#Mike wouldn’t be a fan but Will would say they have the same personality and Mike gets so offended but he’d start relating to it

[paladibun]

Fellas, is it gay if

[littleclosetofbyler]

I personally don’t really want Byler to hook up in season 5 purely because it doesn’t feel like something either Mike or Will would jump to doing immediately, especially not Will (though we may see a more confident side of him in season 5 that might want to especially with an “end of the world” vibe weighing on them), I could see Will wanting a more “ease into it” or “sweet romance first” type of relationship, and having both Mike and Will go from deep in the closet to immediately dtf doesn’t feel right.

But I understand why people want it especially since in season 5 they’ll be older than Nancy was in season 1 and the same age as Jonathan and Nancy in season 2, and in season 1 Nancy hooked up with Steve and in season 2 Nancy and Jonathan hooked up, so by having Byler hook up, it does equivocate them with the other older teen straight ships we’ve so far seen be romantically entangled. A lot of media, especially teen media (which ST isn’t, but the majority of the characters are young) feel the need to “purify” queer ships, so Byler not hooking up may come across as trying to do just that.

But again I personally don’t want them to hook up because I don’t feel like it makes sense right away immediately after a confession or kiss for Will and Mike specifically. If there was to be a season 6 then that’s when I’d want them to have their own implied hook up scene because I think both characters wouldn’t be able to go from repressed in the closet to immediately hooking up at the drop of a hat, they already have enough to process and come to terms with regarding their sexuality, sex itself just seems like it would be something to build up to together.

(I’m aroace though so maybe that’s affecting my personal opinion?)

Anyways I do think the Duffers will give us a kiss, I think they’ve set it up where it’ll be this incredible moment of joy and catharsis, and I don’t think the Duffers are cowards, I think they’ll push for this especially since it’s the final season. Fuck Netflix, this is the culmination of a slow burn friends to lovers romance and I think they’ll want to do it justice.

I got indeed a lot of hate for that post, and your message. Thanks for being civil.

I think the opposite, it's not about being pure, it's about it needing to be just a friends to lovers without going overboard with hypersexualization or fan service.

The thing with S1 and the teens is that we as GA at the time, never saw them as teens, because we didn't know them at the time, they were new and getting into show for it.

In S5 when the kids will be that age (20-24 actors, 16 characters) it's "okay" but it's also weird as hell because they entered the story at 11... i don't know about you but I would rather no see this kind of scene with anyone I would have meet at that age.

When I say a lot of you are young for this, I mean it in the sense that you haven't seen the fandom act; the same happened with Harry Potter in 2001 when we didn't even know how to stories would end, everyone was insane for it.

Then the infamous scene in that last part happened and... everyone was weirded out.

Media is a weird format, and a lot of fans are weird, doesn't matter which side we are from.

And people just leave a comment, I don't go well with asks, I don't even know how they work, i am here for the theories.

[hbyrde36]

The Crawl

Part 3 of 5

Part 1 Part 2 AO3

cw: character death, (with a happy ending) | wc:7087

-Steve-

Will’s guardian angel from the Upside Down had been a faceless ghost to the rest of the party for a long time. Once the group accepted that he was real and started actually listening to the kid about what was coming for them, they began to wonder more and more about who this Eddie person really was, why he was in that place, and how he knew so much about what they were facing. 

Steve found himself especially curious since the guy’s warnings had saved him and Robin from what would have apparently been literal torture by the Russian Military. Suddenly it felt like the mysterious Eddie was all of their guardian angels. 

So, imagine his surprise when on the first day of their freshman year of high school the kids called an emergency party meeting because they’d run into Eddie ‘The Freak’ Munson in the cafeteria and Will had instantly recognized him as the strange older boy from the Upside Down who had helped him.

The group quickly agreed to take Eddie under their wing while also deciding not to tell him anything about his other self or the alternate dimension, since they had no idea how he would become involved in their world of monsters and mayhem. They didn’t want to freak him out prematurely. He probably wouldn’t have believed them anyway

Keeping an eye on him meant having the kids join the Hellfire Club, the four boys did at least. It was no hardship, they all still loved to play D&D and would have absolutely joined anyway. Max and El refused, which was fine. There would be plenty of eyes on Eddie regardless because Steve was also being tasked with befriending him. 

The kids could watch over him at school no problem, but someone would need to keep tabs on him the rest of the time.

It made the most sense for Steve to be the one of the older group to try and get close to Eddie. He had a lot of free time. They were both guys, both around the same age, and… 

That was about it. 

They didn’t have much or really anything else in common, except for the kids who Eddie loved immediately– thank god, but Steve was determined to make it work. 

He thought it would be easy. He and Eddie hadn’t been enemies or anything when he was in school, though they hadn’t been friends either. They’d simply run in different circles and didn’t have much reason to interact with each other for the most part. Eddie had his band and the D&D club, while Steve ran with the jock crowd and Tommy and Carol, right up until the other-dimensional-shit hit the fan in his junior year. After that he mostly kept to himself and Nancy, and then just to himself when that didn’t work out. 

It wasn’t easy, as it turned out.

Eddie was suspicious, to say the least, when Steve started making appearances at Hellfire every Friday night. 

The first time he came to pick the kids up, he purposely hung around outside until Eddie came out to his van. He waved and tried to say hello, but the other boy didn’t hear him, or more likely, purposely ignored him. 

His second attempt a week later didn’t yield any better results. Eddie looked right at him that time, quite clearly perplexed by Steve’s presence, but he still didn’t return the greeting. 

The third week was when Eddie started to crack. Steve had an idea that it was coming. Dustin had let slip a few days before that Eddie had begun to ask questions about him and why he was picking them all up every week. Like, how did Steve even come to be your babysitter? And, aren't you guys too old for babysitters anyway? 

Dustin assured Steve that all of the boys, even Mike, had thoroughly talked him up. He was a little doubtful on that point, but he had no choice but to roll with it. 

As the four boys battled it out for the front seat, Steve stood outside the car like he always did and gave it his all, waving as he hit Eddie with the same dazzling smile that had knocked the socks off so many girls back in his King Steve days. Eddie met his gaze, big brown eyes a little wider than usual when he, finally, awkwardly raised his hand to wave back. 

Steve was buzzing with excitement as he drove the kids home that night. It was practically nothing, the progress was ridiculously slow, but it was progress nonetheless!

He pushed his luck the next Friday, purposely arriving at the school a little earlier than usual. He knew Hellfire was hosted in the drama room so he decided to peek in and maybe watch the last few minutes of the game. 

Eddie’s head snapped up in surprise as Steve entered the room, but he didn’t miss a beat as he wove his tale for the assembled group listening with rapt attention. 

He hovered by the door, afraid to say anything or even move until Eddie caught his eye and tilted his head to the right, a subtle invitation to take a seat on the small couch on that side of the room. Steve nodded his thanks and did just that. 

He quickly found that he couldn’t take his eyes off Eddie. Though he had no idea what was going on, there was just something about the other boy. It was endearing how excited he would get when someone made a good roll, or annoyed, depending on the situation, and so entertaining to hear him try on other voices and accents for the various characters he played. 

There was something else too, but Steve couldn’t put his finger on it. Eddie had a way about him. Something that drew him in. With every gesture of his hand and subtle eyebrow raise Eddie had his complete attention. 

Steve was staring, he knew it and yet he couldn’t stop. After a while Eddie noticed, because how could he not, and a little smirk appeared on his face. 

Steve finally managed to tear his eyes away, embarrassed, cheeks growing warm, and when he finally looked back up everyone was gathering their things, the session having come to a close while he furiously tried to figure out why Eddie Munson of all people was leaving him captivated.

He arrived earlier and earlier each time after that. Even going so far as to change his schedule with Family Video so he’d be off on Fridays for the occasion. Something Robin teased him relentlessly for, though he knew it was only because she missed working together on those nights. 

Eventually he began showing up before the game had even started, and he and Eddie would talk as they set things up. 

As many great friendships do, it all began with arguing about music.

Steve was mainly a Top 40’s guy, Eddie a metalhead, obviously. It made perfect sense that they would butt heads on the subject, and butt heads they did, until eventually Steve admitted that Eddie’s music wasn’t all that bad. He even liked some of the songs that were a little less loud and shouty. 

Soon after, Eddie admitted too that, yes he preferred metal but really he just loved music, and he could enjoy different genres as long as there was something to appreciate, like a good beat, a nice rhythm, or a solid melody with some meaningful lyrics sprinkled in. 

It wasn’t long before they were making mixtapes to swap and introducing each other to new favorites, and a few guilty pleasures. Suddenly they were bonding over music instead of fighting about it. Steve wondered what more they might have in common if he was brave enough to look deeper. 

The first time Steve went over to Eddie’s place to hang out it was almost a disaster.

Technically they’d been hanging out for a few months by then but it was always at the school and mostly around the kids. This would be the first time they could just relax around eachother, have a beer, watch a movie, and maybe talk for more than 20 minutes without getting interrupted by Dustin. 

Steve was nervous, more so than he’d ever been for any first date before. 

Not that it was a date! 

He wasn’t sure why he kept thinking of their hang out in those terms, but it had been happening ever since Eddie invited him over. Maybe it was because it was just going to be the two of them? 

No, that was stupid. How many times had he and Tommy hung out alone when they were still friends? And it’d never felt like this. 

It was just because of who Eddie was, Steve reasoned. The stakes were high. He needed Eddie to like him. He needed Eddie to want him around so he could keep him safe, the same way Eddie’s counterpart in the Upside Down had kept him safe. 

It made sense, that had to be it. 

He’d gotten so antsy sitting around at home waiting that he wound up arriving at the trailer almost 30 minutes early, which led to Eddie answering the door with dripping wet hair, wearing nothing but a pair of gray sweatpants slung low around his hips.

Steve froze in place, unable to move from the doorway. His eyes were glued to Eddie’s pale chest. First admiring his tattoos and the smattering of dark hair, then tracking the water droplets that fell from his hair as they rolled down the length of his body to disappear into the waistband of his pants. 

Eddie cleared his throat loudly, breaking whatever spell Steve had been under, and he snapped back to attention. 

Steve was mortified. There was no denying that he’d just been ogling his friend. He could practically feel the drool drying on his own chin, figuratively speaking. He didn't know what to panic about first. The fact that Eddie was probably going to kick him out and say he never wanted to see him again, or the fact that he was definitely attracted to Eddie, a boy, when he’d never looked twice at another guy that way in his life! 

Okay, that last part wasn’t entirely true, there may have been some wandering eyes and errant thoughts over the years, but only the normal amount.

To his surprise, Eddie didn’t say a word about it, only eyed him a little curiously as he moved aside and gestured for Steve to come in. He then, mercifully, ducked into his bedroom to get dressed the rest of the way, giving Steve a moment alone on the couch to get his racing pulse under control. 

Somehow he made it through the rest of that night without making too much more of a fool of himself, though he couldn't help but notice how Eddie sat a little closer to him than might be considered strictly friendly while they watched their movie, or how his gaze lingered on Steve a little longer than it usually did. 

He tried very hard not to read into the fact that every time they hung out after that night Eddie would make a point to answer the door shirtless. He was pretty sure the guy was trying to kill him. 

Eventually Steve got up the courage to talk to Robin about it. They’d become close after everything that happened at Starcourt and somehow he knew he could trust her with this.

She’d hated him when they started working together at Scoops Ahoy. At first it was just because of his former high school reputation, but then she found out that he’d tried to get her fired.

She was furious, but It was for her own good, even if she didn’t know it at the time. Will’s directions had been simple, Steve and Robin were to go nowhere the mall’s elevators, specifically, the Russian one. A crazy fucking sentence to hear said, but Steve accepted it just like he’d accepted all the other weird shit in his life. 

It all sounded simple enough, but it wasn’t Steve’s first rodeo. If the other dimension and its monsters were coming for them again, then no amount of elevator avoidance would leave them completely unscathed. 

No, the safest thing for Robin would be to get her away from the mall altogether. 

Unfortunately she was stubborn and smart. She managed to keep her job no matter how hard he tried, and ultimately Steve was glad she did. They could never have cracked the code without her. He passed the information off to Hopper, letting him, Joyce, and Murray take lead on the Russian side of things, while he and Robin helped the others fight off both Max’s brother Billy, who’d been possessed by the Mind Flayer, and the Mind Flayer itself. 

They won the day, though Billy had been killed saving El in one final act of decency. Everyone else made it out relatively okay, including Hopper, which they were all aware hadn’t been a sure thing. It was the first time they knew for sure that they had changed something big. 

After the smoke cleared Steve gave Robin the talk, explaining all about the Upside Down, Demo-whatsits, and everything the group had been through since 1983. He told her about Will’s guardian angel who’d helped him get out of the other dimension when he was young, and the warnings about what was to come. When she realized what Steve tried to do for her, and why he’d acted like such a jackass, she gave him the tightest, longest hug he’d ever received.

They were pretty much inseparable after that. 

She had been there to help him figure out how to get close to Eddie Munson when they realized he was THE Eddie, and she was there again to help him come to terms with the fact that he was was bisexual when he showed up at her house freaking out at one o’clock in the morning after another night of hanging out with the other boy alone. 

They stayed up talking until sunrise, until Steve felt like he understood himself a little better. Over the course of the night Robin had come out to him too. She was a lesbian and understood all too well the feeling of being confused about who you liked versus who you were supposed to like, and the pressure society could put on those who were different. 

They were both so glad to have someone in their life who got it. Steve would forever be grateful to that stupid ice cream shop for bringing him and Robin together. 

Gay crisis averted, she jumped right into trying to convince him to make a move on Eddie. After only one time of the three of them hanging out together, she was convinced that the other boy felt the same way. 

Steve couldn’t really argue with her. He saw it too, felt the charged energy between them anytime they were alone, but still he hesitated. He was scared, for a lot of reasons. He’d been hurt before, badly, and he wasn’t sure he could go through that again. He already knew his feelings for Eddie were much more than a passing crush. He’d also never been with a guy before, romantically, and that brought on a whole different set of nerves. 

There was also the big bad thing looming on the horizon. 

Vecna-slash-Henry-slash-One was coming for all of them, and Steve might not be one of the big brains of this operation, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew if there really was another version of Eddie stuck somewhere in the Upside Down, it wasn’t a good thing. 

No, it could only mean something had gone very seriously wrong. His feelings for Eddie and whatever was budding between them could wait. The most important thing now was to remain vigilant and do everything in his power to keep everyone safe. They didn’t know much of what was to come, but Steve would be damned if he’d let Eddie’s fate, whatever it was, repeat itself. 

He would keep this Eddie safe and when it was all over, he would tell him how he felt. 

Except when the time came Steve completely and utterly failed. 

They knew about Vecna and that Chrissy Cunningham was his first victim. What they didn’t know was when and how it would all begin, and in hindsight they should have kept a close eye on the cheerleader too.

Neither Steve or any of the kids had any idea that Chrissy had approached Eddie to buy weed from him during school that day.

THE day. 

Steve was so pissed off at the time that it left him blind to the possibilities. Lucas had a basketball game, a big one, that happened to conflict with the final session of Hellfire for the current campaign, and Eddie, the stubborn asshole, outright refused to postpone. Even had the balls to ask Dustin to call Steve to fill in. He said no, of course, and to really drive the point home about who was in the wrong he went to Lucas’ game and sat front row center, cheering him on loudly the whole time.

As mad as he’d been at Eddie for excluding Lucas and not supporting his other interests, Steve was much angrier at himself the next morning when it all came down. 

He and Eddie always hung out after Hellfire– but not that week! No, because he was pissed, and so not only did he blow off D&D, he told Eddie he couldn’t see him afterwards either.

If Steve had just gone along with their normal routine, he’d have been there. He would have seen Chrissy come home with Eddie. He would have put the pieces together! He might have been able to do something. 

But he wasn’t there, and he hadn’t stopped it. 

Eddie had brought Chrissy home to his trailer and she’d died a horrible death right in front of him. 

Understandably, he ran. 

A good thing too because It didn’t take long for the whole town to decide that he was a murderer.

Luckily Steve was pretty sure he knew where Eddie would have gone to hide out. Rick, his supplier, had been locked up a few weeks before, leaving his house on Lover’s Lake empty. Steve had ridden along with Eddie on a pick up once or twice, so he knew the way, and they quickly found him holed up in the boathouse behind it. 

They finally told him everything. 

Well, not everything. 

The group still agreed that their Eddie should never know about the other Eddie. It was already so much to come to terms with, learning about monsters and another dimension that lived right under their feet. He didn’t need the extra burden of knowing that this had all happened before. 

And Steve knew Eddie well enough by now to know he would have so many questions. Questions that none of them really had answers to. 

He failed a second time when he and the others went off trying to figure things out, leaving Eddie alone and vulnerable when Jason and his goon squad had come to Rick's and found him hiding.

The panic that seized Steve when he came back to the lakehouse and saw the police and the ambulance standing by was like nothing he’d ever experienced before. He felt a little sick about how relieved he was to learn that it was Patrick who'd been killed, but he couldn't help it. 

He barely knew Patrick, but he loved Eddie.  

It was the first time Steve had allowed himself to think the words, but it was far from a shocking revelation. He’d been falling for Eddie since the first time he waved back in the school parking lot.

Dustin’s walkie crackled to life not long after they arrived on the scene. Eddie was okay, and he was hiding out at Skull Rock. 

Steve knew the spot well and didn't need a map or Dustin with his broken compass to tell him where to go. He wanted to cry when they finally reached the rock formation and Eddie came jumping out of the bushes, and he didn’t hesitate to wrap the other boy up in a fierce embrace. 

They’d hugged before, it wasn't necessarily a new thing for them, but the desperation was. The way they held onto each other so tightly, as if they were afraid the other would disappear at any moment, the way Eddie pressed his face into the curve of Steve's neck, and how Steve whispered in his ear, “I’m here. I’ve got you,” over and over again. That was all new. 

For the record, Steve didn’t exactly want to jump head first into the murky water of Lover’s Lake, but it needed to be done. Facts were facts and as a former lifeguard and co-captain of the swim team, there was no one better suited for the job. Even if one of the others had volunteered, he wasn’t sure he could have let any of them go in that water without him.   

Meeting the other Eddie was not something Steve had ever anticipated happening, but when the living vines of the Upside Down grabbed him by the ankle, pulled him through the water, and down into their world, that was exactly what happened. 

He was right there in the lake bed when Steve emerged, as if he’d been waiting for his arrival. Maybe he had.

Steve was completely unprepared for what he saw. Future Eddie, or past Eddie, or whatever he technically was, looked like he’d been through hell. 

What he could see of Eddie’s skin beneath the layers of dirt, grime, and something that looked suspiciously like mold, was ghostly pale. His clothes were torn and stained with old blood, nearly black in color, and what remained of his Hellfire Club shirt was almost unrecognizable. His hair was a wild mess of tangled curls, and the deep brown eyes that Steve had grown so used to gazing at were stained with red, tainted, though the look in them was hauntingly familiar.

It was suddenly so obvious what had gone wrong, what had caused this Eddie to be stuck here.

He’d died in this place. 

Steve didn't know how he was walking and talking or how he was still so completely himself after everything he’d been through, but it made it that much harder to leave him behind. 

He knew he had to, there was nothing more he could do for this version of the boy he loved except to make sure things turned out differently this time, that his efforts and sacrifice hadn’t been in vain. 

After their all too brief time together he managed to wrench himself away, but as he raced back to his friends he couldn't help wondering if another Steve in another time had been forced to leave this Eddie behind too.

He made it just in time to intercept one of the demobats before it could latch itself to Robin’s back. He grasped it by its tail with his bare hands, swinging it around in a wide arc before bashing it into the ground over and over until it lay stunned. He stomped down on it, pulling at the same time and managed to tear the creature in two.

It was then that he finally looked up to meet Eddie’s gaze. 

His Eddie, soaking wet from the impromptu swim but not a scratch on him. Steve prayed it would stay that way. He reached out and took the other boy’s hand, lacing their fingers together and led the way into the trees where the four of them could hide before more of the bats arrived.

Eventually they got out of the Upside Down through the gate in Eddie’s trailer and regrouped with the rest of the party, but not before Nancy had the same visions that the other Eddie had spoken to him about.

He went back and forth about it in his head so many times, but in the end decided not to tell anyone else that he’d seen the Eddie who was trapped in the Upside Down. He didn’t want the rest of the party to feel what he did, a guilt that was eating him up inside. Let them guess and speculate and not be faced with confirmation of the ugly truth.  

It wouldn’t make a difference anyway, except to plant seeds of doubt. Like he’d told the other Eddie, it was a solid plan and considering that they had way more players on the field this time there was no reason to assume things would turn out the same way.

They really didn’t have much of a choice. If they didn’t go after Vecna now, he would come after Max on his own, or worse, attack some other innocent kid who had no one on their side and no way to fight him off.

When the time came, Max was joined at the Right-Side-Up Creel house by Lucas, Erica, Eleven, Mike, and Joyce. El would be helping Max to bait and then ultimately to hide from Vecna, while also fighting him inside his own mind.

The rest of the party made what they hoped would be their final trek into the Upside Down.

Steve, Robin, Nancy, Jonathan, and Hopper would all be going on to the alternate Creel house to destroy Vecna’s body, while Eddie, Dustin, and Will created a distraction for the demobats and any other creatures who might be lurking around. 

Steve could taste terror like bile on the back of his tongue when the time came to part ways with Eddie and the two younger boys and take their positions. He’d been avoiding Eddie a little up till then, unable to stop picturing him getting torn apart trying to fight off an entire swarm of demobats on his own. He almost offered to switch places, anything to ensure that his Eddie wouldn’t meet the same end as his predecessor, but somehow the idea of sending him off the fight Vecna felt even more dangerous. 

As the group said their goodbyes, Steve marched right up to Eddie and zipped his leather jacket up all the way to the top, and then zipped the army vest closed on top of that. Just in case the little pep talk he was about to give didn’t work.

“You worried I'm going to catch a cold down here Mama Harrington?” Eddie teased, though there was a tightness around his eyes that belied his joking tone. He was scared, they all were. 

“Do me a favor, Eds?” Steve asked, resting his hands up on Eddie’s shoulders.

“Yeah, anything, man.” Eddie breathed. 

They were standing so close together, close enough to kiss, but Steve still held back. He had to get this out. He had to make sure that Eddie listened.

“Don’t try to be cute or be a hero or something, okay? Distract the bats for a little bit and then get your ass inside. Make sure you block up the air vents, and if anything goes wrong, and I mean anything, you bail. You and the boys get topside. Don’t hesitate, don’t-” Steve’s voice broke on the words and he just barely managed to mask it behind a cough. “Don’t wait for us, we’ll find another way out if we have to.”

Eddie looked deep into his eyes, studying his face like he was trying to memorize it and gave a single nod. Steve squeezed his shoulder and forced himself to step away. His throat was tight and his eyes burned and god, he hoped this wasn’t the last time he’d see Eddie alive. 

They set off with Hopper in the lead, followed by Nancy and Jonathan, while Steve and Robin brought up the rear. They had only gone a few steps when there was a rustling behind them and Eddie’s voice calling out Steve’s name. It stopped him in his tracks.

“You go ahead, Robin. Just give me a second. I'll be right behind you.” Steve said.

She nodded and gave him a knowing smile. 

“Go get him, Dingus.” She murmured softly before setting back off to catch up with the others. 

He turned and met Eddie halfway, very aware that Dustin and Will were not far off and were probably watching their every move, but he was so far beyond caring about that right now. They were good kids, they wouldn’t judge. 

“Eds, I… ”

“Stevie, I… ”

They both began in unison, and broke out into giggles as they interrupted each other. 

Steve thought again about the other version of himself. Had he loved his Eddie too? Had they shared a moment like this before parting ways forever, or had his other self been too afraid, too repressed to see what was right in front of him?

This Steve was done with it all. 

Done with waiting, and done being scared. He reached for the perfect way to tell Eddie that he’d fallen in love with him, but no combination of words in the English language were good enough to properly express how he felt about the boy in front of him.

So he figured, fuck words.

He stepped in and took Eddie’s face between his hands as he crashed their lips together, all in one fluid motion. Eddie’s arms circled his waist, tugging him in closer, tighter, until there was no space left between them. 

Steve deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue along the seam of Eddie’s mouth until he opened for him, letting him lick in and taste. Steve wanted nothing more than to stay in that kiss forever, would climb inside Eddie and live there for a thousand years if he could. 

Neither of them wanted to pull back, but the seconds were ticking by to minutes and Steve had to go. He had to see this plan through to the end, and see Vecna dead. They clung to each other for one last handful of seconds, before finally breaking apart, panting into each other’s mouths. Steve rested his forehead against Eddies and sighed, stealing one perfect moment of contentment at the end of the world in the arms of the boy he loved. 

“I’m sorry I let you get mixed up in all this. I wanted to keep you safe from it.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“But if I hadn’t been so mad at you, if i’d been there I…”

“Baby, stop.” Eddie said, pressing a light kiss under each of Steve's eyes to catch his tears. He was crying, and he hadn’t even realized it. “You can’t worry about the what if’s, okay? Don’t do that to yourself. And you were right to be mad at me by the way I was being a total jackass.”

Steve captured Eddie’s lips one more time before finally letting him go. If he waited too much longer to catch up he’d never find the others before they reached the Creel house. 

“You better come back to me, Steve Harrington.” Eddie said, squeezing him tight before giving him a light shove in the direction Robin had gone, somehow knowing he needed the push.

“I will, I promise.” Steve said, and hoped it wasn’t a lie.

In the end it had been almost too easy to take Vecna down. Which is not to say that he didn’t put up a fight. In fact, for a minute there Steve thought they were done for before they’d even made it to the attic. 

The steps to the top floor of the house were covered in vines and though they tried to avoid stepping on them, the hive mind must still have sensed their presence. 

In the blink of an eye Steve found himself pinned to the wall by his neck, arms, and legs, watching helplessly in horror as the same happened to Robin right beside him, and Nancy across the way. Only Jonathan and Hopper managed to stay free. 

The older man hacked at the vines mercilessly with his axe, but no sooner would one break off than another would take its place. Jonathan tried to pry the things off Nancy with his bare hands but he wasn’t anywhere near strong enough. 

Just when Steve had given up hope, his vision blurring with the beginnings of losing consciousness, the pressure eased and all the vines fell away at once. Somehow he knew they had El to thank for the rescue, and he made a mental note to never let his freezer run out of Eggos again.

When they finally made it to Vecna’s attic lair he seemed to be well and truly under Eleven’s hold, she must have given him one hell of a fight. He was weak, stuck, all but unmoving as they set his body aflame and watched it burn. 

When it was clear that they had won, every fiber of Steve’s being wanted to run back to Eddie, Will, and Dustin to make sure that history hadn’t repeated itself, but they couldn’t leave until Vecna was no more than a pile of ash. 

He would have gone anyway, trusting the others to see the job through, but Robin wouldn’t let him go alone. He’d been hurt in the initial struggle with the vines and judging by the amount of pain he was in, he was pretty sure his shoulder was dislocated. 

When the fire burned out and they did finally start to head back towards the trailer park, Steve charged ahead, turning a deaf ear to his friend’s sounds of protest. They just didn’t understand, they didn’t know what he knew. 

He heard the two boys shouting for help before he could even see them, and his heart sank as he ran flat out until they came into view, huddled around a shape lying prone on the ground. 

He skidded to a halt and fell to his knees when he reached them.

“Steve! You gotta do something. We can’t let this happen, not… “ Will trailed off, voice lost amid a fresh set of tears.

Again. 

Not again.

That’s what Will had been about to say. 

Steve gaped at the younger boy, and felt like such an idiot. Will had known. All this time- of course he had! He would have seen the same thing Steve did when he met the other Eddie. The blood, the wounds, the eyes. He was a smart kid, it was no surprise he put it together. No wonder he had insisted on being part of the distraction team.

He promised himself he’d make time to talk to the kid later once they were safely out of there.

Eddie was unconscious, lying face-up on the ground with blood running down his chin and neck, mostly stemming from a deep bite wound in his cheek, and one of his pant legs was torn open revealing more bites on his thigh and calf, but he was breathing, and his pulse was strong and steady.

Steve sagged in relief. Eddie was alive. 

Through some miracle, they’d changed things just enough to make all the difference in the world.

“He’s alive!” Steve shouted. 

“He’s alive and he’s going to be okay.” He repeated, as much for himself as for the two younger boys.

He continued to look Eddie over thoroughly, searching head to toe for other wounds but apart from a lump on the back of his head, what he saw initially seemed to be the extent of it. It was bad but not life threatening. 

“I think he hit his head when the bats knocked him from the bike.” Dustin said when he’d finally calmed down. 

Steve nodded. He’d figured as much but was trying not to think about things like concussions and head trauma.

“Is Vecna gone? Is it over?” Will asked. 

Steve started to answer but realized Will was looking up over his head and a voice sounded from behind. The others had finally caught up. 

“Yeah, buddy. It’s over. ” Jonathan said.

Will jumped to his feet and ran to his brother who caught him up in a joyful hug, while Dustin threw himself at Steve attempting to do the same, which was sweet but caused a new burst of pain in his shoulder. He sucked in a sharp breath and tried to hide the wince, but the kid noticed anyway. 

“Shit!” Dustin cursed, rearing back. “Why didn’t you say you were hurt?” His eyes searched Steve frantically up and down like he was looking for bullet wounds.

“I’m fine, Henderson. it’s just my shoulder, no big deal.”

The ground beneath their feet began to shake suddenly and the deep cracking sounds of rock splitting apart thundered in the distance. 

“That’s our cue to get the hell out of here.” Hopper said. “Let’s move, people!”

Steve tried to scoop Eddie into his arms, fully intent on carrying him home himself, but quickly realized he couldn’t bear any weight on his bad arm. Tears of frustration sprang to his eyes, and he wiped them away angrily as he stood.

Hopper stepped up and gently patted his back. “I got him, kid. Don’t you worry. We’re not leaving anyone behind.” He said, bending to pick Eddie up like it was nothing. 

Steve couldn’t help scanning the tree line as they made the short journey the rest of the way back to the gate. 

He wondered where the other Eddie was now. If he’d been watching them from afar or if he’d simply gone elsewhere. 

His question was answered when they started piling into the trailer one by one. Steve lagged behind, wanting to make sure everyone else got through the gate before he did, so of course Robin stayed back too. They were still standing on the porch just outside the door when Steve caught a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye. 

He stared at a spot in the distance until finally he saw a head of familiar curls peeking out from behind a tree. 

Robin gasped. 

Steve turned, realizing she had seen him too.

”Oh my god, is that… ?” She began, Steve slapped his hand over her mouth before she could finish. 

He shook his head and gestured towards the door, hoping she would get the memo that he didn't want the others to see. Understanding dawned on her face and he lowered his hand cautiously. 

“Cover for me?” He whispered, and made to take off before she could answer. 

“Harrington, get back here, this place is falling apart!” She hissed. 

He turned to her with pleading eyes. “I swear I'll explain later. I just… I need a minute with him, Robin. Please? I promise I'll be right behind you.” 

It was eerily similar to their exchange earlier before he’d gone back and kissed his Eddie. The thought made his chest tight. 

He could tell she didn't like it, but she nodded and ducked inside. 

He didn’t waste time worrying about what excuse she would make for him, just rushed to where he’d seen the other Eddie hiding. He knew had to make this fast.

Eddie stepped out from his cover when Steve drew close. He smiled sadly. “You shouldn’t be here Stevie, it’s time for you to go home.”

“Where were you?”

“After I saw you at the lake, Vecna’s strength must have started to return. It was his power that reanimated me, I guess, and I could feel him starting to take more and more of my control away. I’m sorry. I wanted to be there, to help, but I was afraid if I did he would turn me against you, so I stayed away until I knew it was safe.”

“And is he… really dead?” Steve had watched the body burn up right in front of him but he still had to ask, just to be sure.

“As a doornail.” Eddie said. He grinned, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He held himself stiffly, like he was in pain.

“What’s wrong? What’s happening?” Steve reached out to touch the other boy, same as he had before, but Eddie stepped back just out of reach and he had to let his hand fall.

“You really should go.” 

“What about you?”

Eddie’s gaze dropped to the ground. “This place is dying, and I can feel myself going with it.”

Steve should have known and on some level he probably had, but that didn’t stop the surge of panic from overtaking him. “No, no, there has to be something we can do.”

Eddie shook his head, finally looking back up. “Your Eddie, is he… did he make it?”

“Yeah, he’s– he’ll be alright once we get him to a hospital, but you…”

“No buts, Steve,” Eddie said, gently cutting him off. “I was already on borrowed time. I've made my peace with it.”

“I don’t know how to let you go.” Steve whispered. He felt like his heart was breaking. In his head he knew that this Eddie and his Eddie weren’t one in the same, but standing there listening to him say he was ready to die, it was hard to convince his heart of that.  

This time when Steve moved in close, Eddie held himself still and when Steve's hand hovered over his hair and caressed the side of his face, he leaned into it, just for a second.

“It’s not goodbye, not really. You have an even better version of me waiting for you just on the other side of the gate.” Eddie leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss to Steve’s cheek. 

He smiled one last time, turned, and ran before Steve could try and stop him. 

Steve walked back to the trailer and found Robin waiting at the bottom of the rope for him. She gave him a boost which he grudgingly took, knowing he would need the extra help with only one good arm.  

There was a lot to be thankful for. They had won the war, and Steve was overjoyed to be going home to a place where Eddie had survived and they had a future to look forward to, together. It was somehow both one of the happiest days of his life, and one of the most devastating. As he climbed the rope that would lead him out of the Upside Down for the last time, his heart ached for the Eddie that couldn’t be saved.

Part 4

Thanks forever to @penny00dreadful for being the best friend, cheerleader, and beta in the whole fucking world 💜 (and for bring there to cry along with me about the end of this chapter 😭) truly could not do it without you.

I'm going to tag anyonei can who showed interest and interacted with parts 1 & 2 but feel free to tell me to fuck off (🤣) and let me know if you want to be removed from the list!!

@hissunflowers @sadisticaltarts @gutterflower77 @epiclazershark @yeahhhh-suga @soapyscoobert @thetrueghostqueen @guppynuggets @reh-hateshumans @katdeerly @kolorzapster @useless-nb-bisexual @sammyammi @ellietheasexylibrarian @thesecondfate @eleganttidalwavecloud @localcrustrat @letsmo6 @justaquietnerd @marvelobessed @femmeratale @carriethesaint @novelnovella @ubpd

[dukeofdelirium]

Not people trying to say Mike was involved in Diddy “freak offs”, with this alleged tunnel in the ground connecting their homes together. This is the same as when they tried to say he was involved with the Epstein island only for ACTUAL VICTIMS to come out and say they met him once during a meeting and nothing happened. As far as we know, Mike and Diddy met once at a party for five minutes and never talked again, so idk what they want

I do need to say that fans need to dial it down with Diddy being involved in either the allegations or Mike’s death, and the theory that Michael knew what Diddy was doing when he said “That’s not me. Go to the guy down the street cause it’s not Michael Jackson.” And Diddy was apparently living in his neighborhood at the time, but I haven’t seen anything confirming that.

That Diddy shit is ridiculous lmao.

Mike showed up to some birthday party or something UNINVITED mind you, asking for Beyonce 🤣😭 bc he was tryin to hit her up LMAO

He didn’t even know Diddy and they never spoke or hung out. The only picture of them together is from said party that MJ crashed 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Diddy wouldn’t have even had a motive to try and get rid of Mike. It would’ve put a target on his back to come for the king and it would’ve burned a lot of bridges in the industry. MJ also never spoke of Diddy. The person Mike called out was Tommy Mottola and that’s what the song Threatened is about off Invincible, cuz Mariah would call Mike on the phone and vent about her marriage to Mottola and how abusive he was to MJ.

MJ publicly called Mottola out for sabotaging the Invincible album.

He also called Lisa Marie Presley not long before his death telling her people in the industry were gonna kill him to get ahold of his catalogues and his Estate. And then what do ya know, his Estate sold the catalogue Mike fought tooth and nail to never give up when he was alive.

MJ owned 50% of Sony. He literally owned the music industry. Ppl at Sony and ppl involved with his Estate killed him. That’s my belief, and that’s what Michael himself said numerous times. They got Conrad Murray to act as a personal care doctor, and then got him to kill MJ. Murray didn’t perform correct CPR, he didn’t notify anyone that MJ was in cardiac arrest until long after it happened, and he also tried to cover up the crime and then withheld info from the paramedics when they arrived on scene that could have saved Michael’s life. He refused to tell them what he drugged Michael with. Had they known, they could have given him another drug to counteract it. They could have saved him.

Murray, Sony, AEG and the ppl controlling his Estate had him killed because he was worth more to all of them dead than he was alive.

It has nothing to do with Diddy. And MJ never had secret tunnels under his house connecting to Diddy either 😂

[mikeslawyer]

as a will byers fan I respect byler and won’t have an issue of it happening but I don’t think it’s fair for bylers to insist that it’s the only way for will. He absolutely could do better and open his horizons he is only 15 years old, in his head he’s thinking that’s it that’s all he has but I think for his coming of age they could show that he isn’t alone out there and that he could find love somewhere. It absolutely doesn’t have to be with mike either and I know this will trigger a lot of you since your hardcore bylers, but this is coming from a person whose only looking at this from a different view. I think he deserves more then what Mike could give him cause Mike is dealing with his own stuff and has made some mistakes regarding Will, plus he has his relationship with el he’s dealing with.

Again I wouldn’t be mad if byler was endgame cause if wills happy then I’m happy, but If it’s not I understand it exactly it’s all I’m saying.

I truly don’t even know where to start telling you how wrong you are.

First off, let me address the “he’s only 15 years old and he thinks he doesn’t have perspectives” because no. Will absolutely knows he has perspectives, he just doesn’t want them. Let’s not forget he lived in California for a year and even though it’s still the 80s, it was much more open and progressive than Indiana. California passed one of the freedom laws in 1974, following with more - they basically agreed that if both parties have consented, then it’s none of their business what’s happening between two people. They allowed gay people to be open, to express themselves.

Secondly, Freddie Mercury, David Bowie and many, many others existed and spoke up regularly and openly. Look up either of their interviews. Will knows he’s not alone, he’s not the only one. He literally moved back to Lenora, but he simply doesn’t want to. My guess is he explored his sexuality there, met more gay people, learnt about himself. Mind you, he doesn’t hate himself for being gay. He knows he can’t change it - it’s Mike who’s denying his own sexuality. Will has long since come to terms with being gay.

Another thing - I hate when people say that Mike can’t give him everything he deserves, because yes, he absolutely can and will and would always. Did we watch the same show? Mike would and has walked through hell and back for Will. His first insist when they were being shot at was to literally shield Will with his own body. Mike doesn’t see the world besides Will - he literally said that his home isn’t home because Will isn’t there. He has repeatedly, time after time, proved how much Will means to him.

Yes, Mike has problems with his relationship with El, so what? Let’s not forget that he, too, is fifteen years old and he, in contrast to Will, did not spend a year in California, a place much more open than Hawkins. Another thing, as much as Nancy would protect her brother no matter the situation, they don’t exactly talk. Meanwhile, Will has unconditional love from both his mom and his brother, who have shown him support when he cried. Mike would rather die than cry around Nancy or his mom. He has no one to turn to, no one. The only person he trusts like that is Will, who not only is the problem Mike is struggling with but also seems to just not get him anymore.

Lastly, putting all of this aside. Will is in love with Mike. He doesn’t want better. He wants Mike and I cannot stress this enough. And saying that he deserves better than the closest person in his life, someone who would walk through fire for him, someone who literally would and has protected him at the cost of heir own life - saying that just proves that you don’t understand either of their characters.

[rotiaftermath]

ur url is rotiaftermath, but i don't think i've seen any headcanons from you about how a roti aftermath would actually work or happen... so do you have any? Im so curious!

IM SO GLAD YOU ASKED IVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS A GOOD AMOUNT

Ok so

-staci aftermath host. Yeah I think in universe they’d keep Brigette and Geoff (and maaaaybe blaineley) for like nostalgia/gen 1 fan bait but also. New gen new host. Also also staci deserves to have a character dammit

-Dakota would be annoyed at Staci becoming the host and I think it would cement her decision to return to the island

-gen 1 would come back as the peanut gallery

-I think overall the format would be similar to the aftermaths of action and wt but I would also include a segment where the peanut gallery is asked their opinion about the interviewed contestant and predictions for the competition for that sweet gen 1/gen 2 interaction

-for an Overarching Aftermath Plot™️ we’d focus on Staci and her loneliness. She agreed to be aftermath host so she’d have a chance to connect to/befriend the other contestants and past contestants

-while I don’t think the producers would go through the truth or whatever segments again I think they’d use Staci’s desperation to connect to others to get her ask crueler hard hitting questions to prove her worth or whatever (people value honesty after all. Who would want to befriend a liar? She’s gotta prove she’s more than that)

-I think Bridgette and Geoff would try to steer her to y’know. Not Do That but in her insecurity she’d end up thinking its proof that she’s not good enough and end up doubling down on it

-Dawn would too for that matter but she also has a tendency to say too much and staci would interrupt/talk over her so she wouldn’t reveal her lying and shit and inadvertently shoot her attempts down

-I think either a. someone would give her a taste of her own medicine and see how she likes being interrogated or b. She would accidentally step on a land mine and make someone cry (probably someone everyone likes like brick or someone who’s seen as too tough to cry like Anne Maria) and realize how much a dick she was being and apologize and admit she just wanted friends. And she would get some

For actual interview shenanigans:

-B’s interview would involve at least part of the time dedicated to try and get him to talk. This would inevitably fail

-I mentioned some of the Dawn stuff but someone (probably Noah but I could see Duncan or Heather doing it too) would interrupt and call her aura reading bullshit. Naturally she would reveal something personal and embarrassing about them

-Sam would be the most satisfied with his time on roti to the point where the usual frustrations about Scott don’t come up and naturally his crush on Dakota would be brought up and how they didn’t get together but at this point (iirc) he got her number so he’s chill with that to

-dual brick/Anne Maria interview. They would get the same questions and their answers would naturally contrast each other especially since brick would ultimately accept his elimination while Anne Maria would be frustrated about hers

-dakotazoid would not get asked many of the hard hitting questions because no one wants to make the ten foot tall mutant with super strength mad buuuut she’d be surprisingly satisfied with her time there albeit pissed off at Chris for making her an intern and sending her into the mine in the first place

-Sam would be in her lap the whole time (yes this deserves its own bullet point)

-Mike’s interview would involve the system interjecting with their own thoughts about their time there and Mike would be more accepting and not frustrated about it also wouldn’t be able to help myself and would probably throw something in about him being disappointed about what happened with Scott and give it some homoerotic undertones teehee

-there would be some closure on the vitomaria shit. But that might not be completely resolved until Zoey’s interview because ideally Anne Maria and Vito would date but Zoey would need to be in the loop for that

-Jo’s interview is one I could really see the role reversal stuff happening if Staci’s plot line went that route but regardless she would begrudgingly admit she’s proud of Cameron

-Scott… sighs fang mauling him would likely be retconned so he could have an interview. Also because that shit sucked ass

-for the actual contents of the interview this is another one I could see the role reversal stuff happening. Or have everyone he eliminated go to town on him that would be fun too

-Zoey’s… I’m not too sure about. Would make her be really frustrated at a stupid jock getting her out and hate Lightning though

I think that’s all I have??? Thanks a ton for the ask!!

[justanotherwriter140]

Kung Fu Panda 4 - Edited

A really, really long discussion post.

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve expressed an explicit opinion on anything, hasn’t it? Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever done a hot-take post. I guess now is as good a time as any to write my first one, given our current situation...

So, the elephant (panda?) in the room: CinemaCon.

While we’ve hardly even had twenty-four hours to process this new information, I know that there are already a lot of strong opinions out there, and many of which are displeased. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone who’s necessarily happy about the news we received yesterday, and while everyone has differing reasons as to why they’re not thrilled, I think there are a lot of common factors among the skeptics. IMO, all of the concerns I’ve heard since the announcements have been understandable. Here’s a list of the most significant concerns:

Chen/Fox Warrior

A replacement for the Dragon Warrior

A villain whose “power” is (potentially) resurrecting past villains from the dead

The Furious Five and their relevancy

Director Mike Mitchell

Many fans are finding themselves confused with this alleged plot, mainly because (to put things bluntly) it doesn’t make any sense. I have a plethora of questions in regards to the second bullet alone, imagine how many I have in total!

You won’t have to imagine, actually, because I’m doing you all the favor of writing down my every thought. Strap in, folks!

First of all, who is Chen (?) and why is she relevant? While these are things that will, without question, need to be answered in the upcoming film, I’m still feeling apprehensive. Why would Po choose her as the next Dragon Warrior, a title that for three consecutive movies has been regarded as the highest possible title that any living being in this universe can achieve? What makes Chen the next Dragon Warrior, what makes her eligible? The Dragon Warrior is essentially OP at their full potential, and if we’re assuming that this title can in fact be passed on, why would Po give this power and influence to someone he meets in the same movie in which he makes the life-altering decision to seek out an heir? Why wouldn’t he at least choose someone he knows closely, rather than someone he initially doesn’t get along with (as stated in the plot description) and likely doesn’t trust? In my mind, the movie could only justify that choice with some sort of “message from the universe” making itself known to Po and telling him to choose Chen as his successor, but if that’s the road the writers end up going down, then I’d have to reiterate: why?

Backtracking for a second. We have never had any reason to believe that “another” Dragon Warrior existing is even a possibility, forget the concept of them co-existing with the current and original Dragon Warrior. Didn’t the initial significance and nuance of the title come from the fact that there is only one person who can be the Dragon Warrior, because the concept of the “Dragon Warrior” isn’t so much a title as it is Po himself? The universe (Oogway) must choose the Dragon Warrior because they are a singular being of legend. It is one person, and that person is Po. Wasn’t the point of the first film that the title ultimately doesn’t really matter because there is no “secret ingredient,” so to speak? The title doesn’t actually give Po anything. “It’s just you,” Po says, and that was the resolution.

Let’s set all of that aside for a moment, because I have a follow-up question: why in the world would Po be finding a replacement so soon? Yes, the alleged plot states that he’s been given a promotion and therefore wants someone else to fill in for him as the Dragon Warrior, but that doesn’t make sense to me. Why would Po’s new status (as something along the lines of the “Spiritual Leader/Master” of the Valley of Peace) hold him back from being the Dragon Warrior? If there’s something else behind him wanting to leave the role behind, I’m listening, but right now it feels very unbelievable. Why is he doing this so early in his life? He’s been the Dragon Warrior for four or five years at most, why is he throwing in the towel so soon? He’s young and has so much ahead of him, especially after all that he’s done. He’s built prestige and respect over the years and he’s so proud of his role as the Dragon Warrior. I’m confused!

One could make the argument that Po wants to settle down, which I’ve seen a few times on different social sites as a suggestion. However, he has shown no interest in such things in the past. He’s always excited to travel and see new things, so to see such a sudden change in attitude and priorities would likely have to be the result of a drastic occurrence. Po is not giving up his title as the Dragon Warrior, at least not with the way things are now. I’m not necessarily adverse to bold decisions being made in sequels, but this is probably too sharp of a turn for me to be okay with it. 

Is it even possible for Po to no longer hold the title? If we reference what I stated earlier, about the title being not so much a title but rather just Po himself, could we even consider that Po can just spontaneously decide to not be the Dragon Warrior anymore? He was chosen by the universe; can he UNO reverse card the universe? 

So many paragraphs, and I haven’t even gotten around to discussing the villain or the Furious Five. Let’s see how long I can write before my passion-induced rant starts to fizzle out!

In regards to the villain, I’m conflicted. 

On the bright side, I’ve been rooting for a female villain for as long as I’ve been in the fanbase. A female villain could add something really new and fresh to the series, giving fans a new perspective and experience altogether. The only canonical female villains in the KFP universe as of right now are the Wu Sisters, who are some of my personal favorite villains to ever come out of the franchise.

Additionally, rumors suggest that the chameleon can shape-shift. The idea of a shapeshifting villain (who potentially possesses dark magic, or something similar) is admittedly really cool. In an unreleased (unfinished) discussion post, I go into detail regarding the advantages of a manipulative villain. If the chameleon is as manipulative as her shape-shifting powers suggest, she could actually be pretty interesting to watch. Of course, being me, I’d prefer emotional manipulation over anything else, but that’s still a possibility!

In the plot description, it’s stated that the chameleon has the ability to “summon” villains from Po’s past. While it’s been assumed that this is in reference to full on resurrection, there’s still some wiggle room for speculative variation. There are disagreements and conflicting information on whether or not the chameleon can actually revive Po’s former adversaries, as some claim that she has the ability to resurrect the dead (perhaps via dark magic), while others state that she simply takes on their form to mess with Po.

Let’s assume that the chameleon is legitimately able to bring back villains that Po has done away with in previous movies. Isn’t that an incredibly easy way to make it seem like Po is going to experience difficulty in defeating this movie’s opposing force? While I’ll admit that coming up with someone/something that will make Po falter and struggle was never going to be an easy task, especially at this stage, I can’t help but feel as though there’s a bit lacking in the creative department. It’s also a bit insulting, to be honest, because if this new villain has to rely on the reputations and powers of previous villains to put up a fight, then is this a villain worth paying any real mind to? Does she pose any kind of true threat?

Personally, I hope that the whole resurrection theory is false. I don’t think it would be in the best interest of anyone if the past villains were to come back in any way that’s not a flashback (even then, I’m not sure I’d see the point). In all honesty, I thought that the whole point of the villains was that they died and stayed dead. They were defeated by Po once and for all as a testament to the idea of establishing Po's character growth and journey as a person through the bad things he’s able to overcome. It’d be highly contradictory to the messages of the other films if these villains were to suddenly come back.

For a while, there were theories floating around that suggested that Kung Fu Panda 4′s villain would have some significance to Tigress. The thought process behind this follows a “villain formula” of sorts; each movie villain so far has been connected to a main character through that respective character’s past. Tai Lung was Shifu’s failed prodigy; a fallen angel archetype. Shen killed Po’s mother and led a genocide on his people in a feeble and desperate attempt to save himself from his own fate. Kai was Oogway’s former fellow warlord and brother-in-arms, seeking revenge for the betrayal he felt had been enacted upon him.

I am a full-fledged supporter of the next villain having a connection to Tigress. Unfortunately, though, it doesn’t seem likely given the information we currently have. This chameleon, from what we know at this point in time, has absolutely no connection to Po or anyone in the main cast. I’d even go as far as to say that there’s more of a reason to believe the chameleon will have a connection to Chen; mainly because I think that if Chen needs to be integrated into the main cast, that’s the way the writers are going to go. The problem with this, however, is that it doesn’t make that much sense given how significant of a character Tigress has become in the franchise.

Take everything I say with a grain of salt, though, because in truth, we really don’t know that much about our new villain. This chameleon could very well have a connection to Tigress! We won’t know until the time is right, I suppose.

I’ll use Tigress as a segue to talk about the Furious Five, because unlike in the third film and god-forsaken TV shows, they’re actually relevant here! Personally, I think that the Furious Five still have a bit to offer as characters, for found family feels and to act as nostalgic plot devices if for nothing else. I love the five, and while I can understand if the upcoming film's story doesn't call for their involvement as frequently as in KFP 1 and 2, I would still very much appreciate their presence throughout the movie instead of being totally cast aside like in the third movie.

That said, though, I have a different opinion regarding Tigress. She has always stood out as the most significant member of the Furious Five (to both the audience and Po) and has been very impactful to Po and his journey; she was especially important in Kung Fu Panda 2, during which she was shown coming out of her shell and showing something akin to affection towards Po. Their interactions were later described by Guillermo del Toro (who I believe worked on the movie as a creative consultant) as possessing “the hint of a romance.” Whether or not the fourth movie will decide to capitalize on this idea is fully up in the air. It’s been stated by former directors that the theme of romance in KFP would only ever be applied in a comical fashion, but those directors may no longer be involved at all. I’m a Po and Tigress enjoyer, but I’d much rather KFP 4 be a good, solid movie than it being weak and trying to hold itself up with a shallow romantic subplot with Po and Tigress. I would also hate (with the fury of a thousand suns) to see Tigress’s character reduced to that of a love interest; she’s strong, capable, independent, and totally awesome. If she has a larger role in the fourth movie, I’d watch her being a cold-hearted badass a thousand times over before I sit through two hours of her being overtly out-of-character for the sake of a “classic romance” with Po. A relationship between them could work, and I’ll be supportive of it if it’s done well, but it doesn’t and shouldn’t have to happen for the movie to be emotional and impactful and mean something.

I have an unfortunate yet strong suspicion that the Furious Five will be tossed to the curb in this movie, and I really hope I’m wrong, because they’re fun characters that help encapsulate the original feel of the franchise. They’re a key part of what gave Po his beginnings in the world of martial arts, and they’re also the people he desperately wanted to be like throughout his childhood (and young adult years). They’re his best friends, and while I want Po to have adventures of his own, I don’t want his origins to be forgotten in favor of new characters. I want the nostalgia, alright? Is that wrong? No, and if it were, I wouldn’t want to be right. Speaking of long-time characters, what about Shifu? I can’t help but wonder what he’ll be up to during this whole debacle. Meditating, perhaps? I hope nobody in the writers’ room decides it’s Shifu’s time to go, which has been a growing concern of mine since learning of Po’s ambiguous “promotion.”

The movie’s director, Mike Mitchell, has been involved with KFP before, but not to the extent of previous directors. While I know little information about him, I want to give him the benefit of the doubt and I’ll maintain that sentiment until the movie releases. A potential (confirmed?) co-director is Stephanie Stine, the director of Raya and the Last Dragon.

Final thoughts, summarized:

The plot is kinda off and contradicts both Po’s character arc and the other movies

A female chameleon is the villain, which is maybe the only aspect of the movie I can get behind

The Furious Five and Shifu may be completely ignored (again)

The whole “passing of the torch” storyline does not work given Po’s situation

Chen’s character doesn’t make sense

I’m not familiar with the director(s) 

If you took the time to read this post, kudos to you. I hope I was able to help you arrange your thoughts regarding this news, because I’m still a bit scatter-brained myself (which is a feeling that I think we can all relate to at the moment). I’ll likely add more to this post over time, whether it be via re-blogs or simple edits. I think of something new to add to this post every few minutes, which I’ve been doing for a few hours now...

Let’s end on a positive note, because I know I was a bit of a downer here:

The title looks pretty cool, I’m not gonna lie. I like the scale texture!

[crustyweirdo]

smash or pass but it‘s pretty much the entire BrBa cast and i‘m adding my weird headcanons (queer edition)

please don’t take this too seriously, these are my preferences and most of the headcanons are obviously jokes. 18+ please!!

Walter White: hell nooo he worked with n*zis and wears those tighty whities. definitely needs pills to get it up

Saul Goodman: smash, i feel like he‘d call me mommy. minus points bc he‘d make dad jokes during it.

Jesse Pinkman: 1000% SMASH HES SO FINE!! would smoke in bed with me after. i feel like he has piercings down there too, don’t ask why. definitely whimpers

Skyler White: had to think abt it a little but i‘d smash, misunderstood queen. lots of aftercare too

Hank Schrader: hard pass. he‘s a cop and has the personality of a paper bag.

Gus Fring: sure! more of a hookup though because i can’t imagine him being kind and gentle. he‘d say no cuz he‘s gay fr

Mike Ehrmantraut: probably not what you guys wanna hear, but smash. call it a guilty pleasure, ik that guy has experience. would focus on my needs first. i‘d do it in his car

Jane Margolis: yes omg are you kidding?! her style is everything and she’s genuinely so hot, i‘d gay panic being in the same room as her. definitely uses toys

Walter Jr: pass, too young for me and i don’t find him that attractive

Marie Schrader: smash! she‘s genuinely so sweet and pretty, perfect balance. hank didn’t deserve her

Todd, Jack and co: hardest pass, i don’t think i have to explain why. would go on about how women don’t deserve rights when they’re on top of me

Tuco Salamanca: no, he scares me. probably into knife play or some weird shit

Skinny Pete: yes! he‘s an acquired taste guys

Badger: probably? this is a hard one, smash if i got paid like 50 bucks. for free if it‘s with pete. but i‘d definitely go on a date with him

Steven Gomez: pass bc he‘s a cop. if i had to choose between him or hank i‘d choose him any day tho

Hector Salamanca: pass, no disrespect. rip Mark

Lydia Rodarte-Quayle: i‘m anxious 24/7 so her nervous attitude would make it impossible for me to enjoy it. she‘d accidentally insult me during it in some way

Gale Boetticher: smash because i love his personality. he‘s a keeper, husband material. lasts 2 minutes :(

Combo Ortega: pass i like him but not like that fr

Ted Beneke: hard pass. wouldn’t shut up abt his stupid company for five minutes. he makes really weird sounds during it and asks if you came right after (u didn’t)

Eyebrow Guy: i like hair but not like that

Andrea Cantillo: yesss baby bring it on. easily one of the pretties characters. sadly her personality wasn’t shaped out well in the show

Gretchen Schwartz: i feel like she‘s too smart for me don’t ask why. would absolutely reject me

Elliot Schwartz: maybe if he wears a hat to hide those big ass ears. i‘d do it if he paid me tho

Wendy (blonde meth head): seems very sweet and i love her style but i‘m a fan of hygiene and her teeth are not it

Carmen Molina (principal): yeah i guess, she‘s pretty

Huell & Kuby: pass bc they‘re silly little guys. only come package deal

Donald Margolis: sad guy but seems very sweet. smash? he cries when he finishes

Salamanca Twins: probably never had sex ed, lots of uncomfortable stares… pass

Krazy-8: i don’t remember much of him but going off looks, smash

Jesses Therapy Group Leader: pass, he has those crazy killer eyes

hope you enjoyed! :D

[joe9cool]

Collide-Justin Herbert-26

A/N: I do not know or associate The Chargers or anyone affiliated with them. This is fanfiction. Also you do not have permission to copy or post my work anywhere else. Thank you

Abu Dhabi was an interesting place. 

Sara met her team on the plane and they began the long flight. Everything had been cleared by security and their visa's were approved. That was the nice thing about having a manager and assistant.

When they arrived. It was early morning, and while normally they would have time to settle in, Sara was rushed to the set where she had an introduction to everyone. (She hugged Timothee hard) then the director came and asked her if she had any questions about the script. He wanted her to go over a bit with Austin Butler. She had to laugh when he came to her trailer to introduce himself to her and Erika, as her best friend was trying hard to keep her cool.

They went over their lines before they were called to do some testing photos for promotion. The movie's pr team wanted them to give the appearance of a family friendly set. As Sara and Austin spoke, Timothee joined them, as the set photographer took photos for them to post on their social media.

Then it was a dress rehearsal to make sure Sara's costumes fit. Since she was going to be playing a princess, her outfits ranged from simple and elegant, as well as regal and extravagant. Some minor alterations had to be fixed as Sara's training for the fashion show made her body more toned.

In between fittings, Sara was flipping back and forth between the script and trying to figure out when the game vs the Broncos would be on. It was going to be difficult, but Sara was determined to make it work. She remembered to message Justin that she landed, however it was probably late in Los Angeles, so he wouldn't see it until she was probably asleep.

This was going to be a test of their relationship.

—--------------------------------------------------------------------

Message from anon: Did you see this post? From deumoxi instagram 

Blind item: big time Hollywood actress from steel city is involved with an NFL quarterback in California. Wonder how her business focused family is taking this?

I think Sara Wozniak is seeing Justin, or at least there is/was something going on. They both follow each other, have the same group of friends.

Answer: Jeez anon, we've talked about it. It's a follow, all evidence we've seen has linked him to Taylor. As a matter of fact Taylor just posted she's rooting for the Chargers.

Anon: oh my god let it go. He's not seeing Sara, she isn't his type. She's obnoxious and fame seeking.

Answer: I can see her not being his type, but I don't get the fame seeking? She stays pretty lowkey compared to another ex of his. 

Anon: the fact that everyone treats this as another girl. She's SARA WOZNIAK, Oscar nominated, funny, smart woman. She has tons of friends, is a social butterfly. She does tons of charity work. She is wayyyy out of his league. She doesn't want a homebody, twenty four year old fuckboy. Her ex is Harry Styles, talk about a downgrade if she was with Justin.

Answer: . That's all I'm going to say.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------

Sara was exhausted.

It was 1:40am and she was in her hotel room watching the game. She got back from another long day of filming. They were doing the difficult scenes first. So it was physically and mentally tough on her. She got back to her trailer at 11pm, closed her eyes for an hour, and then got up to eat a snack and turn on the game on her phone.

She still wanted to support the guys, even though in her personal opinion it was stupid to play the starters when they really had nothing to play for. Justin didn't like hearing that, but it's true.

So far seeing Mike carted off and Joey limping, Sara shook her head. She liked Staley, but she could understand the fans frustration with him. Joe had no problem expressing his anger while she was texting him. She was fighting off sleep, even though she would regret it when her alarm went off in a few hours.

The game was now tied and she was upset that Justin was still playing. Why would you risk getting your star quarterback injured? It was probably Justin’s doing as well, the man was committed to football and didn't want to go off the field for nothing, even during injury.

Even millions or miles away she wanted to kill her boyfriend.

She dozed off somewhere during halftime. Her alarm woke her up and the knock of the door signaling the driver was there to take her to the set. In a hurry, she got up and jumped in the shower. Running around, she managed to get to the set on time for hair and makeup. Her phone was dead, so she handed it to Erika to charge.

Unfortunately her tiredness interfered with her work. It was an off day for her and the director expressed frustration with certain faces she made, a couple times she found herself fighting off yawns, which Unfortunately were caught. At one point Alex pulled her aside. "You need to get it together, you don't need any distractions. I don't know why you were up late, but you might need to go back on sleeping pills.

She was right, as much as she loved Justin, he was probably focused on his career,and she needed to be focused on hers. During a quick break, she quickly downed a black coffee and took a caffeine pill, her heart was racing and sure it was stupid and dangerous but she needed this.

It worked though, as the drug kicked in she found herself filming her scenes with ease, and the production team improved. During lunch Austin approached her. "Hey good job, don't worry about it earlier. Timothee got bitched out twice because he kept forgetting the desert scene." She laughed "yeah that sounds like him. I'm fine I just stayed up late, the time different just got to me."

Austin smiled. "The good news is that we are ahead of schedule. So maybe we get to go home a little earlier than expected."

She laughed again. "Yeah but I'll be back in LA with the fashion show at the end of the month, and then in February I will be in Paris doing press work." Austin nodded in understanding. "Our job never ends." They laughed, soon Timothee joining them for some more set pictures.

Once Sara got back to the trailer she was ready to drop. Erika handed her phone back and she opened all of Justin's messages. It was the usual talking about the game, he updated her on Mike and Joey's status. She replied back, even though he would be sleeping, that she missed him and loved him, and that he made her proud despite the loss. Surprisingly he messaged her back that he loved and missed her and promised he'd give her updates on Bosa and Williams. She smiled as Erika rolled her eyes in a teasing matter.

—---------------------------------------------------------

Taylor stared at the screenshot of the deumoxi post. There was only one quarterback that popped up in her head. There was no way The Sara Wozniak was seeing Justin. Granted, she was at Chargers games, but her good friend had a private suite and was a season ticket holder. Plus what about the blonde's he had been spotted with. No offense, but girls like Sara wouldn't be okay with a guy playing the field.

Maybe she was putting too much thought into it. There was Jimmy G, who had the hearts of millions of women. He was close in age to Sara, and more her type. So that would make more sense. It has to, Jimmy would fit the persona of a Hollywood starlets boyfriend. He would be on her arm at the red carpet events, not Justin. Justin would never date someone who had that level of fame. That's right, it made more sense that Sara was seeing Jimmy.

However as Taylor sat in her office, she had a feeling that she was wrong. She grabbed her phone and clicked on Sara's follow list. There was Justin, but not the 49ers quarterback. She did notice that there was Kenny Pickett, Joe Burrow, and some others in her following. She went on Justin's profile and saw that he was following Sara as well as the rest of the shows cast.

That doesn't mean they are dating though, they share mutual friends. She is at games, they probably haven't spoken to each other. Sara only knows him as the Quarterback. Taylor thought

Still, if Sara found him attractive she could easily get any man. But Justin wasn't any man.

"Taylor, any new reports?" Taylor broke her trance and looked up at her co-worker, who was staring at her in confusion. She laughed. "I'm sorry, I spaced out."

"Are you okay?" She nodded. "I'm just tired." He nodded, she continued. "So far nothing yet."

He walked away and she took a sip of coffee. "Focus Taylor." She whispered.

There was no way Justin and Sara were a thing. She is everything he is against.

She didn't feel confident in the reasoning

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

"How is Abu Dhabi?" Justin had her on speaker as he was getting ready to head to the facilities. Despite the 12 hour time difference they still manage to squeeze in phone calls in between the texts messages and photos they would send. Of course, Sara's photos were alot more interesting than his. The scenery was gorgeous. She made him swear to secrecy that he wouldn't release any set photos she snuck of her in her outfits, he rolled his eyes at that, which he knew she knew. "It's gorgeous, but warm, you know I hate that." He laughed, his girlfriend never failing to vocalize her taste for hot weather.

"I know you do, trust me, it's not fun practicing outside when camp starts." She hummed. "I'm sorry you have a shortened schedule this week. I don't think it's fair."

"Yeah, but that's what the league wants, and we just have to adapt, but I'm confident in the team." From all the way across the world Sara rolled her eyes. "I see you're in media mode already." He laughed as he got in his car. He sent a message to his manager to make sure to check on Nova, although she would probably be busy in her tower. As if his girlfriend knew the Bengal was on his mind. "How's Nova been?"

"She's been good, she misses you though. But she's been getting plenty of exercise on the wheel. Although I had to put it downstairs so I don't hear it at three am." He muttered and she laughed. "Well I was reading up on the breed and they are high energy cats. They are close to a dog you know." He smiled. "I know, I think that's why I subconsciously chose that breed."

"Oh you need a dog!" Justin groaned. She had been pestering about a dog since she became obsessed with Dylan. "Why don't you get a dog." He told her. She sighed. "I mean, I thought about it, especially during the pandemic. But I think with this upcoming schedule I have to put it off til next year."

"I don't think a dog will really ever fit in my lifestyle with the schedule and games."

Sara tried not to let her mind wander to the future, maybe one day they could own a dog together. "I love Golden retrievers." She admitted. Justin laughed "I like labs, good, hardworking dogs you can take fishing."

"Well they have retriever in them, so they are good helper dogs." After a pause she laughed. "I was on a dog's 101 YouTube page." Justin laughed. "You and your YouTube rabbit holes." He would always glance at her screen and find her watching the most random things. Sometimes he found himself telling her to connect it to the television so they could watch together.

The rest of the phone call she explained other deep dives she went on, before she was called to set. "I'll call you tonight." He smiled. "Promise?" She laughed. "Promise. I love you."

"I love you too, have a good day on set."

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

"So wait what happened?" Justin was laughing as Sara retold the story. Timothee apparently blurted out the wrong line, and the director didn't notice until he and others pointed it out.

He was getting ready for bed while she was on break. The time difference seemed to work out well so far. It had only been a week, but Justin was counting down the days when she would be back in Los Angeles. The fashion show was Sunday the 5th of February, and her plane was landing on the 27th, however she would be in rehearsal and the Amazon cameras would be following the process of the fashion show before going live. Sara did find a couple times where she could break away to see him, but it would have to be at her place. Which was fine, but Erika would be there as well.

"Can you bring Nova over?" Justin rolled his eyes. "You're only coming home to see my cat?" She laughed. "And what about it?" "Get your own cat."

"Wait a minute, first we discussed a dog, now a cat? Are we making an animal shelter?" The comment had an innuendo behind it. She didn't mean to, but she was curious about what he would say. "I mean, we both love animals." It made her smile. "I think I want a Bengal like Nova."

He snorted. "Good luck, they are a pain in the ass to train." He looked over at the cat on his pillow and scratched her head. "Isn't that right?" Sara laughed.

He decided to switch topics. So are you ready for the fashion show?" She sighed. "I'm nervous. It's live, and if I make any mistakes there's no redo. Plus I'm walking with models! Justin, actual supermodels like Bella, and AnnSophie, and Gigi."

"But there are some others. Kelce's ex is supposed to be there." He paused. "I looked up the list."

"Yeah he's supposed to be there too, so I don't know if he's an ex or what. A couple of other football players are going since one of the programs is teams. " there was a pause and justin had to ask "Is anyone else for you going?" He knew her family was out of the question. She sighed on the other end. "Alisha is going, as well as Samira, but that's for me and AnnSophie, she has her parents cause Lexi is with George for that week. So to answer your questions, no I don't have anyone."

Justin paused. In a split decision he blurted out. "I could maybe go hangout with Kelce and some other guys if I'm not still in the playoffs."

He couldn't see, but Sara's jaw dropped. Him attending a public event? Where people might speculate if they even look at each other? "Justin, I'd love it if you came! I can make sure you come in through the back way and we don't even have to attend the after party." Justin smiled. "I don't want you to miss it because of me. I know you love the people performing." She laughed. "Justin, I can see them anytime. Come on, it will be fun, we can sneak away" He smiled. 

"I'd love that."

—----------------------------------------------------------- 

"Erika, do you have midol by any chance?" Sara was groaning in her set chair waiting for the director to call for her scene. She had woken up this morning to her monthly gift. She was always early or on time, except that one time in October where she was two days late, she almost had Erika run to the rite aid only for it to come the next day. She hadn't told Justin because he had been on the road, plus it worked out so there was no reason to alarm him.

Erika came running into the room. "I got something wayyyy better she squealed!" Sara looked over confused. "A doctor to rip my uterus out?"

"Oh my god sis, have you not checked your messages? Oh wait only if it's from Justin." Before Sara could bite back Erika kept with the point. "Your agent called! Anna Wintour wants you to be on the Cover of June Vogue!" Sara got up faster than usual and screamed, catching the attention of those around her. "No fucking way" Erika nodded and the best friends tightly hugged. "I'm so proud of you Sara, I know how much you wanted this." It was true, while she had been on the covers of international vogue, this was a big deal. It was Vogue magazine, something she dreamed of when she was in college, her first acting gig, when things took off and people began noticing her. She pulled back and Erika was still smiling. "That's not all!"

Sara was confused. What else could there be?" As on cue her phone rang and she pulled it out of her friends hand to see it was the producers of her show. She answered it and put it on speaker. "You're on speaker"

"Oh good I did the time conversion correctly." She laughed, Finn was one of the main producers, a man in his fifties who had been pitching shows for a while with no luck until now. "You could have just Googled it." He laughed. "That isn't a challenge."

"Is there something important about the show?" Finn laughed. "Why I'm calling to inform you and the rest of the cast that the nominations just dropped for the SAGs and guess what baby! We are nominated! And you Missy, is nominated for Best Actress in a Dramedy!"

Sara screamed again. After discussing the details of the awards which her team was working on as well as a schedule to make a dress. (Designers were already reaching out about making a dress) her castmates all called her as well. She just got a message

I'm proud of you baby- Justin

She teared up. I miss you, I love you.

She couldn't wait til the 27th

"So I hear you are a fellow SAG nominee," she looked up and saw Austin smiling at her. She nodded, "yes and congratulations to you too Mr. Presley." He laughed, he had been down since the death of Elvis' daughter, who he just attended the Golden Globes with. It was nice to see him smiling again.

Before anything else could be said they were called back to set.

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

So far the twelve hour difference was working out as well as one could hope.

Sara was up at 5am waiting for the game to start. She sent her usual 'good luck' message to Justin then Patrick was messaging her.

It was such a good game so far. She managed to get to halftime before she had to get to set. They were flying through the scenes and they were ahead of schedule. Of course, anything can happen, but right now it was looking good.

As Erika and Sara arrived on set she was glued to her phone. So much so that Timothee kept trying to get her attention "hey!" Sara looked up and Erika snickered. "She's absorbed in her boyfriend's football game"

Sara's eyes widened as Timothee smiled. "Get out. Sara you're seeing someone?" Before she could respond he laughed. "I knew it! Those guys' clothes in your closet when we were getting ready for Virgil's party."

"So who is he?" Timothee came around to look at the screen." Sara pulled away, looking around to see if anyone was near she whispered "He is the quarterback."

"The what?" He whispered back. She rolled her eyes. He didnt know shit about football. "Just don't say anything. Unlike a big mouth." She glared at Erika who was sheepish. "I'm sorry! I can't keep up with who knows or not."

Sara shook her head. She was getting nervous. The Jags were catching up and this Lawrence dude was better than the first half. Unfortunately, she had to put the phone down to head into hair and makeup.

Deuxmoxi instagram

Word on the Dune 2 set is that an A list actress who signed on for the sequel has a new boyfriend she is trying to keep on the DL. He is athletic.

Taylor Biscotti on twitter.

The hair is flowing between Justin and Trevor on this Saturday night game! Who you got?

Twitteruser1 @/TaylorBiscotti your guy obviously

Twitteruser2 @/taylorbiscotti wish you were there to cheer him on. —---------------------------------------------------------------

Sara was going to be sick

How the fuck did this team blow a lead, she checked the score on a break and it was down to the wire.

She held her breath while looking at the Google updates. It was 3 seconds. Do or fucking die.

The kick was good.

The Chargers were out. The Jags came back.

Sara wanted to cry. She didn't know what to do. She knew Justin was nowhere near his phone and he wouldn't be for a while.

She just kept it short

When you need me I'm here, I love you and I'm proud of you no matter what.

Warning, the drama will kick off next chapter. I don’t think you guys are going to like me much once the next chapter drops. 

[cattype]

Julian Sands- the original voice of Valmont in Jackie Chan Adventures- has been missing in the San Gabriel Mountains in California since January 13, 2023. The search has been hindered by bad weather but he’s a skilled mountaineer so there’s still a chance he’s hanging in there... alone… in the freezing cold… for a month… 

The above tweet is my reaction when I got the news. I didn’t have the space to fit it in but that interest I mentioned started about a year back. Since then I’ve been entertaining myself by learning about him by listening to interviews and convention panels. And of course watching some of his movies and TV appearances.

Something I’ve observed from his filmography is career trajectory. He started his acting career thinking he would only be a stage actor but ended up stumbling into Hollywood with two Oscar movies, The Killing Fields and A Room with a View. After that he did the movie he’s best known for amongst horror fans, Warlock because he was tired of- to slightly paraphrase what he called them in one podcast- ‘insipid romantic leads that felt more and more like chocolate box commercials’ that he had been offered after the success of A Room with a View. After that he did Warlock 2: The Armageddon out of contractual obligation but turned down Warlock 3 because the script didn’t interest him.

And that line of thinking has colored much of his career choices. He didn’t chose movies based on what paid more or what would gain him more fame, he did whatever interested him. He chose characters that were fun to play, people he wanted to work with and places he wanted to go. Because of that he’s played a wide range of characters in a wide range of movies. From general crowd pleasers, to niche genre flicks, to experimental and avant-garde weirdness. He’s worked with directors like David Cronenberg, Ken Russell, Dario Argento, and Mike Figgis. 

But those choices are probably why his star has faded so much over time. If you look at his IMDB you might notice that he’s gone from being one of the biggest faces on the poster to not even having his name on it. Most insultingly, one of the posters for A Crooked House has the whole ensemble except him. I haven’t seen it since it’s not on Netflix anymore but he seems like he should be a major character. His name’s in the trailer but apparently they didn’t see his face worth squeezing onto the poster.

Even the two movies he’s best known for have fallen into obscurity. Despite being nominated for various oscars that year including best picture, I’ve only talked to one person who knew what A Room With a View was. And Warlock seems to be a B-movie amongst B-movies.

If he died of some illness and didn’t get a ton of coverage aside from a few websites, I wouldn’t have liked it but it wouldn’t have surprised me. But the fact that he went missing complicates things. I first found out about his disappearance on MSNBC and I’ve since wondered if he got that level of coverage not so much because he was a famous actor who went missing as much as he was a missing hiker who happened to be a famous actor. And I find myself wondering not only if he’s alive or dead but how he’ll be reported on when he’s found. If he’s dead and it doesn’t get at least the same amount of coverage as his disappearance I’ll be pissed. If he’s alive and it doesn’t get the same amount of coverage I’ll be even more pissed and also extremely baffled because “65 year old actor survives for a month on a snowy mountain” is great headline!

Some people say the ultimate death is when someone says your name for the last time. Whether Julian is alive or dead or found or not he deserves to be remembered. Go to his wiki or his IMDB and look up the stuff he was in. Watch A Room With a View. Watch Warlock. Watch Jackie Chan Adventures. Watch Stephen King’s Rose Red. Watch The Room (the one with Donald Pleasence, not Tommy Wiseau). Watch Hotel. Watch Naked Lunch. Watch The Medallion. Watch The Painted Bird. Watch Borley Rectory. Watch The Ghosts of Borley Rectory. Watch The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Watch Boxing Helena. Watch Timecode. Watch The Tomorrow Man. Watch Vibes. Watch A Tale of a Vampire. Watch Seneca - On the Creation of Earthquakes. Watch Arachnophobia. Watch Gothic. Watch Witch Hunt. Watch The Escape. Watch his public readings of the poetry of Percy Shelly, John Keats, and Harold Pinter. Watch anything you see that catches your fancy. There’s sure to be something there for you or maybe you’ll discover something new to you that you wouldn’t watch otherwise. 

Living people need to be remembered as much as the dead.

This stuff’s been floating in my head for the past month and I just wanted to say it. Maybe I could said it better. Maybe there’s more I could say. But this will have to do.

Thanks for reading if you made it this far.

[chirpsythismorning]

apparently millie said she ships byler in the same day lol

I wouldn’t doubt it!

I haven’t been keeping up with the cons, especially when there’s been little to no coverage, so I can’t confirm.

But if she senses someone likes something, she’ll show support for it.

Which just goes to show that 99.99% of the time she’s being unserious and going with the flow.

Not saying she’s definitively being unserious about byler, bc if anything I think in the past she’s been unserious by only bringing up milkvan to an audience that only seems to want milkvan.

Now that there’s a shift, it seems like she’s shifting too..

It reminds me of her interview about the end of s2! She talked about how they got all the shots they needed of her and Finn during snowball, and all they had left was the Max/Lucas kiss, and that’s when Millie asked them if Mike/El could share a kiss too bc otherwise fans would hate her HATE her (literally her words), so I think to her it’s always been about trying to please fans that seem to be the loudest in the moment.

She deals with enough hate as it is, so I understand why she might feel compelled to not subject herself to hate by telling something to fans that they don’t want to hear directly in person.

Her favorite thing to do has always been to even say she has no idea how the show ends, whereas a lot of the other cast say they do know??? Do we really think she doesn’t no?? No what’s happening is she likes to say she has no idea so she can throw out the most outlandish statements with it having so credence seeing as technically, according to her, she doesn’t know how it ends. So she can say whatever she wants.

It just so happens that for years she has been the one sort of stringing that base along with reassurances. But as it dwindles, and we get closer, that shift for her going from milkvan to byler is inevitable. Especially when all it will entail is praising Noah her best friend and Finn one of her other close friends from her childhood. Like… she’s gonna be having the time of her life finally being able to be honest about that and supporting them once that time comes…

It’ll be surreal for sure.

[ziracona]

Given how your ideal Myers is based on the H20 version, have you looked up the tie in comics? I'm not saying you're depiction is wrong, but in those he's worse than ever. He does stuff like spiking kids' candy with razor blades, killing an entire family, torturing Loomis' friend to death, cutting out a man's tongue, and burying a girl alive. You can argue it's non canon, but that is still inexcusably evil. Mike may not be as bad as some other killers, but he's still capable of heinous shit.

I really don’t know why you keep asking me this kind of thing. My answer isn’t going to change. If it’s non-canon, why would it matter if it’s inexcusably evil? It wouldn’t apply to the canon character if it’s not canon. One version of him being capable of heinous actions, doesn’t mean they all are. Every canon version of The Joker is The Joker, but The Killing Joke’s universe’s Joker is unrecognizably a different character than Telltale Batman’s Joker. That’s just how media with alternate versions of characters work. I know he does inexcusably evil things in many Halloween timelines. But even when it comes to canon, being canon in one timeline, is not canon in every timeline. Even officially licensed tie-ins aren’t often the exact same timeline. IE Terminator’s novelization, but several parts canonically cannot happen in the timeline of the film, despite it being generally faithful, because they directly contradict time and actions that happen on-screen. Ergo, the novelization and the movie are parallel, but still separate timelines. What is true of Halloween Kills Michael, is not true of comic Michael, is not true of DbD Michael, is not true of H20 Michael. What one does doesn’t affect my perception of other versions, canonically separated, of the same character.

Even when it comes to closer media, like comics, where incredibly different takes on characters are ‘canon’ at the same time, it is and always has been commonly accepted and expected fandom rhetoric, that it’s impossible to judge a character for every single thing they’ve ever been written to do, especially since so many versions of them by hundreds of different writers, contradict each other. And it’s impossible for basically everyone to consume all the content anyway. So some people will like characters someone else despises, and often not because they’re wildly different types of fans, but because they read wildly different versions of the character first, and that became true canon to them. It’s just kind of how it has to work. I will forever despise Wolverine, because I read classic X-Men and he was a shithead and he murdered one of my favorites in cold blood for no reason, and had the gall to be sanctimonious about it. But I don’t expect someone whose mental version of Logan is contemporary Logan, or the films, or X-Men Evo, to feel the same as me.

That logic applies infinitely more to things like Halloween, where there are like 10 canonically acknowledged timelines going. Would I hate OG Star Trek Uhura if the version of her in the JJ Abrams movie did something awful? No. It’s not the same person. Does Tom Holland Spidey affect how I feel about Toby Maguire? It doesn’t matter if some versions of him are awful, and despicable, when it comes to me liking or sympathizing with another. If you were introduced to him in a way that made you hate not just that one, but every version, and will always feel so, or even if it wasn’t a different Michael, but you have a personal reason? —I was buddies with someone who hated him forever because of their own brother, and personal experience—that’s valid. Feel free to never change. But it doesn’t make my interpretation wrong. Mine isn’t. And I don’t need to change mine either.

One of the most important things to remember both in fandom and film criticism, is it’s entirely possible for multiple people with opposing views to both be right (or wrong) simultaneously. What is harmful genuinely to some heals others. Mulholland Drive is both homophobic for demonizing its Lesbian’s love and burying your gays like 4 times, and it has value in queer cinema for being a film about Lesbians center stage that has mattered to some. Even if you don’t like that I feel how I do, because you feel very different, it doesn’t make me wrong. Please stop messaging me to try and get me to change my mind; it both is never going to happen, and genuinely objectively doesn’t need to. And you don’t need it to. You don’t have to care at all what I think or how I feel about this if you don’t want to. I have no power over how you need to think or feel about him yourself. Only over myself and what I think and care for and will create.

[smokeybrandreviews]

Truth to Power

Now, for transparency, I am not a fan of Katt Williams the Stand-Up Comedian. I find his style grating. Credit where it’s due, the man can tell a joke. It’s just HOW he tells it which grates on my nerve. Katt relies, heavily, on the “loud Black Woman” stereotype. He absolutely screams into his mic when he’s on stage. That sh*t is fine when you’re delivering a punchline, Bernie Mac was a master at that sh*t, but Katt goes one hundred, immediately out the gate. For me, it clouds the message behind the joke and Katt stays dropping pearls. Mans is as socially conscious as Chappelle, but you wouldn’t know it because Williams stays shrieking at you. That said, I AM a fan of Katt Williams the Actor. Dude is crazy talented and deserved that Emmy win for playing the Alligator Man on Atlanta. A Pimp Named Slickback and Money Mike are also roles he absolutely killed. I have the utmost respect for Katt Williams as an artist, entrepreneur, and entertainer. I cannot say the same for a lot of the cats he called out on Club Shay Shay.

I’ve always had a problem with Kevin Heart. Always. He’s the Black Kevin James to me and I f*cking hate Kevin James. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed once at anything Heart has produced. His entire persona just irked me and it took a very long time to figure out why. That is until he got caught cheating and his whole facade fell right off. Heart is a Brand and he will tell you that to your face. He has openly admitted to doing the things other black comedians would not. He said, in no uncertain terms, with his whole as chest, on the Breakfast Club, that he basically bojangles for the whites because they have the loot. Which is exactly what Katt has been saying, consistently since Hollywood turned from him and toward Heart, this entire time. Heart has found insane success but it’s at the cost of his artistic and creative integrity. He sold out and is proud to have done it. Steve Harvey is the same f*cking way. He told Unc that he’ll never do another stand-up special because of Cancel Culture, that as long as you’re a sponsored comedian, you can’t risk the bag. Chappelle can say whatever the f*ck he wants because his revenue flow is based on subscriptions. If Harvey ever does another Special, it was have to be at the end of his career in television because he would, for sure, be canceled afterward. That’s Harvey staying safe for the whites. He’s protecting his Brand. He has sh*t he wants to say, but won’t, because it would f*ck with his pockets too much, just like Heart. That’s straight up, textbook, cowardice.

There is truth in comedy. To be a comedian, you need integrity. You need to stand on your word, on your principals, and say what you will with your whole chest. That’s why Chappelle is so loved and touted as one of the greats. That’s why people, to this day, love Jon Stewart. That’s why Katt Williams can still go out on tour and sell out enough shows to pay his opening act three hundred grand to come out with him. Kevin Heart and Steve Harvey stand for nothing. They’ll say and do whatever their handlers tell them to, be it a studio or a sponsor. That Illuminati sh*t and Humiliation Theory is nonsense. One isn’t a theory and the other is just rich blacks going full bourgeois. The joke stealing is a known thing in Hollywood and a ton of what Katt said were just regular ass, personal grievances, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a conversation to be had. Pete Rock said that chasing the bag is what ruined Hip Hop. He’s not wrong. Look at Jay-Z. Mans made it to Billionaire status but lost his soul in the process. He alienated and betrayed the very people who helped give him that opportunity in the first place. Now, he’s out here telling  the NFL commissioner, out of his mouth, on a televised special, that we, as black people, have moved passed kneeling. Why? Because he needs to protect hat bag. He needs those white people dollars, so he stabbed us, as a people, and a culture, in the back. Steve Harvey did the same thing to Bernie Mac. Dude tried to sabotage a ton of Bernie’s roles, handicapping him behind his back while smiling to his face. Heart did the same thing to Katt, saying yes to everything Katt refused to do, instead of standing in solidarity with Williams on the bullsh*t scripts they got in Hollywood. And to what end? Who has Heart helped? How has he given back to the community, to the culture, by schuckin’ and jivin’ his way into the being a token? Not a f*cking thing.

That’s what we need to take away from this entire situation. We lift up and revere these Black Business Moguls like they’ve accomplished something, but to get there, they had to cannibalize us as a people. They followed the Fox/WB/UPN method, building their brand on the backs of black loyalty, delivering content derived from and about black culture, only to turn on us when they got big enough. Kevin Heart’s first film was Soul Plane. Now, he’s basically The Rock’s sidekick, taking on the comedic foil to a man who stands on his brand to a fault. Steve Harvey hosted Showtime at the Apollo for years. The Apollo Theater is the mecca for black artistry. It’s the tempering fire for our culture. Now that he has Family Feud, he’d never step foot on that stage again. It’s too controversial and it would damage his Brand. Oprah and Tyler Perry are the same goddamn way. They hide behind this veneer of black excellence, but only for select blacks. The good ones. The ones who stay in their place and do what they’re told. No one talks about the career body counts these cats have left in their wake on the way to that Billionaire status. No one talks about the victims riddled just outright the spotlight of their Brand recognition. No one talks about how much these moguls and superstars have compromised their integrity for personal gain. No one talks about this sh*t but Katt sure the f*ck did. He talked about it for three hours of Club Shay Shay. At times, it was funny, other times absurd, often times hyperbole . but there was enough truth in there to spark up a real conversation. A conversation we, as black people, need to have. One that should have been started long, long, ago.

[jeremyslemons]

Michael Afton Isn’t Mike or Fritz:

I’ve been a fan of fnaf since 2014. I’ve always seen Mike and Fritz as separate people. So, I might be biased on this but I did my research. I don’t know much about fnaf 4-6 but I did my best. A lot of this is just opinion since even with facts we don’t really know. Also, you’re allowed to think they are the same, but I personally don’t. Do whatever you want, I can’t stop you.

It seems to be a fan favorite theory that Michael is both Mike and Fritz. But I disagree. (Some think he’s the guy in fnaf 3 but I don’t care if he is or isn’t.) We do know he’s the guard in sister location and pizza sim.

The reasons stated are as follows:

1) “Both Fritz and Mike are fired because of odor.” This is true. But a lot of people say this is Michael since he was scooped and now has Ennard inside of him. We aren’t sure how long exactly he had Ennard inside of him but the body can last 10 days before it decomposes. So we can say Ennard is inside of him for up to a month. Or less.

We also don’t know how many years till fnaf 2 and 1 take place. I think sister location is around 84. The bite of 87 is in 87. It seems likely fnaf 1 is in the early 90s. I’ll mention this later.

Now back to the odor. As we know in fnaf 2 the old animatronics do have a smell. We also know Fritz worked night 7 so the smell could be from Jeremy when he was bit. Since remnant is a thing that could also have a smell and since he was tampering with the animatronics they just blamed him for the smell.

In fnaf 1 the smell could be blamed on the phone guy dying. The phone guy asked him to check the suits. They could have seen Mike messing with them and fired him saying he caused the smell. They could have just wanted him fired anyway since he was messing with the animatronics and being generally unprofessional as stated in the fired slip. They didn’t like that he went to check the back room.

2) “Michael chose the name Mike since baby liked it. And Schmidt is his mom's last name.”

This reasoning is so silly to me. How would Ennard be in him for this long? He wouldn’t be. It's been too many years since he was scooped. Also, if he chose Fritz before, why would he choose Mike, which is a short version of Michael and his mom’s last name if he doesn’t want anyone to know who he is? Seems really stupid, and baby doesn’t seem to be that dumb. In my opinion.

3) “Why would Mike stay all week + more if he isn’t Michael?”

That’s easy!

Phone guy has worked there for way longer than Mike has. “Um, I actually worked in that office before you. I’m finishing up my last week now, as a matter of fact.” FNaF 1 night 1 phone call. Why did phone guy stay so long? Why did he die anyway? It seems to me he couldn’t leave. Mike could, but he didn’t want to. We don’t get to know why but he must be curious about the place. He might not be able to get a new job or he might like the thrill of a job like this. We don’t know.

That’s it for my theory, if you can call it that. I’ll say this again, you can do what you want but this is how I feel. There’s evidence for both sides. Thank you for reading!

[dankusner]

Document No. 5

When Alt Goes Mainstream:

PW Talks with Peter Ames Carlin

In The Name of This Band Is R.E.M. (Doubleday, Nov.), journalist Carlin traces how the rock group shaped the genre.

Why did you decide to write about R.E.M.?

They’re an amazing band that created this deep catalog.

When they broke through, the sense was that they had never sold out; they didn’t move away from the ideals they had starting out.

In a way, their contribution is how they continued to focus on their artistry without losing themselves in the mainstream.

As I point out in the beginning of the book, they wouldn’t write songs with traditional structures, or lyrics that could be interpreted literally.

The focus on music also sets them apart from other artists of the time, like Bruce Springsteen;

they were articulate and eager to talk about their work, but they made a point not to discuss heir personal lives.

What was it about Athens, Ga., in the early and mid-’80s that produced bands like R.E.M. and the B-52s?

A lot of it had to do with the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia, where many of these folks, like Michael Stipe, were students. There was a bohemian subculture that filtered through the school, and many of the professors were interested in music or involved in making it. The shared aesthetic in the school was easily applied to music, focusing on expression and experience rather than mastery. Catharsis in art was more important than perfection. At the same time, the punk movement was taking place, and the music focused on expression rather than mastery. So a bunch of different currents came together: punk, with its idea of being able to do it yourself, and the school’s focus on folk art and expression.

What might readers be surprised to learn about the band?

They were very serious about getting their message across and having a big audience. As they got more popular, people would say they’d sold out, but that was the project from the beginning. I was also a little surprised to learn from Scott McGaughey—the fifth or sixth member of R.E.M., depending on how you count it—that the whole time the band’s popularity ebbed in the U.S., it never did in Europe. R.E.M. was filling stadiums in Europe in the early aughts while they were playing smaller venues in the U.S.

Is there a message you hope readers take from the book?

I’d like people to remember that R.E.M. made music because they had something important to say. I hope people will see that R.E.M.’s success grew out of music that expressed the same hopes that their fans had in the possibilities presented by events such as the collapse of the Soviet Union and the election of Bill Clinton. I hope readers will remember their music as full of art, creativity, and joy.

A version of this article appeared in the 07/15/2024 issue of Publishers Weekly under the headline: When Alt Goes Mainstream

Journalist Carlin (Sonic Boom) brilliantly captures how a “spunky alternative band whose singer spoke in riddles” became a powerhouse that brought alt rock into the mainstream. After

meeting in the college town of Athens, Ga., Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe made their debut as R.E.M. at a house party in 1980.

Shaping their sound in an Athens alt rock scene built by such bands as the B-52s—and embracing an “outsider” label amid what they viewed as the era’s social and political conformity—the band amassed enough of a following to play arena shows, despite relatively modest sales for their 1982 debut EP Chronic Town.

Thanks to hit song “Losing My Religion,” their breakout album, 1991’s Out of Time, sold more than three million copies in the U.S. in its first year, propelling the band to mainstream success with “catchy,” energetic songs paired with “melancholic” lyrics and paving the way for groups like Nirvana.

Vividly bringing to life the political and cultural ferment of the 1990s—the waning optimism of the Clinton era, Kurt Cobain’s suicide—Carlin examines how R.E.M. balanced their “countercultural” ethos with the commercial appeal it brought them, touching on what it means for rock when the “rebels” become the “dominant culture.” Kinetic prose elevates this perceptive portrait of one of America’s most vital bands. (Nov.)

In the spring of 1980, an unexpected group of musical eccentrics came together to play their very first performance at a college party in Athens, Georgia.

Within a few short years, they had taken over the world – with smash records like Out of Time, Automatic for the People, Monster and Green.

Raw, outrageous, and expressive, R.E.M.’s distinctive musical flair was unmatched, and a string of mega-successes solidified them as generational spokesmen.

In the tumultuous transition between the wide-open 80s and the anxiety of the early 90s, R.E.M. challenged the corporate and social order, chasing a vision and cultivating a magnetic, transgressive sound.

In this rich, intimate biography, critically acclaimed author Peter Ames Carlin looks beyond the sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll to open a window into the fascinating lives of four college friends – Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Bill Berry – who stuck together at any cost, until the end.

Deeply descriptive and remarkably poetic, steeped in 80s and 90s nostalgia, The Name of This Band is R.E.M. paints a cultural history of the commercial peak and near-total collapse of a great music era, and the story of the generation that came of age at the apotheosis of rock.

[smokeybrand]

Truth to Power

Now, for transparency, I am not a fan of Katt Williams the Stand-Up Comedian. I find his style grating. Credit where it’s due, the man can tell a joke. It’s just HOW he tells it which grates on my nerve. Katt relies, heavily, on the “loud Black Woman” stereotype. He absolutely screams into his mic when he’s on stage. That sh*t is fine when you’re delivering a punchline, Bernie Mac was a master at that sh*t, but Katt goes one hundred, immediately out the gate. For me, it clouds the message behind the joke and Katt stays dropping pearls. Mans is as socially conscious as Chappelle, but you wouldn’t know it because Williams stays shrieking at you. That said, I AM a fan of Katt Williams the Actor. Dude is crazy talented and deserved that Emmy win for playing the Alligator Man on Atlanta. A Pimp Named Slickback and Money Mike are also roles he absolutely killed. I have the utmost respect for Katt Williams as an artist, entrepreneur, and entertainer. I cannot say the same for a lot of the cats he called out on Club Shay Shay.

I’ve always had a problem with Kevin Heart. Always. He’s the Black Kevin James to me and I f*cking hate Kevin James. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed once at anything Heart has produced. His entire persona just irked me and it took a very long time to figure out why. That is until he got caught cheating and his whole facade fell right off. Heart is a Brand and he will tell you that to your face. He has openly admitted to doing the things other black comedians would not. He said, in no uncertain terms, with his whole as chest, on the Breakfast Club, that he basically bojangles for the whites because they have the loot. Which is exactly what Katt has been saying, consistently since Hollywood turned from him and toward Heart, this entire time. Heart has found insane success but it’s at the cost of his artistic and creative integrity. He sold out and is proud to have done it. Steve Harvey is the same f*cking way. He told Unc that he’ll never do another stand-up special because of Cancel Culture, that as long as you’re a sponsored comedian, you can’t risk the bag. Chappelle can say whatever the f*ck he wants because his revenue flow is based on subscriptions. If Harvey ever does another Special, it was have to be at the end of his career in television because he would, for sure, be canceled afterward. That’s Harvey staying safe for the whites. He’s protecting his Brand. He has sh*t he wants to say, but won’t, because it would f*ck with his pockets too much, just like Heart. That’s straight up, textbook, cowardice.

There is truth in comedy. To be a comedian, you need integrity. You need to stand on your word, on your principals, and say what you will with your whole chest. That’s why Chappelle is so loved and touted as one of the greats. That’s why people, to this day, love Jon Stewart. That’s why Katt Williams can still go out on tour and sell out enough shows to pay his opening act three hundred grand to come out with him. Kevin Heart and Steve Harvey stand for nothing. They’ll say and do whatever their handlers tell them to, be it a studio or a sponsor. That Illuminati sh*t and Humiliation Theory is nonsense. One isn’t a theory and the other is just rich blacks going full bourgeois. The joke stealing is a known thing in Hollywood and a ton of what Katt said were just regular ass, personal grievances, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a conversation to be had. Pete Rock said that chasing the bag is what ruined Hip Hop. He’s not wrong. Look at Jay-Z. Mans made it to Billionaire status but lost his soul in the process. He alienated and betrayed the very people who helped give him that opportunity in the first place. Now, he’s out here telling  the NFL commissioner, out of his mouth, on a televised special, that we, as black people, have moved passed kneeling. Why? Because he needs to protect hat bag. He needs those white people dollars, so he stabbed us, as a people, and a culture, in the back. Steve Harvey did the same thing to Bernie Mac. Dude tried to sabotage a ton of Bernie’s roles, handicapping him behind his back while smiling to his face. Heart did the same thing to Katt, saying yes to everything Katt refused to do, instead of standing in solidarity with Williams on the bullsh*t scripts they got in Hollywood. And to what end? Who has Heart helped? How has he given back to the community, to the culture, by schuckin’ and jivin’ his way into the being a token? Not a f*cking thing.

That’s what we need to take away from this entire situation. We lift up and revere these Black Business Moguls like they’ve accomplished something, but to get there, they had to cannibalize us as a people. They followed the Fox/WB/UPN method, building their brand on the backs of black loyalty, delivering content derived from and about black culture, only to turn on us when they got big enough. Kevin Heart’s first film was Soul Plane. Now, he’s basically The Rock’s sidekick, taking on the comedic foil to a man who stands on his brand to a fault. Steve Harvey hosted Showtime at the Apollo for years. The Apollo Theater is the mecca for black artistry. It’s the tempering fire for our culture. Now that he has Family Feud, he’d never step foot on that stage again. It’s too controversial and it would damage his Brand. Oprah and Tyler Perry are the same goddamn way. They hide behind this veneer of black excellence, but only for select blacks. The good ones. The ones who stay in their place and do what they’re told. No one talks about the career body counts these cats have left in their wake on the way to that Billionaire status. No one talks about the victims riddled just outright the spotlight of their Brand recognition. No one talks about how much these moguls and superstars have compromised their integrity for personal gain. No one talks about this sh*t but Katt sure the f*ck did. He talked about it for three hours of Club Shay Shay. At times, it was funny, other times absurd, often times hyperbole . but there was enough truth in there to spark up a real conversation. A conversation we, as black people, need to have. One that should have been started long, long, ago.