#what is this possibly trying to say about alberta?

[kisari-vibes]

2 bros chilling in a hot tub right across each other in the county cold of Alberta in a small tin hot tub lit by a fire while wearing cowboy hats with your horses on the side.

Honestly, a flex tbh.

#wackest ad ive ever seen Canada #but go off ig #ohhh Alberta #air canada #travel Alberta #what is this possibly trying to say about alberta? #please visit us! we have cold gay cowboys!

[skatesnstuff]

Omg we need jacks reaction to coles sister dating Colton!!

rowdy ~ c. dach

a.n: this is one i’ve been so excited to write!! it’s set in june, the first time caufieldsister! brings colton (or any boy for that matter) to the lake house :)

i nervously play with colton’s hand that’s been sitting on my lap the whole drive over here. we’d been in alberta with his parents and extended family for his cousins wedding the last week, and the boys had been begging me to come out to the house. especially jack.

“you nervous?” i glance up at my brother in the drivers seat. “not really.”

colton squeezes my hand. “it’s gonna be fine. i should be more nervous than you, my love.” he let’s out a chuckle and i try to smile back.

the reality is, he is most definitely not more nervous than i am. i’m on the verge of a nervous break because of how unsure i am of how jack will react. quinn was a sweetheart, already commenting on my posts about colt and luke had thrown me a big congratulations dinner (which was a bit much), but i’d heard nothing from jack like that. of course he still talked to me, but he never once mentioned wanting to meet, hear from or see my boyfriend. i’d mentioned him a few times when we talked and he changed the subject as quickly as possible. now, i was bringing colton straight into the lions den. it was nauseating.

“so, who’s all there?” don’t say jack, don’t say jack, don’t say- “quinn and petey came together last night. jamie and trevor came together a couple days ago, but jack had to pick them up from the airport. luke and a couple of his michigan friends have been here since the devils were knocked out.”

i nod softly, looking out the window as we turn onto the street where the house is. i hop out of the car after colton, and i can’t help the smile that comes to my face as i remember the memories it holds.

“BUG!!” my head turns at the childhood nickname to see quinn and luke barrelling towards me.

i grin wider, clinging on to them both as they hug me. when they pull away, my glance is grateful as luke shakes hands with colton. “hey man, how’ve you been?”

my view of the reunion is cut short by a pair of arms around my waist, lifting me up and spinning me. i know who it is before he puts me down.

“ROWDY! PUT ME DOWN!” he laughs, complying with my shout and placing my feet on the concrete. he envelopes me in his arms. “i hate you.” is the first thing i mutter into his chest.

“nah, you love me.” i roll my eyes. “never say ‘nah’ again. you’re so cringy.” his arm is still around my shoulder when my boyfriend calls.

“hey, baby, do you want me to take your stuff up to the house?”

i look back over at him. feel the boy beside me tense. “no, my love, but thank you. i wanna show you my room! you coming, rowdy?” he shakes his head.

“no, i’m good. i’ll see you later.” he glares over at colton, and then he walks away. what the fuck?

i walk over to colton, confused as hell. “everything okay?” i nod slowly. then shrug. “he’s being weird.”

his arm around me in a second, pulling me closer. “it’s gonna be fine.” a deep breath is all it takes to plaster a smile on my face and walk into the house.

once a few hours have gone by and dinner’s being prepared, i stick my head out from where i’ve been cooking in the kitchen. “hey jack?! can you bring me the big pot from in the dining room?!” “yeah, one second!”

i turn back into the kitchen to see colton with his eyebrows furrowed. “what?” “why is the pot in the dining room?” i shrug. “the boys aren’t very good at cooking so i put things in places so they can feel like they’re helping without fucking up my food.” he bursts into laughter. “you’re such a mom!” “i know, i know. but i like to see them happy.”

“hey bug, i found it but it’s got a bunch of dust on it so you might need to wash it.” jack says as he walks into the kitchen, stopping dead in his tracks when he sees colton. i grab it from him and hand it back to colton. “thanks, j. do you want anything to drink? i can-“ “no, i’m fine. wouldn’t want to intrude.”

and he starts to walk away. “i’ll be right back.” i follow jack before colton can protest, jogging a little to catch up with him. “j. jack, wait!” he spins around, a confused look on his face. “what’s wrong?” i scoff. “what’s wrong? you’ve been acting like a fucking asshole for hours! is it because i brought colton? cause your mom said she thought it would be fine.”

he sighs, running a hand through his hair. “no, it’s not that. i just- it’s a hard pill for me to swallow.” i cock my head. “what do you mean?” “look, bug, i know you’re happy, okay? i see it when you’re with him. but it’s really hard for me to be happy for you guys when i’ve wanted it to be me and thought it would be me our whole lives.”

i shake my head, biting the inside of my cheek to hold in my anger. “jack, listen to me very carefully. i know this is hard for you, i get that. but how do you think i feel? you’re my best friend, but my whole life all i’ve heard was how perfect we were for each other. now i’ve found someone who loves me, and i love him so much. i need you to know that this shouldn’t change the beautiful friendship we have, because i still love you. it’s just… not the same. and i won’t apologize for that.”

he’s nodding, and a sigh of relief leaves me. “i understand. i just want you to know it’s a big change for me and i might not be… myself for a bit. but i’ll try. i promise, buggy.”

i smile as he hugs me. “thank you, j.” i look up at him when he says my name.

“he really makes you happy?”

i nod. “he makes me the happiest.”

a.n: idk how good this is but here you are! i’m so sorry it took FOREVER, i’ve been camping with minimal service and lots of family time so i’ll try to get back into it! please feel free to request anything, including other players and ideas for them as well!! much love <3 - lily

#hockey #team canada #colton dach #hockey imagines #nhl imagines #cole caufield #hockey blurb #jack hughes #quinn hughes #luke hughes

[dozing-marshmallow]

Hiii!

Can you maybe do a Chris McLean x male reader, Where the reader is jealous of Lindsay because how Chris reacted for her costume in super hero-id? Where all contestants must dress as superheroes. (And maybe reader is Chris assistant or something?)

Hello! Thanks for the request, enjoy! 💖

CHRIS MCLEAN X MALE! ASSISTANT READER ONE SHOT

Your boss, Chris, was someone you admired. A lot. He was someone you were ashamed to say, was somewhat a second father to you. Embarrassing, but at least there was some reason since you were��in proximity with the guy twenty four seven.

He was all you wanted to be by the time you could call yourself a man. Rich, handsome, famous...

Some day, you’d take the mirror out to admire a flawless face, not to keep watch on those zits.

Sigh... Let’s hope that the new skincare routine will do something good.

You observe the contestants showcase their costumes. In total, there was Lumberwoman, Timberman, Captain Alberta, All-Seeing Eye, the Human Cricket, Super Aqua Chick, and Wonder Woman. Any one of those you’ve heard before? Thank Lindsay for that.

Though Chris said all designs had to be original, he simply allowed it and deemed her the winner.

Like that.

With a smile and pleased eyes.

You couldn’t believe what you were seeing. You were over here breaking your back, hands and feet for your boss without a single second look, and here Lindsay was, getting praised by him without trying.

Maybe that was it. She was being herself and not forcing anything...

Yeah well, it’s hard to not force anything when I’m the one who has to heed Chris’ needs.

Not to mention, he can’t replace a contestant as easily as he can an assistant.

If I were a contestant... Would I able to impress him on challenges?

“Boss... Did you really grow up with Wonder Woman?” you needed to know. It was difficult keeping track of when Chris did give the pretty people an advantage solely for...being pretty.

“Sure I did!” he shrugs, blind to your green eye towards the red dressed girl,“Though I might have exaggerated on Lindsay’s costume just to tick off old Courtney.” he then sighs,“Her and her lawyers have been a massive pain in the butt, but at the end of the day, it’s still my show. I won’t let court men threaten my authority.”

You can’t explain the rain of relief you felt when he said that,“Oh so... You weren’t actually all that impressed by her skills? You were pretending?”

“Why? You jealous of Lindsay, (Y/N)?” he smirked, but you were cautious if it was pulled by strings.

“O-Of course not! I mean, sure she is very beautiful...” granted, she was very good at makeup, so maybe she had some concealed flaws,“And...she is talented...” All the more reason to hate yourself.

“If only someone could say the same about you.” hey, your boss wasn’t very well known for being comforting.

“Sir...”

He laughs,“What, like I lied!”

“Maybe...” you hopelessly sigh, feeling how unfair it was that you had to be so ugly. Why couldn’t you have nice hair, nice skin like Lindsay? It’s not fair,“Puberty hasn’t been the kindest to me...” it’s not fair.

“You also?“ Chris looks up at you,“Yeah, back when I was a teen, I always had at least three of those jerks laying around somewhere on my face.”

“And now you are known as one of the spunkiest guys alive.” you take Chris’ anecdote as a chance to ask for expansion on it, a possible cure. The guy did like talking about himself, so maybe he’ll slip it in,“What’s your secret, boss?”

“It’s secret for a reason.” Ah...you underestimated him,“I should have made it part of your uniform to wear make up, but eh, I like looking at your face.”

“You... You do?” that made you happier than it should’ve.

“You know when something is so hideous, it’s handsome?”

Y-Yeah? That’s not what you wanted to hear after, but you’ll take it, I guess?

“That’s the best way to describe it. But of course, good looks aren’t everything. You’ve gotta have something on the inside to make it really alive.” He could be motivational when he wanted to, which was always.

“And Lindsay has that too.” your mind kept wickedly leading you to the apparition of the “Dumb Princess”.

You didn’t notice how creeped out Chris was getting,“You seem to like bringing her up a lot, dude. Do you like her or something?”

You sigh again,“How can’t I? She’s beautiful, popular and a favourite.”

“You could be that too you know.” this was a lot of emotion from an assistant for one day,“I don’t know why you’re acting like you’re permanently disfigured bro.”

“Because that’s how it feels like, boss.” you couldn’t stop your mouth now,“Nothing I do ever works- in fact, it only seems to make my chances of ever feeling good lower. Even you yourself said that I’m only pretty because I’m so hideous. How can someone like that recover?”

Well, this was wrong. The assistant was supposed to be helping him, not the other way ‘round. He’ll stitch the wound this time though,“Dude...remember when I told you I exaggerated on Lindsay’s costume?”

“Yes?”

“I was doing that there as well when I said that. If I really thought that way, I wouldn’t have even listed you for an interview.” Chris hated having to explain his hyperboles, but the cameras weren’t on him so he’d allow it for one time.

You feel stupid,“Really?” How haven’t you installed that sarcasm detector yet?

Your boss nods, more relaxed now that he cleared the misunderstanding,“No kidding. Everyone’s timing is different, so don’t compare yourself so much.” Aw... You needed that confidence boost,“Now do me a favour and get me my usual. Therapy isn’t free and I’m dying for something to drink.”

He really was the greatest,“Right away, Chris.”

#chris mclean #total drama #request #td chris #total drama island chris #total drama chris mclean #chris mclean x reader #tdi x reader #td chris mclean x reader #tdi #total drama chris

[missielynne]

CBS Ghosts Review: The Polterguest

This was such a good, weird episode! My gosh, watching Sam try and get dirt on Saul while stalling the guy he was attached to was so painful to watch. Like I fast-forwarded through some of it because it gave me such second-hand embarrassment for her. (And it was kind of a shame since Saul as a character is so fun and I would have loved to just watch his introduction without the distraction from the rest of it, but then we wouldn't have the episode.)

Saul and Alberta had really good chemistry and it was just wonderful to see them talk and reminisce about their shared living time. (I also found the fact that Saul died from being hit in the head by a baseball kind of funny cause that actually happened in 1920 to a guy named Ray Chapman.)

It was so fun to watch Isaac and Nigel plan their wedding! Now, normally (as we will see with my thoughts on Sam and Jay later on) being on board as a couple with stuff like this and compromising is good but I really just want Isaac to have his dinosaur wedding or at the very least get to go down the aisle to the Jurassic Park theme because that is just awesome and fun and not something I would have expected of him at all, compared to whatever stereotypical plan Hetty and Nigel come up with.

I definitely winced a little when Jenkins did the lap dance, not because of the thing itself, but because we all know that Jenkins has openly tried to sabotage Nisaac before, and even on Nigel's side, he has kind of a bad habit of going back to Jenkins as a fallback guy if Isaac is out of sight, out of mind (although hopefully that's done now that Nigel lives in the mansion and he and Isaac are engaged.) I've said it to nonnies and I mean it that if Nancy isn't part of Nisaac's wedding, I will be so bummed. That would be a major missed opportunity not to include, somehow, a person outside Hetty and Isaac who Nigel has managed to form a genuine connection with. Plus the look on Hetty's face during the ceremony would be priceless.

As for Isaac's lap dance, I love that the guy included the dinosaur parts in it AND that Isaac actually seemed to be enjoying himself rather than being disgusted or like, refusing it (which I thought he would based on his reaction to the come-on of George the Horny Puritan.)

The fact that Saul turned out to be clingy and kind of weird surprised me (What is it about Alberta that just attracts complete weirdos?) But it made for an excellent pun/explanation about why he himself was a poltergeist. I really appreciated that.

What I didn't appreciate was Sam insisting that Jay let Saul attach himself to him for god knows how long until things with Saul and Alberta ran their course (if they ever did.) That's not like asking Jay to take a watch off Elias's corpse or dig around Flower's death spot for anything she had on her to bring her back. That's a long lasting thing that will actually affect him?) So for that reason I was glad that Saul was clingy and Alberta wanted to break up with him, cause that took the pressure off Jay.

I know Sam feels the need to help the ghosts live fuller afterlives because she's nice and she loves them and she can, but I really wish she would bring Jay in for times like that so they could come up with a solution as a pair that would benefit everyone (if one is possible. Sometimes they'd just need Jay to say "Sorry we can't do that, suck it up.") Because her strong-arming him and picking the ghosts over him just because he's the nicest guy ever is starting to hurt me and make me not like her. I don't like her treating Jay like the ghosts treat her, taking advantage because he's just too nice. They both love the ghosts and want them in their lives, but they also have non-ghost stuff to consider, like their marriage and business. They can compromise and make it all work and I want to see that happen for real.

Great episode. Definitely will watch on repeat.

#cbs ghosts #cbs ghosts spoilers #missie's ghosts reviews

[kingedmundsroyalmurder]

The Blue Castle, chapter 11

It's interesting that Olive's greatest joy is to be a famous musician. I'd have thought it would be something like marrying for both love and money -- something Stirling approved and a subtle dig at Valancy. Clearly I underestimated her. Interesting also that Aunt Wellington, who married in, has a desire unconnected to marriage or personal ailments. She's portrayed as one of the clan's tyrants, but how many dreams did young, pretty, wealthy Mary Maiden-name-not-given give up when she married Wellington Stirling?

I have never been to Youth Group, but there was a discussion earlier in the tag about how Mrs. Fredrick's holier-than-thou response was the equivalent of someone saying their favorite book was the bible, and I can picture the scene so perfectly. I didn't classify Mrs. Fredrick as one of the clan tyrants, because her financial poverty seems to put her fairly low in the pecking order, but she is just as obsessed with one-upmanship as the rest of them.

We're going back once again to the incredible power of social shame. All it takes to throw the entire dinner party into an absolute panic is Valancy making two comments. Is she slightly rude to Uncle Benjamin? Possibly. Is she ruder to him than anyone has been to her? Definitely not. But the Stirling rudeness is done under the guise of "helpful" advice and commentary -- they're not criticizing, they're just saying -- and so Valancy breaking that social contract and being blunt is unthinkable. In three sentences, Valancy destroys the entire carefully constructed façade, and all power to her for doing so.

Credit to Uncle Herbert for trying to smooth things over in a way that's not trying to squash Valancy. Sure, he wants her to stop talking because it's causing a fuss at the party, but he does so by checking if she's okay, not trying to terrify and bully her back into submission. And frankly, I don't blame the poor man for wanting his wedding lunch to go smoothly. Having people fighting in front of you is deeply stressful, and on top of that you know that this will be brought up at every single anniversary lunch he and Aunt Alberta have for the rest of forever.

You know, I bet Uncle Wellington thought that Barney Snaith would be a safe topic of conversation, one that didn't concern Valancy and one that she had no interest in and thus would not be inclined to disrupt. Shame for him that he is completely wrong about that. Sounds like even Valancy didn't quite realize how much of an interest she had in the topic, until she found herself at liberty to express it.

"Generally when Uncle James lifted his eyebrows the world came to an end. This time it continued to function." What an absolutely delightful turn of phrase. I love it.

Is this the first time we've heard mention of Cissy Gay? Clearly she's a known quantity in the community, but I don't remember if she's been explicitly mentioned before.

And so Valancy makes her triumphant exit, leaving utter devastation in her wake. Once again, it's remarkable how little it took to bring the whole family to its knees. These are people who are very used to getting what they want, and what they want is strict obedience and social cohesion. Even the nicer ones have don't rock the boat engraved into them as their overriding motivation. They simply cannot cope with someone who simply does not care what the boat does in response to their actions.

“Well, that’s settled. In the meantime, Amelia, act as if nothing had happened and keep an eye on her. Don’t let her be alone. Above all, don’t let her sleep alone.”  Valancy's fears that telling her family about her diagnosis would lead to them insisting on sharing her bed were spot on, I see. One assumes those fears came from experience, not simple projection or anxiety.

#blue castle book club #blue castle chapter 11

[msmargaretmurry]

"slow goodbye" leon/matthew

back at it again with the fic title prompts!! i have a few of these left and i am Determined to get through them by end of the long weekend. i was going to do more of them today but instead i went and bought a bunch of plants, and then i had to be responsible for all those plants. happens to the best of us.

(also, to the anon who send a pov flip ask like a month ago at this point — i promise i haven't forgotten about it! i will get to it. hopefully soon!!!)

ANYWAY: y'all can't get mad at me for this, because i didn't pick the title, and the title is CLEARLY for a breakup fic. i'm feeling something set during the 2022 battle of alberta series.

i think for this one i would lightly plagiarize myself by yoinking the structure i used for send me off to a foreign land, with play-by-play of that last game of the series breaking up the scenes leading up to it.

so matthew and leon have been doing the frenemies with benefits thing for a while — let's be cliche, let's let them have first hooked up at the 2020 all star game — hooked up one other time that season, then didn't again for a while because of all the covid chaos, and then started up again during the 2021–22 preseason and have been going pretty strong all season. they're not friends, not really, but they're both kind of soft at their cores, so hooking up a bunch has unfortunately fostered some fondness between them. and by "fostered some fondness" i mean that they're a little obsessed with each other. not that they'll admit that. possibly they won't even admit it to themselves.

the oilers get to town for the playoff series a couple days before game one and they decide, okay, let's just hook up once and then we're not talking to each other until the series is over. surely this is a good and fine plan and nothing could go wrong. leon sneaks off to matthew's for the evening, a process that is far too familiar by now. matthew offers him a beer, but won't be having one himself — he doesn't drink during the playoffs — so leon abstains as well. it feels a little weird because they usually have a drink first, but everything already feels kind of weirdly charged in a way leon can't quite put his finger on, so — whatever. they stare at each other in the foyer for a moment, and then matthew asks, "do you think this is a bad idea?"

leon says, "do you think it's ever really been a good idea?"

"fair enough," matthew says. they go upstairs, have some sex that is somehow tenderhorny and fucknasty at the same time. is it a teensy bit possessive? perhaps! there's just something about it that already feels strangely final. probably because whichever of them loses this playoff series is going to hold a grudge about it forever. possibly too much of a grudge to keep doing this. matthew is careful with leon's ankle without ever actually acknowledging out loud how transparently bad the injury is, which for some reason makes leon feel awfully vulnerable.

afterward when they're lying together all sweaty and naked, not quite cuddling but not quite not cuddling, after a long silence, matthew says without looking at leon, "i don't think i'm gonna re-sign in calgary."

"what?" leon asks, then, "why are you telling me this?"

matthew shrugs. "i don't know. i wanted to say it out loud, i guess. and i can't say it to anyone here yet. and i don't want to say it to my family yet. obviously if, you know, we win the cup or whatever, maybe i'll change my mind, but. i dunno. i think it'll be good for me to get out of here."

leon spends a long minute turning all of this over in his head and trying to process the strangely strong feelings he has about it. about matthew telling him — about matthew telling him, specifically, because he doesn't matter enough to keep it from him.

eventually he says, "well, you're not winning the cup anyway. because we're gonna kick your ass."

matthew snorts, but rolls onto leon to kiss him, and they don't wind up going again but they do make out for a very long time.

meanwhile in game five, leon is fully focused on the game, except for some fleeting moments between whistles when he finds himself looking for matthew. he's pretty sure matthew is injured, and he can't figure out if matthew was injured when they hooked up and he just didn't notice. the game is an absolute battle, lots of trading leads and tying it back up again, so he really needs to fucking focus. his foot feels like it's going to fall off. he wants to win so fucking badly.

and then — they do win. leon sets connor up for that otgwg and they are so relieved and so happy, and it's not until he's shaking matthew's hand in the handshake line that he realizes that the other night felt final because it was final. no one else in the world knows that matthew is probably leaving calgary, but leon knows, and he wishes he didn't. because if he didn't know, then he wouldn't have to wonder where he's going, and how much futher away it'll be.

he texts matthew after the game, even though he knows matthew won't want to hear it: good game. and good luck this summer.

matthew texts back: thanks. take care.

#i mean. obviously later in life they'll get back together. #but probably not for like 5–10 business years #and that would be another story entirely #ask #writing meme #matthew and leon #hockey for ts

[patchworkgargoyle]

OC Fic: all the words of the dead

So, in between working on my steddie big bang, I've been descending deeper and deeper into brainrot over my OC, Dominik (tag: goth babygirl dom).

Very long story short, we put him into a mafia!au and killed him off and then developed the slowest slow burn romance for him after the fact.

This is the letter he leaves in his will for @steves-strapcollection's OC, Sam. You'll find Sam's letter in response here (please read it, it's so so so good).

Anyway, I'm gonna go cry over them now. Have this totally out of context.

Rating: M || CW: main character death implied

Title from Bad Luck Again - The Rural Alberta Advantage

Hi Sam, my darling.

You know, I thought I’d only ever have one letter to write. When I got old enough to start needing a will, I only had Vinny to write to. I love Lucky and Gia, but Vinny and me… thick as thieves.

Then I come back from my enforced vacation, and suddenly he has a fiance who turns out to be my best friend. Two letters, then. Two people to care about with my whole, shrivelled little heart.

The third and fourth ones are new. Unexpected.

It was a fucking frustration and an honour to teach your daughter, though I wish almost as much as you do, I think, that she and her brother never got within a hundred miles of this world. For their sakes, and for yours. I tried my best to help prepare her. I hope it’s enough. But she's tough as fuck, and she’s got you and those two boys of hers looking out for her, though, so I’m sure she’ll be okay.

She’s the third letter.

This is the midst of the fourth. The last.

I hope that you knew you’d get a letter when the lawyers started handing them out. I hope you didn’t doubt it.  It’s okay if you did.

I’m sorry you’re getting one. I don’t know what happened to me, obviously, but I probably went and fucked up something somewhere and now I’ve paid for it. You know how it is.

I hope you weren’t there when I died. If you were, I’m sorry. So sorry. We spend so much time together now that it might be possible you saw what got me but I don’t want that on your shoulders. They carry too much already. You should put some of that down sometime. Give some of it to me

Don't let Vinny and Ziah waste time and money on a big, useless funeral for me. And try talking to them, if you need someone. I know you. You're not as stoic and unshakable as you'd like us to believe.

This is har    Fuck. I hate this.

I’d say I don’t remember when I knew my feelings for you were more than just being really horny and very fond of you but that’s a fucking lie. It’s been about a year now. I'd so cruelly sent you home for the night, but insisted I walk you to your truck, and we stopped to chat because we can't seem to get enough of each other I'm a greedy motherfucker at heart and didn't want you to go yet. I said something that made you laugh, really laugh. Can’t remember what the fuck I said. All I remember is what your face looks like when you smile like that, what you sound like when you’re happy. I had to kiss you then or I'd do something incredibly stupid otherwise. Also asked you to stay the night for the first time.

You’re one handsome bastard, you know that, right? It’s deeply unfair. You look even better when you're between my thighs.

You’re sleeping in my bedroom while I write this. No one’s ever slept in my bed with me. But you've done it so many times now I lost track. When I’m done with this fucking letter, I’m going to crawl back under the covers with you and feel safe there.

You’re such a surprise, Sam. I never thought I could have something like you. I feel indescribably lucky that I could. We should’ve had a normal life together, but I wouldn’t change this. Never.

There’s something for you, other than the cheque the lawyers’ll hand you. Ziah will know where it is. Don’t take it the wrong way. I wasn’t planning any big surprises. It’s just something to remember me by because I wasn’t sure what else you’d want. You can sell it if you don’t care for it, the sapphire’s worth something at least, small as it is. I told Vinny to let you take anything from my apartment you might want.

It’s cold over here at my desk, I should be in bed with you     gotta write another fucking version of this, christ

I don’t know how to end this. What a fucking mess.

I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you even though I don’t know what it’s like. Never been in love before. But it feels like this, I think, like wanting to be around you all the time. Craving you. Trusting you. Sharing what life we have. Choosing to let you in over and over.

Vulnerability. Being changed.

You don’t have to love me too. I’m not going to fucking guilt trip you into loving me, post-mortem. This is just some kind of re-realisation of mortality based confessional at this point. You won't see this version of the letter anyway. You'll get one with fewer mistakes.

Do you think we have something, at least? Are we something? I hope we are.

I’ll tell you I love you in the morning, if I’m not a coward.

Forgive me if I was.

Yours,

   -Dom

[[READ SAM'S LETTER HERE]]

#i'm miserable and having such a good time about it #goth babygirl dom #my darling sam #oc fic #sav scrawls stuff #samdom

[yourmoonmomma]

Pinned Post

Updated pinned post information :3

~~~

ABOUT ME

I am 22. I live in Ontario, but am moving to Alberta at the end of the summer. You can expect to hear me talk about this a lot, as the mountains are home to me and I am extremely excited about this move. My ex-partner, whom I currently live with, will not be coming with me. I will also talk about this a lot.

I am a Cancer Sun, Pisces Moon, Sagittarius Rising. My younger sibling would describe me as the "most emotional Sagittarius" they know.

I work full time for a local water treatment business. In the evenings and weekends, I do both SW and tarot/astrology work. After my move, I will return to working on my 4th poetry book release, as well as a large fanfiction I have planned. My primary focus right now is saving for my move. After the move, I will be saving to return to university to get my bachelor of science in microbiology & molecular genetics.

I have been studying astrology since I was 7, and divination since I was 12. Somewhere around those ages, I got involved in other occult matters and begun to try and discover what the term "witch" or "witchcraft" meant for me. I do celebrate the Wheel of the Year.

I am queer, aromantic, and nonbinary. My gender identity will be reevaluated after my move. My current pronouns are he/they, and I am comfortable with gender neutral and masculine terms. The only exception is the term mom or momma!

~~~

FREE READINGS

Firstly, understand that readings are just for fun. Nothing I say determines the path of your life. You are the creator of your own destiny. I am just here to help offer pieces of guidance. Please don't ask about health, death, children, or weight. I have the right to refuse any ask I feel uncomfortable with answering, and I do not have to disclose why I have skipped it.

My free readings include pendulum, tarot, oracle, and shufflemancy readings. As well, I'd be happy to give a short answer on any astrology or witchcraft related questions you may have!

~~~

PAID READINGS

Please always ask for the reading you want, before paying for it. You can ask through my DMs, asks, or over email. My email is [email protected]. As well, I can accept payment via tips through my blog, Ko-Fi, or PayPal.

Transit Analysis - $7- Analysis of how a specific transit will affect you. Question Specific Reading - $20- Using your chart to answer a specific question you may have. Persona Chart Reading - $20- Breaking down how a planet plays part in your life. Natal Chart Analysis - $27- Analysis of your natal (birth) chart. Solar Return Analysis - $33- Analysis of what this next solar year will bring you. Synastry Analysis - $40- Analysis of a relationship between you and another person.

3 Card Reading - $7- This reading is for 1 question, and I pull 3 cards to give you the best answer. It's done through DMs or email. 20 Minute Video - $20 - This reading is for 3-4 questions, and I pull 3 cards per question. Done through a pre-recorded private video. 20 Minute Video Call - $40- This reading is for multiple questions, and I pull as many cards as necessary. Done through Zoom or over the phone.

Please let me know if you're interested in anything NOT listed here, and I'll let you know if it's possible or not! I have a folder linked below on Google which gives you access to all my example readings.

#abt me #pinned post #astrology #divination #tarot reader #readers #witchcraft

[cbsghostsmetasandtrevor]

CBS Ghosts - Pilot - Sam & Jay Fight

Warning Possible Spoilers.

LMAO - Jay just wants to have a shower - I feel that. I'd be upset if I couldn't since it wakes me up.

Side note - I’m amused that Sam is writing her article (I assume) on the ladder.  

Two things are interesting here - they originally decided to go to the Woodstone for the weekend, so we’ve lost a whole day unless they only came up Saturday to Sunday.  

Also, interesting - Sam has clearly already decided on living at the mansion (probably before they ever got there) while Jay is far more practical about moving into a rundown old house.  

I definitely wonder if her quick acceptance had to deal with being miserable in the city?  (I assume she was by later comments, like ‘we barely saw each other”, “we worked so much - never home”, Ect.)  

She also blends into the country life way easier than Jay does into the mansion and I don’t believe that it’s solely due to the ghosts - she never mentions the city life, friends or missing anything about it in the way that Jay clearly does. She never mentions wanting to visit the city or complaining that seeing ghosts doesn't allow her to do it as easily anymore.

Okay - so, this is funny.  Jay’s like “I’m going to say it - mumbles”.  

Jay, that is just not how this works!  Also, did Sam not expect to have this conversation?  She sounds surprised even though that is literally what they agreed to do.  It was MEANT to be a visit to evaluate and discuss, but she acts like they already did.

Okay - multiple things here - AGAIN it’s the 4 OLDEST ghosts that have chosen to watch Sam & Jay.  Now, is it because they’re worried about losing their free rein of the house?  (They were the most concerned about new comers).  Is it because they’re very bored?  But then, wouldn’t the others be bored, too? Is there another reason?

We know that Trevor & Pete are having a war with the Vase, but what about Flower & Alberta?  Why aren’t they invested in their possible new livings?

Also, they’re all excited that Jay’s saying “Damn it, I don’t want to uproot our entire lives” - is this exciting because ‘nothing better than a husband/wife fight’ or is it because they’re like - maybe our lives won't change after all?  

Lastly, THE LOOKS ON THEIR FACES when Thor compares it to ‘Finding a new type of cod’ - OMG.  It’s freaking hilarious.  I love it. We should get to see flashbacks of their lives without Sam and Jay.

Okay.  Sam, I need you to listen to me - this isn’t about ‘Change’ - it’s beyond crazy to uproot your lives on a dime and take out all of the money to RISK losing everything.  Yes, change is scary, but you didn’t answer the question - and you definitely decided that you wanted to move before you ever saw the house.

I wish they had let Jay truly explain what the issue is - it’s more than being afraid to change - this isn’t just changing jobs, moving someplace or having a baby, this is quitting your jobs and suddenly deciding to open a business on a dime.  It’s kind of insane.  

Plus, you're leaving everything you've ever known behind and all of your friends behind to be completely alone out in the country.

I wonder if the friends they had were only Jay's friends and that's why she's so game to just ... leave them behind.

LOL, Isaac.  He’s just like so smitten - Jay was not even trying to be funny.  I do love that Sass is giving Isaac a look like ‘who you kidding’, Thor doesn’t care, and Hetty’s smiling - given the story in Whodunnit, do we think Hetty realizes what’s going on with Isaac?  

She could technically believe he’s into both (or be hopeful) given what happens in Thorapy.  It is believable since she knows that he was once married.

This is the EXACT moment Hetty decides that she likes Sam despite her ‘hideous pants and saucy hairdo’.  She’s like “Woodstone - connection - Family, love it.”

It does explain her reaction later on (at the end of the episode) when she originally opted haunt them out of the house and get rid of her.

However, it doesn't explain her reaction in the episode and wanting her to leave again.

LMAO - Sass is like “Our home sucks” and Hetty’s like “Damn it - give the house more respect”.  It’s a funny exchange.

ANYWHO - Jay is absolutely right.  They were barely surviving in NYC and NOW you want to dump money you don’t have in house out in the middle of nowhere?  Nah.  That’s nutty.

Side note - Sam & Jay want to start a family and in TB, he calls the ghosts their 8 idiot kids and I have to wonder WHEN exactly they decided on that and how that factors into having their own family. I do wonder if it is part of the reason that Sam and Jay do quickly adapt to having the ghosts and wanting to do the B&B and all. If that makes sense?

THIS IS AN EXCELLENT POINT JAY!  When you become a couple you should make decisions JOINTLY!  This is WAY too crazy an idea to give into on a whim - you could at least take more time to decide!

Maybe talk it over with Jay's parents or your friends. Don't just DO IT.

WHAT EVEN IS THIS???? Like Sam - this makes no sense.  Jay’s right, she’s learned nothing.  OTOH this is apparently what she does - storm out.  Which is interesting.  Also interesting, having this discussion naked in a bathrobe.

Awww, Hetty’s watching her storm out - probably surprised, she never would have considered doing that with Elias because she didn’t have the power Sam has in the 21st century in the 19th century, but also, she just seemed to warm up to Sam (because she wants to raise a family in the family home), so she’s like ‘now I'm going to lose her’.  

LMAO - what an ending to the scene.  Thor’s probably thinking ‘damnit no sex show’ and laughing because Jay won’t be getting sex, while hurting Isaac who’s like ‘Damn it man’.  Sass just rolling his eyes.  ‘Ya’ll are idiots’.  

Anyway, that’s it for this scene - I agree with Jay (he’s being the logical/rational side - which he ruins at the end of the episode) while Sam’s being the emotional/irrational side, which ironically changes at the end of the episode.  

Obviously there would be NO show without Jay caving, but he isn’t wrong for his perspective on things.  I do wonder just how miserable Sam was in NYC to make this drastic of a change in the blink of an eye.

Thanks for reading :)

Feel free to Chat :)

#cbs ghosts #ghosts cbs #pilot #isaac higgintoot #hetty woodstone #sam arondekar #jay arondekar #sasappis #Thor

[docholligay]

Ep 5: The Power of Belief

So this episode centered around belief, and what it means to truly believe something, which is something we’ve certainly come into contact with in the show, but this time it was a major component. 

From the beginning, where they hear something in the attic and everyone has their reaction to it: Lottie is a true believer, just as much as Laura Lee (Who I’ll get to later) though in another direction. For her, it has to be something supernatural and no amount of logic is going to convince her otherwise. To Taissa, it’s all bullshit, and a ghost could walk right up to her and she would have some other explanation. But note that both Tai and Laura Lee, believer and disbeliever, do not partake in the game of it. Belief is not a game, not a joke. 

And it’s Jackie, Jackie who has failed the girls in so many ways, who asks them to open the door to this question, and then walk through. She cannot possibly realize what she’s doing, she literally says this is just a game, but even if what happens is not factual, it is true and it is real, and the ways in which it is real and true are different for every single person in the room. What happened there, can only be answered by each individual. 

I love that we the audience are asked to experience things in a very similar way as the girls. When Lottie is possessed (or, ‘possessed’) we’re told she takes French. Her being able to speak French is not out of the question here. But, we’re then immediately told she sucks at it. Is that true? Or is that just Jackie not having paid enough attention to understand that Lottie is certainly good enough to construct, “He wants more blood?” Something I, a person who speaks very very bad French, understood no problem. The idea that French would even be spoken is a construction, Shauna calling him JAcques, and if they’re in the Canadian Rockies they are likely in Alberta, where French is present but not super common, honestly. Some random woodland Albertan does not speak fluent French. (Source: I dated a girl in Alberta) 

We, the audience, are given two equal scenarios here. It could be that she was possessed. It could be that it’s entirely in her head, and there is no ghost. The one I have a lot of trouble swallowing would be that Lottie is very intentionally pretending here. Lottie being a true believer makes her reliable in this even if she is out of her gourd. She is not a liar. If there is no spirit, then it’s something Lottie is doing unintentionally. I would die by that belief. 

Laura Lee, also true believer, from the very beginning says this is not something she wants to mess with, that she knowsthis is real, and she knows it’s dangerous, and she believes. Similar to Lottie, but where Lottie wants to believe and confront, Laura Lee wants to believe and avoid. Let’s just think about how brave Laura Lee--not unbelieving tough girl Taissa who must believe a little more than she thinks-- fully believing in the devil and demons and possession, must be to not only go upstairs and try to rid Lottie of her possession, but to get so close as to hit her with a bible, because she also believes that is the devil is real so must be God, and I am his agent? I am not Christian at all, but I find that very compelling. 

But anyway, so we are being asked about OUR belief too. The ‘will they or won’t they’ about the supernatural element of this show is INTENTIONAL, and I find that very interesting as someone who wants the show to be supernatural in nature. I respect it. I didn’t realize the wavering was part of the point, because ultimately so much of it is going to come down to “what do you believe?” Will lack of beklief protect you? The show takes pains to say it didn’t protect Travis. 

And that sets the stage to ask about right and wrong, about good and evil, about truth and a lie. What do you believe? ‘What happened?’ is given up as a simple question the girls simply enever wanted to answer, but I think it is, in some ways, not decided even between them. What do they believe? What do we?

#Doc watches Yellowjackets #Yellowjackets S1 E5

[isozyme]

Hi hiiiii have you seen this and if so, how do you feel? I still have no idea what went down but im growing more curious by the day.

https://at.tumblr.com/c4tth3w/the-way-he-says-no-and-im-good/tmm0epqxauqh

I TOO FEEL SO CURIOUS

lemme do a quick transcript of the relevant parts for anyone who doesn't feel like watching a barstool video clip

Biz (talking about darryl sutter publicly throwing shade at matthew): no love lost there? like it's -- Matthew: awh -- you guys know i'm not allowed to talk [about] that stuff Biz: come on, are you serious? wow, okay, shit, i didn't -- so like had you called darryl at some point to let him know you weren't coming back or like, Matthew: ...no. Biz: okay. oh shit. Matthew (continuing): no. that was more of a, that was, that was, Biz (singing): moving on, moving on Whitney (crosstalk): i feel like people wouldn't be calling coaches though biz, i mean maybe, it's like -- but you don't talk to the coach about shit like that Biz: no i thought maybe you'd go work a day on the farm and let him know softly Whitney: yeah yeah yeah Biz: maybe have a big cookout at the end and sing kumbaya Matthew: i'm good.

it's really more delicious to hear it though. there's some vocal fry on that first ...no that speaks volumes about why he hasn't called. matthew is pretty much openly declaring he has nothing nice to say about sutter here. (biz is on this gossip like stink on cheese, he's immediately surprised and curious why a guy like tkachuk who's usually very careful and positive about coaches and staff isn't sticking to the empty platitudes script)

here's my speculation: matthew isn't the most defensively responsible player, he's a power forward who wants to hover behind the other team's net, jam in cool goals, and skate as little as possible because skates make his feet hurt. sutter wants disciplined, two-way players. i think there were perhaps some conflicts between the flames flashy goals-goals-goals top wingers and their frowny no-fun-allowed coach. i imagine that a player like matthew has a lot less fun if he gets told to shape the fuck up and stop taking penalties and trying between the legs shots

hypothetically, also, you could maybe, talk about how matthew is...um...lispy (and johnny is small, if you want to consider the other half of the debacle). it's possible sutter likes his guys a bit less emotional and a bit more masculine. and some of that came down on matthew

no matter how you look at it, over the off season the heart of the flames sliced itself out of alberta and left. from the way the team is playing now, their team vibes haven't really recovered. something was going pretty wrong in that room, and we aren't going to know what it was but i can still HAVE MY LITTLE THEORIES

#isozyme answers #what happened to ur locker room lil buddies #why is it so rancid #this fascinates me

[jmagnabo92]

CBS Ghosts - Pilot - Sam & Jay Fight

This is the next scene in the pilot - the one where Sam and Jay fight.  I’m excited for this one, but no Trevor :(

Gifs and Discussion below:

Side note - I’m amused that Sam is writing her article (I assume) on the ladder.  

Two things are interesting here - they originally decided to go to the Woodstone for the weekend, so we’ve lost a whole day unless they only came up Saturday to Sunday.  

Also, interesting - Sam has clearly already decided on living at the mansion (probably before they ever got there) while Jay is far more practical about moving into a rundown old house.  

I definitely wonder if her quick acceptance had to deal with being miserable in the city?  (I assume she was by later comments, like ‘we barely saw each other”, “we worked so much - never home”, Ect.  

She also blends into the country life way easier than Jay does into the mansion and I don’t believe that it’s solely due to the ghosts - she never mentions the city life, friends or missing anything about it in the way that Jay clearly does.  

Okay - so, this is funny.  Jay’s like “I’m going to say it - mumbles”.  

Jay, that is just not how this works!  Also, did Sam not expect to have this conversation?  She sounds surprised even though that is literally what they agreed to do.  

Okay - multiple things here - AGAIN it’s the 4 OLDEST ghosts that have chosen to watch Sam & Jay.  Now, is it because they’re worried about losing their free rein of the house?  (They were the most concerned about new comers).  Is it because they’re very bored?  But then, wouldn’t the others be bored, too?

We know that Trevor & Pete are having a war with the Vase, but what about Flower & Alberta?  Why aren’t they invested in their possible new livings?

Also, they’re all excited that Jay’s saying “Damn it, I don’t want to uproot our entire lives” - is this exciting because ‘nothing better than a husband/wife fight’ or is it because they’re like - maybe our lives won't change after all?  

Lastly, THE LOOKS ON THEIR FACES when Thor compares it to ‘Finding a new type of cod’ - OMG.  It’s freaking hilarious.  I love it.

Okay.  Sam, I need you to listen to me - this isn’t about ‘Change’ - it’s beyond crazy to uproot your lives on a dime and take out all of the money to RISK losing everything.  Yes, change is scary, but you didn’t answer the question - and you definitely decided that you wanted to move before you ever saw the house.

I wish they had let Jay truly explain what the issue is - it’s more than being afraid to change - this isn’t just changing jobs, moving someplace or having a baby, this is quitting your jobs and suddenly deciding to open a business on a dime.  It’s kind of insane.  

LOL, Isaac.  He’s just like so smitten - Jay was not even trying to be funny.  I do love that Sass is giving Isaac a look like ‘who you kidding’, Thor doesn’t care, and Hetty’s smiling - given the story in Whodunnit, do we think Hetty realizes what’s going on with Isaac?  

She could technically believe he’s into both (or be hopeful) given what happens in Thorapy.  It is believable since she knows that he was once married.

This is the EXACT moment Hetty decides that she likes Sam despite her ‘hideous pants and saucy hairdo’.  She’s like “Woodstone - connection - Family, love it.”

It does explain her reaction later on (at the end of the episode) when she originally opted haunt them out of the house and get rid of her.  

LMAO - Sass is like “Our home sucks” and Hetty’s like “Damn it - give the house more respect”.  It’s a funny exchange.

ANYWHO - Jay is absolutely right.  They were barely surviving in NYC and NOW you want to dump money you don’t have in house out in the middle of nowhere?  Nah.  That’s nutty.  

THIS IS AN EXCELLENT POINT JAY!  When you become a couple you should make decisions JOINTLY!  This is WAY too crazy an idea to give into on a whim - you could at least take more time to decide!

WHAT EVEN IS THIS???? Like Sam - this makes no sense.  Jay’s right, she’s learned nothing.  OTOH this is apparently what she does - storm out.  Which is interesting.  Also interesting, having this discussion naked in a bathrobe.

Awww, Hetty’s watching her storm out - probably surprised, she never would have considered doing that with Elias because she didn’t have the power Sam has in the 21st century in the 19th century, but also, she just seemed to warm up to Sam (because she wants to raise a family in the family home), so she’s like ‘now I'm going to lose her’.  

LMAO - what an ending to the scene.  Thor’s probably thinking ‘damnit no sex show’ and laughing because Jay won’t be getting sex, while hurting Isaac who’s like ‘Damn it man’.  Sass just rolling his eyes.  ‘Ya’ll are idiots’.  

Anyway, that’s it for this scene - I agree with Jay (he’s being the logical/rational side - which he ruins at the end of the episode) while Sam’s being the emotional/irrational side, which ironically changes at the end of the episode.  

Obviously there would be NO show without Jay caving, but he isn’t wrong for his perspective on things.  I do wonder just how miserable Sam was in NYC to make this drastic of a change in the blink of an eye.

#CBS ghosts #Ghosts CBS #Pilot #sam arondekar #jay arondekar #Hetty Woodstone #Thor #Sass #isaac higgintoot

[chosetherose]

Oscar de la Renta. Versace. Alberta Ferretti. Roberto Cavalli. Elie Saab. Christian Louboutin. Zuhair Murad. Ashish. The list of the designers who have made looks for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, which began just over a month ago in Arizona and ends in California in August before heading overseas, is like a mini-tour of fashion weeks, replete with sparkles, chiffon and a message tee.

The resulting dress-up extravaganza has been greeted, not surprisingly, with heart-thumping enthusiasm. So many clothes! So much glitter! So fun! There are pages of stories online breathlessly documenting “Every Outfit Taylor Swift Has Worn on Her Eras World Tour” (as Elle Australia put it). And new styles keep emerging, enabling new coverage. As if sheer wardrobe abundance is an achievement unto itself.

It’s possible it is. The logistics alone are daunting: How do you change that much, and that fast, while in the middle of a performance?

Certainly it has raised the bar for the artists who are touring next, as we enter the Summer of the Diva: Madonna, who is embarking on a retrospective tour (just imagine the looks that one could involve), and Beyoncé, who set the bar sky-high in August when she dropped a teaser of sorts via the “I’m That Girl” trailer, which involved at least seven looks compressed into a few minutes, from cyborg goddess to cowboy dominatrix to killer Audrey Hepburn.

But it’s also possible to see in all these Swiftian clothes, all the wardrobe switcheroos, something else. It’s possible that they are, actually, not just a tour down memory lane but a more pointed piece of meta-commentary on the expectation that female pop stars unveil new versions of themselves for our viewing pleasure, one-upping their old image with new wardrobes ad infinitum. And a message that Ms. Swift is, perhaps, calling time on the whole thing.

The promise of reinvention is a core American value: the belief that everyone has the right to a fresh start, that you are limited only by your imagination and abilities. It’s intrinsically linked to the promise of fashion, which likewise dangles the lure of a new you; of allowing you to try on different selves until you settle into one that feels right.

Yet it is also its own kind of prison, as Ms. Swift, who has made a habit of embedding meaning into her wardrobe choices, said in her 2020 documentary, “Miss Americana.”

“The female artists that I know of have reinvented themselves 20 times more than the male artists,” she says in a voice-over toward the end of the film, as various versions of her public personas flash by: teenage Taylor, with her gold ringlets, sparkly blue eye shadow and princess dresses; “1989” Taylor, with her ironed bob and glittery bodysuits; “Reputation” angry Taylor, with snakes crawling up her limbs.

This is necessary, Ms. Swift continues, because otherwise “you’re out of a job.”

At the time she was talking about her newfound political voice as well as her new album, “Lover” (now three albums and at least two Taylors ago: the earth nymph Taylor of “Folklore” and “Evermore,” and the dreamer Taylor of “Midnights”). But in many ways, what she meant is laid bare (so to speak) in her Eras Tour.

Each musical era revisited in the show had — and has — its own look, all 10 or so of them. To watch her go through them in succession is to see not just fabulous clothes worn with purpose, but also the hamster wheel of constant reinvention that has been the model for contemporary female pop stars since Madonna set the tone in the 1980s.

It’s particularly stark in comparison with another musical act now touring to similar response and acclaim: Bruce Springsteen. Mr. Springsteen is 73, and his style hasn’t changed much in 50 years. He’s still in beat-up jeans and a denim shirt, bracelets around his wrist, boots on his feet.

To be fair, there are male rock stars who have made a game out of reinvention: most notably David Bowie but also, to a certain extent, Harry Styles (though he generally dons one statement outfit per night). And there are women — Lucinda Williams, Patti Smith — who bucked the trend.

But it is also true, said Kathy Iandoli, an adjunct professor at the New York University Steinhardt School and the author of “God Save the Queens: The Essential History of Women in Hip-Hop,” that the pressure to dress up and change up falls exponentially on women. “1,000 percent,” Ms. Iandoli said. “There’s a level of costuming that comes with being a female pop star, a way for labels to market creativity. And if you are known as an evolutionary artist you are always held to the standard of ‘what’s the next version of you?’”

Ms. Swift has turned that pressure to her own ends as cannily as anyone. Her makeovers, which coincide with her sonic evolutions, are not the same as the makeover imposed on the main character in the Lady Gaga version of “A Star Is Born,” in which studio bigwigs force their latest discovery into Creamsicle hair, new outfits and new dance moves — a ginned-up version of herself she rejects after her husband’s death.

By contrast, Ms. Swift (with her stylist Joseph Cassell Falconer) has been her own wardrobe mistress, and her fans, many of whom show up dressed as their favorite Taylor, can relate.

But even Gaga, a master of the fashion-music makeover, seemingly rebelled against the imperative at this year’s Oscars when, rather than change into yet another showstopping gown for her performance, she subverted all expectations by donning ripped jeans and a black T-shirt and scrubbing her face bare, as if to say to the watching world: enough.

Fernando Garcia, a creative director of Oscar de la Renta, which made a lavender faux-fur coat with matching crystal-embroidered T-shirt dress and a midnight-blue, crystal-embroidered jumpsuit for the current tour, said that working with Ms. Swift on Eras felt “very much like a full circle moment.” If so, perhaps it’s also a sign that another era is coming to an end.

At one point in the Eras show, when Ms. Swift is singing “Look What You Made Me Do,” all of the old Taylors are embodied by different backup dancers in different outfits in different little glass boxes — all those mini-mes of the past, trapped in their own limited spaces, in their old wardrobes, only to finally break free.

As fashion metaphors go, it’s hard to miss.

[missielynne]

Hi! I didn't love the second season of Ghosts as much as the first, but I still love the show - it's the only currently airing show I really love! I'd love to hear your season 3 wishlist? Like you, I thought the mystery of Alberta's death could have been plotted a lot better, so I'm hoping we get a really good mystery next season. I also want Jay and Pete to find ways to interact even more despite the obvious limitations, lol, for Pete to totally get over Alberta and maybe develop a crush on someone who reciprocates his feelings, no more Jay's sister (I can't stand her for some reason), a more substantive storyline for Sas, etc. I'm scared to know who was "sucked up" in the finale but kind of hope it's Flower---she's the only core ghost who I don't love quite as much :) It would also be fun to see Sam and Jay's hipster NYC friends visit them and adjust to both more rural life and the ghosts!

Well, hello there! *waves*

I honestly will be very surprised if it was one of the mains that got sucked off (and if it was, I wouldn't mind it being Flower, just like you). I also have seen a theory that it wasn't someone being sucked off, but someone *coming* like Molly did (Beatrice perhaps, due to Isaac and Nigel's engagement?) I've also seen either Nancy or Stephanie be put out as options too, which is believable, although I honestly would miss Nancy.

As for my wish list:

I want lots more Hetty: Her death episode, her talking to ghosts when she was alive (cause I mean if she saw Thor, who knows who else she saw?) and if they brought out like, the ghost of her old nanny or something to say what she was like when she was a kid, that would be awesome too. I also want her to be introduced to Bjorn (cause in a sense, she's kind of a sister figure) and possibly see Thomas for a little bit so she can have A WORD with him.

Pete and Jay interaction would be wonderful, but given his new friendship with Mark and how jealous Pete is, I don't think those interactions would be positive for the moment. I almost wonder if Pete is gonna get jealous and try to convince Trevor to do something that would injure/kill one or both of them. Intense for him I know, but it's about time he cracked.

And of course, Sas' death, and an episode or two about the ghosts at the Farnsbys'. (Like maybe Judy starts causing trouble and somehow they find out what Sam can do and she agrees to go calm Judy down and she meets the whole Mansion. I just really want to see who all is over there.

Also, maybe a parody of Christmas Carol somehow for a Christmas episode, or at the very least someone following Hetty around and teasing her with the Scrooge song.

And Nigel and Isaac's wedding in true 1700s fashion, which would be very interesting to see.

And I totally agree about s1 v s2, but even the least good ghosts episodes have at least one thing that I like, I find. So that’s cool.

#cbs ghosts

[irandrura]

Addendum to BioWare post!

Warning: more politics, I'm bad at judging how spicy my takes are

demonwrestler: Wow I missed this when you posted it. I wholly agree. I think part of the trouble of BioWare being unable to properly represent race relations in DA no matter what they do is based in… white privilege blinders and a love of Game of Thrones style bleakness dominating the worldbuilding. Nothing good is allowed to remain, radical change is not possible or doesn’t last, and all you can see game to game is further enforcement of the status quo. Mostly so the game can remain in medieval stasis. The white privilege I mention because an overwhelming majority of BW’s prior writing team was white people from Edmonton, which… Alberta is notorious for poor historical treatment and modern discrimination of native people. I’m shocked we don’t have more commentary on how the Dalish are a huge indigenous peoples expy in the world of Thedas, and how very much there seems to be some… white experience differences. Justice, who represents THE CONCEPT OF JUSTICE, in Awakening tells Velanna she has to forgive her oppressors to stop the cycle of violence. She has to be the one to change, despite the evil done to her clan, her people as a whole, etc. and she has to be the model minority. I would have exorcised that spirit in her shoes. It is wildly difficult for me to continue to love Dragon Age as a setting when it actively takes those big self-unaware dumps on itself.

So that isn’t quite where I was going with the post…

I would argue there’s a tendency in some self-consciously progressive politics to go so far in rejecting or opposing a particular bias as to reinvent that bias itself, sometimes in a more virulent way than the original bias was.

Dragon Age on race is one example of this. Dragon Age, textually, thinks that racism is very, very bad. That much is obvious. However, it also thinks that racism is very, very powerful and that it can’t be easily escaped from. Everyone is shaped by these vast, unconscious forces and individual will isn’t enough to overcome them, resulting in tremendous pessimism. The standard liberal solution to racism is colourblindness – just treat everybody the same regardless of race and things will shake out. Dragon Age, and I’d guess BioWare, do not believe that. But the net result is that in Dragon Age’s world, racism is something that cannot be overcome and therefore the only way to avoid its effects is to just avoid having people of different races come into contact at all.

That’s how you end up with a game that’s ostensibly anti-racist presenting a world and a story that’s… almost pro-segregation. It all follows from the premises – racism is awful, racism is structural and omnipresent, it’s insufficient to just try to not be racist – but it amounts to a conclusion that’s kind of... reinventing racism.

Let me give another, perhaps more controversial example. When I read Terra Ignota, I was particularly fascinated by what it had to say about sex and gender, and in particular the way that Mycroft (it’s unclear what his society itself thinks; unfortunately the entire series is narrated by a fruit loop) ends up reinventing and depending on the most grotesque sexist caricatures. Mycroft very determinedly believes in the importance of sex, but he doesn’t believe that it’s determined by one’s biology. So far, so progressive. But the result is that Mycroft sexes people based on whether he thinks their personalities are ‘male’ or ‘female’, and the result is, if anything, more constraining and disturbing than what a traditional sexist might think. A traditional sexist might say “you’re a woman, so you’re caring and nurturing”. Mycroft says “you’re caring and nurturing, so you’re a woman”, as with Carlyle, who ends up violently forced into a dress and made to perform some demure caricature of womanliness. We’ve seen this sort of logic outside of weird science fiction novels. A traditional sexist might say “you’re a woman, so you can’t be a warrior”.  But the inverse of that – “you’re a warrior, so you can’t be a woman” – seems to exist as well, as in that horrible play.

My previous post was mostly about, if not fascism, then at least authoritarianism. I was criticising BioWare for, while ostensibly being progressive democrats, repeatedly using a story structure that seems to endorse the need for some sort of ubermensch strongman to seize power from feckless civilian leaders. The strongman will do what is necessary; the civil elites are at best weak and lack both will and vision, and at worst are actively corrupt and evil. That, uh… seems more like the worldview of the far-right in today’s politics.

I’m skeptical that all of this can be attributed to white privilege, though you are surely correct about the demographics of BioWare. Rather, I think at least some of this is a real tension that exists in liberatory movements or in marginal communities. Famously the civil rights movement in America was divided between assimilationists, who felt that it was possible to integrate on an even basis with the wider population, and separatists or revolutionaries, who felt that was impossible and advocated for black withdrawal and self-determination. In Dragon Age, this might be a valid question for elves – do you want to be treated exactly the same as humans, living in human-majority society alongside them? (I suppose this is the Sera position.) Or do you want to withdraw, to build your own majority-elven society, different and distinct from that of the humans? I believe there are still debates among Jewish people along similar lines. How do we walk the tightrope? We don’t want to be assimilated so that we lose all our distinctive identity, but neither do we want to cordon ourselves off and form our own impermeable bubble. These are interesting and valid questions.

Where I think privilege might be a useful frame is where we talk about forgiveness. I didn’t put this in my previous post, but I have written before about the way that forgiveness is portrayed in games, especially in World of Warcraft, where it seems like there’s a repetitive story beat about forgiving your oppressor. I talked about this once on a web forum. I certainly don’t mean to imply that vengeance is morally superior to forgiveness – I do believe in forgiveness – but that it’s possible to frame forgiveness as something that is very flattering to the oppressors. Is it possible to forgive while at the same time continuing to hold out a demand for justice? (Incidentally, the relationship between mercy and justice like this is at the heart of a lot of Christian theology.) It is very easy for people from a powerful group to speak of the importance of forgiveness, healing, and moving on. They already have what they want, after all.

On the Dalish specifically – I generally like to advise against reading groups like the Dalish as expies for any one specific group. The Dalish are clearly written to have resonances with a lot of different groups. Native Americans are one of them. Jews are another. Irish are a third. Romani people are a fourth. You can read the Dalish in a way that resonates with those different groups and experiences without excluding others. Arguably it’s because the Dalish don’t map one-to-one on to any real group that they’re interesting. Rather, their fictional nature allows them to explore issues related to all those groups and their experiences, but without being limited to any one of them. So I wouldn’t want to close the Dalish off to being only an allegory for insert-group-here.

Anyway, to try to come to some sort of conclusion – I think this is the sort of mess you get when you’ve absorbed a bunch of contradictory superficial convictions, but haven’t really thought about them at any length. BioWare end up implicitly endorsing positions that seem like they would horrify them. I don’t think they did it maliciously at any point, but they went step by step and eventually reached absurd places. Thus for instance, David Gaider famously wrote the Sith Code based on Mein Kampf. Then fans played the game and thought it was cool and embraced it. Then somehow we ended up in a place with TOR where we have heroic Sith who use the dark side and whole story arcs that portray the Sith as morally equivalent to or even sometimes superior to the flawed but still democratic Republic. No one had to be explicitly evil at any point in the process, but it’s still weird how they end up implicitly endorsing the opposite of what they probably believe.

Baldur’s Gate starts with that famous Nietzsche quote about “he who fights with monsters”. Maybe it was more relevant than we thought?

[fuzzydreamin]

for the major arcana asks: the hermit, death, the moon, and judgement for nora and al?

[THE HERMIT] - What does their inner voice sound like? Is it self-reflecting and introspective, or domineering and judgmental?

✪ Nora's usually trying to piece together the actions and motives of everything happening around her. She's usually fairly calculating in her thought process. When she does have more negative thoughts about herself it can sound a little like her mother.

✝ Alberta's inner voice is much more judgemental, both of herself and others. They usually assume people have ulterior motives, especially if those people approach them first. They don't enjoy self reflecting at all.

[DEATH] - What is their view on the cycle of life? Do they believe in reincarnation?

Neither really believes in reincarnation - not so much in the "That absolutely does not happen." way, but more of a "I have no idea. Maybe, but probably not? Who knows?" way.

As for the cycle of life itself... not sure what to say. It's pretty much the usual "Everything alive wants to stay that way, but death always comes for everything eventually."? Like, that living inherently comes with struggles but no one should have to struggle more than necessary to just live their lives, and people who make others suffer are dicks.

[THE MOON] - If they had to choose one trait to describe themselves, what would it be? Is it a genuine answer, or the illusion/persona they put on for others?

✪ Nora: Resourceful. She would mean it in a broad way of saying that she's rather clever, good at recognising and utilitsing others abilities, and has access to means. And, depending on who is asking, as a warning that it's probably a bad idea to mess with her or anything she cares about. It's an honest answer, but serves to keep specifics obscured and not come off as too proud when said to just anyone.

✝ Alberta wouldn't be able to think of a trait right off the top of their head. She doesn't think too positively of herself usually, but also doesn't usually go for outright depreciation either. They'd probably settle on 'useful'. Similar, but not quite the same as Nora's answer, and certainly with much less pride put into it. They'd mean it more in a flat "I can fight and fix shit. Use me like a tool." way.

[JUDGMENT] - What was an epiphany/awakening they recently had? Did they realize something that they’ve been naive to? Did they discover something about themselves? What happened?

✪ Nora: That she was much more amenable to letting herself be loved and settling down to have a family than she had previously let herself believe.

Can't really say for Al. They're fairly set in their ways as things currently stand, and any possible planned epiphanies/awakenings could be a spoiler.

#fuzzy.oc #oc: nora sosu #oc: alberta jefferson