#thought about it a month ago and found it on amazon prime

[mamachasesmayhem]

Don’t Just Undress Me With Your Eyes

3 months. 12 weeks. 90 days. 2190 hours.

That’s how long my husband has been deployed. It’s also how many days it’s been since we had sex and I’ve been slowly dying.

As it turns out, pregnancy hormones are indeed a mother fucker. Which is, coincidentally, what I’m desperately hoping for one Jacob Seresin to be in the very near future. I have a handful of friends who have already had babies and they swore on their firstborns that pregnant sex is the best. I thought they had lost their marbles when they told me. I spent the few weeks between finding out I was pregnant and Jake shipping out vomiting and napping around the clock. And that’s when I wasn’t crying because the chains on my mood swing broke clean off. As of yesterday, I’m 19 weeks pregnant. I may have threatened Admiral Simpson with the insinuation that his balls would live in my purse for the rest of his neutered life if Jake wasn’t home for the anatomy scan at 20 weeks to find out the gender with me. Perks of being the aforementioned Admiral’s daughter: getting to threaten bodily harm against your husband’s CO and him not facing any repercussions.

The USS Gerald R. Ford carrying the love of my life is due to dock in about 2 hours and I’ve been squirming non stop. I’ve finally settled into the second trimester and the constant puking has settled and is well managed by medication when I have bad days. I’ve hit the sweet spot; my boobs are perky and amazing, my hair is full and shiny, my usually non existent hips have filled out a little, and my belly officially looks like a baby bump and not the burrito lunch special at the Mexican place down the road. I ordered the cutest little belly hugging dress off of Amazon a few weeks ago specifically for today, wanting to look as good as possible for the first time Jake lays eyes on me in person. I’ve taken the weekly bump pictures and shown him my belly during our weekly FaceTime opportunities, but he swears being able to finally lay his hands on it is gonna bring him to his knees. Ironically, a tight fitting dress and Jake on his knees is what found us here in the first place.

After I’ve rearranged the living room knick knacks for the 37th time today, I finally decide to give up the anxious pacing at home and head towards the dock. I know dad will be there early, making sure everything is ready for the crew to dock and welcome the fleet home. I hop into the driver’s seat of Jake’s truck, knowing he’ll want to drive the beast after being at someone else’s beck and call for the last few months. It also helps that his steering wheel sits higher and further away from my belly than the one in my car, which we’ve planned on upgrading once he gets home. I pull into the parking lot and steal dad’s reserved spot with zero remorse. It’s the prime location for a quick exit, and we will definitely be making a hasty escape. I drop the tailgate of the truck and sit, soaking up the early May sunshine. Eventually more cars start to fill the lot and my heart rate kicks up when I see the carrier on the horizon.

Dad finds me on the tailgate and shoots me a pointed look as he nods his head in the direction of the sign designating the parking spot as his. I send him the “get out of trouble” smile that has worked on him my entire life and he just shakes his head and reaches out to help me down. I slip my hand in his and hop off of the tailgate and wrap my arms around his waist in a hug as soon as my feet are on the ground.

“Thanks, Daddio. Not just for helping me down and letting me steal your spot, but for also making sure he was home for the appointment on Thursday.”

The usually stoic man lets a small grin cross his face as he gives my shoulders a quick squeeze. “Anything for you, kiddo. The little one too.”

We make our way through the crowd, the rest of the families parting like the Red Sea to let the large man that is my father through to the ship. Once the beltway is secured, he makes his way onboard to release the crew while I stay firmly planted on the dock. Anxious energy has me fidgeting where I stand as I watch the deck slowly fill with crewmembers. I can easily spot the small squadron of aviators, their olive green flight suits sticking out like a sore thumb amongst the flood of white uniforms. Dad goes through the routine and speech, triggering the crew to salute in a perfectly synchronized movement. The admiral returns the motion, officially relieving the sailors and aviators of duty and releasing them for shore leave. I look up at dad leaning over the railing as they all filter off the boat, our eyes lock and he sends me a wink before his eyes land on Jake. He knows the rest of the world will cease to exist once we’re reunited and it’s his way of saying goodbye. It’s a routine we’ve come to perfect throughout the multiple deployments Jake has gone on under his command. He’s admitted to not being particularly fond of how…passionate our reunions tend to be.

My gaze follows Jake’s path until his boots are landlocked and I take off in his direction at a speed I didn’t know I was capable of while pregnant. Within seconds, I’m wrapped in his arms and clinging to him like a koala, my face buried in his neck as I breathe in the combination of sweat, jet fuel, and Old Spice body wash that never seems to leave his skin. He smells like comfort, security, and home all wrapped into one and it makes every one of my senses launch into overdrive. One large and calloused hand is locked around my waist, holding me close to his body, and the other tangles itself in my hair and gently tugging until my head is tipped back and his fierce green eyes lock with mine.

“Hey, darlin’.”

His voice is pure sunshine and my body heats instantly with just two words.

“Hi, honey,” I manage to squeak out, my throat clogged with emotion as I speak.

Without breaking the intense eye contact, Jake gently bends down to place me on my feet. After I untangle my legs from his waist, the hand previously holding my torso to his joins the other in my hair and hauls me forward. His lips crash to mine with a ferocity that leaves me breathless before he dips me back in the picture perfect reunion kiss. Whoops and wolf whistles from the rest of Daggers fill the air and are quickly followed by laughter as soon I’m back upright and blushing furiously.

“Move, Bagman! I need to see my future god child!” Phoenix says as she playfully shoves at his shoulder and makes us all chuckle.

This prompts him to drop to his knees, plant a hand on each side of my belly, and lean in to leave a gentle kiss right above my belly button before mumbling to my belly. “Hey little nug, have you been nice to your mama?”

“I finally quit puking around the clock and have more energy, so I’ll take the win,” I shrug and cup his cheeks to encourage him to stand to his full height.

Don’t just undress me with your eyes, use your hands, let your mouth just glide.

He looks down at me with unfiltered lust evident in the thin ring of green surrounding his pupils. I grip the collar of his flight suit and tug until I can whisper in his ear. “If you eye fuck me any harder, you’re gonna catch a public indecency charge. Take me home and have your wicked way with me?”

He quickly straightens, clasps my hand in his, and turns to face the rest of his squadron. “Y’all have approximately 60 seconds to hug my wife before I drag her out of here, otherwise you’re getting a show nobody asked for.” His voice is gruff and it sends tingles through my entire body. I love it when he gets bossy.

The handful of aviators basically tackle me in a group hug and shove me back into Jake’s waiting arms in half the allotted time. Each of them has caught us in a compromising position of some sort at least once and not a single one of them wants a repeat. They’re quick to shove us away, scattering themselves, because they know without a doubt that Jake will make good on his promise.

“It’s been too long, sweet girl. I can’t wait to have you at my mercy,” he mumbles as I’m tugged along to the truck by our connected hands and I’m thoroughly impressed Jake didn’t start pushing small children out of the way in his haste.

A minimum of 12 traffic laws are broken in the span of the record breaking 9 minutes it takes us to get home. The truck screeches to a halt in the driveway, parked slightly crooked for the first time I can ever recall of my perfectionist husband, and I’m snatched out of the passenger seat before I can even reach the door handle.

Show me where you wanna take it. Grab the headboard, hold on tight, I think we ‘bout to break it

In a surprisingly tender fashion, I’m scooped up bridal style instead of the usual being thrown over his shoulder as he totes me inside the house. He’s admittedly less gentle as he tosses me on our bed, eyes locked on my extra perky tits as they bounce when I land. His warm hands find my ankles and tug me to the edge of the bed before my wedges are removed and disappear behind him, the telltale “thunk” of them hitting the wall assures me that he didn’t break any of the precious memories that are framed on the walls. Jake sits back on his heels as he pulls me to stand, quickly ridding me of my dress. The groan that escapes his mouth when he realizes I’m braless is nothing short of sinful, then his perfect lips are trailing kisses from my ankle to my thigh, making me squirm. He continues the teasing path up and down each leg twice before I whine, desperately needing that talented tongue elsewhere.

“What is it, pretty girl? Not where you need me, huh?” I can feel his smirk against my skin, but I need him too bad to call him on it.

“Jake, please,” leaves my mouth in a pathetic whimper.

“Scoot up, hands on the headboard,” he commands. I happily oblige and grip the tufted cushion attached to the wall. “They stay there or I stop. I don’t care if you break the damn thing off the wall, but if you don’t behave you’ll be punished. Understood?”

“Understood, Lieutenant.” I couldn’t not be at least a little bratty, intentionally using the term I know is capable of making his eyes cross.

I don’t have the time to be proud of my retort before one of his long, thick fingers slips under the elastic of my panties and traces through the wetness that’s been building since my eyes landed on his stupidly muscular frame at the port.

“I think my girl missed me. Fuck, you’re so gorgeous. I didn’t think I’d ever find you sexier than you were in that tiny white number on our wedding night, but your perfect little belly round with my baby has me harder than I’ve ever been.” He shows his appreciation by running his free hand across my belly, the rough calluses on his palm send goosebumps across my skin and I don’t even realize my hands shoot down to tangle in his hair.

She said “spank me, that’s the only way I learn.” I said “ok, good girl good girl.”

I can’t control my yelp and following moan when his left hand lands a firm snack against the side of my ass, the cool metal of his wedding band adding an extra wave of pleasure as he delivers the blow.

“You just don’t listen, do you? Gotta make me punish you a little before you behave, huh? You’re lucky I’ve been dreaming of being buried inside you, otherwise you’d be learning one hell of a lesson.” His tone is one of warning as he crawls up the bed to hover over me.

His lips meet mine again, this time he grabs my hands and places them in his hair, clearly granting me permission to sink them into his scalp. My nails gently rake across his head and he pulls away from the kiss to moan into my neck. He quickly latches onto my collarbone, surely sucking deep red and purple marks on my skin. Jake’s hips roll into mine, hardness pressing into the soaking wet mess that used to be my panties. I slip my hand down in between us to tease him over the rough fabric over his flight suit.

If those pants are botherin’ you, take ‘em off then

He groans, pushing further into my hand as his tongue soothes one of the love bites he left behind.

“As damn good as you look in it, what do you say we get you a little more comfortable? It’s keeping your hot as fuck body hidden from me and it needs to go.” As I speak, my fingers land on the zipper and slowly tug it down, exposing the tight, black undershirt that clings to his pecs and abs.

The sudden loss of the warmth his body always provides makes me shiver as he shoots back to kick off his boots and strip down naked.

“You won’t be needing these!” He smirks as he quickly pulls my panties off and tosses them somewhere behind him.

He takes his time returning to his perch above me and pauses when our eyes are level. “I missed you so much.” The emotion is clear in his mossy green irises.

“I missed you too, honey. Now come kiss me before my brain short circuits,” I tease as I grip the back of his neck and pull his mouth to mine.

You look so good when you put me inside you. Listen, there ain’t nothin’ like that moan when the tip’s in

I take advantage of his distraction and reach down to grab his hardness, guiding him to where I need him the most. He finally catches on and pushes my thighs open further, eyes locked on the sight of his impressive size inching closer to where I’m dripping with need for him. Just as he’s about to finally push in, he rips my hand away from him. He grabs the other and pins both my wrists in one of his giant hands above my head. His free hand is planted in the mattress next to my head as he dips back to my neck.

“This is my favorite part, you really think I was gonna let you take that from me?” He hums as he nips at my ear, making me whine like a sad puppy.

I’m about to snark back, but it’s replaced by a porn worthy moan as the first inch of him easily slips into me.

“Look at that, darlin’. I barely even touched you and you’re so wet that I could slide right in like I’ve been eating your pussy for hours.” The pride in his voice is evident and he feels too good for me to even try to argue.

“Fuck, Jake!” I whimper as he gently rocks back and forth, giving me time to adjust as he pushes deeper with each roll of his hips.

The shallow thrusts get deeper and I flex my wrists in his palm, wordlessly asking for my hands to be freed. He lets them go and his hand moves to cup my face, thumb lovingly rubbing back and forth across my cheekbone.

Good God, look at you, you’re doin’ such a good job

My hands slip under his arms and reach around to his back, finding purchase just under his shoulder blades.

“That’s a good girl, look at how well you’re taking me, even after I’ve been gone for months.” His hips pick up speed and my nails dig into the skin on his back as I gasp.

Jake’s hips pause immediately. “Shit, sweet girl. Are you ok? I’m not hurting you am I?”

His sudden concern melts my heart, but it’s completely unnecessary.

“I’m fine, honey. I just need you,” I tell him as I pull his chest to mine.

“You’re sure? You’re not uncomfortable right? I don’t wanna hurt you or the baby.” Protective Jake has entered the chat and a whole new wave of arousal washes over me.

“The only thing that hurts is the fact that you’re not moving right now. I think I might cry if you don’t fuck me like I know you want to, get to work!”

Girl, you’re mine now, you were made for me. Cum for me baby

Jake leans down and nips at my bottom lip and pulls back with a smirk on his face. “Yes ma’am.”

He shifts his balance on the bed and loops an arm under my knee, pulling it up over his shoulder with a firm grasp holding my thigh to his chest as he starts thrusting just how I like it. Each roll of hips pushes him impossibly deeper in me, the tip of him nudging against my cervix in the way that always has me seeing stars. His left hand slides from my cheek to cup my jaw and the feel of his wedding band pressed under my ear makes my eyes roll back. The word “mine” leaves me in a gasp, the slightly possessive side of me slipping out. Jake flips us in a flash, his golden hair glowing against our sheets as he lays beneath me. He’s even deeper now and I’m teetering on the edge of the most intense orgasm of my life. It feels so good that I’m not ready to let go, I need to ride the high for as long as possible.

“That’s right, gorgeous. Yours. Only yours. Just like you’re only mine. Fuck, you were made just for me. A literal wet dream made real. Come on baby, I can feel you squeezing me. You’re soaking my lap, I know you’re close. Give it to me, sweet girl. Cum all over me.” His hands are on the move again, one firmly planted on my hip as he helps guide my movement against him and the other tangles in my hair. He gives it a swift tug while he leans in to bite my jaw and I’m shoved over the cliff without warning.

I cum with a scream of his name, white hot pleasure shooting through my veins. Jake works me through it, pausing just long enough to flip me on my back once again. He wraps my legs around his waist and I lock my feet behind his back on muscle memory alone.

“Fuck, baby! That was perfect, you did so good. Gonna have to fuckin’ change the bedding after that one. That’s my good girl.” Jake mutters the words through delicious groans and pants, the sounds combined with his filthy words has me ready to come again.

“Mmmm, my dirty little wife. You love when I talk to you, don’t you?” He licks the shell of my ear and leaves a bite on my earlobe. The man and his perfect teeth damn near do me in. “I need one more, sweetheart. I need you to cum with me. Can you do that for me?”

“Uh huh. Need it too, honey,” I stutter out as my hands land on his shoulders once again.

“Atta girl, I’m right there. Need you to cum baby. Do it. Now!” Jake growls and I feel him twitch inside me. He absolutely will not finish unless I do and it’s so sexy to me. That’s the tiny push I need to gush all over him and I feel his warmth fill me almost immediately after.

Jake rolls us onto our sides as we catch our breath, his fingers running through my hair as my soul finally finds its way back to my body. Eventually, my breathing slows and my eyes flutter open to find the heart stopping grin that belongs to the love of my life staring back at me.

“There’s my girl. You did so good for me, darlin’. I love you so much,” he whispers as he nuzzles his nose against mine.

I giggle as his sex mussed hair brushes against my cheek. “I love you too, honey. I missed you more than you know.”

I’m pulled tightly to his chest, not a millimeter between us, save for the gap my baby bump provides. My bump is pressed against his abs when the baby throws a knee or an elbow to my belly. Jake gasps and jerks back.

“Was that…?!” He stammers, a hand pressing against where I felt the movement.

“You felt that?? I’ve been feeling movement for a while, but nobody else has been able to feel it.” My eyes full with tears as I’m suddenly overwhelmed with emotion.

Jake sweeps his thumbs under my eyes, wiping away the few drops that managed to escape. “Already a daddy’s girl, huh? She just didn’t wanna kick hard enough until she knew it was me, knew it needed to be a special moment.” He beams down at me as his hands return to their previous spot.

“She?” I ask, an eyebrow raised in question.

“Oh yeah, I’ve known we were having a girl for a while. Her giving her daddy a fist bump for a job well done just solidifies that. If she were a boy, he’d be kicking the shit outta me to keep me away from his mama.” His wink is so cheeky and I hate to admit he has a point.

“Guess we’ll find out tomorrow, won’t we? Now help your baby mama up so I can pee and we can shower. I look like a turtle stuck on its back when I try to get up by myself.” I boop his nose to punctuate the sentence.

“Anything for you, gorgeous. Up we go!” Jake helps me stand and leaves a sweet kiss on my lips before heading to the bathroom to start the shower for me.

We spend the rest of the night cuddled together, talking about nursery themes and baby names until we eventually pass out within seconds of each other.

5 months later, Harlow Seresin makes her dad the luckiest man to exist, because he somehow has the two most beautiful girls under his roof.

Holy shit, it took me forever to get this idea out of my brain and into words! Thanks to all my squirrels for all the love and support you sent me while I wrote this bad boy, hope y’all love it 💕

🏷️: @callsign-viper @bradleybeachbabe @sarahsmi13s @lovinglyeternal @horseshoegirl @cherrycola27 @thedroneranger @dakotakazansky @desert-fern @footprintsinthesxnd @startrekfangirl2233 @roostette @cassiemitchell @galaxy-of-stories @roosterforme @lavenderbradshaw @callsignmeiga

#Spotify #controlled chaos squad #mama mayhem #jake seresin #mama mayhem writes #jake seresin fluff #top gun maverick #jake hangman seresin #jake seresin smut #dagger au #i’m sweating #I squirreled so much but I did it!

[newt-with-a-big-hat]

SHAKING MY FIST IN A SOMEWHAT ANNOYED MANNER AT NEIL GAIMAN

I just watched Good Omens season 2 and I'm gonna be ☝🤓 about it for a second bcuz none of my friends watched the show and I cant rant at them (exploding them with my mind rn)

obviously spoiler and unhinged tirade warning

and no im not proof reading any of this

So I got really into the books before it was a show (Im not like other Good omens fans ok) *gets shoved into a locker* So I was pleasantly surprised with the first season because I thought my annoying grinch ahh would hate it. It was faithful to the original but it still made it new and interesting. The themes, story and the vibe was the same. They did put more of a focus on Aziraphale and Crowely and made them slightly softer but it worked and was swag. I also liked what they did with the ending even though it wasn't in the book.

So when season two was announced I was hopeful but also really nervous. The story had come to a logical end (Ig it could continue with a war between humanity and a heaven hell alliance and the end of season one basicallly implied that that would happen but STILL) and then the other writer for the book, Sir Terry Pratchet passed away (SIDE NOTE: i hate when people only mention Gaiman in regards to Good Omens, put some respect on my man Pratchet). I thought a lot of the humour and charm the book originally had was very Pratchetesque and it just wouldn't be the same without him . (no shade to Gaiman btw but yk what i mean)

I found out later (two days ago) that they the two authors had actually discussed a sequel previously and it would probably follow the plot of that heaven/hell vs humanity war, but past me didnt know that ok? my point about it not being the same still stands.

When season 2 came out i didnt watch it for a month bcuz i didnt have amazon prime. But when I eventually BOUGHT MY OWN SUBSCRIPTION AND GOT IT 100% LEGITIMATELY, JEFF BEZOS IF YOU'RE READING THIS PLS DONT COME BEAT ME UP, i finally had no more excuses to put it off.

In the begining (BIBLE REFERENCE?!??) i was really getting into it. Gaiman was POPPING off with those jokes. The naked Gabriel thing was an interesting premise. It was silly, cozy, and comfy.

and then it sort of stayed like that?

Like in Season one the main threat was the literal world ending. In season 2 it was Shaz standing menacingly outside the bookshop? And I know there was the whole threat of them being erased from the book of life, but that was mentioned once and then not really brought up again until the end where all the threats were just resolved in like 15 minutes? In season 1 Heaven and hell were a proper threat, but in season 2 they felt like submissive Beta males for some reason. it just felt kind of low stakes and too easily resolved.

OK so my next part might make some ppl mad (pls dont be mean to me ill cry) so I will preface this with saying: I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST A ROMANCE BETWEEN AZIRAPHALE AND CROWELY HAPPENING IN SEASON 2 lets be honest they were basically married in the book anyway so  💀

However it kind of overpowered the rest of the season. while season 1 was focused on a lot of different characters and plot happening, most of season 2 seemed to focus on their relationship. I did like some of it (that magic show episode was a banger) but no real plot actually happened during that time ( I straight up forgot Gabriel existed).

I also wasn't overly invested in the other romance between Maggie and Nina. It was cute, but it didnt hit like Newton and Anathema did. Gabriel and Beelzebub was cute (should have been me not Gabriel tho), but it was all smooshed into the last episode. It was a bit of an information dump.

The season felt like a different genre, with different stakes and a different overall vibe. Im gonna be honest, at some points it felt kind of... fanfictiony? if thats a good way to put it? It became more of a character driven show.

While I was doing some serious academic research (reading other tumblr blogs) I found out that this season was meant to be more relaxed and a smaller scale compared to season one and an eventual season 3. It was meant to be more focused on characters relationships and getting everyone where they need to be for the final season (which i assume is going to be like the sequel that Pratchet and Giaman planned ages ago). And it was also filmed during the Pandemic which explains its smaller scale.

I have mixed feelings on it. It was an enjoyable season, but it just didnt feel Good-omens-esque, and the fact that Im a ☝🤓 and grew up with book means I cant enjoy it as much as I want to. Im hoping season three will bring back the originals vibes and redeem season 2 for me.

Ok so aside form my main critisim, I also wanna talk abt the charactarisation of Aziraphale and Crowely and the Themes. This ones less of a problem for me but someone pointed it out and now its bothering me a bit.

When I watched the ending I was ready to throw hands with Gaiman himself because I didn't realize that there was gonna be a season three where the conflict was resolved. After I found out I was fine again UNTIL someone pointed out that they felt Aziraphale leaving for heaven was kind of out of character. The main message of season one is that neither heaven nor hell is good and both Aziraphale and Crowely are on their own, and humanities side. Both of them realize that, and theres a whole scene where they make a toast to the world. The fact that Aziraphale suddenly goes all "I can fix him" on heaven seems a bit odd. I've got mixed feelings on this becuase on one hand it is an interesting conflict to have, but it does sort of seem ooc for him to do. Im deciding to rationalize it by saying Aziraphales gone a bit silly and goofy from all the stress thats happening.

Someone else pointed out that the fact that Aziraphale and crowely met when they were both angels kind of ruins the significance that they became 'friends' despite being on opposite sides. I kind of see this point too, and I did prefer their first meeting being in the garden of eden (mainly becuase it was funnier) but im choosing to interpret this as they were aquintances as angels and only got to know eachother later.

Im just putting my trust in Neil Gaiman and Season 3

OK ITS OVER. Most people probably dont care all that much because they touch grass and go outside, but I just wanted to rant becuase something about it was really bothering me. If you actually read this far im giving you a gold star and a platonic forhead smooch. ALSO PLS FEEL FREE TO BULLY ME FOR MY TAKES BCUZ I REALLY WANT TO ENJOY THIS THIS SEASON AND MAYBE A DIFF PERSPECTIVE WILL HELP. OK BYE

#good omens critical #book omens #Good omens crit #Good omens 2 #Yes i am a nerd #Yes im being dramatic too #Shaz and Muriel saved this season frfr

[gabenvrhappened]

TvShowsOr... Red Oaks

A couple of months ago, I was scrolling through Instagram, and found a post with TV show recommendations, and it had Red Oaks on it. I made a note-to-self (in the form of a screenshot) to watch it but never came back to that promise. Until one night when I realized I had to stay days locked up at home, so it was important to find something to spend my time with. That's when I found the show again, while scrolling on Amazon Prime. “What harm can a show of only three seasons do?” I pondered.

This innovative coming-of-age summer-show tells the story of David Mayers (played by Craig Roberts): a boy from the suburbs who works at a country club. He has a simple life, but he wants to be more. He wants to become a movie director. He doesn't want a trophy wife, a beautiful baby or to stay forever teaching tennis or to become a tax person like his dad (someone who doesn’t support his dreams in the slightest). Craig must have been the name to watch when the show premiered back in 2014. I remember him being kind of a Tumblr actor with his movie choices. Here he looks adorable and funny (and kind of a Tom Holland look-alike from certain angles). Seeing him in tight small pants was a vision for the eyes (specially when butt naked). He probably liked the whole camera thing because, in real life, he became a director and now he's focused on taking pictures with a 35mm camera. I'm happy he found his passion but sad not to see him on the screen.

Alongside David, we have a lot of charming characters. Skye, portrayed by Alexandra Socha, even though an irritating, spoiled, and entitled little brat, is, undeniably, the female heart of the show. Her absence in the third season is deeply felt, but, hopefully, when she appears to conclude her arc, she does it satisfactorily. Another girl who also steals the show is — oh my, another Alexandra — Alexandra Turshen, who plays Misty. The hot girl who dates the hot (but dumb) guy. Her role grows more during the episodes, leaving that teenage rom-com stereotype behind, and I’m sure the audience feels pleasure with that. It's interesting to see the development of the romance she has with Wheeler, brilliantly funny played by Oliver Cooper. Yes, he's just another cliche of the show, as the fat (and smart) guy who likes the hot girl, smokes marijuana and makes bad decisions, but he does it so well that I only remembered how cliche he was while writing this.

From the adult characters, Herb is the perfect one. I spent my watchings hoping to see Freddie Roman again and again, since he was very old when the show was shot. Well, he died last year, but good to see that he gave us this warm character on his 85 well-lived years. But, even though we get great characters played by veterans actors, one was the baddest of the baddest. I'm in love with Paul Reiser and his Douglas Getty. That's the guy I want to be when I'm old: ruthless, smart, and a relentless business-driven man, while also being (somewhat) generous. Of course not the bad parts of being a criminal and having offshore money, but that this made him a sweet badass, it did.

I have nothing bad to say about any of the seasons, which is funny to think about because I always some remark. Since I've watched them all in a few months, things are fresh in my mind. But that's not something that can prevent me from wondering about some writing decisions. In the first season, for instance, the cocaine situation was so quickly resolved for something so harmful. It could've been used to set the tone for the second season, and it would've been extra nice if Nash had used it for his advantage (since he was needing one at that time). Speaking of Nash, it can't be just me who saw a spark between him and Skip. I really thought they would have an enemies-to-lovers plot somewhere. Maybe if the show were recent, they would have a chance. Skip could be an asshole, but he's the finest looking one. In the third season, he even has a threesome with Nash, and they also move in together… Well… I guess the script indeed had that subtone after all.

Talking about settings, the change of scene to Paris in the second season, and, more prominently, New York in the third, was pleasant to see. I mean, who says no to shows in Paris and New York, right? But that made the magic of the country club disappear, especially in that smoky third season and even with arcs of the story happening there. Still, this change of scene had to happen to give the show a better flow and it also had a positive balance on the storylines, because allowed the writers to make the characters grow and evolve further in teenagers territories.

The struggle David lives, for example, became more intense, and I could relate to it so damn well. Money or happiness. A career or your passion? The girl or the dream? The growth of his character and his dilemmas caught me more and more as the episodes went by. At least, until the very last seconds of the last one, where he showed a snobbish side of him I wasn't pleased to see. If that's a side of the real David (the director), it makes it easy to understand why his movies aren't so well-received. Fun fact: only when I finished the series did I make the connection between this character's name and the creator of the show: David Gordon Green. And the surname Mayers? Well, let's just say Green has a thing for horror movies.

If, once, I first started watching Red Oaks for its short duration, I finished the final season damning that first relief, because the third is the shortest of them all. So short that, for a moment, I thought the show wouldn't be competently wrapped, but thankfully it was. Even so, that's how I like my shows to end: in their glory. Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Younger are good examples of this (even though they lasted longer). The good thing is that I can always come back to this project and finish it just as fast as tennis courtyard swing. A show that caught my interest from the very first moment, when David's father had a heart attack at a tenis filed, and, scared to die, confessed he was still in love with an old fling, and that his wife was secretly a lesbian. Ah… the 80s.

#TvShowsOrGabeNeverHappened

[nickgerlich]

Turn, Turn, Turn

I often go to the biblical well to find inspiration and pithy quotes. No, I don’t do this to promote a specific religion. It’s just that it is a fount of knowledge, the wisdom of the ages. While there are certainly other examples of Holy Writ, it is a source with which many are familiar regardless of belief.

One of my favorite aphorisms goes as follows: What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:9) So impactful is this book that just a couple of chapters later, Pete Seeger found inspiration to write the classic song, Turn, Turn, Turn.

While scholars debate who wrote this book, let us not lose sight of the forest for the trees. Basically, what the writer is telling us is that, even more than two millennia ago, folks had realized that what goes around, comes around. And you thought our generation was the smartest one yet.

In marketing, we see this made manifest in the Wheel of Retailing theory, which posits that a revolution occurs with the arrival of a disruptor who does things differently, but as time passes, the disruptor starts adding back little things that, after time, begin to resemble that which it sought to replace. You go full circle.

George Orwell recognized this timeless truth in his allegorical novella Animal Farm, a fable in which the animals take over the farm. But over time, the pigs emerge as the ruling class, and before you know it, are wearing the farmer’s clothes, drinking his alcohol, and walking upright. In effect, they have become the farmer. Orwell, of course, was writing in shrouded terms about the Russian Revolution, but his point was not lost.

Today, we see this truth playing out in the streaming wars. The goal of streaming was to cut the cord and distance ourselves from all semblance of regular broadcast or cable television. It’s just that things are starting to look a lot like that which we left behind.

To wit: Amazon just announced it will start inserting ads in Prime Video starting next year. Following the lead of Hulu, they join Netflix, Disney+. Paramount+, Peacock, and Max, each of whom have stirred in ads in recent months. Their rationale is that it allows for tiered pricing, ostensibly making it more affordable to subscribe. In return for a cheaper price, we have to endure the ads.

Hey, at least Hulu has an ad timer on the top-right of the screen, so you know how long you’ve got to run to the bathroom and grab a snack.

Meanwhile, our streaming experience brings us right back to where we started. If you want to go ad-free, you’ll have to pony up even more money. So much for savings, right? Now that the screenwriters and production companies have settled their strike, I suspect we’ll see even higher fares in the future, and that will be even more true once the actors agree to a contract.

All of which means we will be back to our regular devices, which include muting the volume during the adverts, or leaving the room. Ad revenue was simply too good to turn down for the streamers as well, because the advertisers had to find a way to adapt. Since we weren’t watching TV the old way, they had money to redirect.

They found us.

The writer of Ecclesiastes was one smart person. It is hard to imagine biblical times having had the wherewithal to notice how things often do come back around. After all, they had no technology as we know it, were limited in geographical scope, and had no benefits of science. Yet here we are, and there they were.

Think about that the next time you tune in to your favorite streaming service. It was a nice walk around the block, and even though we thought we were part of a revolution, it turns out nothing really changed.

Dr “There Is A Season” Gerlich

Audio Blog

#marketing #streaming #advertising

[stanknotstark]

I am totally NOT watching House M.D. and getting ideas for a loki x reader medical setting story 🤔 Loki would be House of course with reader being the one that pips up and questions Loki's moral choices and throws ideas out to help him pin down what illness is spreading 😇 all hypothetical of course....

#loki #loki x reader #ideas #house #house m.d. #i love this show from what ive seen so i started from ep1 and im gonna binge the whole series #like ive only ever seen random episodes IRONICALLY while i stayed in the hospital #cuz like ive been to the hospital so many times for my diabetes and epilepsy #so like i used to watch it when it was still airing on tv #thought about it a month ago and found it on amazon prime #now im getting story ideas #idk ill keep yall updated if i decide to write a house au for loki #i really want to #id just have to pull out my medical textbooks again #at least theyd get better use than when i first bought them for my classes 😂

[aspiritualwarriors]

Nearly a week ago i wrote in my journal, "i'm not made for this world!" It isn't anything i haven't thought before but for the first time i was at a loss as to how to proceed. Let me just say that, this isn't a post about ending my life, or anything like that! Pinned to the corner of the mirror in my living room is a quote from Ram Dass', Be Here Now:

maybe there is nothing wrong with you — maybe it is just really difficult to exist within a system that was not designed to support a spirit like yours

And that is where i found myself, six days ago, trying to figure out how i could exist in such a system; and for the first time i was flat out of answers—i had no more moves to make, not really, and yet my stubborn mind was refusing to admit defeat.

I could see that.

And, truth be told, i do know where to go; i've known it a long time but i've not had the courage to go there... the cave i fear to enter. And it doesn't matter that Jospeh Campbell assures me that it holds the treasure i seek, i just can't get over the threshold. More than a few times i've considered packing it all in, this spiritual seeking; that i've been kidding myself all these years and now i need to call time on it, and yet i know that isn't an option—i'm part way up the mountain already, and i know i can't turn back.

You know the mountain: the one with many paths, which all lead to the top, so it doesn't matter which you take—just don't be the one wasting time by running around telling everyone they're on the wrong path. And it's true: any path, so long as you follow it in earnestness, will eventually get you to the top; but sooner or later you're going to reach your cave and, if you want to get to the top, you're going to have to go in to it.

I know that for certain.

What i also know is that i haven't done the work that is necessary to help me enter that cave. Sure, i've meditated and practiced self inquiry; i've attended satsang and a silent mediation retreat, and i've run a spiritual blog here on tumblr (aspiritualwarrior) the last seven years, but the truth is that i've been escaping into spirituality to avoid doing the real work.

For a long time my spirituality has been just another coping mechanism, along side the booze and the junk food and the weed and the Netflix binges... to name a few. If i can find one positive from this pandemic and the prolonged lockdowns, it's this: it exhausted all of my coping mechanisms to the point that i was forced to face up to my own bullshit—which promptly triggered a panic attack, or two.

It's been eight months since i last had alcohol; until this afternoon, i hadn't smoked weed in close to two months, and i don't plan on doing so again any time soon—i've significantly cut down on the junk food and i cancelled my Netflix and Amazon Prime subscriptions

So that's what i've been doing, but still i was stuck at the entrance to that cave, knowing i didn't have the tools that i needed... or so the mind will have me believe! And yet there was something urging me to pick up the Bhagavad Gita, to read it one more time; and as yesterday i took it from the bookshelf, i also took the Ram Dass book, Paths to God: Living the Bhagavad Gita.

The latter is based on a course that Ram Dass ran back in 1974 and i told myself that i would commit myself to it over the next few weeks; and, to help with that, i downloaded a translation of the Gita and this morning printed it out so that i could make notes as i worked through the book. And then this evening i get an email from the Ram Dass Foundation advising of a new course that's available: A 6-week virtual course re-imagined from Ram Dass' 1974 Naropa University Course. The very course that Paths to God is based on.

There's a beautiful synchronicity at play here... some One is letting me know that i'm on the right path. As Ram Dass once said: "The next message you need is always right where you are." Well, i get the message, loud and clear!

Sorry, this is far longer than i meant it to be.

Peace & Love to you all.

#me #personal #spiritual path #synchronicity

[girl-with-cat-eyes]

Wednesdays

Summary: Wednesdays are Janus Picani's busiest day. Between meetings, snack day, soccer practice, and art club, he's running around like a chicken with his head cut off. This Wednesday, however, is sure to change the lives of the Picani family forever. Jan's sure they can handle it though.

Ships: Platonic Moceit, thvi

A/N: I've been rewatching the old Reba sitcom from the 2000s and I'd forgotten just how good it was. Good enough that I wanted to write an au for it. Thank you so much to @amazon-me-bitches and my lovely qpp @forever-forgotten-angel for beta reading this and helping me to work out the kinks with the plot. As always, leave a comment if you like this. Enjoy!

For most people, Mondays were their busiest day. It made sense; returning to the workweek, school, etc. For Janus Picani, however, the title of busiest day went to Wednesday. His firm always had partner meetings, they were Emile’s day to bring class snacks, Remy had soccer, and Virgil had art club. On top of that, Jan’s therapy sessions were Wednesdays, which meant he had to make sure all of his work was done 15 minutes early so he could get to his appointment on time. Safe to say, to say Wednesdays weren’t exactly his favorite day.

“Emile! Get down here! You don’t want to be late for school!”, He called upstairs as he finished making breakfast sandwiches. Virgil stood across from him, packing lunches for his brothers.

“He probably can’t find his backpack. He left it down here after he finished his homework.”

Janus sighed, “This wouldn’t be a problem if he just left his backpack down here every night. Remy go get your brother and tell him his backpack is down here.”, the young boy got up, rolling his eyes and Jan had to bite back a sigh. Remy had always been his sassiest child.

“Why can’t Virgil do it?”

Virgil raised an eyebrow at him, “Because I’m making lunch, I can go get him if you want to make your own sandwich ?”, Remys shook his head and ran upstairs, Virgil chuckling at the sight.

Janus finished plating breakfast and turned to thank Virgil, frowning when he saw that Virgil had only made two lunches. He looked pointedly at his son, “You’re not eating?”, he asked.

Virgil shrugged, “I’m gonna get lunch at school today. They’re having burritos.”, Janus nodded. As long as he was eating. Patton came downstairs before he could reply, Remy and Emile in tow.

“I found these two trying to play on the Switch.”, Emile and Remy sat down, guilty little grins on their faces that told Jan that they didn’t regret it, “Good thing I went to check on them.” “Good thing indeed.” He handed Pat a plate, pouting a cup of coffee for his husband? Ex? Janus wasn’t sure what to call the man he’d been married to for 20 years, separated from, hadn’t divorced, and who still lived in the house with. Regardless he poured him a cup of coffee, “Ok so you’re taking Emile and Remy to school and I’ll take Virgil. I’ll pick up Remy and you pick up Emile and-” “-and I’m catching a ride home with Thomas after theater. I’m working on the sets for Little shop today.”, Virgil piped up and Jan had to hold back a grimace at the mention of his boyfriend. He like Thomas, he really did. In terms of high school boyfriends, Thomas had been nothing but a gentleman. But the thought of his son dating still upset Janus deep down; according to his therapist, he was grappling with the thought of his baby growing up.

“Ok.”, he replied, keeping his thoughts to himself. It wouldn’t do any good to speak them when they were his problem to deal with, “I’ll pick up takeout on the way home.”

“Jan? I was wondering if you’d want to come to the restaurant today for lunch?”, He turned to look at Patton. Based on the tone in his voice Janus knew that this wasn’t just a friendly invitation to taste a new menu item. He sighed: he’d been planning to work through his lunch today so he could get out on time.

Regardless, this seemed serious, “Ok. I’ll be there at noon.”, he promised. He quickly finished his breakfast and looked over to Virgil, “Ready to go?”, he asked. He nodded and finished pouring his iced coffee and they were off.

The ride to Virgil’s school was as quick as always. Music played lowly on the radio, lowly on the radio and Janus hummed along. It would be peaceful if not for the fact that Virgil kept fidgeting and staring out the window. Something was up, “Ok. Something’s wrong. Spill.” Virgil turned to look at him, “What? Nothing’s wrong.”, He straightened his face, trying to appear calm. Janus didn’t buy it for a second, “I’m fine.” “Virgil James Picani. I have known you since you were born. I have held you for night after night. I know you inside out. And I know when you’re lying to me. What’s wrong? Is someone bothering you?” Virgil shook his head. “No. It’s just that Mr.Prince, the drama teacher, wants me to be Seymore’s understudy. And I know the chances of me going on stage are rare but I don’t want to take that chance. And I don’t know how to tell him without letting him down.” “Baby bat, just tell him the truth. I’m sure he’ll understand.”, Virgil nodded. The issue seemed to be solved, yet Janus had a feeling that there was something else wrong. But before he could ask any more, they’d arrived and Virgil was getting out. “Love you, Dad! I’ll see you after school!”, Janus shook his head, trying to keep his concerns down. He’d ask Virgil after school. It was fine.

Being a lawyer certainly had its perks; financial security being a prime example. Meetings running long weren’t that though. Janus sighed as he rushed into Pat’s. The warm lighting and delicious smells greeting him. Even if he’d preferred to work through his lunch, Janus couldn’t deny that the thought of Patton’s cooking made his mouth water. There was a reason people came from near and far to this place.

Speaking of Patton, Janus spotted the bespectacled man sitting in their usual booth, a bottle of wine waiting there. He smiled at the thought and sat down, “I thought you weren’t a fan of day drinking?”, he quipped. Pat rarely drank at all, but especially not during the day. “I’m not but I know you don’t mind a glass of wine at lunch.”, Pat poured him a glass, “Salmon or duck?” “Salmon.”, Janus answered. Patton made a delicious pan-seared salmon with risotto and kale salad. It was delicious and sounded lovely right now. Patton nodded and ordered that for him and glazed crispy duck for himself. “So.”, he began as he buttered a roll, “What did you want to discuss?” “Who says I have something to discuss? Maybe I just wanted to have lunch with you?”, He was stalling obviously. Trying to get time to steel his nerves.

Janus raised an eyebrow at him, “You and I know very well that Wednesday is our busy day. If you wanted to just have lunch you would have asked on another day. Therefore this is something important that you don’t want to talk about in front of the kids. So what do you want to discuss?” Patton sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Whatever he wanted to talk about was weighing heavily on his mind. After some time he finally spoke, “I want to finalize our divorce.”, he spoke quickly, like he wanted to get the words out of his mouth as fast as he could.

Janus nodded; he supposed it made sense. They had been separated for over a year now, they slept in separate bedrooms, and they hadn’t had sex since long before they separated. While they still cared for each other, the love they once shared was long gone. The only reason they were still married was the cost of getting a divorce. Considering they’d spent 20 dollars on a courthouse wedding neither had been too happy to shill out thousands of dollars to end their marriage.

The question was why now, and why couldn’t he say it in front of the kids. They’d sat them down months ago and explained that while they loved each other and would always be a family, they weren’t in love anymore. Virgil had taken in the best; being the oldest, he’d seen the signs for a while now. He’d taken it upon himself to comfort his younger brothers. Remy tried to pretend that he was fine, but both Janus and Patton knew better. He’d taken the thought of his family splitting up harder than he was showing. They’d both spoken to him about it, reassuring him that they’d always be a family. And they’d started having family activities every Saturday. Emile had taken it the hardest. The six-year-old didn’t truly understand what was going on. They were still having conversations explaining what it meant. Janus had even begun researching child psychologists at the recommendation of his therapist.

“Ok.”, He spoke, “Why now though? I thought we’d agreed that divorces are too expensive…. You met someone.”, the realization hit Janus like a ton of bricks. Everything made sense. Pat would feel guilty about pursuing someone else while married, even if they were separated. And he wouldn’t want to talk about this in front of the kids until he knew for sure that it was serious.

Patton nodded, “I did.”

“Well, tell me about him. I care about you regardless of our marital status. And I want to know about the person you’ll be bringing around our kids.”

“Ok. His name is Logan and I met him a few weeks ago. He came in here for dinner and he’s just the cutest. He got so excited when he found out we use crofters in our thumbprint cookies and our victoria sponge.” Patton smiled fondly at the thought, “We’ve been on a few dates and… It’s not just a fling. I can see a future with him, Jan.”

Jan took a sip of wine, “Ok. I’ll ask around for good lawyers when I get back.”,

Patton squealed and hugged him, “Thank you so much Jan. Maybe I could invite him over for dinner sometime. That way you could meet him and I could introduce him to the kids.”, Their food came at that moment, which meant Patton had to stop hugging him. Janus was thankful; he’d never been the type for hugging. Except with his kids.

“Ok. But you have to tell them about the divorce first. Deal?” “Deal.”

Virgil was generally considered a good kid by his peers and teachers. Quiet perhaps, but overall a good kid. He didn’t break rules, got good grades, and overall kept to himself. The one anomaly about him was that he was dating Thomas sanders, or rather that Thomas Sanders was dating him. Thomas was a bright and outgoing person; if this was a 2000s sitcom, he might have been considered popular. Not only that, but he had a fairly popular youtube channel where he did skits, challenges, and more. Virgil barely even had social media. They were a couple regardless, and Virgil was known as a good kid.

He didn’t feel like a good kid as he watched the Chipotle employee make his bowl. He’d signed himself out of school early along with Thomas, and now they were getting lunch. The thought of skipping school kept buzzing around his head, even though he’d gotten all of his assignments from the classes he’d be missing. Besides he had bigger problems to worry about.

He sat down beside his boyfriend and took a bite of his food, “What am I going to do?” He asked in a small voice, fear lacing his tone. Thomas reached across the booth and squeezed his hand.

Hey,”, Thomas whispered, his voice soft and reassuring, “It’ll be ok. I’ll be right here no matter what.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”, Thomas squeezed his hand, “Now really eat, you skipped lunch yesterday.”, Virgil nodded and the rest of lunch passed silence. The pair simply enjoying their food together. Virgil grinned and poured queso onto his bowl and smiled at his boyfriend.

“You’re so cute.”, he whispered. Thomas blushed at the compliment and Virgil considered it a win. Sooner enough they were done with their meal. Virgil stood up and gathered their trash, “I’m gonna go the bathroom.” “Ok”, Thomas nodded, “I love you no matter what.”. Virgil smiled and went to the bathroom, anxiety twisting his stomach in knots.

Janus sighed as he drove home. Patton had messaged him earlier that he was making dinner and Jan didn’t have to pick up any takeout. Of course, that made Jan’s life easier, but it also meant that they were going to talk over the divorce with the kids. Great. He peered at Remy in the backseat, sipping his chocolate milk without a care in the world. God sometimes Jan wished he were a child still. Childhood was so much easier, “I think your Dad is making dinner tonight.” Remy looked at him, “I thought we were going to pick up takeout?” “He messaged me saying that I don’t need to pick up any food.”, Remy nodded and smiled before looking back out the window. Janus understood: Patton was an amazing cook. Hopefully, they’d all be able to eat after this. God, how would Remy react? He’d already taken the separation hard. And Emile, he barely understood what divorce was. And Virgil, the oldest, the one who buried his feelings the most. He probably wouldn’t want to talk about it and would bury his feelings to help his brothers.

They pulled into the garage, Remy grabbing his stuff and running inside, “Take off your shoes and change before you get mud all over the house.’, he called after him. Janus took his time collecting his things. ‘Just go in. Better to get it over with.’, his thoughts raced around his head like an angry swarm of bees. He took a deep breath and walked inside.

The smell of garlic and tomatoes washed over his sense, Patton was making Italian food. He took a deep breath, enjoying the smells. Patton stood next to the counter, buttering a long baguette for garlic bread. He looked up and gave a reassuring smile, but Janus could see the nervousness in his eye, at least he wasn’t alone in the feeling, “Hey.” He greeted, “The lasagna is almost done and I’m making garlic bread right now. There’s stuff for caesar salad in the fridge if you want to help out.”

Janus nodded and took off his jacket before washing his hands and making said salad, “Where’s Emile and Virgil?”, he asked, praying that he sounded casual. The salad offered a great distraction from his thoughts, greeting parmesan meant he didn’t have to focus on this upcoming family discussion.

“Virgil is helping Emile with his homework. He’s learning addition.”, Patton supplied as he put the bread on a tray, placing it in the oven. “There are brownies in the fridge. I figured we could make sundaes. Hopefully, it’ll make the conversation easier.”, Janus nodded. Remy and Emile might not realize it but Virgil would know something was up. Pat rarely made dessert on weekdays.

Soon enough dinner was done and all five of them were sitting around the table. Virgil still looked anxious and Janus wanted to bang his head off the table. There was no way he’d be able to ask what was wrong after this conversation. Why did this have to happen tonight?

Patton smiled, “So how was school guys?”, ‘Subtle Pat, subtle. Why don’t you just hang a banner above our heads that says We’re getting divorced’. Janus took a large sip of wine so his thoughts would stay in his head.

“Ok,” Remy spoke up. “But I keep getting headaches during the day. The lights in the class are too bright.”, This had been going on for a while now. The fluorescent lighting of the classroom seemed to give Remy migraines, and his teacher wasn’t budging on letting him wear sunglasses to prevent it.

“I’ll talk to your teacher in the morning.”

“My day was good Daddy.”, Emile grinned, “We learned about ecosystems.”, Janus smiled. Emile was so young and innocent.

“Virgil?”, The teenager in question looked up from where he’d been staring off into space. He took a quick bit of lasagna before speaking.

“It was fine.”

He was lying. Something was wrong and Virgil was trying to act like he was ok. Janus wanted to ask more questions, to figure out what was bothering his son. It wouldn’t work though. Virgil guarded his privacy with his life. Prying would only make him more tight-lipped. Janus just had to wait for Virgil to come to him with what was wrong, and in the meantime, hope that it wasn’t serious.

Besides, even if Janus thought it was a good idea to ask, there were other things at hand. Patton nodded to him and he knew it was time. “Your father and I have some news.”. Patton began. Janus held back a groan.

“Are we going to Disney World?”, Emile was practically bouncing in his seat at the thought of such a trip.

“No.”, Janus made a mental note to talk to Patton about a family vacation. Maybe it would help reassure Remy and Emile that they were all still a family. “It’s not that. You all know that we’re always going to be a family right? No matter what happens we’ll always be together.”, Virgil was ghostly pale and Remy had his fists clenched. He didn’t even have to say it. They knew.

His middle son jumped up, “No.” He was tearing up, “You promised.”

“Remy..”

“No! You said we’d always be together.”, Tears began running down his face. A knot formed in Janus’ throat. Why did they have to do this?

“And we will. No matter what.”, Patton tried to soothe. It was met on deaf ears.

“No, we won’t! That’s what they all say! They say nothing will change but it does. Next thing you know, you’re in different houses and splitting custody and no one will want me. And then I’ll be back in foster care.”

“Remy that won’t happen. We love you.”, Janus wanted to take his son in his arms. Wanted to hold all of his children and promise them that they still loved them all, and the divorce wouldn’t change that. But Remy ran upstairs, the sound of his bedroom door slamming shut echoing through the house.

“What’s going on?”, Emile’s face was contorted, confusion visible. Of course, he wouldn’t fully understand what was going on. The six-year-old had barely understood the separation.

Patton sighed and knelt down next to him, “Your father and I are finalizing our divorce. We won’t be married anymore.” Emile blinked.

“Why? I thought you weren’t getting one?” Patton sighed, “Things have changed.”, Emile blinked at him. This was going wrong. It was too soon. They should have eased them into this idea. Shouldn’t have sprung it on them like this.

Understanding bloomed in Emile’s face. His next words were a whisper, so quiet that Janus almost didn’t hear them. But he did, and it felt like getting hit by a truck. “Are you divorcing cause Virgil’s pregnant?” “EMILE!”, Virgil shrieked. Janus felt like he was watching this from above like it was a tv show playing out in front of him, and not his life. He looked next to him. Patton appeared to be in a similar situation.

“It’s the truth.”

Finally, Janus found himself able to speak. There were a million questions inside of him longing to get out, but all he could say was, “What?”

Luckily Patton was able to voice one of his questions, “Virgil, is this true?”. Virgil refused to make eye contact with either of them and Janus knew it was. His eldest child looked almost ashamed, shoulders tense and body hunched over.

“Virgil…”, He started, but he was upstairs before Janus could continue. Janus shut his eyes. Amazing. One of his kids was pregnant at 17 and another thought he was going to be sent back to foster care. His head met the table with a groan. Patton rubbed his shoulder.

Emile still stood in front of them, “Am I in trouble?”, he asked, voice shaking. Janus leaned forward and picked him up. He bounced Emile on his hip, stroking his back.

“No baby.”, He ruffled his hair and booped his nose. “You aren’t in trouble ok. Everything is just kinda stressful right now. But none of that is your fault, ok?” Emile nodded and buried his face into Jan’s chest. Patton joined the hug, stroking Emile’s back and humming softly. They sat there in this position for about 10 minutes before Janus pulled away, gave Emile a kiss on the forehead, “We love all of you so much and the divorce won’t change that ok?”

He nodded and Janus stood up, “I’m going to go talk to Remy, he might be easier to get to open up than Virgil right now.”, He handed Emile to Pat, who bounced him on his hip.

“Ok. I’ll make a pot of hot cocoa to take up. Hopefully, it’ll get him to open up.”, Janus nodded in thanks and made his way upstairs.

Remy’s room was as dark as ever, the twelve-year-old liked to leave the lights in his room dimmed. Janus peaked his head in, seeing him laying on his bed, face buried into his pillows. “Remy?”, He called out. The child in question didn’t respond but Janus knew he was awake, “Can I come in?”

There was silence for a moment and Janus thought about what he would do if Remy said no. He wanted to respect his privacy, but at the time this was a conversation that needed to happen. Remy thought he was going to be sent back to foster care and Janus couldn’t let him just think that. Luckily Remy soon answered, “Yes…”

He walked in slowly, eyes trained on his son. His son who was terrified that he was going to be sent away. He swallowed, “Remy you aren’t going to be sent back to foster care. I promise that.”

Remy sniffled and his heart broke for his middle child, “That’s what they said last time. They said they loved me and I’d never be sent away again. And then they said they were getting a divorce and it wasn’t a good time for them to adopt a kid.”

Janus sighed and began stroking his hair, “And I’m promising that no matter what we’re not sending you back there. We love you. You’re our son, our wonderful son who we love so much. The divorce is between your father and me. And I won’t lie and say that it won’t affect you or that nothing will change, because things will change. A lot of things will change. But the love that your father and I have for the three of you? That will never change. It’ll never fade or go away. And we’re never sending you back.” He smiled slightly and joked, “Besides we threw away the receipt. No returns.”

Remy giggled and Janus knew he’d been successful in cheering him up. Remy sat up and hugged him tightly, tears still flowing freely, “I love you both. This is my home, my family. I don’t want to lose you.” “I know baby, I know. What does Stitch say?”, He hoped that a reference to Remy’s favorite movie would lighten the mood even more.

Remy sighed, “Ohana means family.” “And?”

“Family is never left behind or forgotten.”

Janus nodded and kissed his head, “And you’re our ohana. And we hope to yours. We’re here for as long as you want us.”, Remy smiled and Janus knew that even if it took some time, everything would be ok with him. He sat up. “Patton should be up here in a few minutes with cocoa and I’m sure he’ll want to talk to you. So I’ll sit here with you until he gets up here and then I’ll give you your privacy. Ok? Besides I need to talk to your older brother.”

Remy nodded, “Is Virgil ok?”

Janus sighed, “I don’t know. But I intend to find out.”. As if on cue, there was a knock on the door and Patton peaked his head in. He held a tray with four mugs of cocoa topped with whipped cream. Next to them sat a plate with brownies.

“Can I come in? I brought cocoa.” He smiled encouragingly. Remy nodded and sat up off of Janus’s chest. Patton came in, taking two of the mugs and some of the brownies. “The rest are for you and Virgil.”

“Where’s Emile?”

“In his room with a covered mug and a brownie watching Aladdin. He’ll be ok.”, Janus nodded and took the tray before leaving.

Janus stood outside of Virgil’s room, trying to figure out what to say. What did you say when your teenage son was pregnant? Most parents were worried about their sons getting someone pregnant, not their sons being pregnant. Then again, not everyone had a trans son. He sighed and knocked, “Virgil? Can I come in?”

Unlike Remy, who took his time answering, Virgil’s reply was almost immediate, “I don’t want to talk, Dad.”, Janus sighed. Goddammit. This is exactly what he was fearing. He couldn’t just leave his son alone right now. His pregnant son at that. Virgil was pregnant. He groaned.

“Baby bat, please. We need to talk about this.”

“I don’t want to talk.” “I have Pat’s hot chocolate and brownies.”

There was a pause. Then he spoke, “The door’s open.”, Janus opened the door slowly. Virgil sat in the middle of the bed, knees tucked against his chest. Tears ran down his face in inky black trails. Janus’ heart ached for him. He looked at Janus and sniffled, “Go on. Yell at me about what a horrible mistake I made.” His heart lept into his throat. Janus remembered having a similar conversation with his sister 18 years ago. How she was pregnant and her boyfriend ran off on her. Janus hadn’t known then how his life was going to change forever. And now his son was pregnant.

“I’m not here to yell at you V.”, He sat next to him, handing Virgil the mug of cocoa. He took a sip of his own, “How long have you known?” Virgil shrugged, “I only found out today. But I suspected it when Dad mentioned that one of the waitresses at the restaurant was pregnant. I’m about a month along.” Janus nodded, “Does Thomas know?”, he was met with a nod. “And what does he think?”, more memories of his sister rushed to the surface. His sister saying that her boyfriend had ran out of town when she found out that was pregnant. That he took the rent money and she’d been evicted. He was brought out of his memories by Virgil’s next words.

“He says he loves me still. And he supports me no matter what I choose.”, Well that was good. Janus didn’t know what he would have done if Thomas had abandoned Virgil. It would have been unpleasant that’s for sure. Now for the hardest question.

“You have options; you don’t have to keep the baby if you don’t want to. Do you have an idea of what you want to do?”, Virgil looked up at him and Janus once again was overcome with memories of his sister. Adelaide saying that she didn’t know what she was going to do but she was keeping her baby. He and Pat letting her move in. Recording home movies for the baby. Rushing her to the hospital while she screamed in pain in his backseat. The doctor saying that she lost too much blood. Holding Virgil in his arms.

“I want to keep the baby.”, there it was. The thing that Janus had known deep down that Virgil would say from the moment he found out about the pregnancy, “I know I have options and I know I’m young and this probably seems stupid but I want this baby. I just... You took a chance on me when mom died. You and Dad weren’t looking for a kid when I was born but you took me in anyway. You took a chance on me. And I’m taking a chance on this baby.”

Janus sighed, “You’re just like your mother you know that. Just as stubborn and just as loving. And you know what? She was just as determined to have you, even if it wasn’t the best time. And I’m going to tell you the same thing I told her.”, He hugged Virgil close, “I love you so much. And if you want this baby then your dad and I will support you no matter what ok? We’ll help you out. I promise.”

Virgil smiled at him, “Really?”

Janus nodded, “Really really. Now I think you should invite Thomas over tomorrow. I want to talk to him.”. Seeing the look on Virgil’s face he added, “I’ll go easy on him. I just want to know he’ll be a good dad for my grandchild. And you two need to tell his parents.”

Virgil nodded and there was a knock at the door, “Come in.”

It was Patton, “Hey. Emile and Remy are both asleep. How is everything?”

“Well Pat, we’re going to be grandfathers.”

Patton smiled and sat down next to them both, “I see. And everything is ok?” Virgil nodded, “Yeah. Everything will work itself out.”, And at that moment Janus knew it to be true.

A/N: Unlike some of my other works, this one is going to be a series of one-shots. I think I'll be able to handle that better than chapter fic. It'll also feel more like episodes of a sitcom. I really like the feel to this and I'm open to prompts.

#sanders sides #tssides #sanders sides fic #my fic #Janus Sanders #ts janus #patton sanders #ts patton #virgil sanders #ts virgil #remy sanders #ts remy #Emile Picani #ts emile #platonic moceit #thvi #romantic thvi #thomxiety #thomas/virgil #thomas x virgil #parental anxceit #parental sleepceit #parental emceit #parental moxiety #parental mosleep #parental emorality #trans virgil #pregnant virgil #trans pregnancy #verse: I'm a survivor

[beaniesflannelandfannypacks]

Twin Flames - A JATP Soulmate fic (Chapter 1)

A/N Its 1.30 AM right now but i am so pumped for this. This fic is based off of Soulmates on Amazon Prime. Because of self isolation, I didnt have anything to do yesterday so I binged it and came up with this idea. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this fic! There will be a ton of ships, but i’m not gonna tell y’all which ones because technically that would be a spoiler. 

If you want to be on the taglist please DM me or send me an ask, and I’ll add you to it!

word count :1036

It had always been so simple with Alex and Luke, Effortless.

Didn’t seem like it was that way anymore.

The Soulmate Test seemed to be the only thing kids at school were talking about these days. With a lot of them recently 18, or turning 18 soon, all anyone could think about was finding their soulmate.

But Luke and Alex were sure they were each other’s. Until the fight.

Alex knew Luke was passionate about his music, but he didn’t think it was worth giving up his family over. Family was important. After Alex had been shunned by his, he didn’t want Luke to lose that connect as well.

But Luke didn’t understand. “How could you take their side?! I thought you were on my team!”

The whole thing exploded in their faces.

And the next morning, when Alex heard the girls talking about the Test, He’d decided to take it.  Either it’d confirm what he thought he knew, or tell him who was meant for him.

Alex sat at Soulconnex’s office, bouncing his leg and fidgeting with his hands while he waited. The whole place was way too white and polished. It reminded Alex of a hospital. He hated it. Memories of his various trips to the Emergency Room flooded his mind – syringes filled with his blood and the unbearable smell of disinfectant. He HATED it.

He almost considered getting up and walking out just before a woman holding a clipboard walked out and called his name. “Alexander Mercer?” He almost cringed, The only people who called him Alexander was his family, either lovingly or threateningly. Either way, it made him uncomfortable up to the point that the boys never used his full name anymore – not even jokingly.

His heart pounded in his chest as he followed the woman into a room with a strange machine, It was too late to back out now.

~

Night of prom. A day Julie had been waiting for all her life. Before she started high school, her mom would constantly tell her stories about the proms that she attended with Ray. She’d always thought her mom would be getting her ready for prom, but instead Rose Molina had been stripped from the world too soon.

Julie perked up at the sound of the doorbell. Her date was here. Julie was all smiles as she walked out of her room, posing at the top of the stairs for her dad and his camera. Ray was all smiles too. “You look beautiful, mija, Now go. Don’t keep that boy waiting.”

Julie only giggled at his words, walking towards the door in her purple gown. She opened the door, smiling at the neat head of blonde hair that was waiting outside. “Nick! Hey.” She greeted him, with a smile and a hug.

“Hey, Molina.” Nick was dressed in a tux, one of his dad’s fedora’s positioned neatly on his head. He held out a box for her – a dahlia corsage. Everyone knew dahlias were her mom’s favorite. They meant a lot to her.

He helped her slip it onto her wrist, greeted her dad and then helped her into the limo. And then they were off to have their perfect night.

~

Caleb Covington was not a scientist. He was a business man, who’d also managed to turn the soul particle into a very profitable business. All he had to do was be patient, and let the scientists do their jobs.

He went out on talk shows, bragging about the Test and what it could do for people. He promoted both himself and the test, sugar coating the possible problems it could cause. What you gained by taking the test was far more than what you lost.

Caleb was sat down with his son at the long conference table in the Soulconnex offices. He had a proposition for young William.

Willie was leaning back in the rotating leather chair, feet on the glass table. His sitting this way annoyed his dad to no extent, and he knew this. It was half the reason he was doing it in the first place.

“William.” Caleb sounded irked as he cleared his throat. “Feet off the table, please. Are you aware of why I called you here?”

Willie paused, as though debating on how to answer that. “Did the bank call? Their statue didn’t even get /scratched/, dad. Destruction of property my ass.” He said, wrinkling his nose in distaste.

Caleb quirked a dark eyebrow, sighing. He’d have to deal with the bank and their property later. “I want you to take the Test, William. I think it would do you some good.”

Willie mulled over his father’s words for a minute, before scoffing. “Its not going to ‘sober me down’. If anything, it’ll just give me someone to try to impress. It would make me even more wild.”

His dad sighed, putting his hands on his hips like the overdramatic gay he is. “I’m not expecting you to sober down. I just think it’d be good for business. Plus, more money means I can finally get you that new skateboard that you wanted.” Willie hated the look in his eyes. He knew that offer was irresistible. How was he supposed to refuse?

“…okay. I’ll do it. But on my own time. You get me the skateboard today. I take the Test tomorrow.” Willie said, folding his arms. His dad looked proud. “You inherited my negotiation skills, I see. You have a deal.”

~

Bobby and Carrie Wilson had taken the test a few months ago. It had not been open to the public yet, but it was just one of the many perks of having a celebrity for a dad. Carrie checked her phone every single day, hoping she’ll find a notification that said “Soulmate Found!” but every day, she only woke up to be disappointed.

Bobby did check from time to time but he managed to keep the Test off of his mind most of the time. Between band practice, work and his volunteering, he barely had time to think about it. Besides, his soulmate would meet him when it was time.

Until then, he could wait

#julie and the phantoms #jatp #jatp alex #jatp reggie #jatp luke #alex mercer #reggie peters #luke patterson #julie molina #bobby wilson #carrie wilson #soulmate fic #willex #juke #fruke #boggie #lalex #flarrie #twin flames

[lovemustruleusall]

Movie Recommendations

since quarantine started, I think I've watched more movies in the past three weeks than I have in the past 6 months. here are some of my favorites

The Lobster (2015)

dir: Yorgos Lanthimos

available on: Netflix

fascinating concept, executed well, beautifully shot and a gripping ending that i still sometimes think about. one of those movies i looked up what happened at the end because i wanted someone elses opinon. (aka, it’s up to interpretation).

Her (2013)

dir: Spike Jonze

available on: Netflix

one of my favorites I saw during quarantine. thoroughly engaging throughout regardless of it’s longer runtime. beautifully shot, edited and great performances by everyone involved.

Booksmart (2019)

dir: Olivia Wilde

available on: Hulu

this movie shocked me with how much I ended up enjoying it. i was nervous at first, especially about the likeability of the characters, but they got me at the end. If you are looking for an upbeat, feel good, and funny movie, this is it. 

Boy (2010)

dir: Taika Waititi

available on: amazon prime

my favorite movie ever made. Taika Waititi is a genius. he’s a master at mixing emotion with humor without it feeling like he’s trying too hard. beautifully shot and written, very underrated movie.

What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

dir: Taika Waititi/Jermaine Clement 

please watch this if you want to laugh. one of the funniest movies i’ve ever seen. i think we can all agree that peytr is the best character.

Submarine (2011)

dir:  Richard Ayoade

rewatching this movie during quarantine makes me remember why it was my favorite movie for so many years. it may be a coming of age story, but it's somehow so much more than others i’ve seen. plus, alex turner does the soundtrack. great film. love u Richard.

The Way Way Back (2013)

dir: Jim Rash/Nat Faxon

rewatched for the first time since 2013. Sam Rockwell’s character is easily the best even though he may be overly obnoxious at times. unfortunately, the main character is less likable than the supporting characters, but it is quite a lovable film. stars toni collette, allison janney, and steve carell too.

Nightcrawler (2014) 

dir: Dan Gilroy

available on: amazon prime

watched this days ago and still can’t decide on my feelings about it. gripping and deeply unsettling. Jake Gyllenhaal delivers (as usual).

Moonlight (2016)

dir: Barry Jenkins

available on: netflix

this movie is beautiful. from the way the story is told, shot, and acted, it's great. deserves all of the hype it received upon coming out. longer runtime, so be prepared.

Bo Burnham: Make Happy (2016)

dir: Bo Burnham, Christopher Storer

available on: netflix

this is a comedy special. since watching it when released, I haven’t stopped thinking about it. one of the smartest, most thought-provoking pieces of music I have ever listened to (just the last song, it has me fucked up to this day). 

Chronicle of a Summer (1961)

dir: Jean Rouch/Edgar Morin

watched for a class and was stunned by how much I was enamored with and intrigued by it. follows ethnographers asking the question, “are you happy?”. the whole movie is in French!

Skeleton Twins (2014)

dir: Craig Johnson

available on: Hulu

wanted to watch since i heard about it. shocked by Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig’s performances and the emotional storyline of the film overall. may seem like a backhanded compliment, but I was shocked by how good this film was.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

dir: Taika Waititi

available on: hulu

if there’s any movie you should watch during this quarantine it’s any of Taika Waititi’s films. he delivers every time with a comedic, heartfelt, and unique story.

The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)

dir: Rob Burnett

available on: Netflix

i was pleasantly surprised by this movie. really great performance by Craig Roberts. i too would like to go on a week long roadtrip with Paul Rudd. i think i’ll pass on the part where he wipes my ass, though.

The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2020)

dir: Joe Talbot

available on: amazon prime

this movie isn’t really plot heavy, but it’s still beautifully done and facinating. found myself not really caring about parts of the plot when watching, i just enjoyed it. 

Frank (2014)

dir: Lenny Abrahamson

available on: YouTube (for free as of May 2020)

a weird movie, and i can’t say for sure if i am ashamed to have liked the last song they wrote on the spot. i think the character design of the helmet is enough of a reason to watch.

Trainspotting (1996)

dir: Danny Boyle

young ewan mcgregor was enough of a reason to get me to watch this movie. a look at drug use in young adult/adult culture in scotland during the 90′s. and it will always go down as the movie i remember that noel gallagher/oasis said no to the soundtrack to because he thought it was about literally train-spotting. another irvine welsh novel made into a movie (first was filth)

T2L Trainspotting (2017)

director: Danny Boyle

i didn’t realize there was a sequel when I watched the first and I wasn’t really expecting anything much from this. i don’t know if it’s just my love for ewan mcgregor, but I really liked this movie. the soundtrack is just as good as the first, too.

Paris is Burning (1990)

dir: Jennie Livingston

available on: netflix

one of my favorite pieces of film of all time, probably my favorite documentary out there. i think it’s probably one of the only things i’ve ever considered as ‘essential viewing’

Inside (2021)

dir: Bo Burnham

available on: netflix

one of my favorite things to come out of quarantine. I have missed bo and his content so much it was amazing to see him come back in such a raw and touching way. I've had the soundtrack on repeat for the past two weeks now, highly recommend.

Filth (2013)

dir: Jon S. Baird

honestly, one of the strangest movies I've ever seen, but I still enjoyed it. it’s quite crass, so be prepared for some rather vulgar and explicit content. plus, has james mcavoy, which is always a plus.

Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999 (2021)

dir: James Acaster

available on: Vimeo (for purchase)

another comedy special! besides “Make Happy” this is one of my favorite comedy specials I have ever seen. James is fucking fantastic and the two hour runtime somehow seems too short. 

Promising Young Woman (2021)

dir: Emerald Fennell

this one has had people conflicted. I enjoyed the movie (especially with the shock that bo burnham was in it, also, a great casting choice) and honestly.... quite enjoyed the ending. highly recommend, I was engaged throughout!

#movie recommendation #movies #the way way back #submarine #submarine movie #quarantine #chronicle of a summer #what we do in the shadows #boy #boy movie #boy 2010 #taika waititi #booksmart #her #her movie #the lobster #moonlight #moonlight movie #nightcrawler #jake gyllenhaal #make happy #bo burnham #Chronique d'un été #skeleton twins #hunt for the wilderpeople #the fundamentals of caring #Paul rudd #netflix #bill hader #Kristin wiig

[talesofafangirlwithadvr]

October/November Picks

Long time no see! So...it’s been a little bit since I’ve posted a wrap up. I had all intentions of posting one after October, but then you know life gets ahead of you and before you know it it’s Thanksgiving. Not much has changed in my viewing habits for these past two months, so I thought I’d group them together for a mega wrap up. Hope you enjoy :)

Without further ado here come some spoilers.....

…..

….

SECRET SOCIETY OF SECOND BORN ROYALS

This Disney + original movie was one of my highly anticipated watches for the fall. I am disappointed to share that it was a let down. The concept was such a cool and creative one. Having the second born in a royal family not simply be the “spare” but be the protector...with superpowers! (In a very YA way, getting their powers at a specific age.) They just should have gone about the story in a better way. I wanted more time with them learning about the powers and to make the villain stronger. Overall the acting wasn’t bad (which is good for a Disney + original), but it was just lacking. The movie was LONG and yet much did not feel like it happened. It was cool seeing Casa Loma (the castle they filmed at) as I was just there two summers ago. Sadly, I will not be watching this movie again.  

VIOLETTA SEASON 3

We all already know how pumped I was when season 3 of Violetta was released on Disney Plus in September. I couldn’t believe it after waiting so long for the second season. I really enjoyed the beginning of this season and knew we would be headed down a road where I would grow tired of the storylines. 

We have hit that point. 

Quick Violetta rant. Things I am done with:

Roxy and Fausta plot

Fran and Diego being a secret

Herman and Priscilla

Pablo not at the studio

Milton being evil

Ludmilla lying

Recently, my sister is catching up to where I am in the season, so this has pushed me to watch more. I am on episode 43 and some of the above venting has been solved, so that is super exciting. I am finding myself wanting to watch it more now, so fingers crossed it continues to get better. 

JULIE AND THE PHANTOMS

Kenny Ortega has done it again! When I first heard the premise for this show and watched the trailer on Netflix I wasn’t too sure. Then both of my sisters watched it and they wouldn’t stop talking about it, so that was a sign that I needed to watch it. Since then, I have watched the show twice and can’t stop listening to the music. THIS. SHOW. :) I get the hype. It’s just so wholesome and feel good. The characters are well crafted and the episodes go way too fast. They are the kind of characters (and cast) that make you wish you were a part of the show. I can’t wait for the next season (because there better be one). Definitely add this one to your list if it’s not on their already. 

THE OUTPOST

The Summer CW shows were pushed to the fall line up due to delays in filming of the originally planned shows. I hope this means that they’re getting a little more love this year. The Outpost deserves it, as it is currently in its third season. (I think it might have gotten a little more now that the 100 is over and the commercial aired during the 100′s last season. Maybe people heard Black-blood and decided to give it a go.) This season has seen a new threat and during the first eight episodes there’s been MANY twists and turns, making it hard for me to remember how this season started. There’s been a lot of unrest in the Outpost and changes in who is in charge. While there are some unnecessary plot-lines (like that Tobin had to be married), I’m really enjoying others. Like how important Janzo is, his relationship with Ren, more Munt and that TALON AND GARRETT FINALLY GOT TOGETHER!!! It makes me so happy and is what we deserve after these three seasons. I love how strong both of their characters are and how they are both Warriors. I hope the season ends strong. 

PANDORA

Just like The Outpost, Pandora was originally a Summer CW show that is now airing its second season. I really enjoyed the first season (like more than I was expecting), so I went in with higher hopes for this new season. Unfortunately, I have been let down so far. With the first season, there were parts that left me confused and my biggest review of this show has always been how there were gaps or moments where I didn’t know how much time had gone by. Those kind of things I could overlook, but this season the overall plot just seems weaker. I think this in part because of so many new characters. I know a lot of the season 1 cast ended their characters’ plots away from the Academy, but I wasn’t expecting them not to be a part of this season’s story. That has been a difficult adjustment. I also feel like I only understand Jax’s story and not so much about the other government/rebellion points. It’s getting a little better, but I hope it gets to be more enjoyable. 

THE SPANISH PRINCESS--SEASON 2

When I originally was creating this list I had just started this season, and felt completely different than I do right now. I just finished this season last week. Much like my above review on Pandora, The Spanish Princess wasn’t sucking me in. I had a few episodes gather on the DVR. Then once we hit episode 3 or 4 and more drama was starting/Henry was starting to show glimpses of the Henry VIII we all know, I was growing more interested. In season 2 of the Spanish Princess, we do not see a loving Catherine and Henry for long. Problems Catherine have in conceiving a boy (male heir) are one of the main focal points, as is Woolsey’s growing influence on the king. With several sub-plots this season, I specifically enjoyed learning more about Meg in Scotland (as a big Mary Queen of Scots/Reign fan, I liked seeing a portrayal of her grandmother) as well as Princess Mary Tudor (who I was unfamiliar with. I loved her and Charlie Brandon’s relationship and wish we could have gotten more.) Each week I watched this show, I found myself Googling a lot. That is always one of my favorite parts of watching a historical drama based on true events. I know right now it looks like the producers aren’t continuing with the Tudor line and might have a different part of history as their next show, but I wish they would. I’m feeling the call to watch the Tudors as it’s on Netflix and I haven’t seen it before. I want to learn more about his wives. 

BLOWN AWAY

In a complete shift from a period piece, here is another Netflix show I thoroughly enjoyed watching last month. Do you find the act of glass blowing to be extremely interesting, but you would never dream of trying yourself? Or do you like competition game shows that are not like anything else you’ve watched before? Then Blown Away might be for you! It’s a very fast watch with only a handful of episodes that are about a half hour a piece. (I honestly wished they were a bit longer because it was SO GOOD!) Each contestant is a glass blower and they get to show off their skills by competing in a specific challenge. Each episode you see someone get eliminated until the final where the winner gets a residency at Corning Museum of Glass in upstate New York. This show came out in 2019 and I am hoping a second season comes out.   

LIFE IN PIECES

This CBS comedy was one that I remember loving when it first came out. But I only remember watching the first season because then I couldn’t remember which day it was on. (It’s going to sound weird, but because I don’t watch a lot on this network I often forget it exists. We also only had a one room DVR at the time, so we couldn’t tape more than 2 things. Oh, the joys of multi-room DVR). After I finished my re-watch of Derry Girls in September, I was looking for another sitcom to re-watch. This was when I stumbled on the full series of Life in Pieces on Amazon video. (It’s free to watch with Prime.) I was so surprised to see there were 4 seasons! Since then I have been watching a good amount of episodes when I sit down to watch it. Now I’m about mid way in the second season. I highly recommend this show if you haven’t seen it before. It gives vibes of Modern Family. Very short episodes that include four storylines. The format is one that I haven’t seen done before in a sitcom.

SUPERMARKET SWEEP

The revival of the beloved game show from the early 90s is now hosted by Leslie Johns and is the best thing you should be watching on Sunday nights. If you know your grocery shopping list like the back of your hand then you are all set for this show. Leslie Johns is hilarious as are the cast of characters that are regulars in her supermarket. I think it would be a great TV show to be on and I’m not just saying that because I want one of the sweatshirts (although that would be great). If you want (another) feel-good watch, look no further! You catch up on demand. 

RE-WATCHING

ANNE WITH AN E

It’s hard to believe that we only got the third season of Anne with an E at the beginning of this year (as this year feels like its been going on forever and when I watched the third season I was in a much less stressed place). Currently, I am teaching a class involving Little Women and Anne of Green Gables. The main focus is on how these stories get adapted in recent times and include such modern plots (and sub-plots). Naturally Anne with an E is perfect for this topic (and after watching season 3 at the start of the year) was one of my major reasons for choosing this topic. (The other being Greta Gerwig’s latest Little Women.) As I’ve been planning my schedule, I’ve re-watched this show. There is something so great about watching it from season 1 all the way through to season 3. You get to watch them grow up and it’s crazy to see how young they first were. Comparing it more to the novel has been a fun time, but also analyzing it more has been great and made me appreciate it even more. With all the stress of our current situation watching this show has made me escape and feel good. (Yes, I know I’ve used that word a lot in this wrap up, but it’s true.)

***

******

Hopefully my next wrap up isn’t as delayed. Wishing everyone a happy holiday season! 

#secret society of second born royals #disney plus #violetta season 3 #violetta castillo #fran y diego #julie and the phantoms #sunset curve #luke x reggie x alex #luke x julie #the outpost #the outpost cw #talon x garrett #pandora season 2 #pandora cw #the spanish princess #catherine of aragon #life in pieces #supermarket sweep #anne with an e #anne shirley cuthbert

[gypsydanger01]

THE STORM - Part eleven

Fandom: The Boys (Amazon prime tv series)

Pairing: Black Noir x OC

Disclaimer: I don’t own The Boys, only my OC characters and certain pieces of au plot.

Comments, reviews, constructive criticism, and other requests are always more than welcome!

  Posting new chapters on Wednesday and Friday!

 Mallory

The following day started out cloudy but ultimately turned out to be a lovely day. Unfortunately, though, the pale sun in the sky gave little warmth, and Sarah trudged on towards the local park, hands stuffed in the pockets of her coat.

Waking up in a fairly good mood, she decided to go for a walk, and maybe make a trip to the local park. Children’s laughter grew louder and louder until she turned the corner, and there it was. To be honest, it wasn’t much of a park, run down and covered in graffiti, but children are quick to move past that. All that mattered to them was playing, running around, and having fun.

Sarah looked away and sat on a bench, legs crossed one over the other. She checked the time and flipped open the burner phone she kept for contacting Mallory. After five minutes, at precisely eleven o’clock, she selected the only registered number and called.

“Mommy, mommy, look—look at me, mommy,” a little girl called from the swings, her mother smiling and assuring that she, indeed, could see her.

It reminded Sarah so much of her younger self calling out to her mother, and it hurt. She'd visited the playground they used to go to before the Vought trials, but it had become abandoned, all grass and rusty edges. It was sad how it'd been left behind.

She waited for the other end to pick up.

“Hello?” a voice called out, and Sarah smiled lightly.

She paused and breathed out, “Hey Mal, how are you doing?”

Mallory chuckled on the other end, “Well these knees aren’t what they used to be, but I’m okay,” Sarah heard her plop onto the sofa, “More importantly, how are you?”

Sarah ran a hand through the curly tresses that had been blown into her face.

“I guess it’s decent, can’t really complain. I’m still working as a data analyst for the labs, in bioinformatics…,” she trailed off. “But I heard a slot is opening up for a researcher in the developmental biology labs, so I’m going to try and see if they’ll hire me.”

“Please, Sarah—just be careful, keep your eyes open,” she murmured, “always vigilant, alright?”

The young woman stared out at the children crawling over the playground’s castle, tumbling down the slides, running after each other and laughing out of pure, innocent joy.

“Where are you?”

“Neighborhood playground.”

“I thought I heard children. How’s school?”

“Well, actually well, I’ll be finished with my post doc soon enough. They hired me as an assistant professor a couple days ago, I’m teaching a microbiology class for some juniors.”

“That sounds interesting, it would be entertaining to see you teach. You’re a mix of patient and impatient—don’t really know what that would look like in the classroom.”

Sarah snorted lightly, “Fortunately, they seem to be good listeners, quiet and respectful—I don’t know what I’d do if they were a bunch of little arrogant rich kids.”

Mallory too started laughing, thinking back on the young woman’s training. She was proficient in using a great number of weapons and could easily hold her own without one. In an interrogation room, she was skillful in psychologically manipulating a suspect into confessing or giving up information. She spoke multiple languages and was a natural at reading body-language. She had a good eye for meaningful details that are often overlooked. She was the perfect field agent. Mallory had a hard time seeing her as a professor, calmly explaining a powerpoint to a bunch of students.

“I guess it’ll help you further develop that patience of yours,” Mallory surmised.

Sarah couldn’t help but agree.

“Hey, Mallory?” she asked tentatively.

The older woman stilled on the couch, “Yes dear?”

“Do you remember Dr. Roberts? The doctor I saw for my…” she trailed off, searching for a better word, “for my health problems?”

Mallory pursed her lips and stayed silent on the other end.

“I need to contact him—”

Mallory cut in, “What happened? Do you need to come home?”

Worry laced in her voice, the older woman couldn’t help the string of worst scenarios playing in her head. She knew the danger correlated with the young woman’s plan and felt helpless in being left out. If anything happened to the girl, she wouldn’t be able to live with herself.

 When the dust finally settled, there was nothing left but a crater and a little girl lying amid the smoke and ashes. That’s how they found her: curled in a ball, shivering with her skin covered in soot.

When the perimeter was deemed safe enough, Mallory and a team of experts approached the figure. Alive, yet on the brink of death, the little girl had slipped into a coma, and they were quick to have her internalized in a secured section of a local hospital. Only Mallory and few others had the security clearance to access the small room that held her.

Months passed and the room stayed quiet. Mallory went to gather updates from the doctors once a week. At the CIA they had many hypothesis but couldn’t seem to put together the disaster that had been the implosion of that Vought clinic. She had her underlying suspicions and didn’t trust the little girl who had survived. She had to be enhanced, she had to be a supe. There was no other explanation, no other alternative. And yet, she was the only link that would allow them to piece together the accident. The news had presented it as an explosion due to an accidental chemical explosion, but Mallory knew they were far from the truth.

It was an experimental factory for building little supes. And evidently, it had worked.

The proof of that was the little unknown girl lying in her white, pristine cot.

Mallory would look at her with detachment, knowing the child was probably a victim, and yet not feeling any remorse. She had leveled an entire building.

But then one day, as she watched a nurse report her vitals while tucking the little girl in, she opened her eyes. Afraid and trembling, she looked around wildly and fixated on the woman standing at the door.

With her height and professional attire, she was the epitome of rigidness. Blonde hair perfectly pinned back into a bun. Sharp light blue eyes guarded and alert. The two stared at each other, both with underlying dread and a sliver of fear.

And then something twisted in Mallory. Maybe it was the blatant fear in the young girls’ eyes, or maybe it was the innocent tears trailing down her cheeks.

“Where’s my mommy?”

Mallory moved forward, compelled by some unknown force.

She sat at the girl’s side, “She’s not here at the moment, okay?” she explained softly, tension visible in her rigid shoulders. She had no idea what the little one was capable of, and she didn’t want to find out.

The nurse gently took a hold of her bony wrist, taking her vitals once again. “How are you feeling?”

The little girl wiped at her face, “Sleepy.”

“Okay, and can you tell us your name sweetie?”

She looked up at the strict woman beside her, “Marianna,” she said matter-of-factly before adding, “my mommy calls me Mari.”

As the minutes passed, Mari seemed to grow livelier and more awake, her skin less pale and clammy than before.

The nurse pressed a button on the side of the bed, calling the assigned physician, Dr. Roberts.

“Marianna, I’m going to have to get a little bit of blood so we can have it tested and make sure you’re okay. Is that alright?”

The girl pulled her legs into a crisscrossed position and shrugged her shoulders.

“Okay,” she answered as if it were the most normal thing in the world. The nurse hurried to prepare the syringe and test tube, comparing her to the hundreds of kids who cry and scream in vicinity of a needle.

Marianna watched her sterilize the needle, then looked back at Mallory.

“Can I hold your hand?”

Mallory was left speechless and felt like she should distance herself before growing attached. Nevertheless, she nodded and let Marianna’s small fingers grip her own.

 “Mallory?” Sarah called into the phone, suddenly worried.

The woman was brought out of her memories and focused on the task at hand.

“Why are you bringing this up now? I haven’t heard from Dr. Roberts in years.”

Sarah explained, reciting the story she’d come up with, “I know but I have some samples I took that need to be tested,” she explained. “Discreetly,” she stressed.

Mallory thought about it and let go of the tension in her shoulders, “Alright, I thought something happened with you.”

Sarah felt terrible for lying but couldn’t see any alternative. “No, I’m doing alright, I just need to contact him for these samples. I don’t know anyone else who would do it. And he’s trustworthy.”

Mallory nodded to herself, “Alright, I’ll look for his number and email—I’ll send you the info by tonight.”

“Great, thanks Mal.”

Mallory laughed lightly, “Please, you won’t let me get involved, this is the least I can do.”

They chatted for a few more minutes before saying their goodbyes with the usual promise of talking at the same time next Sunday.

Sarah stayed seated on the park bench for a little while longer, trying her best to recall details on Dr. Roberts. She’d met him only a few times at the hospital after she had woken up from the coma.

 Mallory was seated on the edge of her cot, answering Marianna’s flood of questions. Mostly, she tried to avoid answering questions about her parents. Mallory’s heart squeezed tight every time the little one inquired about their whereabouts, and why they hadn’t still been to see her.

They were waiting for word on her final results, and when Dr. Roberts finally entered, they both fell silent.

“Good morning everyone,” he greeted, lively energy in his movements, “how are you doing today, Marianna?”

The little girl looked at Mallory and answered shyly, “M’okay”

“That sounds great,” he smiled, “I have your test results here and everything is looking good. Great, actually.”

He further explained certain details and made sure to indicate what medications she would need to take over the next few weeks.

Finally, he rose and excused himself to speak with Mallory. In the meantime, the little girl put on the clothes the woman had brought for her.

“She’s really doing fine, she must have some regenerative enhancement as well, because she’s healthier than what she should be.”

“And will the other enhancement manifest?”

“I don’t think so. It seems like it’s linked to the amygdala—the center for processing fear, stress, anxiety, and the likes—" he paused. “The accident took its toll, I think. And when she’ll remember, or you tell her, I think it’s going to effectively shut that part of her down.” He thought about it and added, “Think of it as an emotional wall.”

Mallory nodded, processing the information. The little one might have a chance at a semi-normal life.

“Just follow the instructions on the papers I gave you and you all should be fine. She just needs to be looked after and cared for. It’s going to be a shock when she finds out.”

Mallory agreed and her chest squeezed at the thought of the pain the girl would go through.

She thanked the doctor and headed back into the room.

“Are you ready to go, sweetie?”

She watched the little one scramble off the bed in fresh clothes, a small light blue backpack on her shoulders. It contained some items Mallory had brought her over the course of her stay at the clinic. There was a comb for her unruly hair, chap-stick, some crayons, and a small notebook.

“You remember what we talked about?”

The little girl nodded, “My name is Sarah now.”

Mallory smiled, her usually frigid expression melting away. She reminded her of her grandchildren at home.

“Come on, let’s go meet your new friends.”

Marianna, now officially named Sarah Burns, skipped along with her down a hallway and out of the building. As she climbed into the back of her car, Mallory scanned the premises for any watchful eyes. She slipped into the driver’s seat before looking back at Sarah.

“I was almost forgetting—I got you something,” she said reaching into her jacket pocket.

Sarah’s eyes widened at the Snickers bar she extracted. The little girl laughed and clapped her hands.

 Sarah was pulled back into the present as a little girl ran past her—she felt the movement of air in waves. The woman stood and took her leave, heading back home.

MASTERLIST

Tag list: @ateliefloresdaprimaveraa @ellejo @dust-bun @coco724  @proximio-5 @damiminator @omegahighendpro @rpgluvr95 @sweetrabbitteamx

#the boys #the boys tv #black noir #the boys amazon #fanfiction #the boys season 2 #oc story #black noir x oc

[ratingtheframe]

Enola Holmes, The Devil All the Time and i’m thinking of ending things: Everything I watched in September.

Thank God we are almost at the end of the year. With October just around the corner and 2021 in full view, it seems like the film industry is slowly piecing themselves back together after months of being on a complete hiatus. Cinemas are slowly starting to return back to normal and streaming services are now full to capacity with content.

Netflix in particular has some exciting things to come and the successful release of Harry Bradbeer’s Enola Holmes and Antonio Campos’ The Devil All the Time, has proven that their ability to produce outstanding content hasn’t been stunted at all by COVID-19. Here are the 31 titles I watched this month and for you to add to your watch list. 

Searching (2018) as seen on Netflix

Searching recently came onto Netflix, however the film was actually first released in 2018, screening at Sundance Film Festival. It had a very impressive response and grossed $75 million worldwide and with a budget of only $880,000 it was certainly a success. I rate this film highly, due to the simplicity and execution of it, with a lot of twists and turns in appropriate places. Structurally, the film is flawless and it’s clear a lot of thought had gone into the payoff of the entirety of the film. Certainly an indie filmmaker's dream and a film to watch to learn about the “less is more” rule of screenwriting.

Score: 10/10

Zodiac (2007) as seen on Netflix

I’ve been avoiding Zodiac on Netflix for a loooong time, and after watching it I wonder why I didn’t check it out sooner. David Fincher’s (Fight Club, Panic Room, the Social Network) thriller based on the case files of the “Zodiac Killer” stars the likes of Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Junior and Jake Gyllenhaal, all of which had amazing on screen chemistry. The dialogue and structure is Aaron Sorkin-esque as you figuratively become one the detectives, unravelling the case as the two and a half hour film delves deeper and deeper. You honestly feel as if you become one of the team whilst watching Zodiac and just for that, it goes down as a praise worthy film with a perfect structure and surprising twist to the end. Zodiac is the thriller of thrillers.

Score: 11/10

I See You (2019) as seen on Netflix

Now a film like I see you has me questioning

Netflix’s

choices a little. The film scores handsomely on

Rotten Tomatoes

, with a metric score of

78%,

which is quite high for a largely gimmicky film. I can’t quite fault the overall concept, however the story itself fell flat by the end. Things just seemed to mount too much to the point that it became overtly inauthentic and questionable. Instead of paying attention to the movie, I found myself picking up all the irregularities such as why a police man would suffocate someone, drive them to their own home and then shoot them in the head. Surely a policeman would just leave her in the woods? On a brighter note,

Judah Lewis’ (Babysitter: Killer Queen)

was quite praiseworthy in his performance, but it wasn’t enough to drag the film out of a hole of confusion.

Score: 2/10

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) as seen on Netflix

If there is one film that you NEED to watch from this list, it would be Terry Gilliam’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The crackhead energy in this film is OFF THE CHARTS as Johnny Depp and Benecio Del Toro play two drug addicts exploring Las Vegas. The production design in this is marvellous and really captures the psychedelic world the two men enter every time they’re high. I particularly enjoyed Depp’s narration throughout this; his voice is the most sensual yet hilarious thing to listen to for 2 hours straight. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is HILARIOUS and such a well rounded, off the wall film to watch.

Score: 12/10

I’m thinking of ending things (2020) as seen on Netflix 

Even though I watched i’m thinking of ending things nearly a month ago, I’m still recovering from it. Charlie Kaufman (Adaptation, Being John Malkovich) directs this satisfying yet highly confusing tale based on the Iain Reid book with the same title. Despite it’s perplexing plot, I certainly can’t fault the film’s performances or set design. Jesse Plemons, Jess Buckley, Toni Colette and David Thwelis made a surprisingly good ensemble and the makeup in this film is probably the best I have ever seen. HOWEVER and this is a big however, the waywardness of the story can’t override the success of artistry behind the film. I feel like there’s becoming a trend where films are visually perfect but make zero sense. By sense I mean a clear, concise story, that has character journeys and some sort of resolution at the end, no matter how big or small. I’m thinking of ending things that had just about NONE of these elements, and that doesn’t make it a bad film at all. It’s certainly not a film I’ve seen before and perhaps it raises the questions whether films need to make complete sense in order for them to be good. We can take a look at experimental cinema to delve deeper into that theory, for within this type of cinema, films can still be appreciated even when they are confusing. Perhaps the meaning of i’m thinking of ending things, is more powerful and higher than the average movie goer can understand, but still appreciate.

score: 9/10

Hacksaw Ridge (2016) as seen on Amazon Prime

Again, another film I’ve been avoiding for a loooong time and regret not watching sooner. The film stars Andrew Garfield as a devoted Christian who goes to war to serve his country, but refuses to carry a weapon yet lives to tell the tale. Preacher Desmond T. Doss saved the lives of between 50-100 men on Hacksaw Ridge during the Second World War. He was heavily commended for his service and the film itself earnt 6 Academy Award nominations. It’s a story that was born to be on screen and it’s hard to believe it was all true. Andrew Garfield’s performance was exemplary and he is definitely underrated as a truthful actor.

Score: 10/10

Fear (1996) as seen on Netflix 

I am sucker for a thriller, good OR bad and this one from 1996 was surprisingly decent. Starring Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon in their early days, Fear follows a pair of young lovers whose strong relationship turns into a possessive one, when Witherspoon’s character, Nicole learns the true intentions of her boyfriend. It's a 90s teen flick that isn’t talked about enough and certainly an easy one to get sucked into as a guilty pleasure.

Score: 10/10

Make Up (2019) as seen at the BFI Southbank 

Make Up first screened at the London Film Festival last year and was later released this year. I wanted to catch it at the festival and was glad it made it into cinemas. The eeriness of the british film directed by Claire Oakley, was a slow burnt, intriguing watch, however as artistically visual it was, a satisfying resolution to the film was missed. The payoff of the story was easy to define despite it’s ambiguity, however it wasn’t as hard hitting as it should’ve been, which is common in most indie features. The better ones expose ideas and truths in a punchy way, such as La Haine or Whiplash. The film’s genre was also undefinebale and although the story was interesting, I wouldn't be inclined to come back for more of it. 

Score: 7/10

Zoolander (2001) as seen on Netflix

I’m not a huge comedy fan, however it’s about time I watched Zoolander, for it’s probably one of the most iconic films of the early 2000s. The film follows a model targeted by a fashion brand who wants him to kill the prime minister of Malaysia. Anyone who was anyone in the 00s is in this film, from Naomi Campbell to Lil’ Kim, Paris Hilton, Donald Trump, Lenny Kravitz, Natalie Porter and even David Bowie. How they managed to get these famous faces as well as the actual cast (Owen Wilson, Ben Stiller and Will Ferrell) onto this film is certainly a mastery at casting. As far as comedies go, Zoolander is iconic and a must watch for those who are thoroughly in love with these types of outlandish films. 

Score: 8/10

American Pie (2001) as seen on Netflix 

This is the my first time seeing American Pie and for someone who hates comedies, it thoroughly made me laugh. I definitely had to look past at the amount of misogyny and questionable scenes in this film and just sit back and enjoy it all. I felt that all four leads (Jason Briggs, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Chris Klein and Eddie Kaye Thomas) were well casted as an ensemble and were really down to earth in their performances. They were authentic in being high school boys still figuring themselves out and in the end I found each one to be highly likeable. As a comedy, this is definitely a go to and an iconic film from the early 2000s. 

Score: 9/10

Clemency (2019) as seen on Amazon Prime 

A Sundance Film Festival graduate, Clemency was a deeply moving and well shot film that exposed the shocking reality of prison inmates on death row in the US. The word clemency is essentially a term used to define an act of mercy by the justice system, who at the last minute of a prison’s life can grant “clemency” if they feel worthy of doing so, stopping them from being executed. Factors such as new evidence or a parole grant can influence this decision and this film shows the abrasiveness of such an idea. Imagine being a prisoner moments away from death and because of Clemency, you sit there thinking your life can still be saved. But as this film depicts, this isn’t always the case and the masterful acting of Alfre Woodard puts this grief into context beautifully. Her performance ignited this film and it was easy to see this story got to her on a deeper level, that went beyond serving a character. A seriously good film that is professional, dynamic and heart wrenching.

Score: 10/10

Gladiator (2000) as seen on Netflix

I never saw myself as someone who would like Gladiator, however Ridley Scott’s Oscar winning film thoroughly surprised me in an unexpected way. Moving past the amazing visuals and outstanding production value of this film, the actual story itself was just so damn good. It had an excellent, Hollywood worthy structure that saw a hefty and clear journey of it’s lead, Maximus (Russell Crowe). I was VERY surprised to see Joaquin Phoenix play alongside Russell Crowe, who gave a great performance as a bratty roman emperor. Gladiator was nominated for 12 Academy Awards in 2001, which is unsurprising seeing as it's a pretty much flawless film, with the character’s fierce journey being the main contributor to this. 

Score: 11/10

American Pie 2 (2001) as seen on Netflix 

Now sequels are known to be the downfall of some films, especially as the first films were okay on their own. However, I definitely enjoyed American Pie 2 as much as I enjoyed the first. The performances of all characters seemed to get better with time and it still remained outlandish and hilarious to watch. 

Score: 9/10

3096 days (2013) as seen on Netflix

When you laugh more at a film than you should have, there’s something clearly wrong. This Netflix film based on the true story of the kidnapped Natascha Kampusch was directed by German-American director Sherry Hormann. This is gonna sound whack, but one of the most annoying things about this film was the lighting. It felt as if it was never truly dark in this film and because of that, it distracted from the fear of the situation young Natascha was in. Lighting plays an important role in thrillers and horror films, as the idea of these films is to keep people constantly on edge and the dark is something that does that perfectly. I felt safe when watching this film and although it’s meant to be a biopic, I don’t think it captured Natascha’s situation as best as it could have. Another thing that really let the film down was the dubbing from German to English. This is a pet peeve I have with films, but is understandable seeing as the majority of people are too lazy to follow foreign language subtitles and miss out on some of the best films ever made. Because of this, it forces foreign language films to cater towards an English speaking market so the film becomes more viable. I would’ve respected this film a lot more if it was completely in German and had English subtitles.

Score: 5/10

Cruel Intentions (1999) as seen on Netflix

About a year ago, I saw the Glenn Close and John Malkovich film version of the french novel Dangerous Liaisons and I fell asleep. Maybe it was the film I had seen before it that had made me nod off or the fact I couldn’t understand what the hell was going on. However, Cruel Intentions follows the same story with younger leads; Sarah Michelle Geller, Ryan Phillipe and Reese Witherspoon and is set in the modern day. As you can probably tell by now, I am a sucker for a 90s teen movie and Cruel Intentions was all that and more, for the performances and story structure in this film were top notch. Ryan Phillipe is a much underrated actor and heartthrob, playing a jealous and callous Sebastian, the step brother of Sarah Michelle Geller’s character, Kathryn. Both of them were spiteful, abrasive and mean and I LOVED IT. Their non-fuckery was enviable as they cheat and turn the lives of others upside down. Reese Witherspoon was an angel in this film, and I thoroughly appreciated the strength of her character throughout. Cruel Intentions sits highly as a film from the 90s and boasts a hoard of young talent from that era.

Score: 10/10

Wildlife (2018) as seen on Netflix

If you are in love with Paul Dano as much as I am, you’re gonna want to marry him after you find out that he’s also a director. His first feature Wildlife, stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan as a couple battling the demons in their relationship whilst caring for their young son. I really really REALLY can’t wait to see what Paul Dano directs in the future based off this film. It’s everything I love about a good indie film; well shot, a perfect cast and a touching story. It truly is a beautiful film and one I would recommend to my indie lovers out there.

Score: 10/10

The Perks of Being A Wallflower (2012) as seen on Netflix

My excuse for not having seen The Perks of Being A Wallflower is that I thought it would be yet another predictable high school blunder, with flat dialogue and basic character arcs. And I was half right in that. The first half of the film (mostly exposition) was filled with cringey dialogue and basic high school motifs that set up the film. Some moments were overtly far fetched and it took me a while to fall in love with the main character instead of feeling desperately sorry for him ALL THE TIME. Ezra Miller, Emma Watson and Logan Lerman all together as an ensemble was whack casting that just about worked. However, once we made it through the blizzard of exposition and got to the heart of the story, it truly was a touching and tear jerking movie to watch and for that, it scores highly. “We accept the love we think we deserve” was the ringing message of the film and certainly something I carry around with me daily as I reflect on the unfulling crushes I’ve had in the past.

Score: 9/10

The Devil All the Time (2020) as seen on Netflix

Probably my most favourite film on this list, The Devil All the Time is pure ART. I have a full review uploaded onto my tumblr account so please do check it out to see an in depth review of the Netflix film. All I will say is that it is a must watch film with an unreal cast and story.

https://ratingtheframe.tumblr.com/post/629443058079055872/the-south-of-america-meets-gritty-gothic-horror

Score: 11/10

Way of the Gun (2000) as seen on Amazon Prime 

Ryan Phillipe and Benicio del Toro star side by side in this action packed crime thriller about two guys who kidnap the wrong woman. Simple in it’s log line with the potentiality to be limitless in its telling; ie the basis of every good film. Juliette Lewis (the it girl of the 90s) also stars in the film and really compliments the performances of both leads. Any film that Juliette Lewis is in, is a good film and she is an actor with a very impressive portfolio of work under her belt.

Score: 9/10

Judy and Punch (2019) as seen on Netflix

I’ve been waiting since the end of last year to see Judy and Punch and was thrilled to see it had been put onto Netflix. However, after watching it, that thrill deteriorated and what was left was a disheartened feeling towards this film. It’s a shame to say this, seeing as the story of Judy and Punch is so satiable and fulfilled in its possibilities of telling it. However, probably the biggest problem within this film was its pace; it was too quick of a film. The beginning was organic and smooth, but as it went on it started to become continuously rushed. There were characters I didn’t have time to get to know and actually didn’t even end up knowing their names. There’s a point in the film when Judy is welcomed into an isolated society outside of her home, most of which in that society were women. I would’ve liked to get to know them better and see how they influence Judy’s character and revenge on her husband. The film felt very rushed, which is a shame because everything else; acting, production and story were well aligned.

Score: 6/10

22nd July (2018) as seen on Netflix

I remember the 22nd July 2011 as clear as day but for all the wrong reasons. On this day, 77 people in Norway were killed by a terror attack caused by a right wing, anti-immigrant supporter, Andres Brevik, who was a member of a radical organisation and spent nine years preparing his attack on Oslo and Utøya Island. The most shocking part of this massacre was what happened on Utøya Island, which was the main body of Netflix’s film 22nd July. Viljar Hanssen was a teenager attending a political youth camp on Utøya Island in the summer of 2011. Whilst on the island with his younger brother, a bomb went off in the centre of Oslo, outside a government building, killing 8 people. By the time news of the attack got to Utøya Island, its perpetrator had also arrived, and begun gunning down the kids on the island. 69 people were killed, most of which were under 18. Viljar Hanssen was shot five times, in the head, arm, legs and hand. The attack lost him an eye, several fingers and bullet fragments still remain in his brain. He also lost close friends and the ability to perform in many activities he used to do growing up. His ordeal and that of many on the island, is captured in 22nd July, that from beginning to end, approaches this story with sensitivity and facts. Out of the many events I have heard of that include a massacre of some kind, this attack always sticks out in my mind. The perpetrator was truly merciless in his rage against immigrants coming into Norway and he made sure to express that hatred in such a shocking and profound way. The entire story is one that is so hard to believe and is important in preventing future attacks of this kind.

Score: 11/10

Les Misérables (2019) as seen at Curzon Bloomsbury

Les Misérables was nominated for Best Foreign Language film this year at the Oscars and despite it being thrilling and highly well made, I felt quite disappointed by it. The film was accurate in exposing the many communities now prevalent in France today and it was definitely one of those gritty, Cannes worthy films to sink your teeth into. It's not a bad film at all, it's just one I found hard to relate to and therefore I switched off whilst watching it. In fact, I think Portrait of a Lady on Fire was a better contender as Best Foreign Language film at the Oscars and I was left fuming when I found out it hadn’t been nominated in that category. Les Misérables is a film I’d recommend but found it hard to love it overall.

Score: 9/10

A Cure for Wellness (2016) as seen on Netflix

The logline for Shutter Island (2010) is as follows: Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule, two US marshals, are sent to an asylum on a remote island in order to investigate the disappearance of a patient, where Teddy uncovers a shocking truth about the place. 

And the logline for A Cure for Wellness is as follows: Lockhart, an executive, is sent to a wellness spa in the Swiss Alps to retrieve his company's CEO. At the centre, he encounters strange activities that make him investigate the illness of the people.

Notice anything? They are literally the same film and it's not just the loglines that share an alikeness. On watching A Cure for Wellness, I noticed how similar it was to Shutter Island, from the location, to the colour grading, costumes and even lighting. Both films are almost identical and I pretty much hate both films anyway. I’ll admit, A Cure for Wellness has a better story and tells it better as well, but if it's just a rip off from Shutter Island, is it all that good? I appreciated the production value of this film yet it was hard to tear it away from Shutter Island’s own production. Overall, I found it quiet gimmicky and too close to Shutter Island for it to have much originality.

Score: 6/10

U want me 2 kill him? (2013) as seen on Netflix 

The only thing that let this film down was the acting. There’s something about solely British productions that rub me the wrong way. Admittedly, their structure is always good and the story is well put together, however the artistic side of these films lacks in parts, from acting to set design. U want me 2 kill him? Is based on a true story which really alleviated the film. I thoroughly enjoyed delving into this story and it was an interesting, engaging plot. However, its production value and acting is what let it down.

Score: 7/10

After (2019) as seen on Netflix

So in short, this wasn’t a good film. The twist was satisfying, however the rest of it was just plain annoying. Any film that uses reality tv type music in its montages pisses me off. It's just such a cringey way of showing emotion on screen and I’d much rather they use music with no lyrics or music that actually conveys the emotion of the scene. The relationship between the leads, Hardin and Tessa (Hero Fiennes-Tiffin and Josephine Langford) was very predictable and the conflict between the two only made up like 5% of the film; 2.5% at the beginning and a further 2.5% at the end. For the rest of the 95% of the film, they were pretty much happy throughout, meaning the story had nowhere to go, besides the fact that Tessa’s mom disapproves of Hardin. But besides that and a shocking revelation..that was about it. No one died, no one was really hurt. Hardin was made out to be more troubled than he actually was (his dad is chancellor of a college for fuck’s sake) and I found myself laughing when I shouldn’t be. As for After We Collided, I can’t wait to tear it apart this month.

Score: 4/10

Miss Juneteenth (2020) as seen at BFI Southbank

Miss Juneteenth is the underdog movie of the month for me. You can read a full, in depth review of it right here:

https://ratingtheframe.tumblr.com/post/630357041253400576/she-my-dream-now-miss-juneteenth-review

Score: 11/10

Monsoon (2020) as seen at BFI Southbank 

Why this film was praised by critics is unknown to me. The number one thing that this film did wrong was not showing ANY conflict on screen whatsoever, the characters merily TALKED about conflict. Conflict and actions based on those conflicts is what moves a story forward, and this film was certainly static. The story follows a man (Henry Golding) and his return to Vietnam as he learns about the war and the life he left behind. But the film shows no war, no deprivation or heartache that many vietnamese people had to go through. It's just filled with empty shots of Vietnam and Henry Golding looking out at the city. Why not just make a documentary about The Vietnam War with Henry Golding presenting it, as that is what this film was virtually. You can’t get away with nice looking shots to produce a praise worthy feature. Maybe I’m getting the wrong jist of the film, but in terms of its telling, I didn’t feel anything at all whilst watching it and if I didn’t feel anything, I wasn’t thinking about anything because it was so mundane.

Score: 5/10

The Riot Club (2014) as seen on Amazon Prime 

I’ve had a strong soft spot for Sam Claflin since he played Finnick in The Hunger Games. My crush on him was further confirmed with The Riot Club a British Production based on Laura Wade’s theatre play Posh that shows the ongoings of Oxford’s Riot Club. The group of ten men are all self entitled posh twats who think their education and parent’s money allows them to act in a horrendous way, with their initiation ceremonies and club rules. Sam Claflin plays Ryan, a 1st year student at Oxford and one of the Riot Club’s newest members. Max Irons plays Miles, another new member of the club, who becomes the focal point of Ryan’s jealousy, causing him to do some unspeakable things in one night out of envy for Miles. The ten men in the film work brilliantly as an ensemble, which is unquestionable seeing as five of them went to Guildhall School of Music and Drama, three went to LAMDA, one studied drama at University and the last went to Bristol Old Vic. All the leads in this film are well trained and it's clear to see that in their performances. A really enjoyable, yet eye opening film that exposes the privilege of some living right in the UK, including Boris Johnson and David Cameron, who were former members of this heinous club.

Score: 10/10

Enola Holmes (2020) as seen on Netflix 

Hmmm...there is a great deal of hype going around for this film and with a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Enola Holmes is well liked. This is understandable, seeing as Fleabag’s director Harry Bradbeer directed this film for Netflix and the cast includes the likes of Millie Bobbie Brown, Henry Cavill and Sam Claflin. I have never seen Millie Bobbie Brown in anything and yet I don’t think she’s doing anything special for me at this moment in time. As a viewer, I am 100% not into actors talking to the camera, a communication technique that I think should stay in theatre. I get this is a big part of Fleabag however I think Enola Holmes could have done without it. Another movie pet peeve is when the opening of a film explains what the film is about directly, something Enola Holmes did in an artistic, yet blatant way. Audiences aren’t dumb and will catch on with given clues, there’s no need to go through a character’s entire history in the opening of a film. For kids aged between 8 and 12, this film is great and Enola Holmes makes a great hero for many young girls. I don’t fall in this age bracket and therefore I enjoyed it a whole lot less.

Score: 6/10

American Murder: Family Next Door (2020) as seen on Netflix

Netflix is known for producing some of the finest, most eye opening documentaries out there. Despite this one being quite simple using found footage, its impact is certainly something that grew organically throughout the documentary. You can read my full review of American Murder: Family Next Door here:

https://ratingtheframe.tumblr.com/post/630780350645354496/netflix-documentary-delves-into-the-murder-of-a

Score: 10/10

Peppermint (2018) as seen on Netflix

I was thoroughly shocked to discover this film was made 2 years ago. You’d think we’re past a time of creating bad films that actually get released, but I guess we’re not. Peppermint was released in the same year as The Favourite, Blackkklansman and A Star is Born, three courageous films, all of which were showered with awards. Peppermint had two major problems; 1) it was boring and 2) the lead wasn’t orchestrated properly. The mexican drug cartel who murder the protagonist’s (Jennifer Garner) husband and child was almost insulting. Because it felt so inauthentic and gimmicky, I didn’t really understand why the drug cartel in the film was even mexican. Peppermint proves that a good story can turn bad in the wrong hands. The script was quite terrible and surrounding that was the nonsensical, half asked directing which saw Jennifer Garner get way too many injuries to still be alive in the end. The whole thing just had my eyes rolling, as nothing about it was original or provoking at all. In fact, the film didn’t even EXPLAIN how Garner’s character became a bloodthirsty vigilante. It merely showed us her training as a cage fighter. Das it. Nothing else in her character made her into this dominant and highly skilled fighter who takes down an ENTIRE DRUG CARTEL ONE HANDED. It, made, no, sense and sits a good example of how NOT to make a film. Also the only reason why it was called Peppermint was because of peppermint ice cream...yeah I don’t get it either.

Score: 2/10

And that is September, which marks an entire year since I’ve been critiquing movies and in that time, I’ve watched well over 350 films. There’s a lot more to come though, for the London Film Festival commences in October and titles such as Dune and the No Time to Die await a winter release. Stay tuned!

#movie review #netflix #movie recommendation #SeptemberMovies #movies #the devil all the time #enola holmes #zodiac #reviews #im thinking of ending things #cinema #bfi london film festival #bfi southbank #curzon

[insanityclause]

In the ultimate symbol of one Hollywood era ending and another beginning, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, home to James Bond and Rocky, finally found a buyer willing to pay retail: Amazon.

The e-commerce giant said on Wednesday that it would acquire the 97-year-old film and television studio for $8.45 billion — or about 40 percent more than other prospective buyers, including Apple and Comcast, thought MGM was worth. The studio, which had been shopped around for months, was once home to “more stars than the heavens,” as Louis B. Mayer liked to brag. But its vast production lot and pre-1986 film library were sold off decades ago. (Sony Pictures now occupies the lot, and Warner Bros. owns classic MGM films like “Singin’ in the Rain,” “The Wizard of Oz,” and “Gone With the Wind.”)

MGM does come with one Hollywood crown jewel: James Bond.

But even 007 has an asterisk. Amazon will own only 50 percent of the spy franchise. The balance is held by Barbara Broccoli and her brother, Michael G. Wilson. The siblings also have ironclad creative control, deciding when to make a new Bond film, who should play the title role and whether television spinoffs get made. (They have blocked such efforts in the past.)

The 25th installment in the Bond series, “No Time to Die,” is scheduled for pandemic-delayed release in theaters on Oct. 8, with Universal Pictures handling overseas distribution.

So why did Amazon pay such a startling premium?

For starters, it can. The company has $71 billion in cash and a market capitalization of $1.64 trillion.

But Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder and chief executive, is known as a conservative buyer. The purchase of Whole Foods for $13.4 billion in 2017 was the biggest acquisition in Amazon’s history. Its next-largest deals — until MGM — were for Zappos ($1.2 billion, 2009) and the smart doorbell company Ring ($1.2 billion, 2018).

The Whole Foods deal was a major strategic change for the company, pushing it into new markets of groceries and physical stores, which it had largely avoided. MGM is more about augmenting a current strategy: Amazon most likely paid more than others thought MGM was worth because of its all-important Prime membership program.

In addition to paying Amazon $119 a year or $13 a month for free shipping and other perks — notably access to the Prime Video streaming service — households with Prime memberships typically spend $3,000 a year on Amazon. That is more than twice what households without the membership spend, according to Morgan Stanley. About 200 million people pay for Prime memberships.

“More and more Prime members are using video more often, spending more hours on there, so I think this is a way to add more content and more talent around movies,” said Brian Yarbrough, a senior analyst at Edward Jones.

“This isn’t one studio buying another,” he added. “If you’re Amazon, the perspective is what’s the potential for Prime membership, what is the potential for advertising.”

In buying MGM, Amazon is bolstering Prime Video at a time when the biggest old-line studios are becoming less willing to license their libraries to outside streaming services; Warner Bros., Walt Disney Studios and Paramount Pictures must now supply corporate siblings like HBO Max, Disney+ and Paramount+.

That shift has made independent film libraries more valuable. In recent weeks, Sony Pictures licensed its old films and TV shows to Netflix and Disney in deals valued at more than $3 billion, a sharp increase from the expiring licensing agreements. Sony does not have a streaming service, unless you count the game-oriented PlayStation Network.

Although its library is diminished, MGM still owns 4,000 older movies, including pre-1986 films that come from two MGM divisions, United Artists and Orion. Those movies include “Rocky,” “RoboCop,” “The Pink Panther,” “Silence of the Lambs” and the James Bond catalog. (Fun fact: In true Hollywood fashion, MGM’s roaring lion mascot is lip-syncing; a cranky tiger sounded more ferocious.)

In addition, MGM has several movies in its pipeline that could be Oscar contenders, including “Respect,” an Aretha Franklin biopic starring Jennifer Hudson; Ridley Scott’s “House of Gucci,” starring Lady Gaga and Adam Driver; and Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest project, which stars Bradley Cooper in his first film since “A Star is Born.”

Amazon’s appetite for movies became ravenous during the pandemic. It paid $125 million for the rights to “Coming 2 America,” $80 million for “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” and $200 million for “The Tomorrow War,” a Chris Pratt adventure that will arrive on Prime on July 2. Amazon also has Oscar ambitions, buying the rights to “Sound of Metal,” which was nominated for best picture and other top awards at the most recent ceremony.

When it comes to making its own hit films, Amazon has long struggled. MGM managers could help: Michael De Luca, MGM’s movie chairman, has a track record that includes, at various companies, the “Rush Hour,” “Austin Powers” and “Fifty Shades of Grey” franchises.

MGM also has a television studio that makes “Vikings,” “The Handmaid’s Tale” and various “Real Housewives” shows. In 2014, MGM acquired Mark Burnett’s production company, One Three Media, which holds rights to competition series like “The Voice,” “Survivor” and “Shark Tank.” Mr. Burnett, a contentious figure in Hollywood because he helped shape Donald J. Trump’s image with “The Apprentice” and remained close to him during his divisive presidential term, serves as MGM’s television chairman.

Anchorage Capital, a New York investment firm, has been the majority owner of MGM for more than a decade. Before that, MGM was tossed between owners and, bitten by falling DVD revenue, eventually ending up in bankruptcy. It was worth about $2 billion in 2010, according to analysts.

Kevin Ulrich, Anchorage’s chief executive and MGM’s chairman, formally put the studio on the block late last year. Anchorage has been under pressure from various stakeholders to exit the investment, with some agitators complaining that Mr. Ulrich was overly enamored with Hollywood and should have sold years ago.

The end of MGM as a stand-alone company adds to a vast reshaping of the media business as the big seek to compete by getting even bigger. Last week, AT&T announced a deal to spin off its WarnerMedia group and combine it with Discovery Inc., a move meant to strengthen WarnerMedia’s struggling HBO Max streaming service and a nascent streaming platform owned by Discovery. In a counterattack against the tech companies that have aggressively moved into Hollywood over the last decade, Disney paid $71.3 billion for the bulk of Rupert Murdoch’s entertainment assets in 2019.

Such megadeals have left smaller studios like MGM, Lionsgate and STX Entertainment looking for lifelines. (STX, known for comedies like “Hustlers” and “Bad Moms,” merged with the Bollywood studio Eros International last summer.)

#Amazon #James Bond #The Apprentice #Jeff Bezos

[mc-slowwalker]

shipping to australia is a nightmare. anytime I go to do any online shopping I’m instantly stopped by the thought of shipping. hahahahahahaha at least that’d be a funny way to go out tho

yeah true!! every time I’m watching a vod I’ll get so startled cause they always pop up when you’re least expecting them too. I’ve only got my prime sub and I haven’t tested it but I have a feeling that twitch would still give you ads. they seem like the type

so true I’m not paying hundreds of dollars for textbooks I’m barely gonna use for half a year. oof that sucks. if I didn’t google my way through those exams I guarantee I would have failed though😅😅 then one subject that was ungoogleable, I did fail. god now I feel bad about how terrible a student I am

it’s so nice to see dream being on streams and having fun and interacting with other people !! it sucks cause I would absolutely LOVE to see dream on ppsat but I hate the idea of toxic people that would find reasons to shit on them :// like with gartic phone the other day. I felt like so toxic when the twitter updates account tweeted that dream was there cause I knew the “twitter stans” were coming. and I don’t even have a terribly negative view of stans as a whole. and then turns out it was justified and then I felt even worse. the gumi stuff pissed me off too. feeling a bit bad for dream tho. mans can’t even play with his friends without them getting attacked. I clicked on the links in your subtitle/heading/whatever it’s called when I first followed you like 6 or so months ago. was pretty funny

damnnn you’re doing all of those?? that’s tough. I dropped language (french) in yr 10 and decided to never touch maths again after I finished highschool and I loweky like maths too. oh I will 100% be telling people to touch grass that is so funny. I also can’t say anything about the nerd thing cause I just fully had the thought “what if I write an essay on the internet and it’s effect on language development”

Yes!! please tales!! where is it!! my weekly dose of happiness. I remember the last tales stream I watched like it was yesterday😪 I miss the ____ my beloved gifs that would be everywhere everytime a new character was introduced. I may have very little clue about any of the in between/the other side lore but damn were the builds insanely good. I was watching tubbo’s stream too and he said there wasn’t anything to do on the dream smp and like true ig but🥲🥲 he also said he’s been thinking about lore on twitter tho!!! so there is that !! hmm yeah I do wonder what they’re waiting for actually cause it’s been genuinely so long that c!dream’s been in the prison for. I wanna why it’s so important cause cc!dream and cc!sam put a lot of emphasis on it. and I just really really want to see what c!dream will be like out of the prison. for so many reasons

oh nooo ripppp. that’s kinda funny tho. the video was so short that was funny too. sapnap and george 2000iq moment nice. it was a nice vid tho, chill and enjoyable. so much dream content recently I feel like he’s about to drop off the face of the earth or miraculously stream something (highly unlikely but I can hope)

When streamers runs ads you gey a warning! But when vods do it it’s just a hey haha fuck you! You’re 100% right about twitch jeff bezo wouldn’t let any thing go to waste. He’s not the ceo right now but I hate him anyways. I’ve never actually used prime sub because I don’t have amazon prime, but I’ve been gifted subs a couple of times which was neat!

You know I may not be the best student but as someone who has cried a lot because of school I think it’s morally correct to be a bad student Cheat!! You’re paying then money they owe your ass so fucking much!! Abuse their resources stick it to the man. No time in life for guilt especially considering that universities are just corporations anyways they made hide behind the guise of learning but I’m calling them out no way knowledge gotta cost this much

I also love seeing dream stream with his other friends! To badly quote scott smajor, the dream team is made up of anti social sweaty fucks (affectionate). He’s always so awkward at first and ngl? Huge confidence booster /j/j. Logically I understand that twitter update accounts are useful, but I think they should all collectively take a break for a minute. Would it change anything? No. But it would make a lot of people very unhappy. I don’t even know what to do about toxic twitter stans because like, content creators and us can call them out and not at all condone their actions but we can’f actually do anything about it? It’s super frustrating. And I feel like a hypocrite too because if dream does stuff with a cc I hate I bitch about it too I just don’t have as far a reach. Like I for sure threw a whole fit when dream went on to kaceytron’s stream. Actually I tend to get upset when he goes onto streams with people who actively hate him. So I struggle with that because despite feeling like I’m justified in doing that, twitter stans feel justified in their stuff too. You could argue that it’s different because the chance that the ccs will see it is near 0 but it’s still the same behavior isn’t it? For sure not saying twitter stans are right, they piss me off how dare they say shit about gumi, but also I worry that I act similar you know?

I’m glad is was amusing I haven’t gotten any angry anons so I can never tell if the links are working or not

Listen listen it’s less that I chose this and more that they’re requirements. Spanish is a req, but I’ve always really liked spanish? I’ve found with learning languages I have to be interested in the lanrguage’s history/culture. So french makes me mad but spanish makes me feel cozy and I like it! I pick up spanish pretty fast too and I’d like to be actually fluent in it some day. Language as a whole is super interesting. Also the internet has made language even more interesting with widespread similarities and what not

Listen I would agree more with tubbo but instead Imm going to lighheartedly call him a coward who’s afraid of surprise lore! He said he would be there more often if other people logged on more often but I know for a fact other people feel the same and by him not regularly logging on he’s adding to it! I think foolish, ponk, puffy, and bbh have really upped my standards for lore. They log on at least once a week and make their own plot. Like bro if you’re bored start some shit tommy style! Personally I would make enemies with all the beets people. Tubbo has such cool lore I just wish he was willing to be a little more spontaneous. He was tired last night though so I can see his boredom beinf effected by that. I really really enjoyed bear smp those guys were so fucking funny and I will be watching more of them. Need to catch up on hermitcraft too

Who’s to say he can’t drop off the face of the planet and stream? He can multitask. Also hems been big on reddit recently so we’ll see where that leads ajddj

#anon #ask #long post

[the-fandomwriter]

Kinda wanna ask how you got into the dream smp. I got into the dream smp right after the disk saga, during that railroad skirmish. My cousin got me into it, (that was two months ago) and now I’m a clingyduo Stan that stays up late watching VODs, reading tumblr posts and SBI fanfics, and crying over compasses.

hey anon! thanks for the ask!!

i got into the smp literally a day after the disc war ahaha my best online friend has been a fan for a while and she kept posting stuff about the smp on instagram, so i finally asked her about it since i used to be a BIG minecraft fan (before dsmp i watched a lot of ldshadowlady, grian, smallishbeans, fwhip, hbomb (ironically), parker plays etc etc) and i had been going back and rewatching old minecfrat series during quarantine so new content was PERFECT

i watched tommy’s main channel highlights of the war, then wilbur’s videos as well. after that i went on to discover what vods channels were and started syaing up to date with the streams via youtube. I caught myself up to date through the highlight videos and said online bestie helped me 

i downloaded twitter again just to stay up to date, got twitch AND managed to get my own amazon (branched off of my parents cause they thought i’d buy stuff off of their lmao) so i could sub w twitch prime!

i haven’t been a fan for long but i absolutely adore what they do, it’s so well done and i admire their creativity to a means i cannot express. almost ten years ago i was watching stampylongnose building in his lovely world, and now i’ve got myself fully invested in streamers who roleplay in this silly little block game about loss, sacrifice, corruption, governments, and found families. fuckin insane, man.

also,, that last bit was so fucking accurate, me too, anon, me too :,)

#dream smp #lmanberg #lmanburg #pogtopia #tubbo #dream smp memes #tommyinnit #wilbur soot #wilbursoot #tommy and tubbo

[vampiregirl1797]

Virginity Can Be A Fickle Thing: Part Two

Lucifer Morningstar x Virgin Female Reader

 GIF Not Mine

 For My Masterlist, Click Here.

For Part One, Click here.

It had been exactly one week since Lucifer and I had made our “arrangement.” I had been more than willing to go through with losing my virginity to him then and there, but he had insisted that he wanted me sober and completely aware of what I was agreeing to. Maze had been surprised when I told her, but I wasn’t at all taken aback by his actions—he’d always been kind and considerate with me; it was one of the things I loved about him.

 Lucifer had told me to take one week to really think about whether I wanted this, and if my answer was yes all I had to do was find him and he would happily take care of all my sexual desires—his words, not mine. And I was sure, my mind hadn’t changed after I’d sobered up, if anything that made me even more certain. He was right, he fulfilled every quality I wanted the first man I slept with to have and more, if that were even possible. I was ready to do this. Which was how I’d found myself getting a cab to Lux and wondering in, looking for the sexy devil—he was usually easy to spot in a crowd and my inability to do that convinced me that he wasn’t here. So, I wondered over to the bar, managing to snag a seat as I waited for Maze to be free.

 ‘If you’re looking for Lucifer, he’s upstairs. Didn’t feel like partying tonight.’ Maze’s voice snapped me out of my trance, ‘there’s a first time for everything I guess.’

 ‘Is he okay?’ I asked, concerned.

 Maze shrugged, ‘he didn’t want to talk to me, maybe you’ll have better luck.’

She gestured towards Lucifer’s personal elevator and I headed over to it without hesitation, typing in the code that took me straight up to his floor. The ride was quick and soon I was stepping out into the devil’s penthouse, feeling the ball of concern grow in my gut at how quiet it was.

 ‘Lucifer?’ I called out, not noticing him in his living room or kitchen, so I decided to head towards his bedroom and he was in there, well technically. He was on the balcony that adjoined onto the room, his hands braced on the railing as he looked out onto the sparkling city below him. He was shirtless and his shoulders were slumped as if he were defeated. I didn’t hesitate and stepped out into the chilly night air, gently closing the glass door behind me and standing next to him.

 ‘It’s a beautiful view.’ I murmured quietly, not wanting to disrupt the quiet bubble that existed around us in that moment.

 I gazed away from the city and over to him, startled when I saw he was already watching at me. His eyes were rimmed red as if he’d been crying; he looked so vulnerable that I just couldn’t hold myself back. I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him tightly. My own eyes fell shut when I felt him rest his head against my shoulder; he seemed to fall into me, no longer strong enough to hold himself together. We didn’t speak, I just continued to hold him, one hand stroking along his spine and the other moving through his hair, both gestures intended to comfort him. By the way he seemed to relax in my arms, his muscles unwinding from the tense state they’d been coiled in before, I assumed it was successful. I had to hold back my own tears when I felt a few fall from his eyes and onto my shoulder. This was Lucifer, a man that was usually brimming with confidence, authority and a questionable sense of humour. To see him so crushed and helpless broke my heart and made me want to destroy whatever had hurt him.

 I don’t know how much time had passed when his head lifted from my shoulder to look down at me. His eyes were still red from crying, but the pain that had been present in them before had reduced exponentially in size. Now, the softness in his gaze was making my insides melt, I didn’t know what it meant or why he was looking at me like that but you’d never find me complaining about it.

 ‘What happened?’ I murmured, involuntarily leaning into his touch when he caressed the side of my face.

 ‘I’ve had a terrible day,’ he smiled gently at my reaction to his touch, ‘someone stole my wings.’

 ‘What?’ I startled, feeling anger bubbling up in my belly at his behalf, ‘who?’

 ‘I don’t know, but I assure you I will be getting them back.’ His tone bled with so much certitude that only an idiot wouldn’t have believed that.

 ‘Still, I’m sorry. I know you asked Maze to cut them off for a reason, but they were still important to you, or you wouldn’t have kept them all this time.’

 ‘They were a part of me once, a gift from my father.’ He said, which I already knew but I suspected the purpose of his words weren’t to inform me, ‘it feels like a part of who I am has been stolen.’

 ‘Those wings are just a physical representation of that part of you. Lucifer, that piece is still inside of you,’ my hand moved from his spine to cover his heart, ‘and it’s a piece that no one can ever steal, because it’s a part of who you are. As for the wings, you’ll get them back. I know you will.’

 Just as I was starting to worry that I’d said something wrong, his lips met my forehead and as he tenderly kissed the skin whispered, ‘thank you darling.’

 ‘I’m always here for you, you know that.’ I replied, albeit a little shakily; the kiss had thrown me off. I’d never been kissed on the forehead before and I hadn’t expected it to feel so intimate, or for my skin to tingle so much.

 ‘Right, well I think I’m due a night in.’ he announced abruptly, making me jump a little.

 I had to hold back my frown when he moved away from me, taking the warmth that had wrapped around us both with him.

 ‘I’ll go and get some drinks.’ He smiled a little nervously, which was a drastic contrast to Lucifer’s usual suave confidence.

 I followed him through his bedroom and into the living area. I took a seat on the sofa as he went to the kitchen and I couldn’t hold back my smile as my eyes fell on the blanket folded on the love seat. It was something he hadn’t owned until he’d met me—I got cold easily and after I’d been over a few times to hang out he’d noticed my sensitivity. The next time I’d come over the blanket had been on the loveseat, which was where I usually sat. I’d smiled so big and hugged him for his thoughtful gesture. He’d waved it off, but the smile on his face told me he was happy with my reaction. I migrated over to that seat, unfolding the blanket and snuggling underneath it. My eyes slid shut as I relished in the softness of the grey fabric. I didn’t know where he’d got it from, but it was the fluffiest thing I’d ever had wrapped around me.

 ‘You’re not falling asleep on me are you, darling?’ Lucifer’s amused voice caused my eyes to snap open.

 I narrowed my eyes playfully as I accepted my water from him and lifted up the left side of the blanket so he could slide in next to me. Us cuddling together was an action that we were both used to by now. It had started after I’d fallen asleep on his shoulder one night a few months ago. I’d woken up cuddled into his side and we’d both agreed there and then to do it more often, seeing no reason why not.

 ‘Not yet. Give me an hour.’ I teased, my eyes actually starting to feel a little heavy.

 ‘Long day?’ his arm wound around my shoulders so that I could settle more fully onto his chest. A long breath left me as I eased into a state of relaxation that only Lucifer could induce.

 ‘Not really.’ I said, my index finger absently drawing shapes on his chest. The truth was, I’d spent most of the day trying to find the confidence to come over and take the devil up on his offer, but I didn’t want to mention that now—I didn’t want to draw attention to my lustful desires. His problem was more important.

 ‘I’m always tired when I’m around you, it must just be your personality.’ I teased, grinning when I both felt and heard him chuckle at my jesting.

 ‘And people say I’m the devil. It seems to me that you could give yours truly a run for my money.’

 ‘Don’t sell yourself short.’ I lightly scolded him, but the sting was taken out of my words when he started running his fingers through my hair, soothing me so much that I swear my bones melted.

 It was strange; before I’d met Lucifer, I’d never felt this comfortable around a man. Usually I didn’t know how to talk to the opposite sex, but that was an obstacle I’d never had to face in the past year that I’d known him. I could tell him anything without fear of judgement and I knew I could trust that whatever I told him would stay between us. I could count on him to be there for me when I was sick, sad, or downright depressed. He always took the time to ask what I needed, and no matter what it was, he would do it for me. Like when I’d got my period after a month of us knowing each other, he’d offered to have a lazy day with me. He went all out—bought some cheesy movies on Amazon prime, stocked up on chocolate and ice cream, hell he’d even worn sweats so I wouldn’t feel out of place in my pyjamas. That had been the first time someone had done something so thoughtful for me, and I hadn’t even asked, he just knew what I needed before I did. And just as he was there for me when I needed him, I was there for him. I’d been there when his friend and therapist, Linda, had froze Lucifer out when she’d found out that he’d been sincere about his true identity. Though I think the biggest turning point in our relationship for him had been when he’d shown me his true face. It had been after Chloe had seen it; that had been the act that finally convinced her of his individuality. He’d been so… sad that someone he had considered his friend had rejected him in the revelation of who he truly was.

 That night, I’d gone over to comfort him, not knowing the exact details but I’d had a bad feeling when he didn’t answer any of my calls or texts. One thing had led to another and he’d transformed. It had only been for a second, but I hadn’t run, nor had I been surprised. He’d questioned my reaction and I’d told him that while I’d never seen or asked about his other face, I’d assumed it had existed. Call me crazy, but I’d believed him when he told me he was the devil. After getting to know him and observing his disgust and low tolerance for lies, it wasn’t hard to deduce that he was being sincere. So that was that, and we became closer than ever before.

 Over the past year, we hadn’t gone a day without talking to or even seeing one another. To be honest, I think I’d feel a little lost if I did, the ache in my chest at the mere thought supported that theory. I felt myself stiffen as I realised… this wasn’t how a friend felt about another friend. This was how a girlfriend felt about a boyfriend. How someone felt about someone they were in love with.

 Oh. My. God.

 I knew I had feelings for him, and that I loved him but I didn’t know I was in love with him. Shit. What was I going to do? I took a deep breath, relaxing my muscles before Lucifer could question me. Was this a bad thing? Worst comes to worse, he doesn’t feel the same way. If that’s the case, I’d have to take some time to sort out my feelings, but I was confident we could still be friends. But the small chance that he may feel the same made me summon all of my courage.

 ‘Lucifer?’ I cleared my throat, my index finger resumed in making random shapes on his chest.

 ‘Yes, love?’

 I took a deep breath. Here goes nothing, ‘I’m in love with you.’

Click here for Part Three.

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