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flowervolcano · 20 days ago

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I’m back to write all about the latest Deadpool issue; spoilers ahead!

I know, I didn’t write anything for issue #8 on here, I wrote about it on my bluesky account and forgot about Tumblr— I’m back though and I have WAYYY more to say about this issue; because I think it’s my favorite so far. It’s really good. I’ll go into a little bit of detail but as you know my whole bias is about Taskmaster first and foremost. (Partially why there wasn’t much talk last month ^^;)

So let’s just get to the bottom of this, you know? Me Taskposting and losing my mind over his relationship with Ellie. Because this issue definitely surprised me, and it’s nearly impossible NOT to discuss my thoughts this time!!!

—

When we get to the part when Tasky shows up, Ellie is near death; he’s expressive about his worry, more than he’s ever been before. This surprises me because he’s not really the kind of guy that freaks out about others well-being (at least never upfront.) but here he takes no time to try and figure out everything and point out she’s not healing and the worry as to why she isn’t healing.

Taskmaster then reprimanded her about the mission. And that bleeding out is NOT what he meant when it comes to adapting under pressure; because obviously he doesn’t want her to be hurt, not this critical; obviously she won’t avoid danger, but he never meant for her to die. And he’s gotta be feeling guilt for this now since he did leave her on her own. (Not much he could do, but you get the point) he’s obviously not taking this lightly. Which brings us to the second panel where he says “screw Wilson! What about Ellie?”

Now you gotta try and tell me he doesn’t care about her now. Tell me he’s not a big softie. (You can’t) Tony made a promise (even though he didn’t actually make the promise to protect her but we know well enough) he doesn’t want anything to happen to Ellie, and I believe he knows that Wade wouldn’t want her to trade her own life for his. Although, in this moment Tony’s likely not even thinking about what Wade would want, screw that, HE doesn’t want her to do this.

Which is true, it’s not even me over analyzing this or assuming through subtext. This is stated on the next page; he refuses to let Ellie make a risk like that.

I jumped over a panel, so I’m going back to this real quick and then I’ll get to the rest. It’s just important I don’t gloss over this one. Because Taskmaster is very adamant about his disbelief in alchemy and how it works. He does not think it can do anything. But he’s REALLY stressing in this panel, y’know for a guy who doesn’t care about anything or anyone and has no attachments™

Yeah. What a coolheaded detached mercenary he is. He totally does NOT care about Ellie, she’s just an asset to him. That’s all. No reason to be freaking out this much… just business

He cares too much.

Anyways. He’s still not letting this fly, he keeps trying to get to the bottom of their plans because he is WORRIED SICK. He has NO IDEA what’ll happen to Ellie and why they’re taking these measures, making these risks. “That still doesn’t explain how you’ll save Ellie” the girl dying on the table— like he just saw her get dragged into the building and he thinks she’s going to die but Valentine MUST be trying to help her, right? NO! They’re going to perform a ritual that may very well KILL Ellie in the process. And he’s trying to process this in such a short amount of time as well as understand WHY they even think this is a good idea. Val is endangering a child in Tasky’s eyes and he doesn’t think this would even be considered if Wade had a say in it—

Seriously, Taskmaster just pulled out his SWORD. This guy doesn’t do ANYTHING half the time if it doesn’t mean money is involved. Very rarely does he step in to save someone else or stop something he thinks is dangerous. He’s a very morally grey character, he doesn’t always do the right thing, in fact he enjoys doing whatever gets him the most money so he’s not big on being morally acceptable. But here he is about to fight Valentine just to protect Ellie. He won’t let her be a “glorified bloodbag” for Wade, as he put it. And Ideeply respect that. Taskmaster’s never really had problems with others making sacrifices before, he kidnapped a kid in DP VS Punisher once just because the kid was good with numbers. Do you know that Ellie HAS to mean something to him for Tasky to even make a big deal over this.

Even when Ellie says that her dad would do the same he refuses because “your dad was a certified nut job” it’s a different story if Wade chooses to sacrifice himself for Ellie than for her to do it for Wade. Tony will not support it.

Anyways. Look at this… he’s completely calm and collected watching the life get sucked out of Ellie’s body.

I’ve not seen a panel of Taskmaster filled with THIS much angst in… basically since 2010. This is actually making me crazy. HE CANNOT EVEN SAY ANYTHING. I know he was crying; this big ol’ softie!! But just think about what must be going through his head. He basically let her do this and the guilt must be eating him alive. + bonus Taskpool moment, Wae dreamt of Tasky & the rest of his family (though not Val, which is interesting to me)

I’m still convinced he cried, because what is THIS PANEL??? He’s covering his face (maybe he’s face palming) he’s probably going through emotional whiplash after everything that just happened; he lost Ellie for a moment and didn’t even get to properly process or grieve. She’s back and he’s not having it, too much distress for him. Like he probably is embarrassed over how much he stressed over her. (Rightfully so.) so he’s facepalming, sure, but I don’t think it’s annoyance.

Finally, here is a little family shot; and Tasky is back to pretending he doesn’t care, he’s just here for the money. As if he wasn’t just stressing over Ellie 5 minutes ago. He’s not fooling anybody.

There is a lot more in the issue that I’d like to discuss later perhaps. I keep meaning to write a long essay about this series. Eventually I will. But as of now, I’ll continue with my Taskposting because they are are shorter and on mobile tumblr only lets me share 10 images, so I cannot really delve into everything. I could without images maybe??? But I like sharing images.

Uh, if you read this far, thanks & congrats. I will be back next month to gush and scream over #10!

There’s a lot of questions I have for the next one.

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justanotherpersonsuniverse · 4 months ago

Note

Part One

Hey Cap!!

I hope your doing well <3

Sorry this took so long! Due to how long PN is there’s a chance I won’t go as in depth with each chapter as usual, there is, however, every chance I’ll ignore that and go crazy. We shall see what happens! (spoiler, i ignored it0

Chapters covered: Origins (1), and Origins (2)

Questions are numbered and in bold.

Onto the insanity!

[— — —]

It’s always very nostalgic to go back to the start :3

You’ve obviously improved leaps and bounds in writing so it is in a noticeably different style at the start but it’s still fantastic.

The first line just highlights that this won’t be the usual story falling into tropes and using cliches as a crutch for everything. I think it’s fantastic. I’m not sure whether it was intentional, but the fact that it focuses on the mundane and says “But this wasn’t the story she’d chosen to be in. This was simply one she was a part of.” is just- perfect.

For Juleka and the story you tell as a whole. Like, yes, the superhero and magical aspect is essential for the framework of the story, but unlike usual it is not glorified or the most important thing to Juleka.

Idk man I just love it :)) Especially because Juleka already sidelines herself in her own story. I love the way that she isn’t aware that she is the main character in like her own life? She idolises ladybug and believes she blends into the background and just- she doesn’t believe she is a focal point for anyone. Until she gets to be Panthera of course.

Don’t worry, I’ll go into her relationship with her own identity, i just think I should move onto actually commenting on the current story rather than rambling on :3

I do like how Luka and Anarka are mentioned immediately, it excellently shows how she lives and who’s important to her in a natural way.

I think the only other long haul fic I’ve read (not written by you, Cap) which focussed on Juleka was Powers of Invisibility by yestomiraculous, and as much as I adore it even that sometimes felt like it was more a vehicle to talk about other characters?

Question 1: I’ve kinda just assumed you’ve read Powers of Invisibility, but I’m curious if you actually have? The way you write Juleka is very fun, but I’m curious if you have any fics you’ve pulled inspiration from for that too )

Whether it was a symptom of Juleka at heart being someone who observes rather than interjects or because that was the intention I don’t know. What I’m getting at is that I think you balance Juleka’s character really bloody well in this. Yes, she constantly feels invisible and is critical of herself and is observant, but she also has her own stuff going on?

Whenever it does feel like Juleka is just floating, observing other people feels very intentional, like in princess prom when she just watches Adam dance with Rose. Sorry I will go on a lot of tangents in this i have so many thoughts on Panthera, ranging from the intricacies to the plot at large.

Oh I love that we see Marinette and Fu nearly getting run over from Juleka’s perspective, the way that her guilt about freezing up and not helping pushes her later? Amazing. Plus, how much her internal monologue over analyses things and assumes the worst is so much fun.

AAAA YOU BASTARD. Sorry, what I meant to say was; Of course you managed to have Juleka put Marinette on a pedestal in the first chapter. “Juleka could only see Marinette as incredible brave, a hero.” toxic yuri ladynoire is one of my favourite things about this fic, but I never realised you’d established it right at the start!!

Of course she immediately turned to criticising herself Juleka girly please. There is this thing called the bystander effect I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of it-

The way that she has unrealistic expectations of perfection for herself while simultaneously believing she is not worthy of so much… we love a contradictory character.

Fits for a cat tbh, they’re contrarian. Everyone (minus Adama (and Roger) think Juleka is like so nice and lovely and yet-

I need to stop going on a rant or i’ll never finish this.

Help not the way Juleka was all doom and gloom but as soon as she spoke to Rose she was like “oh hey maybe today won’t suck”

Love the little POV change to briefly show why Adrien doesn’t choose to help Fu, I’ve always liked that. Even though it’s simple it’s better than leaving us to wonder what changed.

Adore that the main thing she mentions about Adrien is a) he’s shorter than expected, and b) she admires him because she also wants to be a model.

Not the way you contrasted Adrien and Juleka here, Adrien quickly forgot about Fu being collapsed on the pavement but Juleka is being consumed by it.

Tidbit of Chloe being a better person in this story, I do like that Juleka acknowledges what she’s seeing (Chloe being nervously protective of Adrien) and then dismisses it to fit the narrative of what she knows.

Here he is! Stoneheart! I do like how Juleka obviously does think it’s a little bit cool but is also in a right panic about everyone being safe.

Question 2: Does Luka go to school? Like. i don’t think he does in the show it’s a bit unclear, it doesn’t matter anyway. I'm curious about what his deal is in Panthera.

Yippee!! Juleka saves Fu!! And will becoming irrevocably traumatised due to this!!

Question 3: If this isn’t too spoilery, what is Fu’s method for choosing miraculous holders? Is it literally just playing the good samaritan story from the bible or is there more behind the scenes for who he targets? (and why is it always a teenager??)

I can’t tell if Fu actually didn’t notice Juleka not helping before or if he just says that to make her feel better. However, Juleka apologising to a stranger because she feels it’s morally wrong not to even though she struggled to speak to a long time classmate? Love it.

I LOVE ANARKA MY SILLY. I READ OUT HER LINES ALOUD YIPPEE

Question 4: Do you remember why you chose to give Anarka a scottish accent? If so, what where your reasons and was it this was from the start?

First; cute that Juleka and Rose texted to check on each other (and that she’s Rose <3 in her contacts), second; Rose you neek why are you stuttering over text. I can’t remember if we ever get shown what Rose has Juleka as in her contacts but i’m sure it’s something sickeningly sweet.

Juleka would chicken out about sending a heart. Tbh i find that so funny cause I do the same thing about crushes but to my friends I send <3 and call them silly names all the time it’s prolly more noticeable not to lmao

Plagg!! Stinky cheese cat!! He’s such a good character in this fr, he’s a good balance of a menace while also acting as a wonderful friend, confidant, and guiding figure for Juleka

Plagg is so overwhelming for realsies, you can’t just drop that you had blackbeard as a pirate. He’s such an interesting person in history but now all I can imagine is a pirate hat with cat ears while his suit makes it look like his beards on fire. Kinda want to see that design now… that’d go hard.

Tbh if i was told by some alien looking cat that i was about to be a superhero i’d freak out too, there are so many unknown variables fr

THIS IS SO MUCH PRESSURE TO PUT ON A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL. WHY AREN’T ADULTS DOING THIS.

Juleka and her saviours complex are great and all but the poor thing doesn’t need all that.

The fact that she continues just to everyone and her brother but not because she wants this… i do love that that’s a consistent thing for her characterisation you usually see the hero character wanting to do it for them instead of solely focussing on the safety of others? Idk i’m explaining this badly but I like her motivations fr

I’ll forever be mad about the unbalanced abilities in miraculous, i’m so glad you gave the black cat another ability to at least match the amount given to the ladybug but it’s just such a frustrating part of the show.

WHOOO FIRST APPEARANCE OF PANTHERA

The masking and inferiority complex towards herself go crazy fr. Ah, ye old Panthera design I thank it for its service of inspiring this whole fic but I will always love your new designs for any and all miraculous heroes Cap they go so hard.

No way she calls Ladybug familiar-

Question 5: How does the glamour situation work over in PN? Like, we see Juleka break through it to figure out Marinette, but we are also currently watching her fight with it about knowing who Rena Rouge is. If it’s not in spoiler territory I’d love to know some of the inner workings :3

Love how self conscious Marinette is at first and how Juleka is the one directing the conversation (and the way she is freaking out about doing it she’s so real). The dichotomy of how they both see each other as the collected trustworthy superhero while never mentioning it goes crazy.

I believe you write from Marinette’s POv a couple times but i’m not sure, the fact that she sees Panthera as the put together one goes crazy

The way that Juleka calls Ladybug partner throughout the story… it’s perfect i love it. And that Marinette calls her kitty, oh oh!! New question.

Question 6: Ladynoire obviously does not happen in this, but both in universe it has been hinted at (the date and Marinette saying “we just speedran dating” that line lives in my head rent free) and in asks you’ve said the story could have gone that way. What I’m getting at is; did Marinette ever have a crush on Panthera (knowingly or not) and would you be willing to briefly get into that here?

I will always go crazy over Juleka being the bouncy enthusiastic one when transformed, you’ve said it was originally a joke and then you realised how sad it could get and I’m SO glad you went the sad route. Lighthearted ladynoire vibes in the season one rewrite will always be so cute to read back though

The way Juleka keeps freaking out internally over athletic feats is so good, i love this aspect we get in writing which you can’t really get in tv shows without a super imposed internal monologue which feels unnatural most of the time.

RAAA THE WAY YOU EMPHASISE THAT BOTH SUPERHEROS ARE ESSENTIAL IN THE FIRST FIGHT IS SO GOOD

Juleka freaking out about hissing and being smarmy and all that is so much fun to read.

Juleka saying “We’re fucked” after seeing the scuba suit is iconic. She has literally zero faith at the start-

No!!! I get so sad when Juleka spirals while Ladybug is getting questioned by Alya about everything. So glad you made her also ask Juleka questions fr.

YOO?? I was going to bring up how she hadn’t referred to herself as Panthera once during this but she did at the end there after she had been validated by an outside source (alya being curious). Obviously she refers to Panthera as a separate entity even in her head later on, which makes me crazy but we’ll get there when we get there but I’ll totally pay attention to whether she’s calling herself Juleka or Panthera and in what situation she’s doing that in.

It’s a small detail but i’ve found those fun to play around with in writing.

HEY HANG ON HEYHEYEHYE

NO YOU DIDN’T OMG

Ok so i never registered that you wrote “This wasn’t just superheroes and villains. This was more, she could feel it. She could only ask. What’s going on…” and like?? This is such a huge thing Juleka focusses on in this?

Like how she takes their work seriously in a different way to Marinette because she sees it as a genuine threat both during the akuma and out of it because of how emotions are targeted and how she resorts to simple violence whereas Marinette will use a complex plan. This is like tangentially related to how Marinette has her black and white thinking vibes (superheros and villains) while Juleka just sees people, people in different situations and how that changes her perception of their actions and-

Sorry i’m not sure if all this makes sense i just kinda went crazy.

[— — —]

Second chapter!!

I do enjoy how Juleka almost told Ladybug to use the cure but social anxiety-d her way out of it. Hammering home her regret by giving Luka a hidden sprained leg is devious. I like him in this btw he’s just a silly guy who is essential to Juleka’s mental health and has his own stuff going on :3

Plagg not getting much Camembert in this is so tragic for him, the fact that he accepts string cheese from Juleka anyway just proves he’s a softie fr

I do love how we just get told in show that the Couffaines live on a boat and that Anarka acts like a pirate and we just. Get no further explanation. I like to think it’s something about dodging taxes

Plagg encouraging Juleka to be a model just so she can fund his fondness for Camembert-

For some reason it’s that which made me think about how insane it would be for Juleka to balance a job on top of all this. Plus I feel like she’d totally end up with a Model Juleka mask too furthering her identity crisis stuff

I like how you had someone mention a family member being hospitalised by Stoneheart, sometimes it feels like the impact of being the first Akuma (and the only one which wasn’t cured) isn’t given enough attention.

The fact that Ivan went to school the day after is insane fr but it needs to happen for the plot.

People gotta be proper scared of him cause as far as they’re aware he is the villain.

Hey I’ve just realised that Juleka starts her whole “understanding the motivation for an Akuma can be the key to helping the person” thing right here when she goes up to talk to Ivan, that’s awesome I never made that connection before

Alya explaining that she just couldn’t think of a blog name including both of the heroes is a good detail, I know it was just a symptom of Ladybug being the protagonist in MLB but it was still a bit weird it was just called the ladyblog

I like that Chloe has a reason why she’s being a bitch; Stoneheart broke Roger’s arm so she’s getting back at him for that. Well, it doesn’t excuse how she approached it but a reason is better than an unprompted attack

Annnnd Panthera’s back woop!!

Hmm, you wrote “Juleka’s ears perked up as she heard Chloe’s shrill voice scream.” and it got me wondering;

Question 7: Do the miraculous give other abilities other than elevated strength, endurance, reflexes, and magical stuff? Like can Juleka hear stuff better when transformed? Or another example would be having better night vision? If so would these side effects continue into her untransformed self? As I know you’ve said her ‘claws’ and ‘slitted eyes’ and all that described when not transformed is actually just her being an unreliable narrator but side effects are always cool :3

Tbh the fact that an Akuma just multiplies when it’s not purified is insane like why the fuck does it do that? This isn’t an actual question, but it’s so crazy to me that if they missed literally any other Akuma they could’ve had like three million Dark Cupid’s running amuck.

Roger sucks man, why did he want to shoot at the Akuma holding a civilian??

Juleka not even registering how right after she’d ‘realised’ that she wasn’t cut out for hero work she reassured Ladybug for feeling the exact same way is so her. Like girl why are you allowed to have self doubt but no one else is??

Panthera’s speech about how they can do it… amazing moment. I’m sure Marinette was so very straight and normal about it whenever she thinks back to it.

Ladybug this is a terrible plan. Her plans are always crazy. The fact that they work is even more crazy. I can’t wait to see whatever you replace Reflecta Two with and see Julekas lucky charm leading to incredible violence or a therapy session (there’s no in between) while Marinette just gapes in the background.

“Another dream would be modeling.. But she could never do that.. If heroism was her path, she wouldn’t regret it.” JULEKA YOU ARE FALLING OFF THE EIFFEL TOWER GET IT TOGETHER

And. hm. I don’t think Juleka ever regrets heroism but she definitely doesn’t like it much. The whole people being in danger and constantly having to fight and put herself in danger bit I mean, not the saving people bit.

Also i think this is a badass scene even though Juleka is ruminating as she falls from a great height lmao, the imagery of her diving after the Akuma and everything is so wonderful :3

Real of Ivan to question why they know his name. Marinette sucks at pretending she doesn’t know people fr

“I should keep the hair off my face.. Maybe I’ll be less recognizable.” Girl you're not Clark Kent the only reason no one knows is because of the glamour fr. but also. She kinda would be unrecognisable wouldn’t she.

Hang on.

Question 8: So, before Juleka finds out Ladybug’s identity, it is hinted at that she will through multiple instances of her being “familiar” or knowing something she shouldn’t. Has Rose ever felt the same way about Panthera? As in; “She feels familiar, like I know her…” or is this spoilers? You know I’ll always be rabid for hints at a reveal between them, or anyone outside of Luka and Anarka finding out.

RAHHH JUST AS I SAY THAT JULEKA ASKS IF SHE SHOULD TELL ROSE AT SOME POINT I FORGOR THIS HAPPENED

YGBF4HNIRJECUDWOMSQIK

Sorry

Oh you’ll tell her when you defeat him will you?? Cap I won’t survive. I’ll simply be deceased. I must see the aftermath of the reveal. So much happened between Rose and Panthera and it reveals a whole side of Juleka she kept secret and-

There is simply too much opportunity to make it upsetting for you to pass up. Not that I think Rose would, idk, cast Juleka aside for her dishonesty or something equally dramatic, but the feelings!! They’ll be so big and she’ll have so many questions!!

Juleka is literally so loyal girl what “I trust ladybug” YOU JUST MET HER!! I love it but also girl! Trust yourself some more! Actually if she did at this point it’d feel out of character (i think her beef with master fu is one of the only examples her trusting her gut)

Fr i can’t wait for Panthera to not defer to Ladybug or disagree in season 4 i’m actually going to go insane when that happens. In my live reaction to that chapter i’ll literally decompose or something.

I LOVE THE IMAGERY AT THE END. BTW. PUSHING HER HAIR BACK OVER HER EYES BECAUSE THAT’S NOT WHO SHE IS. IT MAKES ME CRAZY.

[— — —]

P.S. I’ve been smiling the whole time reading this, just thinking about reading more and getting to my favourite moment’s is making me all giddy, thank you for sharing your stories Cap they’re fantastic and you’re incredible for writing them :3

P.P.S. For some reason this one is about 1.5 times the length of the last one?? idk why, new enemy; consistency.

YAHHH IM SO EXCITED TO GET YOUR REVIEWS OKAY QUESTION TIME

Question 1: Yes I have! There's scenes in Panthera that are like directly inspired by the fic, esp in chapter 1, but I've since edited these scenes to make them less like the scenes from Powers of Invisibility. Its such a good fic, and really got me into Juleka, and I re-read it often to kinda get into her vibe of as a person.

THE TOXIC LADYNOIRE YURI WASNT INTENTIONAL FROM THE START BUT MAN WAS IT ALWAYS DOOMED TO HAPPEN <3 its almost meta

Im glad you enjoyed Adrien! I always wanna make sure he's not forgotten. I want him to still be the guy who could've been Chat Noir yknow!

Question 2: When writing this my idea was that Luka was homeschooled because they couldn't afford sending them both to school, and he rather had Juleka go to school than him. But in one of the episodes it was implied he Did go to school just a different one. So, Im not sure anymore tbh

Question 3: He's running by good samaritan laws and also magical vibes. Sometimes souls are just a bit more attuned to magic. Also he chooses young people because while adults who pick up miraculouses will have an easier time from the start, children can adapt and grow even more powerful over the course of many years. This is morally pretty bad, but he was also chosen as a child so the trauma clouds his views a bit.

Question 4: Her english va speaks with a weird fucked up mix of a scottish and pirate accent in the show and I think theres a scottish flag on the Liberty!

Found it!

Juleka's decision to be a hero being stemmed entirely on the safety of her loved ones was always a key part of her I always found intentional. Despite her lack of self preservation in the thick of things, I imagine she just tries to avoid things from the start? This scene was edited a while back from Luka actually being seen injured by Juleka on tv to something more believable- which is the current version you most likely read.

Question 5: The Ladybug and Cat miraculous are always drawn to each other. I imagine throughout history, they were always forced to be enemies of some kind or as separate as possible due to how powerful this draw was. Juleka's also already very attached to Marinette, so it was a funky mix that kinda pushed that recognition. So while Juleka is close to Alya (somewhat) that's not enough to carry her past through that thick layer of glamour. (Doesn't help that Alya's got the illusion miraculous too!)

Also; I like to imagine that if Luka can magically hear what people's hearts sound like, Juleka has that but for her eyes. It's a, Hear no Evil, See no Evil thing- that I may explore later. Look man, Anarka's ancestors were probably on some shot.

Question 6: It's hard to put it but, it's less of a crush and more... these two are genuinely in love and I'm genuinely writing it that way. They just don't recognize it and it's muddled with a lot of other feelings so it's just never on their mind until it is and it gets very chaotic. Marinette has considered a crush on Panthera but she waves it off as crazy every time I think.

IM SO GLAD YOU READ INTO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JULEKA AND MARINETTE. It's so fun.

Chapter two! Absolutely its about dodging taxes. Fun fact; I've found that camembert is actually not that expensive. But I imagine the kind Plagg likes is.

Question 7: They do! Alya's glamour is stronger than average and she and Juleka have better night vision, a sense of hearing, and smell. Of course there's unreliable narrator stuff, but I do imagine Juleka's nails are much stronger now.

ALSO RIGHT RIGHT RIGHT?? ITS INSANE THAT THAT CAN JUST OCCUR. THE AKUMA MULTIPLICATION THING. THEY NEVER MENTION IT AGAIN ITS DRIVING ME FUCKING CRAZY.

Also for sure Juleka hates heroism. It's her new curse. But she's got a duty to fulfill with it. She treats it like an unpaid 9-5

Question 8: Absolutely has Rose felt those feelings! It probably fueled her crush on Panthera a lot! But the glamour worked just too perfectly on her, poor thing. Power of love ain't enough.

Im glad you enjoyed re-reading Panthera! It's the hardest thing to do for me lol but the idea that the start can still bring joy to people makes me really happy. Cheers!

#panthera noire au #sneak a cat

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marvelmusing · 2 years ago

Text

Keep Your Judgement

Chapter Five

Pairing: Aleksander Morozova x Fem!Reader

Summary: Progress is made with your work regarding the amplifier, and you grow closer to the General.

Warnings: canon level violence (mentions of Grisha persecution, death, and amplifier claiming), minor spoilers for season two.

My Masterlist • Series Masterlist

“You cannot fix everything, child.”

A frown creases at your brows as you work on the rip you had caused in Fruzsi’s kefta during a sparring session of which she insists you had cheated. She hadn’t specified a no knives rule and hiding a blade up your sleeve has become a new habit of yours.

The frown on your face isn’t a result of the kefta, which knits itself back together neatly as you smooth a circular motion over the fabric with your palm. The frown is because the workshop is empty, meaning you are the unlucky target of Baghra’s scorn – something you thought you could live the rest of your life without.

“It’s a kefta, Baghra. I learnt to make these when I was twelve.”

She scoffs.

“I’m not talking about that measly scrap of cloth. I’m talking about your beloved General.”

Fruzsi would certainly be offended by that comment about her kefta and something inside you cringes at the old woman’s sneer at the word ‘beloved’.

Doing your best to ignore Baghra, you trace your fingertip over some of the frayed embroidery, using your power to weave the deep blue tidemaker pattern back into place amongst the glossy silk.

“The merzost is poisoning him, and there is no cure.”

Without looking at her, you muse quietly,

“No cure, yet.”

She hums mockingly, the corner of her mouth lifting into a smirk. Her clothing shifts against metal bars as she leans backwards on her stool.

“A little optimist.”

Rolling your eyes, you glance over at her.

She’s been playing the weak old woman act whenever David or Vladim have been in the workshop, hoping to incite some pity from them. After all, neither of them had been subjected to her lessons, unlike you, they don’t know what she is truly like.

“I know what you’re doing. It won’t work.”

She holds your gaze for a long moment. Baghra certainly isn’t afraid of you, but something makes her fidget with the bandage wrapped around the remaining stub of her finger.

Then she calls out,

“Stop lurking, boy.”

Turning your head, your eyes lock with the General’s as he steps into the workshop. His expression shifts as he looks away from you to glower at Baghra, his voice terse as he speaks,

“Mother.”

Finished with mending Fruzsi’s kefta, you stand up slowly, hoping not to draw attention to yourself. As you pick up your book of folktales, tucking it against your chest as you fold the kefta under your other arm, you feel the weight of the General’s eyes on you.

Giving him a small nod, you move towards the door he had just stepped through.

“I’ll leave you to it,” you say quietly.

He inclines his head as you walk by him.

At the sound of your name, you turn back with a small frown. For a moment the General doesn’t seem to know what he was going to say to you.

“Any further developments?” he asks, gesturing lightly towards the table beside him where Vladim has curated an extensive collection of ingredients.

The search for the fox amplifier meant that you now spend a lot of time out in the woods, and as a result Vladim’s desk has new additions on a regular basis. Whenever you find a plant that could be useful, you retrieve some leaves or seeds to aid him in his experiments – and hopefully improve the General’s condition.

“I made some adjustments to Vladim’s tonic,” you tell him, fiddling with the spine of your book. “Added bramble leaves which should help with your throat and the fatigue.”

As you’re speaking, your gaze flickers over his shoulder, landing on Baghra who stares at you with a pointed look that makes you bristle as if you can hear her thoughts.

There is no cure.

Almost instantly, you have a determined response. Not yet. But there will be.

He nods in acknowledgement, his eyes skimming over the cordials and glass bottles perched on Vladim’s desk.

“Thank you.”

There’s a pause between you both, as his gaze flickers over to meet yours and you offer him a small smile. For a moment you think the corner of his mouth moves to return you smile.

As the silence hangs, you step back.

“I should go.”

He nods again before he turns away and you step out of the workshop, making your way down the corridor towards your room to change out of your kefta and into your walking clothes.

»»---------------------►

Dampness hangs in the air, making the horizon hazy with mist as you walk through the trees, boots collecting dew from the grass you trek over quietly. Birds chirp overhead, providing you with some comfort. If the birds are here, then it must be safe.

Walking alone in Ravka is becoming more and more dangerous these days, especially for Grisha. First Army patrols change course regularly in an attempt to find the General. There’s been rumours of Grisha hunters – Ravkan not the Drüskelle – tracking down Grisha that had gone on the run.

The General doesn’t allow many people to leave the Sanctuary and he has increased the number of Grisha patrolling during both day and night to ensure the house is well protected.

Alongside Fruzsi and Fedoyr, you make up the small council that the General keeps, the four of you meet regularly to discuss patrols, rescue missions, and general housekeeping for the Sanctuary.

It feels strange, to have suddenly gained such importance for your people, but despite the pressure you feel, it’s much better than whatever meagre task you might have been doing if you were an ordinary durast.

A snap in the distance has you freezing in place, eyes scouring over your surroundings to seek out any threats. If only you were a corporalki, all you can do is clasp your hands together and search for any nearby metals. But there’s nothing. No armour, no swords or guns, no knives – aside from the one up your sleeve and at your waistband.

Then a flash of red catches your attention.

Hazel eyes lock on yours and the breath stutters in your lungs.

The fox. You’ve found him.

He moves slowly, gaze unwavering as he studies you intently. Halted mid-step, he places his paw down in front of his body, edging his way towards you slowly.

When you had heard that Morozova’s stag existed – a towering white stag with huge antlers – you had expected all amplifiers to be large and majestic. But the fox looks like any other you might find in the woods.

Except his eyes. There’s a cunning edge there that reassures you that this is the fox you’ve been searching for. Power glimmers in each strand of fur, dewy from the raindrops that cling to the tall grasses surrounding him.

Above you, the birds flee, and you immediately look around, hearing voices in the distance. Heart pounding, your gaze whips back to the fox, but he’s already gone.

Right now, your priority is getting back to the Sanctuary safely, without being seen.

»»---------------------►

From that moment onwards, you visit the fox regularly, bringing gifts of berries and dried scraps of meat whenever you can. His bright hazel eyes always watch you intently, a peaceful presence by your side as you sit in the long grass.

The first time you trace your fingers over its thick fur a shiver runs through your body as you feel the fox’s power sing in your bones.

The theory you have is that if you can bond with the fox before claiming its power then it might be easier for you to merge forms. In all honesty, you have no idea how Grisha of the past had managed to execute such a feat.

Perhaps it isn’t even possible. But you have to try. Not only would becoming one with the fox allow you to use the full extent of your power, but it would also give you an advantage over any opponent you might face.

The General hasn’t asked you about the fox recently, though you often spot him watching you intently as you train, finding new ways to use your power to fight. Maybe the fox’s power lingers inside you, even when you return to the Sanctuary, because your power seems to flow within you better than ever.

Perhaps it isn’t about you claiming the fox, maybe the fox is the one to claim you.

Nevertheless, you find yourself enjoying your days, even with the threat of civil war and the General’s worsening condition dangling over your head.

»»---------------------►

Whilst the tidemaker’s mist keeps the Sanctuary hidden, it also makes the air chilly, and the lingering moisture in the air clings to your kefta as you rub your fingers together in an attempt to produce some warmth.

A peaceful quiet has settled over the grounds, in this moment where sunlight has risen over the mountains but very few people are awake. Soon enough, training will begin, and Grisha will be bustling about as they hone their abilities in preparation for whatever your next move will be.

Confrontations with the First Army have been increasing and you’ve heard rumours of Grisha being executed by firing squad.

The small refuge built here by the General feels more temporary by the day. East Ravka isn’t a large country. It’s only a matter of time before someone finds the Sanctuary.

Shifting slightly, you attempt to ease the ache that has settled into your legs from sitting on the edge of the low stone wall. Tucked away at the back of the house, your position allows you to see into what was once a small garden.

Now, the rose bushes are overgrown, and the stone plant basins are cracked and crumbling, but watching the rabbits explore the undergrowth provides you some entertainment, drawing your attention away from the book of folktales sitting in your lap.

The sound of wood creaking has you turning your head slightly, as the door behind you opens and the General steps out onto the smooth stone paving that makes up the worn out patio.

The dark circles under his eyes appear more defined this morning, the symptoms of his merzost use must have been keeping him from sleeping. Perhaps you should suggest another cordial, something for him to drink nightly, to ease his symptoms and allow him to sleep somewhat soundly.

The corner of his mouth lifts into a small smile as his eyes meet yours.

“Good morning,” he says softly. “May I join you?”

You nod.

“Of course.”

Bundling up the excess of your cloak, you edge your way closer towards the garden to give the General enough space to sit beside you.

“I read through your proposal.”

His voice is low, and he doesn’t look at you as he speaks. Looking down at your feet, you trace the toe of your boot through a dewy patch of grass.

“You think I’m insane.”

At the corner of your vision, you see the General shake his head.

“It has been quite some time since I last met someone whose ambition rivals my own.”

For some reason, his words bring a smile to your face. This man has done terrible things, dabbled in forbidden magic that is slowly corrupting his body, stealing his health from him. But the thought of being just a little bit like him makes a warmth settle in your chest.

Less than a year ago, you were an inconsequential little durast, tinkering away in the materialki workshops, making corecloth for the war effort.

Now you’re sitting beside the General, feeling a strange kinship with him.

“You wouldn’t have looked twice at me, back at the Little Palace,” you remark quietly, keeping your gaze away from his.

Two rabbits chase one another in the distance, weaving among the grass and leaves, kicking up dirt as they scurry about. It’s only once the silence has dragged on that you find the courage to look at his face.

His eyes scour over your features, studying you intently as you wonder what he’s thinking. His expression doesn’t change as he says in a low voice,

“Perhaps. But I’m looking at you now.”

»»---------------------►

The woods are quiet today, which unsettles you. Something in the back of your mind is warning you about something, but you continue along the familiar route towards where the fox likes to roam on sunny days like this.

At the sound of horses approaching, your heart hammers in your chest, and without a thought you take off running towards a mound of rocks where you know there’s a small cave.

Skidding as you near the entrance, you practically throw yourself down into the cave, pressing your back against hard rock as you strain your ears for the sound of horses or their riders.

Voices echo in the distant, but you can’t tell if they’re moving towards or away from you.

Clutching your knife in your hand, you attempt to slow your heart down, annoyed by the sound of it rushing through your ears and hindering your awareness of any oncoming threats.

At the sound of movement at the entrance to the cave, you retreat further into the stony depths, hiding in the shadows. The sight of red fur glistens in the low light and a pair of hazel eyes find yours.

Sighing in relief, you allow the knife to slip from your fingers, dropping to the ground as the fox approaches and you extend a hand towards him.

He moves over towards you without hesitation, stopping briefly to duck his head down by your feet before he nuzzles against your legs.

“You know what it’s like to be hunted too,” you muse quietly.

As you stroke your hand over the white fur at his chest, you realise what’s in his mouth. Your knife. Eyes flickering up to meet his hazel ones, you find an almost determined glimmer amongst the swirling golden browns and blues there.

Leaning back, you settle yourself down onto a chunk of rock, and the fox drops the knife in your lap, nudging your hand with his nose. Slowly, you curl your fingers around the hilt of the knife, eyeing the fox with a small frown.

“You’re sure?” you ask softly.

His eyes don’t waver from yours.

Tightening your grip on the knife, you look down at the blade as it shines in the low light. He licks at your knuckles, almost reassuringly. This is what you had wanted, the opportunity to become more powerful than you ever thought possible.

With your abilities amplified, you could protect more Grisha, perhaps you could even save the General. The theory you’ve been working on, balancing the merzost in his body, will require a powerful durast.

One of the reasons why you had been attempting to master the Cut was so that you could ensure that the fox’s death would be painless, but you hadn’t managed to do much more than a scratch with your power. The knife will have to do.

The creature’s claw should be a suitable material to create the connection between you both, and being a durast means you can fabricate your own amplifier as soon as possible.

Steadying the knife in your hand, you straighten your shoulders, breathing out a smooth exhale as you press the tip of the blade over the fox’s chest. Power thrums through you as you feel the metal of knife, poised to sink into flesh, the angle you’ve chosen will ensure it is unhampered by the bones that will amplify your abilities.

“Thank you,” you whisper.

The knife sinks downwards.

»»---------------------►

marvelmusing Tag List: @dreamlandcreations @blanchedelioncourt @idaofinfinity @slytherheign @ellooo0ooo @vixenofcourse @dumb-fawkin-bitch @jane-arthur @ilikefictionmen @budugu @watersquirtpewpewboomm @mysweetlittledesire @dhampiravidi

S&B Tag List: @motheroffae

Aleksander M Tag List: @nyctophiliiiiaaa @jazmin2211 @wooya1224 @seronsalk @housekeeperjjswife

BB Characters Tag List: @rachlovesactors @noortsshift @aikeia @weallhaveadestiny @two-unbeatable-beaters

KYJ Tag List: @tartiflvtte @weepingwitchofthewest

»»---------------------►

#keep your judgement au #aleksander morozova x reader #aleksander morozova #the darkling x reader #the darkling #the darkling au #shadow and bone au #shadow and bone x reader

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bliss-in-the-void · 1 year ago

Text

A Glimpse Of Us

In which (2018) Satoru encounters a time-based cursed technique user that tells him the timeline he’s living in is wrong, and he was supposed to end up raising Megumi, Nanako, and Mimiko with Suguru.

(Spoilers up until before the Shibuya Incident, expand to read the oneshot)

“Just who are you?” Satoru asks rather tactlessly. In his experience, it gets you nowhere anyways.

“I go by a few names,” the mysterious man replies, looking very forlorn. “Masaki Kagami was my given name. But now I’m called ‘Chronos’.”

“Chronos? Why’s that?”

“My Cursed Technique involves the manipulation of time and fates. I am all-knowing. I know everyone’s past, presents, and futures—which is why I have come to talk about the fates of yourself and Geto Suguru.”

“Why?” Satoru asks. Those wounds had closed. Mostly. Why open them to bleed anew? It’s been ten years.

“It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.”

A sick, painful feeling radiates from Satoru’s chest. “What do you mean by that?”

“You never should have killed him.”

Satoru suddenly feels like vomiting. “He turned on us. He was gonna kill every non-sorcerer. He slaughtered a village. I was ordered to kill him.”

“I can see that now that I watch the events of this branch closely,” Chronos frowns deeply, eyes glowing a faint gold. “Oh…my…”

“Where…where did it go wrong?” Satoru asks. “When Toji defeated me, right? And killed Riko? That’s when the mistakes were made, isn’t it?”

“No,” Chronos shakes his head. “The village mission. When Suguru killed the people there. He wasn’t supposed to do that. You were supposed to be there with him.”

His heart feels like a rock in his ribcage. “Then what happened? That was out of my control. I was on another mission.”

“Nanami Kento was supposed to take care of that,” Chronos answers. “It seems Tengen switched things around at the last minute. Nanami was sent to help Haibara Yu—who was supposed to be doing a mission alone but needed help. Which meant that you were sent on Nanami’s mission, and Suguru had to go alone. It seems your teacher, Masamichi Yaga, opposed it but was ordered by Tengen—for reasons I do not know.”

“So…you’re saying that…Suguru would still be here right now if…I had been there?”

“Yes,” Chronos admits with a sympathetic glance. “You were going to talk him out of it. You two were going to take the two girls, Nanako and Mimiko, and raise them alongside Fushiguro Megumi.”

Satoru feels his throat close up. “Raise them…?”

That was what they wanted with Riko. To be her caretakers, alongside Kuroi. They guaranteed her future. One where she could choose her fate, where the elders couldn’t touch her.

That had gone horribly wrong.

“Yes. You two were going to raise them together,” Chronos replies, “I…I can see it all. What was supposed to happen. I can show you if you want, in my domain. You have my word that I won’t attack you.”

If he does, Satoru knows he could just override his domain and escape. Curiosity gets the better of him anyway. “Show me.”

“Domain expansion.”

A flash of gold. Then Chronos is gone. In his place is—

“Satoru,” Suguru smiles brightly, greeting him as he walks into the kitchen of what looks to be a house on the Jujutsu grounds. Is it theirs? “Did you sleep good? My back kind of hurts from Mimiko kicking it all night long, but I think Nanako wasn’t as squirmy. They haven’t grown out of their nightmare phase yet, I’m afraid.”

Satoru takes a seat at the table next to a tiny Megumi—he looks just like he did when he was eight.

So it’s been about a year since he took him in?

“Satoru? You okay?”

He looks up to see Suguru looking at him, concerned as he sets a plate of rice and tamago down on the table, sliding a bowl of miso with mushrooms towards him. Satoru’s heart clenches painfully, and Suguru must see it in his eyes, because he places a hand on Satoru’s jaw gingerly, leaning in and pecking his lips so lightly he almost doesn’t feel it.

“Satoru?”

“Ugh,” Megumi huffs, “If you’re gonna be all lovey, don’t do it in front of me.”

“It was just a little kiss, ‘gumin,” Suguru smiles sweetly, unperturbed. “I can’t kiss my own boyfriend now? We are your parents.”

They are?

Megumi grumbles. “It’s gross.”

“You’ll understand when you’re older,” Suguru tousles his hair before looking at Satoru again. “Seriously. You in there?”

Come on, speak, Satoru wills himself. This is Suguru. He’s here. He’s okay. He’s still in love with you and nothing bad happened.

Why would anything bad have happened? They’re the strongest. No one can touch them.

What happened before this? Was that a bad dream? It seems so distant, it must’ve.

“Yeah, I am,” Satoru replies, finally remembering how to form words. “I just…missed you, is all.”

Suguru looks surprised for a moment before laughing. “Come on, Satoru, I only got up an hour before you to get the kids ready. Like I always do. It hasn’t been that long. Speaking of—where’re the girls? They should be in here right ab—”

“Sugu-papa! Mimiko won’t let me wear the green clips!” Nanako comes bounding into the room, cheeks red with anger.

“I wanted to wear them first! They match my shirt!” Mimiko comes in after.

Suguru sighs as Megumi groans. “Everyday they do this.”

Out of reflex, Satoru laughs and ruffles Megumi’s hair, way less gentle about it than Suguru had been.

The result is Megumi’s venomous glare, like a disgruntled puppy with how little he is. How cute this little shit used to be.

No, is. Used to be? I’ve only known him for a year. What am I saying?

“Girls,” Suguru says, kneeling to stand before the two. He sees two green clips in Mimiko’s hair, Nanako eyeing them. “Listen, it’s my fault for only buying one pair. I’ll get another when I go to the store, okay? For now, how about you each wear one.”

They blink, and he reaches up, unclasping one from Mimiko’s hair and placing it in Nanako’s.

“How’s that? Now you both get to wear them.”

They exchange glances before smiling up at him.

“Okay, Sugu-papa,” Nanako says.

“Yeah,” nods Mimiko.

“Those are my good girls,” Suguru smiles happily, patting their heads so as not to mess up their styles. “Now go finish getting ready, okay? You have to eat before Sato-papa and I take you to school.”

Satoru flushes. Sato-papa? That’s him? He’s a papa?

Megumi’s never called him papa. Right? Or does he? It’s only been a year.

“Megumin,” it rolls off his tongue, “Am I your papa?”

Suguru looks at the two questioningly. Megumi scoffs.

“Quit playing around. You’re weird today,” Megumi makes a face. “Don’t make me say it.”

Suguru places a hand on Satoru’s back, getting his attention. “Satoru, let’s go to our bedroom really quick?”

Satoru gets up, following his boyfriend up the hall.

“Megumi, make sure to eat slowly. And help your sisters when they come to eat,” Suguru calls over his shoulder.

“I will,” Megumi says back before they enter their bedroom.

Their bedroom? He has a room with Suguru?

Wait, of course he does. They moved into this house after he brought Megumi home. They figured it would be easier if they got their own place instead of their dorm rooms.

It’s coming back to him.

The door slides shut and Suguru speaks.

“Satoru, are you feeling alright? You’ve been acting strange,” Suguru says, placing a hand on his shoulder. Satoru relaxes instantly—how he missed this touch. He’d forgotten how comforting it was.

No, is. Why does he keep thinking in past tense? Suguru has never left. He didn’t go anywhere. He’s right here.

“I think I had a bad dream,” Satoru chooses to say. “I’m a little foggy right now.”

“Mmm,” Suguru hums, searching his eyes. “That’s really it?”

“Yeah. Well, I think so. Why?”

Suguru frowns. “Well, Satoru, the way you’re acting…it’s kind of…like how you were after…he came. And almost killed you. We promised after taking in Nanako and Mimiko that we’d be honest with each other. I don’t want anything to come between us. So if something’s wrong, you need to tell me so we can deal with it. We’re the strongest, remember? There isn’t anything we can’t face. Us against the world.”

Satoru doesn’t have time to process his next words. He feels like crying for some unknown reason. “Suguru—I miss you so much.”

He throws his arms around his boyfriend, who is stunned, burying his nose into his neck. It’s warm and it smells like jasmine flowers and cedar, exactly how he always smelled, and oh dear god he’s home again for what seems like a million years.

“Satoru? You’re scaring me. What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“I dreamt that you left me,” Satoru murmurs, although now he doesn’t know if it was a dream or some awful reality he had stumbled out of somehow. “That I wasn’t there when you needed me and it all went wrong and you left and I-I killed you and you left me all alone with these shitbag elders and curses and—”

“Satoru. Look at me.”

The white haired man raises his head to meet the other’s eyes, those familiar pools of honey, and sighs when a hand rests on his cheek.

“I don’t know how you could’ve dreamt about something so horrible,” Suguru begins gently. “But obviously I’m right here. I didn’t leave you—I never would. I’m your one and only, right?”

Satoru nods mutely.

“See? Where would I go? Where would I want to be that isn’t right where you are?” Suguru asks. “You promised me we’d change this awful world together, by raising the next generation of sorcerers to be strong. Without hurting anyone. What more could I need? I have a family with my best friend. I’m never going anywhere.”

That’s right. Why would Satoru ever think otherwise? Suguru and Satoru are a package deal—never one without the other. Everything is fine.

“You’re right,” Satoru untenses. “I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“Getting to worry about you is a privilege of mine,” Suguru replies, stamping a kiss on Satoru’s lips. “You ready to take the kids to school? I’m sure they’re almost ready to go.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I am.”

“Good.”

Suguru moves to open the door, but before he can, Satoru puts a hand on his to stop him.

“Suguru?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

Suguru’s eyes widen, and he blushes deeply, averting his eyes to the side before smiling bashfully.

“I love you too, Satoru.”

He’s falling.

Falling, and falling, and falling. Hurtling toward the ground, or maybe rising up at an immeasurable speed. Is he going down or up? Does it matter?

“You should at least curse me a little at the very end.”

That’s what he had actually said in reply.

Reality slams back into him like a punch to the gut and he doubles over, landing on his knees on the pavement.

What was that?

“So, you’ve seen the life you were supposed to live with Geto Suguru.”

His eyes widen.

Oh no.

It wasn’t real.

It was Chronos’s prophecy that never came to pass. That’s right.

But it felt so real.

He could smell Suguru’s cologne, could taste his lips, feel his touch—it was real.

It was supposed to be real.

“I’m sorry. I can tell by the look on your face that you experienced it rather than simply watched. Sometimes my domain does that. I should have warned you, but I figured since you wield the Six Eyes that you would’ve been able to see through it.”

He blinks.

“It was…like I was there,” He chooses to reply. “What happened? Why didn’t it happen?”

“Sometimes, without warning, the path diverges, and a new timeline is created, like a branch off the original one. I call this a ‘dark timeline’.”

Satoru blinks again. “So you’re saying I live in the dark timeline of my reality?”

“Yes.”

“And that timeline, the right timeline…still exists?”

“That’s right.”

“And in that timeline…I’m happy with Suguru and the kids.”

“Yes.”

“He’s still alive there.”

“He is.”

“And there’s a me that’s there with him.”

“There is.”

Satoru huffs in disbelief. “Just my luck that I’d be the one forced to live in the shitty dark timeline, huh?”

“I’m sorry,” Chronos apologizes again.

“Why did you come here to show me that?”

“I was compelled to,” Chronos says. “I thought you should know. Things don’t get any easier or better for you from here on out, I’m sorry to say, and I thought you should at least have the comfort of knowing there is a reality where you do exist with Suguru the way you were intended to.”

Satoru pauses before saying, “yeah. I guess it does. At least I can say Suguru and I did make it. Just not here.”

Chronos nods.

“I’m like a sacrifice. So was he. The one in this timeline.”

“I suppose.”

“Can you tell me how this timeline ends?”

“I’m afraid I cannot divulge the future. Only the past or alternate present.”

“Then before you go…can you show me the alternate present? You showed me the past—can I see what we look like now? In that reality?”

“Sure. It’s the least I can do,” Chronos clasps his hands together. “Domain expansion.”

Gold. Warmth.

“Wait, so—Gojo-sensei is your dad? And so is Geto-sensei?” Yuuji asks, eyes alight with intrigue. Megumi grumbles.

“Not biologically.”

“Well duh,” Nobara smacks his shoulder. “We’re not dumb. Sometimes family is found. So they’re your fathers regardless of whether they concieved you or not.”

“The day you call Gojo ‘papa’ is the day he’ll finally combust,” Shoko laughs around her can of soda.

Suguru slides an arm easily around Satoru’s waist.

“Megumi just likes to tease. He’s called me ‘papa’ a few times. He’ll get there.”

“No I won’t.”

“Meguminnn,” Satoru finds himself whining, unable to resist the taunt. He doesn’t remember the last ten minutes nor how he got here, but these people are his most precious people, and so he knows he’s safe.

“Come on, Megumi-nii, don’t be such a cat,” Nanako says. “Mimiko and I accepted him ages ago. He’s a good papa. What gives?”

“He’s weird and annoying.”

“Isn’t that his job as a father?” Yuuji asks. “All good dads are weird and annoying.”

“I’m not calling him ‘papa’.”

“But Megumiii,” Satoru drawls. “I changed your diapers.”

“No you didn’t. We met when I was seven.”

“I used to tell you stories to chase away the nightmares!”

Megumi flushes deeply and stands up. “I’m going to the bathroom.”

He stalks off angrily and Suguru sighs as the table erupts into giggles at the embarrassing display, the kids all getting up to chase after Megumi.

“Satoru,” He says, “You shouldn’t say things like that in front of his friends. He’s a teenager, you know. We were once teenagers.”

Shoko laughs. “Come on. When you were his age, neither of you had an ounce of shame and you started adopting toddlers. Bad example, Geto.”

“Okay, okay,” Suguru relents. “He doesn’t take after either of us, I guess.”

“He has too much shame,” sighs Satoru. Shoko laughs.

“Man, you two haven’t changed. Still as insufferable as the day you met each other,” She takes a sip. “I don’t believe in god or fate, but the way you two act gives my beliefs a run for their money.”

“Eh?” Satoru asks.

“It’s like you two were born to be married,” She shrugs, “Like somehow you were both created so that the only person to stand each of you is each other.”

“But you’ve stayed our friend.”

“Yeah. But I need my breaks from you two. Hefty ones,” She replies, “With you two together though, it’s the opposite. If you separate for too long, shit goes sideways. Like some force is binding you together.”

Satoru grins, unable to resist planting a noisy peck on Suguru’s cheek.

“Hear that, Suguru? You’re stuck with me forever.”

“Kind of figured that was the case when you literally became my husband five years ago.”

Oh yeah. They’d had a ceremony where the girls scattered flowers and Megumi brought them their rings. Shoko, Masamichi, Nanami, Mei Mei, Haibara, and Utahime were there too.

He looks down at their left hands, bearing matching silver bands.

Warmth floods him. Suguru is his husband. That’s right.

“Where would we be without you two?” Shoko asks with an amused sigh, a mirthful look on her face.

Satoru leans onto his husband’s shoulder. “Dunno. Lucky you, you never have to find out.”

But Satoru does know.

He breathes in abruptly like he’d been pulled from underwater, cold reality once again crashing back into him.

He’s back where Suguru isn’t.

Where the world is without the strongest duo.

A dark existence, indeed.

“I must go now. I wish you luck in this timeline.”

Satoru stares at the ground blankly. It seems he alone is doomed now.

“Thank you.”

For even just a glimpse of us.

a/n: apparently every satosugu truther likes to write more sadness to coexist with the canon sadness. hopefully you liked my contribution—I didn’t add Tsumiki just for ease of plot. That’s a whole web of its own.

#satosugu #satosugu oneshot #satosugu headcanons #stsg #jjk #jujutsu kaisen #gojo satoru #geto suguru #jujukai #jjk spoilers #suguru geto #satoru gojo #jjk oneshot #jjk writing #satosugu writing

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moviemunchies · 7 months ago

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I finally got around to seeing this movie! Hurrah!

This movie has a similar Plot to 10,000 B.C.? It's better, though.

Centuries after apes began to talk, and Caesar’s death, apes are the dominant civilization on Earth, and as far as apes know, humans are all dumb animals at this point. Noa is a chimpanzee of the Eagle Clan, a tribe of chimps that train eagles as their way of life. After a chance encounter with a human, raiders of a rival tribe pillage the Eagle Clan and carry them off to Proximus in the name of Caesar, with Noa as the only one to escape. Proximus has been violently assimilating surrounding clans to build a kingdom and break into a vault from before the downfall of humanity. Noa goes on a quest to follow Proximus’s forces and free his people.

I am always surprised by how good these movies are? I haven’t seen the original Planet of the Apes, and I don’t have much motivation to–other than maybe to finally see the source of all those quotes that people won’t stop repeating in different media.

[Every. Single. Time. Someone faces an ape and says some variation of, “Get your hands off of her, you damn dirty ape!”. In case you were curious. It’s alarmingly common in fiction.]

Anyhow, we had no reason to expect that the revival with Rise of the Planet of the Apes was going to be good, and yet every single movie afterward has turned out to be an excellent film. They’re not fun popcorn flicks, in the same way as a Star Wars film, but they’re good, with complex, interesting characters and nuanced conflicts.

Which is darn impressive! There’s an idea out there that we, the audience, cannot get invested in or tell complicated stories about characters who aren’t human (think about how many science-fiction stories have settings with tons of alien races, and the main characters are all human anyway), and that’s obviously not true. These Planet of the Apes films tell stories where not only are the protagonists mostly not human, but many times the humans are the antagonists to our heroes.

And I appreciate that, unlike Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (a movie that I still like very much!), the Plot can’t be reduced down to a pile of situations that went “Things could have been okay if everyone chilled, but then there’s this douchebag screwing everything up.”

So I like Noa! I like his supporting cast! I like the idea that different ape communities evolve with different niches that they fill, and have different ideas about the past. It’s fascinating and frustrating in all the right ways when we learn that they don’t know anything about Caesar, and then the one guy who does know about Caesar doesn’t actually know that much about the past.

I think the Eagle Clan needs a bit more development, and I’m a little baffled about how these people make and build things. The apes don’t wear clothes, for instance? But they have blankets? I suppose it’s not strange that they build mostly out of wood, but are all their tools made of wood? I think this is a worldbuilding issue, though, and I wonder if later movies would theoretically go there and show off more how apes build their civilization.

There’s only one main human in this film, Mae, and spoiler alert! There’s more going on to her than Noa thinks at first. Which isn’t much of a spoiler, because there are trailers that spoiled that reveal, though the extent of her complexity is still obscured for the movie itself. I found her a fascinating character, and I’m wondering if she’ll be coming back if they do another movie in the future.

Speaking of the future: what is this building towards? There are things in the film that hint at something in the future, and I wonder if it’s meant to be call-forwards to the original film, or if the plan is to do something different. Will they remake the original story, with the events of this revival/reboot movie series in mind? Because there are some key differences in the shape of the world here. Or will they keep teasing it forever and ever, while telling original stories?

I don’t know. I’m curious to find out, though.

It’s a good movie, and I think if you want to see this sort of story, a science-fiction story about humanity that also has a cast made up of mostly non-humans, this is a good movie. If you’re invested in the world after the last three movies, or the original storyline, then you should check it out. I think it’s a pretty good movie, and it has some excellent moments, though it’s not a happy action flick to watch casually.

#Movie Munchies #Planet of the Apes #Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes #KotPotA

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spontaneousglitterbees · 2 years ago

Note

Legally required to ask for Kokichi for the ask game

[For this ask game]

gosh ur so right anon. I am so sorry this got readmore levels of out-of-hand full spoilers for NDRV3 and also rated C for Current Hyperfixation.

favorite thing about them

Counter-intuitive, but I know my past self (including the era when V3 came out) would have hated Kokichi for the same reasons I like him now. Mainly:

I really did go into V3 expecting to loathe Kokichi as a nuisance at best; I’d been spoiled on Ch. 4 before getting into DR because I thought ‘my aim sucks I won’t play it anyway’ and, loving bees and assorted bugs as I do, I figured Gonta would be my favorite. And I mean, he’s up there, but this little shit. How dare he be an engaging character.

Unsure where I said it previously, but Kokichi seems like the kind of guy who would run a How to Beat [X Movie] channel out of earnest (admit so or not) love for the thought experiment of it all, which isn’t just relatable, but a very interesting Type of Guy to have in your killing game scenario. The one constantly pushing the boundaries, but not quite meta-level aware they’re in a video game; genre-savvy and trying to Actually Accomplish Something Constructive. He also goes about it in such a way that launches a couple malatovs at every bridge he has, which, having been anxious and overly rejection-sensitive in high school, is fucking wild to me. You are going about this in the worst way you could, on purpose, and that is fascinating. Mentally I am putting him in a microscope slide because What Is Your Deal

Plus, the way he constantly has some kind of front up to a point where Saihara can’t decide who he really is by the end of Ch. 5… hmm chameleon complex? I find it quite simple, really. Unclear to me if they meant to make him Like This but doubling down on constant over-performance of social signals because communicating frustrates you and it lets you feel some small degree of control in your life is (in my experience at least) very autistic of him and as a result hearing the whole V3 cast consider him entirely indecipherable down to the bitter end… oof ouch real anxieties?

least favorite thing about them

A) Some of the iconography they chose for his talent. Which I’m pretty sure they pretty much ditched outside promos? So B) Some of his art in the wake of Ch. 4 is… wonky, but not in a way that looks fully deliberate? It undercuts the drama for me a bit. I think Kokichi seems much more menacing when he drops pretenses entirely and just goes blank instead of trying Very Hard to act out a particular emotion (like he does pretty much all the time). Instead of the demon face, something more like this?

favorite line

I blame this for getting "The more that you suffer, the more I enjoy it" stuck in my head, plus the combo of "Now you'll never, ever forget me for the rest of your life! [...] I stole your heart, so now I'm satisfied." The two surface Kokichis asdfghjkl

Looking for quotes though it came to my attention that in Chapter 2 he says "[...] I wanna win this killing game! So I'm not gonna run from it, I'm gonna crush it! That'll be waaaay less boring, don'tcha think?" kicking screaming they knew exactly what they were doing

shipping and handling

tbh I less ‘ship’ and more ‘please make them interact with one another’, so grains of salt I suppose!

brOTP

Kokichi + Miu. Gotta find who in the amalgamate server said ‘in any other circumstance they’d be besties’ because they are Correct.

OTP

This is a self report but like fuck it we ball Kokichi ♢/♠ Kaito

If you know the intricacies of what that means you may be entitled to—

Pretty much this vine

nOTP

I guess I'm a little squicked thinking of Kokichi/Gonta in a romantic sense? See at least in TAPP they've still got a Lot to talk about before comfortably calling one another 'friend' instead of 'working on it'

random headcanon

Ah a lot of these are already sprinkled in TAPP so what’s one y’all haven’t heard before,,

He started painting his nails during the game initially to interrogate (RE: get-to-know) Rantaro, and kept doing it to discourage himself from biting his nails and cuticles all the time. There's only like one sprite where he does it, but I think it could be a nervous tick

TAPP!DICE may not be real but the tea party policy absolutely is

I've drawn him in skirts doing outfit memes, but I think for him it's less concrete than feeling like dressing femme sometimes and more that, post-game and organization-less, he has no idea who he's supposed to be anymore and is throwing pretty much everything at the wall in many facets of his life. Including but not limited to saying 'screw uniforms' and seeing how long it takes him to get in trouble with HPA for wearing different clothes every day. After long enough unchallenged he starts getting his classmates to do it too. Considering... their entire circumstances in TAPP, they get away with a lot more than the other classes

unpopular opinion

Is it unpopular to say that some of the info from Kokichi’s FTEs should have been in the main plot? The knife game scene, besides being my favorite, seriously clues the player into what he’s like beyond the artifice without having to posthumously dump that exposition in his room, and that a lot of players confused by him are likely to miss out on characterization that would clarify things Irks Me.

song i associate with them

Oh, only one song? Too bad, 'cuz I Can’t Decide - Scissor Sisters

My other cop-out is 'Cause I’m a Liar - Mcki Robyns-P, which I’m working on a cover for in Synth V

Other than that? I haven’t built up nearly enough song-based associations with the DR cast yet somehow, but I’ll throw in Queen of Nothing - The Crane Wives which is less a Kokichi vibe than “I’m writing TAPP!Kokichi in the wake of Chapter 5” vibes. Isn’t this what you wanted? Time sure feels like it’s running out. Finish what you started, Queen of Nothing, wearing such a heavy crown.

I don’t know if this is in the spirit of the prompt but the thought did occur to me that a Trial 5 animatic to I’m Alive from Next to Normal would slap really really hard actually.

I need more peppy songs in my life, is what I’m gathering.

favorite picture of them

Let’s split it like this:

Favorite from the game? Probably this one

The face of a man asking “what are you gonna do, shoot me?” promptly before getting shot.

Sprite? This one

Is it genuine curiosity? Is he mocking me? Some mysterious third thing? Yes.

and a fanart that lives in my brain rent-free (the-everlasting-ash). Linking instead of reposting bc please support the original artist. There are many, many wonderful pieces of fanart out there, but this one carved a niche in my brain and stayed there (it is the cover image for DR art on my phone on account of Stunning).

Also for the uninitiated on TAPP- [Talent Acquisition Pilot Program AU Masterpost]

#answers #Anonymous #ask games #danganronpa #dr #new danganronpa v3 #ndrv3 #danganronpa v3 #drv3 #kokichi ouma #kokichi oma #took me so long bc i made a gif and a sprite edit #genuinely surprised I couldnt find that bit from randy writes a novel in gif form #so i made it myself (thats why the gif is amateurish OTL)#also first DR sprite edit i hope its okay #i kept the pose the same and just tried to change his face and reduce the shadow intensity #sometimes the most powerful menace is a lack of it #TAPP AU #TAPP AU adjacent

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lenathesingingcat · 1 year ago

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So it’s the anniversary of That Scene, and obviously I’m sad! And I know I won’t be the only one, so here’s a cute crossover fic to ease our pain.

Canon compliant, afterlife, pre- Enjoltaire and Dasil (if people like this then I’ll write a part 2 where they talk to each other). Oh, and all my afterlife fics are set in the Ancient Greek Underworld, because that’s what I believe in and also why not?

Warnings: discussion of past character deaths (in the context of being in the afterlife), major spoilers for both Les Misérables and The Picture Of Dorian Gray. Seriously, if you haven’t read these books (or at least seen adaptations) then please come back and read this when you have! Major spoilers ahead, you have been warned!

Despite what people might think, Grantaire hadn’t immediately joined Les Amis again after dying hand in hand with Enjolras. He still undervalued himself, and didn’t feel that he should get to spend eternity with those brave revolutionaries. They’re probably already planning to go back and start a ghost revolution, he thought, and what do I have to offer them in that?

And he was a little scared, too. He didn’t know what he’d say if Enjolras wanted to talk about their last moments together, about what it had meant.

He didn’t think he could take it if Enjolras rejected him again.

He had no idea that Enjolras wanted him to come back, but didn’t look for him because he thought Grantaire held it against him how things ended.

So as soon as he found himself in the Underworld, which he was about as familiar with as a newly dead mortal could be from all the classics he’d read in life, he spoke to Hades, who was more than willing to help a mortal who would be spending eternity in his domain.

“Can I help you, young man?”

“…Actually… I was wondering if I could help you. Must be busy having to welcome everyone who dies around the world. Especially when most of the people who could help don’t seem to care…”

And a busy god isn’t going to turn down genuine help. So Grantaire got the job of helping to welcome souls to the Underworld, helping them to settle in and make peace with their lives.

Grantaire, as well as Les Amis, had died at the beginning of June. In the time Hades saved by letting Grantaire help him, he was able to plant a flower garden as a surprise for when Persephone returned. Now Grantaire was known as a friend to both of them.

***

It had been several decades since the revolution, Grantaire wasn’t keeping count. He had met many people who had died, some more tragically than others, and helped them to make peace with their lives and their deaths so they could be happy in the Underworld.

He tried not to think about whether he was happy.

He couldn’t, not when there were others who needed his help. Like the man in front of him, with hair as dark as his own and an expression somewhere between shock, pain, and absolute heartbreak.

“Hello, welcome to the Underworld. Please don’t panic, that’s Underworld in the Ancient Greek sense, everyone ends up here.” he said, his usual greeting. “Can you tell me your name?”

He gave a smile that Grantaire could tell wasn’t entirely genuine - not unusual for new arrivals whose last moments alive hadn’t been happy ones - and answered, “My name’s Basil. What’s yours?”

“Grantaire, also known as Capital R, although I realise that doesn’t really make sense if you don’t speak French. Everyone can understand each other here because… Underworld magic, I don’t really understand, you’d have to ask Hades about that…”

“Grantaire? The Grantaire, from Les Misérables? I’m sorry, I don’t know your first name…”

“What? I mean, I have been known to be quite miserable, but - ”

“No, I mean the book! Victor Hugo, the author, wrote a book about the revolution. Has no-one told you about it yet?”

“This is the first I’ve heard of it. But if it’s about the revolution, I doubt I come out particularly well in it…”

“Don’t say that! You do!” Basil said quickly, his smile looking far more real now, as if Grantaire’s story distracted him from his own. “You rose up for a revolution you hadn’t believed in until that moment, for love as well as freedom! And I found I could relate to you, because… well, you mentioned one time in the book that you used to paint, and I paint too, and…” his expression became more serious again, but hopeful. “Enjolras. If you’re real, he must be real too. Are you together now?”

Grantaire tried to ignore the longing in his heart at the mention of the revolutionary. He put on a knowing smile and deflected. “I think there’s a reason why you mentioned him while talking about how you could relate to me. Tell me, do you have an Enjolras of your own?”

Grantaire couldn’t have known the weight of that question.

Basil sighed deeply, and Grantaire could see the pain in his eyes. After a few moments, he shook his head sadly and said “…I thought I did…”

***

Sometimes, in cases with particularly tragic deaths, it took a while for souls to settle in. After hearing Basil’s full story, Grantaire had decided it would be best to make sure he didn’t have to be alone for a while.

So he had befriended him. Basil already knew a lot of Grantaire’s story from the book, but Grantaire still found a few things to tell him that Victor Hugo hadn’t included, and he learned a lot about his new friend.

Before long, they were both welcoming newly dead souls together.

***

Where was he?

He’d destroyed it, destroyed the thing that had changed the trajectory of his life so dramatically all those years ago. He’d destroyed it, so everything should be alright now, but where was he?

He was on a boat. On a boat crossing a river. How had he been moved, without his knowledge, from his attic to a boat crossing a river?

Where was he?

There were people near the riverbank, and the boat was almost there. He could ask them, then he’d have answers.

A voice. He heard a voice coming from near the riverbank, a voice he knew. “I need to know: are the punishments here eternal, or can people be forgiven?”

And he knew that voice, he knew that voice, and he knew it was about him, he wouldn’t be asking such a question for himself who had always done good and kind things, and suddenly he was consumed by a feeling of regret, regret for what he had done, regret for ever hurting him, a feeling so strong he almost fell to his knees.

He listened.

***

“How did Victor Hugo even know half of that?” Grantaire laughed because he thought he might cry otherwise. Basil had managed to find a copy of this The Miserables book he’d told Grantaire about, and wanted to read it with him so Grantaire could hear the many stories that were linked with his own. He’d agreed to hear it because his friend had wanted to, but he didn’t know how much more one-sided romantic tension between him and Enjolras he could take hearing about.

“I don’t know, he must have done a lot of research, I imagine…” Basil answered, but he was clearly distracted. He had the same wistful look in his eyes that he’d had when he first mentioned that he felt he and Grantaire were similar, and often had when one of them mentioned Enjolras. He’s thinking about Dorian again, Grantaire realised.

“Are you alright?”

“Something’s been bothering me recently… I think I need to ask Hades something…”

It wasn’t far to the riverbank. Hades stayed near the river Styx in case any newly arrived souls needed help after crossing the river to the Underworld. Charon’s boat hadn’t come in with the newest souls yet, so Grantaire was able to get his attention easily and explain that his friend had a question.

“I need to know: are the punishments here eternal, or can people be forgiven?”

That made sense. Grantaire had guessed it would be something to do with Dorian.

“It depends if they truly regret hurting others. If they do, they can be forgiven, and get to be with the people they love, if those people forgive them. But I think I know why you’re asking me this…”

“I forgive him. I don’t know what difference that makes, but I forgive him.”

“You would forgive him so easily?” Grantaire asked, surprised.

“Why are you surprised that I forgive him, Grantaire? You forgive Enjolras, don’t you?”

“That’s different.” Grantaire suddenly felt the need to defend Enjolras from this comparison. “Enjolras did everything he did for the good of France, for freedom for the people. …Enjolras didn’t kill me!”

“Would you feel differently if he had?”

Grantaire was about to answer, but stopped short. Would he?

Basil continued. “I’ve noticed many ways we’re alike, and this is one of them. Reading the book I could tell you were in love, maybe even too in love, devoted to the point of self detriment, sometimes.” He sighed. “So am I. Of course I forgive him. I’d already forgiven him before I stepped off the boat.”

A cry of… something (Joy? Relief? Regret? All three?) caught their attention, and Grantaire did a double take because he could have sworn he saw Enjolras among the souls who had just stepped off Charon’s boat. No, it couldn’t be Enjolras because Enjolras had died at the same time as Grantaire, he wouldn’t be with the new arrivals. One of them looked a lot like him, that was all.

Not-Enjolras was moved to tears by Basil’s passionate declaration of love. He spoke, barely above a whisper, as if he couldn’t believe what he’d heard,

“Do you mean that? After everything, you forgive me?”

***

To be continued!!

Now Dorian has arrived, will he get to be reunited with Basil? Will the two of them get Enjolras and Grantaire back together? (You know it’s yes to both, I need them all to be happy! But how?) Let me know if you liked this/if you want a part 2!

Edit: Part 2 is here!!

#the picture of les mis #enjoltaire #dasil #the picture of dorian gray #les misérables #exr #writing #do I dare go through the Dasil tag?#I think it’s going to be very angsty today #since it’s the anniversary of the murder #of course i WILL go through the tag #and cry probably #anyway i hope you like this

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onyx-archer · 2 years ago

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I Don’t Really Like Sasha Waybright: A Look Into Redemption Arcs

Oh boy, it’s time for me to make another analysis piece based on some dumb Disney cartoon. This time though, it’s about the Frog Show™ and not the Owl Show™, because I also like Amphibia, warts and all. (yes, that was an intentional toad pun)

As the title would suggest though, we’re going into territory about a character I’m not particularly fond of, despite how much the fanbase seems to collectively like her, and that’s Sasha Waybright. I’ve never really been a fan of her, which some people I know have found somewhat amusing given that I tend to like similar characters. While that is sort of true, I’d argue it’s not quite true either. It’s complicated. In order to really get into it, I’m going to have to talk about spoilers for several shows... so spoilers for Amphibia, The Owl House, Gravity Falls, and The Ghost and Molly McGee. As always, it’ll be under the cut.

Oh, and before I get under the cut, I just wanna say one thing real quick for the people who see this under the Sasha Waybright tag: I’m not trying to shit on your good time, I’m tagging the post with her name because it’s largely about my opinion of the character (and to a lesser extent, Sasha ships, but I won’t be tagging the ships because that’s not relevant enough for the bulk of the post).

Anyway, onto the meat of the post:

Watching Amphibia is something that came about for me because I enjoyed The Owl House immensely, and because Matt Braly also worked on Gravity Falls (which was, until TOH wrapped, my favorite show). The show has a charm that took a little bit for me to really “get,” but I’ve since come to really appreciate the show in a lot of ways. Particularly, I think “The Hardest Thing” is singlehandedly one of the best finales of all time, and I’d personally rank it higher than both The Owl House’s AND Gravity Falls’ (though I don’t really like GF’s finale, which I’m gonna make a post about eventually). I think Amphibia’s emotional moments are genuinely better than the ones in TOH, but the show is still not quite as good over all. This isn’t meant to be a dig at Matt and his team, I still love Amphibia, but it’s not my favorite show, y’know?

As far as the cast of Amphibia is concerned, I grew to like Anne a lot as the series progressed, and she exhibited a strong character arc from a bit of an entitled brat that shirked responsibility into a responsible person who is empathetic to the needs of others. Her and her found frog family are a highlight of the show, and lead to some great comedy and emotional moments. When Marcy debuted, I was instantly like “yes this is my favorite character” because she’s just a genuine delight to watch, and I’m really sad she didn’t get used more as the series went along.

Sasha, on the other hand, was a character that I just never clicked with. The first impression I had of the character was that she was going to showcase the opposite end of the development spectrum, where she would gradually become a worse person, or that her negative qualities would be highlighted more so than her positive ones. I wasn’t entirely wrong by the end of Season 2, and when we got to her sort of redemption in Season 3, the show kind of lost me a bit.

The problem I have with the character is basically rooted in the fact that she enters the show a kind of toxic person, and then she just kind of decides to change because one of her friends got mortally wounded, and she feels guilty over stuff that happened as a result of her treacherous actions earlier in the story. She was willing to do whatever it took to get home, even if it meant manipulating people and killing those who stood in her way. She had no issue with the idea of killing the Planters, and often showed she didn’t care if she hurt people until it was too late. I get this was done to emphasize that Sasha needed to grow up, change, and become a better person... but I still think the way it was done leaves a lot to be desired.

The issue is more so how it was built up. For basically two seasons, we get to know this girl who is all kinds of toxic, and the show works hard to showcase that she’s not above lying to her close friends about her intentions to get what she wants. She learned nothing from the events at Toad Tower, despite suggesting Anne would be better off without her in the end of that whole thing. The next time we see her, she’s pissed that Anne didn’t side with her, and that she sided with frogs, which she has been told are lower on the societal/racial hierarchy by the toads. There’s a racism allegory in there somewhere, but I’m not particularly interested in getting too deep into that can of worms.

She then shrugs off Percy and Braddock’s desire to leave when facing the Narwhal Worm in “Barrel’s Warhammer,” despite saying she would leave if they wanted to. She then basically plays Anne and Marcy for fools by inciting a rebellion in Newtopia in “True Colors.” She put up the front of being better to Anne and Marcy because she wanted control, because she’s made to be the toxic “friend” that craves control. Sure, she has moments where she clearly feels a bit bad for being like this, but she doesn’t learn her lesson until one of her friend is nearly killed in front of her. She only cares about the consequences of her shitty behavior after she has to face losing someone she cares about for real.

Now, I know someone would likely point out that a lot of characters that can come off as mean or toxic have similar moments of revelation... but I don’t really think this is the case.

Let’s take one of the biggest points of comparison for Sasha from The Owl House, Amity Blight, and compare elements of their arcs from “jerk” to “good person.”

Amity obviously starts the series as something of a bully character, with a need to be seen as “the best,” and is willing to humiliate Willow to remind everyone how great she is. It takes her being humiliated by Lilith and Eda’s cheating during her and Luz’s duel, and Luz showing how determined she is to be a witch for Amity to soften up. She recognizes Luz is doing her best, despite being a magicless human in a world of witches and demons, and softens up. She’s still wary of Luz until after Luz helps her deal with the corrupted Otabin in “Lost in Language” for her to really see that Luz is a good person. From here, she gradually continues to become a better person, because Luz’s positivity has that effect on her.

By the time she has to face the consequences of trying to uphold her reputation nearly causing Willow to lose all of her memories, Amity realizes that she’d become a bad person, and actively begins to truly improve. She attempts to mend the rift between her and Willow that was caused by her parents demands as a kid, and she eventually distances herself from Boscha during the events of “Wing It Like Witches,” saying that she made her social life better by cutting Boscha out of it. Her growing feelings for Luz culminate in her finally standing up to her mother’s abusive ass to save the person she’s grown to love, who is also the person that lit the fires of change within her. She accomplishes this in a way that is organic. Seeing her go from stuck up to a girl doing her best to make her girlfriend happy just makes me smile.

Let’s use another example: Pacifica Northwest from Gravity Falls.

Pacifica starts her time in Gravity Falls as a foil to Mabel, serving as the bratty rich girl who thinks she’s above everyone. She gets humbled a few times as part of a gag, but when “The Golf War” and “Northwest Mansion Mystery” (which is my favorite episode of the show btw) take place, Pacifica begins to showcase some added depth. We see first hand that she has a lot of expectations placed on her by her parents, and they have a Pavlovian response to an abusive method of control via her father’s bell that she is conditioned to see as “you’re acting out of line for a Northwest.”

When she learns that her family’s current situation (the Lumberjack Ghost) is a result of the family’s poor attitude about “common folk” and lies told in the past, she is visibly shaken that her family is as bad as Dipper said it was. She then decides she wants to break free of her family’s twisted values, and while we don’t get to see that pay off much, she’s still seen as a better character by the end. This is one of the reasons I’m bitter that Gravity Falls only has 2 Seasons, as I feel like this would have allowed us to see Pacifica become an even better character, among other characters. To briefly mention shipping, part of the reason I love the idea of Dipcifica is because it highlights how Dipper had a profoundly positive impact on Pacifica’s life, even if just for that one episode, because it’s through her interactions with him that she was forced to confront how her family truly is, and how she desires to improve as a result. It’s kind of like... a straight prototype for how Lumity panned out, ironically enough.

To use a more modern example: Andrea Davenport from The Ghost and Molly McGee.

Andrea’s not really a character with a full blown arc, but she is far from the worst person around. She’s a girl who has her moments that reflect Pacifica’s early days, but with a more livestreamer mindset, and she has more compassion from the outset than Pacifica. She does things so her parents will praise her, much like Amity, but is also fully committed to helping people who are nice to her. Even though her and Molly got off on the wrong foot, the fact that Andrea is shown to be Molly’s friend when things get bad for Molly and her family around “Home is Where the Haunt Is,” Andrea uses her social media influence to help raise money to save the McGee’s house.

Season 2 of the show, thus far, has shown Andrea to be a good person, and is super supportive of Libby during “A Period Piece,” despite their past history. In the most recent episode of time of writing, “Davenport’s On Demand,” Molly gets Andrea into coding, and makes an app to help her family’s business. When she learns how the app is threatening the livelihoods of the other businesses of Brighton, she decides to delete the app, and works with Molly (and, unknowingly, a reluctant Scratch) to do so. It’s at least somewhat clear that Andrea actually values Molly’s opinion at this point, and seems to be positively influenced by Molly’s chipper vibes. While it’s not the most drastic character arc or anything, and actually feels like it’s missing a little bit of context, it still works because Andrea is has more room to grow, as the show is not finished yet.

Something the three I just mentioned all have in common is a positive influence on their lives. While it can certainly be argued that the positive impacts aren’t super comparable, insofar that they have varying degrees of depth of impact on said characters, it’s undeniable that there’s a moment where, because of a positive influence in their lives, the three girls begin to change for the better. Think of it like a sort of Olive Branch to become a better person, and they take it. How far they get in that journey of self improvement is not important, because they got the chance to improve and took it. They all feel earned to some extent, in my opinion, because there’s a bit of a gradual curve to seeing how they act.

Sasha, on the other hand, doesn’t feel like she earned her sudden chance at redemption. While she certainly puts on a good show, and makes good on her desire to change for the better, I find that because we had two whole seasons of her being a pretty crappy person, only to have the show give her one episode to improve as a person before Anne gets back to Amphibia and works with Sasha again... it just feels like Sasha got replaced at some point, and while the character looks and sounds like her, we didn’t really see much of the transformation, and I find that extremely jarring.

Pacifica is a character that, in basically 2 episodes, managed to get the depth needed to make her shift into a better person feel like we got to see her improve in real time. We even have a comic where we get to see Pacifica improve a bit more helps too.

In the case of Andrea, we see how her need for validation from her parents has affected her, and that’s why she’s so obsessed with the instant gratification of her online following’s praise, and why, after Molly helped her like, once, she was so quick to call Molly her best friend. Plus, there’s still more time for her to improve even more, as The Ghost and Molly McGee is currently airing it’s second season at time of writing.

Amity is the one that has the best arc of the ones mentioned, because we see her gradually change. They showed a gradual shift in her character, and the reason for that shift being Luz also lead into the best lesbian romance we’ve ever had in almost anything ever, period. We get a full display of how Amity grows as a person, and that helps make her shift feel believable and earned.

Sasha doesn’t really have that moment. She changes as a result of a bad thing happening to her. While you could say that is a realistic response, we don’t really get much in the way of a change. One day she decides to be a better person, and then we see her as a better person. While I’m not saying we needed a whole ass season dedicated to Sasha improving as a person, it’d have felt a lot better from a writing stand point if she was given more than a single episode to actually turn over a new leaf.

While one could easily argue that Sasha had moments throughout the show of expressing some semblance of doubt in regards to how she was acting, and that she showed signs of regret for being the way she was, she continued to be that kind of person anyway. She continued to manipulate people, and try to control things, until Marcy got a sword shoved through her chest. And while that’s not the worst reason for a change, people don’t just change who they are overnight, or even a few days. She needed more time to show that the change was something that she had earned, rather than just tell us “Sasha’s gonna be a better person starting... now!”

As for me mentioning ships... I feel like this is one of those instances where I know I’m going to get a little heat for saying it, but like, it genuinely feels like some people give Sasha a pass because she’s confirmed Bisexual, and we are sorely lacking positive queer characters in popular culture as a whole. I could make a whole ass post about queer characters (because man, as a queer person, I have a lot to say on how we view queer characters on the whole), but that’s for another time. I’ve never really liked Sashanne, Sasharcy, or Sashanarcy (I’m 10000% fine with polycules and polygamy, and if you aren’t, you can fuck right off), largely because I feel the romance well is too poisoned by Sasha’s past actions. I don’t really fuck with the idea of enemies to lovers much, and while they weren’t “enemies” persay, I feel like Anne and Marcy having dealt with Sasha’s more toxic side for as long as they did would make them wary of entering a romantic relationship with her, even if she didn’t regress into that mindset during said relationship. The shipping thing is totally a personal opinion though.

Anyway, hopefully I got across my feelings on Sasha as a character, and why I’m not the biggest fan. If you have anything you need me to try and clarify, then by all means, ask away via reblogs or replies. Otherwise, I look forward for the shit I’m gonna get for disliking a popular character. I guess I’ll see people in my next post lol.

#Amphibia Discussion #Amphibia #Amphibia Spoilers #Amphibia Analysis #Amphibia character analysis #Sasha Waybright #TOH Spoilers #The Owl House Spoilers #Gravity Falls Spoilers #GF Spoilers #The Ghost and Molly McGee Spoilers #TGaMM spoilers #analysis #Pacifica Northwest #Amity Blight #Andrea Davenport #comparing characters

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mdhwrites · 2 years ago

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Arcane Episode 1 Review: A Playground Indeed

I have a LOT to talk about with this because Arcane is an amazing beast even in just its first episode so I’m splitting it up into parts so if you want to skip something, look for the bold text.

1. A Distinction to Be Made (Preamble in how I see this show)

2. Welcome to The Playground (Overall impression and tone)

3. A Crew to Run With (Side Characters)

4. Our Champions (Main Characters)

5. The Personality of Animation

A Distinction to Be Made

So I often worry with shows I’ve heard literally nothing bad that the hype is going to get to me. I’ll be primed to be harsh on it because my brain is hoping to see what other people see in it. It’s just a problem with my brain.

This was not one of those times because this series is already living up to its reputation... Though I’ll actually be critical first in saying that that’s not surprising. I don’t know if this is commonly true for Netflix series but a lot of people are going to judge this against Saturday Morning cartoons or normal broadcast stuff.

That opening sequence with Vander, Vi and Powder tells you this isn’t the same case. It is a confident choice to start so somber, to build pure atmosphere for the sort of hell that used to be this place to contrast it later against the struggling but surviving Lanes that we see later. It’s also one you’d NEVER get out of pretty much anything for broadcast television and dripping with enough money in five minutes to fund probably an entire episode of something like Amphibia.

It is prestige television like something like the Walking Dead so I’m going to try and not compare it to other things like The Owl House, Danny Phantom, etc. like that. It clearly is meant to be hard serialized, more serious, more impressive, etc. like that. I also don’t say this to knock it but it’s an important distinction versus a lot of its peers... Because it’s animated.

Anyone who comes to Arcane wanting a fun, PG-13 animated show is possibly going to be turned away just like those who hear it’s animated but serious might get turned away too. Luckily for me, I’m here for both sides so this pilot was FUCKING AWESOME.

Welcome to the Playground

Now I did compare it to prestige television but I want to start with the fact that unlike your Game of Thrones or Walking Deads, this first episode’s title lives up to it. This is a blast, in more ways than one. The overall energy, after the dreariness of the beginning, is a mix of excitement, tension and energy which is EXACTLY what it should be for an episode introducing us to young criminals trying to stretch their wings and find their place.

I’m trying to stick to this part being overall impression though so I won’t get into too many specifics. Part of what sells all of this though is the breath through the world of Piltover and the Lanes. The dynamic is nothing new but the episode is happy to really showcase each part’s different wonders as well as their dangers, despite how little time we get in Piltover. It makes the contrasts all the stronger and the threats all the more real.

But it never abandons wonder to wallow. This is what allows it to frankly keep up a positive feeling throughout the first episode. That things will workout, even as set backs and issues come up. This was just one bad job after all. What’s the worst that can happen?

Which I know enough to have had a rock forming in my stomach as the show began making it clearer and clearer that there was never a way for this job to go right. Even without light spoilers though, you can tell. It is curdling the sweet, warm milk that it’s trying to lull you to sleep with. That for as tough as Vi is, as capable her crew and how dominant Vander is over his domain, things are turning.

But the show is wise enough to wait. It has things to introduce after all like:

A Crew to Run With

So I won’t actually get into Vi and Powder yet, despite knowing them to be the main characters. Frankly, I think the fact that I can make this section at all though is a VERY good thing. The fact that this isn’t going to be just one line for these guys is even better.

Vi’s two friends are great. They feel like a play on the big dumb guy and small smart guy but they don’t play it entirely straight. The larger guy isn’t just a fat joke like one might expect or a liability because of his weight. Instead, they acknowledge the fact that vikings had very similar builds so while there’s a small touch of him just obliterating a cupcake, you know he puts in the work to at least mostly work it off. He is also the muscle and strength of the crew, alongside the heart. He appears to probably be about as capable as Vi in a fight but not nearly as ruthless. He frankly doesn’t seem to have the stomach to go quite as hard as Vi, nor the drive needed to be the leader, though the caution to be a great advisor.

The rogue of their party has his charm too. Not as good in a fight but more squirrely and scrappy. He’s also got more skills than the others, things that make him more invaluable and that has gone STRAIGHT to his head. He doesn’t see his fuck ups after all or his weaknesses because he always is justified on the team because he’s the one who can actually work the gadgets they need. He does need one proper kick in the ass to get his head on straight but he’s young and pride and ego are all too common for kids.

Vander might have one of the best introductions I’ve ever seen. “Don’t threaten the one who poors the drinks” is such a great line and honestly, the whole exchange is incredible. He is never actually nice to the traders beyond asking if they need anything but the VA does an incredible job delivering threats and joking barbs in such a way that it takes a while for you to realize just how upset he is with these two. When he says “You’ll get used to it” is when the sweetness drops as he makes it clear that this is how it works. You either leave or... get used to it.

It only gets more interesting though as we see him with the kids and especially Vi. You can see the contrast of the man who lived a life that led to him wearing iron gauntlets and beating an enforcer’s face in and the change required for him to now have a family and run the lanes as its boss. He’s not exactly a criminal lord but he can’t live by our sort of morality. The sort of morality that says one blown up building is enough to start a crusade, but he also can’t be so cutthroat as to sell out his own kind, especially his own kin.

A lot of others get good moments, like us learning Ekko is inventive and smart, or just the incredible impression that the villain leaves in his limited time, but nothing I can say too much of at the moment. I do love the fact that even accidental information does push the villain to show sympathy... But only with veiled sympathy. It’s a good way to show the act he might put up to get people to be loyal to him but also the wheels within wheels that he’s turning so as to be ready for whatever is to come.

Our Champions

Just the one shot of them overlooking the Lanes would tell you that these are your main characters: Powder and Vi. Even if you don’t know they’re Legends, you could tell these two and their relationship is going to be a major part of this, though the theme song does spoil that some too, at least once the timeskip that is to come happens.

The two simply have both too distinct of designs and too much importance to each other while not having any of the death flags someone like Vander might (though to its credit, I actually don’t know if Vander is about to bite it and the show hasn’t been too blunt on if that will or won’t happen.) With that said, anyone who thought Powder was the innocent set up to die... I wouldn’t blame them.

Powder is not bad but she suffers from writing that happens a lot with younger characters. Because she is less skilled and able than the rest, the episode centers a LOOOOT of what’s happening with her around that conflict. Pretty much all of the dialogue with her is about how she has a lot of growing left to do before she’s on par with those older than her. It could get a little tedious but I found it mostly fine but that has to do a lot more with Vi and Powder together than Powder by herself.

Not to say Powder doesn’t do right by herself regardless. Her inventiveness is well documented, her frustrations with those inventions but also her love for them is too. One can easily note that when she talks about them not working, she doesn’t discard them or even stop making them. It implies that she blames herself, not her tools which is VERY dangerous for an inventor that young because it means one of the biggest hurdles to learning is gone already. It effectively guarantees that she’ll only get better because she’s ready to get better.

She contrasts well as a more innocent figure though because while she’s willing to effectively make a grenade, it’s only when push comes to shove. It’s not her first instinct and you could absolutely imagine a different timeline where she grows up in a place less violent and so her gadgets wouldn’t be geared towards violence. It’s also just good to show that it does take time in this world for the innocence in someone to be crushed. That it’s not so cruel and scary so as to make someone like her unable to function.

It does cause a bit of a manic pixie feeling from her but it’s reigned in well by the lack of energy she has. She’s still mostly quiet as someone who doesn’t fight or isn’t ready for danger needs to be ready to hide. Again, she contrasts well with almost every other character we see.

This is especially true with Vi. Vi doesn’t talk a lot without a point. She definitely has gang leader energy to her and not in a bad way. She is working to be like her adopted father someday where she’s ready to run everything. This is both in her gruff attitude and her fists... But also in the kindness she’s learned from Vander.

She has a well of kindness and wisdom that is beyond her years. Frankly, it’s easy to see why the other kids look up to her and it’s not just because she can kick ass. She has a confidence that is infectious so when she says she believes you’re ready, you think it too. She’s also able to connect and make her point clear, whether it be through kindness to her sister or roughness to the dumbass on her team.

She really does save the wallowing that could be with Powder. The fact that the two are genuinely open to each other stops a misunderstanding plot and let it actually lead to a really sweet moment about bad days that just hit so well. But... This isn’t her only side. The other side I connect all too well with as someone who got told he was mature for his age.

An anger. This belief that if you are more mature, so smart and so talented, that you ought to be better. Ought to be somewhere other than where you are. You shouldn’t have to deal with fools or scraps or watch the popular kids get to break the rules that always feel so suffocating to you. That anger is starting to form in Vi and it could easily get out of control.

It actually makes a fun parallel to the angry enforcer who gets in Vander’s face. That man very much so looks at the people here, people he sees as skirting the rules and hurting others, and wants an excuse to do something about it. Meanwhile, Vi sees the topsiders ignoring their plight, feigned ignorance making them as culpable to their problems as if they were punching them in the face themselves and wants to do something about it. Wants to release that anger somehow. She doesn’t have the tools or smarts to do it yet though, which makes her sister’s potential all the scarier.

The Personality of Animation

The last thing I want to touch on is just the fact that the animation for this is SO GOOD. This is absolutely one of those shows where you could turn off the volume and still get much of the point of what’s going on. The expressions are incredible, from the big ticket emotions to subtle acting moments that would be hard for even the best actors to pull off and that is not easy for an animator to replicate. Just body language is incredibly on point though, like how Vi sits when Vander wants to talk. Literally the way she sits just screams “I know what you’re going to say so get it over with” because she doesn’t want this talk and thinks it’s going to be pointless because she’s a dumb tweenager who thinks she’s got the world figured out.

In general, EVERYTHING is dripping with personality like this. No two people do something in quite the same way. There is so much care and attention to detail that you really only get with movie animation nowadays, and not even every movie, even from big studios. Not all of them are paying this much attention. A lot of the personality I got the characters came from design and actions and what you can just read on their face and it’s just really impressive.

The fact that it’s BEAUTIFUL while doing this is just the cherry on top. It’s also more grounded and more adult than most kid’s shows in its writing and animation without losing the fun of animation. Honestly, and I know some might disagree with me on this, I’d love it if people took this as a sign that you don’t have to be boring in order to be more adult when it comes to animation. I see trailers for shows like “Fired on Mars” and sure, it looks like it could be fun... But it also LOOKS boring as hell. Like yep, I sure have seen this sort of stiff adult animation a bunch of times.

The fact that Arcane is so ALIVE with its animation is a just a fucking treat, though part of that is absolutely because Riot has the money to back this thing up. They’re not making these as cash grabs so they’re going to make sure that if everything else fails, the animation doesn’t.

And man... They’ve had well over a decade to refine these characters, regions, world, concepts, etc. and I’m really happy that despite their genre of games not demanding it, they don’t seem to have been sitting on their hands. You can tell this is the sort of project that can only be realized so well by having both confidence and polish that takes just a lot, and I mean a LOOOT of time.

And frankly, I feel a bit bad that I hadn’t given it my own time sooner. Hopefully it keeps ticking on as strongly as this first forty minutes.

===========

I have a public Discord for any and all who want to join!

I also have an Amazon page for all of my original works in various forms of character focused romances from cute, teenage romance to erotica series of my past. I have an Ao3 for my fanfiction projects as well if that catches your fancy instead, If you want to hang out with me, I stream from time to time and love to chat with chat.

And finally a Twitter you can follow too!

#Arcane #Episode Reviews #Welcome to the Playground

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jbaileyfansite · 2 years ago

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Jonathan Bailey interview with the Evening Standard (2021)

There are worse places to conduct an interview than a park, and at least it’s only drizzling.

The only problem is that people won’t leave Jonathan Bailey alone. Which is to be expected, of course: he’s in Bridgerton, the most-watched original Netflix series in its history, viewed on 82 million accounts in a month since it dropped on Christmas Day. Wait. Did I say people? I meant dogs. They snaffle at his heels and rub against his legs while the humans remain impervious. This is because, devoid of his mutton chops and tailcoat, the 32-year-old actor looks a world away from Viscount Anthony Bridgerton, brother of Daphne; lover of Sienna; friend and foe of Simon, Duke of Hastings.

Today he’s dressed in a nylon jacket and sporting very different hair. ‘Bit of a spoiler for season two — I’ve had a light perm,’ he smiles.

And even if Bailey had spent the past two months in full regency costume, fame would have eluded him until lockdown eased and the usual signifiers — being hassled in restaurants, endless selfie requests — were back on the table. Until then it lies in wait, preserved in aspic.

Having spent lockdown thus far on the East Sussex coast staying home like the rest of us, Bailey admits the disconnect is confusing. ‘I feel like I’m being gaslit on a global scale,’ he laughs. ‘Even today, just meeting and talking to actual people who have seen the show feels weird. To me and all the British cast, it feels like Nasa. Netflix launched this spaceship, and you get launched into space. It’s a brilliantly traumatic thing to experience. The launch only happens once, and then it’s about tethering yourself and working it out. I think that might take a while.

‘The isolation of lockdown has been incredibly hard for everyone, but the isolation of feeling like you can’t inhabit the experience that other people are experiencing around you, while being locked down and not being able to see your friends…’ he tails off. ‘Presumably all it will take to shake it off is a big dinner, or even just having a few pints and going out.’

With a slew of TV parts under his belt (Broadchurch, Crashing, Chewing Gum, W1A) and an Olivier award for his role as Jamie in Company (2018), Bailey isn’t exactly an ingénue. But Bridgerton is one of those rare TV programmes that has bestowed fame on a global scale.

Produced by Shonda Rhimes and adapted from the historical novels of Julia Quinn, Netflix’s genre-busting costume drama reached the top 10 in 189 countries, thanks to a sharp script, lavish costumes and racially diverse cast that saw actors of colour inhabit the highest echelons of 19th-century society in a way that had never been seen on screen before. That this high society is presided over by a black woman, Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), might be diversity divorced from any historical context, but the alternative — another costume drama inhabited by white people — has never felt more wrong.

Bailey auditioned for the part in 2018 while appearing in Company, sending off a tape to Rhimes’s production company, Shondaland. ‘I got offered the job on my 31st birthday, 25 April 2019,’ he recalls. Filming started in July 2019 and ended in March 2020, narrowly avoiding any impact from the pandemic.

‘For me it feels like a lockdown anyway when I’m working, so it’s a long time since I can remember normal life.’ Has he been he a banana bread-baking stereotype over lockdowns? ‘I made more than banana bread,’ he laughs. ‘I started with banana bread but went on to cinnamon rolls, although they looked like turds — terrible. But I made amazing hot cross buns.’

The million dollar cliché: what did he learn about himself? ‘I feel more complicated than I thought I was,’ he says. ‘And then I’ve been affirmed by certain things. I did a lot of cycling between lockdowns, in Cornwall and around Italy last summer — pure recharge, pure perspective. Nature is so important. I know everyone’s saying that, and that some people can just keep going flat out, but I know I need to recharge. And I love a bath. I’ve had weeks where I’ve had a minimum of two a day.’ He suddenly looks horrified. ‘Actually, that’s awful. Don’t put that, ’cause it’s wasting water.’

Barely has ‘what did you miss the most?’ escaped from my lips and he exclaims, ‘Theatre! Not just theatre, but the possibility of theatre. But then, I’ve been watching really brilliant theatre creatives smashing it on TV instead.’ He points out that Bridgerton cast members Rosheuvel, Ruth Gemmell, Adjoa Andoh and Luke Thompson are all regulars on the stage. ‘We should be proud in Britain that there’s a massive crossover between theatre and TV. It’s not a semi-permeable membrane: it’s all one talent pool.’

Could the Government be doing more to support theatre? ‘Absolutely. It’s just the people who are making the decisions; if it had been someone who loves theatre, and understood the importance of it, this would never have happened. There are certain things in life where you go, “That’s a marker”, and the [2019] government campaign about Fatima having to retrain in cyber was one. That was a wound that will take a long time to heal. And the other marker of a moment is Ruth Sheen’s performance in It’s A Sin [the veteran actress had a cameo as a hospital visitor who took Keeley Hawes’ character to task in the final episode]. The last year hasn’t been about Christmas and Easter. It’s been about markers like those.’

Bailey has been described online as ‘openly gay’. I point out that no actors are ever described as ‘openly straight’, and he laughs. ‘I’d say I’m not openly gay. I’m just gay.’ Although he is wary of discussing his sexuality for the sake of it. ‘Then it becomes a commodity and a currency. I knew that I wanted to be visible about my sexuality, because in all the territories that Netflix goes out in, there might be a boy somewhere that goes, “Wait, what?” Which is what I didn’t have when I was young. All I know is that I’m happy to keep working really hard and if there are opportunities for representation, and to make that point, then that’s something I’ll always strive to do.’

Like just about everyone else, he loved It’s A Sin. ‘It was an incredible way to talk about an awful pandemic, and an absolute tragedy that so many people will be triggered by it. In Ruth Sheen’s character, you have a heterosexual woman who is mother to a gay son, challenging another mother. I found that rage incredible. The gay fantasy isn’t just hanging out in bars and meeting men. The gay fantasy is to have guardian angels of allyship.’

He’s hesitant to say whether he agrees with director Russell T Davies’ assertion that gay people should play gay roles. ‘It’s a big old conversation and one I’ve spoken to Russell about, and many other actors. But it’s really hard to give a sound bite to sum up.’

I tell him I don’t want a sound bite. ‘It’s about redressing the balance of access to roles. There just aren’t that many gay roles, so when straight actors go to take that space up, it’s eliminating the chance for other [gay actors].

‘We know there has been a history of needing to be closeted to succeed and be famous, especially in acting. And the idea of not being able to believe heterosexual relations and narrative, if you know one of the actors is gay… everyone should be able to play absolutely everything. But let’s blow away all the cobwebs, and one of the hang-ups and shadows of the past is that we need to be a lot more open to the idea of sexes playing different sides. There have been amazing performances by straight people playing gay and by gay people playing straight. It’s a moment to think about that, and I think Russell’s point was that there’s a vitality and a joy to It��s A Sin because he cast gay people in gay roles. That’s completely true. It’s not a bad thing to own your narrative.”

He is glad not to have received any flack for playing a straight role such as Viscount Anthony. ‘Bearing in mind the internet is a place where anyone can say anything, there hasn’t been anyone who’s had any animosity, or challenged it, so that’s good. Yes, I’m looking forward to gay actors playing gay parts, but for me it’s so important that everyone at home can see a bit of themselves on screen, to allow them to feel heard and seen, and also allow them to have aspirations.

‘Good actors can do anything, and there’ll be amazing writers who are willing to write for everyone. If there are people who don’t have access to creating their own TV shows or telling the stories they want to tell, then absolutely, everyone has to make space for them. That’s not just to do with gender or sexuality. It’s to do with race, religion and everything else.’ He pauses. ‘The idea that someone could read that and go, “God, that’s just a woke viewpoint,” I find really funny. It’s just basic sense, isn’t it?’

Another dog — this time a cockapoo — launches itself on Bailey mid-flow. ‘We have a family cockapoo. I looked after him in Lockdown 1,’ he says. ‘That was a real baptism of fire. He ate a sock. A full sock. It was a Muji sock. Stripy. And then it came up again three days later.’ What’s he called? ‘Benson, after the village I grew up in.’

His sounds an idyllic childhood. Brought up in Oxfordshire, he eschewed drama school for an Open University degree. Neither his parents nor three older sisters have anything to do with acting, but his interest was sparked as a child after watching a production of Oliver in the village hall. He joined the local drama club and also pootled around at the back of the class while one sister did ballet. ‘I wasn’t really invited, but I remember having Velcro trainers and just squeaking in the back and trying to do some pliés. I stopped dancing aged 12 because of the inevitable narrative — peer pressure. Ballet became a euphemism for something else.’

Was he the sort of kid who always got the lead in the school play? ‘I did play Jolly Roger in Jolly Roger,’ he smiles. ‘But then I was taken down a peg or two when I played a raindrop in Noah’s Ark. You win some, you lose some.’

With Bridgerton likely to run for many more seasons, and Viscount Anthony’s storyline taking centre stage in season two (now that sister Daphne is married off, the plot will focus on his own romantic life), Bailey’s newfound fame isn’t going to dissipate any time soon. He has mixed feelings. ‘You work and strive to be an actor and you can get better at it and enjoy it. But you can’t be good at fame or enjoy it. Some people do, some people don’t. It’s a different cocktail for everyone. There are suddenly opportunities available, which is brilliant, and I’m incredibly lucky. But then I realise this is when people say it’s about saying no, because what you say no to keeps you on the path.’

What also keeps him on the right path is the role itself. ‘Bridgerton is actually delivering on changing the bar, and the standard, of representation. Because of that, I’ve had amazing messages from people who have been able to talk about their sexuality, or people who have seen themselves or their children in the Duke of Hastings [storyline]. For me that’s the thing that’s always going to ground [the experience]. It’s a candyfloss juggernaut theme park ride — like multiple sensory overload.

‘So thank God for family. Thank God for friends.’

Source

#jonathan bailey #jonny bailey #interviews #interviews:2021 #evening standard interview 2021 #i just love this interview so much

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shipsgaysfordays · 2 years ago

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so, i’ve had the idea for an absolutely heart wrenching story, slightly based on [SPOILERS] both the end of spiderman no way home and based a bit on the fate of donna noble in doctor who, and honestly a little bit based on mary macdonald’s fate as well

this sort of works for the @wolfstarmicrofic prompt forget from a few days ago

it’s hurt and kinda left off with no resolution

cw: talks of forced memory loss, general mental health issues

sirius gets out of azkaban and is just a broken person. is barely able to function anymore because of the amount of time they’ve been tortured and meant to believe that they did a crime that they never did. and remus sees this pain and sense of brokenness in sirius, and remus used to know how to help and how to heal the bits that he could heal, but he doesn’t know what to do anymore.

and one day it’s all so much. sirius is having a major breakdown, and is feeling this overwhelming feeling of rage, screaming and screaming at everything around them. the walls. the tv. the couch. and at remus. yells all through the apartment, silencing spells over and over on the door so their neighbors don’t hear them. for hours on end, switching into being padfoot for a period of time and howling and scratching, until zey’re human voice is healed and can get back to the screams.

and remus doesn’t know what to do, and remus thinks of mary for a moment. how much happier she seemed to not have him in her life anymore, and so remus asks, “would you rather just forget me? forget all of this?”

and that gets zer to stop, staring at zis former lover, “what--what are you talking about? remus, no, no, just because i’m--no moony.”

“but you would be so much happier, can you honestly say that you ever feel happy anymore?”

“happiness isn’t everything.”

“but it’s something, and i can’t leave you like this and i don’t want to leave you, but i don’t know how to help anymore. i just don’t.”

“remus...i couldn’t forget.....i can’t, please moony,” as remus steps closer and closer to them, sirius backs away more and more. “YOU CAN’T TAKE AWAY ALL THAT’S LEFT OF ME!”

“but think of mary, she’s--she’s doing so much better.”

“she’s ignorant to the majority of her life,” the vile in zer words attack remus far more than the screams were ever able to, yet still remus continues.

“but she’s in an ignorant bliss.”

there is a moment of quiet, remus wonders if sirius may be coming around to the idea until:

“would you have done this to yourself...if i didn’t come back, would you have?”

“i don’t know,” remus shrugs.

“then why are you doing it to me?”

“because you deserve to have joy again.”

“and you don’t?”

“i don’t know.”

tears begin to drop from sirius’ eyes, “i will never forgive you for this, any last bit of me that remains, it will hate you.”

“you already do, leaving this idea here won’t change that.”

“yes, but if we just leave this idea here then maybe i can love you again.”

“i can’t take that chance, you deserve to have something.”

“why can’t that something be you? why can’t it be this? why is the best option ‘putting me out of my misery’ and erasing my memory?”

“i don’t know how.”

sirius sighs, “just listen to me, just be here, please. don’t erase all that’s left.”

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alaffy · 1 year ago

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The Golden Age, Ep.2x04 – The Duke (Spoilers)

Oh dear, I think this show is going off the rails a bit. In my last post, I mentioned that it felt like they’ve spent three episodes setting up the season. Halfway through this episode, I started to question if I had skipped an episode with the way some of these storylines are going.

Let’s just quickly get through the storylines we don’t care about. The Vallet has decided he won’t leave unless he hear that it is his daughter that wants him too; no one cares. The Russell’s cook has asked out the Lady’s Maid; no one cares. And something about fixing a clock….

I’m not going to touch much on Marion’s storyline, except for one thing. The way the daughter was pushing that the three of them look like a family. Why do I have a feeling that, in order to have Agens’ nephew bow out at some point, we’re going to find out that he only asked to marry Marion because his daughter had become so attached to her? Not that he isn’t fond of Marion, but they keep going back to how he’s trying to make things better for his daughter.

We have a single scene to remind us Russel is having problems with his workers wanting, you know, fair wages.

Oscar seems to be getting along with his (money) interest. However, I can actually see them making some sort of marriage/business agreement that suits them both.

Peggy has arrived in the South and most of her scenes were fairly short bar the dinner scene. And even then, the scene was more about Booker T. Washington and T. Thomas Fortune; which is not too much of a surprise as Fortune was an advisor to Washington. And with this conversation the writers are trying to show the differences between the two men's ideology, specifically how do you improve the quality of life for black men and women in a country where they are considered less than? Fortune believes that Washington should teach the students to fight (I think he’s talking socially/politically but it wouldn’t surprise me if he meant physically, if need be, too). And the other question is…we see that Washington seems to have a cordial relationship with some white men and Fortune clearly has concerns about this. You have a moment where Fortune is basically asking how Washington can have business relationships with people who enslaved them, to which Washington replies he doesn’t have relationships with those people. I’m not explaining this very well, but basically it's a question on how much should they rely on/trust the white populace. And it’s also very clear that, like I said last post, Peggy knows the history; but it’s like she understands but she doesn’t understand.

But now we move on to three stories that all just like skipped over portions. For instance, apparently the writers decided to do Ada’s entire courtship in this episode. Seriously, the Rector asked her to marry him and she agrees. But will she go through it?

Larry and the Widow declare their love for one another. But word gets out that they maybe having a triste. Bertha invites the Widow to her house, calls the widow old, tells her she’ll never be able to give Larry children, and tells her that Larry will just be waiting for her to die just like the Widow did with her husband. Damn. The Widow breaks up with Larry who, I kid you not, talks about how they were going to get married. I…fucking what? Like was this something he just assumed was going to happen? Then again, she doesn’t seem surprised by what he said, so does that mean they had plans? If so, why did no one tell us?

And then there’s the Winterton situation. I, uh, ok…well, backing up a bit. We have a minor thing where it looks like The Met may have financial issues, but in the end George has his men look at it and discovers an accounting issue. At least that’s what he tells Bertha. Either this was done to further get back into her good graces, or they’re going to say that he lied to her again. Right now, I’m assuming it’s good graces.

But, getting back to Ms. Winterton. Mr. Winterton is summoned by Ms. Astor. Turns out she’s learned about Ms. Winterton being Ms. Turner (although how I have no idea how she knows as that’s not explained to us). Mr. Winterton confronts his wife, who lies and says she was a companion to Mrs. Russell. She believes Bertha told Mrs. Astor in order to get back at her. But we all know she didn’t, so why not explain how Ms. Astor found out? Anyway, they’ve lost their box at the Music Hall. Mr. Winterton threatens to take some of the old family with him and Ms. Astor seems fine with this (again, weird play, but sure).

Meanwhile, George has gotten invitations for Bertha and himself to dine with the Duke of Buckingham. They go to the dinner, where Bertha manages to switch her place card and Ms. Winterton’s so that Bertha can sit next to the Duke. Winterton ends up sitting next to Oscar, who is quite intrigued to find out how Turner ended up as Winterton. Bertha manages to convince the Duke to stay in Newport with the Russells instead of Wintertons.

At the end of the episode, George is back in Bertha’s good graces. Everyone finds out that the Duke will be staying with the Russells. And…oh my God, the Wintertons. “We can get another Duke.” “I don’t want another Duke, I want that Duke,” she screams, as she stomps up the stairs like a petulant child. I’m sorry, that was just stupid.

So, next weeks recap will probably be a couple of days late as I won't be able to watch the new episode for a few days. But it looks like we’re going to see Betha introducing Georga to the Duke.

#the gilded age #the gilded age spoilers #george russell #marion brooks #bertha russell #larry russell #peggy scott #adia brook #agnes van rhijn #oscar van rhijn

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finch1pinch · 2 years ago

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gotta say I really do enjoy the beginning of Across the Spider-Verse and Gwen’s monologue while she’s pounding on the drums (beware spoilers ahead obviously!)

on the first viewing(yes I saw it in theaters twice) its mostly just a recap of the first movie to get everyone who hasnt watched it over 15 times and knows the plot and a lot of the lines by heart. But as I enjoyed it for the second time in theaters and now when im listening to the soundtrack, Gwen’s monologue is her coping with the aftermath of ITSV. She’s gone through a lot of shit, her mother died, she accidentally caused her best and only friend’s death, shes having tension with her dad due to her double life, and she finally got the courage to make her first friend in a long while, and now she can’t interact with that friend at all. She just got a taste of being able to depend on other people to have her back and BOOM! now shes back to total isolation. and she doesn’t know how to cope. No spider-person ever really does. all of them are bouncing from one responsibility to another than none of them ever have any time to truly process the shit they go through on a daily basis.

That is why Gwen keeps repeating that “He’s[Miles] not the only one.” as she bashes her drums. She’s using him as a vessel to process her feelings. She knows she isn’t the only one, but its a little hard to believe when there is not physical proof of it. So Gwen monologues about how Miles and her are similar.

And while she is dealing with her sudden isolation, she joins a band.

“I didn’t join a band so I could talk about my feelings, I joined so I could hit my feelings with sticks.” (apologies if I misquoted)

She wanted to have friends again. But she can’t connect with any of her peers because they don’t get it. None of them can hope to understand her position as a spider-person who has people around her dropping dead left and right.

And Gwen also doesn’t really give them a chance to be her friend.

because she wasn’t really searching for new friends, its presumably been a month or two since she went through the collider, she’s desperate for connection with her peers. The problem is that none of the kids her age are her peers. Miles is her peer. Hobie and Pavitr end up being her peers and her friends. the bajillion Peters her age are her peers.

Her joining the spider society is both bad and good for her because of this. She’s finally got peers that she can connect with, despite the lack of Miles’ presence, but she also has really shitty role models now. said shitty role models are doing exactly the opposite thing that you’re meant to do with parenting teenagers. They are clipping her wings rather than Miles and his dad “You gotta let him spread his wings man.” Jess and Miguel (and sorta Peter?) won’t let her visit Miles based on rules that are theoretical AT BEST, and she’s effectively trapped in the spider society due to her dependence on the watch so that she can avoid her dad. (side note: WHY DID NOBODY HELP HER PROCESS AND FIX HER DAD SITUATION???) does anybody else think this is a classic setup for an abusive situation? Though she does have Hobie and Pavitr, she is still being isolated from Miles because he’s a “bad influence.”(read: anomaly) I will ask you all again, does anybody else think this is a classic setup for an abusive/culty situation??

I’m sorry but the idea of canon events feel like grade-A bullshit meant to corral the spider people into a single template. They are straight up scaremongering that forces the spider people to endure trauma that they wouldn’t have to go through if they all just flipped Miguel off and helped each other! (can you tell I despise Miguel, i’m aroace i’m immune to the hotness) Miguel 👏 is 👏 making 👏 a 👏 fucking 👏 cult! 👏

All in all, the isolation that Gwen faces after ITSV made her very susceptible to the kinda culty thing that the spider society led by Miguel has got going on rn. All spider people deal with heavy isolation and loneliness, so the thought that maybe all that sacrifice and isolation did actually need to or was meant to happen, is comforting to them. they went through all that pain because they had to, rather than all the deaths could’ve been avoided. The other spider people have never been in Miles’ shoes, in terms of having the ability to actually change so-called fate. So they don’t get it. But now, with Gwen’s father quitting the police force, Gwen is once again Miles’ peer. They both know that they can avoid their dad’s deaths. And you bet they’re going to try.

#gwen stacy #across the spider verse spoilers #across the spiderverse #spider gwen #can you tell i really like this movie #long post #I have so much more to say but all of it cant fit in one post lol i have to sleep #also i don’t have strong feelings on MilesXGwen sorry #I really like their friendship tho #theyre buddies okay #this is so long and it isnt super articulate but i hope it can be understood at some level #main points: miguel has kinda made a cult - spider people are very sad and lonely - Gwen and Miles’ relationship is really complicated -#(cont.) I fucking hate miguel hes a grown ass man and shouldn’t be picking on 15-year-olds who can’t even drive -#(cont.) I want to give Gwen and Miles hugs - Hobie is the fucking best - Pavitr will never outgrow his hubris -#(cont.) Spider-man is the best thing ever cretaed and you can fight me on that in a Denny’s parking lot #spider-verse posting

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awkwardwithapause263 · 2 years ago

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Spoilers for Episode 3 of Mayfair Witches if you haven’t watched.

The sheer audacity of Carlotta be like hi, I’m your great aunt and the dead woman was your mother why don’t you come back to my place. Knowing damn well she snatched Rowan from Deirdre then kept Deirdre in a catatonic state for thirty plus years then wanna be all woe is me I failed her, our family and god then jumps to oh look he’s looking for his whore but wait she’s made of stronger stuff than her mother. Bitch! Her words alone after the things she’s done make me despise her, but binding that innocent woman to Lasher knowing Lasher would kill her in one of the worst ways imaginable all because she did the morally right thing makes me be like I won’t be sad or sorry when you get pushed off that balcony.

How was Lasher able to leave the grounds if he was bound to the maid?

It was Cortland that killed her why else would he be in such a shock at himself like oh my god I did that combined with I know you’re upset I loved her too, but on the bight side you’re now free to bind with the thirteen witch and the fact Lasher was beyond pissed off at him.

So I was right about Ciprien getting there and Rowan deciding to go with him instead and about the safe house being what is keeping Lasher at bay.

Ciprien my dude don’t you know you never tell a woman how she feels even if you know how she feels and anyways it would have seemed like a invasion of privacy if someone told me I know what you feel I felt it when I touched you even if it was done on accident.

People can’t be that gullible to the point he can get into the crime scene and the morgue without much effort.

The medical examiner was an insensitive dick people really should do a thorough background check when hiring and then continuous ones throughout their employment.

Up until their final scene together Lasher and Rowan felt like a drugged girl awkwardly making her way down the block while some guy is taking advantage which I guess is what we’re meant to get from it. I was mentally screaming come on Rowan some woman is insistent you have a drink even when you told her no(when she popped up and started talking I was like who is this some old friend of Deirdre) then some guy appears after you have that drink in a mask. Stop and think about it that’s him. Inside the episode someone said he and Rowan bonded over shared grief I agree in the beginning when he was that woman they did.

He had absolute nothing to say for himself when Rowan snapped out of it and figured out wait this isn’t right you aren’t my mother it’s you it was you all along.

And girl what the fuck are you doing wandering around at night when there’s a psycho demon after you I would have stayed near that building and gone immediately back inside once it was all clear.

I was expecting those boys to follow Rowan then Lasher to swoop in and kill them all to appear the hero.

I wonder if Ciprien’s sister is going come back into play, those heels underneath the couch were a one night stand kind of moment, why is she working in heels pregnant, when she said are you seeing my brother I was like not yet she’s not, Rowan sweetie now is not the time to project your shit onto other people.

Cortland was going through Rowan’s belongings uh excuse you sir?

That last scene with Ciprien and Rowan was cheesy, cute, sincere and kinda intimate.

Love how we getting an expanse on magic and how the physical manifestation of Ciprien’s ability has adapted. In the first two episodes it was like a portal opened and he saw what was behind the object he was touching now it’s like we see a reflection of what he sees via his glasses.

Might add more.

This episode didn’t get me pumped for the next one which I guess is the point being it’s meant to be very solemn.

Was Lasher aware that Rowan felt what he was doing to Deirdre? Doesn’t seem so.

Why do I get the feeling Carlotta’s protection is putting and keeping Rowan in a catatonic state until she dies? Oh that’s right it’s what she did with Deirdre.

Ciprien’s directions were for your own safety don’t leave the apartment, but she ended up having to because of the fire now she’s thinking I won’t be able to go back inside for some time, but I can’t stay out here where Lasher can find me I know I’ll go to the Mayfair house because Carlotta said I’d be safe there. When in all honesty that is the absolute last and worst place she needs to be.

You remind me of her. Yeah exactly what a woman wants to hear(note sarcasm).

So let me see if I got this right when she took that drank it projected her consciousness into the ghostly plane where she could physically interact with Lasher and see other ghost but none of the other humans could see or interact with her or them and when she snapped out of it she came back to herself on the street corner where it began.

If you’re only separated for a minute why don’t you go find Deirdre and leave Rowan the fuck alone.

Anything could have happened to her while she was unconscious on that street.

I’ve heard people say all rowan does is cry, she looks a mess and is making poor decisions. Well in the first episode she was killing people with her mind and her mom was gaslighting her about it, in the second episode her mom was dead and her boss wouldn’t let her work and in the third her birth mom was murdered in both of her mom’s death she had to watch and could do nothing about it.

I think Lasher was scratching at the necklace through Deirdre but couldn’t get it off because she was so drugged.

Maybe that’s why Josephine was there to make sure nothing did.

#mayfair witches #rowan mayfair #ciprien grieve #lasher #amc #carlotta mayfair #cortland mayfair #season 1 episode 3

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