, who was dumped rather unceremoniously given her general booking... - Okay, there was something else. Welcome to the rechristened Ruby Soho, who I've not seen a lot of outside of her extremely limited showcase in WWE, but she has so many friends in the back and in the industry and that's never for nothing, not in wrestling, anyway. Intrigued to see where she fits, and if the women ever get more than a match per show. - Touched on this in the preamble but this was the roughest part of the night for the home viewer, just weird decisions on cutting away from various entrances to show... nothing in particular happening. Also while the commitment to not-kayfabing the countdown clock is... admirable? It makes the pacing hinky. - Almost everyone who got new gear for tonight was looking like the white ranger -- Nyla, Swole, Bunny, someone I'm missing. Except Anna Jay, whose stars and glitter gear looked great.

MJF v Chris Jericho for the fate of Jericho's in-ring career (***) - MJF's unauthorized homage to Y2J's entrance: good. Fozzy's guitarist going off tempo with the instrumental Judas: weak, and would've been sad if this were the end for Jericho. Especially as the build has felt... muted, somehow. - Props to the commentary for continuing to feed the red herring of 'in AEW,' as a caveat to stipulation, it did feel like... a remote possibility that MJF would win. - Credit to Aubrey for calling this one down the middle and not putting the fix in for her friend Jericho, and I guess the Dusty finish will give MJF plenty to gripe about. - MJF wrestles with a pure heel style, holds, chops, blocks, and Jericho is fifty years old, so the level of wrestling on exhibition in these matches is well beside the point. It was solid to good, and I was fighting burn out from the first half of the card's level of excitement.

CM Punk v Darby Allin (***1/2) - There are a couple benefits of Darby as a dance partner, and it's certainly better than having to watch Punk return against like, QT Marshall or Shawn Spears. Darby does make everyone look slow, but he can also be tossed around, and this raises his profile even in defeat, obviously. That said, the stakes here are... meta, at best, in that we want to see the man look good and justify the hype. It's a weird thing to root for. He certainly does look good. (Tights? Tights!) - It's fun to theorize about actually booking an angle where Punk is rusty and needs to regain his prowess, and maybe he'll stumble, but maybe the most we get out of that angle is hitting the GTS a little close to the ropes so Darby falls right out of the ring, in what was, for me, the spot that justified this whole match. - Sting's proud step-dad aura is still a hell of a thing, I really liked the end of the match kudos all around. - Match was good, hard to hang my emotions on. I wasn't watching WWE when Punk was in WWE. Definitely feeding off the excitement of others a bit here, and he sure can talk. I'd like to see him cultivate a stable, certainly.

Paul Wight v QT Marshall (n/r) - ...popcorn match? QT Marshall is like the anti-Daniel Garcia in that while his prominence and presence is just as inexplicable, I don't want it to continue, and he doesn't justify it in the process. - Match was two minutes longer than it needed to be.

Kenny Omega (c) v Christian Cage for the AEW World Championship (****1/2) - Crowd was both burnt out and more or less waiting for the post-match angle. Which I get. it's hard to cruise to the main event and having seen all the different things we've already seen on this card, even a singular performer like Kenny Omega and a legend with whom he (surprisingly? fittingly?) has superb chemistry with in Christian Cage were up against it to deliver something memorable. - Context dependent, I can definitely see rating this below their Rampage match, especially since... I mean Christian isn't winning the AEW title off Kenny at this or probably any other event. - But! It was really good! It was very good! They really do match-up well, and Kenny's v-trigger has rarely looked more devastating than when it knocks Christian flat. Christian got cut open in a novel and initially worrying way, and Kenny followed up a botched moonsault with a harder version of the same move off a rail, but it was a really great match and it deserved more energy than was available.

Post-Show - Calling back and inverting the end of Dynamite, The Elite strut about the ring, slightly less stoked than they were on Wednesday, but with the Bucks smiling through the pain, and Jungle Boy once again subjected to violence for his misguided heroism, Kenny 'not much a promo' Omega lays down a killer line about nobody being fit to challenge him who isn't unavailable, already tired or dead. - The Undertaker ADAM COLE, BAY BAY as Surprise #3 was a minor stroke of brilliance, and a fun swerve because while it's exciting to see him, his appearance at this point in the narrative does nothing to solve the problem of The Elite beating up Christian and Jungle Boy. Unless he's still sore about his unsolved murder, which he isn't. Storytime with Adam Cole is back and it's beautiful. Also Jungle Boy died for this. - Okay. But. Just. Okay. CM Punk and Bryan Danielson are All Elite. They will hopefully tag together. Bryan will head to NJPW, almost definitely. Minoru Suzuki just walked in and started slugging on Mox. The Forbidden Door is wide open. Will Kenny Omega one day return to Wrestle Kingdom? There are so many possibilities and they are all very exciting. This was a phenomenal show and it didn't have Hangman Page, Cody Rhodes, FTR, Santana and Ortiz, PAC, Andrade, Sammy Guevara, Team Taz, and the rest.

- Wrestling is good, actually. Imagine watching like five hours of wrestling and loving wrestling at the end of it.

*What competes- WK11, Dominion 2018, 2019, DoN 2019, 2021.. All-In, probably. Wrestlemania 30. A few Takeovers. Kris Wolf's retirement show...

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