#I feel like this interview would have gone a lot differently if it was taken this past weekend

[rickybaby]

DANIEL RICCIARDO KNOWS HE STILL HAS THE “IT FACTOR”

[galedekarios]

i'm reading a new interview tim downie gave about gale and it offers some of tim's own headcanons about gale, as well as tim's thoughts and insights on gale's character:

Nerds & Beyond: I like that you mentioned that the game is full of rounded characters because they are, they all have different aspects that make them feel real. I adore that Gale specifically is so serious and studious, but at the same time he has this really playful side — he often jokes about how he was a mischievous youth, he encourages other people like Arabella to do so, he understands when The Dark Urge first mentions their violent thoughts. There is a lot of nuance and depth there. But the quality that I love with Gale most is that obviously he is very ill when we first meet him – not that we know immediately – and he’s dealing with a lot of chronic pain. I find him incredibly selfless because he takes that day-to-day head on to help the party, which is an aspect I feel continues to show throughout the three acts. What’s your favorite quality of Gale’s, or what did you take away from him? Tim Downie: It’s so interesting hearing you say that, because I had so many different feedbacks about what people take from the character and sometimes things really surprise you. It’s interesting hearing that such and such has taken that particular aspect, because there are broad things like “He’s funny,” and that’s quite nice, that’s a nice trait, though not one you necessarily get to see that much. It’s so interesting hearing other people’s views about what they take from Gale.  The idea of dealing with chronic pain I found really interesting and an interesting subplot to play, and that was the great thing about doing something like this is that it is so unbelievably nuanced. You have so many layers that just keep going and going and going, as much as we all contain multitudes within ourselves. We all deal with these things, but only certain things pop up to the surface at any given point.  What did I take from Gale, though? I liked his studiousness. I would imagine that he was probably bullied as a kid for it, and he was probably a bit of a joker because he was bullied, and he uses that as a defense. But an even bigger defense for him is “I now know stuff that I didn’t before,” and that’s a power. It’s very similar to when you are being bullied and you’re the funny one – that’s your power, that’s your thing. “I may not be able to hurt you in a traditional sense, but I can say things that will make you feel pain,” which is a very different thing because you physically can’t go after them.  That’s the wonderful thing about acting and this character as well is being able to explore all these things that you might not have, that you might have gone, “I’m not gonna look at that again, I don’t want to deal with that,” and then it brings it up again and it’s like, “Oh, this is actually quite cathartic,” to re-explore these these moments of sorrow and loss and how you deal with grief and things like that and heartbreak and how you get over that.  It’s not all just tears, you do try and make a joke of it.

i really like that they are addressing the topic of gale's chronic pain. it's something that doesn't get addressed often, not even in the game itself.

i also found his answer as to why people might connect to gale very nice:

Nerds & Beyond: Gale is the most popular origin character to play as. What is it about him that you think allows so many different players to connect with him to the depths the fandom has? Tim Downie: I really don’t know. I think you’d have to ask the players that, ‘cause I don’t know, to be quite honest with you. He’s a wizard, and who wouldn’t want to be a wizard at the end of the day? I always say the difference between wizards and sorcerers is that sorcerers just pretend – they just assume they know what they’re doing, but a wizard has really learned this trade. And so there’s that kind of weight of knowledge and learning, which I would love to play as and be for a length of time.  I think it’s also the frailties. I like characters, and a lot of people do I’m assuming, that have flaws, otherwise you’ve made them completely unapproachable. To be completely superhuman or completely extraordinary at something then removes the humanity from it because it becomes like, “Well, that’s never gonna happen.” But when there’s a flaw, when there’s, “Oh, I’ve got that wrong, too,” or like, “My knees hurt” as you say, or “I’ve got a bit of a headache. I really don’t want to do this,” “You’re really annoying me, this is very annoying, could you please hurry up?” or “Stop licking the damn thing,” it’s always those moments that are fun because it shows what we’re all thinking at that point, it removes it from almost archetype and stereotype and it becomes human in a way.

gale is approachable and likeable, has flaws, but is genuinely nice. i think that very much sums up his character.

this bit here made me laugh:

Nerds & Beyond: When you’re talking about those different layers in the humanity building, I think one of the most important aspects in this game is the more “background” or passive dialogue, so dialogue that is prompted in the world and not in the cut scenes.  For instance — the first time I made Gale sneak he immediately complained about his knees, and it was such a real moment where he was just like, “Oh, don’t make me do this. This is not what I’m here for, I’ve got bad knees and I’m not made for this.” Did you have any of those background lines or moments that stick out as being particularly fun to craft?  Tim Downie: I remember the first time I ever had to do waiting, I found it infinitely interesting in so many ways. The idea that I did actually just have to wait and just actually, “Hmm…” Those little things I find really funny because they’re probably the closest to me that the character ever gets. His waiting mannerisms are kind of very English – slightly annoyed and I’m not going to show it to you though because we’re all being very nice, but I’ll do it with a huff and a slightly sarcastic, “Well, that’s great. Another 20 minutes. That’s great.” Those kinds of sentiments I found wonderful and incredibly fun, and funny, to do. 

if you want to read the whole interview for yourself, you can do so here!

[starlightsuffered]

Be Professional (The End)

Warning - Smut, oral (male and female receiving), unprotected sex, breaking machinery, no more cocky timo

I had been avoiding Timothée like the plague since his little confession. I was trying desperately to work out my feelings. I missed the sex, a lot, however, I also found, I missed him.

I missed his stupid guffaw of a laugh. I missed the way he actually said interesting things in interviews. I missed his jokes, even if most of them annoyed me. Why did I feel like this? I was supposed to hate him. He was a rival, a rival that was good at fucking, but I wasn't supposed to fall. Arg the stupid idiot had confused me so much ! didn't know what made sense anymore.

My friend was unhelpful as shit. She suggested giving him an apology blow job and just start dating him. I couldn't do that.

Timothée had been different since that night. He was no longer jovial and cheeky, he was solemn and serious.

He used to be so social, almost over the top social. He now preferred to eat in his trailer instead of with us. He was gone the moment he was allowed to be. He didn't talk unless directly spoken to, and he only smiled if he knew it would be a bad look to frown. He was......Professional.

How had I had such an affect on him? After all, I was some nobody. He'd literally asked why I was on this project at all.

It was one of the last days of our press tour, and we were walking in silence back to the hotel. These were the times I hated the most. The director always sent us back to the hotel together, hoping to ramp up excitement for the movie by our picture being taken together. It was always an awkward and silent journey. He never even looked my way.

We got into the elevator, and he pressed the number for our floor. The elevator ran smoothly for a second then it shuddered. I grabbed out to Timothée without thinking as lights flickered. We came to a slamming halt. The doors opened an inch, but there was solid wall peeking between them. A red emergency light was all that lit the area, washing us in scarlet. The elevator was stuck.

"What the hell," I said worriedly as I pressed the button for our floor over and over.

"I don't think that's going to work," Timothée said.

"Would you shut up," I ground out. I looked at my phone, of course, no signal.

"We'll probably have to wait it out. I pressed the emergency button," he said calmly. I gave him a look of wonderment.

"Why aren't you freaking out?" I demanded, and he shrugged.

"Urrrg you are so irritating," | snapped.

"

"Maybe I am, but this time you can't fuck me about it, so maybe we should talk like adults," Timothée retorted.

"Adults?" I demanded. "Now you want to be adults? You were the one always acting like a goof ball on set, you were the one always touching me and winding me up, and you're the one who initiated the whole sex thing in the first place. So don't tell me I need to act like an adult!"

"Did you ever consider why I did those things?" He asked, running a hand through his curls in frustration.

"Because you're an asshole celebrity who can get away with anything?"

"Because I fucking liked you," he said as though it were obvious.

"You what?" I asked softly.

"I was yours from the second you walked up to me and yelled at me," he confessed, and my back thudded against the wall as I took in the information. "I wasn't even asking the director what you thought | was. I was asking if you had any history in the industry because I know your first movie can be scary. I was trying to see how I could help you."

"You were?" | asked.

"Yes, but then you thought was a jerk and you weren't backing down. The only way I could get your attention was to rile you up."

"Timothée, stop," | said, feeling too much pressure building in me.

卩

"No, I won't, I want to be with you y/n, I want to spoil you, and fuck you, nicely, and kiss you, and not worry about who sees hickeys on our necks because they know we're crazy about each other. Why are you so afraid of this?"

"Because you're you," I whispered, eyes squeezed shut.

"What does that mean?" He asked.

"You are the Timothée Chalamet. You were in Dune, Willy Wonka, Little Women, Call Me By Your Name, fucking game changing movies!"

"So you do know some of my movies," he chuckled. I opened my eyes and looked at him. His eyes were large and pleading, his curls awry from his fidgety hands. He was so beautiful it nearly hurt.

"I don't want people to say I fucked my way to the top. I've worked too hard for this. That's why you always annoyed me so much. One wrong move and I could lose my dream forever. You could do anything you wanted and they wouldn't care. Even if you had been telling the director that he made a bad casting decision, it wouldn't matter, you'd still be there the next day."

I couldn't look at his fallen expression anymore so I sunk to the floor and talked to it instead.

"You piss me off because I wasn't supposed to like you this much. I was also being unprofessional because I knew I wanted you. I've never had feelings this strong, good or bad, in my entire life, and they're all attached to you. It scares the shit out of me."

He was sliding down to the floor too. He took my hands in his and my lip trembled. He was holding me so gently.

He had never held me gently like this before.

"I have crazy strong feelings for you too, and I really don't want to ignore them. However, I one hundred percent get where you're coming from. It'll be hard, but I'll back off if you say this isn't a sacrifice you can make for me."

I looked up into his eyes. They were mixed with equal parts hope and dread. I wanted to give him hope, but could I?

Just then the doors shut. The lights flickered back on and we were moving. He helped me up as we finally got to our floor. We were greeted by a team of workers who were all apologies. I could barely take it all in, it was sensory overload after what had just happened. Timothée turned on the charm and led us through the crowd.

Finally, we were at our doors. Timothée turned to me, I still hadn't given him an answer. Would I be okay leaving things here? I pictured my life after this moment. I'd cry myself to sleep, wake up the next day and try not to look at or think about Timothée. Then we'd go out separate ways. I wouldn't see him again. I wouldn't hold him again, wouldn't hear one of his cheesy jokes again, wouldn't kiss him again, would never have him inside me again. Could I do it?

"Do you have your room key?" he said.

"Yes," | replied, turning towards him.

"Well are you going to go into your room?" He asked.

"No."

"Why?" He breathed.

"I'll tell you why Chalamet," | said with a wild grin. I saw his eyes sparkle with hope.

"Why?" He asked again.

"Because you," I said, walking to him and placing my hands on his chest. "Are the best l've ever had, and also, totally worth it."

His smile nearly split his face in two as he grabbed my face to kiss me. I was beaming into the kiss. He broke it off with a joyous laugh, and picked me up and spun me around. I was laughing now too, heart full and content.

He struggled with the door because he wouldn't stop kissing me for even a moment. When we got in the room he carried me to the bed. His lips must have connected with every part of my bare skin. I was sighing with happiness as I felt my boys lips. MY boy.

"Come here you," I said pulling his face to mine for a long kiss.

"I'm obsessed with you," he said earnestly.

"Same here," | beamed back.

"First things first," he said and his lips went to my neck. He sucked the skin into his mouth. His hands went under my shirt to brush as my nipples as he suckled. I moaned.

"There we go," he said smiling at his work.

"Does it look good?" I asked, pretending to pose with my neck exposed.

"Almost as beautiful as you" he said, and my stomach flipped at the words. I bit my lip, and he leaned down to kiss me. The kiss was slow and passionate. I did take his lip between my teeth, but it was a gentle nibble, opposed to the harsh teeth I'd used to use on him.

He sat up and took off his shirt. I let my hands lovingly caress his abdomen. His eyes fluttered shut.

"Do you know how long l've wanted you to touch me like this," he asked in a near whisper.

"Too long," | answered, and he nodded. He began to unbutton my shirt. He was moving carefully, as if scared I'd run away from him. I wasn't going anywhere. He got my shirt off and kissed my stomach.

"You have got to be the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," he said. He unlatched my bra and threw it to the ground. He took a second to look at me before he was flattening his tongue against my nipples.

"Oh, Timothée," I sighed.

"That's it," he said. "That's how I wanted to hear you say my name this whole time."

"My Timothée," | breathed, as he began to work on my nipples again.

I felt him undo the button of my pants. I helped him get them off me. He kissed his way down my body, and took my underwear in his mouth. He dragged them down as I watched him avidly.

"I'm going to worship your pussy," he promised as he dove in. He lapped between my folds. I grabbed his curls, and he moaned into me. I didn't pull as hard as I normally did, just enough to please him.

"Fuck, right there, so good," | moaned as his tongue circled my clit before landing on it. His licks were long and loving, and the way he gripped my thighs with a gentle strength made me weak. Sure I liked being marked up, but l liked this better.

"I'm so close," | admitted. He switched up the direction of his tongue and I curled my toes. I panted as he continued. Finally, I was calling his name as I came undone.

Timothée's head emerged, face shiny with my juices, and a smile on his face.

"I always wanted to ask if you really feel as good as you sound?" He said.

"Yes, absolutely, you are a God with that tongue of yours," I said.

"Well, it's only for you," he winked.

"Better be," I said. "Now please take off your pants."

"Eager are we?" He chuckled.

"Yes, I'm addicted to your cock," I said, it was my turn to wink as I brought up his old words.

"That whole cocky thing was an act. My heart was going a mile a minute hoping you wouldn't think I was repulsive. It seemed like it was the only way you'd interact with me, so I put it on."

"That is adorable," | said truthfully. "But I wasn't lying, I am addicted."

"Fuck," Timothée said with a shudder.

He quickly took off his pants, his cock springing from his boxers. I knew he hadn't intended for me to help him, but I moved fast. My mouth was around his length in seconds.

"Ugh, baby," he groaned, and the pet name spurred me on. I bobbed my head, taking all of him I could into my throat.

"Fuck, so good, so good," he panted.

"Stop," he said, pulling me off. "I need to cum inside you, please."

"Absolutely," | agreed, and pulled him down on me. He kissed me long and hard before lining himself up with

me.

"You ready?" He asked, I bit my lip and nodded. He pushed into me.

"Merde," Timothée cursed, head dipping into my neck as pleasure over took him.

"You feel so good," I told him. He began to thrust. It wasn't fast, but it was deep and powerful, each movement hitting me in my sweet spot.

"Ah, ah," I moaned. "Fuck, Timothée, you're so good, you're so pretty, you fuck me so well."

I was whining, making the sounds l'd always wanted to make for him before. He seemed to be loving my vocalness. He was kissing me heatedly, as he swallowed my whimpers.

He reached down to knead my breasts as he fucked me. He was hitting me so deep it seemed impossible.

"I'm so close," He told me.

"Me too," I whined.

"Look at me when you come please," he begged. I could only nod, completely lost to pleasure as he his hips snapped forward. I locked my legs around his waist, wanting him deeper. I wanted to be one with him.

"Oh, Timothée, I'm gonna come," I moaned and I looked into his eyes as the best orgasm l'd ever experienced washed over me. Wave after wave of bliss was hitting me, so that I was nearly convulsing as I called his name. He came soon after me, cumming ropes of cum inside me, keeping his eyes on mine.

"I think I'm falling in love with you," he confessed as he pressed his forehead against mine.

"You're not the only one Chalamet," I teased.

After hours of talking, I fell asleep in Timothée's arms. I was awoken by the ring of my phone. It was our director.

Timmy's eyes opened groggily as I answered. He smiled sweetly at me.

"Hello?" | croaked.

"You guys did it haha, the story about you two getting stuck in an elevator is everywhere!" He cheered.

"Yes, well, we make quite the team," I said smiling at Timothée. Then I hung up so I could kiss my boyfriend.

[hijinks-n-lowjinks]

Because of the jjk exhibition and new interview questions with Gege there's been a lot of discourse, specifically about how things ended with Nobara and Gojo.

From what the exhibition attendees can best recall (as recordings inside were banned), Gege stated that he doesn't really want to kill off a character if he knows it won't emotionally affect the readers and a bunch of people are reacting poorly to it. But honestly, I don't really disagree with him. The purpose of deaths in most media to pull an emotional reaction from the consumers! You want your readers to feel emotionally tied and affected by that loss! If you kill a character just to kill someone, that's when it's purposeless and pointless.

I think some people are taking this way too literally and interpreting it as "gege kills for shock value" which does NOT equate to what he was saying, in my opinion. Every death has some impact on the characters, the plot, or the underlying meaning of the narrative.

Nanami's death is the most understandable of all of these. As a mentor figure, he was already at risk just because of tropes of the genre and storytelling in general. His death provided motivation for Yuuji and gave us a strong feeling of loss and a desperation to see Mahito brought to justice. He was also a full grown adult so his death was less of a shocking tragedy and more of a painful loss. I don't think there's many people who who debate this.

Now let's get to Nobara. I might be in the minority here, but I believe her death did mean something! Jjk has always discussed themes of throwing kids into situations they aren't fully equipped for and how their youth and lives have been taken away from them out of a sense of duty. Nobara's death is exactly meant to lean into this. She didn't have to die and she shouldn't have died. She was young and made a grave mistake when she shouldn't have gone out by herself! Nanami told her to stay behind because he knew she would be at a heavy risk of injury or death, but because of the culture around her Nobara went anyway. She wanted to help and wanted to be useful. There's a sort of toxic glory in jujutsu society where the strong are held up and revered while also being used recklessly. Nobara shouldn't have died, the same way Haibara and Riko shouldn't have died, but they did. That's the tragedy of it, and jjk is a tragedy and always has been. It was meant to evoke anger and pain, a desire to ensure that something like this doesn't happen again.

Gojo's death is the most complicated. It's the most convoluted and shocking, but I can see what gege was trying to do with it. Gojo is the strongest, but he worked alone and was used to working alone. No one can keep up with him and would just get in his way, so he was somewhat forced to fight Sukuna alone. I believe that the intention behind his loss was to show that even the most powerful can fall, especially when they have no one else they can rely on. The students all have each other. They are meant to be the change to the culture around them, working together to defeat Sukuna and bring about change. We even see this when Yuuta in Gojo's body relies on Inumaki! He's in the body of the strongest, but he wasn't going in alone. That's the difference.

Jjk has shown over and over again the tragedy of the world and hasn't shied away from the reality of loss, grief, and how unfair the world can be. That's the point of all of these horrible things, to show that unfairness. But I don't believe it will end that way! What's the point in showing how sad and nihilistic things are if it doesn't also show hope? I'm certain jjk will have a hopeful, victorious ending but those things come at a cost. That's what I believe gege's intention is.

[quantum1mmortality]

discreetly glances around like this is a back alley deal ... can u write a pussy drunk johnny cage for like his favorite reporter (reader) that plays hard to get from rejecting dates 'n invitations here 'n there to mess with him... u can start it however u want !! but i would like the scene from iron man where the reporter/christine asks tony "you ever lose an hour of sleep your whole life?" and he replies with "i'd be prepared to lose a few with you." if u can put that in... /nf (ur welcome to say no to this + take ur time miss ^^'' have a lovely day now sweats 'n scurries away)

What good is all the fame if you ain't fuckin' the models?

I see you drivin' SPORTS CARS, ain't hittin' the throttle

And I'll be down to do a hundred, top down and goggles

Tw/cw: AFAB reader, no use of y/n just Johnny calling reader princess, overstimulation, dacryfilia if you squint, breeding kink, reader being a little shit, dirty talk but not really, praise, cunnilingus, pussy drunk Johnny

Not proofread don't act surprised you knew it was coming

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had taken a while for you to finally accept the fact that Johnny, the man you were documenting constantly, had a crush on you. His consistent naggings of dates and expensive gifts all for you were more than enough to get your heart racing, it just never felt right to go out with him.

You'd gone out with other men before, you'd kissed other men, but everything felt different with him. He was more compassionate despite his status, and he truly cares about you, but it was wrong. All of it was wrong.

There were women who were begging for Johnny to even look at them, yet he only had eyes for you. He would consistently give you raises and promote you to his manager after a good while, but you remained a reporter. Even after expressing nothing but love to you, you didn't let him have you easily.

Once you came to terms with the fact that THE Johnny Cage was in love with you, you decided to play hard to get. He could get anybody he ever wanted, and he wanted you. You weren't going to make this easy on him, especially if he was that down bad for you.

Well apparently, he was more than just down bad. He was down horrendous, to the point he asked you multiple times to move in with him. "C'mon!! We'll be like roomies! It'll be soooo fun!" But you insisted on not doing that, for obvious reasons.

He'd been pinning on you for more than a while now, and you had really been testing his patience the entire time. From consistently turning down dates and invitations to huge house parties, to wearing small skirts to interviews with him.

You haven't tried making your attraction to him, especially as if late. You started staying at his house more for work related things, crashing on his couch in the early hours of the morning. Whenever you'd come over, you would wear small tight skirts and open blouses, both things you knew he loved.

One night, Johnny decided he'd treat you to something. He'd just gotten back from a trip to Italy and brought back a bottle of wine, and it just so happened to be one of your favorites. He poured you both a small glass, you both took a sip of it before placing it down on the table next to you.

You'd been sitting on his couch for a while, going over work materials for an up and coming interview. He'd decided to sit down with you and have a small conversation, but it was obvious too him that work was more important for right now.

"'Your newest movies are doing awesome, Johnny! We're making lots in the box office, how do you feel about your up and coming role?' There, does that sound believable?" You asked as you skim over your notes again.

"Add a little more flare. Get the audience going a little more, and at least try and act like you want to be there." Johnny and you both left out a small laugh as you continue with your work. You could feel his eyes on you, like they were watching every small move you made. In a way, they were. Johnny loved to observe every part of you, the way you hold your notebook, the way you write, the way you knit your eyebrows together as you're focused on writing, it was all perfect to him.

"You know," he started, getting your attention as you looked up. "It's still pretty early in the evening, why don't I take you out for dinner? You've been working really hard lately, and I can get us registrations at the top restaurants in the city, no problem. You down?"

Not this again. You internally sigh before finally answering. "Cage, you know I don't want to go out with you." Liar. "You can have any girl ever, I promise there's better out there." Now you're self pitying? You suck.

"There's not a single other person I'd rather be with. Not a single other person has made me feel the way you do, you know this, you just like this little cat and mouse game we play." Busted. Your eyes widened as he continued, "I've been watching your reactions, your body language, even the way you dress. Youre playing hard to get, yet your body and heart knows what it wants."

"You're a busy guy. You need those precious hours of sleep that id be taking away."

"I'd be more than happy to lose those hours if it meant I could be with you."

That was it. That froze you. Oh God, were your true colors actually showing through? Was your attraction to your boss coming to light? Oh God, this can't be happening, why are you feeling things You've never felt before?? What's this feeling in your stomach? Why is your body temperature rising?

"C'mon princess, let me treat you right, just for tonight. If you don't like it, no more. If you do, you know I'll give it to you anytime you want." He gave you a small smirk and got up from the couch, holding his hand out for you to take.

You glanced at his open hand, then him, then to the floor. You weren't experienced much in relationships, let alone sex. How could you ever pleasure him if you couldn't even pleasure yourself? Oh well, nows a good time to get cocky for the last time of the night. "I thought you wanted to take me out for dinner. What happened to being a gentleman?"

"I'll show you just how much of a gentleman I can be. As for dinner, I'm hungry for something else. No pressure princess, remember that." He gives you a reassuring smile before holding out his hand again.

Going over your options one last time, if you were going to be honest with yourself, you wanted him. Badly. And he knew that. "Ah, what the hell?" You say, getting yo and grabbing his hand. He smiles and places a gentle kiss on the back of your hand before leading you to his bedroom.

It's huge, obviously, but it has a huge bed too. Full of the highest grade blankets you could only dream of being able to afford. "Make yourself at home princess, what's mine is yours now. I mean it." He says as he pulls you in for a small kiss. It was passionate and soft, but short enough for you to want more.

"Do you want me to get undressed first? May alleviate some anxiety. I'm willing to do whatever you want, anything to make you comfortable."

You blush as you look away from him. You genuinely couldn't believe this was actually happening, something that youve wanted so badly that, in retrospect, you could've gotten so much earlier if you wouldn't have been so hard to get, was actually happening.

"Hey, princess, if you don't want to do this we don't have to." He was purposely making this obvious in an attempt to comfort you. Of course you wanted this, more than anything, but you just didn't know how to initiate.

Johnny knew you weren't experienced in the department, you've told him about how you've just never been interested in it. However, you've told him that you were attracted to him multiple times, playing this game with him just to see which one of you would break first. With this, he knew you liked him in that sense.

He could tell by the fact that you were avoiding eye contact that you were nervous. He took your hands in his, rubbing small circles on the back before kissing each hand. "Let me show you how good I can make you feel, please." Before he continued, he got down on one knee, looking up at you, your hands still in his. "You can back out at any time. I promise you'll feel amazing."

You let out a playful sigh, "Fine. But, we need a safe word, just in case."

"Jupiter."

"I was gonna say pineapple, but that works, too." Johnny laughs at your response before standing up. He kissed you on the forehead before leading you to his bed.

He guided you to sit as he crouched down, locking you in another kiss. He nipped slightly at your lower lip before letting his tongue inside your mouth. He was exploring your mouth entirely, getting more turned on by your soft whimpers by the minute. He slowly took off your skirt as he played with the hem of your panties.

Once he finally slid the fabric off, he discarded it, along with your skirt. He pulled away from the kiss as a string of saliva followed. He smiled at how pink your cheeks were and your now plump lips.

"Just relax, alright? I've got everything under control." You slowly nod as you lean back on the bed, your dangling legs making their way to rest on Johnny's shoulders. He began by placing soft kisses on the inside of your thighs, groaning at simply just the scent.

"You don't know how long I've been waiting for this." He smiles before he spreads your folds with his two fingers, flattening his tongue and running it through your now exposed pussy.

You moan loudly, your hands tangling themselves in his hair as he continued his movements. He dipped his tongue into your tight hole before moving to your clit. One of his hands left your thigh and moved to settle in front of your face. His fingers spread your lips and he inserted his middle and ring finger into your mouth.

Your tongue swirled around his fingers, coating them in saliva before he took them out of your mouth and slowly inserted one inside of your hole. You groan slightly at the pain before it quickly turns into pleasure. His tongue was flicking your clit around before he placed his entire mouth on it, settling on sucking on it while he curled his finger inside you.

He began to add another finger inside you, kissing your thighs again as you groaned out of pain again. "J-Johnny- it hurts-"

"I know princess, I know. You're doing so good for me, just a little longer, alright?" He looked up at you and you nodded in response. "Such a tight pussy, all for me? You shouldn't have." He laughed again as he began to suck more on your clit, grazing his teeth over the nerve slightly.

Once his second finger was fully inside, he began scissoring them inside you. Your moans of pleasure and the soft tugging on his hair were making him go crazy. He sped up his pace, trying to make you cum as quickly as possible.

His nips at your clit and scissoring fingers inside your pussy were sending you over the edge. Your aching hole would clench down on him are your back began to arch. Johnny became enthralled by the scene unfolding in front of him, your blouse half way unbuttoned as your breasts rose up and down with each breath, you changing his name continuously as thighs began to close around his head, it was perfect to him and he couldn't get enough of it.

He lapped at your pussy like a starved man and began to feel lightheaded over the taste. To him, everything was worth the wait, and he doesn't know how he can live without you after this. When you came, he couldn't be more excited to lick up every drop of your essence you gave to him.

He ok pulled his fingers out of your pussy, sucking on them as his eyes rolled into the back of his head over the taste. Once he finished cleaning his fingers off, he moaned simply at the look of your gaping hole spilling out cum, just for him to clean up.

He held you down by the waist, as he lapped at your juices. He made a mess of himself and you and he couldn't care less. He feels like he can cum right now just by the taste alone, he was genuinely addicted to your now aching heat. Your hands flew to his head, attempting to push him off because of your over overstimulation.

"Johnny- no more- please no more-" you began to cry over how good you felt. The sight of tears falling from your face made Johnny immediately get up, begrudgingly, however. "Wanna feel you inside Johnny.." you look up at him with eyes he simply can't resist, and he just sighs.

"Fine fine, but I get to eat you out again in the morning." You smile and nod as he begins to undress himself. You take this opportunity to take the rest of your clothes off and get on the bed completely. Johnny climbs on the bed completely as he guides your head to lay on one of his many pillows.

He climbs between your thighs as he takes off his boxers, clenching his jaw and moaning slightly at the feeling of it finally being out. Your eyes widened as you look up at him. "Is.. that going to fit?" You say with worry.

Johnny smiles at you, but in reality he's also worried about it. "It may take a bit for you to get used to the size, but I'm more than willing to wait." He leans in and places a small peck on your lips before putting one hand on your waist while the other hand aligned his cock with your hole.

He looked up at you again. "Ready?" Giving him a nod yes, he positions himself to hover on top of you, letting you latch onto him for stability. He slowly lets his cock enter you, one inch at a time.

Moans from both of you fill the room as he finally bottoms out. He smiles and looks at you from below him. "I knew you could do it." You smile back as he continues talking.

"I think maybe you should stay over tonight, when we wake up tomorrow, I'll make breakfast. How's chocolate chip pancakes sound?"

"Sounds great, Johnny." You give him a small and he kisses you again. This time, it's full of lust and love. Your hands move to cup his face and he leans into the touch. The kiss lasts a few minutes before you slowly pull away, looking at him then speaking. "I'm ready."

He kissed you once more and began to move. Your hands move to his back, holding onto him as he slowly thrusts into you. "Faster Johnny." The way you say his name has blood shooting straight to his cock and he picks up his pace.

His thrusts become fast enough for you to be comfortable with. Your fingers raked on his back as small beads of blood formed at your fingernails. He went slightly faster and it became nothing but pure bliss.

"Such a good pussy, god I could do this forever and not get bored." Johnnys grip on your waist tightens as his thrusts become faster than what you can keep up with. "All mine. That's what you are, all mine. I'm gonna fuck you so good all you can think about is me."

You began to claw at his back desperate for a release. Your tongue lolling out of your mouth as all you could do is take what he gave you. The pleasure washing over you was becoming too much to bare and you started clenching on his cock.

"Fuck princess- you want me to cum inside you? I'll do it. I'll breed this pussy day and night as long as you let me." He can feel himself getting close as his thrusts became sloppier.

You nod yes in response and he lets out a loud moan followed by both of your orgasms. He stops his motions as his breath became heavy. "One more round. Please- one more round. I need to feel you. I know you can take it."

You look up at him and smile through tired eyes. You nod again and with that, he was back to his harsh pace. You screamed his name as tears formed at your eyes again. Johnny bent down to kiss them away, increasing his pace as he did.

"God you take me so well. You're the only woman that can make me feel like this, I need you so fucking bad." He collapsed into your neck with another groan as he came again, accidentally overstimulating himself in the process. You both catch your breath as you hug onto him.

He reciprocates this and wraps his arms around your waist, placing playful kisses on your face. You giggle as he does and he can feel his heart completely melt. He stands up and is about to walk to the bathroom to get a cloth before he feels you grip his wrist.

"Stay, please. It can wait till the morning."

He smiles and gets back into bed with you. He places even more kisses over you and you bury your face in his chest, ready to sleep. "Will you finally go out for dinner with me?"

"I'll think about it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/n: the day I'm known as the writer of that one specific fanfic is the day I can rest in peace

[aflame4goinghome]

Part Of The Band

j.t.k. x f.reader

part four

part three

word count: 6.3k

warnings: swearing, mentions of drinking, lots of sexually implicit language, mentions of sex, flirting, yearning, kissing, i guess some groping/heavy petting(?), shameless nicknames once again; nothing too bad this time around... for now ;)

JAKE’S POV:

She turns around and gives you a cute little wave before heading inside her front door, making your heart flutter slightly. You find yourself just staring at the closed door with a stupid smile on your face before you finally snap out of it, pulling off the shoulder of the street and driving off. You’re 27 years old, Jake. Stop acting like a teenager.

It’s still hard to believe that this is where your day had taken you. You just wanted to take a quick look at the selection at the record store after so many long, exhausting hours in meetings this morning. You hardly believed it when you saw her there; you didn’t even know it was her at first but something pulled you toward her, telling you to say something.

She looked different than she did when you met her years ago, her hair had grown out longer and she added those bangs that framed her face just right. The look in her eyes remained the same, however- focused, passionate, and kind- something that seems to have only strengthened with time. It was something that you admired about her.

You knew that you had no right to be upset with her for not reaching out, it wasn’t like you had either. When you found yourself in Anaheim four months ago, calling her did cross your mind but you were unsure that she’d answer. It had been nearly two years, surely someone would have swept her off her feet by now, loving her and giving her everything she desired.

This was something that you knew you wouldn’t be able to do. With tour picking back up, interviews, and more album production, you didn’t feel like you could give her the life that she deserved. How could you love and cherish her enough while being gone so frequently? She deserved someone who could love her wholly without compromises. You’d rather keep her at a distance than break her heart. So, you didn’t call. But it seems like fate had other plans.

You stop at a stoplight, reach into your back pocket for your phone, and pull it out. You open it up and pull up Josh’s contact, pressing call. The dial rings a few times through the speakers in the car before he picks up. “Hello?”

“Josh, hi… are you busy?” you ask. “No, I’m just at home, why? All good?” he asks with a concerned tone. “Can I come over? It’s been a weird day,” you reply, your voice a bit shaky. “Yeah, Jake. Of course,” he says. “I’m just in Midtown. I’ll be there soon.” “Okay, see you soon.”

About ten minutes later, you pull into Josh’s driveway and walk up to the front porch. You lay a few knocks on the front door and then the door flings open, revealing your kind-faced brother, smiling from ear to ear. You enter the threshold and pull him in for a hug, holding it a bit longer than you usually do.

“…Everything okay?” he asks, pulling away and walking into his kitchen, reaching into the cabinet to pull out two wine glasses. You watch him take out a bottle of Pinot Grigio from his wine rack and pour it into your glasses as you approach the kitchen and lean against the counter.

“I’m not really sure. I think it might be soon. But I’m feeling pretty lousy at the moment,” you reply as he hands you one of the glasses. “What happened?” he asks you, looking over for an answer. You take a sip, taking in a deep breath.

“I had some free time after my meetings today, so I decided to check out a record store on Broadway in Midtown that I saw on my drive back. I walked in and started to browse some of the records when I looked up and saw a head of long dark hair in front of me looking through the CDs. It felt so familiar, I couldn’t comprehend why, so I approached her to find out. It was Y/N, Josh. She’s just moved here…” you finally spit out, feeling the weight lift off your shoulders. You watch as his face lights up a bit, seemingly pleased by the news.

“I see… how did that make you feel? You seem stressed… didn’t you like her?” he asks, with a subtle smile on his face. Your brother knows you better than anyone, and he can see right through you in an instant. He knows what the feeling you’re having is, but he wants you to say it and come to terms with it yourself.

“Well… of course I liked her—a lot. I just never thought I’d see her again. And now that I have… I don’t know. It’s all so overwhelming. But I’ll know how I feel better after I take her out to dinner this Friday. I guess we’re trying to start over, whatever that means. It’s been a long time, and neither of us ever reached out.”

“And why is that, Jake?” your brother asks, smirking. You scoff and roll your eyes, knowing that he's messing with you. You decide to continue the bit, checking your watch jokingly. “Josh, should I be paying you by the hour? Considering you’re behaving like my therapist.” He chuckles at that, taking a sip of his wine. “I came here to get a little drunk and tell you about my day, not for you to psychoanalyze me with your freaky twin telepathy bullshit,” you continue, laughing along with him.

The two of you stand there for a while longer, discussing the results of your meetings this morning and the plans for the album release next weekend. You knew what Josh was getting at, asking you all those questions. You’re just not quite ready to think that seriously yet. You’ve only just seen her again, after all these years, you don’t want to rush it with ideas of love and deeper feelings. Now really wasn’t the time for all of that. At least, that’s what you’re telling yourself.

─────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───────

HER POV:

You spend the rest of the week working a few shifts at the record store and spending time brainstorming ideas for your novel. Nothing is really jumping out at you, though, so you’re putting the writing on hold for now. It’s finally Friday and the nerves are really getting to you. You’re not sure how this evening with Jake will go, and that scares you.

Of course, taking you out to a nice dinner will allow the two of you to get to know each other better, but what about after? And what if he isn’t the same man that he was two years ago? Will that person still be someone that you might want to spend time with? You hope so, but you suppose that you’ll find out soon.

It’s about 6:30 now, so you decide that it’s time to start getting ready. You take a shower and then blow dry your hair, styling it with a loose curl. You apply some makeup, nothing too out of the ordinary but you opt for a red lip and some mascara.

Then, you head over to your closet to pick out something to wear. It’s ridiculously hot in Nashville this weekend, so you decide on a short black sundress with little white flowers on it, which is cute enough for dinner while also allowing you to stay cool on this hot summer evening. You slip on a pair of black wedged heels, grab your keys, and then go downstairs to wait for Jake’s arrival.

You hear a light knock at the door right on time and rise from the couch to answer it. You open the door and see Jake standing there, looking down at his feet as he waits. He’s holding a bouquet of baby’s breath, fiddling with the ribbon around it with his fingers.

He’s subbed out his usual distressed blue jeans for some black dress pants, seemingly tailored to fit him just right. He has on a cream button-down, half unbuttoned as usual, with chains dangling from his neck. He’s acquired more of those since you last saw him years ago, but you’re certainly not complaining. He has on his usual black sunglasses, of course, but you can see his eyes slightly through the glass as he looks up at you.

His distracted expression turns into one of adoration as he sees you open the door. All dressed up, modest yet beautiful. Everything that he’s always known you to be. His lips curl up slightly into a small smile as he goes to speak.

“Y/N, you are an absolute vision,” he says, reaching up to brush your cheek ever-so-slightly with his thumb. He looks into your eyes for a moment before pulling back and handing you your flowers. “I saw these at a market down the street from my place this morning and they reminded me of you…”

You blush lightly as you gesture for him to step inside with you and head into the kitchen to find a vase. “They’re beautiful, Jake. Thank you. No one’s ever given me flowers before…” you say, looking over at him with a shy smile before turning around to fill the vase with water at the sink. You cut the stems slightly at the bottom before placing them into the vase and setting it on the kitchen island in the center of the room. “Perfect,” he says, smiling. “Shall we?” He reaches his hand out to yours and you take it, following him out to his car.

He opens your door for you, allowing you to get inside before closing it and rounding the car to get in as well. He turns the car on and looks over at you for a moment with a smile before pulling out onto the street. The sun is starting to set as he drives you both to the restaurant, which he says isn’t too far away. He tells you that he lives in East Nashville, so he’s taking you to his favorite Italian restaurant on that side of town.

As you look out the window to admire the beautiful night, you feel him reach over and place his hand on your bare thigh. He lightly grazes his thumb over your soft skin as he continues to drive, which makes your breath hitch in your chest for a moment.

The action, while subtle, still manages to fluster you, causing you to take a deep breath and lean your head back against the headrest. You’re still looking out the window, trying not to acknowledge it or how it makes you feel, not seeing that he has a smirk on his face. You finally arrive at the restaurant and you sigh in relief, not feeling very prepared for the night you have ahead of you.

Jake gets out of the car and walks over to your side, opening the door for you and taking your hand in his. You smile up at him as you get out of the car, and he places his hand on the small of your back as you walk to the entrance of the restaurant. As you approach the hostess stand, his hand moves from your back to your waist, holding onto you.

Your face turns a light shade of pink as he asks for a table and rubs his thumb along the fabric of your dress. He drops his hand as the hostess brings you both to the table, which is a secluded two-person booth. The table is adorned with the subtle light of a single candle and there is some dimmed lighting above, which certainly sets the romantic mood.

He sits down across from you and removes his sunglasses, setting them down on the table before glancing at the menu. You decide to look down at the menu yourself for a moment, then decide to ask him for his opinion. “What’s your favorite?” you ask, looking over to him. He lifts his head from the menu and smiles at you, answering “Well, I usually get the chicken parmesan. But the carbonara is also quite good.” You nod and smile down at the menu as the waiter approaches the table and asks for your order.

Jake looks up at you and raises an eyebrow to suggest that you go first. “I’ll take a glass of Riesling and the pasta carbonara, please,” you say to the waiter, then look over at Jake and smile timidly. “I’ll have a glass of Pinot Noir and the chicken parmesan. Thank you,” he says as the waiter writes it down and then walks back toward the kitchen. “Good choice, love,” he says to you, the corners of his mouth curling up ever so slightly.

You smile back timidly, softening your gaze a bit to admire him. You think to yourself that he’s never looked better, though you wouldn’t dare to tell him that now, lest you fuel his ego. He seems to notice that you’re deep in thought. “What’s on your mind?” he asks, raising an eyebrow as he locks his eyes on yours. “Nothing… I think I might just be a bit nervous,” you admit, looking up at him, trying to gauge his reaction to your honesty.

The waiter comes by to drop off your wine and then heads back to the kitchen. “There’s nothing to be nervous about, sweetheart,” Jake answers, taking a sip of his wine. “It’s only me,” he continues, leaning over the table slightly now to get a closer look at you as he talks. You take a deep breath and then meet his eyes. There’s a glimpse of something in them, but you can’t quite place it right now. It intrigues you, though.

“So, this new album of yours. What is it like?” you ask, bringing your hands up and crossing your fingers together, placing them on top of the table in front of you. “I have to admit that I haven’t listened to any of the singles yet, it’s been an overwhelming couple of months. Besides, a part of me wanted it to be a surprise…” He smiles at your question, seemingly eager to talk about his music. You know that it’s something he cares deeply about. If anything was a good icebreaker for the evening, this would be it.

 “If I’m honest, I think it might be our best work yet. I know that sounds like a bit of a stretch but truly, it’s spectacular. We recorded a lot of it live together in the studio and it just came together so well,” he says, practically beaming. “I really think you’ll like it. At least, I hope you will,” he continues, catching your eyes. You smile back at him and nod.

“Considering you’re so proud of it, I’m sure I’ll love it. I look forward to hearing it,” you tell him, reaching your hand over and placing it on top of his on the table. He looks down at your hand, then back up at your face as he embraces your touch and smooths his thumb over the back of your hand. “Well Y/N, now you know what I’ve been doing for the past year and a half… care to fill me in about what you’ve been up to?” he asks, still keeping his hand in yours.

“Nothing nearly as interesting. I finished school in May, finally. I couldn’t stay in LA though. I’ve lived in California my whole life, I just want to explore, you know? I’m 23, I should be taking advantage of my time while I still have it,” you tell him, looking up at him as you continue. “Being a freelance writer requires a bit more adventure than I had before. You can’t write exciting stories without living them a little, right? I’ve just been needing some inspiration.”

He dons a closed-lip smile as he nods in agreement. “Have you found it? Inspiration?” he asks, his lips turning up into more of a smirk. “That remains to be seen,” you reply, intending to tease him. You know what he’s implying with the question, but you’re not sure that you know the answer quite yet. You hope for it to be “yes,” but you won’t get ahead of yourself.

The waiter brings your food and places it on the table, encouraging you to enjoy it before leaving you both alone once again. It looks delicious and you both eat your food in comfortable silence. When you’re finished, you push your plate away slightly and look up at Jake, who’s seemingly finished as well. He pays the bill then steps out of the booth and takes your hand to help you out. As you exit the restaurant and approach his car, you stop and turn to him.

“This was an amazing dinner, Jake. Thank you for taking me here,” you say, smiling at him. He leans his back against his car as he looks down at you and caresses your cheek softly. “It was my pleasure, love. I consider myself to be quite lucky to have the privilege of your company tonight,” he says, moving his hand to cup your cheek.

“You look so beautiful, like a work of art. So delicate, makes me feel like I have to be careful or else you might shatter in my hands,” he continues, looking down at you with a subtle smile. You sigh at the feeling of his hand on your face, as though it was always meant to be there. You look up at him through your eyelashes, feeling the all too familiar butterflies fluttering in your stomach as you meet his gaze.

He’s searching your eyes for any hesitation but he doesn’t find it, only seeing a look of adoration in them. It tells him all he needs to know before he leans down to capture your lips in his. It’s soft and sweet, unlike any time you’ve kissed him before. His thumb smooths over your cheek as his other hand falls to your waist and pulls you closer to him. You place your hands on his waist as you fall into him with a quiet hum and smile against his lips.

One of your hands travels up to grip the back of his neck, tangling your fingers in his now short hair, something you still have to get used to. This elicits a low groan into your mouth as he pulls you harder against him. Before he gets carried away, he pulls out of the kiss, but still keeps his face only inches from yours as you feel his hot breath against your skin.

“You’re gonna be the death of me, Y/N. Mark my words,” he says, his face flush as he keeps his eyes on yours. He leans down to kiss your cheek softly, then places his lips on the shell of your ear and says, “I should take you home now before I lose control of myself.”

With that, he takes your hand in his and walks around the front of the car to open the door for you, allowing you to get inside. The ride home is quick, spent mostly with you still trying to catch your breath after what just happened. Before you know it, you’re in front of your house again. This time, however, Jake gets out of the car. He comes over to your side and opens the door for you, helping you out and taking your hand in his as he walks you up to your porch.

He places his hands on your waist and pulls you into him, placing a soft kiss on your lips. You smile as he pulls away, looking down at you. “We’re having a release party next Friday night at Josh’s place, just a small group of our friends and our management team… I’d really like it if you could be there. You can bring Sophie too, it’ll be fun, I promise,” he says, reaching up to push your bangs slightly out of your eyes and smiling.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” you answer, causing him to smile wider. “Send me the details, we’ll be there.” You lean up to kiss his cheek before turning to unlock your front door. “Goodnight, Jake,” you say, turning around to face him. “Goodnight, sweetheart,” he replies before turning to walk back to his car.

You watch him walk away for a moment before stepping inside and closing the door behind you. You smile to yourself as you walk upstairs to your room, saying hi to Sophie before getting ready for bed.

Jake had been such a gentleman tonight, which was expected, but you can tell that he’s matured a lot since you’d last seen him. There was an aura about him now that was just so enticing and hard to resist. It excites you, this feeling of desire, but it could also prove to be quite dangerous. You try to remind yourself to be careful with your heart before you give it away again so freely.

─────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───────

The rest of the weekend and the beginning of the week pass by quickly, between working a few shifts at the record store and spending time with Sophie during her time off. The party is in two days and you’re starting to feel slightly nervous. You’re not sure if you’ll be able to fit in with their friends, or even what the nature of your relationship with Jake even is. Are you going to this party as his date or just a guest? What do the rest of the guys know about it? All these questions will soon be answered, of course, but that didn’t stop you from worrying.

You opened the store today, working until the mid-afternoon. It’s only you and Iris at the moment and business has been pretty slow. You’re just leaning against the counter scrolling mindlessly on your phone when you hear the bells ring on the front door. You look up to acknowledge the customer walking in, trying to look as though you were doing something productive. Much to your surprise, you are met with Josh Kiszka’s face beaming at you as he approaches the counter.

“I was told I might find you here,” he says proudly. “Josh, hi! I see you’ve spoken to Jake,” you reply, going around the counter to speak to him. “I have. Come here!” he says, opening his arms to embrace you. You wrap your arms around his torso and hug him, placing your head on his shoulder as he squeezes his arms tightly around you. “It’s been too long, darling.” He pulls away and looks you up and down with a smile.

“Look at you! I just love what you’ve done with your hair. You look like one of Charlie’s angels, absolutely gorgeous,” he says, causing your cheeks to turn a shade of pink. Josh always had a certain way of describing things that no one else in the world does.

You take a moment to look at him. He’s changed his hair as well; what used to be a full head of curly hair was now shaved bare at the sides, leaving just a small section in the middle going down to the back of his neck. His rosy cheeks are adorned with a few little white dots that lift upward as he smiles.

He’s wearing a patterned button-down with a white t-shirt underneath and khaki pants, which isn’t much different than the style you knew him to have before, just a little more elevated as the years went on. His perfectly white Vans complement the outfit and make it very him. Most of all, he looks happy. Not that he didn’t before, but he especially does now.

“Oh, stop it, Josh. You look fantastic- not that I expected anything less,” you answer with a soft smile. “Did you just want to stop in to say hello? Or did you come here for something else?” you ask.

“Ah, well when my brother told me you were here, I had to check for myself to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating. He’s rather off his rocker these days, y’know?” he chuckles to himself. You laugh with him, answering “I see. Well, luckily for him, I am very much actually here.”

“Lucky for me, too! With all the press for the album release and the endless tour rehearsals, the only people I ever see these days are the guys, it’s been dreadfully boring. But now I’ll have you to keep me company. You’re like a breath of fresh air, my dear,” he says, smiling wide. “Here, let me give you my cellphone number. Utterly useless thing but alas, I suppose we need it on occasion.”

You hand him your phone and he puts in his contact information, sending himself a message to save yours. He hands you your phone back and then takes his own out of his back pocket, opening your message and saving you into his contacts. “Sadly, I have to run. This visit was rather spontaneous. I was on my way to a meeting just down the road with my brothers and our managers, which I remember was supposed to start 20 minutes ago… Oops. Oh well. I’ll see you on Friday, right?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there,” you reply with a smile, giggling at the lack of concern he had for his tardiness. “Perfect. See you then, angel. Bring wine! Lots and lots of it!” he exclaims as he walks out the door. You laugh as he walks out the door, seeing him start to jog a little bit out the window toward his car.

What a nice surprise, you think. He certainly knows how to brighten up a person’s day. You’re looking forward to spending more time to get to know him. One of your coworkers comes in to relieve you, so you clock out and head home. It was your last shift before what you assume is going to be a very long weekend.

─────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───────

You awake on Friday feeling refreshed from your day off yesterday. Surprisingly, your usual feelings of nervousness are absent today, replaced with only excitement. You and Sophie went shopping yesterday for dresses to wear to the party since events like album release parties are very out of the ordinary for you both. You weren’t entirely sure what the dress code was, but you wanted to look your best.

You looked into the album and its concept, still opting to not listen to the singles in hopes of having an unbiased experience of the album this evening when they play it start-to-finish. Its name, Starcatcher, was already beautiful in and of itself. You can only imagine how it must sound and you’re really looking forward to it.

In hopes of fitting in with the theme, you picked out a silver matte midi dress with a slit on your right leg, to pair with a pair of black heels. Sophie picked out a deep blue cocktail dress that complimented her equally blue eyes quite well. Before you know it, it’s time to get ready to go to the party. Jake texted you the address yesterday and said to arrive any time after 6 P.M.

He also tells you that Josh asked him to remind you to bring wine, which made you laugh. You picked out a nicer bottle of Chardonnay at Publix this morning, hoping that it will suffice since you’re still unfamiliar with their preferences and the expectations for this kind of event.

You apply your base makeup and then put on some light silver eyeshadow to complement your dress, as well as tight eyeliner and mascara. You leave your hair down and wavy, pinning some of the front pieces back to keep them out of your face. You finally slip on your dress and heels then meet Sophie downstairs and head out to the car.

Josh’s place isn’t too far from where you live, only about a 15-minute drive. Sophie pulls into his driveway and parks behind a long line of cars, and then the two of you approach the front porch. You knock on the door and you’re greeted by Josh’s smiling face. “Ah! My angel! Thank god you’re here,” he says, pulling you in for a tight hug.

“Sophie, my darling, it’s nice to see you. And you’ve brought wine! I knew I could count on you. Come in!” He leads you both through the threshold and into the kitchen, where there are different arrangements of charcuterie and other finger foods spread out on the kitchen island. He takes you over to his bar cart and wine rack and then reaches over to the counter next to it and grabs a few wine glasses for you.

He reaches out to Sophie to take the wine from her, taking a glance at the label first before opening it. “Lovely choice of wine, angel. My favorite,” he says to you with a wink before using a wine opener to take out the cork and pour you both a glass before pouring one for himself. “To new music and new beginnings!” he says, raising his glass. “To new beginnings,” you answer, with a timid smile as the three of you clink your glasses together and take a sip.

You look up from your glass and see Sam and Danny approaching from the dining room, noticing that Sam’s face lights up when he catches sight of you. “Y/N, I can’t believe you’re here!” he exclaims, coming over to hug you. “You know, I’ve seen all of your pictures with your new look but I still can’t believe it,” you say, reaching up to touch his scruffy beard.

“You better believe it, I’m a man now,” Sam says proudly, chuckling to himself as Danny pipes in. “Yeah, right. On the outside, maybe” he jokes, elbowing Sam’s side and eliciting laughs from the group of you.

“Hey, Y/N,” he says, leaning over to give you a hug, then pulls back and turns his attention to Sophie. “Sophie… still as gorgeous as ever, of course.” She blushes faintly at his compliment and you giggle a bit to yourself as you watch him look down to admire her outfit. His eyes go back up to meet hers and you take that moment to excuse yourself and allow them to talk.

“I’m going to go find Jake,” you say to them, “Soph, are you good staying here with the guys?” She nods and Daniel takes your spot as you turn around and walk toward the living area where there’s an old jazz record playing on the turntable.

You see Jake there, standing and leaning against the side of the couch speaking with someone you assume works with them. As you approach, it seems like he sees you in his periphery and turns to look at you, his lips turning into a subtle smile. He licks his lips and looks down at your dress, then back up at you, making your stomach turn into knots.

He’s dressed in entirely black- a vest underneath a blazer, dress pants, and his usual black boots. His chest is peeking out of the vest in the same way it always does with his button-downs. He replaced his usual many necklaces with one small coin pendant, a subtle difference but quite classy. The all-black outfit paired with his short dark hair is enough to make your knees buckle and the look he’s giving you now certainly doesn’t help the matter.

You watch as he says something to whoever he’s talking to and gestures over to you, and then the gentleman walks away toward the dining room. You finally reach him and he straightens his posture a bit against the couch to talk to you. “Just when I thought you couldn’t possibly get more beautiful, you’ve proved me wrong once again. You look positively stunning, sweetheart, I’m at a loss for words.”

He places his hands on your waist and pulls you toward him, leaning down to kiss your cheek and then you feel his lips linger at your ear. “If I could have my way, I would bring you far away from here right now… how unfortunate that we have to stay here. I guess we’ll just have to behave, huh baby?” he whispers, then pulls away slightly and flicks his eyes from your glossy lips back up to your eyes.

Your cheeks turn pink as you smile up at him, trying not to show how much his words are affecting you. “What about you, Mr. Dark and Mysterious? You look like an Oxford professor,” you tease, gesturing to his vest with a smirk. “Ah yes, this old thing? Well, I was a professor once, you know, in an old life,” he says, straightening out his vest a bit and smiling at you. “Whatever you say, Jake,” you say, giggling at him.

You spend the remainder of the night at Jake’s side, standing with him as he talks to his colleagues and friends about the album. You enjoy listening to him talk about something he felt so passionate about, it makes you happy seeing him in his element. It’s nearing the end of the night now, which means it’s time for them to play the album before you all depart.

You and Jake are seated on the couch together with Sophie, Danny, and Sam on the couch next to you. You have one leg crossed over the other with Jake’s hand resting on your knee softly. The rest of the crowd is standing around in the back of the living room or talking in the dining room.

Josh walks over to the record player and takes out his brand-new Starcatcher vinyl, which is black and decorated with speckles of silver glitter. He places it down and moves the needle delicately to the start of the album before turning around to sit down next to you on the couch. The first notes of the song start and you look over at Jake and smile, seeing him beaming with pride.

The album really is spectacular, just as Jake said. Each song tells a story that is so profound and the production is truly amazing. At the end of it, Josh gets up to put the record away and then turns around to address everybody. “So? Thoughts?” he says with a smile. The room erupts into applause and he gets his answer, returning to sit back down next to you.

“That was… wow. You were right, Jake, it was just perfect. I loved it,” you say with a smile, looking over at him and you see his smile widen at your words. “Thank you, baby…” he says, squeezing your knee in his hand. “And Josh, your vocals were just out of this world. It was wonderful,” you continued, turning to face him. He thanks you and then people start to say their goodbyes and leave for the night.

Sophie stands to say goodbye to the guys and says she’ll wait for you in the car with a wink, knowing you’d want to say goodbye to Jake privately. You nod and turn back around to say your goodbyes. “Well, this has been lovely. It was nice to see you all! Josh, thank you for having me, I hope we can do this again soon,” you say, turning to Josh. He smiles and pulls you in for a hug, nodding. “Of course, darling. I’ll see you very soon, I’m sure of it.” You pull back from him and turn to Jake with a timid smile.

“I’ll walk you out,” he says, placing his hand on the small of your back. He follows you over to the foyer, allowing for the two of you to be somewhat alone. He pulls you in by your waist and smiles down at you. “Thank you for being here, love. It means a lot to me. You’re my good luck charm, remember?”

“Anything for you. You know that,” you say, smiling up at him. He moves his hand up to cup your cheek and leans down to kiss you softly, smiling against your lips. He pulls away and keeps his hand on your cheek, stroking it with his thumb. “The tour is starting up on Monday, here in Nashville. I need my lucky charm there. Will you come?” he asks, looking down at you hopefully. “Of course I’ll come, Jake,” you answer, reaching up to tuck a piece of his hair back behind his ear.

He smiles widely. “I’ll text you the details about where to go this weekend, I can call Jenn in the morning and have her set aside two tickets for you. You can sit side-stage by the catwalk, right where I can see you.” You nod and he opens the front door for you, then leans against it to give you another kiss goodbye before you turn around and walk toward your car.

The ride home is full of lots of questions and squeals of excitement from Sophie. You have some questions of your own, asking about her time spent talking to Danny this evening. You’re overcome with a feeling of excitement and anticipation over this new era for the band, and for yourself.

You’re not sure what the implications of tonight and Monday will be for your relationship with Jake, but you know that you can hardly get enough of him. His energy and kindness consume you completely, pulling you in and making it impossible for you to let go. There was something about him that you just couldn’t resist. The dynamic you have now makes you feel extremely flustered and nervous, so you fear the intensity of what might come next. You suppose you will find out soon…

─────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───────

comment or message me if you want to be added to the taglist! see you all soon :)

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[sophaeros]

julian casablancas for mojo magazine, november 2024 / issue 372 (x x)

Rock'n'roll Confidential: Julian Casablancas

The Strokes/Voidz mainman talks entitlement, respect and Arctic Monkeys

3AM (Pacific Coast Time) is an atypical hour to schedule an interview. But here's Julian Casablancas, zooming from Los Angeles, where the singer, for so long synonymous with the grit and glamour of New York City, has lived since 2020. He's a busy man: as well as fronting long-running garage rock classicists The Strokes - whose sixth album The New Abnormal won a Grammy in 2020 - he's found a refuge of sorts in his experimental, '80s synths-enabled group The Voidz, whose new LP Like All Before You is imminent. Talking to MOJO, Casablancas remains in shadow, his eyes occasionally reflecting dim light. "I can be a vampire," he promises. "You want a real rock star, bro? But I can be flexible and go into family mode too…"

What are you doing up at 3am, talking to MOJO? It's about the only time I have free. The rest of the time, it's videos and working with managers, going to concerts, social things… so l go all the way around, to crazy night hours.

The new album starts with Overture and ends with Walk Off - is there a concept lurking within? I guess a little. Maybe subconsciously. It hopefully hits if you have taken mushrooms. I had just watched Gone With The Wind, and they used to have overtures at the beginning of movies, and then we end the album with a synthesizer version. But it is not a rock opera story. If anything, the concept was going to be a one-word album title. At first, it was Zeal, then Perseverance.

How do you switch mindsets between Voidz and Strokes songwriting? Voidz songs are where my mind has been pushing me, and where I want to go, and where I am. But the ability or capability or muscle memory of writing Strokes-sequel stuff is just always going to be there. When those songs appear, it makes more sense to put them in each category, but it's not always that clear. But there's more 'no-limits' with The Voidz.

You recently said, "My current solution is to tour with The Strokes and then use the money to record with The Voidz." How did that happen? Years of drama and betrayals and horseshit (laughs). Honestly, l am cool with most of the dudes, and now we're more mature. It's not what I set out to do, but it's a fun, cool day job that I feel blessed to have. But let's just say I was only in a band called Zog, and whatever I worked on 10 years ago in Zog, I would not be interested in any more, I'm only interested in what I'm working on now. It's just the nature of music and creativity, you know?

What did you set out to do with The Strokes? I just wanted to challenge boundaries, and to have an ambitious collective of respectful teammates. Is that The Voidz? For me, yes.

The cliché about Strokes issues is that you were rich kids who weren't hungry enough. Any truth in that? Success affects people in different ways. I'd say there are some elements, probably from me as well, where you can be entitled… all kinds of bands have fallings outs and drama. It wasn't like, Oh, we don't need the money. I think it did take a lot of hunger to get there, but then after you've achieved something, when everyone is kissing each individual member's ass… OK, let's get back to work and do it again. It was like, Uh, no thanks. That's my assessment.

The Arctic Monkeys song Star Treatment starts out, "I just wanted to be one of The Strokes." What was your reaction? I thought, Be careful what you wish for. It was funny, and flattering. I have a lot of respect for Alex and those boys.

Tell us something you've never told an interviewer before. I've been trying to communicate with crows lately. I heard they have an intricate sonic language, but I haven't had any luck. It occurred to me that food would help, so I was trying to feed one M&M's earlier, but he wasn't having it. People can catch me making weird noises, trying to mimic the crow. I think the crows are more startled than the humans.

As told to Martin Aston

JULIAN, DOPE Five of Casablancas's crackers.

Brian Eno Burning Airlines Give You So Much More (ISLAND, 1974)

Benny Goodman Good-Bye (VICTOR, 1936)

Kate Bush Why Should I Love You? (EMI, 1993)

Max Richter Path 5 (Delta) (DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON, 2015)

BEAK> Secrets (INVADA, 2024)

[blowflyfag]

Pro Wrestling Illustrated: March 2024

“Timeless” Toni Storm is simultaneously a throwback to a bygone Golden Age and, in this contemporary grappling scene, someone rather singular.

HOTSEAT 

AN INCISIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE SPORT’S TOP STARS AND FIGURES 

TONI STORM

The whole place seemed to have been stricken with a kind of creeping paralysis. Out of beat with the rest of the world, crumbling apart in slow motion. A once-grand estate, nestled deep in the Hollywood Hills … a relic from a bygone age in Tinseltown. Back then, they didn’t need dialogue. They had faces. This is where Pro Wrestling Illustrated had sent me, on assignment for an exclusive interview with a woman whose startling reinvention has taken All Elite Wrestling–and the entire wrestling world–by storm, you might say. These days, she doesn’t show herself in public very much, aside from TV tapings and, of course, on the set. So, landing the interview took some doing, but if there’s anything 30 years covering this crazy business has taught me, it’s how to get my foot in the door. 

This time, that foot would be in the door of a palatial mansion that may very well  have once housed Valentino, DeMille, Garbo, or Fairbanks. Walking under the shade of rows of aging palms, past that once crystal-clear outdoor pool, between the cracked pillars of a French facade, I’m greeted by the butler; a loyal, oddly quiet man who brings me inside. Shrouded partly in sharp shadows, by the flickering light on a roaring fireplace, she sits reclining on a chaise lounge… Toni Storm. At first, she is reluctant to break her silence, so I have to win her trust. Part of that means playing along with what can sometimes only be described as  a baffling , yet mesmerizing delusion. In the end it’s working for her; If Toni Storm is crazy, then she’s crazy like a fox.

We chat for what seems like hours, as she relays to me her hopes and dreams, her natural connection with the fans, whether in the stands or watching at home–those wonderful people out there in the dark.

What follows are the highlights of that enlightening conversation. By the end of it, I felt I had developed a real understanding of who Toni Storm is now. I get it. She really is “Timeless.” Perhaps more than that, she is transcendent. 

And she’s ready for her closeup, Mr Khan. 

Brian R. Solomon: Thank you so much for granting me this interview, Ms. Storm. I realize you’re a very busy woman. First, let me say that there are a lot of people, myself included, who would say that right now, “Timeless” Toni Storm is one of the best, most entertaining things on AEW television, I wanted to know how you feel about that.

Storm: Well, thank you very much. I completely understand why you’re feeling that way. I am a very exciting act. I have been a very exciting act for a very long time. And I’ve always blown audiences away, no matter where I’ve gone or what I’ve done. So, you are right to be feeling like this. I am, as the kids say, “killing it.”

Solomon: Nevertheless, having to address your transformation as of late. It’s been very dramatic, to say the least. What do you say to the fans who might be wondering what happened to the Toni Storm that they remembered? Storm: Well, you see, it’s simple, really. I have played many roles all throughout my career. And now what you’re seeing, “Timeless” Toni Storm, is the real me. I’m finally ready to show the world who I well and truly am. And this is it. Over the years, fans have seen others of the numerous roles I've played. For instance, most recently I used to be “Green Goblin #3” of the Outcasts trio. But now, I’m finally revealing myself, Finally revealing my true self, I should say. And that is “Timeless” Toni Storm.

Solomon: That word, “Timeless.” it keeps coming up. Could you help us understand what that word means to you? Storm: How do I put this? Ah, yes. I transcend. Yes, I’m in a different realm. In this realm, there is no time. I just exist. I do not age. I was not born. I will not die. Stars never die. I just am.

[If you ask some of the broadcast journalists at AEW, Toni Storm has lost her marbles. But the “Timeless” one tells PWI She’s just found her true self.]

Solomon: I have to ask–and I hope you don’t take this the wrong way–but did the loss of the AEW Women’s World title to Hikaru Shida last summer on the 200th episode of AEW dynamite have anything to do with what we’re seeing from you lately? Not to mention the fact that it was your supposed friend and ally, Saraya, who pinned you to win the title during the three-way match with Shinda during All In at Wembley Stadium. The reason I ask is that those developments all took place around the same time. And those losses, the way they happened, would cause many people to reconsider the path of their career.

Storm: Alright, I admit it. I’m going to finally admit it here for the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated. When I lost the title to Hikaru Shida, I absolutely lost it. I fell apart. And I would like to apologize to all my fans who had to witness that. But now, I have risen from the ashes. I am on quite a fantastic winning streak right now, in case you haven't noticed. I have picked myself off the ground. And I'm doing better than I ever have done. This has really ignited the fire inside of me once again. One cannot deny that Hikaru Shida has the heart of a champion. One cannot deny, even, that she has the heart of a lion. And one might say that she was destined to be a champion.  But every destiny comes to an end.

Solomon: I’m sure you’ve noticed this, but there are a lot of fans–and even the television announcers  who call your matches, like Taz and Tony Schiavone��who seem to be very concerned about you these days. Some of them have even spoken about you like you may have lost your mind. How do you take that?

Storm: Well, I’m not going to lie, darling. I don’t know where all of this misplaced concern is coming from, because I have never felt more “with it” in my entire life. I don’t know where people are getting these ideas from. I don't know who is daring to spread these ugly rumors about me. But I am done with it, truly. And you don’t need to worry about me, because I'm giving the performance of my lifetime. I’m doing just fine. I just cannot fathom where they are getting the idea that I've lost it, or why anyone would even entertain such a thought.

[Dressed as if she’s just emerged from her spacious trailer on a Hollywood studio lot, Ms. Storm shares a jaunty laugh with her adoring public.]

Solomon: Well, I think I can tell you one thing that might have been giving them that idea: the smeared makeup. That certainly might be having some people worried. I hope you can at least understand that. And, while we’re on the subject, maybe you could let us in on what that’s all about. 

Storm: Well, you see, I was talking to RJ City, and I had an epiphany…a revelation, you might say. It was then that I realized that I'm “Timeless” Toni Storm. But getting to that realization, leading up to it, was very difficult. And that takes a toll. This whole lifestyle can be very hard, mentally, on a performer. That realization can be hard to bear. And so, once in a while, you can lose control. 

Solomon: I’m not sure I understand.

Storm: Have you ever had a mental breakdown?

Solomon: I suppose I have. Many people have, at one point or another, but that’s not–

Storm: and you’ve never smeared your makeup?

Solomon: No. That, I've never done, no. Mental breakdown, maybe, yes. Smeared makeup? No.

Storm: In my world, where there is a mental breakdown, there is a bit of a smeared makeup job. However, I have a new butler now. And there will be no makeup smears. Everything is taken care of. I fired my stylist. And that was a good move. You won’t be seeing any more smeared makeup on me. I’m going to be immaculate, all of the time. 

[“SPRAYPAINTING THINGS LIKE WE USED TO DO”: Saraya attempts to incapacitate her challenger, who rallies back with Storm Zero piledriver at the Dynamite: Grand Slam taping.]

Solomon: Yes, I did notice the butler right away. He’s hard to miss. But you mentioned RJ City. Let’s get back to him. I’m interested in talking about RJ, because I noticed that he’s been with you now since you’ve been reborn, so to speak. We’d previously seen him doing backstage interviews with Renee Paquette, or hosting his excellent web interview series, HEY! EW. But lately, he seems to really be a big part of what you’ve been doing. How would you describe what your relationship is with him right now?

Storm: The thing about RJ City is he has a bit of an attitude problem. I’m going to let you all in on this. He can be difficult. He’s very cheeky. I would even go so far as to say that he’s a bit of a pest, really. So, you can’t trust him entirely. But he is around me all the time. And he was there when I had my revelation. Now, I just can’t get rid of him. But he seems to always be there to help me if I should need something, I suppose. 

Solomon: So, kind of like a pet?

Storm: Yes, exactly! He’s like my dog friend. Everyone should have one. A trusty, loyal sled dog. Solomon: I’m sure he'll be delighted to read that.

Storm: Hopefully not. I love doing this, even just to annoy him.

[Beneath the catchphrases, dramatic turns (faces!), and somewhat erratic behavior, Ms. Storm is a woman possessed by the desire to return to her former glory.]

Solomon: Now, we talked about previously losing the AEW Women’s title and how you came to these realizations. But obviously, before that, you had been one of the Outcasts, with Saraya and Ruby Soho. Now, you’ve kind of splintered off into your own universe. I’d like to ask if you have any awareness at all of how your former allies in the Outcasts feel about the new Toni Storm?

Storm: Saraya certainly hasn’t seemed very happy with me recently, for some reason. I don’t know why. But whatever problems Saraya has with me, whatever reason she’s upset, I'm sure she'll get over it. As a matter of fact, they'll all be fine. I don’t really know what they’re up to. I’m sure they’re just off, spray-painting things, like we used to do.

[“I need the biggest prize, the biggest trophy … I can’t bear to be seen without it. A lot of my self-worth comes from being champion.”]

Solomon: Are you above the AEW Women’s World championship at this point? Is that even the main goal of your career? Or are you bigger than that now?

Storm: I wouldn’t say bigger than the title, necessarily. It’s more that I need it. It’s something that I need to possess in order to be okay. I need the biggest prize, the biggest trophy. It’s become very much a big part of my art. I can’t bear to be seen without it. A lot of my self-worth comes from being champion.

Solomon: I have to ask you about the show. I mean, I have other questions about your various catchphrases, but I don’t think they’d let me print those in the pages of Pro Wrestling Illustrated. So, I’ll leave that alone, and, instead, I’ll focus on the shoe. What exactly is the significance of the shoe?

Storm: When one needs to defend oneself, one must utilize what one can get one’s hands on. And I've only ever had my shoes on me. Maybe I should invest in some kind of weaponry. But right now, the shoes seem to be doing the trick. 

[WATCH OUT FOR THE SHOW: “Timeless” Toni Storm is ever aware of the camera’s lens and can often be found breaking the fourth wall. But only a fool would dare mistake her eccentricity for weakness.]

Solomon: I would say they are, yes. I honestly never thought I’d be asking anyone this question in an interview, but do you think that maybe you might have been reincarnated? Or is it possible that you perhaps could have been born 100 years too late? Certainly, you seem more at home in the 1920s than in the 2020s.

Storm: You know, I would answer yes to that question. But the truth is, since I’m timeless, my concept of time is not a thing, if that makes sense.

Solomon: Not really, but go on.

Storm: What I mean to say is, I’m an essence. I’m a realm. I’m a mirage. I’m neither here nor there.

Solomon: Hmmm. While we’re on the subject of reincarnation, and flashbacks to a century ago, let’s talk about the short films you’ve been doing. And, by the way, I think they shouldn’t even be in picture-in-picture. They should be on the main part of the show, not during commercials. And I know a lot of people feel that way. But the films are silent, so I guess I understand …

Storm: Now you’re just babbling, darling. Do you have a question?

Solomon: Oh, yes. Do you think that All Elite Wrestling should switch the whole show being entirely done in black-and-white? And maybe silent? Or would you maybe not stand out as much if they did that?

Storm: To tell you the truth, I don't even know what you’re talking about or what you’re referring to. Everything is black-and-white to me. But I have heard about that fancy, newfangled Technicolor you’re talking about. It would be really nice one day to see AEW go live in Technicolor. I hear it’s going to be all  the rage.

Solomon: I have one more important question that I wanted to ask you, and this has to do with things that are even bigger than AEW. We know that a lot of people over the years, but especially these days, have kind of grown disillusioned with modern-day Hollywood. And you represent a timeless version of Hollywood that I think a lot of people are nostalgic for, or kind of miss in some ways–the glamor and the elegance. Could we ever expect to see “Timeless” Toni Storm bringing her timelessness, her elegance, her classic style to Hollywood itself?

Storm: What does that question even mean? What do you mean “bring my timelessness to Hollywood itself”? I’ve been in Hollywood my whole life. I’ve starred in a million movies, in all the major flicks. I’ve been a star my whole life, ever since childhood. I was born on set. Both of my parents were very famous actors, I create art, darling. And you will continue to see more and more pieces of art from me.

Solomon: I’m intrigued to learn of your being born on a movie set. I don’t think that fans are aware of that.That might be new information, broken right here in the pages of Pro Wrestling Illustrated. But didn’t you just tell me that you were never born, that you just exist?

Storm [waves in disgust]: Explain it however you like. Call it whatever you will. I was born into this business. I have been on movie sets my entire life. I am the very definition of Hollywood. All I have ever done is perform. I have performed so much my entire life that I can’t even remember my countless performances.

Solomon: Well, your performances certainly have been making an impression on audiences, as I said at the beginning of our conversation. You’re bringing back a certain something that’s been lost in the business.

Storm: I congratulate you on recognizing the obvious, yes. I just think we needed to bring that back, and that’s why I'm here. There’s been something missing from the business, from All Elite Wrestling. And I'm bringing a bit of the magic back, a bit of the art. It’s no wonder that audiences have been eating it up. I give them something to believe in. That’s what makes me stand out from the rest of the pack. And that’s what “Timeless” Toni Storm is all about. I would say that there should be even more of it–but then, of course, it wouldn’t stand out as much, would it?

[Ouch! Ms. Storm liberates the follicles from poor Skye Blue’s scalp. Tolerant of her “co-stars” until they stand in the path of her goals, Storm’s power ties in her ability to become ruthless at the drop of a hair curler.]

Solomon: No, it wouldn’t. That’s a great point, Ms. Storm. And you’re doing such an amazing job with it. I’m a huge fan.

Storm: as you should be. I appreciate all my fans and admirers. I definitely can’t say I blame them.

As with all brushes with greatness, there was only so much time to say all the things that I wanted to say, to ask all the questions that I wanted to ask. As the interview went on, it almost seemed like she was consumed deeper and deeper into this fantasy of her own making. I dared not challenge her too directly, as one never knows how someone in such a state might react. And far be it from me to shatter what's been so carefully constructed.

[“Now you’re just babbling darling. Do you have a question?”]

Eventually, the butler flashed me that pointed look that can only mean, “This interview is over now.” I politely thanked Ms. Storm and collected my things, thanking her for the gift of her precious time and excusing myself. After leaving the estate, I took one last wistful look back at the tarnished gables and overgrown landscaping that perfectly encapsulated the decadence that has overtaken the mind of Toni Storm. There is no point in debating the finer points of reality with someone like her. When all is said and done, reality is what you make it. And she has made her reality into something unforgettable and grand.

You might call it madness, but there is undeniably a method to it. Whether on the big screen or the same screen, “Timeless” Toni Storm is a big star. 

[black-arcana]

CHARLOTTE WESSELS On Her Exit From DELAIN: 'It's Frustrating To Me That We Couldn't Work It Out'

In a recent interview with Scott Penfold of Loaded Radio, former DELAIN frontwoman Charlotte Wessels was asked about the circumstances that led to her 2021 departure from the band. She said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "There was a conflict and we couldn't overcome it. That's a very short version of it. I've never really gone into detail about it, and I still don't really feel about going into detail about it. The thing that I will say is we spent a lot of time trying to work things out. We were already putting much energy in that before we kind of got to the conflict where it was hard to come back from. But, yeah, especially since the pandemic happened, we had no gigs. We had all the time in the world to think, like, 'Okay, what are we going to do? Will we be able to solve this?' And we took a very long time. And in the end, the answer was no. There was no solution that we could find where we would continue in that way. And a part of me — it's such a big part of my life, and I'm very happy, I'm very proud with what we did in that time. So it's frustrating to me that we couldn't work it out. The thing that kind of comforts me is the fact that we did take so much time to explore all the different possibilities, like, could we make this work? Yeah, I don't feel like there was really another option. So that's why."

Asked if she still keeps in touch with DELAIN keyboardist, founder and main songwriter Martijn Westerholt, Charlotte said: "I ran into him at one point, but there's been no contact otherwise. And I think right after it, there's been some contact here and there, but that was about it."

Back in September 2022, Wessels was asked by Spain's The Metal Circus TV how she feels about the fact that DELAIN made a comeback with a new lineup. A month earlier, DELAIN released a single, "The Quest And The Curse", featuring Westerholt alongside new singer Diana Leah, original guitarist Ronald Landa and original drummer Sander Zoer, plus bassist Ludovico Cioffi. Charlotte said: "I'm trying not to engage with it too much, honestly. I've seen positive responses about it, which I think is good. But I do try to keep some distance and just focus on what I'm doing rather than checking that out, because I still don't feel like that will make me happier per se."

In February 2021, Westerholt announced the dissolution of DELAIN's previous lineup. At the time, he explained: "For the last year or so, the collaboration within the band ceased to work as well as it once had. Some of us were no longer happy with the current roles in the band. We all tried very hard to find a solution for over a year, but sadly we were unable to find one. As a result, we will all be going our own ways and pursuing our own endeavors.

"I am very sad our cooperation has come to end, but at the same time I am very grateful for all the years we were able to work together. Together we toured the world, shared highs and lows, and met with many successes as well as times that pushed us to learn and grow. We all enjoyed meeting our fans and making new friends all over the globe."

At the time, Wessels said about her departure: "I know that you might have questions about the 'why' in all of this. I fully understand and respect that. Simply put, it is the sad conclusion of more than a year of trying to find solutions to built-up grievances. Part of me feels like I'm letting all of you down, I'd like you to know that this decision was not taken lightly and I apologize to those of you who had high hopes of seeing all of us together live on stage again after lockdown. Until recently, I thought this might still be in the cards for us as well."

The new DELAIN lineup made its official live debut in August 2022 at the Riverside festival in Aarburg, Switzerland.

Wessels's new solo album, "The Obsession", came out in September via Napalm Records.

[bathroomtrapped]

ohmygod i literally just made an account on letterboxd bc i watched saw (2004) and loved it so much and ur interview was so inspiring to me and ive been on an absolute craze trying to reblog like every single saw post on tumblr and i somehow found your account what the heck?!!?!?! ur art is AMAZING and i absolutely love ur takes on saw as a franchise and its significance to the queer community. i hope to be as knowledgeable of this franchise as you are one day despite me only being a baby saw fan!!

i had a quick question; i found on the saw heritage post blog that they thought leigh/james/someone else confirmed that saw (2004) did not actually occur the day before 9/11 despite the phone given to them being set to that date. however, when i asked them if they knew where this source was from (bc im so curious!!! i want to know everything!!!!!!) but neither they nor i could find the actual source for that so i was wondering if maybe u knew??? just curious :3

regardless ty for taking the time to read this and dedicating so much time to this fandom!! i love that horror fans like you exist in a fandom that i previously thought would be weird and slightly disturbed film bros (i had a lot of incorrect preconceived notions about saw that have been quickly resolved i promise)

thank you!! im glad that people feel the same way about it as i do but even if people thought i was some crazy transexual making everyone else woke and pronouns, i wouldnt care. the story, especially lawrences but adams as well, really resonates with me as a trans person for so so many reasons, more than i listed in the interview. to me, i cant read his character without filling in the gaps with trans subtext. it not only explains but also enriches the personal experiences of these characters as well as their dynamics with each other. theyre both characters that are defined primarily by how theyre seen by other people, themselves, and eventually each other. the narrative is soooo focused on perception and masks and who u truly are, i find it hard to separate any kind of queer theory from that.

as for the 9/11 question thats such a dumbass pet peeve of mine. its one of the things that makes me shout UMMMM ACTUALLY at the top of my lungs. my blood pressure sours to inhuman levels when someone confidently says the movie takes place not just in 2001 but the day before 9/11. not because of some interview or confirmation from any of the crew because my knowledge of old fandom history is incredibly spotty. old sites and interviews r a mystery to me for the most part BUT! the reason it is for sure not before 9/11 is because during the flashback of pauls trap (during lawrences monologue about jigsaw) kerry tapp and sing are all at the scene with other officers and i believe its kerry who holds up an evidence bag thats labeled 2004. the scene takes place 5 months before the events of saw 1 so its not possible that it takes place 3 years before that. it just seemed like a funny (but insanely bold considering how 9/11 was only 3 years before) joke and easter egg for people to catch on to, not actual lore meant to be taken seriously.

if u want to look for the interview, i would honestly just listen to the commentary tracks bc it mightve been said there. i know in the one with leigh, james, and cary they discuss plot holes fans complained about, questions fans had online, the fanfic they read (briefly LOL). ive only seen that one (and once) but theres at least 2 other commentary tracks with different people that i havent gotten around to for fear of like. completing saw? idk i cant bring myself to watch all of the commentary tracks but theres a chance they discuss it there! i can only speculate on the reason, all i know is that saw 2004 takes place in 2004 based on actual evidence from the media itself

if u have any other questions let me know. i still have the original draft of the interview which had more questions and longer responses bc i couldve gone on for days abt the lore and saw queer theory and ill never shut up about it

[1shirt2shirtredshirtdeadshirt]

Star Trek Generations

+ IDW's Spock: Reflections

+ Picard Season 3

+ Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

+ OTOY + The Gene Roddenberry Archive's "765874 - Regeneration"

+ William Shatner's "The Return"

+ Star Trek TOS: The Cage

We are talking PIC S3 Spoilers, William Shatner's The Return Spoilers, Star Trek Generations Spoilers, IDW's Spock Reflections Spoilers, I mean you name it there are a lot of intercollected lore threads to tease apart here.

So we have a YouTube clip, a comic series, Picard 3 Easter Eggs, a novel, and a movie from 29 years ago. Are they planning something for the 30th anniversary of Generations? Maybe, maybe not.

But all of these little interconnected storylines are very interesting to say the least. I'm not sure what to make of it all honestly, or what's going on. But here's what we know so far.

Don't read on if you don't want spoilers for the above entertainment BC this story thread weaves into a lot of different Star Trek media, both canon and noncanon.

This video sums it up nicely and connects all the dots I've also been wending on since that clip (OTOY + The Gene Roddenberry Project) dropped:

Was chatting with some fans about this recently and you know, maybe it's delulu, but all we really have at this juncture are fan theories to fill in the gaps as they've just given us a few little breadcrumbs.

Spock visiting Viridian III, the parallels to William Shatner's The Return, Spock: Reflections:

My full series of Spock: Reflections segments tying into this clip can be found here.

And the Easter Egg from Picard Season 3 tying this into The Return and Jim's body being recovered. We see in The Return and PICS3 Kirk's remains are collected for "Project Phoenix".

More info taken from the screens in PIC S3:

A number of times within and outside recent canon, Jim's death has been referred to as alleged, or that he was critically injured/wounded.

As seen above on the screen shown next to Kirk's body in PIC S3, he is referred to as "critically injured".

If you listen during this scene, there is also a classic TOS throwback sound effect of a pulse -- a heartbeat life sign being measured (3:57):

Before you see Kirk's body you also see there is a "Genesis II" Project; Genesis I was used to revive Spock from the dead in Star Trek III: The Search For Spock. (Around 3:42)

Just a lot of plates spinning, wheels turning, dots connecting.

It's interesting that there are so many threads linking here, woven from Star Trek books to canon shows to YouTube clips to Star Trek comic books . . .

Plus this Shatner interview released by OTOY, which made it very clear that he had always intended to keep playing Kirk. Apparently Rick Berman had totally shut him down when he proposed ideas for bringing back the character.

Also that he would wholly be open to returning to the role depending on in what capacity:

Furthermore, a ton of the clips and tester shots that OTOY has filmed with The Roddenberry Archive have the number "765874" in the title, which is the badge number of Yeoman J.M. Colt.

I talked about her in another post -- she only appeared in The Cage pilot/The Menagerie.

She was also only one of four crewmembers serving about Pike's Enterprise who interacted with the Talosians, had gone to their planet, or who could even talk about them.

It's forbidden from anyone in Starfleet to read about that mission report without permission, and visiting their planet was one of the very rare instances where visiting would have serious penalties, including a death sentence (similar to how the Genesis planet was forbidden in Star Trek III: The Search For Spock).

Anyway, how does she tie into this? Why is her serial badge number the title to so many of the clips, including the Veridian III clip?

Curious developments.

So anyway, now that I feel like this;

What are they up to?

This is wild.

[ejzah]

For @anonkp, who wanted a continuation of my previous story, “Shattered Beyond Repair”. (I originally said the companion fic was a different title, but that is incorrect).

***

We’ll Make it New

The past three weeks has been miserable. While Deeks had officially ended their relationship, he hadn’t left NCIS or LAPD. At least not yet. Apparently he’d handed in his resignation, but told both Bates and Hetty he would stay on until they found his replacement.

It was a unique kind of torture. Seeing Deeks every day made her chest ache with longing, yet she coveted every moment they had together. To make it a little easier on her, Sam and Callen had taken to splitting she and Deeks up more days than not.

Thankfully they’d refrained from making any comments so far. Small favors, she supposed.

Today, started out with a debrief in OPS as usual on a suspicious double murder. Instead of standing next to Kensi as he once did, Deeks took position near the back of the room. As though he was physically distancing himself as much as he was emotionally.

“What do you think, Deeks?” Callen asked after Nell and Eric had gone over all the current details. Everyone turned to face Deeks, unusually quiet these days, and he considered the question for a few seconds.

This new version of him was quieter, more serious, more prone to deliberation. Like so many things recently, she regretted ever wishing that Deeks would less talkative, less the jokester…less him. She regretted not appreciating what they had.

“I think it’s suspicious that Lt. Anderson knew both victims and just rolled back into town two days ago,” Deeks said eventually. And that was it.

“Ok, then Sam and Kensi you can go talk to the Lieutenant. Deeks and I will interview his immediate superior,” Callen decided.

***

“How you holding up?” Sam asked as they drove to the Lieutenant’s home.

“Barring my father’s death and the times I’ve thought Deeks was dead, these have been the worst weeks of my life,” Kensi answered truthfully. “And I know what you’re going to say: I told you so,” she added with an exhausted sigh.

“Actually, I wasn’t. I don’t take any pleasure in your or Deeks’ pain,” Sam replied. “I do think you have some considerations to make.”

“Like what?”

“Well, you two are clearly both miserable. Deeks wants out, you don’t. I’d say you need to figure out if there’s a way that you can make both of those happen while existing as a couple?”

“Well, if it were that easy, I wouldn’t be single or searching for a new home.” She didn’t mean to snap, but she was on edge and feeling judged.

“I never said it was easy.” Sam chuckled dryly, shaking his head. “Believe me, Michelle and I had this “conversation” more than once.” He smiled softly. “When Michelle got pregnant, it was a big surprise. She was the one who decided to resign from fieldwork, but we argued a lot about whether I should stay in or not. In the end, we decided that me staying would work.

“I wouldn’t say that I regret that decision, but I missed out on quite a few bedtimes, school events, and all over the years. Those are times I can’t get back. And I can’t get back the missed date nights with Michelle. Or the days when she had to be the only parent to our kids.”

“I’m getting mixed messages here,” Kensi said with mild annoyance.

“Sorry. Basically, if being an NCIS Special Agent is what does make you happy, then that’s fine. If not…maybe it’s time to reconsider,” Sam said. “Work will always be there, people won’t.”

***

Kensi found herself rethinking Sam’s advice for the next several days. Somehow, once he’d laid it all out for her, it did seem amazingly simple. She wasn’t happy or content, even if she didn’t find some amount of pleasure in her work. It all seemed dull and worthless without Deeks by her side.

Which is why four days after talking with Sam, she found herself walking up the cracked sidewalk to the address she’d convinced Nell to give her. She knocked on the door before she chickened out and waited, heart pounding.

When Deeks opened the door a few moment later, he blinked in apparent surprise at finding her on his doorstep.

“Kensi, what are you—?”

“I quit,” she blurted out before Deeks could even voice his entire question. Which was not what she’d planned on saying at all.

“You quit?” Deeks repeated slowly, shaking his head slowly. “As in…?”

“NCIS. As of this morning, I’m not an NCIS Special Agent.”

Deeks’ face lit up for the briefest of seconds before he sobered, his expression shifting to one of disbelief. “Why?”

“Because I want you,” Kensi said reaching for his hand. She didn’t let his lack of response dissuade her.

“That didn’t make a difference before. At least not enough of one,” he reminded her. Kensi dipped her head, acknowledging his comment with a short nod.

“Yeah, well, I had a talk with Sam and he gave me reconsider some things.”

“He’s pretty good at that,” Deeks murmured softly, with a hint of his usual humor.

“He is.” She lifted her head, tears pricking the back of her eyes, as she took a step closer. “And I really missed you. More than any position, or mission could ever make up for.”

“But Kensi, you love field work. You love everything about helping people, the intrigue, and danger of it all. I can’t live up to that.” Her heart ached at the quiet hope tinged with resignation in Deeks’ voice.

“Yes, you can,” Kensi insisted fiercely, grasping his hand and pressing it to her chest. “Because I love you. More than anything. I can find ways to help people and fulfill my inner daredevil that won’t put me in danger the way that fieldwork does.”

“Are you sure?” Deeks whispered, his thumb gently rubbing over the back of her hand.

“Yes,” she said without hesitation. “Yes, I want to be with you.”

Deeks made a sound that was a cross between a gasp of relief and a sob, drawing her into his arms. Kensi cupped her hands around his jaw, almost desperate in her need to kiss him.

“I love you,” he whispered, burying his nose in her neck. She felt him shudder against her, and held him even tighter.

She’d come so close to losing this, him, forever. She’d never make that mistake again.

“I love you too,” she repeated. “So much.”

***

I hope that was alright.

Thanks for the prompt!

[yoonsdoll]

hi im bored and this is my professional opinion if seventeen r kitty or puppy coded and why because this is very important to me !!!!!!!!!

seungcheol : kitty coded

ok this was actually a really hard choice because he actually does have both kitty and puppy features but ultimately i decided kitty because hes so persian cat.

LOOK AT HIM POUTING.

but laura!!! he has a dog!!! YES I KNOW OKAY!! i LOVE kkuma. and as much as he wants to be a dog dad hes just a cat taking care of a dog beeeee so fr!!!!!

ok in conclusion realistically he can be both but like.. look at these photos and try spot the difference

cheol get well soon i miss u .

if u disagree then u just dont get the vision!

jeonghan : kitty coded

i have previously stated how he is a ragdoll cat. and yes, he really is.

hes so mischievous in like the best way ever, tell me a kitty wouldn't do that. U CANT!!!!

as a cat owner myself.. im just correct.

he 100% knows how to get someone to give him what he wants (treats) and he sits there all day looking fabulous and getting attention for being so cute.

also jeonghan get well soon im losing hair the longer ur gone.

anyway pls agree ive never been so confident in an answer in my life. dont ruin this

joshua : puppy coded

the more i look at shua smiling the more he reminds me of a cute puppy.

pls this man has me breaking down hes literally so cute.

i have no reason apart from the fact im so very sure he would be a puppy. and also hes an extrovert which automatically strikes me as a dog!!!

he looks like a fancy cat on a lot of pictures but dont let him gaslight u.

he told me himself hes a smiley shiba inu.

im a strong believer in puppy shua.

junhui : kitty coded

i feel like this is a very obvious answer but still

0% puppy in him. its all a very feral cat.

when i look at jun i think of a british shorthair kitty. a baby one in specific.

especially because hes playful as hell but also has his moments when he just prefers to be quiet and listen to the others.

he alternatively could just be a white and black cat.. it did occur to me while making this. however i still feel like a british shorthair is more suitable.

jun is so cat coded and even he knows it!

hoshi : kitty coded ?????

okay see my issue is that yes.. tigers are in the cat family. but do u not also ever look at hoshi playing around w the members and think that he could be a puppy if he wasnt so obsessed w tigers..

anyhow, he is kitty coded for the most part I GUESS.

sometimes he really does remind me of a hamster more than anything though, but again this isnt the point of this post.

ill give him this win and say he is a toyger cat.

HE LITERALLY LOOKS SO HAMSTER IN THE FIRST PIC ITS BUGGING ME.

look at him tryna convince everyone in that 2nd pic.. ok wtv he convinced me

wonwoo : kitty coded

so very calm, knows what his boundaries are, likes playing around once in a while.

wonwoo is THE black cat. one of those that are really well taken care of with short yet super soft fur.

same as jun.. u will never find any puppy energy in this man.

he has a dog too, but hes the most cat coded person u will ever see. this is why my cheol point was also correct.

im giggling those photos r so perfect. 3 wonwoos ^^^^^^

bye u legit cant even argue with this one if u wanted to

woozi : kitty coded

SHUT UP U KNOW IM RIGHTTTT!!

WOOZI IS SO KITTY I DONT CARE. I DONT EVEN HAVE TO EXPLAIN.

just as i know wonus a black cat, i know ujis a white cat.

hes so elegant yet so fun and so cute pls someone tie me down

the fact i already knew what photos im gonna use says enough.

i would also like to say that hes also very bear coded. like if hes not a cat hes a bear.

dokyeom : puppy coded

everyone cheered!!!!

dk has always been very puppy to me, even in interviews where hes speaking to people he doesnt know (which makes it difficult for him (and hoshi)), hes ALWAYS trying his best.

hes so cute!??!?!?! like, im really not good with dog breeds AT ALL, but he clearly is a pomeranian.

is he a grown 5'10 man? yes. is he also a very cute puppy breed? also yes. why? it just makes so much sense.

the 2 glasses photos were a coincidence but they somehow make him look even more puppy coded.

him in curly hair.. dude it doesnt get any better than that!!!

mingyu : puppy coded

DUH!!!! hes the puppiest out of all puppy in seventeen

surprisingly, i always see everyone call him a golden retriever which, personality wise I SO AGREE!!! but something itches my brain when hes compared to a husky. IT MAKES SM MORE SENSE NO??

i lied btw ive never seen anyone compare him to a husky this is me trying to drop my opinion without getting dragged.

theres not much else to say apart from that his emoji rep is litch a puppy so u cant deny it!

no matter what breed u wanna compare him to, itll still always be a dog

i truly wish i could see him as a cat but its just not right!

minghao : kitty coded

kitty coded through and through!!!!

i dont think i cld ever compare hao to a puppy?? his vibes r so cat.

SIAMESE CAT** let me say. dont u agree!!

hes so sassy and i feel like that rlly influences my opinion but also when have u ever looked at minghao and thought he was puppy coded. literally NEVER. i cant name u one time.

give him blue contacts and hes that cat in the middle (pls dont)

i rest my case thank yew!

seungkwan : BOTH?!

seungkwans a really difficult one for me. because he quite literally is both.

he has moments when hes so puppy coded then the next second hes the most kitty coded man ever.

same in selcas.. i cant even decide thru them!!!

if i really had to pick, id lean towards a cat, but again.. its too hard to decide.

therefore, he would be an orange kitty or a samoyed dog! :3

im sorry for cheating my way out of this one but i srsly cant decide.

vernon : kitty coded

chillest cat ever trust me.

vernon said himself he really likes cats and that made this even easier than it was before cause it just makes sm sense!

im aware vernon likes dogs too but him liking cats is so ?? vernon ??????

i always go back to that photo of him holding the baby kitty. hes such a cat person. literally look up vernon being a cat person on twt and theres a whole thread proving it!

this is why vernon is a siberian cat! he looks like it sm and he is chill like that ong

vernon and kitties give me life

dino : puppy coded

surprisingly i originally wanted to say kitty coded but after a think abt it.. hes clearly puppy coded

a very loved puppy by his 12 older brothers lolol

he always loves the attention and enjoys smiling and making others laugh a lot too..

do u guys remember that puppy interview? yeah.

his light brown hair was the prime border collie days!

i found that middle photo and immediately thought dino.

ok i originally didnt even mean to assign them all to breeds or wtv but it just happened... thank u for reading this is what happens when i get too bored!!! anyway i think i did pretty well so!

[the-one-where-casey-watches-tv]

The West Wing episode 4.20 "Evidence of Things Not Seen"

Have you ever noticed how the biggest names behind the camera tend to have close relationships with a handful of actors who are in everything they make? Aaron Sorkin is no exception, and honestly, I feel like I understand why. His work is so specific, just like Tarantino’s or Scorsese’s, and when you have such an identifiable style, I think it either clicks with you or it doesn’t. When you find people who click with you, whose brains meld seamlessly with yours, it really is a euphoric feeling and I imagine you’d want to keep those people close.

The West Wing, and Aaron Sorkin, click with me. Sometimes I watch a show and the thrill is having no idea what’s about to happen; I’m along for the ride in a vehicle that I barely recognize, let alone know how to drive. I would never be so bold as to think I could have taken the wheel of The West Wing, but to keep the comparison going, putting an episode on feels like getting into your mom’s car. You know all its little nuances, where the cupholders are, and how it’s going to feel on the road (and when to grab the handlebar).

“Evidence of Things Not Seen” has everything I love about The West Wing; it’s a fun one, but an inspiring one too, and it even guest stars- get this- Matthew Perry, fresh off of Friends. All the characters are mostly off the clock in this episode, so it’s time for a good poker game. Leo and the President are excited to kick back over a game of cards; Leo even has a full spread prepared, and tbh nothing makes me laugh like his reverent demand of CJ to “oooh squeeze this piece of rye bread”.

But the relaxation will of course be interrupted. The President will have to step in and out to negotiate with Kaliningrad- their government spotted an unmanned spy plane that we were flying over there, and Bartlet needs to talk them into giving it back. Our cover story: it was an environmental mission studying coastal erosion (Chinese spy balloon anyone?). Josh will have to do some back and forth too, interviewing a candidate to replace Ainsley Hayes as associate counsel.

Amid all of this, it’s the equinox, and CJ is convinced that at “the exact moment of the equinox” you can stand an egg on its end, and it won’t tip over. She’s carrying an egg around, but she hasn’t pulled it off yet and skepticism abounds.

All of Sorkin’s characters speak with what’s become his trademark cadence and tone so at times I see them as somewhat interchangeable- he just likes the sound of a group. But “Evidence of Things Not Seen” highlights the individual personalities and ideological differences that actually are present and consistent once you get past the similar speech pattern.

We’re launched into the title sequence with Bartlet giving the egg thing- and this coastal erosion cover story- a shot, but the egg topples over. His subsequently loaded “yeah, this isn’t gonna work” is about a lot more than the equinox. Compared to CJ, he’s always been a pragmatic optimist, entertaining every romantic idea but not expecting all of them to pan out. CJ, meanwhile, will always stick her neck out to vouch for the idealistic solution, even when it’s not even in the realm of realistic. She’s also usually right. In a previous episode, when everyone else guessed that the president’s approval rating had remained the same at best, she wagered that they had gone up 5 points, a number so preposterous Leo wouldn’t even repeat it to the President. Turns out she was lowballing. She’s also the voice of the iconic line “it’s about going to the blackboard and raising your hand- if you think you get it wrong sometimes, why don’t you come down here and see how the big boys do it.”

Toby’s even more complex than either of them, which I’d go so far as to say is the reason he also has the most complex individual relationship with almost every other character. He and Bartlet are a story for another day, but Toby and CJ’s deep, often wordless friendship really run wild in this episode. Toby’s created the image of himself as the pessimistic curmudgeon, but it’s a defense mechanism for the red hot idealism he’s carrying around. He’s so often disappointed, and he’s tired of it, but he can’t help but see so much potential in the world, even if he won’t admit it.

Will’s being in the Air Force won’t come up again after this episode, but it comes up in this one to serve the theme of Toby and CJ’s dueling worldviews. He’s heading to Wyoming to address a situation in which two launch crew officers who were slow to react to a threat of an incoming missile from North Korea. Turns out it was a good thing they asked some questions before enacting protocol, because it wasn’t a missile- it was a meteor from space. But they’re still being court-martialed because if it had been a missile, they wouldn’t have reacted in time. Toby can’t help but burst out laughing at this story (“Why do we think at this point that North Korea is attacking the East Coast of the United States?” “There are transcripts that show that surprise was expressed at that”). Then he turns it on CJ: “We failed on both a mechanical and human level. So tell me again what you have faith in”.

“Us. Because with what little free time he has, Will is going to Wyoming to defend one of these guys, and I don’t think it is failing on a human level”. Instead of responding, Toby lays down his cards, expecting to win the hand. But, in another symbolic move that speaks to a lot more than poker, CJ lays out a full house, sweeping up the chips in her unexpected win.

While this weighty discussion hung in the air, Will, Toby, and CJ had another thing to attend to- a bet amongst men that the other couldn’t hurl a playing card into the podium from the fifth row in the press room. They head down there, with CJ tagging along hoping to see them both fail- no one’s taking her very seriously tonight, after all. Instead of settling that debate, they’re interrupted by three gunshots slamming into the press room window. Will’s military training kicks in and he drops to the floor and rattles off ballistics to the secret service agents that instantly burst in, but CJ freezes. It’s Toby who pulls her to the ground in the heat of the moment.

I don’t love this being the second time CJ’s been “saved” by a man in this show (Sam did the same thing at Roslyn), but this interaction with Toby feels a lot more organic than that did, and so does the way they address it. On the whole, everything about an active shooter and subsequent crash of the building is a tired plot at this point. I’d actually go as far as to say this entire episode is pretty unoriginal- a criticism I read when doing some research on this episode. But I think the familiarity of the situation is exactly the thing that gives this episode that fun, cozy, President-in-a-sweatshirt feel. We’ve done the defcon 1 “can you believe it?!” active shooter plot before, so now we’re able to have some fun with it (“fun” on The West Wing is a relative term).

The secret service herds Toby, CJ, Will, and Josh into the oval office to make sure there’s eyes on everyone. Charlie and Debbie are already accounted for, but they don’t have code word clearance, so they’re not allowed in the Oval, where the spy plane discussion is still ongoing. At least, according to the Secret Service. Bartlet good naturedly explains that “if Charlie heard there were bullets, he’s gonna overpower whoever’s trying to—” and he’s cut off by Charlie, sure enough, bursting into the room. The President grins, we grin, he pulls Charlie in close and promises he’s okay. Satisfied, Charlie marches right back out. Then Bartlet says “I’m surprised you guys managed to keep Fiderer in her chair, I’d have thought she’d be the first one to- oh no here we are!” as she too fights her way in the room, looking the President up and down and declaring that she will be back to take his blood pressure shortly.

In a beat amidst the commotion, CJ asks Toby if he knew that a day on the moon and a year on the moon were the same thing. He did. The moment hangs there. Then she says, “I thought my reflexes before, in the press room, were cat-like.” And then we cut away. I love how little we have to say in this episode, and it’s our familiarity with these people, these rooms, and this situation that really let us all just play here in “Evidence of Things Not Seen”.

And nowhere is this episode having more fun than it is with Josh and the unexpectedly incredible chemistry he has with Matthew Perry’s Joe Quincy. Throughout this entire episode he’s back and forth between advising the President and interviewing new associate counsel Joe Quincy. Joe is quiet, collected, funny, and overqualified, but something is off about him, and Josh can’t figure out what. In an aside to Donna, Josh muses that “it’s the strangest feeling. It’s like… a really good baseball player is standing in the other team’s locker room for the first time.” To which Donna says, “I don’t understand, are you writing poetry about this now?”

But his gut is onto something, and he’s trying to figure out what- amidst it all, though, he’s also starting to like him. Josh is amused that the vetting team made Joe fill out the psychological part of the questionnaire- something he can relate to, and I’ll come right back to that in a second. Josh asks a question I think we all probably wonder when filling out forms like this but have never thought to put into words:

“Question 1: a) I do not feel sad; b) I feel sad; c) I am sad all the time and I can’t snap out of it; d) I am so sad or unhappy that I want to kill myself. You chose a) I do not feel sad.”

“Yes.”

“Good. Ever?”

“No.”

“No, you don’t ever feel sad, or…?”

“No, there are times when I feel sad.”

“Yet you checked the first box, why is that?”

“It said, ‘I do not feel sad’ and I didn’t at the time I checked it.”

This exchange, and their whole dynamic, feels both funny and poignant, but the tables turn when the shooting happens in the very next scene. Donna is instantaneous in checking on Josh, worried about the shooting stirring up his PTSD and telling him, against his wishes, that she is going to be giving his therapist a heads up that he might be calling later. 

When Josh explains the building crash to Joe, he says he didn’t hear the shots, but “I heard a brass quintet playing The First Noel, so I just assumed someone somewhere was locked and loaded.” Joe doesn’t hesitate to reply with “You know, not for nothing, but the people that I talk to don’t believe that story, and the people that you’d like don’t care.” He doesn’t say it unkindly, but like I said, funny and poignant.

But it’s not only the sentiment that throws Josh off, it’s the wording. Finally, Josh puts it together- Joe is a republican. Once his secret is out, Joe explains that he’s gotten himself in bad standing with the rest of the party by voicing an unpopular opinion, but he wants to work at the White House because, of course, he has a sense of duty. The whole thing is a soft, respectful, and incredibly loaded homage to both Ainsley Hayes and arguably the show’s best episode, “Noel”. And, just like Ainsley, Joe finds himself fitting right in, even as Josh tries to fight it. He recommends him to Leo and gets him the job.

I really love this episode for all the same reasons I think it often flies under the radar of West Wing greatest hits. It’s not remarkable, it’s not doing anything we haven’t done before, but it has its finger right on the pulse of every one of these characters. It’s exactly our deep familiarity with everyone and everything that lets the slightest touch hold so much significance, depth, and humor.  It just takes half a sentence for a character to say something profound about another, or to call back to nostalgic characters and plot points.  And I almost forgot to mention- we end with CJ standing an egg on its end. I well up every time.

[codylabs]

I like Samus

(Miscellaneous notes in no order)

She's kind. I've gone into detail about that before on one page of my comic, but it bears repeating here. She doesn't often do things in anger, and she shows mercy and goodwill when she can. I think that's a big difference between her and somebody like Doomguy who just kills anything in his way; it's always more complicated than just "kill the monsters," and she does ponder and respect that complexity, even if, all too often, the only reasonable and responsible option IS killing.

Speaking of, dang there is blood on her hands. None of Batman's "There's one line I won't cross" philosophy; she's been in war and crossed lines. She's killed people. A lot of people. Fanon often characterizes her as the one who blows up planets, but that's not fair or accurate, since she was only involved with ONE [1] of those, but even if not, she IS still the type of person willing to make those tough calls. And leaving the planet-killing out of it, we can see the grizzly truth that most of her killing is intentional, and done in person, face-to-face. Watching interviews with real soldiers, that type of thing often has some serious effects on mental health, and I feel bad for her for that.

She's nearly silent, but she's not mute. More in a reserved, cowboy-just-passing-through sort of way. It's believable that she just doesn't have a lot to say, especially to strangers, or especially on missions. Super Metroid, Fusion, and Other M have her deliver longer dialogue, but it's usually a pretty dispassionate account of her actions, of what she's done and seen. Yeah that's probably a feature of the game format, but if you read into it, a lot of the personal interactions in her life may boil down to that: recounting stories or delivering reports.

*slaps roof of armor* shit's sturdy as hell.

Her gun can't be disarmed or set aside, but she carries it at the expense of a hand; it may be a little goofy, but if you read way WAY too far into it, it can be taken as symbolism for the violence inherent in her duty. But in that vein, there's another kinder side to the symbolism: the Chozo didn't give her two guns, they left her one hand. So killing isn't all that her duty entails.

Double genocide survivor is a frankly bizarre backstory. Like, this poor woman; what are the odds. But it's semi-necessary to the narrative, and I love it because it sets her so far apart. She looks human, she could be a human, any human she meets would think she was one, but deep down, her true people are the Chozo. And with the Chozo gone, she remains an alien wherever she goes. She's bound so tightly to her past that she will always be a stranger.

Related to previous, her armor is obviously alien technology. And not in a "ooh it's too advanced and shiny and glowy" way or whatever, but I mean it's distinctly Not Shaped Like A Human. Stand a Chozo next to a human and you can tell which one it was built to fit. As the series' art style has progressed its proportions have even evolved to match the Chozo's proportions; it's anatomical difficulties have never been resolved or lessened, it's never gotten more humanoid. Which is more than a little goofy (cue rekindling of decades-long debate of how her shoulders work or how her legs are so long) but I think it's awesome.

The built-in jetpack is not for flying, it's for running fast and sick flips.

g gre gr green lights...

The Mother complex is a controversial thing to like, since the only thing the games gave her to be motherly toward is a mindless jellyfish bioweapon (and that was in the worst-written game too, ouch) but I do like it. I like the idea of her being tender/caring/affectionate to the point of being good with kids or animals (if ever given the opportunity (which she never is.)) In another life, in some gentle elseworld, she could have excelled at a happy, perfectly normal domestic life, and it would be a happy ending to the series for her to finally find that life, though I don't expect such an end.

Most of the games represent her death animation as the suit exploding. Which I choose to interpret as a literal self-destruct, to avoid the horrors of her capture and the technology falling into wrong hands.

Ridley. I love her relationship with Ridley. It's the classic image of the knight vs. the dragon, but it never ends, and neither of them ever die. I feel like there's some symbolism I can't quite grasp about how he always comes back through the power of whatever OTHER thing she's currently dealing with, like he's never even plot-relevant, he's just there because she's there, tied to her, hounding her, he's there because her real duty isn't done.

Big strong woman let me touch your abs mommy

Actually could I take that last one back? Her modern fanon portrayal as 7 feet tall and shredded is probably better than some portrayals before (hourglass figure with heels), but I don't think it's accurate or necessary to her character either. Yes, I draw her more athletic, and yeah her job requires some physical prowess, but 90% of the time that prowess comes wholesale from the power armor, in which context the pilot's flesh isn't much more than wasted space. (Plus whenever I see abs I think of an interview with a powerlifter who was dissing bodybuilders, saying that abs aren't a sign of strength, they're just a sign you aren't eating enough.) In any case, I think the Samus portrayals I like best are those that make her just look like an ordinary lady, covered in the wrinkles and scars of her life. Prime Remastered did her right by my book.

The Chozo could have raised anybody to be their champion, a boy, a girl, one of their own, a defected pirate, why an alien like her? Why a human? Why an orphan who already had burdens enough? I am lead to believe by the canon that she selected by a Chozo prophecy, but from Whom does the prophecy spring?

And to what end is her prophecy? Is her great task in life to stop the lawlessness of the Space Pirates? To exterminate the X? Or Phaazon? (Judging by the events of Prime 3, I think the Federation could have done all such things on their own, and the Metroid Prime wearing her suit as an exoskeleton probably made the situation worse.) Or did the wellspring of the Chozo prophecy recognize the Chozo's own failings, and elect a champion intentionally not from among their own as a means of cleansing the universe of their mistakes, and handing the torch to the metaphorical next generation of races in the galaxy?

Prime 1 has a statue of a Chozo holding a tray, and a scan shows it's meant to represent their race balancing the weight of existence in their hands. Heck if I know whether that's an accurate assessment or just so much pride and hubris (the Metroid universe is admittedly a savage and fragile place in desperate need of balance and wisdom,) but it does make me wonder if Samus believes in all that.

If you held a gun to my head and made me give a headcanon about Samus's sexuality, I'd probably say cisgender and straight, since that's statistically most people, but I also recognize that she hit puberty surrounded by alien bird monks who wouldn't know what lips are without looking it up, and I don't know WHAT that does to a young lass, so I don't feel qualified to say. In any case, the canon never mentions friends, personal life, or significant other, in any way at all ever, which implies either A) she keeps privacy even from the narrative B) she doesn't have a lot of free time to spend in those contexts C) she's always on the move D) she tends toward a life of loneliness or E) all of the above.

One wonders what did her time in the military looked like. Did the Federation allow this genetically anomalous cyborg to just walk into the recruitment office? Did she have to apply for citizenship first? Did she just go into battle in her bright yellow? Did they know about her Power suit? Could she even speak human language at this point?? Did she like human food or does she prefer mixed grain and mealworms??? I headcanon: why not, yes, no, no, not much, sure.

[andguesswhat]

The shield that you own - 2 -

*

After stepping out of the shower, Jack dried himself roughly, tied the towel around his hips and went to the desk at the window to have a look on his phone if something had occurred and he was needed. But only a message from his little sister Sarah blinked.

I saw you pining over him. Shouldn't you be watching the fans instead?

Although Jack was aware that it wasn't good if anyone looking could see his feelings for Tim and that he should urgently admonish himself to restrain his reactions on the red carpet, he had to smile. He liked Sarah's dry remarks. Ever since he started working for Tim regularly, she had been his constant critical commentator. His CCC, as he had taken to calling her.

He looked at the "evidence photos and videos" from the premiere in Mexico city that Sarah had sent along.

Tim had been given a wrestling mask by a fan, tried it on straight away and posed with it. It was adorable. What was he supposed to do? How could you not smile at that?

In another photo in a different situation, however, it was not quite as clear how he could talk his way out of it.

Jack sighed and scrolled up to Sarah's last message, a few days earlier, which he hadn't replied to either.

LOL Are you his minion now, his boom box carrier? Was that part of your training too?

A picture showed him walking next to Tim carrying Tim's boom box on their way to the Jimmy Kimmel studio. Loud music was Tim's constant companion in cars and dressing rooms. Jack found it endearing, and he didn’t think it was a big deal that he was the one carrying the box, it was part of his job.

But Sarah declined to see these things, instead warned him to let himself be exploited. Although she was the little sister, she saw it as her job to mentally protect her big brother, who in her opinion was ‘far too nice for this world’.

Jack knew she meant it well. In the end it was kind of funny because she was basically the reason why Jack had become a bodyguard. Because he had always protected her.

As a teen, Sarah had taken just as much pleasure in being rebellious as now, which had gotten her into trouble more than once.

When Jack, as her 10-year-old older brother, had first been involuntarily instructed by their mother to look after her, he had quickly realized that he enjoyed it. He had realized that he was good at it, protecting someone, staying calm in troubled and difficult situations. Staying firm. And taking action when necessary.

Today, Sarah was still too rebellious to not getting into trouble, but by now she was old enough and had learned to look after herself.

Jack looked out of his hotel room window over the rooftops of Paris in the afternoon sun.

The next premiere was coming up.

The morning had gone well, the cast had had fun with their interviews. They would make good publicity.

Tim was always a bit different in Paris. Somehow more Frenchy, Jack would say and Tim would laugh at him for that.

But it was true, Tim spoke more elegantly in Paris. His lips and tongue adapted to the flattering language, but he also expressed himself more selectively in English.

He also dressed more elegantly. Jack was curious about Tim's outfit for tonight and he was looking forward to the evening.

Only Tim's flirting with Austin was a thorn in his side. Although he knew it shouldn’t.

He liked Austin. He got on well with him.

In a perfidious way, he even liked it when Tim flirted with him. Because Tim laughed a lot then and looked happy. And that was the most important thing, wasn't it?

He knew Sarah would hate him for that attitude. "Please for fucking once think about yourself!" she would say.

But he was who he was. And after all, this was also a reason why he was doing his job well, right? So why should he change?

The vibrating of his cell phone snapped him out of his thoughts.

Tim. He had sent him a photo of a silver designer breastplate lying in a fashion box. Underneath:

Look at thaaaat! Tonight, I'm going to have two shields! ;)

Jack smiled, sent a little knight emoji and looked at his watch.

Pick you up in 20!

*

Tim looked beautiful with this shield on his chest that reflected the colors of his surroundings. Over it he wore an elegant suit which emphasized his slender figure. Jack found even more opportunities than usual to touch him, happy for every turn they had to make so that he could gently point him in the right direction. Tim was laughing a lot that night, Tim was beaming a lot that night, Tim was flirting with Austin a lot that night. Jack was already familiar with Tim's flirting. On the Wonka promo tour he had made Hugh Grant all fuzzy with it, but now with Austin... it was more physical, also more put-on somehow. Jack could see that they really liked each other, but they were also putting on a show for the fans for sure. In the end they were both professionals.

Which didn't really make it any easier for Jack, because he knew Tim liked to lose himself in the game sometimes. He knew he shouldn't care. He didn't want to be jealous, it was totally inappropriate to be jealous. They had no relationship, no commitments.

But still... After the premiere party, they went to their hotel and parted from the others. Jack was so busy hugging everyone that he didn't notice Tim saying goodbye to Austin. Outside Tim's hotel room, just before Jack wanted to say goodnight to Tim, Tim leaned lasciviously against the door frame, no longer wearing the shield, his bare chest so inviting, his eyes as dark as they were demanding and purred with a wicked grin, "Austin let me suck his cock today, do you want to punish me for it?" And that's when Jack realized that his shield was also already down again. He couldn't think as quickly as his hand buried itself deep in Tim's curls and his body pressed Tim against the door, causing Tim to groan with excitement. Tim loved to be taken hard and Jack loved to make Tim happy. A few moments later they were already naked on the bed and he rammed into Tim as he gripped his hips, fucked him hard from behind as his hands clamped around Tim's neck, and when Tim was about to come, he held Tim’s mouth shut, the stifled scream making both their bodies tremble with ecstasy.

Exhausted and satisfied they fell on the bed. It wasn't the first time they'd had rough sex like this. The night before the Golden Globes, he had received a message from Tim to visit him at home. When he complied with the request, he realized that Tim had more sex stuff than Jack knew what to do with. But unlike here in Paris, that night hadn't been about fun. Tim had needed something else that night. A binding. A binding by limitation. Tim had been lost, upset, in despair. In layman's terms, Jack would say not far from a panic attack. Tim needed someone to put him in his place again. So Jack had tried to help, had done as well as he could. Had set him limits, tied him up, held him down, fucked him while Tim's body writhed and Tim's moans released what there was to release. Even though it was the sex that had felt most distant from himself to Jack, it had been the most emotional he'd ever had. Seeing Tim like that, seeing how much he needed that, his body to be restricted, to be able to be in the end completely himself again.... It had moved him deeply.

Now Tim lay beside him in bed, sleeping and breathing peacefully, recovering from an exhausting day and Jack allowed himself to run his fingers lightly over his slender body. However harsh he had been to Tim, Jack could never have hurt him. Over the years, he'd seen the marks on Tim's body. Reserved for someone else. No matter how proudly Tim wore those marks, the sight of them only made Jack want to protect him even more. And no matter how much more familiar they had been after this evening before the Golden Globes, the marks from someone else always showed him clearly that in the end he wasn't the one Tim needed... **