#* liam's mom... is a whole other thing i have to think more about .

[pocketgalaxies]

hello from the past (sunday december 8)! in lieu of my normal friday liveblog here are some things i remember from the daggerheart critmas show in no particular order :)

Uncle Pelvis

riley, full eldritch reindeer monster, just Sobbing about her pet rat which she named gorbachev because her dad calls the actual gorbachev a rat bastard

laura miming her stupid lil candlestick hands and wiggling her stupid lil mesh wings the entire time

marisha getting out of her chair yelling "MY SKATEBOARD–IT'S ROLLING DOWN THE STREET"

the whole audience watching matt's "how to watch daggerheart" video before the show started with utmost rapt attention as if it was new information

"put it in your frigid box" "my body is ready"

"SLIPPERY WHEN WET, BITCH"

slippery when wet bitch made me so happy because it's such a marisha-ism that i pulled out my phone to put it in my tumblr drafts so i wouldn't forget it. it's the only thing i wrote down the whole show

marisha and ashley miming riley sticking her arm into gwenny's body

bethany insulting ralph and ralph sobbing "i thought tristan was just gonna read a dramatic monologue"

every time someone started crying gwenny's hands would creep into frame holding the box

the holiday spirit going "...~whoa~" from tanner's weed grenade

ralph bader ginsburg

bethany's very not secret comic book obsession

"how do you know i was the one who tagged the water tower" "it says dylan right there"

laura going "i still can't believe you all said i was naughty" and travis' thumbs up

everyone going "DIDN'T YOU LIVE IN GERMANY?" and marisha going "YES AND I'VE USED MY EXPERIENCE 'I LIVED OVERSEAS' 4 TIMES ALREADY"

marisha going "we're still rolling even though we had two crits. ok,"

everyone looking at travis' monkey hat and breaking

bethany checking if her vag was still there

gwenny inexplicably knowing everything about everyone's lives and houses

one half of the party crying into a box and the other half getting violently disemboweled by an evil hag

the way bethany said ". no–!" when ralph asked if they had a chance together

bethany's lil tantrums

ralph throwing his own lil tantrum and saying "i learned from the best"

laura trying to use an experience talking to the holiday spirit and muttering "no they wouldn't care who my dad is..."

riley intensely saying "i know where it went. follow me." and then comically slipping on ice with her ungraceful bambi legs

marisha going "matt What did you say you said it so fast and i was so distracted" and matt just repeating back a bunch of german

tristan's illusory pack of krampus monsters all having a little tree topper sitting on one horn

the audience laughing at Every single one of sam's jewish jokes despite ourselves

i can't remember what the context was anymore but taliesin just deadpanning "This Was A Mistake." over all the cry-laughter which only made the cry-laughter more severe

i kept looking at a mom in the row in front of me who definitely only came to support her child and she just looked so confused the whole time. confused for 5 hours straight. i'm so sorry mom

riley screaming "IT'S THE COMMIES" and immediately offering up gwenny because "she's a virgin" and gwenny, 3 beats too late, defensively going "I HAVE SEX ALL THE TIME"

the VIPs doing the little sing-songy thing and the whole cast going "what the fuck you creeps"

sam skipping onto the stage like an angelic little boy when momlan finally announced him

ashley's court jester look in the 2nd half was very cute

someone behind me said "she is so cute" about laura's tree topper outfit, apropos of nothing. relatable

i think nobody in the audience was expecting the character art of their transformations and it was absolutely an involuntary gasp and yell when riley's first appeared. and when marisha described the christmas lights appearing on her antlers like 3 ppl around me including myself went "oh cool"

everyone losing their FUCKING minds when liam did the hamlet monologue

everyone losing their FUCKING minds when liam did the breakfast club monologue

a high schooler robbing the comic store and getting ambushed by a bunch of fairytale monstrosities who are actually also just high schoolers

the concept of a tiny tree topper being able to step in front of someone to take the hit for them. and the fact that every time she did it the crowd went "AWWWW."

tanner's intrusive monkey noises

matt repeatedly saying "it doesn't matter if you rolled with hope or fear on a reaction roll" and marisha going "You Know We're Going To Say It Anyway. I Rolled A 15. With Hope."

liam saying that the hair on his calves specifically was contributing to his armor

marisha trying to do math in front of a crowd of thousands, marisha spitting all over her mic in front of a crowd of thousands, ashley not being able to read her dice in front of a crowd of thousands, laura trying to choose dice in front of a crowd of thousands

sam feeling the need to clarify that his acne was just makeup. the details of the makeup not rly showing up on the screen so it definitely just looked like a rash and i felt a non-negligible amount of relief when he made said clarification

every time gwenny went anywhere it was described as "rolling." like bb-8

gwenny going "hey this kind of isn't so bad" and ralph immediately going "you're going to melt in the summer"

every time they were so teenager-y. "my dad said this" "suck it" "chode"

ralph going "i had my bat mitzvah so i'm a man now, not a child. so this doesn't apply to me" and tristan going "and tanner's 22"

trying to kill a mythical fire scarecrow monster but whenever anyone tries to do something strategic about it everyone goes "NO WAIT THE COMIC BOOKS–"

on a more serious note meeting cool ppl before the show and during intermission! everyone was wearing cozy cr merch it was so cute! there was a trinket with christmas lights and armor with a light-up VM logo! there was a fuckin awesome percy vex couple's cosplay! there were laudnas! there were keyleths! one person got told their bag was too big and everyone in line was offering tips on how to carry all the super cute caleb cosplay-related paraphernalia in their bag, everyone was so nerdy and friendly. the critmas album was playing during the pre-show and the atmosphere was so cute. so many ppl sang along to the twelve days of grogmas mv when it played during intermission. a whole crowd of grog impressions. and when marisha/riley said her stupid thing about how one day nerd culture might become cool and popular and everyone cheered it made me feel so warm and fuzzy.

ok i could keep going but i'll stop. it was such a fun fuckin time y'all

[lovelytsunoda]

the man with the hex // liam lawson

summary: he stayed to hand out candy but actually just wanted to make out. unfortunately, hungry kids won’t wait to ring the doorbell.

pairing: liam lawson x female! reader

warnings: allusions to sex, liam is a horny teenager, very suggestive but no smut, reader gets baby fever real fast and liam has a dirty mouth. I am incapable of writing anything wholesome about this man, apparently.

"jesus fuck!"

"y/n y/m/n y/l/n, watch your language!" her mother shouted from the kitchen

next to her on the couch, liam snickered, pulling her closer. guillermo del toro's 'cabinet of curiosities' was playing on the screen, and y/n had been jumpy throughout the whole episode.

y/n was a gentle soul. she preferred cozy mysteries, and humorous action thrillers as opposed to straight up horror. sure, the pillars of the slasher genre were wonderful films (she's first in line to see any new 'scream' movie), but she did not do well when she was genuinely scared.

"sorry, mom!" she shouted, resting her head against liam's shoulder. "liam has bad taste in movies."

"it's one episode!" the kiwi laughed. "i'm sorry, you can pick the next movie."

y/n rolled her eyes, getting up from the couch to hug her parents goodbye. she and liam had agreed to stay in that night, allowing her parents to go to an annual charity event thrown by one of her fathers friends. her sister was at a party, and as someone who had a quiet, peaceful life and wasn’t always invited to things, y/n was extended a chance to stay at home.

of course, learning that they would have the house to themselves, liam was all too quick to tag along, for less than wholesome reasons. while y/n had planned a couple's movie night, complete with matching hotel transylvania costumes and a stack of scooby doo movies, wheras liam had planned to get her to scream in more ways than one.

y/n got up from the couch, her nylon-clad feet skidding across the hardwood as she went to hug her parents. "bye guys, i'll see you in the morning."

"have a great time, mr. and mrs. (your last intital)!" liam shouted

"no funny business with my daughter, lawson. and no drinking." her father scolded, pointing his finger towards his daughter's boyfriend.

"dad! we're adults, i think we can handle ourselves." she laughed, giving her father a hug before her parents went out the front door.

she closed the door behind them, leaving it unlocked and the jack-o-lantern on the front porch turned on before backtracking to the kitchen and refilling the candy dish she and liam had been snacking from.

"you'll have to keep an ear out for the front door, but other than that, do you want to put beetlejuice on when this is over?" she suggested, bringing the candy bowl back over to the couch and curling into her boyfriend.

"i dunno, your parents are gone, i kind of hand something else on my mind." liam grinned, one hand trailing up her thigh.

"oh yeah?" she purred, maneuvering herself into liam's lap, poking his nose before kissing him softly, her blue lipstick smearing against his skin.

liam cupped her face with his free hand, his other arm going around her waist to pull her closer. she hummed contentedly as she nestled her body into his, taking his top lip in between her own.

“your lipstick tastes good.” liam remarked, lips ringed in the dark blue cosmetic. “like blue raspberry.”

“you’re such a dork.” she giggled, brushing an errant blonde hair out of his face before kissing her lover again.

liam moaned into it, feeling himself grow harder every time that her thigh brushed over his crotch. she was driving him wild, the end of cabinets of curiosities forgotten as they made out like teenagers.

the doorbell rang, startling them both as they jolted on the couch. y/n pulled away from liam, wiping the smudged gloss from her swollen lips before getting off the couch and reaching for the bowl of cadbury chocolates across from her.

“trick or treat!”

there were three kids standing in the doorstep, each dressed as a different superhero as they held pillowcases out in front of them as she dropped handfuls of pocket sized chocolates into the bags.

“you kids have a great night.” she chirped, waving not just to the kids, but to the parents waiting on the sidewalk before slipping back into the house.

she left the plastic candy dish on the front bench, a grin on her face as she went back to the living room. liam hadn’t mailed from the couch, one hand over his eyes and the other clutching a throw pillow over his crotch.

“seriously, liam?” she laughed, reaching for the tv remote. “come on, we have to be aware of our surroundings. little kids are going to be knocking on the door all night.”

liam groaned. “sounds like hell to me, babe.”

she shook her head, grinning as she used the remote to navigate over to the amazon icon to rent ‘beetlejuice.” she was just about to hit rent when she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist.

“liam!” she shouted, giggling as he nuzzled his cold nose into the tender flesh of her neck. “you know you’re just gonna get interrupted again, right?”

“don’t care.” he hummed, pressing kisses up and down her throat. “babe, we finally have the house to ourselves and I am so fucking horny for you right now.”

she giggled, extracting herself from liam’s hold to teasingly bend down near the coffee table, placing the realtor back on the glass top. at the sight of her skirt riding up over her orange and black nylon tights, the lacy hem of her panties visible through the nylon as she bent over, the kiwi could hardly contain himself.

especially when there was another ring of the doorbell.

this time, liam offered to get the door, almost dropping the candy bowl as he tried to get the door open, shaking hands unable to grasp the doorknob as be tried to get his breathing under control.

“woah, are you liam lawson?” one of the kids shouted, his voice echoing through the street. “I watched you on tv last week!”

despite himself, liam laughed. “right on, kiddo!” he held his fist out for a fist bump, kneeling to the kids level. “hang on just a second and I’ll get my girlfriend out here to take a picture of the two of us, yeah?”

“you seem cheerful for a man that didn’t want to hand out candy.” y/n chuckled from the doorway. “come on then, pass me his iPod touch or whatever and I’ll get the best fan pics he’s ever seen.”

the kids eyes lit up as liam moved to crouch next to him, matching his height almost exactly as y/n snapped a few pictures.

“your girlfriend is really pretty.” the kid said, giddy as he took his iPod back. “are you guys going to get married?”

liam laughed heartily, tactfully avoiding the question as he asked the kid what his favourite part of the race in qatar had been, dropping a handful of cadbury chocolates into the mummy shaped bucket.

once the kid was gone and the door was closed, he wasted no time in pulling y/n close and sliding his hands up her dress.

“someone’s eager. if anyone should be exited after watching you interact with kids, it should be me.” she giggled, kissing his cheek.

her lipstick was dry now, and liam found himself slightly disappointed that it didn’t leave a mark.

liam raised an eyebrow. “oh, yeah? so in addition to making you scream my name tonight, should I fill you up with my cum? start practicing for when it’s time to get you pregnant?”

she nodded eagerly, wishing for nothing more than liam pressing her up against the foyer wall and taking what he wanted. what they both wanted.

“fuck.” liam breathed, his breath warm on her skin. “you’re really hot when you have baby fever, you know that? and that kid wasn’t even a baby, he was like five.”

“shut up and kiss me, lawson.”

but just as liam leaned in, the fucking doorbell rang.

he cursed, throwing his head back in a groan as y/n gave him a sympathetic smile. she picked up the candy bucket, dutifully opening the front door and greeting the horde of kids who had chased each other up the driveway and around liams bmw.

while her back was turned, distracted by handing out candy, liam reached his breaking point, scrambling to find a piece of paper and a pen.

please take one handful each, and ring the doorbell if bowl is empty. we are home but enjoying a scary movie night and my girlfriend is jumpy :)

when y/n turned away, closing the door behind her, liam was quick to grab the bowl, whisking it away to the kitchen and ignoring his girlfriends confused look as he practically overfilled the bowl, taking on the sign and leaving it on the cast iron bench outside the house.

“now, where were we?” he grinned, pulling her in for a kiss. she broke out into a smile, knowing exactly why liam had done what he did. “that bowl is almost full, it will keep the kids occupied for a very long time.”

“what if someone takes the whole bowl? what then?” she giggled, playfully teasing her lover, hands gently rubbing at his shoulder blades.

“then I’ll buy your mom a new one.” he decided, paying the matter very little attention as he swept his girlfriend off her feet, carrying her bridal style towards the stairs. “now, my fair maiden, you bedroom awaits.”

TAGS

@magnummagnussen @libraryofloveletters @sidcrosbyspuck @httpiastri @clemswrld @love4lando @scuderiamh @lorarri @cartierre @silverstonesainz @arshiyuh @twinkodium

[mrsjoeythehurler]

When I Met You

(OC FMC x Liam Mairi)

All characters except for Aurora Sallow who is my OC and the FMC of this fic belong to Rebecca Yarros. The plot of Fourth Wing also belongs to Rebecca Yarros.

Content warnings: most of the warnings that are for Fourth Wing are also going to be in When I Met You. That includes: Blood, death, injury, violence and war. The only content warning I am adding is panic attacks (2)

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟAurora Sallow ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ

"You had to walk that thing twice?"

Sawyer nods his head. "Yeah. Turns out that when you repeat a year, you have to repeat everything that got you in the Riders Quadrant in the first place. That includes that death trap."

We're still in the courtyard, waiting for further instruction on what comes next.

"Well, that's unfortunate."

"Tell me about it, " he says, rubbing the back of his head. I, uh...I haven't told my parents I had to repeat a year." He looks at me with a wince.

I give him a small smile. "Well, your secret's safe with me."

I know all too well what it's like to not want to tell your parents things. My whole life, I've learned to keep my issues hidden. Keeping my panic attacks on the down low and my anxiety bottled up until I was alone. My parents already had enough to worry about without me being a burden. They didn't need me to worry about too.

I see a flash of silver in the corner of my eye and realize it's Violet.

"Sorry, Sawyer. I have to talk to someone real quick. Can I see you later?"

Smiling, he nods. "Of course, I'll see you later. It was nice talking to you, Aurora."

When I finally make my way over to Violet, I tap her on the shoulder. "Hey."

"Aurora? What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question."

She sighs. "My mom sent me here. Trust me, there's nothing I would like more than to be with the Scribes right now. But I'm here."

I give her a sad smile. "My parents sent me here, too. I think we'd both much rather be transcribing books right now, though."

Violet huffs, "Tell me about it."

Just then, a beautiful dark-skinned girl walks up to Violet and squeezes her shoulders. "We made it!" She yells.

Violet gives her a smile, but I can tell it's forced, "We made it."

"I can't thank you enough," the girl goes on. "There were at least three times I would have fallen off if you hadn't helped me. You were right—those soles were slick as shit. Have you seen the people around here? I swear I just saw a second-year with pink streaks in her hair, and one guy has dragon scales tattooed up his entire biceps. Oh, hi!" She says, suddenly turning towards me and offering a hand. “I’m Rhiannon Matthias. But you can call me Rhi."

Laughing a little, I take her hand. "Aurora Sallow. But you can call me Aurora."

"Aurora and I were in the Scribe Quadrant together." Violet tells Rhiannon.

“Well, it's nice to meet you," Rhi says. "Now, shall we go find the dragon scale tattoo guy? I'm very interested."

Rhi loops my arm with hers while her other loops with Violets as we walk. I can't help but notice Violet doesn't look too good. Whether it's nerves or a sickness, I can't tell.

Rhiannon doesn't seem to notice as she continues talking and hunting down this dragon tattoo guy. "Speaking of which," she says, "We need to trade boots. There's a bench—"

We all halt as a tall man in a black uniform steps out of the crowd charging toward us. My anxiety kicks in, and I scramble to the right, taking Rhiannon with me in my haste to escape. I forgot our arms were linked.

However, she must have let go of Violet's because Violet smacks right into this guy's chest.

"Violet?" the man asks. He obviously must know her, and I can see it in his eyes. He looks familiar to me, too, but I can't remember his name.

"What the hell are you doing here?" He barks. He looks mad. Really mad. I take another step back, again taking Rhi with me.

Violet's still looking up at him, but something's not right. She looks like she's about to pass out. "Dain. It's good to see you."

At that moment, her knees give out.

I unloop my arm from Rhi's and take a step towards her to help when this Dain guy beats me to it.

"Damn it, Violet," he mutters while hauling her back to her feet and bringing her to the bench.

Violet leans her head back against the wall. "I'm going to be sick."

"Head between your knees." Dain says, "It's the adrenaline. Give it a minute, and it will pass."

Not wanting to stand here and do absolutely nothing, I take a few steps towards my friend to help her when Dain whips his head towards me and frowns. "Who the hell are you?"

I freeze. "I'm Aurora, Violet's friend."

Dain continues to look at me with that intense expression. "Listen to me, Aurora. Violet is fine," he commands. "If anyone asks, you tell them exactly as I said, that it's just the adrenaline working out of her system. Do you understand?"

I narrow my eyes. "You don't need to act that way with me. I'm not going to go around telling everyone people's business."

"You better mean that." He warns.

"He's one of my oldest friends." Violet trembles from her spot on the bench.

Looking between them, I sensed there may have been more than just friendship involved. But I didn't say anything. "Oh."

"And a second-year rider, cadet."

I want to laugh. He says it like that title alone means he has a reason to act like a dick.

Newsflash, buddy, your attitude and your beard suck.

"My knee is sore," Violet whispers.

And that's when Dain becomes even more protective.

After Rhiannon and Violet trade shoes, Dain asks Violet if she trusts us, to which Violet nods.

"All right." He stands and turns towards us. "I'm Dain Aetos, the leader for Second Squad, Flame Section, Second Wing."

Man, I hope I'm not stuck with him as a leader.

"Parapet should be over in the next couple of hours, depending on how fast the candidates cross or fall. Go find the redhead with the roll—she usually carries a crossbow— and tell her that Dain Aetos put you and Violet Sorrengail into his squad."

Well, that hope of mine was short-lived.

"If she questions you, tell her she owes me for saving her ass at Threshing last year," Dain continues. "I'll bring Violet back to the courtyard shortly."

Rhi and I both glance at Violet to make sure she's okay, and she nods.

"Go before someone sees." Dain barks.

Rhi links her arm back with mine, and we walk back to the courtyard.

"He's… kinda intense, isn't he." She says to me as we continue walking.

"More like annoying," I say.

Violet's oldest friend or not, I didn't like Dain Aetos.

10 minutes later, Rhi and I are back in the courtyard with no sign of Violet anywhere.

"Do you think Violet's okay?" I asked Rhi. "She really didn't look too good."

Rhi looks over at me and gives me a small smile. "She'll be okay. I have full faith that she'll be okay. It really could have been just the adrenaline, as Dain said. The parapet is no joke, as you obviously know."

She's right. She has to be right. Violet will be okay.

A couple minutes later, a girl comes over and introduces herself. Her name's Tara and I can tell by the way Rhi is looking at her and the way she's soaking up everything Tara's saying that she's definitely interested in her.

Letting them talk, I take in my surroundings and freeze.

Standing not ten feet away is the most beautiful boy I've ever seen.

And he was staring right at me.

With blonde hair and eyes as blue as the ocean, he was captivating. He had a jawline I’m convinced was crafted by the gods and even though he’s wearing flight leathers, It’s not hard to tell he’s sculpted underneath. His arms were covered in ruins, which means he’s a marked one—

"There you are!" Rhi shouts, bringing my attention back to her.

We both see Violet and rush over to her.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟLiam Mairi ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ

I couldn't look away.

I know Xaden needed my undivided attention, but I couldn't help it being elsewhere.

Gods, this girl was beautiful. Long brown wavy hair that reaches her mid back, big brown eyes I could get lost in, pink-tinted lips.

She was the most stunning girl I've ever seen.

"Liam, are you even listening to me?" Xaden says, bringing me back to the present.

"No," I reply, not taking my eyes off the girl.

"What are you-"

Xaden doesn't get to finish his sentence because Garrick interrupts him. "He's looking at that girl."

Xaden scans the courtyard. "Which one?"

Garrick points at the stunning brunette, who has her attention elsewhere now.

When Xaden finds her, he narrows his eyes. "That's the girl who waved at me at the parapet."

Garrick looks over at Xaden, confused. "Do you know her?”

"I don't think so," Xaden says.

Then his attention moves to the girl she's talking to. She has long brown hair with silver streaks on the ends. I've never seen hair like that before.

As Xaden keeps staring at the silver-haired girl, my attention returns to the brunette by her side.

And my attention stays there during Commandant Panchek’s entire welcome speech.

[notwiredforthisworld]

Somewhere in 2012, a friend introduced me to a boyband she liked. I had no idea who they were. I hadn’t even turned 10 then, and I didn’t have social media. She played me a few songs, and I remember not getting it at first, and telling her that I didn’t like it. I loved music, but I never really cared too much about getting to know artists, so her obsession didn’t really make sense to me. But for some reason, when I got home that day I searched ‘One Direction’ on youtube. I watched music videos, interviews, fan compilations. I fell down a rabbit hole of fanmade lyric videos until I knew every single word to every single song, in a language that wasn’t even mine. I still say that I learned more english from one direction interviews than I ever did in school. I’m not sure where or why the obsession started. Maybe I just wanted to fit in, to like the thing that all of my friends liked. But somewhere along the line, it became so much more than that. It was their music, playing on a loop in my headphones, that helped me drown out everything wrong around me. One Direction was the reason I fell in love with music, the reason I joined social media, the first fandom I was in. It was the reason there were even others, the reason I met so many people. My best friends.

When One Direction announced a show in my country, in 2014, my friend went to see it, even though it was halfway across the country. I was 12 at the time, and I begged my parents to go. They said no. Their excuse was that I was too young, and neither of them understood a teenage girl’s obsession with a boyband, and if I’m honest with myself, I can now understand they probably couldn’t afford it. So they said no. And they promised me that next time I could go. A year later, I was leaving a music class with that same friend when one direction posted a statement about Zayn leaving. I cried the whole way home. I think that was my first heartbreak. The year after, they split up, even if 13 year old me would yell at everyone who dared mention it that it was a break, not a break up. I changed schools that year. I lost touch with that friend. A lot of things changed, but my playlist didn’t. It never did. 15 year old me started high school in a new place, listening to that same band, with the same posters hanging on the back of my door, just as excited for solo releases as I had been for one direction.

In 2019, when Harry announced a show in my country, that friend was the first person I called. The show was postponed, due to covid, but I remember 17 year old held on to those things like her life depended on it. I think in a way, it did. During lockdown, I got closer to the fandom than I had been in years. I was straight out of high school, I was lonely, and lost, and 18 year old me found in old videos and online communities the same sense of belonging she had found at 10. In 2022, me and my friend saw Harry together. I think a part of my teenage self was healed that day. So the year after, when Louis announced a show in the same place, 20 year old me skipped a uni class to buy tickets. It was the first concert I went to alone, and I sat on the floor of an arena during my favorite song, crying in the arms of a girl I never saw again. I hope she’s okay. That’s still one of my favorite moments. In 2023, Niall announced a tour without a stop in my country. 21 year old me drained her savings to fly to Ireland and see him there. When my mom argued, I told her she didn’t get to complain, because she hadn’t let me go to a show when they were still together, and if there would never be a next time, I would have to see all of them. Whatever it took. Until there was a next time. As I write this, the fact that there will actually never be a next time is hitting me like a brick.

Out of all of them, I probably resonated with Liam’s music the least. Right now, it’s bittersweet to realize I fell out of it, because of that and because of everything that came out after. Right now, 10 year old me is grieving. But so is 12 year old me, waiting up for music video releases. So is 15 year old me, going to high school with four playing on her headphones. So is 18 year old me, watching x factor videos when she got sad during lockdown. So is 22 year old me, coming to terms with the fact that one of the people she looked up to the most is… maybe not that good of a person.

One Direction has been a part of my life for longer that they haven’t been. I don’t remember a single moment, a single age, a single milestone, that they weren’t a part of, in some way.

So right now, I’m thinking of Liam’s family, of his friends, of his child. And I’m thinking of the boys, now men, that changed my life so profoundly, without ever knowing who I was. And on another note, I’m also thinking of Maya, and the women who came forward, and who will definitely feel the weight of this, even if they shouldn’t, even if it’s not on them, because that’s the way the internet works. I know that, because one direction is why I joined it in the first place. And it changed my life. To a degree, it changed my entire view of the world.

It’s a conflicting feeling. Grief usually is. But this type of grief… there’s no guidebook. How do you grieve someone who was never actually in your life? How do you grieve a face on a screen? A voice on a track? And specially, how do you do so while knowing so many things that you just can’t accept? Can’t support? That go against everything that is your beliefs? It hurts. It hurts that he’ll never get the help he so clearly needed. It hurts that the people who have always brought me the most comfort got their hearts broken in a way that was so drastic, so painful, so definitive. It hurts that it’s so definitive. So final. I think that’s the worst part. The little tiny part of me that has spent the last almost 10 years trying to believe it wasn’t final… just got told that it is. And it hurts that it feels like it’s not acceptable to be hurting like this.

I used to think about growing old one day, being in my 50s or 60s and having to read news like this one. But we were supposed to be old. We were supposed to have time. I wasn’t supposed to be 22, grabbing my phone to a text from my friend asking if I’d heard. If I was okay. I’m not.

I can’t listen to One Direction right now. But I hope 10 year old me can still turn the volume up when her parents are fighting in the next room. I hope 13 year old me can scream the lyrics to midnight memories at her friends’ houses. I hope 16 year old me can curl up in bed listening to made in the am everytime she needs someone to be there for her, like she always did. I hope 18 year old me, starting college alone in the middle of the pandemic, can rewatch San Siro and quote every line and find comfort in the nostalgia. I hope 20 year old me is screaming along at all the solo concerts. You’ll never see the 5 of them. I’m sorry.

In the end, my heart is with everyone who personally knew and loved Liam. And then it’s with us. The ones who grew up with him. The ones who found a sense of belonging in playlists, and stan accounts, and fanfics, and concerts. Because we’ll never get a next time. The boys will never get a next time. And I’m not really sure how to handle that thought, because there was supposed to be time, for all of us.

We were supposed to have a next time. Liam deserved a next time.

There was a whole lot of history there, after all.

[rosypenguins]

❤️Driam+Henriam Headcanons❤️

(Because Liam has some AWESOME ships)

❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️🖤 ❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️🖤 ❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️

🖤Driam❤️

❤️Liam’s always trying to make sure Drew goes to sleep at a reasonable hour. (With varying success.)

🖤Meanwhile, Drew’s usually calls Liam over summer break to make sure he doesn’t sleep past 2:00pm. (Because Liam will EASILY sleep for 48 hours if you let him.)

❤️Liam will steal his mom’s car and drive over to Drew’s house sometimes in the middle of the night. (With Drew’s permission ofc.)

🖤Drew and Liam play Minecraft together a lot.

❤️Liam is the ONLY reason Drew doesn’t have more than two energy drinks per day. (He’s the Caffeine Police.)

🖤Drew has some of Liam’s scene photos saved in his phone.

❤️Liam’s surprisingly observant, and tends to take note of subtle changes in Drew’s behavior.

🖤Drew tends to keep to himself when Liam and Henry are talking, despite Liam’s attempts to include him in the conversation. He typically opts to go on his phone instead, offering a snarky remark on occasion.

❤️Liam has teasingly flirted with Drew in the past, but he typically receives nothing more than an eye roll. (Quite the contrast from the reaction Jake gets.)

🖤Drew always feels like a third wheel when him, Liam and Henry hang out. He knows they have a lot more history with one another, and a bond that goes so much deeper than any other Drew’s seen before.

❤️Liam does his best to check up on Drew emotionally, yet Drew never tells him much.

❤️💚❤️💚❤️💚 ❤️💚❤️💚❤️💚 ❤️💚❤️💚❤️

💚Henriam❤️

❤️Liam and Henry have known each other since Elementary School. They grew up in the same neighborhood, and their parents are pretty good friends, meaning they gone out countless family trips with one another.

💚They basically know each other inside and out. They know almost everything about how the other thinks, and they can pretty much read each other’s minds to some extent. (Literally. Jake and Drew tested this.)

❤️About 1/3 of their closets are full of each other’s clothes just from how many nights they’ve spent together.

💚They’re pretty much always sending each other stupid TikToks they find.

❤️After school, if neither of them are doing anything, they’ll pretty much spend the whole evening on call playing video games or something.

💚SUPER comfortable with each other. Like, sitting on each other’s laps comfortable. Using each other as lap pillows comfortable. Caressing each other’s cheeks and cuddling up to each other comfortable.

❤️ “It’s not gay, we have our socks on!"

💚Have practiced pick-up lines on each other, and have definitely kissed before, too. “For practice.”

❤️Have this little game where they come up with the weirdest insults to call people.

💚Henry’s the one who got Liam into anime, and almost every anime Henry’s watched, he’s watched with Liam. (He’s also NOTORIOUS for pausing and rambling about his thoughts for about 10 minutes before continuing the episode.) (Needless to say, it takes AWHILE for them to finish a series.)

❤️Both are horrible at saving their money, and tend to blow it all on useless stuff in 2 days.

💚Henry is Liam’s certified Arm Rest.

❤️Liam usually has to grab things from the top shelf for Henry. (And makes him say ‘please’ before giving it to him.)

💚Henry refuses to tie his own shoes so Liam usually does it for him.

❤️Liam is Henry’s personal nurse. (Because God does he need one with how easily he gets scraped up.)

💚Nothing to do with Henriam but I like to think Henry tried taking Japanese for a semester and literally couldn’t understand anything other than ‘hi’ and ‘thank you’ so he ended up dropping the course.

[sipsandfables]

Unfiltered Thoughts While Reading: Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

⚠️⚠️⚠️ BEWARE! SPOILERS AHEAD ⚠️⚠️⚠️

Chapter 1

If I were Violet, I’d be like “Forget these biscuits and EXPLAIN YOURSELF SIR” 😂

If Brennan survived, then why did Tairn’s old rider die? 

“Stop bringing logic into an emotional argument.” Hahaha love Violet

I will say though that if she’s going to be mad at Xaden, she can be mad at Brennan for the same thing

Chapter 2

is this foreshadowing? Will Violet or someone else learn the art of ward building to save them all?

“Weapons are the only things that can win this war” for someone so intelligent, I’ve never heard Brennan say anything more foolish than that 

Andarna is a teen 😂

will she go through an emo phase? Hahaha

At least it sounds like her mom wasn’t in on this murder plot 

“Fucking Dain.”

Lol agreed

Chapter 4

I love how Dain acts like nothing happened. Like, wtf? Why are you surprised Violet hates you?!

Unless he didn’t know about the plan somehow and we all just assumed he did.

Also, maybe another mind reader read his mind and he didn’t actually tattle? But even if that’s the case, he still read Violet’s memories without her permission this whole school year

Chapter 5

“I’m pleasantly fuddled but not entirely sloshed.”

Lol I’m using that the next time I get drunk

Chapter 6

Violet has more self-control than me. She should have let Xaden stay the night lol

Chapter 7

I knew it! So, less dragons are bonding because of the war and the venin. I wonder if they are bonding with the rebels or just staying out of it completely 

Chapter 8

so Aaric is the kings son?! Bold move 

And now Liam’s little sister?! This series is going to kill me 😭😭😭

oh shes angry lol 

“What in the angry-Mairi was that about?”

Lol I love Rhiannon

“I've danced with Malek more than my fair share over this last year and told him to fuck right off every single time. ”

LOL

Fuck this dragon and fuck Varrish. What. The. Hell.

I’d be so pissed if someone ran after that because that stupid dragon is killing people in the way anyways. Hide ya kids, hide ya wife, they’re flaming everyone up in here.

“If Solas comes near you again, he knows I will devour his human whole and let him rot within me while his heart still beats, and then I'll take the eye I so graciously left him." "That's...graphic."

Tairn has the best threats lol he and Violet were made for each other

Chapter 9

I knew Imogen would grow on me!

Omg I bet the person they’re interrogating is Xaden. He never made it out to his post and it’s why he hasn’t come to see Violet. I just don’t know how they can keep the dragons from each other 

“"I can take her," Sloane fires back, white-knuckling her knife, "From what your letter said last year, her joints pop right out. How hard can it be?" "Seriously?" I shoot a reproachful look at Imogen. "I can explain." Imogen puts her hand over her heart, "You see, I didn't like you last year, remember? You're kind of an acquired taste."”

hahahaha I love the banter in this series

OMG!!! Nadine!!! I am NOT okay with how fast characters be dying in this damn series!! 😭😭😭

Chapter 10

I knew this dude was sent by Aetos. So freaking sloppy! And the more this book goes on, the more I think Dain didn’t know about the War Games thing. He’s an annoying prick but I don’t see him being malicious enough to let Violet walk to her death. Plus, I actually don’t recall him shitting on people with a relic. He just seems to hate Xaden lol 

Welp, there goes my theory about Xaden being tortured lol

I find it hilarious that Xaden is so obsessed with Violet’s hair lol

Chapter 11

“Coconspirators with a vested interest in keeping each other alive.”

Lol love Imogen. She’s giving me Ron Swanson vibes here with his “work proximity associates” speech 😂😂😂

Banning people from knowledge in order to keep their corrupt secrets from the public is not sustainable. Sure, it drastically slows the distribution of information but the truth always comes out - it’s just a matter of when!

I wonder if the Scribes are translating everything from the old language in order to hide more lies

 Varrish grinning at Violet saying “dragons don’t take orders from humans” does not bode well. Has he found a way to control dragons? Or at least influence them with blackmail or something else?

Varrish is such a dick. Like, get a life dude. 

Chapter 12

That comment about a blade of grass sticking to Violet was so random. 

Chapter 13

This Varrish guy is the worst. He’s like Miss Umbridge from the Harry Potter series

“You wish you were my type. I’m phenomenal in bed.”

Hahahaha I love Imogen. SHE BETTER NOT DIE

Oh no, I bet it’s that freaking survival class test! They’re getting kidnapped!

Chapter 14

Tairn is so sassy and I love it

Obviously, the water is drugged! Have they never read a fantasy novel?! 

I adore Ridoc 😍

HE BETTER NOT DIE

You would think there would be more crossover activities and exercises between riders and infantry if they have to work together so much and infantry are expected to work alongside dragons

Chapter 15

Rhiannon is responding to Violet keeping secrets way better than Violet is to Xaden lol She’s like “hey, you’re hiding something and that’s fine but don’t lie about lying” with Violet. And Xaden is like “Honestly, I have secrets I can’t tell but here are all of the intimate details of my life.” Come on Violet! Quit trippin' and get back with Xaden lol

I don’t like the rift going on between Rhiannon and Violet this book. They need each other and it’s annoying lol

Alright 2 things that annoy me about this book so far:

1. The lack of Xaden and Violet scenes  2. Violet being mad at Xaden for keeping secrets from her in order to protect others

 Chapter 16

Yesssss, Imogen is spitting facts!!! Hopefully this will convince Violet to let him back in

“I’m still speaking.”

Okay Imogen 👀 She could get it 😏

Oh man, I really hope nothing happens to Rhi’s family and she blames Violet for keeping her in the dark

Of course she misses the interrogation technique class!!! Bad move man

Chapter 18

Theory time: Omg is death what’s powering the wards??? Is that why so many more people are dying at an alarming rate? They need more students to die to power up the wards? And maybe daggers work because they are an instrument for causing death?

“I want you.” All day. Every day.

LOLLL

Omg I love how ride or die Rhiannon is about Violet lol 

Who’s soul is Nolon mending?!

Chapter 19

Theory time: Solas’ orange is off and Dain’s dragon's breath stinks because they’re giving the dragons some concoction. Maybe it’s to control them? 

“Humans have the memories of gnats. Dragons hold grudges.”

Pearls of wisdom from Tairn lol

Damn it Tairn lol while I love that he put Varrish and Solas in their place, things just got a whole lot worse for Violet 😬

Chapter 20

“Ugh. Let’s go throw knives at shit.”

😂

Has Mira met Imogen? They’d be two peas in a pod lol

I’m also shook that they kill civilians. Wowwwww

Chapter 21

Man, this is starting to feel like Final Destination since all the Resson survivors are dying one by one

“History and current events are tied because one influences the other.”

Interesting foreshadowing 

I like Devera and I feel like she’s trying to do the right thing while the rest of leadership goes to shit. Like Professor McGonagall does when Dumbledore is no longer headmaster 

“That’s what we’re not going to do.”

You tell em, Devera!

I bet Varrish will be in charge of the torture lessons given his background and he’s going to try to kill Violet 

I was JUST wondering where Dain has been. Haven’t heard his holier than thou whining in a while lol

omg I called it in the last book! Her mom gave Xaden those scars! I also still think I’m right about Dain being guilty of being a prick but not of sending his best friend to get murdered 

Rhiannon is so smart! She reminds me of Bree from Legendborn 😍

I knew I liked Aaroc/Cam for a reason! Hope he doesn’t die….

Chapter 22

It’s strange that Violet is so bad at remembering names when she studied to be a Scribe her whole life lol

Chapter 23

For some reason, book 2 reads a little more like a YA novel than the first book

HAVE THEY LEARNED NOTHING?! Don’t  eat or drink anything!!!

Okay, you didn’t drink but did you eat the jam?!

Ridoc and his snake confession had me cackling

lol I totally thought Ridoc broke first but he was lying haha

I knew fucking Varrish would somehow weasel himself into this training

They’re using Dain? Well hell.

Also, isn’t his signet supposed to be a secret???

Chapter 24

Wait, they’re practicing on civilians?!?! At what point do people wake up and think “hmmm, we’re the bad guys”?

"We should consider quitting the quadrant." Ridoc jokes as we walk over the door and out of the chamber, "We'd be kickass thieves." "With dragons," Sawyer agrees. "Unstoppable," Ridoc says with a grin.

This is giving Six of Crows and I. Am. Here. For. It.

Unlocking doors? hmmmm interesting 

Chapter 25

I know exactly who did this! A scribe! It was the person walking in the hood earlier that Violet noticed. I wonder if it’s her friend or someone else

Those statements have to be true - Markham is acting too squirrelly about them

FUCKING JACK IS BACK?!

Idk how I feel about this book now lol like really? 

Hundreds of cadets die every year and they spent valuable resources and time to mend him?! What happened to “we let the weak die”?! This is utter bull

Also, Nolon mentioned how hard mending a soul is….it doesn’t sound like Jack has a soul 

Chapter 26

I love the nonchalant way Sawyer and Ridoc are ready to murder Jack lol

Chapter 27

Territorial Xaden is the best lollll he’s like who the hell's jacket is that and why isn’t it mine?! 😂

Well, that escalated quickly 👀🔥

Chapter 28

Oh that has to be his ex. The one that Bodhi mentioned

I knew it!

Chapter 29

“Pull yourself together”

Tairn with the tough love 😂😂😂

“I will already know, as I am continuously with you,” he grumbles. “Forced to bear witness to the awkwardness that is twenty one year old humans.”

💀💀💀

I forgot who Professor Kaori is but I love them!!

Chapter 30

FINALLY Violet realizes how hypocritical she was being about Xaden when she tells her friends part of the truth

I bet Andarna is sleeping longer than expected because she’s going to be powerful as hell lol

Holy shit. Too many people die too often in this series. I don’t even remember who Eya is!

Ridoc better not die

Chapter 31

Freaking JACK saved her?!?! What is this rouse?!

I 👏🏾 don’t 👏🏾 trust 👏🏾 him 👏🏾 

Let’s go Aaric! Sidebar, I need a novella about him. He sounds hot

Chapter 32

I thought Aaric ‘s brother died in Threshing! Well I guess Xaden could have killed him then lol

There’s no way Nasya sleeps through his post every time. I bet he’s spying on them

Oh Imogen has it taken care of lol good. Also, that’s a badass signet!

Chapter 34

“The birth of iron rain” !?

That sounds ominous

OMG LADY STOP DRINKING THINGS FROM OTHER PEOPLE

Fucking hell. I honestly can’t even feel anger for Nolon’s betrayal because I’m too annoyed with Violet rn lol

Chapter 36

So Dain is finally choosing the right side!

I’m so glad Varrish is dead! He’s the worst lol. Violet will definitely have to watch her back from Solas

Yay! Devera came through!

The secret is out! Finally!

Chapter 37

🌶️🌶️🌶️

Chapter 38

Andarna is back!!! Yayyy!

I bet this “blood magic” means sacrifice! they have to kill people to build a new ward

I knew Mira would punch Brennan after seeing him for the first time haha

Chapter 39

The 6 strongest riders: Caden, Felix, suri, bodhi, violet, Brennan - I’m surprised Mira isn’t one

Chapter 40

I do think Violet is a little slow on the uptake when it comes to understanding her power which is surprising since she’s so smart

I’m excited about this sibling trip lol

Chapter 41

“Fuck it. We don’t need a luminary.”

Mira is a whole vibe lol

Cat is the worst and Violet is annoying me by listening to her lol Xaden is obsessed with you girl - ignore this jelly belly lady

Well that explains why Violet was trippin' hahaha wasn’t her fault

Chapter 43

yeah I agree - allowing people to die on the parapet is unnecessary lol

Holy shit ! This entire hike is stressful as fuck!

RIDOC!!!

Chapter 45

“The problem with mankind is we too often find our souls to be a fair price for power.”

Chapter 47

I hope Violet kicks Cat’s ass and makes it embarrassing for her lol

Chapter 48

Well that was hawt lol

Xaden talking shit about Dain will never get old lol

The way Xaden feels about Violet reminds me of Rowan to Aelin because his love isn’t conditional and based on if she’s “good” - “If you’re a monster, I’m a monster” (Queen of Shadows)

Xaden is very swoon-worthy lol

Chapter 49

I feel like it’s always Sawyer pitching the idea to just kill an annoying enemy (Cat, Jack, Varrish) and I’m here for it 😂

HE BETTER NOT DIE

oh no….am I starting to find Dain not so bad? Lollll

Chapter 52

Theory time: I really think these nightmares are real - somehow the Sage is communicating with Violet through her dreams Theory Time: I bet she gets captured or agrees to go to the head Sage by the end of this book to set up the next book

Oh god, I really hope an attack doesn’t occur while they’re on this training mission and then Violet feels responsible for not putting up the wards sooner 😬

Chapter 53

Violet must be thinking of Xaden and how he might go mad since his dragon was previously bonded with someone in his direct line

Fucking Solas. I almost forgot about this enemy!

Chapter 54

Honestly I’m surprised she doesn’t have more enemies since if you kill her, you essentially kill 4 beings in one swoop

Andarna is a badass

Chapter 55

No lie, this fight between Xaden and Violet is a little silly and getting exhausting

Ah, I came to the wrong conclusion about Xaden and his bond with Sgaeyl 

Chapter 56

Omg is Xadens second signet mind reading? That would explain a lot. It would also explain why he’s scared to share since they execute people with that signet

Called it!!! I’m glad her response was not immediately “I don’t love you anymore”

Now I need to reread these books to see when he reads her mind. Oh man, I hate to say it but it kind of sounds like what Dain did to her last year

hmmmm, that was too easy lol

Ugh, we’ve been here before - Violet discovers a big secret about Xaden right before some war conflict and they’re fighting in the midst of chaos. Not sure I’m a fan that it’s a repeat of the last book lol

Chapter 57

well I’m glad Cat has stopped being a twat and decided that focusing on saving the continent is the way to go over petty squabbles over an ex lol She reminds me of Lysandra but in a good way lol 

I think the trouble with the writing of their relationship is that Xaden is so amazing and their relationship is so magnetic that their conflicts feel forced. The obstacles they face within their relationship are hard to develop when Xaden is always saying the right things after they fight lol Not that I’d want it any other way - but I think that’s why I’m struggling with not rolling my eyes when they get into arguments. Violet deserves to be angry about the betrayal but then it just feels like her decision on what she’ll do next about them takes FOREVER and it feels like it’s dragged out across a whole ass book.

Omg did Brennan come?! Is he announcing his “undeadness”?!

Violet immediately wants Xaden to use his secret signet on the others? I don’t disapprove at all but that better mean she will forgive him swiftly lol

It isn’t in Violet to NOT help innocent civilians if she can.

“I love you enough to bear the weight of your disappointment.”

Total mom sacrifice right there!

I need a novella of their mom and dad and how they got together lol

Chapter 58

If I were with the Rebellion, I’d agree to help Navarre on the condition that they make it public knowledge that Venin are real and they’ve been lying to citizens for centuries in order to keep a specific amount of citizens safe - that way, they’re not leaving innocents to die AND if they all survive the battle at Solstice, the rebels will walk away with an additional win (the entire continent knowing the truth)

am I the only one who visualize white walkers from GOT when I read about the venin in this book? Lol

Alright let’s go!!! Way to not turn into the enemies! 

Chapter 59

What is with Andarna’s scale colors?! Their changing colors have been mentioned all book - I wonder what’s the significance? Is she a rainbow dragon?! That would be dope lol

Jack's dragon's eyes are weird? Another reference to dragons seeming off! I bet they’re controlling it! But who would want the wards to fail? Who is Jack in league with if Varish is dead? IS Varish even dead?! Did freaking Nolon bring him back to life like he did with Jack?!

What the heck?! Did Jack become venin?! Why did he slaughter his own dragon?!?

Chapter 60

I knew he became venin! But didn’t realize it was for SO LONG!

Well, everything is going to hell in a hand basket 

“Fucking Jack.”

Ain’t that the truth lol

There’s no way this battle is in this book, there’s not enough pages left!!!!

Chapter 61

Can Andarna turn invisible??!

I’m so stressed lol

Chapter 62

Omg is Andarna a chameleon?!

Chapter 63

Theory time: Andarna is head of the seventh den of dragons! This is why she’s so unique. She’s not actually black like Tairn . I bet she’s one of one making her the head of her den. It would make sense since she’s an orphan 

Add-on to the theory: I think both journals are right but describe it differently. Warrick says six AND the one that combines all which must be what Andarna is since she’s always changing colors. Lyra’s journal says seven because it combines the six and the one

Good thing Andarna can make fire now!

Chapter 64

Not a Liam letter 😭😭😭

This heartfelt moment between Andarna and Violet is everything. 

The way that Andarna looks up to Tairn gives me all the feels

What about Sloane?! Can she somehow reverse her power and GIVE instead of siphon?

Ah yep, apparently she can.

Her mom is going to sacrifice herself! 😭😭😭😭😭😭

Chapter 65

I’m honestly surprised Xaden killed the main sage. I figured he’d be a bigger part of the storyline 

Don’t tell me Xaden is also now Venin?! 😭

NOOOOO 😭😭😭

Sgaeyl is pissedddd

Chapter 66

OMG WERE THOSE XADENS DREAMS THE WHOLE TIME?! 

I can’t recall if Violet only had the nightmares when she slept near Xaden 😭😭😭😭😭😭

I am unwell.

[nellie-elizabeth]

The Legend of Vox Machina: Souls in Darkness (3x12)

As a not-so-secret Percy/Vax enjoyer, even though I do ship the canon ships more... this episode made me very happy.

Cons:

Okay, remember when I did the big paragraph in episode nine about Pike's whole deal with the Everlight? In this episode we get this line: "sometimes you should go against the wishes of your deity. After all, the gods didn't create us to blindly obey them, right?" And that sentiment is fine with me, that makes a lot of sense as a conclusion a character could come to on her faith journey. But... why did she literally throw away the Everlight symbol when facing down Thordak? That moment doesn't seem to actually lead to this one! I'm really hoping that season four can give us a bit more clarity on how we're supposed to view Pike's relationship to the Everlight. I'm fine with them making strong choices, but right now it feels kind of directionless and unspecific.

I want to reiterate that I'm sad about the Bard's Lament thing here. I still wonder what we'll see in future seasons, if some alternate version with different context will play out. But just... seeing Scanlan hugging Pike and Grog and then going off with Kaylie, everyone sad but ultimately at peace and in a good place with each other, i was just like... this is not my Fucked Up Story of Self-Destruction! I just want Scanlan to be way more of a mess. I want "what's my mother's name," and since we didn't get it here, within its original context, I wonder if we'll be getting any version of it at all! That does make me sad, even if I understand the reasoning behind it.

I liked how the Raishan fight ultimately went down but I wish they could have found some way to tie in the idea of the feeblemind - defeating Raishan by taking away her intellect, her main asset, was such a cool thematic element in the stream. I get why it would be hard to adapt, though!

A small thing, but it feels like only Vex and Vax are really grieving all that much for Percy? Like, the rest of the gang are there for the ritual, and Pike and Keyleth are helping with the magic part of it, but nobody else has had really any emotional processing time about Percy's death since his funeral. I wish there had been a bit more going on with some of them, especially Keyleth, who's supposed to be Percy's good friend!

An even smaller thing, I don't like Vax calling Pike "Pickle" in the scene where they're discussing the resurrection. I feel like Liam always used those nicknames in cute little moments in the stream, but it wasn't a regular thing, and it feels overplayed this season to me. All the nicknames, really.

Pros:

But, okay - I thought this was a kick-ass finale, really strong! The Raishan fight was, I'm a broken record here, extremely cool to look at. The animation of this show is so top-notch that even in moments where I feel hesitant about a writing choice or what have you, it's still always stunning to look at. I loved, loved, loved Keyleth getting more of a one-on-one showdown with Raishan while still having the group there to back her up.

The thing where Keyleth turns into a rock statue of herself and then crumbles apart to become an earth elemental is both a) extremely fucking dope and b) a good angst-generating machine, as it makes everyone who witnesses it think she's just fuckin' died before she pops up out of the earth like a total bad-ass. Vax wailing in agony about her ostensible demise... yes please. We love to see it.

And the cleverness of feeding Raishan's disease back to her - wow! The visual of Keyleth killing Raishan so quickly at the end of the last episode, and then feeding into the way Raishan is ultimately brought down here - they did a good job of making the Raishan vs. Keyleth fight feel very personal. Thordak, for all that he killed Vex and Vax's mom, was still mostly just this abstract big huge danger that was going to take over the world. Raishan had a more personal vendetta against the Ashari, so it was satisfying to see this showdown play out the way it did. Five out of five dragons defeated, Vox Machina. Hell yeah.

And then we bring Percy back to life!!! Ahhhh. Everything about Vax talking to the Matron, going into the shadowy Orthax realm, finding Percy, while the ritual is going on back on Exandria, I could literally quote every beat of it as my favorite part. I got super emotional at Orthax saying "Percival deserves this" and Vax saying "the fuck he does" and struggling towards his friend. Vax's shock and dismay when Percy doesn't recognize him at first, and then "she loves you, and so do I, brother"... like, fuck me up, it was so perfect! I loved the fact that it was a team effort from the twins, here. Vex giving her famous speech and the tear breaking through to wake Percy up from his trance, and then recognizing Vax at last... Vax has this special relationship to death specifically because he loves his sister so much and was willing to die to save her, and now he's using that connection in order to find a way to get Percy back. It really ties everything together from all the way back in season two episode three, when Percy inadvertently sets off the trap that kills Vex. The three of them have had this sort of convoluted relationship to what happened that day ever since, and this is a lovely capstone of it.

Then let's talk about that ending. I already said I'm sad about the big Scanlan change. But... I understand that when they were mapping this season out, they didn't have a guaranteed season four. Given that limitation, and the economy of storytelling required to make this show at all, I do appreciate the send-offs that the characters got. Everyone's going off on their own little journeys for a while. Scanlan with his daughter, and Vex and Percy to Whitestone, and Keyleth and Vax on her Aramente. They threw in the Vex line to Vax and Keyleth about not going off to get married, which got an eyebrow raise out of me, that's for sure. I'm happy for Vex and Percy - I loved that shot of them both leaning against Trinket and cuddling. So sweet. And I'm happy for Vax and Keyleth. Him wanting nothing more than to help her out on her journey is a good look for him. I am really curious about the Matron's consequences for him for helping Percy, and how that's going to alter how that arc for Vax went originally.

And... I think that's all I've got! In a way, I think this season didn't click with me during the process of watching at quite the same level as the first two seasons did. We've got quite the escalation, and a lot of changes, and just a lot riding on certain moments, and... well, I think this is still some exceptional television. I think it's remarkably high caliber and I'm still overall quite pleased with what we got! I just had a different emotional experience with it than I think I was expecting in a couple of spots. Still, I was so relieved and excited to hear about the renewal for season four and I'm so ready to see where they take the story from here!

8.5/10

[omgkatherine01]

Moonlight Beta: Chapter 7 - Not Okay

Series Masterlist

Chapter 6, Chapter 8

Pairing: Scott McCall x Fem!Liam Dunbar

Please comment, like and share

Scott had taken Lia to his house to take a shower and change out of her clothes. After refreshing up, she put on Scott's comfy clothes and waited for him downstairs on the couch, to shower and change out of his clothes as well.

It didn't take long for him to walk down the stairs, but Lia frowned when she saw him carrying two motorcycle helmets, "Kira found Brett." He handed her the red helmet as she got up, "They're fine, but we gotta go."

"More assassins?" Lia asked.

"Maybe a lot more," Scott answered.

"Different than the ones who just tried to set us one fire?" Lia asked.

"I think so, yeah," Scott answered, reaching to the door. He paused and turned to see Lia wasn't following.

Lia avoided his gaze and looked down at the red helmet. Scott walked toward her, knowing why she was hesitating, "How about I take you home? I know it's too much right now, I understand."

"I'm not like you," Lia said softly.

"Not yet," Scott told her.

"I don't mean I'm not strong or I'm never gonna learn how to be in control," Lia told him, "I mean, everything else. You and your friends try to protect everyone. Have you been doing this the whole time? I mean, how are you all still alive?"

Scott's face fell, and his gentle expression became sad. "Not all of us are," he said softly.

Lia noticed his expression and she suddenly felt a shame for causing it. She opened her mouth to apologize, but then stopped when Scott spoke, "Let me at least take you home."

Lia hesitated but after a few seconds later, she nodded lightly. Part of her was relief she wasn't forced to go after what happened tonight, but another part of her was feeling guilt and shame for not going to help him and the others.

She felt it all through the drive back home, and Scott could sense it. When he parked in front of her house, they both took off their helmets. Scott took Lia's when she got off from behind him.

"Hey," he said, and she looked at him. "It's okay. You can catch a break tonight after what happened. I don't blame you. We'll talk tomorrow, alright?"

Lia smiled a small sad smile and nodded, "Yeah, alright."

Scott gave her a small smile and put his helmet back on. Lia watched as he drove away, and after a moment she turned and walked into her house.

--------

The day after, in the evening, Mason came over to Lia's house to play video games in her room, something that eased Lia's anxiety. After the whole Berserker thing, she was still afraid of being alone.

It didn't help that her dad was working late at the hospital and her mom was being forced to work an all-nighter to solve a high-profile case. She didn't want to be all alone. Although, she was grateful that the assassins and Deadpool were over now that the McCall pack ended that.

Mason was baffled when Lia, once again, won the video game that she previously wasn't good at, "When did you get so good? Have you been practicing? Or did you just suddenly get superhuman reflexes?"

"I've been practicing a lot," she muttered the lie, slightly ashamed that she had to do so to Mason about everything.

"And I should be studying," Mason said, putting the control down and started to pack a few things, causing Lia to panic. "Where are you going?" she asked.

Mason looked over at his best friend in confusion, "Home? We've got a history test tomorrow, Li."

"Just one more game," she asked.

Mason grew concerned with his best friend's behavior, knowing that it had some greater meaning than just wanting to play a video game. After all, she should be extremely bored with it after beating Mason over and over again. "I have to go home. Lia, is everything alright?"

Lia nodded, smiling a small fake smile as realistically as she could force herself to, "I'm fine, see you at school." Mason hesitated, nodding before leaving.

After a while, Lia got into her bed to try and sleep, her paranoia was skyrocketing because nobody else was home and it had already started to rain outside. Lia went to turn off her light but paused.

Her eyes traveled around the room before reluctantly turning off the light. Her anxiety was skyrocketing and she started breathing heavily.

When Lia heard footsteps that she knew wasn't there, the girl shuttered knowing that she was hallucinating the berserkers again.

Lia childishly pulled her blanket over her head, "You're not there. This isn't real!" She peaked over, only to come face-to-face with a berserker. Lia muffled her scream, turning on her light instantly only to find that she was alone.

--------

Both Lia and Mason were in the weight room again. "That's a lot of weight," Mason commented. Lia sat on the bench, "Gotta get ready for the big game tomorrow."

Mason looked at her, unsure of what was going on inside her head and how he would be able to help her.

"You need a spot?" he offered hesitantly, not wanting to upset his friend even more. The girl shook her head, about to bench.

"What are you doing?" she asked as Mason walked over to her side. "I'm spotting you," Mason replied, just as stubborn as his best friend.

"I don't need one, Mas," she argued. She didn't want to feel weak, she wanted to feel strong, wanted to feel powerful. She hated being weak and she hated the fear she had of the berserkers.

"Are you kidding me?" Mason asked with a frown, "This is like 300 pounds. You're gonna kill yourself."

Lia tried to ignore him, starting to lift the weight which shocked Mason. "Does it look like I need help?"

Mason shook his head, leaving the room. Lia didn't know that Mason was going to get Scott. Although he didn't understand the connection she had with the junior, it seemed like he was the only one these days that could get through to his best friend. He knew that Scott could find out what was wrong with Lia, so he went to go get him.

Meanwhile, Lia's stomach bubbled with guilt for being rude to her best friend. She just felt so alone because she couldn't tell her parents or Mason the truth, that she wasn't human anymore.

Lia started lifting once more. As she was doing so, however, the memories of the berserkers plagued her mind and would not leave her in peace. She didn't notice that she stopped lifting until the bar got dangerously close to her chest making her start to panic.

Luckily, Mason finally arrived back with Scott who ran past the freshman boy to get to his struggling beta. He lifted it off of her with ease, with Mason standing in the back in shock.

Scott put it back on the resting place, helping Lia sit up as the girl coughed. "Lia--" Mason said as he took a step forward.

Scott crouched to her level, looking at her sadly. "I'm fine," she said softly, knowing Scott could tell she was lying even without the werewolf hearing.

"If you don't want to be with us, that's okay," her Alpha whispered, "But don't push your friends away too." Lia looked at Mason and then glanced at Scott, nodding slightly, but then she saw the berserker in the reflection of the mirror, making her breath hitch.

After school, Lia went straight to her bedroom to sulk. She was so upset with herself on how she treated her best friend, she didn't think Mason would ever want to be her friend after everything she put him through.

Mason, however, had been let into her house by Lia's mom, and he made his way to her room and didn't bother to knock before entering her room.

Mason frowned when he saw how sad Lia looked, and he stood in front of her, "I know something's going on, Li. I know you don't want to talk about it. But you're still my best friend. And uh..."

Mason sat next to Lia on her bed, "Considering the fact that the last good friend I made turned out to be a professional killer, I'm thinking that I don't have too many options for new ones. So, when you're ready to talk, talk. As long as you aren't hurting yourself again or anything, I can wait. Until then, I know I can kick your ass on at least one of these games."

Both best friends smiled brightly, and Lia couldn't help but hug the boy that seemed to forgive her no matter what. "You're the best, you know that, right?" she asked softly.

Mason hugged her back, "Yeah, I know." Both of them couldn't help but laugh.

--------

It had been not too long after Lia and Mason reconnected again when Scott and Kira didn't show up for school. Worried about her Alpha and pack-mate, Lia went to the boys locker room to talk with Stiles.

Lia was especially worried seeing as they were once again playing against her former school that night at the lacrosse game. She needed her Alpha there in case she loses control.

"Everything's fine," Stiles assured her, "I got a text from him this morning he said he might be a little late."

However, the girl was getting more and more anxious every minute that Scott wasn't there, "How late? When? We're playing Devenford Prep again and this time it's an actual game, not a scrimmage. I--I can't do this without him. He can't be late."

Coach heard the last part and made his way over, not even questioning why Lia was in the boys locker room, "Who's late?"

The two turned around to face their coach. Stiles gestured to Lia to tell him. "Scott and Kira," she answered. "They might be slightly late," Stiles lied smoothly or at least attempted to.

"Slight late is still late. What are they doing?"

Lia didn't know how to answer Coach because she honestly didn't know what they were doing on their date. "They're doing something that's going to make them slightly late," Stiles spoke in his usual 'I'm going to avoid the question' answer.

"What could Scott and Kira be doing right now that's more important than playing the first game?" Coach asked.

Lia knew that she needed to get Coach out of there before Stiles gives him more answers that don't make sense and eventually anger him.

"They're having sex," she said bluntly. Stiles gasped at her, and she rolled her eyes, "What? Someone had to say it!"

"You know they are not together, right?" Stiles whispered, and Lia shrugged. "Look, if it got Coach off our backs, I'll say it again," she said as she nodded toward Coach who was now walking away.

Stiles shrugged, "Okay, then."

--------

It was time for the match and both Scott and Kira still weren't around, it was just Stiles and Lia now. Both sat on the bench in their uniforms while Lia kept looking around for her Alpha, but only found Malia and Noah walking to the benches.

"They're still not here," she said.

Stiles looked over at the beta and noticed she was fidgeting. The teen sighed, wishing his best friend was there to be the alpha instead of letting him try and calm the beta down.

"Okay, what's really going on?" he asked, "Are you nervous about the full moon? It's not for another 24 hours." Lia's eyes traveled up towards the moon, and he noticed, "Lia, you're going to be fine. Okay? Just try not to rage out on anyone."

Lia looked back at Stiles, "You're not worried?"

"Okay, I'm mildly concerned," Stiles said, and she nodded. "Mildly" Stiles took out his phone and began to text Scott once more.

"We're gonna lose without them," Lia said.

"No, we're not," Stiles said, "We can be just as good without Scott. Okay? I've been practicing. Let me tell you something. I'm getting good, really good."

The corners of his lips turned upwards when he got the beta to laugh, happy that he was able to get her in a better mood.

But what happened was that he indeed still sucked at playing. He was knocked down easily by another human from the opposing team. Lia walked over from the bench to her pack member, raising an eyebrow before helping him up.

"Yeah, I'm gonna try calling Scott again."

"Yeah, you do that."

They were losing the game, big time. After a little while, Lia took the spot next to Stiles on the bench. "Neither of them are answering," he said, "I gotta go see what's going on.

Lia's eyes grew wide as she watched him packing his things up quickly, "You're leaving? What are you going to tell the coach?"

The two looked over at Coach who seemed to be throwing a tantrum. "Uh... you don't tell him anything," Stiles said, "Okay? Lia, you're going to be okay. All right?" Lia gave a small nod, and he petted her on the back before leaving, but he took his father with him while Malia stayed.

Lia was hallucinating that the berserkers were on the field, which made her miss the shot. As they kept playing, she got more and more distracted. Eventually, Brett purposefully knocked her over.

"What the hell did you do that for?" Lia snapped quietly. She thought since Brett was also a werewolf he wouldn't try and anger her, but here he was doing the exact same thing.

"Because you're extremely afraid, I can smell it on you from across the field," he said, "Are you hurt?" Lia shook her head. "Are you alive?"

Lia then rolled her eyes, "Obviously."

"Then get up."

--------

After the game, Lia went straight to the girl's locker room since she knew nobody would actually come in since she was the only girl on either team (minus Kira who wasn't there).

The girl was annoyed with herself for losing the game and she sat on the bench, thinking.

She wasn't expecting anyone to come in, let alone for it to be Brett Talbot. "You okay?" the born werewolf asked.

Lia glanced at him and quickly away. "We lost, big time," she spoke, clearly not interested in talking to her ex-friend.

"But you're okay, right?"

Lia scoffed and looked at him, "Why'd do you that? Why did you even help me? You hate me."

Brett looked sympathetic for the new wolf. He knew how hard it was to deal with all this power. But unlike him, she wasn't born with her powers, she literally just got them.

"Because Scott saved me. He saved all of us. Do you know how lucky you are?"

Lia was still confused, and Brett smirked slightly.

"Scott's a true Alpha. That means he didn't get his power because he was born with it. He didn't get it by stealing it or killing someone. He earned it. You're not strong just because you can lift a lot of weight now. You're strong because you endure, because what you've been through. Satomi calls it strength of character. You're lucky to have him."

Brett took one last look at Lia, checking her chemosignals to make sure she had calmed down, before leaving.

"Then where is he?" she whispered to herself. "Why isn't he here?"

"What happened to you out there?"

Lia looked over her shoulder and saw Malia walking in.

Lia shook her head, "I don't wanna talk about it."

Malia hesitated, nodding, "Okay. Do you want me to go?"

Lia let out a breath and shook her head, "No. Last thing I want is to be alone right now, actually."

Malia walked closer and sat next to her. There was a moment of silent, and Lia glanced over at the older girl, giving her a small smile, thanking her for just staying in the room in the silent.

[theninth09]

hey, my name is emily. your account is really great, you’re like too smart.

i introduced my mum to teen wolf and she’s been watching for the past few months. we just finished s5 and you need to hear this.

basically, i asked her off hand do you like liam and theo? and she was like yeh i really like liam and gave all her reasoning. she said she didn’t like theo. and she hasn’t seen s6 yet so i was like okay valid.

but even so, i asked her why. and her response is something else. she went on a whole spiel. these were her exact words (p.s. she’s a bit of a character):

“the guy has three metal doctors who are like supernatural encyclopaedias and an entire lab of a chemicals and gadgets and materials and information and chimeras and all that jazz. and he chooses to become an free escort and learn how to fake cry to make his ends meet? like you have all of that and you couldn’t think of anything else? crying and acting like an escort is what people in the 1700s are on the streets did to make a living because they had no other option. he has all of this and he couldn’t think of anything else? …”

she said some other stuff that i don’t remember but i remembered this word for word because its so funny.

hi emily!! first of all, thank you! this is seriously so sweet, i loved getting this message :( i was like "wow. someone watched tw with their mom and had the thought 'tumblr user theninth09 needs to hear about this.'" im honored, like actually!

and thank you again for sharing this with me, because this is hilarious. actually laughed at your mom calling theo a 1700s escort like nsiebwjs omg??? he really is, i fucking can't 😭 because im me, ill briefly rant about the reasons why theo acts like that instead of trying to find a different solution. this is absolutely nothing against your lovely mom, i think shes hilarious and i 100% get why people dont like theo in s5!! gladly let me know if she changes her opinion about him as you watch s6 and i hope she has fun watching <3

funnily enough, i actually think she answered her question with her own words. "crying and acting [...] because [he] had no other option." theo grew up with the dread doctors, they groomed him into the person that he is. he must've learned how to act like that over the years, they must've trained him into doing whatever they want. so its not really him "choosing" to act like that, but rather that hes 1. so used to it that he doesnt even consider there being another option and 2. the doctors Expect from him that he does that. i know that theo seems like this guy that just does whatever he wants, especially in s5b. but the doctors hold a lot of power over him and hes absolutely not unaffected by that. hes actively scared of them and listens to everything they say.

when theo speaks with donovan (the guy that stiles later accidentally kills) he says that the doctors dont usually let him speak to other experiments. meaning that this time, they did allow him. he doesnt ignore their orders: if hes forbidden from doing something, he doesnt do it. he only talks to donovan because he got the doctors approval for that. when he tells the doctors that he needs hayden alive, that he needs more time (he also literally says I did everything you wanted in this same scene) just the doctors turning to look at him is enough to scare him. he takes a step back, it almost looks like there are tears in his eyes, he doesnt try to argue again even though hes obviously not happy.

when him, scott and liam find mason attached to the doctors tube-thing (or whatever that thing was) theo says that he doesnt know either what that is: the doctors dont tell him everything, perhaps forbid him from touching certain things, keep him in the dark about stuff they consider too important. theo and the dread doctors aren't allies, theo isn't with the doctors. theo is like their pet, their minion. they use him and tell him what to do and only as long as he doesn't interfere with their work, they tolerate him trying to reach his own goal. they classify him as a failure despite him not having bled mercury and theos voice shakes, hes terrified as he says "im not a failure."

yes, theo talks back and hes arrogant and impulsive. but hes also a traumatized child that more or less got raised by the dread doctors. he doesnt try to figure out a different way to reach his goal, because he doesnt even consider it a possibility. hes scared of the repercussions. and also: lets say none of what i just said is relevant (or true, im aware that some of this goes into subtext/headcanon territory.) then there'd actually still be a reason why he doesn't use the dread doctors stuff: he doesn't want to.

his main goal, his desire is to become a real werewolf. that's what's most important to him. after he gets the chimera pack, he says to the doctors, frustrated, that hes still not an actual alpha, that his eyes are still golden. when he kills scott, he asks "because im not a real werewolf?" with his insecurity regarding that obviously shining through. he calls chimeras "cheap knock-off versions." cody has talked about theo's inferiority complex in interviews, too. tinkering with the dread doctors stuff and whatever information they may have wouldn't help him. he wants to be a real werewolf. and if the doctors themselves couldnt even manage to have him be the successful chimera to turn into the beast, hes probably long abandoned any ideas about a way to do it himself. trying to steal someone else's powers is, in theo's mind, his only option.

(also: tv logic reasons and him finding a different way would've been boring to watch lmao)

[gravityglitch-blog]

To All the Drones, Always and Forever, Part 2

First part here.

Third part here

The rambling returns.

Again, spoilers ahead

Uzi’s shot at the Solver-planet? I admit, I'm a little confused about where they are; I don't think it's Copper Nine, because of reasons I'll get into later. The way she and N react to it are some of my favorite scenes in this episode.

I love them so much💛💜

To have that scene followed by this...

Tell me I'm not the only one who started screaming here. I went into this episode fully aware that one or more of our main characters might not survive, and I thought that's what I was seeing.

N to the rescue again while Uzi reclaimed her heart.

But then the Solver goes after him, clawing at his chest to pull out his core.

"Let me in. Let me in."

This monster from who-knows-where, that uses the skin of one of its victims like a costume and burns through lives like they're nothing, is truly one of the most terrifying things I've seen.

Uzi manages to pull N to temporary cover, but the Solver is relentless.

You can see it's still trying to take over Uzi, but she's doing her level best to fight it and comfort N at the same time.

It hurt when V entered the tunnel, calling out to N. I don't think I've ever seen her look so vulnerable while she confesses her fears, and that she should have been honest with him. She's almost in tears.

But the second he responds, the Solver zeroes in on him.

The damned monster taunts V.

V is so scared, she almost seems willing to submit to the Solver's control again.

But now it's just toying with them.

Maybe I was overly prepared for doom and gloom, but I honestly thought this was it for N here.

Fortunately, Uzi (and Liam) had other ideas.

I will never get over the little smiles in response to this.

I wish I could post the whole fight scene that comes next. I smiled so much when the Solver tried and failed to take control of Uzi.

"I'M FREEEE!!"

And her proud mom cheering her on!

I should have been ready for this next part.

I really should have.

(Cue more inhuman screaming from me.)

Continued in a minute.

[revvethasmythh]

🤍❤️🏳️‍🌈 for the ask meme!

🤍: Which character is not as morally bad as everyone else seems to think?

I definitely don't think everyone thinks this, just a certain group of people, but since this is the second time I'm answer this one I'll be a little loose with it and say Orym. With some people I think there's this disbelief that he actually is as moral as he presents himself as and, well, I suppose morality is fairly subjective, but he clearly strives to do right by everyone. He only wants to protect people, he wants to save people, he wants to do good in this world and see the world be good. When I see people call him selfish and hypocritical and vengeful and close-minded I'm always like....why are you so determined to misunderstand a character who has been repeatedly stated (by Liam) as someone who wants to "shield the whole world" and hold onto as much goodness and optimism as he can for as long as he can? I suppose it must be a reaction to his conviction in his own morality, and his unwillingness to budge on what he thinks is right. But he is the center of morality in the party for a reason, you know?

❤: Which character do you think is the most egregiously mischaracterized by the fandom?

I THINK this is the question being asked? And my browser changed the icon into the red-heart emoji instead? Let me know if it's not!

TBH, my above answer would also work for this question, but even more so I think Veth can be pretty egregiously mischaracterized by the fandom. She's usually either discussed as comedic relief or The Mom™️, neither of which are capable of encapsulating the complexity of her character. She is funny! She is also a mom! But she's a lot more than just those two things, and relegating her to the funny mom sidekick of other people's stories has never sat right with me

🏳️‍🌈: Which character who is commonly headcanoned as queer doesn't seem queer to you?

Since I answered this question here, and I'm not sure I have another one for CR, I'll flip the question a little. What about a character people say is straight but I think it's wrong?

Yes, I am talking about Veth Brenatto. Too many people have called her het. There was something fruity with her and Yasha long before she was fucking with Beau and Yasha's relationship. We need to give the girl credit for being what she is--a bisexual queen

[kaylinalexanderbooks]

Happy STS! I'll ask you the same question as I asked MK because I think it's a fun one: If your characters were all in a Battle Royale, with a day of prep time and a neutral arena, who would win?

Happy STS (storyteller someday)!

Sorry for doing this on a Thursday I've genuinely been thinking. Focusing on characters only in Part One.

Decided to first eliminate anyone who'd take it too personally or feel too bad. Lexi, Akash, Robbie, Gwen, Kelsey, Jedi, Wade, Carla, Ewan. Some of them would get far like Robbie but win? No.

Then, anyone who'd think it would be stupid to be in this situation. Carmen and Gabriel are the main ones. Maybe Noelle, but because I'm conflicted, automatically eliminating her. Depends on what her mom wants.

I also eliminated Parker and Jazlyn because I think they'd be a little too hot-headed about this whole thing to win.

People like Liam and Tyler and even George would be a little too interested in the outcomes to make it to the end.

This leaves Ash, Sam, Rose, and Maddie. Sam would hold back the most, so she's out. Rose is dealing with Self Image and Worth Issues so sorry. Not that powers are automatically going to make you win, but her powers not being useful in a fight compared to the others has me eliminating her.

Soooo Ash vs Maddie. This is tripping me up. Maddie's powers are very effective in a combat situation, though Ash could anticipate movements. I had to give this a lot of thought.

And it comes down to... Ash. Maddie could make it very far, but Ash has a clear advantage. Personality-wise, both have a tendency to be over-confident and reckless in their abilities, but Maddie's abilities having her take risks that put herself in harm's way, but in combat Ash's put other people at risk more. If they both get reckless, Ash wins.

So, congratulations, Ash, you win. Definitely won't give you a guilty conscience.

This was really fun, sorry this is late.

TSP intro

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

@nebula--nix @literarynecromancy

[oveliagirlhaditright]

Does anyone know where this one Bangel fanfiction is? I first read it on the "Scribes of Angel" site, but every time I've looked for it there since I can never seem to find it.

It's an AU where Buffy didn't have to kill Angel to close Acathla. She just needed some of his blood.

So, I think she stabs him with Kendra's blessed sword and throws the sword in the portal, which closes it (this whole thing might somehow knock Angel out, but don't quote me on that part).

But Buffy still runs away to L.A., because, I mean, her mom still kicked her out of the house, she's still wanted for allegedly murdering Kendra... she still had to deal with all that Angelus stuff, and Angel thinks she had tried to kill him when she stabbed him (because she didn't have time to explain. Though eventually she does).

Angel ends up tracking Buffy to L.A., and the two of them end up living in crappy apartments together. It's of course not all rainbows and sunshine for them, though. Like, they have all the Angelus angst to deal with, for one thing. They think the curse is still a thing (though in this fic, Willow got rid of the loophole when she re-cursed Angel, but they don't know that for the longest time), and it's just hard being in close quarters with each other in general, in some ways: with him being a vampire and her a yummy smelling human/Slayer.

Buffy keeps taking awful daytime jobs to support them, but they don't stay any place for too long. (And there's one scene where Angel gets into an altercation with one of Buffy's bosses who had treated her like shit.)

Buffy's mom and the Scoobies basically think that Buffy succeeded in stopping Angelus from summoning Acathla, but that Willow wasn't successful in re-souling Angel and in revenge for her stopping his plans, he kidnapped her (something Buffy hadn't at all thought they'd think).

The Watcher's Council assassins get involved...

And there are probably other things I'm forgetting to mention that would explain this story more thoroughly, that would help you all better know what fic I'm talking about.

But it was a really amazing story, that I was happy to read the few times that I got to. And I would love to find it again, if anyone can help. Thank you so much :)

I also think this fic's rated "M," but don't quote me on that.

Edit: Yay! The awesome fic has been found by the dear Liam-Summers. Hooray!

[narryskittens]

This is just gonna be rambling and noncohesive cause I really just need to put my feelings somewhere.

I have had this account since March 2012. I was 15 years old. I am now 27. I am still here. Now I wasn't as active for a few years, especially during college (really only coming back for the big things). But whenever I am having a rough time I always come back to two things: Harry Potter and One Direction. I look back on the height of my One Direction obsession so fondly, like I really cherish those years when the only thing I wanted to talk and think about was what these 5 boys were doing. God this is so hard to even articulate like I spent so much of my time loving them. To this day I love them. Just like countless other people on here, I had a really tough adolescence and there were times when the only thing keeping me afloat was the promise of a video diary, a behind-the-scenes YouTube video, an album release, and the list goes on. I used to read fanfiction in class. I would leave class to go to the bathroom and watch the Vevo releases. I would watch the videos 6 times to make sure I didn't miss anything. I feel like I know them. I know I don't and never really will. But they were my everything and I don't think I ever properly grieved them breaking up. Even though I knew what the "hiatus" really meant, there was a small part of me that always hoped to replicate the unbelievable happiness that I once had at the height of this whole experience. Liam dying has really solidified the fact that like I am no longer a teenage girl sitting in her room trying to escape her stressful life (I say this as I am sitting in my room crying over One Direction in the year 2024).

There is such grief. Like I said I am sitting in my room in LA which is a city I moved to to pursue a career in social media. This is a career path I found myself on BECAUSE of One Direction. I found my passion for creating content, pop culture, and connecting with people across the globe while obsessing over these 5 boys. They touch and influence my life to this day. I can genuinely say that I love them, and I was feeling ridiculous yesterday because I am 27 years old, but I have decided to just accept that this death has deeply shaken me and I need to give myself the grace and just allow myself to feel this. I feel so so so weird, so devastated. One of the hardest parts about this is not feeling like I can accurately express how I am feeling to people who weren't hardcore Directioners from the beginning like they just will never ever be able to understand and that is making this hard. Like people don't respect the grief and you feel like you have to justify yourself. This will be affecting me for a good while but I am gonna have to hide it.

God this is so so sad. I feel so much sadness and devastation for his mom, dad, sisters, his little boy, his gf, Maya, the boys, and all of us. The whole situation is so upsetting. So deeply disturbing. Where do we go from this? I feel like I have had a bucket of cold water thrown over my head. I will never forget where I was when the news dropped. I immediately called my best friend (we really bonded and solidified our friendship through obsessing over One Direction together) and we just sat on the phone together. I called my mom and cried and she had to tell me to make myself tea with sugar to help with the shock. I can honestly say I am still in shock. None of this is really sinking in. I saw a TikTok that said it was such a special cultural moment that we lived through, and being able to connect with people who know what is going on and like the gravity of the situation while also still being in our adulthood, is really beautiful. Like you really just had to fucking be there it was magical and it was SO MUCH fun. I need to see more videos of Liam being just a silly guy cause I used to absolutely crack up from these videos. That is what the internet is at its best.

If anyone wants to talk about this please feel free to DM me. I need an outlet. I will probs ramble more in the coming days. I just really needed to type some feelings out. I am so sad, and I can't use my usual tried and true coping mechanism. Sending lots of love out into the universe right now.

[steddieas-shegoes]

15 questions, 15 mutuals

I got tagged by @estrellami-1 and @zerokrox-blog and I love them ❤

1. Are you named after anyone? I guess technically my dad because my parents were told I was a boy in the womb so they said no to originality and were just gonna name me Michael and then I wasn't a boy and my aunt was like "why not Mickala" which is not even the spelling that they could have gone with.

2. When was the last time you cried? This morning from the nice messages I got 😍

3. Do you have kids? Just the one little gremlin, Liam.

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot? It is my main form of communication and has been my whole life. Sarcasm is my family's native tongue.

5. What sports do you play/have you played? *cracks knuckles* When I was little and still lived in Massachusetts I did gymnastics. When we moved to Florida, my mom put me in soccer to "make friends." That lasted one whole season. Then I did a year of basketball. I did a year of ballet and a year of jazz. I loved dancing, but my sister got sick and money was incredibly tight so no extracurriculars for moi until high school when I did another year of dance.

6. What’s the first thing you notice about people? Not to be cliche, but their smile.

7. What’s your eye color? Blue

8. Scary movies or happy endings? Happy endings always. I don't do scary movies ever.

9. Any special talents? I am incredibly organized? I don't think that's really a talent, but it's like my brain constantly runs on its own very scheduled calendar, and I have everything in folders, both literally and figuratively.

10. Where were you born? Haverhill, Massachusetts.

11. What are your hobbies? Reading and writing mostly. I don't have time or money for any others 😂

12. Do you have pets? I don't, but my parents have two dogs that are basically the family dogs. Darla (English bulldog) and Hazel (basset hound)

13. How tall are you? 5'2"

14. Favorite subject in school? English or history was always my favorite. But here I am getting a communications degree so I can "use it anywhere" *biggest eyeroll in the history of ever*

15. Dream job? For a VERY long time (up until maybe 4 years ago), it was working as PR in the entertainment industry. I love cleaning up messes and that sounded so fun. And it still does, but I also realized, I'm not built for that kind of work/life balance (which is almost 0). So now I'm leaning more into something with the NHL or going into publishing as an editor or for marketing.

I'm gonna tag @flowercrowngods @steves-strapcollection @izzy2210 @simplebtromance @legitcookie @softasawhisper @madigoround @inklessletter @just-my-latest-hyperfixation @serenefreakgeek @yourebuckingkiddingme @gregre369 @rose-crown3d @matchingbatbites @spectrum-spectre

[kitkatwinchester]

WHAT!! AN!!! ENDING!!!!

LET'S!!!

F*CKING!!!

GO!!!!!

THAT is what I'm TALKING ABOUT!!!

THAT is the McCall Pack we know and love!!!

THAT is the UNBEATABLE TRUE ALPHA THAT IS SCOTT MCCALL!!! <3 <3 <3 <3

SCOTT IS FREE!!!

DEREK IS ALIVE!!!

PETER GOT HIS COMEUPPANCE!!!

EVERYONE IS OKAY!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

I took a while to react, so order of events, shall we??

I mean, it means you're gonna get the really long babble about Scott and the McCall Pack first, but I DON'T CARE, because it was AMAZING!! <3

The WAY they BROUGHT SCOTT BACK!!

Look.

When Kira and Stiles first ran in, I was convinced that they were gonna try to hit that romantic cliche and have Kira be the one that brings him back, especially after Stiles tried and Scott immediately hit him down (which, ow, my heart).

But then, they went with platonic/familial again, and in the BEST WAY, because it was F*CKING LIAM!! (Because, don't get me wrong, I LOVED Stiles saving Scott in 3x6, and you know I always love me some Sciles, but doing that again would've been a little cliche, so to change it up like that was PERFECT! <3)

And with that AMAZING PARALLEL with that AMAZING LINE!!

"You're not a monster. You're a werewolf, like me."

And it F*CKING WORKED, because OF COURSE IT F*CKING DID!!

Because that's his BETA. His LITTLE BROTHER. His CHILD. And he is reciting back to him the exact same thing that Scott said to him all those episodes ago.

And it GETS THROUGH TO HIM!!!

Like, I don't think you understand how much I LOVE THAT!! There are sooooo few shows and movies out there that truly understand how important platonic relationships can be, and Teen Wolf freaking NAILS IT!!

And BECAUSE OF THAT, Scott gets out, and he immediately pegs Peter, because he just KNOWS.

And the way that Malia backs up, because if there's anything the McCall pack has taught her, it's loyalty, and THAT is a betrayal.

And everyone in the pack tries to come to his defense, to get at Peter before Peter can get at Scott (especially Kira <3), but he tells them all to back off, because this fight is between him and Peter, and they both know it.

And then the FIGHT SEQUENCE. Scott trying so desperately to pull his punches, but trying so hard to stay alive, all while Peter is telling him that if he wants to win, he's gonna have to kill him.

But he DOESN'T, because killing him would be EXACTLY what Peter has been asking for and trying to prove, and that's not who Scott is.

And he's trying, and he's losing, and then it's F*CKING LIAM AGAIN!! Liam, stepping forward because his Alpha/Big Brother/Dad is in trouble, and Peter just RIPPING ONE at him to keep him at bay.

And the way that Scott and Liam LOOK AT EACH OTHER (there are so many meaningful glances in this episode I cannot <3 <3)!!! The way Liam looks so scared, but also so clearly angry and protective, and Scott sees that, and he gets back up, with a new strategy and new determination, because this isn't just about protecting himself--it's about protecting his pack.

It's about being an Alpha.

And then he's on the defense, and he's using his wits and strategizing until he can get the upper hand, and his pack is watching him in awe and pride, because THIS IS THE SCOTT MCCALL THAT EARNED HIS TRUE ALPHA STATUS!!!

And he WINS!!

Because he's SCOTT F*CKING MCCALL!!!

And then we get that LINE!!!

"You were never an Alpha, Peter. But you were always a monster."

And then that SHOT.

The lighting, the framing, the almost holiness--

You wanna know what's so special about Scott, Kate?

F*cking THAT!!

THAT RIGHT THERE is why Scott McCall is the best, and why no one can defeat the McCall Pack.

F*cking try us.

And then there's DEREK!

Derek, who we all thought was gonna die, who somehow...evolved?? And can turn into a FULL BLOWN WOLF now. JUST LIKE HIS MOM!!

Oh man, I can't WAIT to hear more about that, because that is so cool, and Derek's whole arc this season has had so many interesting moments, and I can't wait to see where they take that next.

And then there's PETER!

Peter, who finally gets the justice he f*cking deserves.

Not death.

Not Alpha status.

No.

F*cking prison.

F*cking EICHEN HOUSE.

With what we have now established as the worst person you would ever want to interact with in Eichen House for a cellmate.

He's not dead.

But he's gonna wish he were.

And THAT'S exactly how I like it.

F*ck you, Peter.

You f*cking deserve it.

And they did SUCH a good job of wrapping up all of the elements of Season 4 while still setting up for Season 5, and we got alllll these small little character moments and meaningful glances, and I am just HERE FOR IT!! <3 <3 <3

The Chris and Kate conversation about Allison, and what truly caused her death, and the fact that he still couldn't kill her, because it's still his sister, but he knows deep down, just like he said, that there's no more saving her.

The Chris and Scott conversation, where we find out Chris agreed to find and hunt down Kate with the Calaveras if it meant they would leave the pack alone, because he loves those kids, and he doesn't want anything to happen to them.

The little side hug and affectionate look between Scott and Kira, now that they're both finally safe and together again.

The meaningful look between Scott and Stiles, saying so much about how worried they both were, and how they know it's not the end of their struggles, but they're glad they're both okay and still here for each other, because that's what they do.

The way that Scott and Derek looked at each other in that silent conversation (also quick aside, LOVED Braeden's concern for Derek and excitement when he was alive), and with that little nod, acknowledged that they'll always have each other's backs, and they're both okay, and alive, and HERE, and they're grateful for it.

The hug between Stiles and Noah when Stiles and Malia finally make it back safely. The way Malia gets brought into the hug, even in all of her awkwardness. The fact that, as happy as Noah was to see both of them alive, he got the ultimate payback in the only way a Stilinski can by handcuffing his son to the desk. "Bring me back a slice?" XD

The fact that Kira GOT HER FIRST TAIL, and she got it from the obsidian that ultimately saved her life, and she's getting better and stronger and even more amazing by the second.

The reactions from absolutely everyone as Liam desperately tried to explain to Coach why they missed practice, with Coach not believing a single word they were saying, and Scott and Stiles dropping their heads down at the same time (I know where that gif is from now!!) because they wouldn't believe it either, but frankly, they don't have anything better.

The SMILES that Scott and Liam give each other (bonus points for Stiles's ever-present annoyance XD) when Coach tells them to make sure they look out for each other and have each other's backs, because YOU KNOW THEY DO!! ALWAYS AND FOREVER!!

And then last, but certainly not least, the fact that Lydia gave Parrish the Bestiary, and is gonna do everything she can to help him figure out what he is and what he can do.

Look. I said it before, but I am going to reiterate it.

With the writing, the storytelling, the acting, the cinematography, and just the general amazingness of that season, it is a VERY close second, and if it had just a FEW more Sciles moments that were higher on my "Best Sciles Moments” list, it would've won out as the favorite season, because holy sh*t was it AMAZING!

As terrified as I am for Season 5, because I KNOW the pack gets split up, and I DON'T WANT THAT GOSH DARNAT, I am also VERY excited to see all those little character moments and storylines and writing and acting and beautifulness develop even further--even if I have to get through a LOT of whump and angst to get there.

What a season.

What a ride.

Season 5, here we come (but...after I get some sleep lol).

As many gifs as I can fit, because there was soooo much beauty there and I want to express ALL OF IT!! <3 <3 <3 <3

(GOD I LOVE THEM ALL SO MUCH!!! THAT SEASON WAS SERIOUSLY SOOOO AMAZING, AND SOOOO WORTH THE THREE HOURS OF SLEEP I'M GONNA GET. XD <3 <3 <3 <3 <3)

P.S. This is a super random aside, but can we just appreciate that neither Scott nor Liam has seen Star Wars?? Oh boys. I love you both so much. 😂❤️