#aaaaaaaaand that's it everybody!

[accidentally-in-fictional-love]

Things I Noticed While Writing Light The Fuse: Part 10, Episode 4

It's Cop Night tonight!

I don't say this nearly enough, but I really love Ethan lol this is one of the funniest things he's ever said, no more fear of the Ghouls with this guy

Not Matty of all people coming in with the 'okay enough of that please don't start things'

He is thinking :] he just stares for so long trying to think of anything to say that wouldn't also start something and I love him for that

I was just gunna add this cause cute Matty and hot Johnson but as I was rendering this I saw Ethan's face for the first time fuckin lmao I have seen this scene SO many times and never once have I looked at Ethan

I really love soft, apologetic Matty, need more of this guy

I love how you can actually see the switch between Well Mannered Matty and his usual self when being polite doesn't work lmao no one else could've played him for REAL /)w(\ also the smug laugh he does afterwards will be the death of me

In case it wasn't obvious already I have a thing with being intimidated and this is the hottest thing I've ever seen in my entire life no one else could've played him

This exchange makes me insane. Matty is so hot here I can hardly stand it. This would've been such a good fucking fight, Matty just staring him down not scared at all, the implication of everyone else he isn't afraid of coming after him and he doesn't even care, his hand is shaking he's so strong and brave and I would fight Gary for him even though he could kick my 5'5 ass

Fucking. Same. Ethan.

I just really wanted to say this outfit fuckin eats, he makes me wanna buy him a very expensive beverage and sit with him while he drinks slow and talks about his day /)//w//(\ okay I'm normal again sorry about that back to the post

Hi Angel~ Been watching a few of Rhys' movies for editing and he does this little wave in like all of them and this is just him continuing the trend lol so cute, I might make a lil gifset about it at some point 🥰

Johnson standing there like 'Matty. Pinup. Matty.' like what is that look I'm going insane, he's surrounded by beautiful dancing ladies and he's always looking at Matty or Ethan

Like. Fucking same, Johnson. I am also looking at Johnson like that as well just so you know

lmao at Ethan but I love the amount of detail they put into all these sets like this bathroom is seen only once and they decked it out so damn cool

Whoa I was just gunna screencap this bit and say I could never use a urinal cause guys are just... dicks out next to each other and that's so awkward oh my god so I'm always like looking at the wall during this whole scene cause I'm shy /)~(\ but Matty actually has another moment of misdirection when Ethan gets all still, doesn't change the subject this time, just hammers it home, but he does it in a way that still gets him away from Ethan it looks like so he knows he doesn't have to freak out over being recognized

Serious conversation, dicks just out, all three of them, pissin' away, can't be me. Also love how Johnson isn't allowed in the scene cause there's only three urinals lmao he's saving their table for them it's all good

He's also watching Ethan and seeing how calm he is this time ;w;

Gross. Disgusting. Don't bring your open drinks into the bathroom you heathen Matty did too but at least he like leaves it there cause I saw it in his hand when he walked in and placed it on the top and then he never picked it back up, he's just littering

I think him looking at me like that might fix me 😌 also cop didn't wash his hands yucko everybody shame him aaaaaaaaand I just now realized I giffed Ethan fuckin shakin' it and Matty's just staring at him with that expression as he's doing it I'm going to jump off a CLIFF MEN'S BATHROOMS ARE SO AWKWARD

'Why?' Cutting Matty out of this part in the fic nearly killed me cause I couldn't do this exchange but I'm so happy with him realizing it himself ;w;

Him saying this to me would definitely fix me. Love how he gets one second to be so genuine, his voice is so soft, and then he just laughs cause Ethan has the best reactions and he's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen after Johnson

Nearly hit my limit again surprisingly so yayyy I get to talk about my favourite scene with Ethan and Meredith tomorrow, gimme all the friendships with her to talk about! 💙💛

[peach-and-spina]

matzo ball transition timeline lol

feral little pervert to spoiled indoor cuddle boy. thanks, rat poison

okay so here's baby matzo ball with a sibling circa October 2020. his mom and siblings' stories are in my rescue buddy Dana's instagram highlight "Millie's Babies"

in 2021 Matzo Ball started showing up for feeding time on my block while I was trying to trap Pizza, so he ended up getting TNR'd around the same time as she did. at that point in time, he was definitely 100% feral. we didn't see him all the time, especially once Pizza got moved inside. he was mostly a floater, I definitely saw him crossing a 2-way street back over to the projects once.

at some point, Dana saw me post a picture of him and connected the dots that he was the same guy. the person who manages the colony a few blocks away had been wondering why he mysteriously showed back up eartipped 😅

we did start to see him a little more often, but weren't able to get him on a consistent feeding schedule until early 2023. he was getting a little more comfortable with us, and spending a lot of time staring through our front windows like a creep, but not a lot else to indicate he could be socialized.

things started to snowball as soon as we started feeding him inside our front hallway- I started sitting closer to him while he ate, then would try touching him, then pets. once he got a taste of a face rub it was over, as soon as he figured that shit out he was begging for pets within a week. but out on the sidewalk, and with any other people, he was still acting basically feral.

so as this gross little man socialized himself, I was thinking through options. for long and convoluted reasons that I will summarize as "resident cat Peach with FeLV is dying soon, maybe", we were really hesitant to bring him fully inside. I set up a nice outdoor shelter that he wasn't smart enough to figure out, I started working on the reverse catio, I started just hanging out with him in the front hallway all the time, I got him one of those calming beds. a couple times, I tried closing the front door to see if he could handle being closed in, and he panicked. so I finished the catio and was comfortable with him being outdoors for the winter, sheltered in his favorite window spot.

aaaaaaaaand then in January he ingested rat poison!!! 🚨🚨🚨🚨

I'll save you all the whole traumatic story unless you really want it (I go into a little more detail here), but basically, rat poison prevents blood from clotting. he ended up needing multiple overnight stays at the emergency vet, at least 2 blood transfusions, and a lot of monitoring to make sure he was responding okay to treatment. in total, it came out to over $10,000, mostly on credit lines (you can help if you want). the vets and techs* constantly noted how sweet he was, one called him a mensch.

the first night or two of recovery I had him in a large dog crate in my room in an attempt at isolation, but as soon as he started to feel better, he was trying to fight his way out. so we did supervised interaction time only for a while, and then got to a point where we felt mostly okay leaving the cats alone together. after a month on the clotting supplements, his blood was looking good.

six months later, he's doing... so well 🥰 he sleeps in my bed with me, he asks for belly rubs and "wiggle time", his playful young energy has awoken some dormant youthfulness in Spina, he only sometimes gets too aggressive with Peach who is decrepit, he's starting to get comfortable with other people, letting strangers pet him, even sitting on the couch next to new people. everybody loves him and he is perfect, obviously 💕

* general shout out real quick to everyone at VERG Brooklyn not only for SAVING HIS LIFE (!!!!), but doing an outstanding job communicating the medical details to us so we could make informed decisions. and also to our regular vet for continuing his care closer to home.

[cantevenbeachhere]

Just saying, Ken. I really enjoy your blog. You’re a lil’ cutie pie and you deserve all the kisses and attention and back rubs! I do indeed have a few questions for you though!

What’s your favorite breed of horse? And after all this time have you finally bought a horse or two for yourself? What’s your favorite song or album? And are you still “In Love” with Barbie or do you just love her in a, like, platonic way, Y’know?

I love ya’ Ken!! and I’ll be back to ask more questions whenever your ready! *Hugs super tight*

Hi!! Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m hoping this blog makes everybody as happy as it makes me, so hearing that it does for some at least is really nice.

Yes! Questions! I love questions! It makes me feel important. Especially when I know the answers.

Okay so! My favorite breed is Appaloosa horses because they’re beautiful and friendly and loyal and smart and just so so so so sooooooo cool!! I actually have a post about my favorite breeds if you wanna check that out.

I haven’t bought a horse yet. I’m still looking for the right horse for me, ya know?

I don’t really have a favorite album honestly. I’m more of like a mixed tape kinda guy. Or like a playlist guy for those who don’t know what tapes are. But! My favorite song right now is Shake It Off. Although there’s something about The Prophecy that really resonates with me.

Aaaaaaaaand…I don’t really know honestly. I don’t think so? Like I told her in my letter that I will always love her. I just don’t know in what way I love her. I’m still figuring that out.

I love you too @goslings-girlx and thank you for the questions! My mailbox is kinda empty right now so PLEASE send as many questions as you want!

[irisxyphium]

AAAAAAAAAND it's over! Put together some of the stunning visuals for the last episode and some of my fav moments WITHOUT any spoiler because I hopw everybody will be able to enjoy the seasone finale as much as I did. No sappy words for now.

[thessalian]

Thess vs First Forge

Forbidden West-blogging returns! The last few days have mostly been using the interactive map I found to go trawling for data points. Not enough spoons to do much hunting, besides a Stormbird and Dreadwing combo up in the mountains, which was depressing because I was looking for Apex and did not find Apex. But today, I sort of multitasked my hyperfocus between a text RP scene and noodling around the Forbidden West.

Okay. I have a lot of data points. I think I can save some of the rest for whenever I'm supposed to trip over them in quests. Now. Time for hunting.

Google-fu tells me thaaaaat ... well, that you stand a better chance of getting an Apex machine during the in-game night. Well, there's supposedly a shiny new Dreadwing spawn point right at a campfire I passed when I was finding firegleam as per Sylens' bloody orders. So as it's in-game night, let's try there.

...And there it is AND IT SAYS APEX!

......And its scrambler field is basically right on top of the spawn point and now I am discovered. Fuuuuuuuck.

THE THINGS I DO FOR SHINY ARMOUR HOLY SHIT.

Okay. Okay. Back to campfire. Over to Thornmarsh. I have my shiny salvage and all is good.

SHINY LEGENDARY STEALTH ARMOUR WOO!

Now, lemme upgraaaaaaaaade ... and I need more Apex Dreadwing bits. Well, night isn't over and shit respawns fast.

Lemme see if I can dodge around the perimeter of that scrambler field.

...Fuck.

Huh. It ... was hanging upside down there, just like an actual bat. That's really cool. Or would be, if it wasn't trying to EAT MY FACE.

There. Okay. That should do. Back to campfire, find a shelter, upgrade.

Aaaaaaaaaand now I need Slitherfang bits. Fuck Slitherfangs right in the ear. I guess I should probably start the whole AETHER deal.

...Lemme do First Forge first. Maybe I'll get lucky. Lemme talk to Erend.

Oh, good, you found coordinates-- wait. You're coming too?!? Okay, you have very good reasons for wanting to, so sure. But if you fuck up my stealth I am going to be very disappointed in you.

Huh. I had the nearest campfire, even. Good. See, this is why I go all over the place getting campfires. Makes getting to actual spots for quests so much easier when the time comes.

Okay, Erend. They've got door guards and--

Wait. EREND wants to pull a SUBTERFUGE?!? Oh, this is going to be hilarious.

.........On one level, it's kind of nice that the door guards are smart enough not to buy that. On the other hand ... well, fuck. We're in, anyway.

Why is there nothing that's going to give me some damn cover in this cave?!? Fuck you, Asera. Right in the ear.

Yes, Erend. I am still actually really damn good at this. Get better every day, in fact. Sorry I'm not letting you get all that much use out of your hammer.

Did ... did you just hand me precision ammo? You are now my hero.

Okay, so she ran off aaaaaaaand ... there's another door.

Which ... shut ominously behind us. Hope I got everything worth getting in there.

Why do you just happen to have explodo barrels on that bridge? More to the point, why didn't you wait until we were on it to blow it up, if you want us dead so badly?

Thanks, Erend. To you and to your hammer.

Lady, if you want tripwires, try to have them be a little less obvious, okay? That kind of shit works on machines, not people.

Outside? Okay-- aaaaaaaaand that's the cave mouth blocked. What've you got for us, Asera?

...Clawstrider? That's it? Fuck off, Clawstrider. POONK.

And Asera has ... quite the health bar. But I'll just be over here. POONK. POONK. POONK.

And that's the end of you. Yeah, head on back to the Base, Erend. I have looting to do.

Huh. Asera keeps a diary. "Dear Diary, my culture is sexist and my dad's a jerk and so I want everybody to burn". Also, Sylens, you are a shitheel.

Now, there's supposed to be another data point up here. Since I'm in the area...

Got it. Now ... there's that settlement that's been outright taunting me. And it's ... way below me. I wonder...

Glidiiiiiiiiiing ... and in I go. I'm not really supposed to be in here yet, but fuck it. I want to read about the people who blew up Yosemite.

There is something WRONG with these CLIMBING POINTS.

*checks Google*

Oh. There'll be a quest here later. Hopefully I'll be able to do what I need to when the quest is active. Which it won't be until I do the quest for AETHER. Okay, okay, I go.

(I'll be given a Slitherfang to hunt anyway.)

Hi, Dekka. Look, I--

No, but--

Oh, fine, okay, I will go and talk to Hekarro. Also I will get these data points and--

Oooooooooh, this is the Ten. Joint Task Force 10. I guess that makes more sense, given that they wouldn't have had a clue about Zero Dawn, GAIA, or GAIA's subordinate functions. Still, I guess it works to an extent anyway. GAIA and her subordinate functions were what JTF-10 were fighting for. Also, coincidence to a point, but narratively speaking, even what seems like a coincidence in the story may not be a coincidence to the writer. Anyway. Sorry. I am a nerd.

Hi, Hekarro; I--

Wait. Wut.

So from being thrown into a fighting pit by the Carja, I have to protect one? Hoboy.

And you want me to play diplomat? Look, I remember Tekotteh was an asshole at your Embassy thing; why are you expecting me to--?

Look, all I want is to dig around your basement; that stuff's worth nothing to you but could help me save the world so-- waitWUT.

You ... know what's down there?

You ... don't know exactly what's down there. But at least you used what little you did see to some good use. Knowing how to fight machines is important, at least until we get HAEPHESTUS under control. So I do all this and you let me look in your basement?

...Okay, fine. I will meet your Kotallo. I will just pick up some campfires on the way--

Oh. Hi, Vetteh. You are currently on the receiving end of a Rollerback pummelling. Gotcha, fam. POONK.

Aaaand your friend Littay is in equal trouble. Off I go.

If you ran into Thunderjaw territory, lady--

Oh. No, okay. Just ... over to there somewhere. Let's go--

Spikesnouts, Burrowers, and an Apex Clawstrider. Lady, you did get yourself into a mess. Lemme see what I can do. POONK. POONK. POONK.

Okay. I have saved you and hopefully you've still got salvage worth the name. I gotta go yell at some Sky Clan, okay?

(Why can't I give these people some of my meat and plants? I am swimming in edible things! Why can't I give them to hungry people?!?)

Right. I think that's about enough of that for one day. Tomorrow, I will finish the quest for AETHER. Promise.

Honestly, I'm hoping I can go to sleep. But some of the downstairs neighbours are watching what I presume are sports of some kind because the cheering has been ... very, very loud. Ugh.

[aether-asterisk]

{ ← } The Great MIRA Mystery - Pages 45-48

The aftermath.

[negativnine]

So i very recently have gotten an interrst in an anime under the name of "The vampire dies in not time" or "Kyuuketsuki Sugu Shinu".

And it is great, it's comedy anime, i know that's not everybody's type of thing, but it is my type of thing, so i liked it. I have already binged the anime and started reading the manga.

And today when i was just on my phone going trough social media, i had a thought.

"With all the shenanigangs Ronald and Draluc gets into, you can kinda see the story being a dnd campaign"

And now i have a fresh out of the oven au of the story actually being a dnd campaign and Ronald and Draluc are the characters or the players (i honestly don't really know who else to make a player, Jhon maybe? That would be a fun outcome)

AAAAAAaaand i have come to a few conclusions:

1. As much as the two characters hate eachohter, the players sure as hell don't, and they are also having a fucking blast rping out any scenario

2. The DM is sooo done with those two, their rolling luch is pretty generic, and it wouldn't be as bad IF THE MAJORITY OF THEIR ROLLS WEREN'T AGAINTS EACHOTHER, not to mention the amount of times Ronald's player has rolled to attack Draluc, but they are also having fun dming for those idiots

3. If there other players other then these two, they are either confused or are actually also into this whole thing and lowkey loves these two dumbass characters, wich would probably make the two the fan favourite in the party

[bbq-hawks-wings]

Aaaaaaaaand my browser crashed and I lost my new work.

Time for bed. Good night, everybody.

[crayonwriting]

05 - Just How Much I Missed You

Summary: Maiko just wanted her good ol’ dad to walk her down the aisle. So, she invited the three men from your past in hopes of meeting him. The only problem was, which one of them is it?

Pairings: Oikawa Tooru x Reader, Bokuto Koutarou x Reader, Kuroo Tetsurou x Reader

Disclaimer: This is based on the movie directed by Phyllida Loyd and written by Catherine Johnson which is inspired by the music of the pop group ABBA.

catch up here!

Maiko’s bachelorette party was in full swing. Everybody danced and swayed their bodies to the rhythm of the song. She downed a shot of some hard liquor passed on to her by Eri. It burned the back of her throat but she didn’t care.

Just as the song ended, there was complete silence. Everyone waited for the music to come back, but it didn’t. Then Yoshiko’s voice was heard loud and clear through the speakers.

“Ladies, and no gentlemen, presenting the best girl power group to ever walk the earth,” there was a drumroll as everyone waited with bated breath, “Shojotai!”

Maiko has only ever heard of that group in stories exchanged between you and your friends. She couldn't stop the excited squeal that left her lips when you, Yoshiko and Rika emerged from the main villa doors, wearing extremely sparkly and glittery outfits which she assumed was all that during your college days.

The three of you positioned yourselves in the middle of the courtyard, ready to perform. Shojotai is the name of your girl group ever since the three of you met in junior high. You’ve continued it all throughout your high school lives—even until college—and you all used to perform for every single occasion of your class.

As the first few beats of the song started, you gave Maiko a small wink. She's witnessed you belt out songs before but she hasn't seen you perform on this kind of level.

All the ladies danced and vibed to the song as they cheered for the three of you. This song was a classic and it's one of your favorite songs to perform as you can be as silly as you want without ruining the performance. 

The three of you blended and sang to the crowd. You couldn't help but dedicate a certain part of the song to your daughter, caressing her cheek as you sang to her. She kissed the palm of your hand in gratitude. When you turned away to meet in the middle once again, you noticed three looming figures at the back of the party.

You glanced over at them and, as if mocking you, Kuroo was dancing—albeit quite terribly—to the song. You rolled your eyes at him but you weren't sure if he saw.

Why are they still here?! I thought they already left! Has Maiko noticed already? They need to leave, ASAP., you screamed in your head while trying to maintain your happy demeanor. Just as your choreography required you to turn around, you had managed to whisper to your two best friends to look towards where the three men were.

You continued with the rest of the song, making wild gestures here and there—things you know will embarrass Maiko—to keep her attention on you. The sight of her mortified face peeking in between her fingers made you laugh. After a few more verses, the song had come to an end.

The crowd cheered for the three of you loudly. Maiko screamed the loudest and she couldn't help but run up to you and give you a tight hug.

"You were amazing!" She beamed, jumping up and down. You gave her a tight-lipped smile and a slightly stiff hug.

"I think I need some air. I'll see you later, Maiko-chan." In a haste, you pecked her forehead affectionately and exited towards the main villa doors. Maiko looked towards where you disappeared to, confused. Was it something she said?

"Excuse me! Yoohoo!" Rika said into the mic, getting the attention of Kuroo. Oikawa and Bokuto. "This is a hen party. Women only. Thank you." She smiled sarcastically and motioned her hand to shoo them away. The whole crowd was now looking at them which felt uneasy. Kuroo smiled apologetically, waving his hand in surrender. He turned to leave with the other two copying his actions. 

Yoshiko patted Rika's shoulder proudly as they went to the main villa to go after you. Maiko could only stare at the scene. Tonight's not going to be good.

***

"Oh god! Why are they here? What if they ruin Maiko’s wedding?" You paced around the room, nipping at your nails nervously.

"But I thought you weren't so keen on this wedding?" Yoshiko asked. She was right. You didn't want this wedding to happen at all. It's not that you don't like Minoru—the kid's too nice to be honest—but you just think that getting married so young would result to regrets and you didn't want that for Maiko. But what could you do? Your daughter was as headstrong as you were when you were her age.

"I know that. But I don't want them spoiling it." Rika handed you a cold beer she had snatched from the bar after your performance. She just had a hunch that you'd need a few drinks to get you through the night. You took the drink from her and took a long sip. 

"They don't have the right to turn up like this! What have they ever done for their daughter, huh?"

"How could they, Y/N-chan? They didn't know she existed." Rika stated matter of factly.

"They didn't need to know did they? I've done a great job with Maiko all by myself and I won't be replaced!"

—

Meanwhile, Bokuto and Oikawa headed to the bar to get a few drinks before heading out. They didn't expect for Maiko's whole party to pull them away from said bar and back to the courtyard. The two men were pushed against the poles of the awning with their hands tied behind their backs.

The girls started running their hands across their toned bodies. Bokuto was loving the attention and Oikawa did his best not to. Kuroo had managed to escape, opting to take a walk nearby and just have some peace and quiet.

—

"Aaargh!" You shouted your frustrations into the night as you pushed open the window to let in some fresh air. You then plopped beside Yoshiko and Rika who were almost passed out both from the performance you did earlier as well as the flight of steps it took to get to their villa.

"Someone must hate me up there." You muttered pointing at the ceiling. "Must be my mother."

"Wasn't she a ray of sunshine, huh?" Rika commented.

"I need to get them out of here." You scrambled to get up from the bed but your friends stopped you.

"If you go in and confront them head on, there're gonna be some questions." Yoshiko said as she groaned in pain. "Help me out of these boots, please. My feet are killing me!"

You and Rika each took one of Yoshiko's legs and started yanking on the knee-high boots she decided to wear. The both of you did your best to get them off as you heaved and grunted with all your mights. 

"What if we get them wasted tonight," Rika said, gripping tightly to the boot, "And then take them fishing tomorrow?"

"Fishing!" Yoshiko said exasperatingly. She scoffed at the idea.

"Well, what do you suggest we do with three men?"

Just as the question had left Rika's mouth, the both of you had managed to take off the damn boots. The force that did it made you and Rika fly slightly across the room.

"Three men? Wow." Yoshiko said dreamily. "Now that takes me way back."

tags: @yikes-buddy / @ushi-please / @melodiamore / @akaashi-todorki / @honeymoneyy / @minty-mangos-world / @ochabby / @paettonissahotcheeto / @chrisrue15 / @cottage-babe2 / @tsukkx / @yashinosakura / @coconut-dreamz​ / @roseestuosity / @youstydiaa / @shiningstar-byulxx / @mkkhaikyuu / @waywardtrashfam / @otaku-fangirlse / @juni-multifandom / @voids-universe / @chimsblogg / @1-800-imagine 

a/n: aaaaaaaaand, i’m alive! i’m so sooooo sorry for not posting in a long time. i’ve been distracted by an oikawa, iwaizumi, ushijima and sakusa (all separated) fics i’ve been writing on the sidelines, that’s why it took me longer to update.

by the time i was done writing the chapter, i realized that i was actually wriitng chapter 6 and not 5! so i had to start all over. that’s why y’all are getting a double posting today! yay! i do apologize if this chapter seems a bit rushed, hehe. i had a bit of difficulty writing the super trouper scene.

like always, i’m sorry for the mistakes and the slight (or major, i’m not sure anymore) ooc of some of the characters. hope u still like ‘em!

[hydroponicjj]

hi! can i request a joshua bassett x reader, basically they’re dating and everybody knows but they haven’t made it public official, but hes doing a livestream during quarantine and he misses her a lot and she joins and he gives it away by singing a song just for her and gushing about her? or alternatively shes sitting behind the camera and giving him song requests and joshua is super soft and the viewers realize? xx

quarantined together

pairing: joshua bassett x reader

work count: 877

warnings: n/a

a/n: thank you for the request! i haven’t really written for joshua in a little bit so, glad to be back!! send me some requests pls :) gif credit goes to thegayfleet

                    「 ₊˚.༄ 」

“hello, hello, hello!” joshua greeted as he started the live on instagram.

thousands of people started pouring in at once, “hey guys!” he welcomed for the second time.

userone: hello joshua!!

usertwo: hey

userthree: you’re up early

“i’m up early? haha, yes. you can’t fall off the grind just because it’s quarantine.” he shrugged, reaching past the phone screen to grab his guitar.

for the first fifteen minuets of the live, he was strumming lightly whilst singing whatever tune popped into his head.

userfour: what song is that???

userfive: when was the last time you talked to y/n?

usersix: how is franklin doing? 😎

“franklin is doing pretty good, he’s sleeping cause he doesn’t wake up till like 3 pm.” he explained.

“uhhh,” he stuttered, “the last time i talked to y/n/n? right before i started the live.” joshua paused.

“she’s been on edge since quarantine started so, go send her some love.” he smiled into the camera.

you and joshua had been dating for about 3 months and you just so happened to be visiting him when the whole world shut down so, you were in isolation together.

userseven: do you talk to her everyday?

usereight: awe poor baby :( hope she’s alright

usernine: why’s she on edge??

“of course i talk to her everyday she’s my-” he paused, “my best friend.” he continued in a high pitched baby voice.

userten: this man said bEst fRieNd lmao 💀

usereleven: best friend? 🧢

usertwelve: facetime her!!

userthirteen: you should play a song? :)

“wait, wait, wait, i’ll be right back guys. i’m gonna go get a snack.” setting his guitar down in the chair he was just residing in, joshua ran into the kitchen.

“hey!” you greeted from the couch, you were currently rewatching the first season of outer banks.

“hello.” he replied enthusiastically, a smile on his face. reaching up into the cabinet, he he grabbed a lavender bag filled with popcorn.

“whatcha doin?” you asked, like isabella from phineas and ferb.

“i’m on live right now, i’ve actually gotta get back.”

“oooo, can i come with you? i can give you song suggestions.” you chuckled. you have seen enough of joshua’s lives to know exactly what he does.

“of course, c’mon.”

following him back into his room, you plopped down on his bed while joshua went back to entertaining the people watching his live stream.

“hello, hello, hello.” he removed the instrument from his seat so that he could sit back down.

userfourteen: he’s back !

userfifteen: he was gone for 30 years

usersixteen: welcome back sir

userseventeen: what song are u gonna sing today?

“what song? hmm, i’m not sure, what do you think?” he looked over to you.

people were aware that you and joshua are close but they didn’t know the entirety of your relationship and they also didn’t know that you were in quarantine together.

“meg thee stallion.” you joked.

“hahaha, meg? i dunno, not so uh, not so kid friendly.”

usereighteen: WHO IS THAT? 😳😳😳

usernineteen: THAT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE Y/N WTH 💀

usertwenty: THEYRE IN QUARANTINE TOGETHER OMG 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

joshua was too busy looking at you that he didn’t notice the comments going crazy.

“how about bruno mars?” you answered seriously.

“what do you guys think-” josh looked back and was trying to read all of the comments that were flooding in.

usertwentyone: BEUH WTF LOOK AT US !!

usertwentytwo: JOSH IS WITH Y/N YES 🥳

usertwentythree: I-IM SHCOKED WJEBSI 🙊

“woah, what the heck.” he said, shocked with wide eyes, “the comments are going crazy.”

“am i with y/n? haha wait hold on a sec.” he stood up from his seat, grabbing a blanket that was draped across his bed.

he grabbed your wrist pulling you up from where you sat, “can you grab this?” he asked as he placed the cover above your head, blocking you from eye sight.

“be careful as you walk right here,” joshua warned as he guided you so that you were in the view of the camera but, you were covered up.

“aaaaaaaaand welcome back to another episode of-” he paused, trying to think of a silly name, “joshua’s jazzy jet-setting game show.” he laughed at the creation.

“so on this segment we’re doing, what’s behind the blanket!” this was pretty fun considering the fact that everyone is locked in their houses

usertwentyfour: ITS Y/N I ALREADY KNOW BY THE NAILS 🤪

usertwentyfive: THE NAILS RJENEJEBEJ 😫😫

usertwentysix: i’m gonna pass out FROM EXCITEMENT 😤😤😤

“okay, contestant number one please drop the blanket!” he faked a drumroll.

it fell to the floor, revealing you behind it. you did a few funny poses to spice things up.

usertwentyseven: I KNEW YALL WERE TOGETHER 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

usertwetyeight: OHN EKEBEJEBJEE 🥺🥺

usertwentynine: YES THE BEST COUPLE ☺️

userthirty: AWE Y/N IS THERE 🥺☺️

“hahah, hi guys!” you greeted, waving at the phone screen.

userthirtyone: hi babes omg! <3

userthirtytwo: #shipname stans we won 🥳🥳

userthirtythree: best thing to come out of quarantine. hands down. :)

“alright, i’m gonna actually let joshua talk to you guys. see you later.” with that, you exited the frame.

“that’s all for this episode, folks.” he smiled, taking a seat.

userthirtyfour: when he’s sneaky uh ha ha 😎🙊

“hehe. what can i say, i’m a spy.” he shrugged.

[awed-frog]

If you don’t mind the question, what did you mean about writers not knowing their country’s history?

Well - this is actually something I’m passionate about so I’ll do my best not to write an essay here, but the main problems here are that 

we mostly learn ‘simplified’ history because we learn it only when we’re very young and 

we learn deliberately sanitized history because we see stuff through a Christian / current ethics&morals filter and 

we learn history from the people who survived it (ie the nobility and the intellectual elites), which gives us a bizarre view of what the world was actually like and also 

we know jack shit about many things because a lot was lost forever and proper modern archaeology was born, like, yesterday so even the textbooks from my own days as a student are now painfully outdated. 

Aaaand add to that the fact that books also reflect who you are, your biases (conscious and subconscious) and the world you live in right now. 

Aaaaaaaaand add to that the fact the books need to make sense in a narrative way, so the more you delve into your own story, the more you move away from the ‘actual’ and ‘real’ past even if you’re writing a period novel, because everything about a novel is necessarily artificial.

For instance, the other day they confirmed that this magnificent Saxon grave from the 6th century they found a few years back contains a lyre made with Sri Lankan wood, but you’ll never find a historical or fantasy novel exploring trade between England and South-East Asia in the 6th century. Or, I don’t know - I have a goddamn M.A. in archaeology and I can’t walk two feet without tripping in a Celtic artefact and yet I was last year’s years old when I found out Gaulish society was incredibly gay - and the only reason I even discovered that is because I was researching that specific stuff (marriage and interpersonal relationships in ancient Gaul) for fanfiction.

(Fanfiction!)

And I know I tagged that other post GoT because that’s what I’m currently annoyed about, but since I don’t know much about the Middle Ages, I don’t want to wade in that and make even more of a prat of myself - instead, just look at Antiquity. Did you know that before HBO’s Rome, which truly made an effort, the most accurate depiction of the period came from an 18+ movie? Because apparently the director was like, “I want to shoot this incredibly, ridiculously E, all warnings apply, non-con, violence, incest story BUT I want the best actors of our generation and it must be historically accurate” and seriously W.T.F.? It was the first movie to show people writing on tablets instead of paper (paper!), and also the first movie to reflect what an imperial palace actually looked like (think a Kardashian’s bathroom but worse - more gold, more velvet, more glitter, more randomly placed stuffed peacocks).

(As a warning: if you’re now tempted to watch it, please note I’m not joking - this is a dead dove do not eat kind of situation.)

So, I don’t know. Speaking as someone who’s struggled to make sense of a foreign and distant past for about twelve years, I think that when it comes to history we’ve got a perfect storm of bad and worse things.

On the one hand, history is objectively hard understand because everyone in it is - well - dead. Archaeology is slowly filling the gaps, but there’s still a lot we’ll probably never know.

On the other hand, history is also an incredibly delicate and divisive subject, both for individuals and for nations. That’s why we keep rewriting textbooks and why we pretend we were never related to someone unsavoury (like this sweet old German lady I met who managed to ‘forget’ her parents had been enthusiastic Nazis) or try to redeem them in some way (apparently what’s going on in most of the US South).

And on the other other hand, we’re all brainwashed into thinking we know stuff about history because many of us had to sit through six to ten years’ worth of lessons - but, because of the previous two points and also all that stuff in bold above, we actually don’t. What science is going through right now, with people confusing access to Google with actual knowledge, is a lot more common with history, and has been common for a long time. 

So, I guess my point was - we should stop harassing writers for writing about their country’s actual, mythical or imagined past - which is normal, everybody does that - and start wondering why we keep hearing the same three stories based on 19th century stereotypes on what that past was like. I mean, it’s 2019. Why don’t we leave weird propaganda behind and teach better history, starting in primary school? And why don’t we translate more? Why did we have to wait for Netflix to have easy access to subtitled foreign stories? Why aren’t we more familiar with the history, religion and mythologies both of our own countries and of people we’ve been living in close proximity with since bloody prehistory? Why is world culture dominated by basically three countries?

(Uuuugh.)

Not to sound overly bitter or anything, but I’d like for people to be more curious, and I’d like to live in an economic system promoting and rewarding that curiosity, and instead we’re all stuck here.

[johannesviii]

Top 10 Personal Favorite Hit Songs from 2005

16 to 17 years old. Finished public highschool, started public university in September. Looking back at 2003-2005 feels like looking at ten years of my life condensed in three. Exhausting.

Also we’re now past the halfway point of these lists! And this is another exceptionally good year for hits.

Disclaimers:

Keep in mind I’m using both the year-end top 100 lists from the US and from France while making these top 10 things. There’s songs in English that charted in my country way higher than they did in their home countries, or even earlier or later, so that might get surprising at times.

Of course there will be stuff in French. We suck. I know. It’s my list. Deal with it.

My musical tastes have always been terrible and I’m not a critic, just a listener and an idiot.

I have sound to color synesthesia which justifies nothing but might explain why I have trouble describing some songs in other terms than visual ones.

So I finished highschool that year. I met my best friend ever in late 2004 and we even had some sort of small crew back then! I had a bit of a crush on her but alas it wasn’t meant to be. I don’t know who invented the term ‘friendzone’ but they got its meaning completely wrong because staying friends basically forever with someone you love can be a fantastic thing. Things weren’t rosy nor perfect that year, of course, and I still was miserable at home, but I’m not sure where I’ll be today without her. She's amazing and she still lives nearby nowadays. Shoutout: if you read this, E., you pretty much saved my life.

I was still making tapes and burning CDs, still using my trusty portable cd player, and always listening to stuff while drawing during recess, sitting in a corner and doodling stuff in my sketchbook on the floor like a weird gangly goblin.

I had already started to buy Rock Mag in August 2004 but it really became my monthly ritual in 2005, and it lasted until autumn 2007. A reliable source of posters to cover my walls. At that point they were almost completely covered with paintings, drawings, torn pages from magazines and posters of Linkin Park, Mylène Farmer, Placebo and Indochine.

I also had a better access to the family computer and was a bit more involved online. Might explain why the number of singles I was buying plummeted.

It’s time once again for some (ok, many) honorable mentions!

Beverly Hills (Weezer) - I don’t even know why I like this but I do.

Bouger Bouger (Magic System) - I never understood why it was cool to make fun of these guys in my country. Their music is so happy and fun.

Holiday (Green Day) - My brother loved that band and listened to it a lot, and I was 100% fine with that.

Wake Me Up When September Ends (Green Day) - See above.

Gabriel (Najoua Belyzel) - That is so-bad-it’s-good at its finest right here.

Candy Shop (50 Cents) - As a sucker for terrible puns (HA, get it?? I’m sorry I’ll get out immediately) I can’t help it, I love this.

Love Generation (Bob Sinclar) - Stay tuned for more of this guy on another list.

Listen to Your Heart (DHT) - The original is better, but it was really nice to hear that again on the radio.

We Be Burnin’ (Sean Paul) - Not my favorite but still damn good.

Bad Day (Daniel Powter) - I even bought the single. What can I say except “relatable”.

All About Us (Tatu) - I bought that single as well. Almost made the list.

Le Bateau Blanc (Karol) - The last cut from the list. Not even kidding at all. I’m still not sure if Keane deserves to be on the list more than this to be honest.

Like it happened previously with Placebo not being elligible at all, it is a complete outrage that Precious by Depeche Mode isn’t elligible for this list. Like, what the f█ck. Playing the Angel was one of the defining albums of the year to me. I’m not even sure it would have topped the list, maybe #2, but it still feels wrong.

There’s another band who’s complete absence from this top feels kinda painful to me, considering how much I loved their new album at the time. Indeed, no single from Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge by My Chemical Romance is elligible for this list, and it feels wrooooong, man. I love I’m not okay and especially Thank You For the Venom, but even Helena would have been nice. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be.

For some unfathomable reason, Get The Party Started (Pink) and, even more unexplainable, Do You Really Want to Hurt Me (Culture Club) recharted in France in 2005 and both made the year-end top 100. The fact they are both elligible but all the stuff mentioned above this paragraph isn’t makes no sense whatsoever.

And now, the actual list!

10 - Everybody’s Changing (Keane)

US: Not on the list / FR: #48

Pretty great even though it’s not my favorite Keane song. That would be Crystal Ball. It’s fantastic and as a person who is scared, above all, by existential horror, the music video is terrifying. Sadly, it’s not elligible for my 2006 list, so Everybody’s Changing will have to be its slightly less good proxy for 2005.

9 - Et Si En Plus Ya Personne (Alain Souchon)

US: Not on the list / FR: #100

This has to be the most borderline non-elligible song ever put on one of my lists. But I’m glad it is still elligible. Remember the song on the 1993 list that I called an “anticapitalist ballad”? Well that’s the same guy. And this time it’s a song about how religion can cause both beautiful things and war, and how “the sky might be empty” because of us. It’s great. Here’s a translation. You’re welcome.

8 - F█ck Them All (Mylène Farmer)

US: Not on the list / FR: #62

Aaaaaaaaand unfortunately for everyone including myself, she’s back. Not her best song by a mile (told you it was all downhill after C’est Une Belle Journée didn’t I), but still pretty damn good, and that music video where she’s destroying bird-like scarecrows is amazing so here’s a bonus gif.

7 - Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Green Day)

US: #7 / FR: Not on the list

My brother LOVED this band and listened to it SO MUCH. And yeah, they were very good and that song might just be my favorite one from them. I don’t have much more to say about it, you all know it already. Let’s move on.

6 - Sugar We’re Going Down (Fall Out Boy)

US: #40 / FR: Not on the list

Again, it feels wrong that both Fall Out Boy AND Panic! at the Disco were elligible for this list but not My Chemical Romance. I was never a fan of these two acts, at all, and their supposed rivalry was kinda hilarious to watch from afar. With a bucket of popcorn. While listening to Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge and nodding sadly, of course.

This is still a great song, mind you.

5 - Feel Good Inc (Gorillaz)

US: #37 / FR: Not on the list (really? wtf happened)

Again, I live with someone who loves Gorillaz, so I claim overexposure.

It’s still #5 on a list based on a very, very good year.

That’s quality for you.

4 - Speed of Sound (Coldplay)

US: #57 / FR: Not on the list

A new chapter in the ascension of Coldplay from “Johannes hates this band” to “this is one of the best mainstream bands we have”. An epic saga, years in the making, and Speed of Sound was basically the last scene of Act One. Not my favorite song from X&Y (that would be Talk), but still really good. Hell, I even bought the single, and goodness knows I wasn’t buying a lot of singles anymore in 2005.

Holy shit, half of these are Benassi Bros garbage. None of them are elligible, though! Dodged a bullet there, didn’t I.

3 - Numb/Encore (JayZ + Linkin Park)

US: #93 / FR: #75

What a blessed mashup. For a few magical months in 2005, all the punk goth kids and the hiphop kids were united under this song’s banner and it felt like world peace had been achieved. It could have pissed off everybody but no! Everyone loved it instead!

“But Johannes, this is just Numb all over again with different lyrics. You can’t keep putting Linkin Park at the top of your lists forever.” Sadly no, I can’t. I know. It’s only #3. Don’t yell at me. Also, the next two songs are genuinely better, at least in my opinion!

2 - Lift Me Up (Moby)

US: Not on the list / FR: #31

I heard this on the radio and bought the album, Hotel, on the grounds that Natural Blues from 2000 was one of my favorite songs ever and than it wouldn’t hurt to actually own an album of that guy after all that time (”all that time” being only five years, but please keep in mind the past three years had felt like ten, and in my mind, they still do ; trauma is one hell of a thing). And a couple of days later that year, we went to Disneyland for my brother’s birthday, and I only had a small bag that could contain my cd player, and the earphones and nothing else. So I could only put one cd in it and that was it.

So I picked Hotel, and I basically retreated inside of it whenever my mother was starting to talk aggressively, which happened a lot in the various queues. So in the end, I listened to that cd a LOT that day and every single time, it would calm me while still being energetic enough to keep me enthusiastic for the various Disneyland rides.

Lift Me Up is energetic but cold, aerial but distant, uplifting but sinister. It was the perfect song for someone who was, at the time, trying to tone down their aggressivity and anger and trying to be masculine but in a softer way, while still staying themselves and not giving up the fight. I absolutely adore this song. It’s perfect.

It instantly joined my list of favorite songs ever that year.

1 - Mr Brightside (The Killers)

US: #16 / FR: Not on the list (this feels so wrong)

If I had to make a top ten of the hits of that entire decade, this would be #2. No debate whatsoever.

Because holy shit.

I was already sold on that band after hearing Somebody Told Me on the radio, which sadly isn’t elligible for this list (I instantly loved it, first because it was catchy as hell, but also because I love the chorus “Well somebody told me you had a boyfriend / Who looked like a girlfriend / That I had in February of last year", because as you already know I tend to be extremely literal minded and my immediate conclusion was “wow you two dated the same trans guy before and after he was out of the closet” and that was highkey relatable and no you can’t change my mind). So I bought the album about two weeks after, mostly blind, because the cd store was playing it and also because Rock Mag said it was great.

That was an understatement. Hot Fuss is one of the best albums of the entire decade and you probably know that already. The first song, Jenny Was a Friend of Mine, floored me right after putting the cd in the player and it felt like the album already reached its peak and there were still 12 tracks after that.

The very next track was Mr. Brightside. And. How do I put this.

There’s like a dozen interpretations possible for this song, and most of them are something like “this guy is so anxious and paranoid he’s gonna break up with this girl because he keeps imagining her cheating with another guy and it might not even be real.”

Now might be a good moment to remind you that at the time, I had a crush on my best friend, and was still firmly in the closet. And this song starts, as everyone knows, with “Coming out of my cage and I've been doing just fine“.

So... yeah. This is the song that accidentally convinced me the closet sucked and did nothing to deter bullies anyway, and that after more than three years of feeling mostly miserable, I should try to be myself and screw the consequences. I know it wasn’t the original intention behind that song. But still.

Godspeed, The Killers. I owe you one, guys.

Next up: Still not able to put Indochine nor Placebo on a list, OP is this close to punching a wall

[rachelamberish]

Steve, crying: "we lost.........parts of ourselves......"

*slowly opens a picture of peggy, who has not been referenced in at least five consecutive movies*

Russo bros: "aaaaaaaaand nO HOMO EVERYBODY!!!! No homo!!!"

[somuchbetterthanthat]

EPISODE 42 - “Grifter’s bone” 

Fun fact: My favourite TMA fic has Lee as a character, and he’s nice and he flirts with Martin. And completely for this very shallow fact, since I actually had totally forgot about Lee before that fic, I’m very, very fond of this statement. Also there’s something to say about the fact that the Slaughter is unleashed by music, you know? I sort of like that. 

Is Melanie now triggered whenever she hears romantic ballads? Who knows. (that’s sad I shouldn’t laugh about that. But I mean, if she has to slaughter people, at least she could do it with badass music behind her, y’know)

“I've been watching Martin. He's been very attentive to my needs and recovery since I returned to work, almost to the exclusion of his own tasks. Previously I might have ascribed such ministrations to his own lax work ethic, but in the stress of Prentiss' attack, I am sure I glanced moments of competence, or even cunning, that are beyond what his previous work would indicate. Is he playing the fool? Purposefully failing in his tasks to delay or hinder my investigations? It's possible. He has also shown remarkable interest in my own theories as to who killed Gertrude. I have thus far diverted him by saying I believe it to be whatever is lurking in the tunnels below, but he seems... unsatisfied by that response.

I’m glad he’s moved out of the Archives, as it gives me a chance to work here without his constant presence. Also because he managed to leave some of his possessions behind, for the most part it's just a few books of relatively awful poetry. There are a few pieces I feel could almost have been affecting if his style wasn't so obviously enamoured with Keats, but there is an unfinished letter addressed to his mother in Devon, in which he mentions that he is worried about “the others finding out I've been lying”. It may be nothing, some inconsequential deception or other – after all, it is ostensibly written to his mother – but if it was actually to be sent to someone else... I will keep my eye on Martin.”

SUPPLEMENT: 

- aaaaaaaaand there we go. Jon lasted exactly (1) episode before he started suspecting Martin because Martin is too kind, overly fussing over him, and takes interest in the murder of Gertrude (I mean, there could be something to say about this - is Martin interested because he saw her dead and is traumatized? Is he plain just interested? Or is he just speaking about it with Jon BECAUSE HE CAN SEE THAT JON IS VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN IT AND WANTS TO HELP?) 

- I do think that, if he hadn’t found the unfamous letter to his mum, Jon may have moved on far more quickly from suspecting Martin at all? He still went and looked through his stuff though, so - yeah. 

- It’s canon that Jon was super impressed by Martin during the attack, and that something changed in the way he saw him (just like I think something changed for Martin). Except even Jon, of course, has zero idea that this is canon fact, and instead of just thinking “damn i was wrong about Martin, he’s actually smart and i like him” he goes “DAMN I WAS WRONG ABOUT MARTIN, HE IS CLEVER WHAT IF HE WAS PRETENDING TO BE AN IDIOT AND IS GOING TO KILL ME” - you know, to each their own. Jon can’t just admit, that maybe, Martin was just clever all along and he couldn’t see it. um.

- One thing i LOVE here is that, during this whole litle speech, you’ve got the overly paranoid!Jon!Voice (you know the one) except when he comments on Martin’s poetry. There it goes all normal and dry and a little bit condescending all over again, it’s so normal and Jon that I can’t help but wish that, y’know. Martin and him had had the occasion of discussing Keats before Martin decided to hang out with Peter Lukas and Jon fumbled with “how’s the poetry”. 

- Also, I’m having... feelings about Martin (who is surprised, nobody, that’s who). He clearly is caring in a very obvious way about Jon, fussing over him and - from what I’m gathering, Jon is - letting him, mostly? Probably because Jon doesn’t want them to Know That He’s Suspecting Them All Of Murder but still. It makes sense, afterwards, that we get to the “closer than the others” bits, you know? No matter what Jon’s inner thoughts are, he lets himself be fussed over apparently. 

- That’s actually not what i’m having feelings about for Martin, I got distracted though. It’s the poetry - there has been all this talk about, like, Martin and his fake degree and how he was bad at latin and how he didn’t have the competences needed for the job and everybody was like “how was he hired” for years and all? And I’m just like - this seventeen year old kid who had to drop out of school to care for a mom who hated him read keats and decided to write poetry. WHO CARES if it’s bad, at this point you know? Someone gives Martin Blackwood more books and maybe an English Degree, fuck? I don’t even know if he would have liked the academic world but i think yeah! He writes poetry!!

[callmehopeless]

I did intend to write tonight...aaaaaaaaand then I played Fallout: New Vegas for six hours instead

Sorry gang

(...AND WHEN DID IT BECOME OK FOR ONE PERSON TO BE THE BOSS OF EVERYBODY HUH CAUSE THATS NOT WHAT NEW VEGAS IS ABOUT WE SHOULD JUST STAB CAESAR!)

[thick-skulls]

🤔hmmm..... 7, 17, 26 aaaaaaaaand..... 54

7- Waterloo from Mamma Mia: Here we go again

17- Ella es bonita by Natalia Lafourcade

26- Everybody talks by Neon Tress

54- Solo tus canciones by Daniela Herrero

send me a number between 1 and 100 and i’ll tell u what that song is on my playlist