#Jeep Dictionary

[jeep-momma]

10 Jeep Slang Words Urban Dictionary - What Jeep Slang am I missing? Comment Below.

[wildemaven]

he makes life better | joel miller

-> pairing: no outbreak!joel miller x reader

-> word count: 1335

-> content warning: 18+ blog; bad day, annoyed with work, dealing with flat tire, joel being sweet, lots of fluff

-> note: this is for my sweet friend @gnpwdrnwhiskey hoping this brings a smile to her face 💞 this isn’t beta’d either so it’s probably filled with mistakes lol.

masterlist

Joel ❤️: How’s your day going Honey?

I’m so ready for my shift to be over. I’d rather read the dictionary, front to back, than deal with the shit they have me doing today. 

RING

“That bad, huh?” Joel’s voice brings you an instant smile when you answer his call, silently stepping away from the mess that you were dealing with at work. 

“You have no idea. It already feels like it’s been the longest week, today has just added to the shit show life keeps throwin’ at me lately. Went to leave for work this morning and I had a flat tire. Ugh! I’m sorry for complaining.” You vent to him, tucking yourself in a secluded corner. You were going against policy by taking a personal call while on the clock, but you didn’t care about company policy or the outcome of you were to get caught at the moment— Joel was your only focus right now. 

“Hey, none of that. Don’t apologize for being stressed. Why didn’t ya call me ‘bout your tire?” Joel asked. 

You know he would’ve dropped everything the minute did call him, which is also why you didn’t. He had been stressing over starting at a new job site, one of the biggest ones he had been hired for. The last thing you wanted was to add to his already busy day of things he had to deal with. 

“You’d already left for work and had that new job you’ve been talkin’ about. Didn’t wanna bother you with it. I called AAA and had them put the spare on for me so I could drop it off at the tire shop. Now, I’m unexpectedly the owner of 4 new tires.” 

“I don’t care how busy I am— you need something, you call me, no matter what. Got that, Honey?” 

“Got it, Joel. Thank you.” You smile into the phone at his concern for you, always finding ways to make you fall even deeper in love with him. 

“Good. Hey, I gotta go. Tommy looks like he’s about ready to break his back. I should probably go help him before he actually does and my insurance takes a hit. I’ll see ya tonight then, sweetheart?” 

“Yeah. I should be outta here in 3 hours.” The end to your long shift, almost over. 

“That sounds great! I love you, Honey. I’ll see ya later.” You can faintly hear Tommy cursing in the background. 

“Love you too, Joel.” You tell him before the line goes dead. Giving yourself a few minutes of quiet before heading back to join your team and the never ending line of customers. 

The rest of your shift goes by fairly quickly. Joel’s phone call must have been just the moral boost you needed to sprinkle a little bit of extra positivity into your day.

The minute the clock hit 5 pm, you wasted no time clocking out and logging out of your computer for the day. Deliberately bypassing your usual exit path to avoid any chatty coworkers, Joel and home your main focus of the rest of your day, you weren’t going to waste any time stuck in drawn out conversations. 

Your purse thrown over your shoulder, work apron crumpled in one hand and the other holding your empty tumbler that once held the warm delicious coffee you had hoped would sustain you through the day, now wishing it was filled with something a little stronger to help you unwind when you got home. 

It’s a struggle trying to juggle your things as you search for your keys, lost somewhere in the depths of your purse along with the rest of your life's necessities. You pause in the middle of an empty parking space near where your jeep is parked to give the search your full attention. After some thorough digging, you locate your keys and let out an exasperated sigh, one step closer to being home. 

Taking a step forward as you press the unlock button on your key, you look up to see an unexpected sight. A familiar truck in the parking spot next to yours, and the most handsome man leaning on it. He looks like he came straight from the job sight, too. His peppered grey hair disheveled, but his soft curls were still intact even after a long day. The sleeves of your favorite green flannel are rolled up over his flexed forearms that are crossed against his chest, the fabric stretched over his broad shoulders. 

The sight of him is enough to melt away any of the bullshit you had endured over the past week, a completely welcomed surprise. 

“What are you doing here?” You ask him, letting your feet carry you the rest of the way to him. 

“Heard you were havin’ a shitty day. Couldn’t let my lady end it on a bad note.” He croons, pushing himself off the side of his truck, opening his arms to you. 

You melt into him, your face nestled into his shoulder. His rugged scent of musky vanilla and natural pheromones is permanently infused into the fibers of his shirt, it’s your favorite thing ever. His strong arms wrap around you as he presses a soft kiss to your temple, prompting you to straighten up, looking into his amber eyes. 

“Hi, Cowboy.” You beam at him. 

“Hi.” He says, leaning in to gently mold his lips over yours. “I’ve got a surprise for ya, Honey.” 

“This was enough of a surprise for me. What more could I need?” Stealing another kiss from him. 

“If I tell ya, it won’t be a surprise then, will it?” He says, tilting his head slightly as he looks at you. 

“I guess you have a point.” 

“We’ve gotta get going though, it’s time sensitive.” He grabs for your things and walks you around to the passenger door, holding it open as you climb in. “We’ll grab your jeep in the mornin’, if that’s okay with you?” 

“Whatever you say, Cowboy.” He leans back in for another kiss, before making his way around into the driver’s seat. 

*

The drive isn’t long. Down some familiar roads that lead to a dirt one off the main highway. His truck travels down the gravel road lined with a barbed wire fence. After a few minutes he’s pulling off to the side and killing the engine. 

“You brought me to my favorite place.” Looking over to his side of the truck, where he’s already looking in your direction. Your heart grows at how he thought to bring you here, knowing how much joy it brings you every time. 

“Thought you could use it. Look, here they come.” He says pointing to your window. 

Off in the distance, the small herd of cows were in pursuit of their evening meal and water break. Mamas with their little rambunctious calves trailing behind, trekking along the same path they travel each evening. 

It’s a calming sight. Their heads bobbling with each dramatic step. Tails whipping over their rear ends to swat away the annoying flies. A few stopping mid trek to look in your direction, letting out a long drawn out moo. Their friendly hello, it’s good to see you again, then back on the move. 

The sky is painted in pinks and purples as the sun dips below the horizon. Your day feeling less shitty as you sit silently in the cab of Joel’s truck. His hand resting on your thigh while his thumb draws soft circles over thick denim seam. 

“Thank you for this. Didn’t realize how much I needed it. I love you, Joel.” You tell him, rolling your head over the headrest in his direction. 

“I did it because I love you, Honey. And s’what I’m here for.” There’s a low rumble in the air as he turns the key over, shifting the truck into drive. “Now, how ‘bouts we head on home and I spend the rest of the evenin’ show you all the other ways I love you?”

“Take me home, Cowboy.” 

[mieczyslawsravenclaw]

Best Friends, Is That All? - Stiles Stilinski

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

•Pairing - Stiles Stilinski x Fem!Reader

•Rating - 18+, Minors DNI - Smut - NSFW!!!

•Summary/Prompt - Just a regular ride in Stilesʼ jeep…Or it would be, if the love-struck fool could stop asking you how you feel about him. Guess someone's got a different kind of ride in mind...

•Warnings/Content - Pretty much all bases covered, they definitely fuck, tons of begging and mentions of markings and scratching, they use a condom bc SAFETY, oral oral lots of oral, TONS of petnames sorry its cheesy ik but I canʼt help it, lots of praise too bc thatʼs tasty, oh yeah and boys whimpering bc thatʼs just hot asf, they're in love so it's a little fluffier but still VERY spicy

•Word Count - 4.5k

•Authorʼs Note(s) - As always, just want to write about the spicy ideas I get from having spicy dreams, I feel like this oneʼs a little better than the last one but who knows? >_< /// (YA'LL I EXPECTED LIKE 4 LIKES ON MY SPENCER BLURB AND I GOT OVER 200 TY????? WTF???? )

•Additional Tags - they fuck in the jeep!, stiles is a whore for begging, theyʼre obsessed with eachother ffs, Switch!Stiles but mostly Sub!Stiles, he talks her through it UGH YES, CONSENT IS KEY, heʼs okay with whatever even if that means he doesnʼt get laid, Stiles is one cocky SOB with BDE and just a big dick oops, theyʼre for sure gonna fuck again before the night is over hehehe

“Do you get nervous?ˮ

The question takes me by surprise - Up until now, it had been a normal, routine drive with Stiles, albeit more fidgety than usual from his side. But once the question has left his lips, heʼs even more so, if thatʼs possible.

“Do I…yeah, definitely. Of course I do.ˮ I quirk my eyebrow at him; Heʼs avoiding my eyeline, focused far too much on the road ahead.

Something else, another question maybe, passes his lips, but itʼs far too quiet for me to catch. The poor thing is redder than a tomato, tapping his hands on the wheel as he starts to drive just a little faster unknowingly.

“Huh?ˮ

“A-About…M-mmmmm.ˮ Stiles stutters, dragging out his thought. The jeep seems to follow its driver, stuttering a bit on the road as he pushes the pedal down further.

“Sti, are you okay?ˮ

“Nervous.ˮ He repeats the word like heʼs reading it from a dictionary, not like heʼs using it as a self description. Weʼre getting further into the back roads now, and if I didnʼt know any better, Iʼd think he was bringing me out here to kill me or something.

“Pull over a sec, yeah?ˮ

He nods, bringing the jeep to a crawl along a forest road that could more accurately be called a trail, if anything. The silence is filled only by the bumping of the tires on the gravel, until we reach a stopping point, surrounded by nothing but trees for miles.

“Whatʼs eating at you, Stilinski?ˮ I turn in my seat, eyeing him in the mid-day light. Filtered through the jeepʼs dusty windows, he looks like a modern god, and my heart can hardly take it. Iʼve loved this poor boy a long time, but Iʼve never been brave enough to say it. And now, weʼre all alone in the woods for who knows what reason, and Iʼm more nervous than ever.

“Dʼyou ever get nervous…about me?ˮ He manages, his eyes squeezing shut and his fists clenching tight. He lets out a huge breath, then continues in a ramble, “God, I canʼt believe I even just asked that. Holy shit. I mean, you make me so nervous. Dʼyou know that? Youʼre my best friend, and you make me so nervous I feel like I canʼt even breathe, I want you to just reach over and break the distance between us and give in and just take me. God-ˮ

“Sti.ˮ It comes out half-choked. The lump in my throat swells - oh, my god, he likes me too? - as I scoot ever closer to him.

“Oh, of course not,ˮ He sighs, eyes still closed. He doesnʼt see me shift again, within touching distance, he just keeps on with his nervous blabber. “I mean, someone as beautiful as you with a guy like me? Come on, Stiles, get real.ˮ

“Stiles. Look at me, damn it.ˮ Hands shaking, Iʼm reaching over to touch him when he listens to me, turning and looking all in one motion.

“Oh, hi there.ˮ He blurts, flushing crimson.

“Yes, I get nervous about you, too.ˮ I can hardly believe Iʼm uttering the words. But my fear is trumped by the desperate need for him, right here and right now. I canʼt believe of all times and places, this is where itʼs gonna happen, but I donʼt quite care at the same point, either.

“You do?ˮ

“Stiles, I can barely contain myself around you. These past few months especially, I just-ˮ My reaching hands are still hanging near him, and he notices, finally, taking them in his own. I let out a shaking breath, closing my own eyes in desperate need to escape his searching gaze that sends my pulse skyrocketing. “You-Youʼre everything, do you know that? Iʼve wanted to tell you for so long, but I didnʼt think youʼd even look at me like that, I just thought-ˮ

“Best friends, nothing more?ˮ He chuckles softly, and I can sense the way his lips curl, not even needing to see it to know it. “Yeah, sounds familiar. Hey, look at me. I like you, you idiot.ˮ

My eyes open at the last few words, and seeing it straight from his mouth makes me lose myself for a moment. All I can do is blankly stare, my stomach doing flips. He likes me, he likes me, he likes me!

“Can you say something?ˮ He groans, eyes flicking between my own and down to my mouth. “Like, maybe confirm to me that you like me back? I mean, you kinda said as much, but I just really wanna hear you say it. Can you say it? Is that okay? Youʼre killing me, here-ˮ

“I like you too. Of course I do, who wouldnʼt?ˮ

“You do. For sure? Not just tryna pity me, are you?ˮ He quips, but itʼs clearly halfhearted.

“I really like you, dumbass.ˮ I move closer, dying for something to happen. Anything.

“Are you gonna kiss me now? Or am I gonna kiss you? Somebodyʼs gotta kiss somebody here, or Iʼm gonna lose it. Please, Iʼm begging you.ˮ

“Oh, youʼre begging me now?ˮ I smirk.

“Absolutely I am. If we were outside Iʼd be on my knees for you. Please, just fucking-ˮ He lets go of my hands, reaching for my waist as I grab at his collar.

We meld like itʼs second nature, lips forming together with a satisfied groan from Stiles that makes my legs weak. Somehow, I climb onto him in this cramped little jeep, bumping the steering wheel with my ass. He laughs, almost immediately going back to kissing me, a bit harder now. Itʼs clear in the way I grind my hips down to him with what I feel rising back to meet me that this is gonna take up a lot of our time together today.

I wonder for a moment if anyone will assume what weʼve gotten up to. Of course, Allison knows how I feel about Stiles, Iʼve told her a million times. I wonder if heʼs told Scott. Iʼm sure he has.

“Youʼre thinking too much,ˮ He growls, biting my lip. I moan back. “Thatʼs a lot coming from me,ˮ Another kiss, coming down my jaw now as I catch my breath. “I know. But…what can I do to get your mind back to me, hmm?ˮ

“That. Keep doing that.ˮ My hands tangle in the back of his hair, the tousled sort-of-waves that have grown out as of late being tugged as he nips at my neck.

“You want me to keep begging for you too?ˮ He teases, his lips coming up to my ear. “Cause I can do that all day, baby.ˮ

I nod, unable to grasp words with his breath against me.

“You gonna let me take you here, right now? Itʼs killing me to feel you on me like this and not have you. Please, let me have you, I canʼt stand it.ˮ

“T-tell me what you want me to do.ˮ I grasp harder at his hair, and he lets out a whimper. Oh, my god, that.

“I want you to fuckinʼ destroy me, and Iʼll beg until you do. God, Iʼm shameless, I donʼt even care if weʼre out here all alone or not, just please for the love of fuck, ride me like nothing else matters.ˮ

I pull his lips back to mine, silencing him for a time as we continue to make our own rhythm, learning one another with moans and laughs and tension unparalleled. Itʼs great, too great-I smack my head against the jeepʼs roof, letting out a yelp.

“Oh, shit-ˮ Stiles pulls me down against him, biting his lip when I land.

“Iʼm okay. Ow.ˮ

“How about we move this to the back?ˮ He pops the door open, letting me out first. Despite his words, heʼs back on my neck the moment weʼre outside, making it hard for me to push the seat down to get into the back.

“Stiles…ˮ I sigh, fumbling with the latch.

“Sorry, just want you-god, just want you so bad.ˮ He pulls back, reaching forward and sending the seat down with a practiced grasp.

I clamber inside, watching him hyperfocus on giving us as much room as possible. Front seats pushed down and forward, clutter thrown into the front, then heʼs back on me, kissing me and tugging at my shorts.

“Can I…?ˮ He motions, and I nod, letting him pull them down. His lips come back to mine, his fingers playing at the edge of my panties.

“Please-ˮ

“Youʼre begging now?ˮ He chuckles, his voice lower and throatier. Gods, Iʼm wet as fuck just from that.

“Shamelessly.ˮ I echo his earlier words, earning another small laugh.

“You want me, baby? How bad?ˮ He teases, hand grasping at my hip.

“Real-Really bad. Want you so bad, want you to-ˮ I canʼt even finish the thought, as he presses against my clit with his thumb. I moan, bucking up against him.

“Sorry, Iʼm impatient, you know that.ˮ He amends, kissing down my jaw and pulling back. He sits me up against the door, pulling my legs up and pressing a deep kiss against my opening. “Youʼre soaking, I can tell even through these little things.ˮ

I shudder, eyeing him in between my legs. Itʼs a sight to behold, and he isnʼt even getting started yet.

“Howʼs about we take em off, huh? Donʼt need these where weʼre going.ˮ He discards the fabric, and when his eyes meet the heat pooling below my belly, his jaw goes slack. I could almost swear he was drooling.

For a moment, Iʼm self conscious, folding in on my body under his gaze. But he holds my thighs back down, shaking his head.

“Uh-uh. No shame, right, princess?ˮ He hovers over me, eyes flicking back and forth between his focus and my face. “Now, you just let me know what feels good and what doesnʼt, okay? Wanna make sure you enjoy yourself.ˮ

“Stiles, Iʼm dying here, please just touch me already.ˮ

He smirks, another shake of the head, this one with a cocky air to it.

“If you insist, sweetheart.ˮ He brings his lips down to meet my opening, licking a stripe up that sends my hands grasping at the jeepʼs seat.

“Sti-ˮ

He hums against me, his grip on my thighs tightening. A few more precise licks, and heʼs delving into my core, filling the jeep with my desperate cries. Fuck, heʼs good, and Iʼm already closer by the minute.

“Taste so good, baby…ˮ He murmurs, getting lost in the task as my hands tug at his hair. When he shifts up to suck at my clit, the noise it brings from me is almost inhuman. “Feel good?ˮ

“Yes- oh my god, yes-ˮ

“Want more? How does this feel, hmm?ˮ He presses a finger to my opening, and I push against him, wordlessly begging. He chuckles, pushing it in fluidly. One, a few motions, and clearly Iʼm still desperate so he adds in another. “Talk to me, baby. Use your words.ˮ

“You want me to talk right now?ˮ I moan, my mind spinning in the pleasure-filled void heʼs trapped me in.

“I know, itʼs just too good, huh? You donʼt have to talk, your noises are more than enough.ˮ He curls his fingers, pulling against a sweet spot that has me crying out.

“Stiles!ˮ

Back down to me with his lips now, too, I can feel the smirk that starts up hearing me say his name like that. He knows exactly where he has me, and heʼs gonna relish in it. Not only are his fingers working magic now, but along with his tongue? Iʼm gonna break, and he knows it.

“Iʼm-Oh, donʼt stop-ˮ

A hummed approval is all I get from the usually chatty lips of Stiles Stilinski, his beard that heʼs let grow in recently brushing over me while he brings me to the edge. Iʼm practically drowning in the pleasure, and heʼs the air I need. One more fluid motion, just the right one, and Iʼm spilling curses from my mouth and wetness from my heat. He laps it up heartily, a satisfied groan from the recess of his throat vibrating against me.

“You…I just…wow.ˮ He pauses for a moment to look over me with a smile beginning to tug at the corner of his lips. I flush, back to being nervous under his eye.

“Stunned you into silence, eh, Stilinski?ˮ

“Oh, Iʼm far from done. Just figured Iʼd give you a break.ˮ He quips with a smirk.

“I donʼt need one.ˮ I blurt, the words faster than my brain.

“No?ˮ He laughs. “Okay, then. Well, if thatʼs the case, Iʼm begging you to get back to being all over me.ˮ

“In what way?ˮ I smirk, looking at his coated fingers.

He snorts, rolling his eyes.

“Funny.ˮ Keeping up eye contact, he licks his fingers clean. He seems to enjoy the groan it elicits from me. “Like that, huh? Iʼm looking forward to finding out what else you like.ˮ

I sit up, pressing to him once again. He tastes like me, and chuckles against my kiss. The clink of undoing his belt buckle becomes the sounds of rustling fabrics, my shirt tossed, his gone. His chest to mine, warm and inviting, and his pants kicked to the side. I fumble with my bra, my cheeks red.

“I…ˮ

“Yʼknow we can stop anytime, yeah?ˮ He amends, sensing my hesitation. “Like, of course Iʼm okay with whatever, I want you in all the ways. But only if youʼre comfortable. Consentʼs important.ˮ

“Oh, I want you. I want all of you, of course I do.ˮ I sigh. “Just…real nervous about how I look.ˮ

“You?ˮ Heʼs incredulous, pulling back and sweeping my body with his gaze. “Holy shit, no way. Nuh uh. You, youʼre…God, youʼre gorgeous, are you kidding me? Every part of you fits just right with the other, promise. You donʼt have to do anything you donʼt wanna do, but you gotta know that. You gotta know Iʼm gonna love how you look. I donʼt even need to have seen it yet to know. You just…are.ˮ

Iʼve been rendered speechless, and all I can do is take it off while he rambles.

“Not to say that you gotta just cause Iʼm saying all this. You get that, right? Iʼm not saying it just to get you to-ˮ He stops cold when Iʼve tossed the bra, my hands still hiding the majority of my chest. With a gentle grasp, he reaches to uncover me. “Can I…?ˮ

“Yeah, Iʼm just nervous.ˮ

“Thatʼs okay. Me, too. Youʼre beautiful though.ˮ He lifts my cover away softly, eyeing me with precision and adoration. He pokes at the moles and freckles that adorn my upper body, smiling as his eyes meet mine again. “See? Perfect. Nothing to worry about.ˮ

“Stiles, I adore you.ˮ I blurt, tears starting to form.

“Oh, sweetie.ˮ He pulls me closer, kissing my nose. “We can stop if youʼre really too nervous. I donʼt mind. Iʼll just jack off later or something, no big.ˮ

I snort at his words. “As much as Iʼd love to watch that. No, Iʼm okay. Just needed a moment, I guess. Trust me, Iʼm still dying for you.ˮ

His face goes red. “Youʼd- huh? Wow, thatʼs an image. Maybe another time, yeah? No shortage of things to think about for that, especially now Iʼve seen you and itʼs not just my imagination spurring me on.ˮ

“Youʼll have more to go on soon, too.ˮ I pull him back down onto me, kissing him.

“Fuck, youʼre hot.ˮ He moans. “Youʼre killing me.ˮ

“Destroying you,ˮ I correct him. “Thatʼs what you wanted, isnʼt it?ˮ

“Still want it,ˮ He grasps at me, nothing but his boxers to hide that want now. “Very much still want it.ˮ

More kissing ensues, and weʼre groping at eachother like weʼre high-schoolers again. Somehow, at some point, heʼs as bare as I am now and the way weʼre pressed to one another is the most tempting thing Iʼve ever experienced in my entire life.

“Hey, so, uh- not to seem like a copycat or anything, but…ˮ He breathes against my lips, his voice catching. “Yʼknow, nervous about how I look, now that Iʼm thinking about it. Not really very manly of me, I know, whatever.ˮ

“Fuck manliness,ˮ I amend, letting him pull back. “Youʼre perfect, you…oh, how could you not be?ˮ

What a sight he is to behold, in all his naked glory. Goosebumps pepper my skin as I look him over, from the moles that adorn him across his body the same way they do across his face, to the burning red that sits underneath his pale skin…to of course what heʼs referencing concern over the most. And thereʼs certainly none needed, in my opinion. No concerns, except how Iʼm gonna need to stretch out around that. Oh, my.

“Stiles…ˮ My voice, my gaze, softens. His shoulders drop. “Youʼre stunning.ˮ

“Not just saying that, are you?ˮ He brushes non-existent dirt from his shoulder. “My ego will be sorely bruised.ˮ

“Should I tell you or should I show you?ˮ I lick my lips, gaze going between his legs and back to his face. The noise he makes would be comical in any other circumstance.

“Fuck, definitely show me.ˮ

Now, itʼs his turn to lie back, and Iʼm in control. I must have absolutely stunned him, because heʼs got nothing to say, just watching me as I lower over him. Once I begin to kiss at and lick stripes over him, though, heʼs got plenty to say - I donʼt recognize half the curses he lets fly, they must be Polish or something. But fly they do, and his hand is at my hair when I start to take him in my mouth, grasp tight.

“Oh, my god-ˮ

I keep it up until he stops me a few moments later, a funny little quirk to his brows.

“God, I donʼt ever wanna stop this, but if you keep going like that Iʼm gonna fuckinʼ bust, and I gotta know what you feel like riding me first, please?ˮ He reaches blindly around, cursing. “Fuckinʼ - just need my wallet, whereʼd my jeans go?ˮ

I laugh, pulling back to help his search. When he comes up with the item in question, I understand- protection, no shit.

“Yeah, okay, now Iʼm ready.ˮ He nods after heʼs prepared himself, sitting up against the seat. He helps position me over him, eyes locked. “Oh, my god, is this actually real? I feel like Iʼm in some kinda magical dream.ˮ

“Very real. I remember what I had for breakfast and everything.ˮ I quip, trying to ease the nerves. They wonʼt go, though, and the knot in my stomach is ever-tighter as he brushes against my opening. “Fuck, I want you inside me, now.ˮ

“Kinda up to you, there.ˮ He holds me tight around the waist, eyes pleading. “Iʼm ready when you are, though, rock my fuckinʼ world sweetheart.ˮ

“Fuuuuuck, youʼre tight.ˮ He groans. “So thatʼs how you feel. No imagination or anything my hands can do compares to that.ˮ

The need is too great to put it off any longer; I let myself push down to meet him, the entering gasps we let out mingling in the short bit of air between us. His head falls back, his hands only guides as I bring myself further down, slowly, slowly, slowly. I take a moment around the first few inches to breathe; as ridiculous as it sounds, Iʼve never had someone quite as…gifted as him.

“Iʼm only getting started,ˮ I reply. “Genuinely, in all honesty, not a joke or anything. Youʼre…a lot to take.ˮ

“Having fun strokinʼ my ego?ˮ He chuckles.

“Tilʼ you give me something else to stroke.ˮ

“Fuck, thatʼs a promise.ˮ He ruts up against me, bringing a cry from my lips. “Shit, sorry, reflex. You feel so good, I just want more of you. Did I hurt you?ˮ

“No, it felt too good.ˮ I admit. “Just taking it slow cause Iʼm not really used to anything this…ˮ

“Big?ˮ Heʼs got the widest smirk on his face now.

“Howʼs that for your precious ego?ˮ I flirt, pushing down another bit with a sharp breath. The stretching pain is worth it for the look on his face.

“My ego is just fine. Big, just like my- Oh, my god-ˮ He stutters out, his bravado going out the window when I start to rock my hips back and forth. And was that a whimper? “Oh, please donʼt stop, keep going. Oh, god-ˮ

“Long as you keep begging.ˮ

The more I move, the easier it gets to take him, until Iʼm fairly close to bottoming out. Heʼs holding me closer than ever, kissing me whenever he gets the chance to, and the noises and whimpers havenʼt stopped. It spurs me, the collision of our bodies growing ever-faster as he cries my name and begs me not to stop. I wonʼt, I canʼt, itʼs all too good and Iʼm chasing a high that I find myself soon riding out onto him. Now, Iʼll be the one saying his name, his real name.

“God, that sounds so good coming from you,ˮ He moans, “Iʼve never heard it sound so good.ˮ

“Hereʼs to many more.ˮ I stutter out between the motions weʼre making and the sounds accompanying. Heʼs less in control now, thrusting up to meet me and pushing me down to him. Heʼs made plenty of marks on me, from the hickeys littering my skin to the surefire bruising my hips will have from his grasp. I can only hope to either hide whatʼs visible or risk the teasing the pack will no doubt give us later.

“Please, take me all the way, Iʼll help you through it.ˮ He begs, kissing me again once Iʼve come down far enough. “Youʼve got this, baby, please?ˮ

No words, just a resolute nod, and his response is a repeated thanks. I push further, to the very end of him, my nails digging into his shoulders.

“Good, baby- fuck , youʼre doing good, pretty girl. So good, so good for me. There you go.ˮ He kisses my burning skin, the devouring fire weʼve made together consuming us both as I shift around under his grasp. He doesnʼt force, only guides, and makes a rhythm for me to follow with sputtered curses abounding. “God, you feel so good. Does it feel good for you? Hurt?ˮ

“Only enough to make me want it more,ˮ I moan, letting my head drop to his shoulder. “F-fuck me.ˮ

“Is that a statement or a request?ˮ He doesnʼt wait for an answer as I slow, taking the lead and snapping up into me. Once, twice, I lose count. He seems to get lost, too, senseless mumbles and moans filling the jeep as my hand streaks the fogged window. Heʼs entirely filled me up, and I want for nothing more than to go until I canʼt anymore.

He guards my head when I raise back up, making sure I wonʼt hit the roof again, and when it starts to rain in the secluded forest weʼve hidden ourselves in, itʼs not the only thing sending waves crashing down around us. Another thing I lose count of - heʼs far too good at this, and I tell him so.

“Been thinkinʼ about this for a while, so that counts as practice, yeah?ˮ The sweat sticks a bit of his hair to his forehead, and he looks about ready to tire out.

“You losing steam on me?ˮ I tease, brushing his hair back.

“Hell, no!ˮ He groans when I move my hips, sat bottomed out but doing nothing else. “Iʼm pretty close, thatʼs all. But when Iʼm done with you here Iʼm not done with you for the night, if youʼre willing.ˮ

“Well, if youʼre close…ˮ My lips curl deviously, and I bring myself back to the pace and movement that had had him howling earlier. Heʼs back to it in an instant, but his whines are more pronounced, drug out.

“Fuck, please, please donʼt stop-ˮ

“Gonna cum for me?ˮ

“Y-yes, yes-ˮ

“Good.ˮ Itʼs like a growl from me, and his cries only grow from it, until Iʼm sure at least anyone with supernatural hearing can catch onto us if theyʼre anywhere near.

“Oh- Oh, my god, Iʼm gonna-ˮ Stiles holds me tight, the most animalistic noise of it all loosing from his lips as he loads the condom full inside me. Weʼre hot, sweaty, and as close together as we possibly can be, but he still pulls me closer, taking a deep, heavy breath.

“So…how was I?ˮ

His laugh is quick, choked.

“Are you serious? Fuck, that was amazing. Iʼd just as soon do it again, but Iʼm…a little depleted at the moment.ˮ He eyes where we meet with an eyebrow wiggle. “Hey, we just had sex.ˮ

“That we did.ˮ I laugh.

“You and me, best friends. Just had sex. Well, we might wanna rethink that whole just best friends idea, huh?ˮ He kisses my cheek, letting out a content sigh. “No rush on that, Iʼm just talking. You know how I get. Just…excited that this happened. That it is happening. And…Iʼd be okay with calling you something more than my best friend. If youʼre into that.ˮ

“Very much into that.ˮ

“So…girlfriend?ˮ

“Shit, I was gonna say fiancee or wife. Or soulmate.ˮ

His eyes bug for a moment, then he starts to laugh.

“Youʼre fuckinʼ with me. Youʼre hilarious. Alright, girlfriend-future-fiancee-wife-soulmate-whatever-you-want, howʼs that sound?ˮ

“A little long, if Iʼm being honest.ˮ

“Long didnʼt seem to bother you just a moment ago.ˮ

“Mieczyslaw!ˮ

“Still sounds beautiful cominʼ from you. Like…ˮ He catches my glare, and smirks. “Nevermind. Letʼs get this cleaned up and head back, huh? Thereʼs a pizza about to be made with our names on it.ˮ

[lillybean730]

my new favorite bit is trying to explain my understanding of cars to my brother

car- wastebasket taxon, anything that doesn't fit in the other categories is a car

truck- pickup trucks, simple

van- think of the stereotypical kidnapper van, also applies to things like plumbing or pest control company vans

bug- the volkswagen beetle or anything that looks like it, i used to watch herby the love bug a lot as a kid

flex- ok look my mom had a flex for the longest time so any white car that looks like a flex is a flex, no other colors though

sports car- sleek cars that make me think less of you for owning them

jeep- a jeep. im pretty sure they have like non-jeepy cars with that name but those don't count it's only the square ones with a tire on the back

semi truck- i think it has different regional names, the big 18-wheelers that make you scared

construction vehicles- umbrella term for different vehicles used for building shit; bulldozers, cranes, forklifts, etc

tow truck- tow truck, subspecies of truck

bus- bus

taxi- taxi

vw bus- stereotypical hippie car, cool

old car- cars that look like they should be in the dictionary next to the word "jalopy", car enthusiasts probably like to show these off at car shows for the novelty/bragging rights

awesome car- a car that's strange and makes me go "that's awesome", Ex: nissan s-cargo

this whole bit started when i saw a sports car the same color as my mom's car and said "oh it's a skinny version of mom's car" and my brother wanted to kill me

[alovecraft]

If I clean off just the water bottles, mugs, and plate that I keep reusing (because why dirty up another plate if you’re just going to go back and make more peanut butter toast), I see where most of my organized chaos is currently:

Stuff for the chaos wall (tech deck boards, t’challa chibi, stickers), markers and felt pens (I’m a sucker for pens), and various art stuff (pattern for fabric birbs, a prototype birb to see if the pattern works, fabric, pins, sandpaper.

Sure, Fozzy Bear is still kind of in the way and The Jeep is back in his normal spot. I think there’s a card game on here somewhere I was going to steal some cards from to put on the chaos wall and I know the various Pokémon, digimon, and magic cards are in various tins to go through and add to the chaos wall or into one of the binders to get out of the way.

I really need to clean this space. The stack of books went from like a couple language dictionaries and Old Man’s War to adding the Winter Soldier book on top of the card binders to…like various books ranging from a kid book that’s no longer in print to colouring book to “you are not special.”

I think the bizarre commercialism Walmart book is shoved up under there (it talk about how corporations like Walmart took over the world, over consumption, etc)

[54viruses]

Baby’s First Tapestry Loom

Mentioned a little while ago I wanted to take up tapestry and finally had what I needed to take the plunge.

Based on some reading and videos I decided the cheapest, easiest beginner loom would be a copper pipe loom, simplified closer to a frame loom rather than the full design recommended by Archie Brennan or Rebecca Mazoff. I also ordered some tapestry yarn so it would arrive just after I finished the loom.

Got the supplies from Home Depot. Did NOT use my brand new copper piping to beat the guy who was as helpful as he was sexist (Home Depot employees assume I’m incompetent. Lowe’s employees always talk loudly about how predictable and easy to spot shoplifters are...)

Cut the pipe down to measured lengths (BEFORE putting it in my ‘little subaru’ Jeep, Mr. Helpful) and assembled it in a rectangle with measured tape. I then spent two hours on the internet before figuring out that a tapestry sampler and an embroidery sampler have basically nothing in common. My yarn order arrived shortly after, right on time.

Procrastinated for a month because a bunch of minor things riled my ADHD again. This is a key step in the tapestry learning process and simply cannot be skipped.

Finally put on an audio book of Walter Lord’s A Night to Remember, broke out the undyed cottolin , and did this:

This picture belongs in the dictionary under ‘warp’ because it shows two kinds.

Choosing to make my loom this big should have keyed me in that I need at least one more support arm... and maybe the screws included in Brennan’s design... but, absolute beginner, these are learning points.

Winding, spacing, and securing six inches took me the entire five hours of A Night to Remember. It was tedious work but the only time I got annoyed was when the SS Carpathian was mentioned or the myth of the boozy baker. (Don’t know what I’m talking about? Read the book!)

Hopefully I’ll start the weft before another month passes...

[designersprohub]

The Role of Logo and Branding Design in Taking Your Business to Heights

The expression “Brand” has entered the normal dictionary. In various settings, the words have fluctuating levels of importance. There are occasions where “brand” capabilities as a thing, as in “That is my favored image,” and others where it capabilities as an action word, as in “We should mark this mission.” It’s become inseparably connected with the organization’s moniker, as well likewise with customers’ impressions of the actual business, its merchandise, and their own assumptions. Individuals’ lives are immersed with brand names because customers see brand names as normal things. The vast majority don’t understand that they’re unconsciously using brand names as action words or things when they make statements like “Selpak” or “Nescafe.” Selpak is used instead of a tissue and Nescafe is consumed instead of a conventional mug of espresso. What’s more, the action word “Vim’lemek” (some of the time spelled “Cif’lemek”) signifies “to clean by scouring completely.” It has no effect whether an individual is using a certifiable Sony Walkman when they allude to a versatile Cd or tape player by the name “Walkman.” Everything from Jeeps made by Chrysler to Sana margarine to Gilette razors to Teflon to Orkid to Vileda to Uhu to Pimapen to Iscam to give some examples extra products all use a similar fundamental Branding design US.

Logo Design Services

Since we have that far removed, let us explain something: your logo and site are not your image. Designers Pro Hub is a branding and logo design organization which provides branding design services expresses that One’s image is the entirety of their communications with your services as well as their impressions and feelings about those services. Branding alludes to the process of creating and promoting an organization’s name and product or administration (procedure). A brand’s character is the actual sign of the brand (logo, typography, colors, and so on). In any case, your business logo design is essential since it addresses the business’ personality, guidelines of greatness, and center convictions. Designers Pro Hub is a Logo design agency US Which will be scratched in the cerebrums of your customers as well as on your merchandise, business cards, site, and social media. One of the principal things individuals will see about your business is its logo; here is your opportunity to make a decent impression, show that you provide a quality help, and address your company’s main goal tastefully.

Does Your Firm Need a Logo?

A logo’s design can represent the moment of truth your image, so it’s critical to invest energy ensuring it’s one you’re proud of. It provides prospective customers with data about what your identity is, what you provide, and how it will help them. It tells the people who have never known about your organization before that you invest wholeheartedly in the nature of your work. Unprofessional organization logo design consequently raises questions about the nature of the labor and products you provide. Have you at any point returned a page or picked one organization over another because it appeared to be more dependable? Individuals structure moment assessments, and assuming the design is awful, they won’t stay close by for a really long time. Make your business’ firm logo noteworthy that will bring out good implications in the personalities of customers. Logos contain profound representative relationship with individuals’ encounters, at various times. Think about Nike as a valid example. The swoosh is trivial all alone. Nonetheless, the explanation we relate to that seal is because we share their conviction that running can influence the world to improve things. The ordering branding and logo design thoughts characterized the strength of an organization can be straightforwardly credited to the positive affiliations their image and logo have with their products and services. With time and lots of brand promotion, your logo ought to become as unmistakable as your organization. Designing a logo is a speculation. It’s the absolute most significant calculate laying out trust with likely customers.

[simpforsix]

here is one of the more comprehensible dreams i've had. i was at my grandparent's old house in the driveway except for some reason it was in the middle of a desert with the colour grading of any middle eastern country in a western film. some guys tried to kidnap me but then some us army soldiers shot them all and then we got in the jeep they were kidnapping me in and drove away. i had to sit on the remains of the dead. now this might sound like a nightmare, but my dream self is far too chill for that. my main concern? getting the aux and subsequently trying to find a playlist that the soldiers would like. we drive through a stereotypical middle eastern setting that looks like it's been plucked straight from every western adventure movie.

scene change. we are now coming up the escalator in a massive mall, super bougie, glass walls in front of jewelry stores type shit. the soldiers tell me i have to pretend to be someone and give me no more instructions, but for some reason i don't question it and completely understand the assignment. we walk through the mall and down into a subway station. i see my ex gf there getting on a train with their friends. i then walk up to the vending machines where inexplicably my dad is waiting. i persuade him to buy me sweet chili heat doritos but instead the machine gives me jalapeño doritos.

scene change again. i am in my elementary school field where a bunch of people are hanging out. i walk over to my ex gf who is there for some reason and we immediately decide to hook up. (i am aroace, and realized this after breaking up with them. idk why this happened in my dream but even in the dream i didn't feel any attraction so who knows wtf is going on). i am on the run (no there's not more context just go with it) and we go back to my safe house and start making out.

i wake up and go about my day. no dream dictionary could possibly decipher this.

oh you think you have weird dreams? bestie you cannot comprehend the pure insanity and chaos my subconscious plays on the vcr of my mind every night

[security-construct]

Just wanna say a quick thing because I’ve been thinking about it for a while now, but Jaiden’s video on being AroAce really… helped me? A lot?

I’ve tentatively used the label for a bit now, but I was never all that comfortable just saying it out loud or fully accepting that it feels right. Despite being Aro, I’m kind of a romantic in a platonic sense: I’m clingy, I like giving gifts, being physically close to people, and taking care of the people I love.

And that’s the thing- the root of the problem really. I love. I love a lot. I love my friends, I love my pets, I love my parents, teachers, family- I’ve never been shy with saying that I love someone. And because of that I kept just trying to convince myself that I’m not Aro at all, I just haven’t found that person that I’ll have that “special” love for. But I don’t need that? I feel love. Maybe not that one, but it’s love for the people I care about and I don’t think that makes it any less special. It certainly doesn’t make me less human.

Seeing someone who I admire talk about the same experiences I’ve had, from the not-crushes to the feeling that I’m the problem for not fitting into society’s little romance-obsessed box (no offense meant), has helped me accept both these aspects of myself. Is helping me. I feel like now I can just exist in my little bubble again, and not worry about validating myself. Just being me. Thank you Jaiden, for helping me find this little nugget of myself.

[jeep-momma]

10 Jeep Slang Words Urban Dictionary - What Jeep Slang am I missing? Comment Below. 

[jazzmynerule]

gold rush

prompt: y/n was watching stiles during training admiring his beauty from a far

warnings: kinda angsty

side note: this imagine is based off of gold rush by taylor swift :)

✿.｡.:* *:.｡.✿ ✿.｡.:* *:.｡.✿ ✿.｡.:* *:.｡.✿ ✿.｡.:* *:.｡.✿

gleaming, twinkling, eyes like sinking ships on water so inviting i almost jump in

“he’s so pretty isn’t he?” y/n sighs to her friend penny 

“i mean if that’s what you think” penny snorts a bit looking at y/n

“look at his eyes penny, they twinkle in the sunlight they are just so inviting” she places her english book on the side of her and pulls her knees to her chest as she watches the boy fail to catch the ball miserably

i don’t like a gold rush, gold rush, i don’t like anticipating my face in a red flush, i don’t like that anyone would die to feel your touch, everybody wants you

just the sight of stiles makes y/n’s face light up with glee

when she’s at the lockers she always makes time to smile at him just so he knows who she is

she dreams about sitting in between his lap on his jeeps roof telling one another about how much they love each other

she would die just to feel his touch

everybody wonders what it would be like to love you, walk past, quick brush

even if it’s just a quick brush of the fingers walking opposite one another in the crowded hallways of the school

i don’t like slow motion double vision in a rose blush, i don’t like that falling feels like flying til the bone crush, everybody wants you but i don’t like a gold rush

“what does it feel like?” penny asks randomly locking eyes with y/n

“what does what feel like?” y/n asks penny voice full of confusion

“falling in love”

“like jumping out of an airplane with no parachute, it’s bone crushing” y/n reply’s “especially when they don’t even know who you are”

what must it be like to grow up that beautiful, with your hair falling into place like dominos, i see me padding across your wooden floors with my eagles t-shirt hanging from the door

y/n has loved stiles since third grade, she tried everything she could to get stiles to play with her in the sand box, or even in the classroom she would hand stiles her glue stick when he needed to stick hearts on lydias pages

even now, y/n will give stiles her notes during quizzes just so he doesn’t fail, she will give him her spare pens even if that means she has no spares for herself, she would do anything for that boy

even break her own heart

at dinner parties i call you out on your contrarian shit

yes sometimes he says some dumb shit that makes her upset but she can’t help but find his dumb behaviour intriguing

and the coastal town we wandered ‘round had never seen a love as pure as it, and then it fades into the gray of my day old tea ‘cause you know it’ll never be

she knows he’ll never love her i mean look at her then look at him

he’s got those whiskey deep brown eyes that you can’t help but get lost in, pale skin that looks like snow white has blessed him with her touch and the softest looking pink lips that she wishes she could feel against hers

and what’s she got?

dark bags under her eyes from staying up studying every night, messy hair from not brushing it for three days and crooked glasses from how many times she’s accidentally dropped and broken them

he couldn’t love a girl like her not even in another lifetime

how could he ever love a girl like her when he has lydia?

Lydia is the dictionary’s definition of breath taking, she’s got the figure every guy drools over and every girls prays for, bouncy and healthy hair that has never looked greasy a day in her life and the perfect skin no flaws whatsoever

she’s perfect for stiles

more perfect than y/n ever will be

[rigelmejo]

books for learning characters

I’ve brought this book up before, and I feel like doing it again. If you are just starting to learn chinese (or japanese), you often hear people suggest remembering the characters with mnemonics. 

People will tell you 1. Read about how characters are made of ~200 radicals, those radicals may hint at meaning and/or pronunciation, those radicals make characters of which some of those characters may combine with other characters/radicals to make additional characters, and 2. Make up mnemonic stories to remember the meaning and/or pronunciation (example: “tree 木 + several 几 = machine ��”: It took several trees to provide enough wood to make the parts for the huge machine. When it was finished they had to get the giant to bring his jeep to deliver it. Here the mnemonic is using giant to indicate tone-which is what the particular book I used did, and the ‘jee’ part of jeep is to remind you roughly of the pronunciation).

You can learn characters a different way, in whatever way works best for you. Some people do best by writing characters repeatedly, some use SRS flashcard apps or paper flashcards, some need to read and look up characters over and over (me lol), some find mnemonics useful. 

I found mnemonics for sound/shape useful back when I learned hiragana and katakana, so I found the idea of using mnemonics for kanji and hanzi helpful. People often suggest Heisig’s Remember the Kanji book for japanese learners (and there’s a Remember the Hanzi version for chinese). That book does a good job of explaining radicals, and how to make up mnemonics... but you have to make the majority of the stories up yourself. Which to me, was the hardest part about using mnemonics, so I never found the Heisig books very useful.

These are the books I found tremendously useful:

Tuttle Learning Chinese Characters: (HSK Levels 1 -3) A Revolutionary New Way to Learn and Remember the 800 Most Basic Chinese Characters - this book covers 800 common hanzi, includes a lot of common words, has HSK overlap if you happen to be studying using HSK guidelines early on (I was), explains radicals and how to make mnemonics, and includes mnemonic stories for meaning and pronunciation for every single hanzi in the book. There’s a lot of places to find free explanations of radicals, of how to make mnemonics, and of mnemonics people have made up (I highly recommend searching user made anki and memrise decks for “hanzi mnemonics” if like me you prefer premade-stories included). This book is the only thing I’ve seen so far though that includes mnemonics for the pronunciation aspect including the tone of the hanzi. As a beginner, it made it so much easier to just zoom through and read through the hanzi, get to a point I could recognize a few hundred within a month and several hundred within 3 months, and remember how to pronounce them. Including the tone, which was so important as a beginner not used to remembering tones and keeping track of tones in a language. The book also covers so much more than the Heisig books, in that it actually makes a story for all the hanzi it covers. Once I was through reading the book (just reading the next chapter and glancing-back at some old pages each week, I did not SRS study this), I was good at making up my own stories like the book, and was able to move on to learning 2000 common words, and reading with a click dictionary, and I didn’t have issues remembering hanzi or figuring out how to remember new ones I saw. If I really struggled to make a story up (and needed one), then after I was done with the book I looked up “hanzi mnemonics” online and found other people’s examples then just added a pronunciation bit if I needed to. I think this book is just so easy to use, does so much work for the learner and explains decently, matches up to HSK well so people don’t have to change their study materials greatly, matches up to a lot of common words (most of the 2000 words I learned later used mostly these hanzi I’d learned from the book), and explains how to break down looking at a character and making up a useful mnemonic story. Heisig’s books explain that too, but make you do a lot more of the work yourself which can be time consuming, and happened to demotivate me and I kept quitting back when I used Heisig’s books (though for people who prefer making their own study materials they may find the Tuttle book annoying and Heisig’s books more useful).

Tuttle Read Japanese Today - back when I started learning japanese, this book is how I learned my first 400 kanji. This book does NOT teach with mnemonics. It teaches some pronunciation but does not use mnemonics, just states what the pronunciations are. Where this book shines, is getting a beginner unfamiliar with characters used to them, used to seeing them as words/concepts/symbols, used to breaking them down into their components, and able to distinguish and remember them. If a beginner is struggling to see characters as parts, rather than random lines/shapes, or struggling to remember what characters mean, this is a good introductory book. 

Learn to Read in Japanese, Volumes 1-3 - these books are made by japaneseaudiolessons.com (a site which provides completely free audio lessons and accompanying pdf transcript and grammar book). These books succeed where Heisig’s failed me. These books provide mnemonic stories for the meaning of kanji, and for the pronunciations. If you learn well with mnemonics, then these books have stories pre-made for every kanji within them. The 3 volumes contain 1528 kanji, which is a solid number, and like the Tuttle Learning Chinese Characters book above, once you learn so many kanji this way it becomes easier to adapt to do it yourself if you run into more kanji while reading on your own. These books go even farther, and also give you practice sentences to read. If your options are Heisig’s books or these, I’d recommend these if you prefer mnemonics for meaning and sound already made for you. However, these are the only books on this list that may not be in a library/online for free. So if price is an issue, all of the other books listed are easy to find for free in regular libraries, college/university libraries, ebook libraries, and book download sites. These specific books are about 10-20 a piece, about 60 dollars for all 3. 

Chinese Characters: Learn & Remember 2,178 Characters and Their Meanings by Alan Hoenig - a great book that contains pre-made mnemonic stories for 2,178 hanzi meanings. There are no mnemonics for pronunciation, but the pronunciation is visible in pinyin next to each hanzi entry. Between this book and Heisig’s, I prefer this one because it has premade all the mnemonics for you. So if you need/prefer premade mnemonic stories to remember, this is a cheap easy reference. There’s also free mnemonic stories out there if you search “anki hanzi mnemonics” or “hanzi mnemonics” etc. I ended up buying this book because I liked having a book reference around, I study best with books. Like most of the books above, this is cheap to buy and floating around as a free pdf in a ton of places. This book is a bit harder to find in libraries though, and sometimes it’s not on bigger sites and you need to look for it used on Thriftbooks/Abebooks etc if you want a physical copy.�� 

Special mentions: The Kodansha Kanji Learner's Course: A Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering 2300 Characters  (provides some details on each kanji, some pronunciations, some example words, great reference book),  Reading and Writing Chinese: Third Edition, HSK All Levels (2,349 Chinese Characters and 5,000+ Compounds) (covers all HSK hanzi, similar to KKLC with some details on each character, pronunciations, example words, comes in a traditional or simplified version, great reference book), Heisig’s Remember the Hanzi Volume 1+2 and Remember the Kanji Volume 1+2 (the 1st volumes contain information on radicals and how to make mnemonics and some mnemonics for the first few hundred characters, after that largely you will be making your own mnemonic stories with only a radical/symbol breakdown of each character provided); Chinese Blockbuster 1-9 (this book contains mnemonics for meaning and pronunciation of traditional and simplified characters so that’s awesome, however the downside is each individual book only covers ~500 characters, at the speed I was learning from the Tuttle book and then reading I had already covered 2000 characters learned before I even found these books... so they may not be worth the money unless premade-mnemonic stories still help you a TON into 2000 characters and you still struggle to remember hanzi without mnemonics at that point).

[ezzydean]

“Oh, did I scare you, big boy?” - Stiles & Derek

so you already know what you’re getting into Catt....

for the rest of you, well, enjoy the ride :D

(under the cut cause it’s just over 1300 words and there’s some adult language in here)

Derek looks up as his door flies open and a whirlwind of sarcasm and frayed nerves stumbles into his apartment.  Stiles kicks his sneakers towards the mat where Derek’s shoes are sitting, misses by about three feet, yanks his hoodie off and throws it towards the closet door, drops his bookbag in the middle of the floor two steps inside the door and then immediately trips over it before he finally looks up and meets Derek’s eyes.

“Oh,” he says.  “Did I scare you, big boy?”

“The only thing about you that scares me is your eating and sleeping habits,” Derek replies without missing a beat.  “And maybe the way you throw your shit around my place like you pay rent here or something.”

“I pay you with my presence and sparkling personality.”

“That doesn’t even cover the box of poptarts you ate last week let alone rent.”

“Please.  It covers the poptarts and at least a day and a half of electricity.  Maybe two.”

“Maybe a poptart and half and the electricity to use the toaster.”

Stiles gasps.  “Toaster?  Gross.  You heathen.  Who toasts poptarts?”

“Anyone over the age of, I dunno, twelve?”

“Ew.  No.  That’s just.”  Stiles cringes and shudders.  “Who are you?  It’s like I don’t even know you?”

Derek goes back to the crossword puzzle he had been working on and does his best to ignore the random indignant noises and cupboard doors opening and shutting.  Sometimes he understands why people give him such a strange look when he tells them that Stiles is his best friend.  Stiles is almost seven years younger than him and still in college while Derek is pulling forty plus hours a week at the mechanic shop he and Jordan own.  Stiles is the poster boy for over-enthusiasm while Derek’s picture is next to ‘resting bitch face’ in the dictionary.  Stiles likes noisy movies and loud music and Derek, well okay they do agree on that one.  There’s actually a lot of things they have in common once you get past the surface shit.

Which is how Derek knows that Stiles is deflecting when he teases Derek for not having the right kind of cereal in his cupboard and asks when he can bring his jeep into the shop and give it an oil change and wonders aloud if having sex with a real mechanic would be anything like all the mechanic-centric porn he’s seen.

“So you gonna tell me what your real issue is or just continue bitching about my food choices not lining up with yours well enough to satisfy whatever strange little checklist is in your mind for our compatibility this week?”

Stiles freezes with a boring sugar cookie — instead of an awesome oatmeal chocolate chip jeez Derek you’re so bland — halfway in his mouth.

“I- what?”

“Your insults and general, well, you-ness are saltier than usual.  What’s up?  Didn’t you finally get a new advisor for your program like you’ve been trying to do all year?”

“I did.”

“Didn’t you get whatever one you wanted?  I know you said there was one particular one you were hoping to get.”

“Yeah I got him.”

“And?  Is he not what you thought he was?  Too much of an idiot like your last one?”  Derek is already making plans to call his uncle and see what kind of strings Peter might be able to pull at the college to get Stiles a good advisor when Stiles groans and drops the cookie on the table.

“No he’s not an idiot.  He’s just a dick.”  Derek snorts and tries to figure out which professor Stiles might have gotten.  There are a few that he can think of that Peter has described as dicks that would have enough overlaps with Stiles’ curriculum to be his advisor.  “And it’s like nothing I do is ever good enough?  Everything is ‘Stiles that’s preposterous’ and ‘are you a complete idiot’ and ‘stop trying to use the thesaurus to make your papers sound smarter’ and shit like that.  Like I don’t use a thesaurus.  Sorry I know what the word ‘accubation’ means and how to use it in a sentence ya dickwad.”

“So he’s treating you like he thinks you’re trying too hard to be smart?”

“Yeah.  I guess?  I dunno.  He’s just super critical and it’s starting to get on my nerves and I swear I’m going to snap one of these times.”  Derek has a sneaking suspicion he knows exactly who Stiles’ advisor is.  “He’s such a pretentious douche it makes me sick.”

“Well maybe you just need to do something to shake him up?  Show him you’re just as smart as he thinks you’re trying to be?  Maybe that’ll make him less of an ass?”

"I mean.  Maybe.   I dunno.”  Stiles picks up the cookie again and shakes his head.  “Professor Hale has such a stick up his ass I'm afraid he's going to open his mouth one day and the whole damn tree will pop out.  He should probably get that looked at.”

Derek snorts so hard it almost hurts and Stiles looks at him curiously as he devours the cookie.

“I’ll, uh, make sure to pass the message on to him next week at dinner.”

Stiles gives him a confused look.  “What?”

“Jordan and I are going home for my parent’s anniversary next week.”

“What does that have to do with passing the message on to Professor Hale?”

“He’ll be there.”

“Professor Hale?”

“Yes.  Professor Hale.  Also known as Peter Hale?  Also known as my Uncle Peter.”

Stiles swallows hard and licks his lips nervously.  “But your last name isn't Hale.”

“Correct.”  Derek nods.  “It was before I got married, though.”

“Oh fuck.”

“Not until you graduate college.  We talked about this.  And Jordan agrees with me.”

The fact that Stiles doesn’t respond to that just shows how thrown off he is.  Derek could have sworn Stiles knew enough to have put two and two together and made it equal Professor Hale is Derek’s Uncle Peter.  Especially since they’ve known each other for three years now.  But maybe not?

Eventually Derek leaves Stiles to have his third mid-life crisis this month at the table and goes to get started on dinner; Jordan will be home soon and Stiles is clearly not in the mindset to help with anything like he had originally promised that morning.

—

“Hey, Der.”

Derek looks up as the door from the office opens and Jordan strolls in.

“Hey, Jor.”

Jordan grins at him.  “Is that a wrench in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?”

“It’s a screwdriver,” Derek replies as he leans against the workbench.  “But I am happy to see you.  Especially if that’s coffee in your hand.”

“Of course it’s coffee.”  Jordan steps into his space and draws him into a warm kiss.  “I don’t have a death wish,” he murmurs against Derek’s lips.  The door from the office slams open and Derek sighs.  “Someone else might have one though.”

Stiles storms in and slams his bookbag down on the workbench.

“I am going to murder your uncle and bury him in the desert.”

“Hi, Stiles,” Jordan says, voice sickeningly sweet as he pulls away from Derek enough to turn and give Stiles a once over.  “Welcome to Parrish and Parrish.  Can I actually help you with Roscoe, or are you just here to threaten homicidal violence against Peter?”

“Yes,” Stiles snaps back without hesitation.

“Coffee first,” Derek interrupts before either of them can continue.  “Whatever your drama is with my uncle second.”

“You’re a horrible best friend,” Stiles pouts.

“You’re just jealous I have coffee.”

“Fuck you.”

“Graduate first,” Jordan says.  “Then we’ll talk about who is fucking who.”

Stiles grumbles and growls and Jordan laughs and leans against Derek and he sips his coffee: it’s just another normal day in his life and he couldn’t be happier.

[mr007pennyworth]

QUOTES FROM A DISTANT LAKEHOUSE - PART 1/20

*Gareth just read all of Alfred's unsent letters from when they got spilt up in the forces, Alfred is sat at the kitchen table as Gareth paces about*

Gareth: *pacing, distressed* "You-you, how could you sit there and not say anything Alfie, all these damn years and you think I never wondered about us myself?"

Alfred: "I had no right to say anything while you had that ring on your hand"

Gareth: *nearly smacks a hole in the wall when he stops against it*.

"Well it's gone now, alright, it's gone...she's gone"

Alfred: *sighs, half way to tears* "I know she is, I was there wasn't I? I watched the wedding, I watched her funeral, I've been right there this whole time and I saw how she loved you, how fucking happy you were with her right up until the end Gareth, you ment everything to her at one point and she was buried with your name and your heart and I refuse to ask that back from her when you know for a fact you never looked at me once like that!"

Gareth: *having lost the will to stay stood up is sitting on the floor against the wall watching Alfred approaching and glares*

"You don't know anything, you don't know anything about how I feel, you never asked"

Alfred: *sits down beside him* "Did I need to? I was your friend Gareth, I know you loved me but I never deserved what she had from you, I still don't"

Gareth: *shouting* You were my fucking best friend Alf, you were the greatest thing that ever happened to me and after what we've been through I think we both fucking deserve what we want"

Alfred: *crying but laughs* "Gareth, second best and you know it, I'm sorry but you have no idea what you want...I'll give you anything and everything you ask for, for the rest of our lives but please don't try to convince yourself you can ever love me like you once did her, she ment everything to you and she hated me, she'd hate you to downgrade to this this old dog..."

Gareth: *climbs in Alfred's lap and presses his forehead against Alfred's*

"Then tell me..."

Alfred: "Tell you what?"

Gareth: *losing the fight not to cry*

"Tell me you don't love me? Tell me your not the man in those letter's anymore? You not the man who came to my rescue on a cliff side, gave me his shirt when I tore mine, took me in his bed when I couldn't sleep, became a medic just because I got hurt, cleaned my wounds for ten years, let me sit in his lap for ten years, got called my husband for ten years, took bullets, shrapnel and fist fights for ten years, encouraged me to become everything I am now and made me almost scream his name in the front seat of a jeep four times! TELL ME!"

Alfred: *reaches up to wipe his tears away* "I can't...I can't tell you that, because I still do...I've always loved you and I've been prepared to deal with not having you for thirty years Gareth, nothing has to change, nothing has to change, we're fine as we are"

Gareth: *scoffs* "Were so fucking far from fine we've made a new section the dictionary Alf"

Alfred: "I refuse to ask you for anything Gareth, I'm sorry"

Gareth: "Yeah well bad luck because your husband's back and he's fucking mad he missed out on thirty years of sleeping with you so get used to it"

[cybernaght]

Guardian rewatch: Episode 9

This episode starts with Zhao Yunlan being a bloody good boss. I’ll talk about how the opinions of others must have affected this man’s perception of himself a little later on, but in this scene it is important to note that Zhao Yunlan is supportive, caring and loyal. Wang Zheng comes to him in tears, asking for permission to leave and see the home she had just remembered, and he not only supports her verbally, but drags his entire team on the trip with her the very next day. Sure, he has are ulterior motives, as he strongly suspects one of the Hallows must be around the same area, but I maintain that Zhao Yunlan would have insisted on going with Wang Zheng regardless.

There are complications to this trip; namely, Wang Zheng is a ghost energy being and can neither be in sunlight, nor leave the SID really. Thus, the plan to take her on the trip includes buying a doll. The implication is that Wang Zheng can be somehow placed inside it, and thus be able to move, but the details of how this is done are actually curiously hazy. I’m not sure if censorship is the reason for muddled writing, but there really is very little explanation for the ghost in a doll situation.

Guo Changcheng is tasked with securing a makeshift body for Wang Zheng, and the boy, eager to act fast, and without much to work with in terms of instructions, ends up buying this.

We can only thank the Universe for the role of Wang Zheng not being played by a blow-up doll for three episodes straight.

Zhao Yunlan instantly realises that being places inside this thing might be a little bit upsetting for his subordinate, and lashes out at Guo Changcheng with an excellent “Is the thing above your neck a urinal?” This snaps Zhu Hong out of her mirth, too; she rushes to her friend’s side to offer emotional support, and will remain there for the entire episode.

I love this blocking, in which Zhu Hong is the only one who feels comfortable approaching Wang Zheng in a situation where she is seemingly being mocked by her male colleagues, as Zhao Yunlan and Guo Changcheng look on, unable to offer a meaningful apology.

The evening prior to this Shen Wei is musing over ancient map of the region. His costume is arranged deliberately so you can see the Pendant of Pining hanging around his neck.

I am really wondering when this was shot, because it looks very out of place. The costume differs from Shen Wei’s usual attire, including chinos and an uncharacteristically ill fitting shirt. His hair looks so wrong I am wondering if this is styling, or a different haircut entirely. And, since we’re on this train of thought, his eye colour is so off I genuinely spent quite a bit of time examining the shots in order to figure out whether he’s wearing contacts. I don’t think he is, by the way, but the colour grading makes his warm syrupy-brown irises look almost olive green.

During the scene it is revealed Shen Wei’s only worry in regards to leaving the city and rushing into what could be trouble is a possibility of Zhao Yunlan encountering danger in his absence. It is easy to see that Shen Wei here firmly associates his own worth with his work as Hei Pao Shi, and his own needs with Yunlan being safe and sound. You could trace this thought process back to the mountainside conversation ten thousand years ago, and to years of loneliness and isolation that followed. While, frankly, equating self-worth with comfort of other it’s not necessarily so unusual, and neither is equating it with one’s work, Shen Wei’s disregard for his own life is still horribly upsetting.

The morning after, Zhao Yunlan with his team and Shen Wei with his students move out of Dragon City. Destination - North-west. I have to ask though, why is Shen Wei taking his students with him? I get that it’s a cover but also: he can totally just teleport where he needs to and do his stuff as Envoy, can he not? It’s fast, efficient, and can all be done during the night without arousing any suspicious.

As it happens, Shen Wei goes by car, which breaks, and causes him to instantly cross paths with Zhao Yunlan. What I like about this meeting is that we see it from an outsider perspective, as we drive into the scene with Lin Jing, Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng.

“Is that Professor Shen? This must be their destiny. They keep meeting each other wherever they go.”

Zhao Yunlan confesses that he feels like Shen Wei bugged him and pops up everywhere he goes; Shen Wei counters by saying that in this case Zhao Yunlan who followed him. Zhao Yunlan can just laugh awkwardly. It’s kind of adorable how the two men just basically admit that they’re stalking each other, and are both kind of okay with that. Shen Wei then introduces the other man to his students as his good friend.

Zhao Yunlan, having already figured out that he is not likely to get any answers from Shem Wei, goes on a charm offensive with his students. I think this is the first time Shen Wei sees Zhao Yunlan using his jovial manipulation on others, and he is not particularly happy about what he is witnessing. Below are the series of facial expressions he wears every time it happens throughout the episode.

The way I read it, this could equally be jealousy, or the daunting - and incorrect - realisation that Zhao Yunlan is being like this with everything that moves. He could be even beating himself up for falling for this man’s charm now that he sees that Zhao Yunlan using the same wide smile as a tool to placate, gain trust and access information. In his mind, this is a further confirmation that he is not in any way special in Zhao Yunlan’s eyes. Again, Shen Wei’s supposition cannot be further from the truth. But you could imagine how he may have come to make to this conclusion.

In this particular case, Zhao Yunlan uses his charm to get some information out of Jiajia, and ends up hearing the direction of their expedition.

Shen Wei nervously adjusts glasses in the shot which is not even his close-up. It’s lovely, seeing how good of an actor Zhu Yilong is. Good actors don’t need to be directed to to most of the little things their characters would do, and don’t have to be told what their character quirks are.

Shen Wei very politely shuts Jiajia up when she starts talking about the earthquake, asking her to get out of the sun, despite this not being a hot day.

“Chief Zhao, you are really good at making people talk.”

As he is making this observation, he is offering Zhao Yunlan his water, because the man mentioned that he may be thirsty, and hydration is important. Should I once again be obsessing over how their fingers are touching here? Perhaps not. I am, once more, doing it anyway.

During the conversation that ensues here, Shen Wei reminds Zhao Yunlan that he was asked not to leave the city, and makes one more attempt at forcing them to part ways after the car fixing is done. Chief Zhao is having none of it. He reminds Shen Wei that no promises were given, and suggests they work together and protect each other instead. It’s interesting how their end goal is similar: they want to keep each other out of harm’s way. But for Zhao Yunlan, who works with a team, this implies sticking together. For Shen Wei, who has been alone for what could have been centuries (we are never given a timeline for when his magical coma ended), this implies being as far away from each other as possible. Many things about their relationship will change - but this one will never do.

Zhao Yunlan proceeds to charm his way into driving Shen Wei’s car. He is after all very good with people, and he’s not afraid to use this skill to keep himself near the Professor.

Next, we have intercut scenes depicting conversations in two separate cars.

Lin Jing is driving Zhu Hong, Guo Changcheng and Wang Zheng in the jeep. There, Guo Changcheng tries his darnedest to offer exceedingly moody Wang Zheng apologies and consolation, but his weak attempts to very little to lighten the young woman’s dark disposition. In the meanwhile, Zhu Hong is seething with resentment and jealousy. She notes discontentedly that Zhao Yunlan once again chose to go and spend time with Shen Wei, hypothesises on why Shen Wei is unmarried, and then goes into a long-winded rant about Zhao Yunlan being an uncaring person. Lin Jing reluctantly participates in this conversation, but he does not look very much like he cares for it.

I have mentioned in my previous recap that those around Zhao Yunlan comment on his crassness, and now I am wondering how much this creates a vicious circle for the man in question. He may have heard - from his father, from his previous romantic partners, from his colleagues - that he is a failure, a boorish, unloving and superficial man who only does things to chase clout and carnal pleasures. It is difficult to not internalise that, and Zhao Yunlan may have just grown to see this as an unshakeable truth about himself.

As for Zhu Hong’s part in this, it is easy to call someone not responding to your advances an uncaring jerk. It does not, however, necessarily make them one.

Curiously enough, the only person speaking up in defence of Zhao Yunlan here is Guo Changcheng. He notes that he considers Chief Zhao to be a nice person; despite only being with SID for a month, he is able to see good intensions behind the bristles. No doubt, this is another case of Xiao Guo being incredibly empathic.

In the other car, Zhao Yunlan is driving Shen Wei and his students. Here, we see the chief continue to crack jokes and use his bountiful charisma to find out more about their expedition. Presumably, this has been going for a while, and Shen Wei’s patience finally runs thin when Zhao Yunlan states that their research must be very important. “Thank you for the compliment”, states Shen Wei flatly, according to subtitles.

According to my dictionary however, what he actually says is, roughly, “Chef Zhao overpraised [us]” (“赵处长过奖了”), which even with my very basic comprehension of Mandarin, I can see as overly formal and clearly dismissive.

Zhao Yunlan seems to be taken aback, and a few seconds pass before he composes his features into one of the chuckles he uses as a mask: it is loud and wide, but does not quite reach his eyes, sliding off his face almost instantly. In the passenger seat, Shen Wei is slowly and deliberately readjusting his own mask.

We cut to Zhu Jiu trying to secure assistance of a whole bunch of Youchu he drags out of the cave. It goes even worse than his other plans do, with the beasts grumbling and effectively refusing to do any work whatsoever.

Zhu Jiu’s ineffectiveness is actually pretty sweet on rewatch, and I am starting to kind of appreciate Wan Naichao in this role. It’s not that I find his performance particularly good, but between the costume, the wig and the script, he does not have an awful lot to work with, and he nonetheless appears to have so much fun hamming it up to his heart’s content. He is not intimidating by any stretch of imagination, but he is surprisingly, albeit ironically, watchable. And, honestly, I would rather watch an actor being hammy and enjoying it than visibly longing for death on set.

After passing a checkpoint through a combination of Zhao Yunlan’s connections and ever-present charm, the now joint SID/DCU expedition shuffles around in cars once again. Despite their destination being allegedly twenty kilometres (or about 12.5 miles) out of town, it takes them a whole day to reach it. Who knows, maybe the Seastar’s measuring units are different.

This time, it is Lin Jing driving, with Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan having relocated to the back. We see that Zhao Yunlan has got a cold again - which could theoretically be from being so close to the hallows. He sneezes, and Shen Wei microexpressively overreacts.

Then, Zhao Yunlan unceremoniously arranges a pillow on Shen Wei’s shoulder and settles in for a nap. Does he remember napping on Shen Wei’s shoulder a few nights prior to that? Because he might do, considering how comfortable he feels with this casual close contact.

After a momentary panic, and a comment about flu meds, Shen Wei not only lets Zhao Yunlan do it, but also rearranges his pillow several times to make it more comfortable for the other man. I have no hot takes on this apart from just... those two. I love those two. How are they so adorable.

The car enters CGI fog, and promptly get stuck. To make matters worse, Lin Jing says he does not have a phone signal and asks Shen Wei to check his phone. “He does not have a mobile phone”, deadpans Zhao Yunlan before Shen Wei even opens his mouth.

Finally, Zhao Yunlan’s head vacates Shen Wei’s shoulder, and the professor leaves the car to scout the area. Jiajia tries to follow, but Zhao Yunlan dissuades her and goes after Shen Wei himself, catching up just as the other man is starting to scry the surroundings with his powers.

Zhao Yunlan enters the scene quoting poetry to highlight the beauty of their current location.

Shen Wei instantly tries to send him back: partly to continue using his dark energy, and partly, perhaps, out of genuine worry. In response Zhao Yunlan notes that Shen Wei is the only one who can order him around. This is not all done in cheek: it’s actually kind of true. Even before finding out that Shen Wei is powerful and ancient, and imposing, Zhao Yunlan is readily listening to him, and following his lead.

As a precursor to returning to the car, Zhao Yunlan takes his jacket off and drapes it over Shen Wei’s shoulders, despite the other man’s loud protestations. Again, Yunlan has got a cold, and he is visibly filling the chill air later in the scene. He has no way of knowing that this jacket will become a catalyst for his suspicions about Shen Wei’s alter ego, so there can’t be any other reason for him forcing his jacket onto the other man apart from a desire to make sure he is warm and comfortable.

Shen Wei stares at Zhao Yunlan in absolute wonder.

It is easy to believe that the idea of someone wanting to look after him is foreign no Shen Wei: we know from the text of the show that before Kunlun no one has shown him any consideration, and seeing Shen Wei now, it is not difficult to imagine, heartbreaking as it is, that no one has done it since.

Jiajia’s scream cuts through the air, interrupting the scene. As the two men take off in the direction of the sound, Shen Wei grabs Zhao Yunlan by the elbow as they run out of the shot.

When they rejoin Jiajia and Lin Jing, she girl stammers a few words about ghostly presence that she witnessed, and Lin Jing confirms her words, sharing his knowledge about ghosts seen in this area. Zhao Yunlan reprimands him for speeding feudalistic and superstitious concepts. Just remember that their HR manager literally is a semi-corporeal dead woman. This line is such a blatant and somewhat tongue-in-cheek appeasal of the censorship, that it sounds delightfully silly.

The group finally reach the remote village they were heading to. As everyone files out of the cars, they notice a strange looking crow nearby - clearly Ya Qing is checking in on them. Lin Jing proceeds to tease Xiao Guo, saying the young man in unlucky. Chu Shuzhi is looking disapprovingly at this comment, but it’s actually Zhu Hong who shuts it down. She does use this excuse to make an impolite jab at Shen Wei, noting that the misfortunes are someone else’s fault, while looking at her romantic rival from the corner of her eye.

Shen Wei graces the screen with another one of his “why does the snake woman hate me?” faces. 

It’s quite amusing that as the group starts walking towards the guesthouse, Zhao Yunlan sends his people off while he himself deliberately lingers in place, so he can walk with Shen Wei, sneaking a hand across the professor’s back. 

Just as the company enters the premises of the guesthouse, they find a human skull. Of course they do. But the reason I am including this here is to point out that Shen Wei’s reaction is to cover Jiajia’s eyes. Zhu Yilong does not do it in all of the takes used in the scene, which indicates to me that this is an in the moment acting choice. 

Shen Wei then leads his students away to give the SID a chance to investigate. While Lin Jing and Zhao Yunlan do just that, Wang Zheng sinks to her knees and starts praying to comfort spirits of her ancestors. Hilariously, this goes unnoticed for a while.

After completing some preliminary checks on the skull, Zhao Yunlan suggests they park the investigation for the night, citing that he does not want students and their teacher to get ill as the reason for doing so. Da Qing notes that this is more considerations than he shows his subordinates. I don’t think he means it, but it’s a lovely little jab at Zhao Yunlan’s unmistakable crush.

Inside the house, everyone settles in to hear Wang Zheng’s tale of the Hanga tribe. What follows is an massive exposition dump. She sets up as “some things she heard from rumours”, but considering how forlorn she is throughout this tale - and that she was praying earlier - it is pretty obvious that she is of the Hanga tribe herself.

Again, I love the blocking here. Zhu Hong is keeping her shoulder in front of Wang Zheng, protecting her from the strangers (and Shen Wei) that they are sharing the table with. Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing are watching from afar, and Chu Shizhu is perching above them on the stairs. The composition is easy on the eye, and implies that the SID men are ready to protect those at the table from all directions.

Soon, they are interrupted by a villager pretending to be a ghost, and a reluctant village head explains that the outsides may not be welcomed because there has been a murder here in the recent days. Zhao Yunlan and Zhu Hong leave to investigate the crime scene. As they do so, Zhao Yunlan catches the woman gazing upon him in adoration, and freezes uncomfortably, for a second before laughing it off.

He should really force himself to have an uncomfortable conversation with her, but he won’t do it until pushed.

In the meanwhile, Zhu Jiu is having more luck riling the actual ghosts up than he did with the Youchu. After some hesitation - and some baseless threats from our unfortunate villain - the Hanga tribesmen launch an attack against the guesthouse.

Just to note: their masks don’t look anything like the masks Wang Zheng drew. Considering that the guesthouse parts of the episode was likely to have been shot together, I don’t see any explanation for this as it pertains to production.

Chu Shuzhi and Xiao Guo leap into action to fight the ghosts - and the young man actually successfully fends one of them off. They are soon joined by Lin Jing, who leaves Shen Wei in charge of looking after the students and Wang Zheng inside the house. The ghost woman energy being asks to be let outside because she guesses correctly that the ghostly warriors are here for her, but Shen Wei refuses to let her go. The reason he states for denying her is that “Zhao Yunlan would never agree to it.” He knows that the other man would never put his crew in danger - and adopts the same attitude.

Shortly after, Zhu Hong and Zhao Yunlan arrive on the scene.

Here we see for the first time Zhao Yunlan’s painful flashback to his mother’s death, followed by him freezing with the gun in his hand. Zhu Hong does save the way by snatching the weapon away from him and firing it, but she also goes on full offensive afterwards, berating the man. Hers is not a kind response at all, and this type of a reaction is likely to be the reason Zhao Yunlan has not felt comfortable talking about his tragic past, perhaps even seeing it as something to be ashamed of.

After the ghosts disappear, Zhao Yunlan stays outside with his team, and uses the Dial in attempt to locate the other ancient item which he knows is somewhere close.

Shen Wei, on the other hand, tells Wang Zheng about the totem hidden in a cave, and asks her for any information on the matter.

His interrogation does not get him anywhere, but he does get suspicious enough to refrain him from drinking the drugged water she offers everyone present in the very next scene.

It is clear from this shot that after toasting with warm water, everyone goes to down their cups - apart from Wang Zheng and Shen Wei, who lock eyes over their cups for the second.

Having escaped her protectors in the night, Wang Zheng heard towards the cave in which Sang Zan’s spirit is kept, Zhu Jiu hot on her heals, and we witness the first of many flashbacks to her life and death.

Next up, Episode 10: Death By a Thousand Flashbacks.

—

Notes.

The next post here will actually be some thoughts on the Lost Tomb Reboot which I have spent this Easter Weekend binging. And if this post is more Zhu Yilong-centric than usual, this would also be why.

[theheightofdishonor]

S6a is more or less an homage to a character that wasn’t there at the expense of literally everyone else, and I kinda hated it. 

So imma make a list 

Things I hate

The rest of the older Pack don’t have individual arcs. I’d have loved to see what how Scott, Malia, and Lydia’s personalities and situations would’ve changed if Stiles wasn’t there; there’s a strong case to be made that they’d be drastically different people. The show kind of leans into this with Malia losing control without her anchor but considering they did nothing similar with the other two and the fact that Malia and Stiles haven’t even had a proper conversation since their shoddy breakup gave the change little significance. 

Seriously, Scott and Malia get absolutely nothing this season 

The lack of cohesion between the b-plot concerning the kids and the a-plot of getting Stiles back 

seriously, the kids need atleast a slightly stronger connection to the older characters 

how heavy-handed Stydia was and the general undermining of both of their other/past relationships *queue rant about how Stiles’s relationship with Scott was sidelined for this* 

I swear this post isn’t just going to be about hating Stydia’s execution but the fact they made the “moment everything changed” for Lydia to be their kiss in 3b makes me absolutely furious 

Peter in this season felt more like Ian and less like Peter to me, idk

Douglass- the secretly evil professor thing has been done before, and the flashbacks were boring- I skipped them with Marie-Jeanne and I skipped them with Douglass

Lydia’s banshee powers end up being the end-all be-all of everything supernatural related, like yes, banshee, interesting but also, stop connecting her to literally everything that happens in the supernatural world

I don’t think the show even knew what they were doing with Parrish this season

if the show can focus on Stiles without Dylan being there, why can’t they do the same thing with Kira or atleast mention the girl instead of just her sword?

Hayden suffers from Girlfriend Syndrome where she goes from a character in her own right to Liam’s girlfriend- her relationship with her sister, a driving part of her actions last season, is more or less non existent

Malia’s anchor is someone she hasn’t had a proper conversation with since 5a and she still hasn’t learned to be her own anchor 

Despite Theo being brought back from the dead to help save Stiles, Stiles and Theo don’t interact once and I’m bitter 

On a related note, Theo’s turn from I’ll-leave-you-to-die to fight-alongside-Scott felt too sudden, I’d have liked to see more emotional conflict 

Liam’s arc started to pick up in the last episode or so of 6a but in general, it was clumsy and was occasionally  dropped as the plot required 

Claudia’s existence being a means to fill the void in Sheriff’s life was actually a cool concept- except it’s not done with any other character in Beacon Hills who lost someone important to them and the only character in the show that does something similar is a banshee and the situation seemed tied to her powers 

Deaton disappears halfway through the show and it’s never mentioned

I’m aware this show has issues with consistency and I shouldn’t even bother but Lydia and Parrish’s entire death-related-connection thing was shoved in S4/5 but barely exists in this one-ok then  

Now, for things I liked

Mason Hewitt continues to be one of the most enjoyable characters on the show, and his relationship with Corey meant everything to me

I actually liked a lot of what they did with Corey this season, especially the tension between him and Liam stemming from the fact that they have vastly different outlooks on the whole heroism thing. 

The concept of Liam being the alpha-in-training; poor in execution but it’s a cool idea 

Stiles and Peter wandering around the Station figuring things out 

Ok, i’ll admit, the “remember I love you” scene was adorable 

That scene in the last ep where Scott asks if Stiles wants to split up and he says not a chance 

Malia calling Peter “dad”

when Stiles’s red thread appears and the Sheriff remembers Stiles’s room

the whole Stiles’s granddad thing and look into Stilinski Family History 

Theo and Liam at the hospital 

Chris and Melissa have chemistry, (I’d have loved it more if they built up to it a little in 5b and the conclusion to their plotline was kinda weak but i’ll take it) 

Melissa in general is as badass as ever

the scene where Melissa asks if Mason knows what the seven herbs are and he sprouts off the history and dictionary definition- I fucking love him, he’s so underrated 

Stiles being erased from reality was well-done (would’ve been better if they showed this happening with even one other character but alas) 

Stiles giving Mason his baseball bat and Scott his jeep 

You’ll notice that most of the things on the “I love” category are specific moments, and that’s because the only arc I loved in 6a was Mason and Corey.

Now onto 6b I guess