#> former gravy

[g1-skywarp]

because ive been writing some stuff about my ao characters and im looking at this settei sheet, yall remember back when my warlord file was still a knight gundam ripoff?

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

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Warnings: this fic will include dark content such as dubcon/noncon, familial judgement/bullying, and other possible triggers. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.

This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: Your mother invites a lonely coworker to Thanksgiving, a bit too lonely.

Characters: Andy Barber

Note: this is the second of my autumn fics as decided by all of you!

As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. I’m trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me <3

Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I haven’t forgotten those!) Asking for more or putting ‘part 2?’ is not feedback.

Love you all. You are appreciated and your are worthy. Treat yourself with care. 💖

The smell of nutmeg hits you as you enter the house. That and the garble of voices. You take your time as you unlace your boots, keeping your jacket on as the rack is already overflowing with the like. You mentally ready yourself to face your famiiy and their annual judging panel. 

You peek into the front room as you keep a firm hold of the boxed pies you grabbed from your favourite bakery in the city. You promised dessert and you brought it. You'll put them down before you wade in the deep end. 

You enter the kitchen, rehearsing your greeting for your mother, but you're met with a stranger's back. He stands at the counter, scraping cranberry sauce from a saucepan into a serving dish. His brown hair is combed back neatly, though you can only see the ends from your vantage, and he wears a pressed shirt too white for the task at hand. 

You hesitate. Where the heck is your mom? You can't see the man's face but you can tell he's a bit too young for her. Or so you would assume. He could be a cousin's boyfriend and yet he might be a bit above that. 

"Um, hi," you say as you approach the end of the island counter, well away from him, "I'm looking for my mom." 

"Your mom? Doris?" He wonders. 

"Yeah," you answer as you set the pies on the counter. "I know I'm a little late..." 

"She just went to grab something from the cellar," he explains. "I'm Andy--" 

"There she is," your mom sweeps in with her seasonal gravy dish. "Mm, I knew you'd bring store bought." 

"They're from a local bakery." 

"You never did like being in the kitchen," she reprimands. "Oh, Andrew, that looks perfect. Not too runny." 

You glance at the man. This strange man draws praise from her like honey from a comb, whereas you find the task as easy as squeezing juice from a stone. You let it roll off your back like you have for years. 

"I got pumpkin, apple crumble, and some pecan. They usually sell out of that." You say. 

"Ooh, pecan," the man, Andy, says. 

"Oh, Andrew, my younger daughter," your mother introduces you as an afterthought as she goes to wash the gravy boat, "The typist." 

"Typist? Mom, I'm an admin assistant," you counter. "I guess it doesn't matter." 

"Just her, I'm afraid," she shuts off the faucet. "And her pies. No grandkids from her yet." 

You see that this year is going to be just like the last. You're better off facing the rabble of aunts and uncles waiting for you in the front room. Heck, the kids' table might be the place for you. 

"Thirty this year," your mother adds. 

You force a tight-lipped smile. When you were a kid, it was your grades or the stubborn bit of hair at the back of your head or that your sister, Tia, did it better. Now you're an adult, it's your lack of ambition or lack of kids. You don't think you lack the former and you don't really want the latter. Life is what it is. You have a job that pays your bills and you don't need to add to your cost of living. 

"I work with your mom." He offers. You look at him again. 

He’s tall, blue-eyed, distinguished. He’s older but carries it well enough. The thin lines around his eyes only add to his looks, and his thick beard further defines his jaw. 

"Oh, the law firm?" 

"He's a new partner," your mother preens. "Oh, he gave your brother some good advice too. Hopefully he can move out of that public office soon enough." 

Right, Rodney does everything right. He got into law, just like your mother told him too, and he has a pretty house and a pretty wife and three spoiled brats. Tia only has the one and a husband who works out of town every weekend. They're real grown-ups but to you, growing up seems boring. 

Your life isn't glamourous. You do diamond art or catch-up on the last issue of your favourite comic when you're not too tired. You get takeout once a week, otherwise you put the ready-made meals in the microwave and eat it in front of the television. It's not special but it's your life. 

"Public defenders do a service to the community," Andy says. "I did it for twenty years. It's not bad work. He can move up." 

"Mm, and yet you moved to a private firm," your mother challenges him. 

"Maybe you should be partner," he chortles at her playfully as he wipes his hands on the tails of the borrowed apron tied around his torso. 

"My mom makes really good stuffing," you say, "I'm sure you'll enjoy it, even if you're not home for the holiday." You drag your feet along the tile, "I'm going to say hello to Auntie Toya." 

"Good luck. She's in one of her moods," your mother tuts. "Must be menopause." 

You leave before she can aim another snipe in your direction. She can't help but let the bullets fly and see where they hit. It might be thanksgiving, but you're struggling to find much to be grateful for. 

🍂

"Mandy has a Christmas recital. I'll be sending the invite in the family chat," Tia, your sister, proclaims. "If you can make it, she'd be so happy, huh, sweetie?" 

She pets behind her daughter's ear and makes her giggle. Every awes and cooes at the little girl. Just like when your sister was her age, she's the princess of the family. 

"I can try to bring the kids," Rodney says. "We're thinking to get Kelly into dance next year. I need to get used to those things." 

Everyone laughs. You're not very amused. You're happy the kids have hobbies, that they are doing interesting things, but you just don't care that much. Still, your happy to be able to fade into the background. 

"I'm sure your sister can make it," your mother says, bring you back into the universe, "she doesn't have anything else going on." 

Your eyes dart back and forth. Your mouth is full of potatoes. You gulp painfully. 

"I can set the date aside. I still have some vacation left," you choke out. You can't make up an excuse with a whole audience to call you out. 

You sink back into silence as Tia goes on about the show. They're doing The Nutcracker. Oh joy. You were never a fan. Why can't they do something fun, like The Grinch? 

"Don't think I'm included in that invite," Andrew says under his breath from your left shoulder. As the two loners at the table, you're put together. "Kinda awkward." 

He chuckles, trying to ease the tension. You shift and hide your embarrassment. You forgot there was a complete stranger here to witness your judgement. 

"Right, well... I'm sure you have enough going on," you say. 

"I'm sure you do too," he pokes at the yams. "Kids keep you busy but life is already hectic." 

"Sure," you agree dully. You don't want to be rude. "you have kids?" 

"One. A son. Grown. He went to his girlfriend's for the holiday and his mom... is not in town." 

"Bad timing," you take another bite of potatoes. Maybe next year you can come down with a timely case of the flu. 

"Don't be silly. She doesn't have a boyfriend. We'd all know," your mother trills with laughter. You pop your head up as the hairs on your neck tingle. You know she means you before you even catch her gaze. "It'd be such an achievement, she'd have to shout it from the rooftops." 

You lost track of the conversation and you're not sure how you became the butt of the joke, but you're tired. It's supposed to be a day for family but it just feels like you're being cast out of yours. You put your fork down. 

"I'm going to clear my plate. Think I had too big a snack on the drive here," you stand, gritting back your irritation. "As usual, stuffing's delicious." 

You get up and make your way along the table. The silence is dense. Oh well. If they want to make this painful, you can do the same. 

You go to the kitchen and find a container. You scrape your leftovers into it and shake your head. You suppose you are behind. You're thirty years old. Next year you'll be thirty-one and her chiding will be even louder. The ticking of the clock will only ger worse as the years go by. 

"You're right, stuffing's good," Andy says. 

You wince and glance over your shoulder. "Uh, yeah. Like I said, think my eyes were bigger than my stomach." 

He comes up next to you and rinses off his plate, "well, I think my stomach would be turning too after that." 

"It's whatever," you shrug. 

"Thirty isn't old. You got time," he says. 

"Thanks," you reply tersely. 

"Not that it's any of my business." 

You're silent. It isn't but you're not going to be rude enough to say that out loud. Unlike the rest of your family, you can keep your thoughts to yourself. They might think you're immature because you're not living behind a white picket fence, but at least you don't act like a teenager. 

"It's better to take your time. You know, you rush into big decisions and you can't undo them. They don't always turn the way people promise," he says. "You follow that road map, take one wrong turn and you're wife's spending Thanksgiving with her 'work husband' at a hotel." He opens the dishwasher and wedges his plate between the metal, "Work husband, secret boyfriend, you know..." 

You're struck by the revelation. You can hear the tension in his voice. The hurt, the anger. 

"Oh, I'm sorry," you utter dumbly. 

"You're sorry? She isn't," he reaches for your plate and rinses it next. "I'm not telling you because I want you to feel bad for me. I guess I'm trying to commiserate. It could be worse." He adds your plate to the washer, "you're doing nothing wrong. Being alone means you have choices. Being tied to someone... you have obligations." 

"Yeah, sounds about right," you say. "Well, thanks. Not to benefit off your pain but yeah." You put the lid on the tupperware and sidle along to put it in the fridge, "I think I'm going to get some fresh air. Getting a bit overcrowded in here." 

"A little," he agrees. 

You leave and hold your breath until you get to the front door. Who knew the stranger at the table would be the only one to make you feel welcome? 

You grab your coat from the guest room and push your feet into your boots at the front door. You go outside into the brisk air. It's actually nice. Refreshing almost. 

You sit on the porch bench. In the colder months, it's rarely used. It hasn't snowed yet but the frost glistening on the grass is foreboding. 

You tuck your hands into your sleeves and look along the street. The other houses with yellow windows, glowing with the warmth and shadow of happy families. This time of year has only ever been stressful to you. You're never a part of the fun, you're usually the source of it. 

The front door opens and you fight to keep your unease under wraps. You don't need your mom lecturing you. Again. Or Tia telling you not to be jealous. Whatever happens is always your fault. 

"Whew, it's cold," Andy's voice eases your nerves as it assures you it isn't who you fear. 

"Yep, I don't mind. It's the only thin I like about this time of year." 

"Really?" He nears and sits on the other end of the bench. "I'm a summer person, I guess. Used to be we'd go to some resort for New Years." He says. 

"Sounds nice," you say. 

"I know. I'm moaning about a luxury," he scoffs, "trust me, I get it. I got it all, what do I got to whine about?" 

"I wouldn't say that. You never know what people have going on." 

"Nope," he agrees and rubs his hands together. He's quiet as he leans forward, resting his elbows on his legs. He bends and unbends his fingers as he examines them then sits up again. "Brrr. Only good thing about this weather, snuggle weather." 

He laughs. You try to. It's an awkward joke. 

"Maybe I should get a cat," he suggests. 

"Maybe," you clutch your hands tight. You should go inside. You know he's being nice but he's ruined the moment. 

Your teeth chatter as you take a deep breath of the late autumn air. Just a little longer before you go back. You close your eyes. 

The bench creaks and you think he's getting up. He must get the hint. Instead, as you open your eyes, you feel a weight across your shoulders. You flinch and peek at him from the corner of your eye. 

"You're shivering," he says. 

You look at him then back to the road. You should pull away but you can't. It feels mean. 

"God, my hands are so cold," he grips your shoulder as he puts his other hand on your thigh. 

"Woah," you catch his thick fingers. 

"Come on, let's get warmed up," he breaks through your resistance and rubs your leg. 

"Alright, I don't know what you think--" 

"What's so wrong about it? Like trains passing through the night. My wife's cheating, you're single, we could have some fun," he purrs as he holds you against him. 

"Um, no thanks," you grab his fingers again. "I'm flattered but--" 

"Shh, shh," he peels his hand away from your leg, once more evading your grasp, and grabs your chin. "Your mom told me all about it. How you can't get a date--" 

"That's not--" you latch onto his wrist, "stop, please, Andy." 

"Come on," he turns your head and nuzzles your nose with his, "I'm so fucking lonely. My wife hasn't touched me in over a year." 

"Your wife-- Andy," you hiss. 

"Just kiss me, please? That's all I want. Just a little affection. To feel wanted." 

"You're-- stop. Let go of me," you try to dislodge his hold on you. He's too strong.  

He tilts his head and presses his lips to yours. You murmur and slep his chest with your other hands. He hooks his arm around you as he angles you toward him. You writhe and bite his lip. 

He gasps and pulls back, keeping you locked in his embrace, "listen, sweetheart, you wanna play hard-to-get," he squeezes your jaw until you whimper, "what's mom gonna think when she catches you all over her married coworker?" 

"No, that's not--" 

"I'm sure she'll believe you," he snarls and slides his hand down to your throat. 

"Why..." you croak. 

"Baby, please, it's not a bad thing," he moves you with him as he edges off the bench. He turns, one arm still around you, his other hand locked onto your neck. He bends and forces you onto your back as he settles over you. "I'm going to make you feel just as good as you make me feel." 

You wriggle and whine. What he says is just as scary as what he hasn't said. He'll make you feel as good as you do him, or as bad.

[piratecaptainscaptainpirates]

Today I rewatched all of season 2 with a friend who hadn't had the chance to see it, and it's really true that if the pacing seemed off to you as it aired, try watching it altogether. It flows so well when you're not spending a week in between episodes hyping up theories and over-analyzing throwaway lines.

The rewatch hammered home how lucky I feel to have this show! It's so good, friends. I'm so incredibly grateful we got this show.

Some of the little things that I didn't appreciate on first watch that I just adored on a rewatch:

How well Archie and Zheng Yi Sao are immediately integrated into our cast. They had limited time and their writing is really cleverly done to endear us to them immediately.

Every Buttons and Auntie interaction, absolute gold

Surprisingly (for me), Ed and Izzy's interactions in the first two eps. It's just so terminally unhinged. The way Izzy says he "has love" for Ed like he's ashamed of it, like how you have a sickness. "Do you think I wouldn't know the smell of my own rotting former first mate?" The way Ed handed Izzy a gun to try to get him to shoot Ed, but Izzy tried to shoot himself instead and was symbolically reborn. It's good shit.

The Gravy Basket scenes really rewards a rewatch. Try to pick up on clues something's up before Ed realizes, it's great fun.

The way Stede's devotion to Ed is immediately palpable.

Ed and Stede are so soft and cute for each other dear lord. just gets better and better.

The musical choices are top notch, especially in those first three episodes. The sound design in general is exceptional.

The way this show is shot, dear lord. There is so much care in every shot, it doesn't look like a basic TV show.

Every actor in this show is giving it their all. Rhys and Taika are phenomenal, of course, but Con is amazing, Matt Maher makes me love Black Pete more with every rewatch, David Fane is perfect, and Samba Schutte is so incredible. Roach doesn't have a lot this season but Samba gives every line 110%.

Such! A! Good! Show!! If you didn't like the pacing on first watch, take my word for it, try a rewatch.

[rhysdarbinizedarby]

‘Our Flag Means Death’: How Blackbeard & Stede’s Fantastical Underwater Reunion Came Together

[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Our Flag Means Death, Season 2, Episodes 1-3.]

It doesn’t take more than a single second to recognize Kate Bush‘s haunting and heartbreaking tune “This Woman’s Work,” as Blackbeard, a.k.a. Ed (Taika Waititi), is pushed from a clifftop to plunge into the ocean’s depths below in Our Flag Means Death‘s Season 2 installment, “The Innkeeper.” But how did the pirate heartbroken over Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) wind up in this position? It’s a delicate and winding path that starts with the infamous pirate’s unraveling over the course of the latest season’s first two episodes.

Believing Stede intentionally abandoned him after planning to run away together at the end of Season 1, Blackbeard embraces the version of himself so many have conjured up in their minds as he leads the Revenge’s “new” crew to pillage and plunder on the high seas. His unhinged behavior eventually forces Jim (Vico Ortiz), Izzy (Con O’Neill), Frenchie (Joel Fry), Archie (Madeleine Sami), and Fang (David Fane) to violently take control of the ship and neutralize Blackbeard — or so they think — after he steers them directly into a storm.

When Zheng Yi Sao’s (Ruibo Qian) Red Flag happens across an eerie-looking Revenge on the ocean, Stede dives overboard in his excitement over the possibility of seeing Ed, only to be told various excuses for his absence by the crew aboard. When Stede directly addresses Izzy regarding Blackbeard’s lack of presence, the now peg-legged pirate claims the Revenge crew dropped Ed on a beach.

This seems to ring true as we see Blackbeard wash ashore and cared for by his own former captain Hornigold (Mark Mitchinson). While together, Blackbeard and Hornigold discuss the mutiny that took place and Blackbeard’s hopes for the future. When a role-playing scenario testing Blackbeard’s ability to be an Innkeeper, a profession he’s interested in, goes awry, he attacks Hornigold, killing the tarp-clad pirate. But when Hornigold rises again, Blackbeard realizes something is off.

Aboard the Revenge, Ed’s body is uncovered below deck. Believing him dead, Zheng Yi Sao is forced to consider killing the Revenge crew for mutiny after initially welcoming them aboard the Red Flag. And Stede has to cope with the idea that his love may be gone forever.

After hatching an escape plan for the Revenge team, Stede and pals return to their former ship, leaving Zheng stranded without a wheel. Going to sit with Ed’s body, Stede wonders why he had to go and get himself killed. Meanwhile, Blackbeard begins to realize he’s stuck somewhere between life and death, a place this Hornigold manifestation calls a “gravy basket.”

As the two men banter about the pros and cons of choosing life over death, Hornigold ties a boulder around Ed’s waist and throws it from the cliff they’re standing on, pushing Blackbeard into the ocean. Just as it seems as though he’ll succumb to the waves, Blackbeard proves Bush’s song right: Perhaps there’s a little life in him yet. When Stede lifts the cloth from his face on the Revenge, underwater Ed reacts to the change. Peering into the water, he sees a light from which a fantastical mermaid version of Stede emerges.

In the real world, Stede reacts to Blackbeard’s twitching hand, taking it in his and pleading for him to live as a montage of their moments together rolls alongside Bush’s still-playing song. The final seconds of the episode see Ed’s eyes open, giving Stede hope.

So, how did this moving turn of events come to pass? A team full of creatives was responsible for bringing the captivating and satisfying reunion.

Stede’s Mermaid Tail

“It’s a huge process,” putting together Stede’s practical mermaid look, according to costume designer Gypsy Taylor. She says “it started with me begging everybody” to avoid visual FX and make a tail for the sequence. The orange and glittering look could have followed several different styles, but ultimately, Taylor notes, “I thought if Stede is going to turn into a mermaid, and it’s in Blackbeard’s dream, it’s sort of his vision of a mermaid.”

Considering this, in Taylor’s mind, Blackbeard wouldn’t envision some epic fantastical creature; instead, Stede would “just be like a goldfish. He’d just be like a sweet harmless goldfish.” In putting sketches together of the ensemble, Taylor acknowledges the symbolism of the goldfish motif: “There’s a huge Chinese element that we have coming through, and goldfish in Chinese culture is considered lucky.” As this vision of Stede was responsible for helping bring Ed back to life, that luck was certainly there.

“I thought that was a pretty beautiful thing, that they meet each other under the ocean and then they find each other,” Taylor gushes. “And so I went a little deep on that, but really he’s just a goldfish.” In order to achieve the goldfish mermaid look, Taylor teamed up with props master Hayley Egan, who’s based out of Australia. “She happens to excel at making mermaid tails,” Taylor shares.

After securing Egan’s involvement, Taylor says, “We fit Rhys in a jumbo stretch long skirt and made sure it was really tight so he could still sort of do this dolphin [swimming] action. And then we bought these mono fins, which you can purchase online and put your feet in.” Safety was key, though. “He had to swim really deep and for a really far distance, and he’d never done anything like that before,” Taylor explains. “So it had to be really safe and doable.”

Once that was figured out, Taylor says Egan “cast something like 3,000 hand-sculpted silicon scales. There’s something like five kilograms of glitter in the whole thing. And then we hand-dyed pleated chiffon for all the fins, so that when he was swimming through the water, it would have this magic feel.”

While the scene may play as emotional and romantic, the story behind getting Stede’s mermaid look from Australia to New Zealand was actually quite comical. “[Egan] sliced two suitcases in half, filled [them with the mermaid tail], and then when it went through customs, the customs guy said to her, ‘Are you bringing fish into this country?’ And she’s like, ‘Yes, yes I am.'”

In total, there were four tails, including “a practice tail, a stunt tail, because Rhys had to do quite a few lessons before we got the real one on. And the real one was super precious, and chlorine’s very strong, it eats fabrics away, so we wanted to save the hero one for the hero shot,” Taylor reveals. When it came time to film, “We put him in [the tail], and it was just amazing.” In order to get Darby into the pool, Taylor says a ramp had to be built and the actor was placed in a wheelchair while costumed “and pushed in.” As unglamorous as it sounds, she adds, “it was like Rhys’s dream come true.”

How Kate Bush Entered the Music Mix

It’s safe to say Kate Bush has been having a moment on TV since last year’s “Running Up That Hill” needle drop on Stranger Things, but music supervisor Maggie Phillips says, “This Woman’s Work” was selected before Netflix‘s hit made headlines with their use of the aforementioned song. “When we were placing [the song in the season lineup],” Phillips says, “it was maybe weeks after Stranger Things, and I was worried that we would look like copycats.”

Phillips maintains that the song was in the mix before, but it ultimately “doesn’t matter because really what matters is that Kate Bush is a queen and more and more people need to know her music.”

She says, “From what I heard from David [Jenkins], it was a song that Taika was attached to.” At first, Phillips was reluctant to go with the song due to its prior uses, but “David told me not to worry about [that], that people have short-term memory when it comes to music.”

While she debated with the team over cutting it, “[David] has the visuals in his mind. I don’t. I’m just hearing it with a script and I had no clue how it was going to work until I saw the first cut, and it was beautiful and they picked a part of the song that worked really well with the visuals, so they sort of made it their own,” Phillips explains. “They added a different context to the song that I wouldn’t have been able to imagine myself. So they proved me wrong for sure.”

It’s hard to imagine the scene without Bush’s song. “It changes the way you listen to the song,” Phillips notes. “I got chills watching it and I know that song so well and haven’t gotten chills like that in a long time.” With all of the buildup, “You’re waiting for them to have their romantic moment. You’re waiting for three episodes for that to happen. And so it’s so cathartic when that song comes on, and you see them come together in this fantasy world under the sea. It’s just perfect.” This led her to email Jenkins. “I was like, ‘You were right. I was wrong. But this was beautiful, and thank you so much.'”

Blackbeard’s Wet Wig Woes

Anyone watching the scene unfold would have to notice Blackbeard’s silver tresses weaving through the water, a feat much more difficult behind the scenes than the seemingly simple sequence onscreen. “We filmed that quite late in the season, and so we were really planning and thinking about that all the way through [filming]. I was a bit nervous,” hair and makeup designer Nancy Hennah admits. “I knew that he was going to have to be under the water with his wig on for quite a long time.”

Even with high-quality wig glue, Hennah says, “You can do everything you can to make that wig stay on, but there’s a limited amount of time that the glue will last. So we had to use different products than we would normally use to get the wig down.” Because the product Hennah normally uses to keep hair back in a wig is water soluble, “it melts, and the hair starts coming out from the lace, and it can ruin the whole look of the wig.” She had to come up with a creative fix.

“I glued his own hair back, and then we glued the lace on top of that, and wildly, it lasted right until the very last shot when they were dragging him through the water by the ankles,” Hennah reveals. “The wig just came off completely after they’d finished shooting. And so he came up out of the water, and the wig was off to the side, [and he goes], ‘I think my wig came off.'” She calls the success of the wig “incredible” and “just a fluke really.”

When it came to capturing Darby’s underwater look, it was all about blending the mermaid tail with his skin. “With Stede, Gypsy had a beautiful mermaid tail made, and we did a whole lot of practice with different types of silicon and things that we had to blend that piece between his skin and the tail. We made these pieces of silicon with glitter and things in them that we individually stuck over the top of the mermaid tail,” Hennah details.

Again, there were concerns about getting “things to stick underwater,” but watching the scene come together from behind the camera eased those. “[When] we were standing there on the set that day and watching the monitor, it just was so beautiful that we were all blown away by it, and that tank that they were filming in was a couple of stories deep, and to be out there in that water, it was challenging, and they both did so well. It just went off without a hitch. It was one of those great days where it just worked for everybody.”

Don’t miss what else is in store for the season. Stay tuned for additional interviews and content as the second season of Our Flag Means Death unfolds.

Our Flag Means Death, New Episodes, Thursdays, Max

Source: TV Insider

[its-avalon-08]

Hey lovely, can i make a request for Daniel Ricciardo fic based on But daddy i love him by Taylor? You can have free reign on it, but just that line "me and my wild boy and all of his wild joy" is so Daniel and has been stuck in my head for ages. Something fluffy and funny, so whatever you want (maybe even a pregnancy reveal 👀👀) if you see fit i just love that song and it's so big ric coded.

Love your work!!! Thank you so much 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼

but daddy i love him (dr3)

(please bear with me this one is extra long, ily all)

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

the start of the most beautiful things in y/n's life were often masked by difficulties and plagued with the anxieties of life. but when danny was around, things just fell into place. time seemed to stop and the fast paced world began to still.

clutching their pearls, sighing "what a mess"

the air in your childhood home crackled with a tension thicker than the gravy simmering on the stove. you sat across from danny, his smile a little too wide, your dad's gaze narrowed like a hawk eyeing a squirrel.

"so, danny," your dad began, his voice gruff, "you're a… racing driver, is that right?"

"yes sir," danny chimed, a touch too enthusiastically. "formula one, actually! just signed with mclaren for next season."

your dad grunted, poking his mashed potatoes with a fork. "formula one, huh? sounds… dangerous."

"it can be," danny admitted, "but safety's paramount these days, you know?" he flashed a winning grin. "plus, the adrenaline rush? unbelievable."

your dad snorted. "adrenaline rush. sounds like you live life on the edge, son."

you shot your dad a warning glare. "dad, be nice."

he sighed, leaning back in his chair. "honey, I just want to make sure he's responsible. you deserve someone stable, someone who won't make you worry constantly."

"dad!" you exclaimed, cheeks burning. "he's not a reckless teenager, he's a professional athlete! and he takes care of himself."

screaming "but daddy i love him!"

danny, bless his heart, interjected, "exactly! I train like a champion, eat healthy, the whole nine yards. your daughter's in good hands, sir."

the tension remained, a thick fog in the air. dinner progressed in tense silence, punctuated only by the clinking of cutlery. you stole glances at danny, his usual sunny disposition dampened. it broke your heart.

suddenly, your dad cleared his throat. "so, danny," he began, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "you said you race for mclaren? ever met lewis hamilton?"

you watched in surprise as danny's face lit up. "met him? I race alongside him! absolute legend, that man. we have some epic battles on the track."

for the next hour, the conversation flowed. your dad, a former racing enthusiast himself, peppered danny with questions about the sport, its history, the intricacies of car setup. danny, more than happy to oblige, regaled him with stories, technical details, even pulling out his phone to show pictures of him with lewis.

by the end of the night, your dad was chuckling at a particularly funny anecdote about a rogue pigeon causing a pit stop delay. he clapped danny on the back with a newfound warmth. "alright, alright, danny. you alright in my book. just take care of my daughter, you hear?"

danny, his grin back in full force, squeezed your hand. "wouldn't dream of it, sir. consider yourself one of my biggest fans from now on."

as you walked danny to his car later, a comfortable silence settled between you. "thanks for being patient with him," you whispered, leaning into his side.

i know he's crazy but he's the one i want

he wrapped his arm around you, pulling you close. "your dad just wants the best for you, that's all. and seeing you happy… that's all I want too." he planted a soft kiss on your forehead. "besides, I think I scored some serious brownie points tonight, wouldn't you say?"

you laughed, the sound echoing in the quiet night. "maybe just enough to convince him that a formula one driver can be perfectly responsible... especially when he makes my daughter this happy."

time skip

the sun beat down on the golden sands of miami beach, the gentle waves lapping at the shore lulling you into a state of pure bliss. sprawled out on your beach towel, sunglasses perched on your nose, you were lost in a trashy romance novel, the sound of danny's playful laughter occasionally breaking through your concentration.

suddenly, a shadow fell over you. you peeked over your sunglasses to see danny, a mischievous glint in his eyes, standing over you. before you could even register what was happening, he swooped down, scooping you up in his arms like a prize.

now i'm dancing in my dress in the sun and

"hey!" you shrieked, a surprised laugh escaping your lips. the book tumbled into the sand, forgotten.

with a triumphant yell, danny sprinted towards the ocean. the cool water rushed at you as he plunged in, carrying you with him. you shrieked again, this time with delight, water splashing everywhere.

when danny finally set you down, the waves lapping at your waists, you couldn't help but grin at him. his hair was plastered to his forehead, and a carefree smile stretched across his face.

i'm his lady, and oh my god

"you're a menace, ricciardo!" you exclaimed, shaking your head playfully.

he just laughed, the sound echoing across the beach. then, in a flash, he was pulling you closer, his arms wrapping around your waist. you giggled as he dipped you backwards, the cool water washing over you both.

when he pulled you back up, his eyes held a playful fire. before you could say anything, he leaned in, his lips meeting yours in a kiss that was warm, sweet, and tasted faintly of salt. you melted into him, the world around you fading away.

me and my wild boy and all of this wild joy

the kiss ended with a sigh, foreheads resting against each other. you looked into his eyes, their blue depths sparkling with love and adoration.

"you're crazy," you whispered, a smile blooming on your face.

"only for you," he replied, his voice husky. he brushed a stray strand of hair from your cheek, his thumb gently tracing the curve of your jaw.

you sighed contentedly, leaning into his touch. in that moment, with the sun warming your skin, the sound of the waves crashing in your ears, and danny by your side, everything felt perfect. you wouldn't trade this feeling for the world.

time skip

you fidgeted with the hotel room balcony railing, the bustling city of monaco blurring below. danny, oblivious, was humming along to the pre-race hype blaring from the tv. today was his big day, the monaco grand prix, and the nervous energy crackling in the air was almost tangible. you, however, were grappling with a different kind of jitters.

taking a deep breath, you approached him, the small velvet box clutched tightly in your hand. "danny," you began, voice barely above a whisper. he glanced up, a dazzling smile splitting his face.

"hey there, sunshine," he said, reaching out to pull you into a quick hug. "ready for the race?"

"actually," you mumbled, biting your lip, "there's something I need to tell you before you go."

he frowned playfully, his brow crinkling in mock seriousness. "is it that you secretly placed a giant shoey on toto wolff's yacht?"

you laughed, a little relieved at the lighter mood. "no, nothing like that. it's… well, it's important."

he set the tv remote down, his smile softening. "alright, come here," he patted the space next to him on the plush couch. you sat down, fiddling with the box in your lap. the words seemed to get stuck in your throat, a tangled mess of nerves.

"danny," you tried again, voice shaking slightly, "we might need to… postpone those post-race victory celebrations."

now I'm running with my dress unbuttoned

he chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "losing faith in your honey badger already? don't worry, I've got this."

frustration bubbled up. "no, it's not that! it's… it's…" you squeezed the box so hard your knuckles turned white. "i'm pregnant, danny!"

the playful smile vanished, replaced by a look of utter confusion. "pre… what now?" he asked, brow furrowed.

panic clawed at you. was this the wrong approach? "pregnant! as in, a baby, danny! we're having a baby!" you blurted out, your voice bordering on a squeak.

i'm having his baby

the confusion on his face morphed into a look of dawning realization. his eyes widened, then welled up with tears. a choked sob escaped his lips. he whipped his head towards the balcony door and threw it open, a joyous yell erupting from his throat.

"we're having a baby!" he bellowed across the bustling streets of monte carlo, his voice thick with emotion.

i know he's crazy but he's the one i want

he turned back to you, a goofy grin splitting his face, tears streaming down his cheeks. before you could even react, he swept you into a tight embrace, the box tumbling onto the floor with a soft thud. he squeezed you like a lifeline, muttering incoherent words of joy into your hair.

his emotions were infectious. you clung to him, tears welling up in your own eyes. he pulled back, his hands cupping your face. he peppered your cheeks, forehead, your nose, with kisses, every kiss filled with a love so profound it took your breath away.

"this is… this is incredible, y/n," he finally managed to say, his voice hoarse. he pulled you close again, resting his forehead against yours. "we're having a baby. we're going to be parents."

he was chaos, he was revelry

the celebratory noises from outside were a distant hum, drowned out by the frantic thumping of your heart and the overwhelming sense of happiness washing over you. in that moment, in danny's arms, with the promise of a new life growing inside you, the world seemed to shimmer with possibility. you couldn't wait to start this incredible adventure together.

but oh my god you should see your faces

[serpentface]

@gravity-gravy

Czekl territory is a LONGGGGGGG way west. These two regions have nothing to do with each other and no direct/specified knowledge of each other's existence. (There ARE some trade networks that connect these locations, but few goods actually Move that far).

(Note that Czekl is an ethnonym rather than a state/location. 'Czekl lands' here indicates the broad outline of this group's total ethnolinguistic sphere)

((Ignore that the continents have divided since you last saw them))

Most Wardi civilians who live in the major coastal cities will have a good chance of seeing qilik every once in a while. Most qilik here are of Ulelilwa ethnicity (from an island chain at the southern end of the White Sea) and travel here in the process of moving and selling trade goods (mostly spices, silks, feathers, liquor, and dyes). If you're a sailor or dockworker you're pretty much guaranteed to encounter Ulelilwa qilik on a relatively frequent basis. They probably don't speak Wardi and you probably don't speak Ulelilwa, but there's a good chance that both of you know at least some Seaway Burri and can communicate.

A very small minority live there permanently, and an even smaller group are considered legal citizens (citizenship isn't a legal requirement for living here but it is a vital form of social/legal protection and security). The latter tend to be wealthy Ulelilwa merchants, and the former tend to be people who work for them. Some also find work as translators. There is currently one (1) Ulelilwa qilik in the city Jaitse's provincial government who works as a servant-translator and scribe but is also functionally a mid-level tax official.

[rwac96]

Prompt

Whiteknight, Future Au

Weiss came after long day of work, jaune just cooked up something good from his family's old recipe, weiss took a bite she immediately strips and tells jaune to "bedroom now".

"Gods," Weiss Schnee groaned as she entered her home, returning from work. "Jaune, I'm home--," The former heiress' nostrils picked up the aroma of something her husband cooked.

"Welcome home, babe," Jaune approaches his wife, holding a plate of mashed potatoes & gravy. "I just finished cooking this, hot and ready."

Picking up a fork, Weiss digs into the mixture and takes a bite. Chewing away, she lets out a happy hum. She took the plate and placed it on the table, grabbing a hold of the blonde's wrist. Jaune raises his brows in alarm, seeing a hungry look in his wife's eyes, and not for food.

"You. Me. Bedroom. Now!" Weiss Schnee-Arc demanded her husband, as she turned around, pulling him along, heading towards the stairs.

[allfryam]

feeder for president 3: Mike’s story part 2

Mike and Hayden had decided to do their all-day dining hall excursion every Friday. Neither of them had classes and it was really the only time they got to talk to each other. Mike was really liking that part in particular. Spending all that time with Hayden had made Mike realize he started developing a little crush. Hayden had come out as gay in junior year of high school, but Mike had never told anyone he was into guys. He would catch himself staring at attractive guys in his class, and always get really nervous around them.

Mike’s weight was continually increasing by the time he arrived home for thanksgiving. He had gained almost 20 pounds since he turned 18, and most of it was in his gut. His abs were completely gone, replaced by a protruding round belly. In tighter shirts, you could even see his deepening belly button crater.

a few years ago, if a kid had come home from college having gained weight, he would be teased by his family and friends and be told to lay off the snacks or something. But with the new law, all that changed. Not a word was said to Mike about his growing belly. He wasn’t even the only one that had shown up rounder than last year. His cousin Chad was a few months older than him and he had already passed the 25 pound threshold. His tight button up looked like it was about to burst at the seems trying to hold back his gut. Mike’s dad had always had a bit of the ex-jock look, but now, his gut was huge and round. He had gone from former athlete to southern truck driver that eats at greasy diners for every meal.

Mike’s family had prepared a massive spread of food for thanksgiving, and Mike was ecstatic. He loaded his plate high with turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, Mac and cheese, potato salad, and ham. He and the rest of his family dug in, tearing through the feast. Mike excused himself to loosen his belt after he had finished his first plate. Chad was on his second plate when a loud “POP!” Came from his side of the table. The straining buttons on his shirt had finally given up and released Chad's bloated stomach. He hardly seemed to care as he continued to gorge himself. After his third plate, Mike had to tap out. He leaned back in his chair and his shirt rode up a bit to reveal Mike’s swollen belly. Mike had worn a stretchy polo shirt so he wouldn’t suffer the same fate as Chad. As the rest of his family finished up, rubbing their bellies to help with the pain of being full, Mike’s dad called, “who wants dessert?” After a few groans, the family eventually made their way back into the kitchen to load up their plates once more. Pies, cakes, cookies, lemon bars, brownies, ice cream. They dug in and enjoyed every last bite. The crumbs and small pieces that had been falling off of Chad’s fork had been landing on the crest of his round belly throughout dinner. “Saving some for later Chad?” Mike chuckled. Chad looked down and seemed surprised, as if he had no idea he was dropping food onto himself. He swiftly grabbed his fork and scooped it back into his mouth.

Mike arrived back on campus bigger than ever. He stood in his underwear admiring his new gut in the mirror. He grabbed it with both hands and shook it gently. It jiggled and grumbled with hunger. Mike’s appetite had been increasing rapidly over the last few months. He had always been able to eat a decent amount of food, but now his appetite seemed limitless. He could spend the entire day stuffing his face and never feel full. Apparently Hayden was having the same problem. He had come back from Thanksgiving break looking huge. His round gut was the first thing to enter a room, stating its presence with each step Hayden took. Even his biggest hoodies started to look tight. Mike blushed just thinking about him.

one day, after coming back from a long day of classes, Hayden ran into the dorm looking worried. “What’s wrong dude?” Mike asked. “I’ve been stressed with exams all day and I’ve hardly eaten anything!” Hayden cried. The boys rushed down to the dining hall and brought a bunch of food back to their room. Hayden sat down on the bed and ripped off his tight shirt and unbuttoned his pants. “Okay, start feeding me. It’ll be faster that way.” Hayden said. Mike blushed but quickly agreed and began stuffing Hayden’s mouth full of pizza. He just leaned back with his mouth wide open, waiting for more food. Hayden kept groaning as his mouth was constantly chewing the mountain of food. Mike didn’t hesitate to keep shoving more food in. He knew Hayden could handle it. After the feeding, Hayden fell backwards on to his bed and let out a huge burp. “Thanks dude. I don’t know where I’d be without you.” Hayden said between breaths. Mike’s eyes grew wide. He hesitated for a second but then he quickly moved in and kissed Hayden passionately. Hayden was shocked at first but didn’t pull away. The two boys continued to kiss and Hayden started taking off mikes clothes. The boys fucked passionately and their full bellies jiggled with each thrust.

the boys began dating and have been stuffing each other for months now. Mike has made it his personal mission to catch up to Hayden. It’s been slow but he’s starting to plump up way faster than him. When the end of freshman year arrived, Hayden had gained 45 pounds in his first year under the new law. The $2000 check he got in the mail made him want to gain even more next year. Mikes birthday was only a week away and he was determined to beat Hayden. He was up 36 pounds since he turned 18. 9 pounds in 7 days shouldn’t be that hard. Right?

Mike awoke like any other day, rolling groggily out of bed, slowly trudging into the kitchen still in his underwear. He pulled out a box of fruit loops and a large mixing bowl. He grabbed the gallon of milk from the fridge and his mom’s big ladle. He ate the entire box of cereal for breakfast. But he wasn’t finished yet. While he was scooping mouthfuls of sugary cereal into his mouth, his dad was making pancakes. After finishing the cereal and chugging the leftover milk in the bowl, Mike made a plate of his dad’s pancakes. He stacked them high and smothered them with syrup. They looked like something strait out of a cartoon. He practically inhaled the pancakes before he could even taste them. On his way to work, he grabbed a dozen donuts to finish off his breakfast. He ate them in his car before walking into work. Boston cream, chocolate sprinkled, strawberry, glazed, blueberry, jelly filled. He couldn’t get enough. At work, he knew he would get hungry again before lunch, so he packed himself some brunch. A triple decker pb and j and a family sized bag of Doritos should do the trick. For lunch, Mike met up with Hayden at their favorite diner down the street: patsy’s. Mike ordered the triple smashburger, two slices of pepperoni pizza, a plate of chicken tenders, nachos, and a slice of each of their famous pies. He also grabbed a couple extra slices of pie in case he got hungry again before dinner. He did. For dinner, he opted for the all you can eat buffet downtown. He spent a few hours eating like it was his last day on earth, shoving food down his throat as frantically as possible, then leaning back and burping to make room for more. Just before he went to bed, he chugged one of his homemade weight gain shakes. He heard eating a lot of calories before bedtime was the best way to store extra weight, so he always tried to drink his weight gain shake when he started feeling tired. This cycle continued throughout the week until it was time for the weigh in. Mike chugged one of his shakes and nervously stepped onto the scale. Mike’s eyes grew wide as he looked at the number. He was up 52 pounds. He gained 16 pounds in 7 days. He immediately called Hayden to brag.

final body update:

Mike turned 18 felling great. He was a lean 157 pounds, and it was all muscle. His sharp jawline only made hotter by his defined abs and tight ass. His clothes are loose on his small frame, and he has to wear a belt to hold up his pants. But on his 19th birthday, Mike had weighed in at a hearty 209 pounds. His perfect abs were a thing of the past, replaced by his ever expanding belly. It was round and firm, just like his father’s. His tight ass had ballooned into two pudgy balls that jiggled with each step. His sharp jawline grew into a nice double chin, filling out his cheeks and his neck. His once loose clothes have become tight, especially in the stomach area. All shirts with buttons have either been ripped open or the buttons look like they could fly off and his someone. He didn’t need to wear a belt for a while due to his expanding waistline, but as he continued to grow, most pants with buttons had become impossible to put on.

the end.

I won’t continue this story right now, but if there’s enough interest, maybe we can check up on these two boys in the future. Leave theories on the future of their relationship in the comments!

[fizziepopangel]

A Fizziepop Take: Let’s talk about the next 100 years

Oh. My. God.

Did everyone watch what I just watched? Because I literally can’t right now! I swear to god my anxiety was so high from start to finish of this episode. Vivzie really did it with this one, because I was almost at a loss for words…. ALMOST. But the “Mastermind” episode was like a big beefy steak and potatoes smothered in gravy with a glass of wine; there’s just too much to sink my teeth into, starting with Stolas being stripped of his power, so let’s get into it.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

“Stolas, I hereby strip you of your status, your power, and your title for the next hundred years.”

Stolas’ face after hearing that he was being stripped bare of his title was literally heartbreaking because Stolas is not only stripped of the title and the respect that came with it, or even just the power he’s grown accustomed to…. Stolas is stood in front of a group of his peers and stripped of everything he has ever known. Everything. His daughter, his home, everything is just suddenly off limits for him. And after living for the Goetia and only the Goetia for 30-something years, Stolas isn’t accustomed to living as a common type demon, especially a common type demon ranking as low as he is currently who has literally nothing. To go from a prince with a mansion and a daughter and a home to being basically having no one, being homeless, and having people throw things at you on the street is a BIG step. And with zero preparation for such a big change, it must have been the shock of a lifetime….. But then we get to the last bit of Satan’s punishment for him: “...for the next hundred years.” So it isn’t that bad, right? Ehhhhhhh….. 

Ok, so let’s really break it down and think about what exactly the hundred years could hold for the former Goetia prince.

Homelessness and potential poverty

Soooooo… I know that technically Blitz has taken Stolas in, but given the current state of their relationship, we can’t really be sure that will last. As a Stolitz fan myself, I was internally screaming when Blitz took him in and started caring for him because AHHHHHHHHH….. But Blitz also has a tendency to self-sabatoge relationships with the people he loves the most, and a long history of not being able to communicate wants, needs, or anything really outside of being drugged with a truth serum, being in a seriously life-threatening situations, or being on the tail end of a breakdown, and now with Stolas being in an even more vulnerable state than he was before, I’m not sure we’re going to be getting the full Stolitz comeback we all want quite yet… And that may mean Stolas not staying in Blitz’s apartment quite as long as he probably would have prior to the events of “The Full Moon” and “Apology Tour” since we see the prince trying to move past the relationship and into a new era of his life. We may also see him struggle financially if his assets are affected by this banishment, and from the loss of his title and home, I think there’s a good chance that that is the case. While I do see Blitz offering to make a place for Stolas at IMP, with his now limited powers and lack of experience in the workplace, and in hell as a common place demon, it may not be something that is completely feasible right now…. And that brings us to the 2nd thing we might see in upcoming episodes:

Falling back into bad habits

Despite the fandom’s love for Stolitz, I think we can all agree that while love did come of it eventually, Blitz was one of the prince’s bad habits in the beginning. Blitz, for Stolas, was a rebellion, a sort of ‘fuck you’ to the life he had planned out because of his place as demon royalty…. And now as a just a mere demon with no power and no status, things could go the complete opposite direction from what I mentioned earlier, and he may run right back to the familiarity of Blitz with no regard for whether there has been a change made on either of their parts or not, which could also set Blitz back since Stolas wouldn’t necessarily care if he was treating him better or not, so he might lose the motivation to want to be a better version of himself.  Both men need support outside of just each other, and while Blitz has it within his IMP family (as well as a lot of support from his community now), Stolas doesn’t.

Now, don’t get me wrong, M&M and Loona will more than likely step up to support Stolas in this time, if not solely for the fact of him being the man Blitz loves, because they all know that what Stolas did was something he didn’t technically have to do for them all, BUT  Stolas lost his title and (seemingly) access to everything relating to that, including his daughter who is arguably his only true family that we’ve seen since the flashback of him and his father when he was a literal child. Now, keep in mind that this man stayed in a relationship with someone who physically abused him, and tormented him mentally and emotionally for years, all for his daughter. Has he been the best dad? No, not by a long shot, but Loona does have a point in “Seeing Stars”, when she explains to Octavia that parenting is complicated and sometimes parents make mistakes despite loving their children…. We see how important his daughter is to him a lot throughout the show, and with what Andrealphus said about Octavia now solely being cared for by her  “wholesome parent” (*laughter*), we can pretty much guarantee that even if he wasn’t banned from seeing her, her mother and uncle would never allow it, and I think this will be something that could cause him to spiral, and possibly start picking up new bad habits, maybe even more harmful ones than we’ve seen him use to cope in the past.

Death

Stolas has had 2 attempts on his life that we know of so far… What’s to stop Stella from sending Striker back for him now? Technically she doesn’t need to, since her ex husband is unable to keep her from the fortune and power she and her brother had been after, but what better time to off him than when her daughter is still a minor and can’t take over his spot in the system of royalty, and he’s hated by so many people now?

She only has the next hundred years, and if she doesn’t do it now, she may lose th upper hand she has in this moment and she may not get another chance to have as much power as she has in this moment. But would Vivzie off Stolas? I don’t know, but she does everything for a reason in her shows, so we know she’s setting up for something big. Could it be another assassination attempt? Multiple attempts? More than just Striker going after him? It would be a good time to do it from the perspective of the characters, but would the death of a character so intertwined with the main protagonist of the series be a good idea? As a consumer of the content, I would literally be in tears at a death scene involving a character I’ve been allowed to get so attached to over the course of the series…. as a creator, someone who writes and enjoys the engagement that my content brings and enjoys creating the content I create, a major death like that would open up doors for plots that may not have been an option before and while it would shock the fandom, and while the fandom’s devastation could be catastrophic, it could all pull us further into the hell she’s created because we all love the characters still living and would all have a single question after seeing such a beloved character go: What comes next?

As a humble Fizziepop, I can’t say that I know what comes next, but after “Mastermind”, I can definitely say that I’ll be hoping for a more funny and light-hearted episode next time, but I’ll keep a box of tissues on standby incase Vivzie has another tear-jerking episode in store for us. What do you think the next hundred years might look like for Stolas? And what does everyone think will happen for the Stolitz ship?

[simplegenius042]

Music Monday & Ship Aesthetics Template

Tagging @voidika @raresvtm @josephseedismyfather @noodlecupcakes @imogenkol @socially-awkward-skeleton @inafieldofdaisies @aceghosts @cloudofbutterflies92 @cassietrn @direwombat @adelaidedrubman @derelictheretic @icecutioner @shallow-gravy @strangefable @statichvm @carlosoliveiraa @g0dspeeed @wrathfulrook @starsandskies @ladyoriza @la-grosse-patate @thewanderer-000 @omen-speaker @alypink @shellibisshe @josephslittledeputy @skoll-sun-eater @afarcryfrommymain @strafethesesinners @turbo-virgins @florbelles @minilev @justasmolbard @yokobai and @seedsplease + anyone else who'd like to join.

Next trio of Hazbin Hotel songs is for Life, Despair & Monsters, A Radioactive Calamity Of Love, Bombs & Gore (TW for that) and The UnTitledverse as well as template for the two main protagonists of An Old Ballad Of Chance And Ember Hearts Trilogy. You can listen and view below the cut and find the blank template at the bottom:

[TW: Minor discussion of Fallout's in-game representation of substance abuse and addiction first up]

In my Fallout 4 WIP A Symbol For A Better World, there's a topic that I believe has never been handled properly (amongst many other topics) in majority of the Fallout games (but most especially those influenced by Todd Howard), and that is of addiction, and characters afflicted by addiction. It's something I noticed in Fallout New Vegas and had become evident to me in Fallout 4, and one of the many things I wanted to personally do justice in my A Radioactive Calamity Of Love, Bombs & Gore, especially when it comes to companion quests, most specifically Cait's. Her story ends with her addictions being magically cured by a machine that instantly gets rid of addictions, something that I've noticed had brought a sour taste in many people's mouths. Now I'm still working on the WIP, especially with Cait's story, so it's probably gonna be a while before that comes out. Here's "Poison", another Hazbin Hotel song that I think tackles the topics of substance abuse (including the victim often suffering under the people/supplier exploiting the victim's addictions), a few really unhealthy coping mechanisms for the addict themselves and the shitty experience of that in general rather well. I acknowledge it doesn't entirely encapsulates everyone's experiences with addiction but it is something that does happen. Listen below:

"I got so good at bein' untrue I got so good at tellin' you what you wanna hear I disassociate, disappear Yeah, yeah, yeah

So far beyond difficult To resist another gulp

Yeah, I know it's poison, you're feedin' me poison I'm chokin' from the taste and I can't help but swallow Up your poison, I made my choice And every night I'm wasted like there's no tomorrow

Oh-oh, oh-oh Any way you want me, baby That's the way you got me, I'll be yours My story's gonna end with me dead from your poison

Poison, I'm drownin' in poison I'm fillin' up my glass but it's always hollow Full of poison, I'm sick of the poison Wish I had somethin' to live for tomorrow."

Next song is my all-time favorite Hazbin Hotel song, "Loser, Baby", and even though I've done this from an older post, I'll do it again! One of the key relationships in my House Of The Dragon WIP The Thorned Crown Of Iron Thrones is between Prince Aegon II Targaryen and former assassin Okkotsu. Aegon and Okkotsu meet after the disastrous funeral for Laena where arguments were had and blood was spilled and fingers were pointed and family secrets emotionally damaged Aegon's older adopted brother Corvus. In the chaotic fray, Aegon runs off into the nearby woods to get some alone time, before bumping into Okkotsu, a rather infamous woman from a foreign land who attempted to assassinate the Targaryen royals several times before she gave up when it nearly costed her life one too many times. Aegon feels like a failure to his family, Okkotsu is a self-accepted failure, and they bond over this. This is a key canon-divergence, as unlike Viserys who mentally checked out on raising Alicent's children, as well as Rhaenyra, who wants nothing to do with her younger half-brother, Okkotsu, although she doesn't become his step-dad, instead she becomes the dad who steps up. And that's not hyperbole, I literally have a line saved for her where she more or less tells Aegon "don't worry, I'll be your dad from now on". And through the power of accepting themselves as poor sopping wet meow-meow pathetic blorbo screw-ups, she unknowingly changes the course of Aegon's future as he's no longer an unsympathetic piece of shit... he's just the first cringefailure loser in Westeros. "Loser, Baby" can be listened to below:

"So things look bad, and your back's against the wall Your whole existence seems fuckin' hopeless You're feelin' filthy as a dive bar bathroom stall Can't face the world sober and dopeless You've lost your way, you think your life is wrecked Well, let me just say you're correct!"

"Wait, what?"

"You're a loser, baby A loser, goddamn baby You're a fucked-up little whiny bitch! ("Hey!") You're a loser just like me!" ("Thanks, asshole!")

You're a screws-loose boozer An only one-star reviews-er You're a power-bottom at rock bottom But you got company! ("This supposed to make me feel better?")

There was a time I thought that no one could relate To the gruesome ways in which I'm damaged But lettin' walls down, it can sometimes set you straight We're all livin' in the same shit sandwich!"

"I've been born to high-borne royalty!" *

"Haha! And you think that makes you unique? Get outta here, man!

We're both losers, baby We're losers, it's okay to be a-" "Blitzed-out, booze-drinkin' ho?" * "...Baby, that's fine by me."

"I'm a loser, honey A schmoozer and a dummy But at least I know I'm not alone!" "You're a loser just like me!"

"I got an appetite for gamblin'!" "I got an appetite for samplin' every drug and fine wine I can find!" * "Go ahead, baby, sing that song!"

"I got no coin left to spend up!" * "I gave up my mission to save myself * Now I'm stuck on the run!" * "I'm trapped and it gets worse every hour!"

"You're a loser, baby!" "A loser, but just maybe if we-" "Eat shit together, things will end up differently!"

"It's time to lose your self-loathin' Excuse yourself, let hope in, baby Play your card, be who you are!"

"A loser just like me!"

[* First change, Aegon hasn't literally sold his soul to anyone specifically, so being born into royalty (and all the burdens and consequences that come with that) was an easier substitute. Second change, Aegon mostly drinks and hasn't been up to sexual activities at this time (or any time from that point on). Also I put Okkotsu's little "..." pause to that since while she's not exactly judgemental, she is a little concerned. Third change, there are drugs in Westeros I've managed to find out... and also sex toys don't exist at this stage so "fine wine" was a clear and effective substitute. Fourth change, again, as stated in the second change, Aegon hasn't been up to any sexual activities at this stage, so I alluded to his gambling problem instead. Fifth & sixth changes, since Okkotsu hasn't made a deal with any demons that make her obligated to follow their commands, I instead replaced those lyrics with the fact that Okkotsu's given up her assassin career which simultaneously lets her keep her own life but puts her on the other side of both the law and the royalty who sent her after the Targaryens.]

In my Hazbin Hotel WIP Smile Tunes, Alastor is still as mysterious as ever, and Lucifer still retains his goofball tendencies, and both still one-up the other when trying to impress on Charlie's daddy's girl status, but one thing that's changed in my WIP is Samuel's presence. Samuel does not trust Alastor at all, and in fact is the one person trying to investigate who exactly Alastor is, what his game is for the hotel, and why exactly he went missing seven years prior. Samuel also becomes a sort of solid rock presence for Lucifer (whose a second father to him) to rely on and a big hand in helping Lucifer with his depression. Samuel in fact is one of the few people in his inner-court that Lucifer trusts without question, hence why he has Samuel keep an eye out on Charlie because Lucifer trusts that Samuel can look out for her. On another note with Lucifer's involvement, the King of Hell himself is absolutely baffled by the presence of Kingsley (much like Vaggie, hint hint, nudge nudge) despite the fact Kingsley should be recognizable as an exorcist, or at least an angel, due to his close resemblance too them, which alarms Samuel (and Vaggie) on what exactly Kingsley could be. Because if he isn't recognizable as an angel to the most infamous fallen angel of all... than what is Kingsley? Anyway, time to bop to "Hell's Greatest Dad":

"Haha! Looks like you could use some help From the big boss of Hell himself Check out Daddy's glowing reviews on Yelp! ("Five stars! Flawless! Greater than great!") Oh, with the punch of a pentagram I wap-bam-boom, alakazam Usually, I charge a sacrificial lamb But you get the family rate!" "Thanks, Dad!"

"Who needs a busboy now that you've got the chef? ("Whoa-oh-oh!") Michelin-tasting menu, free à la carte I'll rig the game for you because I'm the ref Champagne fountains, caviar mountains, that's just the start!"

"Who's been here since day one? Who's been faithful as a nun? Who makes you chuckle with an old-timey pun? Your executive producer! ("That's true!") I'm your guy, your day-to-day Your chum, your steadfast hotelier Remember when I fixed that clog today?" "I was stuck, thank you, sir!" ("Oh, you!")

"I'm truly honored that we've built such a bond ("Aww!") You're like the child that I wish that I had ("Uh, what?") I care for you, just like a daughter I spawned ("Hold on now!") It's a little funny, you could almost call me dad!

They say when you're looking for assistance It's smart to pick the path of least resistance!" "Others say that in your needy hour There's no substitute for pure angelic power! Who just happens to also be your blood!" "Sadly, there are times a birth parent is a dud

They say the family you choose is better!" "What a bunch of losers!" "Can you butt out of my song?" "Your song? I started this!" "I'm singing it, I'll finish it!" "Oh, you tacky piece of-!"

And lastly a ship aesthetic template for the two now officially named main protagonists of An Old Ballad Of Chance And Ember Hearts Original Trilogy; Jade Smith and Jasmine Rafiq, including their faceclaims too! Read up on them below:

Blank Template below:

[swappingbryn]

David had been trying to be an influencer since college, but no matter what he did, his follower count remained the same. He knew he had good things to share but no one seemed to listen, so he was stuck working his soul crushing 9-5.

His luck changed for the better after a series of unfortunate events. First, his crappy apartment had to be evacuated due to mold, which forced him to a local hotel (paid for by his renters insurance), then his car died and he was forced to take two buses and a train to work, which meant he didn’t get back until almost 10 at night. Frustrated, Friday night he went to the bar at the hotel to drink away his troubles. That’s when he saw Yung Gravy, the rapper with a huge following.

David was trying to work up the courage to approach him, when the bartender brought a drink over and said “Mr. Gravy sent this since you looked like you were having a bad day,” so he took the drink and decided to go over, but Yung Gravy was gone. The next day, David was at the pool and he saw Gravy again and decided to just ask for a picture, knowing posting and tagging such a famous person would get him some new followers. But when the flash went off, David realized he was taller and looking down at his own body. He quickly grabbed the camera from his publicist and handed back to his former body, who was no utterly confused, and rushed away.

His former body kept trying to approach him, but he reported it to hotel management. Last he heard, his former body was kicked out of the hotel.

TLDR

[crvwly]

today we honor the late great Lieutenant Gravy Boat, the cat of all time. i don't have many pictures of gravy because he's my nemesis so i only ever take pictures of him that are unflattering and embarrassing. he hated petting, scratches, cuddling, and generally people giving him attention or affection. he was not praise-motivated, play-motivated, food-motivated, or really motivated in any way by anything except spite and being difficult. i've met (at a generous guess) upwards of 500+ cats as a former animal shelter / vet med employee and he was by far the least pleasant of them all, and i'm including the ferals. he once lunged for my face because i tried to stop him from attacking our dog. he weighed over 17 pounds and yelled like an old man who smoked a pack a day for his whole life. he regularly antagonized our other animals, caused fights, stole food, broke things, attacked our friends, and only ever purred in the moment you were putting his dinner dish on the floor for him. he was taking a human-sized dose of prozac alongside 100mg of gabapentin as needed for pain and he was still near impossible to handle up to the very end.

you were a wiley rival, gravy. a good archnemesis. i'll miss you.

[helluvahazbinselfawareauupdates]

Current Happenings in the SelfAware Blogs AU Community (1/29/25)

@voxcriticizes gets threesome jumped by @mammoncritical, @stellacriticizes and @soberedupcatcritises, Stella was noted to have pulled up in a golden and white Volkswagen hitting the curb as she brandished a pistol we stan boss bitch girls!

In other related news both @duskcriticizes and @nyxcriticizes are safe somewhat with the ladder being in a different castle and the former coming out with a missing right arm, hey! At least Lute can give advice to the bugger!

Speaking of the Eklair family, we like to congratulate @aphcriticizes on her engagement to Abel from Heaven! May they live eternally!

While all that occurred, @satancriticizes has awakened and began to interact with the others in what seems to be interesting tea. Most notably was his information regarding @mammoncritical and @godcriticizes in infodumps.

In related news, Satan has confirmed that he is now taking back the throne to Hell, All Hail King Satan!

@voxcriticizes after that humiliating beatdown has been (no pun intended) seen unable to get coordinated, if this was a drive way then the police will most certainly pull him over and ask him to walk the white line.

Oh? What's this? @zestialcriticizes and @satancriticizes are seen planning outings what could they possibly be up to?

@lamentewaters2 has revealed their name but the suspense is in the air on what the letters could form!

Notable Arcs

@satancriticizes had went through his Awakening ARC in the same day and is now moving towards his Rebuilding Hell ARC

@zestialcriticizes is entering his Reunion ARC

@voxcriticizes is entering his Dismantled ARC (Hopefully he stays gone, ahah get it?)

@godcritices entered his Relavations ARC (we totally didn't forget him yesterday don't bother checking!)

@duskcriticizes has also entered his Recovery ARC

Want to Join? Check out these important information!

[blowflyfag]

WWF WRESTLING SPOTLIGHT: Volume No. 9

Rock Anthology

By Keith Elliot Greenberg

An Overview Of The Rockers

STYLE OVER SUB-stance!” barked WWF television announcer Jesse “The Body” Ventura shortly after the Rockers' first bout on WWF Superstars of Wrestling. The youthful, handsome duo of Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty had just blurred across the ring in their fluorescent tights, dispatching their opponents in dynamic fashion. Longtime wrestling observers were almost as overwhelmed as the Rockers’ opponents. It was clear that the enthusiastic, inventive tandem was bound for big things. 

Only Jesse the Body offered the voice of dissension. “They’re pretty boys!” he yelled. “Nothing more, nothing less! They’d be OK if this was some MTV glam-metal video, but it’s not–it’s the World Wrestling Federation, and you’ve got to be tough to make it here. Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty? Don’t even write their names down. In six months you won’t remember them–and that’s tellin’ it like it is!”

Jesse Ventura, you were wrong. 

[The Rockers utilize the dynamics of flight in order to disable their opponents. Since their arrival into the World Wrestling Federation, they have put together a formidable aerial assault.]

Michaels and Jannetty proved almost immediately that their poster-boy good looks were just gravy on a creative, well-stocked wrestling arsenal. Sure, the two could fly across the ring, but that wasn’t all. They could match technical wits, as they’ve done with teams such as the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers and the Orient Express or slug it out back-alley style, as the Power of Pain found out. Most significantly, they could plan, forsaking a manager to formulate their own complicated strategies and coordinating team maneuvers the likes of which had never been seen in the ring.

“Yeah, we’ve heard the criticism, people saying we're too cute,”  Michaels states, his lip curling slightly. “Hey, it’s not our fault we look this way. But we know a lot of teams out there would like nothing better than to take our faces and mangle them. And, in the World Wrestling Federation, a lot of teams could do it, too. We’ve been in that ring a while, and we’re still rockin’ and rollin’ and looking good. I think that says something.”

The Rockers have risen to the top of the game by earning the title “The masters of motion.”

“They move so quickly, it’s amazing they they don’t smash into each other and disintegrate,” admits one former opponent. “But their timing’s so perfect that each always knows what the other’s doing. No one else does, though. They’re on the mat, in the air, on the ropes, tagging in and tagging out. I don’t consider my loss to them something to be ashamed about. I consider it an introduction to tag team wrestling.”

But the Rockers are also “the tag team specialists.” “Before we entered the World Wrestling Federation, we knew how tough it was going to be,” Jannetty explains. “So we spent just as much time in the video library as we did in the gymnasium. We watched all the great tag teams on tape–all the WWF champions. And then we pledged to add to what they had done, take it all a step further. From the day we started, we wanted the world to define tag teaming in Rocker terms.”

One of the first contests in which the duo’s fortitude would be tested was the 1988 Survivor Series. The Rockers were members of a team captained by the Powers of Pain, pitted against a squad headed by Demolition. While the bout would only aggravate tensions in the long-standing war between Demolition and their rival captains, the Survivor Series marked the start of a new struggle–the Rockers vs. the Brain Busters. The teams had already engaged in a few skirmishes and came to the match gunning for each other. 

[One of the Rockers’ first battles was against the Brain Busters, whom Marty and Shawn seriously battered. This infuriated the Busters’ manager, Bobby Heenan, who abandoned his inept team. Then the Rockers warred with the Rougeaus, who sneak-attacked them with a megaphone.]

“The Brain Busters were the first tag team to really single us out,” Michaels recalls. “I think a lot of that had to do with their manager, Bobby ‘The Weasel’ Heenan. The thought of two young guys like us making our own decisions without the aid of a manager just burned him. We knew that he’d instruct the Brain Busters to take us out at the Survivor Series, and we were more than happy to give it back to them.”

With the World watching the Pay-per-view telecast, the Rockers and Brain Busters ferociously clawed at each other, brawling on the arena floor and then all the way back to the dressing room. 

“Bobby Heenan used the Brain Busters to try to prove a point," Jannetty says. “He wanted to show the world that we weren’t so hot. Well, whether it was at the Survivor Series or our matches with the Brain Busters after that, we never let up. Heenan wanted to wear us down, and I think he got the opposite result. I mean, look at the facts: The Rockers are still going strong, and the Busters are long, long gone.”

The Rockers’ rhythmic quotations, along with their poetic wrestling styles, soon infuriated another manager, Jimmy “Mouth of the South” Hart. A onetime pop star with the Gentrys, Hart fancied himself as the WWF’s king of rock ‘n’ roll and took special exception to the Rockers’ unique form of “jamming.” When his tag team, the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers, had their song All American Boy cut off on the public address system and replaced by the Rockers’ theme, Hart became doubly incensed. He ordered his charges to show no mercy on the popular stars, and during a ringside free-for-all, Michaels’ neck was intentionally injured by the French Canadian-born brothers.

“That was one of the low points of my career,” Michaels recounts. “I was laid up, and the doctors were saying they weren’t sure if I’d ever return to the ring. Somehow, I knew they were wrong. I felt that I had to go back. I just wasn’t ready to give up everything I had worked for. I owed it to Marty, and I owed it to all the people who came to the arena to cheer us on. And I also owed the Rougeaus something–a Top 40 whupping.”

In fact, in their first few matches with the Rougeaus, the Rockers seemed more determined to mete out revenge than to log a victory. “We might be the tag team specialists,” Jannetty says, “but against the Rougeaus we felt more like an avenging army.”

Despite warnings to be cautious, Michaels flew at the Rougeaus with the throttle down. In one bout shortly after his recovery, he stunned spectators by coming to the ring with a bandage still around his throat. “He was just inviting the Rougeaus to battle,” says a friend. “It was as if he was saying, ‘Here’s my injured neck. Try to hurt it again. I dare you.’ Whenever the Rougeau Brothers would take the bait, Shawn and Marty would go wild.” 

In this particular match, the Rockers spent much of the opening minutes chasing the Rougeaus and their manager around and around the ringside area. Eventually, Michaels caught up with Jacques Rougeau in the ring and slammed his head into the turnbuckles 10 times. After he fell backward to the mat, nearly unconscious, each Rocker took turns splashing his fallen form. When Raymond Rougeau attempted to slip into the ring on behalf his brother, he didn’t fare much better–the Rockers blasted him with a double dropkick.

[With aerial maneuvers and on-the-mat tactics, the Rockers dominated Jimmy Hart’s Rougeaus. At WrestleMania V, the Rockers took on the Twin Towers, Akeem and the Boss Man. Although outweighed. The Rockers nailed the Towers with many moves from their unique wresting arsenal.]

But the presence of Jimmy Hart would prove an important factor in the first fee confrontations between the teams. So overzealous were the Rockers at teaching their opponents a lesson that they were easily distracted by then manager and then double teamed by the Rougeaus. However, Michaels and Jannetty refused to be psyched out by Hart’s tactics. With each bout, they learned and improved, until they were able to use the Rougeaus’ techniques against them.

By the time the battle reached the Palais Omnisport in Paris, France, the Rockers had advanced to the point that they could not be beaten. As the French-speaking crowd threw its support solidly behind Michaels and Jannetty, the Rockers overcame every obstacle. Even in the closing moments of the match, when Jacques executed a piledriver and covered Jannetty for the pin, the Rockers found a way to gain an advantage. Michaels rushed into the ring to intervene. From the other side, Raymond stepped through the ropes to block him. As the referee cut off Raymond, Michaels lifted and delivered a piledriver to Jacques, placed Jannetty on top of him and returned to the corner while the referee spun around to count the pinfall. 

However, in the world of professional wrestling, there is rarely time to celebrate before someone else steps into the picture to humble you. The devious Mr. Fuji, seeking to strike while the Rockers were off-guard, snuck up to ringside after one of the duo’s triumphs and started tormenting them. Michaels and Jannetty looked at one another for a moment, then gave the manager what he came for–double dropkick and double fistdrop. According to the plan Fuji convinced beforehand, his team of Warlord and Barbarian, the Powers of Pain, charged out of the dressing room and attacked the Rockers. 

“Fuji expected the Rockers just to shrink away from the wrestling scene,” says a source close to the Powers of Pain. “Warlord and Barbarian are chiseled monsters. They’re huge compared with the Rockers and savage between the ropes. Michaels and Jannetty shocked Fuji when they demanded a match with his team. They shocked a lot of people.”

Their time in the WWF had convinced the Rockers that they could withstand this difficult challenge. Although they considered the Powers’ immense proportions, they were not unaccustomed to taking on larger opponents. During WrestleMania V, the Rockers squared off against the Twin Towers, Big Boss Man and Akeem, and stunned them with simultaneously executed maneuvers. Having recuperated from his thrashing by the Rougeaus, Micahels was aware of his capacity to overcome pain. Then there was the matter of courage. The Powers of Pain had tried to humiliate the Rockers, and now the Rockers were committed to cutting them down–valiantly. 

“Just looking across the ring at guys like Warlord and Barbarian is enough to make some wrestlers run back to the dressing room,” says Jannetty. “They’re awesome. But so are we, in a different way. When the Powers of Pain jumped us, I told Shawn, ‘Be strong, brother. We’re going to take down a volcano.’”

The task was as difficult as anything the Rockers ever faced, but they got around the rough spots by using innovative team moves. After Micahels was outmuscled by Barbarian, he ran the ropes and hurled himself at his big adversary with a flying bodypress attempt. Barbarian caught the Rocker in midair and tried to slam him onto the mat. But before this could be achieved, Jannetty sailed off the turnbuckles onto his partner’s back, forcing Barbarian down to the canvas for a near-fall.

Later in the match, Michaels compensated for the height disadvantage by backing Warlord into the turnbuckles, mounting the second rope and hammering downward with hard fists. Believing it was time to finish up the night, the Rocker tried a sunset flip. Warlord resisted, struggling to remain standing while Michaels endeavored to turn him over. In a flash, Jannetty was aiding his partner, delivering a high cross–bodyblock to the squirming Warlord.

It was only the intervention of Mr. Fuji that cheated the Rockers out of a clear-cut win against their heavily favored foes. And Fuji was so taken aback at the Rocker’s diversified repertoire that he scanned the world to find another team to eliminate them. While home in Japan, he discovered the Orient Express.

[The Rockers then went against the Powers of Pain, the massive Warlord and Barbarian, managed by Mr. Fuji. After Fuji sold the Powers’ contracts to different managers, however, he signed the Orient Express, Sato and Tanaka, and quickly launched them against Marty and Shawn.]

On paper, Sato and Tanaka were evenly matched with the Rockers. Both teams favor the airborne assault and are proficient at capitalizing on the five seconds after a tag when both members of a squad can be in the ring. However, the Orient Express has Mr. Fuji, an admitted expert at twisting the rules. At WrestleMania VI, the Rockers received another painful education in the manager’s cruel tricks–Jannetty was temporarily blinded outside the ring when salt was thrown in his eyes.

In a rematch, the Orient Express tried to keep the edge by pouncing on the Rockers, whipping them both into the ropes and bending to backflip them. But Micahels and Jannetty managed to put on the brakes before the routine could be completed, stopping in front of their opponents by slamming their heads together.

Even when the Express was at its best, the Rockers were better. At one stage, Michaels backflipped Tanaka, who wiggled around in midair, positioned himself perfectly and landed on his feet. But before Tanaka could gloat, Micahels spun around and leveled him with a clothesline. 

The match ended with Tanaka flat on his back and the Rockers in opposite corners of the ring, prepared to execute a double fistdrop from the top turnbuckles. However, Sato managed to disrupt the Rockers’ plan, and all four combatants–along with Mr. Fuji–ended up duking it out on the arena floor. Remarkably, both Rockers ceased fighting at the exact same time and slid into the ring before the referee completed his 10-count. Michaels and Jannetty had scored a count-out victory over Fuji’s team. 

“Hey, Fuji,” Jannetty tormented the manager as his hand was raised triumphantly, “keep trying!”

 The Rockers intend to keep trying, challenging the toughest opponents and bettering themselves, becoming the standard against which future tag teams will measure themselves. On the near horizon is a confrontation with Hercules and Paul Roma, Power and Glory. 

“Power and Glory’s the ideal tag team for us to wrestle at this stage in our career,” Michaels says. “Roma knows how to fly just like us–he has the highest dropkick in the sport–and Hercules is a big, muscular brawler with a ton of experience. Guys like that come to the ring to fight, and that’s OK with the Rockers, baby.”

Feeling the heat between the ropes has never inhibited the Rockers. They wrestle with flair, and the girls all want their pictures; but that’s not why Michaels and Jannetty are in wrestling. They're here because they love to wrestle–something that’s easy to do when you’re a tag team that puts substance over style.

[oldfangirl81]

"I dare you to go use a pick-up line we give you to go hit on the guy with the pornstache you haven't stopped staring at," Javy grinned before taking a drink of his almost empty beer bottle.

"I hate you. You are the worst wingman." Jake glared at the man about to be a former friend. Just then Jake's phone buzzed.

"I'd put extra emphasis on that Texas twang of yours," Mickey grinned having found a great terrible line.

Jake put on his cockiest strut and made his way over to pornstache.

The man actually watched his approach with amusement.

"I did not think you'd ever actually come over after you kept sneaking looks for the last two hours."

"You be the biscuits and I'll be the gravy, let us do breakfast sometime," Jake did actually put as much southern accent as he could.

There was silence for a moment while the words were processed.

"Can I have your name before you offer to do me for breakfast?"

[misfitwashere]

Musk’s dangerous bullying

ROBERT REICH

DEC 2

Friends,

No one better illustrates the sinister consequences of great wealth turned into unaccountable power than Elon Musk. 

Musk, the richest person in the world, is not only claiming presidential authority to fire federal workers, but he’s posting the identities of those whose jobs he wants to eliminate — with the clear intention that his followers harass and threaten them so they quit. 

Musk is utterly unaccountable. He has never been elected to anything, but he spent $120 million helping Trump become the president-elect and is now acting as if he’s Trump’s co-president, calling himself Trump’s “First Buddy.”

After buying Twitter for $44 billion, Musk turned it into a cesspool of disinformation and conspiracy theories and manipulated its algorithm to give himself 205 million followers, to whom he is now distributing treacherous lies. 

In recent days, Musk boosted posts on his website singling out the names and job titles of four federal employees working in climate policy and regulation who have done nothing other than hold titles Musk dislikes. All four targets are women. 

In one instance, Musk quote-tweeted a post highlighting the role of 37-year-old Ashley Thomas, a little-known director of climate diversification at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. 

Musk’s repost — “So many fake jobs” — garnered 32 million views, triggering a tsunami of taunts against Thomas, such as, “Sorry Ashley Thomas Gravy Train is Over” and “A tough way for Ashley Thomas to find out she’s losing her job.”

Musk apparently took the word “diversification” in Thomas’s title to mean the “D” in “DEI,” which Musk considers “woke.” 

Thomas (who holds degrees in engineering, business, and water science from Oxford and MIT) is focused on climate diversification to protect agriculture and infrastructure from extreme weather events.

Following Musk’s tweet, Thomas shut down several of her social media accounts. 

In another repost, Musk mocked Alexis Pelosi, a relative of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who works as a senior adviser to climate change at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“Nancy Pelosi’s niece should not be paid $181,648.00 by the U.S. Taxpayer to be the ‘Climate Advisor’ at HUD,” the original account wrote. “But maybe her advice is amazing 🤣🤣” Musk snarked. 

Musk also singled out the chief climate officer in the Department of Energy’s loan programs office and shared the name of an employee serving as senior adviser on environmental justice and climate change at the Department of Health and Human Services.

IMHO, Musk’s targets should sue him for defamation. 

This is hardly the first time Musk has targeted specific people, and he obviously knows how dangerous such targeting can be. 

After taking over Twitter in 2022, Musk targeted Yoel Roth, the platform’s former head of trust and safety, who had recently left the company. Musk tweeted, incorrectly, that it looked like Roth had argued “in favor of children being able to access adult Internet services.” Some platform users interpreted this as Musk calling Roth a pedophile, and they posted calls for Roth’s death. 

Roth moved out of his house because of the threats. 

Musk has also singled out specific civil servants. In 2021, he targeted Missy Cummings, a former fighter pilot and senior adviser at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, whom Musk claimed was “extremely biased against Tesla” because she questioned the safety of Tesla’s advanced driver-assistance system. 

Cummings said she received death threats and was forced to leave her home as a result of Musk’s posts.

Musk’s current targeting is even more dangerous because he has the apparent authority of the president-elect. Although the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” that Musk is co-heading (with Vivek Ramaswamy) isn’t a real department and has not been authorized by Congress, Musk is acting as if it’s real. 

Cummings says Musk’s personal intimidation is already leading some longtime federal employees to leave their jobs: “He intended for them, for people just like this, to be intimidated and just go ahead and quit so he didn’t have to fire them. So his plan, to some extent, is working.”

**

I worked in the federal government between 1974 and 1980, first at the Federal Trade Commission and then at the Justice Department, and from 1993 to 1997 I served as secretary of labor. 

Most of the federal employees I came to know cared deeply about the common good. The vast majority did their work carefully and thoughtfully. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude. 

But ever since Richard Nixon attacked “unelected bureaucrats” as America’s enemy and Ronald Reagan blamed “liberal bureaucrats” for government’s failings, government employees have been scapegoated. And now Trump is preparing to attack the so-called “deep state.”

In fact, America spends less each year on the federal government’s civilian workforce (roughly $200 billion) than we spend annually on federal contractors ($750 billion). 

Much of the “fat” is found in these private, for-profit contractors, who aren’t accountable to anyone except the office that draws up the contracts. 

The biggest waste is in the Defense Department, where many contractors have avoided competitive bidding because they have a monopoly over critical technologies. 

Which brings me back to Musk, whose businesses are fast becoming among the government’s largest contract monopolists. According to USASpending.gov (the government database that tracks federal spending), Musk’s SpaceX and his Starlink satellite division have signed contracts totaling nearly $20 billion. 

I don’t know how much waste and inefficiency are to be found in Musk’s government contracts because I haven’t been able to find any reports on them — which is precisely the problem. 

While Musk seeks to intimidate federal civil servants whose job titles he dislikes, forcing some to leave government because his postings have elicited threats to their lives, Musk is distracting attention from himself and his own profitable dips into the taxpayer trough. 

I invite any of you with an inclination to root out waste and inefficiency to find out what you can about any likely abuses in Musk’s government contracts, and let us know what you come up with.