#I think she’s the director of the whole entire academy so whatever she’s a girl boss she gets a pass

[idontmindifuforgetme]

Literally after a month of me trying to get her to teach me piano and voice

[fioseablogs]

Review of series: WEDNESDAY 

This OTT series is an old comic book which was created as a series in 2022. Starring Jenna Ortega as the main lead as Wednesday. She belongs to the Addams family with some magical powers. Her character and looks reflected as a superbly unengaged goth girl. The first scene shows her as rough and rude. The girl who has no feelings and mercy. She doesn’t even blink her eyes often and it’s rare. In the first scene she will be thrown out of her school filing a case on putting piranhas in pool and killed two boys. But she did it for her brother the guys bullied him for having one testicle. It is awkward but the portrays like that. It is not advised to be watched by kids. 

The next scene is about her parents forced and convinced her to join a school named Nevermore academy which is actually meant for students like her with magical powers and different behaviors. She always thinks that her mom forces her to be like her she acts like she doesn’t like her parents. Her parents were shown as so romantic couples. She gets a friend in school named Enid. She actually doesn’t keep friends and no one like to be her friend because of her careless and rude behavior. Enid becomes her roommate. she is a werewolf but she never transformed. She plays as a caring friend who always be by Wednesday side and never leave her at any cause. The school principal will always keep a eye on her. The school is filled with vampires, werewolf, magicians, gorgons, sirens(led by the meanest girl Bianca.) She also offers tips for navigating her new school and introductions to some of the characters that will become central to the mysteries Wednesday will soon find herself investigating . These include: a number of killings in the local town of Jericho and surrounding woodland by what the police are finding it increasingly hard to deny must be a monster ; possible attempts on Wednesday’s own life; the suggestion that her father Gomez ( Luis Guzmán ) committed murder himself in his youth; and whatever Wednesday’s visions – seemingly fragments of the future – are trying to tell her. Oh, and what of the sketches inside the books in the secret basement that seem to show the future? And student artist Xavier ( Percy Hynes White), who can make his pictures come alive? And, don’t tell me there’s nothing more to Dr Kinbott ( Riki Lindhome ), the therapist in charge of Wednesday’s court- mandated counselling sessions , than meets the eye.

There are also teenage crushes , relationships , a prom , secret societies and other “ normie ” stuff to negotiate. But, creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar also gave us Smallville, and know how to handle multiple plotlines crisscrossing the real and supernatural worlds. Plus, the show’s main director is Tim Burton, who knows a bit about this kind of thing too – and gives the whole thing 

It loses something by not setting Wednesday against normality, as the films did, and by having a more crack opening version of the Addams clan. The love and unity of the family against the world was always one of the great pleasures, in whatever incarnation you met them. But it has enough wit, charm and propulsive energy for that not to matter as much as it might have.. One last point. Another great strength of the films was that the Addams parents ( Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia ) were still hot for each other and each as  attractive as the other. It was such a refreshing change from the standard “ comic ” arrangement whereby a great beauty is in that all to an unregenerate school love . In this pairing , we have regressed entirely. In every scene involving the new Morticia and Gomez , at the last the one scene I loved is Wednesday hug back Enid atlast scene which become so emotional and the bond between eachother.

[itsallyscorner]

💌 Requested by: @real-kate-bishop-aka-hawkeye

Pairing: Sebastian Stan x Reader ft Marvel Cast

Request: Age gap! Reader is in a relationship with Sebastian Stan and they’re in a movie together that has been nominated for the Oscars. Both of them are up for best actor and actress.

a/n: I hope you like this, I’m so sorry for the long wait, love! Enjoy!💖

Double Win

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m a bit nervous. But I’m excited to be here. It’s gonna be a good night.” You reply with a smile as Sebastian squeezed your hand. The two of you were currently in the car on your way to the venue that hosted the Oscars.

“Hey, whatever happens tonight, whether we win or loose, I’m proud of you.” Sebastian says as he brings your hand up to his lips and presses a kiss to it.

You and Sebastian were both nominated for your first Oscars ever. The movie you guys both starred in has been successful in the box office and has snagged multiple nominations during awards season.

You first met Sebastian during a table read for a disclosed Marvel project. You were a new actress in the business having been in small movies and had some parts in tv shows, but being casted as Kate Bishop was your big break (I know she’s like 16 in the comics, but for the sake of this request let’s just assume the actress casted is in her 20s). You and Seb instantly clicked at the table reading. From there on a beautiful friendship formed which slowly grew into a relationship. Despite the age gap, everything you guys did together felt natural. Natural in a sense where it was familiar, as if you guys have known each other for years. When you were with him everything fell into place.

“I’m so happy that you’re finally getting recognition for your work. You work your ass off on these movies, you deserve it so much.” You admitted as he strokes your hand with his thumb. Sebastian tilts his head at you with that crooked smile on his face.

“After all, you were robbed for I, Tonya.” You added as you nudged his shoulder with yours. His smile breaks as he laughs.

“Are you still mad about that?”

“YES! Oh my god, it irritates me so much. Like how did you not get nominated for I, Tonya? You were amazing as Jeff!” You exclaimed waving your free hand in frustration.

“Well that doesn’t matter anymore. Because now, I’m nominated for a movie I starred in alongside my girl. To me, that’s all that matters.” He said as he leaned in closer to you. You hum contently as he nudges your nose with his. He presses a kiss to the corner of your mouth, careful to not get any of that sinful red lipstick on his lips.

The moment was interrupted by the driver announcing that you have arrived at the venue. Before leaving the car you quickly fix your hair and make sure Sebastian didn’t have any lipstick on his lips. Sebastian buttoned up his suit and looked back at you before opening the door.

“You look beautiful, by the way. I just wanted to tell you before everyone starts shouting it at you.” He tells you with a boyish grin on his face. You playfully roll your eyes and thank him. He opens the door and you guys are met with the flashing lights and chaos of the red carpet.

🕓 Time Skip

Half an hour into the awards show and they’ve announced the awards for Best Supporting Actor and Actress. Your nerves were getting the best of you, making your leg bounce in anticipation. You tried having a few glasses of wine to help you loosen up, but it was no use. Sebastian, who had been beside you the whole night, noticed your nervous tic. He placed a reassuring hand onto your leg to help calm you down. He didn’t say anything but his silent gesture was appreciated. His hand helped ground you and tell you that he was there for you.

Chris Evans and Brie Larson walked out from backstage and entered the stage. The audience clapped as they approached the mic.

“Hello everyone! Of all the movies that have been nominated for this category tonight, something that they all have in common is a female lead who is a force of nature and captures the attention of the audience with their strong presence on screen.” Brie starts.

“Here are the nominees for Best Actress.” Chris continues as they announce the names of the nominees. As your name is announced you feel your heart beat quicken and squeeze onto Sebastian’s hand, a smile hiding your anxiousness.

When they finish the names, Brie excitedly opens the envelope. She and Chris share are look before they announce the winner.

“And the Oscar goes to..”

“(Y/n) (Y/L/N)!!” They scream into the mic.

You freeze as you hear your name. Around you the people clap and stand as you remained seated in your seat in shock. Sebastian is the one to pull you out your state of shock, leaning down and gently pulling you up.

“Baby, you won!” He exclaimed as he pulls you into his arms. You come back to your senses and wrap your arms around him quickly pulling away. You make your way up to the stage as people congratulated you as you passed by the aisle. When you approached the stairs, you hold the train of your dress to avoid pulling a Jennifer Lawrence. Chris is quick to help, lending you a hand up the stage. He hugs you and congratulates you over the audience. Brie approaches you with open arms and hands you the Oscar. The two move to the side to give you your moment. You face the crowd with a big smile, Oscar in hand.

“Thank you guys.” You start as you glance at Brie and Chris. You look back to the crowd and quickly spot Sebastian, who has the most proudest look on his face.

“This is unbelievable, I can’t believe this is happening! I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a little kid.” You mused as you looked at the Oscar gleaming in the light.

“I guess I should start by thanking the Academy. Thank you for this opportunity. Thank you to the cast and crew who have been part of this movie’s journey I love every single one of you. Thanks to my team, who have been so kind and supportive to me from the start and have helped me get to this moment. To my family, I owe you all so much you have been so supportive of me and pushed me to follow my dreams and have been there every step of the way. Also, to the women who were nominated alongside of me tonight, you guys are amazing and continue to inspire me to become as talented as you all are. Lastly, I want to thank a special person. My co-star in this movie, my best friend, biggest supporter, my rock, my lover. Sebastian you have done nothing but been there for me through thick and thin. I don’t know what I did in my past life to deserve someone as special as you, but I’m thankful that I have you. Without you I don’t know how I would survive in the madness of this, I love you.” You looked at Sebastian through blurred eyes as you made your speech.

“Thank you!” You finished as you excitedly held the Oscar up in the air. The usher instructed you to stand by the side as Brie and Chris walked to the mic.

“And now for Best Actor!” Chris says as they announce the nominees. When Sebastian’s name was called you clapped and cheered as he gave the camera a shy smile.

“And the Oscar goes to!”

“SEBASTIAN STAN!” They announce, Chris screaming it a bit louder than Brie. You gasp and clap as you see Sebastian being congratulated by your fellow co-stars and director. He makes his way up to the stage instantly looking for your eyes. A giant smile is on your face as your eyes connect. He’s hugged by Brie and Chris. Chris moves to hand him the award but Sebastian is already striding towards you. The audience laughs at Chris’ reaction. Meanwhile Sebastian brings his hand to cradle your face and pulls you into a passionate kiss. The crowd cheers and whistles as you wrap your free arm around him. For a moment it feels like it’s just you two in the whole venue. You pull away, lovingly smiling at each other.

“Go get that Oscar, champ.” You teased and nudge him towards Chris, who claps him on the back as soon he approaches him.

“Sorry, got caught in the moment.” He chuckled making the audience laugh.

“Man, I—. This is just an honor, thank you so much for this. I don’t know what I did to get here, but thank you so much. Thank you to the Academy. Thank you to the cast and crew who’ve worked hard day and night to make this amazing movie the way it is. My team, thank you for dealing with me, I appreciate it. I wanna say a very special thank you to two of the most important women in my life. My mother, who sacrificed so much to give me a better life, I’m up on this stage because of you. I love you and I’ll make sure to give you a call as soon as I’m home. I think you guys know who the other woman is.” He exclaims as he turns to you with a twinkle in his eyes, the crowd cheering him on.

“When I say this I’m being dead serious. I’m gonna marry that woman one day.” Sebastian points at you making the crowd go wild. You laugh, looking down as your face turns 50 shades of red.

“(Y/n), you keep me going everyday. You inspire me to better myself and become a better man. For the two years we’ve been together, you’ve been beside me through it all and I just want to thank you for everything you do. You’re my safe place, I love you.” He said while looking at you the entire time. He thanks everyone again before the music begins to play.

🕓 Time Skip

As the show came to an end everyone headed towards the after party. The cast and crew of your movie celebrated over champagne, some speeches, a little crying, and lots of hugs. The whole night Sebastian never left your side, his hand was either around your waist or the small of your back. Constantly whispering sweet nothings into your ear as he pressed kisses to your face.

“Seb! (Y/n)!” You and Sebastian turned to the voice to see Chris pushing through the crowd along with Scarlett and Brie.

“Hey!” You greet them as you all pull each other into hugs.

“Congratulations you two! You must be on cloud nine!” Scarlett said as she squeezed you as tight as she can.

“The look on your face when you won, oh my goodness! Priceless!” Brie laughs as she held onto your arm.

“I honestly can’t believe it! It’s just so surreal like what the fuck? I’m still processing it!” You rambled, eyes wide with shock. The two laughed at your reaction.

“I’m guessing Seb is gonna be getting some as soon as you guys get home?” Scarlett teased. You rolled your eyes glancing at Seb who was talking to Chris and Samuel L. Jackson. He caught your eye and sent a quick wink towards you.

“I don’t kiss and tell, Scarlett.” You winked at the blonde. Your name is suddenly being called across the room by Chris.

“When’s the wedding?” He asked, a few feet away from you and the girls.

“As soon as he gets the ring!” You answer teasingly making Seb blush. Chris turns back to Sebastian pointing at you.

“You heard the lady, Seb.”

“Who says I don’t already have the ring?” Sebastian shot back making everyone sound like a bunch of teenagers.

When you guys got back home, you and Sebastian celebrated in the early hours of the morning between the sheets. When you wake up the next day you see a blue Tiffany’s box paired with a rose resting on Sebastian’s side of the bed.

And you said yes.

[enchantedisabella]

headcanons about atla that should’ve been canon

azula is not straight

like if you tell me she is straight i will proceed to laugh in your face for ten minutes straight

and never take you seriously again

like, ever

okay moving on

ty lee is bisexual

tyzula was a thing

zuko has major daddy issues but azula has both mommy and daddy issues and she is by far one of the most fucked up characters in the series, and did not deserve her fate, and the series instead showed her ‘getting what she deserved’ when in reality she was a teenager following orders from her father who was supposed to guide, protect and love her

but instead of doing any of those things he manipulated her and twisted her into becoming his lackey and his killing machine and that was wrong and she deserved so much more than being thrown in a mental institution and being forgotten about

actually a lot of these are about azula idk why

wait no ik why it’s because i love her with all my heart but anyway

toph and sokka had the strongest bromance to ever exist in the whole avatar universe and for the directors to portray bamf toph as having a crush on sokka was such a cold take and so,,, not it

like isn’t there like a six year age difference for them? or maybe four? but I’m pretty sure it’s six because toph is ten but sokka is sixteen but correct me if I’m wrong whatever

like,,, just let them live you know??? toph and sokka are the two sassiest most sarcastic characters in the entire series and you cannot tell me that their bromance would not rival,,, literally everyone else’s

katara once put makeup on toph. needless to say she absolutely hated it but katara was in a sucky mood so toph wanted to cheer her up. she stepped out for one (1) second, intending to watch her face, and sokka wouldn’t stop laughing for twenty (20) minutes. he still brings it up at campfires now

zuko sometimes tries to incorporate katara’s waterbending moves into his firebending after uncle iroh showed him the lightningbending move. he tried to teach azula how to do it once too but it took three days before she would deign to try and learn a ‘filthy water peasant move’

azula secretly loves how she can exercise her power in completely different moves though and she works in secret on new bending moves, taking inspiration from the other cultures, but she’d rather die than admit zuko helped her

azula, mai and ty lee absolutely called themselves the terrible trio. it started after mai coined it sarcastically after they suffered a bitter defeat at some battle and after that it just stuck. azula hates it, ty lee loves it

ty lee calls mai and azula ‘her girls’. they hated it at first and azula stuck her chin up saying she was not anyone’s girl, but ty lee was unshakeable about the matter. mai almost threw up after azula responded immediately to it after a few weeks despite her protests. then mai responded to it accidentally and spent the rest of the week contemplating suicide attempts

tyzula shared their first kiss after azula brought down ba sing se’s walls. ‘i’m so happy i could kiss you’ were the exact words azula said, and ty lee responded ‘then do it.’ it was the first time azula had ever admitted she was happy. ty lee smiles every time she remembers it

suki doesn’t like azula, but after the war she has a kind of grudging respect for her. i mean this girl conquered a city at fourteen??? and became fire lord, if only briefly??? like??? what a badass bitch? warrior to warrior, suki respects azula. person to person though is a different story.

after people fall in love, their auras have a little of the colour of their s/os. that was how ty lee could tell zuko and mai were really in love, after zuko’s scarlet red developed kind of a grey tinge and mai’s sludge grey had a kind of reddish air to it. she couldn’t believe it at first when azula’s electric blue had a steady pink hue around the borders. she jumped into azula’s arms and kissed her the moment she saw. it was the most emotional azula had gotten after ty lee explained why, with one (1) tear rolling out of her eyes. she evaporated it on her skin but ty lee still remembers

katara and aang are that kind of couple who are close in a way that people always assume they’re best friends instead of, you know, dating. but katara doesn’t care because she’s never given much thought to everyone else’s opinions and she’s more in love with aang every passing day, so. aang takes it as a compliment that people assume they know each other inside out.

sokka and suki, however, are That Couple. kissing everywhere and anywhere. and surprisingly so are zuko and mai. when katara compared them, mai reached for the nearest bucket and wouldn’t let it go for three hours.

ty lee and mai trained alongside azula just so they could hang out with her after ozai announced he thought azula was too old for playdates. they all got special treatment at the fire nation royal academy for girls and that was where ty lee learnt to do acrobatics and chi block, and where mai learnt to throw her knives. it’s also why they work so well as a team together

katara found a way to use her bloodbending to heal people- to clot blood as it’s bleeding out or to stop internal bleeding, for example. it’s lifted a lot of the guilt of bloodbending off of her shoulders, knowing that she’s helping people while she’s doing it. a form of it was even incorporated into the northern water tribe’s healing lessons. katara tries, everyday, to come up with more ways to use her water to heal and help people. she still prefers fighting over healing, but after the war, she knows the power of healing can work wonders now.

azula only underwent a year in the mental institution before being released. it was the one thing she couldn’t handle- not being able to use her bending in such a controlled, sterile environment. zuko quickly realised that the only thing keeping her sane was her bending, and immediately made arrangements for her to go back to the palace. she wouldn’t talk to him for weeks, so he invited ty lee back from the kyoshi warriors to try and get her to open up.

azula had planned to ignore ty lee too, but ty lee straight-up slapped the princess the moment she saw her (‘that was for putting me in prison!’) and then collapsed, sobbing, in azula’s arms, and wouldn’t let go of her for ten whole minutes (‘and this is because I miss you so much, azula!’) and after that things kind of got better, but slowly.

zuko hates sitting in the fire lord’s throne. like, he hates it. it reminds him too much of his father, and so he tries to be out of the throne room as much as possible. this works in his favour- there are always councils and meetings that he needs to oversee.

zuko is so bad at politics. like, he’s so bad that it’s not even funny. it kind of was in the beginning, but then he made a spectacular mess of things and aang was zero help. in fact, despite being the avatar, zuko thinks he might have actually made it worse. and then aang got caught up in the mess too, thanks to his disastrous involvement, and azula and mai wouldn’t stop laughing at their predicament for a week before they deigned to help them.

so now despite zuko being the actual fire lord, azula and mai, being trained for politics their entire lives, are usually the ones to step in when things get a little too much for him to handle. azula is still not satisfied with her role, of course. but then, azula’s never satisfied.

azula and ty lee are the epitome of disaster gays. one time ty lee tried to hold azula’s hand, and azula shook it. ty lee wouldn’t stop laughing, but azula was so embarrassed she accidentally set her clothes on fire. that just made ty lee laugh even more, but azula’s pride was mortally wounded. the first time ty lee told azula she loved her, azula formally thanked her. as if they were at a business meeting. and then asked ty lee what positive assets or advantages their new relationship would bring azula. it’s rumoured that to this day ty lee is still very confused about what went down.

with the intention of teaching azula a humbling lesson and to find ‘peace within herself’, zuko sent her to work at uncle iroh’s tea shop in ba sing se for a month shortly after she came back to the palace. after azula nearly setting fire to the shop, throwing a teapot of scalding hot tea into a customer’s face after they demanded to ‘speak to the manager’, destroying general property and terrifying the other employees to the point where one regularly wet himself every time she walked in, iroh was begging zuko to take azula back before the end of the first week. when she came back, the only thing azula said she’d found was solid proof of why ozai had good reason to burn down the earth kingdom while he was at it. and a new idea of how short her patience was.

you guys are welcome to add more if you think of them

[alwaysahiccupandastrid]

As a drama/performance student who’s hoping to go into acting, let me just say right now that Rachel Berry would never have made it on Broadway.

Oh, she has talent and there’s no denying that. But so do so many other girls and boys. You can’t make it in the business based on talent alone - you don’t get to become a success immediately, you have to work your way up and prove that you’re right for a role or for success. You have to work hard and always remember to keep learning.

That was something that was taught to us very early on in drama - no matter who you are or where you come from, whether you’re an amateur student or a success movie star, you can ALWAYS learn. You should always be challenging yourself and learning. You should always strive to improve and better yourself whenever possible.

Rachel never seemed to want to do that. She got into NYADA (after stalking the dean, which is something else I’ll go into in a minute) and then quit before finishing her education to do Funny Girl - which she then quit to do a TV show that failed. First of all, a casting director is going to take one look at this behavior and immediately decide “no - she cannot commit”. You don’t abandon your studies or the role you do have just because something that’s only maybe better comes along. Obviously many great actors do TV shows and pilots that fail, that’s not my issue - my issue with Rachel is that she never put the work in. It was always the bare minimum. “Oh, I’ve done a year and a half of studying at the best arts academy in NY, I don’t need to study anymore because I got one part on stage” - it does NOT work like that. She couldn’t commit which is a risky behavior in ANY job.

Part of being an actor or performer is criticism - you are ALWAYS subject to criticism. You will NEVER make it in the business if you can’t handle that criticism. Rachel would throw bitch fits and sob and play the victim EVERY SINGLE TIME someone made the slightest criticism of her.

Let’s delve deeper - first, Cassandra July.

Yes, Miss July was a bit mean and rude - but she’s a professor at a top NY arts academy. If you get into a top arts academy like NYADA is in the show, you are not there to fuck around - anyone who gets in has to be committed 100% to their studies, both practical and theoretical. Cassandra July is not there to baby the students and lift their egos - she is there to train and prepare them for the harsh reality of seeking a career in the arts.

In the very first episode of S4, on her first day in class, Rachel shows blatant disrespect to a professor by rolling her eyes. You do not do that to a professor in any subject, let alone a dance teacher. If you can’t respect your teachers or the people who you are learning from, you should not seek a career in the arts. This also goes for ANYONE you work with; if you work with a director or actor on a play or on a TV show, for example, you should always seek to learn from them, even if it’s something small. 

If you are studying the arts, especially at a level where they’re preparing you to be professional actors/singers/dancers, they HAVE to be hard on you. Hell, I didn’t even go to drama school but my drama teachers were always brutally honest with me. They made it clear that “Megan, you HAVE to be louder”, “you MUST learn your lines and practice without a script”, “your accents are terrible”, “don’t just stand there and recite lines! Move!” Etc. Etc. It may be harsh but Cassandra has to be brutally honest so that the kids know what they’re in for; yeah, they’ll get told that their noses are too big for a part. Yeah, they’ll be told “you need to drop a few pounds” or that they’re ugly, etc. It’s sad but true.

“Your pique turns are sloppy” - she’s literally pointing out to Rachel something to improve on. Sure, it’s not the nicest way but no one should be at a performing arts school and expecting nice.

Rachel’s disrespect of a teacher/professional continued for the whole time Cassandra July was on the show. She called her teacher out, was extremely rude and said “you’re jealous because we all have careers and yours is over”, so on so forth. I’m pretty sure if you were actually attending a drama school or performing arts academy, and you had the nerve to turn around and say that, you would be expelled and tossed on your ass before you could utter another word.

If a teacher says “I don’t think you’re ready to do the tango/for this part”, you should listen. They’ve been in the business for a LONG time, far longer than you have, and with loads more experience. The best you can do is listen and decide to study harder and better yourself. Rachel flatout ignored this advice and went ahead anyway because she wanted to be the Star NOW, no hard work or struggle or patience to be seen.

Let’s just say this; you don’t go to the dean of the uni/college and call one of the professors “a lunatic”.

Now Carmen Tibideaux:

For a start, Rachel choked her audition - it’s bizarre and ridiculous that she got in. She didn’t get in on her audition, but because she stalked and harassed Carmen until the dean gave in and came to watch her. In real life, if you fuck that audition up, that is it. You don’t get another chance until the following year when you apply again (and yes, it’s common to apply for drama schools multiple times until you get in - some people who go on to be successful actors have been known to audition as many as SEVEN times).

Realistically, Tibideaux should have not given Rachel that chance because she didn’t deserve it. No other candidate got that chance - in real life, no matter how talented an auditionee is, NO ONE is given more of a chance than anyone else. Everyone is judged on their audition, that’s it. Rachel may be talented but there are many others just as talented and even MORE so than her.

Also, Tibideaux could have in fact had a restraining order against Rachel. This crazy little girl turns up again and again like a complete twat, begging and pleading and just not understanding that she had her chance, she can have another chance NEXT year. I’d have seriously filed some kind of motion against Rachel, as I’m sure any other teacher or head would.

Despite the fact that Tibideaux gave Rachel chance after chance, Rachel was still rude and frankly ungrateful. Tibideaux makes valid points that Rachel is underperforming in EVERY single class. She’s not making an effort to be a part of the NYADA community.

If the dean of your college says that, you do NOT argue back. You do NOT attempt to say “I’m doing great, I’ve handled everything this school has thrown at me”. Rachel’s delusions of herself and her talent are laughable.

I could have applauded Carmen Tibideaux for turning around and telling Rachel how it is: “You are not the first supernova to come through here. You are talented, you have drive. What you don’t have, is you have no foundation. You don’t listen, and you don’t take direction. That’s why you need NYADA. You’re not ready.”

You can’t just expect to be fresh out of school or college and getting the fucking lead in hit Broadway shows. You start as ensemble, you learn, you work your way up. Rachel was too selfish and full of herself to do that. Also, the fact that she cannot listen to criticism or take direction screams that a director would NEVER hire her. She can’t take direction, and that will get her nowhere in her career. You have to listen, you have to collaborate and listen to everyone’s ideas as well as contributing your own.

The actual fucking nerve of a Rachel Berry saying “you’re wrong and I’m gonna prove it to you” - she would be out on her ass and never hired again, never accepted into an arts academy again. If someone older, wiser and more experienced tells you something, you LISTEN.

As an actor myself, we don’t do all of this hard work to be famous (at least, not those of us who actually love our work) - we go through student debt, years of no sleep, years of constant rehearsals, of being in the background waiting for our turn, of learning and honing and crafting our skills so that we can maybe one day do the thing we love most professionally. We actors/dancers/singers/performers are storytellers - we try to craft something meaningful or to tell a story we feel needs telling.

Carmen said something very true and on point: “do you care about the work or is it just about the spotlight?” Rachel never cared about the work - she never cared about being a storyteller or creating art. To her, it was all about the fame and attention.

Some other things:

After quitting, especially in the way she did, Rachel would definitely not be allowed to continue her studies where she left them at NYADA, if at all. At best, she would audition and get in the following academic year, and have to start from the bottom again. Most likely, however, she would not be allowed to study there again.

People in the industry talk. If Rachel was hard to work with when with even a few people, it would seriously damage her chances of being hired again. They would immediately throw away her resumé.

Even her choked audition was fucking irritating as a performer - if you screw up your lines or forget them or whatever, you don’t stop and ask to go again. You carry on. If you’re on Broadway and you get the words wrong, you cannot ask to start the song again in front of the entire audience. It’s extremely unprofessional. At school, when I did my guitar exams, that was KEY - “if you play the wrong note, do NOT go back and redo it - just keep going. You’ll get more points for carrying on than for doubling back”.

^So Rachel stopping and starting is immediately a no-no. At best, they would let her restart just once - but they would not let her have another chance. Even if she was given another chance and she aced it, the damage is done - she wouldn’t have gotten in.

Kurt aced his audition, didn’t mess up or stop, and didn’t harass the dean of NYADA to make sure he got in - Rachel messed up, stopped, harassed Carmen and was a brat. How the Hell did Rachel get into NYADA but not Kurt?? If Kurt didn’t get in, then Rachel DEFINITELY shouldn’t have, end of story.

In short, Rachel is the worst character and it actually pisses me off how inaccurately she’s written in regards to being at a performing arts academy/her success on Broadway. The writers wanted us to root for her so desperately but I would just skip the majority of scenes she was the focus of because she irritated me that much. If the writers wanted to make us root for her, they should have SHOWN her accepting that she had to start in the background and work her way up. They should have at least not let her get into NYADA.

[randomoranges]

welcome to the past. the year is 2007-2008. i was in high school. i loved to write, but i only ever wrote fanfiction [which is cool]. but one day i decided to write my own - story of sorts. own characters and such. it was for the school paper - the french teacher had asked me if i wanted to have an ongoing thing of mine, since she knew i wrote and then my friend made 1-2 illustrations to go with the first 2 parts. the school paper never really picked up and so i never got to share the full story with an “audience” ever, except for my friend. 

 i was 16 at the time and the writing is very reflective of a 16 yr old girl. i’ve decided to post this, because there was never really a platform at the time that i knew of where i could post non fanfiction writing. 

ive reread this part and i intent to post all the parts to this absurd little story of mine. ive kept it as it was, safe for a few corrected typos so obviously there are ways of thinking and terms that might sound - dated or more “perspective of a young girl who didnt really understand the world” and also, being 18 going 19 was totally rad and Old and Mature at the time ;)

if you’ve read this far and if you were into anime and manga at the time of the mid 2000s, im sure you can pick up on the influences i had with the main character. his whole personality is heavily based on 2 characters i loooooved from 2 different things i watched/read at the time.

i’m still weird dumbly fond of this fic, even if i wrote it nearly 15 yrs ago. 

i dont expect anyone to read this. this is very splurgy and self-indulgent, but if you do give it a spin, i hope you find it ridiculous and absurd and that you don’t totally hate it :)  

and now, may i give you, So Totally OP!

So Totally OP! part 1

 No way! There was simply no way that I would do something as stupid as what I was about to do. No one would force me into the ridiculous costume no matter what they told me. I refused to do it. They could try whatever they wanted but it was out of the question. Many would wonder, why don’t you do it? It’s only for a day. Sure, first it would be for one day, but then they would want me back and I would have to be an entire different person for them. After all, who couldn’t resist my talent?

 The deal I had made with my twin sister wasn’t a very pleasant one. We are both aspiring actors and to top it off we are identical twins. For this audition, they needed a girl and a man who dressed up like a girl. Naturally, I had to be the cross- dresser. It’s not that I minded putting on the ridiculous female clothes and playing the part, I just knew that after the audition, I would be accepted and I would need to wear this ridiculous costume for the better part of the year.

 Some might wonder, what’s so bad about that? The only answer I could give them was that of a “desperate guy looking for cute girl.” I care for my sister deeply and I know that the company can’t go on without my brilliant acting, but there are some things that the male pride and ego would never allow. Especially someone with my status and my talent.

 Just as I was about to get ready to call my manager and give him a piece of my mind about the ridiculous affair, the telephone started ringing loudly, too loudly. Mumbling curses to myself, I got out of my armchair and made my way graciously towards the phone. There wasn’t anything about me that wasn’t beautiful, breathtaking, and magnificent or as many would tell me, perfect.

 “Yes?” I said as I put the receiver to my pierced ear.

 “Taro, get your perfectly fine piece of @$$ over here in a skirt before the director cooks my head for dinner!” My manager yelled to me. I could just imagine his enraged face with his black beady eyes looking frantically at my clear cerulean ones. His face would redden as he spoke and sweat would drizzle from his scalp, to his forehead, to his cheek and finally end its voyage on his neck. Not a very pretty picture, but not everyone could be born the way I was. We can’t all be perfectly beautiful.

 “I told you Ben, I am not doing this. I refuse to dress up as a woman!” I replied in my perfect deep voice; a sound that would make any girl faint right there and then. How did he even want me to speak in those high notes that girls of eighteen spoke in?

 “Taro, you’re eighteen going on nineteen. This is the type of role that could land you right there with the big shots! You could get an Academy Award for this and be one of the youngest male actors to get one. Think about the future of your career!” I knew Ben meant well and he was a nice guy once you got to know him. Finally, after a little pleading I accepted and went to put on my costume. Knowing my sister, she was probably already there.

 I slipped on a bra that was stuffed with things that I never heard of and looked at my reflection in the mirror. I looked ridiculous! The tank top came next and already I could see the transformation. I was lucky to have a little hair on my slender legs so I didn’t need to wax. That I had really refused to do! I put on the mini skirt and the stiletto heels and walked a bit in my flat. Thank you modeling school! Beauty really paid off after all. I combed my medium long jet-black hair and applied very little make up. Finally I took one of my sister’s purses to make it all look credible. I took one glance in the mirror and I had to admit that despite the fact that I was a handsome man, I made a gorgeous woman.

 I left the flat and walked through the busy streets of town to get to the director’s office. As I was walking, I noticed men staring at me with hungry eyes. If they even dared put one of their un-manicured fingers on my clean clothes, they wouldn’t be able to see properly for the rest of their days.

 As I turned a corner, a person walked into me and stumbled a little. I helped the person up and noticed it was a man. His eyes widened with shock and he embraced me in his arms.

 “Darling, there you are! I’ve been looking for you everywhere!” He held on to me longer and took my hand in his. I was too shocked to say anything and I simply followed him…

CURRENT: I NEXT: II

[xserpentlife]

Everything Was Normal

Reqested: No 

A/N: I've been thinking of this concept for a year now and I think it is finally time to release it. I really want you guys to concept off of this. After the situation, What are there lives? Sex, Live, Horror, Etc, Everything no matter what it is, send the concepts and ill answer. Thank you to all my betas who have helped me throughout this process. @wayward-river with the concept, hearing my crazy ideas and leading her off in 20 directions and to @sweetpea-fvck who I bounced moodboard Ideas off of. 

Warnings: Blood, Guns, FBI, Swat, Hostage, Mentions of Death

Word Count: Almost 5600

Pea always got his shot, He was the hottest sniper that the FBI had, the Hostage Rescue Team to be exact, an elite group of specialized individuals who worked to save people from various hostage situations. He took out Edgar and Evelyn Evernever in regards to the safety to half the town of Riverdale, he took out Penny Peabody when she began doing works of bidding with one of the highest-ranked drug dealers in the entire country, even taking out the drug dealer as well. One-shot all around Pea never missed his target. It was more than that though, working with the FBI for years he was the best of the best only being called for the most important job duties that could leave no room for error until his whole world flipped upside down.

Pea Moved out of Riverdale at 17, with you by his side, his girl, his world. It had been years since Pea had left the Serpents, he still did odd jobs here and there, but he had gone to school, went to the police academy expecting to be a cop, but got so much more. He had a unique skill set that did not go unnoticed by the higher-ups at the academy. He had been put on drill upon drill, of shooting targets, both still and moving even sometimes the line of visibility removed right when he shot and without fail, he hit his target every single time.

-----------------------------------------

He woke up like any normal day, giving you a kiss on the lips before being lazy staying in bed for a few minutes longer than he should of.

“Don’t wanna get up”

You mumbled out  “You got too baby”

“But I wanna stay with you and baby Pea, plus mama you should stay home after last night” You had found out that you were pregnant 2 months ago. He had proposed right before you found out 4 months ago to be exact You began planning right away, when you found out about your little pea you both put your marriage aside, waiting on a side burner because you wanted to worry about your growing child first. You hadn't started showing but just knowing your little pea was growing inside of you made you the happiest person in the entire world. Pea was ecstatic. You were afraid he would be upset that you were having a child significantly younger than you imagined you would, but he was nothing but happy. He wanted a kid, wanted to be a better father than what he had. And you wanted to be a mother, more than anything in the world. And now that dream was a reality for you both. Since you were only two months no one knew, you wanted to keep it a secret, not wanting to deal with the stresses of everything until you had to. So no one but you and Pea knew, you were planning to tell everyone this upcoming weekend while at the monthly family dinner that included, Fangs, Jughead, Betty, Joaquin, and Toni.

“I don’t have the luxury of staying home Pea, we have a shipment of rings coming in from a  new seller that I need to verify and…”

“Okay, but promise if you feel sick you’ll come home, you were pretty bad last night, and just think about maybe taking off”

“Okay, I'll think about it. I know, I just don’t think baby pea liked the watermelon, even though that pisses me off cause you know it's my favorite” Throughout your whole pregnancy you have had morning sickness, hoping that soon it would stop, last night Pea found you face down in front of the toilet because you figured sleeping there would be better than having to get up every 5 seconds. But he sat with you through it all carefully carrying you to the bed after you fell asleep for the final time without throwing up again. “By the way, thank you for bringing me to bed”

“Of course baby, you still got a couple minutes till you gotta be up, so sleep some more okay”

“Mhm” you were slowly drifting back off

“Wish I could stay here and take care of you and cuddle”

“ We’ll be here later and can cuddle, promise, love you” With a kiss to your cheek he was up.

He brewed you a cup of tea knowing you would get up for work minutes after him, he even slipped toast in the toaster that you could put down for yourself because he knew if he didn’t you would have forgotten to eat. He hated he couldn’t be there with you in the mornings. When you first found out you were pregnant he was there every morning, requesting to work an hour later than usual because he wanted to help you through the morning sickness. He drove to work minutes from being late but luckily was there right on time. Everything was normal.

“You’re late dude”

“No not late Fogarty, close to being late there is a difference”

“Whatever, how’s Y/N”

“Good, but she’s been having this stomach thing recently”

“Oh yeah after the other day at the taco place?”

“Um sure, yeah, but anyway, its finally getting better I hope it ends soon. I just feel so bad you know, like I can only do so much. I hate seeing her like that”

“Yeah I get it, Hey why don’t you two come over for dinner later this week. I’ll make it for you both so you guys don’t have to worry about it, and if she doesn’t wanna go out ill come over to ours and cool it”

“That would be great thanks Fogarty” Pea lifted his legs placing them on his desk, as Fangs was sat as his own as the two began to cull over files.

“We have a domestic case that was cleared but we are passing it to SVU for a look over, we had a hostage call at the bank down the street but it was cleared as a false alarm, some dumbass new employee”

“Hope they got fired”

“We made sure they did”

“Good”

-----------------------------------------

The first few hours of your shift were normal. You went and inventoried all the new rings validating the authenticity of the gems, gold, and other precious metals that were sent to your shop. You were a head jeweler at one of the most prestige Jewelry stores in all of Riverdale and its surrounding towns. People came from all over for both the rings and for you since you became known for helping individuals picking the most perfect rings for their hopeful partners. You were about to go unpack another shipment that came in with new necklaces but you saw a man sitting in the waiting area that looked like he was growing impatient.

“Hello sir, were you waiting for help to get a ring?”

“I love her, but no one ever fucking listens!”

“Sir, I am here to listen, so sorry we were busy with other customers. I can surely help you find the most perfect ring for the occasion”

“I already told you, No one fucking listens!” He stood up, towering over you instantly so close you could feel his breath when he leaned down “No one listens!” It was not a response that you were expecting from him. He grabbed your hair from behind your head ripping you down to a leaning position as a gun was pulled from his back pocket. Oh no

“O-www stop, stop I can help I can make it better just, ow” You panicked your eyes welling with tears as he pushed you to the ground your arm connected with the corner of a metal display case causing pain to rip through you. You watched as people ran out as he shot 2 shots directly to the roof above and people dropped to the ground. Now a hostage situation as he had locked the front door.

-----------------------------------------

Pea was called down to the debriefing room a few minutes after finishing the reports on his case files. He figured it was similar to the cases he had heard all morning, not something that would require his skill. It was mandatory for everyone that could possibly be needed to join in on the briefing just in the case that they would be needed. Pea figured he would be back upstairs sitting at his desk but that thought was so wrong.

When he got downstairs Fangs was waiting there next to a few other agents he had worked alongside of for years. Everything was normal.

“Director” Everyone called to his presence when he walked into the room.

“Okay as some of you know we are preparing for a situation we were just called. We need to act fast so I need your attention. Exactly five minutes ago an alarm was sounded at Sycamore Jewelers located at the center of central avenue”  Pea’s heart stopped. No, not stopped, more like dropped froze completely stopping as Fangs put his hand on his shoulder. He hoped deep down that Y/n had actually decided to stay home, he needed to check his phone, she would have texted him if she did, but it was at his desk. “The individuals' name is undisclosed at this time, all we have is an alarm that was sounded off and reports through the front window of the store. It is confirmed to be a man in his mid-30s to 40s, he had a girl by the hair before he closed off the main entrance. We have 911 calls being reported by individuals that had fled the scene. Since this is a hostage situation I need Special Agent Fogarty on the ground and Chief Marsman Sweet Pea sniper at the ready at the parking garage across the street. Understood” Everyone nodded towards him. “Dismissed, trucks are at the ready”. Pea dropped sitting in the seat behind him as Fangs looked down his way.

“You good”

“Its… Y/N, I there… why is he holding the jewelers' hostage? Fangs, she works there”

“Oh fuck, she’ll be okay, promise, maybe she stayed home”

“It’s on my phone Fangs, my phone is upstairs I don’t know if she is at home or at work”  

Everyone was sent on their way to suit up. Everyone left, except Pea and Fangs. They stood Fangs trying to garner Pea’s attention.  

“Yo Pea, fucking pay attention, Director wants you, now”

“Okay, I got it”

“Sweet Pea, your fiance”

“Yes sir”

“Is she in the building”

“I am not sure sir, told her to stay home today but she is stubborn, you know, so I do believe she is inside the building.

“I wanted to confirm we do have reports of descriptions and she matched as a potential hostage”

“Fuck, why didn’t she just stay home, no, no no”

“Look at me Sweet Pea, you need to pay attention, be strong for her you understand me. Y/N needs you now more than ever, you are the top marksman in the field, you are her best chance right now, I swear to you we will get him”

-----------------------------------------

You sat curled in the corner shaking with the fear of what was occurring around you. People being shot, as the glass was being destroyed, even though he was stealing nothing.

“You know you are all lucky you are not dead yet, guess we will see if I chose to leave you alive or let you die while I watch” He shouted through the store as he walked around igniting fear in everyone that was sitting on the ground.

You were completely alone your co-workers and customers scattered around, but you were still on the ground the same spot he pushed you to in the first place, scared beyond shitless to move even for a mili-second.

“You know you all work in this perfect jewelry store, giving people the perfect rings, to start their perfect lives with their beloveds. Well, it is all bullshit! All of it! You will all be dead before I feel betrayal and sorrow like I did when I used this ring! Do you hear me.” You jumped a slight yelp escaping you from his voice that boomed. “Scared darling, I see that you have a happy ending, a ring on that finger must be sad your fiance may never see you again”

“What is your name”

“Danny Deluca, don’t wear it out darling” Deluca walked over, stomping his feet as he went, sending chills to everyone on the ground. He grabbed you standing you up and bringing you to the center of the room. “Gonna make an example out of you sweet girl, a nickname ruined a nickname that used to make you feel safe. Gonna make everyone here watch, make you scream and beg, you don’t deserve that happiness the ring on your finger grants! No one does, but I fucking do!”

“Sir you really do not have to do this”

“Oh but I do sweet girl, I most definitely do”

“No, really. I am sure everything will work out in all honesty, it will all be fine, ask her again I am so sure she would say yes, we can even try a different ring, on the house. I swear it will all be…” The gunshot rang through the air, the sound causing your ears to ring, next came the sweltering pain from the wound on your leg, the pain, the hot wet liquid trickling down. You were shot, he shot you when you were trying to help him. You sank to the floor your hand trying to cover the wound that he had caused.

“You do not give me ways to make my life better! Nothing will make it better because I am unlovable according to her! DO not tell me that she would say yes because she won’t!!, Who wants to give me some advice next huh!” He pointed the gun to one of your customers and then to a coworker you knew. “Someone just… just get him a phone” You knew the way it worked, you saw it on TV, heard some stories Sweet Pea would scream in his sleep when things got bad, you knew it all.

-----------------------------------------

Pea trembled as he made his way up to the top of the building. His girl, his fiance, his soon to be child, was in there with that psycho, and he could do nothing.

There were no reports of injuries thus far, according to their report there had only been shots fired but no evidence that anyone had been hurt, which meant he was not allowed to take a shot. Pea set himself up, his sniper at the ready in an instant. He began canvasing starting at the street to detect any involvement from outside individuals but he came up empty. This man was most likely alone. “Sweet Pea in position”

“Fogarty on the ground, Reports have surfaced that bombs have been placed on the interior of the building”

“It has to be a bluff”

“Does not matter Sweet Pea, we have no other evidence”

“Y/N is in there Fogarty I am going to take the shot if the opportunity arises, Director do you read”

“Director present, Sweet Pea do you have eyes on the suspect”

“I do not as of yet sir”

“You are not to shoot, do you read, we have no knowledge of whether those bombs are real or just ploy”

“I copy”  There was no way to argue with his director, he was the head, the lead of the entire unit. What he said went. He searched each window hoping somehow he would see her, or even the suspect for that matter. He moved to a lower corner vantage point hoping to gain sight. But it was to no luck yet.

“Director I need an update”

“He got a phone Sweet Pea, has made demands of his girlfriend to come and wed him, however, we can not meet them, we can not send her in”

“I understand sir, I have eyes on him” He wanted to understand, but he lied. He wanted his fiance’s life safe.

“You are to remain in observatory state, do you copy”

“I copy, sir” He slowly began to break down, his eyes watering knowing just how much danger his beautiful girl could be in. Was she safe? Was she going to die? Was their baby okay?

-----------------------------------------------

You were leaned against a glass case blood pouring from the wound on your leg, A sweater from a  coworker wrapped around, pain radiating through your entire body.

“Willow” You poked her arm dragging your body closer to hers while Deluca was pacing the front of the store waiting for a response from the agents, you could see them outside, see their guns drawn, you could even see Fangs at one point until he disappeared. “You, you need to get out of here. I have to distract him I know how this works. They are not shooting due to the bomb threat they have to know, bring as many as you can”

“I can’t leave you”

“You have to, I can’t run right now” Deluca stood watching the agents every move. You untied the sweater hoping he would pay attention to the blood pouring from you. You stood making your way over to him, in front of the window. “I need something to stop myself, I’m gonna bleed out Deluca”

“What did I say about using my name” the gun pointed towards you as your leg popped you dropping to the ground an agonizing scream leaving you as a majority of people were fleeing from behind the case.

“You fucker!, Why would you do that! They were my lifeline” he watched as the door slammed behind you.

“They do not deserve this!” He pointed his gun firing a bullet directly into your shoulder. You fell back onto the concrete your hand clutching your shoulder, as he sauntered over, his finger landing directly onto the wound and pressing, your eyes clouded with black dots.

“Leave her alone!” Jonah your coworker screamed before two bullets were put into his stomach.

The only thing you were lucky for was for him not to have shot there yet. Leslie came over running to you as Deluca got onto the phone once again. “Why didn’t you run”

“Couldn’t leave you”

-----------------------------------------

5 hours and Sweet Pea hadn’t been told a word. No word of hostage conditions, no word on demands, no word to take a shot even though he had sight on the suspect once again which he relayed to the director multiple times. He was losing his mind at the what-ifs. What if she was hurt, what if she got shot? What if it was her stomach? What if she fell? It was typical you were his sweetheart his whole world. You knew each other since you were kids never thinking of dating till your heart got smashed and he finally had the balls to tell you that he likes you. It took years for that to happen. Years you would never regret though. And you would never regret the heartache the boy before him put you through cause without that you would never have been with him, and he was your world and you were his. Being in the unknown scares the daylights out of Sweet Pea. He spent his life as a serpent, nothing ever really scaring him. The only thing that ever did was when you were in danger, and now more than ever, you were.

Pea listened so intently to every sound coming through his earpiece, every movement of the wind, every drop of the pins waiting for those two words marksman fire but it never came.

“Director I was not aware you would be joining us here, why are you not at command?”

“After 5 hours of practically waiting around, and playing yes sir no sir with a very frustrated marksman. I need to find out for myself, something just doesn’t seem right” the Director huffed.

“Director we have been trying for hours to gain an entry point, but with no knowledge of the bombs we have no way of knowing or trying, Fogarty follow”

Fangs followed closely behind their director, walking to the side of the building where the back entry door was to see the police escorting hostages to ambulances and giving them water and warm blankets.

“What in God's name is going on here!”

“Hello Director Chief Adams here, we are holding and medically checking all the hostages”

“Has anyone said anything?” A young man spoke up.

“I did, sir, I told the officer over there that there were no bombs in the building, it was a fluke she would not listen to me told me I was imagining that there surely was bombs, she would not listen and there is a girl in there bleeding!, I tried to get her to listen. His, his name is Deluca and he, he doesn’t have bombs just a gun” Fangs went over consoling the young man. “Sir she was, she was bleeding… a lot of it was covering the entirety of her blue pants and, and we heard another gunshot and scream when we left, it was her again I know it” at that moment Pea knew, Y/N was always one to lay out her outfit the night before. Last night's choice a pair of blue checkered paints a black button-up. It couldn’t be. She was fine. He told himself. Pea screamed in frustration the sound making Fangs coil back. He didn’t know Pea was on his channel, he did not call for him. He had no idea he was listening, but he knew Pea was in a full-on panic at that point.

Fangs screamed alerting his director on the state of their marksman “Director he knows!” He didn’t need to ask Fangs new protocol, no bomb threat, meant that the suspect would be taken out. “Sweet Pea do you read, place your target marksman and make your shot”

“I… I can’t”

“What do you mean Sweet Pea”

“I mean he is gone Fangs, I don’t see him in my view. No! Fuck! Fangs I had him. I had the perfect shot. I should have shot hours ago when I had the fucking chance. I knew there wasn’t a bomb, I fucking told you”

“Protocol would not have allowed you to shoot and you know it, You gotta stop dude, she needs you. Refocus and find your target do you copy”

“I copy” He repositioned his sniper, that had gone awry in his rage, tears slipped out of his eyes as he was trying to locate the suspect now known to him as Deluca. He couldn’t wait any longer though he tried finding him for 20 minutes with no sight or word of anyone on the ground. He needed to save her. Needed to have her life in his hands to know she would be safe.

Fangs was startled by a hand on his shoulder. Pea placing his rifle into the truck next to him while grabbing a tatical vest. “What the fuck do you think your doing Pea”

“Marksman...”

“Director, I, I need…”

“I know what you need son, save her, that officer fucked up and she will pay but right now you need to save your girl fuck all protocol there is no other way to end this I understand that”

“Thank You, sir” Pea handed Fangs a vest as they both got geared to rush Deluca Pea, cocking the gun he was handed ready to save his girls life.

---------------------------------

“Deluca! This is Elite Marksman Pea with the hostage protection unit put down your weapon or we will shoot to kill!” He prepares himself full armor alongside of 20 agents and Fangs, ready to storm the man that had caused so much paint to his girl. He heard her hopeful scream

“Marksman!” He felt a relief knowing she was at least breathing. You were in bliss knowing your man was there and your life was protected by him. “He’s here” you whispered to Leslie as she smiled down at you.

Deluca needed a hostage, a hostage that could protect his life so he grabbed you knowing there was no fight left. “Leave her alone!”

“Too fucking late!” You cried out your leg snapped, and your arm was riddled with pain from where his fingers pressed close to your open wound. The pain radiating through your body everywhere throbbing and dripping with what felt like all of your blood. His arm snaked around the front of your throat the gun pressed to your temple. His hands around your neck a feeling you would never quite forget. The cold metal sending another shock through your warm body.  You couldn’t see Pea yet but you knew he was there with you.

“Shoot me! Fucking do it. You don’t have the balls! I hold her life in my hands! And I will take her down with me!” Enough was enough, he knew he had you knew he had to save you. Fangs busted the door open Sweet Pea behind firing around straight into the center of Deluca's eyes. He never missed. It was the one skill he had in every facet. Unparalleled skill to every other sniper. People had ranks, had times where they missed but Pea never did. He was a marksman a skilled one at that. You never heard of missing and in the situation that mattered most, he did his job flawlessly. You fell to the ground with a thud as he did the same. Pea rushing over to your body in an instant.

“Pea” He scooped you up into his lap as the stretcher was being brought in. Your voice smaller than he had ever heard it before. The pain sounding through the quiver that left your lips. You were in so much pain he could hear it, so, so hurt by a man and he didn’t save you soon enough. So, so injured, bleeding, shaking pain, and all he wanted to do was take it from you. To make you feel happy and safe again.

“I love you, mama, your gonna be okay, I promise” Pea moved the matted hair out of your face as he watched your eyes begin to roll further and further back. “I love you so much, do you hear me, you gotta stay with me, okay, you have to mama just stay with me. I’m gonna get you fixed up and you and baby pea are gonna be a-okay Fuck stay with me please, please don’t leave me Y/N” Pea sobbed a tear running down his cheek and landing on the smeared blood that adorned yours. Your eyes closed as you fell limp in his arms, no fight left to stay awake. “No, Y/N… no, no, no you can’t”

-------------------------------

“Pea rode with you in the ambulance Fangs following closely behind as everyone else stayed at the scene. Upon arrival he saw Pea sitting in a chair, blood covered his hands, his shirt his pants, your blood, the blood of his fiance, his baby's mother, his love, blood that was not in his control, blood that he could have prevented but didn’t.

“Pea she will be okay, promise”

“You can’t promise me that Fangs! She went limp! I felt her die in my arms! Fuck, Fangs. I… I can’t lose her don’t you get it she, without her, this life, I never would have done it, fuck you never would have done it. She pushes everyone she knows better, she finds the best in everyone I mean god, I can’t lose her”

Without another word, Fangs sat next to him holding him close as the marksman, the protector, the man who never showed feared cried and cried not knowing what was happening to his fiance.

Pea sat waiting covered in your blood. You were a fighter through and through. You were on the table clinging to life. You lost pints of blood throughout that day needing multiple transfusions to even get you up to a minimum amount needed in your system. Multiple bullets removed; one from your leg and two form your shoulder. Your entire leg was fractured and had to be reset, a good chance you may not be able to walk. 201 stitches to be exact. You were in between doctors multiple working on you during surgery. You were hooked to life support, oxygen, breathing tubes, heart monitors the whole nine. They thought they lost you for a bit your heart flatlining for 25 seconds before it began to pump on its own once again. You were stable, stitched, color returning to your face that had begun to grow pale by the minute. You were not out of the woods yet, still sleeping as the anesthesia wore off.

Pea and Fangs were still huddled together when the nurse came to get him. “Family for Y/N Y/L/N”. They stood up in an instant. “Relation to the patient”

“I am her fiance, and this is her brother” Yeah they may have lied, Fangs was not her brother, but Pea wouldn’t be able to do this alone. “How is she?”

“There were complications, she lost a lot of blood, but transfusions were given. She died on the table but began pumping her heart once again, and she has many stitches and a cast on her leg because it had to be reset, but everything seems to be going well, and they are both fighting strong”

Fangs was confused both? “She’s pregnant Fangs” Fangs wanted to congratulate him but instead he followed, the monotone voice pea had shown just how broken he was after having his girl die in his arms how much he didn’t need the congratulations at that moment. No matter if she was alive or not that would always haunt him.

-----------------------------------------

From the moment Pea was allowed to be by your bedside he didn’t leave for a second. You deserved the rest. So tired after fighting for two lives. Both yours and your unborn child. Pea held your hand slipping your cleaned engagement ring back on your finger so, so careful not to hit your shoulder or move it in any way that would cause discomfort.

He sat there watching you, so broken, so bruised. The guilt rushed through him. He needed to get it out needed to convey how afraid he was before he burst. “Damnit Y/n I thought I lost you, God I feel like I’ve been to hell and back today and to see you safe I’d do it again just please come back to me” Sweet Pea whispered. He was talking to himself more than anything. You twitched softly, eyes opening as a hi was whispered out from your lips.

Pea got up in a second standing above so she could see him, as he rubbed his fingers through her hair. “Shhh. Hey, I'm right here. I’m here with you, okay, but don’t move too much okay mama, your gonna be in a lot of pain.”

“I’m here... you, you saved me”

“Yes, baby you fought so strong for you and little Pea and I am so proud of you mama” he didn’t acknowledge the part about saving her, because to him saving her meant her not being injured at all, he failed at the duty he promised

“I love you Pea”

“I have to go get the doctors to come and check on you”

“NO, NO, NO!, DON’t” tears raked through your body the panic in your voice rising, your breathing heavied, your heart monitor skyrocketing.

“Ok, ok, shhh, I won’t leave, I’ll just push the call button okay. Look at me, I won’t leave, promise.” His fingers raked through your hair as the button rang, you not letting go of his hand for even a second needing to know he was there.

“Alright Mr, Sweet Pea can you please leave so we can conduct some tests on Y/N”

“I…”

“NO! Don’t make him leave me”

“It will only be for a second Y/N”

“No, no, no, no DON’T MAKE HIM! I Need him” your eyes clouded with tears both from the pain of your body shaking and the fear of Pea having to leave you. He was your savior, your knight in shining armour. “Don’t”

“Look at me Y/N, I promise I’m not gonna leave you okay,. You gotta calm down baby, your gonna hurt yourself, okay. Y/N look at me, not even the toughest of people could make me, I’m right here with you, okay. Hey, shh look at me” His hand came cradling around your cheek as he raised your eyes to look to his. “I’m not gonna leave, promise”. He kissed the top of your head before turning to the doctors.  “I can’t leave her, I won’t leave her, not for a second”

“Alright we will work around you, as I can see she won’t let you go”

“Thank you” They checked everything your vitals improved substantially from the last time, your pain level had risen a bit due to the trashing when they tried to take pea away from you, but other than that you were looking good, and so was the little pea inside of you. The doctors left to your own. Pa sat next to you carefully stroking your forehead with his thumb as the pain meds began to work.

“Pea..” You poked his cheek, a small chuckle coming fro his lips

“What do you need baby?”

“Lay with me”

“I can’t baby, I don’t wanna hurt you”

“Please, can’t sleep without you, I want you next to me” A tear slipping out of your eye.

“Hey, hey, shhh. Okay, I will,  but if I even cause the slightest pain then i'm getting up okay?”

“Okay” You sat quietly with him for a few minutes, before he spoke up after connecting his lips to your forehead.

“Baby I just, I’m so sorry for... for not getting you out of there earlier. I am so fucking sorry for causing you al this pain. For, putting your life and baby pea’s life on the line. Fuck if I could...” You placed your hand on his cheek making him lean down and connecting your lips with his.

“Shhh, babe, You saved us Pea, none of this was your fault. You did what you had to do, and, you, you saved us both” He knew he did, but it still haunted him. Your shoulder throbbed as you moved your hand atop sweet pea’s that rested on your stomach. But he saved you. Saved you and the little pea that was growing inside. He was your protector.  

[thedaughterofkings]

steal the scene

For Day Five of @sterekweek-2018: Scene Stealer! Please enjoy the following 2.3k of actor!Derek and Stiles as the FBI agent tasked with protecting him!

Stiles really hates his job.

“Him?! He looks as though he doesn't weigh 150 pounds sopping wet! I could take him blindfolded with one arm tied behind my back! Seriously, this whole protection detail thing is ridiculous, and we are losing light. Just drop it and let me do my job.”

Derek Hale might be the sexiest man alive according to People and a very talented actor to boot according to the Oscar Academy who gave him a nomination three years in a row, but as far as Stiles is concerned he is a stuck up asshole who deserves whatever's coming at him. Judging by the expression on the face of the production company’s representative, she might just agree.

“Mr Hale, you can do your job as soon as you let Mr Stilinski do his. The producers were very clear on that. We are taking those threats extremely seriously and you should, too. If you cannot cooperate, we will have no choice but to terminate your contact and cast another actor.”

That seems to be the trick because Hale doesn't stop glowering, but he does nod and bite out:

“That will not be necessary. Is that all now?”

And without waiting for an answer, nor sparing Stiles a single glance, he storms out.

“Do you think he forgot this is actually his trailer?” Stiles asks conversationally and then follows the bane of his existence. At least for the coming weeks.

~*~

Stiles did not go to the Academy to be a better paid nanny.

No, not the Academy that Hale cares about, the training academy of the FBI, which Stiles graduated from with flying colours. It really is profoundly unfair that he’s been demoted to bodyguard. Of an utter dick at that. Really, Stiles thinks he wouldn’t mind the personal security job so much if it was someone he actually wanted to protect. If Hale bites his head off one more time for something ridiculous like Stiles’ shadow being in frame, Stiles is not going to protect him, he’s going to shove him in the path of any danger coming his way.

Hale is mean, and obnoxious, and a dick, and Stiles really can see no explanation for all the gushing all of his former co-stars have done about him other than a very hefty cheque. Yes, Stiles read up on him. He wanted to know what kind of guy he’d be working for, and judging from the tabloids, he’d expected Hale to be the second coming of Jesus in the body of a Greek god.

The Greek god part was right, but personality wise Derek Hale was a total loss.

“Stilinski, stop breathing so loudly, we’re trying to film here!”

Stiles huffs loudly and crosses his arms across his chest. See?

~*~

In order to be able to do his job properly, Stiles tries harder to blend in as much as possible, to stay unobtrusive to the point where people forget he’s even there. With a film set as busy as this one, it works surprisingly well, as long as he stays quiet and out of the way, people tend to overlook him. Including his assignment.

The problem with that is that Hale shows a whole new side of himself as soon as he thinks Stiles isn’t there. He is actually charming and attentive and a very hard worker. Stiles often sees him stay longer than most people, going over script revisions in his trailer until the light through his windows is the last one that’s shining. He knows the names of every single person who works on set, from the director down to the girls helping with catering. And more often than not, he’ll know about their children, or pets, or upcoming tests, too, and ask after them.

Perhaps Stiles shouldn’t give up entirely on him just yet.

~*~

Stiles makes more of an effort with Hale from then on, trying his best to not disturb the shooting in any way and to do the parts of his job that annoy Hale the most, like checking his trailer and fanmail, as unobtrusively as possible. And it seems to work, at least partly. They are still bickering, but it’s less vicious now, less aggressive and instead more playful, teasing almost. They are actually talking now, too, during breaks in the shoot, or at mealtimes, or sometimes just in Hale’s trailer after everyone else has left.

It’s during one of those occasions that Stiles dares to ask:

“Why is this so important to you?”

It had been one of those days where everything had gone wrong, from the weather not cooperating with their planned outdoor shoot, to the lighting blowing out in the middle of a highly emotional scene, to finally catering having already closed down before they could get some dinner. Through it all, Hale had remained unfailingly polite and outwardly positive, but Stiles was being paid to watch him closely and he’d gotten to knew him pretty well over the last few weeks, even back when they hadn’t yet been talking with each other, just yelling at each other at best. Hale’s shoulders had become tighter with everything passing hour, the lines around his eyes had deepened and there had been a stubborn but at the same time desperate set to his mouth.

“Why does what matter to me so much?” Hale returns and Stiles shrugs.

“This film, that it does well, no, that it’s perfect. Are you like that with every one of your films?”

“No,” Hale admits and sighs, shoulders slumping down slightly. “I think this film could be a real awards contender, if it’s done right.”

“So you are hoping to get another Oscar nomination?” Stiles asks, trying to understand, but Hale shakes his head.

“No, I need to win.”

“Isn’t that a bit presumptuous?” Stiles laughs. “Wouldn’t most actors kill just to get nominated?”

“I’m not most actors, though,” Hale says, completely without irony. “Do you know how many Academy Awards my family has won?”

Stiles shakes his head and dimly remembers the bit in his brief that spoke about the acting legacy of the Hales. Apparently they’ve been actors for generations, and very successfully so.

“12,” Hale says and doesn’t look at all proud of it. “And that’s just the acting Oscars. Each of my sisters has one, and my mother has three. Everyone in the family who has taken up acting has one an Academy Award already, except for me. Did you know they are already talking about me as the ‘black sheep of the family’? About being a disappointment to my family’s legacy? Thankfully my family doesn’t buy into any of that, but unfortunately the producers do. The good offers are already drying up and if I don’t want to end up shooting terrible action movies for the next forty years, I need to win that Oscar and I need to win it soon. This film might well be my last chance.”

“And then someone threatens you and it, and then I come in and make everything even more complicated,” Stiles adds, suddenly understanding Hale’s attitude at the beginning a little better.

“I still shouldn’t have been so rude, though,” Hale says and actually looks apologetic. “That wasn’t fair to you; you are only trying to do your job after all, just like me.”

“Finally got that, did you?” Stiles teases gently before sobering up again. “I promise we are working very hard to find whoever has been issuing those threats and I also promise you that I’m not going to let anything or anyone jeopardise the filming of this movie.”

“Thank you, Stiles,” Hale says earnestly and Stiles starts. They had stuck with last names for now, even when they were no longer a sign of animosity, but perhaps Hale, no, Derek is right. They are friends now, of a sort at least, and friends use each other’s first names. Derek isn’t finished yet, though: “I know that this is far less important than what you are usually dealing with, ridiculously so, but it is important to me and I truly appreciate your help.”

“Anytime,” Stiles says and wants to smack himself immediately afterwards. Of all the dismissive responses he could have come up with! But Derek doesn’t seem to take offence thankfully, because he just smiles and ducks his head.

Stiles’ heart flutters strangely in response.

~*~

Things remain suspiciously quiet for most of the shoot. Stiles still does his routine checks, intercepting all fan mail and only passing it on to Derek once it’s been cleared, carefully examining his trailer each morning and evening, keeping an eye on things on set during the day, but nothing out of the ordinary happens. There was a brief scare with some very pink cupcakes with very pink frosting, but those turned out to be safely edible - if you didn’t mind rotting your teeth from the sugar in them that is. Derek had teased Stiles relentlessly over that incident, calling him a worry wart and the like, but Stiles held that better safe than sorry and “aren’t you keeping an eye on your girlish figure anyways, Derek?” “Noticed my figure, have you, Stiles?”

They had been flirting increasingly lately, but Stiles had been reluctant to take it any further. Protecting Derek was his job after all and not mixing duty and pleasure had been one of the first things that had been beat into them in the Academy. He also didn’t want to chance distracting Derek, not when he knew how important this film to him was. So he just kept flirting and counting down the days until shooting was supposed to wrap. The threats had been connected to this film so far, so hopefully once the film was shot and Derek no longer directly involved in it, they would stop.

Things came to a head beforehand, though.

On the morning of the last day of shooting, Stiles got a call just as the cameras started rolling for Derek’s last scene. His colleagues had discovered a new lead and were going to make an arrest any minute now, but there were fears that something had been sneaked on set despite their vigilance, something that was threatening Derek. They couldn’t tell Stiles what exactly it was, though, just that it was probably holding a small bomb, with enough firepower to at the very least seriously maim Derek, if not kill him.

Stiles starts running back towards the set before the call cuts out, the fear of already being too late pushing him forward, onward. When he bursts onto the set, enraged shouts echo around him and a few hands even try to grab a hold of him, but he brushes them off, eyes firmly focused on Derek. Once he’s sure that Derek is fine, he frantically starts scanning the set for anything out of the ordinary, anything that might hold a bomb.

They are in the living room of Derek’s character and Stiles knows it pretty well by now, including those ugly vases on the mantle Derek is standing in front of. One of them had been a little thinner, hadn’t it? According to his colleagues however, the bomb was set to detonate any second now, so there was no time to make sure.

And just as Stiles throws himself at Derek, tackling him to the floor, the vase exploding into a ball of fire, ripping through the set and bursting into a million shards flying through the air. Stiles does his best to shield Derek with his body, but the explosion has left him too disorientated to really be able to tell whether he was successful. His ears are ringing and his vision is alternating between complete blackness and bright flashes. There’s a distant sense of pain all along his back, but Stiles can already feel himself slipping from consciousness.

The last thing he hears before everything turns quiet and black is Derek calling desperately his name.

~*~

Stiles slowly wakes to the familiar sounds and smells of a hospital. He is lying on his belly and the dull throbbing in his back keeps him from attempting to change that. Moving his head seems to work, though, as long as he’s very slow and careful about it.

To his surprise he’s not alone in the room. On a surely uncomfortable hospital chair next to him sits Derek, slumped in sleep, though he’s already starting to wake up as Stiles is looking at him.

“How are you?” Stiles asks when Derek opens his eyes finally - or tries to at least. It ends up more of a croak than actual, comprehensible speech, and Derek quickly offers him some water.

“How are you feeling?” he asks while Stiles is carefully sipping at it. “Do you need the doctor? Should I call for someone?”

“I’m alright,” Stiles quickly appeases him and asks in return: “How are you? Did you get hurt? And what about the film? Will you be able to shoot the last scene anyways?”

“I’m absolutely fine,” Derek assures him. “A few bruises and scratches, but nothing serious and that’s all thanks to you. You saved my life, Stiles.”

He stops and swallows heavily and Stiles impulsively reaches out for him, relief and excitement warring within him when Derek takes his hand immediately.

“The film is finished, don’t worry. We were just about to wrap, that was just the “to be on the safe side” version and thankfully we didn’t need it anyways. But what were you thinking, just diving in like that? You could have been killed!”

“I was thinking that you might be killed,” Stiles retorts and then cheekily adds, to dissolve the tension somewhat: “I couldn’t let you have all the fun action scenes, could I?”

“I knew it,” Derek teases back, though the tightness of his grip on Stiles’ hand belies his actual emotional state. “You just wanted to steal the scene!”

“You got me,” Stiles quips and squeezes Derek’s hand gently. He can feel unconsciousness creeping in on him again already, though this time it’s just going to be some much needed sleep. A soft kiss is pressed first against his hand and then against his forehead as his eyes slip shut and with Derek by his side, Stiles slips into sleep with a smile on his lips.

You can find the rest of my Sterekweek fics here!

[introvertguide]

Godfather vs. Godfather 2

Spoiler Alert for both movie plots!!!

I have been told by many different people that they think one of these movies is far superior to the other. I believe that it is a close call, but that does not seem to be the opinion of others (or at least the people that I know and like to talk about movies). I have always thought the first film was the better film, but there are many things about the second film that I like better. I would like to go through each film and list some of the positives and negatives so that I can clarify in my own mind which movie I like better (maybe it will help you decide for yourself as well):

Godfather 1 Positives: 

-World building: The viewer is thrown headlong into the world of the Corleone crime family. We are shown (not told) all the aspects of Sicilian customs that have worked into crime as a family business. We are also given the fish-out-of -water view as a wedding guest were customs can be questioned without insult. The whole world of the Godfather and respect are romanticized in a way that made people actually want to be a 40s mobster. 

-Characters introduction: All of these wonderful characters like Vito, Luca, Sonny, Michael, and Fredo are all introduced and you want them to be successful despite the fact they are killers. None of the characters get a lot of screen time nor are they really introduced well, but you are rooting for them. It is really difficult to create a sense of attachment to characters quickly and this film does it flawlessly. 

-The scene with the horse head: This sticks with me so much. Why would somebody go after the horse of all things? It really makes you realize that the killing is just business for this family. But why would somebody bring in members of their family into a situation where their safety can be used against you? The business seems to be about NOT caring about your family. It is just fascinating and the horse really shows it. 

-Wraps up brilliantly: Michael takes out the heads of all the five families at the same time while he is busy becoming the godfather for his sister’s baby. It is symbolic and literal at the same time and it wraps up the movie with a bow. Godfather 1 really is one of the best “complete stories” I have ever experienced as far as a film. 

-Luca Brasi: I love this guy. There is no real reason. He is barely in the movie and he is killed quickly and horribly. I don’t care. He is awesome. This movie gets a bonus point from me for this single character.

Godfather 1 Negatives: 

-Wedding is way too long: I really was getting bored towards the end of wedding scene and that is not good when there is another two and a half hours of movie. I love the intro to the characters, but, like most weddings I have been to, I am reading to do something else long before it is over. 

-The entire time that Michael is in Sicily could be cut: The movie stops cold and splits off between a story with Michael that goes nowhere (he falls for a girl and gets married and she dies so Michael comes back and takes up with his old girlfriend). I didn’t realize it until last viewing, but nothing is resolved or really changed with Michael being gone. Half hour off the movie.

-Many great characters are introduced and then killed: Luca Brasi, Moe Green, Sonny Corleone, Vito Corleone, Michael’s weird Italian wife and others are all introduced and have potential to grow and then die. There are so many “Oh. Well I guess he is dead then...” moments in this movie. Admittedly, it really gives the audience the feel for what it would be like to be in danger of being murdered at all times, but I wanted to know more about these characters. Especially Luca Brasi. He is awesome.

-Marlon Brando: I really don’t like this guy as a person. He was a great actor and gave many fine performances, but there is little denying that the guy was a jerk. When I see the cat at the beginning of the movie, it reminds me how Brando did whatever he wanted and the director always just hoped to get a decent performance out of him. The fiascos that were his parts in Superman and The Island of Dr. Moreau when he was just working for money really taint my enjoyment of this film. He didn’t want to be part of the movie culture (didn’t accept his Academy award for this film) but was fine with putting The Godfather on his resume to demand exorbitant amounts of money for bit parts.

Godfather 2 Positives:

-We go into depth about Vito Corleone: Young Vito played by Robert DeNiro makes the movie. The whole back story of him escaping from Sicily and coming to the US while learning to care for himself is brilliant. This is the aspect that likely won all of the academy awards.

-Fredo finally gets what he deserves: This guy has been lying to the family and screwing things up and getting people killed for years and he finally gets his come-uppance. That felt really satisfying.

-The time spent in Havana: All of the classic cars and costumes were especially fantastic. The revolution and the escape of the corrupt government officials was fascinating and made me want to research that era more. 

Godfather 2 Negatives:

-Pretty much all the time spent in New York and Nevada with Michael: You might be thinking “wow...that is like half of the movie” and you would be correct. I think that about half of this movie is unnecessary and boring. I think we have a winner in my eyes.

I enjoy the first movie as a complete story far more than the second. However, if you asked me to pick out my favorite part from both films, it would be DeNiro playing Don Corleone in turn of the century New York and his vengeance in Sicily. In fact, the perfect Corleone family movie would start in Sicily with Vito and progress until he became the Don in New York. It would then jump to Godfather 1 and play out minus the entire time that Michael was in Sicily (replaced by the words “3 years later”) and the film would end at the end of Godfather 1 when Michael takes over. 

[cvenir]

imma try this again bc i said y’know fck it (heh) bc i need to introduce these characters before making proper bios ok here we go

so actually since i did do zella, felix, and gwenna’s bios, i’ll actually just leave them out of the intro bc like.... i have 8 more lmao so like here you can find their bios in the first three circles n also imma link all the pinterests aGAIN bc they probably do more than i can

these are gonna be crude n real cut n dry but let’s face it who has time to read everything abt all 11 ok this is for US

CHRISTOPHER ‘KIT’ MILLER looks an awful lot like DONALD GLOVER. HE is THIRTY-TWO and while they’re MAGNETIC, they have a tendency to get pretty MERCENARY. You’ve probably seen them around Kola listening to DEGAS PARK by KEVIN ABSTRACT.

ok so kit is my son !! he is kinda a shitty person but it’s a result of his upbringing entirely like he was raised in a household of self-obsession and pre-occupation with the material things. aka he’s like filthy rich bc his parents are well-known in the entertainment business

his father is a rlly big time actor like he is thaT GUY ( my star wars lovin ass likes to pretend he’s billy dee williams bc lando unite but anyway unrelated ) and his mother is a super awesome film director so he grew up with that hanging over his shoulders. his dad was always really hard on him and pushed him to become an actor too but he isn’t abt that life (only to spite his dad lbr)

also his parents were lke actively trying not to have kids so his dad always kinda held that against kit and resented him from day one meanwhile his mother embraced it so :/

his mom is everything he ever dreamed of in a mother, and even tho she was always a bit too busy for him, she never let it affect their relationship and they’re still very close

so yeah kit is that fancy ass man like he bathes in the opulence. he doesn’t do much but gamble and parade his wealth around –– except he has invested in many businesses so like he can be p serious n focused on that sometimes bc like

$$$$

also he loves his ladies. like a lot. pls someone allow him to be the suGAR DADDY WE ALL DESERVE!!! but fr no that’s his biggest downfall like in his song inspo he can get very caught up in his emotions and rlly lose his head bc like he is calm cool and calculating and distant for the most part but once he gets attached it’s like he craves the connection and he can get very lost

anyway also bring me a plot where they may have grown up together and he’s very defensive over them like he doesn’t always get close to people but this person means the world to him and maybe he’s been lowkey in love his whole life but like whatever who talks abt feelings n ruins something so special he could never

yeah so idk what more to say at this point so yeah hmu w questions bc i could probably go off again

ROSALIND LEPAGE looks an awful lot like ADELAIDE KANE. SHE is TWENTY-FOUR and while they’re RESILIENT, they have a tendency to get pretty QUIXOTIC You’ve probably seen them around Kola listening to MELTING by KALI UCHIS. 

okay now this is my baby. she is a sweet lil buttercup and only wants the best in life but it never comes to her ugh i’m wounded.

so she was born and raised in kola, v much small-town girl vibes. she absolutely loves it here but since growing up the town was really been stained by disappointment :/ when she was seventeen both of her parents like went missing just like completely disappeared leaving her and her six-year-old sister just completely alone which really fucked up her plans bc she was already accepted to a top-tier music school in new york for college for her passion for violin but she had to turn it down bc her sister was now her responsibility 

so she dropped out of highschool and got her ged and immediately entered the work force, leaving her dreams in the dust. she still plays every now and then, especially whenever there’s an open mic night at the coffee shop where she works like girl plugs in her amp n everything i love her

anyway like she doesn’t resent anyone or blame her sister bc she’s just so compassionate and selfless like she didn’t hesitate to change her life to support her sis but it does still kill her to know that her life just kinda never took off and probs never will. but now she just channels all that sadness into fighting to make sure her sister doesn’t end up stuck like she did

so yeah she’s just a huge sweetheart who loves doing things for others and she’s so so soft like someone hold my lil muffin :/ she can get way too caught up in dreams sometimes but y’know that’s life!!!

DIEGO CABRERA looks an awful lot like XAVIER SERRANO. HE is TWENTY-THREE and while they’re VIVACIOUS, they have a tendency to get pretty ERRATIC. You’ve probably seen them around Kola listening to DO IT AGAIN by NO ROME.

so one of the messiest children ever, he is here. ngl i got a lot of inspo from adam sackler from girls for my son diego so if u feel me, word. 

basically pls meet the world’s biggest narcissist –– he’s just like appalling sometimes but he really is trying his best. my boi grew up in kola and always planned on moving to LA to pursue his dream of being an actor and wow is he perfect for that bc my guy is the most dramatic and expressive hot mess you’ll ever find

his mind is always moving 100 miles a minute and he just says the craziest things ??? like he doesn’t know where to stop. diego is super passionate abt his own life and what he wants to do and what he believes; he won’t let you forget it either. he’s always here to share a piece of his mind whether you want it for not and he’s not afraid to turn people away bc his opinions are valid !!

like he’s sooo selfish and doesn’t even hide his own agenda, but ngl once you get him attached there’s no going back like he really gives everything his all and will devote anything it takes to procure happiness for those he loves

like he’s rrlly terrible but he truly has a good head on his shoulders and a good heart in his chest n it’ll beat for u rll hard if u earn it (thru his means ofc)

like when i say god complex i mean it

but c’mon pls give me the plot where like this person pined after him for such a fuckin long time and he legit only used them for sex n didn’t even hide it (like fr seconds after rolling over he said ‘so are you gonna leave now ? bye) bUT y’know they’ve been hooking up for so long to where he actually got invested and wanted them to come to his rehearsals and share his passion w them and they just like ..... stopped caring all of a sudden. so now he’s sad boi and mad boi bc after basically begging for him to give a fuck they up and ran when his heart got invOLVED LIKE FUCK ME fr this is the song and i need this connection pLS LOVE ME

anyway he’s a mess but i love him

PIPER KOVALSKY looks an awful lot like EMMY ROSSUM. SHE is TWENTY-SEVEN and while they’re NURTURING, they have a tendency to get pretty CALAMITOUS. You’ve probably seen them around Kola listening to COFFEE & CIGARETTES by VIC MENSA.

awhh pipes.... my poor bb. she is also quite the mess!! 

but lbr it’s all her fucking fault lmao like her life literally never took off but she has no one to blame but herself. like she just really has a talent for ruining things whenever they get good and she doesn’t even try too my bb just does not think abt ramifications ever

piper was also born and raised in kola but she’s hopped around from area to area bc she can’t keep a lease going to save her life

or a job

she’s a big fan of cigareetes and alcohol and partying but whenever she indullges in anything they kinda have a perfect way of getting her in trouble. like she really wants to stop living like a vagrant but her cyncicsm really gets her down so she barely tries

she has a few siblings that she really wants to protect bc they’re headed down her path as well but she can’t even keep her life straight ugh :/

but ok so she’s truly the biggest softie on the inside like she cares soooo fucking much and she does a terrible job at pretending she doesn’t. but ya girl still tries!

ok so time for me to go off abt a wanted connect!!!! so her song is coffee & cigarettes and it’s a bop find it here pLS and i just really feel in my bones that this should be a connection ok. give me that high school lovers that were never lovers bc all piper could focus on was her own self-destruction n rlly living it up so she just completely shut this person out when it finally became real :/ so yeah it’s a fucking mess and she’s never truly moved on

anyway i should probably move onto the next muse lmao

MALCOLM WEST looks an awful lot like REECE KING. HE is TWENTY-TWO and while they’re JOCULAR, they have a tendency to get pretty CAVALIER. You’ve probably seen them around Kola listening to EPITAPH by HIPPO CAMPUS. –––––– may or may not be inspired by jake peralta

when i say he’s a goofster i mean he is a goofster and a gaffster ok

my tiny son who just wants to be a big bad detective and fight crime and just crack jokes along the way he is the meme king and he’ll let you know it

he grew up in atlanta where both of his parents were cops so he really just always dreamed of being just like them one day 

until his dad told him he’d never make it. that crushed his spirit entirely and ever since then he really kinda just figured out who his dad was ?? he caught him cheating on his mom and also just being a dirty cop and it just broke his heart bc that was his hero. and y’know malcolm gooddoer and fighter for justice so he went to his mom with this discovery and she just kind of admitted that she knew abt all of it but couldn’t do anything abt it so... he just kinda left and moved to kola to start over

he entered the police academy there as soon as he possibly could (18 i think maybe 19 if i’m dumb ) and just did not stop working his ass off and doing all kinds of paperwork and bust until he finally reached detective just a week ago

don’t get me wrong ya boi hates paperwork but he’s gotta do what he’s gotta do !!

anyway he’s a clown but he loves life and and even tho he’s a child he can take some things seriously

aside from his true feeling heh who ?? i don’t know her n imma just tell a joke or do an impression or smth instead

alsO idk if anyone knows chew the comic series but he dEF IS GONNA HAVE THOSE POWERS FOR THE SUPERHERO/SUPERNATURAL THREAD stay tuned

CAMBRIA SONG looks an awful lot like JENNIE KIM. SHE is TWENTY-ONE and while they’re IDEALISTIC, they have a tendency to get pretty WHIMSICAL. You’ve probably seen them around Kola listening to MARCELINE by WILLOW.

ok first of all her pinterest is a whole ass aesthetic and u basically see everything she’s abt on there 10/10 would reccommend

now this is a smol bean that is also a bad bitch and we stan !! she’s your astrology loving, extra ass, witty lil witch and she loves adding in her two cents! she’s a sweet lil thing but her bite is bigger than her bark so watch out fr

mostly imma have her in the supernatural verse (witch heh heh), demi-god verse (u kno she’s hecate’s daughter), n maybe the horror verse bc i want my bb to be a medium like lorraine warren that’s my girl!! 

other than that catch her throwing out ur natal chart, charging n cleansing her cyrstals, n offering free tarot readings! really she has her mf shit together n loves helping ppl w spiritual awakenings ok

here is a pic of her two sides conversing ok big meme here

anyway i’m a big fan of her pinterest and i hope that gives everyone a good vibe for her bc tbh i’m tired lol

so imma do my other three muses in another post tomorrow bc !!! ya girl is feeling lazy now lmao sry this took so long geez

[project-rebirth]

Under Attack Part 1

{BGM: Emergency}

Alarms had started blaring throughout the C.S.C. Even though the main conflict that had been the result of Mental Out had passed, the attack was not over yet.

With the hallways dark enough as it was, a purple mist had begun to fill it, making it already difficult to see.

Figures began to emerge from within the mist, taking shape with malice driving their actions.

Creatures made of bones manifested and immediately went to work at the whim of their summoner. C.S.C Staff Members who were still recovering from the conflict caused by Shokuhou and those who were still loitering around became the targets of the new hostile force as the Dragon Tooth Warriors rushed them with their own weapons.

Many retreated, others took out their weapons called Phasers and fired upon the enemy forces that were advancing on them. Meanwhile, the few Magicians and Espers who had offensive capabilities also retaliated and attacked the bone creatures.

Some succeed in destroying the familiars, while others weren’t so lucky.

The swords, spears, axes and arrows had managed to claim the lives of those who were unable to run away in time or properly take them out. Blood painted the halls and the Bone creatures wasted no time in continuing their advance.

Rosalia E. Blanchimont, the acting director of the C.S.C made an announcement to the entire facility.

{---Attention all staff! We are under attack by a hostile invasion force. Multiple entities have breached the perimeter and are now inside the building. Non essential staff must confine themselves to a safe location. Lockdown protocols will be engaged shortly. I repeat, make your way to a safe area away from the designated sealed off areas. This is NOT a drill. I repeat, this is NOT a drill!}

“What now?!”

Misaka Mikoto stood in the hallway, having heard the announcement and the alarm.  She had let Dr. Kisaragi and Shokuhou escape to the infirmary in order to tend to Kamijou Touma who had his right arm cut off in the Bank System.

The Purple mist had covered the area around her, It felt like the place she was currently in was another world that she had sunken into altogether.

It felt foreign, alien, and unsettling.

And in that alien setting, the bone creatures came and attacked.

“...!”

Using her iron-sand sword, she quickly retaliated, swinging it about and slicing the creatures down. They had went down surprisingly easy as the iron sand sword made short work of the dragon teeth familiars that were coming out of the mist. For whatever reason, it seemed these things lacked the intelligence to skillfully evade her attacks.

She didn’t let up though.

Misaka Mikoto continued her assault against the invaders, shooting lightning spears from her bangs and continuing to make use of her Iron Sand, blasting and cutting the warriors down to size. When one got close, she would simply evade and perform a kick, causing them to fall and shatter. It didn’t stop them as whenever it tried to continue with only one arm or no head, she blasted it with her electricity.

It was clear that whoever that woman that Bowen Chuuno was fighting with at this moment, it was clear that she didn’t come here alone. Whatever Shokuhou had done, there were those on the outside that were expecting her to do some serious damage to the C.S.C, but now that she had failed, they were taking matters into their own hands, targeting Shokuhou as a link and intended on killing everyone here.

Mikoto couldn’t understand it. Why had Shokuhou tried to betray them? In the back of her mind, she felt like it had something to do with that spiky haired idiot, who was now laying in the medical bay with his right arm removed.

Something had started to sink into her mind while she blasted away a bone warrior that tried to attack her from the right.

She had failed to protect him. She had failed to protect him from this whole incident. Had she been privy to what Shokuhou was planning, she could have done something about this.he wouldn’t be injured and this whole mess would have been prevented.

It was just like that time when they tried to rescue him from the SCP Foundation’s Site 31.

Mikoto, Shokuhou and that Silver Sister had all ventured there with Bowen and several other girls they knew in order to rescue him from his unjustly containment. What they ended up doing was walking into a hell that was still vivid in their minds, with multiple people ending up dead.

But what they found at the end of that hell was what had affected her the most.

Kamijou Touma had been tortured.

He was tortured by that mad scientist who had cut into his left shoulder, and caused other wounds. And he had died because of those wounds and trauma.

They had successfully managed to resurrect him with the Dragon Balls of Remnant, but the fact that he ended up being hurt and died weighed on her mind the most.

She would not let that happen again.

She would not let anyone or anything hurt him like that and take his life.

That was the reason why she had wanted to case after him as he had fallen deep into the Cosmic Side, and why she had joined this organization.

But now he was hurt badly again. She would have a word with Shokuhou later, but right now she was focused on stopping whoever was behind this attack.

“...Don’t think for a second I’m going to let you assholes get away with this!”

The #3 shouted, taking out an arcade coin and using it to fire the trademark move her power was named after.

The attack ripped through the air, obliterating any dragon tooth warrior that was in its path and caused the nearby walls to rip apart as well. An explosion could be heard at the end of the hall as the screeching of bone warriors filled the air.

***

Screams and Phaser fire continued to resound the halls of the C.S.C. People were dying and alarms were going off. It could only be described as pure pandemonium to those who were just now getting into the fray.

Like a certain girl of the Amakusa Church.

Itsuwa was one of the reserve members of the C.S.C, having been based in the Tower of Chaldeas that was currently located in the still thriving Academy City. The acting director had contacted her and Kanzaki Kaori of Nessecarius to have them aid in repelling back the enemy forces. Knowing how severe things were getting and the fact that a certain spiky haired boy was likely in the middle of it, the two girls responded at once.

They arrived via a special elevator that was located on the second floor, having taken them from the base in Academy City, all the way to the main HQ that was located somewhere in the arctic. They made it to where the chaos was at its highest and immediately armed themselves.

“This... This is...”

“Dragon Tooth Warriors. Familiars that are bound together using the fangs of dragons. Whoever is behind this attack is a talented Magician.”

Kanzaki remarked,looking at the shattered creatures that laid about along with some bodies of the staff who were unlucky enough to get caught up in this.

“We need to find the Magician behind this  and deal with them. I believe we will have better chances of finding them if we split up. There are a few places I know they might attack, so I will check out those areas. In the meantime, help whoever is hurt and bring them to safety.”

“Right...!”

The two gave a nod and went off on their separate directions. Kanzaki would be checking important areas like DEUS and the Bank System to make sure there was no enemy presence there, and Itsuwa would be giving aid to any survivors that she would come across, using her magic to heal their injuries and guide them to a safe location. While she did this, she would also keep her eyes out for the enemy and and their familiars.

As she continued running down the halls,  amidst the screams and phaser firing going ion around her, she encountered the dragon tooth warriors.

With quick action with her spear, she engaged them with swift movements.

A DTW with a sword attacked her from behind, but her spear managed to repel the strike, before driving it into its chest, tearing it apart.

A few more clashes and the warriors had already been dealt with. Not even missing a beat, she continued onward, and that’s when she heard something that no one should have  to hear.

It was an inhuman roar.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

The horrible sound was loud enough that it completely dwarfed the phaser fire and screaming going on throughout the facility, but that was not all.

Aloud burst rang out, and the bodies of staff members flew through the air and into the wall near Itsuwa. The Magician felt a chill run down her spine as she slowly looked in the direction of where that had came from.

“AAAAAHHHHHHH......”

It was a monster.

A monster that was completely shrouded in a dark haze, stood there snarling like a beast ready to rip apart its next victim. Itsuwa did not know this, but the girl was in fact Tachibana Hibiki, another member of the C.S.C.

The Magician had used some spell that sent the girl into a madness and had sent her on a rampage. Until the spell was lifted, Hibiki was nothing more than a savage animal with no will of her own.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!”

Having set her sights on Itsuwa, Hibiki lunched forward. The Amakusa magician had just barely managed to jump out of the way, but in doing so, the area she previously stood in was obliterated with tremendous force.

“...What is that? No... this is a person... under the influence of some kind of spell!”

“AHHHH!!!!”

The Mad Enhanced Hibiki continued forward, dealing a series of heavy strikes at Itsuwa, all of which she managed to block using her spear, but the force of those blows were pushing her back. It was only going to be a matter of time before the monster penetrated her defenses.

She had to find away around this, other wise, she was going to be finished.

A spear of lightning came down the hall way, striking Hibiki and caused her to be blasted into the wall.

“Itsuwa was it? This girl isn’t in her right mind. Whoever that is behind this turned her into this raging monster. Help me save her.”

It was a sudden request from the girl she vaguely remembered being Misaka Mikoto. Was she also a member of the C.S.C? Judging from the uniform she wore, it looked like it.

Either way, it looked like her hypothesis was correct. The girl they were facing was under the influence of Magic, and Mikoto was asking her to save her.

She was sent here to aid them as best she could, and she would do so to the best of her ability.

And for the sake of that boy who would extend his hand to help those like her....

How could Itsuwa refuse?

“Very well! I’ll do whatever I can to help you save her, Misaka-san!”

Mikoto responded with a smile and nodded, before turning to the raging Adaptor with a determined expression. Itsuwa did the same.

Those two girls who had wanted to fight along side a certain boy, now stood together to save someone once again.

And so the battle to save Hibiki Tachibana began in those hallways where screams and phaser fire reigned supreme at the moment.

[smokeybrandreviews]

Smokey brand Movie Reviews: Bill Me

A few months back, i gushed about one of my all-time favorite films, Alien. I followed that up with a look at Predator. These films are on completely opposite ends of the the spectrum, but i love them both. Don't misunderstand, i adore Alien much more, it’s a much better film in almost every respect, but Predator appeals to the reptile brain in mean. So what happens when you combine that atmospheric, claustrophobic, dread with the balls-to-the-wall, macho-machismo, of an 80s action film? You get the sequel to Alien; James Cameron’s Aliens. The second outing to LV-426  was a truly interesting one as, while the same world is explored with these two films, Aliens is a very different take on the mythos. So much so, the one might even say it's a better view of that world. Aliens is one of the few sequels that has a solid argument to being better than the first. That is rarefied air. To be held in such high esteem as The Godfather part II and The Empire Strikes Back is ridiculous but, here we are.

The Outstanding

Out the box, I need to immediately recognize Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley. Holy sh*t, is this woman dope in this role. I loved Riley in the first film, coming into her own, learning how to survive, ultimately taking the reins of her own destiny. Her run in Aliens? Complete and total bad-ass. This is the Ripley every one talks about, the version of her that is entrenched in the cultural zeitgeist. This is Ellen Ripley made whole and Weaver executes that visage with such precision and passion, that it earned her an Oscar nomination. That is huge praise considering the type of film Aliens is and the types of films the Academy likes to snub.

Lance Henricksen's Bishop was a true experience. It was weird seeing such a performance on display in an action film. Henricksen imbued Bishop with this childlike naivety, that was all but infectious. His wry humor painted the bleakness of our heroes' plight. Bishop was never over the top, just quietly hilarious when necessary. I was surprised by how endearing that character turned out to be, definitely a credit to Henricksen's overall ability.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Bill Paxton as William Hudson. Dude is the second best thing about this film. Rest in peace to one of the greatest actors, ever. Hudson was a goddamn quip machine. His one-liners are some of the best to ever make it to film and I love the fact that Paxton delivers them with such extreme fervor. Seeing him completely lose his sh*t was an outstanding watch.

The entire cast is actually pretty great. I love Vasquez, even if they did paint up Jenette Goldstein in brown face instead of actually hiring a Latina actress. It was the 80s. Sh*t like that happened all of the time. Hicks was a little dry for my tastes but I wasn't mad with how Michael Biehn portrayed him. Dude basically did Kyle Reese but not so high-strung and that sh*t works marvelously. Apone was awesome. Al Matthews captures that smarmy, over-the-top, military brass energy perfectly. Paul Reiser's Burke exudes this sleazy corporate scumbaggery like every 80s cliché should. These cats are these characters and the comradely they demonstrate is palpable. The only flaw to this movie is the performance from the little girl that plays Newt. She's awful but she's a kid so that stands to reason. I don't really count her performance against the overall movie because of that fact, but it can be very distracting at times.

James Cameron is in fine form with this sequel. I always joke around, referring to him as the 1980s version of Michael Bay, but it's not far from the truth. Dude is one of the most skilled, technical, directors in the game today and he's been like that since the beginning of his career. The scope of his imagination and the tenacity to find a way to capture that on film is not only rare, but f*cking amazing. Cameron has a way with spectacle, taking a little and turning it into a lot. You see that in his early work with Roger Corman and beautifully displayed with the first Terminator but in Aliens? Mans pulled off a miracle with Aliens. This f*cking thing is gorgeous. It fits together so tight, you'd never know the entire shoot was a slog filled with unwieldy puppets, incomplete props, and constant insubordination from the crew. This movie is a miracle of direction and roved that James Cameron is truly belongs in the discussion as one of the greats.

While I'm on Cameron, I just want to acknowledge hos contribution to the mythos of the Alien lore, overall. He was the one that injected Space Marines and everything that came along with that. The Sulaco, the dropship, the APC; All of that was Cameron. However, the crown jewel of his film is definitely the Queen. That was all him. The reproductive system of the Xenomorph was displayed in the first film, sure, but it was Cameron that gave us the answer to the question everyone asked; Who was laying the eggs?

The writing in Aliens is absolutely amazing. The actual plot is about as deep as a puddle but how everything is presented turned out to be absolutely stunning. This is a war movie. This is an escape film. This is at home with The Dirty Dozen or Cool Hand Luke, on paper. This is a story of survival, framed with a splattering of inter-species violence. I imagine this script was a pleasure to read, even if it's rather straightforward.

I referenced this a little before, but the one-liners and dialogue are top notch. These interactions feel real. These characters feel like people, like they've been on missions together for years. I buy the Marines as soldiers and I buy Ripley as the final girl. The genuine nature of this film is unassailable, which is kind of a miracle, because it's a narrative about space marine fighting xenomorphs! To be so immersed in a world that fantastical is quite incredible.

This film is gorgeous. It too that retro-futuristic aesthetic from the first, and ramped it up to one hundred. This colony, even though it's been sixty years or whatever, fits in the world established by Scott perfectly. The look, the tech, the feel; All of it calls back to the claustrophobic halls of the Nostromo, but blown up to the size of that Space Jockey ship.

While I'm on the general aesthetic, I need to praise these practical effects. Everything is tangible and real in this film. There are no computer fakes or puppet composite shenanigans. Everything is in-camera and real. The Xenos are men in suits, the guns are physical props, and the starships are all miniatures. The Queen is a puppet built to scale and so is the Power Loader. All of that lends itself to the beauty of this movie and it's longevity. I watched this thing today and it holds up against any blockbuster made in the last forty years, beating out most of them with ease.

I touched on this a little bit when I was talking about Cameron's deft direction but these shots are f*cking stunning. You can take any single frame out of this thing and mount it on your wall. This movie is that gorgeous. The cinematography, the scale, the composition of shots; all of it is just so goddamn adept and lovely to see.

The pacing is kind of dope considering you don't see an alien for almost an hour of run time. I'm actually reviewing the directors cut of version of this flick on the Blu Ray because I, personally, like that one more, but, theatrical moves at about the same rate. There is a lot of character development in that first half, much needed I think, but you never feel impatient about it. You're never chomping at the bit to see the action promised on the horizon. Aliens walks that line perfectly. It's great at building your anticipation to the first clash then its all mania and body count after that.

Bro. But this sound design, tho. Bro!

The Verdict

Aliens is actually one of my all-time favorite film, no surprise there. I think the tidbits Cameron added were paramount to growing the world that Scott and O'Bannon birthed. Indeed, it was he who gave us the Queen and hive system. It was Cameron that chose to make the sequel an allegory for the Vietnam war, establishing the Space Marines as a force in space ways. Aliens did more to world build than it did with characterization, and that's saying the most because this is where Ripley becomes Ripley. We caught glimpses of her potential with Weaver's performance in the first outing but she's in full force here, establishing Ellen Ripley as the archetype for the female badass that every one in Hollywood has been chasing since. The practical effects are too dope for words and hold up to this day, while the overall film, itself, is gorgeous. For a feature that heavily makes use of miniatures and matte painting, Aliens is one of the most beautifully shot, cinematic, experiences, ever captured on film. Now, to answer the poignant question at hand; No. I don't think Aliens is better than Alien. I definitely prefer the more intimate horror of the first, rather than the bombastic action of the second. I think Aliens is the perfect action movie, just behind Terminator II, but I think Alien is as close to perfect film making, period, as you can get. That's not to take anything away from the sequel. Aliens is f*cking incredible and definitely stands on it's own. I can't sing this thing's praises enough. It's an outstanding action film, moonlighting in as a sci-fi thriller, while telling one of the best character arcs in history. Aliens is excellent and deserves that aforementioned debate of superiority, even if I, personally, dissent. It should be required viewing for anyone claiming to love cinema. If you've never seen this film, fix that sh*t immediately. F*cking love yourself more.

[smokeybrand]

Smokey brand Movie Reviews: Bill Me

A few months back, i gushed about one of my all-time favorite films, Alien. I followed that up with a look at Predator. These films are on completely opposite ends of the the spectrum, but i love them both. Don't misunderstand, i adore Alien much more, it’s a much better film in almost every respect, but Predator appeals to the reptile brain in mean. So what happens when you combine that atmospheric, claustrophobic, dread with the balls-to-the-wall, macho-machismo, of an 80s action film? You get the sequel to Alien; James Cameron’s Aliens. The second outing to LV-426  was a truly interesting one as, while the same world is explored with these two films, Aliens is a very different take on the mythos. So much so, the one might even say it's a better view of that world. Aliens is one of the few sequels that has a solid argument to being better than the first. That is rarefied air. To be held in such high esteem as The Godfather part II and The Empire Strikes Back is ridiculous but, here we are.

The Outstanding

Out the box, I need to immediately recognize Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley. Holy sh*t, is this woman dope in this role. I loved Riley in the first film, coming into her own, learning how to survive, ultimately taking the reins of her own destiny. Her run in Aliens? Complete and total bad-ass. This is the Ripley every one talks about, the version of her that is entrenched in the cultural zeitgeist. This is Ellen Ripley made whole and Weaver executes that visage with such precision and passion, that it earned her an Oscar nomination. That is huge praise considering the type of film Aliens is and the types of films the Academy likes to snub.

Lance Henricksen's Bishop was a true experience. It was weird seeing such a performance on display in an action film. Henricksen imbued Bishop with this childlike naivety, that was all but infectious. His wry humor painted the bleakness of our heroes' plight. Bishop was never over the top, just quietly hilarious when necessary. I was surprised by how endearing that character turned out to be, definitely a credit to Henricksen's overall ability.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Bill Paxton as William Hudson. Dude is the second best thing about this film. Rest in peace to one of the greatest actors, ever. Hudson was a goddamn quip machine. His one-liners are some of the best to ever make it to film and I love the fact that Paxton delivers them with such extreme fervor. Seeing him completely lose his sh*t was an outstanding watch.

The entire cast is actually pretty great. I love Vasquez, even if they did paint up Jenette Goldstein in brown face instead of actually hiring a Latina actress. It was the 80s. Sh*t like that happened all of the time. Hicks was a little dry for my tastes but I wasn't mad with how Michael Biehn portrayed him. Dude basically did Kyle Reese but not so high-strung and that sh*t works marvelously. Apone was awesome. Al Matthews captures that smarmy, over-the-top, military brass energy perfectly. Paul Reiser's Burke exudes this sleazy corporate scumbaggery like every 80s cliché should. These cats are these characters and the comradely they demonstrate is palpable. The only flaw to this movie is the performance from the little girl that plays Newt. She's awful but she's a kid so that stands to reason. I don't really count her performance against the overall movie because of that fact, but it can be very distracting at times.

James Cameron is in fine form with this sequel. I always joke around, referring to him as the 1980s version of Michael Bay, but it's not far from the truth. Dude is one of the most skilled, technical, directors in the game today and he's been like that since the beginning of his career. The scope of his imagination and the tenacity to find a way to capture that on film is not only rare, but f*cking amazing. Cameron has a way with spectacle, taking a little and turning it into a lot. You see that in his early work with Roger Corman and beautifully displayed with the first Terminator but in Aliens? Mans pulled off a miracle with Aliens. This f*cking thing is gorgeous. It fits together so tight, you'd never know the entire shoot was a slog filled with unwieldy puppets, incomplete props, and constant insubordination from the crew. This movie is a miracle of direction and roved that James Cameron is truly belongs in the discussion as one of the greats.

While I'm on Cameron, I just want to acknowledge hos contribution to the mythos of the Alien lore, overall. He was the one that injected Space Marines and everything that came along with that. The Sulaco, the dropship, the APC; All of that was Cameron. However, the crown jewel of his film is definitely the Queen. That was all him. The reproductive system of the Xenomorph was displayed in the first film, sure, but it was Cameron that gave us the answer to the question everyone asked; Who was laying the eggs?

The writing in Aliens is absolutely amazing. The actual plot is about as deep as a puddle but how everything is presented turned out to be absolutely stunning. This is a war movie. This is an escape film. This is at home with The Dirty Dozen or Cool Hand Luke, on paper. This is a story of survival, framed with a splattering of inter-species violence. I imagine this script was a pleasure to read, even if it's rather straightforward.

I referenced this a little before, but the one-liners and dialogue are top notch. These interactions feel real. These characters feel like people, like they've been on missions together for years. I buy the Marines as soldiers and I buy Ripley as the final girl. The genuine nature of this film is unassailable, which is kind of a miracle, because it's a narrative about space marine fighting xenomorphs! To be so immersed in a world that fantastical is quite incredible.

This film is gorgeous. It too that retro-futuristic aesthetic from the first, and ramped it up to one hundred. This colony, even though it's been sixty years or whatever, fits in the world established by Scott perfectly. The look, the tech, the feel; All of it calls back to the claustrophobic halls of the Nostromo, but blown up to the size of that Space Jockey ship.

While I'm on the general aesthetic, I need to praise these practical effects. Everything is tangible and real in this film. There are no computer fakes or puppet composite shenanigans. Everything is in-camera and real. The Xenos are men in suits, the guns are physical props, and the starships are all miniatures. The Queen is a puppet built to scale and so is the Power Loader. All of that lends itself to the beauty of this movie and it's longevity. I watched this thing today and it holds up against any blockbuster made in the last forty years, beating out most of them with ease.

I touched on this a little bit when I was talking about Cameron's deft direction but these shots are f*cking stunning. You can take any single frame out of this thing and mount it on your wall. This movie is that gorgeous. The cinematography, the scale, the composition of shots; all of it is just so goddamn adept and lovely to see.

The pacing is kind of dope considering you don't see an alien for almost an hour of run time. I'm actually reviewing the directors cut of version of this flick on the Blu Ray because I, personally, like that one more, but, theatrical moves at about the same rate. There is a lot of character development in that first half, much needed I think, but you never feel impatient about it. You're never chomping at the bit to see the action promised on the horizon. Aliens walks that line perfectly. It's great at building your anticipation to the first clash then its all mania and body count after that.

Bro. But this sound design, tho. Bro!

The Verdict

Aliens is actually one of my all-time favorite film, no surprise there. I think the tidbits Cameron added were paramount to growing the world that Scott and O'Bannon birthed. Indeed, it was he who gave us the Queen and hive system. It was Cameron that chose to make the sequel an allegory for the Vietnam war, establishing the Space Marines as a force in space ways. Aliens did more to world build than it did with characterization, and that's saying the most because this is where Ripley becomes Ripley. We caught glimpses of her potential with Weaver's performance in the first outing but she's in full force here, establishing Ellen Ripley as the archetype for the female badass that every one in Hollywood has been chasing since. The practical effects are too dope for words and hold up to this day, while the overall film, itself, is gorgeous. For a feature that heavily makes use of miniatures and matte painting, Aliens is one of the most beautifully shot, cinematic, experiences, ever captured on film. Now, to answer the poignant question at hand; No. I don't think Aliens is better than Alien. I definitely prefer the more intimate horror of the first, rather than the bombastic action of the second. I think Aliens is the perfect action movie, just behind Terminator II, but I think Alien is as close to perfect film making, period, as you can get. That's not to take anything away from the sequel. Aliens is f*cking incredible and definitely stands on it's own. I can't sing this thing's praises enough. It's an outstanding action film, moonlighting in as a sci-fi thriller, while telling one of the best character arcs in history. Aliens is excellent and deserves that aforementioned debate of superiority, even if I, personally, dissent. It should be required viewing for anyone claiming to love cinema. If you've never seen this film, fix that sh*t immediately. F*cking love yourself more.

[roughsexwithgaga]

To Love Again pt.1

Monday, August 10

”What the fuck is going on up there?”

A loud cranking noise was heard throughout the stadium and then the large 360 screen started to descend between the pillars. A loud floof-floof-floof was heard as the lights on the ground all lit up in order and blinded the personal on the ground. Five ”floating” stages were placed out on the ground and waiting to be rigged.

The floodlights beneath the screen came on and suddenly the whole floor bathed in blue light. It looked like a space ship coming down to land when the massive spotlights flipped outward and the screen continued dow. Lady Gaga’s tour director Marko screamed at the supervisor to shut it down but it was too late. The screen hit the spotlights and stopped. The snapping sound of the metal when it broke whipped across the empty stadium before two of the spotlights came off their attachments and fell over 60 feet to the ground.

Luckily no one was standing below it but Marko cursed and screamed that whoever had made this idiotic construction should be forced to climb up and put them back. It was the 5th show of Lady Gaga’s stadium tour in support of her sixth studio album and following in the footsteps of her successful soundtrack to her first movie as a leading actress. The concert was scheduled tonight and they still had 16 hours to go. He understood the workers were tired from being up all night and the new shift was supposed to take over just now.

He needed sleep as well and looked at his watch. 6 am. The Lady herself wouldn’t be pleased when she woke up. There had been technical difficulties nearly every show and last minute fixes. Three versions of the stage was out on the roads across USA and one spare version was still in Colorado. The one they used the opening night in Denver when Gaga performed in front of 78,000 ecstatic fans had been working the most satisfying so far. It had been used twice. It was his first time as tour director for such a massive tour and he was nervous, but Gaga had picked him personally and he wanted to deliver.

This day’s show was in Pasadena and the second biggest one on the North American leg. It was sold out of course and fans who wanted a good spot in the pit had been lining up all night. Gaga stayed at her house in Malibu and was scheduled to arrive four hours before the show. Marko knew everything had to be ready by then. No more delays. He left the stage site to get some sleep and planned to be back by noon but first he had to call her manager and sort out the broken spots.

\o/

It was 8 am and Lady Gaga was on the phone with her manager Bobby. The day before she had arranged a small birthday party for her dad so the sleepover guests were still asleep. The frequent technical issues obviously weren’t hers to deal with, but she had told her manager she wanted to know so she was prepared if anything needed to be changed.

”It’s almost like… I don’t wanna say it, Stef.” Bobby sounded a bit worried. ”There are two crews working on mounting and dismounting the stages and the other crew doesn’t have these kind of issues and it seems really unlikely one crew has the same damn troubles with two different stages.” He paused and took a deep breath. ”The screen isn’t even supposed to run into the spots no matter how they are rotated. And the noise it made, I nearly shit my pants thinking about it now.”

Gaga listened to him and exhaled. ”So what are you saying?”

”Someone is either really sloppy or wants the tour to look bad. It’s not like these issues would go unnoticed before the show anyway. It’s just costing a lot of money and time.” Bobby sighed and told her he would talk to Marko and Stageco, they were in charge of providing the stage and the crews. ”I’m sorry Stef, you don’t deserve this,” he added before they ended the call.

She put the phone down on the counter just in time to turn around to see her daughter bounce across the floor and scream in delight as her french bulldog Gus tackled the child to the ground. The girl spun around and lost the ball she was holding. ”My ball,” she shrieked but the dog obviously didn’t care. He quickly snapped up the ball and ran away, out into the garden and the girl was about to go after him when Gaga reached down and grabbed her pajamas by the back.

”My ball!” the girl repeated and squirmed as her mother lifted her up and wrapped her arms around her. She put her face against the girl’s neck and smelled her, kissed her cheek and made the little girl giggle with delight.

”Mama,” she said and pointed out through the patio doors. ”My ball.”

Gaga nodded. ”Yes, Joanne. Gus borrows it.”

”Bohwoh,” she repeated and looked disappointed.

”What do you say we have some breakfast, my lazy little peanut.” Gaga said and put Joanne down in her chair. The child was usually sleeping late, and had never been an early bird. She insisted on letting the girl sleep in her bed and when she returned after a show she could sneak into bed and wake up together with her. It was the most blessed feeling in the whole world to have the tiny body next to her, waking up to her chit chatting to herself in her baby language. Just recently she had been starting to put two words together and loving her own voice so much she never shut up.

Her daughter had Christian's dark brown eyes. Her hair had been dirt blonde when she was born but darkened with time. Now she was 2 years old and the most important thing in her life. She was the result of a a steamy, sweat soaked night of sex that left her body aching and pregnant – to her surprise. Christian had met up with her before a two day break in her touring schedule in St Louis when they hadn’t seen each other in 14 days. Gaga had been sick a few days, and thrown up a lot. She knew she had messed up with her birth control pills and just maybe she didn’t care on purpose.

By December just before the last shows she had found out she was pregnant. It was the perfect gift to receive at the end of her last tour. Not planned, but certainly welcomed. The last trimester of her pregnancy had been difficult and draining and while gaining a lot of weight she had been emotionally unstable and felt exhausted. She had given birth on August 14, a little more than six weeks before the premier of A Star Is Born, and had forced herself to work hard to get back in shape for the red carpet.

The birth had been a long drawn out process as well where she had complications and lot of bleedings post-birth causing her to stay a few days longer than planned. The baby was late. Nearly a week after due date, refusing to leave the safety of her womb.

When their baby was born she was amazed. This new person that she created, that had grown inside her. She had never known such gratitude and happiness. Her daughter made her heart nearly beat out of her chest as she held her for the first time. Convinced she had never seen a prettier baby in her whole life. Christian had been by her side the entire time and when he held the little girl in his hands and smiled with such pride she was convinced they would be a real family.

She didn't even care about her bloated face in all the photos from the hospital. Her round cheeks, swollen lips and double chin. Her tits had been huge and she kind of missed that. A photo shoot she did while she was still breastfeeding where her boobs were swelling out of her clothes had caused a media frenzy like everyone suddenly forgot tits ’tend’ to grow as they produce milk.

The first 3 months had been the worst uphill Gaga had ever experienced in her entire life. She relied on the tremendous support of her own family and was so eternally grateful for the baby, but she was hitting rock bottom and being a mother was the only thing keeping her above the surface. Her mom, dad, sister and Christian were basically the only people she met.

Even in her darkest moments she noticed how much it got to Christian, and how he had to distance himself from her. He was affected, but the baby came first and he did possess an overflow of paternal instincts. She tried her best, she loved her baby and had to keep pushing through the darkness for her. Some mornings she barely got out of bed and luckily Christian was there to take over.

When Joanne turned 4 months she was starting to get her life back on the tracks. At least she managed to open a door to a little light and started to see the end of the depression she was going through. Their first Christmas together as a family actually turned into a nice memory.

The following year Christian escorted her to the Academy Awards where she finally won her Oscar for Best Original Song. She made a jaw dropping performance and received a standing ovation that never seemed to end. Life was fucking amazing again. She had her family, the success, the critics were on her side, the public loved her, but she didn’t need the approval of strangers anymore. The confidence was radiating from her. She kept her daughter away from it all because she wanted her to grow up happy and away from all the judging eyes.

Being happy, having a career and both a daughter and a man to come home to must have been too many good things for one person, so about two weeks before her 33rd birthday everything was like turning a hand. She thought Christian would propose, but instead he broke up with her. He never gave a reasonable explanation to why but she understood that he was jealous of her and Joanne. The baby and her career came in the way of him being the priority in her life and having access to her whenever he wanted. He had yelled at her that they couldn’t even touch each other anymore because there was a baby between them constantly. And that the baby should learn to sleep in her own bed.

Whatever Gaga suggested, Christian somehow managed to want the opposite. She had been blind for months, completely swallowed up by her daughter and her own career. Taking Christian’s presence for granted and assuming he was as pleased and happy as she was. After all he did stand by her side through her absolute worst. She called him an idiot who was jealous of his own daughter.

On top of things Christian obviously immediately found a new partner. A little blonde model thing half his age while she felt fooled and abandoned. It took a month to get into her head that he wasn't worth it and that she would cope without him. Her value as a woman and mother didn't depend on him.

It also dawned on her how lonely she was and how hard it was to find a man to cuddle up against during the nights. It was the only thing she missed in her life at that point. She spent the summer making music, and there had been moments when she was close to dating, but it always ended before it lead anywhere. She was better at reading people now, and no one passed her tests. And then there was Christian. He was still confessedly involved with the child and fulfilling his duties as father. He spent a lot of time with her and suddenly never questioned Gaga's scheduling or suggestions.

On Joanne’s birthday she had sex with Christian again for the first time in six months. Knowing how hard it was to turn her down once she set her mind to something and how much he still was attracted to her, she used her social skills and her body and got what she wanted. Gaga realized she did it to prove to herself that she was still attractive, and not just for the sex itself. It simply felt amazing to be desired.

Christian’s new partner evidently found out about him cheating because Gaga texted him about it and she saw it. Gaga did it on purpose, because she still desperately wanted them to be a family and did everything in her power to win him back. So of course she did. Less than a month later they were a couple again and Gaga had already started working on her new album. Their love seemed to overcome all past obstacles and she was living again. Gaga released her new single ’Love Reunion’ out of the blue at the Grammys while announcing a 7-month worldwide stadium tour starting later the same year. Her demands had been no back-to-back shows and a maximum of three shows a week. Live Nation had agreed. They realized she needed time between concerts.

Gaga and Christian got married in New York, with only their closest family and friends attending the ceremony and then they spent two weeks in a rented house in Italy before she returned home and finished her album which was released in late April. By that time the tour was already sold out and they had not even began with the hyping and promotion. With the tour starting in August it was the shortest span ever for her between album release and tour, and the amount of work put into planning and promotion were consuming their relationship.

Now that she was starting to travel again and became accessible to her fans and media he felt left out. She was constantly booked somewhere and took her daughter with her everywhere. It was getting more and more difficult to find time for Christian even when he came along and she could sense how he once again felt threatened by her career and that Joanne came first. They argued over petty things again and Gaga felt like he tried to make her feel bad. If you’re not going to support me, you can leave me alone until you get over your male ego, she told him in a heated argument.

So a little over two weeks ago, in the middle of the tour launch, he had moved out of her mansion claiming it was because he felt like an employee in her massive team and he was sick of being treated like one while everyone ran around her acting like she was some kind of hub in this universe. To her it seemed like he wanted to punish her during one of the most important stages in her career.

He had been to the premiere of her tour, but skipped the following shows and she avoided conversation with him because she was still hurting. It had been hard to find personal time and rehearsal took so much effort she stumbled into bed at nights barely fit to say good night. Maybe it was better he got a little distance to everything so he discovered he missed her. He didn’t have to be so excessive about it. These last two months had been so intense and now that the tour started she finally felt like she had time to breathe between shows.

Christian was the only man she had been with the past 4 years. She told herself she only wanted him, and gave him so much of her time, but he still wanted more from her since he basically gave up his own career to be around her. She had told him she needed him, and his support for her was the most important one. She didn’t want to travel the world without him. He knew it would be like this because this was her job, but she would always come back to them. The disappointment she felt for him at this point was immense and she was heartbroken and didn’t know how to fix it without giving up a piece of herself.

…

Now she was sitting in her kitchen, watching her daughter eat all by herself and still ranting about her ball and the dog borrowing it. She looked at her, rested her chin against her palm and felt that enormous love in her chest that nearly made her suffocate and fill her lungs with air at the same time. When she leaned too close her daughter grabbed the frame of her glasses and pulled them off her face and tried them on. Her sticky fingers smeared the glass before she helped put them back on her mother’s nose and applauded herself on her good deed.

When Gaga was pregnant she had been letting her hair grow, and didn’t use bleach or dye. It was probably a good idea since her hair thinned out a lot after she gave birth. It was still healthier now than 3 years ago and reached her shoulders when she decided to go blonde again. She took the baby out of the chair and carried her upstairs to change her clothes. She put on a long sleeved top, pants and a little hat before they went outside for a little stroll around the garden and look at the flowers and the insects. And maybe even find the ball, she said and Joanne clung to her hand trying to manage down the stairs.

Every time the little hand searched hers when they walked outside it was another one of those proud moments when she felt like she had found her purpose in life. She was afraid she would love the baby to death, buried her nose against her neck before putting the child on the ground and let her run ahead of her on the gravel between the roses. She was a happy child, and she knew it was because she was immensely loved. Even moving out, Christian still wanted to be a part of the girl’s life, as he was her father after all and she deserved to have him in her life. But Gaga would never let anything or anyone come between her and her daughter.

Her mom had been her greatest support. She had Emilie, her nanny and also her assistants Mariah and Sam and her physiotherapist Heather, but her mom was the person she relied on the most of all, apart from Christian. He had to understand performing was her job, it was what she was supposed to do. Not only being a mother and a wife. It was her drug, her oxygen but there would always be them once it was over.

\o/

When Bobby called again Gaga was singing songs with Joanne who murdered the keys on a mini-piano. The girl was not the slightest impressed with her mother singing unless she sang directly to her face and tickled her. Then she laughed so hard she choked and screamed. Gaga ate some leftover food from the birthday party while she kept her daughter company. She didn’t want to eat too close to the show because it made her sick most of the time.

”What are you doing?” Bobby asked.

”Multi-tasking,” Gaga replied with her mouth full.

”They have fixed it. Stageco are going to have a talk with the team later when the nightshift is awake.”

”OK, great,” Gaga said. Glad to have a break from the baby talk. It wasn’t much of a two-way communication thing yet. Joanne just loved hearing her own voice and used her two-phrase sentences over and over. ”My dada,” she said and pointed at a chair. The girl started to talk louder using her limited array of words to get her mother’s attention back. Gaga buried her nose against the dimple below Joanne’s neck making the girl squirm and giggle.

”I can hear the princess. How is she?” Bobby gushed.

”Recovering from a cold, but that doesn’t seem to slow her down.” Gaga smiled and tilted her head back over the backrest of the couch. She put her feet up on the table and heard the voices behind her in the kitchen when they returned from shopping. Emilie started unpacking the groceries and chatted with Cynthia who naturally needed to cuddle her granddaughter.

Gaga got up and changed into sweatpants and a t-shirt after she finished talking to Bobby and the others had a light meal in the kitchen before they had to leave to go to Pasadena. Joanne nearly ate half a melon for dessert while the dogs sat around her hoping for a treat to fall to the floor. Their butts left the floor in anticipation each time the child’s hands hovered over their heads but they had no luck today.

She packed her things into the Cadillac Escala and Cynthia came out with Joanne and a bag of her belongings. Her daughter followed her everywhere. It wasn’t even up for debate to leave her behind anywhere. Gaga had large black sunglasses on, her hair was in a pony tail and she wore a white large sweater and the baggy pants. She got in the car while her mom sat down in the back together with the girl and the nanny. Her dad sat next to her in the front and she drove out on the coastal road to LA and Pasadena. Traffic wasn’t so bad. Gaga sang together with her mom and daughter while they cruised on their way to the stadium.

When she arrived she waved at her fans and drove past the gates. She didn’t stop anymore. Hardly ever and her fans had gotten used to it. Some respected the fact that she was more private now and some still had meltdowns on social media about ”how much she’d changed for the worse”. She thought it would be weird if they were still the same person today that they were 10-15 years ago. She obviously still loved her fans, needed them, just as they needed her but she didn’t have enough of herself to give away anymore. She wanted to give everything to her daughter who sat shielded behind the tinted reinforced windows in the backseat. Blissfully unaware of all the fuss.

She drove all the way up to the doors and parked so she could walk out and take Joanne out of her baby car seat and just turn around to get her inside, away from the smattering cameras she noticed on the other side of the curb. The fans closed up against the gates to get a quick look at her before she hurried inside. Joe blocked the paparazzi’s view with his body and got into her car and parked it while the door closed behind her. The fans cheered her name and wished her luck.

She continued down a hallway and a large room where the personnel had just finished their dinner, told Cynthia to bring some fruit when her on-site guide told her it was already in her dressing room. ”Oh, right,” she said, distraught and continued underneath the stands towards her assigned room. It was decorated according to her wishes. It was light and had a warm golden light. She said hello to everyone in her staff, thanked them for being there and made sure everyone felt like they were there for a reason and that tonight was a team effort.

Bobby came inside and assured her everything was working excellent now. There would be no delays tonight. She had a new musical director, going for an electronic pop sound, with influences from disco and funk. Adam had rearranged a lot of her older hits and made a seamless show that spanned her whole career. Some songs had been scaled down to leave more room for her vocals while others had been majestically rearranged to be stadium anthems. The sultry, more mature version of Pokerface had breathed life into the stale beat and opened the doors for new choreography and made her enjoy the songs again.

When she started to plan this tour she had decided that she was done with the old, repetitive sound and moves and wanted to show the world that she was an artist as well as a performer and how diverse she was. Not ’just’ by sitting down to play a song on the piano. The show was a story of how she started out and took over the world and then slowed down, had some dark moments and then built up her career again and established herself as a legendary artist. One of the best ever.

Naturally she liked the second half of the show the best. Sitting by the piano, hearing the fans sing along, cry and then from there take them all the way home leaving them feeling like they were run over by a bus. Her show sent them through all her emotions, the raving happiness at the start, anger, sadness and forgiveness and finally confidence and strength. She had thought about it a lot and finally come up with the perfect storyline.

She felt like she was more involved than before and more awake, more able to leave things in the hands of people she trusted. She was on the floor stretching and trying to find some inner calm, going over some of the advice she had been given since the first show when they had watched it together. Too nervous she found herself walking to the back of the stage, away from the audience during vocally straining parts and losing contact with them. Sing towards them and not her band or some prop on stage. ”Don’t forget the audience,” she whispered and laughed. As if. It was a reflex to turn around and strut away to give the audience a nice view of her butt cheeks.

Bobby sat down on the couch and looked stressed.

”What is it?” she asked.

”Nothing, I hope.” He didn’t want to tell her he had been worried all day, and his suspicions about the ’mishaps’ was eating him.

Sarah started to prepare to do Gaga’s make up and Bobby got off the couch. He exhaled and posed like a boxer. ”Knock em dead, girl.”

She chuckled and hit his fists back.

Pt. 2 | Pt. 3 | Pt. 4 | Pt. 5 | Pt. 6 | Pt. 7

[jerepars]

The Con Extended Chapter Notes

Hyperlinks appear in blue (underlined on mobile). The story is posted here.

And now for something a little different. Okay, a lot different. Clearly this is an alternate universe where Betty grew up with her older brother, Chic (he hasn't been mentioned by name yet, but it is him), and his best friend, Jughead. Chic definitely isn't a replacement for Archie though (however, with Chic being Jughead's best friend, the friendship dynamics are different). Archie will actually play a very important role in this story.

This story is based on a fic that I wrote a few years ago in a different fandom (Actually, full transparency, the very first inception of this storyline goes even further back to when I was fourteen, writing stuff about pop punk bands, haha. So if we're keeping count then maybe this is actually the third version of it). I was re-reading that and as I kept going forward, I kept thinking that it could potentially be an interesting Bughead story if I reworked it.

Now, just because I'm adapting it from something I wrote before, it doesn't mean that I just changed the character names and went with the exact same story. The storyline is something I've done before but the characters and their lives don't translate like that into this story. There may be instances where I'll keep a few sentences in the narrative or phrases of dialogue, but it's definitely a brand new story.

In the past this story has been sarcastic and light and funny. And I think I do still want it to be on the lighter side. But it's Betty and Jughead out of Riverdale. So there has to be a bit of an undercurrent that wasn't there before. That's something I'm really excited to explore.

I think a good way to describe this story at this point, without saying too much, is how Betty and Jughead's relationship (if they're going to have one) is affected by their relationships with other people in their lives.

Because he and my brother were three years my senior, they believed they had the right to do whatever the fuck they wanted to me. There were pranks, name-calling, and all the other typical things boys at that cooties age could do to a little girl. I’ll admit I was just as bad. Everyone around town always praised me for being such a good little girl. But to them, I was annoying. Actually, that was an understatement. Everywhere they went, I went. Everything they did, I did. I was the little tag-along sister that brothers loathed. As my brother’s best friend, he took the opportunity as often as possible to tell me that he despised my presence and that I was a constant headache. Even at a young age he’d already been wise with his words.

I listened to Joyce Manor's self-titled album on loop for a huge chunk of writing this prologue, which isn't hard to do because it's under 20 minutes long. The last song on the album is called "Constant Headache", which I don't think would be relevant to 10-year-old Jughead's feelings, but I do think that 10-year-old Jughead would have been apt to say something clever like that.

Although he remained best friends with my brother, I didn’t see much of him past fourteen. I moved an entire time zone away to fuel my own ambitions. Whenever I was home in our small town, I ignored him. Whenever he was at the house with my brother, I would hide away in my room or go for a long run. Because I had the kind of crush on him that meant I couldn’t utter a single word normally without overthinking it or mentally berating myself. He had some kind of power over my head and my heart merely by existing. Everything about him was intimidating to me. I should have stopped liking him then, on those long weekends and school breaks that I was home, because I saw how girls acted around him once he got his leather jacket that put him in a fortress of self. In spite of his sensitivity, or maybe because of it, he was like other teenage boys in high school: bad at managing feelings and relationships.

Still on the Joyce Manor album. There's a song called "Leather Jacket" and it starts: In your new leather jacket, you're somebody else. And it's not nice to meet you in a fortress of self. So while wearing the jacket, the person puts up a front, and the jacket conceals the person's true self. Sounds like someone who could be Jughead, or this version of Jughead that I have in my head for this story.

I lived in dorms all through high school so I could attend the pre-professional conservatory program at the Joffrey Academy of Dance in Chicago. I never had anything less than a soloist’s role in all of the student showcases and galas, and I had the principal female role in the academy’s spring production all before graduating high school. I’d even heard whispers that I had been considered for the same role a year earlier but was ultimately passed over because I’d missed a few months of dancing due to injury. I worked at my craft with everything I had, because it was what I loved the most, so I thrived under the pressure of my life as a burgeoning young dancer. I moved up from the academy’s conservatory program to its trainee program, then graduated to the fully-funded studio company program where I was offered an apprentice position with the actual company that the school was affiliated with, The Joffrey Ballet. It was beyond thrilling to see my dreams begin to come to fruition.

Is the whole dance story thing too played out? Are we overrun with these stories? Are they too common and unoriginal now?

Something that I couldn't part with from the previous version of this story was the dance element. I considered it, but not for very long. I thought about other careers or ventures or education Betty could have as an alternative but they just didn't fit right. I think it's better that Betty isn't a writer in this story. Because it's in her voice, I want her to come off as authentic, just as her, not as a journalist.

I feel like it's not a run of the mill dance story. Though I suppose it's the reader's prerogative to decide that. What I can promise is that the ballet part of this story will always be researched and represented appropriately to the best of my ability. No second guessing. No guessing. I'm obsessed with doing proper background research for stories, always.

A lot of the research is actually already done because I did so much of it when I wrote the story that this is based on a few years back. I did have to take some creative liberties though.

The blockquoted paragraph above reveals that the story takes place in Chicago, and according to Betty she lived in dorms through high school for a conservatory program. In the old version of this story, it was set in Toronto and the narrator (allegedly, it was still fan fiction, after all) trained at an academy similar to Canada's National Ballet School, which is a ballet boarding school with ties to the National Ballet of Canada.

I knew right away that I wanted the Bughead version of this story to be set in Chicago. That meant that it would be the Joffrey Academy of Dance that Betty went to and it would be the Joffrey Ballet where she ends up as a corps member. After perusing the Joffrey Ballet website, it seems that I may be a little ahead of my time on there being ballet boarding school in Chicago. This upcoming school year, September 2017, is the first year they're introducing a conservatory program. The current academics and housing situation offered definitely do not qualify it as a ballet boarding school, but if we're to accept that Betty is an 21-year-old adult in this alternate universe then it must be set sometime in the future, where the program has developed more, OR the program is on the same level as CNBS and NBC. I'll have to take the creative liberty on this one. Sorry. It's such a small detail that won't have major impact on the story anyway, so it doesn't matter. Oh, who am I kidding, none of this actually matters.

The rest of what Betty says is totally copacetic though. The academy has student programs/productions and galas. The Trainee Program is a step up from the conservatory (though having been in the conservatory isn't a requirement for becoming a trainee) and the Studio Company is a full scholarship given to "10 outstanding students selected by the Joffrey Ballet Artistic Director and Head of Studio Company and Trainee Program."

Betty's age timeline going through all of this is like this in my mind: 14-17 Conservatory Program 17 Trainee Program 18 Studio Company --> Apprentice 19 Apprentice --> Corps de Ballet 19-21 (her current age) Corps de Ballet

I'm sure I'm the only person this actually matters to. But here we are.

A running quip between my brother, his best friend, and me is that role reversal happened somewhere in our lives. Whereas I had followed them around as a little girl, it was almost like they were following me since I moved. My brother moved to Chicago (Evanston, to be precise) a year after me to attend college at Northwestern. His best friend opted for the University of Michigan, in order to be closer to his own younger sister. So when he wound up in Ann Arbor, we were all reunited by Midwestern geography. But he and my brother only saw each other once in a while as college students in different states (hell, my brother had lived literally less than 20 miles from me then, and we hardly ever saw each other during that four-year stretch of time), which meant that I rarely saw him. The three of us never had a full-fledged reunion despite them following me to the Midwest.

Despite being known as a school in Chicago, Northwestern University is actually, technically, just north of Chicago in Evanston, IL. The University of Michigan is in Ann Arbor, MI. Ann Arbor is only about an hour from Toledo, OH so if Jughead wanted to go college somewhere that would be near his sister, Jellybean, Ann Arbor would be a good bet. Obviously he could have also just gone to school in Ohio, but if you look at the geography of where Toledo is, it's closer to Michigan than most of the major cities and/or college towns in Ohio. I also wanted Juggie to go to a school that's competitive to get into, which I know Michigan is. There will be more on his eduction, his academic prowess, how he could afford a state school being from out-of-state, etc. as we get into the actual story.

A concerned 21-year-old. That’s what I am now. It’s my third year with the company. In the last two years I’ve come to the realization that I don’t want to be a principal dancer. But I also don’t just want to be in the corps. I do want solo roles. I do want the spotlight on my pas de deux partner and me for a portion of the amazing shows our company puts on. This upcoming season, I have my biggest solo role so far. I’m still in the corps de ballet, but I have a part as big as one of the second soloists. So I shouldn’t be this concerned. You don’t choose a life in dance for the money. I’m fine with the fact that I have to live with my brother to maintain a healthy lifestyle and my sanity because it means that I get to keep living my dream. All in all, things in my life are pretty good. Maybe I should even be describing them as good, without the prefacing word. But maybe I’m concerned because I’m smart enough to know that nothing gold can stay for too long. And there is a problem looming on the horizon. Because that full-fledged reunion that never happened with my brother’s best friend? It’s about to happen.

The phrase nothing gold can stay isn't a reference to the poem by Robert Frost but rather the album by New Found Glory. Ha. Though that is a reference to the poem. So it's all good, right?

I think there are a lot of ideas introduced by our dear narrator, Betty, in this prologue that spurn questions. Like, would Alice Cooper really let her daughter move away at fourteen? Was Jughead a Serpent as a teenager? Where does Archie fit in to all of this? Etc.

My instinct is to keyboard smash and answer all these questions before they're asked so that there's no confusion. But I'm going to stop myself because I think that a lot of would-be questions are adequately addressed in the first chapter (and beyond).

Last thing to address here: the point of view. It's in first person. I don't know how people are going to feel about that. I know we don't see much first person POV in the Bughead fandom, which makes sense, because we focus on both Betty and Jughead. So maybe people will like this because it's not what we're usually reading, or maybe they'll hate it because they don't want a firsthand account from Betty's perspective. Either way, I'm fine with both reactions. But this has to be in first person POV. It just has to be. Even telling the story entirely in her perspective but in third person doesn't work. I want her to tell the story honestly from her perspective but I also want it to be tinged with her bias, how she sees the world and the other characters. That becomes important later on. I think it also plays a big part in the pining aspect, what that emotional part of it is like.

[justanothercinemaniac]

Epic Movie (Re)Watch #127 - Chicago

Spoilers below.

Have I seen it before: Yes

Did I like it then: Yes.

Do I remember it: Yes.

Did I see it in theaters: No.

Format: Blu-ray

1) This film holds a lot of personal significance to me. I first saw it when I was 13 in one of the hardest months of my life. I was sick with pneumonia (diagnosed that day) and my great grandmother had just died, so the whole family was over because the funeral was that week. It was late and someone wanted to put in a movie so my dad pulls out Chicago. My mother was a little bit strangely strict about what PG-13 movies I could and could not see, usually forbidding more sexual stuff than anything else. So this was the most sexual film I had seen at the time and I had felt because of that, and the fact I was watching it with all the adults of my family, that I had been promoted to the adult table in some senses. I was really captivated by the music, the story, the moral ambiguity, it was just so different from anything else I’ve seen. I would not be Just Another Cinemaniac without Chicago. In some ways its as important to my film fan identity as Back to the Future.

2) The film opens with an extreme close up on Roxie’s (Renée Zellweger’s) eye, giving us our first inkling on how this is a musical in Roxie’s mind. But more on that later.

3) Note that we never see Velma Kelly’s (Catherine Zeta Jones’) face until she’s on stage giving a performance. This creates the feeling that Velma is ALWAYS putting on a performance.

4) Catherine Zeta Jones as Velma Kelly.

This film is pretty much perfectly cast, I think. 4 of its actors were nominated for Oscars, with another being nominated for a Golden Globe. Zeta Jones actually won her first (and to date only) Oscar for her role in this film, and for good reason to. She IS Velma Kelly. Zeta Jones is totally lost in the role, being able present all of Velma’s different qualities. Her showmanship, her rare vulnerability, her killer instinct, and it all just WORKS. You never EVER feel like you’re watching an actress. Zeta Jones IS Velma Kelly and as the first character we get a nice long look at, it is a great performance to start the film off with.

5) Hey, it’s Dominic West!

6) Renée Zellweger as Roxie Hart.

Roxie is really the lead of this film, the character who we follow along and see the world through. The writing is really interesting. It would have been easy to start Roxie off as some innocent girl who made a mistake and goes on this big journey, but Roxie - despite whatever facade she puts up - is hardly some innocent girl. She readily and passionately has an affair even though her husband is a pretty nice guy (and not a “nice guy” where the guy acts nice but is really a jerk, but is actually pretty kind), murderers her lover just for being a jerk (there are better reasons to murderer someone), all while putting up this act like she did nothing wrong and is the victim. And I honestly think she believes it.

Renée Zellweger captures all these conflicting parts of Roxie’s character with true mastery. She also is able to handle Roxie’s transformation into a more cutthroat and determined creature with the same expertise. Like with Zeta Jones, you never feel like you’re watching Zellweger just giving a performance. She is - for all intents and purposes - Roxie. Originally Charlize Theron was cast in the part but after a change in directors there was a change in casting, and Zellweger had to learn signing and dancing for the film. It paid off wonderfully, as she was nominated for an Oscar for what is possibly her best role ever.

7) John C. Reilly as Amos.

John C. Reilly was also nominated for an Oscar for his performance in this film, and it is clear why. Amos is the only honestly good character in the film, and even then he is not without his flaws. He is not above losing his temper or being able to say when enough is enough when it comes to Roxie (you know, the woman who cheats on him, tries to have him take the fall for murder, and manipulates him in court just to get off). But - because this is Chicago - he’s the only main(ish) character to come out the other side being totally and utterly screwed over. There are some nice layers to Amos (mainly the loss of temper as mentioned above) and Reilly is just totally sincere in the part. It’s no wonder he was nominated for an Oscar.

8) This film sets itself apart from other movie musicals through the idea that the musical is all in Roxie’s head.

This creates a plausible explanation for why character’s burst into song and dance, allows the film to utilize some unique editing and art direction, and finally gives us a nice peek into Roxie’s head. This element allows us to see just how passionate Roxie is not only for the desire to perform but also the desire for fame. It also lets us know how she sees OTHER characters in the film (namely Billy Flynn, but more on that later). I think it is this key element that set the film up for such critical and artistic success, leading to its best picture win at the Oscars.

9) Danny Elfman provides a few nice instrumental pieces of score for the film which feel totally period Chicago. When you are adapting a popular musical such as Chicago adding extra music could be a challenge, but Elfman’s occasional score blends perfectly with the rest of the film.

10) Queen Latifah as Mama.

Latifah rounds out the quartet of Academy Award nominated performances with her portrayal as Matron Mama Morton. I think it’s Latifah’s best performance. She is able to portray Mama as cooperative and a bit soft spoken, but still someone who deals with no bullshit from her inmates. She is as manipulative as any other character in this film, if not as in big a way. You often hear her tell Roxie and Velma EXACTLY what they want to hear knowing that it will lead to a big pay day for her. It is a crafty role which Latifah plays well, and her introductory song “When You’re Good to Mama” shows off not only this characterization but Roxie’s perception of her quite well. It also allows for Latifah to show off her impressive singing chops.

11) The Cell Block Tango.

Where do I even begin with this number? It is by far the most iconic and best part of the entire film. The filmmakers are able to use the idea of “the musical in Roxie’s mind” to create a visually unique and compelling number which is edited together seamlessly with the “real world” of the Cook County jail Roxie finds herself in. Each of the “murderess mistresses” is given enough time to create a unique character and create a sense of the world Roxie (and the audience) finds herself in at this time. I particularly find the use of ribbons to illustrate blood/murder wildly effective, noting that Hunyak’s ribbon (the girl who constantly claims she is not guilty) is white whereas the others are red. This suggest that she is - in fact - innocent.

It is also worth noting that while the first story starts off very much “I’m guilty, here’s what happened”, that by the time we get to the inmate who claims her husband “ran into her knife” ten times the stories have become more and more claiming of legal innocence. This is a trend which continues through Velma’s story, where she claims she blacked out after seeing her husband & sister having sex and came to with blood on her hands. We as the audience have actually seen NOTHING which contradicts this story, further creating a nice sense of showmanship within the film.

12) Okay, I am all for good female friendships on film and television, but I would be lying if I said the catty relationship between Velma & Roxie was not entertaining. I think this is a byproduct from good writing (with what we know about these characters, how ELSE could their relationship go?) and the wildly captivating chemistry between Zeta Jones and Zellweger. Their relationship is one of the key sources of conflict throughout the film and with those two actresses it just WORKS.

13) Richard Gere as Billy Flynn.

The number in Roxie’s head which introduces us to Flynn - “All I Care About” - is a pitch perfect example of expectations vs. reality. After what she’s heard about Billy (which isn’t much mind you), Roxie expects him to be this honest to goodness lawyer who only wants to save women from dying in by the noose in Chicago. What we get however is the craftiest, most manipulative skeeze ball in the film. So why is he so damn likable? Who is he comparable to the roguish Han Solo? Why do we root for him? I think that is all in Gere’s performance. It would be easily to play him as a disgusting slime ball but there is a charisma that Gere brings which I think elevates the character and the film. Originally offered to Hugh Jackman & John Travolta at different parts, Gere’s chemistry with the rest of the cast is great and although the film didn’t land him an Oscar nomination he did receive a Golden Globe for his work.

14) I think it’s worth noting that Roxie does not take too long to adapt to prison. Again evidence that she’s not as innocent as she wants people to think.

15) “We Both Reached For The Gun”

I can never tell if this or “Razzle Dazzle” is my favorite number in the film, but I think for a visual standpoint it HAS to be this. This is once again where the conceit of “the musical in Roxie’s head” benefits the film GREATLY. The imagery of Roxie being a dummy operated by Billy to sell her story not reflects on their relationship in an incredibly clear way (as well as how Billy is literally using people) but also is just visually fascinating. Zellweger is a lot of fun during the number, and if you ever want to know why this film won the Oscar for best editing the year it was nominated just watch this scene.

16) The song “Roxie” when Roxie is at the top of her game is a great character study. It goes even deeper into Roxie’s desire for fame and admiration, a key quality in her character that drives pretty much all her actions throughout the film. It features gorgeous cinematography with its use of mirrors and presents us with Roxie’s ideal self. This ideal self is not a good person (not necessarily), but someone who is adored by her audience. If that doesn’t speak to who Roxie is as a character I don’t know what does.

17) A film is told in cuts, as in cutting from one moment to the next in as clean and clear a way as possible.

Velma [after Mama suggests she kisses Roxie’s ass to maintain some position]: “Over my dead body.”

[We cut to the mess hall, where Velma is seen smiling at Roxie]

Velma: “Mind if I join you?”

18) “I Can’t Do It Alone”

Up until this point we have not seen Velma truly vulnerable. We have peeked more into who Roxie is as a character than who Velma is. That all changes with this number, which shows us that Velma is just as desperate for the spotlight as Roxie is. She NEEDS to stay relevant, she NEEDS the fame and the admiration, and only when it was too late did she realize that the murder of her sister took away one of the key things that made her so desirable to the world in the first place. This song is a fun number that adds nice depth to Zeta Jones’ character and shows off just how talented she can be with Velma’s vulnerability.

19) My heart broke a little when I saw Velma’s face after Roxie’s rejection of her.

And in that moment and that moment alone, I think I shipped the two of them together.

20) Lucy Liu’s glorified cameo as Kitty, the newest jazz killer in Chicago and the one who threatens to take away Roxie’s fame, is a perfect example of how easily Roxie can fall. But here’s the thing, Roxie is smarter than she appears. And more manipulative. It is her greatest strength that people underestimate her, so when she “faints” and mentions “the baby” everyone - from Velma to Billy - are all surprised by her.

21) I was a naive 13 year old. I didn’t understand that the doctor who said he’d testify that Roxie was pregnant had very clearly slept with her (hence Billy’s remark about his fly being open).

22) “Mister Cellophane”

Somehow this song not only shows us how ROXIE perceives her estranged husband as being someone who’s not worth caring about, but also makes Amos into a sympathetic character. He is not particularly whiny about the fact that he’s oft forgotten, he’s just a little sad about it. Reilly’s performance in the song is filled with soft sorrow and vulnerability we don’t always get to see from the actor, an honesty which carries the entire song on its back. It is a truly worthy number to be included with the rest of the film, with its Chaplin like art style and Reilly’s vocals, and I’m glad it made the cut.

23) In a lot of ways Chicago is a noir comedy musical. I say this for two reasons: Amos being kinda screwed over at the end, and the fact that Hunyak - the only innocent girl in the jail - is the only who is hanged. This also reminds Roxie of the fact that she IS on trial for murder and of the fatal consequences she could face.

24) “Razzle Dazzle”

If “We Both Reached for the Gun” is my favorite number in the film from a stylistic standpoint, then “Razzle Dazzle” is probably my favorite from a thematic one. Gere expresses Flynn’s belief that the courts are just a circus, simply entertainment to be manipulated, in a way which is just that: entertaining. I am always totally taken in by the song through its themes of craftiness, playful melody, and fun visuals. It is just a wonderful number which I love watching again and again.

25) If “Razzle Dazzle” doesn’t tell you how Billy sees the court system than this line will:

Hell, the non-musical court room scenes are in a lot of ways more dramatic than the musical ones.

26) This film had a song which was shot but not included in the final cut, one sung between Mama and Velma called “Class”. Still found on the movie’s soundtrack, “Class” had the pair discuss how the world seems to have gone to shit and how no one has any class. It was cut both for pacing issues and - largely - because it did not fit the theme of “the musical in Roxie’s head”. Roxie was at the court house and these two started singing after hearing about what was going on over the radio. It is a wonderful song but I think the film works better without it featured.

27) It took absolutely no time at all for Roxie not to matter. The press didn’t even want her picture after the verdict was read. Another killer, another star.

28) The final number of the film is a dual thing. The first of which is Roxie singing the song “Nowadays” on her own at an audition. The song is sad, somber, and lacks umph. This causes the directors to pass on Roxie. But when Velma and Kelly work together? When they’re able to work with their heat and chemistry and put on a duet of “Nowadays”? The umph is back and it is a wonderful number to end the film on!

I’m obviously biased through my own personal experience with the film, but I think Chicago is quite possibly the best movie musical of the 21st century (yes, even better than Les Miserables). The acting is incredible across the board, with Catherine Zeta Jones and Renée Zellweger being the obvious standouts. The concept of “the musical in Roxie’s head” allows for a musical which is unique and supports a wonderful art style. The songs are fun, the pacing and editing are great, and it’s a technical spectacle in its subtletly. Just a wonderfully entertaining film I think everyone should watch.