#Finally I get to debut Woe! | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lovelytsunoda · 2 years

Text

what makes you beautiful // daniel ricciardo

summary: as contract season approaches and his future with mclaren isn’t so clear any more, daniel retreats to the austrian alps for some soul searching, where he meets a jaded woman who was left at the altar and decided to weather her honeymoon alone.

pairing: daniel ricciardo x fem!reader

warnings: y/n is super cynical about love, mentions of sex, reader left at the altar, plot worthy of an adam sandler movie. gets pretty steamy (read daniel taking off readers old engagement ring with his teeth) but there’s no smut.

authors notes: it’s bittersweet tk be finishing the one direction series, but I cannot wait to bring you the katy perry series, kicked off by my debut george fic, teenage dream.

also fuk zak brown and his american ass, they never deserved daniel in the first place.

kitzbühel, austria. day zero.

“what’s a pretty girl like you doing out here all alone?”

he didn’t know why he said it, the driver cringing internally as soon as the words left his mouth.

the woman turned to look at him, fractured segments of moonlight dancing over her hair as the breeze blew tendrils in her face. her delicate fingers clutched a half full glass of red wine, and daniel would have to be stupid to not see the ruby engagement ring on her hand.

which again begged the question: what was she doing outside, alone?

“drowning my sorrows and self pity on expensive wine.”

can’t fault her for that, danny thought to himself as he recalled his own reasons for retreating into the austrian alps.

“as good a reason as any. can I join you?” the australian asked, gesturing towards the chalets wicker patio set. tyrol was typically a winter destination for all the skiing one could accomplish, so the chalet was quieter in the summer months.

it was just what daniel needed.

the woman laughed, wrapping her slender fingers around the neck of the wine bottle, hefting it out of the plastic ice bucket. it was more than half full.

“can’t drink this all by myself now, can I?”

the two sat next to each other on the well-loved furniture, unaware of the hustle and bustle occurring inside the chalet as the last of the night owls danced away to nineties club music that shook the log cabin walls.

“my father always said that a problem shared is a problem halved.” the woman remarked offhandedly, filling an extra wine glass for daniel. “penny for your thoughts?”

where to begin? especially since the media coverage of his mclaren contract woes was so prominent in the mainstream media, if he had finally met someone who wasn’t going to recognize his face he didn’t want to throw that away so easily.

“I still have another year on my work contract, but my boss just gave it to somebody else. he’s trying to force me out with an exit clause.”

“shit.”

“right, now you.”

she sighed, taking a sip from her wineglass. “seems pretty personal to tell to somebody who doesn’t know my name.”

“then tell me.” the mclaren driver encouraged “I’m daniel.”

“y/n” she answered quietly after a moment of hesitation. “this was supposed to be my honeymoon. he left me at the altar.”

daniel choked on his wine. “shit! that kind of outweighs my shit, makes it sound insignificant”

“no, don’t worry. we all have our issues and they all affect us differently. it wasn’t derek’s fault, I should have warned him that my family was crazy before they all flew in for the wedding. he got cold feet and left me there the night before.”

“he sounds like a dick.”

y/n sighed. “he’s not. he was just scared, I think. forever didn’t mean the same thing to him as it does to me.” she looked at her hands, at the small ruby on her ring finger. “is it stupid of me to keep wearing the ring?”

danny shook his head rapidly. “no, it’s not stupid. if anything, it means you still believe in love.”

“that’s a comforting thought. it’s gonna hurt tomorrow once all of the pre-planned couples activities start and I have to do them alone.”

“don’t do them alone.” some part of daniels soul aches for the jaded, cynical woman sitting next to him. the woman that thought she finally found the person she could spend her life with only to have it yanked away. “I’ll go with you. it’s not like I really planned ahead, and I could do with the distraction.”

maybe it was the wine. maybe she was desperate.

but letting daniel ricciardo be her fake newlywed husband for three weeks would end up being the best decision she ever made.

“yeah, okay. let’s see if you can last all three weeks. I hope you’re a good actor.”

day one.

y/n was waiting in the chalet lobby, fully prepared to have to weather the guided horseback tour in her own. she was slightly hungover and ready to throw in the metaphorical towel.

and then she saw him.

she just happened to catch the movement out of the corner of her eye, the last person she expected emerging from the elevator to come and join her by the glass doors where she had been waiting for the tour guide.

“you came?”

“psh, of course I did.” daniel grinned. “wouldn’t make my mother too happy to know that I abandoned a maiden in need.”

y/n rolled her eyes. “it’s just a stupid horseback tour. it’s a big group of people, I’m sure nobody would have noticed I was here alone.”

“come on sweetheart. that’s no fun.”

“sacred I’ll kick your ass?”

y/n laughed, catching the attention of everybody in the lobby, as well as daniels semi-hard cock. okay, so maybe the fact that y/n was ducking beautiful was part of the reason he had suggested helping in the first place.

“please, I took ten years of horseback riding lesssons.”

“and I grew up on a farm. your point?”

“touché. I think this is gonna be fun, don’t you agree, honey?”

daniel chuckled at the coy grin on y/n’s face as she said it, he could feel himself falling but couldn’t care less about stopping it.

he had three weeks before he had to think about his problems, and spending that time with a beautiful woman couldn’t hurt.

“now you’re laying it on a little thick.” he whispered, mouth close to her cheek so that it looked like he was giving her a kiss.

y/n could feel her heart rate pick up as soon as the driver leaned in, a feeling she thought she’d never feel again after derek.

and it scared her so much.

day five.

she thought she could handle it, thought she could go through with the couples activities alone, and then with daniel.

she thought she was over derek diamandis and his stupid face.

all it took was one visit to the chocolatiers to make her burst out into tears again when the tour concluded and the jovial austrian chocolate maker unveiled the heart shaped box, with the collection of luxury chocolates and caramels and everything in between, pink letters on each candy spelling out ‘congrats mr. & mrs. diamandis’.

as soon as she saw the box, y/n ran off into the street with tears streaming from her eyes, leaving a sputtering daniel to try and explain to the chocolatier that he had done nothing wrong, and that his ‘wife’ was just feeling overwhelmed and emotional.

which was true, just not in the sense that daniel was attempting to make it come across as.

“hey,” daniels soft australian drawl calmed y/n down, slowed her racing heart.

she always had found aussie accents sexy as fuck.

“are you okay? you kind of fell apart on me back there.”

y/n shook her head. “I thought I could do it but I was wrong. I shouldn’t have come here. I shouldn’t have tried to do this all without derek and his stupid soft boy face.”

she was taken aback at what daniel did next, with the australian pulling her in for a hug, allowing her tears to stain his alexisonfire shirt as she cried in his arms. there was something intimate about the way that he stroked her hair and held her close, whispering sweet nothings and reassurances.

and that’s because there was. it had only been five days, but the lines were already starting to blur between friends and someone that daniel could see himself with.

and good lord did that scare him.

day seven.

“you never actually said what you did for a living. actually, you know more about me than I do about you.”

daniel’s blood ran cold. he knew this moment would come, the moment he gave up his anonymity the goddess sitting across from him.

until she saw him differently.

“promise it won’t change the way you see me?” the aussie started, hesitation in his voice.

y/n chuckled “what, are you a male stripper or something? all magic mike and shit?”

daniel laughed, hearty and boisterous, sending shivers down y/n’s spine. “no. not yet, at least. if this contract falls through, that might be my fall back.”

“would that really be so bad with a body like yours.” she was wine drunk and didn’t know what she was saying, instantly wishing she could take the words back before things became awkward.

“I’m actually a formula one driver, and I have been since I was eighteen years old.”

the table was silent.

“are you being serious right now?”

“deadly. my current team is trying to replace me with the f2 champion from a few years ago. he seems like a good kid, but mclaren have honestly been treating me like shit all year. I thought I was safe, but I don’t know any more.”

“well fuck.”

“hey, that’s daniel ricciardo!” one of the restaurant patrons shouted, starting an avalanche of people to come running over to the couples’ table.

the chalets main restaurant was small on a good day, but during the crowded dinner time, even two or three people coming over to ask danny for a picture or an autograph felt like too much. daniel could feel his chest tightening with anxiety, doing his best to answer a few questions about his contract with mclaren and taking a few reluctant pictures before y/n finally snapped out of her stupor.

“babe,” she said loudly enough that the crowd beginning to come could hear. “I’m starting to get a migraine, can you walk me back to the room.”

at first, daniel was confused. she had seemed fine mere moments ago. but when he looked over and saw her mouth the words ‘play along’, the metaphorical lights went on in his brain.

“of course, darlin.” he drawled, getting to his feet and making a show out of helping y/n up from the table “sorry, guys. I’d love to stay and talk with you all,” not totally a lie “but my wife is feeling ill and I have to be with her right now, so I’ll see you guys around, yeah?”

once they were in the elevator and on their way up to y/n’s room, she raised her eyebrows.

“my wife is ill’? laying it on a little thick there lover boy.”

daniel managed a sly grin. “all I wanted was for them to leave us alone. I guess I did get a little carried away there, didn’t I?”

“it’s okay.” y/n giggled, reaching for his hand as they left the elevator “we still had to hold up my charade, and maybe you’ll be in the news for something other than contract news this time. on second thought, maybe don’t become a stripper. you’d get mauled on your first day.”

Daniel groaned “there’s no way I can explain this one to my PR manager. he’s gonna kill me.”

“he’s gonna have to go through me first.” y/n couldn’t win the smile off her face as she dropped daniel’s hand, extracting the room key from her clutch purse. “well, this is me.”

there was no mistaking the wistfulness in her tone as she knew this was where she and the driver needed to part ways.

“this last week has been incredible, daniel. how can I ever thank you enough for stepping up? it’s meant so much to me.”

daniel hesitated, moving half a step closer, attentive to every minuscule movement that y/n’s body made, the breath she sucked in when he moved closer.

“there is one thing.”

“and what’s that?” there was merely an inch of space between their bodies, laboured breathing filling the air as they stood there, too afraid to move.

too afraid to speak.

“kiss me.”

y/n certainly didn’t need to be told twice, fingers grasping desperately for daniels shirt, lips tangling with his as he took the room key out of her hand, clumsily opening the door as they both stumbled messily inside.

danny kicked the door closed behind them, not breaking away from y/n for a second as he steered their bodies towards the king sized bed, barely even registering that this was the honeymoon suite, where y/n should have been relaxing while derek diamandis made sweet love to her.

and now he got to do that instead, fingernails leaving scratch marks on his skin as y/n tore his shirt buttons open, one button flying off somewhere in the distance, her little white dress bunched up over her thighs when she landed, legs on either side of the mclaren driver.

“daniel, please..” she whined, the angelic sound going directly to the drivers cock, springing to attention in his tight white chinos.

“tell me what you need, baby. I’m right here.” he said softly, placing gentl kisses along her collarbone, relishing in every small movement she made under his touch.

“please, danny, I need you to touch me.”

his lust-filled gaze softened as he ran his fingertips over her soft cheek, tilting her head towards him as he kissed her deeply, moaning into the kiss as one of her hands tangled in her hair.

“I am going to treat you like the fucking goddess that you are. derek diamandis never deserved you in the first place.” his voice was husky as he took her hand in his, staring at the ruby ring.

he didn’t even think before dipping his head down and sliding his mouth over the finger, withdrawing the ring between his lips before spitting it out on the sheets.

“that was so fucking hot.” y/n breathed underneath him, breath hitching as she searched for friction between her thighs.

“well, you don’t need that wankers ring any more now, do you.”

“not one bit. now fucking get between my legs before I have to do this myself.”

“ah, sweetheart, we’re just getting started.”

days eight to fourteen.

y/n y/l/n was falling in love again, something that she never thought would happen after she had to cancel the wedding.

and it was like a total dream to fall in love the way she did, with an incredible man in one of the most beautiful countries she had ever seen.

the days following the night that they spent together were a whirlwind of hikes, couples massages, romantic dinners and nights spent between satin sheets.

but her favourite parts were the mornings that she spent on the balcony with daniel, wearing the plush terry cloth bathrobes from the chalet, mugs of warm drinks in their hands as they snuggled into each other to watch the sun rise.

she felt truly at peace, something she never thought she would feel again with another man.

she was sitting on daniels lap, his hand slipping inside the bathrobe to rub calming circles over the skin on her side as he pressed a gentle kiss to the side of her head.

“have you decided what to do about mclaren?” she asked softly, not wanting to pry.

“I asked zak to buy out my contract. I’m not gonna stay until the end of next season. but I don’t know where to go from there.”

“then we figure it out together.” y/n said softly, bringing daniels knuckles to her lips before snuggling back into his side, one finger gently tracing the beautiful inked tattoos on his arm.

“come to belgium with me.”

“what?” y/n sat up a little straighter, palm on daniel’s chest. “I still have a week of the pseudo honeymoon.”

“you can bail. wouldn’t you rather be at race weekend than here alone? I’ve enjoyed these last few weeks so much, and I don’t want that to end because I have to go back to mclaren.”

y/n was quiet, thinking it over in her head. but at the same time, what did she have to lose? she’d be going back home to an empty apartment, an unworn wedding dress and a table of wedding gifts she’s eventually have to open.

fuck it.

“I’ll do it. I’ll come to belgium with you. they probably already think we’re married, do you think we can keep the charade going a little longer?”

“hell yeah. I can’t wait to get you and my boss in the same room.”

“god, I’m gonna give that man and his fucking american ass a scolding into next week.”

daniel grinned, kissing her gently on the lips.

“I’m so happy that I met you.”

and he hoped deep down, that maybe someday she would be mrs ricciardo for real.

#lovelytsunodas one direction series #daniel ricciardo x reader #daniel ricciardo x y/n #daniel ricciardo #formula one x reader #f1 imagine

510 notes · View notes

yuzu-adagio · 1 year

Text

WOE, RANDOTHON BE UPON YE

18 hours. 4 games. 0 skill. All day this Saturday!

-I'm playing Final Fantasy 1, Pokemon Blue, Slay the Spire, and Link to the Past. -But! It's a multiworld randomizer! I'll find items in one game that'll help me progress in another, and have to keep jumping back and forth! (most of the games will be made shorter and/or easier, I want it to be challenging but possible, y'know?) -I intend to go 18 hours! That's a horrible idea but we're gonna try! The stream that got me into indy vtubers was an 18hr debut so daggumit that's what I wanna do. -I'm raising money for Transgender Law Center as well! If you get it to $100 I'll play Celeste later, and there are individual rewards as well. -I also have a bunch of incentives/punishments/bits set up, hopefully on a wheel! I'll have to spin it once per game I fail to finish, plus probably more spins for X followers and maybe Y subs. (don't give me bits, donate to TLC instead >_>) -Gif is by Rhodo

Hope to see y'all there! 7 AM-1 AM this Saturday at https://www.twitch.tv/yuzuadagioch !

#randothon #adaginfo

33 notes · View notes

ac-liveblogs · 2 years

Note

have u played through the razor event yet? i'd love to hear ur thoughts on it

I have! Overall I thought it was pretty cute? It was a fluffy filler event like Windblume that was more about community than Plot or Lore, and it did a pretty good job of that.

I like Mondstadt a lot. Best region.

The 1000 Wind Wine ties into the event's themes of togetherness, and Mond's themes of freedom, and the event definitely didn't harp on the history of it for too long, so I was actually totally fine with it. I quite like the concept - like the Windblume not really mattering in the end. Mond has a general sense of uh... looseness, but the vibe that two of Mond's traditions are now less about history and more about how you as an individual interpret them is pretty cool.

I really like Mondstadt's relationship with its Archon. The idea that worshipping Barbatos is offering him a drink, but also that everyone is relaxed enough to slink off to the bar so they can get the best deal when he descends from the heavens... it all feels very warm and relaxed. The love Mondstadt has for Barbatos feels very real, and I adore how Venti always tries to pay it back - even/especially when he can't do much.

Even though we don't know Razor very well, I really enjoyed his story and how it ended! I know I complain about Lore and History a lot, but it was handled very well here. Razor's desire to learn about his parents and everyone coming together to help him, him making friends and acknowledging that the time he spent during the festival was equally as important as what he set out to find... it was very sweet.

It was nice to finally see Diona. I found her kind of charming, and I liked finally seeing her with Draff.

I enjoyed running the stall - the gameplay itself was ehhhh, whatever, but the visits from our friends were really nice. Mondstadt's sense of community is gorgeous. Barbara, Eula and Albedo (especially Eula) have grown on me. Bennett and Klee teaming up and Klee trying to adopt Razor on Alice's behalf was cute.

I also really liked Rosaria! I wasn't too big on her in either Dragonspine or her debut in Windblume, but she's definitely gotten stronger since then. I think focusing on her relationships with Varka and Razor did her a lot of good.

I REALLY loved Hamperquest. I tried to guess who wrote each note and was delighted to find that I guessed the correct character more often than not, even with the NPCs. I barely remember any NPCs from the other countries, but Mond's have really stuck with me. Kaeya was a lazy POS.

Mika is cute, but disappointed with what we got. I liked hearing from Varka, even if he did talk about the Fatui a lot. I was surprised that Mika didn't get involved in the event more, though. I kept expecting him to show up to help Razor and we'd get to know him through that (or he might meet up with Eula), but it didn't happen, so his implementation was pretty clumsy imo.

I was also hoping that Jean would have a larger role. I like Jean and would like to see her as Acting Grandmaster more often. I liked Lisa a lot in this event - I'm usually pretty :I on her, but it turns out that making characters talk to each other and have relationships outside the Traveller does wonders for making you like them! She and Razor were adorable.

Diluc and Kaeya continue to be a very awkward two-man comedy act. I keep getting more confused about the state of their relationship the more time goes on. Like, I'm glad they're reconciling, but man, I seriously thought things were worse. I guess they just don't know how to communicate anymore. That said, it was nice to finally see Diluc reaching out - usually it's Kaeya and is "woe-is-me, diluc-doesn't-love-me-:(" routine and we didn't know where Diluc stood, so it's nice to finally get that clarity.

Diluc's dialogue about wondering if Crepus would be PROUD OF THE PERSON I AM TODAY... ACTUALLY, GROWING PAST MY FATHER'S DEATH HELPED ME MATURE AS A PERSON.... buddy a) Crepus was shady as shit, you're fine and b) if you think you've gotten over your father's death, I got real bad news for you. God, just. Mondstadt has the most interesting hanging storylines HYV does nothing with. GIVE ME THE DADLORE

uhh anyway yeah i liked it! the writing was a bit clumsy in places but overall a great experience. hated the boar minigame though. reminded me of legends arceus but so, so, so much worse. they should've brought back hide and seek, that was fun.

#replies #ac plays genshin impact

6 notes · View notes

f1 · 2 years

Text

Sprint races still havent proved their worth Gasly | RaceFans Round-up

In the round-up: Alpine driver Pierre Gasly does not believe that Formula 1’s sprint race format has yet proven itself as a spectacle. In brief Sprint races ‘haven’t proved their worth to me as a spectacle’ – Gasly Alpine driver Pierre Gasly does not believe that Formula 1’s sprint race format has yet proven itself as a spectacle. The format has featured at three rounds for both of the last two year and will be expanded to six rounds this season. Gasly says he prefers the traditional race weekend format of qualifying on Saturday followed by a single race on Sunday. “Personally I really like the normal format with the qualifying on Saturday and then one grand prix on Sunday,” Gasly said. “Sprint races – I see the positives financially for the organisation. In terms of spectacle, it still hasn’t proved to me that it’s worth having more and more races. So in my opinion, the normal format is better. F2, F3 to ship race fuel to Melbourne three months in advance Formula 2 and FIA Formula 3 will send their race fuels to Melbourne three months in advance of the series’ first races at the Albert Park circuit. Asked about the logistics of travelling to Australia, series CEO Bruno Michel said that some resources had to be sent out well in advance of the event in early April. “It’s complicated, but we really enjoy to do that,” said Michel. “Especially because it’s at the beginning of the season, it’s going to be right after Bahrain. So there are a lot of things that needs to be organised in advance. “We need to, for instance, send the fuel very, very early in advance because we knew it takes three months to get there and we’re not going to fly it. So yes, it makes things a little bit more complicated. In terms of cost, it’s not going to change anything for the teams because we will pay for the freight because the promoter is giving us the money to pay for that. So that’s absolutely fine.” Quotes: Hazel Southwell Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free Links Motor racing links of interest: Watch: Logan's 2023 F1 seat fit (Williams) "As our preparations for the 2023 Formula 1 season continue, our new driver Logan Sargeant recently completed his all-important seat fit at Grove." Welcome, Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) "The most experienced grand prix driver of all time, Fernando joins the team off the back of two impressive seasons in Formula 1 following a two-year sabbatical from the sport. More than 20 years after making his Grand Prix debut, he retains the same restless hunger for success and raw speed that have seen him win 32 Grands Prix and two Formula One drivers' titles. He now looks to use all his skill, speed and experience to drive AMF1 to the front of the grid." Coulthard backs Ferrari title bid and puts 2022 woes down to being 'not match fit' (Mirror) "There might be an element of just not being match fit, having not operated at that level (for a while). Ferrari are the most famous name in Formula 1, and have been the longest running members so there might be an element of mass fatigue as well." The Formula 4 title battles you might have missed in 2022 (Formula Scout) "Most of the plaudits in Formula 4 this year went to the dominators of the three most high-profile series. Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli crushed the opposition in ADAC and Italian F4, Alex Dunne took British F4 honours despite missing the final round and Fernando Alonso protege Nikola Tsolov, a car racing debutant, dominated Spanish F4." We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link relating to single-seater motorsport to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it to us via the contact form. Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free Happy birthday! Happy birthday to Regis and T3X! On this day in motorsport Born on this day in 1957: Beppe Gabbiani, who entered 17 F1 races and failed to qualify for all but three of them. via RaceFans - Independent Motorsport Coverage https://www.racefans.net/

#F1 #Sprint races ‘still haven’t proved their worth’ – Gasly | RaceFans Round-up #Formula 1

3 notes · View notes

risingshards · 2 years

Text

My web novel writing process!

I was asked by a friend to share my writing process with them and I figure it'd be good to share here too if anyone is curious about how I handle web novels! For non web novels...I'm still working on a process for that 😅 My webnovels are here for Rising Shards and here for Rising Shards: Evy & Stella.

Before starting web novel:

Prototyping

Setup

During web novel publishing:

Note taking

Early scene writing

Outline

Roughs writing

Second draft

Before starting web novel:

Prototyping:

Basically me tinkering around with stuff to figure out what I want to write, what I'm able to write, what I have the most fun writing, because with a web novel a lot of content is needed to keep up with releases so I have to make sure what I write is something I can actually like *write* without it being a drain on me or something I get bored a few chapters into and give up. I try to build characters or at least start to around here to figure out how they "sound." I like to study the stories I like the most and ask myself what exactly I liked about them, what I'd change, and stuff I could be inspired from for my own stories. RS is kind of hard to say how long I was in prototype phase since it started as a tradpub thing but after working at a publisher and then the pandemic happened, I reallllyy took some soul searching on how to best release it and if I wanted to keep struggling against the woes of traditional publishing.

Set up:

This part is a bit out of order for the pre-web novel process because I want to have some stuff written before I start uploading; so with that in mind when I have a chunk of writing that I'm satisfied with that's at least a few months ahead to start up, then I think about an upload schedule, get a cover mockup or commission one, then tinker around with like the aesthetic I want for banners and such.

Note taking:

This one I do daily pretty much no matter what, basically just jotting every random idea down in a notebook, google doc, or a note app. My notes can be fairly incoherent from my handwriting to the ideas jotted down but I figure it out lol.

Early scene writing:

Sometimes part of note taking, this is usually me just trying random scenes which sometimes become something and sometimes don't, but are good practice for character voice. They're kind of like sketches but in writing form.

Outline:

I outline my stories a bit ahead, but also know vague points way ahead. I like to think of it as a hybrid of TV season, manga, and anime structure versus a print novel structure (though I suppose print novels could very well have this structure, tradpub is just more unforgiving to anything outside the beat sheet for debuts from what I've seen. I don't go too far ahead as the story can change in the writing (I too am gardener/plantser and plantser works well for web novel). Since I use a more TV season like format, I like to get a list of my episode titles in advance and move things around as I go, knowing where like the season premiere and season finales go. I find outlining that way is a lot easier for my brain than just the three act structure, and allows for me to play around more with how things happen. For example, an episode list of the first batch of Rising Shards:

Sometimes I'll have to adjust the episodes a lot if I move one way later to earlier for continuity, but doing them episodically let's me finish my thoughts a lot more easily and it allows for the best pace for my characters. My episodes are between 5 chapters and 12, but I think most are around 8-9.

Roughs writing:

This is where the bulk of my writing gets done. I set up a daily goal like "finish chapter 34.1" and map out my targets for a month, then get rolling and try to get around 1k words in a daily session, but not stopping if I get more chapters done, or getting too bent out of shape if I'm not feeling it that day. I'm a big "talk to your characters" writer, so I get kind of trancelike and just let them tell me where a story is headed when I'm in roughs writing. I mostly write chronologically but things that are tougher like big fantasy episodes, action sequences, and now...sex scenes *gasp* I try to write in advance so I can spend more time polishing them.

Uploads:

Once the roughs are finished, I upload them to my site Tapas, schedule their dates, and then make the banners, thumbnails, etc. I usually wait on descriptions because when I upload chapters at this point my descriptions are very "Character goes somewhere." and that's it lol

Second draft:

This is where I fix up the drafts and polish them to a more readable state, I tinker with chapters up to their upload date and then after too (I'm not full George Lucas special edition I swear I just catch typos and weird phrasings like a year later). Then after that I start outlining the next chunk of episodes, get excited about people reading scenes I really liked and also panic about the ones that are scarier (aka big twists I fear won't land, sex scenes *gasp*, really weird stuff I don't know how people will react to, etc.)

The whole process loops around so I'll be doing roughs on some main episodes, outlines on others, polish on others all going at once. I try to have at least a month ahead on uploads so I don't fall behind as well.

—Chiral

#writeblr #writers on tumblr #web novels #lgbt web novel #rising shards #chiral writes

4 notes · View notes

jesse-eisenberg-interview · 2 years

Text

FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE CAST THINKS VIEWERS MAY HAVE A PERSONAL REACTION TO BESTSELLING BOOK'S ADAPTATION

JESSE EISENBERG, CLAIRE DANES, LIZZY CAPLAN, AND ADAM BRODY STAR IN THE NEW DRAMA FROM AUTHOR AND SERIES SHOWRUNNER TAFFY BRODESSER-AKNER.

When Taffy Brodesser-Akner had to start thinking about who might bring to life the characters she had created in herNew York Timesbestselling novelFleishman Is in Trouble, “the only people we wanted for these roles are in the show,” says the author, who also wrote, executive produced, and made her showrunner debut with FX’s eight-episode series adaptation of the book. “We were very, very lucky.”

And, she goes on to tell Rotten Tomatoes, she credits those stars —Jesse Eisenberg,Claire Danes,Lizzy Caplan, andAdam Brody— with not only bringing her story about the dissolution of the marriage of Toby (Eisenberg) and Rachel (Danes) Fleishman and how that impacts Toby’s longtime friends Libby (Caplan) and Seth (Brody) to fine form, but she also believes the actors’ interpretations of the characters are the interpretations of the characters. Even beyond what she wrote in her book.

“(The cast) turned all these characters not just into humans, but into very specific humans, more specific than I ever even wrote them,”New York Times Magazinewriter Brodesser-Akner says. “Their interpretation, to me, is the ultimate interpretation … not my own. It’s like the final one. I gave them a script, I gave them a book. I answered their questions when they had them. But those [characters] are very uniquely what our actors made them.”

Below, the stellar cast shares what drew them to sign on to portray Brodesser-Akner’s characters in the Certified Fresh new series, and why they think the relationship woes and personal evolution dramas of the Fleishmans and their friends will not only resonate greatly, but could even spark viewers to action in their own relationships.

Kimberly Potts for Rotten Tomatoes: What personal connections that attracted each of you to Brodesser-Akner’s story?

Jesse Eisenberg:For me it was something very personal, which is just that I recognize this culture, this specific brand of neurosis and anxiety and need for stability and euphoria and very specific cultural touchstones. Taffy can do that great thing, which is write about her own culture in a way that is understandable to outsiders as well as insiders. So for a kind of Jewish New Yorker watching this or reading this, it feels totally accurate. What I’ve discovered is that for people who are outsiders to that culture, they feel similarly touched, similarly relating.

Claire Danes:I thought it was a wonderful kind of anatomy of a relationship. She explores the dynamic between these two people (Toby and Rachel) in such a kind of kaleidoscopic way. It’s a really thorough examination of it, and we get to experience it and reexperience it from so many different vantage points and points along their line of history. So, it’s very kinetic and a really surprising structure. I happen to be a middle-aged married person with a couple of kids living in New York City. So like Jesse, this was all immediately relevant to me. But even though I happened to be of this, the kind of microscopic point on the globe, the feelings and ideas are global and very shared.

Lizzy Caplan:I had read the book and loved it. I think for me it was … really identifying with who these characters were. I feel definitely a shared history with them, just a similar — the West Coast version of their East Coast Jewish upbringing just felt really familiar, but also, all the characters were grappling with these more middle-aged problems that still feel like deep in the future for me. I don’t feel like I’m experiencing what Libby is experiencing currently, but it’s kind of a good practice to see what my future middle-life misery will look like.

Adam Brody:Well, I think Taffy’s such a wonderful writer, and I think it’s a flawless adaptation … eight episodes for the book, I feel like nothing had to be sacrificed, and at the same time, a bunch of new stuff didn’t have to be invented. You really get everything that’s lovely in the book in the show. It’s so crackling, and it’s so charming and entertaining and kind of glossy, and the show’s so cinematic that you get this wonderful kind of big cinematic, sweeping experience from this very inward-looking story.

What’s the possibility of viewers relating to the characters and storylines so much that it sparks action in their own lives?

Eisenberg:Truly my favorite part of the show is that, you see Rachel through (Toby’s) perspective for quite a while, and you kind of come away with this very skewed perspective of her villainousness and her selfishness, her coldness, her unhealthy ambition … (then) the show switches perspective and you see the same relationship from her perspective. And you realize, wait a second, Toby has been aloof, he’s been sexist, he’s been unfairly asking for her commitment to a relationship that is beyond what she’s able to give … him not recognizing her real world trauma and her life’s pain. I think people will take from it that when you look at any relationship from your own perspective, you’re going to see it in a very skewed way. You’ll never judge your own behavior, you’ll judge your intentions … you’ll not give the other person the benefit of the doubt. Which is what happens in (Toby and Rachel’s) relationship. So yes, hopefully this is not like a morality tale and it’s not a show that’s preaching or sanctimonious. But yes, I suspect that people will take from this show the idea that, if I looked at my behavior from somebody else’s perspective, it might not look as rosy.

Danes:I think the characters are forced and they protest, they try very hard not to, but ultimately they have to face themselves and self-reflect. They get lost in blaming each other for a while. They’re so fixated on the other person’s shortcomings. They have to go through the morass of that before they can arrive at the very uncomfortable, but much more important, place of reviewing the choices that they made, accepting their own responsibility. And hopefully that’s what we will allow the audience to do. And I think self-reflection of that kind is a form of action, I hope.

Caplan:I think that it could. I think that’s definitely one of the goals of making art that, when you watch something, you see yourself in it, and it helps you make certain decisions in your life.

Brody:I don’t necessarily think it has to be a call for action as much as it’s comforting to see yourself and see yourself romanticized.

SOURCE

#2022 #fleishman is in trouble #jesse eisenberg

3 notes · View notes

diebullydie · 27 days

Text

DNA Magazine: Sweet Revenge Will Fill The Screen When Matt Backer And Drew Weston Debut Film

By Matt Myers / September 15, 2024

Ever wanted to get even with your high school bully? Local theatre hunks and DNA favourites Matt Backer and Drew Weston are doing just that, well sort of.

The two actors have written a short film of vengeance, also paying homage to the slasher films of the Nineties. Described as Fleabag meets Final Destination with a dash of Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion, Die Bully Die tackles homophobia, gay shame, forgiveness and bearing a grudge!

Admit it, we’ve all dreamed of it!

Speaking to Matt Myers about the inception for their Die Bully Die! show, creators Matt Backer and Drew Weston explain that it’s loosely based off their experiences in high school and facing down old bullies through art.

“I went to an all-boys Catholic school in the Nineties and had a rough time. I held onto it for way too long and it affected my growing up in becoming an adult and my relationships,” says Backer. “I came out quite late at around thirty because of that damage, but I’m now happy working as an actor with a supportive and loving family.”

Feeling that the past is always present in our lives, Backer also saw a chance to create some interesting characters which he developed with Weston.

“Drew and I get along so well,” he says. “We have the same sort of humour and we thought this was a great concept to write, play and produce. So, we drew from my experiences to create the story and it’s now evolved into a greater metaphor for trauma. It’s not necessarily just homophobic or queerphobic but something relatable to people in letting go of the past. It’s about tackling the future with greater hope.”

Set in a plush restaurant, the plot sees Max (Backer) meeting up with his high-school bully Adam (Weston) after a sixteen-year gap. But things don’t go well and Max’s grudge manifests into revenge of the classic teen-horror comedy genre.

“I had a different high school experience to Matt,” says Weston. “I had a little bit of bullying, but nothing to the extent that he had. In Die Bully Die! my character bullied Max in high school and he’s turned out to be gay himself. It’s a frustrating situation for Max, but Adam is there to apologise, which doesn’t really go to plan!”

For Weston, the experience has been a learning curve in producing and writing as well as acting. He also sees the production reaching beyond the LGBTQIA+ community. “It’s a universal topic,” he says.

“Whether it’s bullying for being gay or overweight or a cultural background, everyone can relate in some way, whether as the victim, witness or actually the bully who now realises what they had done.”

“It’s seen through the lens of the Nineties slasher films we grew up with, which sells well. It’s more Black Mirror than a sentimental ‘woe is me’. But even though it’s full-on, it does have some heart-warming moments.”

The film also stars Ben Gerrard and Shannon Dooley, with Nick Annas and Ethan Lamb-Kelly playing younger versions of Max and Adam. Production is taking place around Sydney with aspirations to extend into a full-length film or series.

Backer and Weston are also looking for support from the community, with a crowdfunding account set up through the Australian Cultural Fund.

“The crowdfunding is going great, and support has been beautiful,” says Backer.

“A lot of people have been through a similar journey, but we also have wonderful allies too. They want to see this type of story and the Australian Cultural Fund has been fantastic in providing our crowdfunding platform. We wanted to support an Australian organisation that supports local artists, and it also helps that donations through there are tax deductible!”

#Horror #Comedy #ShortFilm #Film #Movie #Movies #Films #Filmmaking #Screenwriting #Actor #Acting #Bullying #Bully #DieBullyDie #LGBT #LGBTQ #Gay #Queer #Crowdfunding

0 notes

matthewbacker · 6 months

Text

DIE BULLY DIE – Sweet Revenge Will Fill The Screen When Matt Backer And Drew Weston Debut Film

By Matt Myers / September 15, 2023

Ever wanted to get even with your high school bully? Local theatre hunks and DNA favourites Matt Backer and Drew Weston are doing just that, well sort of.

Admit it, we’ve all dreamed of it!

Feeling that the past is always present in our lives, Backer also saw a chance to create some interesting characters which he developed with Weston.

Nineties teen dramas are familiar turf to Drew Weston, having recently played lead hunk Sebastian in Cruel Intentions: The Nineties Musical.

Backer and Weston are also looking for support from the community, with a crowdfunding account set up through the Australian Cultural Fund.

“The crowdfunding is going great, and support has been beautiful,” says Backer.

0 notes

doomedandstoned · 9 months

Text

Belgian Doomers COLUMBARIUM Usher In ‘The Morbidious One’

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

Artwork by Vladimir Chebakov

As a rule, humans spend much of our time occupied with the activities of life and daily living, perhaps very little of it thinking about the reality of death. The pandemic, however, brought death near to each one of us in a way that was terrifying, leaving many inconsolable. It is my conviction that music is a part of the process necessary for healing our emotions from such wounds. Bands like Serpentine Path, Yob, and Undersmile have helped me to stomach some serious struggles with anxiety and depression, primarily because their sound translates so remarkably to the thing I am experiencing, as though they have unlocked the secrets of communicating precisely with the emotions.

Now comes COLUMBARIUM, not a new band by any stretch (its original form echoing back to the mid '90s), but a band new to these ears, thanks to them being picked up by a label we've followed for the past 10 years in these pages, Argonauta Records. Hailing from West Flanders, Belgium, the four-member crew has married old school doom on the order of Saint Vitus and The Skull to brumal death vocals for a sound that is not only severe, but curiously elevating. For the band's premiere studio LP, 'The Morbidious One' (2023), we have here assembled the team of Pete Jules V (bass, vocals), Koen Biesbrouck (guitar, keyboard), Marc ‘Markie’ Vangheluwe (guitar), and Vincent ‘Mille’ Millecam (drums)

The first of its seven tracks is "Eyes Bleed Black," which the band states "is Columbarium in its purest form" and "was conceived from our gut feeling at one of our rehearsals." The song, dedicated to a close friend of the group, is cold, misty, and ancient sounding. Esmee Tabasco from Tyrant's Kall lends her ferocious and gnarly singing to the mix, to great effect. Lyrically, the song questions God and the often inexplicable nature of our existence. There are variations of the main theme along the way that accent the point -- from powerful and menacing, to beautiful and stately.

Oh, Griet Where’s your World Where are you We are here alone Oh, Griet, No Heaven above Nor Hell below

"The Morbidious One" features some sinister, stinging guitar tone, which really wails as the track opens. Chords are angular and statuesque, with raspy dirty vocals. Around 4 1/2 minutes in, things shift into a chugging quasi-thrash swagger, but soon return to the strange forbidding nature of its main character, which the band reveals is actually (here and throughout the album) "the deep emotion of Death."

‘The Morbidious One’ is about a tribe that divinizes Death in a positive way to ensure a safe transition to the Afterlife. The character on the cover symbolizes Death in some of the lyrics.

We get a swirl of styles in "Rivers Of Blood," which begins with resounding piano harmonies, soon joined by echoing strings, and finally the growl of the band in full form. It's an effective intro, taking us to the bard and his tale of woe. The guitar gives us a memorable passage in between verses with a rhapsodic run of notes. Meanwhile, blast beats roil and then an interlude that seems to almost levitate in its solitude. The guitar's theme returns opposite of the singer, then finally lets loose in a frenetic solo.

"Redemption" is next and its solo guitar introduction reminds me a bit of the plaintive style of the late, great Pilgrim. Soon the band hustles up and ushers us to the first verse, where the vocals are as grizzly and blood-dripping as you could ask for. And oh what a beautiful guitar lead from 4:14 to 4:46, imbued with pain, insanity, and the blues. Frontman Peter wrote this one "facing the passing of his mother in 2017. 'Redemption' is redemption from life, redemption from mental suffering." The death of his beloved mother seems to take on an almost Christlike character in the lyrics:

I am drained, of my Misery, My Preparation, for my Litany, The Last Day, Has come, When I cease to bleed, in your Arms,

"Barefoot On The Moon" is only 1:11 and makes me wish it lasted at least twice as long, owing to the appeal of the 12-string guitar matched with ghostly sanguine vocals from Michelle Nocon (ex-Bathsheba, ex-Serpentcult, ex-Death Penalty, now with Of Blood and Mercury). It's a good palate cleanser, because things are about to get brutal.

Lyrics aside, "Our Glorious Ways" feels as if it could be a Puritan hymn sung inside a church by some stern fellow back in the 1700s. It's fierce and unyielding, alternating between long, slow beats and up-tempo sprints, while the guitar hammers away at a grim piece of riff-metal, and closes with organ-like keys.

"A Cure For Everything -- Get Back Alive" is like those runs with the romping drums and devilish guitar play that we'd all look forward to on thrash albums (or even from Witchfinder General and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal). Dual guitars come out to play, ravaging and savaging along the way with nimble tremeloes and dank chord progressions. At the three-minute mark, a switch to doom mode with a guitar harmonies so sweet it hurts to think about it too long. So it disappears and then comes back a minute later.

From there the theme develops improvisationally, then at 5:13 the thrash comes back and continues undaunted until the bass throws its weight around in an amazing solo. Aside from OM and Sleep, it seems rare to see an extended bass section of this kind, and that alone is worth sticking around for. And this bass, already downtuned, gets dead on your belly low! What an awesome bookend to what has been a strong album overall.

Look for Columbarium's The Morbidious One on CD and vinyl via Argonauta Records, with the digital album releasing this Friday, September 29th (pre-order here). Stick it on a playlist with Marche Funebre, Conviction, Barabbas, Pilgrim, and Purification.

Give ear...

youtube

SOME BUZZ

Columbarium is a Belgian (from the village of Zwevegem) heavy Doom band which found its birth in 2021, but was conceived of seasoned members from the doom scene for over ten years. Having played about a 100 gigs in a former setup in Belgium, the Netherlands and France with bands like The Gates Of Slumber, Nekromant, Marche Funèbre, Serpent Venom, FAAL, Famyne, King Hiss and at fests like Little Devil Doom Days etc., they have built a serious reputation as a live act in the last decade. The addition of an extra guitar/keyboard player some years ago (Koen Biesbrouck, formerly also from the avant-garde, instrumental band Locus Control) has taken the music to another horizon and that newfound sound of the band was the cradle for the bands rebirth.

Columbarium found that sound in engaging with Belgian producer Lander Cluyse from Hearse Studio (Amenra, Aborted) and with Brad Boatright from AudioSiege Mastering Studio (US/Portland who worked with the likes of Monolord and Pig Destroyer). Together they found the sound they have always dug for in the Flemish clay. Columbarium played their first gig at the end of September 2021 with brothers in arms funeral doom band FAAL at the well-known underground club Little Devil in Tilburg/the Netherlands. Being the first gig in over two years at the venue, it was a memorable evening in a sold-out and very cozy setting.

youtube

As a teaser to the bands’ music, Columbarium independently released a lyric-video for the song ‘Rivers Of Blood’ on the 17th of December 2021. It got noticed by Belgian independent label Dust & Bones Records and it was very quickly clear that label manager Frederik Vanhee and the boys were assimilated minds in being metal freaks in heart and soul and having passed a lifetime of love for all kinds of different metal genres.

This resulted in the release of a first single ‘Rivers Of Blood’ with the title track and ( even though it’s not) B-side track ‘Save Our Children.’ It was released on the 23rd of May 2022 on limited, hand-numbered cassette and digital streaming and download on all platforms. The release was supported by a visualizer for the new song ‘Save Our Children’ which saw the dawn of day on the 23rd of May. The single was meant to be a ‘getting to know the band’ before the release of a full album in 2023.

youtube

Bass player/vocalist Pete states: ‘It feels rather uncomfortable to describe your own music and actually we don't like doing so, but we go through life as a heavy Doom metal band with influences ranging from blues to some earlier slower death metal. To say it with the words from our good friend William Nijhof of funeral doom band FAAL, ‘A super combi between miserable and brutal!’

Having recorded that first full album with the title ‘The Morbidious One’ from April 2022 until mid July 2022, the mix and full production was finished in February 2023 by Lander Cluyse from Hearse Studio, who also did the first single in 2022. In March the band was picked up by Italian specialized Stoner/Doom/Sludge label Argonauta Records for release of the full album at the end of September 2023.

The Morbidious One by Columbarium

Follow The Band

Get Their Music

#D&S Debuts #Columbarium #Zwevegem #Belgium #doom metal #death doom #Argonauta Records #D&S Reviews #Doomed and Stoned

1 note · View note

existentialmagazine · 1 year

Text

Review: Amen Sioux shares his new dreamy single ‘Drunk in Love’, an easy-going R&B styled release with an aching, introspective look on love

Since making his musical debut in 2021, the upcoming genre-blending talent Amen Sioux has been making strides between an amalgamation of indie electronica, lo-fi dream pop, alt R&B and psychedelia, with his soft and sophisticated releases all reigning in their own individuality. His latest and third release of the year ‘Drunk in Love’ sets the tone for the upcoming summer air with a blissful ease, another sure-to-be hit amongst his already diverse collection of music.

From its dreamy openings, ‘Drunk in Love’ right away entangles you within its soft bedding of sound, setting a hazy blanket of sound to wrap yourself within while Amen Sioux takes you through a mesmerising musical journey. Clasped between a gorgeously fluid electric guitar riff that almost seems to flow like water droplets, the soundscape is one of utter ease and calm, entrancing you inside of its’ delicacy. With soft electronic beats and taps, ‘Drunk in Love’ remains drenched in a minimalist approach you can’t help but be soothed by, whilst caught on every single haunting word that Amen Sioux serenely spews. The chorus maintains the same soaring instrumentals, but a layering of differing vocals creates a moment you can’t take your eyes - or ears - off of, feeling utterly consumed by the sweet concoction. Developing with bright piano chimes and cascading guitar, the song is a constant evolution that’s simple and yet moving all the same, an essence of beauty to be appreciated with every ebb and flow. Amen’s vocals are the final piece that pulls ‘Drunk in Love’ together though, rising from more downbeat verse vocals to gorgeously elegant chorus highs with a sublime dexterity. Despite its’ more passionate lyricism, ‘Drunk in Love’ offers a measured, comforting respite in sound, showing that the best kinds of love are ones you can feel completely at peace within.

Although its sound is safe and secure, ‘Drunk in Love’ tells a more heart-wrenching tale of heartbreak between its lyrical woes, gravitating away from the tranquility once felt with a lover and falling through the cracks yearning for it once again. With the track’s protagonist intoxicated by an ex and unable to move onwards, Amen finds himself comparing the breathtaking high that love can bring about with the devastating withdrawal from alcohol or drugs when it is lost, feeling a collapse in purpose and identity without the means of getting one more hit. Singing ‘loneliness is my disease, but I believe you are my remedy’, it’s clear that the track maintains a hopeful delusion that their partner will come back around, instead of focusing on themselves and their inability to be alone they desire to fix their wounds with the temporary fix of another. As lines like ‘I wanna feel that stream of dopamine’ exhibit an unhealthy reliance on their partner to be the reason they feel joy, the lyrics of ‘Drunk in Love’ seem to display the characteristics of someone deeply struggling with their own identity, finding themselves only when they’re with another. Pining for not just love but happiness too, ‘Drunk in Love’ is a song that perhaps too many will be able to see themselves in, an aching, introspective look on love that not everyone dares to share.

Check out ‘Drunk in Love’ here to experience Amen Sioux’s striking lyrical journey with a sound that’ll whisk you away!

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

#music #singlereview #amensioux

0 notes

thetoxicgamer · 1 year

Text

Guild Wars 2 is not a ‘dead game,’ new End of Dragons stats prove it

End of Dragons was everything I needed and more for someone like me who adored Guild Wars 2 but got sidetracked by Final Fantasy XIV and World of Warcraft. The Guild Wars 2 player base has greatly increased as a result of the MMORPG's DLC that was inspired by Asia. Our Guild Wars 2 End of Dragons review called the expansion a “refreshing return” for the age-old MMO, and that’s something I echo tenfold. The gorgeous new zone and the innovative new trait lines are all wrapped up in a soaring story that, quite honestly, is one of my favorite in any MMO to date – and I have played a lot of MMOs. In an exclusive interview with PCGamesN following the release of the latest content patch, What Lies Within, I asked Guild Wars 2 game director Josh Davis about the impact End of Dragons – and laterally Guild Wars 2 coming to Steam – has had on the series. “We’re feeling really good ! It’s amazing that Guild Wars 2, a game preparing to celebrate its eleventh anniversary, is not just doing well – it’s thriving!” he tells me. “We give a lot of credit for that to the End of Dragons expansion and our summer 2022 Steam launch, both of which helped revitalize the community by bringing back a ton of veteran players and introducing the game to entirely new generation of Guild Wars fans.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiNpIbd5jeE He also provided me with some never-seen-before data. “The February 2022 launch of End of Dragons helped us land our strongest Q1 performance since the announcement of Heart of Thorns in 2015 – a huge success in our book. “But it gets better! We beat that number again this year by 20%, and we achieved that without an expansion launch. This growth has allowed us to increase the size of the Guild Wars 2 development team for thefirst time in years.” The game’s Steam debut also ushered in hordes of new players, with Davis telling PCGamesN “we’ve seen over a million new Guild Wars fans play the game! These new users aren’t all coming in through Steam – we’re seeing a good proportion of them coming in through GuildWars2.com – which signals to us that Steam has helped improve the awareness of Guild Wars 2 generally, not just on the Steam platform.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0x1qgygPto It’s a pretty sizable number given the misconception that Guild Wars 2 is a ‘dead game’ when compared to competitors. As we draw ever closer to the game’s fourth expansion – and a approach that’ll see new, smaller content released more frequently to avoid huge waits – I really can’t wait to see what’s next for Guild Wars 2. The fourth expansion ushers in a new age for Tyria, and that’s oh so very exciting for a long-time fan like me. If you’re looking to pass the time while we wait for more news on the fourth expansion, we have a list of the best dragon games to sate your draconic woes, as well as a rundown of all the best fantasy games so you can get that magical fix. Read the full article

0 notes

alaminshorkar76 · 2 years

Text

#IFTTT #Blogger

0 notes

lineismade · 2 years

Text

Twin Flames

Wilbur Soot x Reader

Bridgerton AU Ch 1/?

1.8k Words

Y/N Pov

At the break of day; the preparations began. Whether it be the cooks buzzing around in the kitchen or the decorations flying around the ballroom, it was certain that the hall was alive with the celebration of the spring social season.

Obviously, my mother was more worried than I was. It was a worry of hers that I would go another year without finding an appropriate match, but it was my silent hope that I would endure another year of independence. Some would call it the life of a spinster that I enjoyed, but I called it the life of a modern woman. I had just turned twenty-one the following January, so I wasn't exactly a rotting corpse yet.

I have an older brother, so the worry wasn't soiling my family's reputation, but ruining my viability as a young lady in society. My brother, George, is my mother's pride and joy. He married a wonderful lady of English court a couple seasons back, and has been engaged in a happy marriage ever since. He hasn't any children yet, but he appeased my mothers woes for a couple years by matrimony.

My aversions to marriage probably stem from years of watching my friends grow up and change the second they turned a young man's eye. Young girls turned into young women, and as did their priorities. I wanted to make sure that I didn't fall subject to the same woes, but there was the slight longing not to be the black sheep for once in my life.

In such fashion, there was a slight internal pressure to finally make this season my last as a single woman. To my own disdain, the anxiety was weighing on me as I sat in the windowsill of my childhood bedroom, wondering if I was betraying my own virtues by giving into everything I had sworn against.

My mother gave me the privilege of choosing my ball gown for my debut this season, so I decided to go with a more outward option.

A red dress was my scandalous choice for my entrance, but I figured it was fitting to let people know what they were getting into. It was always a dream of mine to put all my cards in one deck and come out with a surprise, but it was obviously a risky move. I had nothing else to lose, so it would be a shame if I didn't follow my own hopes.

Anxieties aside, I carried on preparing for tonight's gala. I powdered my face, tightened the corset, and adjusted my hair to my own liking's. My first debut was a bit more uptight, but now that my prospects seemed bleak, I finally had free will. Funny how that seems to work out.

My hopes for this evening consisted of my own optimism. Lamb to the slaughter, and red rose in my hair, the world was my oyster.

----

The carriage ride from my family's city home to the banquet hall was so silent you could hear a pin drop. My mother seemed dissatisfied with my fashion choices, but there wasn't a care in my mind. She knew what to expect with me, and thankfully she learned to just let me be a couple years back. My brother sat across from me alongside his own wife, Cornelia. She was a beautiful girl a year younger than I was, and their love story was a bit more traditional than my prospects seemed.

He was twenty-four when they first married, and she was nineteen. It might seem like she was young, but there was nothing about their marriage that was not genuine. They were set up by my mother, and when they first met the match was obviously a win. There was an immediate change in the climate of the calling room when they met for the first time.

Love at first sight as some would say.

I watched as all of this unfurled before my eyes in awe that love actually exists. I didn't believe in any shred of hope that there was any form of love out there for me, until I saw their love story unfold. It was a glimmer of hope, but it seemed far away nonetheless.

Both Cornelia and George wore modestly matching dress clothes to accompany me to my debut. Compared to them, I was very obviously a strange bird.

A canary.

As we arrived, the color of distaste that painted my mothers face faded away.

"Well, it's time to put on a show. The happy couple, the beautiful daughter, the timeless mother...... we've checked all the boxes! Smiles on your faces ladies and gentleman!" My mother chirped as we left the carriage.

A smile was on my face when I stepped down, and I had more confidence in one step than I had in my entire life. I felt like I was on fire......but it seemed like the focus was on anyone but me.

My shimmer was diminished by the bright and shiny girls who walked in on their brother's arm unbothered by the world.

Fresh meat. Oh dear lord, I really was a lamb to the slaugther.

I stood around for a minute or so until I looked at the state of the affair I was engaged in. For a while it felt like I was a ghost watching my own life go by. No gentleman callers to come and sweep me off my feet, and no opportunity for any kind of socially acceptable escape from this soiree. My fate was bleak as I watched the girls dance in a cycle of never-ending social pleasantries in the process I knew so well.

I carried on, and walked around the ornately decorated ballroom. Regretting my choice in attire was past me, but I was now worried that my attendance was a mistake. The room seemed like it was closing in around me as the hall became more overwhelmed with puffy dresses and men in dress suits.

A drink.... I needed a drink.......I thought as my lungs cried out for air. I stumbled around the room until I found a server willing to give me their final glass of champagne. It was most likely out of pity, but regardless it helped to ease my nerves. I hurriedly pushed my way across the hall to the back garden, to get some fresh air.

Instant relief is only the tip of the iceberg from what I felt. It was like the anxiety I carried on my shoulders melted like the extravagant ice carvings the queen insisted be at every event she threw.

The tears stung my cheeks and I realized the gravity of my situation, but in my lonesomeness it would be a pity if I allowed myself to wallow in my sorrow.

Dry your tears, gain some composure, because everything was going to be okay.

It was just me and the evening sky as the pinks and oranges of the sunset faded away into the darkness of night. The smell of the flowers and the feel of my heels on seemingly solid ground made me feel finally at rest within my worries.

A breath of fresh air.

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

In.....

"It's only fitting that the Belle of the ball is nowhere to be found within the ball," I heard an ominous voice say from behind me. It was very obviously a man, with a slight anxious undertone dripping from every word. Like he knew the weight of every word he said down to a decimal.

"You are aware that if you approach me in the wrong way with no supervision, that both, mainly my reputation, could be soiled. I didn't come here to be mysterious." I seethed, not wanting to attract any more attention than necessary to my delicate situation.

"Oh, I didn't realize we were walking on a minefield, but the gentleman in me wishes to assure you that I don't come with ill intentions. I just simply couldn't allow a beautiful lady such as yourself to feel alone in a time like this. I know I wouldn't want to be alone." He said as he inched closer to me, as if he was actually attempting to clear a minefield.

"While I appreciate the courtesy, I'd prefer to be left alone..." I hesitated before I carefully calculated what I would say next. Turning from my view off the balcony, I was awestruck with the realization that the man who had been talking to me seemed to be in his own version of the same predicament.

He stood alone backed up against another edge of the balcony, and as I scanned him up and down it appeared he was feigning his confidence. His hands fiddled and he couldn't seem to find a way to plant his feet on solid ground. I found comfort in the fact that I wasn't alone in my trials, but I tensed at his reaction to my words.

"But, misery loves company, therefore I'm glad I won't be left alone." I started as I watched the corners of his mouth turn upwards in a devilish smile. He had something mysterious about his own image.

"You're right. I imagine this probably isn't a normal interaction one would have at a ball of this stature. People will start to wonder if we're gone for too long...... Oh! Where are my manners, my name is William." He said, walking in an anxious scuffle towards me. He didn't seem like most of the other suitors, most of which carried themselves like they owned the world we walk on.

Once his conquest to me was complete, he awkwardly bowed, which made me cringe internally at the formality. "Oh, I'm not the queen, there's no need to bow to me. It's very nice to make your acquaintance William. I'm Lady Davidson, but the formality makes me want to chuck myself off of this balcony, so just refer to me as Y/N if you feel like it."

He gazed into my eyes with a wonder that he seemingly just discovered, as he returned to his upright position. It seemed like he was attempting to make himself taller as he rose to his full stature, but it turns out he was just tall.

I wasn't exactly the tallest young woman ever, but I prided myself on being above average height for a woman. He squared himself up to me as he searched for what to say next.

"Wilbur. My friends call me Wilbur," He said as the smile on his face grew to an anxious grin, "Would you fancy a dance? I figure the best way to share the misery is to endure it together. Unless you have other obligations to attend to. I completely understand either way."

"Oh, of course, yes... Wilbur. It's quite nice to meet you." I said, following him as he turned on his heels to walk back into the ballroom. I couldn't understand exactly what was bothering him, but I knew that I wasn't opposed to following the mysterious man into the hall.

A beautiful stranger.

A/N

Hey! I hope you all have enjoyed this part! I've poured all of my free time into writing this the past couple days (majority of it after midnight when I get home from work), and hope that you guys get some gratification from my Bridgerton phase.

This first chapter is just an introduction, so it seems kinda slowburn for right now, but I promise the tension will pick up next chapter. Posting it soon!!!!

Have an amazing day lovelies!!

(P.S. Find me on Wattpad too! lineismade )

-Line (Ch 2)

#wilbur soot #wilbur soot x reader #wilbur soot imagine #mcyt imagine #mcyt fluff #mcyt x reader #mcyt #bridgerton au #georgenotfound #tommyinnit #technoblade #philza #mumza #bridgerton #wilbur soot au

53 notes · View notes

sofwrites · 3 years

Text

Each other's biggest ally

Polin Week Day 1: Favorite Quote

“No, his method of attack was a lazy smile, a well-timed joke. If Colin ever lost his temper...

Penelope shook her head slightly, unable even to fathom it. Colin would never lose his temper. At least not in front of her. He'd have to be really, truly—no, profoundly —upset to lose his temper. And that kind of fury could only be sparked by someone you really, truly, profoundly cared about.” - Romancing Mister Bridgerton, pg. 64

The one where Colin profoundly cared and had no choice but to lose his temper.

Type: One-shot, angst, sentimentalism, protective/mywife!Colin, protectective/myhusband!Penelope

Length: 3.3k

Read on ao3! Or continue under the cut

In the late months of the year 1825, Penelope Featherington Bridgerton published her debut novel titled The Wallflower. And in the early months of the year 1826, she relished in the praise of her work and suffered in the consequences of her now-public identity.

The response to her book was generally positive. Whether or not they were willing to admit it, the members of the ton were eager to uncover the scathing details surrounding Mrs. Bridgerton’s former pen name. They devoured the secrets hidden between the lines of the pages- forming their own conclusions and theories of what was fact and what was fiction.

It seemed that after many years of Penelope appearing to be invisible, the gravity of her voice was finally truly understood.

But as in all life, there were complications as well.

One gentleman in particular was quick to make his discontent known, and it was all due to just one short excerpt.

Although Beatrice did not befriend even half of the ton, she had made the acquaintance of nearly everyone at one point. And though they never realized, she scrutinized them almost as much as they disregarded her.

Even with her close examinations, she generally liked the people she met. There were bores, many in fact, as well as those with whom conversation could rarely be carried, but most were reasonably pleasant. There were exceptions, however, as there always are. One such exception was as follows:

It is an earlier season for Beatrice, one still full of wonder and disillusioned hope. She looks at the dancefloor with wistfulness in her eyes, dreaming, praying that her prince charming will notice her from across the room and ask her to take his arm.

He does not, of course. His mind is still focused fully on the small group that surrounds him, drawn to him like a shining star amongst the thinly veiled candlelight. Although the music is certainly too loud and the conversations too many, our heroine can perfectly hear his laughter through the crowded ballroom. She can hear it because she knows it better than she knows her own.

Later that evening, he’ll ask her to dance. He’ll remember her minuscule presence in his life, likely prodded by a sharp finger to his spine and a voice carrying a gentle reminder. And even though she knows why he will do so, knows that it is due to a kind sense of duty rather than true desire, she will cherish it all the same.

Right now, however, Beatrice remains at the edge of the dancefloor, her silent woes interrupted by the familiar voice of her mother.

“Beatrice, dear, this is Mr. Wetherden. Mr. Wetherden, I present to you my daughter, Beatrice Harpenton.”

Another bachelor, this one ranking second-tier rather than third. Her mother seems to have given her more credit this evening, Beatrice thinks as she looks at the familiar face.

The introduction is an unnecessary formality, of course, as are many of their rules; they were made acquaintances during her first season. Nonetheless, society calls for her to curtsy and give a gracious smile, and she obliges.

At the same time, he assesses her similarly to how he did so a few years before. And she sees it immediately, the dismissal that passes over his eyes even before he fully bends into his low bow.

Her mother leaves them to it- the stifled conversation in an even more stifling ballroom. The unfortunate girl in the canary-colored dress stands on the sidelines, trapped in conversation with yet another uninterested bachelor who is just as much forced upon her as she is on him.

He speaks endlessly, unquestionably more for his benefit than hers. He spends fourteen minutes explaining the difference between rugby and football. She suppresses three yawns and is interrupted twenty-six times throughout the topic, clearly expected to be an audience member rather than a participant.

At this time, she thinks this is Mr. Wetherden’s worst offense. Later on, when she is years older, Beatrice discovers that she was sorely mistaken in her youth. That without the cautionary lights of London (albeit often cloudy and forgiving), he is much worse.

She later on learns about his propensity to unwilling women. To frightened young housemaids who are often not given the options that women of a higher class are granted.

Our heroine also finds out later exactly how commonplace such a tendency is. And with it, her vision of social seasons- the one with balls and picnics and musicales- begins to splinter.

Penelope hadn’t named him, of course. She hadn’t named anyone directly.

She couldn’t publish a memoir, not really. Even though she was related to a fine variation of important characters in society, she couldn’t put such a strain on her family, and particularly not on her husband. Her husband, her lovely, amazing husband who supported her through the entire process even despite the fact that so much of their own private history was laid out in the pages of her novel. Penelope had written the truth, which hadn’t been entirely pretty. But Colin had agreed with her that the truth was more important than sheltering their secrets.

But even though she couldn’t publish a direct recounting of her life and experiences with the ton, she’d been unwilling to just hide behind fabricated stories.

Penelope’s telling of that night at the ball wasn’t completely factual. She did not know how many times Phillip Cavender interrupted her during their conversation, nor whether or not Colin had even been present that evening. But the details of the matter weren’t as important to her as shedding light on the entire situation.

She’d been young and naive during her first few seasons, believing that a few nasty comments and looks were really the worst of what society had to offer. Later on, she’d found out that she had been wrong, and that there was much worse than she’d ever known. And when her sister-in-law, Sophie, had recounted the night she and Benedict had met (well, met again), Penelope knew that she had to shed light on the matter. She had to make it clear what happened outside of the fancy dresses and giggling parties.

But as mentioned, such decisions did not come without their objections.

“Thank God, they’re leaving.”

The words came from just a few feet behind them, full of indignancy and bitterness. The couple had been walking together, arm-in-arm, towards the door, quite eager to return home for the evening.

They’d been attending an intimate house party at the request of the gentleman’s mother. She’d been unable to make her attendance that evening and had asked that her son and his wife go in her stead. They hadn’t been particularly excited about the prospect, but they’d agreed for her.

The party itself hadn’t been bad. The food was good, the music was pleasant, and almost everyone in attendance had offered the woman praise for her work. Though they hadn’t exactly been excited to attend, the evening hadn’t been at all poor.

That was, until they’d been nearing the exit and heard the troublesome remark behind them.

Colin glanced down at his wife, who grimaced, her nose scrunching as her eyes closed. They’d been met with a number of sneers and snide comments in the last few weeks, but they never became easier to hear.

With a small sigh, he turned them both around, looking directly at the man holding a glass of port too large and wearing a lip too curled.

Colin gave him a smile, the familiar one he used whenever he was looking at something that both irritated and mildly amused him. “Didn’t see you there, Cavender. So nice of you to offer us a sendoff.”

The opposing man’s mouth turned downwards, a stark contrast to the grin still on Colin’s face. Penelope swallowed, quickly cutting in. “We really must be getting home.”

With a pointed look directed towards her husband, she began pulling him back towards the door. Though Penelope would have loved to see Phillip Cavender get put into his place, she knew far better than to spar with a man holding a petty vendetta.

But before they’d even fully turned around, there was a mocking bark of laughter, followed by a slight slurring of words. “You do everything she tells you then? Follow her around like a lapdog?”

This time, Colin’s brow lifted ever so slightly, the same half-smile still imprinted on his lips. Penelope felt an uncomfortable heat rising up her neck as she reluctantly turned from the door again.

“If it means getting to share my life with this incredible woman,” Colin sent her a small wink before shrugging, “Then, by all means, call me a lapdog.”

There was some tittering around them by the small audience they’d attracted. With a quick glance, Penelope could see the angry lurch in Cavender’s throat, the narrowing of his eyes, the twitching of his fingers as they tightened around his glass.

Please, just let it go. Let us just leave and go home.

But he didn’t. Of course, he didn’t.

“I know what lies she’s spread about me.”

“Oh?” Colin’s face took on a thoughtful expression, one that might have been convincing in any other circumstance. “I don’t recall ever hearing my wife mentioning you.”

Cavender’s glare deepened. “In that bloody book of hers.”

Penelope cringed inwardly as she felt the twitch of Colin’s hand in hers. Her eyes darted around the room as an overwhelming sense of dread engulfed her. The ballroom was small and the guests were bored, and a public row was certainly enough to draw a crowd- one that was full of prying eyes and listening ears.

Colin’s face remained the picture of serenity even though Penelope could sense the angry heat rising from him. It was something she could feel in him that others always missed, a secret fire that he did so well in masking.

Looking at the other man, Colin let out a sigh, one that was forcibly tired, as though he were speaking down to an overly emotional child. “I can assure you that all the characters in my wife’s novel were fabricated. And if you saw yourself in one of the less attractive personages, then I’d venture to say that such is simply a reflection of your own self-image.”

The whispers around them grew, and Cavender sputtered for a moment, clearly caught off guard by the easy taunt. But his surprise only lasted a moment before he hardened once more.

A man with a petty vendetta did not often allow himself to be diverted.

His eyes flickered to Penelope before they returned to Colin and he sneered. “You realize that she’s made you out to be an ass, don’t you? You can act high and mighty, Bridgerton, but the wife you so proudly boast has fashioned you into the biggest fool in all of London.”

It was at this jab that Penelope frowned, feeling her own prickle of anger. And for the first time in the nasty exchange, she turned directly to their shared foe, a hard, determined look set on her face. “Excuse me, Mr. Cavender, but I must ask that you don’t speak to my husband that way.”

She could almost see his eyes flash in fury as they set themselves on her. But before he could give the biting retort that was no doubt resting on his tongue-

“And I’d suggest that you consult a dictionary to properly understand the concept of fiction.” Colin’s tone was relaxed, just a sprinkle of mocking mixed into it. But Penelope could feel the tension in him, the protective edge that mirrored her own.

Cavender’s gaze shifted back to Colin, his rage appearing a bit more controlled as they listened to the snickering that surrounded them. Slowly, his mouth thinned into a tight line, and he took a step closer to the couple. By instinct, Colin angled himself in front of Penelope as her grip on his hand tightened.

He was just a few feet away from them when he finally spoke, a voice so low that it was barely audible over the murmurs. “And I’d recommend that you consider taking yourself and that bitch of a wife,” his eyes darted to Penelope for a moment, “out of town.”

And it was this comment that wiped the smile completely off of Colin’s face, along with any attempt of levity.

It was as if a chill had passed over, one that was both icy and burning at the same time. He stiffened like a board, a wave of unmistakable anger coming over him. And when his words came, they were low and even, colder than anyone had ever thought possible from Colin Bridgerton.

“You would do well to avoid threatening my family, Cavender.”

Though there was a slight tinge of red on his face, Phillip Cavender did not retreat. Instead, he took another step forward. “And why is that, Bridgerton?”

Penelope could see the muscles in Colin’s jaw moving from where she was angled, could practically feel the heat radiating off of his body. She’d seen him angry before, furious even, but this was different. This was so much more.

She wasn’t frightened, not by Colin nor by the man standing across from them. Fright was not why she wanted this to stop.

She didn’t want her husband’s anger to be made into a form of entertainment at a party. For him to have to serve the role of gallant protector whenever she upset someone. So, she attempted to silently will him to calm down, running a featherlight thumb across the surface of his hand.

But Colin wanted to finish what they’d started and instead let go of her and took his own step forward, almost shielding her completely.

“I think we all know that I have more than enough relatives to run you out of town,” he said, eyes locked on Cavender.

There was a flash of worry that crossed his face, but it was quickly forced away by a snort. “Is that meant to scare me? The threat of a duke and a viscount?”

Colin didn’t falter. Instead, his head tilted as he considered the man, considered the shaking fingers and the smell of alcohol on his breath. He’d never been a violent man by nature, even having grown up with two older brothers. He preferred words when he fought, and they almost always gave him his victories. He wasn’t opposed to physical repercussions, but he knew that a private gathering was not the place or time.

He looked Cavender directly in the eyes, speaking in a low, clear voice. “I will ensure that you are ruined, that is a promise.”

And because he couldn’t help himself, “And if that is not enough, be rest assured that we will do worse. My only qualm in doing it myself is that my brother would be disappointed he wasn’t able to help.”

There was a silence in the room that followed as Cavender glowered at him. His eyes darkened in fury as his face reddened, trying to figure out how far Colin could really go.

But there was something in Colin’s threat that didn’t allow for any consideration that he might have been exaggerating. Perhaps it was the definitive and resolute tone in his voice, or the strength behind his gaze, or the tight set of his jaw.

Or perhaps it was because Colin Bridgerton wasn’t the type to quicken to anger. Wasn’t the type to have a temper or even hint at unpleasantry.

Whatever it was, it made Cavender finally break eye contact and step back. He turned away, taking another large swig of port.

Colin could hear the pounding in his ears as he looked at the pathetic man, anger still coursing through him. But then he felt a warm hand lace through his, and the red glare of the world began melting away. Penelope was whispering something, her voice calm and soothing. He squeezed her hand in understanding but kept his gaze on Cavender.

There was a familiar casualness when Colin spoke this time, but it was threaded with venom. “Do not forget what I’ve said.”

And with that, he turned to his wife and pressed a kiss into her hair.

“Good night,” Penelope nodded to the remainder of the crowd, who finally had the decency to look away.

A few minutes later, when they were finally in a carriage returning to their home, Penelope sighed. With her eyes glued to her skirts, she whispered, “I’m so sorry, Colin.”

He looked at her thoughtfully, taking in a deep inhale of breath.

He’d been scared after the reveal of her identity, terrified even. There were evenings where he’d lie awake in bed and imagine all of the awful things that could happen to the person who was his entire world. And though they never spoke of such worries aloud, he knew that she was just as aware as he was.

Italy had been like taking a deep breath after being underwater for too long. There, no one cared or knew, and the only threat they faced was the harsh sun.

And then Penelope was pregnant, and a new light was added to his life, one that shifted his fears elsewhere.

Then they became a family of three, and Colin was thrilled. He still worried, of course, but his joy outweighed everything else.

Old wounds had been reopened in the recent weeks, that was for certain. But it did not mean that he blamed Penelope for them.

So, Colin pulled her into his side and tucked her head under his chin. “You have nothing to apologize for. We both agreed that you did the right thing.”

For a few moments, she said nothing, just listened to the sound of his heartbeat and the wheels on cobblestones. And though he couldn’t see her, Colin could sense in the silence that she was crying. Wordlessly, he handed her a handkerchief.

Penelope dabbed at her eyes a few times before leaning back to look at him. “I didn’t want to force you into this position.”

He smiled and lifted a hand to stroke her cheek, feeling the familiar warmth of her skin. “I watch you every day with nothing but awe, Penelope. I love you, I’m proud of you. And I will gladly stand by you through anything.”

Her eyes moved slowly as they crossed his face, searching for any hesitance. There was none, not even a hint of resistance.

Instead, there was so much love that it overwhelmed her, struck her with the same shock that it had years before. It was a love that mirrored her own, a fierce desire to protect and support another with as much reverence as one did for themself. It was one that never faltered even in the most difficult of times.

Her eyes were glossy when her hand reached up to meet his, and the smile on her lips was weak but true. “I love you so much. And I can’t believe that I’ve become so lucky in my life to have you by my side.”

And with that, they settled into their drive home, sharing whispered conversations and watery chuckles.

They still had a long road ahead of them, of that they were sure. But they knew that they would cross it together.

83 notes · View notes

maxwell-grant · 3 years

Note

Can we talk about the Black Bat both in general, and and how he may have been an influence on two superheroes (Dr. Mid-Nite and Daredevil) and a supervillain (Two-Face), but was proven in a court of law to have no connection with the superhero who immediately comes to mind (Batman).

Having finally read a couple of his original stories and runs, yeah I got some thoughts on him.

While not the first bat-themed pulp character, nor the first fictional detective with a disability turned superpower (that would be Max Carrados, who actually was blind), Black Bat’s main claim to fame nowadays is his correlation to superheroes with the mixed traits he has that would all become massively popularized by characters who debuted afterwards. Regarding the Batman lawsuit, it wasn’t so much proven that they have no connection, as much as the publishers of both characters argued they did it first, and then agreed to stay out of each other’s territory, with Batman staying out of pulp magazines and The Black Bat staying out of comics (not that it would stop his publishers from rebranding him as “The Mask” and doing comics).

Black Bat actually couldn’t have inspired Batman, because Batman debuted 4 months prior. Plus, both were already ripping off the same guy, and both of them were far from the first bat-themed pulp characters at the time. And the idea that he inspired Daredevil I find too much of a reach. Dr Mid-Nite I can definitely see the resemblance, and while Two-Face doesn’t have much similarities to Tony Quinn past the origin and the anti-hero aspects, “handsome crusading District Attorney disfigured after getting splashed in the face by acid goes on a rampage” is not exactly vague enough of a concept to pass for coincidence. Two-Face debuted just 3 years after Black Bat, while Bat was still a pretty successful character (he managed to outlast nearly every other pulp hero), so it’s very possible that Kane and Finger had a look at Black Bat’s origin and used it as the basis for their Jekyll & Hyde-themed villain.

Okay so, that’s that for Black Bat, but what’s the character actually like? What’s there to him other than historical oddities? Does he have what it takes to survive and thrive again in a modern landscape?

The thing that sticks out to me about Black Bat is that he is a pulp character who feels like he was designed specifically with the arrival of the superheroes in mind, as when comic book superheroes began to carve a space for themselves, one of the responses the pulps had was to put out new heroes intended to be a part of both worlds, hybrids of pulp heroes and superheroes who could try to capture success in either format, characters like Ka-Zar and Black Hood who started in one and then jumped to the other.

Black Bat’s got a lot of the usual hallmarks of dark detective pulp heroes and his adventures are largely him battling ordinary criminal masterminds and gangsters, but he’s got an iconic costume, he’s got a super dramatic origin story that the stories keep coming back to (unlike most pulp heroes whose origin stories are not usually mentioned), and he’s got superpowers brought in the aftermath of a tragic accident. Not just skills anyone can have by training hard enough, actual superpowers, even if they don’t see as much usage as his pulp hero skillset.

To the world that knew about him, Anthony Quinn, once a virile, upstanding representative of law forces whose name had held terror for evil doers, was now an impotent blind man whose sight had been permanently destroyed by acid thrown at him in a crowded courtroom, and whose face was horribly scarred about the eyes. For a long time he had seemed to live in a world apart.

Such actually had been the case during the long months when Tony Quinn had lived in a sea of blackness. But Nature had been as kind as possible, giving him something in return for what had been taken from him. As a result he had since realized that his senses of feel, smell, and hearing were far more acute than formerly. Under his sensitive fingers whatever he touched had begun to tell strange new stories. His sense of smell had sharpened. His ears had become the ears of a hound, picking up with ease and sifting multitudinous sounds that once had been inaudible.

More months had gone by until, in the darkness of a lonely night, a girl with golden hair and blue eyes hadcome in through an open window like an angel out of nowhere to offer him hope where eye specialists had said there was no hope. Through a delicate operation by an unknown small town surgeon the corneas of the eyes of Carol Baldwin's policeman father - dying from paralysis brought on by a gangster bullet - had been given to him. An extraordinary thing had occurred. When at last Tony Quinn had been allowed to remove the bandages, he had been astounded by the miracle that had happened. His were the eyes of darkness as well as the eyes of day!

Interestingly also, Black Bat actually became one of the most prolific of pulp heroes when brought over to Germany. When German publishers Pabel decided to reprint a couple of Black Bat novels for the KRIMINAL-ROMAN serial, they discovered “Die Schwarzen Fledermaus” was somehow so popular that in 1962, they retitled it Fledermaus (Bat) and ran with it, reprinting all the original 60+ stories and then, when those ran out, creating 900 more at least. In fact, it seems like they are still publishing Black Bat stories even today, and now that he’s public domain it’s something just about anyone could get into.

Problem with that is, it’s not easy to conceive of The Black Bat having any kind of substantial popularity again, when he’s doomed by design to always be compared to Batman, to always just be seen as first glance as “oh it’s earless Batman with Daredevil’s shtick and Two-Face’s backstory”, and of course he doesn’t have a chance in hell of playing catch-up to the popularity of those characters (well, at least outside of Germany). Whatever niche he could have as an alternative to Batman is also null by the fact that said niche of Not-Batmen is already filled out quite extensively. He doesn’t have an incredibly strong personality the way Batman and The Shadow do, nor is he, despite being ostensibly a serial killer, enough of a trigger-happy anti-hero to latch on to the appeal of characters like The Spider or Punisher. The latest Black Bat comic run by Dynamite played up his ruthlessness, outlaw status and drew him on the covers perpetually holding guns and often with a big creepy smile. But smiling murder pulp Batman is already a niche that Midnighter fills considerably better than Black Bat ever could. So what’s left for him?

If I had to find a unique niche for Black Bat, I’d play his unique traits in ways that separate him from the super characters that ran with those later. I’d ditch the whole “oh woe is me I’m poor and helpless because I’m blind” shtick that’s terribly condescending to actually blind people, and make him at least truly blind in some form. Maybe he’s blind by day and by night he sees too much, or maybe his vision has some terrible secrets that go beyond mere enhanced eyesight. Maybe his powers are growing and expanding in ways he doesn’t know where they will lead him. But alongside that, one take on the character could be based on the fact that he really has nothing to lose. He is not Batman, he is not The Shadow, he isn’t Daredevil, he’s got little reputation to speak of, and he’s never going to be any of those characters.

He’s lost the position he’s coveted his whole life, he’s lost the respect of his peers, his former professional ethics don’t mean shit now, he’s had a long and painful brush with darkness that scarred him for life in ways both literal and metaphorical, and in the aftermath he’s begun spontaneously developing abilities that would be incredibly painful and uncomfortable for an average person to just develop without years of growing up with them. And then, a mysterious woman walked through his window one day, gave him the eyes of a dead man, and now he sees things in ways no person was ever supposed to, and now he goes around at night terrorizing and killing criminals in an animal-themed costume.

The most he has to lose currently is the life of his sidekicks who’ve worked very hard to help him heal and focus and find a new purpose, which only means that they are on the chopping block everytime you wanna give a gut punch to Tony Quinn. And no matter how famous, or even great, his adventures are, or how prolific and successful he is or even has been, he’s always going to be the Bat-themed superhero who couldn’t cut it. He’s Not-Batman, stripped of all the grand splendour and allmighty self righteousness and reputation and role as foundational figure of an entire genre and most popular bestest superhero of all time ever praise be thy Bat God, sharing more traits with one of Batman’s most personal and tragic villains than the titular character.

That’s not an indictment, that just means that Black Bat ultimately should have more narrative freedom, since he is unburdened by reputation and status. He is a public domain nobody best known by his association with characters who eclipse him in popularity, who’s always going to have that accursed Bat prefix and costume to damn him by association, so why not work with it? He could be the character you go into to tell stories that you couldn’t tell with Batman or other big name superheroes, the grimiest, sickest, even weirdest crime tales of all. What does the Black Bat have to lose?

Those who have nothing to lose stand everything to gain, after all.

Also, Masks 2 once presented an alternative version of the character called The Black Bats, who dresses like a baseball player and dual-wields baseball bats, which is nutty and I’d definitely prefer Black Bat to ditch the generic pulp hero guns and instead just go crazy batting everything in his way.

“I gotta tell ya, this is pretty terrific! Hahahahah, yeah!”

#replies tag #pulp heroes #pulp fiction #the black bat #tony quinn #batman #two-face

26 notes · View notes