#'it just felt like a fun concept!' says robbie

[crackdkettle]

okay but with the multiverse opened up the funniest thing they could do is have every AU version of Sam played by a different actor, but every version of Dean played by Jensen

[kaylinalexanderbooks]

Find the word

Thanks to @mysticstarlightduck here and @finchwrites here for the tag!

My words: lovely, sheer, tiresome, manic, rain, mellow, deny, quietly

Your words: black, attract, pause, raise

Tagging @the-stray-storyteller @writernopal @songsofsomnia @stesierra @unrepentantcheeseaddict

@talesofsorrowandofruin @sarahlizziewrites @sleepyowlwrites @revenantlore @melpomene-grey

+ anyone else who'd like to join in!

TSP intro

TSP tag list (ask to be +/-): @thepeculiarbird @illarian-rambling @televisionjester @finchwrites @nebula--nix

Keep reading for:

Tyler and Carla book talk

Lexi and Ash in the Gateway

Couldn't find this in current WIPs so enjoy this bit from my creative writing midterm!

Ash listens to Lexi plan

I've shared the singular use of rain before so here's a short story I wrote for class in high school based on an idea for SOTL

Lexi in an Alii forest

Gang found the Gateway

Lexi is alright (:

Lovely - from The Secret Portal Part Two (Akash POV)

“I got around to reading The Crossover.” “Oh?” Tyler was instantly up, crossing to the couch closer to us to lean against the back. “How was it?” “Amazing. I had to look up a little bit about basketball to follow the concept. The poetry was so lovely. I almost cried at the end, but I cry at everything.” “That’s fair,” said Tyler. “It was a required reading in my sixth grade English class back on Ceteri. Made a lot of people learn to love reading.” He turned to me. “You read it?”

Sheer - from The Secret Portal Part One (Lexi POV)

“Maybe we’re dreaming?” “Isn’t that cliche?” “Then we’re hallucinating!” “More cliche!” “Well, you think of something!” We were both silent. I chewed on a chunk of my hair, trying to hold back the anxiety building inside me. My mind raced. The stale air against my skin, the tickle of the grass, and the sheer uncertainty I felt gave the whole situation a verisimilitude appearance.

Tiresome - from "Final Project Short Story"

The smacking was getting tiresome. Once she reached a red light, Mariah tore her eyes to her consultant in the passenger’s seat. “Can you eat that somewhere else?” Ben stopped chewing for a second and glanced up at Mariah innocently. “It’s lunchtime.” “Sounds like you have a problem.” Mariah turned her gaze back to the light. Ben muttered something about Mariah having a “stingy” problem.

Manic Crazy - from The Secret Portal Part One (Lexi POV)

“Not that this isn’t fun,” said Ash, “but why exactly am I here?” I looked up from my planner. “I just need someone to talk to while I plan this out.” Ash cupped her cheek in her hand, having her hair move slightly over her face. Her hair was noticeably past her chin, around her mid-neck, which was still very weird to me. Despite saying three weeks ago she’d cut it soon, she hadn’t gotten around to it. I wanted to ask about it, but that was the day Rose disappeared. Maybe it was her way of coping. “Alright,” said Ash, looking tired. “Shoot.” I turned back to the planner. “Okay, so this week is a little crazy. Thursday is Robbie’s play, and we’ve all decided to go to that.” “We did?” “Yes,” I said, barely glancing up.

Rain - from "Romance Short Story" aka SOTL (Úrsula POV) (SOTL was in first person??)

The rain poured down on the school later that evening. Lightning crashed, thunder rumbled. I made my way across the courtyard, keeping my head down, trying to get to my dorm. “Hey! Úrsula!” I cringed inwardly as I turned around to face Kitty, strutting toward me at rapid speed. “What do you want?” Kitty’s eyes were blazing with an uncharacteristic rage. She shoved me once she was close enough. “How dare you do that to my sister!” She pushed me again. “How dare you! We’re nothing but kind to you!” She shoved me again. “And what do you do?” She shoved me harder, and I slipped on the wet stone, crashing to the ground. “You can’t treat Billie like that! How dare you!”

I have changed Úrsula's character so much since so if I have an equivalent scene in SOTL it'll play out much differently

Mellow Soft - from The Secret Portal Part One (Lexi POV)

A piney scent hit my nose, but it was interlaced with some fruity smell. I now surveyed my surroundings and realized I now lay in the middle of a forest—a pleasant juxtaposition to being in the middle of nowhere. Well, maybe I was still “nowhere,” though the variety of plants was nice. Woah, a big variety. There were ferns of all sorts of colors with a wide variety of leaf shapes. I lay in a cluster of magenta flora I didn’t know the name of. I noticed the humidity was back, but the air was cool enough to where I didn’t remove my hoodie. A soft rustling of leaves above my head with interesting bird sounds gave the whole place a magical feel. It was… venerating. That was a good word.

Deny - from The Secret Portal Part One (Maddie POV)

Kelsey stepped back. “You’re saying we follow?” “Why not?” I asked. I stuck my hand out to the wall, watching it disappear. A tingling sensation ran up my arm. “It’s weird, but it doesn’t seem harmful.” I pulled out my hand to find it intact. I smiled. This was cool! “It could be harmful on the other side,” Kelsey said, twitching. “Rose may not be okay.” “We need to find Lexi and Ash,” Noelle pointed out. “I know I said she just didn’t answer her phone, but that was before—” She gestured to the wall. “It doesn’t make any sense, but I can’t deny what I saw.”

Quietly - from The Secret Portal Part Two (Gwen POV)

Lexi smiled. “You’re probably right.” She took another big sigh, then picked up her phone. “Sweet, Main Event has been scheduled.” I exhaled quietly through my nose. I decided not to comment on Lexi trying too hard to meet her obligations. Maybe this was a good thing. I did tell Ash earlier that Lexi needed to be around more people when she was stressed. Maybe more fun with Ceter friends would do her some good.

[bdzonthareel]

Barbie

When I first heard about a Barbie movie, I like many people rolled their eyes at the very thought of it. Barbie media has often (at times unfairly) lambasted for being a cash grab and that was my initial reaction, however we I heard that Margot Robbie was involved and her production company was fitting the bill, my interest was piqued. So without further ado, (and I never thought I would ever say these words) let’s talk about Barbie!

We’re introduced to the fictional world of Barbieland, where every concept of Barbie exists and lives in perfect harmony with a respective Ken, and Allan (there’s only one of him.) But the harmony is disrupted when Robbie’s Stereotypical Barbie begins to suffer from an existential crisis and in order for her to fix what’s wrong she must go to the real world and meet the girl who is playing with her and figure out what’s wrong.

In all genres of entertainment, comedy is one of those that I am insanely harsh on, as comedian myself I feel like there should be a flow to long form story, especially in comedy. But I can say that Director and co-screenwriter Greta Gerwig created a work that was heartfelt and hilarious in this film.

The cinematography is nothing short of brilliant, lots and lots of pink paint was used to bring Barbieland to life and it felt like one massive play set. And the various Real World shots were not to be out done giving off a stark contrast to each other.

The soundtrack was a delightful mix of classic top 40s, newer hits and self-aware comedic songs. The score was equally light poppy and fun, composers (pop music legend) Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt brought an amazing upbeat energy to this film.

Co-writer Noah Baumbach, helped with some very well-timed jokes, and you know they worked because they triggered a metric ton of incels, and that alone was worth the price of admission. Together with Gerwig, I was throughly impressed with the amount of meta commentary on display, and despite what some might lead you to believe, the film doesn’t demonize men; the film’s message is far more complex than that. I also appreciate the fact that they made the movie about the titular character, with seems to be something that franchises like Transformers can’t seem to get right.

And the performances were hilariously well done, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gossling have great chemistry as they lampoon the ideas of these characters’ roles. Simu Liu, is amazing versatile and brings the same amazing timing that he brought to Kim’s Convenience and it was delightful. Although my favorite Barbies were Issa Rei as President Barbie and Sharon Rooney as Lawyer Barbie. And I would be remised to ignore Hari Nef whose Doctor Barbie was whimsical and charming, Also since I’m madly in love with Alexandra Shipp I can say that she another of my favorite parts. America Ferreira and Ariana Greenblat served as great moral support for the various inhabitants of Barbieland and then there Will Ferrell I was almost convinced was Ken at one point given his goofball behavior. I also enjoyed seeing Rhea Pearlman as one (spoilers), she just gets better with age. Kate McKinnon really went all in as Weird Barbie as did Michael Cera as Allan (easily my favorite character in the film.) And last but certainly NOT least, Dame Hellen Mirren as the narrator brought a nice touch of her

Barbie was more than what I and many others initially expected, it was packaged as a goofball fish-out-of-water comedy which is a tired cliché in its own right, I sat down on this for a good while before writing this and I feel like its one of the best comedies I have seen in a very long time. It was very funny, but it also had a lot to say about growing up, holding on to thing that we love, and letting go of them. The biggest message that we all have to find our own way, because we are all more than just an idea and life doesn’t exist in just a straight line and at the end of the day isn’t that what it means to be human?

I give Barbie a well-deserved, 5 out of 5.

[kryptonitecore]

Reread: Transformers: Devastation

I spent at least a few pages of this comic completely unaware that there was a Warsaw in Indiana, and I was very confused as to how the Autobots were supposed to drive from America to Poland in less than a day. The geography of this series is somewhat in flux though, as Brasnya has now progressed from a ‘breakaway Soviet state�� to a ‘former Russian state’, which is pretty impressive in a few hours. 

The art had some pretty nice moments in this comic, with some very deliberate visual parallels between Optimus and Megatron and some really nice colours, courtesy of Zak Atkinson. The art is variable, however - most of it is by E. J. Su, but there is an issue by Robby Musso (which I wasn’t as much of a fan of…) and one by Nick Roche, which I really liked.

Compared to its predecessors the tone is more comedic, with quite a few reaction shots and quick jumps between characters and groups, or at least that’s how it starts off. A high point of ridiculousness - and it’s intentional ridiculousness - is the fact that the Decepticons on Earth decide to wake Starscream up from the equivalent of a medical coma rather than have a conversation with Megatron themselves about how all of his plans lately seem to have been terrible. I can only say that I am disappointed we did not see more of that conversation.

Nevertheless, the book carries on with the Weird Moments™ that have bedecked previous issues. From the utterly godawful holo-avatars (I was particularly distressed by Rodimus’ ponytail and wraparound sunglasses) to another moment where Megatron just has a mouth laser, there are plenty of mildly strange moments to enjoy, especially since this is where Furman clearly starts bringing together a lot of the plot-lines that had seemingly disappeared, so every character that has so far shown up in one Spotlight is suddenly making a return.

The central evil plan of Scorponok/Machination is, as all great evil plans are, mostly nonsensical, and this book has no problem with making fun of the whole concept of Headmasters while still using it. Some of the body horror surrounding Sunstreaker is still effective, though, especially when they let Nick Roche take over for an issue… Speaking of Roche, he has some really excellent alt covers for these issues, this having been a favourite for a while:

It’s important to spend quality time with your evil faction members and make some happy memories. 

In what’s becoming a bit of a theme in what I’ve been reading from IDW1 recently, Megatron’s contempt for his own army is clear, particularly his contempt for Sixshot who, despite being a Phase Sixer, is still pretty disposable. Another notable feature of Furman’s Megatron is the sheer confidence, I mean: ‘I serve the Decepticon cause’,  ‘Then you serve me’. This mixes interestingly with some of the later stuff… 

There are a couple of nice moments for Rodimus in this, too, especially with Hardhead when he insists on disobeying orders to try and rescue Sunstreaker. It’s interesting that the Reapers (from Spotlight: Sixshot) come back and Sixshot is allowed to carry on with that arc, but Galvatron and his crew felt extraneous, especially considering they showed up when there were already about a million things happening in the final issues. Nevertheless, this is probably my favourite of the Furman miniseries.

[gchoate17]

I watched 25 movies in 2023 – down from 30 last year. Here they are, ranked in order. 

Cherry

Fantastic story, well told. It covered a lot of ground in a short time and made me believe everything. Despite the bad decision, I never stopped pulling for him. Tom Holland crushed it.

2. Tetris

I love these stories that pull the curtain back on pop culture phenomena. An enthralling sprint from start to finish.

3. I, Tonya

Nice job of showing the other side of the story. I felt some empathy for “the monster.” Also, I wasn’t expecting to laugh, but I laughed multiple times.

4. Dune (2021)

It’s always impressive when someone creates a new world that seems to add up. The story is set, now show me the sequel.

5. White Noise

Intellectual and quirky, but ridiculous, in a good way. But it also feels a little too unhinged. Adam Driver crushes it.

6. The Beanie Bubble

Zach Galifinakis’s best performance? Enough of a true story to give me the satisfaction of learning something while also pointing to the ridiculous nature of American capitalism in the 1990s.

7. On the Rocks

Bill Murray and his character carry it.

8. Barbie

Stylistically, really fun. Concept, fantastic. Kate McKinnon and Michael Cera’s characters are the best part of the movie. It was also nice to see so many actors from Sex Education. Of course, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling were fantastic as well. Overall, the was good, but it certainly didn’t measure up to the hype (and how could it). My only real complaint comes with when they have all been enlightened and they name all of the problems with society, which is a little too on the nose for me. We got it without being told.

9. Narvik

I’ve been into Dutch things lately, and I always like a new perspective on World War II, but I wouldn’t say this one is a can’t-miss.

10. Seven Kings Must Die

SPOILER ALERT: I feel like I couldn't get into the movie because legitimately the only person I was pulling for at the end was Uhtred. King Athelstan was a dumbass who deserved to die. All the kings who got duped into allying with the evil Dane guy made the move I would have made. Moral of the story: War is terrible. But that final shot of the Great Hall was awesome.

11. Parasite

Kind of funny. A little too far-fetched.

12. This is Where I Leave You

Weak story, great actors.

13. Air

I know why they did it, but it was a mistake to make a movie about Air Jordans without Michael Jordan.

14. Blood & Gold

I couldn’t buy that what happened in that small town didn’t alert larger authorities. In that way, it was a lot like Three Kings, but less humorous.

15. Those People

I am writing this review months after I watched the movie and even after watching the trailer, I have no recollection of ever seeing this movie, but in my notes I gave it three stars, so I’m putting it at the end of my three-star movies for the year.

16. Everything Everywhere All at Once

Loved the first half-ish, and the acting was great, but – as is with most action mind-benders – when anything can happen because the filmmakers aren’t bound by the rules of reality, it felt completely out of control by the end.

17. The Covenant

Movies that pretend like you can move about freely in war are out of touch with reality. But I do love a battle-buddy flick.

18. Raymond & Ray

A little absurd, but Ethan Hawke and Ewan McGregor are always likable.

19. To Leslie

Predictable addiction story. Bad Southern accents.

20. Midsommar

A horror film, but replace the dark aesthetic with light. Immature characters who ignore all the red flags.

21. The Wonder

SPOILER ALERT: Eerie and intriguing, but my investment diminished once the jig was up. I don’t buy that a devout little girl like that would just walk away.

22. Greyhound

SPOILER ALERT: Decent action sequences at sea, but not enough background for any of it to really mean anything. Elizabeth Shue needed to come back, for sure. Otherwise, why have her play the role?

23. Dead for a Dollar

I’m a Christoph Waltz fan, but this one was full of melodrama.

24. The Incident (1967)

None of the characters do what they should and there was no payoff. I did enjoy seeing those actors in the early stages of their career, though.

25. The Menu

I want to know how Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, and John Leguizamo got trapped in this stupid-ass movie.

See previous years’ lists here: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017.

[i-want-to-talk-about-it]

Barbie

🔺Spoiler Alert

What an absolutely delightful movie.

Before I present you with my take away from the film, I would like to mention one small but significant aspect of Barbie that made me so happy. I really really LOVE how it has become a movement. No one asked anyone to wear pink to the movie, it was just a naturally decided fact that we all have to show up in pink. I for one, love pink and barbie both hehe so it was so wholesome and lovely to see a crowd of people dressed up in the said colour. My friend said that this is one step foward towards world peace haha.

Now onto the movie,

Greta Gerwig did not point out anything new about feminism, I don’t think so. In today’s time, almost all of us have heard of the concepts of feminism, patriarchy and toxic masculinity and most of us understand the meaning.

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that all of us acknowledge the need of feminism and the existence of patriarchy. What Gerwig did with this movie, in my opinion, was that she made this idea more accessible. She presented it in the form of fun and giggles and a LOT of pink and I think her attempt was more or less successful. Yes, it might not be in the sense that some people are still going to throw comments like “Oh you’re going to watch Barbie? Please don’t come out hating men lol.” (taken from real life happenings). But I think in the movie, for those who keep an open mind and actually try to watch it for what it is, Greta successfully managed to talk about gender roles and how they impact BOTH men and women.

And I think it is a very tricky thing to pull off heavy topics like these in a lighthearted manner but Barbie made it happen. I was laughing through out the film but at the same time, I had this heavy feeling inside me. The heavy feeling was the acknowledgment I felt that “yes I do go through these things. I am treated like this.” as well as the sadness relating to the fact that I can’t live in Barbie Land where everything is perfect haha.

If we talk about casting, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling CHEFS KISS. Both of them did such a good job playing Barbie and Ken. Specially Ryan Gosling, I imagine it’s not easy to play a symbol of Patriarchy, not knowing of it at all to learning of it and how it can give you power and make you an asshole lmao and to have it crumble in front of you and then realising that you don’t actually need it because along with it, it brings things like toxic masculinity.

Gender roles and norms were the central theme of this movie and their portrayal was fun and beautiful.

If you think Barbie is going to be a light hearted watch after Oppenheimer, then you’re wrong definitely haha. Trust me I had the same misconception. But it’s definitely worth a watch.

I have saying this since yesterday, everyone in the world should watch Barbie 100%!!!

[ananke-xiii]

Love your input, as always! Very insightful that thing about pseudo-"killing" God as "Not enough" of a justification for missed character growth (although symbolically it served Dean to refute his "i'm just a killer" idea of himself so it had some sense, but the vengeful bitch in me would have pulled that trigger like, okay I'm not just a killer starting tomorrow, but hey it's just me).

I'm just gonna add something because I think I was not clear, as usual, on the whole epic/tragedy thing. Yes, I agree with you that they're connected and I didn't want to equate epic=happy eneding, tragedy= sad ending.

My point was (and I may totally be wrong, this is JUST my opinion) that SPN was pitched in a certain way, but then Kripke at least experimented a little bit, or had his fun, with the whole hero's journey thing.

When he pitched his story he used big words like "odyssey", "campbell", "hero's journey" etc and it was smart because they can and do mean so many different things but to the eyes of someone that has to bet their money to produce a show they all lead to one thing: formula for success. I mean, it's true, maybe people don't read Campbell but they know about Vogler's book and his ideas about story structure. it is popular, it's like, a fact.

So when I say "epic" I actually mean epic as it's seen in popular modern media, with the call, the adventure, the trials, the mentor, the return etc. So Sam leaving the hunting life and entering the normie house makes sense under this light. Like, if you take the Hero's journey and apply it to the whole of SPN it works. But does it?

Because, again, to me s4-5 (and then s6 but for a slightly different reason), changed the game a little bit, I didn't see "that" epic structure, that journey anymore. Or, maybe it was kind of left into the background. Maybe it's what happens when you throw in the Apocalypse, the parallel bewteen Lucifer and Michael and the concept of Destiny as main themes of your show. The way it was all put together reminded me more of tragedies and, consequently, of their structure, i.e. catharsis and death of a morally ambiguous hero. As in, it was clear from the first episodes of s4 that either Sam or Dean had to die or at least commit self-sacrifice. And it actually happened.

And maybe I sounded too harsh towards the writers and didn't acknowledge the difficulties of creating art professionally, they must have faced their own struggles and they did try to point things out to us, like Robbie did in my example. I was more commeting on the general vibes I got from watching the series, I can't deny it felt "divided" as to where it was supposed to go.

I don't know if I managed to make myself clearer, but I tried :D

Some thoughts about tragedy in spn.

Just fyi, I’m not even sure what my point is, so don’t expect anything that’s well-structured or even well written (yay! I’ve got you SO engaged right now, lol). To be honest I decided to share some of my thoughts because I wanted to hear what other people had to say on the topic 😊 so let me know what you think!

My little brain started going off in all directions after 15x20 because I was like “what is going on?”. And I’m not talking about facts, events, stuff that we’ve been presented in the finale and whether I liked them or not. I’m talking about the structure of the whole series. Like, I think SPN never truly decided whether it wanted to be a tragedy or an epic and I personally think that this is what led to the audience’s conflicted response about the finale: ultimately, from a structural point of view, the scale was tipped off in favor of the tragic narrative but the audience was eventually given a (badly made, imho) epic narrative ending.  

We all know that when Kripke pitched SPN he mentioned “On the road” and “The Odyssey” and “real Joseph Campbell stuff”. And in the very first scene of s1e2 we see some guys playing video games (the ultimate media for quests narrative) and one reading “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” so, you know, visually he kept his pitch promises. We’re all set for an “epic hero’s quest across the United States”. But we also know that in s10e5 “Fanfiction” the MOTW is… *drum roll* Calliope! The muse who presides over epic. And she wants to eat The Author of Supernatural . As if this was not enough, Maggie, one of the theatre girls, hits Calliope with… The Odyssey! I know this episode is forever famous for, well, the fanfiction aspect, but I suspect that Robbie Thompson was also telling us something else, considering that by the end of the episode Calliope is dead and Chuck, the established Author and the suspected (back then) God, is alive and well.

So, tldr; I think the load-bearing wall of SPN is tragedy and the epic is just whatever non-bearing walls do.

(and I’m not saying that epic cannot have tragic tones, like at all, I’m talking about narrative structures and, consequently, possible narrative endings)

Because I cannot stop thinking about this thing. Supernatural starts as two guys on a journey to find their father so we got the journey, fine. But what about The Return? Where can they return to? The only “place” that’s identified as a sort of “a return” is the fucking white picket fence life which is a) a ��place” that was never really theirs to begin with so, technically, they cannot return there (unless we count it as a sort of “Eden”, a return to their childhood home and memories although, unfortunately, this reading would mean the saddest/most beautiful quest ever cause nobody can really return there without acknowledging the trauma of the fall from it) and b) we know right from the end of the pilot that there is no metaphorical return, as it turns out the narrative is not linear but cyclical. Because, really, whether or not Sam (I will only focus on him as a character for this post or I’ll never stop writing) accepted “The Call” was inconsequential for the story and we’re actually showed this. Sam is, like, this intrinsically tragic hero trapped in an epic hero’s body. His mother died and the story began, his girlfriend died and the story continued. What’s worse is that they both didn’t really have to die, to be honest, because Sam already had demon blood in him. We have literal flashback episodes that show us all the events leading to Sam’s birth. Azazel didn’t care if Sam hunted monsters or not, the demon played his role and the day of reckoning would have happened anyway (and it did and Sam “lost” but this is for another day) like it happened for all the other “special kids”, even if John wasn’t blinded by his grief and didn't vow to avenge Mary’s death .

And I think this is why s4-5 hit so hard and people love them so much: because there the trick is exposed, the narrative was never an epic but a tragedy. Destiny enters the chat once and for all and there’s no going back (and it’s even better when we find out that this supposed destiny is not really a destiny, rather an orchestrated video game but that’s also for another day). We have this whole blood/choices thing that’s a real catch-22. Sam’s demon blood was the result of his mother’s choices. Sam’s childhood and upbringing was the result of his father’s choices (metaphorically speaking "blood"; not just "demon blood" represents Sam's parents choices combined, "the sins of the fathers" sort of stuff) ). So what about Sam’s choices?

And then we have Ruby’s dialogue, one of the best things in the whole spn:

Ruby: No. It wasn't the blood. It was you... and your choices. I just gave you the options, and you chose the right path every time. You didn't need the feather to fly, you had it in you the whole time, Dumbo! I know it's hard to see it now... but this is a miracle. So long coming. Everything Azazel did, and Lilith did. Just to get you here. And you were the only one who could do it. Sam: Why? W-why me? Ruby: Because... because it had to be you, Sammy. It always had to be you. You saved us. You set him free. And he's gonna be grateful. He's gonna repay you in ways that you can't even imagine.

It was NOT the blood! It was YOUR CHOICES! I mean, can’t you see this is the stuff tragedies are made of? And why Sam accepting his fate but deciding the way he was going to handle it is so important? Frankly, I don’t think that s5’s ending is the best finale ever, but I cannot not say that from a storytelling pov it’s a thing of beauty. To me it clearly showed that there was no real “return” for Sam. Not because of his demon blood but because of his choices. His fucking choices led him to where he is now. As in, “everything you audience have seen so far was actually supposed to happen, right until this very ending point. The journey was a diversion, cool, but it was more of a going in circles rather than moving forward. The hero was forever trapped, and he was trapped BECAUSE of his choices, the more he wanted out the more he was forced back in, ha-ha!). And yet he somehow manages to at least write his own ending, which is super sad (but, again, tragedy!) but this is possibly THE ultimate human question: is my ending written or will I be able to write it myself? By the end of s5, meager consolation that it is, Sam at least manages to have an answer to this question (I’m in no way saying that I agree with Sam’s final choice, just that it was *his*).

But, as it turns out, it was not in no way his ending both because the show continued and because in s15 we’re told that the game is doubly rigged since Chuck was the one pulling the strings. And, honestly? This makes me feel so much for Sam, like to me he’s given THE worst ending ever (And Dean’s death has traumatized me to this day and I won’t ever re-watch that scene, it’s just wrong for me on so many levels but, from a narrative pov, his death mirrors Sam’s “death” in s5 so what I have said about him is valid for Dean, too) ((and, I cannot stress this enough, I don’t agree with both decisions, the message they send is too grim))

(((although in Dean's case, he chose the "wrong" path every time forcing Chuck's narrative to find new ways to keep him trapped and this is what makes the two brothers both so different and so similar)))(((because archetypically speaking brothers and/or sisters are the same person, they represent the different parts of the psyche but shhh))).

Sam’s left behind, so he goes and keep on living a blurry life without processing all the trauma. And then he dies. Wow. Most Unsatisfying Ending ever. And it’s as such precisely because Sam was not an epic hero, the return to the ordinary world is not an apt ending for him. Now, I’m not telling that Sam should have died. What I’m trying to say is that the finale is unsatisfying and, whatever they could have done or even will do if they decide to give SPN another chance, will forever be unsatisfying because, after s5 the show was unwilling to let go of its tragic, aching bones but, simultaneously, force-fed them with the winning formula of the epic narrative structure which, in turn, made tha tragedy even more tragic. (s6 really really tried something different with the whole Godstiel thing but, again, this is for yet another day).

New trials, new villains, always worse than the ones before, the seasons’ quests becoming comically impossible (s13 stopped all the pretenses and was like: look, from now on all the quests will just be quests for random ingredients for spell, just don’t ask and keep watching). In the meantime all characters were SCREAMING, they kept making the "same old- same old" mistakes, their scars were never healed, their trauma always THIS close to be resolved and yet... they all wanted catharsis so bad, they all needed a moment to breath but it was never afforded. Why? Because SPN is a friggin' tragedy and affording catharsis to the characters and the audience means the show is over.

So, you see, on the surface we keep seeing the thousands faces of the heroes but we’re never given the opportunity to see the heroes’ real faces. The s15 episode of “The Heroes Journey” maybe tried to tell us so, to warn us in a way.

Wow, I’m done. I guess. Again, please bear in mind that these are just my silly little thoughts, I may even change my mind because I’m incoherent like that. I’m far more interested in your silly little thoughts so let me know what you think 😊

@iminsideyourgrapefruit i'm tagging you because I promised, but as usual ignore if unsolicited ;))

[bonsai-babies]

re-thinking my experience with ck

I remember the first time my teen cousin pulled me out of my peaceful holidays and forced me to watch Cobra Kai with him. I had seen no trailer or synopsis for it. I went completely blank. Actually, my cousin showed me pictures of the actresses on the show because he knew I was a weak lesbian and I needed encouragement. So all I had was a vague image of what the girls looked like, and it was good enough for me to give it a real chance.

Barely a couple of episodes in I already knew two things: I was enjoying it way more than I expected and it was written by men. I just felt the male writing-ness and even though it had a lot of things we as a society had grown past to, it was entretaining enough for me to ignore the embarrassing shit.

I guess because I'm older and less impressionable I was able to connect with the characters without being manipulated by the story. Case in point: I think Johnny is a terrible sensei, Cobra Kai was a mistake and still I'm glad he taught Aisha and Miguel because it was important for these kids who really needed help -- and no one was giving it to them. Not that Johnny wanted to help them or anything, he was in it for selfish reasons, but still. My cousin however is defending this motherfucker because he's the show's main 'hero' and you are made to cheer for him. Which is fair, but not always right.

I liked Johnny from the very start. He was such an ass. And I was fine with it. Daniel was the second adult that I really rooted for, who I noticed was being treated worse by the text from very early on.

Sam, Robby, and Miguel were the kids who did nothing wrong ever and deserved happiness from the very start. I got attached to the three of them, my cousin took Miguel's side (of course, like with Johnny, he is preferred by the text too and Robby/ Sam antagonizes the show's 'heroes' from time to time), so we had a lot of discussions. Which was tough because he does not get the concept of POV in stories, also he was 15, there wasn't much I could force him to wrap his head around because he had not gone through the same growing I had as a fucking adult.

So it also caused a rift between us when watching teenagers from teenage POV and adult-motherly POV.

I was way more understanding and welcoming of the kids. To me, all the drama made sense for their age and for the context they were in. I could see beyond that, so when a drunk girl under pressure kissed her ex at a party I didn't flip, or when a young boy told his father out for being a jackass of a man, I was on his side. I vouched for them. My cousin was angry. The script's heroes were being antagonized and he only had those heroes' views being shown to him in a sympathetic way, also as a teen himself, everything is the end of the world. -- He's also a HUGE Miguel x Sam shipper so the second season was tough for him.

And despite the text's insistence in not giving sympathy to the LaRusso side of the story, I ended up connecting deeply with The Rich FamilyTM. Which is completely unexpected in my personal situation.

I struggle with a lot of stress and anger issues, I like to joke saying I am Fire Nation all the way and that I was born with a demon's blood because I feel cursed. I'm poor, I'm unlucky, I'm ugly af and I'm the type of underdog the movies just ignore or will make fun of because I'm not cute or quirky. I'm just normal, neurodivergent and angry -- and ugly, important to highlight. Good shit just doesn't happen to me. In this light, Johnny's motivation should resonate like a symphony in my heart. Cobra Kai's way should match my inner conflicts and give me fictional release through their aggressiveness against the world. But it didn't. And as I said before in this blog, I believe it is because of the way it was made of by the writers. Even when I understood some motivations and goals, the context surrounding it in the story was impossible for me to side on. I couldn't ignore some of the absurdity. And I truly felt like the Miyagi side was being treated unfairly, and this, this treatment truly resonated with me. Being treated unfairly by the story is something I just know all too well.

Also, I'm a woman and lesbian, so it didn't matter how badly the text tried to distract me from the women, I was in it for them. So let's talk about the girls.

Having smelled the manliness of the writing I set my standards VERY LOW. I was truly surprised when a fat girl was not made fun of by the script and how Amanda was at first a pretty reasonable lady. Extremely smart and fresh. I was also very glad when Sam didn't end up being just some girl -- even though we know people love to be mean to her and think of her exactly like that but I'm blaming in on personal bias and YES, misogyny, cry as much as you want, Sam's hate has a lot of misogyny involved, die mad about it. But my happiness with it only lasted because my standards were low. I think they could do better with them. Soon I realized: oh Aisha is gone now, Sam is the 'girl in the love triangle', Tory is the new Johnny which the text love and will cover her ass for very tough shit that should really not be overlooked over like that. -- Even me being this angry ass gremlim who wants to eat the rich-er I do not condone beating up the girl you personalized all your hate into because of your biased view of her.

We had a serious redemption for a guy who deliberately broke his friend's arm but let's shit on the girl who accused the other of stealing this thing once -- in a very understanding context, I might add. I'm super glad about Hawk's growth though, I just wish the same kindness was shown to my daughter.

So now I am 65% happy... I want a non-white female writer in that room ASAP.

It is certainly harder to rewatch this show as a queer woman, but the girls really do it for me. I'm happy to have them and I want to say that it is important to have them. Carmen and Yaya are a balm in my pain, Amanda is such a spectacle, Tory has such a great journey, Sam is so precious I just wanna protect her from everyone.

A lot of my thought process only got consolidated with time and I believe that soon enough more of it will come.

[booksonablog]

Robby Keene Headcanon

Request: May I request Dating headcanon about Robby Keene with a Fem s/o? Pls🥺 (P.O.C. reader 4c hair type, appreciation/being attracted to skin color, comfort from racist)

Author’s Note: This may be my first headcanon, as I’m not too positive of the difference, but I swear I did my research, Enjoy! Also I got too excited so I’m sorry if it seems like the ramblings of a lunatic

Dating Robby Keene Would Include:

Lots of intimate connection

Whether it was small things like hand holding, playing with each other’s hair or sitting together in solitude, he truly enjoyed connecting with you

You can expect lots of hair playing

He  loved the small curls of your hair. He’d admire it any chance he got, but he’d love to twirl each individual thread between his fingers.

Sometimes when you were tired, you’d lay your head in his lap and you’d find his hand tangled in your hair. Even in mid-conversation with someone else, he’d still be caught twisting a curl around his finger

He’d slip flowers into your hair when the two of you would lay in the grass on a picnic at the park

Once, he asked you to teach him to do your hair. You admired his curiosity and gladly showed him a few hairstyles you often did with your hair. He’d pay attention with a focused eye and when it was his turn he was very careful. He wasn’t great with it at first, your hair popping out on one side, but he’d eventually grasp the concept, he was persistent. You’d end up throwing on a movie as you sat on the ground between his legs - he’d have your hair in his hands, his tongue sticking out. He was so happy once he accomplished at least two styles as good as you’d do them. There are at least 50 photos in the album he’s dedicated to you that are just you showing off how perfectly he did your hair.

He’d let you play with his hair and braid it

He comforted you when you were upset & he was always there when you needed him

If you needed help with homework, or needed a study buddy, he was already offering his assistance, and he was very good at it. He remained focused, no funny business, always made sure you 100% understood the material before moving on, and he’d only ask for kisses in exchange.

Asks you randomly what things make you happy, when you ask him why he asked he said he’s making a list of what to do when you’re sad

He followed the handy little list he made ahead of time

He even created a “Happy Box” of some of those things on that list for the occasions when he wasn’t available

As soon as he was available he’d be ready with open arms

He’d pull you to his chest and let you cry till & if you were comfortable enough to tell him what was wrong

He’d plant soft kisses on the inside of your palm after wiping the tears off your face

He’d stay with you for as long as you’d allow him, during this time he’d tell you to get cozy as he’d run to the store to get both of you some candy & you’d have a netflix night

He’d teach you everything he’s been learning from Daniel

Hanging out with the Larusso’s at their pool

He admired how your skin glistened in the sun & how every color suited you so perfectly

The Larussos loved you - who wouldn’t!?

When you weren’t around, Sam would whisper to him how perfect you were for him, that he was even happier than when her dad took him in

You’d encourage him to make amends with his dad. He’d be hesitant but he listened to your reasoning and he trusted what you had to say

Which led him to finally responding to Johnny’s request on taking him out to dinner. They actually had a great time! They laughed, they cried, and they spoke about you. Johnny was happy to see his son happy.

They started to get along so well that Johnny wanted to meet you!

When Robby told you this, you immediately felt the rush of nerves erupting in your stomach, though he assured you that you’d be okay

Johnny took the two of you out to the same arcade he used to hangout at. Afterwards he took you guys out for milkshakes.

When Robby had excused himself to the bathroom, Johnny had thanked you for bringing the two of them together. You saw him get a little emotional, even you got a little teary eyed. You kept the moment as a secret between the two of you 

Going to the skate park together

You knew Robby was no quitter as he tried time and time again to accomplish this one obstacle in particular

The two of you celebrated once he did - his fists up with a grin as you’d run up to him, he’d pick you up and spin you around, the two of you giggling

Unfortunately, when you tried the obstacle you ended up with a cut knee

Not so unfortunately for you, he’d carry you to the nearest bench where he’d bandage you up. He’d place a kiss on top of the band-aid, winking up at you.

Sometimes you would text him in the middle of class, “Wish you were here 🥺” and he’d reply with, “Right outside 😘”

He’d wait for you outside of school, sometimes with your favorite treat

Once in a blue moon, he’d sneak into the lunchroom at your school & kept you company during lunch

In the times when he couldn’t visit, you’d find funny little notes from him hidden away in your backpack

Having a lazy day together

The two of you resting on a hammock: you - sound asleep on his chest while his foot hangs off the side, gently rocking it back and forth

He snuck you out some nights to go stare at the stars 

Sharing a dessert at a local diner

Walking down the shore, eating ice cream and watching the sunset together

The two of you would receive stares of disapproval when you would hold hands - he would pause, hold your face in his hands & plant a breathless kiss

He enjoyed seeing you in your space, the expression when you thought no one was watching, to him, that was true beauty

Purchased flowers for you just because

Makeout sessions in places where it was just the two of you

Will look out for your well being, not just because you’re dating but because he truly cared about you

“Did you get home okay”

“Be safe”

The two of you actually met by him pretending to be your boyfriend when he watched as someone had been following you

Will speak up if he thinks you’re being unsafe

Being complimented as the cutest couple

Hope you guys enjoyed this one! I love Robby and I think he is a sweet little puppy with good intentions, so this was fun to write. Additionally, I really appreciate the request for a p.o.c. reader. I myself have encountered imagines where the reader is described with blonde hair and blue eyes, and while there is nothing wrong with a person that fits that description, I have to pause my reading and adjust the words in my head to suit what I look like (I myself am a p.o.c. reader.) I try to write my imagines with the reader in mind, trying to keep little to no description of the reader so the person reading can easily imagine themselves into the story. With that being said, I was elated writing this prompt, I don’t think people understand how important representation in writing is (mind you I am still learning.)

Requests are always open! 💕

Tags:

@ceooflovingpizza​

[asphodel-storm]

I have many gripes about this season, but there was lots I liked too! Here's some of it:

1) Hawk having the idea to build them a training deck both as a practical solution and a gesture of good will. He trashed Miyagi-Do once and how he's helping it be better. Loved this. Demetri saying 'Eli is a design whizz' was wonderful too.

2) Kenny. Love this kid.

3) Robby's relationship with Kenny. I don't love narratively that they used it to make Robby relate to Johnny more (it was not his job to reach out at all), but I did love just seeing them training together and being buddies. Robby deserves to have a friend (I know Shawn is also his friend but we never see it).

4) Everything about the scene with Demetri and Hawk in Hawk's basement. I love that they used to make silly videos together. That they've both sung their theme song. The confirmation that they've been hanging out since kindergarten (I had assumed, but still). "Whether you're number 1 or a zero" T__T

5) Hawk joining Miyagi-Do. Johnny was never good for him, it seems like Daniel is.

6) It was great to see Aisha again. I wish she actually came back, but still. I liked seeing her and seeing thar she and Sam are still friends.

7) I like Devon.

8) I like the CONCEPT of Sam finding her own path and mixing styles as she likes. I didn't like the execution (relates to gripes I have about Johnny), but the ultimate payoff I did enjoy.

9) I pretty much enjoyed everything Terry.

10) Both of the finals fights were good, but especially Robby and Hawk. So great. How they have both studied both styles. The mutual respect. It was so good T__T

11) Eli encouraging Demetri by reminding him he's tall.

12) I am still not crazy about Robby and Tory as a couple just because I think it was kind of a boring route to go, but the execution of it was better than I thought. I really liked their prom date, after the showboaty dancing was out of the way. I liked watching them just have fun for a night. Her pulling him into the pool was really cute.

13) I liked Amanda having sympathy for Tory. I liked that it wasn't 'oh, Tory has a hard life, I no longer blame her for anything she's done to my daughter we are more privileged and thus always in the wrong'. She recognized a kid that needed help but still wanted to make sure she was putting in the work to be better.

14) Demetri's weapons display. All of them were cool, but his especially was I think the first time we've seen him really serious about this and so it felt special. He's come a long way.

15) Miguel telling Johnny he loves him and Johnny calling him Robby broke my heart and also felt so true. Like, yes Miguel is independently important to him but he has also used him in exactly the way Robby said and it was good to see that acknowledged. If heartbreaking.

16) Demetri Alexopolous! He got a last name! Yay!

17) Miguel and Daniel getting to know each other.

[leonstamatis]

on the other side of this coin, if you've never read blaseball fic before -- or heck, even if you have, but you want recs anyway -- i have a few recommendations for authors you should check out. in no particular order:

hayden waveridden - i'm biased on this one, but honestly, it doesn't matter. hayden wrote some of the first blaseball fic, ever. and also some of the most prolific across every era. if you've so much as looked in blao3's general direction, you've seen something by them. but you know what? hayden has written nearly 100 fics for this fandom, and i guarantee most of us haven't read them all. go find a new one. go read an old favorite. they're all worth it.

atticus paopuleaf - atti is. hold on i'm just kind of staring into space trying to think of the best things to say, because so many of the fics here are just. my favorite, ever. the lore takes are like nothing you'll see anywhere else, whether it's a completely original idea or a slight (but nevertheless genius) reinterpretation of widely accepted canon. start with the totluis; the characterization in those fics makes me endlessly happy. from there, everything is excellent and well worth your time.

hen waltztangocache - i think hen is like, one of the coolest people in the world. but focusing on fic, there's so much here that plays with format and genre in incredible ways. i am still not over the twists in "so much left to recover," which is one of my favorite fics of all time. but also, hen has a lovely series of ficlets about every chicago firefighter -- a huge undertaking, and a great way to understand the team dynamics and broader lore in an approachable and delightful way. hen is funny, and xir writing is, too. but sometimes it's also horrifying (positive, loving), and sometimes it's so romantic it makes my teeth ache, so there's something for everyone.

robbie babytriumphant - realizing i read a lot of firefighters fic. whatever. robbie regularly writes interpersonal dynamics that completely rewire my brain. the prose is so weighty and it has so much depth beyond just the words on the page. the characters feel real, and lived in, and reading every fic makes me feel absolutely bonkers. i know the leon/andrew campaign might have felt like a bit and a goof, but my love for that ship is 100 percent completely because of how well robbie has written them and how much those fics hurt me (deeply positive), so those are a great place to start.

stara novelsinourheads - man, it's so rare to find someone who puts so much of themself into their work this openly. stara doesn't just do prose; there are incredible twines and multimedia works, solo zines, and all kinds of fun adventures well worth your time. and somehow, no matter the format, every single work manages to feel deeply honest and personal and a little like reading a diary of someone you knew a long time ago. it's all haunting, and beautiful, and lovely contributions to the broader lore.

marn baliset - oh, you know marn. marn, the one who made derrick krueger famous? marn, the creator of tillman henderson? i'm joking a little bit because while those might be the things marn is known for, there are SO many fics here that go well beyond those bigger names and delve really deeply into other characters you probably haven't heard of. i frequently have to take breaks from reading anything marn writes because the evocative imagery and beautiful prose makes me stop in my tracks. also, the pacing? everything is set up so perfectly that you won't even realize how far along you've gotten until the end whacks you in the face. marn turns reading into a game of connect the dots and save points, and i love it. i love it SO much.

sonder moondragon8 - sonder is so clever. i love the setup of all of these fics, particularly when they delve into weird and outlandish concepts. a sentient apartment without anyone to take care of, or a fic told through a pastiche of references and quotes that will make you cackle and scream by turns. sonder also dreamed up the shuffle au concept for the zine jam, an idea that still haunts me to this day -- especially considering it's basically what fall ball turned out to be, proving sonder has some kind of future sight the rest of us can only dream of. i just really do love so much of what's here. it's all wonderfully transformative and unique.

cynda cyndakip - ah! the polkadot patterson liker!! i feel like every time i see cynda on my dash there's something about some longfic lurking just under the surface, soon to appear and ruin us (positive). cynda's works about the moist talkers provide such a perfect picture of team life and local worldbuilding, and it all engages with canon in such a heartfelt way that allows room both for the tragedy and for the recovery from it. i do not know that anyone in this fandom loves a single player the way cynda loves the dot. it's admirable, it's impressive, it's worth poking around to see what the fuss is about.

impern impernia - there are some fics that you read that just never, ever leave your brain. you move on from the fandom, you forget about canon and various other things, and still, that fic will come back and have you clutching your chest with the mere memory of it. impern has like... four of those? for me? i don't know. i don't bother counting. i just know when impern writes something, it will be achingly sincere and lovely, and sometimes it will tear my heart right out of my chest, and i will not recover. i will love it, though.

those are just a handful that i could think of without too much digging. there are always more, and you should see what you can find out there on your own. there are so, so many good writers in this fandom, and i have plenty of additional people i would love to shout out if this post were not already far, far too long. anyway, i've got some reading to do. hopefully this list helps at least one other person to join me.

also like. in general. there’s a lot of blaseball fic published in the time since s24 with <10 kudos. i bring that number up because i assume that means not many folks have seen them. it’s been pretty quiet on blao3 for a hot minute! so…

if you have any blb writers you have been fond of in your time as a fan, whether that was coronation or expansion or way back in discipline, check their ao3 profiles. chances are they’ve kept writing and there’s a lot more for you to read. the writers have never made a habit of stopping when the game does. branch out and explore the stories they’ve told, now that the sim won’t be giving us any more. and be sure to leave kudos and comment when you do!

[jumpingjaxx13]

First Lines

Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have less than 20, just list them all!). See if there are any patterns. Choose your favorite opening line. Then tag 10 of your favorite authors!

No one tagged me, but I saw it and thought it would be fun! I’ll tag @boostthatgold and @immaplatypus if you want to participate! No pressure obvs!

Also, as a disclaimer, I realized that many of my first lines are rather abrupt, simple sentences, so I put in the first few lines for some. I’ll be putting a “Keep Reading” a little bit of the way down!

Finally, if you decide you want to read one of these fics, be sure to read the tags!! Many of these contain angst and/or dark themes, but not all. Please heed the tags so you can make sure it’s right for you!

1. Purpose, Kurogiri & Tomura Shigaraki

“Do you trust me?” It was a heavy question to expect a young child to answer, but there was no way to avoid asking it.

2. Tuesday Morning Flowers, Ougai Mori/Yukichi Fukuzawa

As of late, Tuesdays had become Ougai Mori's favorite day of the week. There was nothing particularly special about it-- in fact, it was an arbitrary selection that didn't harbor much significance-- but he had given it meaning of his own volition.

3. Understanding Love, Ryuunosuke Akutagawa/Atsushi Nakajima

Ryuunoske Akutagawa understood hatred.

It was something he had been saturated with as far back as he could remember. Whether he was struggling on the streets or thriving in the Port Mafia, he was more than familiar with being the object of fear and hatred. Even more so, he was accustomed to dishing it out.

4. Unstoppable Force, Ranpo Edogawa/Edgar Allan Poe

They found him on the sidewalk.

Over the course of his life, Ranpo had seen more corpses than the average person would ever wish to. They rarely perturbed him; they were little more than another element to any given case he was working on. Gruesome scenes didn’t leave him fazed in the slightest. He’d seen where a knife had sliced through someone’s throat, bullets pierced their chest, or their body had been mutilated to the point of entrails seeing the light of day.

Never before had he seen a body look this peaceful .

5. In the Language of Flowers Ch 2, Teru Hanazawa/Shigeo Kageyama

Kageyama Shigeo liked Takane Tsubomi.

Teru knew that well enough. Hell, anyone who had spent a decent amount of time around Shigeo would know that. It wasn’t something he necessarily tried to hide.

6. In the Language of Flowers Ch 1, Yuusuke Sakurai/Megumu Koyama

Love; what a concept. It was easily the strongest force in the universe while simultaneously being the most volatile. Love could be a saving grace and everything someone needed; Love could be the most destructive weapon known to mankind when wielded as such.

7. Lovely, Hatchi Kita/Robby Yarge

Betrothal. 

Hatchi had only been home for a short while before the topic was brought up again. It wasn’t new in the slightest-- he had always known that he would be paired off with some wealthy gentlewoman and that he was going to have to at least pretend to like it-- but he hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.  

8. Flawless, Katsuki Bakugou & Tsunagu Hakamata

“Ouch! Watch what you’re doing with that thing!”

“If you weren’t squirming around so much, you wouldn’t get poked as often.”

“Oh, fuck you.”

9. Where It Doesn’t Hurt, Tsunagu Hakamata/Keigo Takami

Heroism and death walked hand in hand. Any hero who insisted otherwise was either new, naive, or completely in denial. Hero society itself was born from the need to protect people against a new form of death and destruction that had razed the world upon the introduction of quirks, and it was impossible to separate the two.

10. Casual, Shouto Todoroki/Tenya Iida

Shouto was familiar with affection in theory . He knew what it was supposed to be like. When he was young, he experienced brief moments of loving kindness from his mother wherein she would kiss his forehead and run her fingers through his hair (the right side; he didn’t notice it at that age, but she always favored his right side).

11. Playing the Villain, Shuichi Iguchi & Tenko Shimura/Tomura Shigaraki

You can play with us, but you have to be the villain!

That was what the other kids said every time Shuichi approached them, costume cape tied around his neck and eager to join in with the other little ‘heroes.’ Even at only five years of age, he was more than familiar with that kind of discrimination-- that kind of unfairness -- but it never stopped him from going back to try again.

12. Running Out of Time, Hari Kurono/Kai Chisaki

Hari’s relationship with time was a unique one; that much, he could recognize without any issue.

13. Remembering Shirakumo, Kurogiri-centric, background Kurogiri/Atsuhiro Sako, background Shouta Aizawa/Hizashi Yamada

Being caught hadn’t been part of the plan.

14. Becoming Kurogiri, Kurogiri-centric, Kurogiri/Atsuhiro Sako, Kurogiri & Tomura Shigaraki 

Something was wrong. He could feel it in his bones: a deep, throbbing ache within him making his limbs heavy and distress swell up and spread to every extremity. The epicenter of his pain was positioned right above his eye, every awful feeling radiating out from that focused point. His head spun, rushing through empty thoughts faster than he could process their meaninglessness. The pain meant something; the weight meant something; this terrible, hurried static in his head meant something, but he could not place his finger on it. He was equal parts incoherent and consumed by his blank, dark surroundings and, had he possessed the bodily control to do so, he may have succumbed to nausea.

Move. Get away. You can’t stay here. You’re not safe. They’re not safe. You need to protect them. It’s too late.

15. Keepsakes Ch 3, Yogar Lyste/Kassius Konstantine

Minister Maketh Tua had died.

The news was laid upon him without ceremony or compassion, so he hardly had the bearings to comprehend it before the topic switched over. He could hardly ask for the information to be repeated-- no, he wouldn’t have a leg to stand on, seeing as he shouldn’t have been eavesdropping on a report between an ISB agent and a superior officer. Nevertheless, even if he weren’t intruding in such an unprofessional manner, his voice was nowhere to be found. Blood rushed from his cheeks, forgetting his limbs and turning him into an ashen grey statue as daunting, echoing thoughts boomed in his head.

16. A Quiet Night, Kurogiri/Atsuhiro Sako

Kurogiri hadn’t known quiet in over a decade. Ever since taking young Tomura Shigaraki under his wing, peace had become a foreign concept to the warp villain. If his hair could show from behind his smoke, each grey hair would tell the story of another late night where sleep just wasn’t an option; another close call that had him stitching up open wounds; another task placed on Shigaraki’s shoulders that he was still far too inexperienced to execute properly of which he often took the brunt of the consequences.

17. Same, Daniel/David or Daniel & David

“ This is for your own good. You’ll understand later.”

18. The Dark Knights, Bruce Wayne/Jeremiah Valeska

Killing Jerome Valeska the second time around felt too easy. The man had clawed and ripped his way out of hell, gasping through waves of shed blood to feed his madness, his entire being a reflection of everything perverse and rotten in the human soul. To be felled by a proverbial “fall from grace” was insulting.

19. Different, Jerome Valeska & Jeremiah Valeska, Jerome Valeska & Paul Cicero

Jeremiah was nothing like Jerome.

Even before they could speak, the boys couldn’t have been more different. Jeremiah would take the cheap, plastic blocks and pile them; Jerome would wait for the perfect moment to strike and knock them down. He would laugh; Jeremiah would not.

20. How to Lie to Yourself, Janus “Deceit” Sanders

Start with something simple.

Look in the mirror and hold your own gaze. Don’t break eye contact-- that’s a sign of weakness, even to yourself.

So, it looks like I definitely do have a pattern when it comes to opening lines. Out of these, I have to say that my favorite is either Unstoppable Force’s or Flawless’s line(s). 

[bewitching-elizabeth-olsen]

Press: Elizabeth Olsen’s 20/21 Vision

The Marvel star takes us inside her transformation to a new kind of hero

GALLERY LINKS

Studio Photoshoots > 2021 > Session 002

Magazine Scans > 2021 > Grazia

  GRAZIA: Elizabeth Olsen is a trooper. We are in a field in Surrey on the outskirts of the Marvel studios; it’s a biting minus one and she is standing in a Chanel broderie anglaise sundress and increasingly soggy UGG boots. Her feline cheekbones face skywards, but Olsen is slowly sinking into the mud, trilling out high notes to keep herself warm (possibly distracted) and of course with spirits high. “It was the wind I think, that was worse than the sideways rain,” she jokes as we trundle back to the soundstage hangar that we are using as a studio. It’s the kind of moment that could go viral on Instagram, that is, if Olsen were on social media. Yet one of the biggest stars of our current cultural moment is completely offline – and that surprising fact might just be the least interesting thing about her. If anything, it is a sign of how Olsen has come into her own as a confident, decisive star with the power to create her own universe.

On the cusp of her 32nd birthday, Olsen is fastidious and professional, yes, but also bright, engaging, creative, and collaborative. Born and raised in the California sunshine, she is surprisingly at ease in the blustery conditions that deluge the English countryside in late January – or, it’s that she’s very good at acting. “It was one of the ugliest days of this winter – just hilarious – but I knew we wanted the shot,” the 31-year-old actress says.

Since October, Olsen’s been living in the leafy British countryside with her “man-guy-partner,” musician Robbie Arnett, just a short drive to the Surrey compound where Doctor Strange is being filmed. It’s a closed set, masked in secrecy as much as the socially distanced masked crew dotted all over the 200-acre studio. “It feels right being in a small city right now,” she says.

Indeed, Olsen is a modern-day Renaissance woman. Learned and dedicated to her craft, she studied at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, with a semester at the Moscow Art Theatre School studying Stanislavski. (Surely, no matter how much of a genius the Russian theatre master was, he never could have conceived of the Marvel universe.)

Approached with the concept of WandaVision, “I thought it was perfect for television, and a very original idea that made me excited,” Olsen says. Also, she was happy she would get to work with Bettany again: “He’s very precise, like me.”

In many ways, WandaVision is a love letter to the first American television heyday. Olsen, who stayed up late watching Nick at Nite reruns as a child, says it’s a bit of a homecoming in that way. “I was a very hammy, performative child,” she explains. “So, I do think I got to live out some sort of childhood dream doing the show.”

“The highlight was really getting to tell a story about these superhero individuals told in different decades of American sitcoms, trying to match the tone of those sitcoms in order to help orate the story,” she says. “But keep it playful and fun.” Little did she know just how much we’d need that.

Half-filmed pre-pandemic in Atlanta and half post-pandemic in LA – with a six-month hiatus in-between “until all the unions figured out to work safely” – WandaVision was released almost a year into the pandemic. In many ways, it is an artifact of its time: centered upon a yearning for the simplicity of earlier days, yet shot through with the creeping realization that such days may never return, and perhaps never existed to begin with.

Indeed, the weekly story of suburban superheroes Wanda and Vision has played out like a parable of our times: Wanda living in her chosen bubble, her trauma resonating in the world we find ourselves in today. Olsen appreciates a good metaphor, but feels people may be projecting a bit much. “I see Wanda as a victim of extreme trauma, who does not understand how to process it,” she explains. “She has been a human experiment.” (Not to belabor the point, but haven’t we all?)

Being summoned by Marvel is like being called to a parallel universe for an actor: thrilling, yes, but not without a tinge of terror and a dash of the unknown. Six years in, though, it’s become like family in some ways. As a member of two dynasties – Olsen and Marvel – family is key to Olsen. She checks in on her mom (who still lives in California) and, like many American daughters, is researching which vaccine mom should get.

The performative gene runs strong through her family, of course – and no, we don’t mean her sisters. Olsen’s mom was a ballerina. Still, when she first started auditioning, Olsen took special care to carve her own path – one far from Full House. “Nepotism is a thing and I’m very aware of it,” she says. “And of course, I’ve always wanted to do it alone.” She did just that, her acting credentials consistently rising as her sister’s cemented their fashion kudos. Olsen bears a noticeable resemblance to her fashion-designer older sisters and her sartorial DNA is similarly low-key. She loves The Row (of course) and NYC label Khaite’s denim and cashmere.

For Olsen, her day job is like playing dress-up. This time around, she walked away from WandaVision with the girdle worn underneath her 50s wedding dress, laughing, “I mean, to have a custom undergarment like that, I felt like it was necessary!” Her WandaVision co-star, Kathryn Hahn, also became her shopping cohort when filming.

“She’s dangerous!” Olsen says. “She has the most exquisite, minimal but expensive taste.” It was Hahn who led Olsen to the independent boutique where she found the belted Julia Jentzsch trench that she wore to our shoot.

At the rail of samples compiled by the stylist, Olsen gravitates towards a spacious linen boilersuit and longline cashmere cardigan. Has she always been a tomboy, I ask? “I think I felt uncomfortable being a child being told they were pretty,” she says of her early auditions at age 10, adding that her love of ballet and musical theater could leave her “feeling exposed” at a young age.

Speaking of over-exposure, Olsen is distinctly offline in a time when so many are defined by their social media presence. Among celebrities and regular digital citizens, the perfect balance of online and off is up for debate, but Olsen is clear: social media saturation is a choice for all of us, and everyone needs to draw their own boundaries.

“It has to be a personal decision, right?” she begins. “So, my opinion has nothing to do with what anyone else does or doesn’t do with it.” Her own journey began when she momentarily dabbled with Instagram (since deleted), while filming Ingrid Goes West, director Matt Spicer’s frightening and funny debut feature about a social stalker, co-starring Aubrey Plaza.

Up until that time, she says, “I had never touched it before. I thought, ‘This is an interesting social experiment for myself, to see if it is a good source to talk about charities or a good source to talk about small projects, or to share something goofier about myself.’ But I think at the end of the day, what I discovered was one, I’m really bad at creating a perceived identity!”

“I didn’t find it very organic to who I am as a person,” she continues. “I found some joy in putting up silly videos, but I think the main reason I stopped – not I think, I know the main reason why I stopped – was because of the organization in my brain.”

“Lots of horrible things happen all the time. Or, lots of great things happen all the time. Whether it’s something terrifying, like a natural disaster or a school shooting or a death, there are so many things that happen, and I love processing information. I love reading articles. I love listening to podcasts. I love communicating about things that are happening in the world to people around me. And what I don’t love is that my brain organization was saying, ‘Should I post about this?’ That seemed very unhealthy ….”

“And to then contribute to these platitudes that I don’t really love, you have to subscribe to two different ways of thinking,” she says. “So, I didn’t like that, and there was a lot of it that was just bothering me for my own sake of what value systems I have.”

That’s not to say that there’s any inherent value system – pro or con – in using Instagram. Olsen is clear that like any other method of expression, it’s up to the individual to use it as they see fit. “I do see a use of it and how you can use it well for work,” she says. “But I don’t think that I would like to use that tool to promote myself.”

She’s private for a millennial yes, but not prim. On the photoshoot, lockdown experiences were shared, and Olsen recounted her (hilarious) first at-home bikini wax: banishing her husband upstairs “for an extended chat with his therapist,” her trusted waxer on speed dial, and microwave set to ping! (Yes, Olsen is a trooper, as I mentioned.)

We catch up over Zoom a week later, her hair once again pulled up in a casual topknot, her cashmere turtleneck simmering in a dark claret, and her entire being suffused with covetable understatement. She chats buoyantly against an unexpected backdrop of pirate ship wallpaper in the playroom of a house she shares with Arnett, who proposed with an emerald and diamond ring in 2019.

“We first started to try to make it the gym, but it was so cramped,” she says of the jolly space. The home gym was instead awarded a larger room, where Olsen loves to maintain a varied fitness regime – running, yoga, dancing, more – though after all the intense Marvel filming, she jokes, “maybe it’s time to give up on my body?!” Being comic book fit does sound grueling or “time-consuming fun” as she anoints the “strenuous physical demands.”

Like most of us, she is longing for the spring, but she still takes a regular constitutional walk in a nearby Richmond park, whatever the weather. “The deer are incredible; every time I see them I feel alive,” she says. “We have been lucky to have nature around us in lockdown.” It’s a marked difference from her paparazzi-populated home in the Hills. “They know our walks, where we get coffee, work-out…,” she trails off.

Her haven in Los Angeles is her backyard, complete with a mid-century swimming pool and an edible garden. “It’s crazy the blackberries grow like weeds! I love watching a kid’s first reaction to an edible garden,” she gushes That has been the part of the pandemic travel restrictions she’s found hardest: missing her friend’s children growing up, and others who have been born this past year that she’s yet to meet. They will no doubt all be treated to her homemade blackberry sorbet on her return stateside.

Yet, her time on British soil will likely be prolonged, with a prospective indie commencing filming here when Doctor Strange wraps. Prompted for more detail, her firm charm kicks in. “I can’t jinx it!” she insists. Still, she will share that she’s heavily involved in the creative, and that funding smaller productions in the current climate has been a challenge.

Through it all, Olsen has remained determined and calm. “I feel patience is my superpower. But my weakness also,” she says. “I feel like it gets tested more than others who don’t have a lot of patience. If someone learns you’re easygoing or that you’re relaxed, sometimes it gets taken advantage of.” While she waits for the green light on that film, she is busy producing a new children’s cartoon with Arnett, “about loving and caring for our world,” and has also written a children’s book about to be published by Random House, all while the demands of Marvel life continue to surround her.

Indeed, Olsen is a superhero for the modern age: Multi-hyphenate, but fiercely devoted to the craft that she loves; instantly recognizable, yet thoughtfully protective of her private life; a woman with style, substance, success, and deep rewarding relationships with those around her; focused on a vision of a better world for us all.

Press: Elizabeth Olsen’s 20/21 Vision was originally published on Elizabeth Olsen Source • Your source for everything Elizabeth Olsen

[fandomtransmandom]

2020 Wrapped:

Rules: It’s time to love yourselves! Choose your 5-8 (ish) favorite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2020. Tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome work!

Okay, so as you know, ya boi is verbose af, so apologies, but I could only whittle it down to a top 10 (and one honorable mention.) I like to think my work has improved with time, so the older ones may be a bit rough, but here are my favs from 2020 and why (from most recent to oldest.)  

1.) Southern Comfort-Bill Hader, Teddy Redbones (Doc Now)/OFC

Synopsis: Teddy Redbones viciously despises his political opponent Savannah Harrison...by day. At night, the two tear into each other madly, hiding their secret affair from the world and their feelings from one another.

Why I Love: Honestly when @martymcdie88mph sent me a request that just asked for ‘Teddy Redbones laying down pipe’ I never expected the first fic about him to get the response it did, much less for it to lead to two more requests. It’s provided me with immeasurable laughter and I’m so glad there are others out there down to bone this angry southern dom.

2.) Frozen Dreams-Conan O’Brien/OFC

Synopsis: Receiving bad news while on their Christmas vacation at the height of ‘The Tonight Show’ upset, Conan deals with his grief, assisted by his partner, Molly.

Why I Love: Writing some Conan super angst was so cathartic and beautiful. Thank you @stunninconan for making this request and giving me the opportunity to do so. Just want to cherish our ginger smokeshow and let him know how deeply he’s loved.

3.) Flickering Beauty-Bill Hader, Little Vivvy (Doc Now)/Partners of Multiple Genders

Synopsis: Little Vivvy is away from her family, and her wealth, for the first time in 1970’s New York. As she tries to make it as a dancer, Vivvy undergoes the early stages of her transition and stumbles upon the accepting Ball scene, as well as some struggles of being a trans woman trying to live an authentic life.

Why I Love: I wrote this piece for NaNoWriMo 2020 and I knew going into it I would largely be composing it for myself. Beforehand I considered doing something that might draw in more readers, Reddie perhaps, but I'm so glad I went with my heart because this story is incredibly meaningful to me and I will love Vivvy until the end of my days.

4.) Breathe Me-Bill Hader, Barry/OFC

Synopsis: Barry is back in Cleveland after his discharge, working for Fuches, deeply depressed and feeling hopeless. After running into his childhood friend Annie, he discovers she’s doing sex work and offers to help her financially. But Annie refuses, saying there’s only one way she’ll accept payment from Barry.

Why I Love: One of many ideas I’ve worked on this year with @martymcdie88mph, though arguably our best. I received a lot of positive feedback on this piece that made me feel good about myself, and I simply love the dynamic between these two hurting characters.

5.) Lost and Found-Bill Hader, Reddie

Synopsis: When Richie loses the engagement ring he bought for Eddie, he panics, searching everywhere but finding nothing. Coming across the ring while cleaning, Eddie devises a plan to surprise Richie.

Why I Love: This one was based on a prompt from @halefirewarrior and I just think it’s cute and sweet. And it’s resulted in a dozen or so strangers on the internet telling me to ‘shut the fuck up,’ which is always amusing.

6.) Harmonious Monsters-Bill Hader, Vince Blight/OFC

Synopsis: Sociopathic power couple Vince and Stacy Blight live a hedonistic, extravagant existence based on kinky sex and a mutual disregard for humanity. As their ten year anniversary approaches, Vince reflects on the saga of their relationship.

Why I Love: Pretty sure this one appeals just to me, ha. I had a ball writing it. Getting into the heads of these characters was ridiculously fun and smut-wise it includes some of my favorite things.

7.) In The Midnight Hour-Bill Hader RPF, Priest AU

Synopsis: When Father Bill Hader sees a struggling trans man named Troy attending the weekly free meal offered by the church, he discovers Troy is homeless, offering him a place to stay in the basement. As they get to know one another, Troy tempts Bill and tests his faith in ways he never thought possible.

Why I Love: Writing this one for @phantomofthegallifreyanopera was cathartic for me. As a queer trans man who was trapped in a fundamental Christian community for a time, it felt like sweet vengeance to be able to flex my Biblical Studies degree for the sake of gay p*rn (trust me, it’s completely useless otherwise) and it was fun to see Father Bill teased into sin 😈

8.) Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger-Bill Hader, The Alan (SNL)/OFC

Synopsis: When Lily comes home to find The Alan on her doorstep, she can’t imagine why her friend got her such a silly, extravagant gift. That is, until she discovers the Adult Expansion Pack.

Why I Love: I was nervous about publishing this one and almost didn’t. I truly didn’t think y’all would be on board. But thank fuck everyone in this fandom is kinky as shit and this became one of the fics for which I get praised the most. I loved writing it and I’m so here for cranking out more weird shit all day every day.

9.) If The World Was Ending-Bill Hader, Barry/OFC

Synopsis: Barry knows that tomorrow he is likely to die, the Chechens seeking vengeance for the massacre at the monastery. For his last night, he wants nothing more than to spend it with Valerie. The problem: Valerie and Barry broke up months before when she discovered his true profession. Barry begs Valerie to see him, and for one final time, he finds solace in her arms.

Why I Love: When @erdankely gave me their concept for this request, I was unreasonably excited. So damn cool. And I just sobbed while I wrote it. Such a sl*t for Barry super angst any day of the week. Love this one and I’m pretty proud of how it turned out, actually.

10.) Miles Apart Inside-Bill Hader, Robbie Wheadlan (Doc Now)/OFC

Synopsis: While he’s awaiting trial for murder, Robbie Wheadlan and his lover Abbi reflect on the saga of their relationship.

Why I Love: Not only was this a piece that made me fall hardcore in love with a murderer who was on screen for maybe 15 minutes and has no redeemable attributes, but it strengthened my friendship with @stunninconan and for that I am grateful.

Honorable Mention: Later That Night- Conan O’Brien/OFC

Synopsis: Conan meets author Gwendolyn who comes on his show to promote her book.

Why I Love: This is the first fic I published back in July. I’m sure I would cringe like crazy if I tried to read it now at all the edits it needs, but I’m so, so happy I decided to post it and kept writing and sharing. Without this almost 48k monster about my orange pompadoured beloved and all the kind feedback from everyone, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Thank you all!

And I spend my days doing nothing other than hammering out alphabet p*rn of my own, so I apologize that I don't know who to tag to keep this going because I shamefully never take time to read. But feel free to do your own if you have creations you would like to share!i

[afoxysunny]

Jives as High Duke

So Jives gets a second pick and oh my G did i struggle with choosing this one. In the end I'm pretty happy with the decision to give him the Monkey Miraculous

The whole story for how he ended up with having to pick a second time is already on the post about Stingy, who gets the Turtle from Jives, so I'll try not to repeat myself too much

So here are the references for this design

This design came out a lot simpler than it probably should be considering that it's based on the Chinese Monkey King but Jives isn't one for overly flashy and elaborate costumes in my opinion

Also, yes, again, his eyey should be blue but making colour changes to coloured pencil drawings is really hard, I'm sorry

Again, i just did what felt natural to me and in no time this was the outcome. Conclusion: drawing Jives comes very natural to me and i appreciate him for that

Design Notes:

Chest Pattern - i wanted to make the chest pattern here resemble the one he had as Grinder Turtle, this was also a big factor that sold me on giving him this Miraculous. I just think it looks really cool and it connects the two designs in a vague sense

Beanie - my boy Jives always wears some sort of hat, this is no exception. The Monkey Miraculous is a Crown and here it blends in so it now replaces the brim section of the beanie. On second thought it might be a little basic to choose a beanie but it just really suits him, i couldn't think of a better fit. Especially because it goes along really well with the headshape of the monkey i based him on

Toque Macaque - I'll be real with you, I'm not a huge fan of monkeys which makes them one of the few animal species i don't love and also makes the biggest reason i wasn't immediately happy to give my dear Jives this Miraculous xD I'm shallow i know. Anyways. I may not know a lot about monkeys but i knew enough to pick this macaque because the colours go well enough with the Monkey Kwami Xuppu and i liked the markings it has. [coicidentally this specific kind, the Toque Macaque, happens to share its natural habitat with the peacock ;)]

Tail - on his back you see how the rope detailing from his chest and pants combine into the belt and eventually the tail. I wanted the markings to kind of resemble a harness for climbing, i don't think it comes across too well though

Hair - the little bit you can still see of his actual hair coincidentally blends in almost seamlessly with the colour of his costume, that wasn't planned but i like it a lot

Reasoning:

At the point in time where i made the decision that Stingy would take the Turtle Miraculous from Jives i already had most Miraculous assigned to most other characters, in fact i was only really missing one for Ziggy. So spoiler alert i guess for him. I fudged around for a while between the Mouse and the Monkey, both would've worked well with either but in the end settled on the Monkey for Jives for multiple stupid timy reasons. For example the chest pattern i already mentioned, my ship-trash side going "a monkey and a peacock fit together way better aesthetically than a mouse and a peacock would", he and Xuppu would have a funny bro dynamic together etc.

Story:

I already explained why and how Jives loses the Turtle Miraculous to Stingy in my post about the latter so I'll just give a short summary here before moving on

As per usual Jives didn't eat much throughout the day and ends up fainting. This time it's a much bigger deal though. Usually he doesn't actually fully faint, just sway a little, maybe collapse but for the most parts he stays conscious just really weakened. That day the team of new heroes is fighting an important battle when he full on passes out in the middle of it. Luckily Stingy is able to step in to build their defense up again.

Obviously, instead of saying "i eat as little as possible because i have a problem" Jives just shrugs it off and goes "guess i didn't eat enough again, my bad guys, sorry" and thinks it'll be fine. He didn't expect Álfurildi, aka Sportacus, to take this very literal and announce that he planned on having them eat in his airship as a whole group anyway gor team moral and to make sure they're all healthy enough to actually handle a Miraculous. They deduce that must have been the reason Jives full on fainted this time, while going by his usual life he obviously didn't need as much energy as he now needs to be a superhero so the simple solution is to just eat more.

He makes excuses to not eat with the others as often as he can but one day he'd have to actively leave the others to do so as he already is in the airship with them when they start preparing to serve the next meal. That day he actually snaps at Sportacus that he just doesn't want to eat. Unfortunately, thanks to being such a gentle soul and also sensing Jives frustration and hunger Sportacus tries to comfort Jives with the worst thing he could've said. "heroes gotta eat well, so you can become big and strong" to which Jives absolutely loses it. He snaps at him "I'm already too big without eating anything, can't you just leave me alone!" and just jumps out of the airship. By now he already has Xuppu as his new partner so of cause he makes it down unharmed to run off into the forest. Sportacus wants to follow him but Robbie stops him. Robbie, who so far was pretty quiet and reclusive when the teens came to visit, says he will go find and talk to him taking Pixel with him as he is his best friend after all.

I'll spare you the unnecessarily details i cane up with and just say this is the moment Robbie gets to explain how the powers i gave him work and we get to see that he does really deeply care but just can't really express it. They find Jives and thanks to Robbie being able to relate to him about some of his insecurities and Pixel being a great friend he ends up confessing to them about his eating disorder. He never wanted to be the odd one out but never managed to fit in with the others. It's hard to hide you're different when you're towering over your peers so he figured if he just stopped eating he'd stop growing and though it had no positive effect on him he just couldn't stop doing it even after realizing how bad it had gotten.

Going back to the airship together once the situation calmed down a bit and with Jives' permission they let Sportacus in on this secret. As Robbie figured, the local health expert knows exactly what foods wouldn't upset such an empty stomach too badly and they start the process of finding a few good things for Jives to eat so he doesn't break down again.

Name:

Quick, something more lighthearted

When Jives gets his second pick for a Miraculous his eyes fall on the little Monkey, Xuppu. The two pretty quickly get along thanks to Xuppu being a jokester and Jives liking how bro-like they can talk and poke fun at each other. This turns out to be a great pick as this Kwami of Jubilation not only like shouting random noises around just like Jives but is also sassy and straightforward enough to remind him to eat every once in a while by poking fun at him using something Pixel once said to him "I'll not let you eat less than the Kwamis" (yes this part should've technically been in the reasoning section but you kinda need the context of the story for it so i put it here)

So Trixie explains that Xuppu's transformation and powers are based on the Chinese Monkey King (she knows that from the Guardians) but Jives really isn't one for flashy costumes and important titles so not only is his costume more basic than it probably should be but also he wamts to name himself "Duke". Stingy immediately objects "A duke is about as royal as a prince! You're completely underselling this concept. You have to trade with me! You get yoir turtle back. Let me be King!" Xuppu and Wayzz look at each other and roll their eyes, Xuppu then steps floats forward to say "well, he's not entirely wrong. Wouldn't you like to pick something higher?" so Jives chuckles and goes "High Duke". Again Stingy is outraged by this disrespect "that's ridiculous!" but Xuppu laughs and says "no, i like his style! Let's do this!" and so their new duo is established

Look, don't judge me, everyone headcanons Jives with growing not all legal things in his garden so now that he's actually a teen in my au I'm keeping it xD

Thank you so so much for reading so much of my rambling. You're so cool for taking the time to read this!

[makeyourownmyth]

best seen in 2020.

My usual caveats from previous years are still applicable here: I don’t watch most of the major nominations the years they come out, and I’m usually not much for theaters and/or current TV. However, due to the pandemic, we watched a loooooooot of content. Here’s just a list of movies that I watched or rewatched this year, that were neither terrible, nor great, but I want to make note of:

Toy Story 4, The Brothers Bloom, Happiest Season, The Peanut Butter Falcon, Moana, Mr. Right, Moulin Rouge, Ocean’s Eleven, Spring Breakers, X-Men: Dark Phoenix (this might have been the worst movie I watched this year?), Widows, Gattaca, Black Klansman, Primer, It 2, Shazam (this maybe should have gone on the Honorable Mentions - it was fun), Training Day, Parasite (OK, now I have to update my Honorable Mentions), The Green Book, Strange Days, Elf, Love & Basketball, Above the Rim, Coach Carter.

That being said, there was some bad stuff, and I try not to shit on any artist’s creations too much, because I know no one sets out to make something bad, but these didn’t work for me. 

Anti

Uncut Gems - It’s not that it was BAD, it was just too stressful for me to enjoy.

Brick - It wasn’t even close to enjoyable on a rewatch that I encouraged my partner to take on for the first time. I felt bad. 

Hereditary - Neither a scary movie, nor a good movie.  

The Witch - Same, but maybe better made?

Under The Skin - Jesus, this was terrible. Maybe I’m not artsy enough to get it?

Now, however, let’s get to the good stuff. 

Honorable Mention TV

Avatar - I can’t legitimately put it on the Best Of list, because I’m not done yet, but I’m on Book 3, after finally actually getting started. I think I tried to start this in 2016, and i know all my nerd friends have been yelling at me for a long time because I haven’t gotten to it yet, and as someone who’s almost done, I can say: they were right! It’s great. 

Ozark - S1 was great. It fell off a fucking CLIFF after that. Ignore people who tell you that you HAVE to watch this. They’re wrong. It’s fine. 

The Last Dance - I know the world is obsessed with Michael Jordan, and I’m glad it came out when it did, but really, all it did for me was confirm that he’s an asshole who was very fortunate to play when he did. And also that the Bulls were fucking phenomenal. 

His Dark Materials - Neither as bad as some of my friends think, nor nearly as good as the books (obviously) but also not good enough that I’ve even started S2 yet, so....I guess it’s fine? 

The Mandalorian S2 - I think they know what they’re doing, and it’s super enjoyable, and I loved the ending, but I’m also curious as to where they’re going now. 

Fargo S3 - Given how good the rest of the series is (other than my distaste for S2, dealt with below, and out of step with pop culture) I thought this one was a misstep, 

Orphan Black - I cannot believe how late I was to this, and how good it still was. It really fell apart toward the end, but the acting was incredible, and the fact that they got to tell the story they wanted to was amazing. 

Best TV

7. All the Smoke with Kobe (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R3KIyEgCgc) - Maybe it was just his death, but it hits hard, and I miss him. Does this even count as TV? 

6. Looking for Alaska - It felt like gratuitous masochism to watch this and enjoy it, being 20 years older than when I fell for it, and feeling ashamed of the young person I was, but even knowing what was coming, I was weeping when it happened. Even knowing that they were ultimately going on a fruitless search and yelling at the TV while the Colonel and Pudge were searching for “signs” and hating them for it, I remember feeling like everything HAD to happen for a reason when I was this young... So yeah. It’s pure nostalgia for me. I’d be super interesting in hearing how kids responded to it. 

5. Locke and Key - I get that some people feel like they don’t need old shit in a new medium, but for me, I’m always up to try it out. If it’s fun, I’ll stick with it. And this is. It’s fun, it’s got some of the old shit, it’s got some new shit, and it’s a treat to see my favorite comic of the last decade in a new medium. Haters need a new bit. 

Fargo s1 and s4 (I didn’t love S3) - I know that I’m in the minority here, but I think 1 and 4 are the best and 2 was good, and 3 was fine. I literally watched all of this show this year, though, so I didn’t have the same time to digest as others. But I think that’s a benefit in some regards? 

4. Magicians s5 - One of the saddest conversations of the last year to two was when a nerd friend of mine said he didn’t like The Magicians because all of the characters were whiny and self-indulgent. For me, that was almost literally the point: they shoved Q into the corner and told the story of the others (at least one episode quite self-referentially so) and it was so much better for that. I wish it hadn’t ended, but I’m glad they left it where they did, because it was so good.  

3. Devs esp. The beginning of e5 - Jesus. The show of the year? Except for the fact that Watchmen came out at the tail end of last year, and I didn’t have it on my 2019 list? I mean, honestly, is there a show more tailored to me? I’m not gonna get into any spoilers, but it’s a quick watch, and it’s fucking fantastic. Watch it, have your mind blown by the concept, especially in the beginning sequence of E5, and then stick around for the subpar ending where basically all of the threads are resolved in the least good way. 

2. Watchmen - This deserves multiple re-watches and all the praise that people heaped upon it. 

1. The Good Place - I know, objectively, that Watchmen was a better show than The Good Place. But this is my list, and I’ll be damned if anything overtakes my favorite sitcom (maybe of all time?) for best of the year. I know it barely just ended this year, and there’s plenty of acclaim to go around for this show, but honestly, every time I talk to anyone about it, it feels like they kind of laugh it off. This show is not only worth your time, but should almost be considered must-watch material. If more people watched this show, we wouldn’t need the insult “sophomoric” to describe people who’ve just had their minds blown by Philosophy 101, and we’d be better off as a species. 

Honorable Mention Movies

In this order, and you can take the comedies and make them the only honorable mentions, if you’d like to make a nice, even top 10. (Until I saw Tenet the night before I posted this.( (And then I looked back at the playing cards that we use to randomly choose movies and I found that I needed to modify the Honorable Mentions and the Best Of lists.) 

21 and 22 Jump Street - In general, I’m not a fan of comedies. So I’m happy I watched these, thanks to Nathan Zed, and they’re funny. Good work guys. 

Palm Springs - Apparently there’s now backlash against Groundhog Day? I dunno, man, it was fun, and all the actors seemed like they were having a good time, and I was down for it. 

Parasite - I can’t add anything to this that hasn’t already been shouted from the rooftops, so let me just briefly say that I thought it was great, but it didn’t quite make the list of best. The combo of genres was great, the cast was fantastic, but what I loved the most about it was how quiet it was.

Best Movies

10. Blinded by the Light - Way more resonant than I thought it’d be from the previews, and I already thought it was gonna be stellar. I didn’t take into account TIME along with place, and that made a hell of a difference for this movie. 

9. Shoplifters - Yeesh. What a tough watch, but so good, and so necessary. For me, I think we watched it back to back to back with Parasite and I, Tonya, and this one just stood out so much more. The storyline was softer all the way through, but really had gravitas simultaneously. 

8. Tenet - It was fucking fun! I don’t get the hate! I liked it, I’ll like it more next time I see it, and I wish I’d seen it on the big screen, but I’m super glad I could see it on my TV! 

7. I, Tonya - Geez, what a powerhouse of acting. Not only did they get me to feel good about the villain of my childhood, they got me to feel good about Margot Robbie, who I’d only thought of as a hot lady before. Superb acting from everyone else, too, and what a great pick up to be like, yeah, this is the story we’re gonna tell. 

6. I Am Not Your Negro - I avoided watching it for so long because I was already depressed this year, and I didn’t think I needed any more of that, but it turns out I did, and I always do, from Baldwin. He’s a master for a reason. 

5. Hamilton - I know there was some backlash with the time difference, and I’m sure it was better to see it pre-2016 in the theater, where it’s meant to be seen, but I’m not a billionaire New Yorker, and I was plenty happy to see it when and where I could. 

4. Won’t You Be My Neighbor - I mean...what do you think? It’s so much exactly what you’re thinking it is, but then it’s even better, because it’s the real deal, and he was so good, and it’s so pure. Watch it. 

3. Her Smell - Elizabeth Moss has already gotten all the acclaim, but to play this different of a role, in a movie that felt as stressful as Uncut Gems, but pulled off an actual plot so much more successfully? I can’t believe this one didn’t get more pub, but then again, yes I can: it’s a movie about a girl band that rages against the machine, and she’s got severe issues. Small surprise that the people didn’t react well. Seek this one out! 

2. Arrival - Yes, I am going to totally cheat and put a movie that’s appeared on my list (sooooo long ago) as the #2 entry this year. You know why? Cuz fuck 2020, and this is a great movie, and it’s the movie that made me feel second best this year. It’s incredible, and I know people appreciated it in its time, but I feel like they should appreciate it even more. 

1. Moonlight - It’s not a shock, nor am I trying to appease anyone with anything. It’s just that I finally watched it, and it’s the best movie I saw this year. I don’t think I could possibly add anything to the authentic critics who have already heaped praise upon it, but I do have to say that it’s all due, and so much more. The acting obviously stands out, but the direction, from the color palettes, to the choice of when and where (and how) to break it up, are all masterful choices.