#actor's chapel

[medlilove]

(Edited to add headshots because tumblr hates detail) I've etched away at this is a lovely few weeks, so click for full res and all the little details, okay? It's my love letter to the journey I've found myself on

This is long-ish, so its under the cut (but worth reading...)

I had been thinking a lot recently about that double feature episode, you know the one? I half remembered it then, when they chased a bunch of alien spies so fast through the solar system they all got thrown back in time. Half the crew went on a little undercover adventure in Toronto in 2024. It was great because they got completely cut off from the Enterprise, so half of them, well mostly Uhura and Spock if I recall correctly, spent their time collecting as many radios as possible and worked on building their own communications. Uhura and Spock were basically taking turns constantly tweaking radios by the window with wires everywhere. Oh yeah, their base of operations was the whole top floor of a worn out old building looking over a big square. They ended up in the really arty/queer part of town full of art galleries and thrift stores.....??

Chapel and Chekov were sent out to those shops to find disguises for everyone. I loved the joke that Chekov was puzzled and slightly alarmed that Christine just knew everyone's clothes sizes and measurements with no explanation. Later on, they ended up getting separated from the rest of the group and getting held up by B story shenanigans, mostly getting lost and running into culture shocks. It was fun to see them having their own adventures and made for a pretty interesting combo. Spock and Uhura spent most of their time with the tech, accidentally listening to the times most popular music while changing frequencies. Jim and Sulu paired off to search for clues, and getting supplies and spent a lot of time talking to the locals setting up for a Pride parade. McCoy, feeling paranoid and irritable that he had practically no equipment, wandered around with Dr Alfred Nahdi, the Botanist, who kept picking random weeds and talking about how extraordinary the little dandelions were. Oh and together they stole a whole medical bag out of an ambulance?? It was pretty funny.  Anyway, the main issue was they couldn’t risk leaving the area because all these alien spies had assimilated into the population and they had to track them all down and bring them back with them so as not to disrupt the timeline or something. They had to track down the aliens while making sure the aliens didn't pick up on who they were or that they were also out of place. They ended up being there for around two whole ass months, I think. The spies were spread out all over and there were about 30 of them, but it ended up being the Botanist, Alfred (Alfie) Nahdi who found the enemy base of operations by complete accident. Alfred, who had spent most of the time studying all the common flowers and weeds that were so ordinary at that time but were extinct in their time, figured out where the aliens' base of operations was because the big plant shop at the end of the square had a few succulents that could not have existed in 2024. It was a big "woah" moment. And there was this whole thing where he had to act like he hadn’t just figured it out because the florist, who was almost certainly a spy, was watching him and McCoy. But soon after, it all went to hell anyway when a fight broke out and Sulu was straight up shot with the aliens' weapon that had bullets made from alien metal. So then Bones had to perform old school surgery on him in their HQ, with only 2024 equipment. Jim, Spock, and Uhura were out fighting and ran into Chapel and Chekov and were able to finish them off, but it got really crazy because there was a Pride parade in the square at the same time so they had to make sure no one noticed them. While Bones was pulling bullets out of Sulu, with the botanist assisting him until Chapel (who had been sent by Jim) appeared and took over. McCoy said something like, “Christine, I’ve never been so glad to see you in my life,” and they sewed him up all old school. And it worked out! But Bones was a mess because he had to do messy surgery with none of his kit, and so much pressure, and more blood than he was used to... Chapel stayed with Sulu, and Bones and Nahdi went to sit on the fire escape stairwell and had a sweet scene of Bones just full of adrenaline, his hands couldn't stop shaking. They sat hand in hand for a while listening to all the people on the streets below. Then Spock, Jim, Uhura, and Chekov appeared at the stairwell and they all had a happy, albeit exhausted reunion. After a day of everyone recovering from all the excitement, Uhura and Spock used some extra tech they got from the aliens and finally made contact with poor Scotty who was up on the Enterprise losing the will to live. Anyway, their outfits were iconic tbh.

I invented this whole thing to draw Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy in a sweater. I lost control of the situation. I spent a lovely two weeks etching away at this with the support of my lovely ST server, I love you guys. This ones for you.

[trek-tracks]

It occurred to me, given your posts of Bones and Crusher: Is the CMO always the most attractive member of the cast? Bashir certainly keeps up the trend, Holo-Doc is more questionable, but we've got some strong contenders in the recent series. (M'Benga, oh man)

If the question is whether the Star Trek doctor is always the most attractive to me personally, the answer is yes, surprisingly (or unsurprisingly), most of the time (though a lot of it is that I just really like the characters, as Bones, Crusher, and Bashir are my favourites in their respective series).

I love the character of the EMH, but don't find him particularly attractive, per se (sorry Robert Picardo, but I think you're awesome). I don't know who it'd be on Voyager for me--there are several candidates, because, of course, I find many Trek characters attractive.

I think there's a case to be made for Culber, as well.

SNW is a hard call, because that entire cast is ridiculously good looking, but I think I'm somewhat more bi for Ortegas than for M'Benga. I have to stop accidentally sitting behind Melissa Navia at plays before it gets awkward.

But, to judge the attractiveness of the Star Trek doctors for yourself, I present my post of every doctor in a slutty v-neck. Unfortunately, the last time I updated it was in 2019, so before SNW, but if anyone wants to find me a picture of M'Benga in a v-neck I will not be complaining.

EDITED: Never say I didn't give you anything; here's the updated v-neck post now feat. SNW M'Benga

[designatedfandomblog]

So, since there have been many star trek actors who either played a huge amount of roles or who became important directors, I was wondering:

[cormancatacombs]

Saw this last night before bed and…

Ummmmm…

Does this monster have bush? 👀 😳

[deeneedsaname]

CHRISTINE. CHRISTINE MY SWEETHEART WHAT DID THEY DO TO YOU

@lonesomedreamer made me aware of this

[telltaleanatomicalheart]

y’all love a mean lesbian when she’s your “slay mother cuntress boots” but when she’s an actual mean lesbian™️ who’s blunt and unapologetic y’all get scared and call her ungrateful. she is a person not an idol. she just wanna make music and perform and have fun and live a normal life

[waerloge]

Just ordered some stuff so throughout this month I will have some objects to give me joy for a bit at least.

[pinkmoonastro]

The 12 houses explained: short word format

1st: Aries, Mars, Yang, Dragon, Bee, Face, Eyes, Eyebrows, Voice, Accent, First Glance, Passion, Drive, Self Esteem, 3rd Eye, Intuition, Hard on yourself, Mutable, Patience, Leader, Stoic, Muscles, Neck/Head tension, Animals, Intensity, Head scarf, Tender headed, Attracting energy vampires, Hard headed, Red, Purple, Sexual energy, Humor, Introvert/extrovert, Fear of child baring because loss of freedom, Judgement, Lymph nodes, Guitar, Fast talker, Sharp talker, Forward thinking, Warrior, Personality, Spine...

2nd: Taurus, Venus, Yin, Panda, Neck/Throat, Throat chakra, Mouth, Thyroid, Heart, Pink, Blue, Fluid, Security, Resources, Musician, Silent, Introvert, Nose, Scent, Taste, Parent, Singing, Arms, Dancing, Food, Breeze, Partnership, Sharing, Values, Luxury, Pleasure, Easy going, Soft spoken, Naivety, Split decisions, Indecisive, Moon, Father, Sturdy, Poker face, Children, Trustworthy, Grit, Victory, Horses, Trials...

3rd: Gemini, Mercury, Yin/Yang, Jack Rabbit, Hands, Feet, Speech, Tongue, Lungs, Fast pace, Exercise, excitement, Bounce back, Joy, Vigor, Youth, Fidget, Anxiety, Habits, Expressive, Musician, Storyteller, School, Journalist, Moral system, Networking, Group, Siblings, Questioning, Stocks/trading, Choices, Dedication, Picky, Options, Dare Devil, Flirt, Long lasting, Hopes, Trees/Forest, Art, Comedian, Chances, Materials, Time, Loyal, Boundaries, ...

4th: Cancer, Moon, Yin, Owl, Family, Mother, Compassion, Creation, Birth, Life, Regret, Sleep, Nipple, Breast, Anus, Stomach, Womb, Bellybutton, Heart, Sacral, Blue, White, Yellow, Ocean, Cold, Night, Cycle, Fly on the wall, Unspoken secrets, Pores, Suicide, Whispers, Distracted, Outsider, Alchemy, Caregiver, Chef, Guidance, Critical, Teeth, Passage/Gateway, Humming, Drums, Weight on your back, Pressures, Gratefulness, Gratitude, Obedience, Horse, Animals, Words that cut...

5th: Leo, Sun, Yang, Lion, Spine, Heart, Pets, Fun, Youthful, Children, Love affairs, Expression, Dance, Gymnastics, Loud, Bright colors, Short trips, Friends, Aunts/Uncles, Get togethers, Cars, Innovative, Actor, Protection, Magician, Gardening, Gossip, Alchemy, Adulthood, Relaxing, Bonding, Self destruction, Slick words, Hard work, Spotlight, Sharing, Rebuilding, Clothing, Renewed vision, Drawing board, Companionship, Grounding...

6th: Virgo, Mercury, Yin, Ant, Crane, Praying Mantis, Work environment, Routine, Structure, Time, Patience, Health issues, Hygiene, Nervous system, digestive system, Pancreas, Gallbladder, Notebooks, Writing, Movies, Home, Relaxing, Forgiving, Generous, Social Life, Bonding, Practice, Foresight, Letting go, Stable, Helpful, Tense, Pressure, Negative thoughts, Reminisce, Addiction, Sorrow, Indecision, Indigestion, Saving Finances, Strong will, Codependency, Maturing, Realizing, Criticism, Self Honoring...

7th: Libra, Venus, Yin, Dragon Fly, Peacock, Marraige, Partnership, Contracts, Joint endeavors, Kidneys, Bladder, Blood, Caring what others think, Voice, Accent, Culture, Rebuilding, Learning new ways to do, Home decor, Learning gratitude, Giving, Reseveing, Welcome home, Comfort, Jot, Warmth, Spring, Flowers, New thought processes, Building Legacy, Defending yourself, Possessions, Slower living, Connecting to nature, Center of attention...

8th: Scorpio, Pluto, Mars, Yin/Yang, Vulture, Jaguar, Phoenix Death/Rebirth, Fears, Dark, Dreams, Escaping, Running, Hoarding, Lack, Homelessness, Strength, Stamina, Restart, Hard work paying off, Legacy, Against all odds, Elimination system, Pelvis, All the holes in the body, Burgundy, Purple, Black, Sex organs, Releasing worries, Manipulation, Smothering, Misunderstood, Coffee, Over giving, Partnership, Friendship, Sensuality, Secretion, Body odor, Roses, Fruit trees, Chapel, Railroad, Balancing, Power, Unseen forces, Intimidation, Relaxation...

9th: Sagittarius,Jupiter, Yang, Donkey, Whale, Shark, Liver, Legs, Posture, Religion, Long distance, Foreign travel, New ideas, Creative thoughts, Energy, Witty, Nomad, Idealistic, Larger than life, Focused on success, Friendship, Gatherings, Social Life, Relaxing, Luxury, Boundaries, Tired, Mental Illness, Restrictions, Insecurities, Grandparents, Quiet time, Relationships, Sharing, Attention, Harmony, Rebirth, Hard work, Getting over, Time, Late night thoughts, Male role model, Weight on your back, Responsibilities, Greedy, Guarded, Proud, Protection, Unique, Lavender...

10th: Capricorn, Saturn, Yang, Sheep, Alligator Honey Badger, Cactus, Sterile, Marble, White, Grey, Cold, Winter, Snow, Reputation, Social status, Farming, Popularity, Bones, Skin, Nails, Hair, Sharp, Leather, Goat, Structure, Skin conditions, Over explaining, Hard on others/yourself, Violin, Holding onto the past, Hard choices, Seeing others happen, Collecting, Finding purpose, Unique interest, Creative ways to make money, Standing up for yourself, Tunnel vision, Sharing, Networking, Group efforts, Working on love...

11th: Aquarius, Uranus, Yin/Yang, Moose, Mongoose, Snake, Friends, Parties, Organizations, Goals, Hopes, School, Science, mutable, unique style, Different friend groups, Water, Lakes, Rivers, Driving, Circulatory System, Pituitary glands, Changing course, Fear of change, Social media, Learning to stand alone, Trusting intuition, Defending loved ones, nonchalant, Increasing expectations, Std, Dead tree, Sticking it out, Elders, Community, Taking a stand, Protest, Elections, Politics, Numbers, Releasing restrictions...

12th: Pisces, Neptune, Yin, Fish, Birds, Friends, More to go around, Letting go, Releasing Past, Decor, Eye for style, Luxury, Opinionated, Energy field, Subconscious, Mountains, Fog, Spa, Skincare, Hygiene, Safety, Frienemies, Luck, Protection, Unprovided jealously, Foreign, Secret, Being watched, Self expression, Confidence, Talents, Anxiety, Depression, Breath, Dreams, Sleeping, Ufc/boxing, Always wanting more, Magician, Plants, Sunshine, Exotic, Target, Maturity, Completion...

[ccccatttta]

hello ladies and gentlemen, i am here to show my marauders fancasts. this post will be long as fuck im afraid, but i have stuff to say. cheers!

james potter as michael cimino

PAPIIIIIRRHAWWWRWWGRA i mean ha. he's cute. mi gente latino

regulus black as choi beomgyu (txt)

my baby star candy, my sunshine, my everything. also! his voice is one of the prettiest things on earth and i totally think regulus would sing like that

sirius black as hwang hyunjin (stray kids)

he's so androgynous,,,, like if a man and a woman had a baby.

remus lupin as esteban kukurickza (actor)

these low quality ahh photos, this man is hard to catch fr. he IS remus lupin you can't change my mind on this + the actor knows we see him as remus and embraces it, god bless you kuku esteban

peter pettigrew as cooper hoffman (actor)

you guys have no idea how much my peter fc changes, it used to be lewis capaldi but i think i have finally managed to find the one for me.

lily evans as chapell roan (soloist)

she's unreal, she's the moment, she's everything. nobody other than her could be the icon lily evans is

pandora lovegood/rosier as namephyra on ig (model)

i say lovegood/rosier bc i like the hc where she's evan's twin, but at the same time i also like when she's a lovegood or a lestrange. elle fanning used to be my fc for sooo long (and i still kinda see it) but she has all the vibes i picture in pandora, and she's honestly so pretty i wanna cry

dorcas meadowes as nia sondaya (actress)

LOOK AT HER OH MY GOD LOOK AT HER, it took me so long to find someone who gives me dorcas vibes, like my girl isn't easy to find, but nia has this aura about her and it was love at first sight

marlene mckinnon as beabadoobee (soloist)

this is one of the og's (or it was when i came to the fandom) and till this day i can't picture anyone else, she's put a spell on me or something

mary mcdonald as bcsais_ (ig)

i don't know much about her, but every time i see another mirror selfie my heart stops for a bit, and that's the only way mary mcdonald should be perceived

evan rosier as casper von bülow (actor)

i know a great chunk of the fandom hcs evan (and dora too) as poc, and i totally see it too, however this little german boy.... oh the grip he has on me is out of this world, it also has to do with the fact he's on germany's skam (druck) and that immediately means i'm emotionally attached

barty crouch jr. as hayden (ig) or marlon noah (ig)

this is a tricky one, they are both so different but they feel like barty to me. lately i've been using hayden more but i do think marlon can make a comeback any of these days.

[extra] the black sisters <333

andromeda black as hwang yeji (itzy)

it's not a coincidence i chose yeji for andromeda and hyunjin for sirius (if u don't know, these two are by no means related in real life but they look so much alike and they even share the same last name, so they could be lost siblings). i do think that andy and sirius looked alike and that's what made them even more fond of each other, the fcs were sent by the gods themselves

bellatrix black as kim hyeong seo (bibi ; soloist)

i support women's rights and i support women's wrongs. hate her or love her, bellatrix has always been THAT girl and bibi is also THAT girl

narcissa black as kim minjeong (winter ; aespa)

i do believe that winter looks a bit similar to beomgyu and i do believe that narcissa looked similar to regulus, it's the genes guys, they are strong. she's so gorgeous i wanna sob in my hands till i die

these are all my fcs!, i haven't really thought about any other characters for now, these are my main guys and pretty much the only ones i read about.

this was exhausting lord, imma go take a nap, toodles!!!

[k-nayee]

Between Faith and Flesh Grotesquerie x Midnight Mass

wc: 2.8k a/n: incase it was unclear, this is a little cross-over between Grotesquerie x Midnight Mass while also being an Actor!AU. Might be a lil confusing but wanted to make something new lol

Traveler M.List

ˏ⸉ˋ‿̩͙‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˏ⸉ˋ‿̩͙‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˏ⸉ˋ‿̩͙‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙.·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˊ⸊ˎ‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˊ⸊ˎ‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˊ⸊ˎ

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything....James 1:2-4." 

The familiar warmth of the chapel enveloped you as you delivered the final lines of your morning homily, your voice calm yet resonant in the quiet space.

Sunlight filtered through the modest stained-glass windows, casting soft hues of gold and amber across the worn pews where Crockett Island's tight-knit congregation sat.

The scent of salt and damp wood lingered faintly in the air—a reminder of the sea just beyond the church walls.

Your gaze swept across the group, catching the faces you had come to know so well over the past year.

The mayor's daughter Leeza Scarborough sat in the front row, wide eyes attentive on you as she folded her hands neatly in her lap.

Even Sheriff Hassan stood near the back as his son Ali sat near him listening intently, despite knowing how outdated many were to his Islamic faith.

These people, they had become your family in a way—this island, with all its quiet mysteries, had grown on you.

You closed your sermon with a passage on resilience, something that had always resonated with you—like how faith, similar to the sea surrounding them, could be both steady and tumultuous.

"We find strength not in the absence of struggle, but in how we rise after the waves pull us under." Your words hung in the air for a moment, met with soft nods and murmurs of agreement from the congregation.

"Let us pray," you began, your hands resting gently on the altar.

As you spoke your thoughts wandered briefly, like they often did, to Riley Flynn—a name you had known only through the accident that had first led you here.

His absence was a constant echo in the small populace community, felt even when it wasn't spoken aloud.

As the congregation stood to leave, you lingered near the altar to exchange kind words with those who came up to you.

A soft word here, a warm touch on the shoulder there—each gesture felt like a testament to how far you'd come.

This role, unexpected as it was, had become more than just a position. It was your calling.

"You've really made a place for yourself here," Anne said quietly, her expression sincere as she approached.

"Thank you Mrs. Flynn," you replied, offering her a gentle smile. "Means a lot coming from you."

And it did. Especially knowing how much of the weight of her son's sins pressed on her mind. 

It still surprised you sometimes how much the town had accepted you. Even when being the first ordained woman pastor—something that should have sparked outrage, especially in a small traditional community—the people had welcomed you with open arms.

Or at least most of them had.

The familiar sound of heels clicking sharply against the stone floor caught your attention.

Bev Keane.

She always had an aura of cold disapproval, her gaze flickering over you with barely concealed distaste.

"Another lovely service I'm sure," she said, compliment laced with her usual acidity. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she continued, "But I wonder if perhaps next time you might include more...traditional teachings? Some of the congregation finds your progressive messages a bit, well, out of step."

Her words stung, but you kept your expression calm refusing to rise to her bait.

Bev had never approved of your leadership from the start—the idea of a woman in your position, however temporary, was something she barely tolerates.

With every sermon you gave, every interaction with the townsfolk that went well, her bitterness seemed to deepen.

"I'll take your suggestion under consideration," you kept your tone firm. There was no point in arguing with Bev directly—it would only lead to more confrontation.

One thing you had long since learned about Bev's resistance was that it was more about control than doctrine.

She craved the power that came with influence over the church, and your very presence threatened that.

Bev's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Of course. Well I'll leave you to clean up. God knows there's always work to be done."

With a stiff nod she turned on her heel and marched away, her presence lingering even after she disappeared through the doors.

As the last of the congregation departed, the chapel fell into a serene silence once again.

You exhaled softly, feeling the weight of the morning settle on your shoulders.

Despite the support of the community, moments like these reminded you of how precarious your position was.

You knew she was waiting for any excuse to discredit you—an outsider who had stepped into a role she believed was hers by right.

Busying yourself by tidying up, your hands smooth the fabric of the altar cloth as you cleared the space for the next service.

The chapel, now empty, felt both peaceful and solemn.

It was in these quiet moments that you often found yourself reflecting on the journey that had brought you here—from your small-town upbringing, to your studies, to this remote island where you now stood as the first ordained woman pastor.

The soft chime of your phone broke the stillness. Pulling the device from your pocket, you faintly smile at the name on the screen. Nick.

The message was short but familiar—a photo of him post-workout, his face flushed with exertion with a cheeky grin plastered across his face.

Nick: Finishing up my workout. Just wanted to give you an update :)

Your could feel the warmth creeping up your neck.

You weren't sure why you were smiling so much—after all, it was just Nick being...Nick. Friendly, teasing, always with that infectious charm.

But somehow, the way your eyes lingered on the photo for a beat too long made you acutely aware of something deeper. Something you weren't sure you should be feeling.

Shaking your head slightly, you reply back.

____: Glad to see you're keeping busy!

You hit send, already imagining the smirk he'd have seeing your response.

As soon you tuck away your phone, intent on finishing the cleanup, another buzz came almost immediately.

Nick: Hope you weren't doing anything unholy with that picture of me ;)

The heat had spread to your face and a startled laugh slipped past your lips.

You quickly type back.

____:  Behave Nicholas. I'm a pastor remember? 

You knew he was just being playful, but it didn't stop the way your heart skipped slightly at the implications.

Unholy. The word reverberated in your mind longer than it should have.

Before you could dwell too much on it, another text came through.

Nick: Sure sure I believe you ;) Anyways got a surprise for you

Your fingers hesitated over the keyboard, curiosity piqued.

____: A surprise? What kind?

Nick: You'll see. Just finished that project I told you about. Check your email when you get home. And no peeking. You promised

The reminder made you chuckle. ____: Fine fine I'll wait. It better be good especially with all this mystery!

You added a playful emoji at the end, the excitement clear in your message.

His response was immediate, and you could practically hear his voice.

Nick: Oh it's good. Don't worry I know you're going to love it.

You smiled at the screen, shaking your head at his confidence. Of course he'd know.

The faint echo of your steps on the wooden floor snapped you back to the present, making your thoughts drift back to his arrival, how it had all begun.

It was almost a year at the time when Father Pruitt had left on his pilgrimage, leaving you in charge of the church—a transition you hadn't anticipated but had eventually embraced.

And just as you were starting to find your footing, Nicholas Chaves had appeared, adding a new dynamic you hadn't expected.

Before he arrived to Crockett Island, you recall the unexpected email you received: a simple inquiry from the actor who was looking to deepen his understanding of priesthood for an upcoming role.

He wanted to shadow someone in the clergy, someone who could give him an authentic insight into the life of a pastor.

And he'd heard about your rather unique position on the island...

You of course were slightly taken aback by his openness and easy way he'd talked about his work.

It wasn't every day someone like Nick came knocking, but you had agreed mainly from intrigue of the whole situation.

Even when Bev became immediately suspicious of him—practically interrogating him when he first arrived—the rest of the town welcomed him warmly, charmed by his easygoing nature.

"Another distraction," she'd muttered once when Nick had offered to help you carry boxes of hymnals inside one time. "This is a church not a social club." 

Her words always came with that same bitter edge, though by now you'd learned to brush them off. 

He stayed in Father Pruitt's old house with you during that time in one of the spare rooms.

As you finished locking up and made your way toward the small home, your thoughts drifted back to him.

You never planned on feeling so affected by him. Yes he was charming, but it was more than that—there was something about him that drew you in even when you tried to resist it.

And it wasn't just his looks—though you couldn't deny the way your breath occasionally caught when he smiled at you in that boyish way of his.

No. It was his presence. The way he carried himself—confident yet curious, never shying away from asking questions about your work and sermons, about faith itself.

He was genuinely interested, even if he wasn't fully immersed in it like you were.

In all, conversations with Nick were easy; late-night talks often ended up stretching longer than intended as you discussed everything from theology to the little absurdities of life.

And yet despite the growing comfort, there had always been a tension simmering beneath the surface.

The first time you felt the it was when he'd sat in on one of your late-night study sessions, helping you prep for Sunday Mass.

His quiet attentiveness as he listened to you practice, his casual lean against the doorway as he watched with a smile tugging at his lips.

Now, as you made your way up the steps, you wondered what this surprise of Nick's could be.

You pushed the front door open, the familiar scent of wood and old books greeting you.

It was home now—at least for the time being. Letting out a sigh, you set your bag down and make your way to the bedroom.

Changing your robes and veil into a more comfortable sleepwear, you grab your laptop and settle into bed.

There in your inbox, you find a sent email from him.

Three video files, each with a timestamp of about an 50 minutes. The subject line read simply: For You.

You frowned in confusion but quickly clicked on the first one. The video loaded, and as it played, the familiar face of Niecy Nash popped up on the screen.

A soft laugh escaped you—a TV show? It wasn't what you were expecting, but you were intrigued.

As the episode unfolded, you were drawn into the storyline.

It was refreshing actually, seeing a concept that brushed against the edges of a religion that's intertwined with your own daily life.

By the second episode you were completely hooked. You'd grown attached to the characters, loving the way they navigated this warped world of morality and sin.

The storyline itself was intense and unpredictable in how it blended the very faith you preached into something so viscerally raw.

But then your heart leapt a little as Nick—or rather, Father Charlie finally appeared on screen.

You smiled, unable to resist snapping a picture of the scene and sending it to him with a simple teasing text.

____: Look who just showed up on my screen.

Your phone buzzed almost instantly, but you ignored it.

You were too caught up in watching him; your eyes tracing the way he moved, the way his expression shifted with every word.

It was surreal watching him play a priest when just a few weeks ago, he had been standing beside you in the church helping with the altar cloths.

Every close-up of his face had your heart doing an odd little flip. You'd shared conversations with that face, shared jokes and moments of comfort. 

The goofy smile on your lips was hard to suppress as you watched him banter with Sister Megan, the two having a light giggle over stolen fries.

You couldn't help but draw parallels between the man on the screen and the man you had grown close to—the actor who had been nothing but kind, thoughtful, and, admittedly, a little flirtatious.

And then the scene change.

The camera panned across a dimly lit, sparsely furnished room. Your eyes narrowed, focusing in on the figure sitting at the edge of a bed.

It was Father Charlie—his broad, bare back flexing as he sat, hunched slightly. The room was silent except for his soft labored breathing.

You watch with growing confusion as his breathing deepens.

A soft sound escapes him—a low moan—and suddenly, the atmosphere in the room shifts entirely.

Your eyes widened upon realizing what you were seeing. Father Charlie is pleasuring himself.

The sounds of his quiet sighs fill the room, and you freeze as you try to process what you're watching. 

The camera caught it all: the soft sighs, the slow measured pace of his hand, the quiet moans that grew more strained with every movement.

You felt your breath hitch, heat creeping up your neck as you watched too stunned to look away.

You know it's just a show—it's just acting—but seeing Nick, someone you know, in such an intimate and vulnerable moment...it shakes you.

Your body feels hot, heart pounding as Father Charlie quickens his pace, his breath becoming more erratic, moans growing louder.

A strange warmth unfurled in your chest that you immediately tried to suppress.

It felt wrong to watch this—wrong to feel anything about it.

Your fingers tremble as you reach for your laptop, the desire to pause or stop the episode battling with the inexplicable pull to keep watching.

And then it changed again.

The camera cuts to him standing at a basin, his back to the facing you once again, the muscles in his back flexing under the low light.

You blink rapidly as he begins to wash his hands, the sound of the water almost deafening in the silence.

That's when you notice it—the chaps. He's wearing bottomless chaps, the skin of his thighs and backside completely bare.

"Sweet baby Jesus," you whisper, hands shaking as you press a hand to your mouth in attempt to contain the heat that spreads across your face.

It wasn't over.

Father Charlie moved toward a small wooden box, opening it with a reverence that made your stomach twist.

He reached inside and pulled out a flogging whip—a thick, multi-tailed instrument of punishment.

His expression is solemn, his lips moving in silent prayer as he prepares the whip, his fingers brushing reverently over the strips before raising the instrument of self-punishment.

Your heart hammers in your chest as you watch, unable to tear your eyes away as Father Charlie strikes himself.

The sharp crack of the whip fills the room and you flinch at the sound.

Each lash is deliberate. His body jerks with every strike, a soft grunt escaping him with every hit.

His whispered prayers mix with the sounds of his punishment, the intensity of the scene almost unbearable as it goes on, each crack of the whip sending a shiver down your spine.

It's too much. You couldn't take it anymore.

Your hand shot out, scrambling to close the laptop with a thud. For a moment you couldn't move.

Your body felt both heavy and weightless at the same time, suspended in the strange space between what you knew and what you had just witnessed.

The room around you suddenly felt too small, too close.

Shakily, you brush a few stray strands of hair from your damp forehead, trying to steady yourself.

You were a pastor—dedicated to God, to the people you served. You weren't supposed to feel like this.

Closing your eyes tightly, you try to will the feeling to go away and dissipate like the smoke from the candles you had blown out earlier in the church.

But the heat in your face, the trembling in your hands, didn't fade.

You felt as though you had been thrust into a battle between your devotion to God and the temptation of something far more dangerous—something you could no longer ignore.

The dim screen of your phone in your peripheral catches your attention.

Hesitant, you picked it up, and your stomach drops at the sight of Nicholas's message.

Nick: What do you think?

[autisticburnham]

Several people I follow are having discussions about how, despite marketing themselves on diversity and inclusion, Dropout has woefully little representation of trans women in their shows. And while I of course agree that they should platform more trans women given what their whole vibe seems to be, I don't watch Dropout, so I don't have a dog in that fight.

But it got me thinking about the thing that I do love that markets itself on diversity and inclusion and has started including way more trans rep in recent years, and how few trans women Star Trek has. (And before you come at me with "Dax!" Or "That one tng episode!" Or "Lal!" Or any other classic Trek example, or even Seven of Nine getting deadnamed, while I do love all of that, that's not what I'm talking about. It's great and has its place, but I am talking about explicitly transgender characters, not metaphors or characters where their gender works differently as a function of their species. And, if in a medium where actors are involved, played by trans actors.)

And the only trans woman I can think of with Trek is Roz, Chapel's girlfriend from the pride comic book who is such a small character she doesn't even have a page on Memory Beta. And that's so sad. We have got to get more trans women in Star Trek.

And because people are wilfully misinterpreting the Dropout discussions, to be clear, I am not saying I have a problem with the trans characters we do have. I love all of the nonbinary substantial characters we have and Gray. (Though it also sucks that Gray is the only trans guy we have, we need more of them too.) I am just saying we need more trans women in addition to those characters

[frogayyyy]

Guess Who: Star Trek Edition

spock, sarek, saru, and alexander have been eliminated!

Time for round five... Remember to answer for the same character you chose last round! (If you chose a character that was eliminated but you still want to play, you can choose a new character)

*NOT NECESSARILY WITH THE SAME ACTOR*

It's easier to list those who *haven't*: elim garak, tasha yar, b'elanna torres, harry kim, edith keeler, and damar (and arex, shran, zero, saru, t'pol, dathon, and alexander)

Check the comments if you're not sure!

For those who are interested, I've listed the other characters and their various appearances under the cut.

Tune in tomorrow for round six! :D

nyota uhura: TOS, TAS, DS9, SNW, PROD

[EMH: VOY, PROD, DS9 (sort of)]

miles o'brien: TNG, DS9

julian bashir: DS9, TNG

chris chapel: TOS, TAS, SNW

a tribble: TOS, TAS, TNG, DS9, ENT, DIS, PIC, LWD, PROD (we can't be sure it's the same tribble but we can't be sure it's not, either...)

[d'vana tendi: LWD, SNW]

geordi la forge: TNG, VOY, PIC

[spock: TOS, TAS, TNG, DS9, DIS, PROD, SNW]

quark: TNG, DS9, VOY, LWD

hikaru sulu: TOS, TAS, VOY, LWD

[janeway: VOY, PROD]

amanda: TOS, TAS, DIS, LWD

[sarek: TOS, TAS, TNG, DIS]

[jim kirk: TOS, TAS, DS9, SNW]

[odo: DS9, PROD]

ro laren: TNG, PIC

[mariner: LWD, SNW]

t'pring: TOS, SNW

[deanna troi: TNG, ENT, PIC, LWD]

scotty: TOS, TAS, TNG, DS9, PROD, SNW

[data: TNG, PIC, LWD (sort of)]

surak: TOS, ENT

if i've got any wrong then i'm sorry 😔 of course i got all the info from memory alpha. i've included the holograms that appeared in prodigy (but not in PIC, for example) because that's a recurring part of the show and it's not just a recording of them? whereas tasha's hologram in PIC was the same one that was in TNG (i think? lmk if that's wrong!)

also while we're chatting, isn't it weird that jim is in so few shows??? even though sh*tner is still alive (and therefore able to make an appearance, even just through voice)... maybe i've just answered my own question 🥴 i supposed in universe it's because he was 'dead' and he's only just been introduced in the prequels.

anyway. thank you to everyone who's told me they're enjoying this little game, i'm glad the idea is a hit, it's fun to do from my side too :] bye

[sleepymccoy]

Please choose your favourite of my (imo) niche star trek headcanons

Now that I'm writing these, I wonder if any of them are straight up canon that I've forgotten lol

I'm gonna further defend my headcanons under a readmore, but it's up to you if you want to read that or just vote on the summary 😘

Scotty's actor is Canadian. Also he's so Scottish? Like, he's called Scotty, he drinks scotch, he is Scottish, so on. Too much. I think he has Scottish heritage, maybe his mum is Scottish, so he knows the phrases and his accent work is comedic but solid. But he himself was born in like Quebec

I have a whole post on McCoy's ex wife being Vulcan, it rules, give it a read here

The way America crumbles in trek history I think opens them up to invasion. I don't think Russia is still in charge, I think they've moved on from that and country borders are less political more cultural in TOS times. But I think briefly Russia had everything and Chekhov is joking about that when he says shit like that saying is Russian. We know, Chekhov, everything was Russian once, get over it. His joke is less about things being Russian and more like someone making the same joke about how everything was Roman once

TOS writers had a little cheat sheet of characterisation rules I saw here once and one said that Sulu has many varying interests, so if you need an info dump that's not one of the other main guys things, use him. So I've taken that and gone with he isn't actually into plants, it was just a six month project to better learn how to take care of them. He spent a lot of time complaining about them to Chekhov. Basically a hyper fixation and once he figured it out he lost interest, but retained all the knowledge

Cos Rand has that trick of heating up the coffee with a phaser on low. That's resourceful with ship technology that uses batteries, not mainframe power. I think she knows what matters when a ship breaks, and food and comfort need prioritising cos she grew up on a ship that was always broken. Broken ships are easier to tolerate if the coffee is served hot

I think Chapel's fiance kinda sucks in that ep, even if it was just a robot copy, and I think she loves being in space. I think she feels both relieved and guilty about it all, it's bad

[cookies-super-secret-blog]

Stagnation as Death: Slay the Princess: The Pristine Cut Analysis

“You are on a path in the woods. At the end of that path is a cabin, and in the basement of that cabin is a Princess. You are here to slay her. If you don’t, it will be the end of the world.” These are the first words spoken by the Narrator when entering the visual novel Slay the Princess.These words state your goal simply, and yet are wholly misleading about the depth of this story. Where a simple path is laid out before the player, the options both in defiance of and in service to that stated goal turn this game into a sprawling web of wonderful narratives in conversation with each other about change and death, life and stillness. 

Slay the Princess was released in 2023, with its long awaited Pristine Cut expansion added in October of 2024. This game is an interactive story with beautiful hand-drawn graphics by Abby Howard, and wonderful voice acting provided by Jonathan Sims and Nichole Goodnight. In its current form there are 24 different versions of the titular Princess for the player to encounter, each branching from actions the player can take. While each route and each variant of Princess are unique and complex in their own right, the Epilogue: Happily Ever After stands as one of the best vignettes in the game. However, to understand the impact of the Happily Ever After, one must first understand the Narrator. 

Not unlike most stories, the Narrator is a character. Unlike most games in this genre, however, this Narrator is not our player character. The Narrator, while only confined to the player character’s head, is a distinct entity with desires and goals. Specifically, to slay the Princess. However, if you manage to complete this impossible task, asking no questions and sparing no hesitation, our hero is met with a bleak reward. 

There is nothing outside the cabin now that you’ve slain her. The Narrator, as pictured above, tries to convince you that you’re happy. Here, in this lifeless cabin with naught but a table and a door to an endless void, you are told that you are happy. One of many little voices that join the greek chorus of your lead actor’s mind, the Voice of the Hero, suggests the only way out of this tiring monotony. To progress any further down this route, you must retrieve the blade from the decayed Princess’ corpse, and slay yourself with it.

This is not how you achieve the Happily Ever After, though this scene is important when it comes to understanding it. No, the Happily Ever After is a branch off of the Damsel, the variant of princess so harmless you didn’t need to bring the blade down with you to save her. When you rescue her again, you are met with the fact she does not have any interests aside from leaving the cabin, and pleasing you. Eventually, from prodding her about what she wants to the point of nearly unravelling her, the player is given a rather interesting option; tell her you want to stay in the cabin and be happy together.

 This conflict of interest makes the Damsel legitimately unhappy for the first time in the chapter, causing one of your voices, that of the Smitten, to panic. He sputters, “If we just made these walls fit for a princess, if we just say the right things, if we showed her the contents of our heart…” Jonathan Sims' performance of this line really sells the emotion of the scene. The way it starts panicked, before slowing into a cold, frightening resolve as Smitten realizes what he must do really sets in dread for what comes next. What’s next being, the Voice of the Smitten taking his own words literally, usurping control of your body, and wrenching your ribs apart. Quite literally showing her the contents of your collective heart.

The Princess plucks your heart from your chest, and the loop begins anew.

You are no longer on the path in the woods, instead your starting place is inside the cabin, which now appears as a chapel, or even a castle. The plush carpeted stairs go upward instead of down toward a basement. What used to be a prison is now a lavish dining hall, with tapestries and torches. At the far end of the long dining table, is the Princess, and the long shadow dancing behind her. This is much more insidious than the Narrator’s blunt insistence of the player’s happiness should you have slain her right away like he asked. Everything here is idyllic, and saccharine sweet. The Princess even prepared dinner for the player and his chorus. How sweet. However, a new voice in the back of the player character’s mind anxiously insists not all is right. The Voice of the Paranoid, as his title suggests, does not trust this happy ending laid out before you. In fact, he’s the one to point out that “a certain lovesick fool” is eerily quiet. With that knowledge, one might infer who exactly the Princess’ shadow truly is.

When the player meets this version of the Princess, she says in a fatigued affect; “Good. You’re here. Now we can start being happy together.” After which, the player is forced to sit across from the Princess, and the illusion ever so slightly begins to break down. 

“It’s trending down!” the Paranoid cries, and a torch sputters. To calm a now visibly frightened Princess, you suggest you both play a game. It, too, grows tiresome and stale all too quickly.

As the second torch dies, and the Princess soothes her shadow by insisting that she is. In fact, very happy, the Narrator mutters something simple:

Nicole Goodnight’s light and airy performance of this Princess makes the moments of her voice dropping into panic incredibly heartbreaking. Likewise, Jonathan Sim’s weak and beaten delivery of the line above is emotionally devastating to hear. This combined with the wonderful art, the composition of the table and the shadow looming over both her and the player. The beautiful yet hollow string instrumentation lending to this feeling of “too good to be true” that permeates this chapter. A chapter that culminates when the lights go out. The final torch sputters, and the shadow of the Smitten can force his hand no more. Should you choose to leave the cabin, you are met with no resistance from the Narrator. A vast departure from the first go around when he attempted to control your body and do the deed for you. As his voice fades, he wishes the player and Princess well on whatever world they will make. 

The Narrator, the one who set you upon this mission, is asking if you’re sure you want to kill her now. He gives you the chance to back out, and leave with the Princess together. The Hero questions him, asking “Isn’t this what you wanted to begin with?”, to which the Narrator states his uncertainty, and that he might have “made a terrible mistake.” If you press him on it further (with the opportunist in toe for the following dialogue), throw back at him how she’s a threat to the entire world, how she will end the world if not slain, he replies “See, that’s what I thought too.” With an almost teary crackle to his voice, as the Narrator has just witnessed a microcosm of the world he wanted to make. The world that necessitated the Princess be slain. 

This is the core of this route, of the discussion the game is having. The Princess is change, her appearance and demeanor changing with how you, the player, perceive her. In this case going from a relatively normal woman , to a doe-eyed damsel, to an emotionally fatigued queen. In contrast, a world without her is stagnant. Unchanging, as the fabric of the Long Quiet. While the Princess is change, and by extent death, this route not only shows to the player, but to the Narrator, that there are fates much worse. When confronting the Princess in her true form, the face of the Happily Ever After you shared is brought to surface. Her argument to the player is as follows: “In a world without both of us, the flames could not go out, nor could they be lit again. Would you hold the world in place forever?” Holding the world in place is equivalent to killing it outright. The variations on this argument speak the same. "Would you put the world in that box and tell them they're happy?" It's the same as damning the world to an eventual death. Slay the Princess, Epilogue: Happily Ever After, shows this truth immaculately and artfully. 

[noxequusart]

"Forever in Space"

On January 8, 2024 an American moon lander Peregrine was launched into space, it was supposed to reach the moon’s surface. Besides scientific equipment on board Peregrine was biomatter (DNA and human remains) of 70 people, among them were those of the first “Star Trek” series’ actors. It was the creator of “Star Trek” Gene Roddenbury, along with his wife Majel Barrett who played nurse Chapel, as well as actors Nichelle Nichols, James Doohan and DeForest Kelley, who played Lt Uhura, Chief Engineer Scott and Dr McCoy respectively. Even though the mission wasn’t successful and the lander didn’t reach the moon, one could say that the actors and the creator of the series stayed in space forever.

With my great love❤️

[boneskullravenriver]

Another aspect of star trek I like is how they'll have the same actors play different characters throughout the franchise without any shame lmao. TOS did it so many times. And now I'm sitting here watching ds9 and hello?? This is nurse chapel. What are you doing here 😂