#Rex Thompson

[kwebtv]

The Little Lame Prince - NBC - July 15, 1958

A presentation of Shirley Temple's Storybook (Season 1 Episode 9)

Drama

Running Time: 60 minutes

Stars:

Rex Thompson as Prince Dolor

Lorne Greene as King Bertrand

James Mitchell as Marko

Joan Weldon as Amelia

Katherine Squire as Flora

George Mitchell as Frederick

Anna Lee as The Fairy Godmother

Mickey Finn as Quinto

Peter Forster as Captain

[ghostofskywalker]

2024 fictober roundup: part one

here's a list of days 1-11 of my fictober fics! you can see days 12-21 here and days 22-31 here!

a 👻 next a fic's title means it's one of my favorites, and i'm picking 1-2 per roundup post :)

october 1st: 'tis the season (wanda maximoff x reader)

october 2nd: the perfect date (501st!echo x fem!reader)

october 3rd: what are the odds? (jack thompson x fem!reader)

october 4th: what you want most (agatha harkness x fem!reader) 👻

october 5th: a necessary push (hunter x fem!reader)

october 6th: sweet & oblivious (clint barton x reader)

october 7th: may i have this dance? (rex x fem!reader) 👻

october 8th: droid diagnostics (poe dameron x reader)

october 9th: a moment's reprieve (katniss everdeen x reader)

october 10th: the surprising side effects of new bacta (fox x reader)

october 11th: challenges, risks, and a night to change everything (will turner x reader)

[clankryze511]

“So let me get this straight… just so we got this whole thing clear and laid out you’re not an EVO that might’ve been transferred to some dimension or one we missed after me and my friends cured the entire world… but you’re a man… well you’re probably 3 years older than me who was bitten by a radioactive spider and your some sort of Cross-Species Human mutate and you call yourself… The Human Spider?”

“Well that was one of the names I had working on but Spider-Man sounded right.”

“This is New York but not my New York”

“Everything’s different.”

“Midtown High, ESU, and Queens and Forest Hills are all there but not everything else that I know. Nobody i knew who is gonna be able to help me and a few of my craziest and worst enemies get back home.”

“Come on. How many are we talking here?”

“Possibly six.”

“HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!”

“Better make that 13.”

“So what do say?”

“Hello wackos. Now thrill us!”

THE BIGGEST CROSSOVER YOU ALL NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE IS COMING!

GENERATOR REX | SPIDER-MAN: The Ultimate Spin

[80smovies]

[goldenboyreturns]

I totally fell off the Batober bandwagon, but don’t worry, I’ve still been drawing nonsense. References (of which there are truly a shameless amount) and process timelapse below. BG is an old abstract painting from college.

[nerds-yearbook]

Injured police officer Jesse Mach (Rex Smith) was recruited by the government to fight crime with a secret high tech motorcycle. The show Street Hawk premiered January 4, 1985. ("Pilot", Street Hawk, TV Event)

[d20unfuckability]

"you just know she's into everything and fucking great at it. absolute fucking mess otherwise, but that's just more incentive to stay in bed"

"darling, it's better down where it's wetter ;)"

[avatarskywalker78]

hug, friend, snow, and why for the WIP game!

Oh I like these ones, thank you!

hug

He tried to put all this out of his mind as he watched Sophia park the car. Alex practically jumped out and hurtled towards him with a speed he envied, tackling him in a hug and knocking the air out of him.

This is from my 'Alex & Daniel' fic - for context, Alex is Jack Thompson's granddaughter who grew up regarding the Carter-Sousas as family, and in this story is eight years old and going to stay with her Uncle Daniel for the day.

friend

“What makes you think there’s anything to find? You’d have remembered if she was a childhood friend, wouldn’t you? She’s probably just some random girl who looks similar to a celebrity or something.”

From my 'Tory is a Barnes AU' - in which Alex is sceptical about Elaine's instincts regarding the other girl (but he'll eat his words soon enough).

snow - afraid I couldn't find snow in any of my wips so here's some ice instead!

Beside him was Len, angry and grieving and firing ice at the Reverse-Flash – between Len’s gun and Miraclo running through Rex’s veins they’d done a good job at holding the Reverse-Flash off.

From my Legends AU in which Rex Tyler isn't wiped from existence and instead stays around to help the Legends and tries to be strong - except he's not doing so well and grieving the versions of the team he'd known and befriended before they were wiped out by the Legion of Doom.

why

Which was why he hadn’t noticed LaRusso and Lawrence coming the other way – and the two men hadn’t noticed him either, so when LaRusso had looked up and seen him— He’d gone bone white. Then he’d punched Mike in the face.

Remember in my Leah Barnes fic when she mentioned that it would be more understandable for Daniel to freak out about Mike if it was a chance encounter in the street? In this one this is what happens (sorry Mike) - this is from a fic that started out with the intention of shooting down the idea of Mike teaching karate (which has me so confused like it was a good thing when you didn't have him involved in karate and had him move on with his life and now you're doing a 180 on that?? Why??) but now I'm not entirely sure where the fic is going so we'll have to see.

send me a word or several and i'll tell you if they're in my wips!

Tagging @starstruckpurpledragon @dreambeyondthefantasy @ofbriarandrose @daughter-of-melpomene

[ufonaut]

Promotional art for The Golden Age (1993) four issue miniseries. Art by Paul Smith with colours by Richard Ory.

[hotvintagepoll]

Congrats to the ultimate winner of the Hot & Vintage Movie Men Tournament, Mr. Toshiro Mifune! May he live happily and well where the sun always shines, enjoying the glories of a battle hard fought.

A loving farewell to all of our previous contestants, who are now banished to the shadow realm and all its dark joys and whispered horrors—I hear there's a picnic on the village green today. If you want to remember the fallen heroes, you can find them all beneath the cut.

What happens next? I'll be taking a break of two weeks to rest from this and prep for the Hot & Vintage Ladies Tournament. I'll still be around but only minimally, posting a few last odes to the hot men before transitioning into a little early ladies content, just like I did with this last tournament. The submission form for the Hot & Vintage Ladies tournament will remain up for one more week (closing February 21st), so get your submissions in for that asap! Once the form closes, there will be one more week of break. The first round of the Hot & Vintage Ladies Tournament will be posted on February 29th, as Leap Year Day seems like a fitting allusion to leaping into these ladies' arms.

Thanks for being here! Enjoy the two weeks off, and send me some great propaganda.

In order of the last round they survived—

ROUND ONE HOTTIES:

Richard Burton

Tony Curtis

Red Skelton

Keir Dullea

Jack Lemmon

Kirk Douglas

Marcello Mastroianni

Jean-Pierre Cassel

Robert Wagner

James Garner

James Coburn

Rex Harrison

George Chakiris

Dean Martin

Sean Connery

Tab Hunter

Howard Keel

James Mason

Steve McQueen

George Peppard

Elvis Presley

Rudolph Valentino

Joseph Schildkraut

Ray Milland

Claude Rains

John Wayne

William Holden

Douglas Fairbanks Sr.

Harold Lloyd

Charlie Chaplin

John Gilbert

Ramon Novarro

Slim Thompson

John Barrymore

Edward G. Robinson

William Powell

Leslie Howard

Peter Lawford

Mel Ferrer

Joseph Cotten

Keye Luke

Ivan Mosjoukine

Spencer Tracy

Felix Bressart

Ronald Reagan (here to be dunked on)

Peter Lorre

Bob Hope

Paul Muni

Cornel Wilde

John Garfield

Cantinflas

Henry Fonda

Robert Mitchum

Van Johnson

José Ferrer

Robert Preston

Jack Benny

Fredric March

Gene Autry

Alec Guinness

Fayard Nicholas

Ray Bolger

Orson Welles

Mickey Rooney

Glenn Ford

James Cagney

ROUND TWO SWOONERS:

Dick Van Dyke

James Edwards

Sammy Davis Jr.

Alain Delon

Peter O'Toole

Robert Redford

Charlton Heston

Cesar Romero

Noble Johnson

Lex Barker

David Niven

Robert Earl Jones

Turhan Bey

Bela Lugosi

Donald O'Connor

Carman Newsome

Oscar Micheaux

Benson Fong

Clint Eastwood

Sabu Dastagir

Rex Ingram

Burt Lancaster

Paul Newman

Montgomery Clift

Fred Astaire

Boris Karloff

Gilbert Roland

Peter Cushing

Frank Sinatra

Harold Nicholas

Guy Madison

Danny Kaye

John Carradine

Ricardo Montalbán

Bing Crosby

ROUND THREE SMOKESHOWS:

Marlon Brando

Anthony Perkins

Michael Redgrave

Gary Cooper

Conrad Veidt

Ronald Colman

Rock Hudson

Basil Rathbone

Laurence Olivier

Christopher Plummer

Johnny Weismuller

Clark Gable

Fernando Lamas

Errol Flynn

Tyrone Power

Humphrey Bogart

ROUND 4 STUNGUNS:

James Dean

Cary Grant

Gregory Peck

Sessue Hayakawa

Harry Belafonte

James Stewart

Gene Kelly

Peter Falk

QUARTERFINALIST VOLCANIC TOWERS OF LUST:

Jeremy Brett

Vincent Price

James Shigeta

Buster Keaton

SEMIFINALIST SUPERMEN:

Omar Sharif

Paul Robeson

FINALIST FANTASIES:

Sidney Poitier

Toshiro Mifune

and ok, sure, here's the shadow-bracket-style winner's portrait of Toshiro Mifune.

[markwatnae]

Masterpost of Hot Old Man Round 1 Polls

Paul Newman v Richard Burton

Omar Sharif v Tony Curtis

Red Skelton v Burt Lancaster

Christopher Plummer v Keir Dullea

Anthony Perkins vJack Lemmon

Kirk Douglas v Alain Delon

James Dean v Marcello Mastroianni

Harry Belafonte v Jean-Pierre Cassel

Marlon Brando v Robert Wagner

Sammy Davis Jr. v James Garner

James Coburn v Rock Hudson

Peter Cushing v Rex Harrison

George Chakiris v Sidney Poitier

Dean Martin v Sean Connery v Jeremy Brett

Tab Hunter v Toshiro Mifune

Howard Keel v Peter O'Toole

Robert Redford v James Mason

Steve McQueen v Charlton Heston

Dick Van Dyke v George Peppard

Elvis Presley v Peter Falk

Oscar Micheaux v Rudolph Valentino

Joseph Schildkraut v Buster Keaton

Jimmy Stewart v Ray Milland

Cary Grant v Claude Rains

John Wayne v Errol Flynn

Clint Eastwood v William Holden

Douglas Fairbanks Sr. v Sessue Hayakawa

Carman Newsome v Harold Lloyd

Noble Johnson v Charlie Chaplin

John Gilbert v Conrad Veidt

Ramon Novarro v Robert Earl Jones

Slim Thompson v Gary Cooper

John Barrymore v Paul Robeson

Edward G. Robinson v Clark Gable

Humphrey Bogart v William Powell

Leslie Howard v Ronald Colman

Peter Lawford v Vincent Price

Harold Nicholas v Mel Ferrer

Joseph Cotten v Danny Kaye

John Carradine v Keye Luke

Ivan Mosjoukine v Gilbert Roland

Benson Fong v Spencer Tracy

Guy Madison v Felix Bressart

James Shigeta v Ronald Reagan

Montgomery Clift v Ricardo Montalbon

Peter Lorre v Frank Sinatra

Bob Hope v Gregory Peck

Fred Astaire v Paul Muni

Bela Lugosi v Cornel Wilde

Cesar Romero v John Garfield

Basil Rathbone v Cantinflas

Henry Fonda v Turhan Bey

Boris Karloff v Robert Mitchum

David Niven v Van Johnson

Gene Kelly v José Ferrer

Robert Preston v Tyrone Power

Jack Benny v Donald O'Connor

Fredric March v Lex Barker

Michael Redgrave v Gene Autry

James Edwards v Alec Guinness

Fayard Nicholas v Fernando Lamas

Ray Bolger v Johnny Weismuller

Orson Welles v Sabu Dastigir

Mickey Rooney v Laurence Olivier

Rex Ingram v Glenn Ford

Bing Crosby v James Cagney

@hotvintagepoll

[aamy2100982]

My thoughts on Venom 3. SPOILER ALERT - LONG POST

Let's start with the fact that I saw it in the cinema with Latino Spanish dubbing, so anything lost through translation is not my fault.

Damn, how do I start with all this?

☆ Why doesn't Spiderman appear?

I think based on the post-credits scene of Venom 2, we all assumed that in this new movie Venom and Eddie were going to go into the MCU universe and meet Spider-Man. But for those who saw the movie it was confirmed that that wasn't the case. Now, what's my theory on what happened?

I think the original intention was to give the rights to Venom to the MCU, but for some reason or another they didn't do it. And they decided to continue the story from Sony.

So Venom didn't meet Spiderman because the MCU doesn't have the rights to Venom yet, and Sony hasn't wanted to hand them over yet.

(I don't know, maybe money issues. Sony should make a considerable amount from the Venom movies)

☆ Portals

I actually didn't really like how the interdimensional portals are handled. Venom has never been a character who plays with space-time and the universe on his own (actually a bit in the comics, but not in the movies), so I don't understand how they inexplicably changed universes.

In the post-credits scene of the second movie it was about... connecting to the symbiote hive? But then what? Knull brought them back??

I don't know, I just didn't like that brutal change of plot direction.

☆ I changed my perception of the symbiotes in the movies

So, in the first movie the symbiotes arrive on a meteorite to earth and are captured by the Life Foundation. In this film, the symbiotes are made to look like an invasive species, the kind that goes from planet to planet looking to deplete natural resources. But apparently this wasn't the case.

From what I could understand, the symbiotes were escaping from Knull's awakening, so they weren't trying to invade Earth to drain its resources, but to save themselves from Knull.

This makes Venom look extremely selfish, because during the movie he tells Eddie that his fellow symbiotes only live to harm the Earth and he doesn't want Riot to reach Kyntar to pass this information to other symbiotes who need to escape from Knull and find a home.

There's also the possibility that this was the initial idea (that the symbiotes were an invasive species), but they made last-minute script changes that said otherwise.

☆ There was a Flash Thompson reference in the movie!!

It wasn't a small reference, it was a military man named Thompson and there's an entire scene that was almost too cruel of him losing his legs. I don't know if Sony has any rights to Flash's image, but it would be great to see him in an upcoming movie (if there is one).

☆ Rex was there too!

Does anyone remember Rex?

You know, the military man... who had a symbiote... and the symbiote became fond of him... but then he died and the symbiote stole his identity... You know! Rex!

He doesn't have a symbiote in the movie, and really only has the name and the face, because apart from being a military man and being related to sumbiote he has nothing to do with the one in the comics. It was a nice reference anyway. I personally like Rex the symbiote, even though he had limited appearances. I thought his story was nice.

But I guess it was just a reference in the movie because inventing new characters is not that simple either.

There is also this Doctor Payne

I honestly don't know who she is, I don't know if she was part of the comics or if she's an original character from the movie. I looked up her name, but it seemed like another character that I think has nothing to do with her...

☆ Codex

I didn't like how the codex was treated in the movie and I didn't fully understand how it worked.

I didn't like the way it was handled in general, that the codex only exists while both exist because they died and came back to life... How... only Eddie and Venom were united and were the only symbiote and host who died and came back to life?? In the ENTIRE universe?

And why does the codex disappear/is not visible when Venom isn't encasing Eddie? Shouldn't it still be there since it's stuck in Eddie's spine?

☆ The Hippie Family

They were fun and somewhat endearing characters. But while they were good for moving the plot forward, I didn't care that much about them.

It just helped remind me how sad it makes me that Eddie is a man who wanted to start a family and couldn't because of his own mistakes and mental problems.

☆ The other symbionts

The only comic book-based symbiotes I recognized were (besides Venom) Lasher and Agony. The rest I think were original for the movie.

Honestly, at first I thought the green-water snake-like symbiote was Lasher, but no. (I also didn't realize that the host was the cop from the previous movie until very late, almost after he was killed.)

It would have been great to see the quartet (Scream, Agony, Lasher and Plague. No Riot, because he died lol). But it wasn't that important, because in the end most of them died anyway.

☆ Characters from past movies

So Anne and Dan didn't appear in the movie. I don't have any hard feelings about it, I actually think they would have been a waste of time and their appearance always just brings this... weird geometric love thing where Eddie still has feelings for Anne, Venom... I don't know what Venom feels for Anne, I don't know if he sees her as a friend or has feelings for her too, Anne just sees them as friends and Dan is just constantly there being awkward.

Mrs. Chen was there. I must admit, she looked beautiful in that red dress!

look at that lady!

Honestly, I didn't think her appearance in the film was that important, but I'm not saying they were bad scenes.

☆ Knull

I think Knull was a completely computer-generated character. Understandable because all he does throughout the entire movie is sit down anyway xd

I don't have much to say about him. The design was well done and at least the voice acting in Latino Spanish seemed spectacular to me. Maybe he could have had more participation, but whatever, the movie was fine as it is. Adding more powerful antagonists would have made the movie 3 times longer.

☆ Eddie and Venom's relationship

I hate to use the term. But Eddie is a total Tsundere... Throughout the three movies he just keeps saying that he hates Venom and that he wishes he could go back to normal, now that he's been given the chance he feels empty.

As I know, "Not even death can separate them" or whatever the phrase on the movie poster said, completely lied.

☆ The end.

If I had to describe it in one word... bittersweet.

It was a good ending, dramatic, sentimental. But at the same time it leaves you with that feeling of emptiness, because Venom died and he is a protagonist and therefore he shouldn't die.

In the post-credits scene, a cockroach appears next to the small tube that contained a Venom extract. But it wouldn't make sense, because there wasn't a moving extract of the symbiote and anyway that extract later became who I think is Agony. It had her design but also had Dr. Payne's "hidden powers".

I honestly didn't like the ending at all. That "Well, now everything is like it used to be." BITCH, NO!

Especially since I heard here and there that Tom Hardy wasn't so sure he could continue participating, for reasons I still don't understand, so I'm convinced there will be another part. Either as a movie or a series.

☆ as a theory

I don't think Sony owns the rights to Agent Venom. But in case they do release another Venom, without Eddie Brock, that's my theory.

There was a reference to Flash in the movie and how he lost his legs. So maybe the next movie will be about them going back to Area 51 to look for the remains left after the massacre. Whether it's symbiotes that are still alive or just information they need to start a new area of ​​research.

They find layers of Venom, but he's like a baby, they use their abilities to turn him into a weapon, they give him to Flash Thompson, boom! Agent Venom.

Just a theory, obviously. Maybe the saga will end there and we won't have anything more about Venom until they start another separate saga.

☆

Honestly, I would have preferred them to fight Spiderman. Not so much because of the Spiderman fight, but because that would put them in the same universe as other powerful characters and they would have made a movie with a bigger Knull, similar to what Infinity War was.

You know, with all the characters fighting to save the world, but still having the movie center around Venom. Not exactly like in the comics, where Eddie becomes God (because that went really wrong for the comics), maybe just having him defeated and the symbiotes being free.

☆

ALSO! I think there was a kiss missing in the scene before Venom sacrificed himself, when they were on the fallen helicopter... I really needed it... And it didn't happen... understandable, I mean, there would have been a drama about it, but damn! It was the perfect moment to, at least, get close.

☆ The end of this post

The movie was good... Yeah... yeah, kinda.

I think for those who only watch the movies, or who only watched this movie, they could say that it's pretty good. It's fun, it's not as rushed as movie one, and it has a dramatic ending. I think that in itself it's a good movie.

But from my perspective, where I expect more coherence regarding everything and the extensive universe behind Venom as a character, I did find more plot holes, things that didn't make sense to me and things that I think would have been preferable to what happened.

Would I like to see another movie? Yeah, I think it would be great to really wrap up what happens with Knull and obviously have Venom come back to life, like... Venom? or Agent Venom.

Or even this gives a chance to convert the remaining extracts of the symbiote into Eddie becoming Anti Venom. But I'm just dreaming.

If you took the time to read everything I had to say, please let me know what you think! I'd love to read what you think of the movie or my opinions and theories!

[gvfgal]

*New* 17. Edge of the Throne

Barbarian. Biker!Jake

*18+ series, minors DNI

A/n: Sorry for the delay, I’ve been quite busy, new job, new house, etc. But I’ll save the Drabble and we’ll get straight to it! Hope you guys enjoy this one, questions and comments are appreciated 🖤

Content Warnings: criminal activities, language, a little fluff, a lot of angst.

Word Count: 4.1k

Thursday

Jake thought he’d never see the day the end of this operation would be so close. Yet here he was, standing in Bobby Thompson’s office with Ace and a few high-ranking Barbarians by his side, the weight of the club’s hard-fought survival also occupying the room. The stacks of cash in front of him were almost intoxicating—their final cut, the money that would close the book on this whole mess. He had dragged the Barbarians out of a grave, every hard-fought victory bleeding Bobby dry of everything he had left. Jake could feel the power shift, the satisfaction of control burning steady in his chest.

The feeling was almost enough to distract him from the chaos his life had become. Here, with Ace beside him and Bobby under his boot, Jake felt fully in command. Call it a power trip if you wanted—but after everything he’d been through, maybe he deserved one.

Once the money was counted, a few men set to work bagging it up, each movement precise and practiced. Bobby sat back, watching with a thin smile that didn’t reach his eyes, his every gesture laced with bitterness. He reclined in his leather chair, crossing one leg over the other, eyeing Jake with the sharp, insincere look of a man who’d lost but refused to accept it.

“You know, Jake,” Bobby drawled, voice low, mocking, “I can’t help but look at you and see your old man. Same scowl, same swagger… but you,” he shook his finger with a smug chuckle, “you think you’re different. Better. You think you’re doing a better job leading this club than he was, that you’re on top. But the truth is, you’re barely hanging on,” he leaned forward, his gaze narrowing. “You don’t belong at the top, boy. You’re not the iron-clad ruler Rex was. You don’t have it in you.”

The words hit like a spark to gunpowder, igniting a slow burn inside Jake. Ace shifted beside him, as if sensing the storm building. Jake stepped forward, the heavy thud of his boots against the polished wood floor a silent warning. He took a slow breath, steadying himself, and when he spoke, his voice was a deep rumble.

“That’s the thing about men like you and my old man, Bobby.” Jake’s gaze bore into Bobby, his voice gravelly, each word carrying a lethal edge. “All you think about is control, fear. You think power is the prize. But that’s where you’re dead wrong.” He stepped closer, his every movement deliberate, forcing Bobby to shift in his seat. “I didn’t come back here to sit on some throne, to cling to a damn title. I never wanted any of it. I know what that kind of power does to a man.”

He paused, letting the words hang heavy between them, before continuing, his tone darkening. “I watched it turn brother against brother. I watched it twist loyalty into something sick, something that chews men up and spits them out empty. I know what this life costs, Bobby. I know what it did to my best friend, to the men who put their lives on the line. And despite everything, here I am. Because the Barbarians? They’re in my blood.” He nodded to Ace, then looked back to Bobby. “These men are my brothers. I came back to stand beside them, not to rule over them in fear. That’s what makes me better than Rex ever was. That’s what you could never understand.”

A dangerous quiet settled over the room, the weight of Jake’s words sinking in, each syllable like a punch. “And maybe I know I could be a better leader than Rex. Maybe I know I could rebuild the club he tore down, do right by the brothers he left behind. But that throne? It’s no gift. It’s a curse. It’ll turn a man into something he doesn’t even recognize if he’s not careful. And I know what that kind of power demands. It devours men like my father, men like you, men who think they’re untouchable.”

Jake leaned in closer, his gaze like steel. “So here’s the truth: I know what I’m capable of, and I know I could take that throne if I wanted to. But what’s it gonna get me? Power for power’s sake? That doesn’t mean a damn thing to me. I’ve got a family to think about now—a life outside of all this. And if that throne, if this club, if you,” his voice dropped to a whisper, ice-cold, “if any of it comes between me and my family, I’ll burn the whole thing to the ground and make sure anyone in my way burns with it.”

Bobby’s face paled, the thin smirk wiped clean, his composure crumbling under the intensity of Jake’s stare. Ace stood by, expression unreadable, but the glint of approval in his eyes was unmistakable. The message had been delivered, clear as day: Jake wasn’t some son trying to live up to his father’s legacy. He was a man willing to fight for what mattered, even if it meant tearing down everything in his path. And Ace admired that.

The last bag of money was zipped up, handed over to the Barbarians, and the air crackled with tension, an electric reminder that they had crossed a line that couldn’t be uncrossed. But Jake didn’t care. He’d laid his cards on the table, faced down his past and the weight of Rex’s throne, and made his intentions clear.

With a final, piercing look at Bobby, Jake turned toward the door, the weight of the duffel bag and the world heavy over his shoulder. As he stepped into the neon glow of the casino parking lot, the harsh pink and blue lights cast jagged shadows across the rows of motorcycles and high-end cars, illuminating the line that had been drawn that night.

Outside, Nicky and a few of his guys were already at work, loading the bags into the back of a black SUV. Jake noticed them huddled close, whispering with heads bent, their conversation urgent. A flicker of suspicion sparked in his mind, but he dismissed it, brushing it off as the remnants of the confrontation with Bobby. Still, something about their exchange didn’t sit right, but he pushed the thought away—for now.

“Alright, fellas,” Ace’s voice rang out, gathering the crew’s attention. “We’re set. Get the money squared away, and we’ll meet back at the tavern. Got some more business to discuss.”

Ace shot Jake a look, one that was loaded with unspoken meaning.

Jake mounted his bike, casting one last look at Nicky and his men as they loaded up the SUV. Whatever they were whispering about, Jake couldn’t shake the sense that there was more to it than he could see.

Once every member had filed into the meeting room, Ace brought the gathering to order, his voice booming through the room, commanding everyone’s attention. Jake sat among his brothers, but his mind was miles away—back to you, to the life you were building together, to the fragile peace he was clinging to. He’d been texting you throughout the day, an unspoken need to hear you were okay. Your reassurances helped, but he still felt like he had to be near you, to see you with his own eyes to believe it.

“Alright, men,” Ace’s voice cut through Jake’s spiraling thoughts, snapping him back to the present. The room fell silent, all eyes fixed on Ace, waiting to hear his next words.

“As you all know, we’ve been in the process of choosing the next Barbarian King,” Ace began. “I’m not in the running, but I’ve been watching, along with a few of our most trusted members. After months of observation, we’ve narrowed it down to three candidates.”

A few men let out whoops and cheers, the excitement building as the thought of new leadership became real. But Jake felt the anticipation twist into dread in his gut. This wasn’t a crown he wanted. But he had a feeling that it was something he couldn’t run from much longer.

“We’ve given this a lot of thought,” Ace continued, raising a hand to silence the crowd. “The Barbarians need someone strong, someone fresh. We need a leader who’s got the guts to take us into the future with dignity and strength.”

Ace scanned the room, his gaze sweeping over each man, though he didn’t linger too long on anyone in particular. But he felt Jake’s eyes on him like a weight, a silent expectation that pressed against his chest.

“Voting will take place Monday,” Ace continued. “After we handle the last of our business with the EDS.”

“Yeah, yeah, just tell us who’s in the running already!” one of the members called out, earning chuckles and a few more shouts of agreement from the others.

“Alright, alright,” Ace replied with a grin, pulling a small slip of paper from his vest. He adjusted his reading glasses—a motion that usually sparked a laugh but now only added to the gravity of the moment. His tone turned serious as he looked down at the list.

“First up, we’ve got Madcap,” Ace announced, nodding in Madcap’s direction. A handful of men cheered, and someone gave Madcap a hearty slap on the shoulder.

Jake sat unmoving, knowing full well that while Madcap was capable, he wasn’t the leader the Barbarians needed. He was loyal, reliable, but he lacked the edge that could steer the club through whatever storm awaited, and there was always one waiting.

“Next…” Ace’s voice deepened, and he lifted his gaze, his eyes landing squarely on Jake. “Jacob Kiszka, the Barbarian Prince.”

The room erupted, a chorus of cheers and shouts echoing around Jake. The title “Prince” sent a chill down his spine, a constant reminder of the weight, the legacy, and the expectations he’d spent his life running from. He expected his name to come up, but it didn’t make hearing it any easier. It was a rush of pride and dread, a dangerous mix that made his pulse thrum with anticipation and anxiety. He knew what it meant if he accepted this path—what it meant for his life with you, for his future.

And then, as Ace read the final name, a hush fell over the room, heavier than the roar from before.

“Our last candidate…” Ace paused, the hint of a frown betraying his feelings. “Nicky.”

The reaction was divided—half the room erupted into cheers, led by Nicky’s friends, who slapped him on the back as if he’d already won, while the other half sat in uneasy silence. Jake’s jaw tightened. The very thought of Nicky leading the Barbarians made his skin crawl, and he shot a pointed look at Ace, who did his best to avoid Jake’s glare.

As the room quieted, Ace removed his glasses and cleared his throat, his tone more somber now. “Voting’s on Monday,” he reminded them, his gaze sweeping over the room. “Take the weekend to decide who you believe is best fit to lead this club into its next chapter.”

Jake’s heart hammered in his chest. This was it. A decision that would change everything—for him, for you, for the Barbarians. But as much as he’d loved this club, he was already halfway out the door. He’d returned for his brothers, not for a throne. Not for a legacy he’d never wanted.

“Any questions?” Ace asked, his voice betraying a hint of unease as he glanced in Jake’s direction.

No one spoke, the silence heavy with tension.

“Good.” Ace nodded. “Meeting adjourned.”

The room emptied slowly, the weight of the announcement still settling over them all. As Jake moved through the crowd, congratulatory slaps on his back barely registered. His eyes found Nicky’s across the room, and the smug, almost taunting smile on his face made Jake’s blood boil. Nicky wasn’t looking at Madcap. To him, this was a showdown between him and Jake, and he looked eager for a fight.

When the room was nearly empty, Jake pushed through the lingering members to reach Ace, barely holding back his frustration.

“What the hell are you thinking, Ace?” Jake’s voice was low, laced with barely restrained anger. “Nicky? Really?”

Ace glanced around, ensuring no one could hear them, his face impassive as he met Jake’s glare. “It wasn’t just up to me, Jake,” he replied, his tone flat, unyielding. “And Nicky’s been doing good work. You can’t let personal grievances cloud your judgment.”

Jake let out a harsh breath, following as Ace turned toward the door, unwilling to let this go. “This isn’t about personal fucking grievances, Ace. Nicky as president? He’ll drive this club straight into the fucking ground.”

Ace stopped abruptly, turning to face Jake, his composure slipping for just a moment. The controlled facade cracked, and for the first time, Jake saw a flicker of real concern in Ace’s eyes.

“You think I don’t know that?” Ace’s voice was quiet but sharp. “That’s why you need to win, Jake. Nobody’s going to vote for Madcap, and we can’t let Nicky have that power.”

The gravity of Ace’s words hit Jake like a punch to the gut. He understood now—if he wanted to keep the Barbarians alive, if he wanted to prevent the club from collapsing under Nicky’s reckless leadership, he had no choice. He had to win. He had to take the throne.

But every instinct in Jake’s body screamed against it. You and the baby needed to leave Genoa, to get far away from this mess, from your mess. The last thing he wanted was to be trapped, shackled to the very legacy he’d spent years trying to escape. Yet here he was, between a rock and a hard place, knowing that if he didn’t step up, the Barbarians he’d fought so hard to protect would be lost.

As the silence settled between them, Ace placed a heavy hand on Jake’s shoulder, a quiet understanding hanging in the air like smoke. His voice softened, almost a murmur. “I know you’ve got a lot on your plate right now—with Cherry, with the baby on the way,” he said, his words threaded with an empathy Jake hadn’t expected. “And I can’t force you to make any decision. But whatever choice you do make, Jake… make it wisely.”

Jake nodded, the weight of his reality settling like stones in his chest. This choice was no longer just about him; it was a delicate balance, a life on the razor’s edge. Whatever decision he made would be a turning point, and he felt the gravity of it pulling at him, hard.

Ace sighed, breaking the heavy quiet with a question that came out as half a chuckle. “You staying for a drink?”

“Nah, man,” Jake shook his head, the words coming out more like a sigh than an answer. “I need to get home to Cherry.” He could feel his pulse in his temples, the weight of everything piling on top of him, each decision another stone added to the load.

“Alright.” Ace’s voice was understanding, though Jake could hear the unspoken sentiment lingering underneath. He watched Jake for a moment, a look of resigned respect crossing his face, as if they both knew this would be the last quiet moment between them for a long while.

With a final nod, Jake turned and made his way to the door, each step feeling heavier than the last. As he slipped out of the meeting room, he paused for a breath, taking in the cold night air. The stars overhead were distant, indifferent, a sharp contrast to the storm of choices raging in his mind. He fished his keys from his pocket, a familiar weight in his palm that suddenly felt foreign.

He climbed onto his bike, the engine rumbling to life beneath him. The ride home stretched before him, dark and winding, but somehow, heading back to you felt like the only solid ground he had left. He tightened his grip on the handlebars, the cold steel grounding him as he revved the engine and took off, the roar of his bike cutting through the silence.

The road blurred past, but his thoughts were razor-sharp, tracing the edges of what his life would look like if he went through with this. The choice between keeping the club afloat or walking away. Between the loyalty he felt to his brothers and the future he wanted to build with you. The words he’d spoken to Bobby echoed in his mind, the weight of their truth only sinking deeper.

By the time he reached the house, the heaviness in his chest hadn’t lifted, but he knew one thing for sure: he needed to see you, to feel your presence next to him. As he parked the bike and stepped toward the front door, he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. He could make the hard choices, he could carry the weight. But as he crossed the threshold and saw you waiting for him, a small, weary smile touched his lips—because for now, he could let it go, even if just for a moment.

You heard Jake before you saw him, the slow, labored thud of his boots on the floorboards sending a small wave of relief through you. By the time you’d have been able to sit yourself up on the couch, he was already there, standing in front of you.

The sight of him—even with the weariness in his eyes, the weight he carried so clearly visible on his shoulders—eased the anxious buzz that had crept over you in his absence. You felt a smile pull at your lips as he let out a tired sigh and plopped down beside you, leaning back into the cushions.

“Hey, baby,” you greeted him softly, your hand reaching instinctively for his. His answering smile was faint, tinged with a heaviness that made your heart ache a little, knowing whatever was on his mind was eating at him. He settled his gaze on you, quiet for a beat, his eyes flickering with something unspoken.

Without a word, his hand drifted to your belly, fingers tracing gentle circles over your bump as he leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to your cheekbone. “Hey, Cherry.”

You placed your hand over his, a silent reassurance, feeling the tension in him through his touch. His eyes were on your belly now, distant, like he was a thousand miles away and struggling to bring himself back.

“Long day?” you asked, keeping your voice light, though you knew there was a weight to his answer.

He exhaled, his breath stirring your hair as he nodded. “Yeah,” he muttered, “long day.” His jaw tightened as he fell silent again, letting the quiet settle between you like a fragile truce.

Before he could disappear too far into his thoughts, he pulled back and gave you a soft, almost boyish smile, the kind he saved for moments when he needed to mask what was haunting him. “Really, I just missed my girls.”

Your smile grew, welcoming the change in his tone. “You know,” you teased, brushing your hand over his, “we still haven’t picked out a name for her yet.”

A thoughtful look crossed his face, his brow furrowing slightly as he went quiet. He seemed to be weighing something, sifting through thoughts and memories before he finally looked up, a quiet certainty softening his gaze.

“What about Lorelei?”

You repeated it in your head, letting the name linger in your mind before you nodded, your smile widening. “Lorelei Kiszka,” you murmured, testing it aloud, savoring the way it felt. “I like it. Where’d you come up with that?”

Jake shrugged, a flicker of a grin lighting his face. “Just sounded right, honestly.”

“Most people don’t hit a home run on the first try.”

He smirked, nudging you lightly. “You’re talking to me here,” he joked, and you playfully shoved him, the ease of the moment lightening the air around you.

“Lorelei,” you repeated, savoring the name, and he leaned forward, glancing down at your stomach with a softened gaze.

“Lorelei,” he murmured again, almost like a promise. “What do you think, little one?”

A stillness followed, just long enough for anticipation to build before a sudden kick answered him, strong and certain beneath his hand. You winced slightly at the force, but the joy in his face, the wonder in his eyes, made any discomfort worth it.

“I think she likes it,” you giggled, and his hand remained over the spot, feeling the connection, the reality of his family, sink in.

Alright, I’m claiming victory on picking the name first try,” he joked, giving your hand a gentle squeeze.

“Don’t let it go to your head, tough guy,” you teased back, but your own smile was radiant, bright with hope. Despite everything that lay outside these walls, you could still see a future with him—a future that felt as solid as the warmth of his hand in yours.

“You mind if I clean up a bit?” he asked, his voice softened with the same quiet warmth. You nodded, watching him as he headed down the hall, feeling a fresh wave of gratitude wash over you. Even as you watched him disappear into the bathroom, the sound of the running water was a reminder of his presence, grounding you.

A short while later, he returned, his hair damp, the scent of soap mingling with the familiar leather and smoke that seemed to cling to him. He settled back beside you on the couch, sliding one arm around your shoulders as he tugged you close, and you felt yourself melt into his embrace.

“Movie?” he asked, reaching for the remote.

“Yeah, let’s see what’s on,” you agreed, curling up against him as he scrolled through the channels. You finally settled on an old favorite, Forrest Gump, something lighthearted and familiar, a film you’d seen a dozen times before.

Jake leaned back, his gaze on the screen, but it was clear his thoughts were drifting. As the scenes flickered by, he kept getting pulled back into the maelstrom in his mind. The weight of the upcoming vote settled over him, heavy and unrelenting. He hadn’t told you much about it, not wanting to add to your worries, but the reality of it was gnawing at him. He knew it was likely he’d win, especially with Ace pushing him forward. If he took on the role, he’d have an army behind him, resources, the protection he might need to secure a safe future here for you and Lorelei.

But as he felt the warmth of your body nestled against his, saw your growing belly rise and fall with each breath, he knew that wasn’t enough. You and Lorelei deserved better than the chaos Genoa brought. Yet, a part of him couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that maybe this was why he’d been drawn back, maybe there was a way to finally do right by the club, make it something less corrosive, less of a trap for the men he’d grown up alongside.

Just as his mind began to wander deeper, he glanced over at you. You had fallen asleep, head resting on his shoulder, your breathing soft and even. The innocence of that moment pulled him back to the present, grounding him in the reason he’d been questioning everything. His thumb gently traced your knuckles as he watched you sleep, realizing how fragile and precious this calm was in a life that had known so little of it.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, snapping him from his reverie. Careful not to disturb you, he pulled it out and read the message from Ace:

“Everything’s in place for the last drop with the EDS. Saturday, 9 p.m.”

Jake let out a long breath, the weight of the message settling over him. It was almost over. If all went smoothly, he could start carving out a real future for the three of you. But if he knew anything, it was that nothing in this life ever went as planned.

He tucked his phone away, his arm still wrapped around you as he glanced back at the screen, not really seeing it. His hand found its way back to your stomach, resting there protectively, as if he could shield you from the uncertainty that lay ahead.

Taglist: @edgingthedarkness @earthgrlsreasy @wetkleenex-gvf @hollyco @dannys-dream @slut4lando @josh-iamyour-mama @gretasfallingsky @takenbythemadness @scoreofinfantryvines

[concook20]

The Virus (AU)

Survivors

This is who survived the apocalypse, where they would have to work together to survive! I did want to not use Paisley and Rex, but I started to like the idea of them being there, so I've decided to add them!

Part 1/Part 2

Pt 1: Crew

⚠️Trigger Warning⚠️

Mention of body horror, acid like effects, cannibals, sexual assault, pregnant, and death

⚠️Trigger Warning⚠️

Martin Kratt

Age: 26 years old

Mental Status: Unstable, somewhat, but is also unpredictable

Inventory: Map, canteen, binoculars, picture of Chris and his family, pistol and ammo, an axe, bandages, CPS, and knife.

What happened to Martin?: Martin saved Chris from a hybrid monster like zebra that tried to bite at Chris (which was weird since zebras are herbivores), but something happened that, not only caused Martin's arm to be bandaged, but to also have Chris's face to be brutally ruined. They survived, but half of Chris's face is hidden with Martin's arm being blistered, while the guilt of not protecting his brother made him begin to protect his friends and the villains.

Martin, immediately, became over-protective of the group after they went on crazy adventures like running into cannibals, SA-ers, and the zom-animals, while beginning to make Martin paranoid and, sometimes, reckless, to the point he would brutally murder someone.

Chris Kratt

Age: 23 years old

Mental Status: Stable, somewhat, but has some break downs

Inventory: Binoculars, machete, picture of Martin and his family, notebook and pen, pistol and ammo, medicine, and CPS.

What happened to Chris?: Chris was the first one who saw the zebra biting Dabio, only for the monster to attack Chris. Martin saved him, but with a bad cost. Chris hated how he looks now, and has to use a hearing aid to hear now, his eye is melted into the melted skin, and Chris couldn't even look at himself without feeling sick or crying.

Chris tried his best to protect the group, but he either had PTSD or a panic attack, cause he couldn't do anything, until someone snapped him out of it. He tries his best to get over it in secret, even writing down his progress, but deep down, he's terrified of the animals...

Aviva Corcovado

Age: 23 years old

Mental Status: Stable, but very exhausted

Inventory: Voice recorder, med kit, knife, pistol, lighter, picture of the crew, radio, notebook and pen, and charger she built.

What happened to Aviva?: After she aided the brothers and saw what went down, she began to document about the monsters, what caused it, how dangerous they are, and what it does. However, she was still horrified at how the humans act during this, to the point she's disgusted by them.

Even if she hates him, Zach and her begin to work together to find the cure, even when she's asleep, he helps her out, and when Zach is struggling, she helps him out. She gets stressed and upset even more than before, but still, she's alright for now... for now.

Koki Thompson

Age: 24 years old

Mental Status: Stable, a bit, but traumatized and scared

Inventory: Tool kit, cross bow and arrows, knife, blanket, med kit, picture of her dad and brother, map, and canteen

What happened to Koki?: Even after all that happened, the thing that really scared her was carrying a baby. It happened when they went to where the SA-ers are, where they succeeded, but she got knocked up. She was now stuck debating on keeping the baby or not, scared of what would happen afterwards. No one even knows, but they'll find out soon.

Martin finds out and helps her out whenever she needs it, and keeps it a secret from her. She decided on keeping the kid, and she will protect her/him against anything... Unfortunately... Fate had another idea.

Jimmy Zane Sanders

Age: 22 years old

Mental Status: Stable, but mostly has break downs

Inventory: Snacks, butcher knife, pistol, stuffed animal, canteen, sleeping pills, and his grandparents heirlooms (a necklace and ring)

What happened to JZ?: He's stressed to the extreme after he sees the brothers in pain. He couldn't sleep, cause he thinks about blood, his body melting, and the zom-animals that tears him apart, he is so traumatized, he couldn't even be left alone most of the time he thinks about it, cause he would run out of nowhere.

Chris understands and helps him try to face his fear alongside him, even if both of them are terrified, but they know it's for the best to do it, since if they're alone and can't face them... What if they die?

Sadly... One goes missing... And two won't be around... Who would that be?

Part 2 Will Be Out! Just give me time! Hope you like my Gacha form!

[paralleljulieverse]

From the Archives: This Day in Julie-history My Fair Lady Opening Night Supper Savoy Hotel, London, 30 April 1958

66 years ago, Julie Andrews made her triumphant bow in the London opening of My Fair Lady at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Following the opening night performance, after-show parties were arranged at various venues around the West End. Producer Herman Levin hosted a party at the Dorchester which was attended by Stanley Hollaway and Cecil Beaton. Rex Harrison was guest at a supper held by the US Ambassador, Jock Hay Whitney and wife at Wingfield House. Hugh "Binkie" Beaumont, head of Tennent theatres, hosted another party at his home in Westminster (London 1958, p.3). True to homely form, Julie Andrews opted for a small private party at the Savoy Hotel attended by family and friends including Claire Bloom and Maggie Smith (London 1958, p.3). Guests dined on a special menu designed by the chefs of the Savoy Restaurant with bespoke dishes such as Le Suprême de Volaille Julie and Le Soufflé My Fair Lady.

Life magazine reported that Julie was "wrung out" as she and her family nervously awaited the critics' verdict. "But when the papers came, she was suddenly wide awake, on her feet and ready to dance all night" (Thompson 1958, p. 24).

Sources:

London, John (1958). 'It's My Fair Triumph at the Lane.' Daily News. 1 May: p. 3.

Thompson, E.K. (1958). 'Lady conquers London." Life. 12 May, pp. 20-25.

©2024, Brett Farmer. All rights reserved.