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theunkn0wn-0 · 1 year ago

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The Gift of Immortality DRAGON BALL STORY: Insert Reader

GENDER-NEUTRAL READER ✕ DRAGON BALL CHARACTERS

╰➤ ⌈ 𝑰𝑵𝑭𝑶𝑹𝑴𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵… ⌋ ╰┈┈➤ This is a FIRST PERSON POV story for the reader, Y/N, M/C. ╰┈┈➤ Instead of (Y/N), I use [First Name] for your name. ╰┈┈➤ Enjoy the story, have fun.

PREVIOUS CHAPTER: 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑳𝑶𝑮𝑼𝑬 — 𝑩𝑰𝑹𝑻𝑯 | 1

TRIGGER | CONTENT WARNINGS: COMPREHENSIVE & GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION WRITING OF VIOLENCE & TORTURE!!! Mentions of SLAVERY, WARFARE & DEATH | DYING!!!

Prologue - SALVATION | 2

❝If you want peace; prepare for war.❞

•◉◓☆◓◉•

I've roamed this Earth for centuries, an eternal wanderer, chasing the mysteries of the unknown; I found solace in the journey of exploration, navigating the uncharted territories of Earth. The experiences were woven with the threads of camaraderie, with each unique encounter etching memories into the tapestry of my existence.

The vast landscapes, the endless sea, and the allure of the unknown beckoned me forward, accompanied by companions. But fate, cruel and capricious, snatched them away through tragic accidents. Death, claimed my friends, leaving me grappling with an inexplicable reality.

Through centuries of wandering, the faces of friends became fleeting echoes in the corridors of my memory. Their laughter lingered in the rustle of leaves, their voices whispered in the wind, and their absence carved hollows within my soul.

While time weathered their mortal forms, leaving them vulnerable to illnesses and the passage of years, I remained unscathed—a perpetual witness to the cycle of life and demise. The ache in my heart swelled as I witnessed my loved ones slip away, their lives slipping through my grasp.

Their faces etched in the tapestry of my mind, I grappled with the unfairness of my unchanging existence. Yet, amidst the sorrow, a friend's parting words echoed in the recesses of my being:

"Don't cry, be happy that it happened."

A bittersweet reminder to cherish the fleeting moments of joy rather than succumb to the abyss of sorrow. Memories, vibrant and cherished, became my solace amid the bleakness. With each passing moment, the passage of time became a blurred canvas, painting a montage of memories and heartaches. My resolve was anchored in the words my mother imparted: "Be strong yet kind. Be clever yet compassionate."

I ventured forth.

"I will save other people, and they will never endure the same pain I had to carry."

Every encounter etched new lessons upon the canvas of my existence. I saved lives, shielded the vulnerable, and amassed a trove of knowledge woven from the fabric of diverse cultures. My ventures led me through eras, witnessing civilizations bloom and wither, and kingdoms ascend and crumble. Time blurred into an indistinct haze, yet my quest endured.

In the year 1693, I stumbled upon Salem, a secluded village veiled by the chill of a waning winter. The air held a biting chill, seeping through the layers of my clothing, while the villagers, cloaked in suspicion, cast wary glances my way. Initially, I contemplated a swift departure, sensing their hostility.

However, the village's grim secret unraveled before me—the Witch Trials, the injustices inflicted upon the innocent. I couldn't stand by idly; I had to intervene, whisking away those bound for unjust trials and certain doom. The whispers of gratitude from the rescued souls were melodies that soothed my weary spirit.

Though I managed to save many, my fate was sealed. Imprisoned, awaiting a trial. But it didn't matter; my purpose had been fulfilled, and the weight of my actions rested on me as I faced the accusations of being a witch. Blindfolded and restrained, the noose coiled around my neck, the cacophony of accusations and cries for retribution reverberated around me.

Darkness enveloped me, and without warning, the ground vanished beneath my feet. The rope tightened, cutting off my breath. Panic clawed at my throat, leaving me gasping for the air that refused to fill my lungs; I choked, the pressure on my neck unbearable.

My vision was obscured, yet the anguish and the fateful finality enveloped me in an eerie silence.

●

Suddenly, I sucked in a sharp gasp, the rush of air startling me into awareness, each breath a frantic struggle against the taut rope constricting my throat. Yet, the tranquility was cut by a cacophony of gasps and screams and vehement accusations, branding me as the devil's handiwork.

The noose tightened, inflicting excruciating pain upon my neck, the unbearable pressure sending shockwaves through my body. Just as my consciousness began to fade, a sudden rush of air filled my lungs once more. A cycle of suffocation, torment, and resurgence, and one thing came to mind amidst the agonizing cycles.

Why am I like this?

The trials, the sentences, all futile attempts to kill an existence that defied death. No respite awaited me; I endured the horrors repeatedly—hanging, drowning, and the searing agony of being burned alive. Each time I returned, my wounds healed, and my body revived, but the pain lingered.

Living through battles and saving lives, never had I fathomed the visceral agony of being burned alive and yet returning, the searing pain etched in my memory. I found my answer, but was it the answer I was happy with? No. The pain was a relentless reminder of my cursed immortality.

A never-ending cycle of suffering in a world that saw me as an anomaly, a monstrosity.

Then came the day they exiled me from the world's surface, casting me into an underground abyss. Shackles clanged and jangled as they bound me, dragging my weakened body against the rough wall of the dungeon. Chains secured me to the cold stone, immobilizing me.

Trapped.

The men's words, dripping with disdain and fear, "You are far more powerful. In here, you will never return to the surface, and will never cause harm. For creatures such as you, there is no salvation, The Child of The Devil."

The words pierced me, igniting a fury within that I struggled to contain. My attempts to reach out were futile, the chains tearing at my flesh, blood oozing from raw wounds. I was nothing like that! I wanted to yell and scream at that.

The door slammed shut, sealing my fate. Echoes of locks and chains reverberated in the suffocating silence. Torches cast eerie shadows, illuminating the chamber devoid of windows, the crackling fire that only kept me in the silence.

Terror supplanted my anger—a realization dawned that this prison would be my eternal sanctuary—a fate worse than death itself. I grappled with despair that I was condemned to an eternity of solitary confinement, an existence devoid of light, hope, or salvation.

Locked away in perpetual darkness... forever.

══════ ⋆★⋆ ══════

Decades have passed since that fateful day when I managed to break free from that abyss. But at what cost? My mind, a fractured mosaic, retained scattered remnants of my former self, buried beneath layers of torment and despair.

Despite the darkness gnawing at my mind, a sliver of humanity remained. It was that glimmer of empathy that led me to answer a desperate cry for help, a voice in distress, a plea for help, cutting through the madness that threatened to consume me and reach the recesses of my broken soul. And I saved a girl who was being kidnapped.

Why do I take care of people's pain?

Because it heals the part of me that needs someone to take care of.

Time became a swirling upheaval, a blur of weeks merging into years and decades into centuries. In the shadows, I continued my quest, a silent crusade to save lives, mete out justice where none dared to tread and stand amidst the chaos of battles and wars.

Amid the strife of the 1860s, I found myself embroiled in a conflict, fighting to liberate the enslaved and uphold justice in a world steeped in turmoil. It was simple—a quest to emancipate the enslaved, to fight for justice in the relentless currents of war.

Never have I thought of finding love amidst the war.

Jiro Griffin cut a commanding figure, his towering, robust build frame, his ebony complexion contrasting against amber-shaded, tightly coiled curls, his eyes dark as the night. Among the soldiers in our regiment, he remained an enigma—no knowledge of his past; some assumed he had fled slavery in the South, seeking freedom in our ranks.

Despite being silent and reserved about his past, Jiro earned the admiration of his comrades, hailing him as the epitome of a soldier—steadfast in his training, unwavering in resolve, and unmatched in skill during our rigorous drills. His unyielding spirit in every partnered exercise earned him admiration.

During one of our training sessions, I finally noticed him. His movements were lightning-fast, raw strength, astute strategy, and an unpredictable style that kept everyone on their toes, which ignited a spark of excitement within me.

As an immortal, strengthened by eons of warfare and tutelage under numerous masters, encountering someone at my level thrilled me. We were comrades in arms, yet our interactions had been nonexistent. Jiro remained a secluded figure, shunning social interactions except when necessary. His stoicism was unwavering even in the most intense training sessions; his emotions remained veiled behind an unflinching façade.

As I cleaned my rifle, the metallic clicks and swishes filled the air, curiosity gnawed at me, evoked by the constant sense of his gaze lingering upon me. It seemed he was always observing, yet his expressions remained incomprehensible. It left me guessing what he was feeling or thinking, he was difficult to read. I finished tending to my rifle; I broke the silence, addressing him calmly.

"Did you need something?"

"Nothing," came his monotone reply, unchanged in its stoicism.

I acknowledged his response with a hum, my attention shifting to my rifle. Gripping it firmly, I checked its alignment, positioning myself, my finger pressed on the trigger. The crisp click of the trigger affirmed its functionality, but I couldn't shake the feeling of his eyes on me. Before long, he turned away, leaving me alone.

I felt he was judging me.

I mused, pondering about him and his gaze that left me agitated. The day of routine combat drills came to pairing soldiers. I believe fate had an unexpected plan for me; I found myself paired with Jiro. The silence between us hung heavy, empty of any casual talk, but I was thrilled with the chance to test my strength against the best soldier in the military.

Standing face to face with Jiro, our eyes locked, silence shrouded us, the air thick with anticipation. The only sound was the echoes of our breaths on the training grounds. With the signal, our clash began.

I lunged forward, my eyes locked onto his, aiming a knee strike at his midsection, only to meet his swift block, his counterpunch landed, jolting me back, but I retaliated with a swift kick, grazing under Jiro's chin and met with a grunt from him as I staggered away.

We continued the relentless exchange of skill and strategy, our bodies moving in a dance of combat. Strikes met blocks, twists, and grapples. We were two forces colliding, unwilling to yield, each matching the other in skill and determination. Our spar raged on, sounds of grunts and blows echoing in the training grounds.

As the spar finished within our time limit, I came victorious. Jiro, visibly winded, panted heavily while I, fueled by relentless stamina, developed through centuries, his labored breaths contrasting my steady heartbeat echoing in my ears. Comrades lauded my feat, acknowledging my ability to match Jiro's speed, strength, skill, and intellect.

It brought a smile to my lips, reveled in the thrill of battle. Time has been constant in my journey across eras, from the Stone Age to the Industrial Revolution, accumulating experiences and knowledge.

And yet, amidst this time during a war, a new sensation had grown with me—a growing attraction toward Jiro. The love for fighting coursed through my veins, and it seemed Jiro shared the same passion. Despite our lack of words, an unspoken understanding grew between us.

We were drawn to each other, finding joy in the challenge of facing an equally matched opponent; it drew us closer with each encounter. With each bout, our mutual attraction only deepened.

Over time, our encounters in training sessions produced a feeling of comradeship, leading me to suggest the idea of sparring outside of scheduled sessions. Jiro's intense gaze met mine, and to my delight, he agreed which ignited a surge of excitement within me.

"Are you ready, Jiro?"

I said while I shot him a faint, amiable smile, locking eyes with his cold, unyielding gaze as he drew his wooden sword, taking a stance. His demeanor was stern and alert, and his voice flatly declared, "Yes, do not keep me waiting."

My fingers curled around my own sword's hilt, drawing it out as I positioned myself—left foot forward, right foot back—my blade proportional and aimed at him. We locked eyes and lingered in the stillness, each searching for the slightest opening, waiting to see who would make the first move. Silence enveloped us, a thick palpable tension.

It didn't take long before one of us moved.

Jiro lunged, wielding his sword with precision. Swiftly, I sidestepped his attack—the sound of our footsteps reverberating on the gritty cement and gravel beneath. Swiftly, I pivoted away, readjusting my stance while keeping a cautious distance, a wary eye fixed on him as we circled each other, a tango of enthusiasm.

My strike followed, initiated from above, then swiftly redirected below. Jiro anticipated, parrying the blow with a resounding clash of our wooden swords. I followed through, aiming for his neck, yet he deftly blocked my strike. His retaliatory attack came swiftly, striving from above, but I intercepted it with a forceful counter.

We were engaged in a relentless exchange, our training sessions pushing the boundaries of our skills, uncovering weaknesses, and adapting styles. In our battles, ruthlessness prevailed. As our swords clashed, it was a dance, a synchronized choreography of reading each other's patterns and counter-patterns.

I swung my sword, and our blades clashed again; he anticipated my move, countering with a thrust, expecting me to evade. A smirk crept across my face; altering my tactic on the fly, I leaned aside, shifting my leg to redirect his sword's trajectory, leveraging his strength against him and thrusting my attack toward him.

My attack landed, catching Jiro off guard. Though his eyes narrowed in defeat, a glint of admiration and surprise shimmered within. Days turned to weeks, months into years, and in our relentless pursuit to outsmart each other, we played a deadly game—a dance of skilled and unpredictable combatants.

Our friendship was an unconventional bond formed on mutual respect and affection, grounded in our shared identity as fighters, warriors, and companions. It transcended mere camaraderie; it was a relationship forged in the heat of battle and forged through respect for our strengths and thrive for sparring.

In the year 1864, three years after our bond solidified, I uncovered Jiro's harrowing past. He and his family were kidnapped and enslaved in the South. Despite his escape, the pain lingered, and his family was still trapped in that torment. His resolve to end the war, seeking justice for his people and loved ones, even if it meant sacrificing his life on the battlefield for his convictions.

“I do not mean to pry or to upset you; however, what is one good memory you had throughout your childhood? It’s fine you don’t have to answer that, I apologize.”

I blurted it out, instantly regretting the question. Guilt swept over me, a pang in my chest, realizing how insensitive it might've sounded. Jiro was a person with a past trapped in enslavement.

Did he even have a childhood worth recalling? What was I even thinking?

“Before I was enslaved…”

Jiro's voice cut through my self-reproach, drawing my gaze to his eyes. His tone remained steady, but those eyes told a different tale. There was a glint of something akin to joy.

"I used to spend hours near this old, massive tree. Ancient thing, but beautiful. I'd climb it, and reach the top... man, the view. You could see everything around for miles. The view stretched far beyond, revealing the entire expanse of the land."

His reminiscence, though delivered in a monotone, carried a subtle warmth that pierced through my guilt. A gentle smile graced my lips. Amidst his hardship, Jiro had found moments of joy. His description of the cherished tree stirred a curiosity in me, piquing an interest in this sanctuary from his painful past.

"It’s somewhere down South, in the woods. Can’t remember exactly where, but one day, I’ll find it. Carved a drawing on that tree, once."

His eyes held a glimmer of a cherished memory, painting a vivid picture of his childhood. It was clear—finding that tree again meant more to him than just revisiting a place from his past. It was an escape from the harsh reality he had endured. The idea of Jiro, a child, finding solace and joy in the simple act of climbing a tree, and admiring the world from above, tugged at my heart.

“That’s adorable, honestly.”

I blurted, my words more direct than I intended but genuine, causing Jiro's eyes to widen briefly in surprise; his stoic facade slightly cracked. He quickly masked the reaction, shutting his eyes and letting out a soft exhale, reining in his emotions behind that composed façade.

"Major, [First Name]. I suggest maintaining professionalism."

"Second Lieutenant, Griffin. You dare give me orders?"

“...No, I apologize, Major.”

My attempt at issuing a command received a rebuttal, swiftly met by a subsiding apology. As the tension ebbed, I aimed for a more congenial tone.

"At ease, soldier. Let's find solace in this war-torn land, shall we? If you plan on being a saint, that's not happening, no heroic sacrifices on my watch. I won’t let one of my best soldiers go down. I promise you this much—your family will be free."

Jiro's eyes widened briefly, a rare softness seeping through his tough exterior. His tense posture eased slightly, a faint smile gracing his lips. His smile, like a rare treasure, sent my heart into a flutter. But then he spoke, shattering the moment, "Don't make promises you can't keep." Jiro's words cut through, igniting a pang of hurt.

Did he doubt my resolve?

Standing my ground, I asserted with authority, my voice projecting conviction as I replied, "I will keep it no…"

"I declare your family will be free, one way or another. I'll make it happen."

My declaration seemed to catch Jiro off guard. He froze, his reaction one of disbelief as if my words had momentarily stunned him. We'd fought side by side for three years in this war, and while he knew my determination, my steadfastness seemed to surpass his expectations. The chill of the night air grazed my face, the moon's ethereal light casting a soft glow on Jiro's features. He averted his gaze as if trying to process my unwavering assurance.

Was he... flustered?

I pondered, noting a subtle hint of color on his cheeks, but maybe it was just my imagination, playing tricks in the darkness. Gradually, his body relaxed, and he met my gaze once more. A genuine smile tugged at his lips, growing with each passing second that caught me off guard, leaving me momentarily stunned by his unexpected warmth.

“Thank you... [First Name].”

Jiro said, a shift in our interaction evident as he abandoned formal military ranks. It was a departure from our usual dynamic, a shift toward a more personal and intimate connection.

"Of course… Jiro."

I replied, softening my tone, dropping the formalities of military rank and last names. Our simple switch to using our first names signaled an unspoken understanding, a shared moment. Night had settled, casting a veil of darkness over the camp. Despite the need to prepare ourselves for the coming day's tasks as soldiers, a softer atmosphere enveloped us. My voice cut through the tranquility with a stern directive, "Time to turn in, soldier."

"Yes, Major," he replied, slipping back into our customary formalities. But amidst the orders and obligations, an unspoken understanding lingered, a shared acknowledgment of this unique bond forming between us. Before departing for my quarters, I paused, breaking the protocol.

"Jiro... thank you for sharing your story." No ranks, no formalities, just a heartfelt gratitude exchanged between two individuals whose connection was growing deeper.

In the days that followed, a newfound warmth bloomed, growing fondness between us, a subtle evolution in our interactions. Jiro, typically reserved and known for curt responses, surprised me by opening up more. Jiro, a man of few words, broke his silence, engaging in conversations. It wasn’t always serious; sometimes, it was the simplicity of daily anecdotes or inactive musings.

Yet, each exchange felt significant, as if uncovering layers of shared understanding and burgeoning affection. Despite his stoic facade, he found a way to convey his thoughts, drawing us closer with each passing conversation. In the quiet moments, amidst the routines of military life, a burgeoning connection took root—a delicate and unforeseen bond between two souls discovering an unexpected resonance in each other's company.

The more the days went the more I grew to trust him enough… to tell him my secret that I was immortal.

How would he react to learning that I was immortal?

"You called, Major?" Jiro's voice, a familiar echo in the night, sliced through my reverie. I turned, meeting his towering figure loomed before me, bathed in moonlight, the silver beams casting an ethereal glow upon his features and uniform.

His stern, penetrating gaze locked onto mine, delving into the depths of my being. Despite the facade of composure I wore, anxiety pulsed within me, my heart drumming a frenzied rhythm in my chest. I released a small exhale, willing my heartbeat to steady.

"Yes, Second Lieutenant Griffin. I need to talk to you about something," I replied, maintaining a poised exterior while inwardly grappling with nerves.

"It's personal... Jiro."

Jiro's nod conveyed an understanding—a silent acknowledgment that this conversation would not be about war and duty. “I won’t breathe a word to anyone, [First Name],” Jiro affirmed, his commitment to confidentiality evident in his reply.

With a deliberate inhale and an exhale, I steadied my nerves, my body relaxing marginally. Surveying the area to ensure we were alone, I locked eyes with Jiro, the weight of my revelation hanging in the air.

“Jiro, I’m immortal. I can’t die.”

•◉◒☆◒◉•

Finished: January 7, 2024

PREVIOUS CHAPTER: 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑳𝑶𝑮𝑼𝑬 — 𝑩𝑰𝑹𝑻𝑯 | 1 NEXT CHAPTER: 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑳𝑶𝑮𝑼𝑬 — 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑴𝑰𝑺𝑬 | 3

LINK TO THE BOOK [WATTPAD]: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 — 𝙳𝚛𝚊𝚐𝚘𝚗 𝙱𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚂𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 If you're interested in stories like these, here is my 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓

#by_theunkn0wn-0 #The Gift of Immortality #dragon ball x reader #dragon ball characters x reader #reader insert #x reader #x y/n #x gender neutral y/n #x gender neutral reader #x gn reader #gn reader #gender neutral y/n #gender neutral reader #gender neutral mc #fanfiction #The Gift of Immortality-prologue #I apologize if there is any bad grammar or misspelled words

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cha1cedony · 1 year ago

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Mostly radio silence for the past week or so, but I am still here! ^_^ I’ve been busy with schoolwork and writing projects (btw I never posted my most recent oneshot on here; maybe I’ll do that later) and playing lots of Sims in my free time lol. Silver Linings will NOT be updated by tomorrow like I’d hoped :( but it will be updated VERY SOON. Trying not to put a strict deadline on myself and work myself up any further about it…. But yes. Very soon! Thanks again for all the love on it lately :’) ❤️ I’m working on scheduling some psych appointments (and other doctor’s appointments I’ve been stressed about) for myself, so I’m really hoping my mental health will be making a comeback shortly… probably now that Torture Month™️ (January) is over 💪 insert Eye of the Tiger montage

#chalcy stuff #it’s actually only been a few days that I’ve been mostly inactive #but I just like the excuse to share life updates okay #heheh

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dg-outlaw · 1 year ago

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Honestly, I think this could work, but with some creative changes that might piss off comic purists. Then again, that happens in the films/TV versus comics anyway. And honestly, with Battison in his early days as Batman you'd have to do a time jump to establish Dick Grayson as having just left Bruce to become Nightwing or you skip Grayson altogether. I don't think fans would be happy with either scenario, unless maybe we were guaranteed a Nightwing movie.

BUT if one were to skip Grayson as Robin and go straight to Jason...

It would need to be a long movie to properly establish Battison's relationship with Jason, but even with a time skip/montage I think this would be rushed and would essentially create Jason as a throwaway character, much like the Robin suit in BvS. Jason would be fridged for more Bruce/Batman angst. I don't like this direction the same as I don't like skipping Grayson, but WB would go there and we'd be back in DCEU territory where everything feels rushed.

Another (probably still Grayson-less) option could be a longer arc over 2-3 movies.

Part 1: Emo Battison running into Jason stealing the tires off the muscle car batmobile (it's still early days so this would inspire Bruce to be more mindful of his stuff), reluctantly adopting Jason because he always runs away from foster placements, Bruce,Jason, and Alfred bonding as a family and Jason discovering Bruce is Batman, training montage and fighting some secondary villain(s), Bruce torn between trying to have a family/be a father or being Batman, and ending with Jason being captured by Joker because Jason wanted to impress Batman/earn his love--both as his vigilante mentor and father. Comics Bruce wasn't ready to be a father for Dick or Jason, and Battison is still so emo he'd really struggle with Jason. Insert reluctant Dad trope we've seen recently (Logan, Witcher, The Mandalorian, The Last of Us, etc. Wait, should Pedro Pascal be Batman?!)

Part 2: Start of the movie is Jason's torture and death, and Bruce being too late. We'd see Bruce mourning and the funeral, but WAIT... Ezra Miller's Flash movie 'Flashpoint'/Crisis event/soft reboot is what revives Jason (and NOW Pedro Pascal is Batman. JK). This movie would show Batman unhinged and barely in control, struggling against some villain. Remember, he was still sad, angry emo Batman five minutes ago, he was then given a scrappy little street dog puppy and then had him taken away, so yeah... he'd be a mess.

But we could cameo the new Superman as someone who tries to help him/stop him from killing the Joker. We'd also get little flashes of what's happening to Jason, but it wouldn't make sense until...

Part 3: This would not be a Battison movie, but more of a Red Hood movie. The start of the movie is Jason's POV when he is revived, freaking out, breaking through his casket, and having to crawl out of his grave. The flashes from Part 2 would make sense as we'd get context of what was going on with Jason; wandering around, getting picked up by a mysterious person, training, Lazarus pit, etc. Talia hasn't been introduced in this Batman series so things would have to get creative here on why Talia or Ra's would want to train Jason or she could be in Part 2? Maybe they'd pick Jason to be their tool against Bruce and Gotham--the leader that the Nolanverse Ra's wanted Bruce to be--a true son of Gotham to tear it down.

This could potentially enrich Jason's Red Hood arc as opposed to just being a crime boss to prove a point to Bruce. This would also give Jason's narrative weight as a victim of the system, so why not tear it down and start over. Obviously, Jason would have his own plan with Bruce and the Joker, but Ra's and the League would have expected him to go off script. This would also reinforce Jason's belief (and often representation) that he's often just used or manipulated by people who claim to care about him. He's not a son, friend, ally, or leader. He's their tool, but we could get more from Bruce as the torn man who lost his son. Also, Ra's and the League could be replaced by the Court of Owls to keep it Gotham-based since they also like to do shady shit regarding Gotham and deal with undead agents of chaos (Talons).

IDK. It's messy, skips Grayson, potentially skips Tim, and from what I've heard James Gunn wants to do something with Damian so I think all the older Batboys and, from recent history, the Batgirls won't be seeing any live-action film love anytime soon. And while I think Matt Reeves' Batman-verse is separate from what Gunn is doing, I doubt WB will want to "confuse audiences" with multiple Robins. As it is, if we get two Batmans (Reeves' and Gunn's) you know someone's grandma, or some WB exec or his side piece-of-the-week will be confused. And sadly, I think that's the bar for Hollywood these days.

Honestly, I think WB should expand their animation department and do more original series and films with the DC characters. I know animation isn't cheap and still takes time, but unless it gets a film release there isn't the pressure to make a BILLION dollars like there is for live-action film. I think this is where we could see more fleshed out stories rather than rushing, shoehorning, or glossing over certain characters. Plus, execs seem to sleep on animated stuff (thinking it's for kids) and thus writers tend to get away with more in those stories (BIPOC and LGBTQ inclusion/rep, deeper story arcs, etc.).

if they are going to make the joker the villain of ANOTHER live action batman movie then i want the whole jason todd arc. nothing more nothing less. i want battison to be crying and screaming and puking over his son’s dead body. if the joker is so evil then prove it. let him be a child murderer. i am sick of it. and dick grayson better be there too.

#jason todd #red hood #batman #the joker #batfam #reevesverse #battison #random things that'll never happen #long post

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billystears · 3 years ago

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Max’s entire speech upset me immensely, as someone who deeply relates to Billy’s struggles and his character as a whole.

Watching him stand up for himself, and take on the mind flayer in the midst of mental torture in season 3 meant the world to me, despite it resulting in his death. That moment of bravery honestly taught me many lessons that I insert in my own daily struggles. But now we’re told he wasn’t a hero for it.

He was an 18 year old child, plagued by his past and struggles, longing to find someone who cared while he was used as a pawn by an otherworldly being, and clearly terrified. He was tortured and they say he deserved it?

To hear he didn’t deserve to be saved SHATTERS me. What I hear, is that he didn’t deserve anyone fighting for him. He didn’t deserve anyone defending him, understanding him. He didn’t deserve what he craved all his life. Even in death he was left to fend for himself, against something stronger than him.

Were his past actions okay? No, absolutely not- but any abuse victim, any child, teen, adult, and so forth holding onto any sort of trauma deserves a second chance. We all deserve someone to fight by our side and show us we can turn around, and that we aren’t our past. We shouldve been able to see his growth and his development.

Hearing that she prayed he DIED, was just weirdly unnecessary even if it was a “ruse,” it was honestly disgusting. I understand he was difficult to live with. But praying for his demise, his death in a car wreck? uncalled for. Plus, Disregarding the bond that was clearly there in Dear Billy is annoying. It should’ve been played on a lot more than it was. We should’ve seen their relationship deeper than what they’ve shown us.

Using Billy to further torture Max with her memories is also horrendous. We deserved to see at least ONE scene where they bonded. One moment where the briefest grin was exchanged, because I know there was at least one. Why couldn’t a positive moment be a part of her montage, a good memory that pulls her back? Why can’t we be shown that he ISNT just some monster? He’s a human being. A heartbroken, terrified teenager who hasn’t been given a break since he was a child. And now.. we’re using him as bait?

He deserved redemption, he deserved more than what we got in the second part, not only for his character, but for everyone who could relate. A moment to show that I deserve to be saved.

#billy hargrove #stranger things 4 #stranger things volume 2 #st4 spoilers #harringrove #max mayfield #duffer brothers

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bisexual-horror-fan · 3 years ago

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SO. I (fucking finally) read that fic. THAT fic. “I never Pegged You As the Type”. Be a darling and tag the ever so talented Ace into whatever this brainfog of a comment will be, won’t you?

Anyay, my thoughts about the whole thing in no particular order;

Just hearing the basic idea of getting Freddy into THAT position, you know I was more than down for it! And there are two reasons for that: 1. Freddy is a proud fucker, so I had no idea how you were going to get him to agree with that, but I absolutely wanted to find out. Because I know how you write, and I was confident you could somehow pull it off without making it too out of character. I had no idea HOW you’d find a solution to that problem, but I was here to find out. 2. Given that it wouldn’t be something he willingly “lowers himself to”, there might be some… unexplored pleasure there, because it would kinda obviously mean that it might be unexplored, or at least very rare pleasure for him as a whole. And you know I’m all about seeing and hearing the pleasure of the other party. Seeing them get so lost in pleasure that they lose the ability to form coherent sentences is what I live for.

The beginning, how you laid down the teasing and edging so hard it borders on bullying. It’s so…. Freddy. It truly encompasses the reasons why I both love and hate the man. Like, yes that’s hot as fuck, but goddamn I want to slap him so hard he sees Heaven for a second. So I’m completely on board with the reader character here.

I adore her dedication. She fully went “I’ll spend an insane amount of time and practice to master this very specific skill just to get back to that absolute grade A cunt of a man”. Insert epic training montage music here.

Freddy unknowingly digging his own grave each and every goddamn night by continuing that bullshittery. A+.

The tension when the reader carefully, bit by bit tests if the whole thing could even work. The fear of getting caught, or worse, getting caught after the whole thing ends up just not working, because Freddy has so much control over his dream realm. And how the fear is not that he would kill you, but that he would intentionally be even MORE of a cunt for God knows how long, because he is a petty little shit.

You know it’s Freddy when you could almost forgive months of torture when you feel that mouth on your neck, pressing you against a wall with his full body. Yes please.

Reader is a bold one. I mean, obviously for the whole damn plan, but just going for a desperate kiss like that? Whoa. And then that goddamn demon kisses back, like he needs it too. It’s hot in here.

That snapping moment when the tables turn was INTENSE. Like, you are still kinda unsure if this shit would really work. And the feeling of pure victory when you realize that yes, it actually does work like a bloody charm.

It’s comically delicious how long Freddy thinks that he still has the upper hand and he can still talk himself to the position where he calls the shots. He is a good talker. A great talker. But not quite that great. Who would let themselves be talked out of an opportunity like this? A literal opportunity of a lifetime, because who knows if he would actually kill you after this. That petty pride ‘n all.

That mental image of Freddy just repeatedly going “Wait, WHAT?” in his head. Absolutely hilarious, and oh so good.

How utterly INSULTED he is about the whole thing. Not the act itself, but you managing to do that to him, and grin on top of it. It’s like he is betrayed by the whole goddamn order of things in the universe. Utterly shocked by what had just happened, because it was so impossible that it never even crossed his mind. And it made me think that that in and on itself was the secret of how this held together to the end; you can’t prepare to fight against something that never crossed your mind in the first place. Freddy was TAKEN BY SURPRISE. You two are made of pure golden genius.

I absolutely love how he is a grumpy asshat with wounded pride, throwing empty threats at the reader, but also, at the same time; that man is excited! Must have been as hard as a rock even before his ass was touched. …I wonder if there is a secret kink to this….

The constant verbal comebacks from the reader that make Freddy so damn annoyed has to be one of the best parts, because that’s literally what he does to others all the time. Stupid comebacks and lame jokes everywhere. “Rub it in, bitch. See where it gets you” “Don’t worry, baby, that’s not the only thing I’ll be rubbing in tonight” Gold star.

How he gets quiet for a moment, with his breathing faster. Ohhhh yes. More of this please. More of how much the fucker enjoys it, even if he can’t admit it. And oh Lord did you ever deliver in that department! The detailing of how it all affects him, how he reacts in every miniscule way. Yes. Yes yes yes. I’m so living for this.

When he realizes that the toy is doing something for the reader too, and then realizes he can’t do ANYTHING to control her orgasms anymore, and how he is so goddamn upset about it, like you just took a child’s favorite toy away. And then he actually throws a tantrum. Priceless.

And then we get to the deliciously long-drawn part of Freddy tasting his own medicine. Freddy being denied. Freddy being desperate. Freddy BEGGING. Now that was a new high on so many levels.

Damn that ending was satisfying. Him getting so desperate that you almost start to feel sorry for him. But then you remember that he is the fucking fucker who started this game ages ago, and has been much more cruel, and he goddamn deserves it.

(also he might like it more than he admits. I have a mighty need for that second part.)

-FREDDY FUCKING CRUEGER CRYING THAT HE WAS SORRY (!!!???). I can’t. I just cannot. I am deceased. Utterly, absolutely dead. Even if he said it in such a mental state that he doesn’t mean or comprehend what comes out of his mouth. I’ll take what I can get and cherish it forever.

And then that final “maybe in five minutes”, because once again you remember that he started this whole cruel game to begin with, so why go easy on him?

DAMN.

-Furball891

---

So first off, @ace-of-clubs-and-diamonds look at this shit.

This is so great because I have been getting Furball's great reviews and now you get to be subjected to it too!

Okay so like oh my God, Furball! I am so fucking glad you loved it! This was a labour of love for sure, so much time and effort and planning, so much work and it was all worth it! Came out amazing!

You always have so much to say, I always come back to what you write over and over again, just you notice so much! The little details and hearing all your thoughts is ugh, such a treat!!!

Furball, I adore you so much. Please, never stop leaving these comments/reviews and I'll never stop writing this good good shit.

Also yes Ace and I are planning the part 2 already and you can expect more begging, more mean-ness and the reader even getting their hands on the glove! Look out for it sooner rather than later! Can't wait to do it!

#BHF asks #BHF writing #Ace my beloved #Furball891

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albino-whumpee · 3 years ago

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Jonah is still twisting in the ground like a worm when he hears the car start.

All air leaves his body in one terrified gasp that starts a frenetic rush to drag himself to a window as his tied up limbs and hands on his back let him. Which is quick enough to catch a flash of Vincent´s car leaving a trail of smoke as it drives away. That twisted bastard, Robert, waves at it as they go before promptly turning back to the house.

Jonah scrambles to slide when the man catches him staring.

His heart pounds so loud in the overwhelming silence.

“You gotta be kidding me” He pants, chest heaving with the strain of trying to keep a scream down. Jonah´s last time with Robert had been enough for a lifetime. He had showed Vincent what he learnt with the pet...No, no he hadn´t. He had jumped out before it even started.

At the realization, a sob escapes his lips before he grits his teeth to silence it.

His “lessons” had been disgusting enough, regardless of how careful and gentle the pet had been with him.

“Fuck” he curses through the lump on his throat, defeated.

“Not yet, I´m afraid” Robert says leaning on the door frame with an annoyingly 4/4wide smile on his face. He peels himself off the door and walks towards him “You have rules to learn first”

“Get away from me!” He shouts. “Don´t touch me!”

Without thinking Jonah paddles back, bumping against the wall and sliding across to get away. The man doesn´t stop and simply laughs at his efforts to escape his grip.

Inevitably, he catches up.

With a swift kick to his ribs, Jonah hits the wall before curling into himself with gritted teeth. Robert squats down to wrap a large hand around his neck, careful to not squeeze too tight. Just enough, so the boy´s terrified eyes fall back on him.

The man whistles “Such a fiery look doesn´t suit you”

The boy bites back his reply. Vincent would simply gag him to keep him quiet, but this man might bust his teeth. He clenches his jaw tightly, until his head buzzes with the strain.

“Nothing we can´t fix with the proper installments and tools” he says rising to his feet and looking down at him “It is a shame I cannot use ways that will assure your silence” the man says and a shudder goes down his spine when he remembers the gesture the pet had made. His fingers slashing his throat, right over the scars.

“Last time was such a rushed work, no wonder you´re back. However, it´s nothing to worry about” the man beams before lifting his chin, forcing a wince out of him at the force used. The man´s voice is deep and playful when he talks again. “We have plenty of time now”

Robert would sure love to have Jonah again for further "training" :)

"No, nonononono, I won't go back to him!"

He takes a step back and holds up his arms in a defensive gesture.

"You can't make me, even Vincent said that it was a onetime thing and that I don't have to go back to him."

You remind him that this was said on the condition that Jonah did what Vincent wanted him to do, that he applied what he learned when he was with Robert. You ask him if that was the case when he was back with Vincent.

Jonah's face turns pale.

"I- what? No, I... of course I... I mean..."

"Are you ready, darling?" Vincent asks in a sickly sweet tone and takes his keys from the kitchen counter. "Let's go, Robert's already waiting!"

#is this a collab #?#maybe #:))))#*insert torture montage*#jk jk #will get to it later on november maybe #so no pressure and no rush alright?#promise the one still in the docs is flecking amazing #(because youre such an amazing writer Fran)#whump #manhandling #tw implied noncon #pet whump #creepy whumper

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fandom-hoarder · 3 years ago

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So I got another HURT song for you. Falls Apart. It has MAJOR Sam vibes to it. Almost confessional.

Almost confessional -- anon, how right you are! 💔❤

This could be the soundtrack for a Sam montage. 🥺🥺🥺

I can't get gifs to load rn, so imagine:

I messed up again when I tried

Sam thinks of all the times he's failed Dean: couldn't save him from hell; couldn't even sell his soul for him; gave in to Ruby and got addicted to demon blood for vengeance...

You spend all your money then die

He remembers the ripping; the gush of red through pale flesh. Remembers Dean's screams; the way they haunted his dreams for months no matter how much he drank.

And, oh! By the way.

With all you did nothing has changed

Remembers the rush of power--of righteousness--as he strangled the life out of Alastair.

Dean's tears, remembering hell despite being free.

Lilith; Ruby; the blinding light as he brought Lucifer forth.

So lie like a waste by the side

As everything just falls apart

'Cause everything just fell apart for me

He misses Dean like a limb. Like a lung. Imagines a life ahead of him without Dean and can't breathe. Has a craving demon blood could never sate and his penance will be never having it again. Never seeing Dean again.

Doesn't want to feel but has to--has to.

Let hunters come for him. Nothing they can do could compare.

~*~

I cracked my head and broke my heart

And I don't feel the need to go on

Comparative: Sam- drunk and desperate for a demon deal; Sam- plagued by hell hallucinations, at the end of his rope, too tired to go on; Sam- driving, driving, blind to everything until he hits a dog; Sam- delirious with fever, purification burning through him body and soul, accepting his fate.

I was happier singing along the way

Insert: me crying over a montage of happy SamDean moments, plus the requisite heartbreaking "Wanted Dead or Alive" singalong scene

I had things, I needed to say

All the times Sam wanted to say: I love you; I miss you; I need you; don't leave me. When the words wouldn't leave his throat-

But now its like a swallowed tape

That holds up my face from inside

-so he grit his teeth in a smile and swallowed them down with his eggnog; his beer; his demon blood; his own blood, bubbling like acid up his sacrificial throat.

~*~

So woe is me

Betrayal: Ruby

Oh woe is me, yeah

Betrayal: Dissociation, Abandonment

Woe is me

Betrayal: Amelia

It all fell apart

Punishment: Replacement, Benny

~*~

And the hell of it is what we are

All the times they've been willing to sacrifice everything for each other: demon deals; zombie pacts; ending the Trials...

We finish and wish we could start again

Dean's image in his mind, begging him to stay. Death beside him, telling him to go. If he could do it again, he should say no. For Kevin he should say no.

For Dean he'd still say yes.

Our skin tears away as our memories fade with age

If only he'd accepted the truth of it before Dean took the Mark.

And we don't even know 'til its gone...

If only he'd known then what would happen.

But everything just fell apart

Before he had to pull his brother's bloody corpse home from this warehouse...

'Cause everything just falls apart for me

...and gather the ingredients to make the same old mistakes again.

~*~

I cracked my head and broke my

Demon!Dean montage

I cracked my head and broke my

MOC montage - the massacres; The Book of the Damned; "Close your eyes, Sammy."; Little brother puppy eyes of trust.

I cracked my head and broke my heart

The Darkness

So woe is me

Amara

It all falls apart you see

Soullessness

So woe is me

Amara's pull on Dean

It all fell apart

And he doesn't want to give up, but how can he fight against God's sister for his brother's attention; his heart; his soul?

I cracked my head and broke my

And maybe he doesn't have to fight because they're already his, but it doesn't matter, because he lets Dean go anyway.

I cracked my head and broke my

Lets them make his brother into a bomb and watches him walk away.

I cracked my head and broke my heart

And torture at the hands of humans could never compare--to Lucifer, or to the loss of Dean.

Everything just comes down

It falls around me cause, well...

Everything just falls a...

Except maybe...

So woe is me

When they show him Dean...

It all falls apart you see

...alive and well...

So woe is me

...make Sam hope...

It all fell apart

...to have his brother again.

But I cracked my head and broke my

But it's drugs.

I cracked my head and broke my

It's hallucination.

Everything just falls a...

He'll only see Dean again in Heaven.

#asks #spn playlist #sam winchester #don't look at me im having feelings #angst #sam whump #s3-s12 #long post

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hunchbacked-one-eyed-lame · 4 years ago

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1939 Hunchback of Notre Dame Deleted Scenes:

The following scenes are present within the screenplay, dated around July 1939 (shortly before principal photography began on the film). Some of these may have been shot, while others may have never been filmed.

- When the band of Gypsies are halted from entering Paris at the city border, the patriarch of them points out how the guards who are forbidding them are of non French ethic backgrounds, groups that were once persecuted like the Gypsies, but the soldiers continue to refuse their entrance. In the film, this scene is much shorter. (“You came yesterday, we come today”)

- alternate scene of the woman being frightened by Quasimodo. In the script she is a pregnant woman who is mildly concerned, and in the film she is terrified and runs to her grandmother for comfort.

- Frollo and the king converse in the king’s private box during the festival. Frollo is bigoted and dismissive of the heresy of the festivities, and the king is surprised to see Frollo accidentally smile at a person balancing on a ball.

(The shot of a man balancing on a ball is used during the festival montage sequence. This, to me, suggests that this scene was filmed, but removed and altered in the editing process.)

- The introduction of Captain Phoebus. He, along with his fiancé Fleur de Lys, her friend Aloise, and the soldier Philippe exchange small talk at the Festival of Fools. Aloise thinks Gringoire is handsome, and Phoebus belittles him, saying that anybody can write verse poetry.

(A publicity still exists of the scene, implying that it may have been filmed)

- Pierre Gringoire’s play is a much longer sequence, and is politically subversive, showing how the laboring classes provide for society while the clergy and nobility do nothing. The nobles are outraged by the heresy, but the king argues that such offensive ideas are important to listen to. The play also contains scenes of the roman gods.

(All of the actors and their character-appropriate costumes appear in the final film, which means that these scenes could conceivably been filmed, and later deleted for pacing reasons.)

- When Esmeralda first claims “sanctuary” in Notre Dame, there is a notably etended scene of her talking to King Louis XI. The script makes it clear that she wishes for the king to advocate for the rights of the Gypsies, and of herself. Only a small portion of this scene is in the final film.

- Gringoire wanders the streets after his play is failed and city doesn’t pay him for it. He offers to write poetry for a serving of chicken, but the food vendor cannot read so he refuses the offer.

- during the trial of Gringoire, several candidates, one of them named “ugly Madeline” show vague interest in the poet but don’t want to marry him because he’s not attractive enough.

- as a wedding present, Esmeralda is given a monkey named bimbo. The monkey is seen and even named in the final film, but the context of its presence is never given.

- during the pillory sequence, a pair of nuns recite Quasimodo’s backstory (told in flashbacks), how he was adopted by Frollo and outcast by the world.

(The 1996 restored score to the film has the music run much longer than the filmed scene, implying that the pillory sequence was originally longer)

- The planning of the birthday party of Fleur de Lys. She and her companions dream of the party later that night, and Fleur demands a fortune teller be invited. Phoebus brings her a birthday gift.

- after being whipped, Quasimodo sulks in the bell tower to lick his wounds.

-The party of the nobles is extended. More scenes of Fleur de Lys and her companions

- Clopin and the beggar Queen show up to the party, disguised as the count and countess of Mendozza. They steal a jewel from Fleur’s mother.

- Love scene between Phoebus and Esmeralda is extended. More romantic dialogue. She has him pose and walk around to look tall, as in the novel. Esmeralda eventually tries to refuse him, because she suspects that he is in love with Fleur de Lys.

- Quasimodo watches the events of the party from the heights of Notre Dame, as he is still processing his feelings of love for Esmeralda. When she is arrested, that is when he begins to madly ring the bells of the church as in the film.

- extended sequence of Quasimodo trying to take the blame for Phoebus’ murder. The jury is thrilled at the prospect of Quasimodo being executed. Frollo dismisses this evidence on the grounds that the hunchback was ringing the bells at the time and sends him to be held in his office.

- While Esmeralda is being tortured, Frollo watched from a secret door in his office. Quasimodo keeps trying to convince Frollo that he is the murderer, by presenting his master with a knife that he supposedly used.

- After the procurator reads Esmeralda’s sentence in Latin, the king remarks how unfair it is that criminals are not even allowed to know what they are guilty of in their own language and how this issue must be reformed.

- During the preparation to execute Esmeralda, Fleur feels sorry for the Gypsy girl. She says that if she never invited her to her party, then both she and Phoebus would have lived. Her mother, named Heloise in this version, chastises her for such pity.

- After rescuing Esmeralda, Quasimodo rings the bells in triumph while she is asleep. Frollo enters, trying to find the Gypsy, and Quasimodo threatens him by using the rope of a bell like a bullwhip.

- When Clopin rallies his people to seige the church, a character named Mathias (Mathias hungadi?) stirs up support by mentioning all of the plunder to be had.

- The archbishop, on his way to warn the king of the upcoming uprising, runs into Clopin, and tries to talk him out of assaulting the church.

- Clopin’s death was originally much closer to the novel, where he would be killed by the king’s soldiers while swinging a sickle and urging his people to fight on.

- The original ending. Frollo tries to assault Esmeralda and Quasimodo intervenes. The hunchback, though stabbed by Frollo, pushes his master off the cathedral. Frollo dangles on an architectural projection, and eventually falls to his death, like in the book.

- Before she leaves, Esmeralda comforts Quasimodo, unaware he is dying.

- Quasimodo rings the bells one final time before he dies alone of his injuries.

(This scene is described in a rare set of press materials, and the following photo that accompanied it imply that it was filmed. In addition, some of the shots of Quasimodo in the final film feel like insert shots in hindsight. The image quality is quite poor, but these are the only images I have been able to discover.)

Side note: This deleted ending is taken almost beat for beat from the 1923 silent version, which this film was greenlit and advertised as a direct remake of. Ironically enough, most of the elements of this version that were inspired from that film, such as the ending and the addition of a Beggar Queen character, were largely excised from the final product.

#hunchback of notre dame #deleted scenes #victor hugo #1939 #charles laughton #research #this isn't an exhaustive list #but I think its more than passable #playing historian can be fun

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lushscreamqueen · 3 years ago

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BLOODY PIT OF HORROR -1965 on The Schlocky Horror Picture Show

OPENING: Bonjourno . He was a homicidal maniac who LIVED TO KILL!, They were a bunch of actors who just happened to wander into the castle hoping to take some lovely photographs of girls draped in blood and guts, for a book cover and I… am Nigel Honeybone and this…is the SCHLOCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. So before the evil spirit of a former resident known as 'The Crimson Executioner' is released on Channel 31 by accident to possess the owner of the afore mentioned castle and takes it upon himself to punish his unwelcome guests for their physical and spiritual imperfections. I will say sit back grab an Absinth and enjoy the "Bloody Pit of Horror.

"BREAK: So then, what unspeakable evils have been unleashed? What soul wrenching things will we see to warp out mind so we wake screaming in the night? And the ad breaks more of THE SCHLOCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. We'll be right back

MIDDLE: You know you're in for a special treat when a movie starts with a quote by the Marquis De Sade. "My vengeance needs blood!" (Insert maniacal laugh here).Bloody Pit of Horror begins with a flashback of a red-hooded criminal being led to his death. Helpful narration explains that the aptly named Crimson Executioner "…took life not from any sense of justice, but from hatred and self gratification." As the prisoner is being strapped into one of his own iron maiden looking like it was constructed for a primary school play. He decree's loudly "I'll return and be avenged!" Then his body and soul were locked up inside this coffin shaped painted plywood prop, complete with a really cool wax seal. What I love about these wax seals is that they last for hundreds of years, but instantly fall apart as soon as some photographer brushes against it. Mickey Hargitay who plays Travis Anderson aka the Crimson Executioner was Mr Universe 1955 and starred in Hercules Vs. The Hydra, and a couple of other schlock flicks, but the most impressive item on his resume is that he was once the husband of Jayne Mansfield and is father to Mariska Hargitay of Law and Order fame. I guess she didn't get ANY of the looks from those two. Mickey even appeared in an episode with her as her Grandfather. Now that's funny.!! He puts all that vital life experience to use in Bloody Pit of Horror as the guy that runs around shirtless in red tights, torturing and killing the folks who just wanted to use his castle to do some cheesecake photo shoots for some type of horror anthology they were working on. Happens to me all the time. As you watch this, you may be struck with a sense of de ja vu. The film is remarkably similar to The Playgirls and the Vampire. In that film you had a gaggle of babes with a broken down bus staying at a mysterious castle, only to get killed off by some crabby count that owns the castle. For for the anal retentive among us, and that means you, yes it was Walter Brandi who played the count in The Playgirls and the Vampire also plays Rick in this film and as you may have guessed by his name, this time Rick will be the hero. So if you've already seen The Playgirls and the Vampire, bully for you. Is there really any reason to see this one? Well, heck no but we are playing it anyway! Mr. Mansfield acts about as well as you would expect from a guy that starred in Lady Frankenstein and Revenge Of The Gladiators, but his role doesn't call for anything approaching subtly. If you're going to prance around like an overripe PHANTOM making faces at people, and command a posse of muscle-bound henchmen in form fitting striped shirts, it's okay if you camp it up a bit. It's probably compulsory.*sigh* It's hard to be a quietly tortured monster that hides in the shadows and strikes a pose when no one is looking. Especially when Crimson Executioners had such awesome bodies! Fast forward to the mid sixties when fortunately for us, a group of beautiful models and horny photographers out on a photo shoot wander straight into his self-righteous clutches. After being told that the dungeons are strictly off-limits, surprise, surprise, the girls and their handlers go down to the basement to set up the photo shoot. This involves a montage of scenes of the girls getting into their costumes which consist of fairly skimpy attire, but nothing you wouldn't see on a Western Suburbs school girl today. And while some of the guys are running around down in the bowels of the castle, they bump into the seal that has held the Crimson Executioner in his tomb, it drops off and the next thing you know there's an accident at the "pit and the pendulum" attraction. I you or I found ourselves in this situation, I'm quite certain we'd take that as our cue to drop whatever it was we were doing, call an ambulance and then get the hell out of the castle. So, good thing we aren't characters in an Italian horror movie. The plot is all downhill from there so enjoy with me, the rest of "THE BLOODY PIT OF HORROR"

CLOSING: How long did it take Edith to figure out that former movie star Travis Anderson, is dude that she used to date! What are the odds? You couldn't help but like Travis with his self-obsession and preening, all the while complaining about the half naked nubile chicks laying around his basement posing for their cheesecake horror photos. Unlike a lot of movie maniacs, he doesn't kill women because he's never been good enough for them, but because they aren't as great as he is! He also kills men for the same reason And how in the dickens did Mickey Hargitay end up in a castle with all these really nifty torture devices?

by Lushscreamqueen for the Schlocky Horror Picture Show October 28 2008.

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midwestharpy · 4 years ago

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ok ok ok ok guys

i'm fairly certain most people at this point in our lives, would look at a genie offering them wishes with a hell of a lot of suspicion (at least I hope you will). we've adapted, so that troupe/life lesson/event doesn't hold as much potency. we know we about to be tricked.

but what if the genies are adapting to?

consider: a genie offering you troupes.

main character finds the genie and immediately doesn't buy the three wishes bullshit

but wait

there's an alternative!

main character is offered a choice of three random troupes, media, genres, whatever, by the genie. fluff, slow burn, apocalypses, slice of life, the whole shebang

anything is possible

somehow the genie convinces them that it is 100% random and the genie isn't lying. (no for realsies)

bear with me

MC makes the deal. three troupes are chosen and they go about their life

parents get murdered in front of their eyes two days later by [insert generic big bad villain archetype]. as they cradle one parent, who is on the brink of death, their eyes go the same shade of blue as the genies magic and they mutter one word

"shonen" is their dying word

MC finds sibling, and after recounting the horrible encounter and parents last words, sibling gives a comforting smile

"It's all going to be alright, yeah? Shonen anime is pretty straight foreword. Punch punch fight! And you're the main character! You'll be fine"

sibling is familiar with anime and knowns damn well they probably won't be around much longer but MC can't know

Fast-forward through some time skips and a training montage: sibling died a dramatic hero's death at the hands of [insert generic big bad villain archetype], a crew is assembled and they go on a huge adventure to take the villain's down

while having a conversation with the gruff loner of the group, they make eye contact and both get the blue eyes

"enemies to lovers" is said in synch

that part ends how you think

a couple montages and action adventures later (shonen is great for world traveling) and the final confrontation is over. [insert generic big bad villain archetype] has been defeated, but MC isn't done. they are disillusioned and pissed, and that genie is at the top of their shit list

years go by. things are in peace, but they tear themselves down trying to find the genie again, trying to find that third troupe or whatever, they find other genies and interrogate them and tortures them, and suddenly they're not quite the hero anymore

its after they've built an empire, its after they've done the unspeakable and tracked down that genie who won't stop grinning

"it didn't matter what you chose. i would have found a way to screw you over no matter what happened"

MC's eyes go blue as they say "fallen hero" and the rest is history

#writing prompt?#i kinda came up with it out of the blue #troupes #get ur troupes here #and we break em #never make a deal with genies kids #genies will screw you over #no matter how good a deal you think you got #i think i understand shonen anime #bear with me i'm new to anime #its vauge enough the concepts would work in more detail

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jbuffyangel · 5 years ago

Text

Strength: Arrow 8x05 Review (Prochnost)

We’re headed back to Russia for some Queen family vacation fun, except their version of “fun” is kidnappings and fight clubs.

Let’s dig in…

Oliver, Mia and William

Do you remember how we used to pray for a scene of Oliver teaching Felicity the bow and arrow?

The scenes with Helena fueled my hate fire for years. The closest we ever came to Olicity “training” was Oliver offering Felicity a few punching pointers

and the glorious salmon-ladder-leads-to-sex scene.

I’m not complaining! All I’m saying is we could’ve had a bow-and-arrow-training-leads-to-sex scene too. I have several insert-scenario-here-leads-to-sex scene ideas this show has yet to explore.

Anyway, if we can’t have Felicity training with Oliver then second best is their daughter training with Oliver. The intro to “Prochnost” is almost three minutes long and it’s pure fan fiction from start to finish.

Source: felicitysmoakgifs

Oliver teaches Mia how to tennis ball and uses cooking as analogy before he remembers she’s 50% Smoak.

It is clear Mia still has a lot to learn not only from a vigilante perspective, but also in terms of her archer skills.

When we met Oliver Queen in the pilot his skill set was perfected. He was a fully formed bad ass.

We haven’t seen Mia train other than a montage with Nyssa Al Ghul in 7x16 and I am thoroughly enjoying there’s still a lot she can learn from her father.

Source: 1-crazy-dreamer

Oliver reviews all of his trick arrows with Mia, but doesn’t want them to become a crutch.

Source: lucyyh

What he doesn’t say is trick arrows became more of a necessity in disabling criminals after killing them was no longer an option. We’ve come a long way with Oliver Queen. If you had told me father/daughter training sessions were in our future when I watched the pilot then I would’ve laughed you out of the room because that’s a special brand of CRAZY.

Of course, a training scene without the stick thingies wouldn’t be a training scene on Arrow.

Source: miasmoakdaily

Yes, I know there’s a technical term for the stick thingies, but if I haven’t learned it by now do you think I ever will? No is the right answer.

Oliver: Nyssa taught you well.

Mia: Mom made sure of it.

I think Arrow makes an important point during this scene. Nyssa Al Ghul is good, but she’s no Oliver Queen. There’s been many seasons where it feels like the writers down played Oliver’s skills to give the other team members something to do *cough*L*urelLance*cough*.

However, the writers seem particularly focused on showing how Oliver’s skills are a whole other level now. Remember, he’s the guy who killed Ra’s Al Ghul – probably the greatest fighter of all time. It’s why Riccardo Diaz being a formidable threat was so laughable. When Felicity reached out to Nyssa she was asking the best for help, but there truly is no substitute for Oliver Queen.

Source: miasmoakdaily

Mia “The Machine” Smoak-Queen (her official title btw) doesn’t need a break, but I love how Oliver worries about her nonetheless. DADDY OLIVER IS SO SOFT.

Source: amunetblack

Mia gently reins in William’s ramble and this is the brother/sister banter I am here for. Look, I know we’ve clocked a season and a half with these kids and I should be used to moments where they remind me of Oliver and Felicity, BUT I CAN’T GET USED TO IT. It still fills me with absolute glee anytime it happens.

Children are individuals with unique personalities, but one of the more fun aspects of parenting is seeing traits of other family members, or maybe even yourself, emerge in the child you’re raising. I feel the same glee when my daughter reminds me of my husband or mother. And since William and Mia are my fictional TV children why should I be any different?

There’s a Curtis reference in this scene, so naturally I doze off when that happens, but the cliff notes version is the energy wave that destroyed Earth 2 can be recreated. There’s a Russian general trying to replicate it via pulse wave generator weapon and Team Arrow needs to get the plans.

I think. Plus they need plutonium which Diggle volunteers to get.

Oliver invites the kids to Russia with him and they are equally as shocked as I am.

Really? We’re going to Russia? I mean, I know we’re going to Russia, but Oliver’s casual invitation makes this trip sound like the equivalent of a grocery store run. The kids are so excited to be invited they think they’re going to Disney World with Dad.

This is so not going to be Disney World. TELL THEM THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE DISNEY WORLD OLIVER.

Oliver: I’m a better man. Different man. I think I can teach them the good without showing them the bad.

Oliver thinks this is going to be Disney World.

Diggle accurately points out visiting the place which was home to the darkest point of his life may not be as simple as Oliver would like it to be. His answer is equally wonderful and sooooo WRONG. It’s WONDERFUL Oliver believes he’s a better man. It took us 8 long years to get here and his statement is no small thing. Round of applause for our boy.

Unfortunately, this is where the wonderful ends. Oliver is determined to only show his children the good. I guess it sounds ok when he says it, but upon closer examination it misses the forest through the trees. Everything that happened to Oliver Queen, good and bad, has formed the person he is. He cannot extricate the bad from this story anymore than he can the good. They are a sticky wicket forever entwined together. Take out one and you don’t get the full picture. And what his children need and deserve is the full picture.

That’s not to say Oliver’s filter is entirely wrong. There are certainly topics and information children are not ready to hear, can’t understand, or wouldn’t be appropriate to tell them. Every parent has some kind of filter when raising their children because that’s what good parenting requires.

This is appropriate when children are small. As your child grows into an adult then your relationship with them must become more adult, which requires more transparency. This is the problem between Oliver and his children. He is parenting like William and Mia are still little. And they are not.

If plans for a pulse generator sound like a flimsy excuse to go to Russia then you’d be right. The real reason we’re going to Russia isn’t because of some rando general. It’s to say goodbye to one of Arrow’s greatest supporting characters - Anatoly Knyazev

“My brother.”

I block out most of Season 6 because half of it was a walking horror show, so I don’t remember where Oliver and Anatoly left things after he joined and then betrayed Team Bad Guy.

I guess their cool now? I don’t really want to spend all kinds of time on Oliver and Anatoly hashing out their issues, so if a hug gets the job done then I’m good. Also William speaks Russian. Queen men speaking foreign languages is hot.

A+ reaction Steve.

Source: arrowdaily

Anatoly was bored in the Maldives, now owns a bar and has a delicious pina colada recipe so that pretty much catches us up on him. He offers to help find Burov, but Oliver doesn’t want Anatoly’s “friends” involved because they are Bratva and he’s not discussing the bad parts of Russia with his children. I think the good parts of Russia ended at pina colada, Oliver. See how this is going to be a problem?

The best place to meet up with Burov is a local fight club. This prompts William to share where he met his baby sister and gives us Oliver’s best dad reaction to date.

Source: 1-crazy-dreamer

Bless you William. You do God’s work my boy.

Mia: Why did you bring us on this mission if you aren’t going to let us help?

Oliver: This is the Bratva. They are terrible people and you guys are my kids.

Mia: Yes, but we’re not children.

Oliver: Well you are when I look at you.

Aww… my sweet, lovable, wonderful Oliver.

Do we ever stop looking at our children as children? Probably not. I know I will always be my parents’ baby girl and my daughter will always be mine. It is difficult to fully accept a human being as an adult when you’ve changed their diapers. And in Oliver’s defense he changed Mia’s diaper about five minutes ago in the present timeline, regardless of the future adults standing before him. We must give him some time to… adjust.

But Mia is Mia and doesn’t listen to anyone, other than William (SOUND FAMILIAR?) and he’s firmly on her team this week, so they go to the fight club and watch Dad in action. Mia has heard the stories of her father all her life but seeing him in action is an eye-opening experience. She is difficult to impress, but her dad is AWESOME. Yeah, we think so too honey. Welcome to stanning Oliver Queen.

Source: olivergifs

Unfortunately, the Bratva aren’t cool with the deal Oliver made with Burov and kidnap him along with Mia. Her Spidey sense was tingling, so she went to check on dad. Oops.

Source: feilcityqueen

If there is one lesson the Arrow villains consistently fail to learn it’s DO NOT MESS WITH PEOPLE OLIVER QUEEN LOVES. He gets very angry and wildly unpleasant, which leads to many broken bones and occasionally murder. You put hands on Felicity Smoak and even I’m down with Oliver ripping off your head.

Of course, Oliver wakes from unconsciousness and his immediate question is if Mia is okay. Can’t-Admit-I’m-In-Love-With-You Oliver,

Boyfriend Oliver,

Fiance Oliver,

Ex-boyfriend Oliver,

Husband Oliver,

and Dad Oliver are all the same Olivers.

Mia doesn’t understand why everyone in Russia knows who Oliver is and quickly deduces Dad was Bratva. Our princess is a smart cookie! Oliver is ticked Mia didn’t listen to him and there is truly no greater justice in the world than God creating a child who is exactly like you. Robert and Moira are having themselves a nice little chuckle.

Source: lucyyh

The Bratva threatens to torture Mia if Oliver doesn’t tell them what’s on the zip drive. Mia is very brave and tells Daddy not to say anything. Pfft. Not likely Little Miss Square Bear. He points a gun at Oliver’s precious girl and counts down from five. The Green Arrow breaks like a pretzel. Honestly, I’m shocked Oliver didn’t give the guy the whole store after four.

Source: olicitygifs

Unfortunately, nobody believes Oliver is telling the full story and a very large knife is brandished in Mia’s direction. Seriously? The one-time Oliver tells the truth he’s accused of lying. How ironic is that? The goon was at least 20 feet away from Mia, but Daddy was ready to flay him alive seven different ways.

Oh. He was only cutting the restraints. Okay, we’ll knock down the flaying to five different ways.

The Bratva force Mia to play the Ring the Bell game. I don’t know if that’s what it’s called, but it works for my purposes. Oliver is very much HELL NO CHILD, but really her only other option is death. Of course, if she doesn’t ring the bell she dies too. ISN’T RUSSIA FUN?

Mia kicks major ass, but is unable to ring the bell in under 60 seconds. This might have something to do with her wasting time to look back at the clock and then waiting an additional 3 seconds to reach for the friggin bell, but that’s just details. Be less stupid Arrow.

The Bratva don’t shoot her because… they’re nice gang of Russian mobsters now?

Source: arrowdaily

This made very little sense other than Arrow doesn’t want to shoot the female lead of their new television show. On second thought, good enough for me. Oliver shoots death daggers at the man who scared the friggin bejesus out of him and it’s pretty much a certainty he will be flayed eight different ways.

William has a full-on panic attack over his father and sister’s kidnapping and it’s pretty much the cutest thing ever. Then L*urel actually provides some necessary and helpful information. Is that the second week in a row this happened? I’m scared fandom. Hold me.

L*urel: Aren’t the people in your family constantly injecting each other with tracking devices?

William: Normally I would say God I hope not, but now I guess I can see the advantages.

He’s able to track them down, but L*urel and Anatoly show up right after Oliver has already freed himself by dislocating his thumbs. I love that trick. Mia’s reaction is the perfect combination of horrified and impressed. She really wants that trick to be on the next lesson plan.

Mia is bumming hard over not ringing the bell and boozes it up with some scotch. THY NAME IS GENETICS.

Oliver has had enough of his kids almost dying and is putting their asses on a plane back home BECAUSE THIS ISN’T DISNEY WORLD.

William jumps firmly on Team Mia and reminds their father he’d be dead without them. Oliver has been dislocating his thumbs on his own for awhile now children. I think he’d survive without your help.

It’s time to set these kiddies straight.

Source: oliverxfelicity

Mia tries to argue the whole adults saving the city angle, but that’s not going to fly in this timeline cupcake.

In this timeline, Oliver smooshed those perfect chubby cheeks one more time before he left to save the universe

Source: oliverxfelicity

and his rebelling teenage son, who was ousted from the present storyline to make a ridiculous plot point work in the future storyline, ignored his phone calls. (I’m never getting over the whole William never moves in with Mia and Felicity thing. NEVER.)

So, all of his children can take several seats and do what they’re told or they will be grounded! That includes no computer for you, William and Oliver will be taking that bow and arrow back little miss Mia.

Side note: This was a perfect time for William to explain WHY he didn’t return any of Oliver’s calls or if he even received them, but NOPE. Why would these writers attempt to clean up this mess of a storyline with reasonable explanations? Better to just ignore the Grand Canyon sized plot holes and keep driving through.

Stephen Amell does a wonderful job in this scene as Oliver’s voice quivers with emotion. He’s skating the edge of keeping his composure and losing it all together perfectly this season. Neither Mia nor William have offered much understanding for where Oliver is coming from. Yes, they are adults but 1) No matter how old they get they will always be Oliver’s children and 2) HE MISSED TWENTY YEARS.

Oliver has been very clear this was not a choice he wanted to make. Mia and William are not the only ones who lost something precious. Oliver lost a lot too. Part of being an adult is letting go of the natural narcissism we all have as children. So, if Mia and William want to put on their big boy and big girl pants then they need to show their father a little understanding and compassion.

Mia: And because you made the choice to protect us I had to spend my whole life alone. I didn’t have a chance to get to know my brother to get to know you.

Mia is not ready to do that yet. She throws Oliver’s choices in his face once again. He is still the one she wants to blame. If this reaction frustrates you then that’s understandable because Mia is supposed to be frustrating right now. It’s odd for us to be identifying through Oliver, but that’s what happens when the hero becomes fully evolved. This entire episode is about showing how much Mia still has to learn not only physically, but emotionally too.

Source: oliverxfelicity

Oliver is getting used to Mia’s blame by now and it doesn’t really change his opinion on this situation. The worst part of this argument is Oliver believing his children hate him. His worst nightmare was Mia and William not understanding his choices and resenting him for it. Oliver’s greatest fear isn’t death. It is his children believing he abandoned them.

Mia being angry at Oliver over not growing up with William is really not his fault and it’s bizarre how the writers are insistent on lumping that in with everything else she’s ticked about. I did a deep dive on Mia’s emotional and psychological viewpoint last week and I won’t repeat it here because everything still stands. But how is Felicity never going back for William Oliver’s fault?

I’m not putting the blame on Felicity here either. It’s a ludicrous plot point that makes absolutely no sense, so it’s pointless to even try to argue the logic. And yet, that’s exactly what the writers keep trying to do. But it merely shines a brighter spotlight on their illogical reasoning behind the decision.

We are already sympathizing with Oliver because we know how heartbroken he was to leave his children. We know he sacrificed everything for a bunch of ungrateful twats who caught a lucky break for existing in the universe. But forcing Mia’s character to continually blame Oliver for EVERYTHING can rapidly make this character unlikeable. Particularly since her father left to SAVE THE UNIVERSE. The writers need to tread carefully. This has the same nonsensical threads of the Season 4 break up. Or, even worse, Mia channeling the same the anger/blame/bitterness of Season 1 & 2 L*urel Lance. Nobody wants a repeat of those hot messes.

Oliver is floundering. He missed twenty years of his children’s lives. They’ve arrived from a different time as adults. Oliver was still learning how to be a parent and then the universe flipped the board. He has no idea how to do this and the one person who can help him isn’t here. If there was ever a time Oliver needed his Felicity this is it.

So, the only guiding light Oliver has right now is the promise he made his wife and mother of his children.

Source: oliverxfelicity

Not to get too nitpicky on the details Oliver, but as @callistawolf pointed out in our Watchover episode of 8x05, we never heard him make any promises to Felicity about the children.

In their final goodbye, it was Felicity promising Oliver to do whatever was necessary to keep their children safe (re: Nyssa Al Ghul). So, let’s just create our own head canon there was some Olicity discussion about the future kids being in present day off screen and he made the promise to her then. Cool? Cool.

OR Oliver is merely trying to score points in an argument via emotional manipulation, which hey man. More power to you. Whatever it takes to keep kiddos safe, I guess. I did have to chuckle about Oliver keeping his promises to Felicity NOW that she’s off the show. Where was this guy in 6x23? Or maybe I sobbed quietly. Probably a little of both. Regardless of the reasoning, it’s an EPIC speech. Dad for the win.

Oliver decides it’s time to get boozy. Amen brother. Pass the scotch.

Anatoly is no Felicity Smoak, but in the ever-spinning weekly wheel of characters trying to fill her role, he asks the obvious question. Is Oliver sending his children home because he believes they cannot handle Russia/vigilantism/life?

Of course, the answer has been obvious from the moment Oliver decided to only share the good. It’s not about what his children can handle. This is about what Oliver can handle.

Anatoly: That is understandable. You’re ashamed. You have truly done some terrible things.

Oliver: Thank you for the reminder.

Anatoly: But you also have done some good things. It’s important that the kids see both.

Can’t you just hear Felicity Smoak saying these lines? Only in an adorable ramble and less booze? I miss her. Just leaving this here.

I absolutely understand Oliver’s refusal to share the darkest moments of his past. It’s not like my dad has gone chapter and verse into his Vietnam experiences. But I know he was there. I know some of the stories. Maybe Oliver doesn’t need to go into detail about the time he skinned a guy, but he can be honest with his children about being in the Bratva.

Anatoly: That’s the thing about teaching. It’s not about what you want to say. It’s about what they need to hear.”

This part of the speech is all Anatoly.

Source: 1-crazy-dreamer

He taught Oliver living was not for the weak because this was the lesson Oliver needed to hear. Maybe he missed out on teaching William and Mia how to tie their shoes or ride a bike, but nobody understands what it means to be a hero better than Oliver Queen. The Crisis is coming and if Oliver is marching slowly but steadily to his death then he must pass on all he’s learned. There is still so much to teach Mia and William about Oliver’s life and who he is. Those lessons can only come from their father. What William and Mia need to hear is the truth.

“You were so little. I think that’s what I’ve always wanted all these years. Is for you just to stay little, quiet and safe. But you’re not any of those things. You’re loud and fearless and it scares the crap out of me.” Derek Shepherd, Grey’s Anatomy

His children are loud and fearless and it scares the crap out of Oliver Queen. But there’s a deeper fear driving his hesitation. Oliver is afraid that if he tells Mia and William the truth about his past then they’ll only hate him more. He is constantly afraid of losing his children’s love.

But truth is the path to understanding. Anatoly is right. Oliver must give Mia and William a chance. The real truth is there’s nothing he has done or will ever do that will make his children stop loving him. Sure, Mia is angry at Oliver, but she’s only angry because she loves him. She craves her father’s approval more than anything.

Oliver changes his parenting tactic. He cannot shield his children from the very life they have chosen for themselves. He asks Mia to fight in the ring with him and William to help get them in. Oliver treats his children like they are part of the team – like partners.

Mia has been trying to show her father what she’s capable of since the moment she came to the present. Underneath all that anger and blame, is a little girl who just wants to make her daddy proud. What Mia needs to realize is she already makes Oliver proud merely by existing. However, he offers her the support and belief she’s been craving as they enter the ring together.

Source: oliverxfelicity

The look on her face says everything about how Mia truly feels about her dad.

Source: arrowdaily

FATHER DAUGHTER FIGHT CLUB. From the moment, we met Blackstar in the ring I hoped she was Olicity’s daughter and we would somehow, someway get a scene of Oliver and Mia teaming up. But I never imagined these circumstances. It’s awesome.

After kicking butt as a team and a family, Oliver opens the door to his past and lets his children walk through. And what better place to start than the beginning?

Source: olivergifs

The truth is a tie that binds and it will be the foundation of Oliver’s relationship with his children. Something he never had with his parents until it was too late.

And did William and Mia stop loving Oliver after they heard the truth? No. They understand him better and love him all the more for what he’s survived.

Mia: Don’t forget to send me that picture of my dad with that haircut.

Anatoly: Don’t forget to ask about Bratva tattoo. We have matching.

Oliver: Used to. Used to actually.

William: Oh I’m gonna need to hear that story immediately.

Well... son this raving loony burned my tattoo off my chest after several hours of torture.

The warm banter of this scene isn’t to make light of what Oliver Queen suffered. It’s to show the power of telling our stories. Pain and fear lose control over us, bit by bit, the more we talk about it and share with our loved ones. We let them inside the good and bad, so we don’t have to carry it by ourselves anymore. Overtime, we begin to see our suffering for what it is - something we survived. Children, in particular, have an ability to find the light in the dark. We can see our life through their eyes and remarkably, yes even find the humor in what was once unspeakable pain. And come on - Oliver’s flashback hair is always funny.

Family is the source of Oliver’s strength. It always has been. It’s what helped him survive the unsurvivable.

He can only become his children’s strength by teaching them how he became a better man. William and Mia can only understand who their father is, and how to be heroes, by knowing the good and the bad. Hiding either tarnishes the beauty of his story. Oliver is finally strong enough to tell it and his children are strong enough to hear it. And that’s how the past, present and future will find harmony, acceptance, forgiveness and love.

Source: oliverxfelicity

Diggle and Roy

John enlists Roy’s help obtaining the plutonium.

Source: thistributeisonfire

We’re going to run through this pretty quick because this storyline is all about getting Colton Haynes back on Team Arrow for the final episodes.

Diggle tells Roy what happens to him in the future. The cure for Roy’s bloodlust wasn’t hiding out on Lian Yu for 20 years. It was rejoining the team and fighting for the city again.

Diggle: Maybe this time you don’t have to wait that long.

Diggle’s ENTIRE motivation is to change Roy’s future and it’s not difficult to figure out why. Obviously John cares about Roy and wants to help him. However, Roy also makes a very good test case. Diggle is also desperate to change Connor, JJ and Zoe’s future as well. If they can make their own hope in the present then maybe things can be different for his children in the future.

Source: 1-crazy-dreamer

We all need love and support. None of us can truly survive on our own - particularly when we are suffering. Roy fights John at first, but eventually he comes to realize he’s right. Roy found purpose and family when he met Oliver so it makes sense to him they are the reason he gets better. So why wait? He comes home and begins the path to healing twenty years earlier. And thus, a major storyline from Season 7 flash forwards begins to change.

ROY MADE SENSE Y’ALL!!!

L*urel L*nce

I truly could not figure out why L*urel was in Russia. I guess to help Oliver track down these plans, but she spent the better part of the episode staring at her fingernails. That’s not even an exaggeration. KC stared at her fingernails for an entire scene.

Source: thistributeisonfire

Her interactions with Oliver are even more bizarre.

Source: 1-crazy-dreamer

I’m sorry, but does L*urel go here? Bl*ck S*ren has been on the show since Season 5. You’d think at this point she’d know Oliver Queen can easily handle one guy twice his size. I’m chalking up this stupidity to the acting version of a layup, so Stephen Amell can spike it with the epic comeback of, “I’ll give him half a chance.”

I guess L*urel is primarily in Russia to betray Oliver Queen and steal the plans or something, per Lyla’s instructions.

LL: And here I thought I was supposed to be the bad guy.

At last count Lyla never murdered innocent people, so I think she's still ahead by the numbers Bl*ck S*ren. This is the problem with L*urel’s character this year. The comparisons her character makes this season are INSANE. Putting on a new suit and calling yourself Bl*ck C*nary doesn’t automatically make you morally superior to everyone.

At least when Season 7 L*urel was playing attorney she had a healthy perspective on herself. I was a big fan of the snark last season and found her character to be refreshingly amusing in her biting honesty, but this year the writers lost the snarky humor and have gone straight to obnoxious hypocrisy and judgment. Sometimes she’s just downright mean in a way none of the other characters deserve. Yes, Lyla is being shady, but this in no way erases the horrors of your past L*urel.

L*urel: If saving it means going back to the person I used to be then what the hell is the point?

We all know this whole betray Oliver thing the Monitor is playing at with L*urel is a trick. She’s not going to betray Oliver and prove herself a worthy and useful hero. Ok. Whatever. I know I’m supposed to get excited about her big speech, but this line kind of gnawed at me.

L*urel is unwilling to save an ENTIRE EARTH because she’d have to do something shady. She’s not willing to do any dirty work if it sullies her good name. So, Earth 2 only matters as long as L*urel gets to be a hero on it? I guess I should be happy L*urel is holding onto her moral center, but if there’s anything Oliver Queen’s story has taught us sometimes heroism requires doing unpleasant things for the greater good.

Take Lyla for example – a person L*urel feels quite comfortable judging. Lyla has been lying to her husband, something she does not want to do, for the greater good. I think we know enough about Lyla’s character by now that even though her actions are hurtful we can trust her reasons.

LL’s primary function this week it seems is to rat Lyla out to Diggle and Oliver.

Source: stevesrogered

I guess we’re supposed to rejoice there’s no price L*urel is willing to pay for her morality, but this is still the same person who has yet to take any responsibility for the people she’s murdered. The line just sounded so arrogant and self serving to me. I don’t know. Maybe it was just KC’s delivery.

It’s been difficult for me to imagine what role either L*urel or Dinah will play in the spin off and seeing as how the writers are struggling to find a purpose for their characters in the final season of Arrow I am not encouraged. That said, L*urel’s scene with Mia was one of the few bright spots for her character in this week’s episode. Mia believes she’s not cut out to be a hero because she failed to ring the bell like her father and Zoe’s death still weighs heavily on her conscious.

Mia: Every time I try and live up to my dad or to prove I can do what it is you all do. I fail.

L*urel: If you’re trying to live up to us, don’t. We are just as flawed as anyone. Especially me. All you can do is live up to yourself.

Damn L*urel. That was really good advice and a truthful reflection of the person you are. CAN WE HAVE THIS ATTITUDE CONSISTENTLY WEEK TO WEEK PLEASE WRITERS? This is the first time I can see a version of L*urel working in the spin off, but that’s always the problem with the writing of her character. We never know which version we’re going to get.

Season 8 is slipping back into very bad Season 1 habits. There’s a lack of cohesiveness with L*urel and they really need to get this sorted out before the new show hits the air. Otherwise, we’re going to have the same problem we’ve always had with her character. No matter how many versions of L*urel’s character these writers create they never figure out who she truly is because they don’t want to devote the necessary screen time. This leaves us with a half baked canary every single time.

If L*urel is going to play Rupert Giles to Mia’s Buffy in the spin off then this scene is a good indication of how it could work, but that’s only if this path stays on track which seldom happens with this character. The key to LL is a very specific supporting role. She worked great in Season 7 because her focus was getting Oliver Queen out of jail. Then,it was about fleshing out her redemption and shipping her back to E2 to make amends.

L*urel lacks a concrete To Do list this year. They toss her into scenes and she takes up space looking at her fingernails. Or she arrives a few minutes after Oliver frees himself to scream down a door he could have easily opened. Or she says something hypocritical and nasty. REALLY? This is the best these writers can come up with? Sadly, history points to yes.

Keep her scenes short. Keep her scenes specific. Keep her scenes supporting. That’s the only way this character works. And believe me I wish it was different, but there doesn’t seem to be any version of L*urel L*nce these writers can keep a handle on.

You know what I appreciate about this scene between Anatoly and William though? Anatoly addresses his less than honorable past and apologizes. I can’t fully remember what Anatoly did to William - I think it might have been related to kidnapping or a bomb or a nuke or all three. See? I told you I don’t remember S6. My point is - can we expect an apology from L*urel for being an accessory to William’s mother’s murder? I won’t hold my breath. It would be extremely helpful if they addressed LL’s past in an honest way and actually had her show remorse to one of her victims, but again that requires more screen time and effort than this show is ever will to give her character.

SO WHY DO THEY KEEP HER AROUND?

Stray Thoughts

Connor isn’t in this week’s episode because he’s checking in on Sandra. Soooo… Connor can visit his mother but Mia and William can’t visit theirs? I know this is yet another EBR plot hole, but find a better reason for Connor to be MIA writers. It just makes the Smoak-Queen family look uncaring, which we know they are not. And if Connor can get an off camera mother moment mention then why can’t Mia and William? THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ANNOY ME.

“Has anyone fought six men before?” Mia and Oliver’s side eye is hilarious, but didn’t Mia fight six goons by herself? And we’ve watched Oliver take down twenty without breaking a sweat. Raise the number in the ring a little if you want me to take their hesitation seriously.

Diggle is absolutely horrified to find out Lyla is working against the team with The Monitor. “I didn’t want to believe it was true.” Boy, really? Who are you kidding? This is Lyla Michaels, super spy. She’s been lying and doing shady things from minute one. She’s the Oliver to your Felicity. Get out of here with that nonsense. This is totally something she would do and you know it. Lol

William doesn’t like the field, but the allure of beautiful couture convinces him otherwise. At least he didn’t have to go on a skeevy date with Ray Palmer to wear it. Source: felicitysmoakgifs

William’s “Wrap it up” sign while Mia was fighting was such a funny and wonderful way of showing their team within a team.

“I can be the fun uncle.” Raise your hand if you want Anatoly as a fun uncle.

He was a complicated, but ultimately wonderful character who made Arrow a better show.

Goodbye Anatoly. I will miss you. source: oliverxfelicity

Disclaimer: Any gifs on the blog are not mine. If you would like a gif removed from my reviews, please message me. 8x05 gifs credited.

If you’d like to support the blog, please buy me a cup of tea!

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margoshansons · 5 years ago

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2x15: The Promise Rewatch

Listen, Slade’s a dick, but I would let Manu Bennett do anything to me that he wanted.

“to friendship” WHAT A DIG MAN. Have you ever met a more passive aggressive man? No, I don’t think so

“It must have been hell for you” *Insert montage of him working out*

“We should burn it” Well we know where Oliver gets his dramatics from

LET THE MAN GET VENGEANCE FOR SHADO!!

Honestly, Slade and Oliver’s friendship was one of the best parts of this series and it made his downfall so much more tragic.

OH FUCK ITS THE MASK!

Hey Arrow, stop with the torturing people, maybe?

“There’s a breeze” sure there is Ollie

“But now it’s as brothers” FUCK THIS HURTS

YOU TOUCH THEA YOU’LL BE SIX FEET UNDERGROUND BASTARD!!

GOD SARA’S SO SMART!

Give me all of Team Arrow trying to save the Queens every episode please.

Me with Ivo: “Cool Motive, still murder”

MURDER HIS ASS OLIVER!!

OH FUCK HE’S RIGHT THERE!!!

DON’T LISTEN TO HIM SLADE!! HE’S MANIPULATING YOU!

NOOOOO! YOU BASTARD!

God it sucks they made the Bratva dude a villain later on, he was so cool

Goddammit. This episode hurts man.

Roy Harper deserves more recognition man. He’s the best.

Bitch, you touch Roy or Thea or Sara I will astral project and kick your ass myself

DIGGLE! NOOOOOO

That’s it, it’s throwing hands time.

Look, Slade may be a bastard, but he’s a master of vengeance man.

I FORGOT ABOUT HE CAMERAS HOLY SHIT

#arrow rewatch

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mebongster87 · 6 years ago

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House Stark Video Breakdown: S8 Predictions

The House Stark video is bloody brilliant! Here are my thoughts.

At face value, it summarizes all the key events that have happened to the Starks from S1 to S7. In subtext, it predicts what’s possibly about to happen in S8.

The video begins with Ned and Jon talking about his mother when Jon is leaving Winterfell to join the Night’s Watch while Ned is making his way to King’s Landing.

Then the scene shifts to the Tower of Joy where Lyanna is dying and asking Ned: “Promise me, Ned. You have to protect him”.

The video starts with a “theme of protection” how Ned promises Lyanna to protect Jon as part of the pack. This theme is very important. The Starks are a pack and they protect each other. This theme keeps recurring throughout the video and in fact, the video even ends on the same theme.

Then we have Robert Baratheon showing up at Winterfell to make Ned the Hand of the King and now the political drama begins. What’s interesting to note is the choice of this shot where Robert tells Ned:

“There’s a war coming Ned, I don’t know when, I don’t know who we’ll be fighting but it’s coming.”

At face value, it means the Great War against the NK, but is it though?

(Sure the fight against NK is a very big deal, but it’s not the only war that will be fought next season)

Remember the context of Robert’s premonitions? He was talking about Daenerys marrying Khal Drogo, a Dothraki horselord, who has 100,000 fighting for him and could potentially invade Westeros.

Currently who has the same Dothraki horde of a 100,000 strong fighting for her? Daenerys Targaryen, together with 2 dragons and the Unsullied!!!!!

Ned Stark to Robert Baratheon: “What of it? Should we send her a wedding gift?”

to which Robert replied, “A knife perhaps, a good sharp one, and a bold man to wield it.”

This is very very important ..I will come back to this later!

I think the subtext of including this shot was to foreshadow a potential fight against Daenerys, her Dothraki horde, and her dragons in S8.

This is Dance of the Dragons 2.0 we are talking about. There is another shot that alludes to this happening.

This shot of a ruinous Harrenhal (from Season 2) they deemed to include in this video!!!

I was wondering about why would they show Harrenhal?

Aegon the Conqueror, atop Baelerion, roasted this place with Harren the Black and his sons inside it. That was the start of the reign of the Targaryens in Westeros.

You know what else happened at Harrenhal?

A battle between two dragons at the start of the first Dance with Dragons between the two opposing factions of greens and blacks of House Targaryen when Queen Rhaenryra was fighting Aegon II’s forces.

Caraxes and Vhagar fought each other in the Battle Above the Gods Eye with Harrenhal at the backdrop. This is happening at Riverlands, close to the Trident, where I am sure we will see another fight between the last two dragons, Daenerys and her nephew Jon. If Jon rides Rhaegal, then we could definitely see a Drogon vs Rhaegal fight. Most battles of note in ASOIAF happened in the Riverlands, why will this be any different?

(Also wouldn’t it be ironic that the place where Aegon the Conqueror launched the reign of House Targaryen with fire and blood destroying one of his biggest opponents is the same place where the reign of House Targaryen is ended by his namesake Aegon the last of his name aka Jon Snow? Aegon the Conqueror obliterated House Hoare that day when he burned down Harrenhal, maybe this foreshadows Jon Snow defeating Daenerys and ending House Targaryen.)

Additionally, it also probably foreshadows another castle like the Red Keep or King’s Landing burning (similar to Harrenhal) at Daenerys’s hands (who is foreshadowed as Aegon the Conqueror come again.)

Moving on...

Let’s focus on the next trio of shots with Brienne’s voiceover saying:” Nothing is more hateful than failing to protect the one you love” over a shot of Sansa being tortured by Joffrey.

when Brienne says “the one you love” they show us Sansa!

I think they are implying Jon and Sansa here. Let me explain..Jon swore a vow to Sansa “I will protect you, I promise” and if any harm comes to Sansa, Jonny boy is gonna lose his shit (all those scenes in S7 where they showed us Jon was protective over Sansa were Chekhov’s guns waiting to go off and now in S8 they will go off).

Does this mean that Sansa will get kidnapped by Cersei and the GC? Or will Daenerys threaten Sansa after seeing her influence over the Northern Lords, the Vale, and the Riverlands and especially after seeing how much more competent Sansa is in terms of ruling her people? Who knows..but suffice to say that if Sansa comes under any threat, Jon will most definitely lose his shit.

This also extends to Arya, who has been thriving on hate towards the Lannisters and the Freys and anybody who has harmed House Stark. If anything happens to Sansa or any of the other Starks, rest assured Arya is going to cut a bitch.

Moving on....

This next bit is my personal headcanon...they show Jamie and Brienne talking about Sansa

Jamie: In my opinion girls like her don’t live very long.

Brienne: I don’t think you know many girls like her.

This means Sansa will survive.

My personal headcanon about why they inserted this, is D&D, Bryan Cogman, and GRRM’s way of serving up a sick burn to all those Sansa haters and so-called ASOIAF/GOT know-it-alls who do not get her character at all and twist themselves into knots trying to come up with theories about how Sansa is useless and serves no purpose to the story and needs to die. Wait till Sansa survives it all and becomes Queen of the 7Ks. (end of rant, sorry!)

Moving on....

The video then shows the journey of the last remaining Starks... Sansa survives the fall and makes her way to Castle Black to reunite with Jon, Arya makes her way to Braavos and trains to become No One, Bran becomes the 3ER and so forth.

Then they include a shot of Longclaw right after Sansa and Jon hold hands from that scene in Castle Black when Sansa says to Jon that a monster has taken their home and brother and they have to save them both. Needless to say, Longclaw is going to be important. Hold that thought..I will come back to it.

Then the Starks start taking revenge...A TIME FOR WOLVES!!!

They show a montage of shots of 2 wolves (meant to depict Nymeria and Ghost) interspersed with the Starks..

Arya is ticking people off from her Kill-List....Jon is fighting in the Battle of the Bastards, Ramsay Bolton being eaten by his (dis)loyal hounds, Petyr Baelish getting his comeuppance, Freys getting massacred, and Joffrey dying.

with Arya saying “the last thing you are ever going to see before you die is a Stark smiling down at you”.

Like this is ominous but much-needed. The Starks are all out for blood and they will fight like wolves. So far they have managed to exact revenge on anyone who has wronged them but the kill-list is not done yet.

The Stark video then winds down to show the roles Jon, Bran, Arya, and Sansa will play in S8.

Bran, as the 3ER, will be up against the NK. Benjen Stark reminds him of that and says that when NK makes his way to the realms of men, you will be waiting for him. Cue Bran vs NK. (I personally feel Jamie and Brienne will have a big part to play in it...They both have the two parts of Ned’s greatsword Ice)

Then we have a shot of Cersei against the Iron Throne when she is first crowned Queen of the 7Ks in S6E10.

followed by a shot of Sansa saying “Winter is Here” implying that Winter is here and coming for all the enemies of House Stark, chief among them is Cersei Lannister. This shot also foreshadows that Sansa will become Queen of the 7Ks, like Cersei.

Then we have a shot of Arya with the Valyrian steel dagger in her hands

followed by a shot of the Lannister Army

I believe that we will see a Stark-Lannister Coalition, spear-headed by Jamie, which will be instrumental in fighting against both NK and Daenerys and her dragons. What this shot also tells me is that this is a foreshadowing of Arya killing Cersei...the most important person still left on Arya’s list is Cersei and in S7 she said that she will go to KL to kill Cersei, that will come to fruition. Additionally, if you remember the lyrics of The Rains of Castamere,

And who are you, the proud lord said, that I must bow so low? Only a cat of a different coat, that’s all the truth I know. In a coat of gold or a coat of red, a lion still has claws, And mine are long and sharp, my lord, as long and sharp as yours. And so he spoke, and so he spoke, that lord of Castamere, But now the rains weep o’er his hall, with no one there to hear. Yes now the rains weep o’er his hall, and not a soul to hear.

They are showing us the sigil of House Lannister because a lion is a big cat.

One of Arya’s persona is “Cat-of-the-Canals”, she is the cat of a different coat in this song and in Braavos she becomes “NO ONE”.. Remember how Tywin Lannister destroyed House Reyne and how Cersei destroyed House Tyrell and they were playing this song? Well, justice will be served and Cersei (who is Tywin Lannister 2.0) will get the same fate at the hands of No One aka Arya.

The final bit that I want to talk about is this shot of Jon Snow about to thrust Longclaw into the body of a soldier at the Battle of the Bastards.

This shot awfully reminds me of this really old shot of Jon Snow from Season 1′s GOT “Iron Throne” preview....where he is about to thrust a sword into someone after a shot of him sitting on the IT as King.

This is very interesting. Why would they call back on a shot like this if this does not mean something? Who is Jon about to kill or rather going to kill in S8?

Here is where I want you to remember what Robert Baratheon said to Ned Stark from the lone shot they show us at the beginning of the House Stark video?

Ned Stark to Robert Baratheon: “What of it? Should we send her a wedding gift?”

to which Robert replied, “A knife perhaps, a good sharp one, and a bold man to wield it.”

I think Jon will be the “bold man to wield it” and kill Daenerys using a good sharp long knife called Longclaw (he could also use the Valyrian steel dagger but that would be too literal.)

Why Jon? Because he is the rightful King of the Andals, Protector of the Realm and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms.

The use of “a bold man” reminded me of the following scene

This is what Jon said to Mance in Season 5 episode 1.

And now to all those crowing about kinslaying and this being dishonorable well here is what Jon has to say...

Jokes aside, this will pose a major “conflict of the heart” issue for Jon. He will definitely not want to kill Daenerys but “the things I do for love” may just force Jon to do this. Jon and Jamie are foils..Jamie pushed Bran out of the window, Jon may end up killing Daenerys if it means protecting the realm and House Stark/Sansa. I would rather Arya do the deed, it saves Jon from the sin of kinslaying but we shall see.

Finally, the video ends with Sansa saying the House Stark words about the pack survives and protecting the pack, ending on the “theme of protection” including this shot of Sansa and Arya in front of Ned’s statue in the crypts with the collective voiceover of Arya and Ned saying “in winter, we must protect ourselves and look after one another”.

The video starts with Ned protecting Jon and ends with Sansa reiterating Ned’s lessons thereby showing that Ned’s legacy lives on within the current Starks and they will survive the Winter and come out victorious because the pack that stays together, always survives. A Time for Wolves indeed.

#jonsa meta #jonsa #jonsa is endgame #jon x sansa #jon snow #sansa stark #arya stark #house stark #got s8 #trailer speculation

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