#I'd say someone help will graham

[hestella]

Hannibal Lector: A New Face

A/N: I'm currently not done watching Hannibal so there are A LOT of mistakes and it probably won't make any sense lol please tell me out of the kindness of your heart if you want me to fix anything or want to let me know. Also some scenes are improvised by me, I don’t own any characters except for my OC(which is, well, you), all credits to Hannibal NBC and Red Dragon series. LOVE YOU ALL

Warnings: mentions of violence, sexual violence, blood, murder, use of Y/N(cause I can't think of a cool name), Fem!reader, kind of POC reader?, psychopath reader, trauma, mental illness, BLIND READER

Will Graham was gifted a special talent, the talent to see and read a person's mind, no matter how wicked or broken it was, he was able to know exactly what and why and how. His talents were greatly appreciated from the FBI, especially solving murder cases.

He had some of friends, but there was one particular and close friend he had, her name being Y/N.

She seemed to be also have a special natural-born talent. After an unfortunate event, she was permanently blinded and needed to have a walking sick with her, but she still was able to memorize and observe the smallest details of practically anything she felt and heard. Her talent was also what the FBI needed, but she never actually applied, or even participate on those kinds of stuff, unlike Will.

In fact, she was just a plain old professor, teaching philosophy, she gave lectures in colleges and universities for a living.

At first Hannibal thought she was boring, until he actually got to meet her.

When Jack got to know Will, it wasn't that long after he also got to know Y/N. Will constantly mentioned her, about her abilities and how she would have thought about some things. Will knew better than to actually mention FBI cases to her, but the other way, there wasn't anything stopping him. If Will was doing lectures, not with the FBI, Jack automatically sought her for help. She reluctantly accepted, not because of the work itself but for Will, thinking that he would heal when she solved some cases for him, giving him a break. She had control of her lectures, so she was at least more flexible than Will. And with all seriousness, she was good. It was different from Will’s way of investigation, but she was able to collect evidence according to the case and end up with a conclusion, which actually helped Jack a lot, since Will’s investigation relied on his assumptions, that he himself couldn't really make sense.

"Whoever that killed these girls probably has some kind of women that look like those victims. It can be a daughter, a long gone crush, a mother...someone that they have deep connection, whether it's positive or negative. That makes them most likely a male." She explained, after listening to all the information she needed.

"We already assumed that this was a male, unintentionally. Any other observations?" Jack said.

"It's most likely a daughter, though. Young, all from different campuses. He chose these campuses specifically, I'd say, probably one his daughter goes to, or is planning to go to." She continued. "However..." She stood up, walking towards the board with the pictures, wandering her walking stick from side to side.

"He...he has a thing for killing. he's not doing this for pleasure, it's...it's more like art. Precise, like....." she turned around. "...like those people who hunt wildlife." she said.

"...what?" Jack asked.

She bit her lips, not knowing how to say it. "...like those people, I can't, I can't explain it." She looked towards Will, or just turned around where she sensed he was, for help.

Will nodded. "..yeah, I get it. I can see that, wildlife hunters."

"He probably also owns some personal space, like a cabin, out in the woods where he can dissect and dress the animals he hunts. That's probably where he killed these girls too. He would have been used to it, if he used to, or still currently is a hunter." She muttered.

"Yes, where he can butcher, cool, and storage animals, and apparently people. Even if someone accidentally saw blood or, smelled something from there, it makes sense because it's for that purpose, except it's for animals." Will continued.

She nodded and looked back at Jack, her eyes not really focusing exactly to him. "...did that help?" she asked.

"...quite." Jack looked at her only white eyes.

“im glad,” she gave him a faint smile. “But I’ve been trying to ask…is there someone else here? Apart from Will, me, and you?”

“allow me to introduce myself, Ms. Y/L/N, I’m doctor Hannibal Lector. I apologize for my unintentional ambush,” Hannibal stood upon respect, even if she couldn’t see.

“ah, so you were the one. I thought I was having delusions,” she turned her head to face him, her white eyes staring somewhat at Hannibal. She walked towards him and reached out her hand, which Hannibal accepted gently and respectfully. “No need to apologize, Dr. Lector.” She gave him a smile too.

“I should say you’re quite flexible on communicating, even though you’re visually impaired. Different from Will, you try to have eye contact with people. No offense, by all means,” Hannibal muttered his short observation.

“I’m not offended, it’s true. But there’s no need to psychoanalyze me, doctor.” She let go of his hand and reminded him, slithering away from Hannibal’s attempt to make her step out of her circle.

Hannibal wasn’t able to get a hold of her. She rarely talked, but rather tried to hint the FBI about the evidence. He tried inviting her to dinner but she was always somehow reserved. She surely seemed careful about who to let in her circle.

Hannibal tried to step into her personal space by packing up food that he made and giving them to her. He planned to do that to Will too, getting to know him and partially using it to show her what kind of a person he was. His plan was this: pack breakfast for Will, then let Will tell this event to her, and then eventually making her comfortable enough for him to make breakfast for her too. It was getting two rabbits by one stone.

Hence, that was what happened. A second of silence surrounded the two, as they chewed and swallowed the food.

“Agent Crawford told me you have a knack for the monsters,” Hannibal mentioned.

Will put down his fork and looked at him. “..I don’t think the Shrike killed the girl in the field.”

Hannibal also put down his fork and leaned a bit forward. “The devil is in the details. What didn’t your copycat do to the girl in the fields? What gave it away?”

“..everything. It’s like, he had to show me a negative to prove that-“ he sighed. “Y/N would’ve explain it better,” he muttered. “it’s like he had to show me a negative so that-so that I could see the positive.” He rubbed his face.

“….Y/N?” Hannibal muttered.

“Crawford wants her. I don’t want her to be, but I feel like she can see more than I can.” Will looked around. Hannibal noticed this.

“…May I ask you a question, Will?” Hannibal said, his breakfast long forgotten. Will just waved his hand, nodding his head. “Do you live with someone else here?”

“..yeah, we, Y/N and I thought it wouldn’t be that bad of an idea, rather than getting separate rooms…” Will explained. Hannibal nodded. So that was the thing he felt was off about the house. He was honestly surprised, but didn’t let that out.

“where is she, then? Sleeping? I would love to share this meal with her too, if she can,”

“She leaves at 4 in the morning to go to her job.” Will replied, taking another bite of the food. “and she’s strictly vegan, so I don’t think she’ll be able to eat any of these,”

“I see. Her job, which is..”

“Teaching. Modern philosophy at Johns Hopkins.”

“ah, Johns Hopkins. I should’ve known.” Hannibal almost gave him a smile.

With the additional information, it was too easy for Hannibal to roll Jack Crawford up and persuade her to be one of his patients too. He added a little bit of extra reasoning with her injury, telling Jack perhaps the right therapy may make her sense more, and less be obstacled by her blindness. It wasn’t his initial goal to help her sense like a not-visually-impaired person, but he was confident it was possible.

He decided to pay a visit to her lectures.

(Should I make this a series??)

[batbusiness-schooldropout]

The biggest thing that clocks Will Graham as a transman is that he continued to work after developing a fever and severe headaches.

A cis man would've languished on the couch for 3 days, gone to the doctor, gotten diagnosed, and received treatment within 2 weeks.

Also I'm imagining Will having migraines like mine with vision changes and Jack's all "What do you see?"

"Well, it was a black nothingness, but now if I had to describe it, I'd say it looks like fog with a rainbow outline. Also, I literally can't see the crime scene. Can someone help me to my car?"

[whatwooshkai]

Hello! Not sure if I'm doing this right, but if you've not had the chance to share something for #4 for the smoke & mirrors AU, I'd love to read it!

"Ta-da!"

Graham steps back and waves his hands jazzily, revealing the baking soda volcano.

Boulder claps, grinning with delight. "Amazing," they say, leaning in to get a closer look. "And it's completely harmless to humans?"

"Completely," Graham assures them, smiling fondly as Boulder continues to investigate the volcano.

It's almost cute, how easy they are to impress. And Graham would be lying if he said he wasn't having a good time. Recreating old science experiments from his basic-level classes has been incredibly fun, and Boulder's enthusiasm for learning is absolutely infectious.

It reminds Graham of a time where his dream was to become a science teacher, and while things didn't work out that way upon discovering new passions, it's fun to pretend a little with Boulder.

Plus, all the rescue bots act like little kids sometimes. It's practically like teaching a class of regular kids when they're all present for these little demonstrations.

"-life size?"

"Huh?" Graham zones back in, meeting Boulder's gaze. "Sorry, what was that?"

"I was wondering if we could do a life-size volcano," Boulder patiently repeats, lightly tapping the side of the baking soda one. "With real lava."

"Boulder, we cannot set off a volcano," Graham says, trying to keep his tone light while also getting across how unbelievably awful of an idea that is. "Lots of people could get hurt! I can show you some documentaries on lava studies, though."

Boulder shakes their head. "No... maybe a small one then?"

"Huh?"

"A volcano with lava. But just this size." Boulder taps the baking soda volcano again, a little bit of "lava" gurgling over the edge. "It's not that hard to find, is it?"

Despite his better judgement, an idea is starting to form in Graham's head. "Yes," he says slowly, "we could probably pull that off."

Boulder's face lights up, and Graham is still questioning his life decisions as they rumble up the mountain to Doc Greene's lab.

"Hello!" Doc Greene shouts upon seeing them. "And how can I help you two today?"

"Well, I made Boulder a model baking soda volcano," Graham starts, waiting for the bot in question to finish their transformation sequence before continuing. "And they proposed the idea that we make a real volcano. Only model sized."

Doc Greene absolutely lights up, and Graham is sensing he's made a mistake.

"Oh, perfect!" Doc Greene claps his hands together. "I've been looking for an excuse to use my superheated oven again! Let's make some lava, my friends!"

Someone has to be the responsible one in this situation, and Graham is not it. The second the rocks in the oven turned from gray to orange he turned back into a kid again, giddy excitement bubbling up as he rushes to Boulder, scrambling up their back to lean over their shoulder as Doc Greene pours the lava into their little model.

"Move back!" Doc Greene commands. "We have about ten seconds before eruption!"

Boulder doesn't hesitate, grabbing Doc Greene by the scruff of his jacket and pulling Graham in front of them, creating a protective shield with just enough of a gap in their arms for the two humans to peek through.

And three! Two! One!

Lava sprays out over the top of the model, Boulder wincing as a few drops hit them, but Graham barely notices.

He’s only seen volcanic eruptions in movies and documentaries, but this. It’s absolutely gorgeous. Their model erupts like firecrackers, each drop like a shooting star carrying every wish Graham has ever had as a scientist. An orange glow bathes all their faces, and it’s gone as soon as it came, bright to gray, not with a bang, but a soft sizzle.

Not for the first time, Graham wonders how he ever stepped out of his comfort zone without Boulder around.

[newvegascowboy]

Okokok I wanna know your opinion on the Followers of the Apocalypse cause I personally love them a lot, favorite faction.

That’s mainly because they’re only faction in the wasteland who aren’t imperialists and actually believe in mutual aid and science, it’s incredible. They’re just such a good spark of hope and while they aren’t super nuanced, the fact that they show there’s always a better way is enough for me.

FUCK I FORGOT TO ANSWER THIS

I thought up a long reply while I was falling asleep and I basically have forgotten all of it, but the gist was that I think they're great and I'd like to know more about them.

In order to find other similar factions, we have to look to other games. Fallout 4 tends to flatten out its morality into Good Or Bad, and even factions that are meant to be a bit more morally neutral, as I suspect the Brotherhood to have been, lacks a lot of nuance that would have made them a more interesting faction. The Minutemen are the only other faction I can think of that were strictly dedicated to public service, and there was internal friction that led to their eventual decline. I don't think this is dissimilar to the schism that had the Khans split off from the Followers (although unfortunately, i think the followers are subject to a bit of moralism from the writers vis a vis drugs and addiction. Julie Farkas says some pretty sus things about addicts which sounds more like the person who writes her rather than someone of her character and beliefs would actually say.)

I also think its interesting that the Followers were indirectly the source of the birth of the Legion. I think Edward Sallow being a former Follower is very interesting. I suspect he was drawn to the idea of the free education and resources that were offered by the Followers, which also probably have him a subconscious idea about how to influence vulnerable people. If you know how to help people, you know how to hurt them, too. His rules around drugs and sexuality were no doubt influenced by Joshua Graham, but with the general medical and scientific background the Followers seem to have, I wouldn't be surprised if Edward spent some time studying psychology. He built the Legion on the inverse of the Followers philosophy.

I'd be pretty interested in hearing more about Edward's youth and background, especially if anyone is left to remember him as a young Follower. How did he perform? Was he uninterested in helping, or was he SO interested in helping he decided to take the people's choice in it away?

In general, the Followers remind me of that quote "Look for the helpers". I think it's rare that the group as a whole is dedicated to helping, but it's also refreshing to see there are people trying to do good at no benefit to themselves. I wish we had more representation for the Followers. I'd love to see them in future games.

LOVE U FOLLOWERS OF THE APOCALYPSE

[mister-tom-a-dildo-lover]

Just a random thought I had.

I've been spending a lot of time recently going over what I know about myself and my behaviors and the way I have existed my entire life, and have been slowly coming to terms with the fact that I probably have undiagnosed Autism(and ADHD) and I will never have the money to get a proper diagnosis for this because being able to get to just a regular doctor is a luxury that I do not have.

As such, I have been putting all of my interests into perspective and thinking more clearly about the characters I like in the pieces of fiction I like and trying to draw similarities between them and how they behave, compared to me and how I behave.

This brought me to Tom Riddle, clearly. I've always been big into HP and it's influenced my fandom journey heavily. I've gotten into fandoms just because someone wrote a crossover with Harry Potter in their ship.

So, with that in mind, what is similar between me and Tom Riddle?

The special interests.

The obsession with collecting unique items.

The intense hyperfixation on his interests that causes him to monologue for ages about them in relation to himself.

Being exceptional at hiding how he really feels behind a mask to trick people into thinking he's normal like them.

Learning the right words to say to get by even if he thinks they're foolish or nonsensical.

Struggling with understanding emotions either from himself or others, and misconstruing what others are feeling based on his limited understanding.

Making his whole personality revolve around the Thing he's good at(Dark Magic).

Having no tolerance for other people because they cannot keep up with him.

Now that I am forced to come to terms with these things about myself, and even more things, thanks to a lot of help from others, I can't not review everything I'd ever shown interest in. Like, all of my favorite characters end up falling along the lines of depressed character, anxious character, or Autism-coded character. Or all 3 in a character. And I have all these issues and technically should be medicated for some but can't afford it.

And the thing is, I have considered similar characters to Tom, wondering if I'm projecting onto his type of character.

I like Hannibal, the TV show. My favorite character is Will Graham. And would you happen to know that he is depressed, anxious, and very Autism-coded? But the character in Hannibal, that Tom is most like, is actually Hannibal himself. And the ship for Hannigram feels very similar at times to the Harrymort ship, which is why a lot of people ship both.

But if I was to line Tom up beside Hannibal and consider what I know about both of them in relation to my undiagnosed Autism, Tom is the one who feels like he could be Autistic. Hannibal does not. Even with his special interests and masking and monologuing, and all their similarities on the Potentially Autistic List, Hannibal doesn't give me the same vibe. Will does, but not Hannibal.

So, I don't think this is me forcing the 'misunderstood Autistic villain trope' onto Tom. I think it's just that I've gained a new perspective on myself, and it has forced me to reevaluate everything I know about who I am and what I like and what draws me to those things in the first place.

It's kind of like how I liked Severus Snape as a character, long before I realized that I was depressed and that he was also depressed(I was 10 when I started the HP books). Like, the day I finally realized that I had depression(I was 17) and that wanting to kill myself and trying to are actually suicidal issues that I need help for, I thought of Snape. And a lot of things clicked.

Gaining a new perspective on yourself gives you new perspectives on everything else.

I am interested in pursuing these new thoughts in fanfic form in the future, ngl. And my reads of Tom going forward are going to be a lot more nuanced.

[hoffmansnightmare]

Alright, now that I've had some sleep and time to process I can tell about how I met Costas Mandylor! Pics included!

Things went smoothly for the most part! The con is in my hometown and only a short drive. I was very excited but also super anxious! I'd had the art I'd drawn printed out and planned to buy another print for Costas to sign. Every scenario was running through my head, that'd he'd hug me and I'd make it weird, that he wouldn't hug me and just sign my things and then I'd feel bad I hadn't gotten a hug. Or maybe he'd ask me about the art, which I didn't really want to explain that it was from the fanfic I'm writing.

I tried to run through any responses that didn't make me sound like a total FREAK, or what'd I'd say to him in general. We got there at 2:30 and early entry wasn't until 4:30, but I knew from past experiences that it was best to try to line up as early as possible, so my husband, who was there mostly for moral support, and I went inside and for sure there was a line for registration started. At 3 they started checking us in and giving us our badges. We were pretty close to the front so I was feeling pretty good.

I didn't know how popular Costas was going to be. The last person I waited for was Robert Englund, and I waited 6 and a half hours just for him, and with the new movies bringing in more fans I wasn't sure how long of a wait I was in for and I wanted to be as close to the front as possible. Brad Dourif was also there so I was hoping he would be drawing most of the attention, and he was, but I was still nervous. We waited in another line for the celebs and we were right outside the door so I was feeling pretty confident at this point. C.J. Graham came out a few times to tease some of those waiting in line and to wonder the convention floor. I get the feeling that man has a hard time sitting still.

Then the doors open and half of the celebs weren't there. Now I do not blame them. I get the feeling that the staff of the con had some poor communication. I also met Dina Meyer, and her the staffer that was meant to sit with her wasn't there yet and she had to take money herself. I got her signature while I waited for Costas and she was very nice! Now the wait for Costas really started. I wasn't interested in many of the other celebrities. I did stop by Michael Ironside's booth because I'm a big V fan and Ham Tyler was one of my favorite's. He was behind as well, even when he got there we had to wait for them to get properly set up. Apparently they hadn't even been given his banner to put up. When he asked if I wanted it with my name him and my staffer looked up at with curiously and the staffer said "suspiciousssss"

"N-no! I just don't like my name on these things!" 😅 He probably thought I was going to sell it. I'm not Michael Ironside I swear!

With both Dina's and Michael's signatures a line had started at Costas's booth, so we mozied back over there to wait for him. Occasionally I'd look back at the massive line for Brad Dourif (who also wasn't there yet) and be glad I wasn't in that line. I'd done it for Robert Englund and could now rest in peace.

Around 5:30 someone shouted, "there he is!" And there he was! Just like that! I was suddenly looking at Costas Mandylor in person and he looked so excited to be there. I was third in line and I was really feeling the anxiety now. My fingertips were tingly and I was shaky on my feet. I have trouble asking for help at the grocery store, let alone face one of my favorite actors from some of my favorite movies. He was all smiles and high energy. I watched the woman right in front of me get a hug and he kissed her on both cheeks. Now not only was I worried about a hug, but would he kiss me too? I turned to my husband and said "if he does that you will be carrying my out of here."

My husband replies "nah if you faint he can carry you out of here"

He was kidding, but I wasn't. Hugs are a lot for me and a kiss on the cheek probably would have done me in. (I also had the horrible thought later that would have tried to kiss him on the lips out of instinct. I wouldn't have survived the embarrassment)

It was my turn and I was trying to keep it together, but I was shaking and trying to keep breathing. I'd handed my money to my husband to pay, as I didn't think I could sort through the bills, and then I was facing Costas, setting my art down in front of him.

He smiled up at me. "You drew this?"

"Yes!" I said, excited that he seemed impressed and also dreading any questions about it.

He complimented the art. I can't remember exactly what he said. I was like, in outer space in that moment.

"Do you want me to write anything? Personalize it with your name?" He asked next.

His voice his CRAZY nothing would have prepared me for hearing it in person and directed at me.

"Could you write "Congratulations"? It's a weird thing but that's what I'd like." I never get my name put on these things. I don't like my name that much and no one spells it right. It's not that hard of one but my spelling is apparently unpopular. He looked up at me and I think he was curious. Or maybe he knew I was a freak, but he smirked and wrote it for me anyway.

"Do you want my character name too?"

"Yes please!"

Once he was done he slid the second copy of the art I'd set down in front of him and asked "who do I make this one out to?"

"Oh no, that one is for you."

He looked confused, so I put it closer to him. "I printed this one out to give you."

He said "Oh!" Then looked at it. "You didn't sign it! If you're going to give me art sign it! And say something nice about me too!" And he set the sharpie in front of me.

I could have evaporated right there. I took the sharpie and wrote my signature as well as my full name and tried frantically to think of something quick I could write.

I landed on "You're my favorite Jigsaw" and when I handed it back to him for him to read he looked up at me with the sweetest expression. And I was absolutely honest. He is my favorite Jigsaw. He set it down behind him with a thank you and I set down the print I'd bought from his table.

Again I asked for just his signature. He pulled out a gold sharpie that was a little dry. "I hate dry markers" and he whipped it behind him dramatically as he watched me giggle at his antics. His staffer whipped out an entire case of markers and he picked up a fresh one "they ruin the signatures! Now I'm going to write a line I say in the next movie, I'm not even supposed to tell anyone, but I'll write it for you."

I was giddy and giggling the entire time at this point as I watched him write. I'm sure he's written for others, he's signed so many things for people at this point, but I still felt a little special. And I'm going to edit the pic to keep it to myself still just in case, but the fact that he still wanted to write something a little extra for me was so sweet.

Now it was time for the picture. I was shaking. A staffer volunteered but my husband insisted on taking the pictures. He's protective and wanted to make sure I got good ones. Costas put his arm around me and I put my around around his back and just focused on the camera. Then for the second picture Costas wrapped both arms around me and I was weak in the knees.

After the second picture he squeezed me tight. He said some things. Again I can't remember. Mercifully he didn't kiss me. On one hand of course that would have been amazing, on the other I really don't know if I could have handled it with any grace (or I might have fumbled it and wanted to die). I do remember him saying "you take care of yourself." In the most sincere way I'd ever heard those words spoken. And "I hope you see the new movie."

I said "of course and I can't wait to see you." And stepped back as my husband approached, and because I'm a total awkward weirdo I gestured at him and told Costas "this is my husband."

My husband is a big guy, 6'3" and visibly strong. Costas looks up at him with a big smile and holds his hand out for a shake, which my husband returns. Costas looks at me, still grinning and said "you have a strong husband."

I laughed. "I know"

Our time with him had to come to an end and I had to ESCAPE. The hyperventilating had started and I needed to get out of the crowd. We escaped the celeb room. I put my precious prints in the car and we shifted our focus to food.

The rest of the day was exploring the rest of the con! My time meeting Costas was amazing and I definitely want to see him again in the future. I'm staying home the rest of the con. I could go see him again but honestly I don't like being perceived that much and I don't want him thinking anything weird about me (he probably wouldn't but I'd feel so self conscious.) I'll see him again at a later con, but for now I'm content with meeting him this time.

Below are my signed pictures! I had Dina sign a third copy of my art that I'll probably fill up with other Saw actors. The Michael print has "Hey Gooder" on it teehee!

[its-vannah]

A Toast to the Bride and Groom | Graham Dunne x Reader

A/N: After all the angst Graham content I've been serving, you guys deserved something sweet.

Warnings: Implied sexual encounter (very, very minor), mentions of drug use, alcohol, alcoholism

Daisy Jones and The Six Masterlist

The sound of a fork tapping against someone's wine glass rang through the room, bringing everyone's attention to Graham.

"Before we get started and the band starts embarrassing me in front of my wife, I'd just like to thank all of you for coming today to celebrate with us," Graham said, smiling down at you as he spoke, "It was always my biggest dream to get married and I'm so happy I got to fulfill that with you."

Raising his glass, he looks around the room, grinning from ear to ear, "To Y/N Dunne."

The room erupted with applause and you couldn't help but lean into Graham's side. He eventually took his seat beside you, setting his class down.

Warren stood up not long after, clinking two classes together to get the attention that was already on him. When you come into a formal event wearing a fur vest, bell-bottoms, and round sunglasses, you brought attention to yourself.

Clearing his throat, Warren sat on the edge of the table, much to your parents dismay, "When I first met Graham, he was stick thin and getting over his first girlfriend who broke up with him at his locker. His dramatic ass acted like he'd never be able to move on. But he did, and when I say he upgraded, I mean it. I've never met a girl who puts a smile on my man's face more than Y/N/N. She really has become like a little sister to me. A wiser, smarter, prettier sister who puts up with my bullshit and Graham's."

Your mother cringes at his use of language, digging her nails into her fists as she throws you "the look." But you didn't pay her any mind.

Warren continued, "She allows us to continue our sword fights in their living room, encourages him to keep pursuing music, and loves him fully."

Looking around the room, clearing nearing being full on drunk, he winked at you and Graham, "I remember the night when she showed him how much she loved him."

To your left, your mother sank into her chair, her head in her hands. The two of you had told her you were waiting until marriage.

"To Y/N/N and peaches!" Warren said, holding up both glasses, pouring them both into his mouth, which ended with him pouring a glass directly down his chest.

Awkward silence and a few claps ensued, with Karen standing up next, waiting for everyone to quiet down.

"I'll keep it short and sweet, as I know half of have been very friendly with your alcohol, myself included," She began, "To go off of Warren, Graham—you're still awkward and you're still growing, but I think you have found the best woman to grow beside. And Y/N, let me know if you ever need any help babysitting these three."

She gestured to Warren, Eddie, and Graham, raising a brow before taking a seat.

Graham looked expectantly over at his brother, who was sat at his own table with Camila, Julia, and the twins. But Billy didn't move or even acknowledge him. His eyes were focused on the bottle of champagne in front of him, untouched.

Eddie went next, staying seated as he spoke, "Graham and I have known each other since we were kids in Pittsburgh. He was right when he said he was always dreaming of settling down. A big softy, really. But watching him meet and fall in love with Y/N made me realize how important it is to find someone who's right for you."

"Graham, man, I think it goes without saying, but we're happy for you. And Y/N, it's nice to see that he's not moping around anymore wondering if you like him back. Take good care of him, Dunne."

A smile grew on your face at his words, especially when he called you "Dunne." It was official, you married into one of the most famous families in America in the 70's.

Once again, Graham eyed Billy, waiting for him to speak. But he didn't even move.

Daisy stood, looking a bit out of place in her short, flashy dress and knee high boots, her ginger hair contrasting her heavy blue eyeshadow. It completely washed her out, as did all the drugs she was doing.

"Y/N was one of my first real friends who I could come to with anything. I trust her whole heartedly. She allows me to be—She lets—I'm the free spirit I am and she lets—She supports me."

Nothing she said was coherent, but she continued, "Graham, such a sweetheart. You two—congrats. You deserve the, you deserve... Congratulations."

Silence fell upon the room as she sat down in her chair. It broke your heart to see her like that, strung up on God knows what.

Graham squeezed your hand and before you knew it, your mother had raised her glass, tapping on it before rising to her feet.

"I remember the day I brought my daughter home from the hospital. She was so small in my arms, fast asleep as I carried her inside. It's hard to believe that she's married now. I feel like you should still be in my arms, asking me to check under your bed for monsters or sing you to sleep," She sighed, "Graham, you're a lovely boy. I never thought, and still don't think, anyone deserves my girl. But out of all the men she could've found, I'm happy it was you."

You knew her words were just for show, but for a moment, you let it all feel real.

She raised a glass, "To my sweet, beautiful, smart baby girl, and Graham."

He let out a small laugh beside you, shaking his head, whispering, "Only Mrs. L/N..."

Your head rested on his shoulder as Camila stood, "Billy's feeling a little under the weather today, so I'm speaking on his behalf, if you don't mind."

Graham felt like his heart was ripped out of his chest. His own brother couldn't put his own problems aside for one day? One day that wasn't about him?

Trying to restrain his tears, Graham nodded, forcing s smile on his face.

"Graham, I remember when Billy first introduced me to you. I'd never had a brother growing up, but you gave me the chance of getting firsthand experience. You were kind and funny, and especially good at the guitar then, and you're all those things and more now."

"Being married myself, I can't tell you what an honor it is to see the two of you finally together. There will be highs and lows for the rest of your lives together, but I have no doubt you'll rise above every obstacle that comes your way."

"Graham, Y/N, I'm so incredibly happy for the two of you. Mrs. Dunne, you've got a good one there, take good care of him for us."

For the next sixty five years, that's exactly what you did.

[ouatsnark]

I'm sorry I gotta say this real quick:

The showrunners' treatment of Graham was godawful and they did it purely because they had no way to spin it so Regina was secretly the victim of that scenario/could be made sympathetic in it. When it came to Graham she was a rapist, a captor, a horrible evil person. There is no making that right without some serious remorse and also probably fixing Graham's whole life which she can't do bc she fucking killed him. She raped a man she was forcing to work for her and then murdered him and no one ever mentioned it again or attempted to hold her accountable.

Also it's not like death was a dealbreaker and there's no reason to bring it up again bc they went to the Underworld! They could have had him there or even given him a nod by having Regina or Emma try to find him and find out that he had moved on and found peace and they didn't, almost certainly because like I said there was no way to make Regina the victim.

Instead they gave Regina an arc with her daddy where she was sososo sorry but it was already okay because Henry (y'know the guy who did nothing but support and uplift her and she killed him for it) already forgives her. And!! He says that actually he bears responsibility for having let her mother 'get in the way of who she really is' which by the way is fucking meaningless bc Cora wasn't around all that much while Regina was queen/trying to kill Snow White so most of that was all her.

Why the fuck would we waste an opportunity to actually redeem her by showing her, say, helping one of her victims find peace (possibly by reuniting with his wolf who she just kinda stole or getting to at least hear that someone fucking remembered he existed and cared about what happened to him) so that we could see one more 'poor Regina was so sad and lonely after she treated everyone like shit and started killing people en masse to spite a ten year old girl' episode? Who cares?

The sad thing is I'd probably like her if the writers didn't meatride her so fucking hard.

In fairness, Graham's death was early on and I fully believe at this point Regina was still going to be the "big bad" Emma was to defeat and should've gone away at the end of the season.

But yes, no way they would've reminded the audience in S5 about one of Regina's most grotesque crimes that effected Emma present day. There was no way they could bring that up while pretending they'd already told us (not shown) that they'd redeemed Regina.

[pollunam]

Flaws. Part 1.

Warnings: 18 + blood, and canon typical violence.

"So, Gus, I want to introduce you to a lady who will be joining you," Gabbin nodded, gesturing to open the door. I stood confidently behind her, fiddling with my gloves. I wouldn't say I was easily frightened. Try being scared when your father made you throw knives at apples atop your brother's head from childhood.

The door creaked open, revealing a smoke-filled room. Smoke swirled elegantly in the air, forming intricate patterns against dark wallpaper and faces full of hope, albeit not the most enthusiastic ones.

"Well, this is Gus March-Phillips. Maybe not the finest gentleman, but he knows his trade," Gabbin introduced.

"Welcome, milady," he smiled, adjusting his already curled mustache.

I nodded. "Lovely coat, I think I've seen it on someone else before."

Gabbin sighed heavily. "It's time for you to go, before he starts undressing me."

I smiled, pulling out a cigarette. Gus promptly offered a lighter.

"And I'm certain I've seen it somewhere too."

With that remark came two heavy sighs, and we triumphantly left the room. There was no time to think about formalities; we had a challenging task ahead, which I already knew about, but this man inspired confidence.

"Our team is quite unusual, I trust you understand that," Gus closed the car door with my suitcases already inside. The driver set off, illuminating the gravel road with yellow headlights.

"It doesn't bother me; I'm part of this 'unusual' company," I air-quoted.

"They'll like you."

"Now I'm nervous," I chuckled.

"I just can't figure out how they picked you for this assignment. You don't look like a reckless headhunter at all."

"Someone has to keep an eye on you boys."

The car stopped at the pier. The night air was fresh and breezy, blowing in from the ocean. Salty splashes danced joyfully at the shore, cresting with white foam on the sand. The sky glittered with a myriad of stars, perhaps the most romantic scene I'd ever witnessed. I stood mesmerized, watching the waves break beautifully against the pier.

"Enjoying the view?" Gus held my suitcases. "Too bad, it's time to go. I'm sure the ship's view won't disappoint."

I nodded quickly, following him.

"Finally, we've been waiting for you," someone shouted from the deck, and a head in a comical sailor hat appeared over the stern. "Good evening, milady," the stranger whistled, offering his hand. "Graham at your service."

I smiled. "Thank you for your help. This dress isn't the best attire for a ship." With one hand, I lifted the hem of my dress to climb aboard.

"Then take it off," a broad-shouldered man with round glasses appeared in the cabin doorway. His accent marked him as a foreigner. Tall and sturdy, he resembled a Viking woven from northern winds.

"Isn't that a bit forward of you?" I retorted.

"I didn't mean what you thought, mind you," he chuckled warmly.

"Then say it so you're understood."

"Affirmative, my dear."

I flared up. The big guy was clearly teasing me.

"Anders, where are your manners?" Gus shook his head. "We're not a band of brigands; we're gentlemen who never underestimate ladies. Especially ones like her."

"Are you planning to travel with us?" Anders agilely descended from the cabin. "This isn't an Atlantic cruise."

Graham whistled again. "Pay him no mind. He's big, but not the brightest."

"No problem. I just don't understand how such a massive bear isn't sinking the ship with his presence."

Anders squinted. "I find that amusing."

"I'll try to entertain you more often," I smirked.

"Good evening! I'm Freddy," a man appeared from behind, sporting a blue scarf around his neck. He smiled warmly and openly.

"I'll show you to your cabin. Space is tight, but we'll find something suitable," Gus gestured for me to go ahead, descending a small staircase inside.

The large room served as a dining area, kitchen, and bedroom with two bunk beds. It smelled of apples and wine. The beds were neatly made, and an open bottle of alcohol sat on the table, emitting a pungent scent.

"The safest bet would be one of these beds."

"Seems like there aren't enough."

"Don't worry, we've got sleeping bags."

"I can take it, no problem. I've slept in worse conditions."

"No, no. We'll do it differently," Gus grinned, "forget about the sleeping bag, it's pure mockery."

"Listen, Gus, I appreciate that, really, but it's not necessary at all."

"It's absolutely necessary, trust me. Conversation's over, just like the tour. Make yourself comfortable," he said, heading upstairs heavily, while I sat at the table, resting my head on my hands. Thoughts leapt and tangled in my mind. Well, this adventure was right up my alley: gunfire, smell of danger, and the scent of pure escapade.

I pulled out trousers and a white shirt from my suitcase and quickly changed, listening to voices from above.

"Someone needs to sleep in the sleeping bag tonight. We'll take turns after."

"I can do it, no problem," a hearty man offered. I chuckled approvingly, tying my hair up in a bun.

By the time I finished brewing tea for everyone, the ship had already set sail. Carefully, I climbed up, carrying four mugs.

"Thanks a lot!" Graham smiled, noticing me; he immediately took one cup, "need a hand?"

"No, it's alright, I'll manage."

Fredrick appeared right away, "now that's service."

"Just a friendly gesture."

Gus stood at the helm.

"Hey! Up there! Tea?"

"Leave it there, I'll get it later!" he shouted back.

I carefully placed the mug on the stair step and looked around for the Viking. How could one miss such a broad man - it was a mystery. A silhouette appeared at the stern. Anders was coiling rope, sitting on the edge of the hull; he seemed completely absorbed in his thoughts, focused on his task.

"Hi again," I leaned against the rail, offering him a steaming cup, "care for some?"

"Is it poisoned?"

"No, if I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't do it so blatantly."

"Now I'll have to be on guard," Anders smiled, taking the tea, "thanks."

I looked at the receding shore, flickering in the darkness like a fallen star.

"Why are you here? I mean, your job... it's quite... dangerous."

"It's a long story of family drama, but I'm glad to be where I am, despite the danger."

"I understand, yes," the Viking nodded, "I have a similar story."

"Where are you from?"

"Denmark."

"Ah, a true Viking," I smiled, "how could I possibly be scared then?"

"Still, don't anger me, alright," Anders also smiled, adjusting his glasses, "I like how you called me that, but please don't spread the idea."

"Deal."

We sat in silence, listening to the sound of water pushing against the hull and the wind whistling through the sails. The coolness enveloped me, but it seemed I had completely forgotten about it, imagining London engulfed in fire and war, left behind. Ahead, the horizon blended seamlessly with the ocean in a vast blue landscape.

"Aren't you cold?" Anders broke the fragile silence.

"A bit, but it's so beautiful here, I can't stop admiring."

"Better go below, it's easy to catch a cold in the ocean."

I nodded, "I'll go down soon."

Alone again, I leaned against the stern, staring at the ocean's surface. Dark as lead. I didn't feel like sleeping.

"Here," I didn't even notice Anders returning, handing me a blanket, "for the tea."

"Thanks, what will you do for two teas?"

"Save the pleasure for later. Although, you did take off your dress."

"Hey, Viking!"

He laughed, "I'm just kidding."

"Go already, or you'll catch a cold," I teased him back, wrapping the blanket around my shoulders.

"Just a tip, if you're sailing for the first time, it's easy to get seasick if you stare at the water. You won't notice when you fall in."

"My intuition tells me to listen to you, but common sense suggests testing that theory."

"Now I see why you're here," he sat on coiled ropes, "go ahead, test it."

"You're a troublemaker."

"How so?" Anders raised his eyebrows in confusion, "I've been sitting quietly, brought you a blanket, and said nothing about your clothes."

"Alright," I turned away.

In reality, I felt dizzy. I couldn't afford to collapse now, or else there would be enough jokes to fill three huge books titled "I'm the funniest person on Earth and I'm called the Giant Viking."

" You know, you really annoy me. I'd better go."

Anders slyly raised his eyes at me, "just like that? Just because of me, darling? You give up quickly."

"I've had enough of your teasing for today."

"Well then, good night."

He didn't move from his spot, not even a twitch, much like me. My legs felt weak.

"Are you alright?" Graham shouted, having taken over from Gus at his post, he raised an eyebrow, "you don't look too good."

"You all here are masters at giving compliments."

"I meant you look kinda green."

"Ah, no, that's my natural skin tone," I waved dismissively, feeling nausea creeping up.

"Alright, then can I take Anders from you? I need some help."

"No problem."

Anders stared at me intently, gripping the ship's railing.

"Five minutes, buddy," he signaled to Graham with five fingers, climbing up. "You know, my intuition tells me to just toss you overboard, but common sense," he scooped me up, throwing me over his shoulder, "suggests helping you again."

"Let me go, I'm about to be sick," I covered my mouth with my hand.

"Not on my favorite sweater. Hang in there."

"Oh God!" Everything blurred before my eyes. "I'm not kidding."

Anders sat me down on the step leading to the helm. "Don't go anywhere," he smirked.

I dropped my head back, closing my eyes. Silly rocking. Silly mission and silly Viking.

"Pour."

"What are you pouring?" I couldn't open my eyes, and that turned out to be a blessing because right after that command, water splashed over me. It eased the discomfort.

"I don't know what's wrong with your character, darling, but this is the second time in a couple of hours that I've had to come to your aid. And now I'll have to sleep in a sleeping bag instead of a warm bed."

"Well, it'll pass quickly," Graham's voice assured me, "I've been through the same."

"I warned you."

"It's okay, she'll recover," Freddie chimed in.

And I still couldn't open my eyes. I had no idea the ocean was a worse enemy than the Germans.

"Can you get up?"

"Yeah, just a minute," I sighed, gathering my strength, and slowly stood up, leaning on the railing. "I feel better, thank you, really."

"You'll feel like a fish in water tomorrow," Graham promised, "good night."

I nodded, unable to carry on the conversation.

"Let's go," Freddie offered his hand.

Anders critically observed what was happening, folding his arms across his chest.

1:0 in his favor, it seems. However, there's still plenty ahead.

[sgiandubh]

And now, for the backpacking round...

But there is more than two (pardoned?) turkeys facing each other western-style, of course. And I cannot help but notice how the whole phagocytosis process picked up speed, especially in this Season of Compulsive Buying.

It goes to prove McTavish closely followed everything that S is trying to build for himself. Everything means even the MPC. We already knew about the fitness program copycat attempt: it never worked as planned.

But, still - how about this?

vs...

There is zero research and development into this. It is shameless sourcing of a no-name Chinese backpack stock and slapping a label on it. I checked my intuition and was right (and pissed off at coffee time - I hate impostors):

But it is a more democratic price tag and that means only one thing: ye olde Pain in the Ass means to be around for a good while. Everything he does, he does on purpose & with a roadmap.

Exactly what he meant in a recent interview to Uproxx, a California-based Warner Music Group subsidiary, with a clear focus on Gen Z:

(Source, heh: https://uproxx.com/life/graham-mctavish-interview-bourbon-whiskey/)

I can almost hear the all-encompassing, all-consuming envy: 'I’m not some actor just putting my face in front of something and going, “Please, please buy my whiskey…” Now that is particularly vile and also a fucking lie, too. Who is 'some actor', Grandma? And why are you so sarcastic, Grandma? Knowing that 'putting your face' is exactly what you did with that bourbon, it takes some rich nerve to say what you just said to those Millennials, both S and you furiously want to poach. Or at the very least, to their wallets.

Every day brings more news of this Wrestling Saga. This is not team-tagging, this is no silent partnership. Will it be a court case in the making?

Only time will tell. S's good heart led to this. But you know what the Frenchmen say: 'trop bon, trop con'/' too nice is also too stupid'. I'd hate to see it happen. And someone simply has to set the record right, nom d'une pipe!

PS: Gracias por la info, niña. Siempre perfecto. Un abrazo.

[fatalism-and-villainy]

CHIYOH: I met the beast and I saw him grow. Someone wants to kill him. BEDELIA DU MAURIER: More than one someone, I'd say. (then) What do you want? CHIYOH: I want to cage him. That makes Bedelia smile. BEDELIA DU MAURIER: I thought Will Graham was Hannibal's biggest mistake. But I have to wonder if it isn't you.

This is interesting, if underdeveloped in canon, because it’s another parallel between Will and Chiyoh vis a vis Hannibal - in this case, Bedelia attempting to take Hannibal’s influence of them and turn it back against Hannibal. This manifests much more fully in the second half of season 3, when she tries to push Will into recognizing the extent of Hannibal’s influence on him and turn against Hannibal. She tells him that Hannibal “convinced you you’re a killer” but that she doesn’t believe that he is, only that he is “capable of righteous violence” out of compassion. And of course she wants Will to crush someone instead of helping them, which certainly feels as though she’s inciting Will into violence against Hannibal.

The idea of Will as Hannibal’s “biggest mistake” here indicates that her view of Will as a potential catalyst for Hannibal’s destruction was already in place here, which is also evidenced by her dialogue in Contorno about Will and Hannibal lying in wait to kill each other. But here she also seems to pinpoint Chiyoh as a potential means of quelling Hannibal - another murder protégé of Hannibal’s where the approach didn’t quite take. (In Chiyoh’s case, this is fairly true, because she never followed through on the murder that Hannibal set her up for until Will came along.)

But Bedelia ultimately turns out to be wrong about Chiyoh, who decides not to go through with caging Hannibal. And she’s also wrong about Will, at least in terms of his ability to turn against Hannibal. She realizes this by the end of season 3 - that Will is Hannibal’s “agency in the world.”

There are some interesting fluctuating character dynamics at play here, because in the scene in Dolce, Chiyoh compares herself and Bedelia to Hannibal’s “birds” - birds that Hannibal is trying to neither crush nor rehabilitate, but cage and observe. Bedelia later casts herself as the arbiter of a hypothetical bird’s fate, the one with power, and implicitly casts Hannibal as a wounded bird who can either be saved or destroyed. And while Bedelia, like Will and Chiyoh, is herself a subject of Hannibal’s influence, she also tries to exert a similar influence over Will and Chiyoh in trying to turn them against Hannibal. Indeed, encouraging others to action seems to be Bedelia’s primary method of protecting herself against Hannibal, as opposed to trying to kill him herself. When Will asks her why she didn’t just kill Hannibal in Florence in 3.10, Bedelia evades the question and steers the conversation back towards the intensity of the bond between Will and Hannibal (“my relationship with Hannibal is not as passionate as yours”). She seems unwilling or unable to go through with the act herself, perhaps both because of her “devotion” to him in Florence and because of the horror that violence seems to stir up in her, even as it compels her.

But although she seems to be aiming for Hannibal’s attempts at influence to backfire on him, her acting indirectly through influence actually backfires on her instead, at least in the case of Will - which we all know from the leg scene at the end of Wrath of the Lamb. And while the Chiyoh angle is woefully underexplored in the show itself, this is why I maintain that it would be thematically appropriate if Chiyoh also had some role in the capture of Bedelia there.

[jammin-animal]

A Long Study of Greely's Character

(This Post contains HEAVY Spoilers for Animal Jam Classic's Adventures, and spoilers for current AJPW events. Read at your own risk.

For those of you who don't know, in Animal Jam - Play Wild (AJPW), Greely done something drastic after the Lines of Power Event. The action he's taken has led to people assuming that he's gone evil.

In this post, I attempt to debunk and defend the often mischaracterized Greely, using a lengthy review of his appearances in-lore to help you, the reader, understand his character, and why he would do something like this.

This may not be the only time I analyze him, but it will certainly be the longest!

Before I get into it, I need to clarify what the LoP event is.

Part 1: The Lines of Power Event

In Jamaa, a duality based leyline of magic appeared, with lines running underground, with one under the Alpha Headquarters. These lines had two distinct types of energy; Darkside, and Lightside, both of which are derived from certain traits.

Lightside is derived from Peace, Imagination, and Clarity.

Darkside is derived from Power, Emotion, and Initiative.

Notice that these are Amoral traits (except Peace, which is undoubtedly Good), as one can use Clarity and Imagination to devise an evil scheme, and use Power and Initiative to defend someone.

Despite neither Lightside or Darkside having any inherently "evil" traits, many Jammers took the usual approach, and assumed that Light = Good and Dark = Bad. Heck, even the Alphas (save for Greely and Liza) took this view.

Due to the discovery of the lines, in order to seperate and potentially prevent the Phantoms from harnessing these powers, Graham built a machine that could channel either energy, but only use one.

In the LoP event, Jammers could use the machine to channel either Lightside or Darkside energy. Darkside energy, could be used to discover the intentions of the Phantoms, but was more unstable, and would risk destroying the Alpha HQ building. Lightside was more stable, as it was frequently used in attempts to keep Phantoms at bay, but would only do that, keep them at bay temporarily.

Alphas Peck, Cosmo, and Sir Gilbert, all advocated for the exclusive use of Lightside Energy, with only Greely advocating for Darkside, as it was not a tactic utilized at that time. Graham and Liza's viewpoints are largely unknown, but Graham says he was already planning out a new HQ during the event, implying that he didn't really care which side won. ("It's silly, but I'd been drafting scematics for a new Headquarters. No need for them now!" -Graham, Post-LoP)

Speaking of Post-Lines of Power, Lightside Won. Prior to this, the Alpha HQ was visibly under threat of sinking into the leylines. This was attributed to be caused by the utilization of Darkside Energy; this visual of the HQ sinking led to Jammers switching and using Lightside, under the assumption that Darkside really was bad.

So, Lightside won. Directly after this? Greely, the longtime Representative of Wolves, the stoic Alpha of Jamaa, resigned.

((WARNING! BELOW THIS CUT IS AN ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE WALL OF TEXT))

Part 2: Greely's Reputation

Due to Greely's Resignation, many Jammers developed a theory that Greely had betrayed Jamaa and the other Alphas, as a result of his advocation for Darkside energy. They considered his resignation an "admission of guilt", a sign that he really did become traitorous in favor of joining the Phantoms.

That said, I don't fault anyone for believing him to be secretly evil, considering his personality.

Greely is incredibly secretive, he's stoic, quiet, and often behaves rudely to others, commanding instead of asking. He has a deep fascination with Phantoms, coming off as questionable. It's no wonder he's considered to be both super cool, but also super sketchy.

However, if you consider the chronological order of the following events, you'll notice that the timing of his resignation debunks this "He joined the Phantoms" theory entirely.

The timeline is as follows:

Night of Phantoms Event begins, Lines of Power Event Begins

Phantoms become Playable

Lightside Wins

Greely Resigns and disappears

Phantoms were already able to become Jamaaian Citizens by the time Greely Resigned. If he wanted to study or be near Phantoms, he wouldn't have had to leave, only communicate with the Phantoms that moved to Jamaa.

That, however, doesn't explain why he left, why he took his belongings from the HQ, or why he resigned.

I cannot explain exactly why he left, or what he's doing.

But I KNOW that whatever the reason is, it is not to betray or hurt Jamaa in any way.

Part 3: Greely in Adventures

(SPOILERS FOR LEGACY ADVENTURES)

To better understand Greely, we need to take a look at his appearances in the Mainline Legacy Adventures.

The Hive: His first appearance. Greely tells the Player to stay out of the conflict between Jamaa and the Phantoms.

The Great Escape: Greely is at the top of the Phantom Prisons, and he berates the player for even being there, and sends you on your way out of there. Note: The Alpha that sends you, some rando, in to be captured on purpose, is COSMO.

Greely's Inferno: Cosmo sends the Player up the volcano, Graham sends you IN the Volcano to get his stuff back for him. Inside, there's a secret entrance to Greely's little hideout, full of Phantom related items and his research. The player encounters Greely at the heart of the volcano, where he, as usual, berates the player for being there. It's also revealed that the Phantoms were going to use the volcano to destroy Jamaa, a plot that Greely stops with his magic, even though doing so would A) Make him unable to leave an active volcano while it erupts, and B) go against the Phantom's perfect little plot, which would mean he's absolutely not in the kahoots with them. Greely asks the player to please evacuate the volcano, and he is then able to halt the eruption of the volcano while it's mid-eruption, where it is presumed that he's died. The first request Greely asks of the player is to get themselves to safety.

The Search for Greely: Despite Greely sacrificing himself to save Jamaa, his innocence proven by his actions, Graham still considers Greely suspicious due to his personal notes saying things like "The other Alphas don't suspect a thing" and for having a fixation on Phantoms. In this adventure, the Player finds a machine Greely uses to temporarily become a Phantom as a means to use a portal into their dimension, which is considered extremely sketchy of him. When you find him though, he's been caged by the Phantoms, further proving his innocence, as the Phantoms wouldn't be so keen to lock up Greely if he were working with them, after all, Greely proves himself to be really intelligent. When he's freed, he breaks from pattern, and compliments you for your skills, remarking how the player is full of surprises. For a brief moment, he worries that you're both trapped since you need to be a phantom to use the portal. Plot says Cosmo overrides the portal and Alphas Liza, Graham, and Cosmo appear, with Graham questioning Greely's intent, with Cosmo DEMANDING Greely explains himself. Greely states that he infiltrated the Phantom Dimension as a means to obtain the Phantom Beacon, which would lead them to the Phantom's fortress, said to be where Phantoms replicate and make more Phantoms. Note that none of the Alphas present believe him until he shows proof, showing the Phantom Beacon. Greely thanks you for the help, but still dislikes your presence, since it means you put yourself in danger.

The Phantom Fortress: Greely is shown to be disguised as a sheep to get himself captured as a means to set other captured sheep free. Apparently he's been doing this for months, disguising himself as different animals to set them free. He states that he's been planning this for months, and, as usual, scolds the player for so nonchalantly ruining his careful planning, though not as harshly as before.

Storming the Fortress: Sir Gilbert calls you ordinary, then takes it back, and then sends you into the Phantom Fortress, by yourself. Granted, he does so because he can't be in two places at once, and needs to defend Jamaa from an ongoing attack, but still, consider that he's the head of Jamaa's Military forces, and has a tiger army. Also that there's more than one Alpha. By the way, Peck is missing. When the player encounters Greely in the heart of the Fortress, he just sighs in defeat, asking himself why he bothers planning at all anymore. He then, for the first time, asks the Player for help. Greely assigns himself to keep the Phantoms at bay, while the Player destroys the engine responsible for powering the Phantom Fortress. After this task is completed, Peck shows up, and Greely says that moment she disappeared, he went looking for her (yet when Greely disappears, it's assumed he's up to no good). Greely knew for certain where Peck would be, he knows that she's the brave, rambunctious type to go off and storm the fortress. This proves that he does know about the other Alphas well enough to guess what they'll do. He's ready to put himself in danger, but not willing to let the other's sacrifice themselves, not when he could do so in their stead. Peck caused enough damage to the Fortress by herself that it begins to break down, leading to an (offscreen) escape. Afterward? Peck is the one to get the credit, with Graham stating that it was all thanks to her. Peck denies it, and says it was thanks to all of their hard work, saying that she believes that the other Alphas would have done the same if they were present. She especially thanks Greely, saying he deserves credit and a giant hug. Greely seems a little surprised and even uncomfortable about being praised, and it seems he isn't used to being appreciated. He then deflects and gives credit to the player, leading Peck to chime in and tell the player that they saved Jamaa.

The River's Heart: Greely is trying to return a magic stone to where it belongs. He also, for the second time, asks for the Player to help, however, the task at hand is far, far less dangerous. He only asks that you accompany the Stone as it floats on a boat down a river, to where it belongs. Here, he says that the Player has proven themselves to be trustworthy. Greely has begun trusting the Player enough to handle themselves, and only after having proved themself to be capable, does he feel comfortable giving them tasks, and even then, the tasks are extremely simple in comparison to what the other Alphas ask of you. Peck appears, and expresses worry that the Phantoms are going to ambush Greely and the Stone. ("I'll bet you anything the Phantoms are on their way to ambush us, now that Greely isn't with us. He tried to stop me from following him, but I just knew something like this would happen!" -Peck) She's right, there's an ambush. After they're stopped, Greely appears, remarking that he was attacked by FOUR PHANTOM KINGS. He is then surprised that Peck is here, and assumes she's here because the other Alphas sent her here to stop him from returning the Stone to it's rightful place. Greely doesn't trust the other Alphas to allow him to give the Stone back to nature. Peck instantly denies this, saying she agrees with him, leading him to question why she sounds so upset. Peck reveals that she's upset with Greely for always trying to handle things by himself, and berates him for never asking her or the others for help. He then apologizes for his, admitting one of his biggest faults, and promising to be less secretive, and to be more open about his plans. Peck is happy and in turn, promises to hold him responsible to this promise. The two return the Stone to it's place in nature, and head on back, where they're greeted with,,, hostility by the other Alphas. Sir Gilbert, right away, berates Greely for taking the Stone, Liza scolds Greely for not being a team player and says "Don't you trust anyone?", Graham doesn't say anything of substance. Greely then scolds the other Alphas for not realizing that the Stone doesn't belong to them, it belongs to nature. Sir Gilbert says, "Why would we [realize that], there's nothing here but rocks!", he then yells at Peck for going along with Greely's "nonsense". Her reply is to defend Greely, but still reprimand him for not being clear about his intent, reprimanding for stealing the Stone, which, now in it's place, activates, revealing it to be a Heartstone, one of the biggest, most ancient they've seen. Greely says that it can only activate when it's in its proper place. AGAIN, Greely has to prove his innocence with an outside force, and only then is he forgiven and treated with respect.

Part 4: Greely's Character

So now let's unpack All That!

Do you notice the patterns?

The game, in the beginning, continually points at Greely and tries to convince the player he's evil, yet in the face of danger, Greely, time and time again, proves that he isn't.

Greely is the only Alpha to consistently scold the player for following the Alphas into danger. Heck, he dislikes when the other Alphas follow him into the literal inferno that is the volcano. Greely is the only one to express remorse for putting the player into a position of action, and only begins to trust you after you continually prove yourself to be able to handle fighting Phantoms.

Greely keeps his most dangerous missions to himself, even away from the other Alphas. He even gets a little upset at them for trying to help.

The other Alphas, excluding Peck, are constantly mistrusting him, even after he continually proves himself to be on the side of good. They only listen to him AFTER he displays physical evidence of his innocence. He's surprised when Peck compliments him, displaying that he is rarely appreciated by his colleagues, let alone trusted by them.

Greely has a tendency to isolate from the Alphas, as he doesn't fully believe in their capacity to understand him, which is completely justified due to their treatment of him. He doesn't trust them to handle situations with the appropriate level of caution, so whenever he goes on a particularly important mission, he keeps it from them.

Greely's secrecy is a means to ensure the safety of Jamaa, to ensure that the other Alphas don't get caught up in danger. Greely continually goes off on easily the most dangerous missions to protect Jamaa. Yet even his own colleagues distrust him, unaware that he hides his work to keep them from doing anything rash, and potentially dangerous. He doesn't want anyone doing something reckless and accidentally harming Jamaa.

This is why I find it utterly impossible for his resignation in the Play Wild edition to be a sign of villainy. Every appearance he makes, every action he does, all of it points to him being the most caring of the Alphas.

Bringing the conversation back to Play Wild's Lines of Power Event.

Greely advocates for the utilization of Darkside energy. which, by all means, encapsulates Greely perfectly!

Emotion, Greely cares deeply for Jamaa and all it's creatures, his actions display this emotion clearly.

Power, the magic he uses to defend Jamaa, even stopping a volcano, nearly dying in the process.

Initiative, Greely does the jobs nobody else even considers, he carefully plans, then walks directly into the heart of danger, which even Sir Gilbert doesn't do, as he primarily tends to borders and takes the defensive. Greely takes the offensive, delving into the inferno of the Phantom's lands.

His resignation in Play Wild is not a sign of villainy, it's a sign that Jamaa is in danger, and he is going to try and fix it the way he usually does. By himself. Alone.

This is not the first time he's gone on his own to try and solve a problem, to try and delve into danger all alone for the sake of Jamaa, but it's certainly the first time he's done something so drastic as resign from his position. He didn't even tell Peck, who he made a promise to, meaning he cannot risk anyone, not even her, who he trusts, following him.

Now remember points 3 and 5?

Greely isolates himself from the Alphas whenever he begins a dangerous task.

Yet again, Greely is going to try and sacrifice himself for the sake of all Jamaa, for the sake of the colleagues who do not trust him, for the sake of his friend, Peck...

I wholeheartedly believe that Greely's resignation is a push to the Alphas to appoint a new Alpha in his stead, as he considers his latest mission so dangerous, that he thinks that he will either never be able to return to Jamaa, or that he will die.

[thewatercolours]

@cygnascrimbles, that's a great question, and there's no one right answer. I'll give you my two cents. :-)

tl;dr: I'd heartily suggest starting with Chapter One: A Knight to Remember from King's Quest (2015) because it's the game of my heart and is intended as a starting point. But many people would suggest King's Quest I ('84) because it was the very first, or King's Quest V ('90) or VI ('93) because they are often hailed as the best the older, original series has to offer.

So if the thing that's stoking your interest in King's Quest is my blog, what you're seeing is the King's Quest game released by The Odd Gentlemen starting in 2015.

It's a reboot of the 80's/90's original games, but it requires no previous knowledge to play and is a fresh story. You play as Graham, who starts off as young lad dreaming of adventure and glory, and ends up having to unexpectedly take the throne he had planned on serving. Over the course of five chapters, you navigate the story of his life from those eager teen days straight through to old age, telling bedtimes stories to his grandchildren. It's a charming, quirky game with plenty of heart, a really gorgeous fairytale world of all hand-painted textures (they literally printed out the shapes for all the textures they needed, painted them with paint brushes, and then scanned them in to render in the game world! At least, as I understand it?), with a great sense of humour and some delightful characters. Graham himself is such a loveable dork in this version of the story, too,

But I do have to give a caveat. This game, delightful as it is, is also seriously flawed. It was released episodically, and there were complications in the dev process as it went on, so the earlier entries are much stronger than the later ones. Some parts of it are kind of stupid, there are times when it drops the ball on storytelling principles and characterization, and some wonderfully over ambitious ideas were just that - overly ambitious - and never got paid off story-wise.

But I love it anyway.

So my suggestion? Chapter One: A Knight to Remember (2015) is a free download, so I'd heartily say, "Try it out and see if you like it!" Most people think it's the best one of the reboot - it's a gorgeous, lighthearted story somewhat in the spirit of The Princess Bride (homages galore, and Wallace Shawn who played Vizzini features as one of the main cast.) It's a tale about a tournament, and a dragon's eye, and new friendships. It's self-contained if you want to stop there, and it's just full of joy and puzzles and a couple of surprisingly moving moments. If you want more after that, maybe check out a little of a playthrough of Chapter Two, which is also great but has very different atmosphere, and judge if it's something you want to shell out a shiny gold coin for.

All that being said, there's a sizable portion of the population who would suggest going back to King's Quest I (1984), which is where it all started and which turned forty yesterday! It was a huge mover and shaker in video game history back in its day. It's about Graham's attempts to recover the kingdom's three stolen treasures.

Others would suggest starting with King's Quest V (Graham journeys to rescue his family from a wizard) or VI (Graham's son Alexander quests to rescue a princess in a tower. ) They were made in the nineties and many players consider them to be King's Quest at its best (VI especially is generally beloved.)

You might find you enjoy these games much more than the reboot, but since I'm not as knowledgeable about the older games, I doubt I am the person to do them justice. If they intrigue you, you might want to do your own research or chat with someone who really loves them!

Anyhow, I don't want to talk your ear off. Thanks for asking, and let me know if I can be helpful any which way.

*whispers* ... and go download Chapter One: A Knight to Remember. It's free. You might like it. It's here:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/345390/Kings_Quest/

[datenightfright]

hi, I love your stories especially the Godzilla x readers, it made me a monster lover even today. So, I was wondering if you could do a multi-slashers x a reader who may seem innocent and sweet on the surface, but when something happens, they discover that the reader is just like them. Future partner in crime?

Aw, Thank you! Woof, I haven't gotten a mutli-slasher ask in a while. *cracks knuckles* Let's do this! (Also, you didn't specify who, so I just chose my favorites.)

Thomas Hewitt: Tommy looks at the man hanging from the hooks, feeling rage bubbling within his gut. He had been a handsome blond who felt the need to make a gross comment about your body. Tommy knew he was destined to be cattle, but it seems as though someone had gotten to him first. That just pissed him off even more.

"Hey," The sound of your voice startles him. You walk out from behind the blubbering idiot, apron tied around your torso, wiping your hands. "It was hell getting him up there, but I think I did ok. Mind helping me process?" You ask, flashing him one of your winning smiles. Tommy blink, slowly coming to terms with what's happening. He nods, taking the meat cleaver you offered him, the pretty boys' pleas falling on def ears. If Tommy had the mind to talk, he'd tell you in that moment he loved you. But something in him said you already knew.

Tex Sawyer: You were the one person Tex ordered Alfredo not to harass. You'd gotten a job at the gas station, he guessed in a last ditch effort to make some money. He was glad you'd had. You were perfect, and he had a hard time not flirting with you when he came in. Color him surprised when one day and enterprising thief decided to rob the place.

Before Tex or Alfredo could react, you leapt over the counter, surprising everyone. What happened next was a flurry of cuss words, flying fists, and brain matter on the floor. When you straiten up you still look a little unhinged, but damned in Tex didn't fall completely in love with you in that moment. "Bad day?" He asks. You shrug, giving the now dead thief a kick. "You could say that." Tex takes the bandana around his neck off and wipes some blood off your face. "Would you like to come to dinner?" He asks you. You smile, "I'd love to."

Hannibal Lecter: Hannibal pops the meat in his mouth, taking a moment to savor the familiar flavor of pork. He looks at you, surprised at the complexity of flavor you've managed to pull of. You pay him no mind, going through the case file he put in front of you. You, like Will Graham, were a specialist the FBI called on regularly. You'd been in the middle of lunch, offering him a plate of food as well.

"Who was he?" Lecter asked. Your intense eyes snapped to his. "Beg pardon?" He motions to the dish, "Who was he?" He asks again. You frown and go back to the case files. "And unimportant irritant in my life." You said, not bothering to hide the fact that you clearly fed him human meat. Hannibal takes another bit of the meal, inhaling in pleasure at the taste. "You must give me the recipe." You finally smile, eyes still not moving off the pictures in front of you. "I'll see to it that you get it Dr. Lecter."

"Please," He says, "Call me Hannibal."

[niseag-reads]

Ouch my brain /pos - a ramble

Right. I want to say something sensible about this book, but I have been reading it since January, and I would be damned if I remembered what happened in the first half of it in any detail. This is a ramble/review for "Forges of Mars." the full trilogy. by Graham McNeill

Taking so long to read it was not the books fault. Indeed, that was me running into burnout and being preoccupied with university stuff. But being somewhat less than fully emerged in this book probably didn't help the book at all.

There are so many characters, holy shit. And some of their names are so similar! Hawke and Hawkins come to mind. Additionally, characters will be named by their first name, last name, or nicknames and keeping apart who is who is no joke. The dramatis personae provided is somewhat useful, but annoying when you have to refer to it too often. this does come with the caviat that I do, as a rule, not really remember names (I think it's the autism) making this all the more difficult to me. Where characters are diverse enough in their thinking and acting i will be able to tell them apart by that, but for side and background characters that really doesnt work.

With this, there are also multiple storylines, and my issue with that in many books is that there is always some I prefer over the others and then I get annoyed when they switch to the ones I do not care for as much. Also because I often didn't immediately know where we were jumping to. it really grated my gears that when a POV switch happened it wasn't always immediately clear whose POV the book had switched to, causing moments of confusion. Perhaps if i remembered which names belonged to what people it would be easier, but sadly it was not. for fairness, I was reading the ebook. Maybe this is clearer in the paper version.

In this trilogy, I found myself intrigued by the characterisation of the mechanicus characters whom I wanted to stick with, only to be forced to read about these other groups as well... if I wanted to read space marines, I'd have picked up one of their books, you know? Regardless, the arcs of kotov, linya, and tychon were all very interesting to me, and eventually, around the second book, I started to appreciate locke as well. The way the warhounds were written actively annoyed me, but I am someone who has read a lot of books involving (were)wolves, and my expectations from that may have influenced how I looked upon these chapters. the many POVs in this book felt somewhat unnessecary, too, like, I am unsure what the marines or the warhound POVs truly added to the storytelling. I get why there was both mechanicus and bondsman perspective though, that was a very interesting and clever choice in worldbuilding that allowed the reader to see the two ends of the coin when it comes to the runnings of a mechanicus expedition. the eldar perspective was not one I cared for much, but I do not fault the book for including it because it did definitely add a completely different angle to everything going on in this book.

The last book in the series is significantly more intense and action-packed than the other two, which I had not expected. It solidifies the feeling of a finale, I suppose, especially since the other two books lacked proper ending points. I thus believe that this was written as one very long book that was chopped into threes for marketability. That's not a negative, just an observation. the final confrontation is a-tier. very good, very satisfying. Galatea deserved worse. All in all, this was a decent enough experience and I can see why some people go wild for the characters in this book, they're very good. I left this review sitting in my drafts for so long I forgot where I was going with it. anyways. 3.5 stars. do recommend, but is very long and requires brain.

[bigdeadpanda]

Pairing: Implied Hannibal Lecter/Will Graham

Summary: When Jack Crawford finds out about Will being pregnant, he decides to chastize the empath about it, but he wasn't expecting the answer he got.

Word Count: 153

Warnings: Gun Violence

"Just because you couldn't find it within yourself to keep your goddamn legs closed…" Jack starts saying right before Will's elbow makes contact with his throat and then has the agent's gun pointed right in his face.

"You, of all people, are the last person capable of passing judgment on me" Will growls out to the Head of the BAU. With one last lingering threat of letting Jack know just how capable Will was of killing someone now, Will put his gun away.

As Will walks towards the door, Jack couldn't help himself by taking one last potshot at Will, "I could've used you, had you catch killers far greater than The Ripper. You would've had a successful career with the BAU, Graham."

But Will, always ready with a comeback, has the door ajar about to walk out of it when he responds with, "I'd rather not have my talents be wasted by unworthy swine."