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tobiasdrake · 11 months ago

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Digimon Adventure 01x26 - Radiant Wings! Garudamon / Sora's Crest of Love

Previously on Digimon Adventure: Mimi buried herself in an escapist fantasy to get away from it all, at the expense of the people living there. But then she watched WandaVision, declared "She just like me fr", and undid it all. To apologize, she hosted karaoke night for everyone.

Both groups have found their Digivice radar blip, so it's time to meet back up with everyone.

Something about this return trip across the lake, hard to say what, seems a bit more difficult for Taichi and Jou. The swan boat's moving slow enough that Mimi and Palmon can comfortably sit up on top of it, where Agumon had to drape himself across the roof before.

Not sure why. I guess the boys are just getting tired. Plus it was visibly damaged in the TonosamaGekomon fight so that might also be a factor. Yeah, that's definitely it.

(In seriousness, she's up there because it's a two-seater. Jou's the responsible senpai, Mimi's the youngest, and Taichi's an experienced athlete. This is the correct way to divvy up the available positions on the swan.)

But with time and pedaling, the kids make it to the far shore.

Taichi: Hey, we're here! Jou: (sits back and sighs) So tired....

Taichi disembarks the boat and holds up his arms to help Her Majesty down from the roof.

Taichi: Come on, Princess. Mimi: Ugh, don't call me Princess! Taichi: Just joking around!

Though there are practical reasons for them to have divvied up the positions like this, the irony of the situation is not lost on Taichi.

Would it surprise you to know that the dub rewrote this exchange so they'd have an opportunity to be mean to Mimi about it? Because it didn't surprise me.

Tai: Come on, Mimi, get off your throne! Mimi: (scoff) I wouldn't exactly call this a throne! Tai: Yeah, well, I wouldn't call you a princess!

It starts off about the same, then Mimi's given a shallow response to provoke a comical retaliation. The punchline is Tai directly insulting her for being entitled, out of an exchange that was originally Taichi gently ribbing Mimi for the past episode's behavior and Mimi getting embarrassed and flustered about it.

Yamato's group arrives to meet the swan boat team and the two teams reunite.

Palmon: You've gotten smaller since last I saw you. Tsunomon, Motimon, & Koromon: Cut it out!

Palmon, you were there when this happened to Koromon. XD She's just being a dick.

In the dub:

Palmon: It's been so long since I've seen you! My, you've... shrunk. Tsunomon, Motimon, & Koromon: Don't rub it in!

It's a long walk to that punchline but I get where they were going with this. Palmon's quoting what was basically a stock phrase among distant relatives that kids in the target demographic have heard a thousand times. If you were twelve years old in the U.S in the 90's, this was hilarious.

I am no longer twelve years old so I don't know what they're saying now.

While Palmon savagely teases the other Partners for the consequences of Perfect-stage evolution, conversation turns to the one member of the nakama still missing: Sora, who's been floating around offering small bits of aid in each episode.

Except Koushiro's for continuity's sake, because Sora was across the lake helping Mimi while Koushiro's episode was taking place. Koushiro and Tentomon are the only pair that managed to unstick themselves from their situation without anyone's help.

Taichi: Where's Sora? Yamato: We didn't see her. Taichi: I see.... Where could she have gone? Mimi: I... I might have seen Sora-san. Group: Huh? Taichi: Where? Mimi: The Gekomon castle. But that might have been a dream....

Mimi flashes back on Sora's visit to Mimi's bedside, prompting discussion of Sora's eerie hit-and-run assistance.

Jou: So that's what happened. Koromon: Come to think of it, the voice that told me not to eat the mushrooms... I feel like it sounded a lot like Sora's. Taichi: Are you sure? Takeru: But if that's true, then why hasn't Sora-san come back to us? Yamato: It's no use thinking about it. We aren't Sora.

Yamato, Taichi, and Koushiro check their Digivices to see a new signal beeping in the distance.

Yamato: We'll have to catch her first. Taichi: This is like playing hide and seek. Koushiro: It's coming from this direction.

Taking point, the three lead the way, following their Digivices towards Sora.

In the dub, Joe is bafflingly clueless about the context of this conversation.

Joe: I think you're right. It must have been a dream. Koromon: Actually, I forgot that when I was just about to eat one of those Mushrooms of Forgetfulness when I was Agumon, I heard a voice that sounded a lot like Sora's! Tai: That's real weird! T.K.: But then, if Sora's actually close to where we are, why doesn't she come out and tell us? Matt: Maybe Sora just doesn't want to. Even worse, maybe she just can't. (Digivice signals beep) Matt: All I know is, we've gotta find her quick! Tai: It's almost like we're playing tag with her! Izzy: Come on, the signal points this way!

Original Koromon can be excused for this oversight because he's just realizing right now that the voice he heard was Sora's. Dub Agumon pegged her as Sora back at the moment it was happening, so it's kinda weird he waited this long to mention her.

Meanwhile, at Vamdemon's castle, PicoDevimon is getting the worst punishment yet. We don't even see it; We only hear four straight seconds of bloodcurdling scream before coming in on PicoDevimon falling down a flight of stairs, visibly bruised and beaten.

At last, Vamdemon emerges from silhouette.

(Oh my god, I always forget that he's blond. Why is he blond? XD I love the guy but Blond Dracula looks goofy as shit.)

Vamdemon's emergence prompts him to finally receive a rundown too. Vamdemon is a Perfect-stage Virus-type Undead Digimon. He debuted in Nightmare Soldiers, the same V-Pet that gave us Devimon, as the Perfect-stage evolution of Devimon and Bakemon.

In fact, many of the Digimon we're going to see associated with him are also Nightmare Soldiers. This arc is basically "The Chosen Children throw hands with that one specific V-Pet release."

I don't remember if I mentioned this before but his name, Vamdemon, is a portmanteau of "Vampire" and "Demon". Meanwhile, his English name Myotismon comes from the myotis genus of bats.

Vamdemon: I've grown tired of your incompetence. Narrator: Vamdemon. An exceptionally brutal and cunning Undead Digimon. His special attacks are Night Raid and Bloody Stream.

This is one of the less helpful rundowns. Thank you for just reading the attack names that were printed onscreen for me. This told me nothing.

The dub retains PicoDevimon's tortured scream, but they cut it down to about three seconds and also dial the volume way the hell down so it's easy to miss under the background music.

DemiDevimon handles Myotismon's intro.

Myotismon: Because of your stupidity, all of my evil plans have failed! DemiDevimon: Oh boy, Myotismon! How'd I ever get stuck working for this guy? And he's got all those bats! I hate bats!

The dub makes a judgment call that Vamdemon was the one coming up with all the schemes, which isn't quite the impression I've gotten. It's felt to me like Vamdemon gave PicoDevimon a task - Steal the Crests and prevent them from activating - and then set him loose to go figure out how to make that happen for himself.

The forgetfulness mushrooms demonstrated quite a bit of personal initiative. Bribing Digitamamon to drag Yamato into Jou's plight also seems unlikely to have been premeditated too far in advance, since it was a reaction to Yamato showing up like ten minutes ago. And with Vademon, he didn't so much bungle a plan as the plan was just bad from the outset.

PicoDevimon's schemes have featured a lot of improvisation and rapid adjustment to changing circumstances. So I think Myotismon owes credit where credit is due: Because of DemiDevimon's stupidity, all of his own plans have failed!

PicoDevimon: Please forgive me, Vamdemon-sama! Vamdemon: Courage. Hope. Friendship. The children's Crests have regained their light once after another. PicoDevimon: I-I'm ashamed! B-but, Vamdemon-sama, not all of the Crests have activated yet!

PicoDevimon scries up footage of Sora and Piyomon, sitting along on grass.

PicoDevimon: Like this kid. Her Crest of Love will never glow. Truth is, that's because I gave her some advice. The other six should be coming to her shortly. If we strike there-- Vamdemon: When the time comes, contact me. I will send those children straight to Hell. PicoDevimon: YES, SIR!!!

This time it's Vamdemon's turn to be unfair. My guy, the Crest of Courage was shining before PicoDevimon was even involved in this. Absolutely unfair to pin that one on him. Go take it up with Etemon.

This is, of course, case in point: PicoDevimon's having to explain the situation with Sora to Vamdemon because Vamdemon has no idea what PicoDevimon did to her. He's not involved in the "how"; He cares only that the task gets done.

In the dub:

DemiDevimon: Forgive my mistakes, Master Myotismon! I beg you! Myotismon: Courage. Hope. Friendship. The children's Crests are beginning to glow one by one! DemiDevimon: Everyone makes mistakes! Remember disco? Besides, sir, not all the children's Crests have begun to glow yet! (DemiDevimon conjures the scrying portal) DemiDevimon: That girl has the Crest of Love and it's still not glowing thanks to me! Anyway, according to my schedule, she'll be meeting up with the other children very soon! And when she does, Master Myotismon, when they are all together, that's when I'll get 'em! Myotismon: You think you can!? If you fail me again, my bats will have a new chew toy: YOU!!! DemiDevimon: Ehehehehe... I hate bats.

Goddammit, I forgot what a punching bag disco was back in the 90's. XD That got me. I know he's speaking in a broad sense about people as a whole but the way he uses it sort of implies to me that Myotismon had a disco phase. And I refuse to let that mental image go.

He was a young Devimon with parachute pants and roller skates once like, "I'm going to invent a NEW evolution all on my own, and it will be DISCODEVIMON!!!" Years later, Myotismon is just like, "We do not speak of DiscoDevimon."

Obviously, "I will send the children to Hell" wasn't making it past the censors. Though it's a bit of an odd choice to remove Vamdemon's instructions entirely, and instead assert that DemiDevimon's going to go take them all out by himself.

Also, "according to my schedule". XD He is trying so hard to sound like he still has control of things.

Meanwhile, the kids continue their search for Sora.

Wandering through the jungle as the sun begins to set.

Taichi: HEY!!! SORA!!! Koushiro: SORA-SAN!!! Jou: Hey, let's stop here for today and find a place to rest. It's too dangerous to wander around in the dark. Mimi: (collapses to her knees) I'm tired.... Yamato: But she should be somewhere around here.

Yamato checks his Digivice to confirm, and Sora's blip is practically right next to his own.

Would it surprise you to learn that the dub rewrote Jou's line so that he's just being a weenie instead of a responsible senpai? Yeah, they picked on Mimi earlier so now it's time to pick on Joe.

Tai: Soraaaaa! Izzy: SORA!!! WHERE ARE YOU!?!? Joe: Why don't we find a spot to rest for the night? Or better yet, for the next couple of weeks. My feet are killing me! Not to mention every other part of my body! Mimi: (collapses to her knees) I can't go another inch.... Matt: Hold it! I'm getting a reading on my Digivice. T.K.: Really? Well, what is it?

Matt doesn't even dignify Joe's whining with a response, instead announcing the radar blip as it it just appeared for the first time.

Also, T.K., you know what the blip is. It's been explained to you. Multiple times. What the fuck, T.K.?

Suddenly, Patamon's ears perk up.

Patamon: Huh!? Takeru: What's wrong? Patamon: I can hear something! Takeru: Eh? Maybe it's Sora-san! (low buzzing starts getting louder)

Only Patamon's giant ears can pick up the sound at first, but then it comes into focus, getting louder and louder as it approaches.

The dub doesn't really change the dialogue but they do change the timing of the buzzing, and the results are hilarious.

Patamon: Oh! What's that buzzing? (low audible buzzing starts getting louder) T.K.: I wonder if it's Sora!

Okay, T.K. ate the poison berries shortly before this scene started. XD

You know how Sora would sometimes open her mouth and the sound of a million angry hornets would emerge to signal that the end times are upon us? Or that she's just hangry? Yeah, that's probably what we're hearing.

Nope, actually, we're under attack.

Sora's really let herself go.

This hornet digimon erupts from the woods and attacks. Koromon identifies him as Flymon. The kids run for cover as Flymon makes a strafing run, raining projectile stingers down on them as he passes by.

Koushiro pops open his laptop and opens up the Digimon Analyzer, giving us the first diegetic rundown of the original.

Koushiro: I can bring up his status using the Digimon Analyzer that Gennai sent me! (Koushiro pulls up the DIgimon Analyzer screen on his laptop) Koushiro: Here it is. Flymon. An Insect Digimon. Adult-stage. He's a Virus-type. His special attack, Deadly Sting, sprays poisonous stingers. POISONOUS STINGERS!?!?

Flymon is something of a distant cousin to the Gazimon from the Etemon arc. He evolves from Gizamon, Pagumon's other branch.

Though the original just makes insect buzzing noises, Dub Flymon talks. They also cut "Deadly Sting" for obvious reasons.

Flymon: (firing) Brown Stingers! EEEEYOW!!! Izzy: Maybe this Digimon Analyzer that Gennai gave me could help us out. (Izzy pulls up the Digimon Analyzer screen on his laptop) Izzy: Here he is! Flymon. Classified as an Insect Digimon. A Virus-type. And I think we already know what his attack is - and it's not very pleasant! AND HERE HE COMES NOW!!!

No mention of his stingers being poisoned in the original. To be fair, given that they're the size of Taichi's torso and he's shooting them, we're probably in more danger of being impaled than poisoned.

Koromon and Tsunomon evolve back to their Child-stages, and the kids unload on Flymon. He's too fast for them, however, weaving around the Child-stage Digimon's attacks before coming in for another strafing run.

Out of nowhere, Birdramon appears, firing down at Flymon with Meteor Wing.

Flymon can dodge some of Birdramon's fireballs but not all of them at once. A direct hit sends his smoldering body plummeting into the forest.

Recognizing that Birdramon's presence means Sora's nearby, Taichi and Yamato bolt into the woods to give chase - With Takeru following along behind them.

Splitting up from Yamato, Taichi impressively manages to get ahead of Sora offscreen so he can emerge from the underbrush and cut her off.

This whole chase goes by for a good 20-30 seconds without any silence-destroying dialogue or jokes added by the dub.

Caught between Taichi in front and Yamato behind Sora has nowhere to run.

Taichi: Sora! Yamato: Why are you running away? Taichi: Explain yourself, Sora! Sora: ... Yamato: Sora...?

Finally, Takeru shows up with Agumon and Gabumon. None of them could keep up with even Yamato's sprint, let alone Taichi's. Takeru's gasping for breath, but he has an important question to ask.

Takeru: Sora-san, do you... hate us? Sora: Nnngh... That's not it! Piyomon: (arriving from the sky) Sora, why don't you tell them?

Fittingly, Takeru is the one who finally gets her to open up and speak, just a little. Taichi and Yamato were just being met with stone-faced silence, but she couldn't let Takeru believe something so cruel.

In the dub, Tai sounds inexplicably surprised to see her.

Tai: Sora! It's you! Matt: So why were you running away!? Tai: Enough running! Tell us what's going on! Sora: (groaning) ...mrrrr.... Matt: Sora...? T.K.: (arrives) Sora? Does this mean that... you don't like us anymore? Sora: No... Of course not. T.K.: Then what's wrong? Biyomon: (arriving from the sky) Sora, why don't you tell them?

It's a very small change but she seems a bit more conflicted in the dub. Her stone-faced silence is replaced with a vocalized groan, as if biting her tongue and wracked with indecision.

At Piyomon's urging, Sora finally comes clean about what's going on with her - And, in the process, finally explains this "Crest of Courage, Crest of Friendship" thing that PicoDevimon and Vamdemon have been talking about to the kids themselves.

She starts off choking out her words as if even trying to have this conversation is painful for her.

Sora: When Piyomon and I... left that night to look for Taichi... I... saw them... I saw PicoDevimon talking to someone. Takeru: What were they talking about? Sora: They were talking about our Crests. Taichi: The Crests? Sora: Yes. Each of our Crests has a different meaning. For instance, Taichi has the Crest of Courage. Taichi: Crest of Courage?

Taichi flashes back on Etemon's pyramid, when he found his nerve again and braved the firewall.

Taichi: Oh. That's why my Crest glowed back then! Sora: Yamato-kun has the Crest of Friendship. Yamato: Friendship? Takeru: What about mine? Sora: Takeru-kun has the Crest of Hope. Takeru: (happy) Eh!? The Crest of Hope! Sora: Koushiro-kun has the Crest of Knowledge. Jou-senpai has the Crest of Sincerity. Mimi-chan has the Crest of Purity. (sadly) And mine... is the Crest of Love. Taichi: Heh, Love fits you perfectly, Sora!

While Sora goes over these last three Crests, we see Koushiro, Jou, and Mimi crossing a creek that we had to chase Sora across earlier, trying to catch up to everyone. It's devoid of dialogue, but Koushiro hops across the stepping stones Sora used, Jou tries but slips and falls in, and Palmon pulls Mimi across on her vines to skip the creek entirely.

We've talked about most of these Crests as they came up. This is the first we're hearing of Jou's, however, since he shared his episode with Yamato.

Jou's Crest is 誠実の紋章 Seijitsu no Monshou, translated as the Crest of Sincerity. We talked last episode about Mimi's Purity, what that means from a Japanese perspective, and how it maps onto "Sincerity" in English. Now, here we are again encountering Sincerity from the opposite side.

This is not the last time that the English and Japanese scripts will use the same word for different things. So Mimi's sincere and Jou's sincere. Is this a redundancy?

I think it's easiest to grasp this distinction by thinking of it like honesty. Mimi and Jou's virtues are both forms of honesty, but they are not the same. Mimi is honest in the sense that she is true to herself, forthcoming with her feelings and thoughts and intentions. She doesn't lie or misrepresent herself; She says what she thinks and she thinks what she feels. With her, what you see is what you get.

Jou is honest in the sense of being forthright and dependable. He has a strong moral center, adheres to societal obligations, and earnestly strives to do what is expected of him. He abides by social contracts and behaves ethically within those boundaries.

Mimi is honest in her words and expression of her self, while Jou is honest in his actions and expression of social standards.

I would probably go with something like Crest of Responsibility or something than Reliability, though. The latter sounds like he's. Like. Generally successful at doing the things you need from him, when the results of his attempts to uphold his obligations aren't really the point. He doesn't always succeed in being the voice of reason or shepherding these kids in his care to safety, but he always tries.

Over in the dub, Sora for some reason feels the need to vividly describe DemiDevimon as if we all haven't met him already.

Sora: Okay. It happened the night that Biyomon and I left camp to try and find Tai. I saw a strange Digimon. He looked like a bowling ball with wings and he was talking to something in a giant bubble! T.K.: So, could you hear what he was saying? Sora: Yeah, I heard him talking about our Crests. Tai: What about them? Sora: He was saying that each of our Crests has its own special meaning. For example, Tai, yours is the Crest of Courage. Tai: The Crest of Courage? Oh! (flashback) That's right! And then the Crest started to glow! Sora: And the Crest you have, Matt, is the Crest of Friendship. Matt: Friendship.... T.K.: And mine? Sora: Yours is special, T.K. It's the Crest of Hope. T.K.: Alright! I hope we can get back home! Sora: Izzy's Crest is the Crest of Knowledge. Joe's is the Crest of Reliability.

The dub gives Gomamon a line after Joe splashes helplessly into the water during their creek crossing.

Gomamon: Thanks for being there, Joe! Sora: And Mimi's is the Crest of Sincerity. And finally, mine? Mine is the Crest of Love. Tai: Wow, the Crest of Love? That's just perfect for you, Sora.

I have no idea what Gomamon is thanking Joe for. I guess he's just trying to cheer him up.

The exposition here is mostly the same. She does call out T.K.'s Crest as special, but doesn't elaborate on what that means.

In any case, Sora fucking explodes over that last remark from Taichi, full-throated screaming at him at the top of her lungs. However, her voice sounds wounded and scared more than angry.

Sora: NO, IT DOESN'T!!! IT DOESN'T FIT ME AT ALL!!! Taichi: B-but you're always thinking about everyone-- Sora: I DON'T CARE ABOUT THEM!!! YOU DON'T... YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M LIKE SO STOP PRETENDING THAT YOU DO!!! Taichi: (stunned) .... Sora: (gasp) I'm sorry.... Taichi: Wh... What's wrong? Sora: My Crest. It won't glow. Because I don't have any love.

Just because she's been out there helping everyone, that doesn't mean she isn't going through some shit too.

From an English perspective, Sora's last line and her emotional crisis there might sound a bit unclear. We're often taught to think of love in the specific terms of the relationship between two people.

Sora! Calm down! You're 11! It's okay that you haven't found love yet! Your mind has been poisoned by children's cartoons about finding your soulmate at age 6!

But that's not what she's on about. No, we're going much deeper than that today. Her Crest is 愛情の紋章 Aijou no Monshou. Aijou is the expression of care for others. It represents tangible, demonstrable, quantifiable displays of affection, for people or animals or things.

When you snuggle your favorite stuffy on the bed, you are expressing aijou. When you pet your cat in your lap, you're expressing aijou. When you give a friend a hug because you haven't seen them in weeks, that's aijou.

Sora is saying that she is incapable of expressing affection for others. And that's just fucking tragic. It calls all the way back to her very first focus episode on File Island, when she had internal strife over how readily Mimi gave Palmon her hat. Mimi's expression of aijou freaked Sora out.

Sora has love in her heart. But she isn't comfortable showing it. This episode is going to talk about that.

The dub plays this scene verbatim.

In the original, we go to commercial here and come back to follow up on what those ominous words from Sora meant, after a brief misogyny break. The dub skips that commercial break because they have a different spot in mind. Remember that they could have put it here.

Takeru: What did you mean about not having any love? Taichi: I don't get this at all! Women are such a hassle! Yamato: (sternly) Don't make fun of her, Taichi. Taichi: I'm joking.

[Sora will Remember This]

Taichi's last line is delivered with all the dismissive emotion of "Yeah, yeah, whatever."

Seriously, Taichi. She is clearly torn up about having to talk about something that is affecting her on an intense and personal level. Now was not the time for "Ugh women amirite high five!" Complete with It Was Just A Joke disclaimer when pushed back on.

I hope Mimi gets here soon.

The dub makes no significant changes but elaborates a bit on Taichi's unhelpful misogyny.

T.K.: You love us, don't you, Sora? Tai: I don't get it. Why is it that girls always have to get so emotional when it comes to love!? Matt: (sternly) Leave her alone, Tai. Tai: I was just joking around!

"Women amirite high five!" is now "Women and their feelings amirite high five!"

Once Taichi's finished forming another memory for Sora that will haunt him if he ever asks why she went for Yamato instead, Sora recounts her confrontation with PicoDevimon.

Sora: PicoDevimon told me. (flashback) Sora: Who are you!? PicoDevimon: Well, well. You saw something that you weren't meant to see. Did you hear about the Crests? Sora: I did! PicoDevimon: You're Sora-san, aren't you? Ehehehe... The Crest of Love, eh? Sora: What's so funny about that!? PicoDevimon: I feel bad for you. You were raised without knowing any real love, so your Crest of Love will never glow.

In the dub, Sora and DemiDevimon's confrontation almost sounds like they're gossiping.

Sora: (bitterly) The Digimon thought I was funny too. (flashback) Sora: Is your name, by any chance, DemiDevimon? DemiDevimon: It sure is! And you're one of those kids, the DigiDestined. Tell me something, did you hear about the Crests? Sora: Yes. In fact, I did. DemiDevimon: Oh yeah! You're that kid Sora! Heehee heehee... (sneering) The Crest of Love! Sora: And why are you laughing about that? DemiDevimon: You just think you're so hot! But guess what! You'll never be able to make the Crest glow! NEVER!!!

Sora was walking through the woods one day, eavesdropping on vampires as you do, when suddenly DemiDevimon showed up and did some mild bullying. And that's what she's been so freaked out about this whole time.

Sora's bitter retort to Taichi goes so hard and I love it but then the actual flashback is just... Wow.

Back in the present, Sora explains what PicoDevimon meant and why it affected her so badly with another flashback.

Taichi: Don't be stupid! PicoDevimon just told you a lie. Sora: No. It wasn't a lie. It happened back when I was in Girls' Soccer Club... I was their ace striker....

Sora flashes back on a confrontation with her mom.

Sora: Please understand, mom! I have to be there! Toshiko: Please lower your voice or the flowers will wilt. Sora: Today is a really important match! Toshiko: And how do you intend to play on that leg of yours? Sora: This is....

The camera pans down to show that Sora's left leg is bandaged up.

Sora: It's nothing! Toshiko: Sit down.

Sora's soccer injury makes it difficult for her; She flinches as she folds her legs under her to bend into the traditional seiza position, kneeling down with her heels under her.

Toshiko: You can't even sit correctly because of soccer. You should quit. Sora: NO!!! I like soccer more than flowers! Toshiko: Sora! How are you even my daughter?

Sora flinches as if she's been struck. She sits there, eyes filling with tears, soaking in the hurt for a moment, before standing up, screaming, and running off.

Sora: WHY CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND!?!?

Sora sprints on her bad leg to the soccer field while the kids in the present discuss her story. Onscreen, we see that her team lost 6-3.

Taichi: Sora, your family is famous for kado, right? Sora: Yes. We're iemoto. Takeru: What does iemoto mean? Yamato: It means her mother is a master who teaches flower arranging.

Let's all thank Yamato for explaining both of those important Japanese words so that I don't have to.

Meanwhile, in the flashback, Sora arrives too late.

Sora: In the end, we lost that game. I couldn't stay in that club anymore. My mom doesn't see me as anything more than the daughter of a kado school. She thinks our reputation as iemoto is more important than I am! That's who she is!

This flashback is fucking powerful. Holy shit, there is so much going on here.

Note the careful shot composition in Sora's memory of Toshiko. Toshiko is shot in such a way as to obscure her face and instead draw attention to the flowers she's arranging. As if Sora was raised by the concept of floral arrangement, and not by a three-dimensional person.

That Sora's mother is iemoto lends a lot of important context to their argument. Sora is an only child, and it's traditional in an iemoto family for the iemoto to pass their skills and knowledge down to a child as their successor. Sora was obligated from the moment of her birth to become the next grandmaster to the Takenouchi school of floral arrangement, or whatever their school is called.

But she wants to play soccer instead. It's what she enjoys, as a three-dimensional person and not just Toshiko's Successor.

Presumably, she joined the soccer club that Taichi and Koushiro were in after losing the big game forced her to leave the girls' soccer club in disgrace.

So here we have another plot point that is thoroughly baked in Japanese culture. Good luck with this one, dub team.

Tai: That's it!? I thought it was something serious, like they were gonna stop making those stuffed bean bag animals. Besides, DemiDevimon is a liar. Sora: (silently flaps her lips for three seconds) It's true. It started back when I was on a girls' soccer team. My family owned a flower shop. It was my mom's whole life. (flashback) Sora: Please, mom! I gotta go to the soccer match! The girls are counting on me! Toshiko: Don't talk so loud, dear. The flowers are very sensitive. Sora: But this match is to win the title! Toshiko: Sora, you can't go with your knee injured like that. Sora: But mooooom! My leg's fine.... Toshiko: I'm sorry but you can't go. Sit down, we need to talk. (Sora drops into seiza, flinching in pain as she does) Toshiko: I want you to stop playing soccer and come to work at the flower shop after school. Sora: Do WHAT!? I won't stop playing to work with smelly old flowers! Toshiko: I can't believe a daughter of mine would act this way! My decision is final! Sora: (recoils, tears forming) ... WHY CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND ME!?!? (stands up and runs off) Sora V.O.: I walked around for hours. I found myself at the soccer field. The game had just finished. Taichi V.O.: What happened? Sora V.O.: We lost the game 6-3. My teammates were so depressed that they didn't even notice me when they walked by me. I felt like I let them all down. Like it was all my fault. (back to present) Sora: My mom said I had to be part of the family business. No questions. That's how she is. It's like it's the only thing that's important to her. She doesn't understand.

Okay. Yeah. I have. Uh. I have notes.

First off, this hits way different when Toshiko is a small business owner wanting to bilk her daughter for free child labor, instead of the grandmaster of a long and storied art form trying to pass down her talents and knowledge to her next of kin.

They tried, but we just don't have the same culture of ancient disciplines and centuries-long generational inheritance. Kado and ikebana can trace their roots farther back than the concept of colonizing the Americas.

They had absolutely nothing to put in place of the iemoto discussion so Sora vamps over the footage and we end up with "I wandered aimlessly for hours and then arrived at the soccer field by happenstance." Why would she do that? Why wouldn't she go to the game straightaway?

Oh, and Tai continues to be even more of a condescending misogynistic prick in this version than the original.

Still, while the nuance of Toshiko's position is inevitably and unsurprisingly lost, the heart of this scene - How Sora's falling out with Toshiko made her feel - comes through intact. We still grasp the central idea: That Sora believes she's incapable of affection because she, herself, has been unloved throughout her childhood.

Sora, in a fit of total emotional breakdown, pulls back her arm to hurl her useless Crest into the woods. Taichi, at this moment, finally steps up to help.

Or. Uh. Tries to, at least.

Sora: So... I was raised without love, AND THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT!!! (Taichi grabs Sora's arm to stop her from throwing the Crest) Taichi: STOP IT, SORA!!! Sora: LET ME GO!!! Taichi: Whether it's true or not, you shouldn't believe anything PicoDevimon said.

Sora lowers her arm and doesn't throw the Crest. Instead, she breaks down completely, opening the floodgates and bawling out her emotions right there on the spot.

(Sora is so emotionally closed off that this cry is probably something she's needed for a long time.)

Taichi is, of course, completely useless in the face of Sora's raw, exposed pain.

Taichi: Hey, don't cry! Sora: (continues loudly crying) Taichi: H-Hey, Yamato, what should I do here? Yamato: If she needs to cry, then let her. Agumon: Yamato is so mature! Gabumon: Much more than Taichi, at least.

I shouldn't laugh while Sora's exposing her rawest nerves, but Agumon and Gabumon fucking taking turns dancing on the grave of Taichi's dignity got me. XD Eat shit, Goggle Boy.

In the dub, Sora quotes DemiDevimon for things he never said in this version.

Sora: That's why I know he wasn't lying when he said I grew up not knowing what love is. RAAAARGH!!! (Sora attempts to throw the Crest but Tai stops her) Tai: SORA, STOP IT!!! Sora: LET GO!!! Tai: Even if what you said is true, you shouldn't believe a word from that loser DemiDevimon! He's just a creep that's trying to hurt you! (Sora's arms fall limp and she starts bawling) Tai: Wait! Wait, don't cry, Sora!

HEY KIDS ENOUGH ABOUT THAT DO YOU WANT TO GO EAT AT MCDONALDS!?!?

Yeah, remember that commercial break we put a pin in? The dub slides it in right here. Let's talk about how cool Hot Wheels are instead of Sora's mom not loving her. They go all the way around the big wheel in the track somehow!

Have you ever had a nice, hot Toaster Strudel fresh out of the oven? Oh boy, I sure do love Toaster Strudel.

Oh, and be sure not to miss the new episode of Beast Machines. Yeah, we're gonna be airing some new Beast Machines. We all love Beast Machines, right?

Okay, back to Sora's traumatized heart shattering into a million pieces on the ground of this alien jungle we're stranded in.

Tai: Don't cry, Sora! Matt, help me out; I don't know what to do with her when she starts blubbering. Matt: Just let her go, Tai. She'll be okay. Agumon: Boy, Matt's like a real grown-up. Gabumon: Now if only he would cut his hair.

Sora, he didn't say you grew up not knowing what love is. That was the original Japanese script. In this version, he just said "Your Crest won't glow NEENER NEENER!" Sometimes I swear Sora binge-watched the subs in preparation for appearing in the dub.

Full disclosure: The second Tai opened his mouth again after the commercial, I wanted to go back to Toaster Strudel.

Agumon still gets to puff up Matt but Gabumon sinking the shot on Taichi's face is replaced by a quip about Matt's unruly hair. As if Tai's any better on that front.

Once Sora's crying has begun to slow and she's gotten out what she needed to - and once Taichi's brain has fully melted down into an ineffectual blue screen - Takeru approaches her.

Takeru: Sora-san? Thank you.

The gradual slowing of Sora's crying now halts, as she opens her eyes and looks down at Takeru.

Takeru: You're the one who told us not to eat the mushrooms, aren't you? Piyomon: We knew PicoDevimon was plotting something, so we followed him in secret. Also, when Yamato and Jou were working in Digitamamon's restaurant.... (Flashback to Sora replacing the stolen brick) Yamato: I didn't know. Taichi: You didn't have to hide from us. Piyomon: Sora wanted to be alone. But she couldn't abandon the rest of you either. Please understand. Takeru: I love you, Sora. (Platonic daisuki) Sora: Eh...? Takeru: So don't leave us again, okay? i don't like when my family-- (Takeru stops himself abruptly and is silent for a second, trying to find his words again) Takeru: ...I mean, when everyone separates. Sora: Takeru-kun... Okay. I'm sorry.

Hahaha Sora triggered Takeru's divorce trauma ISN'T THIS EPISODE SO HAPPY AND FUN? T_T We're doing character drama through the roof today.

The dub plays this scene almost entirely straight, but cuts the reference to T.K.'s parents being divorced. Though they replace his divorce trauma with stranded child trauma.

T.K.: Sora? I like you. Sora: Huh? T.K.: So please don't go away again. I don't like being away from you. (T.K. pauses for a second for no particular reason) T.K.: Haha, when you're around, I don't miss my mom as much! Sora: T.K... (voice breaking up) I'm so, so sorry!

Oh wow, that's heartbreaking in a completely different way. ISN'T THIS EPISODE SO HAPPY AND FUN? T_T I know we've all been having a great time talking about how unloved Sora is but did you know that that Takeru is 8 with divorced parents and he's been lost in hostile wilderness for months?

Maybe shows need a maximum age rating too because I have been at full-throttle WON'T SOMEBODY HELP THESE CHILDREN since the moment Sora started sharing.

Finally, the slowpokes arrive. At long last, the kids are finally all together again.

Jou: HEY!!! Taichi: (cheerful again, back in his element) Hey! What took you so long? Mimi: Jou-senpai took his time after falling in the river. Jou: Mimi-kun, you kept sitting down and complaining about how tired and hungry you were!

Unbeknownst to them, however, a stalker has been observing them from the bushes while this whole trauma unpack has been going on.

PicoDevimon: They're all here. I must inform Vamdemon right away!

No change in the dub.

Once night falls, Vamdemon's carriage emerges from his castle, carted across the sky by a wicked beast. Devidramon specifically, but we aren't introduced to them yet. At the same time, PicoDevimon decides he wants to begin the slaughter early.

PicoDevimon: Hehehe, they're all fast asleep.

He pulls out one of his Pico Darts, brandishing it at the sleeping children.

(They've been apart for so long, they forgot to set a night watch rotation. Complacency is the bane of survival.)

PicoDevimon: I'll pick off a few of them before Vamdemon arrives.

Piyomon wakes up just in time to see PicoDevimon preparing to throw his Pico Dart. She dives on top of Sora, shrieking for Sora to wake up. The syringe jabs into Piyomon's back right as Sora wakes, and she falls limp in Sora's arms.

The last time we saw DemiDevimon fight was in T.K.'s amusement park episode. There, the dub cut all footage of the Pico Darts, presumably due to obviously being syringes. So you might be wondering how they can play this scene without showing the Darts.

And the answer is they can't. DemiDevimon debuts his version of Pico Darts here, calling them Demi Darts, and most of the footage of them makes it in.

They do cut one part, and it's the moment the Dart strikes Biyomon. Instead of seeing the needle sink into her flesh, they cut away to DemiDevimon's grinning face while we hear it strike her offscreen. However, there's also a closeup shot of Sora pulling the needle out of Biyomon's back that makes it into the dub unedited.

Sora's shrieking about Piyomon wakes the rest of the kids. PicoDevimon cowers away, afraid to have to fight them all at once. But then he arrives with fucking dramatic flair.

His coffin air-dropped from his carriage, just so he can burst out of it mid-descent.

He didn't have to do it that way. He did that for the aesthetic. It's a show of intimidation. He doesn't just want the kids thinking a vampire has shown up; He wants them to know that Maximum Dracula is here for their blood.

As he touches down on the grass, he speaks in his booming yet quiet and reserved voice.

Vamdemon: Chosen Children. Sora: THAT GUY!!! That's the guy PicoDevimon was talking to! PicoDevimon: Not "that guy"! This is Vamdemon-sama! Taichi: Vamdemon? PicoDevimon: No, Vamdemon-sama! Vamdemon: Hahahahahaha... Your journey ends here. Night Raid!

Even Vamdemon's laugh is a quiet and reserved chortle. I went back and forth on how to spell it because it's closer to Hnhnhnhnhnhn but that doesn't look right as an onomatopoeia.

Taichi, at least show some proper respect to his honorific before you die. :P Notably, Taichi has an issue with that in general. It's something I've noticed but haven't talked about: Taichi doesn't use a lot of honorifics when talking to the others. Fitting his personality, he is inappropriately casual with his language choices.

A fact that is now pissing off PicoDevimon.

Vamdemon himself is a man of few words. He just shows up like, "Hey kids, killing you now," and opens fire. This is what Etemon wanted to do for his entire arc.

Meanwhile, in the dub, Myotismon is chewing scenery with his more boisterous persona.

Myotismon: MUWAHAHAHAHA!!! DIGIDESTINED!!! Your journey ends here. Sora: That's it! That's the thing DemiDevimon was talking to! DemiDevimon: He's not a thing! He's Lord Myotismon! Tai: Myotismon? DemiDevimon: That's Lord Myotismon! Myotismon: WUHUHUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! These DigiDestined are making me feel a little... batty! Grisly Wing!

Sora calling Myotismon "THAT THING" gives me life. XD

Taking bickering over the -sama honorific and turning it into bickering over a Lordship title is pretty standard for anime dubs.

Vamdemon fires off his Night Raid, finally showing us the thing that he's been torturing PicoDevimon with.

It's a wave of pure darkness and bats.

Mochimon evolves to join the other Child-stage Digimon, and they put up an initial front line. Firing on the bats to hold back the assault. But it's not enough, and the bats breach the line, reaching the kids behind.

Seeing Mimi harassed by bats, Palmon evolves to answer quantity with quantity. Dub Palmon drops a one-liner:

Palmon: Let me try to get my point across! Needle Spray!

A million needles answer a million bats, buying the kids a moment to breathe and return fire. Specifically, a moment for Artillery Cannon Ikkakumon to return fire, sending out six Harpoon Vulcans to converge on Vamdemon.

The missiles explode on impact, obscuring Vamdemon in smoke like this is Dragon Ball. Then he emerges, seemingly unscathed, launching himself into the air.

Throwing himself into the fight for real, Vamdemon unveils his other technique: Bloody Stream.

A pair of whips, presumably made of blood, which he lashes out at the Partner Digimon. The dub calls it Crimson Lightning for obvious reasons.

(I wonder if this is a Castlevania reference? Associating Dracula with whips makes me immediately think Castlevania.)

While savaging the Digimon, Vamdemon gives off the most monotone and robotic evil laugh I've ever heard, and it's the scariest fucking thing.

Vamdemon: Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.

While Myotismon is having the time of his life.

Myotismon: Ahh HAHA Ahahahahaha!!!

As he hits the ground, Agumon declares:

Agumon: Taichi... He's strong....

But. Uh. Yeah, you're Child-stage and he's Perfect, that is not a fair assessment. The only Digimon we have that can Super-Evolve just recovered enough for Child-stage today, so we're up shit creek right now.

Once Vamdemon's finished taking apart the Partners, he advances on the children. In the back of the group, the last Digimon struggles to break free from Sora and fight.

Piyomon: I have to go... I'm the only one left.... Sora: You can't! How do you intend to fight him with your injuries!? Piyomon: Please understand, Sora. I have to go! (Piyomon starts trying to wriggle out of Sora's grasp) Sora: YOU CAN'T!!! Piyomon: LET GO!!! Sora: YOU CAN'T GO!!! Piyomon: WHY CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND!?!?

Just like that, the shoe is on the other foot. Sora's stunned by Piyomon echoing the same words she'd said to Toshiko in her flashback.

Sora: Mom... It was really about me... She was worried about me!

Whatever ambiguous injury fucked up Sora's leg, that's what the argument had really been about. Toshiko didn't want Sora playing on an injured leg, and she didn't want Sora playing at all if it was going to push her so hard that she thought playing on an injured leg was okay.

It wasn't about the fucking kado school. Sora made an ass out of u and mption. Poor mption didn't deserve that.

Over in the dub:

Biyomon: I've gotta do something to help them... Sora: Huh? Biyomon: I'm the only one left to fight Myotismon.... Sora: It's no use! You can't do anything in your condition. Biyomon: Please understand... I have to go! (Biyomon starts trying to wriggle out of Sora's grasp) Sora: No, Biyomon, you can't! You'll get hurt! I WON'T LET YOU!!! MY DECISION IS FINAL!!! Biyomon: SORA, WHY CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND!?!?!? (flashback) Sora: I always thought my mom was thinking about her flower shop, but she was really worried about me getting hurt....

Hey look, they added "My decision is final" to the flashback earlier so they could echo it here. For a dash of extra "Sora has become her mom" symbolism. I like that she absorbed that language from her mom without even realizing she was adding it to her lexicon.

Because people do that. You are the influences you surround yourself with, especially during childhood.

It's worth noting that Dub Toshiko was pushier about the flowers, though. In the original, it was Sora who brought "I don't want to flowers" into the argument. Go back and check!

What Toshiko said was "How do you intend to play on that leg of yours?" and "You can't even sit correctly because of soccer. You should quit." She never made it about kado. That was an assumption Sora leapt to. With the new context Sora provides here, it's clear that she really was just freaked out by Sora's leg injury.

(Though Sora's kneejerk assumption does imply that the pressure to become the next iemoto has been a point of contention between her and Toshiko in the past, it does not mean that Toshiko doesn't love her daughter.)

In the dub, she gave Sora the "We need to talk" and then followed up with "I want you to stop playing soccer and come to work at the flower shop after school." So it's not exactly Sora's fault that she assumed this was about the flower shop. Toshiko said as much.

This schism isn't so bad that it undercuts Sora's realization here, I think. But the difference in Toshiko's tone does affect how she comes across as a parent nonetheless, which is kind of important to the whole "Was Sora unloved?" thing.

Original Toshiko was trying to have a conversation with her daughter, only for Sora to get the wrong idea and unexpectedly explode on her. To which Toshiko reacted badly and said some shit she shouldn't have said.

Dub Toshiko was laying down commands from on high for her child to obey. Her intentions weren't so bad, turns out, but she still kinda sucks. Like. In general. Making sweeping life decisions for your child without so much as consulting them and then doubling down when they get upset about it is not good parenting. Dub Sora still isn't unloved, but her mom seems pretty domineering.

While Sora's having revelations about her mother, Piyomon breaks free and evolves into Birdramon. And then Sora gets to see her fears realized.

Birdramon's Meteor Wing glances harmlessly off of Vamdemon's cape. He retaliates, sinking his Bloody Stream into Birdramon's gut and knocking her from the air with a single shot.

Sora runs for her, screaming in sheer terror.

Sora: BIRDRAMON!!! BIRDRAMOOOOOOOOOON!!!

The dub makes this a little more on the nose.

Sora: Birdramon! Birdramon, no! I love you!

Now that she's over her internalized emotional blockage, Sora's feelings erupt and her Crest activates. Birdramon CHOU-SHINKAAAAAA!!!

Birdramon Super-Evolves into her Perfect-stage Garudamon. And then immediately ignores Vamdemon while he shits himself over his exposure to the sacred power of the holy device and Crest, now glowing inside Garudamon.

Vamdemon: W-What is that light!?

Garudamon ignores him to pick up Sora and talk to her instead. That's fair.

Garudamon: Sora, your love... I felt so much of it.Sora: (crying tears of relief) Piyomon... So cool....

While they have this moment, the narrator cuts in for the rundown. Garudamon is a Perfect-stage Vaccine-type Bird Person Digimon. Her name is a reference to the god Garuda, the king of birds in Hindu mythology.

That she's been promoted from a bird dragon to a male humanoid god who governs the domain of birds is why she looks like that.

Narrator: Garudamon. A Bird Person Digimon that evolves from Birdramon. Through justice and order, she is the guardian deity of the natural environment. Her special attack is Shadow Wing.

In the dub, Myotismon seems even more confused than Vamdemon.

Myotismon: What!? Where is that glow coming from!? (Garudamon picks up Sora) Garudamon: (growly beast voice) SOOOOORA! I CAN FEEL YOUR LOOOOOOOVE! It's making me strong! Sora: (crying tears of relief) My Crest... It glows.... Tentomon: (here now) Garudamon is the Ultimate form of Birdramon. She commands the sky and protects the earth. Her attack is a flaming bird called Wing Blade.

Sora's more interested in her Crest than Garudamon. Which is fair because Dub Garudamon became fucking terrifying holy shit. That was a choice and a half. I'd be trying to focus on literally anything else too.

Now that she's properly introduced, Garudamon turns her attention on Vamdemon.

Vamdemon: Rrgh, the Crest of Love just had to activate at the most crucial moment! Garudamon: I will protect Sora! Shadow Wing!

Her Shadow Wing takes the form of a flaming bird. Vamdemon matches with his Night Raid, resulting in a momentary tug-of-war between their dueling attacks.

But Night Raid roots Vamdemon in place while he fires it, while Shadow Wing is self-sustaining. While Vamdemon is rooted in that spot, Garudamon snatches up the kids and Partners and takes flight, leaving him behind.

In the dub, "Hey Digimon" fires up as Garudamon lets off her Wing Blade, and its upbeat positivity is absolutely tone-destroying. Like we are actively fleeing for our lives from Dracula to the tune of Don't Worry Be Happy.

When their attacks collide, the dub gives Myotismon the line:

Myotismon: I did not anticipate such strength!

Did... Did you not? You've been pretty upset each time a new Crest glowed.

Garudamon carries the kids to safety, and they unpack Sora's realization by a nice river the next morning.

Taichi: See? There was nothing to worry about. Your Crest glowed just fine. Sora: Before I knew what I was doing, I started acting like my mom. Pyokomon: Sora.... Sora: That's when I understood. My mom loved me all along. Pyokomon: I felt it too! I felt your love! Sora: I'm sorry about before. Pyokomon: I'm just glad you're back to normal! Taichi: Aww, I want Sora's love too! Jou: Taichi, you moron! Do you realize what you're saying!? Takeru: Huh? Jou-san, your face is beet red! Mimi: Jou-senpai, would you like some of my love? Jou: Huh!?

Mimi deposits various seeds into Jou's hands. I honestly can't explain this one. It's clearly meant to be a visual pun but fuck if I know what it is. The other kids clearly get it, though, and they all have a good laugh at Jou's expense.

Jou: (tired) Mimi-kun... okay.... Group: (laughs hysterically) Narrator: The children accepted Sora back into their group and their unity was stronger than ever before. However....

In the dub:

Tai: All you had to do is stop worrying about it, Sora, and you got your Crest to work! Sora: When Biyomon was in danger of getting hurt, I realized that I was acting just like my mom. Know what I realized? My mom loved me all along. Yokomon: And it was your love that helped me Digivolve, Sora. Sora: I'm glad. Yokomon: You see? You are capable of love after all. Tai: I felt something. I guess it was your love shining through! Joe: I felt something too. It made me feel uncomfortable. T.K.: Love shouldn't make you feel like that! Mimi: That's right, T.K.! I know why you felt uncomfortable, Joe. Joe: Hmm? Why? Mimi: (deposits the seeds in his hands) These were in your pocket! Joe: Oh, I guess it wasn't love. Group: (laughs hysterically) Matt V.O.: Sora joined up with us again and we were closer than ever. We finally thought things were going our way. And then....

Okay when and why was Mimi rifling through Joe's pockets? I do not understand the Japanese joke but I somehow manage to understand the English one even less.

Tai's bit here is also notably different. In the original, he's whining because he wants to feel Sora's love too - with Jou-senpai immediately calling him out on how flirtatious that sounded. Either he's intentionally hitting on Sora or he's innocently saying something that sounds like hitting on Sora. Either way, senpai doesn't like it.

In the dub, he's celebrating the fact that he did feel Sora's love shining through a similar metaphysical connection to the one she has with Piyomon. Implying exactly the sort of relationship between them that Taichi may or may not want to have with her, depending on if he's started thinking about that yet.

Suddenly, the sky darkens. Black clouds fill the air and Vamdemon's eerie "Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha." laugh emerges from them. We close this episode out on the dire words of our new villain.

Sora: That voice! Vamdemon: Chosen Children. With only seven of you, you won't be able to defeat our evil power.

Uh. Cool. Thanks for dropping by to tell us that. He's hinting at the existence of the Eighth Child, which is going to become important to this arc going forward. Not sure why he's showing up to do that, though. This cliffhanger could have been an email.

The dub overlooks the importance of the number and instead plays it as a general gloat.

Sora: I know that laugh! Myotismon: You foolish DigiDestined! The seven of you are no match for my powers! Prepare for your ultimate destruction! MUWUHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

So, no foreshadowing here. Just a more aggressive cliffhanger to really get you biting your nails about his impending attack.

Which. Uh. There is no impending attack. We'll start next episode with the kids hanging out at this river, perfectly safe. He can't attack in broad daylight like this. He really was just coming by to say "LOL No Eighth Child? Scrubs."

You salty, bro?

Assessment: Well that was an emotional fucking roller coaster. I did not remember this episode very well and for that I am ashamed, because this was fucking good. Toshiko and Sora's drama tore my heartstrings right in fucking half.

The dub certainly made some questionable choices but on the whole I'd say that this is one of their better ones. Sora's character arc is preserved as intact as they could get it despite the untranslatable cultural elements to it, and that's the heart of the episode more than anything else.

Now I'm going to go get some McDonalds and process paralyzing adult fears for a while.

#digimon #digimon adventure #revisiting digimon #revisiting digimon adventure

37 notes · View notes

lusthurts · 2 years ago

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**SPOILER WARNING FOR THE RED WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE MOVIE**

This movie was very entertaining. It hit all the beats of a great rom-com. I personally enjoyed the music a lot, even if it was at times very different from the music in the book. Nicholas Galitzine was a standout of the main cast for me - he really made me feel Henry’s angst just like the book did, and I think this is a character that the film truly did justice. My personal favorite character from the movie though was Zahra - Sarah Shahi was absolutely incredible. She had fantastic comedic timing and her dynamic with Alex, Henry, Shaan, and Ellen. I really enjoyed Bea, Nora, & Pez as well, although I think they were severely underused and I kinda hated how the Nora/Pez dynamic worked without June. I think the romance was beautiful - I particularly enjoyed the polo scene, the karaoke scene, the Texas stuff, and the V&A museum.

I also laughed out loud a ton during the movie. Zahra’s scenes were hilarious, and the royal wedding/cake debacle was handled perfectly. I miss June here a bit, but I generally was very satisfied with how it all went down. Also, despite many fans early fears of a lack of chemistry between Nick and Taylor, I thought their chemistry was fantastic. Maybe not the best I’ve ever seen, but it was definitely believable, entertaining, and one of the most compelling parts of the story.

I also liked that we got more of Henry’s POV than we did in the book. It didn’t add a ton in my opinion, but I do think it allowed Nicholas Galitzine to show off his acting chops. I think the heart of the book remains, and after the press/everything I’d heard about the movie going into it, I was pleasantly surprised with how the political stuff was handled. Alex’s arc with Texas in particular was beautiful, and I think the end of the movie left me with a similar feeling to the book.

As for things I didn’t love, and I will say there were kind of a lot of small things, I’ve made a list that I’m sure no one cares much to read.

I missed June a lot. I identify a lot with her character, and although I totally understand why she was cut out (I do think in the book she serves less plot purpose than Nora), I actually think the choice to exclude her made even less sense after seeing the movie than before seeing it. Nora and Alex’s relationship felt very underdeveloped in the movie, and none of the romantic elements that I thought made their relationship important to the book ended up mattering at all in the movie. He kisses a different girl on New Year’s, there’s no mention of a sexual history between them, there’s no fake dating setup to detract from Alex/Henry, and Nora’s just generally absent. I feel like June would’ve served that purpose fine if not better.

The romance felt kind of rushed. The whole Christmas phone call that imo is so crucial to Henry & Alex’s relationship and character development doesn’t happen at all (probably because his parents are still together), and I didn’t have like a timer or clock or anything but it felt like the 100 or so pages leading up to the NYE kiss was like less than 20 minutes.

I hated that Alex’s parents were happily married, and I think it massively takes away from his character development. His arc honestly fell very short for me which is disappointing since he’s a character I identify so closely with. I don’t feel like they do his like major anxiety justice, and I think he goes from kinda being an idealist, reckless dummy to being a heartfelt, romantic, ready for a big commitment guy in the span of a few minutes.

I honestly could’ve done without the sex scenes. They were good, and I could tell the intimacy coordinator slayed with this one, but they were more explicit than the book imo (especially the one in Paris), and while I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, I would’ve much rather had more fade to black so as to save screen time to develop the romance more at the beginning.

I didn’t enjoy the Miguel character at all. He has no character development, and I do not at all understand how this character is the Luna/Liam blend he was promoted as. He functions as a ruthless journalist who despite being queer himself decides to out Henry and Alex to the entire world, and we NEVER get an explanation for why. It’s alluded to that maybe Miguel had feelings for Alex and did it because he resented Alex for not feeling the same? But like, he literally outed two prominent figures to the entire world at risk of benefitting a homophobic predator running for office. And he never apologizes? Or faces any repercussions???? Like this is just kind of there?? And that is NOT AT ALL Rafael Luna or Liam who are both generally speaking positive forces in Alex’s life. I just don’t get it at all.

This is a personal issue I had that most probably don’t care about, but I’m from Minnesota, and seeing Minnesota red in the movie was infuriating. MN is not a swing state, never really has been, and was basically the only state in the upper midwest to stay blue in the 2016 election. I’m biased because this is my home state, but MN would NEVER vote red and I’m kinda just annoyed at the implication that it did instead of them just choosing to blame it on all the actual swing states.

Okay those are my thoughts. I doubt anyone cares that much, but I needed to get it out of my system. I will say I really enjoyed the movie, and I can see why the bulk of reviews are positive. I think anyone who didn’t read the book won’t feel like anything is missing, and fans of the book will for the most part still really enjoy it. I will definitely be rewatching when it comes out officially on Amazon Prime tomorrow, and I can see myself rewatching hundreds more times in the future. But it sort of needs to exist independent of the book for me, I guess. And that’s okay! I think everyone involved did a great job with the adaptation, and I look forward to watching it again.

#red white and royal blue #rwrb #firstprince #red white and royal blue movie #red white and royal blue review

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siriusly-parker · 1 year ago

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(this is for a jjk oc of mine if that is okay!!) her name is inayah nasri (her friends at tokyo jujutsu call her ‘ina’ or ‘naya’). she is egyptian! she has red eyes, dark skin, and long black hair with blonde highlights. she is a 5’10 libra ESFP!! she is studying at tokyo jujutsu because she got in trouble back at home for her curse technique lol. ANYWAY, she loves karaoke, romantic comedies, sanrio, cats, fashion, pottery, and romance books!! she really wants to make friends but she doesn’t want to intrude on the already formed trios/ friendships :( but when you know her, she’s a huge extrovert that wants to do anything and everything with the people she loves!! thank you so much can’t wait to see who you choose! <3

Okok hear me out 😭😭🙏 i feel like she’d be distrusting of the first years because of the way she was treated back home. They seemed like a great trio!! She just didn’t want to barge in their little party.

Being a crazy extrovert, i feel like she’d try (key word TRY) to tone it down. People often thought she was too much, so she needed to give a good first impression and not mess it up. She ends up having small outbursts like raising her hand in class for something stupid or laughing a little too loud or interrupting a conversation. She’d just shut down every time though. Melting on her school chair or just turning her back to the group of friends talking.

The first years thought she was a little weird, sure, but she was nice! Clearly she was just nervous!! One day though, after running away from a pretty embarrassing joke she made (which really wasn’t embarrassing, everyone thought it was hilarious, and Yuuji peed his pants a little ngl), you bump into Yuuta (little harsher than a bump though, quite literally he has to hold you so you don’t fall).

“Are you okay?”

And that’s where the unlikely friendship started. You started hanging out with him more and opening up to everyone. After that, it was easy to just be yourself. You got along well with the other three in your class, but you had to admit, you often opted to hang out with the older group. Maybe it was because of a certain special grade, but who am i to go around telling other people’s secret crushes?

(shy boyfriend x extroverted girlfriend!!! Yuuta would actually be the one forcing you to hang out with the others in the beginning tho. But after it’s all settled, you’d be dragging him along any adventure of yours)

Yuuta is my baby and i love him 😫🙏💗💗💗

#—𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬! ˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚💌°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*#jjk #jjk x y/n #jujutsu kaisen #jujutsu kaisen fluff #jjk yuta #yuta okkotsu x reader #yuuta okkotsu #yuuta okkotsu x reader #yuta okkotsu #jjk yuuta #yuta okkotsu x you #x y/n #fanfic #fluff #x reader #imagine #x you #headcanons

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emilybahu · 1 year ago

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Just a culmination of thoughts I had and moments I liked during 7x06:

This ended up being MUCH longer than an expected, I just kept adding things to it! So you totally don’t need read the whole thing just skim through if you want…

1. Maddie about a minute away from a panic attack, but still looking stunning✨

2. Hen looks like she’s gonna go all angry mom mode on Buck and Eddie, who are looking ROUGH… she gives them a look that should put the fear of god into anyone!

3. You know, I just wanted them to have one major milestone that didn’t involve one or both of them being in danger, but NOOOO! We don’t even know where Chimney is and Buck and Eddie are a complete hit mess! Evan “✨it’s complicated✨” Buckley.

4. Oh my god I love Buck and Eddie and their shared brain cell so much! Their bickering is hilarious! Buck slapping Eddie’s hand away from the sliders and later Eddie saying, “reach for them and you’ll be pulling back a bloody stump!” 🤣🤣🤣

5. RAVI WHAT ARE YOU DOING, DO YOU WANT TO DIE!? 🤣

6. “Wholesome 80s themed karaoke” and Eddie proposing that he and Buck go as Crockett and Tubbs.

7. I kinda figured Chimney wouldn’t show seeing as HE DIDN’T WANT A PARTY. Then everyone leaves and it’s JUST Buck and Eddie, because of course!

8. And back to Buck and Tommy again… Tommy has to go and put out a LITERAL fire and we get a second Buck/Tommy hug in the span of like 3 minutes! I’m getting FED they are so cute and soft, and Tommy really doesn’t want to leave but has no choice… the soft hug and “be safe” I’m sorry my heart is melting! 🫠❤️

9. Buck and Eddie are just having A TIME with all these random people, and of course being the touch starved boys they are, you get a little (a lot) of alcohol in em they obviously need to have physical contact at all times! 🤣

10. Drunk Buck being like “we don’t have a key🥺” and Drunk Eddie “you don’t need a key,” (hand on shoulder, thumb on pulse point) “we’re fire fighters👨‍🚒😈” continues to kick in the door!

11. CHAOS ENTERS THE BUILDING, I couldn’t stop laughing! Honestly I didn’t realize Buck and Eddie could party this hard! Buck wakes up on the floor, Eddie’s in the bath tub (a shirt? What’s that? Never heard of it) and Chimney is FUCKING NO WHERE TO BE FOUND! 😬

12. Cut to Maddie desperately trying to get ahold of Chimney and track him down, but he’s somewhere in his car dazed, confused and clearly UNWELL! And his car gets freaking stolen!

13. The dinner celebrating Kevin’s life 🥲

14. Gosh dang it, everyone in the room together worried about Chimney, god my heart! I hope they find him soon!

15. Maddie showing up at the dispatch center in her wedding dress! The woman means business! SHE GONNA FIND HER MAN!

16. Doug, DOUG!? What are you doing torturing Chimney in his subconscious!? No one wants you here!

17. Seeing Maddie’s reaction to Chimney in this state is heartbreaking! She just wants to make sure he’s ok, but he’s clearly not!😢

18. Bruh, we keep getting jump scared by Doug, I’m so DONE with that guy!

19. Time jump to two weeks earlier… “telling Buck ‘no’ is like telling a dog not to jump your leg” just more proof that Buck is a man with the soul of a golden retriever puppy…🤣

20. Bobby saying “well evidently our two love birds over there were enjoying some sexy time, when they heard some weeping” had me wheezing! 😂

21. When they figured out what was wrong with Chimney I got so scared, even though I knew he’d likely be fine. Never know what might happen though…

22. When Chimney’s paramedic skills kicked back in it gave me hope, then he saw Doug again… and still didn’t remember that he’s actually a paramedic.

23. He knows he needs to be somewhere and he hears Buck calling for him, Chimney knows they’re looking for him, then freaking Doug makes him almost give up fighting! 🥲

24. NO DOUG🙄 MADDIE DIDN’T FUCKING LIKE BEING ABUSED!

25. KEVIN🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 Kevin telling Chimney he NEEDS to get up and get help!

26. Maddie in the hospital with Chimney, thinking he doesn’t remember her then him saying “I’m sorry I missed our wedding” GOD MY HEART!

27. Jee running in yelling “daddy!” 🥹

28. “We always get back to each other somehow” please! My heart can’t handle this! They’re meant to be!!🥹😭

29. “I know Kevin is smiling right now” “yeah he is” I can’t breathe! I’m shocked I didn’t cry!

30. Just the whole ceremony, Bobby officiating! Everyone so happy for them together after this day they’ve had! I’m just gonna melt into a puddle of pure emotion! 🥹🥺

31. I love them. I love them! I LOVE THEM!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

32. Buck looking down at his phone to see that Tommy told him he’s there 🤭🤭

33. I made a whole post about this kiss, ahhhhhh!! (My reaction remains the same every time I watch it, I lose control of my limbs, my voice gets all high and squeaky, and I lose the ability to form actual words) The damn 10 second scene still has me SHOOK! 😆🫨

34. Buck pulling Tommy into the room, Tommy apologizing for missing the ceremony and Chimney looking up at him and over to Buck and saying “Thanks tommy, looks like you were… busy” (I didn’t even think about how long Buck was gone before, but since they had time to cut and serve cake to everyone Buck had to be just in another world with Tommy for at least 20 minutes…)

35. Hen’s face when she realizes that Buck and Tommy totally were just making out! And Eddie being the supportive king of a bff that the is!

36. The Buckley parents faces… I’ll be ready to throw hands in a second if they say something homophobic later on!

37. Hen saying “well it’s about damn time” to Karen!! Ahhhhhh! Girlllll!!! Are telling me you could see Buck’s raging bisexuality THE WHOLE TIME!? 😆😆😆😆 She so CLOCKED HIM!

38. Chimney feels right at home anywhere if he and Maddie are together!! ❤️🫠🥹

39. Not them mentioning the cruise ship!! Too soon, too soon! 🫠 But I also laughed!😂

40. “So, were Buck and Tommy a thing before my amnesia?” “Um yeah, actually they were.” (Still trying to figure out how much time there was between the coffee date and the wedding… I have no clue. [Please can someone tell me!?])

41. “Why do they call me Chimney?” And cut to black…. Really, REALLY!? That was cruel, so rude. They’re never gonna tell us why they call him Chimney are they?

And that’s the end!

#911 abc #9-1-1 #evan buckley #eddie diaz #tommy kinard #maddie buckley #chimney han #hen wilson #madney wedding #911 7x06 #911 spoilers #just my thoughts

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steddieasitgoes · 1 year ago

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@steddiemas Day 11 Prompt: Pop/Alt Holiday Songs

Tags: Alcohol Consumption, Established Relationship, Santa Con, Karaoke, Steve Harrington Is A Tease

wc: 1596 | Rating: T

Read on ao3 | ao3 collection

Eddie’s had his fair share of wild nights bar hopping in Seattle. Sometimes with Steve, sometimes with the Corroded Coffin boys, sometimes alone desperate to break out of the deep-seated loneness that overtakes him every few years.

But he’s never experienced anything quite like this.

After a night of endless hopping, they find themselves at a karaoke bar in the heart of Downtown Boston packed with college students and young adults all dressed in their best Santa suits like them. Miraculously, they find an empty booth in the corner and stake their claim.

Robin and Nancy collapse into each other, shedding their red coats over the worn edge as they do so. Jonathan and Argyle aren’t far behind, though Argyle stays fully in costume. (“I really think I should grow a beard, my dude,” he slurs for the hundredth time of the night as he shuffles across the cracking vinyl.) Steve goes next, sliding in next to Robin and then Eddie follows, nearly missing the seat entirely as the opening chords of Wham’s “Last Christmas” rips through the small bar from the stage across the room. A pair of best friends laugh their way through the opening words, absolutely massacring the song.

“Oh god,” Steve groans. “They’re disrespecting Wham!”

“That’s the point!” Robin giggles, moving to rest her head on his shoulder. “No one is supposed to sing good at karaoke! S’why we’re all here!”

“We are not singing karaoke!”

“You better turn that Grinch face of yours around because we absolutely are! Nance and I signed us all up weeks ago.”

“You devious lesbians,” Eddie laughs before leaning around Steve to place a slobbery kiss on Robin’s head. “I owe you so much for this one.”

“Buy us drinks and we’ll call it even!”

It’s a fair deal as far as Eddie’s concerned so he quickly gets himself back on his feet and wades through the hoards of Santas until he gets to the bar. It’s just like any other dive bar he’s been in. Sticky countertops, shelves, and shelves of liquor, charming but overworked bartenders working and flirting their asses off for tips. He knows exactly what it’s like bartending and he doesn’t miss it.

Though maybe he would have had more fun if the places he worked had events like this. At least he’d have people to make fun of beyond the sad drunks that became his regulars.

Eddie returns five minutes later with a tray of mixed drinks and shots. If he’s being totally straight with himself, he’s not sure what he ordered. They look pretty though and judging by the puckered face on Robin and Jonathan’s faces, they must be mixed well. Lightweights the both of them.

Needing the least bit of persuading, Eddie takes the stage first, serenading the crowd in a rock and roll rendition of “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas” that goes off the rails given he sings it at double the speed. Argyle drags Jonathan up next, the two stumbling their way through “Feliz Navidad” — Argyle carries the Spanish sections while Jonathan squints at the teleprompter during the English bits. It’s a hilarious disaster that has the entire bar cheering them on.

Nancy and Robin’s rendition of “Last Christmas” gets everyone going and suddenly a complimentary round of drinks ends up on their table as they belt out the final line. A few groups of strangers take the stage next. They’re decent but nowhere as entertaining as any of them. They’re only half watching at this point, too engrossed with their own conversations and carry-over argument over who the best-dressed Santa of the bunch is.

(“Obviously s’not Eddie,” Nancy giggles.

“You wound me, Wheeler,” Eddie gasps, clutching a hand over his jet-black fur coat. “Gothic Santa would have killed it in Seattle. You Bostonians don’t understand culture.”)

Another round of drinks materializes on their table and then they’re back in the karaoke rotation again. By the time Steve’s name is being called by the poor bar employee tasked with keeping things running smoothly, he’s the perfect amount of drunk that he doesn’t protest Eddie’s careful tugging. He doesn’t go willingly, but he’s sporting that crooked smile of his that tells Eddie he’s not exactly mad about the events transpiring in front of him.

“See sweetheart,” Eddie croons, leaning into his space as he passes him the mic. “Just needed a little liquid courage. Now show the world how great of a singer you are.”

“S’gonna be a disaster.”

“Oh, definitely,” Eddie smiles, pecking his cheek. “But that’s the point!”

Eddie doesn’t give Steve time to reach out and instead retreats to the booth. He slides in next to a giddy Robin as they both wait with bated breath for Steve to choose a song. A minute or two of silence passes before Steve looks up from the machine. The old stage lights cast a beautiful shadow over him. Eyes sparkling in the harsh fluorescents. Usually, Steve would be complaining about the godawful lights, but right now he’s winking at Eddie and practically skipping to the center of the stage.

Another moment of silence passes before the bright cheery guitar of Britney Spears’s My Only Wish (This Year) floods the place. Steve starts rocking his hips to the beat, hand gripping the microphone tight enough that Eddie can see his knuckles turning white. The nerves evaporate from his body the minute he starts singing, though. If Eddie didn’t know better, he’d think Steve has been possessed by the spirit of the Princess of Pop.

“I signed my letter that I sealed with a kiss,” Steve sings, throwing a hand over his lips before blowing a sloppy kiss in Eddie’s direction. And then he’s moving again, skipping around the stage as his Santa coat glides around behind him.

By the time the second verse hits, Steve’s shimming out of the coat, putting on a show for the group of girls sitting at the front tables. Eddie wants to scream. Wants to stalk over to the girls and tell them to back the fuck up, but he’s held steady in his seat by Jonathan’s comforting hand and Steve’s unwavering gaze as he locks eyes with him across the hoards of people.

“I want my baby, baby,” Steve scream sings, already losing the beat as his hips continue to sway.

“Someone to love me, someone to hold!” Eddie shouts along with him as the rest of the table eggs him on.

It’s chaos after that. Steve throws his Santa hat into the crowd, Robin’s on the table filming the entire thing on her ancient iPhone. “That’s your man, Munson,” Nancy wheezes, nudging Eddie’s ribs every time Steve turns to shake his ass for the excited crowd.

Eddie’s absolutely captivated by the performance. When he first met Steve years ago he was uptight and reserved. It didn’t matter how much effort Eddie put into his conversations, it was like trying to pry open a bank vault. But when he finally cracked the code, Steve sparkled in a way Eddie couldn’t even dream about.

Steve’s better now, more open with himself and who is he. Fully embraces the fun that life has to offer, but Eddie can tell there are moments when he retreats to that small boy who never got the attention he deserved. It’s what makes moments like this so much more amazing. Seeing Steve shine and live his best life, free from judgment is the best gift Eddie’s ever received. And he’s not about to miss a damn minute of it.

When the bridge drops, Steve prances around the stage like one of Santa’s reindeer. He’s sporting a reindeer headband that someone threw up there and there are a handful of dollar bills crumpled up on the edge of the stage. Somehow it’s gone from a karaoke show to some erotic dance number as Steve shimmies around and tries to keep up with the words.

Eddie’s never been more in love in his entire life.

“Santa, that’s my only wish this year,” Steve sings the final line, holding out the note like he’s the Princess of Pop herself instead of some high school teacher.

A standing ovation follows, but Eddie doesn’t have time to bask in the affection being thrown at his boyfriend because he’s moving through the crowd faster than he’s ever moved in his life. When he gets to the end of the stage, Steve practically dives into his arms. He wraps himself around Eddie, legs around his waist, arms around his neck and smiles that perfect, beautiful smile of his. His cheeks are flushed pink from the performance and the amount of liquor coursing through his veins and his eyes are big and bright.

“What’d think? S’Santa gonna grant my wish?” Steve asks.

“Sweetheart,” Eddie coos, ducking his head to get his lips on Steve’s. “You know I’ll be waiting for you under the tree in a big red bow.”

#steddiemas #steddie #steddie fic #steddie ficlet #steddie fan fic #steve harrington #steve harrington fic #eddie munson #eddie munson fic #dani writes

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mydearthisbe · 2 months ago

Text

Ayesha Liveblogs The Heart Killers

I am very excited for this show. My understanding that it is the two guys from Hidden Agenda + 10 Things I Hate About You (The Taming of the Shrew) + political assassination. I can't wait to find out more

"88, you're up." It's a toss-up if this is going to be a brothel, a host club, or a lightweight boxing ring

"Not too fast, sir. Let's wait for the food to arrive. We can go all out with no interruptions after." Oh, so the first one!

Side note: If this plan to get this man was all contingent upon the client choosing #88 specifically, it seems like they were leaving a lot up to chance. What if he chose someone else?

"Who the hell are you people?" "We're the guys who'll take you to heaven, sir." Well, that would be a non-suspicious thing to say in this environment if it weren't for the gunshots about to go off

Those were very quiet gunshots, actually! Colour me surprised

Why've they named the only white man in the cast Captain Christ??? That's hilarious LMAO

I do appreciate them naming all the characters in the intro though, makes it easier to follow. Also wild that one of the main characters is named Bison, I feel like he got the short end of the stick

"We literally just clocked off. Shouldn't you be laying low?" "Are you my brother or my father Fadel? You nitpick too much." I am vibrating with joy, I love 10 Things I Hate About You. I can't wait for Fadel to be romanced into unclenching

I appreciate that they captioned "Old Fart" as the contact name on the phone screen, very important characterization

"You're with your best friend, but you keep looking around for your next body count." Is the bowling alley the hot place to hook up now?

"But you're in no position to call me out when you've been playing around just the same." Friendship Genre: Bowling Alley Whores (complimentary)

Another reason to watch this show is Dunk Natachai's crop tops

You know, of all the suspicious things that Bison has done (killing a man who at least five witnesses saw him with, close physical contact and having drinks that leave his DNA, wearing bright red as he leaves), the most suspicious is going to a bowling alley alone. THAT'S killer behaviour. Was the motorcycle driver he left with an Uber? Did you Uber from the crime scene?

"I'm sorry. I was just making small talk because I thought you're cute." "See, that ain't so hard, right? No need to be patronizing." HAHA Bison said: I am not accepting constructive criticism at this time

"I literally had one can of beer." "Hey, that's already one too many. You shouldn't even be behind the wheel!" I appreciate the sentiment. Also there's so many scenes between these two actors about drinking and driving LMAO. This is like the third one

Style and Fadel have gotten off on an interesting foot with their Meet Rude at the Hit-and-Gotta-Run

Meanwhile simultaneous to the Meet Rude: Bison-Kant Hotel Hook-Up

"You're not doing this solo, you know?" Bison said: I do offer constructive criticism in the bedroom however

Kant's tattoos really do look like stickers, which makeup artist was responsible for this LOL

You will NEVER catch me going to a tattoo studio called Ink Sting

"I don't wanna be an uncle yet." You see, it is clear from context clues that Babe is Kant's brother's name, but it is a little confusing with it also being a term of endearment

Kant said: We do not do subtle literary allusions here, watch as I read the play that inspired this show

"Our gig last night. We made headlines." [Crime Boss Shot Dead at Massage Parlor] "Crap. Ain't that cool? Do they know we did it?" They will soon if you keep casually discussing it at your fast food establishment, Bison

"Do you forget who and why we had to move our house and business here?" PLEASE SHOOTING OFF YOUR GUN FOR EMPHASIS DURING KARAOKE IS THE FUNNIEST REASON EVER TO HAVE TO MOVE YOUR HITMEN BUSINESS

"Mother only wants us to kill bad people. Those money laundering, drug and human trafficking scums." Mother as in their boss' nickname or literally their mum? Crazy way to be raised LMAO

Please, that's so insane that Bison's like 'Maybe we should stop killing people for a bit' and Fadel's like 'Unrealistic, blocked.' However, I guess once you're in, you're in

"What do you need me to do?" "Get close to some hitmen." I was wondering what the motive for Kant to start scheming would be, and it turns out he is a car-thief-gone-tattoo-artist-gone-narc

Also Captain Christ fully extorting Kant to be an informant. ACAB

Style so far is my favourite part of this show. I love his little Garage Dance. He's in a different genre of show than the other three guys

Biblically accurate Joongdunk to be two inches from each other's mouths as soon as they're on screen together

"Why didn't we open an omelette restaurant instead?" LMAO BISON CAN'T COOK?? Rough

"Do you have delivery? I might need to order this later." "Currently we don't. But if you want it, I'll be right at your door." Weel weel weel, aren't you a smooth operator, Bison

"In our profession, when someone approaches us, it's wise to assume they want something. Don't be their victim." That's good advice from Fadel, actually

"You flip burgers? You certainly don't fit the look. " "What should we look like? With a bun on our head?" I love Style trying to flirt and Fadel responding with pure hostile energy

Serves Style right for trying to flirt with a sharp object (Burger Pin)

"Something happened when I was a kid. I almost drowned." Calling it right now, one of them is ending up in the water in a future ep

Honestly, very fair of Fadel to not like Kant groping his brother in front of their restaurant in broad daylight. Plus, he IS a narc

"What do I have to do if I want to be the first guy to take you out?" "Win Fadel over." "How should I proceed?" "It's impossible. Fadel doesn't trust anybody. He has no friends. He doesn't believe in love. As long as he's single, so am I." "What I hear is, if your brother has someone, it's possible between us." We've arrived at the plot

"I'll do it. Not just for the car, but someone like him needs to be humbled by someone like me." This somehow seems worse than doing it for money, Style

"How you'd find this place?" "Nothing is out of my reach if I really want it." Also, he was literally wearing a pin that said Heart Burger

WHY ARE THEY ZOOMING IN THE BUTTER KNIFE LIKE FADEL'S CONSIDER AN IMPROMPTU BUTTER KNIFE MURDER HAHAHA

Things are not going well for the Fadel-Style flirtationship:

"He's just a normal, harmless tattooist," said Bison, standing over the corpse the guy he and his brother had just murdered

Gkjhkjhg Style's new flirting strategy: Causing a ruckus at the farmer's market

Fadel said: I will ruckus you right back, get hosed, Style

"If you play with him every day like that, you'll only regret it when we have to move again." The cat is a metaphor, perhaps

I guess Kant information-gathering for Style's romance endeavours is two-birds-one-stone because he needs to know about Fadel anyway

Vandalizing your own restaurant to distract your brother is deranged, but not as deranged as being a hitman, so all in perspective I guess

Bison said: Here is your Illustrated Guide to Hitting on Fadel

"You greenlit me to have my friend take your brother out. Wasn't it because you wanted us to be something?" "I just want Fadel to let his hair down a bit. I need some time to live my own life." Both reasonable takes

I like that at no point has Bison asked any questions about the friend that Kant has enlisted. Not gender, age, appearance. Nor has Kant asked for any criteria for Fadel, aside from being bold and crazy. They're both like, 'I trust that your friend is hot and annoying enough to enchant my brother'

"Well, then, based on your books, what should I do in this situation?" Ulterior motives aside, it is sweet that Kant is asking his little brother for advice

"If you want to join me, catch up." HAHAHA get 'im Fadel

I guarantee Style's bleacher cheer is a Heather Ledger reference

"I'd like to be the first to eat you." Style is bold, I'll give him that

"Sorry, I was taking orders from some customers for you." WHAT? Style said: I will convince anyone that I work anywhere, give me five minutes

With Tawan (Bowling Flirter) this show has more racial diversity than any Thai show I've seen (having more than one white guy)

Incredibly, Fadel is responding positively to Style's Hell's Kitchen-esque narration of his cooking

Even more unsubtle references: The music talking about hidden motives during the Bowling Alley Dance-Off

"But you're allowed to look, you know? I don't mind." Fadel said: Oh no, you've found my weakness, which happens to be Naked Style

The closest Style has come to successfully flirting with Fadel is almost initiating a handjob in the sauna

Also that Sauna Uncle was right to be judgmental, this is a public gym, that's not sanitary!

"I like you. I liked you the moment I crashed into you that night. It was love at first sight. So damn romantic. Straight out of a movie." "Or a freaking soap opera. I don't believe you." Wise of you, Fadel

Style said: I have now rewritten my Fadel strategy. Blind horniness will see me through to the end

(And he was right! Fadel has no armour against Style giving him a leetle kiss on the mouth)

"Did I do a good job hitting on your boyfriend?" Not Tawan being a jealousy-for-hire LOL

PLEASE Fadel is so social media savvy, he found out that his brother won a dance competition right away and ambushed him with it. What's he got, a google alert?

"We're in the internet era. Don't you think having no social media would be weirder?" I'm actually with Bison on this one

"What else do you think he wants from me, Fadel? He wants my body. He wants my heart." Bison's sincerity is a little heartbreaking

Fadel said: Okay FINE, the sauna thing got me, sue me

"But for this kill, you need to make it a spectacle." I can't imagine this'll go well for Fadel and Bison

"What would you do to torture the truth out of me? Would you kiss or choke me?" "You'll know." THIS IS A DERANGED interaction to have in a public place

"'If I be waspish, best beware of my sting.'" Kant said: You know, Bison, I actually come with a Shakespearean warning label!

"Do I look like I can hurt anyone?" asked Bison, as if he did not have a body count higher than most serial killers

"Up your game and gain his trust. He'll lead you right into his house." Captain Christ, this feels like you are ASKING Kant to fuck Bison. I mean, he did and he will, but that feels like an HR violation. Not that you have morals, Officer Extortion

"Does your friend know they're hitmen?" "No." There are no ethical relationships in this show

This show is fulfilling a deep-seated need I didn't realize I had watch Dunk Natachai irritate a man into a relationship

"I'll give you some fresh meat daily." A bit much, Style

"Auntie, I'll be right back, I have to win that guy over." "Alright. I'm rooting for you. Do your best." PLEASE why does this excuse work

The romantic music interlude while Fadel is wearing the fast food uniform and Style is wearing a burger mascot costume with cowprint pants is killing me. This is the perfect show:

"All I ask from you is a little decency," said Style, as if he did not squeeze Fadel by the tit in greeting that morning

I know Kant and Bison's makeout and chat is supposed to cute or sexy but I cannot help but be SO alarmed he didn't sanitize his workstation after tattooing someone. And then he touched his mouth! WHERE IS YOUR BLOOD-BORNE PATHOGEN SAFETY????? WHO LET YOU BE A TATTOO ARTIST???

"I'll help you." "Fine. But go get changed into our uniform before that." I love that Fadel is learning to accept help from his Nuisance-with-Benefits

"What the hell is he busy doing?" Your boyfriend's brother

"Your place is pretty popular. You might do better at flipping burgers than killing people." AGAIN, INSANE INTERACTION TO HAVE IN PUBLIC

I guess we're gonna find out what the third little guy who follows Mother around is. He gives off less brother energy and more unpleasant cousin

"You said you'd quit last time too, but as we saw, you ended up having nowhere to go. Didn't the dude you wanted to rely on just disappear?" Ohhhhh, Fadel backstory unlocked

Also, very much assuming Mother had Fadel's ex killed

"I was just getting a tattoo," said Bison, like his brother didn't actively walk in on them doing nipple play

"If Mother didn't take us in, where'd we be? We would've had no parents, no house to live in, nothing!" PLEASE SO SHE RAISED THEM TO BE ASSASSINS LIKE SOME MORE FUCKED UP VERSION OF OLIVER TWIST

I'm not sure what part of this to focus on, the rain striptease, Style's fantasy sequence about getting his own personal striptease, or how Fadel will explain this away

"I'm just a good looking pacifist." Put this on my tombstone

I wonder if Fadel fighting off three men single-handedly and breaking an arm twice will cause Style to reevaluate his pursuit of this romance

"He's gotta be some kind of hitman, assassin, killer. I'm sure of it." Update from 30 seconds later: Sort of! He still wants him, but in a more detective sort of way. Also baffling that Style guessed hitman right away

Also is Kant mentioning to Style that he dances revealing that he was even lying earlier about not wanting to dance, so he could appear like he was dancing for Bison when he agreed? Kant hasn't told the truth one time in the span of three episodes

"I do all the chores at home. And I'm hygienic as hell, I'll have you know." No you're not, Kant, I've seen your aftercare

1) Interesting that we get an actual flashback of Fadel's former love and 2) Were his evening plans just to relive his regrets???

Style crashing Fadel's grief support group is so icky. I don't like it

You know, after this, I think Fadel is legally allowed to kill Style. I'll look the other way

How does the bartender not care about Kant being so suspicious with someone else's drink??? I'd kick him out SO fast

I gotta say, I was not expecting this Fadel-Style interaction to end with them fucking in the grief group spare room

"Fadel, as if I'd let you nail and bail on me like that." To be fair, I think with the sucker punch it qualifies as a hit it and quit it

There is a two-sided consent issue for this beginner's BDSM session, which is both Bison's drink being spiked (for investigative purposes, but still) and also Kant seeming averse to pain. That said, I'm not really rooting for them anyway, if I'm honest!

Well, at least it was a short-lived and clothed BDSM interlude

"What if he was a narc?" Well, I guess we'll find, won't we?

"He stole cars for parts. Cops were after him for years. Did you know that?" "That's pretty cool. Everyone has a past. That's normal." "You know what's not normal? The fact that he was never arrested. You think that's not strange? He must have made some deal with the police." Fadel's pretty good at deducing things, I'll give him that

LOL @ Style's ep 4 intro being the implied coming in his pants

"Don't tell me you're only jogging because of a girl?" "A girl? A boy, actually." "Oh yeah, my bad. I forgot you liked men." Style: MLM King and General Nuisance to Society

It's kind of hilarious that Style's strategy of ghosting Fadel immediately after sex is working. Fadel is consumed by thoughts of him

I can't even begin to describe the number of health code violations here. Right in front of Fadel's salad!

"You didn't think the part where you used to steal cars was worth mentioning?" Good on Bison for confronting Kant about it

"Didn't you see Babe just now?" "Babe?" "The bruises under his clothes. Did he get into a fight at school?" Is this where Kant's ill-founded motives for a relationship turn into real feelings

LMAO Style continuing to sit at the restaurant shirtless is the funniest possible response to Fadel cutting up his shirt. Touché!

"The teacher's always calling me and Babe sissy boys just because we go everywhere together. And because Babe and I love reading novels." This just in from Heart Killer High: It's gay to have friends and enjoy literature (from a teacher, no less!!)

"Ever since my parents died in a plane crash, I had to take over all the home expenses." That's such an extreme circumstance of death, is this Chekov's plane crash, to be brought back up as a romantic device later on in the show?

Mr. Sombat the Teacher's a homophobe bc he's a self-hating predator? Hate this for everyone involved

If Kant and Bison were less insane, they'd have reported the picture to the cops instead of having a brawl with this teacher in the school bathroom

"I got nailed and bailed," announced Style, at the grief group, like that was a normal thing to do

(Also. Since Style doesn't have a mum around. I sincerely thought he might ACTUALLY talk about grief this time. Colour me stupid!)

Poor Fadel, now the entire grief group knows his business

"You slept with me, so take responsibility for it." "Why? Are you pregnant?" Hahah, Fadel DOES have a sense of humour

Please, is he going to have sex with him in the grief group basement AGAIN? Fadel, I think this is a You Problem, now

"I might not trust you 100%, but I have to admit... What you did today totally rocks." Oh Bison, you do not have good taste in boyfriends

"You have my heart, so take good care of it." Oh, he won't, Bison!

"I don't like myself when I look for you on the morning jog or at the market. I don't like waiting to see if you'd show up at my restaurant or my go-to club. You—I don't like you being in my life and changing it. I don't like feeling like this. I don't like it! I don't like that I miss you." Fadel, I want to study you. Why has ANY of this been attractive to you?

Fadel and Style are christening their love with a handjob in the rafters of an abandoned warehouse

"I'm sorry for not taking good care of you." "Nah. I have to know how to hold my own." "But that's not all you do, right? You stand up for other people too." Kant and Babe have the healthiest dynamic in this whole show

"You don't know even know me." "And what about it? I'll learn more about you when you're my boyfriend. I'm 100% in. It's your turn to let me in a little bit." I do like that Fadel and Style can finally have a real conversation

"Fine, I'll be your boyfriend." HAHAHA Fadel is such a hypocrite, he's allowed to have a boyfriend but not Bison?

"I think Ruerat was behind the death of our parents." So they both have a Batman like origin story of watching their separate sets of parents get murdered? I feel like Mother™ did it LOL

"Crap, Kant! You made me hit on a gunman?" "Not a gunman. A hitman." HAHAHA I thought you had considered this possibility already, Style!

Not Style agreeing to spy on his newfound Hitman Boyfriend LOL

Khgkjgkh I do actually feel bad for Fadel, he finally propositioned Style back and was promptly rejected

"Just make I don't see anymore 'K's on anyone. Or else it's 'kill.'" Hazards of dating a hitman

"Your parents refused to sell them their lands. He had them killed. That was how you became orphans, and I took you in." That was a faster explanation than I was expecting

"You're pretty cheeky now." "I thought you liked that." "I do." Unexpected Keen-Tanont Office Romance???

"I thought you'd start dating and leave me too." Frankly, Mother, I think it's on you for recruiting so many young, hot, gay people into your organized crime

"I don't mind, you know. I don't like you that much. I'll get over it." Fadel is lying, he likes Style so much to put up with all this

"I look good on the court. It'll definitely make you scream." [Bison screams a soft sarcastic 'ah!'] That did charm me

Smart of Kant to come up with a preemptive reason for why he's taking notes on Bison (date purposes)

"Did you become a mechanic because you wanted to, or because of your family business?" "At first, I just wanted to help my dad out. But when my mother died, and he lost his bearings for a bit, I was glad I could have something I could talk to him about. But after a while, it kinda grew on me." Style can only discuss his grief at go-karting, not at the grief group

"When I came out to him about liking dudes, I was so afraid of disappointing him. But you know what he did? He tried to set me up with another mechanic at the garage." I love Style's dad

"Excuse me. My car broke down." "Need it fixed?" HAHAHA honestly, I love their silly little garage roleplay sex. Good for them!

Also: Style took about 20 minutes to hesitate about having sex with a killer, but he seems he's over it

"My parents were murdered." More honesty than I expected! However, now you murder other people's family for your job, Fadel? Violence is a cycle

"Have you had any lovers before?" "My life isn't exactly easy. I don't want to drag anyone along with me." "Is owning a burger joint so difficult that you can't date?" "I don't think anyone wants to risk their life with me." "What risk?" "I mean... the risk of the business going under." Nice save, Fadel

"Maybe you just need to find something else to do. Do something that allows you to love without risking your loved ones." Style said: Pretty please stop murdering people so we can be husbands, Fadel

"He scares me. But I like his rough, romantic side." "This ain't no time to confess your weird feelings." When else can he, Kant?

"If you like me at all, you have to help my friend!" "Fine. I'll help! But I can't promise anything." HAHAH Style said: Boyfriend Trap Card, Activated

"But I'm here to tell you to stop following me." 1) Not the Puss-in-Boots-Humpty-Dumpty-Esque flashback showing James was always watching but also 2) Why do Joongdunk shows always name their stalkers James? Which James did something to you?

"Don't fall in love with him at all costs." A little late for this warning to Style, Kant

"But he did tell me he really likes your brother. He said your brother is weird and off-putting." Finding each other weird and off-putting and somehow liking that anyway is the entire foundation of the Fadel-Style relationship

I see that despite his protests, Fadel is still wearing the bowling shirt. He's in love <3

"He finally looks like someone trustworthy for once," said Fadel, right before it cut to Kant breaking into their house

Well, this CCTV footage will inevitably bite Kant in the ass

"You carry a gun?" Call me unreasonable, but I think a boyfriend carrying a gun would be the end of the relationship for me

"I love every story on your body." Bison, you romantic son of a bitch

"It wouldn't hurt to be wary of me. Like I said, no one can truly lay themselves bare for someone. The real me might be scarier than you think." "Will you lay yourself bare for me? I promise that no matter who you are, I'll still like you." Fadel and Style are soooo romantic in such a fucked up way. They really do like each other

"I just hope you don't get any new scars." Styleeeeeee

"You need to exercise daily." Hit It and Quit it, meet Sex and Flex

"You slept with him, did you?" "Uh... I..." That's fair, Fadel, Style's dad has trapped you, there's no way to win this conversation

"I won't be depending on your tattooing money anymore." "Who did you take that big mouth after?" [Cheekily] "Who do you think raised me?" Babe is my favourite part of Kant's story

"You haven't figured out who their boss is." Isn't that YOUR job, Captain Christ? This is a garbage police department

LMAO @ BISON MISSING THE CCTV FOOTAGE BC HE'S TOO BUSY TEXTING HIS BOYFRIEND, WHO IS THE GUY ON THE CCTV BREAKING INTO HIS HOUSE

I do love that Bison wants to be closer with his brother like Kant

"What do you like about [Style?]" "His damn cockiness. It's funny." Me too Fadel HAHAHA

"Kant makes me want to wake up every morning, hoping my life would be different." BISON YOU ARE SO SWEET

"Let's avenge our parents, and we can finally date without any worries." What a thing to say

[Worriedly] "Does that mean tonight could be the last night I see him?" Style said: Fuck the whole hitman thing, I love my boyfriend and I want to keep him!!

ARE KANT AND BISON GONNA HAVE SEX IN THE BOWLING ALLEY? THAT'S SO FUNNY

"You wanted to bowl so bad you became a burglar?" "No, I just wanted to spend some alone time with you at the place we first met." It'd be real romantic if you weren't selling him out to the police, Kant

"I have a confession to make." Style has been a police informant for like one week max, and he is already WAY closer to telling Fadel than Kant EVER has been to telling Bison in all six episodes. Until this morning, he didn't even think Fadel would be going to jail!

"You don't have to do anything to impress me, I want to see the real you." Fadeeeeeel

"If you're sick of sneaking about, you don't have to do it. How long are you going to live someone else's life?" Style said: Please pretty please stop being a murderer and marry me instead

You know, Kant is committing actual crimes in breaking and entering and stealing food and drink from the bowling alley. But we don't talk about those crimes, bc of all the murder

"Hey, do you think we're going to be arrested? If we are, the charges are gonna be long. Tresspassing, stealing, damage to property, we're literally eating their snacks. We're definitely going to jail." Bison said: Wrong, I'm talking about those crimes

"After tomorrow, I'm quitting at the restaurant, and I'll be free." No you won't, baby, there's six more episodes

"I'll go anywhere, as long as I'm with you." Like jail, Kant?

I do realize I'm giving Kant a lot more shit for this than Style, and perhaps Bison and Fadel deserve the most shit, as they are doing the murders. However. I love Style and Fadel, they're so cute and they're like, desperately trying to tell the other about their moral dilemmas in coded language, where the deceitfulness with Kant and Bison feels very one-sided, bc Kant has much more information than Bison

THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE SEX IN THE LANES OF THE BOWLING ALLEY!!! Kings of Unhygenic Gestures of Affection

Taking this cute picture with Style and the band will probably also come back to bite Fadel

"What else do you do besides working as a host? You can tell me. I won't judge." And he won't! Style loves you, knowing you kill people for a living, Fadel

They've both tried to talk their lovers out of the hitman job as best they could, and failed

"Welcome to the Ruerat foundation's charity for better education." Well, that explains why Babe is also at this party

If you had asked me how they were going to infiltrate this party, in big bear mascot costumes with guns in their sleeves would not have been my guess. They love to put Joong in a mascot outfit

"I was aiming for Ruerat. You think I'd kill a kid?" Not on purpose, but it was a fair concern, Fadel

"I've always told you how we can never know someone truly." So Fadel was parroting Mother when he said this to Style

Fadel said: Time to discuss if our boyfriends are narcs!

"If you found out they're snitches, what would you do?" "What I always do. Kill them." Fadel's face says he does not agree

"No matter how much you love someone, you gotta prioritize saving your own butts." Style's face also says he doesn't agree

Style is soooo happy his boyfriend's back in the burger joint

"I adopted the black cat you always feed. I went to see you at the restaurant and he was just there. I didn't want him to starve." "Thank you, for remembering what I love." Alright, Kant and Bison is growing on me

"I've missed you. I've got no one messing with me when you're not there." "So I'm just annoying you. Is that even a good thing?" "It is. Having someone to miss is good." Fadel and Style are SOOOO in love it's killing them

[Bison, off-screen] "Fadel, they're the snitches." If you listen closely, you can hear Fadel's heart breaking into thousands of tiny pieces

Bison appears to be in the anger stage of grief

"This is no time for kisses!" I disagree, Style, I think kissing on the mechanic's creeper/rollerboard is a great use of garage time

"He was just wiping off something from my face," said Style, like his dad did not walk in on him and Fadel making out just moments ago

"Just stay over so I don't have to worry." Dad supports the boyfriend sleepovers, which are a thinly veiled excuse to snoop

"My son may talk big and annoy people, but when he loves, he does with his whole heart." YEAH HE DOES, STYLE'S DAD <3

Honestly smoking indoors beside a sleeping person is so rude Kant

"No matter what happens, I'll keep all the good memories." I think this is Bison's version of a threat to kill you, Kant

I wonder how much of Fadel in Cuddle Me Babygirl Mode is him putting on an act trying to distract Style versus him giving into his own desires to distract Style

Are they going to resolve this conflict by pulling real guns during a BB gun fight, bc that's crazy

"Kant has to deal with me. He started this, after all." Fadel said: I know it's not your fault honey, I'm gonna kill your friend

"You watch my six. Make sure no one shoots me in the back. Can I trust you to do that?" "You can trust me." The coded Fadel-Style conversations continue

I was right, Bison did pull his real gun LMAOOOOO

"I told Kant to ask Style to take you out, just so you get out of my way." Ohhhhhhh Fadel's heart being broken twice!

"I'm your brother! I trust you more than anyone. And you did that to me? How could you?" Fadel doesn't have a single person who wasn't using him in some way :((((((

"Do what they did to us. Make them fall in love with us. Head over heels. That's when we kill them." Well, mission accomplished buddy, Style is already in love with you. Also that explains Baby Mode

Bison's black-and-white fantasy montage of ways he'd murder his boyfriend PLEASE

"You're not mad at me anymore?" "That's beside the point. It's your special day. I sure am mad, but I'm still your brother." Fadel is the best big brother

"You think those brothers are weirdly in love with us lately?" "Weird? Look who we are. It's normal that they're crazy about us." Style said: I chalk this behaviour up to how hot we are

"They didn't have a choice then, but now we're like the handsome way out for them. I bet that changed their minds." "You really think so?" "Hell yeah. I believe in the power of love. Love can turn a bad guy good." I admire Style's unfailing optimism

You can see the press-on tattoos on Kant's shoulder cracking as they have this narc conversation weirdly, in side-by-side showers. This problem could've been solved by that make-up artist watching ONE video about the tattoo makeup in Aquaman

They're like, see, Fadel and Bison aren't COMPLETELY immoral, they don't like when other people commit domestic violence

The close-up on Kant's wrist with all the crackling tattoos hgkjhgkjg BABYGIRL REAPPLY. It's bad enough that they are like, the starkest black, which a healed tattoo normally isn't, but that they are FALLING OFF IN CLOSE-UPS!! Who approved this

[Stops choking abruptly] "Will you marry me?" The fact that Fadel, who is supposedly going to kill Style, was ready to heimlich him. He is but a loverboy trapped in an assassin's body

"You're usually too smart for me." "Not at all. I'm a damn fool. That's how you got me." It's a double meaning, in got me (to date you) and got me (entrapped in your scheme)

Kant internally, probably: You wouldn't kill me while I'm babysitting Billy, would you, Bison?

Keen said: I've come to ruin Bison's birthday by spying on you

"Does doing it in narrow space turn you on?" If there's one thing that Style is always ready to do, it's proposition Fadel for sex

LMAO WHAT WAS KEEN GOING TO SHOOT STYLE AND KANT IN THE BOWLING ALLEY???? THIS ESTABLISHMENT HAS SEEN TO MANY FLUIDS FROM ALL THEM

We once again return to giving Fadel and Bison the opportunity to interrupt a domestic violence (gun threats in the bowling alley)

"It's me! I'm Ying's new boyfriend." "Fadel! Take it back. You're my boyfriend!" Style said: I AM jealous, and this is NOT an open relationship

DV Guy said: I actually brought a gun and a knife to the gun fight; we call that being prepared (rest in pieces Bison)

"Can you please at least give me a sign before you do something like that again? I'm always here to help." Are you offering to be a hitman trainee, Style?

"But while I'm gone, if something happens to my brother, it's your fault." Fadel said: My new assassination method is guilt trip, Kant

"Whatever act we've put on til now won't be necessary." Can't tell if Fadel is being spiteful or kind by forewarning Style

"I promise when you wake up, the version of me you'll see is the real me. I won't lie to you anymore." Too little, too late Kant

Bison's eyes say: Don't think bc I was stabbed I can't kick your ass

Also Kant tried to quit being a narc, but he was already fired

WOW, WHAT WAS INJECTING KANT IN THE NECK SUPPOSED TO ACCOMPLISH????

Why does Captain Christ get to say a fuck and goddamn!! LET FADEL SAY FUCK, HE DESERVES IT

Fadel's eyes say: Just so you know, chloroforming you wasn't fun for me either, Style

"You work for the police." "I don't know anything about those cops. Kant asked me to take you out so you could leave him alone and he could freely investigate." Good job for being honest right away, Style

"Now that I know you, I really love you Fadel." Not the best time to confess, my love:

"I'll tell you everything, but can we talk on land?" OH HEY, they did end up in the water, called that way back

Contextually, based on these flashbacks, I guess that Kant was ALSO in the plane crash, he just happened to survive and nearly drowned in the sea. It was Chekov's plane-crash-drowning-while-holding-Chekov's-not-gun

Bison yelling "Kant!" into the water as if he did not force him at gunpoint to jump into it

Please, the way Fadel had Style re-dress and then continued to hold him at gunpoint in broad daylight. This is so silly

"I know I deserve to die. Well, at least I won't die alone. It won't be lonely." Wow, Style really does find a way to be optimistic about everything

"Yes, Mr. Hitman." The Tale of Mr. Hitman and Mr. Hitman's Boyfriend

[Sarcastically] "Why don't you just take a nap instead or something? I'll drive where you want me to go, my dear hitman." [1 minute later, Fadel lowering the and gun closing his eyes in the car] He can't help it, he has to do what his boyfriend asks, it's like a compulsion

PLEASE WHY IS THE MUSIC SO PEPPY IN THIS THREATENING CAR RIDE

Style was like: Maybe this car ride was for sex, I don't know how a hitman's mind works

"You ought to let these kids have all the fun they want. They'll become back when they're sick of each other. We parents can only do so much to take care of them, but their hearts are out of our control." This receptionist has a lot of friendly advice

"I'll even give you free condoms and lube." Receptionist said: Have fun, be safe!

"You're one hell of a wimp for a snitch." Bison said: We're broken up, by the way

"The rest of your life is to spend making up to me for the way you made me feel." "And what did I make you feel? Say it. Say what you feel for me." Bold approach Kant, I like it

HAHAHA THE STYLE-FADEL ROAD TRIP IS SO UNSERIOUS. $5 ON THEM HAVING SEX IN THE CAR BED:

"Kinda like a fantasy, don't you think? Doing it in a car with a mechanic?" Style said: If I'm going to die, I would like to go out doing what I love: Having sex with Fadel

Style is fine with being handcuffed to the bed as long as he can play it as a bondage kink

Awwww Style's list of things to tell his dad when dies is so sweet

"Are you crying?" Fadel said: Oh no, my other weakness

"If you really loved your brother, you shouldn't have said yes to this job." "That's exactly why I did it. If I didn't, Captain was going to reopen my cases. And if I went to jail, Babe wouldn't be able to live. I'm all he has." Well, Kant got to say his bit, even if it's not particularly helpful

Bison's shirt saying, "I'm Retired, Don't Ask Me to Do a Damn Thing," really adds to the energy of him forcing Kant to fish and cook at gunpoint

Lol @ Bison's domestic worker being the one to explain that his parents were murdered

"I told you I wouldn't run. What do I have to do for you to trust me?" Style said: The S in Style stands for Stockholm Syndrome

"Either a hitman like you still has his humanity, or you're in love with me." Style can single-handedly turn this into a romcom

"This is just like the beginning of a horror film. A murderer is gonna come after us in a minute," said Style, to his boyfriend, who was both a murderer and who had recently threatened to kill him

The cutting between these two pairs is really highlighting how much Fadel is full of empty threats. He confronts Style, and then lowers his gun and rests while Style could easily get away. He brings Style to the motel and then sleeps there at his behest. He is the first to offer his water and food. Comparing that to Bison, who did legitimately make Kant drown for a bit, and is genuinely denying him food and water, it's a stark contrast

"I thought I was going to see the mission through and wipe my criminal record clean for good. But who'd have thought that I'd fall for you?" Again, a bad moment for a confession

LMAO WHAT'S SAYING YOUR BDSM SAFE WORD GONNA HELP IF BISON WANTS TO SHOOT YOU?

THE WAY THEY ALWAYS MAKE GUY SIVAKORN PLAY THE RANDOM ADULT COUPLE FIGHTING

Not Fadel making Style tie this couple up in their own home. He's an accomplice, now!:

"You and I are getting married. Can you please let this go? You're the only one I'm serious with." "'Serious with,' my bum. You were never serious with me. You made me fall for you and then betrayed me. You lying bastard, you jerk." [Fadel glares at Style, projecting their relationship issues onto Jimmy and Popcorn]

"You want him dead? I'll kill him." Solidarity...?

"If you love him, why did you fool him?" This is Fadel's extremely fucked up couple's therapy exercise

PLEASE WHY DID THEY IMMEDIATELY CUT FROM JIMMY ASKING FADEL TO SHOOT HIM TO STYLE OFFICIATING THEIR WEDDING. THIS IS THE STUPIDEST SHOW EVER. I LOVE IT:

"I guess they really wanted to quit. But they could have just told me. There was no need to take off like that." That's shockingly understanding from Mother

"If you want to kill me, just do it. I deserve it." Kant might finally be apologizing

"I love you, Bison. I love you. With all my being." [Sobbing] "You're not fooling me again, are you?" You've really re-traumatized each other in many ways, huh?

Like objectively Bison and Kant's story is more dramatically-grounded, and shows greater acting range, but Fadel and Style are just so charming, I just want them to be on screen the whole time

"Thank you for being here," said Popcorn, to the guys who broke into their house, tied them up, held them at gunpoint, and then officiated their wedding

"My boyfriend is also good in the kitchen." Style hasn't stopped calling Fadel his boyfriend this whole time

PLEASE THE GUN IS STILL ON THE TABLE. RIDICULOUS

"Kinda hoped it was gonna be a romantic road trip." And it is!

"Since we already bickered today, and we already fought, I guess the only thing left to do is bone," said Popcorn, while Style looked at Fadel like: PLEEEASE

"I know what I did wasn't 'trivial.' But I'm ready to do anything to make you forgive me." Style is also apologizing finally

HAHAHAHAHA YOU KNOW, GOOD FOR JIMMY AND POPCORN FOR DECIDING TO FIGHT BACK, EVEN IF STYLE AND FADEL AREN'T CURRENTLY A THREAT

"After I kill someone, I have to go out there and do something to forget it. Do something fun. Play bowling." What a thing to say

"I don't care what kind of past you've been through, since mine was not much better." I think stealing cars to support your brother is several leagues better than murder for hire, Kant

"If I quit one day, will you move here with me?" Big talk from someone who was dumping bottles of water in his head earlier

Now whose idea was it to put these two giant men in this tiny bathtub? Cause it was a great idea, please continue:

"You're pretty decent at your core, you know? How come you're a hitman?" A fair question, Style

Fadel isn't in a place to engage in emotional intimacy but Style IS in a place to initiate physical intimacy (the place is the bathtub)

"As long as I'm alive, I'll make you kiss me again." Rooting for you, Style

"When the plane went down, we were on our way back from Europe." They're finally having Kant explain the plane crash

HAHHAHA Fadel actually napping in the car. World's most unserious hostage situation

"I just hope Kant is still alive." "I can't guarantee that. You'll have to find out for yourself." Fadel said: My brother processes things differently than I do

I also appreciate that neither Style nor Kant have had any questions about Fadel and Bison having two separate sets of parents. They're like, 'You're brothers, and how you got there is none of my business' <3

LOL @ Style requesting more clothes, I had wondered where all of his outfits were coming from. I guess the road trip was pre-meditated for Fadel

"'Gorgeous man with clear skin found dead in a crop top.'" Style has chosen a perfect epitaph. Also I give it 10 secs before Fadel caves

Update from 8 seconds later: It was even less than that

"I'm just letting you find a little joy before I kill you." Liar, you just want to take him on a shopping date, Fadel

"Style, duck!" Fadel said: HEY. No one's allowed to kill my boyfriend except for me

"I'll distract him." "Are you out of your mind? How the hell will you outrun bullets?" "Trust me, I'm fast." Awww Couple's First Shoot-Out <3

Fadel will now actually be forced to admit he doesn't want any harm to come to Style because of Style's bullet wound

"Kant... You're alive. I'm happy to see that," said Style, who was actively losing blood by the minute while Kant was just cuddling and teaching his boyfriend to cook. Oh how the unserious tables have turned

"Save your questions. Help him first." "I'll help!" "Stay back! Let go." Fadel may have forgiven Style as soon as he started bleeding but he is not ready to forgive Kant

Bison performing minor surgery on Style without anaesthetic. Rough for everyone involved, but mostly Style!

"He's on our side now." "And you're stupid enough to believe him." That's a fair point, Fadel

"Now that you mention it, it still hurts." "Want another stab wound?" Now that's true Older Brother Snark

"I'm here mostly because Fadel dragged my ass here." "Fine, fine. You can't just say you love me like a normal person, huh?" "I love sooooo—" The bullet wound hasn't detracted from Style's delightful personality

Honestly, Fadel beating Kant's ass is a rational response

"Fadel's right. I brought all this on us. If this is how it ends, let it end with me. If you're going to kill me, go right ahead. But Style has nothing to do with this. I lied getting him rope into this." "Don't you dare take all the credits. If you're going to kill him, kill me too. No one forced me into. I agreed to it willingly." Style is such a good friend! Also, love the accountability, and Fadel learning that Style didn't know about the narc thing until later:

"People make mistakes," said Kant, as if that clarified anything

"I really love your brother, and my friend really loves you. The two of us will do anything to make sure the two of you get the life you want." How will you resolve this though, they're murderers?

"Any of you allergic to seafood?" Crazy way to end the confrontation, Fadel, love it

OMG @ the flashback to the baby hitmen. Also I thought the age difference between Fadel and Bison was bigger, they make it seem like they're maybe a year apart at most

"I... will be your everything. Call me Mother." Don't like that

"Why do we have to learn to use a gun?" "The world is full of people who want to hurt us. I want you to know how to defend yourselves. It's a skill. You will get to use it one day." Tricking them into training to be hitmen seems worse than raising them that way openly

"Why not let the law and police deal with him?" Reasonable, Bison

"The world is made up of good people and bad people. Our job is to kill the bad guys." Ohhhhh poor boys

"Hire someone. Maybe the one we hired two years ago." I assume this is the guy who killed Fadel's ex, who, while not confirmed, I have been assuming is Super Dead

"I know you're good at making up stories." "Kinda sounds like an insult." I agree, Style, felt backhanded coming from Bison

"You think... I have a chance?" Incredible that Style still wants one

"A list of all my relatives. I want you to be sure that I'm not lying to you again. If I do that, you can kill me and my entire extended family." The CONFIDENCE Style has in knowing Fadel doesn't want to kill him is astounding. Like, I also believe he doesn't want to kill you, but crazy to offer up your family for it!

"Are you insane? You're selling your whole family out for this? And you said you're a family man." "Because I know for a fact I won't ever lie to you again." Again, I'm with Fadel, seems extreme

"I'm only worth as much as one car to you." HAHAHA Fadel is more offended about the car thing than the snitch thing

"That was in the past," said Style, like that clarified anything

NOT STYLE SAYING HE'S GOING TO WALK INTO THE OCEAN TO COMPEL FADEL TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE LMAO????

"Fine! I'll give you a chance!" Fadel said: PLS DON'T SEPSIS BABY

"Even when you're threatening me, you're worried about me." It's the thesis of your relationship, Style

YEAHHHHHH FADEL AND STYLE! TWO GUYS IN THE OCEAN, ZERO FEET APART, MAKING OUT, BECAUSE THEY ARE GAY!!!

So many thoughts running through right now. 1) Love that this was Fadel's response to being asked what he'd want to do 2) Like Fadel, I am also worried about Style getting sepsis from this 3) Can't believe Kant and Bison's solution to Fadel being mad about scheming was more lying and scheming (tricking them into going to the beach together), and it worked! 4) Genuinely think these actors must've been so excited to film this, they kiss recreationally all the time, and they haven't had a chance in like two whole episodes 5) As sexy as the ocean is, go do this inside where it's warm

"Won't you just let Ruerat go?" It's Kant's turn to say, 'Pretty please don't do a murder'

"I told you, this would be the last mission." "It won't be. If you do it now, you'll do it again." I appreciate that they're circling back to the whole hitman ethics thing. Kant and Style have spent so much time asking for forgiveness and almost no time processing the fact their boyfriends are murderers and maybe Fadel and Bison should take some time to be accountable for that

"The future we picture together is more than possible." Is it, Kant? Can you guarantee them legal immunity?

"There's a photo of a man in the glove compartment of your car. Who is he? I'm sorry for prying. If you don't want to tell me, I understand." "He's my ex." Communication!!!

Fadel never telling his ex what he did versus Style knowing about it the whole length of their relationship. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh

"I know I'm in love with the right man." Styleeeeee

Fadel resting his head Style's lap in bed. Babygirl mode is back!!

"You told me you'd quit your job and be with me." "Wait a little longer. Wait until everything's settled down. We won't have to sneak around to see each other again." The Keen-Tanont office romance makes a shocking return!

[Kant, nervously] "I think this is far enough." [Bison, kindly] "Baby steps, huh?" "One day, I'll be swimming with you in the middle of the ocean." Awwww Kant facing his fear of the ocean

The brothers and besties ocean frisbee is soooo cute

Kant's "There's nothing I can do to change your mind, is there?" versus Style's "Call me. Keep me updated," because Style already knows Fadel's not going to change his mind 🥺

This episode is stressing me out, where is this going

"The person who killed your parents was your mother." Well, we could've all seen this one coming. Called that maybe episode 3?

"Lilly was once a hired gun, just like you two. She used to work for me. I hired her to poison people, to kill people." I feel like that's still your fault, Ruerat. You asked her to kill them!

"But in the end, she just adopted the children of people she killed and raised them as hitmen." Well, new level of fucked up family dynamics unlocked

Honestly, I was expecting Fadel to beat Ruerat up MORE than that

"What about the lives we've wasted. What about the freedom I've long for, the love I refrain from? We killed people we didn't even want to kill." The love I refrain from!!! Brutal in all ways

Bison is Team Kill Mother, while Fadel is Team We Need a Plan

"Now that it's mission accomplished, can we finally quit?" "As you wish. You can do whatever you want." She's definitely still sending a hitman after them

"In this industry, once you're in, you don't get to walk away easily." Yeah, sounds about right

"You gotta push back when he refuses your help." Babe has no idea what he's encouraging Kant to do

A surprising amount of this show takes place at the bowling alley

"Let me help you deal with the person who hurt your parents." SCREAM KANT IS LISTENING TO BABE'S ADVICE

You know, this whole time I've been wondering when in the hell that scene where Style has Fadel in that chair is from and now with this context of what Kant's asking, I'm wondering if it's going to be Training-My-Boyfriend-To-Be-A-Hitman-In-Two-Weeks Montages. Insane. Tell me more

Update from much later: It was from the series music video

"Style. I don't want to lose you." "Neither do I. That's why you need to let me help you." HAHAHA THERE IS GOING TO BE A TRAINING MONTAGE. OKAY. I'M ON BOARD

"I was a narc once, not to mention a car thief. I think I'm more than qualified for the job." Not Kant sharing his resume of shady activities. Also murder is still a jump

Fadel's like: This is a nightmare scenario for me, actually

"I won't distract you while we're on the job." LOL unexpectedly, it's Bison who is a hindrance to Kant's training needs

"I feel sorry for him. He's eating all alone." Keen SHOT you, Style

Extremely expectedly, Style is much too obnoxious to be competent at reconnaissance

LOL @ Kant the Caddy Boytoy. He's a great liar, I'll give him that

I don't think Style's plan to be Fake Room Service took into account, Keen shot him, and therefore knows what he looks like

"Who are these people?" Keen's brother technically, but it seems like their family status is 'it's complicated'

Also the implication that Tanont has NO information. Rough

"You dare ask me to spare your boyfriend when you were going to shoot mine?" And DID shoot him! Tanont's lucky Fadel's nicer

"He didn't leave you. Mother put a hit on him because she wanted you to keep working for her." Yeah, I think we all assumed that

However: It's good all three hitboys have common ground now

[Kicks Keen in the chest] "That's for shooting me." HAHA Style

HAHAHAHA Bison and Kant doing a romance at the place same empty pool where Fadel tied style up. World-building on locations important to the boys? Or economizing on location budgets, like bowling alley? You decide!

"If only I didn't get close to him... he'd still be alive." Oh, Fadel

"You had the full right to love and to want a future with him." I love Style holding space Fadel's former love

"Please just leave me. I won't even get mad at you. Live the life you deserve. Don't leave it with me." This is so desparately sad for Fadel

"If I was scared, I'd have run away the day I found out you're a hitman. But I stay with you, because I love who you are." Styleeeee

I haven't really been talking about it, but the music in this series is SO good. They choose exactly the right songs for each moment

Also. Where've they put Tanont while having this heart-to-heart LMAO isn't he sort of a hostage

"I don't want anything to do with killing people anymore." Again, I must ask if Tanont is finding out about this hitman thing in real time. In any case, he's taken it astonishingly well

"I'm going to kill her." "Don't do it. I don't want you to kill anyone again." I admire that Kant is still encouraging a moral opposition to killing, even knowing they've killed a lot already

"I'll talk to Captain Christ in case there anything he can do." ACABADCC (All Cops are Bastards, And Definitely Captain Christ)

HAHAHAHAH when Style and Kant said: "[We] can only give you the smaller fish," I was not expecting them to have Ruerat tied up on the bathroom floor

"I'll do everything I can." They had Captain Christ say it in English so we knew he's serious

"Didn't you say Kant made a deal with that captain?" "I don't trust him. Cops are always looking for ways to up their ranks, right?" Fadel's panicked little smile about the fake passport and Style's immediate distrust of cops. A love story after my own heart!

"It takes 20 years for these cases to expire. We'll be old men by that time." "So what if we're old? I'll still wanna be with you." That's a marriage proposal, Style

"I've always wanted a brother." Bison, not to be pedantic, but you have one!

"I wish you more happy and sexy years to come." Honestly, great birthday wish, Lilly

Style and Kant are doing really well on their first official mission together, charming their guest, poisoning people, etc.

OMG @ THE HOME VIDEOS OF THE MURDERS HAHAHAH

"Hello. I'm dating your son, Mother." HGKHGH solid execution

You can really see how close Bisons' emotions are to the surface

"You promised you won't kill anyone again." This bathroom confrontation seems somewhat out of place in the context of their whole scheme, but maybe it's all part of the plan?

"If they torture you for information, don't put up with it. Just confess." Fadel loves Style more than his freedom <3

"Just hand them over, and you'll be spared." "If I don't make it, you don't make it. You bribed a school administrator to get your kid into that school." LMAO THIS IS NOT AT ALL THE SAME STAKES, MURDER IS A WAY BIGGER CRIME THAN BRIBERY

"How many years?" "Five." "No. I won't accept anything less than their freedom." "But we'll take it." Good for Bison, I think that's about as much as he and Fadel could expect

"It's all the consequences of my own actions, anyway. I really did all those bad things. I deserve this. I'm not sad because I'm going to jail. I'm just sad because I won't get to be with the man I love." Bison has a really healthy perspective on his horrible life

"I have to take responsibility for what I did. I can't change the past. This could be a chance for me to start over. I want to be a good man who deserves everything you for me." Fadel 💔❤️‍🩹

This is the most extreme version of the ep 11 breakup. They're apart for five years, not because they want to, but because one half of them will be in imprisoned

"You're dating Style. You're as good as being my family." How will Style explain to his dad that his boyfriend is going to prison for five years for being a hitman

"And since gay marriage is legal now, you two should definitely do that." 1) Gay marriage was legalized in Thailand officially only two weeks before this episode aired, this is such current information, do you think they added it in later, or they planned it around when the law was taking effect? 2) I'm gonna cry about it actually, it was so disheartening before to have that reminder of 'you can't actually have this' and now people can!!!!!! 3) To have this dialogue come specifically from a parent!! 4) The episode where Style officiates the gay wedding aired BEFORE gay marriage was legal in Thailand. It means a lot to me when shows take an active stance on equal rights. I love you The Heart Killers

"Give me five years. I just want to save up enough money [to get married], and I'll come talk to you, Dad." Fadel 😭😭😭

Kant said: I'll propose right now, don't test me, Bison

Fadel's kiss and sneaky paintball attack while giggling. He has so much lightness in his heart now

"You always find something good in a bad guy." "I believe people can change. I love a mission. You'll be my.... Project Boyfriend. I'll help you turn over a new leaf." Style said, "I can fix him," and he did!

HAHAHAHA THAT SCENE WHERE FADEL WAS DIGGING IN LIKE EP 3 WAS HIM DIGGING HIS OWN GRAVE? GRIM!!

"I'll write it down later, but just bury me here when I die." Asking Style to arrange his funeral is Fadel's version of proposing

"When I die, I'll be lying right next to you. I won't let you get lonely." Style said: Gesture of affection received

Fadel kissing Style's shoulder while Style kisses Fadel's forehead is the cutest thing in the world. Fadel's little confused face when he receives the affection he's also trying to give!!!!

"Ever since I met you, I've been thinking less and less about death." Fadel 😭😭😭😭

"You're just romantic in an oddly specific way [...] Don't die on me just yet. Stay and be weirdly romantic with me for a very long time." The new thesis of the Style-Fadel relationship 💗

"Show me the milky way," to ask Bison to see his tits is crazy

"But you're so sensitive. You just mask it all under your jokes." "Everyone has their own way of dealing with sadness, right? You pretend it doesn't hurt. I bury it under my positivity." Another premise of the Style-Fadel relationship: Being emotionally avoidant in similar but slightly different ways

Fadel taking Style on a tour of coping mechanisms he doesn't feel like he needs anymore (his tombstone, the anonymous grief group) but also places that feel good for him (the harmlessness of paintball, the comfort of cooking at Heart Burger)

"I've actually opened so many different restaurants. Thai, Japanese, Korean, Italian. But as it turned out, I like this one the best." Fadel opening up about his past while sharing his dream of the future 💘

"You want me to run this place while you're gone?" Styleeeeee, he is so fucking sweet!!! And Fadel's, "Just focus on your garage," because they care more about each other than their own dreams

Style said: You're not getting rid of me that easily, Fadel!!!!

"Give me a tattoo." "No way. How could I? I only had one lesson." That's how you know they didn't consult a tattoo artist in making this show, no tattoo artist would ask for this

"The story of you and me will be etched on my skin forever." Very romantic, Kant

The way that Kant and Bison are getting increasingly more tearful as they say their goodbyes 🥺

Style's positivity finally starting to crack as Fadel pulls away 😭

Oh they're SOBBING, I'm so sad. WHY IS THE BURGER HITMAN SHOW MAKING ME CRY

I will not lie to you, I was kind of hoping they'd skip the prison parts, but I understand why not

"The worst part is only getting a few minutes to talk to him. I see him but I can't touch him." Realistic incarceration problems

"Is there no way we can hold them in our arms again?" PLEASE don't tell me Style and Kant are going to try to get themselves imprisoned to see their boyfriends, that'd be INSANE

DON'T BE STUPID, DON'T BE STUPID. YOU'VE GOTTEN THIS FAR WITHOUT GOING TO PRISON!!! DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE RATES OF ASSAULT

[Bison beating prison creep with a dipper] "I know I'm cute, but I can't be messed with!" [cut to Bison and Fadel sweeping] "They'll leave you alone from now on, I take it?" Well, that's what happens when you attack a hitman

"You want me to put you in jail?" "Yes, Cap. We want to go to jail." Well, I guess asking nicely is better than committing a crime

Wait wait wait. Are they asking Cap to make them prison guards. Still stupid and horrible, but better?

Update from 2 minutes later: Not guards. Vocational trainers! That's much less insane. Kant's smarter than I give him credit for!

Awwwww, will Fadel and Bison get to experience a normal education through prison? That's actually very sweet

Will no one notice these guys flirting with their instructors LOL

"I thought you'd do something illegal just to get in here." Me too, Fadel!!!

From a logical perspective, Kant and Style should be fired immediately. Fom a romance perspective, kiss away, fellas!

The way Fadel is smiling through his kisses, hee hee

I'll glad we're passing through the years quickly. We're on year 3

Awwwww Fadel making Bison a cupcake as a birthday present

HAHAHAHA is Bison just discovering 3 years in that they could've been also trying to have sex

[Draws a dick in the sky mural] "Oh, that kind of feeling!" LMAO

"I wouldn't mind if you find someone, you know? It's physical-only, of course. Don't you get your heart involved." That's very selfless of Bison to suggest

HAHAHA I'd say it's nice of Kant to agree to have sex in public, but considering the bowling alley lane sex, they're both exhibitionists

"You don't have to come here to teach, you know." "Don't worry. I'll make time for it. But if I can't, I'll just come visit you instead. Is that okay?" Fadel said: No, my abandonment issues have reactivated

"Where's Fadel been, though?" "He's... going to culinary school abroad," said Style, by which he meant, working in the kitchen in prison, because he's killed a lot of people

"People have their parents' names tattooed all the time. Why can't I have the name of the most important person in my life tattooed?" BABE 🥺🥺🥺🥺 BEST BABY BROTHER

Also, this makes four people with tattoos for Kant, including Kant

"Coming to see me regularly, getting me used to seeing you, making me miss you, and suddenly disappearing. How do you think that made me feel?" Fadel has really come full circle from their confession in the woods. Still needs to work on the trust

"What are you doing? Can you tell me?" "Can you wait a little longer? I want to be certain about it first. I want to make sure I can really do it." Style is so sweet, he knows Fadel anticipates disappointment, so he's setting no expectations

There are so many great things about this reunion. Style's little bum pat, the "oooh" from Kant and Bison when they kiss, the hand placement, him pointing at Fadel over his shoulder, the fact Kant's still driving the car, because the car never mattered

"You said [Heart Burger] was sold to someone." "I bought it back." Style throwing himself into auto work for years so his boyfriend would have his dream waiting for him when he got out 😭😭😭😭THAT'S SO ROMANTICCCCCCC

"Move in with me." "Alright. But only til I'm back on my feet. I don't want to depend so much on you, or Fadel for that matter." Bison has always been so good with his words

SCREAM WHY IS LILLY KIDNAPPING THEIR RELATIVES ON THE SECOND TO LAST PART OF THE LAST EP??????

"You probably don't know, but your son, and your brother, together with my sons, threw me in jail. They probably thought I'd be in there for life. They must have forgotten that money can buy even freedom." HOW DARE YOU, LILLY? LET ME AT THE JUDGE WHO RELEASED YOU. WHY I OUGHTA

This is so mean and sad. I hope someone kills her dead

Well, they've already ended their not killing people streak, considering Fadel just shot that guy in the head. This is such a deranged way to take this episode. What the fuck happened to the happy little burger joint

I feel like Style's dad will no longer approve of this relationship after seeing Fadel force their evil mother to drink poison at gunpoint

ARE WE NOT GOING TO ELABORATE ON WHAT HAPPENED??

Glad Bison gets an Iceland trip, he was missing a grand gesture

I appreciate Kant's numerous mythology facts. Also I guess no one told the people who write this show that E***** is a slur, aieeeee

Impressed that Kant has cell service in the Icelandic Wilderness

"Now that your father knows about my being a former hitman, and a locked up criminal, is he alright with it?" "He sure is. He said I need someone with a past like yours to tie me down." Insane take, please explain

"I thought I'd die alone." "We'll die one day, but we'll die together of old age." Maybe the real heart killer was the simple passage of time

FADEL SAID: DISTRACTED DRIVING IS OKAY WHEN I CAUSE IT!!!

Final thoughts: I really liked this show. You kind have to lower your standards when it comes to relationships, and even sensible writing, because they love transition wildly between scenes with no explanation. (Like, did Lilly die? Did they rule it an accident or an inside job? What hell the happened to Keen, was he also in prison? What of Popcorn and Jimmy, held hostage and married in the same day? Why do Style and Kant BARELY care that their boyfriends have murdered numerous people, including in front of them?) But the actors (and characters) are SOOO endearing and I enjoy the balance of irreverance and dramatics. It charms me BECAUSE it is ridiculous. The music and outfits are also really great. It is not a perfect show, but it is exactly what it needed to be, which is unreasonable, funny, messy, sexy and with tons of heart. What more can I ask for?

#ayesha liveblogs the heart killers #ayesha says things #the heart killers #liveblogging #thai television #television #long post #guns tw #violence tw #i think this is my favourite jd show so far!#make of that what you will. it's perhaps not for everyone. but it WAS for me <3 #beauqueue

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livinglifeonpause · 8 months ago

Text

BP Intros

Okay, watching the 90 second intros before watching anything else.

......................................................................................................................

Grouping these into PASS:

K - HAN SEO BIN (18, 5'8")/P - ? - okay, this one was fine. lets see more of this kid plz. reporter.

K - JANG JI HO (20, 5'8")/P - ? - his cute is cringy. pass. idefk.

K - PARK GWAN YOUNG (23, 5'7")/P - ? - cutie. cutie with cute energy. 4 seasons.

K - OH SUNG MIN (23, 5'11")/P - ? - ohhhhh, I hate it. but he’s really cute. dressed as a damn dog. ((This is another OnePact kid!))

K - KIM MIN HYUK (25, 5'11")/P - ? - good at doing what he’s here to do. karaoke

K - JANG MIN SEO (18, 5'8")/P - ? - weird intro, but good guitar skills ***ohhhh, he left before the show due to an injury

K - HONG KEON HEE (19, 6'2")/P - ? - that was many things. but i wanna see more things.

K - LEE HOE TAEK (31, 5'7")/P - ? - Hui! I never understood why he was on this show. like, this ain’t it for him bro.

K - CHOI WOO JIN (19, 5'7")/P - ? - cutieeeeeee, i hope he makes it. protect him.

K - SUNG HAN BIN (23, 5'10")/P - ? - he seems talented despite the schtick

K - PARK GUN WOOK (19, 6'0")/P - ? - Jellyfish - i think he’s handsome, but?? whys he so dramatic?

K - LEE SEUNG HWAN (24, 5'10")/P - ? - why didnt he just sing normally bro?? he’s got a real nice voice!

K - JEONG I CHAN (23, 5'10")/P - ? - is he a Sim?? That’s creative! and his voice! here for him.

K - KIM MIN SEOUNG (20, 5'8")/P - ? - omfg, i was kinda on board, but him being so awkward at the end sold me

K - KIM JI WOONG (25, 5'10)/P - ? - what a weirdo vampire schtick. but i think he’s handsome.

G - CHEN YU GENG (26, 6'0")/P - ? - i mean, he’s pretty! ***WHY THEY CALL HIM “CRAYON”

G - CHEN JIAN YU (26, 5'10")/P - ? - i’m cackling! do they not explain it for these kids? this one is cute, im here for him.

G - ZHANG SHUAI BO (22, 6'0")/P - ? - i hate it. but he’s cute so meh.

G - CONG (23, 5'8")/P - ? - he’s endearing and I want good things for him

G - KRYSTIAN (24, 5'10")/P - ? - weird, but the awkward ending was endearing

G - YUKI (22, 5'8")/P - ? - he’s v cute but v awkward

G - JAY CHANG (23, 5'9")/P - ? - (i mean he is the whole reason I’m watching this show) - i get why ppl think he’s corny though

G - SEOK MATTHEW (22 5'7")/P - INDEPEN - he brought a picture of his familyyyyyy, you have to support him!

G - MIN (24, 5'9")/P - ? - bitch had a whole ass oxygen mask! hahaha!

G - FENG JUN LAN (25, 5'10")/P - ? - this bitch dgaf. i like that. plus he already said he’s gonna suck, sooooo

G - WUMUTI (25, 5'9")/P - ? - (forgot this bitch was on here…) - oof his makeup. he do have a pretty ass voice though…

........................................................................................................... And FAIL:

K - LIM JUN SEO (19, 5'10")/F - 143 - omfg are they all this chaotic? i caaaaan’t.

K - JUNG MIN GYU (24, 6'1")/F - ? - bitch has a whole ass powerpoint? again, I can’t. he got a square ass jaw.

K - CHOI JI HO (20, 6'0")/F - ? - mr dj did not utilize his time well

K - JUNG SE YUN (16, 5'8")/F - oh come on, he’s 12. don’t put him on this show maannnn.

K - KIM TAE RAE (22, 5'8")/F - WakeOne - weird forum for an acoustic bop bro

K - BAK DO HA (21, 5'11")/F - WakeOne - ew. but maybe he’s cute.

K - LEE DONG GUN (19, 5'10")/F - ? - homie wont stop movinggggg

K - JEON HO YOUNG (19, 5'10")/F - ? - he too random????

K - KUM JUN HYEON (22, 5'11")/F - ? - his jaw is octagon. radio dj.

K - JANG YEO JUN (19, 5'10")/F - ? - look at his fucking flair. i dont really want to talk about his flair.

K - JUNG HWAN ROK (22, 5'9")/F - ? - isn’t harry potter dead yet? he didn’t need that schtick **oh this kid ends up leaving before it starts

K - LEE JEONG HYEON (22, 6'1")/F - WakeOne - wouldn’t it be hilarious if he couldn’t do the rubix cube??

K - CHOI SEUNG HUN (16, 5'7")/F - ? - nahhhhh, he too baby.

K - CHA WOONG KI (22, 5'8")/F - ? - what?

K - SEO WON (23 5'7")/F - ? - bruh, just sing. or dance. or something. or keep showing them veeneers.

K - JUNG HO JIN (21, 6'0")/F - ? - eyebrowsssssss. he go by “Dien??”

K - PARK HYUN BEEN (19, 5'10")/F - ? - woah. carrying costume

K - PARK HAN BIN (22, 5'9")/F - WakeOne - do other thiiiiings

K - JEON WOO SEOK (21, 5'8")/F - ? - i don’t understand what this was?

K - LEE DONG YEOL (25, 5'9")/F - ? - naurrrrrrrr

K - HAN YU JIN (17, 5'10")/F - ? - um, he awkward

K - KIM GYU VIN (20, 6'0")/F - ? - Jellyfish - um, he boring

K - HAN YU SEOP (20, 5'8")/F - ? - I’m not sureeeee. like the dumb ending though!

K - PARK MIN SEOK (22, 6'0")/F - WakeOne - meh voice, meh presentation

K - LEE YE DAM (21, 5'5")/F - ? - why he talking like that? I do want to see him dance more though…

K - PARK JI HOO (18, 5'9")/F - ? - naurrrrrr cutie, naurrrrr

K - YOON JONG WOO (24, 5'9")/F - ? - i just. dont have anything to say ((oh, he’s from OnePact))

K - MUN JUNG HYUN (19, 6'0")/F - Wake One - but he didn’t do any facial expressions??

K - JI YUN SEO (19, 6'0")/F - ? - tiny ass head

K - YOO SEUNG EON (20, 5'10")/F - ? - no, he doing too much, pretty pretty princess

K - LEE DA EUL (20 5'7")/F - ? - 143 - he’s wittle!

K - LEE HWAN HEE (26, 5'9")/F - ? - he faked that

G - OSUKE (21, 5'4")/F - ? - oh god, the face paint. brooooo.

G - CHEN REN YOU (20, 6'0")/F - ? - he honest didn’t know why the door was closing! hahaha!

G - TOUI (21, 5'11")/F - ? - oh, he’s even speaking japanese!

G - RICKY (20, 6'0")/F - ? - shrug. pass.

G - CHEN KUAN JUI (23, 5'9")/F - ? - flexible huh?

G - WANG ZI HAO (23, 5'10)/F - ? - he did the whole ass dance, but like meh

G - NA KAMDEN (23, 6'0")/F - ? - that was alot

G - WEN YE CHEN (24, 6'0")/F - ? - that was creative at least

G - NICE (24, 5'11")/F - ? - oh bless his little cookie heart. naur.

G - KEI (18 5'7")/F - ? - kei, i kinda wanna punch you

G - WINNIE (25 5'7")/F - ? - he needs a new hair color and new pants

G - ANTHONNY (20, 5'8")/F - ? - the nasallllly voice

G - DONG DONG (23, 5'9")/F - ? - why he put the bandaid on his nose though??

G - YUTO (19 5'7")/F - ? - his head wayyyy too big for his body

G - OUJU (20, 5'7")/F - ? - like what?

G - YUTAKA (25 5'7")/F - ? - he does not have a beautiful choice

G - HIROTO (22, 5'9")/F - ? - naur sweetie, naur

G - QIU SHENG YANG (23, 5'10")/F - ? - puppy in a monkey costume, oh sure sure

G - HYO (22, 5'8")/F - ? - noooooo, he’s 12

G - TAKUTO (16, 5'5")/F - ? - oh noooooooo, he’s 11!

G - WANG YAN HONG (25, 5'10")/F - ? - his face was -_- the whole time he was dancing, omfg *WHY HE CALLED DALE

G - OLLIE (18, 6'0")/F - ? - willy wonkNO

G - ICHIKA (31, 6'0")/F - ? - i got nothing

G - LIN SHI YUAN (25, 6'0")/F - ? - he didn’t even move!!

G - ZHANG HAO (24, 5'11")/F - ? - is that a tv screen??

G - CHEN LIANG (24, 6'1")/F - ? - the “singing” while dancing sent me (aka “Felix”)

G - RIKU (19, 5'11")/F - ? - cute concept for a skinny baby

G - ITSUKI (18 5'7")/F - ? - sir, go back to theatre

G - HARUTO (19, 5'7")/F - ? - that was alot. of nothing.

G - DANG HONG HAI (20, 5'11")/F - ? - why his face look like that tho

G - CAI JIN XIN (20, 6'2")/F - ? - okay.

G - YANG JUN (25, 5'9")/F - ? - he should just be an actor…

G - XUAN HAO (28, 5'11")/F - ? - he had a kazooooo

G - KEITA (23, 5'5")/F - ? - what even was that? he has cute eyes though.

G - BRIAN (22, 6'1")/F - ? - he cant really sing tho, can he?

G - HARU (18, 5'6")/F - ? - he got alot of eye makeup on

G - MA JING XIANG (20, 6'2")/F - ? - concept? round face? hair?

………………………………………………………………………………………

okay, there were 95 videos. i’m not trying to search for the other 3. on to episode 1!

Oh, they left before it even started… wait, how many fucking left?

? - JO EUN WOO (19, 5'8")

? - YEOM TAE GYUN (21, 5'9")

? - TAO YAUN (24, 6'0")

#Boys Planet #BP1 #_bp #_boysplanet

0 notes

daquanshell · 8 months ago

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The Continual Build

Last night I went out to one of my favorite monthly events, where a small group of people I actually like meet up for Karaoke. The event was quite entertaining, with the crowd being made up of mostly older women, and an older gentleman who also happens to be a writer, such as myself. I sang two songs: “Again”, by Doris Day, and “Blinding Lights”, by Abel Tesfaye, also known as The Weeknd.

The conversation was varied and extremely interesting, primarily thanks to a woman named Nancy, who arrived early and commented on a piece of jewelry I was wearing. What followed was a discussion on travel, friendship, religion, and military service, ending with a blessing for my future campaigns. Lately, I’ve been a lot more picky about the social events I attend, and I’m glad I chose this one. I could genuinely use more people like her in my life.

Jews in the Wild

One thing that was pretty funny about Jewish people in the wild (aka outside of an established religious service or in an environment where Jewish people are a minority) is how they approach you once they find out that you are Jewish. They usually do one of two things, both of which I genuinely find hilarious.

The first is that they say a random phrase in Hebrew. Usually something that is neither a proper greeting, relevant to the situation, nor about future plans, but they particularly like to ask about your upbringing, which in my opinion, is a rather strange thing to ask a person you just met, but it happens so often that its more surprising that I’m not usually prepared for it.

In all honesty, I have been slacking on my Hebrew studies lately. It’s been hard to make the time between school, work, furnishing my new apartment, looking for my future wife and trying to have a social life, but I feel as though my encounter last night was a friendly reminder to both take my studies more seriously, while also working on my social skills. It’s bad enough that I’m largely illiterate and don’t have many friends, but my current situation is no excuse for continuing my education nor actively working to improve my social standing.

Regarding my Upbringing

I had a uniquely African American upbringing, more so than a Jewish one. I didn’t actually find my Jewish Identity until I left my childhood home, after recovering from a near-death encounter. I will spare you the gory details, but the encounter left me bedridden for awhile, with a foggy memory and absolutely no idea how to survive, let alone thrive as both an Adult Male, an African American, and member of the Jewish Community with no real education or connections.

To make matters worse, I was extremely poor, and I was not the kind of person who considered himself a charity case, rather I was the kind of person who believed that all problems could be solved through a combination of intelligence and diligent effort.

Of course, I understood luck to be an ingredient as well, but I’ve never been a fan of luck due to its unreliability. Having no idea what to do, I left my home and went into the wilderness for a while, and it was there that I found my answer. I was called to something significantly larger and more important to me.

I was in recruit training when I first had my first real exposure to Torah. I had spent years studying it, reading it from my phone, and reading English versions of the Chumash, but there was something completely otherworldly about the real thing.

It was like the difference between looking out the window and being outside, one gives you the impression of the air and the elements, while the other allows you to feel it for yourself, for better or worse. Being called to Torah is a wonderful thing, similar to being called to military service, and it fills my heart with pride and joying knowing that my decision to join the military lead me closer to Torah.

I sometimes feel bad I can’t dedicate more time to study. I have to spend so much time exercising, cooking, cleaning, working, traveling, socializing, resting, and relaxing, that sometimes I feel like I’m neglecting my studies, despite always keeping Torah with me (shoutout to the Sefaria app).

Speaking of the Sefaria app, they recently sent me something to my home in New York. I really should visit there, both for the opportunity to see my mom, explore my place of birth, and see what the community there is like. It’s no secret that a majority of Jewish people live in either New York or Israel, and even at the Chabad in Baltimore, all anyone does is talk about how “Baltimore is not New York”, which really discounts the charm of this wonderful city.

Yes, Baltimore is dangerous and Democratic, but it’s also full of beautiful art and magnificent people. Moving forward, I’ll definitely try to capture the beauty of Baltimore more in addition to traveling, but in the meantime I have a lot of housekeeping to do, online and offline.

The offline housekeeping is boring stuff like laundry, dishes, and carpet cleaning, but the online stuff is pretty cool. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be revamping my social media to establish a continuity that is ideally easy to follow, so that anyone I meet in person or online can dive into the rabbit hole that is my persona and my writings.

Hopefully the social media revamp leads to this blog evolving into a full blown website, but it’s still too early to tell.

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drifterthorn · 10 months ago

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Aggretsuko Reflection

I have never watch Aggretsuko though I do know about it. I am so excited that I got to watch this. It is one of those show that I wanted to watch but never got around to. I love the animation and the music in the anime. The show is about a 25-year-old red panda that has a job in accounting firm in Tokyo.

I fell in love with Retsuko the switch from singing death metal to being super cute is hilarious to me. Of course, she the singing is her way of coping with constant harassment from her other co-workers both male and female and her own boss Director Ton. Who is appropriately shown as a pig. Director Ton in the first episode makes it very clear he enjoys having power over other people special woman. He specials gets a kick out of targeting Retsuko because Ton believes she is an incompetent woman. He is only “kind” to the people that suck up to him. Haida the hyena a male co-worker of Retsuko even says that let is standard office politics.

I think it is funny that Tsubone the Komodo Dragon is picking on Retsuko just as bad as Ton does even though she is a woman herself. Because Tsubone is close friends with Ton she gets away with picking on Retsuko and adding her work to Retsuko already big pile. On the other hand, I love that the top woman of the place are a gorilla and a secretary bird called Gori and Washimi. Retsuko, Gori, and Washimi meet at yoga class and become friends. They discover Retsuko hidden secret of loving Karaoke and singing death metal. Even though this was something Retsuko worried about it turn into a good thing because Washimi and Gori love Karaoke and wanted to learn to sing death metal.

I highly recommend this show if you have not watch it yet. It is so funny and good. I definitely wish I had watch it earlier. While I have had shitty boss, I was in a position where I could leave and fine work somewhere else. Thankfully the job I have never has amazing boss and I have great co-workers.

0 notes

marinaers · 2 years ago

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@sentinaels : tell me more about pradeep and ann chief

thank u thank u i never want to shut up abt them actually but i'm gonna have to pick the highlights or i'll be here all night

they are best friends. i said this in their intro post but i'll say it again. best! friends!

it's hilarious that ann and ravi dislike each other so much because they are the same person in different fonts. pradeep befriended both of them for the same reason and they would both have an aneurysm if he told them that.

the reason being that he saw two people who would fully rather die than admit to having An Emotion, lonely and homesick and missing the people they love, and dealing with it by isolating themselves and being insufferable, and decided someone had to do something about it.

pradeep is the youngest of three ( an older brother and sister ) and ann is the oldest of five ( four sisters ).

pradeep loves his siblings very much, but he'd be lying if he said part of the appeal of the job wasn't getting out from under their shadow a little. he may not be the first one to get a phd ( his brother, archaeology of the lunar colonies ) or to leave their home planet ( his sister, political correspondent for an up-and-coming martian news site ), but he's damn well gonna be the first one to travel beyond the known galaxies and document the microbiology of previously-unexplored planets. not that he's competing.

ann and her sisters were brought up by their grandparents. by the time she leaves, her grandfather's been dead for a few years and her grandma is already very old; it's a very real concern for ann whether her grandma will still be alive when she gets back, especially since nobody can contact her during the mission.

ann's little slice of life vlogs for her sisters? pradeep is usually the cameraman.

never mind your watch, you can set the ship's entire calendar by pradeep mishra. he knows the major holidays people are likely to celebrate and makes sure they're always observed — decorations, food, music, whatever it calls for — but he also finds out the little things that are important to people, too. lesser-known holidays, cultural traditions, variations that spread among human planetary colonies. he believes everyone should have some connection to home if they want it.

pradeep vc: i would follow ravi into hell i just wish he'd stop going there

ann's role as a paramedic means she gets to go planetside a lot in case anything goes wrong on expeditions, and it's unequivocally her favourite part of the job. sometimes someone will get hurt, but often it's just research teams collecting data and she gets to chill. take photos of the places they explore. record some more vidoes to take home. sit there and experience the wonder of being on a planet so far from home they don't even know its name. she fucking loves it.

i repeat: they're best friends and they love each other SO much.

team karaoke nights? the two of them always duet.

look, was ann wrong to be concerned about pradeep falling for ravi? not really, she loves her friend and doesn't want to see him get hurt by someone who's seemingly made it their mission to ruin any ounce of good will extended to them. but pradeep is very capable of taking care of himself, more than people would assume from how chill and nice he is usually. he will not take anyone's shit, he won't let himself be treated like shit, and he's not afraid to be vocal about it.

even though pradeep and ravi were kind of, sort of, together, if things in general hadn't gone so horrifically wrong, i think pradeep would have broken things off. not in a forever way, but in a find me when you're really ready for this because i deserve better rn way.

ann farthing vs the utter inability to truly leave someone alone when they're struggling because she's a GOOD PERSON and she was RAISED BETTER THAN THAT but jesus christ some people test her patience and she can hold a grudge like nobody's business so yes she once spent twenty minutes muttering angrily to herself in the kitchen at 2 am ship time as she made a grilled cheese ( it didn't take that long but she needed the extra time to finish her angry little soliloquy ) so she could bring it to ravi because nobody should be crying alone in a deserted common area in the middle of the night. but she's gotta keep some sense of normalcy so she also flipped him the bird on her way out.

insatiable gossips. both of them.

when everyone is dead, and ravi finally brings himself to move the bodies so they're not just sitting where they died, he puts the two of them next to each other.

#sentinaels #answered.#re : pradeep mishra.#re : ann farthing.#love that i was like i'm gonna give u the highlights #then wrote such a long post it had to go under a read more #i have even more to say i had to stop myself!!!

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astonmartinii · 2 years ago

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max verstappen x college!reader | instagram au

pairing: max verstappen x partygirl!reader

college party girl reader and red bull golden boy

MASTERLIST | TIP JAR

yourusername

yourusername: i don’t remember when the tailgate finished or when the game ended but @redbull sponsorship when?

liked by y/friendsname, maxverstappen1 and 1,032 others

y/friendsname: where were these even taken?

yourusername: i honestly don’t know

y/friendsname: and where the fuck did you get the lighter?

yourusername: i don’t think we want to know

maxieverstappen: max liked? who is she?

33dutchlion: she’s a student at umiami from what i can find

maxverstappen1

maxverstappen1: thank you miami! big, big win. great to see so many out here, time to celebrate before the next race

liked by yourusername, redbullracing and 345,981 others

verstappenthelion: unbelievable drive max!

lestappentruther: post race max hits so different in miami

33maxie1: are we gonna get another max party pic?

redbullgirl33: that girl liked his post. there’s defo something going on

16leclerc: girl he’s a world famous athlete, it’s not wild to think she might just know of him?

yourusername

yourusername: here’s to being able to talk our way into anywhere xx

liked by y/friendsname, maxverstappen1 and 1,127 others

y/friendsname: i’m so glad you have no fear when drunk

yourusername: my best quality i fear

55sainz: max liked again, maybe they are onto something

redbulldutchie: that does look like the restaurant where red bull are celebrating

user567: bro it’s a super popular spot in miami i doubt she’s there just because he is

maxverstappen1

maxverstappen1: miami you did not disappoint

liked by danielricciardo, yourusername and 652,198 others

danielricciardo: i thought i was your karaoke buddy :( not cool man

maxverstappen1: sorry not sorry

enchantecowboy: max out here breaking all of the hearts tonight

3maxverstappen3: you guys can all me delusional but thats defo the umiami party girl

23albono: you are insane

ricciardo3: wait, let them cook

yourusername

yourusername: two peas in a pod

liked by maxverstappen1, danielricciardo and 2,609 others

y/friendsname: you’re a liability, but you’re MY liability

maxverstappen1: doubt

maxfan33: that’s defo outside of jimmyz - she’s in monaco???

charleslec16: he’s not even being subtle anymore

33maxsangel: kinda sad cause she’s defo just with him for the money, there’s no way she’s gonna graduate

verstappenisking: she’s so bad for his image :(

f1updates

f1updates: max verstappen spotted with yourusername in monaco after being spotted together in miami. the umiami student is known for her partying - will red bull be happy about this potential couple?

yourusername: i hope they sponsor me

33maxworldchamp: she’s kinda hilarious

verstappenwdc2022: yeah i hope they are together she seems so fun

redbullfan133: he needs to focus on racing

checostan: she’s in monaco?? she’s never gonna graduate lmao

yourusername

yourusername: what’s the point of being known for partying if you can’t throw the bash of the century, you’re welcome maxy.

liked by maxverstappen1, y/friendsname and 7,082 others

comments turned off

maxverstappen1

maxverstappen1: at least one of us finished our education - proud of you my love!!

tagged: yourusername

liked by yourusername, redbullracing and 721,893 others

yourusername: aww maxy i’m blushing... but for real i love you and thank you for putting up with me

maxverstappen1: wouldn’t change it for the world, though you do need to tell brad that all the junk food in the fridge is for your hangovers and not me

landonorris: don’t lie verstappen

yourusername: what he said

f1fan33: they’re actually so cute i can’t

redbullracing: welcome to the family y/n!

yourusername: so about that sponsorship...

yourusername

yourusername: all those who called me an alcoholic... i graduated and secured the red bull man and that sponsorship

tagged: maxverstappen1, umiami and redbullracing

liked by: maxverstappen1, redbullracing and 12,982 others

redbullracing: we’re glad to have you!

y/friendsname: about time, she probably funded half the car with her drinking habits

maxverstappen1: proud of you

danielricciardo: sap

maxducthking: the way she actually proved everyone wrong and graduated... girlboss

#f1 #f1 imagine #f1 instagram au #f1 x you #f1 x reader #max verstappen #max verstappen imagine #max verstappen instagram au

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landhoehoehoe · 3 years ago

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blur the line - Logan Sargeant

Wow, when I started writing this in August I never would have thought that this story would torture me so much but it's finally here! (At least Part 1 of 3 lol) but dw, Part 2 is pretty much finished already and Part 3 just needs a little more fixing :)

Posting this today in honor of Logan's FP1 outing 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

Song rec for this fic: Electric Love by BØRNS

Warnings: none, this part of the story is cute fluff with only a little bit of spice

Logan Sargeant x reader; As an F2 rookie you quickly get along with a specific American driver

“Y/n! Y/n, look here!”,

You were followed closely by the countless photographers as you made your way to the grid on the first race day of a new season.

But today wasn’t just the first race day of the season, it was also your very first race day in Formula 2 as Prema had signed you for this season, making you the only female driver in F2 currently.

Of course your excitement was over the roof, but you’d already prepared yourself for the scrutiny you’d be under.

It would be crucial where you’d finish, not only for the team but for your own mentality as well.

You wanted to show everyone out there that you were the best, that you deserved your seat in F2.

So naturally next to the excitement there was also a certain nervousness flowing through you as you walked over to your car for the first feature race of the season.

“Y/n!”, someone suddenly called out behind you. You turned around to see Logan Sargeant running towards you, his helmet already on his head.

You didn’t particularly know the Carlin driver that well, but he had been one of the first to welcome you to F2, introducing you to all the new faces you didn’t know.

“Good luck out there, you’re going to crush it.”, he smiled reassuringly, making you smile, too.

Something about his tone made you believe that he wasn’t just saying the words to make you feel better.

You just knew that he actually meant what he’d said and you immediately felt better. Because if Logan believed in you, that was one more person rooting for you.

“Thanks, good luck to you, too.”, you grinned, reaching out for his hand to give him a handshake.

As he walked away, you shouted after him:

“I’ll see you when I overtake you!”

He laughed, winking at you before turning around again.

“We’ll see about that!”

The interaction left you with a comfortable, warm feeling in your stomach.

Somehow Logan had managed to take away half your nerves and half your fears that something bad might happen.

You could climb into your car with more confidence now, the excitement and thrill of racing taking over as your hands gripped the wheel.

Leaving the pits, your teammate Dennis sent you another reassuring smile and soon enough your car stood lined up at P12. Not a bad qualifying result for your first time in F2, yet still not good enough to be able to play in the big leagues.

———

“Shut up, Fred! You try remembering that night first!”, Dennis laughed as he retold the hilarious events of a wild party night.

You sat next to Dennis, opposite Logan and Frederik.

The three of them had asked you to join their little Prema reunion dinner before the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix.

Even though you had only signed with Prema this year you’d immediately felt the strong bond between the boys so you had decided to go out with them.

However you were still glad that you could sit next to Dennis because you knew him the best out of all of them since he was your teammate.

Sometimes you could become rather shy, especially around such extroverted people like Dennis and Fred, who argued and laughed about everything.

When Dennis started describing Fred’s karaoke performance from one of their drunk nights, all of you laughed at Fred’s frown, him being the only one who couldn’t laugh about the story.

“You know I’ve actually once heard that-”, you started, but got cut off quickly by an annoyed Fred who reached out to slap Dennis’ head.

“Shut up, Dennis! Or do you want me to tell them about your bathroom incident?”, apparently Fred hadn’t heard you saying anything because his whole focus laid on Dennis, who crossed his arms in a challenging way now.

You shut your mouth again, unsure about whether to keep talking and boring them with your story.

“If you want to go there, please do. But then I can’t promise to keep your street-sign-stealing incident a secret anymore!”, Dennis shot right back at Fred with a wicked grin on his face.

The two of them were so caught up in their argument that you decided to look elsewhere, until suddenly you noticed Logan’s gaze resting on you.

When your eyes met he sent you a shy smile.

“Keep talking, y/n. I’m listening.”, he encouraged softly, completely ignoring the other two drivers at your table.

A smile crept onto your face. Logan had listened to you.

Once again it evoked a sudden warm, comforting feeling in you.

You leaned forward towards him so that he could actually hear you over the other’s bickering and he did the same, leaning in on his elbows.

His eyes were curious, showing you genuine interest, which made you stupidly happy for some odd reason.

“Well um.. I was saying that I’ve heard that when you’re drunk, your hidden talents come out.. so maybe Fred’s is singing karaoke.”

Logan’s smile grew wider until he broke out in a laugh, his soft eyes still fixated on you.

“But do you really believe that? I mean… I’ve heard Fred sing before and… it’s not pretty.”

Now you had to laugh, too, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear.

Logan watched your movement carefully, his eyes following your hand.

“You’ve never heard him singing when he was drunk though, right?”, you retorted, making him frown in contemplation.

He thought about it for a second. The two brawlers next to you were now completely ignored by the both of you.

“That’s a good point. So what would you say is your drunk talent?”, he asked, leaning forward again.

Now it was your turn to think.

As your eyes wandered to the ceiling to think, you could feel his gaze resting on you, making you shift in your seat nervously.

“Definitely not dancing.”, you laughed as one specific incident came to your mind.

“Maybe cooking?”

Logan tilted his head as he gave you an intrigued look.

“I can make the best grilled cheese sandwiches when I’m drunk, I swear.”, you explained, pulling a laugh from him yet again.

“But not when you’re sober?”, he asked, still smiling.

“Hell no, keep me away from the kitchen for your own safety!”, you immediately replied, letting out another laugh.

“But if you ever need a grilled cheese at 3am, call me.”

Logan nodded, something inexplainable now lying in his eyes.

“I might have to take you up on that offer soon.”, he winked, smiling at you.

Your smile also grew wider, feeling as comfortable as ever around Logan.

Only then did you notice that Dennis and Fred had seemingly forgotten about their fight again, the two of them listening to you intently.

“What do you want?”, you asked Fred, an amused expression on your face.

“Nothing, I’m just observing you two love birds.”, Fred immediately grinned, wiggling with his eyebrows suggestively while Dennis joined in on his laughter.

You rolled your eyes, exchanging a shy glance with Logan who couldn’t help but smile.

“At least he listens to me when I talk.”, you replied with an accusatory look towards Dennis.

———

Come the next races, Logan and you grew more and more comfortable around each other, always magically finding each other in the paddock before races, which resulted in the pair of you becoming a beloved duo amongst the photographers.

“Hey, shorty, how are you doing on this fine day?”, Logan approached you from the side as you were walking through the paddock at the Austrian Grand Prix.

He was wearing a fancy pair of sunglasses and a blue Carlin shirt.

Of course, he looked as attractive as ever.

Immediately your face lit up at the sight of him.

No matter how nervous you were before a race, Logan somehow had the magical ability to take all the nerves away.

“Not everyone can be as tall as you, Slender Man. And I’m doing fine, what about you?”

Logan laughed at your remark and casually laid an arm around your shoulder to walk besides you. It caused a sudden electric wave to surge through your body.

“I’m really looking forward to this track. Spielberg will be my race, I guarantee you.”, he replied, angling his face towards the sun to enjoy the warmth with a confident grin on his face.

“Not if I overtake you.”, you were quick to respond, making him face you again, his arm still resting around your shoulders.

Just as he was about to reply, however, he saw something behind you and his whole body stiffed up instantly.

His arm fell from your shoulder as he cursed lowly under his breath.

Confused, you turned around to see the reason for Logan’s mood change: Photographers had spotted the two of you. Not again…

You sighed as you saw the Prema garage a few steps away.

“Well, good luck out there.”, you smiled at him softly.

“Thanks. You, too.”, he returned your smile, then started walking towards the Carlin garage before the photographers reached you.

Before you could enter your garage though, you heard your name being called.

“Y/n!”

You turned to where the voice had come from, only to see Logan standing in front of his own garage, already looking at you.

“I’ll see you when I overtake you!”, he shouted over the buzzing of the paddock with a cheeky smile on his face.

You couldn’t help but smile widely.

He’d used the tagline you usually used when you saw him.

“We’ll see about that!”, you shouted back, making both of you grin like little children.

The Austrian Grand Prix had been good. Very good.

So good that you almost couldn’t believe it was real when your race engineer shouted “P3!” into your ear over the radio.

This was your first time on the podium in F2.

As soon as you stepped out of the car, someone called your name.

“Y/n!”, you recognized his voice immediately.

Before you could even run to your team, Logan had already gained your full attention.

Simply by calling out your name he’d evoked the strong urge to hug him inside of you.

So you let the emotions overcome you and ran towards him.

He gripped you tightly when you fell into his arms and lifted you off the ground to spin you around.

You squealed, ecstatic laughter escaping your lips.

“That was a mega mega drive, y/n, holy shit!”, Logan exclaimed, his excitement levelling your own.

You sighed heavily when he put you back down after squeezing your waist once. A comforting warm feeling spread from where his hands had been touching you.

Only slowly did the realization sink in that you’d just driven into the Top 3.

The moment felt so unreal, you were almost certain you had to be dreaming.

“Thanks, you didn’t do so bad yourself, Sargeant.”, you winked at him, to which he replied with a confident smirk.

“Next time I’ll be overtaking you for P1, though.”, you added teasingly, earning yourself an amused eye roll from him.

“You wish…Still got a lot to learn, little one.”, he gracefully dodged your punch to the shoulder and excused himself to celebrate with his team, so you also went to where your team was waiting for you, with the biggest smile on your face.

Every interaction with Logan was just so comfortable and easy.

Later on the podium you couldn’t stop smiling.

The grin literally couldn’t be wiped off your face during the whole ceremony, but the part you were most looking forward to was still ahead of you: The champagne spraying.

Once the time had come, everyone on the podium steps popped their bottles open and tried spraying each other without getting too wet themselves.

“This is for calling me little!”, you shouted, taking joy in aiming the champagne right at Logan’s face.

Logan screwed his eyes shut and blindly sprayed his champagne everywhere.

“Oh you are so done.”, his voice sounded threatening, which made you gulp before you decided it would be the smarter move to make a run for it.

You squealed hysterically when he started chasing you around the podium, but couldn’t hold back your laughter at the same time.

The people standing below the podium simply enjoyed watching the wild goose chase.

Once again, you forgot about all the people watching the two of you, because all that mattered in this moment was Logan:

Logan, whose messy hair always fell right into his eyes.

Logan, whose beautiful green eyes got you lost so easily.

Logan, who made you laugh effortlessly to the point where you could forget about the rest of the world momentarily.

When he’d almost caught up to you, you saw the others leaving the podium from the corner of your eye and it gave you an idea.

Surely he wouldn’t dare spray the champagne if you were behind the podium where many other innocent people were around.

Quickly you bolted off the podium and already stopped running because you thought you’d be safe, but there was not a single soul behind the podium.

You heard Logan’s heavy breathing behind you.

“Got you, little one.”, he smirked while he came closer, holding his champagne bottle high in the air over your head.

“Where is everyone?”, you panted, still not believing that your plan hadn’t worked.

The corners of Logan’s mouth twitched.

“Right. I forgot this is your first podium. It’s normal that everyone leaves because otherwise they risk getting sprayed.”, he explained, a devilish grin on his face as he explained.

Your shoulders slumped. So much for your genius plan.

“Are you ready for the shower of your life?”, Logan stepped even closer to you, hovering the bottle above your head.

You looked from Logan to the bottle and back to Logan, before you finally accepted your fate with a shrug.

“Do it.”, you kept the eye contact with him as you said so.

That’s when you saw something else flare up in Logan’s eyes: a sudden change of heart perhaps?

His eyes got darker, causing you to gulp, not able to get another word out.

When had the atmosphere changed so drastically?

“Open your mouth.”, he ordered in a low voice, his eyes falling to your lips.

Confused, you furrowed your brows.

“What?”

“You heard me.”, his voice was raspy when he lowered the champagne bottle so that it no longer hovered above you.

Instead, it was now at the height of your mouth.

With one last look at him you hesitantly opened your mouth.

Keeping eye contact with you, one of Logan’s hands came up to tilt your chin slightly upwards.

Then he poured the champagne into your mouth and you swallowed it immediately.

You could basically feel his eyes burning into you and you felt slightly uncomfortable under his intense stare, but it also made him so incredibly attractive.

His hand under your chin, his eyes switching between your lips and your eyes.

God, you have never wanted to kiss a person so badly.

Logan softly pulled your chin towards him, making you fear you might faint right then and there.

Your heart was beating out of your chest so loudly by now that you were sure Logan could hear it, too.

Once you were close enough to feel his hot breath on your skin you didn’t dare breathe, a tingling feeling building in your stomach in anticipation.

“Finally! There you are! We wanna go celebrate, come on guys!”, Fred called out from behind you, ultimately destroying the moment.

Immediately Logan and you drove apart.

You almost wanted to sigh in disappointment when he quickly pulled his hand away from your chin as if he’d burned himself.

“We’re coming, we’re coming, relax!”, Logan shouted back, waving his friend off.

Then he returned his attention back to you, who was still processing what had just happened between the two of you.

In complete contrast to how he’d just devoured you with his eyes, he now gave you a shy smile.

“I’ll see you at the club, then?”, one of his hands nervously came up to the back of his neck while he tilted his head at you.

You could only nod.

“Sure. See you later.”, with a fogged up mind you walked away from Logan, who was trying to catch up to Fred.

“Since when is it important for you to be on time?”, you heard him ask the Danish driver.

“Since we all got points and Y/n got her first podium and you won another race?!”, Fred replied in a matter-of-fact tone before they disappeared out of your sight.

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musewrangler · 2 years ago

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I was thinking about this at work, and I must know:

If your Empire Reimagined characters were in the modern world, what would some of their favorite bands/artists/songs be? (My theory is, Piett would like Simon & Garfunkel, but that's just me)

First we need to establish that you are wonderful for thinking about this at work. ;D I love it.

And it is now your fault that I can't do anything else until I answer this hilarious plunge down the imagination. So. Cracks knuckles. Here we go:

Contrary to what you might think, it is Anakin who likes Simon and Garfunkle. They strike the right note of melancholy for him, without being too dark and angsty. He's trying not to allow outside stimuli to drag him to darkness again. Luke likes this too and Leia rolls her eyes at both of them and refuses to allow it to play in her house.

Han is a classic 80s band guy. U2, Bon Jovi, Journey, ACDC, Wham, Queen, Blondie---he loves it all. Leia likes some songs from some of these artists and they can be seen dancing together to these pieces. There was one legendary night at Sola and Firmus's place when they'd enjoyed a good dinner and good wine that Han and Leia did karaoke for 'Don't Stop Believin', belting it at the top of their lungs to the point that the neighbors commed to complain about noise, but Firmus let Luke talk to them and they came over and had wine and were fine about it. Even requested 'Hungry Like the Wolf'.

Veers also likes ACDC if only for 'Back in Black' as it reminds him of his tank divisions in the Middle East and the camraderie of his men who picked this song as their anthem. He doesn't mind most of Han's music---it hits the right notes literally, though he's not a big Hughie Lewis and the News fan in spite of Back to the Future.

While we're on Veers, he REALLY likes Queen, and the early 2000s hard rock. He also is a dork about the Beatles---something Firmus really loves to give him a hard time about----and Leia and he have trivia battles regularly about this as she likes them too. [Myra loved the Beatles, and so while Firmus likes to tease Max, he also has every single song on his playlist ready if requested.]

Luke is a Maroon Five, Plain White T's, Coldplay, Greenday, The Fray sort of guy, but if you want to see him air guitar [and he has and Han recorded it] watch him with the Black Eyed Peas. I know. No one called that, but it's awesome. He genuinely likes most of the other music his friends and family do, and Leia shares his love of Coldplay.

Piett is quite eclectic in taste. He and Veers can be found nodding their heads and looking very satisfied when CCR is playing, especially Fortunate Son. His favorites to tend toward the 70s rock, so the Eagles, The Dooby Brothers, Moody Blues, and Styx are favorites. However, Firmus LOVES good jazz and swing music. So he can equally be found playing Sinatra, Crosby, Bobby Darin, Big Fat Voodoo Daddy and Nat King Cole. He and Sola are really good dance partners by now and Leia loves capturing sweet moments in their kitchen when they're making dinner for the family and the Admiral takes Sola by the waist to spin her round the island impressively to the King of Swing.

He also loves great classical pieces like Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 in G major or Handel or Beethoven. This is good because his adopted son in all but name is a classical freak.

Scraps is KEEN. Matthew is all things classical and is an utter NERD about this. He knows ridiculous amounts and can name a piece after just the first five notes.

He also plays the cello himself and does so beautifully though none of them knew this until four years into knowing him.

Leia, as mentioned, loves Coldplay and some of the 80s bands Han does. She refuses to listen to music she has deemed 'boring and slow' [pointed look to Anakin and Luke] though she seems to enjoy Piett's jazz and it is rarely fast paced so.

Leia has a country streak though she is picky here as well. She adores Cash, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, and ZZ Top. [There are pitched discussions over whether that last is properly country, but Han takes her side---shocker---mostly because he likes the song 'Well Dressed Man'] She has a hilarious affection for 'Ice Ice Baby' which many of her friends find strange since she doesn't like cold typically, but she will bop to this any time any where. Han tried putting it on during an argument once and she managed to carry on yelling for another minute before she broke.

It only worked once though.

Thank you @accidental-spice! This was really fun!

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rhysismydaddy · 4 years ago

Text

Prisoner's Game Pt. 1 (Rowaelin)

Synopsis: Aelin Galathynius never thought of herself as a vengeful woman. Until her boyfriend not only testifies, but leads a case against her that lands her in prison for the rest of her life. Post I-Love-You's. He didn't believe her, and she's about to show him that not only is she innocent, he made the worst mistake of his life betting against her. To a woman with nothing but time, life's just a game, after all.

The cinderblock wall dug into her back uncomfortably as she reclined against it, the air in the room was stale, and she hadn't showered in two days. By any measurement, Aelin Galathynius was far from her best.

And yet she somehow managed to look perfectly at ease--happy even--as she lounged in her cell, toying with the ends of her too-long hair.

It was a ruse, of course, just a little trick to piss off the man currently stomping into her space. By the flare of Rowan Whitehorn's eyes, it worked.

"Hello, Rowan," she greeted pleasantly, giving him a little smile and acting like it wasn't taking everything in her not to use the makeshift knife under her pillow to gut him like the spineless coward he was.

She could tell, even across her 8x12 cell, that he was gritting his teeth and fighting a similar action.

The heel of his expensive Italian loafers clicked as he walked across the space to the small table and took a seat at the steel chair in front of it. He tried to push it out further, but stopped when he realized it was bolted to the floor.

"Aelin," he said back, none of the so-obvious anger he was feeling present in his voice. "Been a long time."

Eight years, six months, three weeks, two days, and thirteen hours.

Not that she was counting or anything.

She nodded her agreement, reclining further on the bed and crossing her legs as if she was in the finest dress she owned, not a faded orange jumpsuit.

"What brings you to my side of town, Rowan? Here to finally switch sides and represent me?"

Dressed in a two-thousand dollar suit and tie, hair perfectly gelled back, he looked like he was successful a lawyer meeting with a wealthy client, but they both knew the last thing he'd ever do was work for her.

"You know why I'm here."

She did indeed, but she still said, "I must be exceptionally smart to know why you've come all the way here-"

"Cut the shit," he snapped, finally losing a bit of his cool. He regained it quickly, though, and continued, "I want to know how you did it."

She frowned at her split ends. "Did what?"

Rowan waited until she looked at him to respond. "You know what."

Sighing so deeply it should've rattled the walls, she said, "I can't believe I've spent the last eight years thinking you underestimated my intelligence. You clearly think I'm some sort of oracle genius."

Rowan mimicked her sigh, and she bit her lip to stifle a laugh.

Probably trying to stall, he spent a moment looking at her cell, at the completely bare walls and lack of photographs. All she had was the tally marks drawn in pencil on one wall and a dusty chess set sitting on the table.

When he'd taken inventory of those two things, he sat and just looked at her.

It was clear she wouldn't admit to knowing exactly why he sat in front of her, and he was simply putting off being the one to fold.

Predictable, proud little man.

Eventually, he took his loss and said, "I want to know how you managed to rob me from inside the most secure prison in Rifthold."

She smiled, a full, undulated smile she hadn't used in a long time.

She'd been planning this moment since the day the bars had locked behind her, and it felt damn good to finally see it come to fruition.

According to what she'd heard, definitely not what she knew from personal experience, the private vault in Rowan's apartment had been broken into. Apparently, only one thing was missing: an antique dagger that had been handed down in the family and was now worth over a million bucks.

"Why do you think it was me?" she asked, still smiling.

He gritted his teeth some more, and she internally snickered at the idea he'd have permanent tooth damage because of her. Something else to remember her by.

Green eyes spitting flames at her, he growled, "You left a goddamn business card."

Aelin forced her eyes up to the empty bed above her head, trying her hardest not to laugh. "Maybe I'm being framed?"

"Your fingerprints were on it."

She did laugh then, then laughed some more when his eyes narrowed. He looked like he was about to strangle her. "Rowan, in case you haven't noticed, I'm incarcerated."

She gestured around them to her cell to prove her point.

The bastard just smiled.

Of course he knows that, she thought bitterly, forcing her hand back to her lap and away from where it'd started to creep toward the pillow.

"So how would I rob you?" she asked, getting her mind back on track.

"That's what you're going to tell me," he demanded angrily. "I want to know how you got out of here, got all the way across Rifthold, broke into my apartment, and stole from me without any surveillance camera picking it up."

Aelin ran a hand through her hair, fluffing it just right. When she caught sight of the impatience on his face, she fluffed it some more and readjusted the thin jacket on her shoulders.

It was always too damn cold in this place. She hadn't been warm in almost nine years.

Because of him.

Just for that, she fluffed her hair some more.

Then she said simply, "I didn't."

"Stop lying!" he shouted at her, eyes flashing.

She wasn't, but that was besides the point.

"Fine." She rolled her eyes like he'd won. "I got my cousin to-"

"Aedion spent the night in Wendlyn. His travel is verified, and there are at least a hundred eye witnesses that witnessed him singing karaoke all night. Stop. Fucking. Lying."

Once again, she wasn't lying.

Aedion sure as hell hadn't been in Wendlyn last night. She'd just wanted to make sure his alibi was air-tight as planned.

Sighing again, she asked, "Rowan, even if I did do it, why the hell would I tell you about it?"

His jaw worked for a moment, and she could tell whatever he was about to say was difficult for him. "I'll get time off your sentence if you tell me what you've done with it."

She tried not to laugh, but she couldn't help it.

It burst out of her, full and uncontrollable, and she flopped over on the dirty mattress and howled for a good few minutes.

He glared at her, looking for all the world like he was experiencing a portion of the rage she was made of, but regardless of the threat in his eyes, she took her time composing herself.

"I'm serving ten consecutive life sentences, you idiot."

One for each and every one of her "victims."

"I'll make it nine," he offered generously.

"Even if I was a cat, that'd still leave me dying in a prison cell. Offer me something else."

He just glared at her, unwilling to give her anything she could actually use or want. Just like she'd expected.

"That's what I thought. So no, Rowan Whitehorn, I'm not accepting your little deal. You can think I robbed you all you want; hell, you can even know, in your famous gut, that I did it." She tilted her head, a cruel smile filling her lips. "But it isn't about what you believe, it's about what you can prove. Isn't that right?"

His eyes shuttered at the words, and just like that, they were sucked into the memory of all those years ago.

~Eight years ago~

~Rowan~

Rowan rolled over, edging away from the woman next to him carefully as to not wake her.

Her hair was spread out on his chest, her soft hand was on his stomach, and her leg was draped over his. By all accounts, she was all over him.

And it felt so fucking good.

He'd never met anyone like Aelin before. Anyone so full of life, so hilariously open.

It was like she was constantly on fire, flitting from one place to the next with endless energy and jabs about him being too old and slow.

"What are you going?" she murmured, nails digging in slightly to keep him where he was.

"To get some water. Go back to sleep."

He leaned down and kissed her brow, and she sighed happily and rolled over. Like a total cliché, he watched her sleep for a moment, trying to get his feelings under control.

They'd been seeing each other for less than a year, but he couldn't imagine his life without her. He was in love with her, and if the way she acted and smiled around him was any indication, she loved him, too.

He ran a thumb over her cheekbone, smiling when she tilted her face into his touch.

He was whipped, and he didn't even care.

Rowan shook his head at himself, pulled on a pair of boxers, padded to the kitchen, and held a glass under the faucet.

Then frowned as it sputtered.

He figured he'd at least make himself useful, knowing damn well she would never agree to call the plumber when she could "figure out how to fix it herself on Youtube."

So he knelt down in her kitchen and opened the cabinet door, trying to see what the problem with the pipe was.

Except he never got that far.

His eyes got stuck on the piece of paper sticking out under a false piece of wood covering the back panel.

Knowing it was wrong to pry but somehow unable to stop himself, he tugged the paper loose.

Then fell backwards to his ass, heart hammering and brain spinning as he read it over and over again.

The list of names wasn't long, but all ten of the people on it were highly distinguished members of society.

And they were all dead.

He wouldn't know that, since the death of the last person on the list wasn't even public record yet, but he was the attorney working with the police to find the killer.

Why did she have this list?

And what did the numbers next to the names mean?

One way or another, he knew he had to find out. He also knew he couldn't ask her. He was in too deep, too unbiased to know whether or not she was lying.

He didn't trust himself with her, so he'd have to go the traditional route.

He took a picture of the paper quickly, tucking it back where he'd found it. He snuck back in the room to get dressed, leaving her a note he had to go to work.

He thought he was going to be sick as he left her apartment, a feeling suspiciously similar to dread coiling in his stomach.

There was only one way she could know that last name, only one explanation that made sense.

But he had to know for sure. Had to know if he'd been an idiot this past year; an idiot who'd spent almost every night sleeping next to the killer he'd been searching for.

So he started investigating his girlfriend.

Six days later, he found the security deposit boxes and the murder weapons inside, still covered in dried blood that would be matched to the victims. All with Aelin's prints on them.

Two days after that, the woman he'd thought was the love of his life was arrested on ten counts of murder.

Despite the tears she shed, despite the promises she made to him, despite the love she claimed to have for him, Rowan told the cops everything.

Even though he couldn't imagine her killing anyone.

"It doesn't matter what I believe, it matters what I can prove."

That was the last thing he'd said to her, right as she was being dragged out of the court room and yelling at him to believe her.

The truth of the matter was that when it came down to it, he didn't trust her enough. The facts were against her, everyone on the jury had been against her, and in the end, Rowan was too.

~Present~

~Aelin~

Rowan shook his head, almost like he needed to clear it from the memory they'd obviously both been immersed in, and she smiled.

She hoped what happened all those years ago still haunted him, hoped he went to sleep at night thinking about her and the betrayal he'd served to her on a silver platter.

The first year of her sentence, she was so lost in emotion--in the rage and confusion and deep, deep hurt--that she couldn't bring herself to do anything.

He hadn't even bothered to ask her first. That's what had hurt the worst.

He'd seen that stupid, stupid list and had jumped to the first conclusion possible.

She knew it had looked bad, had looked like she was guilty, but she'd thought that if the worst happened, he'd at least ask her to explain before slapping the cuffs on her.

But he hadn't. She'd gone to prison, and his career had exploded into stardom from the success of the case.

"See, Rowan, when you refused to accept any other explanation other than the easy one, you made a mistake. Because I didn't kill those people."

He rolled his eyes. "Aelin-"

"And I'm not only going to prove it," she continued as if he hadn't spoken, "I'm going to ruin your precious little life while I do it. Just like you did mine."

She stood, put a hand on the steel table, and leaned over him.

"If you want it to stop, all you have to do is drop these bullshit murder charges and issue a public apology for locking me up in the first place."

He stood too, so close his loafers brushed the toe of her dusty, prison issued sneakers.

"That's never going to happen," he promised, voice uncompromising and angry.

Aelin smiled, having predicted his reaction down to the facial expression.

His pride, she'd decided, would be the first thing to go.

She reached around him to slide the pawn on the chess board forward, leaned in even further, and whispered, "Let the game begin, then."

~~~~~~~~~~

Part 2

@perseusannabeth @cursebreaker29 @a-bit-of-a-cactus @elriel4life @girl-who-reads-the-books @aelinfeyreeleven945tbln @live-the-fangirl-life @ireallyshouldsleeprn @highqueenofelfhame @gracie-rosee @rowaelinismyotp @nahthanks @ghostlyrose2 @lovemollywho @inardour @tillyrubes10 @claralady @tswaney17 @rowanisahunk @superspiritfestival @thegoddessofyou @awesomelena555 @booksofthemoon @greerlunna @jlinez @studyliketate @over300books @justgiu12 @maastrash @aesthetics-11 @bamchickawowow @b00kworm @sleeping-and-books @musicmaam @hizqueen4life @maybekindasortaace

#rowaelin #rowaelin fanfiction #rowan #rowan whitehorn #rowan x aelin #aelin galythinius #throne of glass #throne of glass fanfiction

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