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agentnico · 1 year ago

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Loki - Season 2 (2023) Review

Ke Huy Quan is literally jumping from multiverse to multiverse. At this rate he should only be allowed to appear in projects about the multiverse, as one can never get enough of hearing him fast-talk sci-fi mumbo jumbo exposition. Ke Huy Quan - never change your wonderful weird self.

Plot: Season 2 of Loki follows the death of He Who Remains, with Loki desperately trying to figure out how to keep the multiverse from unraveling into another war and hold the TVA together.

I hear that the new The Marvels film is a turd. In fact, as of late all that Marvel has been doing is turd after turd, as if the entire studio had suffered a collective food poisoning and is now regurgitating and also releasing crap out of their bowels. Since Endgame they have really struggled, with of course some exceptions such as WandaVision, No Way Home, and Guardians Vol. 3 sticking the landing, but those are far few amongst a plethora of oversaturated dull superhero content. In this day it's all about quantity over quality, and the cracks are finally beginning to show with the negative critical response and diminishing box office returns.

So I am more than surprised to reveal that the new season of Loki that has just completed its run on Disney+ is actually really good. Great characters, solid storytelling, exciting twists and turns, well-done visual effects (another aspect lacking in other recent MCU projects), an exhilarating music score, and great production design - it's all there. I read somewhere that season 2 of Loki is the first MCU project to not undergo any reshoots, and it shows. The writers evidently had a solid plan from the beginning and stuck to it, and thus the results show. What a plan it must have been. I can only imagine what kind of Charlie Day-level board of post-it notes and interwoven lines they would have had to organize the time-dealing narrative. The writers really manage to deal with a big-scale multiversal time-traveling scope, yet at the same time succeed at keeping things grounded by focusing on the character development of its central cast.

I had mixed feelings about the first season of Loki. I enjoyed some ideas, the Tom Hiddleston/Owen Wilson pairing was enjoyable and the visual palette stood out. But there was plenty of useless filler, the character of Sylvie annoyed me to no end, and it only truly found its footing in the last couple of episodes. Oh, and Richard E. Grant's cameo was great, but when has Withnail not been good?? In comparison though Season 2 feels like a full-fledged pay-off to the events of the first season. So much so that it never really felt like any episodes had unnecessary junk in them. Each episode was filled with lots of stuff going on, with the show moving at a very fast pace. I'd say the first half of the season takes some time getting into, so the showrunners could have patched it up more, but the second half definitely balances it out. The production design also seems to have improved this season. The set pieces were all very well designed, and the detail put into the look of the TVA felt like this show had the budget of an HBO Max Game of Thrones-type series.

The cast are all great. Luckily there is less of Sylvie (no offense to the actress) and that weird Loki-to-Loki romance subplot is largely ignored thank the heavens. Also the writers must have taken on the feedback from the previous season and have now given us more buddy time between Hiddleston's Loki and Owen Wilson's Mobius. Those two together are hilarious, and share some of the best moments this season. Tara Strong gets more chance to lean into the creepy element as the eerily cheerful voice of Miss Minutes. Ke Huy Quan and Eugene Cordero manage to deliver the scientific exposition in an entertaining and breezy way, even if what they re saying doesn't always make sense, but like who's looking for logic in the MCU? Gugu Mbatha-Raw returns as Renslayer, and honestly, the season could have done without her. The writers seem to desperately want to include her, but her character has hardly anything to do. Rafael Casal as a rogue TVA agent also didn't work for me. The chap's acting was way too over the top and silly.

Naturally one must touch upon the Majors problem that Marvel is facing. They are really leaning into Kang as the Big Bad with more set-up than Thanos has ever had, yet the actor playing him is in some serious legal trouble. So will be interesting to see how Marvel gets out of that one should the court find Jonathan Majors guilty of the accusations, but nevertheless let's talk about Kang in this show. The essence of Kang is felt throughout the entire season, and naturally, some variants are involved. Primarily the character of Victor Timely, and look, I'm hearing many rave about Majors' performance as Kang but I'm not buying it. As Timely he's this blubbering awkward scientist who comes off way too over-the-top. At the end of the season Timely does find his groove and I actually began liking him, but as a Kang variant, he's not threatening at all. In Ant-Man as the Conqueror, he is just this macho man with a big mouth but not much else to him. And then all those variants in the Quantumania credits scene where they're all dressed up as if they are part of the circus, and then many of them screaming like apes.....like c'mon. He's supposed to be the Big Bad, but whatever Majors and the writers are doing, I don't get it. Except when it comes to the Loki season 2 finale...

So the finale of Loki season 2 is easily some of the best television work Marvel has done, at least in regards to the Disney+ shows. It brings not only the events of the entire Loki show to a satisfying close with a sense of finality that hasn't been felt since Avengers: Endgame, but also gives Tom Hiddleston's character such an incredible arc, from seeing how he started out back in the first Thor film, and how his intentions and persona have changed, yet the irony of life still plays its part and where his character ends up at the end of season 2 of Loki was really awesome. In fact, it's such perfect closure to his character that I don't believe we need to see him again. I get that the Marvel machine would naturally want to bring him back down the line, however… I don’t think it should happen. As much as I do love Tom Hiddleston as Loki, I think sometimes things need actual endings. And it was such a fitting yet tragic arc for Loki that I think adding anything else to the character, whether a multiversal variant or what have you, would only cheapen what they accomplished last night. As for the aforementioned comment about Kang, in this finale episode was the first time where we actually witnessed a Kang variant have some real power that could have big ramifications. Not the kind of cheap physical macho stuff they had in Quantumania - nope. In the Loki season 2 finale his power was more of knowledge and skill, which depending on how they take it from here could be really interesting.

Loki season 2 is a visual and narrative treat for any sci-fi time-travel pop culture fan and is very much a reminder that when the time and creative effort are put into a project, Marvel still has the potential to deliver. It is a shame then that these occurrences are happening less and less, but nonetheless, this show is worth celebrating. Also, we finally got to see Owen Wilson's Mobius on a jet-ski! That is what I call fan service done well!

Overall score: 7/10

Season finale score: 8/10

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thebugass · 2 years ago

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Total Drama Questions

By @the-type-a

1. Favorite character & why? Courtney because of the simple fact that she slays. She terrifies me and intrigues me. What made you like this, Courtney? Are you aware that you're a wreck? Can I fix you? Are you okay? Questions that the show will choose to demonize Courtney over answering every time, but a boy an dream.

2. Favorite season? Season one

3. Worst season? ...All Stars

4. Otp? Courtney x Duncan

5. Top 3 couples? Courtney x Duncan, Harold x Lashawna, Alejandro x Heather

6. Create your own challenge. Kiss me...... please?

7. Describe your OC. My OCs a bug. He wouldn't do very well on total drama considering the fact that he's a bug. He wouldn't try either. He'd just bug the competition. What a lad.

8. Least fav character & why? Owen. I understand that he's the nostalgic face of the series, but dear lord, not one of his jokes has ever landed for me. If you're into fart jokes, good for you. I'm sick of it, and it's just gross for me. At least Justin had "I wouldn't know, math is for ugly people." I quote that daily. I'm also a huge Mike hater. As somebody with DID... oof. Can I have... better representation... please? I'll take anything at this point. Just don't make EVERY CHARACTER WITH DID EVIL STOP ITTTT. im the only evil one uwu :) WAIt NO I FORGOT ABOUT SIERRA. This list is going off the rails, I'm sorry. Sierra's 100% my least favorite, though. Isn't abuse and stalking FUNNY, guys? Isn't this horrible thing I had to deal with for years just absolutely HILARIOUS. Insert laughs here. No. I'm giving you judgmental stares, Fresh TV. You've been towing the line for a while, and Sierra just crossed it and then ran a few miles for good measure. Fuck you, Sierra.

9. Favorite challenge? The awakeathon. It was a down to earth, neat idea. Not to say I don't like the insane ideas from later, because I do, but it just felt so... normal. When they're getting mauled by bears, I can't relate. I CAN relate to being exhausted because please just let me sleep.

10. Do you have a favorite fan fic? Yes. You don't get to know what it is, though.

11. How old were you when you joined the fandom? Thirteen when I watched the show and fourteen when I began to stalk the fandom from the shadows.

12. Did you ever RP, if so, who? Never done a total drama RP, I'm afraid. The idea just has never appealed to me.

13. Top five girls? Am I allowed to list Courtney five times? No? Okay. Courtney, Heather, ...God, I have the Wiki pulled up. I do not like many of these poor people, do I? Bridgette's alright. I like Crimson because she has a cool design. Lashawna's a neat lass, too.

14. Top five guys? Duncan, Alejandro, Noah, Cody, and Harold.

15. Who would you join an alliance with? I'll take Bridgette or Gwen. Bridge is entirely useless and I'm not all that fond of Gwen, but they seem vaguely trustworthy. Don't let Gwen near your boyfriends, though.

16. Who would you wanna go against in the final two? Cody. I can beat Cody's ass. (Sorry Cody ily)

17. Underrated character? Courtney. Very popular character, but there is no height that she can reach that wouldn't be underrated for her magnificence.

18. Favorite TDWT song? THE ONE ABOUT BUG FUCKING. You see, I am a bug. I do not fuck bugs but you get my point. If I had one. I don't think I had a point.

19. Worst TDWT song? The racist Chinese one.

20. Is there another show you’d like to see a crossover with TD? I want a TD crossover with my OCs (non TD related) just because they'd be so concerned the entire time like "Your host just threw a shark at you are you ok" and everyone would be like "Oh no thats normal"

21. Favorite team (of any season)? The villians from all stars. Hate all stars and hate almost all of the characters but fuck if it isn't funny to shove every asshole into one house with poor Gwen.

22. Who do you think deserved to win at least once? C O U R T N E Y. She would invest the money. Responsible little gal.

23. Something you would change 100% from any season? TDWT Duncney breakup. And if that has to happen, TDAS Gwuncan breakup. I still want it to happen, but GOD. If that abomination of a ship is what you destroy my OTP for, what was the point. Oh. Drama. Right. Listen, if Duncney has to go out, let it go out for something good. Not whatever that two second long relationship was.

#td duncney #td courtney #td duncan #total drama #td #tdi

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lokiondisneyplus · 3 years ago

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Warning: This post contains spoilers for Loki episode 5.

The penultimate episode of Loki introduced several new variations on its titular mischief-maker — including Jack Veal's Kid Loki, Deobia Oparei's Boastful Loki, and Tom Hiddleston's ill-fated President Loki. But of all these new faces, perhaps the most memorable was Richard E. Grant's aptly-named Classic Loki — an older, world-weary version of the Asgardian god we know and love.

Decked out in the familiar green-and-yellow suit from the comics, Grant's Loki is older and perhaps a bit wiser than his younger counterparts. Years of isolation have left him disillusioned and lonely, missing his brother Thor, but that spark of mischief is still buried deep underneath — and he ultimately sacrifices himself to help Loki (Hiddleston) and Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) escape the Void.

It's a delightful showcase for the 64-year-old Grant, who says he's thrilled to be able to carve out his own chaotic corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ahead of the series finale this week, EW caught up with Grant to break down his big sacrifice — as well as his newfound friendship with Owen Wilson and his pitch for a Loki spin-off series.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: To start, I have to ask about your costar: How was working with Alligator Loki?

RICHARD E. GRANT: Alligator Loki was fantastic because in reality, he was three stuffed sofa cushions that had been sewn roughly together to react to. [Laughs] The fact that I was the only person that could understand what he was saying was just fantastic. I think it's the perfect segue into having Classic Old Loki and Alligator Loki as a sub-series to go to next.

So it's safe to say that you would be willing to reprise this character down the line?

If I had a muscle suit, most certainly. I was denied that. I saw the costume design, and I was very familiar with Jack Kirby's original illustrations from the '60s, so I thought, "Ah, this guy's got muscles!" As I had been born without any, I was finally going to get in a muscle suit. I got to Atlanta [to begin filming], and they said, "There's no muscle suit! You're just wearing this!" I said, "But I look like Kermit the Frog!" They said, "Nope, you're not having a muscle suit." So I was very, very upset about that. [Laughs] Short-changed!

I was going to ask about your first impression when you first put on the costume!

That's what I asked: Where are the muscles? Where are the Stallone/Schwarzeneggers here? Because they're missing! This is what people will expect! This was in the costume drawing, and they're not here, and I don't have them! I was very upset.

When they first asked you to join the show, what was that initial pitch like?

I had known Tom Hiddleston socially for some years, and we'd always joked that we could feasibly play father and son because of our vague physical similarities and hairlines, certainly. So when I got this offer at the beginning of last year, before COVID, I thought, "Alright, this is that moment that I had hoped would come at some point." I thought I would play his father, but I'm playing a variant of him. So that's how that came about. I was thrilled.

Tom has been playing his version of Loki for a decade now. Did you get any guidance from him, or have any conversations with him that you found particularly helpful?

He is a walking Loki-pedia, so he was very, very informative about the whole etymology and the history of the Norse gods and Loki. He's also brilliant at imitating people. He goes on chat shows and imitates famous actors absolutely to the letter. I don't have that talent. So when I read the script of episode 5 that I was offered, I saw that [this older version of Loki] described himself in his backstory of being the god of outcasts — rather than the god of mischief, which is so absolutely embedded in Tom's interpretation of the role. So I thought, well, [if he's] the god of outcasts and is somebody who's been isolated for years and living on these planets and is willing to betray himself by going back and being arrested by the TVA and making the ultimate sacrifice, offering himself up to Asgard, I thought, well, this is somebody who is more in the twilight zone of his life, as am I. As opposed to a young man, who's full of mischief still.

So, I thought that was a way into interpreting this character, rather than trying to do — and something I couldn't possibly succeed at doing — a pale imitation of Tom Hiddleston.

I'd imagine that would be tricky, but it would also be a fun challenge: You're basically sharing scenes with all these different versions of the same character.

Exactly right. And I love the fact that he was the one person who could communicate with the alligator. I love that.

So would you now consider yourself fluent in alligator?

Indeed. I am the Doctor Dolittle of the Marvel universe when it comes to speaking to alligators. I speak alligator fluently. Put that in the contract of when I'm doing a series as Classic Old Loki, with muscles and the alligator. It'll have subtitles, so the audience can hear what the alligator is saying, and everyone else is saying, "What is he saying? What is he talking about?" That'll be the way.

I also wanted to ask about your big finale, where we see your Loki conjure Asgard. What do you remember most about filming that final moment?

Huge wind machines, blue screen in every direction, and following a camera on a crane that was maneuvering around the ceiling of the studio, and then swooping down. I was having to shout at it, and then finally laugh in the face of my own immolation. So it was a great thing to do, with these huge air turbine wind machines that were blowing four tons of air at me from every direction. It was exhilarating.

Did you have any practical elements around you at all, or did you have to imagine and conjure it all yourself?

Most of it you had to imagine. The actual landscape that you walked on was real grass and this sort of rocky landscape, but all the other elements — all the ships and all that stuff — was put in afterwards. We didn't see any of that.

The Loki palace that looked like a sort of bowling alley, that was all for real. Everything that you see in that scene was actually built and practical.

Was it chaotic to film in the bowling alley with all those different versions of Loki, bickering and bantering?

Because there was so much action involved, it was paint-dryingly slow, because action takes much longer to do than five pages of dialogue. I prefer talking, as I'm not exactly an action man, as you can see. [Laughs]

Was there anything about joining the Marvel universe that you weren't expecting or that really surprised you?

I didn't expect to find true love with Owen Wilson. We're having a surrogate baby together in October.

Oh, congratulations!

He was just so hilarious to work with. He's just one of the greatest characters I've ever met. He is so open and curious and amenable, with this sort of dry sense of humor. There seemed to be no divide between Owen Wilson acting his part and then just being Owen Wilson. I don't know if he was scamming me, but he was an absolute delight. I loved him.

Was there a particularly memorable day on set with him?

Yes, when we conceived our twins. [Laughs] No, my daughter encouraged me to post this thing on Twitter and Instagram, where he said, "Richard, I'm going to give you some acting advice. Put your camera on." I said, "Yes, okay!" I owe him for that because it got like 640,000 views already in a few days, which on my Instagram feed is off the chart. It's nothing for Beyoncé, but for mine, I'm pretty gobsmacked.

#Richard E. Grant #Classic Loki #Alligator Loki #agent mobius #mobius m mobius #tom hiddleston #interview

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creativeashproductions · 3 years ago

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Broken Sticks & Muffins Mix // Owen Joyner

IN WHICH: Owen finally meets his next-door neighbour in his new apartment complex after hearing her frustrated yell. A pair of his drumsticks in hand and a basket of muffins from the reader blossoms into a friendship that just might turn into a romance.

Warnings: Swearing, insecurity, feuding neighbours (not with Owen) and fluff

Words: 2.9k

A/N: This is inspired by Cassidy Mackenzie’s TikTok cover of the animated What’s New, Scooby-Doo series. The gif has absolutely nothing to do with the fic, but there’s not a single one that fit the fic...soo.

TO BE TAGGED, SEND AN INBOX/ASK, PLEASE!

I’M BACK FROM THE DEAD

Masterlist

Your e/c eyes scanned the analogue clock on the wall above the admittedly little-used television in the living room. It was an old clock with some Disney villains in the design going back to your childhood. Your left arm reached out into a euphoric stretch you felt in your entire torso while your hand-rubbed your eyes. You'd love a nap, but you had a deal with your neighbour Lance. A mutual set time when you could work on videos.

Lance had been the neighbour from hell to live next to you, and for three months, it had been an all-out war. Then Lance had called the building manager with a noise complaint that ended with both him and you being scolded as if you were in the principal's office in middle school. The result was rules Lane and you made in order to coexist in peace, but you were not friends.

Well, you weren't until he stormed into your apartment with a scowl that competed with the one he had for you.

"Whoa! Ever heard of knocking?" You questioned the pacing man. He barely shot you a glare before he exploded.

"I have another teen neighbour-"

"-I'm twenty-two-"

"Who also enjoys banging his goddamn drums into the middle of the damn night! At you play decent fucking music. His bullshit is like a toddler panging on his mom's pots and pans." Lance spat with his hands deep in his thick curly hair. His molten chocolate eyes scanned everywhere in the apartment.

You watched as he paced back and forth with the frown lines prominent between his eyebrows. His mind racing 100 miles per second with odd little expressions he made.

"What's worse? He has friends over. They hauled in guitars and I-"

Lance stormed out of your apartment as sudden as he had stormed into, 'UGH!"

You winced as Lance slammed his apartment door closed strong enough to shake your picture frames on the wall. You halted your movements to process that entire interaction with the neighbour from hell.

Declaring it safe, your feet pushed you to the collection of guitars in your music corner with your favourite rhythm, bass and electric in front. Your fingers caressed the pristine white electric you considered your baby. You didn't grab it; however, instead, you went straight to the drumkit you'd moved into a different location.

The stool swivelled as you sat down in front of the light metallic baby blue drums. Your headphones tugged over your hair before you picked up the drumsticks.

The song recommendation on TikTok you'd handpicked was the theme song from the early 2000s What's New, Scooby-Doo? Performed by Simple Plan. Despite watching the animated series's reruns, you still went over the drum tab for the song countless times.

"Sorry, Lance." You mumbled before got situated with the camera rolling. Like most of your video recordings, you didn't smile. You focused solely on getting the timing correct.

A smile tweaked when you got through to the end of the third recording perfectly. Well, almost until the drumstick in your left hand snapped. A searing pain coursed over your palm with a hiss from your lips.

"FUCK!" You screamed, tossing the remaining stick at the floor, you may be angry, but you won't jeopardize your walls.

The drumstick's two broken pieces mocked you from the position near the small second bedroom's open door. The only sound in the room was your frustrated heavy breathing in the overwise now quiet apartment.

"So close." You softly breathed, noticing now the time was far past closing for any music store close to your apartment. You settled instead for cutting the camera.

The floor was cold on your bare arms. The ceiling was the most interesting as you worked through the frustration of being so close to finishing the song. The only part left had been the singing and the drums. You'd already recorded the bass and the rhythm yesterday, as well as the lead guitar this morning.

Your pity party ended as an unfamiliar knock sounded on your door. But that didn't mean you didn't drag yourself to the front door. The peephole disfigured whoever was on the other side of the door. All you saw was the back of someone's blonde hair.

"Can I help you?" You grumbled with the door partially opened, the chain still locked in place.

The person, male now nothing blurring him, turned with a half-smile that fell as Owen actually viewed his neighbour up close. Sure Owen had met the passive-aggressive neighbour who had knocked on his door a few times. But Owen had only seen you from afar in the few weeks he'd been living in the building.

"We heard-"

"-we?" You questioned the stranger. He seemed friendly but so did the charismatic Ted Bundy back when he was alive.

"My best friends are staying with me for a couple days." Owen supplied, "I'm Owen, by the way."

"Y/N." You stated still with not even moving to unlatch the safety chain and open the door to the young man.

"Anyway...we heard the music playing through the day. Your band is good, by the way! Practising without putting the instruments together...is an artistic choice." Owen's blue eyes held panic as his mouth continued speaking even when his mind screamed to shut up, "The beat sounded familiar, and then we heard you scream-"

"Okay, so why are you at my door near 10pm acting concerned like we're best friends?"

"More like a fellow musician understanding the frustration of being so close to a goal than losing it." Owen lightly laughed with a flush to his pale cheeks. The tall young man shrugged to add some lightheartedness, "Anyway, I know the tone of that fuck you yelled that you broke a drumstick."

As soon as the blonde-haired boy cussed, his cheeks turned a dustier pink colour that brought out his blue eyes more. It was then you noticed he had new drumsticks in his hand, nothing fancy.

"Are those…?" You trailed off, staring down at the peace offering he gave, "Lance is gonna detest you even more."

"Eh. Nothing I can't handle. You can have these. Borrow them, or whatever. It'd be nice to hear you play more." Owen shyly informed you. Both of you went still at the far off sounding giggle coming from the hallway of the apartment building, "I should get back before Charlie and Jeremy broke anything."

"Uh...thanks. For these." You motioned towards the sticks he'd gently scooched through the narrow door opening.

Owen waved it off as he started walking back towards his own apartment, "The guys and I have a watch party for this show, so-"

"I'd suggest taking the party to the parking garage." You interrupted him with the door now fully open, giving the new neighbour a full view of you. Owen was breathlessly and wondering if he should see a doctor for the fluttering his heart had.

"Why?"

"Lance already threatened to call the cops. He won't go through the building manager like he did with me. Besides, I can't do anything; the time I agreed to not causing a ruckus is now." You told the boy with the beautiful big blue eyes, "I'll see you around Owen."

Owen returned to his apartment with a big grin plastered on his face at how easy it was talking with you. He couldn't believe it had taken his best friends to convince him to go over with the drumsticks.

"So…?" Charlie questioned from his position on the couch beside Jeremy. Each sitting uncomfortably.

"Like you weren't eavesdropping." Owen scoffed with a shake of his head that would break open the can of teasing.

The one thing you hated about your job was the requirement for people to physically see you in the video. It meant you had to be put together for each video you uploaded to the video platform. For this video, you'd tugged on a russet-coloured long sleeve shirt pushed to your elbows with a pair of black jeans that ended just above your ankles. The outfit you'd used for the other parts of the video from yesterday.

"Thank god for Lance's Saturday run." You mumbled from behind the drumkit holding the gifted drumsticks.

Maybe it was the drumsticks or the large coffee you'd inhaled to be up at this early hour, but you managed to get a perfect take the first time. All that left was singing before you'd have to edit the entirety of the video for TikTok.

You'd moved to the same spot you'd used in recording the guitars for the theme song with a microphone in hand. It was such a standard routine to make these short clips that you'd already started singing with a beaming smile.

What's new Scooby Doo?

We're coming after you

You're gonna solve that mystery

I see you Scooby Doo

The trail leads back to you

What's new Scooby Doo?

The smile only grew as the animated series played in your mind, you recalled in each rerun you'd watched as a kid.

What's new Scooby Doo?

We're gonna follow you

We're gonna solve that mystery

We see you Scooby Doo

We're coming after you

What's new Scooby Doo?

Don't look back

You may find another clue

The Scooby snacks

Will be waiting here for you

While you found this to be fun, you know the videos got traction from the clips of each video running together with only one person playing everything. No one would ever know how long it actually took to prepare everything to be posted.

What's new Scooby Doo?

We're coming after you

We're gonna solve that mystery

I see you Scooby Doo

The trail leads back to you

What's new Scooby Doo?

You wore your cheeks hurt when your favourite part of the theme song came around. The 'na na na' part would sadly be cut off near the end with the time constraint on TikTok.

Na na na na na

Na na na na na na na

Na na na na na

Na na na

The second it was over, you collapsed onto your back, breathing slightly laboured from the exertion. But the same couldn't be wiped from your face as you finally finished the song with the help of a former stranger. A stranger you wanted to thank via food because everyone couldn't say no to food.

Instead of focusing on another video you had planned, you instead spent the rest of the morning baking and editing the What's New, Scooby-Doo? video. It was a simple recipe your cousin sent over she used for her gluten, nut and dairy-free son. Can't be too careful, and the recipe was absolutely delicious.

"Hey!" You beamed from the open doorway of Owen's apartment. The fellow musician rubbed his eyes with one hand, "I wanted to properly thank you for giving me those drumsticks."

"No problem," Owen spoke with such a groggy and deep voice your knees shook from the force of keeping yourself standing. You sidestepped him as he gestured to enter the clean apartment, "Guys! We have company!"

He'd barely even said the first word before two males slid around into view with beaming grins. Simple introductions were made.

"Holy shit." Jeremy, the oldest of the trio, blinked connected your name to your face, "Your Owen's neighbour?"

"I am." You chuckled as you dug your hands deep in your pockets. The basket of cookies was set on the counter, a particular long-haired brunette nose deep in them.

"My wife loves your TikToks." Jeremy snickered, already imagining the amount of teasing he could do with this meeting, "Do you actually play all the instruments?"

And just like that, the trio of actors and the multi-instrument talent got on like a house on fire. Instead of popping in to drop off the cookies, you stayed well into the afternoon, getting to know each other.

"You're Canadian?" Charlie marvelled, leaning closer with an excited grin splitting his features. While all three were incredibly handsome, you were partial to the blonde boy sipping his coffee.

"My mom is. We moved here when my dad took over the family company. He went to university in Canada, where he met my mom. We stayed in Canada until I was in my teens." You informed the fellow Canadian.

You settled into the couch with soft country music playing in the background as you sipped on the drink you'd grabbed from your apartment. The trio had chosen their drink during the short intermission of the conversation.

"Another Canadian. Am I gonna have to stock my fridge with maple syrup?" Owen joked with a returning twinkle in his eye.

Owen could admit he was attracted to you, and for a second, he'd thought maybe you felt the same but then he remembered. He was friends with Charlie Gillespie. The unofficial face of the fandom and Owen was only human. He couldn't help but compare himself to the actor with a bigger following.

"Oh, so you think I'll be here often?" You teased, turning your entire gaze to the now flustered male. He didn't need to know you were just as flustered.

"I-well...um we-"

"I'll have to write down the kind I like. I know what kind of cookies to have for you."

Owen blinked once. Twice. Thrice.

"Char, I'm kinda craving a milkshake." Jeremy had swiftly picked up on the tension between the occupants of the building. Jeremy practically dragged Charlie out of the apartment for a drink he was now admittedly craving.

"I'm not reading into this, right?" Your tone changed from confident to questioning with a frown that hurt Owen to see. The Oklahoma native was quick to scoot closer to you.

"I-" Owen shakily gulped as that instinctive nervous feeling you get in conversations with someone you could see at your side more than friends would hang out. The thrill of stepping on the ledge, not knowing if you'd fall alone or hand in hand with someone.

It was your turn to blink.

"Those drumsticks I gave you? I wore mine out so much I needed a new pair." Owen whispered, trailing each freckle you had to your nose he deemed adorable. His blue eyes drinking in the surprise he found in the pools of e/c Owen was jealous you got to see each morning.

Owen slowly reached out to grasp your hand with that nervous energy of his, and in turn, you gripped his hand tight.

"Why did you give me both when I only needed one?" You asked with a teasing aspect in your light tone. Owen's eyes crinkled at the edge with the grin he offered on his handsome face.

"Bad luck to separate a pair…?" Owen trailed off at his own response. His blue eyes crinkled at the sides, "But you're into me? Not Charlie?"

"I'm gonna lie and say he isn't attractive. But so is Jeremy, but they both aren't the one that's taken my attention." Your tone of voice changed from flirty to concerned, "Do you think Charlie is more popular with your fandom?"

"He has more followers. Have you seen hi-"

"I have, but like I said, there's something about you that has taken my full attention, Owen. You're incredibly kind, sensitive, talented, down to earth and caring for your friends. You are also very handsome, by the way." You pointed a singular finger towards him, "You're more than just an actor in a show that boomed."

"I'm just a kid from Oklahoma."

"A kid that starred on a Nickelodeon show that has a long name. Now you're on an internationally known show that's created a wave. You're successful, I mean, look! You have your own apartment you bought with your own money."

Owen's lips parted with a flush developing on his cheeks at the gushing you continued for him. You barely even knew him with the information you regurgitated from the long conversation with the guys. His shoulder relaxed.

"Thank you." Owen murmured, reaching out to squeeze your hand, "You need to watch Julie and the Phantoms to believe that speech."

"Are you busy on Thursday? I have nothing planned other than reading over the chords for my next cover. I'll shoot on Friday and Saturday."

Owen beamed, "Could I watch how you put together the covers?"

"Yeah! It's a date...if you'd like it to be a date?"

"It's a date." Owen parroted with a beaming grin on his handsome features. You nodded with a matching smile.

"I need to upload my new cover, and I should really get some sleep. Come over Thursday at 8am so we can have breakfast together." You informed the actor. Owen offered you his hand to pull you up from his couch.

Like in a romance film, your feet stumbled on the carpet straight into Owen's arms with a breathy gasp. His blue eyes drifted to your lips momentarily, only to meet your e/c eyes once more. As if tugged by a string, you leaned in as he did. Just as his lips lightly brushed yours, the sound of the door unlocking broke you apart.

Charlie and Jeremy stuttered in their steps, holding a milkshake in their hands. The two older adults flicked their eyes between the two of you.

"It was nice to meet you guys." You informed the two. Charlie was the first to hug you goodbye, but your eyes never left the Oklahoma native.

Your eyes only broke contact as his door closed behind you. The minute you entered your apartment, you squealed. In perfect sync with the excited sound, you pegged as Owen.

Tag List(s) PLEASE SEND AN INBOX TO BE ADDED! I CANNOT GUARANTEE YOU WILL BE ON THE LIST VIA POST COMMENTS!

Julie and the Phantoms Taglist

@safehavenmuse @siennanoelle01 @whiterose291 @mell-bell @blackhood5sos @ficrecsideblog @ifilwtmfc @deadpoolgirl23 @crappy-unicorn @sunsetcurve-h @elioelioeli0 @lovesanimals @popcrone818 @lolychu @deepsleepnat @tenaciousperfectionunknown @aunicornmademedoit @just-a-writer-here @simp4reggie @faithiebrock01 @overlyhypedup @differentsoulrascalsalad @aesthetic-lyss @versaceapa @carleywhittaker @lostgirl219 @itsalexx21 @elllaoo4 @merxxleighann @mediocremunge @fantomlovesjuke4ever @dpaccione @oswin05 @kaylinfayezink @aberette13 @faithie-brock-gillespie01 @eharvey0218 @overlyhypedup @benstormy @auriandthepussicats @sarcasticsagittarius1998 @whothefuckstolemykeds @siriuswvrld @princessvader15 @xoxbloodreinaxox @heimdoodle @joshy-obx @lovesanimals @oopsiedoopsie23 @am3l1a-24 @flying-solo-without-you @jaskiers-sweetkiss @lostrandomfangirln @must-be-a-weasley-92 @jatp-holland @ilikealotofpeople-younotsomuch @dxlanhxlland @dasexydevitt13 @ifilwtmfc @arianagrandes-things @kinda-really-lost @marinettepotterandplagg @ssprayberrythings @morgandamrose @thedarkqueenofavalon @zukoshonourr @crybabyddl @spooky-season-bitch @kcd15 @morganayennefertyrell @magnet-girl @all-in-fangirl @kinda-really-lost @tenaciousperfectionunknown @badwolf00593 @blowakissbabe @talksoprettyjjx @thesweetestsinner @kaitieskidmore1 @writerinlearning @aiofheavenandhell @sageellsworth05 @link-102 @merceret @kexrtiz @biqherosix @lukewearingbeanies @dangersolns @soverignparker @omgdani17 @julessbrown

9-1-1 Taglist:

#owen joyner imagines #owen joyner x reader #owen patrick joyner #julie and the phantoms imagines #jatp fanfic #owen joyner #owen patrick joyner imagines #jatp #julie and the phantoms #caitsy and ash productions

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twh-news · 3 years ago

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Richard E. Grant on Classic Loki’s ‘Glorious Purpose’ & Working With a ‘Passionate’ Tom Hiddleston | TV Insider

[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Loki Season 1, Episode 5, “Journey Into Mystery.”]

In the penultimate installment of Marvel’s Disney+ series, Loki gave truth to the phrase “the more the merrier,” as several Loki variants made their marvelous debut in The Void at the end of time.

Convening in the literal dumping spot for all things pruned by the TVA, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) met a horde of variants ranging from Classic Loki (Richard E. Grant) and Kid Loki (Jack Veal) to Boastful Loki (Deobia Oparei) and the ever-popular Alligator Loki. The Void is also where he reteams with Mobius (Owen Wilson) and Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) with the goal of uncovering the truth behind the TVA’s control.

It appears that the MCU is going deeper into the multiverse after the show's latest episode.

In order to get there though, Classic Loki made the ultimate sacrifice of distracting The Void’s all-powerful Alioth just long enough for Loki and Sylvie to enchant the smoke monster creature. Although brief, Classic Loki’s appearance was certainly impactful. Below, Grant opens up about what drew him to the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) in the first place, his Classic Loki costume, and what it was like working with Tom Hiddleston — a performer he’s admired for years — and fan-favorite Alligator Loki among other things.

What initially drew you to the MCU?

Richard E. Grant: [Tom Hiddleston]… I jumped at it. He has an encyclopedic depth of knowledge of all things Norse and Loki, he was a walking, talking resource. You could ask him anything and he could explain everything with great articulation and he’s passionate about everything. He was very, very informed. So that made it a delight to do.

And taking that into consideration, Classic Loki is a variant. What direction did you take when tackling the role? Did you refer to the comics or take inspiration from Tom Hiddleston’s role?

Well, I was inspired by Tom and led entirely by what was scripted. I was very struck by the fact that, in one scene, I had to talk about not being the God of Mischief so much as being the God of Outcasts. I thought that that was the key to who he was in this episode, that he is very isolated by living immortally, and that he’s arrested by the TVA when he gives in to his need and desire to have human connection again.

My major disappointment was that I didn’t get to have muscles because in the Jack Kirby drawings and the original sixties comics, and certainly in the costume design that I was given with my face on it, I thought that I was going to be stepping into a muscle suit. I was born without any, so I was fairly rattled that I didn’t have that. I thought, “well, how am I supposed to fight as an Asgardian when I��ve got only my own muscles?” They said, “Don’t worry about that.” It did worry me, and it still worries me.

The costume still worked though, something that not many could pull off either. Was it fun getting into that or was the helmet as heavy as it looked?

The helmet is heavy, but more than anything, it was just very tight. But I was on it for such a short time, and it’s my job. So actors like to complain about things, but yeah, it was all fine and handleable. I so longed to be able to step into a muscle suit. I didn’t have to go to the gym. I’d have biceps and big shoulders, but that was not to be.

Well, really your Loki’s strength lies in his magic. What challenges did you face working in such a special effects-laden episode? Was there any tricks behind the scenes to help get you into the role and moments like the final face-off with Alioth?

Well, Alligator Loki looked like something made from three stuffed cushions that had been sewn together with a head and then a body and four little legs and a bit of a tail. So that was something that could either be dragged along next to us or thrown when it bit Loki’s hand off. But, otherwise, everything else had to be imagined. It’s the nature of your job that you have to use your imagination, so the magic is really what the CGI and the production designers come up with. The special effects were apparently extraordinary. I haven’t seen it, but I’ve seen stills, and it does look amazing.

It really does look amazing. But were the sets as complete looking as they did appear on screen? All the Lokis convened in the bowling alley and it just looks so impressive. What was it like to step onto a set like that?

The bowling alley set was all intact. Everything that you saw, we saw. When we were in the Void, we were on a football-sized landscape of grasses and mounds and things. But all those derelict ships and things that you see, we didn’t see any of that or the distance. It was all blue screen. So all that came afterward.

For the most part, all of the Lokis were there for you to interact with. What was it like getting to work together and expand upon this character fans have loved for so long?

Tom Hiddleston is the beginning, the middle, and the end of it all for me, so anything that Tom approved. If Tom felt that it was all right, and Kate [Herron, the director], who was so invested in it thought it was steering in the right direction, then I thought, oh, I must be doing something that they think is all right.

It’s a very odd thing when you come into a world that is so established, and then into a series that has been ongoing for episodes prior to your arrival, and then you leave. So you’re sort of parachuted in and then out of it. So you look for reassurance, and I suppose, some kind of stability from the people who are doing it all the time when you’re not. A bit like being a new person at school, thinking, have I got the right uniform on? Am I going in the right place or do the right things? It’s fear-filled at the beginning for me from that point of view.

As you mentioned, it’s a challenge bringing a new character into an established world, but Classic Loki really did make his mark. Do you think he really found his “Glorious Purpose” in sacrificing himself?

Yeah, helping [Loki and Sylvie was] the thing he was meant to do. Making that ultimate sacrifice.

You spoke earlier about working with Tom Hiddleston. Some cast members have mentioned his “Loki Lectures” on set, were you one of the lucky listeners and if so, how did it help you get into the head of the God of Mischief?

I did. Tom came and saw me on the first day that I worked, and I think he spoke almost nonstop for about two hours in sharing all his knowledge and wisdom about playing Loki. So it was incredibly helpful and useful. That was like an introduction into this universe from the man himself. That’s never happened to me before, and then I had that privilege of being in a situation like that. I’m very grateful for it.

#loki #loki series #richard e grant #interview #article #tv insider #classic loki

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effervescentslut · 4 years ago

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being biggs darklighter’s younger sister and dating luke skywalker headcanons

Requested: Yes

Pairing: Luke Skywalker x Fem!Darklighter!Reader

Category: Fluff, lil bit of angst

Content Warnings: Character death, Star Wars Universe curse words

ever since you were younger, your parents forced biggs to let you tag along with him

wherever biggs goes, you had to go too lmfao

i mean, what CAN you do on tatooine anyways???

so since you were with big brother biggs all the time, characteristically living up to the annoying little sister title, that also meant you were around luke skywalker all the time

tbh biggs didn’t even mind you that much

you three hung out a l l t h e t i m e

the moment you met luke, you two just clicked

you were always fond of him; he had a soft spot for you

after all, you were his best friend’s little sister

but as you grew older it obviously blossomed into something more

he would always be so kind to you

even when biggs was annoyed that you were butting in on guy time™

you would always be the designated lookout for biggs and luke if they were engaging in reckless activities

though if they DID get caught, you’d always make sure that biggs was the one who got in trouble instead of luke <33

you watched them when they flew t-16 skyhoppers for the first time

mmmmm a man who can fly

luke asked if you were interested in learning how to fly, but you turned down the opportunity

“if maker wanted me to fly, he would’ve given me wings”

he laughs, tossing his head back as light-hearted chuckles escape his lips

big brother biggs is secretly watching you two talk

and in that moment he knows that you’re crushing on his best bud

big time.

he always kinda knew but NOW it was certain. it was written in the stars across the galaxy

and he could tell that luke shared those feelings

he was chill with it so EHHH whatever

but you and luke didn’t know that biggs knew

ffs you two didn’t even know that these feelings are even mutually romantic S I G H naive teenagers

you’re afraid to confess to luke because not only is he your brother’s best friend, but he’s yours too

you two share a close bond, a different kind of bond than that of luke and biggs (obviously)

you keep him grounded

you’re his constant :’)

if it weren’t for uncle owen, luke would’ve been star systems away from tatooine at this point

it’s selfish, but you can’t help wanting luke to stay in this desert-ridden bane with you

you can’t risk losing your best friend by changing the gravity of your friendship

soooo you bottle your feelings up and keep them to yourself

luke is a very lowkey person when it comes to his romantic feelings

he downplays how he feels about you so he doesn’t put himself in a vulnerable position

his emotions tend to show through so he pretends like everything’s normal and hopes that no one will suspect a thing

biggs leaves to join the empire

you think, oh this is my chance! i can finally tell luke how i feel about him after all these years!

N O P E

owen and beru die, and luke just . . . disappears

maybe he finally left tatooine for good

without you

time passes slowly

biggs defects from the empire and joins the rebel alliance

so you’re like, oh, what the kriff, i’ll join him

you hope that joining the rebellion would give your life some direction, while also fighting for the greater good

you arrive to the base on yavin in a rather uncompromising time . . .

right before THE KRIFFING BATTLE OF YAVIN

. . . and you see big brother biggs talking to none other than luke skywalker

you run up to them and you guys exchange some brief words before luke and biggs hop into their respective x-wings

biggs hugs you and tells you both that they can all catch up later

it’s a little while later and luke comes back

he tells you that biggs’ x-wing was blasted and that he didn’t make it

“y/n, i’m so sorry . . .”

“we were all gonna be together again, luke. just like how we used to be . . .”

luke wraps his arms around you as you grip his orange flight and cry into his chest

he rests his head on top of yours and softly rakes his fingers through your hair to soothe you

the next morning, han solo and luke are awarded medals of bravery by princess leia organa for destroying the death star during yesterday’s battle

when the ceremony ends, the base immediately calls for an emergency evacuation to avoid another encounter with the empire

you rush towards luke and your bodies collide in a hug full of adrenaline and fear

but THEN

he pulls back and grabs your face with his hands

and crashes his lips to yours

he kisses you HARD

you both poured every bit of passion and love into your molding lips to make up for what should have been done years ago

after not seeing him for so much time, you wanted to be with him 24/7

even if it meant going on dangerous missions for the rebellion

he protests against you accompanying him on missions; he’s too scared to lose you too

leia would often convince you to stay behind and just work with him through the comms

after biggs’ death, you were even more terrified of travel by flying

luke eased you into it, but you still thought it was dangerous

maybe staying with leia wasn’t so bad after all

you always support luke in anything he does

luke, luke, he’s our man, if he can’t do it, no one can!!!

you loved watching him manipulate the force

leia would mentor you in military and politics, you yearned to avenge your brother and win the war for him

late night talks with luke about your future together after the war

“maker, please tell me we’re not going back to tatooine”

“haha, we can go anywhere you want in the galaxy, y/n”

*snuggles closer*

luke does lowkey forms of pda; hands brushing together, always being side-by-side

he’s so kind and gentle to you

he’s a softie <33

however he’s still pretty reckless at heart so you make sure to ream him out if he ever gives you a scare

leia will GO OFF on him too

han always teasing you and luke when you’re together

leia proceeding to kick han

luke’s hand around your lower back subconsciously tightens

han laughs even harder when he notices the blood rushing to luke’s cheeks

luke scoffs and leads you two away

you guys find a place on base to make out

#luke skywalker x reader #luke skywalker imagines #luke skywalker imagine #luke skywalker #star wars #star wars imagines #star wars imagine #star wars headcanons #luke skywalker headcanons

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uhlikzsuzsanna · 3 years ago

Link

[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Loki Season 1, Episode 5, “Journey Into Mystery.”]

What initially drew you to the MCU?

(Credit: Disney+/Marvel Studios)

And taking that into consideration, Classic Loki is a variant. What direction did you take when tackling the role? Did you refer to the comics or take inspiration from Tom Hiddleston’s role?

My major disappointment was that I didn’t get to have muscles because in the Jack Kirby drawings and the original sixties comics, and certainly in the costume design that I was given with my face on it, I thought that I was going to be stepping into a muscle suit. I was born without any, so I was fairly rattled that I didn’t have that. I thought, “well, how am I supposed to fight as an Asgardian when I’ve got only my own muscles?” They said, “Don’t worry about that.” It did worry me, and it still worries me.

(Credit: Courtesy of Marvel Studios)

The costume still worked though, something that not many could pull off either. Was it fun getting into that or was the helmet as heavy as it looked?

(Credit: Courtesy of Marvel Studios)

For the most part, all of the Lokis were there for you to interact with. What was it like getting to work together and expand upon this character fans have loved for so long?

(Credit: Courtesy of Marvel Studios)

Yeah, helping [Loki and Sylvie was] the thing he was meant to do. Making that ultimate sacrifice.

(Credit: Courtesy of Marvel Studios)

Loki, New Episodes, Fridays, Disney+

#Loki #Loki series #Richard E. Grant #interview #tvinsider #Tom Hiddleston #2021.07.12

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echo-of-sounds · 4 years ago

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Yess jurassic park 🙌 my favorite past time is watching with my fiancé and randomly yelling "quick what dinosaur is that" because he was a dinosaur kid. 😂

It’s one of my favorite movie series! It always has been. I love the books as well. They get much more into the science of everything. The new animated series on Netflix, Camp Cretaceous, is really good too! And the phone game, Jurassic World Alive, is so fun to play. It’s like Pokemon Go but for dinosaurs!!!

Also, here are the movies in order from best to worst even though nobody asked for my opinion (I just wanted to talk about them):

First Place - Jurassic Park

Obviously. The original is almost always the best. It’s a classic with great casting, acting, and practical effects. Rexy is b-e-a-utiful!

Though I’m a little angry at the fictionalization of the Dilophosaurus and misinterpretation of the Velociraptor. The velociraptors in the movie look more like a Utahraptor (my favorite in the genus). But I’m not that mad about it. I can forgive those things because it’s still such an amazing movie.

Second Place - The Lost World: Jurassic Park

The end sequence isn’t my favorite. It’s so dumb. But I tolerate it for everything up to that point, especially actors Jeff Goldblum and Pete Postlethwaite (RIP). And there are double the T-Rexes, so what’s not to love? Plus, there’s an adorable baby rex.

And the scene with all the cars driving into the herd astounded child me.

Third Place - Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

I appreciate the horroresque vibe. And there was an Allosaurus and a Baryonyx! I love them!

I also love how there were a lot more practical effects in this one compared to Jurassic World; especially the T-rex and Blue scene in the cargo boat. It made it so much more real since they were touching the creatures.

I could go without the ‘cloning people’ aspect. Dealing with dinosaurs was plenty for the series. And the whole ‘nephew is actually a villain’ was so predictable and already in The Lost World.

Fourth Place - Jurassic World

I loved the final battle and a few scenes here and there, but overall, I was left just questioning the decisions of the scriptwriters. I didn’t care about those two kids. I don’t want to hear about their parents divorcing. Why is that even in there? It adds nothing!

Also, the whole scene of the Indominus breaking out doesn’t make sense. The claw marks on the wall, when Owen noticed them, weren’t deep enough for the Indominus to actually get any gripping to climb out. Her claws didn’t penetrate the concrete. They were just scratches. Taking five seconds to think about it would have let them realize that. And why didn’t Clare call for the Indominus’s locator/tracker to be checked before leaving the area? That’s literally the first thing someone should do!

Fifth Place - Jurassic Park III

Listen, I have such a love-hate relationship with this movie. I loved it as a kid. Then my brain developed, and I realized how bad it was. All it is is characters running from point A to point B, then running from point B to point C. And all the screaming is so annoying.

The entire raptor subplot is just... what? Yeah, paleontologists believe velociraptors were smart- about the same as a modern-day dog. Dogs are smart. But they don’t have these ‘let’s set a trap to catch the humans’ genius-level brain. They don’t work that way. And hunting the humans, then not attacking and killing them once they got their eggs back, just doesn’t work either.

It’s only in my good graces because of the Spinosaurus (even though the design is out of date and there is simply no way one could beat a T-Rex, no way).

I wish they did more with pterosaurs through the series. There was the ‘bird cage’ scene in the third and some in the Jurassic World, but there are so many cool pterosaurs they could have added! Like the Quetzalcoatlus! I love them! I would love one as a pet. I mean, who wouldn’t want a giant flying reptile the size of a small plane?

So many of them have amazing skull crests too! Tropeognathus? Odd bills but that’s their charm! Caupedactylus? Gorgeous and colorful crest! Dsungaripterus weii? It had an upturned jaws! Tupandactylus imperator? Full crest undoubtedly remarkable to see in flight!

I would love to see movies, video games, comics, whathaveyou use different dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and megafauna/extinct animals rather than the same ones we see repeatedly, especially since most aren’t even accurate! If you’re going to use velociraptors, please, for the love of God, research what they were actually like! And there are so many cool megafauna that’s not a wholly mammoth or a Smilodon. Those have been done to death.

#ignore my rambling #dinosaurs!#jurassic park #long post #asks #anon

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vaguely-gestures-to-the-void · 3 years ago

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Hindsight: My thoughts on Loki (2021)

Welcome back folks. Read the innocence dying inside me as I accept that this show eats my expectations for lunch and leaves me like it's going to buy milk.

As a side note from what I said in my first review, here’s an interesting article. Apparently I was clowning because the Gobi desert scene was filmed (probably? idk) with the tech from the Mandalorian. I think the studios were the same. Oh well. https://www.atlasofwonders.com/2021/06/loki-filming-locations.html

Episode 4: THE NEXUS EVENT

Pre-title scene

The new perspective of Asgard is incredible.

Oh baby Sylvie, what did they do to you. Also, RAVONNA??

The TVA through a child’s eyes is heartbreaking. The mixed use of shots that were familiar (the feet walking into the TVA) and new (the TVA logo on the floor) convey how though routine, this is an alien experience for Sylvie.

She too wants to help the man being dragged in. Maybe Sylvie was a better person than Loki, the TVA taking her away was what changed it.

We don’t see Casey, but iIt’s the same ‘sign here’ guy. The changing perspective and music really alters the mood created, contrasting the whimsical procedure we followed in episode one.

She hadn’t even said much in her life. They knew how to influence the audience’s emotions, that's for sure. Props to the actress, I felt genuine concern for her before I remembered that she’s acting.

TVA

Ravonna probably underestimated Sylvie as a Loki, a mistake that cost her greatly.

The golden doors.

Ravonna looks tense and a bit fearful.

Scattered throughout the episode are eyes watching. George Orwell’s 1984, anyone?

Big Brother is watching.

Mobius! He’s a good friend to Ravonna, but there’s a power imbalance.

Ravonna is shaken. Her past failure is haunting her.

Someone edit the “What? How?” into “Wow.” It’ll be a service.

Lamentis - 1

Loki’s apology and Sylvie reflecting on her childhood are the conclusion to the previous episode. Faced with death, Loki realises that her goals were hindered by his actions. His apology is the first time he acknowledges he had something to do with it. Sylvie’s offering her emotional vulnerability in the form of memories. Her mind and experiences are her most prized possession because they’re all she has of the person who she was as Loki, her childhood and what she was supposed to be. Her glorious purpose, what really makes a Loki a ‘Loki’ was her life.

THEY TRUST EACH OTHER. THIS WAS WHAT CAUSED THE NEXUS EVENT.

C H A R A C T E R D E V E L O P M E N T.

Ravonna pointed out that Loki will always be a “lying scourge” but they went against this. In any timeline, this could cause a nexus event. They found a middle ground.

“That should be setting off alarms if someone steps on the wrong leaf.” I had a whole idea about entropy and the timeline being an isolated system but I struggled to define an isolated system, and thus I couldn’t use the whole irreversible process causing entropy to grow causing a br- if you have a clue of what I’m going on about, or want to know more, I’ll explain my thoughts. I can understand why this isn’t scientifically accurate and I’m no physicist.

The unbranched timeline means all the things that were speculated - Wanda’s kids, what happened on Saakar, all of it - is gone.

“Any news on C - 20?”I called it! B-15 is having doubts! Her subtle unease building up throughout the ep is perfect!

Most settlements have a street design that can be from space. Sharru doesn’t.

“No. We may lose... ...you’re amazing!” Damn it literally took the end of a world for Loki to change as a person.

“Their smiles. If that isn’t people accepting their deaths I don’t know what is. Man, I just want both of them to be happy.

Please don’t let that be the love theme, it’s so pretty.

The music fading into the TVA theme as they get separated is so sad.

Time Theater 25

Back to square one in terms of trust with these two, but now they have history and hurt feelings too!

Oh Mobius.

Cycles are a part of who Loki is within Norse mythology (from what I know, correct me if I’m wrong). This scene is conflict.

Loki needs both Mobius and Sylvie to incite change. One can empathise whilst the other believes in him.

Mobius believes in Loki like no one else in the TVA. He treats him like an individual, they developed a bond in episode 2, so his disappointment and anger were genuine. This is reflected in their dialogue.

Even when Loki was going through all the Feels in ep 1, he didn’t shout at Mobius. It makes it more heartbreaking when Mobius laughs and dismisses him after the “TVA is lying to you” thing. His laugh was so bitter, it’s like his belief that Loki would be the variant to prove that variants were individuals had been shattered. What Mobius doesn’t realise is that Loki was genuinely trying to warn him. The trust between them was fragile but Mobius needed to come to his own conclusions before he could see that Loki had broken out of the mold the Time Keepers set for him.

“Just kind of an asshole and a bad friend.” Y’all, Mobius doesn’t rise to Loki’s baits. He’s so hurt.

I can’t be the only one that thought Loki was going to be brainwashed when they saw the red door. Turns out it’s just a time cell.

I love Mobius but he makes me feel so conflicted. Oh shit, he’s my problematic fave.

Watching Loki get his ass handed to him by Lady Sif shouldn’t be this funny.

This particular memory reflects what Mobius will talk about later, Loki being abandon by the people around him.

Putting Loki through a memory that was physically and emotionally painful was nasty. If you hear something horrible, over and over especially from a friend it would take a toll on your self-perception. Mobius was hurt by Loki leaving him, he’s getting revenge whilst doing his job and getting into Loki’s head.

Ravonna’s office

Ravonna has hang ups from failing with Sylvie. Who she is and what she knows is going to be interesting.

Heck I just realised are Mobius’ lapels not real? They look fake.

I wonder whether the “mastermind” thing was foreshadowing the next ep.

Am I the only one who thinks this isn’t the first Loki Mobius has dealt with? Could that mean there’s a reunion next ep?!

“Variant pet.” There’s a culture of dehumanising variants within the TVA.

The cuts showing both B-15 and Mobius’ faces reminds me of ep 1, but now there’s a new angle to things. B-15 certainly sees things differently.

Time Theatre 25

Lady Sif would kill with short hair. Or long hair. It’s Lady Sif, she’s a badass.

Loki’s exhale reminds me of how he tenses before a fight.

Notable things about this scene:

Heavy use of metaphors to trade jabs.

The lights are shifting in a consistent pattern, scanning the room almost.

Shots are constantly moving and cutting.

Loki’s speech pattern changes when he’s lying. Nice touch there.

When they start arguing in earnest, the shots are close ups of their faces, not circling around each other.

Loki was at first willing to talk to Mobius if he was treated with respect, the way they engaged in episode 2. He also wants to trust that Mobius won’t kill him. Mobius dismisses him (rightly so, his trust is gone) and Loki’s pride about ‘not working for anyone’ gets in the way rather than listening to each other. Loki’s behaviour is cyclic and his lying about Sylvie affirms Mobius’s understanding that Loki won’t (or maybe can’t) change. I wouldn’t be too surprised if Mobius is a Loki, the man’s uncannily good at reading him. He deduces that Loki and Sylvie have a bond and unsettles Loki to get answers out of him, because he knows that’s the only way he can force Loki to reveal his cards. He definitely wasn’t expecting Loki’s earlier admission to be the truth. What Mobius did was not right, but it sure was effective.

“No. Not partners.” I believe this. They had an understanding, but their goals differ. Maybe just give Sylvie her own show.

“Guess you don’t do partners.” MOBIUS WHY ARE YOU SO BUTT-HURT? Probably to make Loki feel bad ik, but it’s still funny to think Lightning McQueen is salty.

That memory really hurt Loki. He stuttered.

Loki fixates on Sylvie rather than his own freedom. This was the cue to Mobius to start interrogating.

Bruh, the feeling they were experiencing better be friendship.

This made me uncomfortable because I was so sure we weren’t gonna get a romantic subplot that I related the characters to my actual family relationships. Marvel. Why?

The music combined with Mobius’ subtle shift in demeanor from irritated to mockery was very unsettling to me. I never realised how good an actor Owen Wilson was.

“Our interests are aligned.” Once Mobius tells him the truth, Loki does the same. I really hope this is the extent of their relationship. Just let them recognise one another as equals. Please Marvel.

Mobius’ hands twitching, the slight swallow. Yeesh, he certainly doesn’t think Loki’s lying, but he’s not about to accept it.

Loki’s head shake is sad. He knows he can’t convince Mobius.

“That I can respect. I mean the lies you tell yourself.” This was the best writing imo. Loki doesn’t make any final attempts to connive his way out of the situation because telling the truth to someone he’d trusted had failed. He willingly walks into the Time Cell.

Time Theater 47

B-15 being unable to support herself, having to rely on the structures around her to stay upright. This woman deserves so much y’all.

WE NEED HER NAME MARVEL.

You better appreciate her beyond shipping her with Sylvie or istg.

The music is so mournful. It just emphasises how much everything changing is going to hurt not only the main characters. Lives change because of the TVA and the events of this episode, it’s not overlooked by the writing or music.

The poster and the 1984 parallels. Exquisite!

Sylvie not sitting straight made me snort.

Ravonna Renslayer’s office

More Theremin music! This time I’m pretty sure it’s Carnival of the Animals, XIII. Le Cygne (the Swan) : Le carnaval des animaux: No. 12, Le cygne (arr. For theremin and piano) by Clara Rockmore.

Fun fact! Clara Rockmore influenced theremin music and the instrument and was a virtuoso of the instrument. Give her a google, it’s worth it. Also look up Leon Theremin, he was (among other things) a Soviet spy. There’s a great Wiki spiral for anyone there.

Mobius was probably being lined up for a high position in the TVA. Damn.

TemPads are personal, or have different levels of clearance.

Mobius didn’t stop interrogating Ravonna throughout that scene. He knew that she wasn’t telling him the whole truth.

Sleight of hand wasn’t shown how Loki and Sylvie do it, they didn’t use misdirection.

Ravonna knows something is up with Mobius. Maybe he hasn’t been around for long if this is his ‘career case’.

The pacing becomes really fast like in the end of episode 2 as conflicts get resolved. Buckle up comrades.

2050 Roxxcart Disaster

I don’t have much to add, it’s a powerful scene.

They use close ups whenever a truth bombshell is dropped.

The music varies considerably between these scenes, each one has a different tone.

“We’re the same.” With what she knows of B-15, Sylvie knew not to be smug when delivering the news about B-15’s life.

B-15 crying in the rain hurts.

“I looked happy.”

TVA archives, Time Cell, Time Theater 25

The floor opposite Mobius is FE3, above it is 3FG.

Oh Mobius.

C-20 deserved better, I'd love to see her later in the series.

The music goes from mournful to harsh and we’re left in silence when it cuts to the Time Cell.

“You told me to shut up.” Loki can be salty sometimes.

“Do you really think you deserve to be alone?” Mobius is rattled, he wants to unsettle Loki.

The music starts to build somewhere between “...your connection... “ and Loki saying “‘WE?’”

The faint tinkling reminds me of the Avatar (blue people) score.

“How about the word of a friend?” This is Loki’s olive branch. When he admits Loki was right, their trust is tentatively reinstated.

The music is finally back to that chaotic theme we know. I think it’s the TVA’s theme.

“You can be whoever, whatever you wanna be, even someone good. I mean just in case anyone ever told you different.” Mobius corrects what he says in the first ep.

They are friends y’all I’m so sad.

Mobius can lie through his teeth like it’s nobody’s business.

Pruning hurts, Mobius’ face is in agony.

Loki’s tears. GIVE THEM ALL JETSKIS.

Ravonna takes a moment to compose herself.

Time Keepers (the final smackdown)

Why are the last 10 minutes always so insane?

Loki’s eyes only show hurt. I’ll leave.

Ravonna’s so sharp, she instantly catches Sylvie’s wet hair.

All of our expectations from the trailers always get yeeted out of a window because the scenes are never really what we think they are. I get that that should be expected but it’s refreshing that the writing is never what we think it is.

Did anyone else notice the egg timer/infinity sign murals on one of the hallways to the left of Sylvie?

Ravonna is so cold (and yet I’d simp for her).

The M.C. Escher staircases I see you set designers/CGI folks.

B-15 just gets knocked out. They better not kill her for no reason or I riot.

I’m pretty sure that Sylvie ripped off one of Ravonna’s TVA badges (or buttons) when she fought her.

Sylvie’s the better fighter, she’s had to use it more often though.

The elevator doors stay open.

It would be so funny if we get an elevator scene where Sylvie is just dragging Ravonna somewhere.

They really led us on with the Time Keepers, particularly the middle one. I was somewhat convinced there’d be something more to it. I’m interested to see where it goes.

Ep 4 review

I really don’t have much to add with these last two episodes. I’ve definitely come to appreciate that no matter whether you liked the writing of the show or not, it’s never what you expect. Is that a good thing? I guess that that remains to be seen. Nonetheless, I appreciate how much effort went into this series. It’s been a fun romp, I’ll be back with my reviews of the final episodes. I’ll also stop posting Loki content to my blog because the Gods know that my followers don’t read this lol.

I’m just going to survive until the season is over and then hopefully keep my sanity together until the next Marvel content or at least Dr. Strange.

Here's the link to my episode 3 review.

Thank you all for being here, you're wonderful my loves.

#loki #loki series #loki review #loki (2021)#loki spoilers #spoilers #man how is this fandom gonna cope? By fixating on other TV shows? Good luck lads.#I'm gonna go buy milk at this point #they better not mess with B-15 or istg #B-15 deserves none of this #give mobius a jetski #and give loki therapy #and Sylvie too pls my babies need rest.#boy if Mobius is a Loki variant I'm going to grab my popcorn because the circus that this fandom will turn into will be legendary

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creativeashproductions · 4 years ago

Text

Songbird Shenanigans // Charlie Gillespie

IN WHICH: The reader will routinely sneak away from her band/hotel to continue her tour shenanigans in parking garages. A way for the young star to return to the stupid years where the concert venue was a car and the mic was the steering wheel. As each city comes and goes with the tour, one thing never changes, driving to parking garages to scream songs at the top of your lungs.

Warnings: Swearing, Mamma Mia songs (oops), and fluff

Words: 4.0k (with lyrics included)

A/N: There’s something endearing about Charlie randomly going a stranger in a duet and dance without a care. This was loosely inspired by the chaotic live they did when Jeremy and Charlie stayed at Owen’s place. I loved Charlie’s tropical shirt giving Animal Crossing vibes.

TO BE TAGGED SEND AN INBOX/ASK PLEASE!

Masterlist

A moment you had desired for a while finally came around in Oklahoma City during the free day between the two concerts. The pure quiet away from the interviews, photoshoots and demanding life of a musician. Yet despite wanting this time, you definitely felt bored, which only meant one thing.

A new video for your followers as you had done since the beginning of your successful career. Back before, you had the prominent following you had; now you would travel singing in your car, and then one video got viral. That elevated your following until you had signed a record deal with your brand new agent.

A series was then born of driving at night to the parking lots and garages in the city you temporarily visited. You'd park and sing any suggested songs from a previous video for an hour to see if a fan could find you. It was a fun game you had developed.

Y/N Y/L/N: Another installment of Songbird Shenanigans. From 9pm to 10:30pm, I'll be somewhere in Oklahoma City. Come find me for the prize!

Your agent both hated and loved the series as it brought attention to your career and songs but also was a hazard during the tour. The risk of losing your voice made your agent nervous, but the positives outweigh the negatives.

"What song are you doing?" Maddie asked from her chair in your hotel suite with a ratty book in her hand. Her rich dark hair pulled up in a high bun with a few pieces of bangs pulled down to hang free.

You didn't know if you could do what you do if you didn't have Maddie by your side as your singing partner and chief stylist. Maddie also always knew without looking on social media when you had a new installment coming.

"My most requested video is Train Wreck by-"

"James Arthur." Maddie snickered with her grey eyes pinned to the page she was reading faithfully. The book had seen better days, but it was her absolute favourite one by far and one of the only physical books she had.

"Somehow forgot you had it on repeat for a week straight." You snorted, shoving a hat on your head for warmth. A plain black coat pulled over your arms that matched the warm boots you had chosen, "I'll send you my location."

Maddie waved on hand in response, having known the routine since you first started this fun series. It allowed you a bit of your old life when the concerts you performed was solely in your car with the steering wheel as the microphone.

Judy, your agent, was sitting in the lobby with her binder surrounding her when she looked with a sigh. Without a word, she tossed the keys to the rented car she knew you'd need, so in each city, she rented one. A smile of gratitude shared before you were out the door with your hood up.

"Be careful!" Judy exclaimed just as the sliding doors closed behind you, sending you out in the cold night.

Almost instantly, your cheeks turned a light pink in the cold winter air, even if the walk to the war was short. As requested, the car was a newer model but one that would blend in with other city cars. It made finding you harder, but the windows couldn't be tinted.

"Here's to hoping I get a place with good acoustics." You muttered, starting the hatchback vehicle. Despite the cold winter weather, the road conditions were surprisingly okay, but then again, you were from a small town. Roads were shit in general.

You didn't bother playing music as you used the drive to find a parking garage and warm up your throat. Your vocal coach would have your head if you didn't warm-up, and then Judy would kill you even more.

You lucked out in a parking garage to a building that seemed to be a renovated warehouse with insanely cool windows. The metal was a dark shamrock green with a multitude of small rectangular glass between the metal. The panes swung open upwards in a fascinating design.

"Perfect." You muttered, signalling to turn into the parking garage that was easily accessed and without any trespassing signs. It was desolate, with cars parked here and there in the stalls.

A bright orange Subaru definitely took the cake as the most 'flashy' vehicle among the more nondescript ones. Not that it caught your attention when you lowered your windows marginally while simultaneously clipping the phone onto the dash. Immediately you double-checked for any apparent signs to your location before declaring it safe; with a tap of your finger, your Instagram live began.

"Welcome to another part of our Songbird Shenanigans. This time I'm in Oklahoma City for a two-day concert. The most requested song is Train Wreck by James Arthur."

Laying in the silence

Waiting for the sirens

Signs, any signs I'm alive still

I don't wanna lose it

I'm not getting through this

Hey, should I pray? should I pray

A natural instinct of closing your eyes as you got more into the music occurred. Your voice belted into the garage beautifully. Tons of comments appeared in the insta live chat of both supportive and haters.

username3: I suggested this song!!!

username88: Your voice goes perfectly with the song.

The song came to an end quicker than you would have liked since it was definitely one of your favourites to sing.

Unchain the reactions, I'm not ready to die, not yet

Pull me out of the train wreck

Pull me out, pull me out, pull me out

No action was helped back from taking a swig of water from the reusable bottle you had brought along. Your eyes scoured the comments for more suggestions or things that stuck out.

"Why don't you include hints in the Songbirds?” You read out from the comment section with a smile barely held back, "Why would I? You all know that my windows are often down, and even the most unoriginal locations have tells. There's been a few people that have found me."

Username13: I think I know where you are (insert heart emoji)

↳Username63: username13 where?! How do you know?

↳Username13: jatp is streaming all day and the guys are in a car. Same background

Your eyes read the short but interesting conversation between the two different accounts on something called jatp? Whatever that was.

"Any other requests?" You asked, scrolling through the suggestions, "Sing something from jatp? I'm sorry, guys, but I have no clue what that is? Is it a movie? OH! It's a show. My bad."

The comment section was flooded, "Okay! Let me look up the lyrics and the melody!"

Three males: a blonde and two brunettes, walked between the rows of both occupied and unoccupied parking spots. The blonde wearing a black t-shirt with BEANS written across the chest and the brunette with short slicked-back hair crowded the middle guy. All three pairs of eyes watched the iPhone stream the television series.

"I call shotgun!" Owen spoke as the car in question came into view, "We gotta Livestream in the car again!"

"Your neighbour sucks, man." Charlie groaned, nudging Jeremy to unlock the car when the older man hesitated.

"If we're going live in the car, we should cover your license plate," Jeremy suggested to a resounding agreement.

Charlie drove an obscenely vibrant coloured car that could be picked out quickly, so he didn't need any help in broadcasting his location. Owen grabbed the book from the passenger seat to angle it to lean against the plate.

"Done!" Owen called, racing back to climb into the car with his friends. The blonde-haired man bounced in his seat as the owner of the vehicle set up the screen.

In seconds, the streaming went from the app on the phone to the car's built-in screen to the boys' delight. In a moment of what some may call brilliance and others stupidity Owen went live on Instagram with Charlie joining him swiftly.

"Do you rem-"

Username76: Songbird chose a shitty location.

↳Username 39: Or we just got a Hail Mary hint

"Who is Songbird?" Charlie questioned, leaning closer to his friends in the front, catching a few comments.

The comments were mixed among other unrelated ones, but all had Songbird, Shenanigans or both words. The mystery was so intriguing the boys turned down the show to scour the comments for tidbits.

"Wait? Do you hear that?" Jeremy questioned, scanning the parking garage with his blue, green eyes. Soon his head was sticking out the window, "Someone is singing here."

Jeremy's hand turned the key of the car, "Is that-"

"Oh, no." Owen groaned, seeing that specific light appear in Charlie's eyes just as it did each time one of the songs came on. His pink beanie slid around his long blonde locks.

The two guys watched as the second oldest in their group did some kind of shimmy after pushing his phone to Jeremy. Jeremy's hand scrambled to get a grip on the phone as Charlie delved into his love for these songs. Sharing a look, Jeremy and Owen followed the Canadian to a car with a girl singing in the open hatchback car.

(Italics is you! Italics and bold is Charlie and you! Just bold is Charlie!)

When you were lonely, you needed a man.

Someone to lean on, well I understand

It's only natural

But why did it have to be me?

Your eyes remained shut as you neared the middle of the first verse. You completely stopped when a voice joined. Your e/c eyes met the twinkling brown of a handsome guy with the best voice you'd heard in a long time.

Nights can be empty, and nights can be cold

So you were looking for someone to hold

That's only natural

But why did it have to be me?

Your lips parted in a grin as you grabbed the hand being offered to be pulled out of the car; on your way, your hand nudged your phone. Your phone was in a mount attached to the roof of the hatch. When you followed the stranger, the phone turned in perfect view. Your free hand turned to hover over your forehead, legs bending to feign a swoon.

I was so lonesome, I was blue

I couldn't help it, it had to be you and I

Always thought you knew the reason why

Charlie beamed playing being shot by the arrow you pretended to shoot with a grin planted on your own lips. Charlie's hand flirted with your hip as you sashayed around his body from his left to his right. Hand grabbing a first full of his white with light teal with light pink design to tug him chest to chest.

I only wanted a little love affair

Now I can see you are beginning to care

But baby, believe me

It's better to forget me

In turn, Charlie grabbed your wrist to twirl you into his arms straight into an impressive dip with the toe of your shoe pointed to the far wall. Your fingers just barely caressing the rough paved lot.

"I'm Charlie," Charlie murmured during the instrumental between the chorus and the second verse. Your eyes scanned his features with an expression you would later be glad was hidden from the lighting in the garage.

"Y/N." You breathed, clutching his shoulders still low in the dip, hoping subconsciously that your breath was still fresh.

"Wanna finish this?" Charlie spoke, searching your eyes with his own; up close, you could see his eyes were a mixture of colours. You only nodded before he continued singing to the music.

Men are the toys in the game that you play

When you get tired, you throw them away

That's only natural

But why did it have to be me?

"Are you seeing this?" Jeremy whispered to Owen as they watched Charlie literally sweep a stranger off her feet. Owen could only nod as Charlie went into the next verse, still dancing as if he was in Mamma Mia 2.

Falling in love with a woman like you

Happens so quickly, there's nothing to do

It's only natural

But why did it have to be me?

Charlie spun you back away from his body in a graceful twirl your choreographer would be incredibly proud of. The moves you made somehow made sense, with the movements matching the spontaneous duet-er.

I was so lonesome, I was blue

I couldn't help it, it had to be you and I

Always thought you knew the reason why

Once more in his arms dancing, he dipped you once more as you finished the end of the last chorus breathing heavily. The two strangers staring intensely into each other's eyes with an intense look that had tensions in the parking garage.

I only wanted a little love affair

Now I can see you are beginning to care

But baby, believe me

It's better to forget me

"Intense." Owen chuckled as Charlie raised you back onto your feet with a matching grin to yours, "Oh! Look at the comments!"

Username24: Holy shit! They ooze chemistry!!

↳Username9: lol, okay Alex.

"You aren't a viewer, are you?" You breathlessly laughed, taking a step away from Charlie as the music faded away.

The equally breathless spontaneous performing partner laughed as well, "I heard the song and hoped for the best."

"Are you Songbird?" Came a voice from a few feet away. Behind the once upon a time stranger stood two males approaching slowly.

"Oh!" You gasped, turning on your heel to see where your phone was pointing, "Well, that's convenient! One moment."

Jeremy and Owen flanked Charlie as you repositioned the phone at the moment with practised precision. You kept the three people out of the shot for privacy reasons.

"There is about ten minutes away from the end of this installment being over. For the first time since we started this series, I had a duet." You playfully laughed, looking over at the trio, "It's completely up to my sudden partner, but would you like to meet your audience?"

Charlie simply shrugged, "Sure. They've seen you be serenaded by a stranger."

A short laugh came from the three individuals around Charlie as he moved into the camera frame with a large smile. As soon as he was in sight, the comment section went nuts, furthering when Owen and Jeremy came into view.

Username1: DREAM COME TRUE

↳Username4: omg jatp in Songbird Shenanigans?? Life accomplished.

You couldn't hold back the snort at the comments you could read quickly as they disappeared after new ones. The three guys couldn't help but chuckle as well.

"I've never seen these guys before. If you could introduce yourselves." You asked the three guests, to which each sent a reassuring smile to your hesitance.

"I'm Charlie Gillespie, and these are my friends Owen Joyner and Jeremy Shada." Charlie took the liberty of introducing both his friends and himself. His heart fluttered at the adorable smile that had appeared on your pretty face.

"I'm afraid this concludes this edition of Songbird." You apologized to the camera as the time passed the allotted hour and a half. The comments turned sad before most of them started sending questions, "I'll let you know when I do another edition! Bye for now!"

Your finger clicked the end button firstly before clicking the save button for when you would upload it to your account later.

"Thank you for doing that. I'm Y/N." You chuckled, shaking hands with Jeremy and Owen, who each grinned back, "So what brought you guys to the parking garage with three phones and a live-action Animal Crossing shirt?"

Amusement was found on all four young adults in the parking garage, pinning a gaze at the material. You had to admit you kinda adored the shirt, or maybe the person wearing it was the reason.

"We're trying to get Julie and the Phantoms to number one again." Owen offered as he displayed the live still going on his phone.

"That's a tv series. That was the second song I did on the live before Charlie joined the little concert." You told the boys all the while aware that thousands of people watched from the phone still streaming.

"The phone's about to die." Owen piped up, catching the single decimal number broadcasting the percentage. Without any prompting, he ended the live to save it solely for the little performance Charlie did.

"Did you save it?" Jeremy asked, lifting on his tiptoes to check the phone Owen had commanded for the last half hour. Like Owen, Jeremy wanted to save it solely for the stellar performance.

"So, how'd this series start?" Charlie questioned, pushing his hands into his pockets, ignoring the subtle glances of his best friend.

"I needed an escape from touring so many cities. It's reminiscent of the days before I was discovered. When my audience was the dials in my car and my family." You half-smiled, recalling all the times you had simply driven around to sing.

"You're a musician?"

"I am. I'm currently on tour for my second album. Every second or third city I'm performing in, I take the rented car to parking lots or garages to sing. I always have a prize for the fans that find me."

"Could I get your number?" Charlie hesitantly questioned. His features twisting with the manipulation of nerves.

His palms had gone clammy enough to inconspicuously wipe them on his legs; this version of Charlie was unfamiliar. Owen and Jeremy had only ever seen him as this bundle of joy and energy, not to say he didn't have his low days, instead of nervous. Owen slipped his fingers behind his back to cross them. He hoped his Canadian friend would get it.

"You don't leak mine, and I won't leak yours." Your e/c eyes twinkled with the brush of Charlie's warm fingers on your own. The new contact waiting for his information, "Maybe we can meet up with each other?"

"I'd love that."

Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, Unspecified Date

The sounds of screams and heavy instruments blocked by the unique in-ears explicitly made for your ears alone. You'd heaved, catching a breath after such an energetic song you'd just performed for the sold-out venue. You just jogged to the side for a chug of water as your band switched instruments.

"Are you having fun tonight!" You asked the crowd who had fought tooth and nail for tickets. The crowd screamed back louder than before.

Selling out MSG for completely insane even after touring the country with your band three times. It was still a little jarring, going from a nobody with untapped potential to selling out concerts and very successful albums, in all honesty.

"That's what I like to hear!" You beamed, pushing a strand of your unruly hair away from your face. Your eyes momentarily cast to the side stage with the equipment hiding the crew, "I have a surprise for you. A couple years ago, I had a spontaneous duet partner during one of Songbird Shenanigans. I'd like to invite my fiance Charlie out here."

The crowd went nuts as Charlie wandered towards you from the side of the stage away from Owen, Jeremy and Madison. Charlie's hazel eyes scoured the oceans of your e/c eyes he got to wake up to each morning. Mostly when Julie and the Phantoms had been offered to open for you; to be frank, it was more of an unspoken co-headlining.

"Can we tell?" You asked, keeping the mic covered and away from your body. Your body bounced, waiting for the smile from him.

Charlie nodded, accepting the guitar from one of the crew members. It was a song you had written a few months back. Charlie had memorized the entire piece with the deep adoration he felt for it.

The couple perched on the bar stools brought to the middle of the stage with a secret smile. One that only they and their immediate family understood.

Three months ago, you had sat Charlie down in your home to play him a little song that changed everything.

Charlie placed the last bag of groceries on the counter when he felt arms wrap around his midsection. He immediately knew that it was you welcoming him home from a very short trip to the store. In a swift move, he had manoeuvred you to sit on the counter while he scooched himself between your legs.

"Hi." Charlie breathed, rising to press a kiss against the smooth skin of your cheek, leaving heat in its wake.

"I want your opinion on a song." You burst out, unable to refrain from showing him a song you had been secretly working on. The French Canadian was beyond intrigued by the sudden announcement from his fiance.

"Oh?"

"Come." You coaxed the man from the kitchen to the designated music room filled with instruments of all kinds—even a recent addition of a recording booth in the corner with high-end equipment.

You bypassed everything for the grand piano you didn't play as often as you wished to be able to. Your fingers brushed the ivory keys for a mere second before you began playing the melody.

I, I have known love before

I thought it would no more

Take on a new direction

Still, strange as it seems to be

It's truly new to me

That affection

The smile that grew across Charlie's expressive face was uncapturable from the best of the best; he adored your voice. He had a personal ringtone you had explicitly done for him a few months into the relationship.

I, I don't know what you do

You make me think that you

Will change my life forever

I, I'll always want you near

Give up on you, my dear

I will never

You thrill me, you delight me

You please me, you excite me

You're all that

I've been yearning for

I love you, I adore you

I lay my life before you

I only want you more and more

And finally it seems

My lonely days are through

I've been waiting for you

Charlie's frown, however, faltered as your face ever so slightly paled with trepidation coating your pretty irises. Your voice even quivered with nerves he'd never heard before, but it made sense from the third verse started.

I'll carry you all the way

And you will choose the day

When you're prepared to greet me

I'll be a good mum, I swear

You'll see how much I care

When you meet me

You finished the song with the last note drawn out ever so softly, freezing as the room went quiet once more. This song was definitely vulnerable and personal; you felt naked under Charlie's silent stare.

"You're really?" Charlie breathlessly chuckled, his wide eyes screaming disbelief.

After a few years together with an engagement ring on both of your fingers after you had both proposed to each other, with the relationship very serious, you two had decided to stop contraceptives and let everyone happen if it was too happen.

"Yeah." You laughed as he swept you off the bench into his arms, "We have little Birdie to prepare for."

"I love you so damn much." Charlie choked out, spinning the two of you around in his arms. The smile never fading as he drank in the special moment of learning you had created a life together.

PRESENT

"With the impending arrival of our child, I will be taking a break to prepare. Even though I wouldn't be performing, I will still do Songbird Shenanigans. I'll just have to up my game on staying as hidden as possible." You informed the audience as the song came to an end.

Next thing you knew, you couldn't discern between the crowd and your friends now on stage screaming. You were able to feel Charlie's hand on your barely-there baby bump and his lips pressed against your temple.

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#charlie gillespie imagines #charlie gillespie fanfiction #charlie gillespie x reader #jatp fanfic #luke patterson imagines #charlie gillespie #luke patterson #charlie gillespie imagine #caitsy and ash productions

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catharticboredom · 4 years ago

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I did not have fun playing this game. Like sure the gameplay itself was fun, but there was an underlying sense of dread. And no not bc I knew how it was gonna end, or that Joel died, but bc 1) for Ellie’s campaign it is a dumb revenge plot and the journey itself was so morbid, yet still tried to pull off a lighthearted tone, vs the first game which had a sense of hope and a reason to keep playing. And 2) we played as Abby waaaaay too much, and I did not give a shit about any of her friends and WLF members, except for Yara and Lev.

For Ellie, it’s like “oh teehee I love bantering with my girlfriend, teehee...also I want to avenge my surrogate father and will stop at nothing to do so...teehee I love playing the guitar and singing”. I am not saying Ellie needs to be miserable, bc in this world you have to move on from your grief to keep surviving, but everything like there is a lighthearted moment I am just reminded that Joel is dead and that we are on a dumb revenge mission. And the flashbacks with Joel felt...idk off? Like I know their relationship has been tumultuous since the fireflies, but it felt jarring to be like “Ellie is suspicious of Joel” in the first scene of them together (where he plays her that song) and then to “Ellie and Joel are on good terms and are bantering” for the museum scene (which happens chronologically after), to “there is tension between them again” for the segment where we are accompanied by Tommy for a bit.

For Abby, they tried to make us sympathetic towards her, Owen etc, but I found all of them so boring, and also like we already hate them for killing Joel. And though I love Yara and Lev, it is such a transparent attempt to make us like Abby. Also idk why they thought it would be a good idea to have dumb relationship drama in this game, bc I do not care about any of these characters, and even if I did, a love triangle where a guy is cheating on his pregnant gf is not really something I can get behind. And going back to Y+L, it was just more torture p*rn for 2 characters of colour, and even more so for the trans character, where: he is deadnamed and called an abomination; his mother tries to strangle/kill him bc he is trans and he kills her out of self-defence; his sister had her arm amputated and then she just dies unceremoniously; and the ppl he grew up with are out to kill him (also there was the graphic shot of him and Yara having gotten hanged with their guts spilling out).

Also, as I have mentioned, the tone was all over the fucking place. From “these two wlw just got brutally beaten up” to immediately “oh look at the cute baby, oh so cute, let’s herd some fucking sheep!” to sudden PTSD (by this I mean Ellie didn’t have it before on her trek with Dina). And again, the awkward tone with the banter and the fact that it’s a revenge plot. I could probably come up with more examples but those are just off the top of my head.

Oh yeah 6 out of 6 black characters died. Sure Isaac was a bad guy, but did they really need to make the ruthless f*scist black? Also Jesse and Yara died unceremoniously, and they even had a shot of Yara’s corpse being shot up a bit by Seraphites shooting at the WLF or whatever.

The ending of this game sucked—it did not feel earned (ie Abby didn’t die) and it was very tacked on (after the theatre brawl). By no means did I expect a happy ending, but not one where the lesbian main character ends up alone (which is her biggest fear) and unable to play the guitar (her only connection to her surrogate father). Like the final fisticuff fight felt so one bc Abby literally didn’t even wanna fight and only did so bc of Lev. I get that he is her moral compass or whatever, but the fight felt so stupid bc again, one of them wasn’t even into it, vs if idk Ellie taunted Abby by reminding A of her last words to E (“I better not see you again” or w/e) or that E killed A’s friends.

And as I have stated in various other posts, I KNOW that the message is “ViOLenCe BAD, fAmiLy GOOD”...but the game literally has this perverse feel to it in the way that the death animations are extremely graphic, they intentionally wanted to make the player feel worse by the enemies calling out their friends’ names or w/e, have you kill dogs with their whining death noises, have skill trees + weapon upgrades designed to improve your killing ability, and having to kill to get through the game (sneaking around and not killing at all is too difficult).

What I wanted was a game to give me a sense of hope like in the first game. Neil keeps sucking his own dick by saying this game is subversive, but a revenge plot with a sympathetic villain is anything but. The FIRST game was subversive bc, at the time at least, with all these other AAA games (not all of them ofc) being edgy and such, it was so refreshing to see a game about grief and found family and hope and a father-daughter relationship (which is NOT to say the first game is flawless). This game is tour run-of-the-mill edgelord game that has stuff in it for shock value in place of a good story.

Basically fuck this game and fuck Neil Druckmann

#long post #harley plays tlou2 #tlou2 spoilers #the last of us 2

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rickytwister · 5 years ago

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Pylon Network is the Moonshot of 2020

Pylon Network (PYLNT) has max supply of 633858 only and sitting at a ridiculously low marketcap of 390k approx. They recently got listed on idex and have recently released updated tokenomics. What we are about to witness is outcome of hardwork of 4-5 years.

First lets understand what the project is all about. PYLNT is a blockchain for energy sector and helps world save energy and consumers their energy bills. Apart from this they are also working on P2P energy trading marketplace, where companies can trade their energy credits (research about Copenhagen summit for this usecase). So they have built a tech, which when implemented , automatically helps companies and people save on energy. In simple language, The tech automatically handles the diversion of surplus energy, provides realtime data and improves efficiency.

As per their new token model, every company from now on will have to market buy tokens and stake in order to be able to run federated Nodes and implement pylon. So a lot of buy pressure is coming up.

They are already being used at 4 muncipalities and few private companies and they recently got contract to implement spain's first renewable energy project.

I feel so proud to see, Pylon team is working on an inclusive approach where token holders share in the business success.

500k only in circulation and low marketcap. Lot's of marketing coming before month end.

Let's also understand more about the project and it's History

It's a highly technical project that boast of several accolades from Individuals and governments. For example, Their Chairman won Engineer of the year award in 2017 , apart from that some of the other positives include but not limited to

Working partnership with Basque Country’s energy cooperative, GoiEner Partnership with Denmark based GreenHydrogen Received the prize from Spain Tech Center, being selected unanimously as the most innovative from all finalist startups, to represent Spain in Silicon Valley Launched decentralized renewable energy exchange pilot in partnership with Ecooo. Partnership with the community of Freetown Christiania, Denmark. The Merchants Association of the San Fernando Market, partner-consumer of the energy cooperative La corriente, joins the Pylon Network pilot test and successfully completes the installation of what is now, the first “Metron” in Madrid, Spain. Partnered with eGEO for the development of a certified energy meter Spanish company Mirubee integrates Blockchain technology and Pylon Network open source software in its energy meters. The only Spanish company invited by the Danish Government to improve public services. Last October, Pylon Network was selected as winners of World Summit Awards (WSA) in the Green Energy & Environment category. Working partnership with Energisme Awarded by WAS (A UN Subsidary) and much more

The list above is very small, and a lot more has been done.

Pylon Network was awarded by UN and featured and hugely refrenced in research articles published by scientists/professors from Institute of Sensors, Signals and Systems, Heriot-Watt University, dinburgh, UK, Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, UK, Siemens Energy Management, Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, UK, School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK Highest Award winning team in Crypto.

Project widely in use and being appreciated by reputed science Orgs.

Why you should invest in Pylon ?

Firstly they have started getting regular work contracts in EU region, hence it has now become a revenue generating project and Token holders earn a percentage of revenue share.

[u][i]Low supply, low marketcap and team has confirmed a lots of marketing coming once the tokenomics and mainnet details are out next week.[/i][/u]

The best part is, Pylon isn't in speculation or upcoming phase like other projects, that "this will happen"/"this will come" etc etc , it is already live at various municipalities in and around Spain, so the risk factor has gone. Team will be expanding to other regions of EU and USA pretty soon.

To make it easier for you to understand, what all has been achieved, I went through various artices from past and collated the following for you. These are some of the achievements, team has procured till date. This is not an exhaustive list and there is much much more to the project. But still it will provide you better picture on the hardwork that has gone into the project.

August 2017

Chosen as one of the finalist startups in South Summit 2017

Working partnership with Basque Country’s energy cooperative, GoiEner Interviewed by a spanish media company, El Referente Guto Owen, a highly experienced energy & environment consultant for governments and private sector clients in UK & internationally, joins as Advisor.

September 2017

Cristina Carrascosa, highly experienced blockchain lawyer, education from London School of Economics, Author of various Blockchain Books, Joins the team. Started discussions with Greenpeace for probable collaboration. Code audit by Entropy Factory. Partnership with Denmark based GreenHydrogen

October 2017

Received the prize from Spain Tech Center, being selected unanimously as the most innovative from all finalist startups, to represent Spain in Silicon Valley Presented at Bitcoin meetup The Cube, La Ingobernable, Madrid. Article published in Energias Renovables, most prestigious magazine of Spain on renewable energies. Partnership with the community of Freetown Christiania, Denmark.

Presented at series of meet-ups around Spain and Europe in Copenhagen, Madrid, San Sebastian, Bilbao and others. Finalized details of pilot project in order to improve the energy distribution and management, within Christiania’s micro-grid.

November 2017

Published Press releases in various online magazines. Organized few meetups in Basque country.

Launched decentralized renewable energy exchange pilot in partnership with Ecooo. Trip to Silicon Valley and participation in a 2-week accelerator program in San Francisco. Presented at Embarcadero center in downtown San Francisco.

December 2017

Meetings with Marine Clean Energy and Sonoma Clean Power of Califronia. Visited Blockchain EXPO North America, and met with various crypto players. Visited Plug&Play Tech Center. Visited offices of Silicon Valley Power and Palo Alto Public Utility. Introductory talks with E-On Accelerator (DK), Accelerace (DK) and GridVC (FIN)

Jaunuary 2018

Panel member at European Energy Transition Conference 2018 – Geneva, Switzerland! Presented together with GoiEner at Ateneo de Madrid – Energy & blockchain forum – ICADE, Madrid.

Released screenshots of the platform’s alpha version. Participation in Ateneo (ESP) and European Smart Cities (CH) conferences. Code release for first fully functional blockchain algorithm, designed specifically for the needs of the energy sector.

February 2018

Demo version released for Public. Presented at University of Oxford. Presented at TechHub Swansea, Wales.

March 2018

Installed the first Pylon based “Metron” energy meters at users of the GoiEner energy cooperative, in a real environment.

April 2018

Presented at

EventHorizon (Berlin, GERMANY). EventHorizon is the ONE exclusive annual event centered on energy blockchain solutions for a future based solely on renewable resources. EnergyCities (Rennes, FRANCE). The role of blockchain in the energy transition of cities NIRIG (Belfast, IRELAND).

May 2018

Installed first “Metron” energy meter in Madrid :- The Merchants Association of the San Fernando Market, partner-consumer of the energy cooperative La corriente, joins the Pylon Network pilot test and successfully completes the installation of what is now, the first “Metron” in Madrid, Spain.

Partnered with eGEO for the development of a certified energy meter called – METRON- which will integrate blockchain and the Pyloncoin payment method. First version of METRON dApp launched.

June 2018

Presented at

ENTSO-E, Brussels, Belgium.

ENGIE Global Team Representatives, Madrid, Spain Social Enterprise Leaders Forum (SELF), Seoul, S. Korea. Transactive Energy & Blockchain, Vienna, Austria. RESCoop.eu General Assembly, Milan, Italy.

July 2018

Prosumers and Pyloncoin dynamic payment system integration.

Presented at

Smart Energy Wales, Organised by Renewable UK (Cymru). MARESTON, organised by MARES Madrid. Spanish Foundation for Renewable Energy, Malaga, Spain.

October 2018

Spanish company Mirubee integrates Blockchain technology and Pylon Network open source software in its energy meters.

November 2018

Published the most up-to-date version of its Blockchain Open Source Code and invited energy market players to use it. Pyloncoin Blockchain Explorer released.

January 2019

Presented at Energy Revolution Congress – Valencia, Spain

February 2019

Updated Whitepaper and Tokenomics Released. Interviewed by Sustainable Energy magazine, The Energy Bit.

March 2019

Presented at

GENERA Energia – Madrid, Spain. CTEC – Barcelona, Spain.

May 2019

The only Spanish company invited by the Danish Government to improve public services.

Presented at

Intersolar (Munich, Germany) ,the largest Solar Energy Conference in the industry. UNEF (Organised by the Spanish Union of PV technology) – Madrid, Spain

June 2019

Launched community reward program. Webinar :- the impact of new regulations on the self-consumption landscape in Spain. Belén Gallego, serial Entreprenuer, Public Speaker, Energy Consultant, Founder ATA Insights, Joins Pylon team.

July 2019

Participated in round table conference, Vinalab – Ruta Hackathon

August 2019

Participated in EPRI event :- Presented Pylon Network to investors and US utilities, who were interested to explore the blockchain/ energy landscape.

September 2019

Presented at The Madrid Energy Conference along with representatives of companies such as IBM, Shell etc

October 2019

Presented at International Conference of Energy Communities – Lisbon Presentation in Plug & Play Europe Event – Berlin Foro Solar Conference – Madrid WeekINN Conference – San Sebastian IoT World Congress – Barcelona

Formed Partnership with Energisme

November 2019

Presented at ACOCEX Conference The Unconference Valencia Startup Week – Barrio La Pinada event

December 2019

Proudly mentioned in various Spanish media, for delivering energy efficiency impact for local communities: the Valencian Municipality of Canet achieved a 12% reduction on their annual electricity costs, with the support of simple, consumer-centered and consumer-friendly energy services of Pylon Network!

[u][i]National Winner AT WSA Awards by United Nations[/i][/u]

January 2020

Started releasing Educational Video Series Presented at Presentation at CMES, Barcelona Interview published by The online media outlet “The Daily Chain”

February 2020

Presented at GENERA International Trade Paco Negre Assigned as New CFO of Pylon Network Javier Cervera appointed as chairman of Pylon Network! Javier has been recognized as the engineer of the year for 2017 and as the vice-president of AEE – the Association of Energy Engineers.

March 2020 Listing confirmed on Idex (Trading went live in April) Presented at Effie solar virtual conference

#crypto #ethereum #bitcoin #cryptocurrency #cryptocurrency trading

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vamonumentlandscape · 3 years ago

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Fort Monroe

Fort Monroe is an area rich in history. Before the settlement of British colonists in 1607 at Jamestown, Cape Comfort was occupied by Native American groups for hundreds of years. The first Africans that were brought to North America arrived in the Hampton Roads region in 1619. John Rolfe wrote a letter to Sir Edwin Sandys of the Virginia Company about the arrival of “Twenty and odd Negroes.” Race-based enslavement would eventually become normalized in the decades to come. Though the original colonists attempted to fortify what is now known as Old Point Comfort repeatedly, destruction always ensued leaving the area vulnerable to competing entities. It was not until after the War of 1812 that the young United States Army constructed Fort Monroe as a part of a defense strategy against future attacks. Construction began in 1819 and was not fully completed until much later in 1836. A young Robert E. Lee directed the final phase of construction between 1831-1834. Ironically, Lee had constructed a Union stronghold essential during the Civil War when much of Virginia was in the hands of the Confederacy. Abraham Lincoln visited the fort briefly for four nights during the war and saw the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia fighting in the nearby waters. Though a Virginia slave owner demanded the return of escaped enslaved persons at Fort Monroe in 1861, General Benjamin Butler refused as they were a “contraband of war.” This action led to the United States Congress adopting the First Confiscation Act, which meant that escaped enslaved persons from an active state in rebellion would be kept out of the hands of Southern slave owners. Just a few years later in 1863, Lincoln��s Emancipation Proclamation made it clear that the North was intent on ending slavery for good. Since former President Barack Obama designated Fort Monroe as a national monument in 2011 after its formal decommission by the Army, the National Park Service can fully interpret all components of the site. This includes the two-year confinement of Jefferson Davis at the fort, as well as its strategic importance during World War I and World War II. It is a site that shows the benefits of historic preservation and redevelopment, and we felt a unique sense of fulfillment incorporating the fort into our last journey of this project.

Once we had driven around the large fort for about fifteen minutes, we finally found a map that helped us find all the important landmarks we wanted to see. As we were pulling away, we came across our first stop. There was a historic marker at the top of the Casemate Museum that caught all of our attention. “Confinement of Jefferson Davis” is what the marker was titled. At Fort Monroe, in what is now the Casemate Museum, Davis spent the first four and a half months of his short two year prison sentence. The 1932 marker only detailed facts about his imprisonment, but right below this sign was a plaque installed by the United Daughters of the Confederacy that was riddled with the Lost Cause narrative. The plaque honors Dr. John J. Craven, U.S. Army doctor, who took care of Davis as he was imprisoned. He, according to the UDC, “lightened the monotony, loneliness, and the physical suffering of Jefferson Davis.” The sign did not stop there with the odd language of calling Davis a “prisoner of war.” He was not a prisoner of war. The war was over, Davis was imprisoned because of his crimes of treason. He was never tried and was released after two years. It is an example of one of the largest injustices in our country’s history that added fuel to the fire of the Lost Cause.

Just down the road we came across an arch above a large hill, overlooking the ocean across the way. It was formerly an entrance to a small memorial park to Jefferson Davis. The UDC installed the overwhelming metal arch in 1956 with the approval of the US Army to “commemorate the imprisonment of Confederate President Jefferson Davis at Fort Monroe.” It was shocking, but also quite expected for the times, to us that the US Army would approve the arch dedicated to a traitor. It was also unsettling because of what was happening in our country at the time. In the 1950s and 1960s the rise of the modern Civil Rights Movement was taking place. Organizations, like the UDC, were making sure their presence was known and making racist statements across the country. In August 2019 the name of the park was removed and the area was reinterpreted. We were all impressed with the signage from the National Park Service that told the full truth about what the memorial park was and meant for those who installed it. The signage was blatantly honest about why the arch was put up, along with the many other types of Confederate memorials across the South. The signage states that these memorials “ … highlight(s) the intent to exclude African Americans from public life and civil liberties.” The signage even speaks to how “ … Davis stood as the most vocal proponent of the claim the war had been a constitutional struggle, not a fight over the future of slavery in the United States, His claim was part of the Lost Cause crusade….” It was a proud moment to see how well the NPS is interpreting the history of the past mistakes at Fort Monroe. Lastly, as we stood under the arch, overlooking the ocean, we could see the signage for where the proposed First Africans memorial will go. We couldn’t tell if this was a coincidence or just a powerful twist of fate for the two sites to coincide in such a way. We are thankful for the correct interpretation of history here at Fort Monroe.

Before Fort Monroe was a military installation, Old Point Comfort was where the White Lion brought African captives to be sold into indentured servitude. The arrival of the 20-30 Bantu Angolans was the catalyst for slavery in America. We were able to park near a fishing pier and easily found the sign. The sign explains the arrival briefly and also introduces a couple, Antony and Isabella, who were two captives on the White Lion. They had a child named William, who is believed to be the first child born in Virginia with African ancestry. The sign concludes with a statement confirming the facts of Virginia creating a system of hereditary slavery, which would last until 1865 with the ratification of the 13th amendment. Each of us had an emotional reaction to seeing this historical sign as the sun went down for the day. We looked out towards the ocean, closed our eyes, and heard the crashing waters below. This place is where one of the greatest travesties of United States history began to form as an institution. After shedding a few tears, we walked down to the future site of the African Landing Memorial. Sculpted by Brian Owens, the memorial will allow further reflection upon America’s greatest violation of human rights and dignity. To move forward, one must look to errors of the past. If all Americans can do this, maybe we will be able to realize the true potential of a free nation.

Our last stops at the fort were two signs detailing the former locations of the Contraband Hospital and Contraband Quarters. In the beginning of the Civil War, General Benjamin Butler took in hundreds of enslaved people who had run away from the hands of those who owned them. He called them “Contrabands of War” as they were property of those who they were fighting against and General Butler confiscated such “useful property.” There was no mention of emancipation, but ultimately this policy led to thousands of formerly enslaved workers to be freed. The resilience the enslaved had to make such a journey from all over the South is a momentous accomplishment. Freedom was never easy to achieve and the hard fight never came without hardship. After travelling the long roads to freedom, most of the men, women, and children had been injured or faced illness along the way. The Contraband Hospital was set up exclusively for the freed people who were facing these struggles. Harriet Tubman worked as a nurse at the Fort Monroe hospital for a short period of time. Fort Monroe holds some of our earliest histories, darkest moments, and many highlights that are important for all Americans to see and remember.

Our final stop in the Hampton area was the small town of Phoebus. A small, rundown town in the middle of a revitalization, stood out to us as we were on the way back from Fort Monroe. Only about a mile away from Phoebus is a national cemetery for servicemen and women. But, the most interesting piece of history we discovered was a small historic marker that was titled “Slabtown.” Slabtowns were the pop up neighborhoods of the hundreds of freed people making homes for themselves out of slabs, which are leftover cuts of bark from the local sawmill. Many of those freed people’s descendants still live in Phoebus and surrounding areas today. We found this stop to be inspiring as not only does their story live on, but their familial legacy too.

#history #virginia #monument #civilrights #civil war #important #Jefferson Davis #fort Monroe #Hampton va

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lokiondisneyplus · 3 years ago

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SPOILER WARNING: Do not read if you haven’t seen Season 1, Episode 5 of “Loki,” now streaming on Disney Plus.

I think it’s when Alligator Loki ate President Loki’s hand that I realized I was in love.

To be sure, I was always into “Loki,” Marvel Studios’ third Disney Plus series and the first devoted to exploring a single character: the god of mischief as played by Tom Hiddleston. From the first episode, I dug the absurdist deadpan humor imbued by head writer Michael Waldron, and I was immediately smitten with how director Kate Herron employed ’70s sci-fi brutalism and a particularly British affinity for bureaucracy to build out the world of the Time Variance Authority.

“Loki” looked unlike anything I’d ever seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, an increasingly difficult prospect given there are now 26 discrete iterations of the MCU — soon to be 27 with the impending debut of “Black Widow.” As the show has progressed, that feeling has only grown more acute as “Loki,” in its exploration of its title character’s identity, managed to carve out its own unique personality not just in the MCU, but also in the grander landscape of sci-fi storytelling.

To put it as simply as I can, “Loki” is a cosmic-yet-intimate time-traveling romantic action comedy about how Hiddleston’s sexually fluid narcissist finally learns how to fall in love with himself — or, rather, the female version of himself who has lived a whole lifetime of harrowing experiences apart from his own. In doing so, the show has proven that not only can the MCU work on television, it can thrive on it.

Marvel Studios’ first Disney Plus series, “WandaVision,” was a fabulous first step onto TV, proving that the MCU, itself an experiment in creating an episodic series of blockbuster feature films, could shrink itself down to the scope of an American sitcom. Its exploration of grief and the restorative power of comfort TV could not have been more relevant to an audience enduring a devastating pandemic. But as it unfolded, the escalating mystery of what was actually happening on “WandaVision” — Evan Peters showing up as Pietro-but-not-actually-Pietro, Kathryn Hahn hiding in plain sight as Agatha, Elizabeth Olsen unwittingly responsible for almost everything on the show as Wanda — began to overwhelm it. Fans and major entertainment news outlets alike began wildly theorizing each week — it’s Mephisto! it’s Magneto! — and the pressure to achieve a Marvel-sized scale, service a wide ensemble of MCU characters, and resolve all its narrative strands made the final episodes of “WandaVision” feel, to some, misshapen.

Marvel’s follow-up series, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” meanwhile, was at once more conventional and more ungainly, with five separate antagonists (John Walker, Karli Morgenthau, Helmut Zemo, Sharon Carter and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine) operating at cross-purposes and overshadowing the two title characters meant to be at the heart of the show and the exploration of being a Black man in America meant to drive it.

“Loki” avoids all of that, because it’s the first MCU show that understands to its bones that the best television is about its characters first, and its story second. The lasting pleasure of longform storytelling is allowing the audience a far deeper understanding of who is on screen than a two-hour movie can allow. That sensibility is already woven into the MCU: Watching Tony Stark, Thor, and Steve Rogers grow and changed over multiple features has been central to the franchise’s unprecedented success. But while Marvel’s conviction to make their shows the same way they’ve made their movies makes sense, it’s also had the paradoxical effect of making “WandaVision” and “FAWS” feel too overloaded with their characters doing stuff than just letting them be.

Each episode of “Loki” does just that. In Episode 1, Loki and Mobius (Owen Wilson, never better?) sit and talk about why Loki does what he does; in Episode 2, they ruminate on the nature of accepted reality while trying to solve the mystery of the variant Loki’s whereabouts. In Episode 3, Loki and Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino, an instant star) spend the entire hour walking through a doomed planet getting to know each other, and casually coming out in the process. Episode 4 is when the story shifts into a higher gear, with Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s Ravonna Renslayer emerging as its true antagonist, but even that episode allowed for several extended scenes of human connection, between Ravonna and Mobius, Loki and Mobius, and Sylvie and Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku, richer with each episode).

This week’s penultimate episode, “Journey Into Mystery,” introduces several new Loki variants, a critical new location in the Void (the purgatory at the end of time into which all pruned entities are dumped) and a blockbuster movie sized enemy in the monstrous, timeline devouring Alioth (re-imagined somewhat from the comic books). And yet, there’s still time for Loki and Sylvie to sit on a hill, share a conjured blanket and quietly express how much they mean to each other, and there’s also time for Classic Loki (the great Richard E. Grant) to get a deeply satisfying character arc. After explaining how his own existential despair at his lot in life allowed him to live well past his encounter with Thanos, Classic Loki’s encounter with Loki and Sylvie reinvigorates his sense of glorious purpose — and helps Loki to understand he’s more powerful than he’s ever allowed himself to be. It’s a full meal in miniature, and Grant makes the most of it.

All the while, Herron and writer Tom Kauffman work in all manner of delightful alternate reality Easter eggs, from the USS Eldridge (purported to have been part of an experimental cloaking and teleportation device in 1943) to the Polybius video game (purported to be a government psy-ops scheme). More notably, there are also some MCU Easter eggs, including the Thanos helicopter and the Living Tribunal that flit by quickly and appear designed to tickle Marvel die-hards and pleasantly mystify everyone else. And then there’s Alligator Loki, a flawless creature who should be protected at all costs.

There is one blink-and-you-missed-it moment, though, that could be something more, when the Qeng Enterprises logo shows up on the Avengers tower. In the comics, Tony Stark sells that tower to Qeng, which is secretly connected to the same Marvel boogeyman that’s haunted “Loki” from its premiere: Kang the Conqueror. The decrepit house Loki and Sylvie are stepping towards at the end of the episode also looks like it could — could — be Chronopolis, Kang’s HQ in the comics, although the TVA itself could be that as well. In any event, it’s been well documented, here and elsewhere, that Kang could be the entity who is really behind the TVA, especially since “Lovecraft Country” star Jonathan Majors has already been cast in the role and will appear in 2023’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.”

If “Loki” does introduce Kang in its finale, however, then the show is stepping onto its highest, thinnest tightrope yet. This is supposed to be a show about Loki, not about a villain that, within the world of the MCU, remains a total unknown. It’s a massive risk for any series to bring in a brand new character — let alone the Big Bad! — in the final episode, so this could be another example of an MCU series serving the larger franchise at the expense of its own story. That would be a shame. Sticking the landing, after all, has always been troublesome for TV because TV is so much more about the shared journey than the ultimate destination. And yet, if anyone in the MCU knows how to alight onto safe ground despite impossible odds, it is the god of outcasts, who lives to survive.

“Loki” streams new episodes Wednesdays on Disney Plus.

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